September 2021

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Volume LXIV, No. 1 • September 9, 2021 • Larkspur, CA

Cheering for the return of in-person sports!

P. 7-8

Photo by Allie Vasquez

Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org Editors-in-Chief: Hollis Belger Taylor Elliott Kent Goodman Ryo Weng Art Consultants: Keely Ganong Brooke Leslie Calla McBride Business Managers: Samantha Michaels Keegan Williams Multimedia Editor: Caroline Scharf Survey Manager: Survey Manager: AnnaLise Sandrich Social Media Manager: Sydney Liebhauser Podcast Editor: Podcast Editor: Nathan Ash Sophie Smallhorn Video Editor Video Editors: Sterling Lazarus Hannah Morgan

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Copy Editors: Samantha Elegant (Head Copy) Ava Koblik (Head Copy) Natalie Tress (Head Copy) Rori Anderson Will Baker Chloe Bishop Kelly Chuang Sarah Goody Ella Kharrazi Kate McHugh Anna Royal Gemma Strauss Julia Fr Rori Anderson Reporters: Arjun Aujla Matt Benbow Peter Biss Sophia Buckholtz Gemma Favaloro Alex Fisch Justine Fisch Nina Geoghegan Sylvan Gordon-Wagen Chloe Craft Sabrina Kizer Kana Kojima Alyssa McCadden Lily Reese Gillian Reynolds Sofia Ruliffson John Seifer Claire Silva Madeline Sofnas Ani Svendsen Allie Vasquez Natalie Welch Dylan Zorn Caitlin Beard Alexandrea Coe

Opinion Editors: Stella Bennett Caroline Goodhart Ingrid Houtkooper Feature Editors: Casey Braff Bella Piacente Hannah Sellers Lifestyles Editors: Julia Frankus Annie Goldstein Sophie Smallhorn Sports Editors: Sam Kimball Declan McDaniels Dani Steinberg News Editors: Libby Hughes Shyla Lensing Abigail Shewmaker Review Editor Review Editor: Avery Aguero Ava Razavi Chris Vargelis Spanish Editor: Spanish Editor: Charlotte DeForrest

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Volume LXIV, No. 1 • September 9, 2021 • Larkspur, CA

Sports Spotlight

7

Best hikes infor Marin Guide Dogs the Blind

19

Wellness WellnessSpecialist Specialist World Travels

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redwood high school ● 395 doherty dr., larkspur, ca 94939 ● volume LXIV, no. 1 ● september 9, 2021 ● www.redwoodbark.org

Lisa Kemp steps into new assistant principal position

By Ava Razavi As the new school year comes into full swing, there is a change to be excited for, a new assistant principal.

Former Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. History and Nonfiction teacher Lisa Kemp has decided to join David Sondheim, Saum Zargar and Sue Hall and become a part of the administrative staff as the interim assistant principal.

Kemp is taking the place of LaSandra White, who is now the principal at Archie Williams High School.

Kemp will leave behind 16 years of teaching at Redwood to pursue her new supervisory position. During her years as an educator, Kemp has taught nearly a dozen different classes ranging from not only AP U.S. History to Nonfiction but also Essay Exposition and Humanities.

As a teacher, Kemp has made strong bonds with hundreds of students, which is why one of the challenges of her new role will be not seeing the same group of students on a daily basis.

Photo by Ava Razavi

WORKING ON PARKING permits, AP programming and student activities, Kemp fits into her new role.

“I think if I continue to be the assistant principal, one of the hardest things will be for me to have less and less connections with kids,” Kemp said.

However, Hina Kojima, one of Kemp’s former AP U.S. History and Nonfiction students, believes Kemp’s time spent with kids will pose a large benefit for her as an administrator.

“It is important for the administration to have people like Ms. Kemp who connect with students on a personal level and know what will be best for the student body,” Kojima said.

In helping the school’s population, one of Kemp’s main goals is for students to get more involved in the electives and activities Redwood offers.

“I wish that as a school… kids had the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone more often and explore their interests or experiences,” Kemp said. “[I want students] to come out of here feeling like there was something for them at Redwood, whether it was an architecture class, drama Photo by Ava Razavi class, club or even just making some friends.”

Megan Holguin, a new member of the English FILLING THE SHOES of LaSandra White, Lisa Kemp department who will fill Kemp’s vacant Nonfiction takes on the role of assistant principal. teaching role, is excited about her positive “I see the role of administration as the experiences with Kemp thus far. support staff for the teachers… so I am “My first impression of Ms. Kemp was, making sure that I am taking care of the ‘Whoa. This lady knows what she’s doing.’ [Kemp] comes across as behind the scenes so teachers can focus on She comes across as both friendly and their students,” Kemp said. confident, and those two things aren’t too both friendly and conHolguin, as a teacher, recounts easy to mix,” Holguin said. “Sometimes, fident, and those two the importance of trusting that your I think it’s difficult for me to perform my administration has your back. best for my students if in the back of my things aren’t too easy to “I really do trust her when she says head I’m thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t she’s here to help, especially because know anybody here,’ but it hasn’t felt like mix. she was so recently in the classroom. that. Ms. Kemp has done a great job of Megan Holguin, I’m looking forward to learning from [welcoming me].” her because she is so knowledgeable and English teacher Kemp hopes her extensive teaching approachable,” Holguin said. experience will provide a new perspective to her work as an administrator and aims to take a different approach in her position. arazavi@redwoodbark.org

Marin offers COVID-19 boosters as Delta variant spreads

By Stella Bennett On Aug. 17, Marin County Public Health officials announced that third vaccination shots for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines will be available to those who are severely immunocompromised. People who fall under this category are those who have recently received an organ transplant, are currently or recently on a cancer regimen, have advanced HIV or are taking immunosuppressive high dose steroids.

The purpose of the booster is to strengthen immunity against the Delta variant as the initial vaccine weakens over time. The Delta variant surfaced for the first time in the United States in May of 2021 and has been affecting both vaccinated and unvaccinated people exponentially. Per 100,000 people, 8.9 of fully vaccinated individuals contract the Delta variant to a 37.6 of unvaccinated people. Dr.

Photo by Stella Bennett

A VACCINATION CENTER in the back of a local CVS pharmacy waits for recipients.

Matt Willis, Marin County Public Health Officer, has witnessed the spread of the new COVID-19 variant firsthand.

“Delta has emerged as the dominant variant [of COVID-19]. Right now 100 percent of [COVID-19] samples [in Marin County] over the last week were Delta and if we look back over the past month, it is about 95 percent Delta,” Willis said.

“There is a longer period of infectivity, a higher amount of virus [cells] and it is able to get into [human] cells easier. Those three factors make the Delta variant at least 225 percent more contagious than the other variants.

With COVID-19 cases currently on the rise in Marin, schools have to maintain strict regulations around the virus. Math teacher Karen Murk tries her best to enforce these regulations in her classroom.

“I would feel better about [the variant] if everyone would commit to wearing a mask and understand that it is not so much to prevent you from getting COVID-19, as it is to help others who may not be vaccinated,” Murk said. “The mask is critical… if students are repeatedly letting their masks fall below their noses, I will say to the whole class, ‘just so you guys know I am immunocompromised and everyone wearing a mask is very important to me.’”

Angelica Gauptman, a current senior, took extra precautions last year as she decided to stay online for the remainder of her junior year.

“I take care of my elderly neighbor who is 97. It was a danger for her to get the vaccine when it first came out, so I had to wait [to go back to school] until she got [the vaccine] because I did not want to expose her,” Gauptman said.

Although 89.1 percent of people older than 12 are fully vaccinated in Marin, there

Photo by Stella Bennett

HEALTHCARE WORKERS DILIGENTLY fill up shots with COVID-19 vaccinations to distribute. are still many students at Redwood who will continue to get the booster for the have yet to receive their first dose. Murk safety of the community. believes that student vaccinations against “We are in 15 cases out of 100,000 COVID-19 should be mandatory for those [people in Marin]. That [number] has not eligible to receive them. increased in the past two to three weeks “If we cannot count on everyone to take which is encouraging. Our communityall the precautions to protect the health of wide vaccination rates are protecting us as our community, vaccine mandates may be individuals and as a community,” Willis necessary,” Murk said. “Those mandates said. “I hope that we’ll continue to drive our should allow for exemptions for individuals community members to seek vaccination who agree to provide weekly COVID-19 when they are eligible.” test results.”

For more information about booster People who are immunocompromised shot eligibility, visit https://coronavirus. have already begun to get the third marinhhs.org/vaccinefinder. vaccine dose and, according to Willis, Marin County’s public health office has distributed over 1,000 doses. With these promising numbers, he hopes that people sbennett@redwoodbark.org

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Page 2 • News

September 9, 2021

Photo Survey How are you and your family preparing for wildfire season?

“We’re saving water because of the drought.”

“We are clearing out our backyard for any fire hazards.”

“We discussed what to do with our cats [and] we’d probably just open the door and let them go.”

“[Personally,] I am preparing my lungs by getting as many workouts as I can outside.”

Sawyer Goldberg

William Rauzi

Hilary Johnston

Margot Schulz

freshman

sophomore

junior

senior

The first climbing gym since 2008 rocks Marin

By Kate McHugh Marin’s new rock climbing gym, The Gravity Vault Marin, officially opened on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021 in San Rafael.

This is The Gravity Vault’s first west coast location, and is exciting for rock climbers across Marin since they previously had to commute to San Francisco’s gym, Granite Planet, to climb. According to Scott Sklar, the manager of The Gravity Vault, a new local rock climbing gym is crucial because the last one in the county closed in 2008 after losing its lease.

Senior Julian Macdonald works at The Gravity Vault and believes having a rock climbing gym accessible to Redwood

Photo by Kate McHugh

WORKING AT HER desk, senior Ava Converse prepares to welcome people to The Gravity Vault Marin.

students is essential to help them unwind and have fun.

“Climbing as a sport is not stressful.

You motivate yourself, you challenge yourself and you can really go at your own pace,” Macdonald said. “It’s a great stress reliever.”

Another benefit of rock climbing is the sense of camaraderie at the gym.

Macdonald enjoys talking to different people and spending time in a supportive, laid-back environment.

“Climbing gyms generally have a pretty chill atmosphere and they all have their own unique people who come all the time. It creates a sense of community in each gym and it’s great to be part of that,” Macdonald said.

Even though The Gravity Vault Marin has only been open for a few weeks, the gym has had unexpected success. While Sklar only anticipated a few hundred people on the gym’s opening weekend, thousands ended up coming to climb with their friends.

“We were overwhelmed by the response [at The Gravity Vault],” Sklar said. “I just hope that this becomes a place where people can go and have a great time.”

Rock climbing is quickly growing in popularity everywhere, so much that the sport was just featured in its first-ever Olympic games this past year in Tokyo.

Macdonald believes that one of the best parts about climbing is that anyone can do it, no matter their skill level.

“I have a bunch of friends who have come for the first time and [really] enjoyed

Photo by Kate McHugh

TAKING A BREAK from running to visit the gym, the cross country team strategizes before hitting the wall. it. Honestly, anyone regardless of how athletic you are [can do it],” Macdonald said.

As for intermediate and advanced climbers, The Gravity Vault offers many challenging walls to test their skills.

Max Denney, another employee of the gym, appreciates how the vast number of climbing obstacles ensure that climbers are never bored. “[My favorite part is] the thrill of being really high [in the air],” Denney said. “It’s also super fun to be able to figure out

problems while you’re climbing the wall and see how fast you can go.”

Whether you are somebody who has never climbed before, or an expert ready to scale Mt. Everest, check out The Gravity Vault Marin any day from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM for $25, or go on Fridays to get a student discount of $14.

kmchugh@redwoodbark.org

New state budget opens free CEA lunches for everyone

By Gemma Favaloro Meals for All Act of 2021. This policy will take $54 million from the California state budget to supplement the prior United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for free school meals. California is set to invest $650 million in ongoing funds by 2022-2023 to permanently continue offering two free meals per day to all public school students, regardless of income.

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations for Tamalpais Unified High School District (TUHSD), Corbett Elsen stated that since TUHSD has gone back in person, food services have gone from serving on average about 1500 meals in the district per day to around 35004000. The increase has come with some challenges, as student nutrition services have had worker and food shortages due to the ongoing pandemic.

“A lot of manufacturers of chicken, dairy and grain in the Central Valley, middle America, have lost so much money from COVID, because [when they had to] shut off all their inventory [it] went to waste a lot of resources,” Elsen said.“We’re having trouble getting enough food to meet the [student] needs right now.”

Lisa Herberg, TUHSD Director of Student Nutrition Services expressed that while the influx of new students has been difficult to manage, eliminating the aspect of money and sales has made it easier to focus on bigger problems such as lack of supplies.

“Because not all foods are available, a lot of contracts are being cancelled, so they can raise the prices. The federal government is giving us more funding to help offset

Photo by Gemma Favaloro

DECIDING WHICH FOOD to eat, hungry students line the inside of the CEA.

the increased costs due to the supply chain shortages,” Herberg said.

Herberg also indicated that TUHSD has always put nutrition at a higher priority than deficit spending of the budget, even before COVID-19. The elimination of the à la carte items, like cookies and chips, have also allowed them to save more money and have opened up the possibility of

breaking even on this year’s budget.

Junior Julia Marrow, who regularly gets food from the CEA, believes that a universal free lunch program is essential for students because it allows for an easier school day, limiting the stress of not having lunch.

“It’s a good outlet for kids who don’t want to pack their lunch every day, or instead of having to buy extra groceries, you can just get [lunch] at the CEA, which I think is great, especially for kids who come from families who might need it for the financial stability aspect,” Marrow said.

While the universal meals program was implemented to help families and children suffering during COVID-19, it has also helped diminish the ongoing stigma about receiving a free or reduced lunch from school.

“It’s [made it] okay for anybody to come and eat instead of being embarrassed. And that’s awesome. …it’s a sad state of affairs when you can’t eat, you’re hungry, but you’re afraid of what somebody is going to think about it,” said Herberg.

The need for this policy is evident as a growing number of students use district-wide nutrition services. While food insecurity might not always be the clearest to see, it is still present and must be dealt with. The Free School Meals Act seems to be fixing this problem.

“I hope at the very least, that this universal Meals Program is sustained. I don’t want a single student in our district to not have the food they need to be able to learn,” Elsen said. gfavaloro@redwoodbark.org

September 9, 2021 bark Page 3 • News Federal aid brings local arts organizations back to life movie theatre, because there’s other things to do,” Ong Bamola said.

In comparison, the Sausalito Art Festival is an After a year and a half of financial struggles during the annual event popular in Marin’s local art scene, but pandemic, arts organizations are now receiving federal they were unable to host the festival in 2020 due to grants to remain open through the National Endoment pandemic related financial issues. Louis Briones, the for the Arts on COVID-19. Twenty-nine Marin arts executive director of organizations received financial aid, the festival reflects including the Mountain Play, the on the struggles and Marin Symphony and the popular hardship.

Lark Theatre.

“In 2020, we Located in downtown Larkspur, had absolutely no the Lark Theatre has been running revenue because for nearly 40 years, hosting a of the pandemic,” variety of films, operas and ballets.

Briones said.

More recently, the Lark opened a “We were able to drive-in theatre, which was a major generate a little bit Marin attraction during the height of revenue because of the pandemic. With the increased we put together an job opportunities available, senior online auction, but Noah Ong Bamola started working the revenue was at the drive-in theatre in April of Louis Briones, just a fraction of 2021. Despite the initial spike Executive Director of the Sausalito Art what we make from in customers, he has noticed the Festival the Sausalito Art Lark’s decline in popularity since Festival.”

COVID-19 restrictions have been After an lifted. exhaustive application process, Briones is extremely “At the beginning of [the pandemic], it was super thankful for the aforementioned federal grant, as it kept popular. There were like 80 cars each night watching a the festival afloat during the struggling times. film in the drive in. But now, [more] things are [open], “We faced extinction,” Briones said. “Without that so people are less attracted to the idea of a drive-in

By Abby Shewmaker

We faced extinction, and without that shuttered venue grant, we would have been in financial trouble.

Photo Courtesy of Noah Ong Bamola

JUMPING INTO THE air, Noah Ong Bamola (second from the left) and his coworkers man The Lark’s drive-in theatre.

Photo by Abby Shewmaker

THE MOUNTAIN PLAY, after months of inactivity due to the pandemic, performed “Hello, Dolly” in June and will return this December for “Camelot.” shuttered venue grant, we would have been in financial trouble. We would have definitely depleted our reserves.”

The Sausalito Art Festival is typically held every Labor Day weekend but was not this year due to the relocation of a homelessness encampment to Marinship Park, the usual site of the festival. Staying optimistic, they are using the grant money to plan the 2022 festival.

“In 2022, we will be coming back with a very different format. It will be smaller and more simple in regards to production and a smaller footprint, with less emphasis on the music and more emphasis on the art itself,” Briones said.

Gillian Eichenberger, a member of the Novato Theatre Company board, also noted how several other grants have helped their small theatre. According to Eichenberger, the Novato Theatre Company has received over $1.9 million in grants and fundraising from the City of Novato as well as other private organizations.

“It helped us keep the doors open and helped us pay rent while we were shuttered,” Eichenberger said. “That was so important.”

Although the grant to the Novato Theatre Company was from a private organization, it aided the organization immensely. Eichenberg stressed that with new legislation like AB5, a law that requires independent contractors to be paid minimum wage, government assistance to arts organizations is ideal to keep the arts alive and accessible.

“It [should be] something similar to what they did in the 1930’s [when] there was a lot of federal money put back into arts organizations,” Eichenberger said. “It’s really the best case scenario to keep [the arts alive].”

For small venues like the Lark theatre, the prospect of more funding can mean big things for the future of the establishment. According to Ong Bamola, with more governmental funding, the Lark could expand its audience and truly thrive.

“I think with more funding, the Lark theater could better advertise and reach more people,” Ong Bamola said. “I think [people] will just be better off in general with art in their lives, in whatever degree or form that may be.” ashewmaker@redwoodbark.org

BarkPatrons The Elliott Family The Glickman Family Leonard and Dolly Hom Sylvia Jones If you would like to support the Redwood Bark, donations can be made by check and mailed to Redwood High School. Checks should be made payable to the Redwood Bark. See www.redwoodbark.org for an online payment option.

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Page 4

Evacuation time: the 10 item to-go bag for fire season Important documents Copies of documents that your family might keep in According to data from Cal Fire, there have been a safe, like passports, birth certificates and other legal 6,630 major wildfires in 2021, covering over 1,470,637 documents, would be extremely important to pack. acres of land — and it is only just the start of fire season.

Pet supplies Compared to the statistical average of the past five years, If you have a pet, pack any essentials including a bag showing 5,690 major fires covering 460,911 acres, 2021 of pet food, extra water, water and food bowl, collar, is already showing potential to be one of the worst fire leash and a printed picture of your pet in case they are seasons yet. With this in mind, it has become increasingly lost in the fire. important for the Redwood community to be educated on Money how to prepare for fire season, in case Marin experiences Extra cash, credit cards and debit cards will come in an evacuation-worthy emergency. handy if you happen to forget your wallet and Packing a fire evacuation to-go bag may be one of the are in the need to purchase something. most efficient ways to feel safe and ready in the case of a nearby fire. These bags should be kept under your bed or near the most used exit of your house for easy accessibility during an evacuation. It is common for people to wonder what sorts of items to pack in the event of an emergency, so here are some examples of what you can include.

By Natalie Tress

First-aid kit This should be thoroughly stocked with medical necessities, including, but not limited to, antiseptic wipes, gauze, bandages and other products that could prevent or help injuries in case of an evacuation.

Last Updated on Sept 3 2021

Photo courtesy of Cal Fire

VISIT CAL FIRE Active Fires of Interest page to be informed of wildfire information near you.

Clothing Essentials Make sure to pack a few extra outfits with plenty of layers that could withstand different weather conditions.

Extra Keys Keep a spare house key, car key and any other necessary keys in the bag, as you may forget to grab that in the face of a quick evacuation.

Water Make sure to store the water in a cool place and replenish it routinely to ensure a fresh stock during an evacuation.

Room for personal items If you have a photo book, nostalgic memorabilia or even a childhood blankie, now would be the time to grab it. It is important to leave room in your evacuation bag for everyday-use personal items that you will be grabbing last minute during an evacuation.

Non-perishable food This could include dehydrated camping meals or nutritionally dense snacks like Gu gels or Clif Bars, all of which could be found at REI and other adventure-based stores.

Personal Hygiene Items Include a few days’ supply of items like shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash and any other hygienic products that may be beneficial while there is no access to your home.

With these 10 suggestions of what to pack in your wildfire to-go bag, your evacuation process, which hopefully will not happen, will be as straightforward as possible. For information about when evacuation warnings occur, as well as other threatening fire information, sign up to receive alerts from Alert Marin Emergency Notification through this survey.

Illustration by Keely Ganong and Samantha Elegant

ntress@redwoodbark.org

Make this year count with a GIANT Right Start Package deal

By Avery Aguero

Planners, pennants, lunch packs, oh my! With the new 2021-2022 school year already underway, many students are excited to start off the fall semester by purchasing the annual Right Start Package. Every year, the Leadership class creates a collection of spirited items, many of which are returning items from previous bundles, that students may find helpful for school. In addition to ensuring the student body is geared up for the year, Leadership contributes all of the proceeds to the yearly budget of the Associated Student Body (ASB), which funds dances, lunch-time activities, merchandise and more.

This year, the $130 package included a total of seven items, three of which were newly added. The package includes the Redwood Log, an ASB sticker, a planner, a classic “R” bumper sticker, a canvas lunch bag, earbuds and a pennant.

Contemplating whether or not purchasing the Right Start package will be worth the cost this year? Don’t worry because I bought one to review, so you don’t have to.

While the price may seem expensive given the simplicity of the items in the collection, students get a substantial discount on sporting events and dances throughout the year, thanks to the ASB sticker that goes on their student identification card. Compared to last year, students may find it more cost-effective to buy the Right Start Package for the ASB sticker now that school sporting events

are open to student spectators. Another attractive component of the package is “The Log,” a massive compilation of photos, writing and endless memories from the school year. Although the yearbook alone costs $20 less than the Right Start Package, it is worth spending a little extra money for a higher quantity of useful products than it is on a single item. Plus, with the inclusion of the yearbook in the popular bundle, students don’t have to worry about purchasing one at the end of the year.

Even though the Covered Eating Area (CEA) on campus continues to serve students free lunches every day, some have reverted to packing a meal from home.

Newly added to this year’s package, the reusable canvas lunch bag marked with the Redwood Logo, is sure to keep food fresh with its high-quality insulation and storage space. Other recent additions to the bundle include earbuds stored in a nicely decorated case with the official Redwood logo and one old-school style pennant.

Whether you decide to step up your roomdecoration game or use it on rally days to show your school spirit, the pennant is a lovely reminder of your tight-knit school community.

Another feature that makes this year’s package unique is the planner. Over the past year and a half, many students have learned that prioritizing self-care is crucial to maintaining a healthy mind and body.

This year’s school planner encourages students to take care of themselves with the “self-care corner,” which outlines a spot to check off daily needs such as

Photo by Avery Aguero

PASSING BY THE front entrance display case, students can find items from the Right Start Package and more school swag for purchase.

sleep, hydration, connecting with friends, movement and mindfulness. Additionally, the planner contains one positive affirmation and a blank space to practice gratitude for each week.

Transitioning into a new year is not always easy, especially for those coming back from online learning. Students from all grades are probably familiar with this feeling, which is why The Right Start package will set up students for

a successful adjustment back into the groove of school. I’m happy I bought the Right Start Package this year, and I personally recommend that all students buy their own. Their usefullness will last all year round. You can purchase one online by visiting the student store linked on the school website, and pick it up in room 107. aaguero@redwoodbark.org

bark ‘Believe what I say,’ don’t be too quick to criticize Kanye’s ‘Donda’ Page 5 • Review

www.redwoodbark.org

By Declan McDaniels After five weeks of speculation and four live listening events, Kanye West’s long awaited album, ‘Donda,’ finally dropped on the morning of Aug. 29.

The album is dedicated to his mother, Donda West, who unexpectedly passed away on Nov. 10., 2007 of coronary artery disease and post-operative complications from a liposuction the day before. With 108 minutes and 27 total songs, “Donda” focuses on themes related to Kanye’s divorce from Kim Kardashian, how his mother has impacted his life and his relationship with God and faith.

Kanye West has arguably the most complete discography in hip-hop history, and he is one of the most influential artists of this generation. Projects such as 2007’s “Graduation,” 2010’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” 2013’s “Yeezus” and more have revolutionized rap in a way that few artists can mirror.

While many admire Kanye for his musical creativity and relentless ambition, others see him as an arrogant attention seeker with an ego larger than his bank account. No matter how you view Kanye’s character, his knowledge in the rap game and his impact on the music industry is nearly unmatched.

“Donda” highlights some of Kanye’s best qualities as an artist and a creator. As expected, the production of the album is incredible on every track. Mixing the gospel aspect from his 2019 project “Jesus is King” with elements of trap music makes for an exciting and unique sound throughout the album. The vocals are some of the finest we have heard from Kanye, and he brings out the best of every guest verse.

I gotta stay with God where the blessings is/I ain’t deliverin’ heavenly messages for the hell of it.

Kanye West

The album begins with “Donda Chant,” in which we hear Syleena Johnson say the name “Donda” repeatedly in different patterns, tones and cadences. This eerie intro track mimics Kanye’s mother’s last heartbeats, and the name is repeated 58 times, representing the age at which Donda lost her life. The tone takes a complete turn

with the next song, “Jail,” a remarkably powerful track featuring Jay-Z, who recorded his verse just hours before the first official “Donda” listening party at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Atlanta, Ga. Marking their first real song together as a duo since their collaboration album,“Watch The Throne,” Kanye and Jay-Z rap about “goin’ to jail,” assuring that “God gon’ post my bail.” Whatever metaphorical “jail” Kanye feels that he has been confined in, he believes that God will save him. Kanye starts the song by singing, “Take what you want, take everything,” possibly referring to either his divorce with Kardashian or his commitment to God. Kanye’s vulnerability on “Donda” gives us an engaging insight into his personal struggles, illustrating his headspace amidst persistent media criticism and public attention. On “Lord I Need You,” Kanye reflects on his relationship with Kim Kardashian after seven years of marriage. On ”Come to Life,” Kanye beautifully sings about his desire for another life, his mixed emotions about Kardashian’s presence alongside him and how he doesn’t want to die alone. On “Jesus Lord,” one of the standout tracks on the album, we are given an insight into Kanye’s mind as he depicts his struggles with mental health issues and portrays the thoughts he has in his life without his mother. Lines such as “Mama, you was the life of the party/I swear you brought life to the party/When you lost your life, it took the life out the party” and “If I talk to Christ, can I bring my mother back to life?/ And if I die tonight will I see her in the afterlife?/But back to reality where everything’s a tragedy,” are some of the most emotional lyrics in the album.

Jay Electronica takes the second verse on the song, dropping spiritual references and calling Jay-Z out white supremacy in one of the best features on the album.

Not only is the production on these songs spectacular, but the lyrical content displays a side of Kanye that we have not seen in a while.

The abundance of features on “Donda” contrasts what we’ve seen in Kanye’s recent albums, as he collaborated with over 25 artists. With Roddy Ricch and Shenseea on “Pure Souls,” The Weeknd and Lil Baby on “Hurricane,” Baby Keem and Travis Scott on “Praise God,” Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn on “Keep My Spirit Alive,” Don Toliver and Kid Cudi on “Moon” and Fivio Foreign and Playboi Carti on “Off The Grid,” none of these songs are worth skipping. Foreign dropped a career-defining verse on “Off the Grid,” and Kanye follows by matching his high energy on this New York drill beat; he sounds more inspired and re-energized than we’ve seen him in a while. Kanye is really rapping again.

While this is easily Kanye’s best release since 2016’s

Photo Courtesy of Us Weekly STANDING WITH KANYE at his final listening party, Kim Kardashian wears a wedding dress, despite the couple recently filing for divorce.

“The Life Of Pablo,” it seems to lack a thorough narrative, which is often the centerpiece of his albums. The content and structure of “Donda” from song to song is messy and 27 tracks is generally far too much for an album; there are a number of songs that could be taken out without much notice.

“Junya”, while very catchy and upbeat, does not seem to offer much lyrically to the album as a whole. “Remote Control” is nowhere near attention grabbing; that is, until the last 15 seconds of the song, when Kanye satirically samples the viral video “Globglogabgalab.” “Ok, ok,” featuring Fivio Foreign, Lil Yatchy and Rooga, is accurately described by the name of the song. While there are many songs like these that seem randomly placed within the album, the production is still top tier, and they don’t deserve extensive criticism.

Since the release of “Donda,” analysts have been split on their impressions of the highly anticipated project. The album has received a considerable amount of judgement, but forming a concrete opinion within just a few days is problematic. Projects of this magnitude must be replayed multiple times and analyzed closely to truly understand the complete depth of the sound, lyrics, and more. Individually, almost every song on this album deserves strong positive recognition, and if it was more structured, “Donda” would be a masterpiece.

This might be the return of The Throne/Hova and Yeezus, like Moses and Jesus.

dmcdaniels@redwoodbark.org

Photo Courtesy of WWD SURROUNDED BY LIGHTS beaming towards the sky, Kanye floats up above the crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during his first listening party on July 22.

September 9, 2021 bark Page 6 • Review Which rose from the The Bachelor franchise will you accept?

The Bachelorette

By Sam Kimball

Since its first episode in 2002, The Bachelor Franchise has showcased singles from around the world as they attempt to find love. From “The Bachelor” to “The Bachelorette” to “Bachelor in Paradise,” the franchise has caught viewers’ attention worldwide. Collectively, the three shows stand as one of the most-watched reality TV series in history. Although only a few couples find their happily-ever-after, viewers consistently return, season after season, to watch the drama and romance unravel. So, which of the three top Bachelor Franchise shows is most worth the watch? Read on to discover which rose you should really accept.

The Bachelor Although “The Bachelor” is the original of all the Bachelor Franchise shows, it is not a must-watch.

Season after season, the bachelor does not stand up for himself after getting heartbroken and continues to let drama persist in the house. While the limo entrances of “The Bachelorette” are exciting and entertaining, “The Bachelor” limo entrances are bleak and boring because of the lead’s unenthusiastic reactions. Despite suitors entering in lingerie or even on a throne, the most recent bachelor, Matt James, greeted everyone with an indifferent attitude. Self-proclaimed ‘Queen’ Victoria Larson quickly became the centerpiece of the drama, after presenting James with his very own crown on night one. Moments like these are examples of how the show is less romantically focused and more preoccupied with the shenanigans. Overall, “The Bachelor” needs to step up its game by choosing a spirited bachelor and a more genuine cast.

Photo courtesy of ABC

ENTERING ON HER throne moments before, Queen Victoria Larson meets bachelor Matt James.

From the hilarious limo entrances to the bromance of Michael Allio and Greg Grippo, “The Bachelorette” continues to display an eye-opening picture of what love truly is through constant unforgiving drama. The show dives into the struggles of finding a life-long partner but also features the beautiful moments that a blossoming relationship has to offer. The recent season of “The Bachelorette,” which concluded on August 9th, began with 30 men vying for bachelorette Katie Thurston’s heart. Taking place in New Mexico, the season was full of authentic connections. Grippo, a front runner of the season, instantly developed chemistry with Thurston after the limo scene. Bonding over the loss of their fathers, the couple’s relationship continued to flourish but ended in a heart-shattering break-up when Grippo left Thurston. Even after Grippo’s absence, Thurston continued her journey and found love. The show had a riveting conclusion when Blake Moynes proposed to her in the finale. As an avid Bachelor Franchise fan, I realized that seemingly endless drama is not always fun to watch. Despite its aforementioned issues, “The Bachelorette” is a better spinoff of the original “Bachelor.”

Bachelor in Paradise The most exciting, watch-worthy Bachelor Franchise show is surprisingly the newest spinoff. Currently in its 7th season, “Bachelor in Paradise” features past cast members from both “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” as they come together and take a second chance at finding love.

Filmed along a glamorous beach in Sayulita, Mexico, the singles arrive with a rose in hand and marriage in mind.

Over an invigorating three-week period, contestants mingle, flirt and form temporary relationships, hoping to eventually seal the deal. With new suitors arriving over the course of the show, “Bachelor in Paradise” is filled with tension and intense conflict. The men and women trade partners each week, awarding roses to whomever they have the strongest connection with. In the current season of “Bachelor in Paradise,” Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt meet on the beach and form a quick relationship, but the arrival of Thomas Jacobs complicates reality for Amabile.

This love triangle creates a captivating tension that will grasp your attention for the entire season. Although the show is very entertaining, the traditional rose ceremonies and dates from “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” are missed. Nevertheless, “Bachelor in Paradise” is a fastpaced, energetic show that offers the positive aspects of both “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”

Photo courtesy of TV Fanatic

GREETING THE SHOW’S cast, celebrity host David Spade checks in on the relationships forming on the beach.

Although all three shows possess flaws, each week bachelor nation excitedly awaits the release of more episodes. “The Bachelorette” starts its new season with Michelle Young on October 19th, “The Bachelor” will begin filming in the upcoming months and “Bachelor in Paradise” continues it season with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday night on ABC. sakimball@redwoodbark.com

Photo courtesy of ABC

CHATTING WITH EACH other, contestants Aaron Clancy, Tre Cooper and Noah Erb reflect on their experiences on “Bachelor in Paradise.”

Lorde lights up 2021 with her new album ‘Solar Power’

By Caroline Scharf On Aug. 20, indie-pop singer Lorde released her highly anticipated album, “Solar Power.” Lorde fans waited for this album for nearly four years, and many hoped it would live up to her previous album’s critical success. “Solar Power” introduced fans to a new sound that was more vibrant than ever before, but lacked a certain creative sound that is exercised in Lorde’s previous projects.

After her “Melodrama” tour in 2018, Lorde decided to take a break from recording, and took a few years off to rest before recording her next album.

“Solar Power” shifts away from Lorde’s previously melancholic music and utilizes a more optimistic outlook as she sings about how she has grown as a person.

In an interview with USA Today, Lorde elaborated on how her time in relaxation inspired a new direction of her music.

“If you told me [I would be inspired by going] for a walk in the park by your house every day for a year, I would have been like ‘No, no, no, I’m not gonna write an album about that,’ but I did,” Lorde said.

The title track, “Solar Power,” was released on June 11 and has accumulated 62.9 million streams on Spotify. An immediate change of pace from her previous releases, the track opens with an acoustic guitar and breathy vocals. Lorde’s voice is smooth as she explores escaping into nature to relieve the stresses of modern life. It’s full of catchy lyrics and has the upbeat feeling of a day near the ocean.

“Solar Power” isn’t the only song that

takes on a more carefree style. Her freespirited nature is also present in her song “Dominoes,” which is filled with cheerful strums of the acoustic guitar. There are clear influences of artists like Joni Mitchell in these tracks, as they embody a more stripped-down musical style. This approach is consistent throughout almost the entire project and is a major shift from her previous, more electronic-based songs.

One stand-out aspect of the album is its lyrical content. Lorde’s writing is extremely personal and each song gets the listener thinking about relationships, selfactualization and the state of the world.

“Stoned at the Nail Salon” shows themes of self-awareness, especially regarding how Lorde has grown up in the public eye. This track looks back on how Lorde has had doubts over her life in the music industry, and her lyrics get right to the point, accentuating her confused feelings over the life she’s chosen.

Her introspection also turns outward towards the world. The track “Mood Ring” dissects the ways that people use new-age wellness techniques to cope with their struggles. She sings, “You can burn sage, and I’ll cleanse the crystals/ We can get high, but only if the wind blows/ I can’t feel a thing/ I keep looking at my mood ring.” While the music is lively and upbeat, Lorde’s lyrics still emphasize deeper and thoughtful themes.

However, while lyrically diverse, “Solar Power” is musically repetitive.

Throughout the project, it’s easy to find similar-sounding instrumentation. The stripped-down sound is enjoyable, but it’s

Photo courtsey of Ophelia Mikkelson Jone

TAKING A TONAL shift from her traditional electronic music, Lorde uses a more stripped- down musical style. overused and can feel lackluster at times. This repetition is disappointing, as it is a step down from her previous album, “Melodrama,” in which each track had a distinct sound. The lack of diversity amongst the tracks ends up taking away from the overall listening experience.

“Solar Power” introduced fans to a new

sound from Lorde, and for many, it takes a few listens to fully appreciate. While struggling instrumentally, the album is a tonal breath of fresh air with beautiful songwriting and vocal talent. cscharf@redwoodbark.org

sports

Page 7

Varsity athletes commit despite COVID-19

By Dani Steinberg and Maddie Sofnas

With college sports rosters filling up, many athletes in the Class of 2022 are working to get recruited by top schools, while others have already decided where they will be spending the next four years. Although not many high school athletes aspire to continue their sport into college, numerous Redwood sports players have already secured a spot on a college team. According to a study conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, only 6.3 percent of high school athletes go on to play a sport in college at the Division I, II or III level. This illustrates the difficulty of not only getting recognition from college coaches, but also getting an offer to play on their team.

Senior varsity baseball player, Tyler Blair, began his recruiting process the summer before his sophomore year and committed to the University of California (UC) Berkeley this past summer. Blair is looking forward to his chance to play and improve as a Division I pitcher next fall.

“I would say my mindset and my mentality set me apart from other recruits. I’m always working to get better, never settling and never satisfied. Obviously, there are people that are better than me and I just want to get to their level,” Blair said.

During the recruiting process, there are several tools athletes utilize Photo courtesy of Tyler Blair to get noticed by college coaches. Varsity soccer player, Mia Curtaz, believes using highlights and game footage were key factors in attracting coaches, especially during COVID-19. Curtaz recently committed to Linfield University in Oregon, joining the 2.9 percent of high school girl soccer players who go on to play at the Division III level. She believes the hours of

Photo by Maddie Sofnas

WORKING HARD HELPED these six athletes reach their college aspirations.

communication with coaches has paid off immensely.

“If COVID-19 didn’t happen, I don’t know if I’d be “This year, it was super important to have highlight going to Indiana,” Watrous said. film because we were not playing as much and coaches Watrous believes what may set her apart from other couldn’t go places. Having the highlight film really helped recruits is her ability to adapt to any situation and be to [be able to] send them to coaches because then [coaches more prepared. got] a better idea of how you’re progressing in your “I’m a sprinter, and there are a lot play,” Curtaz said. of sprinters, but if I get thrown into a Lucas Ross, a varsity lacrosse player, recently distance group, which is longer and transferred back to Redwood this fall from more swimming … I can make it work.

International Managment Group [IMG] Academy.

Outside of swimming, I do a lot of dry He attended the academy from the second land and conditioning on my own,” said semester of his sophomore year through the Watrous.

2020-2021 school year. IMG Academy is a

Similar to Watrous, Sadie preparatory boarding school that specializes Leonard, a varsity softball pitcher, in sports, including a year round boys used COVID-19 as a time to reflect lacrosse program. With the majority of lacrosse and prepare for her upcoming season. recruiters being concentrated in New England, “I had time to be away from the Ross believed the virtual presentation of sport, and to realize that [softball] was himself created an even playing field. something that I really wanted [to continue].

“I think [skill videos and footage] were I wasn’t as happy when I wasn’t playing a defining piece of me getting recruited. For … [and COVID-19] made me realize that kids from the West Coast, it’s hard to gain traction playing in college was something that I because [lacrosse] is such a Northeast, prep school wanted,” Leonard said. sport. So for them to be able to see who I am and how After realizing the importance of softball I play without having to go to California or Florida, in her life, Leonard led Redwood to 17 it was very important. Otherwise, you [aren’t] seen,” wins in the 2020 season, and later committed Ross said. to Williams College in Massachusetts, a Fortunately, Ross’s skills and talent demonstrated Division III school. significant capability, and Colorado College, a Despite the benefits many athletes Division III school, extended an offer to him. found with COVID-19 and the extra Similar to many other athletes, senior time on their hands to practice, Ross Photo courtesy of Lucas Ross acknowledged the difficulty of being varsity lacrosse player Megan Minturn had complications in her recruiting process, as recruited during COVID-19 and the tournaments were widely inaccessible. related NCAA eligibility rule.

“Not being able to have my junior summer [where “All the college kids who were affected by scouts come and watch] was very chaotic and stressful. COVID-19 are still eligible, so they’re still on the team.

It was so important to get seen and get exposure during This takes up roster spots, which means that they don’t that time, and because of COVID-19, I couldn’t go to any have as much space [for incoming recruits],” Ross said. tournaments,” Minturn said. “We couldn’t fly and all these Regardless of the limited spots, other class of 2022 other [Northeast] teams were playing. They could drive to athletes have continued to commit to top colleges. tournaments, but we couldn’t get out there.”

According to NCAA Sports, 43 percent of spring college Despite the challenges, Minturn took advantage of coaches said they expect seniors to return for an extra her time away from tournaments through training and year of eligibility. This creates an overwhelming amount practicing on the field. This prepared her for tournaments of pressure for 2022 athletes to get recruited as colleges and showcases once they began. Her hard work and have less space available for them. But, by working hard persistence paid off, as Minturn committed to the and communicating with coaches, Ross believes that University of Michigan within a month of coaches seeing Redwood athletes can reach their goals and continue her play. committing to colleges.

“I feel like COVID-19 honestly helped me. I had so “It’s always the kid that works the hardest on the much free time and I would play lacrosse for two hours team. That’s the kid who’s going to end up in college,” every single day, do a workout and go on runs. I had Ross said. “Work hard and make sure to put yourself and nothing else to do, and I got a lot better,” Minturn said. your video out there. Send out emails and make phone Other Redwood athletes also used COVID-19 to their calls and you’ll get where you want to be.” advantage, like senior swimmer Cat Watrous, who has been swimming for her club team, North Bay Aquatics, since seventh grade and is now committed to Division I school, Indiana University. bark@redwoodbark.org

Gwen Kallmeyer splashes into her senior year

By Gillian Reynolds

As she begins her last year of high school, senior Gwen Kallmeyer jumps into the water polo season, a pool of opportunities awaiting her as one of the three captains for the Redwood girls’ varsity water polo team. She has been on varsity all four years of high school and has been playing for Sleepy Hollow Aquatics (SHAQ) water polo since middle school. Kallmeyer found her love for water polo at age 13 when her swim coach suggested she give the sport a try since she was a strong swimmer. Kallmeyer instantly fit into the community.

“I definitely liked water polo more [than swimming] because swimming is very repetitive. [However, in] water polo, there’s something new going on every game,” Kallmeyer said.

Kallmeyer is known as a leader on the team who brings a specific level of intensity. She works hard and has the right balance of fun as well as seriousness to her playing. Her skills have grown over the years and Coach Claire Buchanan, who has trained her for two seasons, agrees that her athletic ability and mindset add a lot to the team.

“She’s finding her strength and her patience which is really great to watch. She is an extremely strong and formidable opponent and she is someone [the younger girls] look up to,” Buchanan said.

Kallmeyer scored an average of four to six points per game last season making her the top goal scorer of the team. Buchanan confidently predicts she will continue to

hold that title this season. Kallmeyer also placed fourth in the North coast section of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF/NCS) for the women’s 400Y and placed 12th in Calif. state. Fellow captain and teammate Charlie Wolfert has been playing with Kallmeyer for the past four years, and she has seen her development first hand.

“She has been a great mentor to the beginners. She’s been playing the sport for a long time and has gotten a lot of perspective [and] her knowledge of the game has brought a lot to the team,” Wolfert said.

Wolfert is proud to see where Kallmeyer has ended up and is excited to spend their last season together.

“Last year we had a scrimmage against [Tamalpais High School and] we had lost to them previously [but this time] we worked really well together and ended up winning. We came through that together, and it was super fun,” Wolfert said.

Despite her love for the sport, Kallmeyer can’t dismiss the hardships she has faced, such as injuries and difficulties during COVID-19, but she feels that they truly make her and the team stronger, and further drive her passion for water polo.

“I have a lot of shoulder problems. I’ve always struggled with that and you always have to look out for yourself when you’re injured. I feel like I’ve overcome it and healed my body,” Kallmeyer said.

Kallmeyer has been in the recruiting process for the past year and hopes to play Division I water polo in college. As Kallmeyer’s last year at Redwood begins, she has a lot on her mind, but the water polo community is one

that continues to play a big role in her life, both in and outside of high school.

“Being [on] a team is super important [because] you have the ability to work hard together and everyone is working with you. It allows everyone to grow and get better together,” Kallmeyer said. greynolds@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Gillian Reynolds

SHOOTING ON TEAMMATES during practice, Kallmeyer winds up for a shot on goal

.

September 9, 2021 bark Page 8 • Sports Varsity football dominates College Park in first game

By Allie Vasquez

Bright blue skies, an unmasked crowd, 97-degree heat and absolute domination by the Redwood varsity football team on August 28 made for a great start to the 2021-2022 school year. In the first game of the season, Redwood’s varsity team crushed College Park 48-0.

Starting quarterback, junior Brady Weingart, led the team’s victory, throwing for five touchdowns, three of which went to receiver senior Nico Tribuzio. Weingart and Tribuzio both won preps of the week in the Marin Independent Journal, which was clearly well deserved after this showing. The game started off the season on the right foot, giving the team and Coach Allen Talley high hopes for the upcoming season.

“The game went well, but we really had to fight the heat. We don’t usually get that hot [on the field]. We do have to clean up the little mistakes, but all [of them] we made are very fixable. We’ve got to keep on working hard and cut down on them,” Talley said.

In addition to five touchdowns from Weingart and three from Tribuzio, senior Hudson Lavinsky, junior Miles Grossman, and junior Lincoln Brown were able to score a few important touchdowns as well. The Giants conquered the field, already winning 42-0 by half-time.

Since the 2020-2021 football season was postponed to spring and cut short to just five games instead of the usual ten, the players have not had as much time together over the past two years as they would have preferred.

Photo by Allie Vasquez

LINING UP TO attack, varsity players face their opponents head on.

Athletic trainer, Americ Alvarado, had concerns going into this season, fearing a lowered morale could lead to more injuries. But instead, he was amazed by the outcome.

“I was afraid that this would be the moment that would turn everybody off from sports. But I looked at the numbers that we have for all the sports across the board, and all of our athletics here have increased substantially, participation-wise. In the 13 years I’ve been here, we’ve never had to cut anybody from a team, or even have the opportunity to cut. This year we had so many kids try out [that] we’ve had to rearrange things to not make cuts,” Alvarado said.

Senior Valentino Starbird has been playing for the Redwood football team since his freshman year, and if given the chance, he intends to continue his athletic career next year in college. Being a part of the team has always been a pivotal part of his life. “[Being a part of] a group that you know, no matter what happens, you can always go back to has always been great. If you’re having a bad day, you can text the group chat or somebody individually and they will be there for you. That was nice to have going through high school,” Starbird said.

Redwood football started off with an easy win playing College Park, creating the best atmosphere for the first in-person start of school since 2019. After having their previous season cut from ten games to a mere five, the varsity Giants are eager to continue their winning streak this season.

Photo by Allie Vasquez

POINTING TO THE sideline, junior Miles Grossman communicates with his teammates.

Photo by Allie Vasquez

JUMPING IN CELEBRATION, senior Nico Tribuzio and junior Rowe Stodolnic share a shoulder bump after Tribuzio scores a touchdown. avasquez@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Allie Vasquez

ENERGIZING THE TEAM after a touchdown, cheerleaders rally to engage the crowd.

Opinion: Swapping medals for mental health

By Bella Piacente On July 27, 2021, news that American gymnast Simone Biles had dropped out of the team competition in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, hit headlines across the globe. This came as a huge shock, as Biles is widely considered “the best female gymnast of all time.” After she announced that her decision to withdraw from the competition was due to mental health issues, many responded with overwhelming support, while others shamed her for being a ‘quitter’. This sparked a debate that has been brought up time and time again about the importance of mental health in sports. We need to stop pushing athletes past their mental capacity to achieve success in sports, and instead let them pause their athletic endeavors to prioritize mental health.

Although many were surprised by Biles’ withdrawal from the competition, this isn’t the first time we have seen Olympians, or any professional athlete for that matter, have the intensity of their sport negatively impact their mental health. Athletes for Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides mental health resources for athletes, reports that 35 percent of professional athletes suffer from mental health complications such as stress, eating disorders, depression and anxiety. Among these professional athletes, only a few, including Biles, have come forward about their struggles with mental health.

Back in 2016, American swimmer Michael Phelps was on his way to compete in his penultimate Olympic games. Just before the competition began, he spoke publicly about his struggles with mental health. He expressed that even though the title he holds as the most decorated and successful Olympian in history was, and still is, an enormous feat, the pressure that came along with it was unmanageable.

“I felt like I was carrying, like Simone said, the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s a tough situation. ... I hope

this is an eye-opening experience,” Phelps said in an interview following Biles’ withdrawal.

Recently, just a few months before the Tokyo Olympics, U.S. tennis player Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open due to mental health complications.

Throughout her athletic career, Osaka has spoken openly about her battle with depression and anxiety. While she took a break from playing tennis, she worked to both improve and speak publicly about her mental health journey to positively influence others.

“Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up I may have saved a life,” Osaka said. “If that’s true, then it was all worth it.”

From 2016 to 2021, these Olympians, among many others, have been public about their mental health journeys. However, even though these Olympic

Illustration by Brooke Leslie

athletes have broken the silence about mental health awareness in sports, it’s a deeply rooted issue found in all kinds of athletes.

Donovan Martin, a research facility supporting athletes with mental barriers in sports, found that student-athletes tested for higher levels of negative emotional conditions than non-studentathletes. An additional study published

by Martin shows that nearly 25 percent of collegiate athletes have clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Based on the overwhelming reports from student, collegiate and Olympic athletes, it is clear that mental health issues among athletes is a widespread and systemic issue.

When I first saw the news about Biles, I resonated with it as I’ve watched friends suffer from the expectations set in the same sport of gymnastics for years, combating similar mental health complications. My mom

is a gymnastics coach, and growing up I have watched many of her trainees struggle with the rigor and intensity of the sport. Many of these gymnasts became incredibly successful, some even going off to join the national team. However, each success came at a price, and many pushed their bodies and minds to their limits.

Medals, awards and “wins” were achieved only by personal sacrifices, ultimately creating an unhealthy imbalance in their lives. Gymnasts were forced to choose between quitting the sport they grew up loving, or struggling mentally to keep up with demanding training and competition schedules.

As the topic of mental health in sports is being discussed more openly following Biles’ withdrawal from the Olympics, there has also been a movement of people criticizing her. Two popular commentators in the argument have been Charlie Kirk and Piers Morgan. Both commentators claim that their resentment towards her sprouts from her “lack of patriotism and strength.” On Kirk’s podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, he said, “we are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles.” Like Kirk, Morgan also shared his dismay of Biles in a Tweet, writing, “sorry Simone Biles, but there’s nothing heroic or brave about quitting because you’re not having ‘fun,’ you let down your teammates, your fans and your country.” Both Kirk and Morgan have created a pool of supporters following their views on Biles, however,others have scrutinized their criticism of her, rightfully so.

This immature and dehumanizing behavior directed towards Biles further proves that we need to stop shaming athletes who come forward about their struggles with mental illness, and rather provide support for their wellbeing before their athletic careers. Let’s start putting athletes’ mental health in “1st place.”

ipiacente@redwoodbark.org

feature

Page 9

The US birth rate falls as environmental sustainability stalls

By Sophie Smallhorn In light of growing climate concerns, younger generations are questioning the future of an overpopulated planet. On a national level, the population fluctuates for three reasons: birth, death and migration.

Although the U.S. population continues to increase, the growth rate has slowed each year since 2015. In 2020, the U.S. birth rate fell for the sixth consecutive year to the lowest levels since 1979. The replacement rate to maintain population levels is 2.1 births per woman, but the U.S. currently sits at 1.6 births per woman.

Fewer children being born impacts more than just numbers.

Demography, the study of statistics relating to population, illustrates the changing structure of human populations and how it affects the economic, political and environmental makeup of a country. Sociology and political science professor at the College of Marin, Robert Ovetz, believes that both the U.S. and the global population are tapering off. A decreasing population, however, does not automatically solve all pre-existing issues relating to the population size. The term overpopulation does not necessarily signify a planet overflowing with people; it refers to the scarcity of resources, which fuel discrimination.

“It’s hard to say what overpopulation is. It depends on what your priorities are. We also have to be careful about saying we are overpopulated because that has some eugenic consequences.

What’s too many people, and what kind of people are too many?” Ovetz said.

Essentially, affluence is the primary cause of the declining birth rate in the U.S. Today, more women attain higher degrees of education than ever before, making up the majority of college students, according to The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). A study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) found that women with at least one year of college education have sharply lower fertility windows than less educated women, regardless of race or origin. Joel E. Cohen, a professor of populations at Columbia University, explains that women who have children by their mid 20’s are more likely to avoid long educational tracks.

Careers also cause women to delay having children, giving them less time to give birth while fertile. Along with the increase of women in the workforce, the ambitions of women have changed too, according to Sophia Chung, a senior who does not plan on having children.

“I think our generation might be less inclined to want children because as times go on, women realize that their purpose is less to have children. In older times, I feel like women didn’t think they had much of a choice,” Chung said.

During times of widespread financial insecurity, the desire to have children decreases. Regardless of a country’s affluence, some generations may face more challenges than their predecessors. The Federal Reserve’s study on consumer finances suggests that U.S. millennials are amassing less wealth, and falling into greater debt than previous generations. Ovetz connects this financial insecurity to many millennials’ decision to not have children.

“There are no real child support or childcare systems. Women are refusing to take on a second and third [jobs.] So, the response is women are saying ‘I’m going to wait until I’m more financially secure.’ You have an older age of birth, which means fertility rates are going down because you have that much less time to give birth while you’re still fertile,” Ovetz said.

Environmental concerns also affect the

“In the global north, populations are shrinking. You have this population pyramid where the base is getting smaller and people are living longer [because of wealth]. There are all kinds of consequences for that,” Ovetz said. “For example, a lot of other wealthy countries have more generous pension systems [provided by the government] than we do. [Yet], there are fewer people paying in at the base, and [taxpayers] are covering more and more people.”

The smaller working class population, resulting from fewer children, means the U.S. has more available jobs; those currently employed actually earn higher wages. Although with fewer workers, each must work harder, Ovetz sees population decline as beneficial.

“When you have a tighter labor supply, unemployment goes down, which has an upward push on wages,” Ovetz said. “Tight labor marketing is actually good because wages have not really grown in 40 years and there are still millions of people working at minimum wage and trying to survive. I think it is a good thing Infographic by Caroline Scharf that the population is shrinking.”

The consequence, however, is a less competitive decision to have children. According to an Amnesty International survey on the state of human rights, four economy. In order to raise the working class out of 10 young people view climate change as one of population without paying citizens to have kids, the most pressing global issues. Fearful of the planet’s immigration policy must change. A 2000 simulation run future, Chung does not plan on having children for by the United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs found that by 2050, Europe’s this exact reason.

“I do not want to bring children into a world that population is set to fall by 17 percent without migration.

“About four or five years ago, Germany took [about] is being ravaged by so many environmental and humanitarian issues. I think if our government was two million refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Libya. able to work with scientists and put together a short- They did it for this exact reason: they have a graying term and long-term plan that we could actually see population and labor shortage. It has worked out coming through, I would feel more comfortable,” relatively well for them,” Ovetz said.

An opinion in the New York Times published in Chung said.

Despite enough land to accommodate a growing Aug. 2021 encouraged the U.S. to take similar action as population, the Global Footprint Network estimates Canada which initiated a Provincial Nominee Program it would take five Earths to support the human in 1998. Based on population needs, it gives provinces population if everyone’s consumption patterns a quota of immigrants to sponsor. After passing a basic were similar to the average American. However, background and health check, immigrants from all over population is just one part of the environmental the world acquire sponsorship for permanent residency. equation and does not eliminate the impacts of The average processing period is about 18 months, consumption, according to Mitch Cohen, AP compared to the U.S. which could take years.

Another potential consequence of a national lower environmental science teacher.

“Environmental impact is a function of birth rate is its effect on retirement and social security, three things: population, consumption and which Ovetz believes require reassessment.

“Medicare is on the verge of running out of technology. If the population rises, the only way to mitigate the environmental impact is money. Social security still has [about] 20 years. The demographic factors are going to cause to reduce consumption, improve technology those programs to reach the point or some combination thereof,” Cohen where they are taking in just said. “What you see is consumption what they are putting out,” going up on a global level: Ovetz said. as less developed countries Involving the become developed, they are government with the consuming more. We are birth rate does not putting a lot of hope into the guarantee a solution to technology.” what might come of a Instead of solely relying changing population. on technology to save the While birth rates environment, having one certainly matter, the less child could remove a lifetime’s actions taken by U.S. consumption. Published in the citizens will do more to journal Climatic Change, a survey promote sustainability. of 600 people aged 27 to 45 found “Yes, population does that 96 percent were very or extremely matter to the environment; concerned about the wellbeing of their more kids, more resources. [But] potential future children in a world ravaged Illustrations by Keely Ganong I think the flip side is that the world by climate change. needs educated children that are “In some ways, you could say that having children might be a little selfish. It has a lot to do with going to be able to help solve these problems,” Cohen personal utility and gratification. [You are] bringing said.

Scientists predict the earth’s population will stabilize someone into this world [that] is like a version of between 9 and 10 billion people once the global fertility you,” Chung said.

If more people have opinions similar to Chung, rate reaches the replacement rate. Without environmental the climate could benefit from the birth rate decline action taken, whether our children will live to see that in the U.S. However, the question remains about what day remains uncertain. would happen to the country if it continued declining.

Ovetz predicts that having fewer children combined with longer lifespans might affect the economy. ssmallhorn@redwoodbark.org

20 years of re the lasting im

By Hollis Belger and Anna Royal

where the second plane hit.

“It wasn’t too many minutes before a television broadcast said that a plane had hit World Trade Center “It was like confetti, as if they were having a parade One. Most of us assumed it was a commuter plane or on Broadway for the New York Yankees winning the something that was off-course, flying down the Hudson,” World Series … But there were also balls of fire bigger Doug said. “After a few minutes, there was a broadcast than basketballs, just black gobs of stuff on fire that were saying everyone should go to the [nearest] emergency fire reporting station.” falling down. [I had] Doug decided not to follow absolutely no idea the large crowd of people exiting what had happened,” through a stairwell, a decision that Marin County saved his life. Instead, Doug went resident Douglas back to his office to make phone (Doug) Brown said. calls when the second plane hit his On Sept. 11, building.

2001, members of “I was sitting at my desk [and] the terrorist group the next thing I knew, I was on the Al-Qaeda carried floor … I got up, wasn’t hurt and out an attack on I walked out from my office and the U.S. Four looked out over our open floor and commercial airplanes part of the ceiling had fallen, and to were hijacked and my surprise, there were only six of two crashed into us still left,” Doug said. the Twin Towers Meanwhile, Doug’s wife, Alice in New York City.

Brown, was back in New Jersey and One crashed into the learned of the attack while watching Pentagon just outside the Today Show. of Washington and “As soon as I saw on TV [that] the aiming directly second plane for the capital, hit, I knew it the fourth plane was [Doug’s] crashed just outside building,” the city, rerouted Alice said. “I by a courageous guess it never passenger uprising. really occurred Almost 3,000 people to me that he were killed as a wouldn’t come result of the attacks, including civilians, Photo by Hollis Belger home. And now flight passengers, DAVID PRATT AND the Tiburon Firehouse that I look back firefighters and first participate in ceremonies honoring fallen firemen. on that, I’m thinking, responders. Twenty Whoa How could I not years later, the legacy of this traumatic event still lives on in many Americans. have realized that that was a Doug is one of possibility?’”

Back in Marin, history very few people on high floors of teacher Lindsey Kornfeld the building to was a student at Redwood have survived when 9/11 occurred. She the attacks on and other students crammed the World Trade into classrooms to watch the Centers. Living in news of the attacks unfold.

New Jersey at the TVs strapped to rolling carts time, Doug had been displayed the horrifying in a meeting on the recordings of the planes 0th floor in World crashing, over and over Trade Center Two, again.

“An image I will never eight floors below forget is watching that plane hit. And we see it, we

show it and we talk about it in school [now], but seeing it first thing [that] morning, not knowing what [was] going to happen next, will always stay with me,” Kornfeld said.

Dean Bonfigli, a lieutenant with the Tiburon Fire District, recalls the same tension that was transmitted from his car radio while driving to work that morning, though he was not in the fire service at that time. nce he absorbed the enormity of what had happened, Bonfigli worried about additional attacks and the global chaos that would ensue following the event.

“I was just shocked [and in] disbelief … But then [there] started to be a little vision of, ‘Oh my gosh! This is going to evolve into something greater.’ More importantly, change was coming. The world as we knew it was not going to be the same,” Bonfigli said.

As Americans like Bonfigli and Kornfeld watched the attacks in safety, Doug’s situation in New York was intensifying.

“I’d had no clue what had happened, the smoke just started to flood in from the floor. We walked around the corner towards the stairs and they [the stairs] were just gone. There was nothing there [but then] out of the dark a voice came that said, ‘Follow me!’” Doug said.

The voice was revealed to be a security guard who led Doug and others to a secret stairwell protected from the crash. They made their way down the stairs, aiding panicked and severely injured victims along the way, including a man named Sylvian.

“Sylvian, who I did not know at that point in time, had been impaled by shrapnel just above his heart. Luckily it missed and was embedded in his breastbone. He looked like burnt charcoal,” Doug said.

Carrying Sylvian to safety, Doug escaped the building and safely delivered him to medical professionals. Minutes later, Doug rounded the corner to wait in line to use one of the only operating landlines in the city. He then watched World Trade Center One collapse to the ground.

After this traumatic event, Doug’s story was featured on an Oprah Winfrey TV special, a 60 Minutes segment and a spread in People Magazine — an example of the heroism and resilience of so many during these horrific times. However, Doug prefers to focus on the people he considers to be the true heroes the first responders who risked their own lives to save others.

“We got down to about the 1 th floor and two firemen were working their way up,” Doug said, looking back on his experiences escaping the desolate building. “I wish I knew who [those] two men were [who] walked up the steps because undoubtedly they died. They were the heroes. The heroes [were] the people walking up the steps.”

Bonfigli emphasizes reverence for the firefighters and first responders who sacrificed themselves on 9/11. He and other Marin firefighters attended the tenth anniversary memorial in New York City in 2011.

“It was an emotional weekend [and] to see the outpouring of support from the communities and to hear some stories were very

emembrance, mpacts of 9/11 else, I was trying to figure out what was going on all day,” Mandell said. “As the day went on, we kind of suspected what probably transpired.”

Mandell remembers Colasanti for his unconditional love, loyalty and radiance.

“Dom was a diamond in the rough… He was just a soul that everyone wanted to be around,” Mandell said. “Dom was one of those people that everybody liked. He was one of those people that lit up a room.”

Dartmouth recently built a state-of-the-art indoor training facility, which is used by the men’s soccer team. Friends and classmates of Colasanti raised funds to dedicate the new locker room to their late friend.

Mandell, who will attend the official presentation, reflects on how he was changed by his loss on 9/11.

“I always kind of had that feeling that life isn’t fair, but that really made it pretty accurate [and emphasized] the randomness of life. We can be in control and do what we want, but at the end of the day, anything can happen to you. I also have the philosophy of living in the moment and really leveraging every moment you have,” Mandell said.

The events of that day similarly transformed Doug’s outlook on life, and he focused on the importance of helping others and contributing to his own community.

“I realized that it’s better to be remembered than to just die and have all your memories go away. So within a couple of weeks after 9/11, I finally committed to something I’d thought about doing. I started tutoring a second grader through our church,” Doug said.

After tutoring students in New York and Marin County, Doug has devoted himself as a Board Member of the Buckelew Programs, a regional nonprofit providing services in Marin, including mental health counseling, suicide prevention, recovery treatment and assisted living.

The intensity of Doug’s personal experience during 9/11 led to significant life changes. Kornfeld, who was much more distant from the tragedy, reflects on the

I remember there were American flags everywhere [at Redwood]. The spirit ball was painted. People were so pro-United States. It didn’t matter your political [views] and I ... hope that [Generation Z] will have the chance to see an America that’s as united.

Lindsey Kornfeld, history teacher moving. We wore our class-A uniforms around the city that whole day,” Bonfigli said. “Regardless of what our patch said, people viewed us in the same light. It felt good to be a part of that.”

Bonfigli and other local firefighters have their own way of honoring the firefighters who sacrificed their lives on 9/11. He wears a “343” sticker on his helmet, signifying the number of firefighters and paramedics who were killed as a result of the attacks.

“I wear a 343 sticker on my helmet, in memory of the fallen brothers and sisters from New York. [I have] just swelling, pride, just to see the selflessness of the people that day,” Bonfigli said.

9/11 memorials occur annually at churches, fire stations and other locations across the county.

“I know all fire stations in Marin County... [have] everybody go out by the flagpole and do a bell ceremony. [The] flags go to half mast [and there is a] moment of silence. A lot of the churches around the area do a Memorial service and try to incorporate people from the different fire agencies,” Bonfigli said.

This year, on the 20th anniversary, similar memorials are being held throughout the country for fallen American citizens. Christopher (Dom) Colasanti, a 33-year-old husband, and father of two girls, was working in the World Trade Center’s second tower at the time of the attacks and did not survive. A close friend of Colasanti’s from college, Ross Mandell, lived in the Bay Area at the time. Mandell and Colasanti had met as undergraduates at Dartmouth, where they both played soccer.

“I heard the news and I immediately tried to call my buddy who was in the building. Like everyone

Photo by Anna Royal

DOUG BROWN AND his wife, Alice, reflect on their experience 20 years ago in New York City.

larger scale of the impact of 9/11.

“I mean, our country’s never been the same. Your generation will never know going to the [airport] gate and [not having] to take off your shoes and [take out] your laptop. Everything from the little things like that through [the fact that] we’ve been at war for 20 years,” Kornfeld said.

Kornfeld was struck by the American patriotism that followed the events in her own backyard.

“I remember there were American flags everywhere [at Redwood]. The spirit ball was painted. People were so pro-United-States,” said Kornfeld. “It didn’t matter your political [views] and I … hope that [Generation Z] will have the chance to see an America that’s as united.”

bark@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Brooke Leslie

bark

Page 12 • Feature

September 9, 2021

Through the smoke: fire, fear and moving forward

By Peter Biss Wildfires have always been the monster under the bed for Californians, sneaking out from the yellowed brush when the weather is warm and the drought is intolerable. And while it has always been present, this monster has been particularly cruel during the pandemic, as five of California’s largest wildfires have swept the Golden State in the past year and a half.

As a longtime Calif. resident, Redwood Living Earth and Chemistry teacher Mark Summary struggles to remain optimistic when better years are nowhere in sight.

“Fire seasons are getting longer [in California],” Summary said. “Warmer temperatures mean that you’re more likely to have extremes, and you’re more likely to have drier vegetation and fires in places that historically did not have devastating wildfires.”

The town of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, where Redwood sophomore Evie Giordano had once enjoyed spending time at her family’s second home, is one such area that had comparatively low fire risk only a decade ago. This all changed however, when years of evacuation warnings turned into the evacuation orders for the Sonoma–Lake–Napa Unit Lightning Complex Fires (LNU Lightning Complex Fires) which consumed some 1,491 structures, including the Giordano family’s home, to just chimneys and sidewalk.

“We found out on Aug. 24 [in 2020] and school was starting the next week,” Giordano said, “Everything completely burned to the ground. Our home, all the trees in the surrounding area, all my childhood belongings … gone.”

However, for recovering fire victims hoping to start a new life, there may be some direction amongst the chaos. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently raised significant funding for the improved Fiscal Year 2020 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program which has dedicated itself to “provid[ing] critically needed resources to carry out fire prevention education and training, fire code enforcement, fire/arson investigation, firefighter safety and health programming, prevention efforts, and research and development.”

The DHS has additionally reserved an unheard of $710 million to Assistance to Firefighter and Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants.

According to Napa District supervisor Diane Dillon, the county has received significant state and federal grants from the DHS. And, after the roaring Atlas, Tubbs and Nuns fires of 2017 surrounded the county, fire safety and evacuation procedures have become a priority.

“I grew up in Napa and remember a huge fire in 1981, but to see it happen to this county in 2017, in 2018 and last year — it was a wake up call that signaled something different,” Dillon said, which Napa county has since learned to act on.

“Our sheriff came up with the idea of using highlow sirens which, while [commonly] used in Europe, are not [historically] used in the United States.” Dillon said.

In the U.K., high-low sirens are recognized by their unique two-tone frequency and are used to alert residents of the need to evacuate. In 2018, Napa became the first county in the United States to utilize high-low sirens; now found throughout California. According to Dillon, these sirens are particularly useful in areas with poor cell phone reception, where National Alert Systems, such as Nixel, often fail to work.

Another sheriff-born idea was the distribution of evacuation tags, which evacuees put up on their front door or gate to inform local officials of their leave. Also implemented in 2018, these tags were used by Napa residents when evacuation warnings were given during the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex fire.

In recent years, Napa County has also taken up extensive fuel mitigation projects. Fuel mitigation is the practice of manually clearing debris and vegetation which makes wildfires easier to manage. While the process is more labor intensive and expensive than procedures like prescribed burnings, it takes less time to be approved by institutions such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management Board (BAAQMB). According to Dillon, The BAAQMB has always been strict, and before approved firefighters can even begin the process, there must be near-perfect wind conditions, low temperatures and sufficient moisture content outside. Additionally, even if the board approves such measures, the state of California is divided into Federal Fire Responsibility Areas (FRAs), Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) and State Responsibility Areas (SRAs), which further slows and complicates the procedure.

While fire management projects still require applications and procedures because of the National Background photo courtesy of Flickr

Before

After

Photo courtesy of Evie Giordano

WHAT REMAINED OF Evie Giordano’s home after Aug. 19, 2020 was unrecognizable. Before the LNU Lightning Complex Fires, it was her mother’s forever-home, love and ongoing project.

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and stricter California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), it is important that at-risk counties like Napa take action now and year-round, making fire management the obvious, if not only choice.

Taking after Napa, the Central Marin County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) has now integrated high-low sirens and evacuation tags. As for fire management projects, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority has allotted $774,000 to wildfire prevention and mitigation projects in counties near Marin. This is a crucial step to ensure the greater safety and confidence of at-risk communities of the Bay

You never think it’s going to happen to you... until it’s too late to prepare.

Area, in addition to the lives and wellbeing of recovering families like the Giordanos.

“When you hear about it on the news, [wildfires are] definitely one of those things where you think, ‘Oh, people’s houses are burning down; ‘That’s so crazy,’” Giordano said, “You never think it’s going to happen to you … until it’s too late to prepare.”

Evie Giordano, sophomore

pbiss@redwoodbark.org

opinion

Page 13

We do not need a New(som) governor

By Casey Braff On the first day of school, I read an article about the recall of Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom in my government class. I expected to learn about why some people wanted him recalled and how he would sweep the subsequent election. However, to my surprise, I discovered that Newsom is predicted to win by only a 3 percent margin. Furthermore, the election doesn’t just decide if Newsom loses his position — it also determines California’s next governor. If Newsom were to be recalled, all of the progress he’s made would be lost. Redwood students and parents should vote against the recall, because even though Newsom has taken some missteps, he has still managed a great deal of adversity during his administration and is the best possible option.

Governor Newsom has created and implemented countless beneficial policies for the state of California. He placed a moratorium on executions, made it more difficult for police officers to legally justify killing innocent civilians and helped protect LGBTQ+ rights. Additionally, he passed the biggest economic stimulus bill ever, banned evictions during COVID-19 and set up hotels across the state for people experiencing homelessness.

Our country’s leaders recognize Newsom’s efforts for California. Newsom is endorsed by US President Joe Biden, who said in a statement on Aug. 12, “Governor Newsom is leading California through an unprecedented crisis. He is a key partner in fighting the pandemic and delivering economic relief to working families and helping us build our economy back better than ever. He’s taking on the climate crisis and standing up for the rights of women, immigrants and the LGBTQ community…. Registered California voters should vote no...and keep California moving forward.”

Additionally, the editorial boards of many of California’s most prominent newspapers have endorsed Newsom. The Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Sacramento Bee all say that the recall is pointless and a waste of money.

Even more important than Newsom’s successes and

endorsements are the potential repercussions of his recall. economy also took a huge hit due to the pandemic, which This recall is truly a bipartisan issue; those running to many argue could have been avoided by lifting restrictions replace him are not qualified to be governor. The current earlier. Unemployment reached an all-time high, and leading candidate is Larry Elder, a libertarian and radio thousands lost their jobs or ended up homeless. One of the talk-show host. He is running on promises to help end biggest controversies was when Newsom was caught in homelessness and fund public schools, but he does not December dining unmasked and indoors at a restaurant in believe in climate change, and he wants to take away Napa. This hypocritical incident was controversial while womens’ right to abortion and eliminate the minimum Newsom was urging Californians to practice COVID-19 wage. Elder would undermine climate change efforts, safety procedures. While this controversy should not which could lead to be taken lightly, Newsom has more droughts and done more to help than harm wildfires and eradicate during the pandemic. Newsom the minimum wage, saved thousands of lives by destroying the economy implementing the lockdowns. and people’s livelihoods.

Additionally, Newsom is not If Elder is elected as responsible for California’s governor, Californians economic downturn, as the will lose vital rights and entire country faced the greatest reforms. economic crisis in a century.

Despite the Most importantly, the benefits significance of this of Newsom’s governance, like election, many California getting California to be the 13th voters still do not realize most vaccinated state per capita that, in addition to and passing the largest economic deciding Newsom’s fate, relief bill in California history, they would also elect would not have happened his replacement. Many under any other governor. Not are choosing not to vote only has he successfully fought because they do not COVID-19, but he has made understand what is at massive progress in regard to stake. Only 25 percent the environment and social of Californians are justice, advances with which his Illustration by Keely Ganong registered Republicans, yet a predicted 47 competitors would interfere. percent of California voters will be voting in favor of the It is incredibly important to vote in this election. Every recall. vote matters. Even if you don’t support Newsom, he is Those who want Newsom recalled may have legitimate a far better option than his opponents. 18 year-olds can concerns. Newsom placed California under a strict and register to vote, and both 16 and 17-year-olds can prelong-lasting lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, register at https://registertovote.ca.gov. Use your voice in shutting down businesses and keeping many students out this landmark election on Sep. 14. of in-person school for almost a year, while his children were fully in person at their private school. California’s cbraff@redwoodbark.org

The athletic advantage: unfairness in college admissions

By Samantha Elegant After countless hours of staring at your computer, attempting to push through your college essays, you take a break to scroll through Instagram when a new story pops up. The words, “I’m so excited to announce my commitment to _____ University to further my athletic career!” appears while the student poses with a smile on their face, dressed in their new Ivy League merch.

You keep tapping and see a dozen other posts, congratulating their friend for their early acceptance into college, while you sit there wishing you too could be done with the grueling process of applications.

Although there is no doubt these students deserved their spots at these top colleges athletically, one cannot dismiss their significant advantage in the admissions process.

All college students, both athletes and nonathletes, should have to meet the academic standards of the schools, and student-athletes should not be given such preference over their non-athlete counterparts.

This issue is quite apparent at Ivy League schools in particular. According to the Bark 2021 Senior Edition, of the 12 students going to Ivy League schools, eight of them were committed athletes. Although we cannot verify the GPAs or test scores of these students, the matter still stands that two-thirds of them were recruited for sports.

In 2018, Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) filed an analysis on Harvard’s admissions data in court. It found that Harvard applicants are ranked on a oneto-six scale based on their academic

qualifications and that 70 percent of athletes ranked with a four got accepted, while only 0.076 percent of non-athletes with a four did. Furthermore, 83 percent of athletes with a six (the highest academic score) got accepted, compared to only 16 percent of nonathletes. Additionally, in a study conducted by Princeton University, the advantage athletes have in admissions

Association (NCAA) Initial-Eligibility sliding scale, athletes are only required to have a 2.3-grade average for Division I sports in the Ivy Leagues, while it is implied that non-athletes in Ivy Leagues generally need a 4.0 unweighted GPA. Additionally, the Council of Ivy Group Presidents made the Academic Index (AI) “to monitor the academic qualifications of recruited athletes” using class rank, SAT scores and SAT subject tests. At Harvard,

Illustration by Isabella Lombardo

is parallel to having a 1400 vs. a 1200 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

The staggering numbers clearly display how college admissions favor athletes.

But, not only are student-athletes favored — they are also often held at a lower academic standard by admissions. In the Harvard Crimson, Harvard squash team recruiting coordinator Luke Hammond claims coaches don’t even consider recruiting athletes if they don’t meet academic standards. However, according to the National Collegiate Athletic

Yale and Princeton, a recruited athlete needs only an AI of 171 to be accepted, despite the overall campus average being 220. The closer to the campus average, the higher the admission chances.

But, the fact that athletes are admitted from below the standard deviation from the Campus AI at all implies that athletes do not have to perform as well in school and are admitted regardless.

Yes, it could be argued that because athletes dedicate so much time to their sports, they are not able to focus on school as much, and therefore they shouldn’t have to meet such high academic expectations, but that’s completely unfair. Advanced dancers, artists, actors and musicians

devote similar, if not the same, amounts of time to their activities, but are not awarded the same leisure. For the most part, these students not only have to be accepted into the school academically but into their respective programs as well, which means double the opportunity to get rejected.

Additionally, it is understandable that colleges place significant emphasis on athletes considering that athletics generate a great deal of popularity and revenue. For example in 2019, the Ivy Leagues made $30.1 million just in football. However, as Ivy League schools are nonprofit, their goal should not be to make money, and therefore, should instead focus on academics. After all, going to college is called getting a “higher education” for a reason.

Finally, to understand how colleges place such importance on athletics, so much so that academics fall into the background, one must simply think back to the Varsity Blues Scandal. As reported by the Harvard Crimson, Villanova University sociology professor Rick Eckstein said, “None of this stuff [in the scandal] would have worked unless the system existed where coaches get these preferential slots and admissions officers are kind of part of the system.”

My goal is not to discredit the athletic achievements of studentathletes. They have devoted significant numbers of hours to their respective sports and that’s not something I am trying to take away from them. However, we must recognize their unfair advantage in college admissions and advocate for our community to become aware of this as the Class of 2022 embarks on their college application process.

selegant@redwoodbark.org

September 9, 2021 bark Page 14 • Opinion A loss, not a crime: why suicide victims deserve to be acknowledged

By Samantha Michaels As high school students, we tend to think that we are invincible. We believe the inevitable hardships of the outside world aren’t meant to hit us until later in our lives.

However, reality has a way of striking at the most unexpected times, and does so, regardless of our age. Experiencing the loss of an adolescent has a unique way of impacting an entire community. It is an experience that requires acknowledging the victim and taking time to grieve. However, in cases of suicide, many people, and those who they impacted, are stripped of the right to celebrate the persons life, due to the stigma around the subject. While it is understandable that school administrations are worried about glorifying suicide, students should still have the right to honor the life of their fallen classmate. Instead of ignoring the event, it should be used to proactively help other students who are struggling.

Recently, a senior attending Novato High School and a member of our community took his life. For Novato High School, this marks the loss of their fourth student in four years due to suicide. Friends and classmates of the victim asked to paint a parking spot in his name, as well as place flowers, in his honor, by the lacrosse field where he once played. However, the request for a parking spot memorial was denied, and the flowers that students placed on the field were found dumped in a nearby trash can a few days later. In order to “satisfy” the student body’s request, the administration allowed the class president to briefly mention him at their first school assembly and sent a vague email regarding his death to the entire school district. Frustrated by their school’s response, many of his classmates participated in a non-school affiliated memorial service and passed around wristbands advocating for suicide awareness, but have still asked for more school involvement in honoring his name.

Apart from supplying extra counselors during the first week of school, which was not highly publicized to the entirety

of the student body, the administration has continued to turn a blind eye to the situation and the students’ requests. For a school that has dealt with this issue several times in recent years, the culture of silence and inactivity around the topic needs to end, especially if students are taking an active role in requesting more support from their advisors.

While there is no right way to “handle” a recent suicide, many of the top suicide prevention agencies across the country suggest that after a suicide has occured, faculty should take necessary steps to ensure that the rest of the student body has access to the various mental health resources.

According to the After a Suicide Handbook, issued by the Suicide Prevention Research Center, the response team must assist anyone in need of support. Additionally, the struggles of the deceased must be addressed to avoid giving off the

impression that suicide is an effective answer to one’s suffering. Following these steps starts with acknowledging the situation at hand. The administration has full control over how the event is handled and if they are proactive about promoting a positive connotation with his life, other students can be saved.

Furthermore, ignoring the incident is only going to give the impression that suicide is an effective solution to the pain of mental illness. According to the Suicide Prevention help guide, most students who are struggling with mental illness don’t want to die, they just want a resolution to their pain.

If the administration is proactive, they can show that there are more options for students who are struggling, potentially preventing other suicides in the future.

A loss of any kind in the community deserves to be acknowledged, but more often than not, lives taken by suicide are not recognized the same way

Illustration by Brooke Leslie

lives taken by other causes are. The stigma around suicide creates a connotation that death from other causes is “more admirable” than death involving suicide.

However, a loss is a loss regardless of the circumstances of the passing and talking about it is not meant to commend death, but to appreciate the life of the victim.

In an article in Nevada Today, Marina Murphy, a lecturer at University of Nevada, Reno, conveys how detrimental our way of discussing suicide is for those at risk of harming themselves.

“When someone completes suicide, in response to the question of how they died, the common answer is ‘they committed suicide.’ We utilize the same term to describe crime: ‘he committed a felony’ or other negative acts,” Murphy said. “In no other instances of death do we place the blame on the person, except when they die by suicide.”

By using the word commit, not only do we apply shame to the victim by subconsciously insinuating that their act was similar to a felony, but we also worsen the stigma that prevents others from reaching out for help. Normalizing the discussion of suicide all starts by acknowledging suicide victims in the same way as others who have passed.

Understandably, extra precautions must be taken in cases of suicide to ensure that glorification of the incident is avoided.

While there is a fine line between glorifying the death and discussing it, administrations can remain mindful by keeping the specific details of the death confidential. By focusing on memorializing the victim and reaching out to other students who are also in need of help, glorification of suicide is avoidable. There isn’t a correct way to go about the death of a valued member of our community, but it is important we honor the lives of those we have lost, while also focusing the situation on helping others who are struggling. smichaels@redwoodbark.org

bleslie@redwoodbark.org

Page 15 • Opinion

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Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org Editors-In-Chief Taylor Elliott Kent Goodman Hollis Belger Head Copy Editors Samantha Elegant Natalie Tress Ava Koblik Copy Editors Rori Anderson Will Baker Chloe Bishop Kelly Chuang Sarah Goody Ella Kharrazi Kate McHugh Anna Royal Gemma Strauss News Editors Libby Hughes Shyla Lensing Abigail Shewmaker Opinion Editors Stella Bennett Caroline Goodhart Ingrid Houtkooper

editorial “Patriotic progress in coexistance with conservatism.”

POLICY: All editorials are unsigned and have been approved by the majority of the Bark staff.

Modernizing patriotism As the 2020 Summer Olympics began in July, social media was flooded with content of creators mocking the idea of patriotism. They only felt pride for the U.S. every four years when America’s best athletes lined up for races and matches around the world. The truth is that many Americans are ashamed to align themselves with American Patriotism in its current state. And rightfully so.

Patriotism has taken on a definition exclusive to the values of those who want a government based in America’s past, allowing the concept of patriotism to take on an exclusivity among our population. We argue that patriotism has the capability of unifying us, but we cannot have pride in our system without acknowledging the atrocities that have occurred throughout our nation’s history, and the systemic injustice that is still prevalent.

Patriotism, in recent years, has continued to lose its meaning to a deepening political divide driven by cultural shifts. Fox News commentator, Sean Hannity, mused on his show, “Hannity,” that lowered levels of patriotism “means that as younger Americans feel less and less patriotic, they’re also turning towards socialism.”

Hannity, who preaches a decidedly one-sided view of the U.S. in the spirit of American television, illustrates the media’s affection for using patriotism to go after ideological foes. He wrongly identifies those who stray from the conservative fabric of America as unpatriotic. The perception of what it means to love America needs to change. Hannity, with others from each side of the aisle, has allowed patriotism to become a rhetorical weapon that divides parties.

The idea that patriotism means loving America for how it represents a single perception of America is wrong. If we have learned anything from our country’s history, it is that our republic has failed to represent and address its systemic failures with respect to people of color. America’s roots in segregation and marginalization of immigrants

A BARK to Kanye West for finally releasing his new album, “Donda.” Kanye really had all of us asking “Dónde está el album?” last month.

are not fully unearthed, and there should be no expectation that American Patriotism be defined as having unconditional pride for our government and culture. American Patriotism should be about loving the people within our country, regardless of separate beliefs.

George Washington’s Farewell Address cites the importance of a nation bound together beyond its political factions, “The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.”

This perception of what it means to love America needs to be brought forward. For change to happen, we must allow patriotism to become a collective belief, held by both liberals and conservatives alike.

We understand that the definition of patriotism can be tailored by each citizen, based on personal experience. We do not believe that being patriotic has to mean loving the country for what it once was, or ignoring the injustices occurring today. Instead, patriotism can mean loving your country for what it could be and appreciating the potential it has.

Patriotism is tied to the shared consciousness of all Americans, accepting the places in America we find hope, and working towards change in those places we cannot.

Have an opinion regarding anything that appears in the Bark or in general? We encourage our readers to submit letters to the editor. Letters to the Bark should be 500 words or fewer, typed if possible and signed. They must be submitted to room 177 or in the Bark mailbox in the facility. They may also be emailed to bark@redwoodbark.org.

way to hang onto high school memories!

written again. Where do we send our pigeons to complain?

A BARK to students that park in teachers’ parking spots. We are the future!

A BARK to permitting off campus lunch again. Pull out your parents’ plastic for a $15 sandwich and $5 drink.

A BITE to requiring hall passes during SMART period. What’s A BITE to whomever released Disney star Peyton Meyers’ sex next, bathroom buddies? tape. We guess he’s now starring A BARK to the girls’ field in Girl Meats World. hockey win against Saint A BARK to booster shots. Man, Ignatius. S.I. ya later! that’ll boost your shot at getting A BITE to the junior and senior lit. jerseys that will sit unworn in our closets forever. That’s one A BITE to AP tests being hand

A BITE to the people who blast music out of their cars in the parking lot at lunch. The only banger is me crashing into you.

BARKS and BITES are the collective opinions of the BARK staff concerning relevant issues. BARKS are in praise of accomplishments, while BITES criticize decisions or events.

Feature Editors Casey Braff Bella Piacente Hannah Sellers Sports Editors Sam Kimball Declan McDaniels Dani Steinberg Review Editors Avery Aguero Ava Razavi Chris Vargelis Lifestyles Editors Julia Frankus Annie Goldstein Sophie Smallhorn Spanish Editor Charlotte DeForrest Podcast Editor Nathan Ash Video Editors Sterling Lazarus Hannah Morgan Business Managers Samantha Michaels Keegan Williams Social Media Manager Sydney Liebhauser Survey Manager AnnaLise Sandrich Multimedia Editor Caroline Scharf Art Consultants Keely Ganong Brooke Leslie Calla McBride Reporters Arjun Aujla Matt Benbow Peter Biss Sophia Buckholtz Caitlin Beard Alexandrea Coe Chloe Craft Emilie Erickson Gemma Favalaro Alex Fisch Justine Fisch Nina Geoghegan Sylvan Gordon-Wagen Sabrina Kizer Kana Kojima Lily Reese Gillian Reynolds Sofia Ruliffson John Seifer Claire Silva Madeline Sofnas Ani Svendsen Allie Vasquez Natalie Welch Dylan Zorn Adviser Erin Schneider

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Page 16 • Opinion Illustration by Calla McBride

September 9, 2021

Don’t bug out about eating bugs Factories in the U.S. produce a staggering two tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) daily. However, the methane Around the world, people are constantly screaming at that cows produce every day is equivalent to about each other to be more environmentally conscious, and they 9,362,096 tons of CO2. Our diminishing ozone and rising often argue that we should cease drilling for oil or stop temperatures urge us to change so that we can ensure our monstrous corporations from polluting our precious air. atmosphere is breathable 25 years from now.

However, many are unaware that one of the most pressing Additionally, cows defecate 335 million tons of dry environmental issues is none other than the meat in our matter per year, polluting our water supplies and making everyday meals. In order to prevent climate change, save places smell absolutely atrocious. Conversely, our ecosystems all across the world, bring an end to pollution environmental friends – insects – have frass (poop) that and protect our deteriorating ozone layer, we need to stop contains all the usual nutrients you’d expect from good eating ground beef on our tacos and replace it with weevil manure, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In larvae. fact, according to a 2019 study published in the journal Now, I know what you are thinking — either I’m trying Applied Soil Ecology, certain insects produce frass that to make a bad practical joke or I’m a crazy vegan about to possesses extraordinary content, which can help plants preach to you for hours, rattling on about how slaughtering tolerate abiotic or non-living stressors such as increased animals is inhumane. Well, this piece is neither. Just three temperature, drought or flooding. months ago, I was smothering my Double-Doubles at InWithin the state of California, we can already N-Out Burger with their signature Spread, rolling my eyes witness that our livestock is unsustainable, as they are at anyone trying to lecture me about the dangers of meat. I cultivated and slaughtered in brutal conditions. Animal was happy to endure high cholesterol or an increased risk lovers and organic food enthusiasts wouldn’t stand for of cardiovascular disease as long as I ate my T-bone steak their treatment and rallied behind a 2018 animal welfare in peace. However, due to recent experiences, my mindset state proposition that requires more living space for has shifted. the animals; unsurprisingly, they won. Additionally, Over the past summer, I went to Ecuador with my Hatamiya, an economic, strategic and business advisory family. Venturing through the thick of the Amazon, I consulting firm, predicted in a study that bacon prices will had the luxury of being treated to a mid-day meal by the soar by 60 percent. I realize a pig’s behind (ham) is tasty, Añangu indigenous tribe. Given that these empathetic but is it worth extremely high prices and inhumane animal people want to preserve the environment that had blessed treatment when larvae taste just as good (to some even them with a wide variety of resources for better)? centuries, weevil (worm-like grubs) With the overwhelming positives larvae are often their daily protein, eating bugs brings, you may be as they are large, incredibly wondering why more people abundant and tasty. So, haven’t started on this path to coinciding with their salvation. It’s for the same traditions, they served reason that you haven’t us grilled larvae as dropped this paper and the centerpiece of sprinted to the nearest our meal. Although grocery store in hopes I was skeptical to of laying your hands begin — my hands on a delicious critter.

Illustration by Calla McBride were nervously Quite simply, we all shaking as I raised think bugs are nasty. the bug to my I definitely do. If a mouth — the first creepy crawler had bite of the succulent invaded my room right insect was heavenly, now, I would assume and my jumping taste they had malicious intent and buds were yearning for more. The burst of flavor would whack them to death with any holdable object in swirling around in my mouth was similar to honey-smoked my line of vision. Because humans inherently find divine bacon, but somehow better. And don’t take that statement insects disgusting, I have assembled three viable solutions lightly because bacon is one of my favorite types of meat, to help us switch our diets. One, we suck it up and swallow and I could never imagine another food dethroning it. all future meals with our eyes closed while imagining that So why am I writing this article? What makes this the meat in front of us is beef, pork or chicken. Two, like topic so important? To explain it concisely, producing several restaurants in California and Las Vegas, insects livestock meat is incredibly inefficient, given that beef has could be hidden in patties or other meat forms, making an energy input to protein output ratio of 54 to 1 (pork them invisible to the naked eye; with this, humans would has a 17 to 1 ratio and eggs have a 26 to 1 ratio). Insects, hopefully be unaware that their protein is a terrifying bug on the other hand, have a ratio of 4 to 1. So what do all with antennae. Three, if the current Western generation is these different numbers mean? According to a 2013 study so violently grossed out by the idea of having a different conducted by the Food and Agricultural Organization of animal on the dinner table, the actual transference to bugthe United Nations, these numbers imply that switching based diets could instead occur in the near future. If we to a bug-based diet could solve our world hunger issue. are able to change the stigma around bugs and the next They concluded that the amount of food used to feed our generation can spend their childhood understanding bugs American livestock would be enough to feed 800 million are a healthy, viable food option, we would be able to people. Additionally, the eight billion livestock animals develop a world that embraces the creepy crawlers and grown in the U.S. use half of the water consumed in the looks at them not as yucky but as a vital commodity for country. Because insects require less water and food per saving the Earth from its increasingly gruesome outlook. kilogram of edible meat, the world could produce enough I genuinely believe that as long as our future bugs for everyone, and reduce the amount of generations are not eating flies and resources used for our protein. mosquitoes off the wall like frogs, an To further the idea of insects insect-based diet will be the most as our primary protein source, impactful change to humanity we must face some heartsince the agricultural wrenching statistics. revolution.

Story by Kent Goodman

Veganism:

putting the sus in sustainability Story by Hannah Morgan

“Gamechanger!

Revolutionary!

Life-altering!

Paradigm-shifting!” reads the back side of the carton of Oat-ly, a popular oat milk brand commonly used as an effective alternative to dairy milk. However, Oat-ly has recently been criticized for selling company stock to the Blackstone Group, an equity company that owns Brazilian investment firms which contribute to deforestation. Oat-ly used this sale to grow their production and go public on the stock market, according to a 2020 Vice article.

Despite assumptions that purchasing items marketed as vegan or living on a fully vegan diet may be more sustainable, consumers need to realize that the term “vegan” doesn’t necessarily mean their diet is the most effective way to support the environment. It is more important to shop locally rather than strictly following “veganism” to a tee. Veganism is one of many ways to efficiently reduce one’s carbon footprint, but balance and moderation are key when looking for ways to become more environmentally friendly.

According to a 2021 March Bark survey, 34 percent of Redwood students say they “often” choose a food item if it is marketed as organic or vegan. Oat-ly, which can be found in numerous grocery stores in Marin, has an overall mission to provide a sustainable option for nondairy milk. This is proven both by their marketing and by their success in bringing down their climate impact from ingredients by 17 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to a report on Oat-ly’s official website. Regardless, the company’s shadier practices clearly display the need for consumers to become aware of the production processes behind vegan companies and their sustainability claims.

Though many vegan foods fall under the category of “whole” foods, which are grown directly from the Earth, the deeper production process of whole, vegan or natural foods may not always be sustainable due to the harmful environmental impacts of commercial farming.

“We want to focus on actually how the food is produced. … [Are] those farm workers unionized?

Are they actually community-based? Are they a public corporation that isn’t held accountable? Are they using harmful production practices?” Tina White, a member of national advocacy group Uprooted and Rising, said to Harvard Law Review in 2020. “We have to recognize that it’s a specific way of producing food that has [a] cost; it’s not eating meat itself.”

According to a 2020 article from British Broadcasting Company (BBC), agricultural practices used in the production of many “whole” foods, such as the use of artificial fertilizers and tilling fields, can release large amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In fact, artificial fertilizers alone made up three percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. Rather than simply buying something that is categorized as “vegan” in order to promote environmental sustainability, consumers should instead focus on buying foods that fall under fair trade and are specifically labeled “organic.”

This ensures the prevention of the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

However, many may view that maintaining a vegan diet, despite any malpractice or corporate greed by a company, remains one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Though this is technically true, the term “vegan” at its root is simply not eating animal products, and doesn’t eliminate the fact that it isn’t necessarily healthy or feasible for all people to sustain for long periods of time. On a personal level, I know I am someone who will never be able to fully maintain a vegan lifestyle.

Though I’ve mainly cut out dairy and red meat from my diet for health reasons, I’ve never been able to thrive on a fully vegan diet for sustained periods of time due to the specificity of foods available to eat and the difficulty in balancing athletics with eating vegan foods that were able to fuel my performance well.

Putting strict labels on lifestyle and sustainability habits can become unsustainable on a personal level in the long run. Simply cutting down meat intake, shopping for locally grown foods and doing more thorough research on brands marketing themself as “vegan” are the best ways to find out how to make long-term eco-friendly choices going forward. hmorgan@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Brooke Leslie

kgoodman@redwoodbark.org

lifestyles

Page 17

Josie Borden’s passion for fashion takes her to Paris

By Ingrid Houtkouper

The City of Lights. Known for being a design meca and fashion capital, Paris attracts people from all over the world aspiring to work in the fashion industry. Junior Josie Borden was among those drawn to Paris to take a fashion course, with the hopes of elevating her understanding of the fashion industry.

Fueled by her interest, Josie searched for summer programs that focused on the style and design elements of fashion. After discovering the month-long summer course Fashion Design Process at the New School Parsons Paris, she decided to apply. Josie thought the creative background she would gain from design would help her with a potential career in fashion merchandising.

In the program, she fully immersed herself within the culture of Paris and learned about the steps to designing a collection.

Josie’s days were spent working on her dress, which was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) and his 1965 collection, titled the Mondrian Collection. In addition to the dresses’ bright blotches of colors separated by thick black lines, the Mondrian Collection is known for its square patterns.

Josie Borden, “A lot of the first week was just junior spent collaging and putting together ideas for different colors and palettes and moods,” Josie said. “You’d decide from [your collage] what you wanted to take away from your collection. My inspiration came from buildings and squares.”

Despite her initial inspiration from YSL, Josie’s final product changed dramatically over the course of the month. Her initial plan was to create a skirt, but this eventually transformed into a slip dress.

“I ultimately decided that [YSL] was interesting to me,” Josie said. “But then again, I didn’t really work from inspiration. I started with an idea, and then it just evolved from there. It changed massively during the time I worked.”

The process of creating her dress was no small feat, and took her hours of dedication. She spent approximately nine hours at school every day sketching, collaging, draping, sewing, fabric shopping and tailoring.

Although Josie is more interested in the business side of fashion, she still thought learning about the creative process would be a good experience. Tina Borden, Josie’s mother, agreed that fashion design knowledge is helpful to have even if she does choose to pursue fashion

merchandising. “[Josie] actually had the option of taking a business class there, but she told me, ‘I can take a business class anywhere, and if I’m going to be in Paris, I should take the fashion design class,’” Tina said. “If [she’s] going to be in business in the fashion industry, [she also] has to understand the actual creativity side of it.”

Junior Katie Shell is also interested in fashion, and has been researching the Parsons Paris summer programs for 2022. Similar to Josie, Shell is less interested in the design aspect of fashion, but agrees that this class would be an amazing experience. “[The course] gives you a lot of background because the fashion industry is super complex and there’s so many different tiers and levels of high fashion and fast fashion … Getting some experience with high fashion and runway fashion in a program like Parsons could be really beneficial [down the line],” Shell said.

In addition to thinking the course could be advantageous for eventually earning a career in fashion, Shell also thought the experience would be an overall great opportunity beyond just getting design knowledge.

“It’s so fun to get away for the summer, especially when you’re learning and it’s something you’re really interested in,” Shell said. “Combining education and vacation at the same time, with a hobby, sounds like a dream.”

Although Josie spent a lot of her time creating her dress, her work was well-balanced with time spent outside of class exploring the quaint, cobblestone streets of the city.

“We went to the Louvre, and had a picnic by the Eiffel Tower,” Josie said. “I really enjoyed going through the different neighborhoods and shopping at little boutiques … I feel like I know Paris pretty well now [and] I can navigate myself [around the city],” Josie said.

Connecting with the Francophiles and fashionistas of the world was an aspect of the program that Josie found extremely rewarding. Since Josie went by herself, making friends who she could spend her days with was a valuable learning experience.

“One of the most important Photo Courtesy of Josie Borden parts was having to learn how to be in an

I learned so much and it made me a lot more mature, because there’s really no one to tell you what to do.

Photo Courtesy of Josie Borden

FEATURING ELEMENTS OF her dress, Borden’s workspace also showcases her inspirational collage.

environment in which you don’t know anyone. Being in a city where [people speak] a foreign language, and having to meet people and be responsible for everything yourself, made me a lot more independent,” Josie said.

Tina agreed that meeting new people was a great life lesson for her daughter, and that she gained more from this course than just fashion design expertise.

“I think it’s good for kids to gain some independence…

[Josie] didn’t know anyone going, which I also liked. I thought it’d be a good experience to make new friends and do something a little bit out of [her] comfort zone.”

As a result of her time spent in Paris, Josie has learned a variety of skill sets. Whether it be in design or in life, she knows that this experience will serve her in the future.

“I learned so much and it made me a lot more mature, because there’s really no one to tell you what to do. I learned a lot about French culture, which is super important in fashion. I think the most valuable thing was meeting people who are different from [me],” Josie said.

ihoutkouper@redwoodbark.org

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Page 18 • Lifestyles

September 9, 2021

Leo Siminoff heats up as sous-chef Photos and story by Justine Fisch

AP art students paint library mural

By Ella Kharrazi As the sun beat down outside during the hot summer months, a few Advanced Placement (AP) art students spent their days indoors doing what they love. Upon hearing about the opportunity to paint a mural on the wall of the children’s section of the Corte Madera Library, AP art students Isabella Lombardo, Sophie Blauvelt and Kacey Douglas and non-art student, Natalie Oh, dove into developing a scene to highlight the unique natural environment of the Bay Area. From the towering redwood trees to the delicate monarch butterflies, the mural recreates the beauty of Marin County. Sarah Butts, the Youth Services Librarian at the Corte Madera Library, proposed the idea of the mural, hoping it would bring the community together and create a warm atmosphere in the children’s room.

“It was this big empty wall and I thought it would be nice to have something that was really [central] to Corte Madera to make the people who live here feel at home,” Butts said.

Lombardo believes that the mural was a perfect way to honor Marin’s natural surroundings. According to Lombardo, they tried to capture the picturesque scenery that we have in Marin, specifically with local nature and landmarks.

With no firm guidelines in regards to the composition of the mural, the artists took ideas from their surroundings.

Blauvelt found inspiration in the scenery of Mount Tamalpais while walking home from school. Snapping a picture of the magnificent view, Blauvelt proposed that the artists center the mural on the mountain; a landmark of our community.

The creative process was extremely enjoyable for the artists, especially for Oh. She has taken art classes in the past and finds pleasure in making things more beautiful by adding artistic touches.

“Painting the mural was really fun because I don’t really do art anymore at school or outside of school. So for me, this was a really great way to get back into that environment again, because I love painting,” Oh said.

Oh believes the library is a welcoming environment for children, recalling her wholesome memories of it as a child. Lombardo also reminisced about her childhood visits to the library, finding the project to be a full circle experience.

“I think we’ve all spent a lot of time in our past in that children’s section of the library, especially during the summers,” Lombardo said. “I remember going there and reading on hot days, and it was really nice to go back and contribute to beautifying the space.” ekharrazi@redwoodbark.org

The kitchen lights flicker in the Italian Sausalito restaurant Osteria Divino as senior Leo Siminoff puts on his apron and begins to prepare for the nighttime rush.

From his spot in the kitchen, he can hear the jazz band playing, and the cheerful conversations fill every corner of the room. Siminoff has always had a passion for cooking but only began working as a sous-chef at Osteria Divino in March of 2020.

Showing a deep devotion for cooking from a young age, Siminoff graduated from a summer culinary course at 12 years old in 2016. After being given a recommendation by a family-friend, he was interviewed and put on a short trial period at the restaurant. He later received the title of sous-chef. He greatly appreciates the opportunity to cook for so many people, and believes one of the best parts about the job is connecting with others through food. “[Cooking] has always been a great way to express my creativity and learn more about other cultures,” Siminoff said.

He values the sense of community that working in the kitchen has given him. His role has also shown him the importance of constructive criticism and the application of new techniques into his cooking.

“I would say working at Divino doesn’t feel like a job. It’s a lifestyle. I love getting to work somewhere that doesn’t feel like an obligation, but just seeing friends and also doing something I love,” Siminoff said.

Siminoff is greatly admired at the restaurant, according to bartender and coworker Stephan Kaplan. Kaplan enjoys working with him not only for his proficiency in the kitchen, but also for his determination and never-failing positive attitude that contributes to their family-like climate.

“It’s a very small restaurant, and we see each other all the time. I really love [working with Siminoff]. He’s super positive and he has this great ability to cheer me up when I’m maybe not feeling it one day,” Kaplan said.

Despite his young age, Siminoff is an asset to Osteria Divino’s team, according to the owner, Elizabeth Nebot.

Like Kaplan, Nebot recognizes Siminoff’s desire to learn and is excited to see where cooking could take him in the future.

“I love Leo. He’s just great and such a pleasure to have.

He works really hard even though he has less experience. Leo Siminoff, Sometimes it’s just nice to have senior someone fresh who is eager to learn,” Nebot said.

As a senior in high school, Siminoff has learned the importance of balancing school work with working late nights at the restaurant.

Learning to maximize his

PLATING AND ASSEMBLING a variety of meals, Siminoff gets ready for his nighttime shift. time in school to get classwork done and getting a head start on assignments has helped Siminoff avoid unwanted stress.

“It can hit me pretty hard on Monday morning coming from a Sunday shift and working eight to nine hours. It is hard to manage homework and organization, but I typically know what I need to do,” Siminoff said.

While balancing work, school and social activities, Siminoff also strives to improve his creations and techniques as a chef. Learning to accommodate the general population of guests has allowed him to expand his expressive abilities in the kitchen.

“The second night I worked there, I made a dish and I peered out of the kitchen.

After [the guests had] the food that I made, you could see the enjoyment on their faces,” Siminoff said. “It really is a feeling of joy, and it’s really cool to see because they don’t know that I made it. They probably think it’s some 30 or 40-year-old, and they don’t need to know [how old I am], but it feels good to make something that other people can enjoy.”

For Siminoff, working at Osteria Divino provides him with a professional experience that could potentially become his career.

“It’s really great talking to him. [Working with him] just reminds me of how exciting it is to be that age and have your whole life ahead of you,” Kaplan said.

By developing productive organizational and study habits, Siminoff has adapted to his busy, but rewarding schedule. Reflecting on the origins of his love for cooking, he feels proud to see the progress that he has made as a chef.

“What got me into cooking was every Sunday making eggs in the morning with my dad and then at night making Middle Eastern or Italian dishes with my mom. Whatever it may be, I am just grateful that I can make other people happy doing something that I love,” Siminoff said.

I love getting to work somewhere that doesn’t feel like an obligation, but just seeing friends and also doing something I love.

jfisch@redwoodbark.org

Photo courtesy of Sarah Butts

THE ARTISTS DECIDED to paint a landscape of Mount Tamalpais as the focal point of their mural to represent our community.

Page 19 • Lifestyles

www.redwoodbark.org

Nogueiro sisters take on raising guide dogs

By Sarah Goody After a long day of school, juniors Sofia and Katie Nogueiro head back home for a moment of relaxation.

Instantly they are greeted by a ball of fluff with a wagging tail: the guide dog they are raising, Wilton. Behind the big, sweet eyes and droopy smile lies the potential to change a visually impaired person’s life. To some, raising guide dogs may seem like an impossible task, but the Nogueiro sisters are more than up for the challenge.

Twin sisters Sofia and Katie Nogueiro have been raising puppies for the organization Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) since 2012. Founded in San Rafael, GDB is a non-profit organization that coaches the visually impaired to live with guide dogs. Since its founding in 1941, GDB has paired over 14,000 guide dogs with new owners.

However, learning how to become a guide dog is no easy task. Guide dogs must learn to aid and support someone with limited or nonexistent sight. These skills take time to develop, and the process starts when the dog meets its assigned family at eight weeks old. The Nogueiro family, along with 2,000 others, are some of those volunteers.

Guide Dogs of America is a nonprofit organization that works closely with GDB and runs their own puppy-raising program in Southern California. Stephanie Colman is the puppy program coordinator at Guide Dogs of America. She spends her days preparing new puppy-raisers to raise guide dogs and assists current puppy-raisers with the dayto-day challenges that they may experience.

“The [puppy-raisers’] main responsibility is to make sure that they are able to get their dog into the world for regular socialization.We are trying to prepare the dogs for all the possible things they might encounter as guide

dogs or service dogs,” Colman said.

Puppy-raisers provide basic training, teach house manners and participate in puppy-raising classes led by the Guide Dog facility. Being a puppy-raiser is a big responsibility; however Sofia believes it is similar to raising any other pet.

“There are certain things [such as providing status updates to GDB] you have to do because they’re guide dogs, but mostly our job is to socialize them and get them ready for formal training [with GDB],” said Sofia.

The thrill of first meeting their dog later becomes sadness when the puppy-raisers must send their dog back to the GDB facility after 18 months.

“It’s obviously really hard to give up the dog because you have them for a good amount of time and you get close to them, but [you] realize there’s a person who needs [the dog] more than you do. [Supporting a person in need] helps me but it’s still really hard,” Katie said.

Despite the sadness that comes with giving up the dog, the Nogueiro sisters have become more interested in helping the disabled community by being puppy-raisers. “[Raising puppies] definitely taught me the importance of community service and thinking of other people before yourself. It has put into perspective how much we take for granted, even just our ability to see,” Sofia said.

Sofia and Katie both recommend the puppy-raising program to other families in Marin for an invaluable experience.

bark

All photos courtesy of Sofia Nogueiro

SIBLINGS KATIE (LEFT), Jake (center) and Sophia Nogueiro (right) spending time with their service puppy, Denmark.

“I would definitely consider doing this again just because it’s a really cool experience and teaches you a lot, especially as a kid, about giving back to other people and being compassionate,” Sofia said. sgoody@redwoodbark.org

Varun Aruldas achieves Eagle Scout recognition

By Ani Svendson The Boy Scouts aim to foster leaders who can better serve their community through learning life skills, volunteering, earning badges and forming bonds between Scouts and their Scout-Masters.

Junior Varun Aruldas exemplifies these qualities with his outstanding leadership in his many years of service. In July of 2021, after a decade-long journey, Aruldas received the highest level of honor: Eagle Scout.

“I have been a Boy Scout for over 10 years, ever since I was a first grader.

My first interaction with Boy Scouts was through Cub Scouts, when they held a pinewood derby car race at my elementary school. I got very interested in becoming [a Boy Scout], so I joined the pack,” Aruldas

Photo courtsey of Varun Aruldas

WORKING WITH A volunteer welder at UA342, Aruldas stands proudly on his weed wrench cart.

Building the weed wrench cart was said. “I eventually went through all the ranks from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, [to] not an easy task and took many helping where I am now, which is an Eagle Scout.” hands to complete. Aruldas first used a 3D Achieving the Eagle Scout title requires design platform, Sketchup, to create an completing many tasks such as countless architectural model for his cart. Once he had his model, he began hours of community the welding process. service, the mastery “There were of a variety of life professional instructors skills and a service at the welding facility, project. For Aruldas’ UA342, who volunteered project, he designed, their time to guide me built and welded a with my project. The four foot long tree welding facility and I wrench cart for cut the metal to the right Marin County Parks. length and shape, as well The cart holds weed as sanded the edges off to wrenches, tools that remove the oxide layer pull out invasive so the person could weld species from land Greg Reza, it together,” Aruldas conservations. His Marin County Parks said. “We welded each carefully engineered volunteer organizer particular piece of the cart demonstrated his cumulative knowledge that he gained cart in order to put it all together. UA342 supplied me with all the materials, as well over the years.

Before Aruldas’ creation, Marin County as 200 to 300 man-hours to complete the Parks head volunteer coordinator, Greg cart,” said Aruldas.

Participating in a service project is not Reza, was not able to efficiently transport many of the tools he needed back and forth done solely to become an Eagle Scout, but to immerse oneself in new ideas, and to between different park locations.

“One of the main things we do is learn and form new connections with those invasive French broom removal, which is who they help. Aruldas’ Eagle Scout peer, a plant that can grow up to be around 15 Miguel Tanem, makes it clear that although feet tall, and is quite flammable. In order the project is required, it is something to increase the diversity, we have to get rid everyone wants to do.

“I don’t believe you have to learn of the invasive plants. I had tools laying on the ground, laying in spots that weren’t anything, you get to learn as you try new easily accessible and versatile,” Reza said. things and serve your community,” Tanem Aruldas recognized that Marin County said.

Not only do Eagle Scouts get to become parks needed to find a solution, which is well-rounded and educated citizens, but where his cart came into play.

“We thought that if we could come up they get to apply those skills in everyday with a way to strap the tools in, then more life.

“There’s never been a second where I space would be free for other supplies needed. With Varun’s cart, everything is haven’t been using my skills to help me organized, safe and more productive,” with certain deeds. Merit badges over the years have helped me achieve a level Reza said.

With Varun’s cart, everything is organized, safe and more productive.

Photo courtesy of Varun Aruldas

ARULDAS HOLDS A piece of his cart prior to the finishing product.

of success I didn’t know was possible,” Tanem said.

With the title of Eagle Scout, Arduldas can use his knowledge to assist those below him.

“As an Eagle Scout, I continue to mentor Scouts with less experience. I try to attend meetings and provide my insight [wherever] possible,” Aruldas said.

Aruldas’ wrench cart is currently residing in the Parks and Open Space field in Lucas Valley, where it is used almost every day to make Marin an invasive species-free zone. asvendson@redwoodbark.org

Teacher Tristen Bodle travels the world

By Charlotte DeForrest

such a unique experience. Unlike being a tourist, I was fully immersed in the culture.

That was definitely a formative experience for me,” Tristen said.

In more recent years, Tristen, his wife and his children have lived in Saudi Arabia and Thailand, each for two years. In between their travels, Tristen returned to the Bay Area as a teacher, having worked at Tam, Archie Williams and Redwood.

Sophomore Lucy Bodle, Tristen’s daughter, has been able to spend a large portion of her life overseas, immersed in different languages and cultures, due to her parents’ influence and history of traveling.

“Traveling is such an experience. Once you have a taste of it, it’s hard to not want to keep traveling,” Lucy

“[Traveling] is what floats my boat.

Some people like to collect money or cars or houses or they put a lot of effort into their careers to see how far they can advance.

But for me, I like to collect experiences,” Tristen Bodle, a newly returned Redwood Spanish teacher, said.

Tristen is an avid traveler who has lived in or visited close to 40 counties, including Sri Lanka, Oman, Thailand and Tanzania.

He believes his fascination with traveling started after living in Costa Rica during his childhood and attending an international school for Kindergarten.

Following Costa Rica, Tristen lived in the Bay Area and graduated from Redwood in 1988.

During his time at Redwood, Tristen was able to pursue his love of traveling by visiting Ecuador as a part of Redwood’s Amigos de Las Americas program.

This program allows high school students to travel to Spanishspeaking countries and participate in volunteer work.

“I have always been naturally curious. I have always wanted to know what life was like in different places. I just wanted to see the world, even when I was at Redwood,” Tristen said.

Tristen then studied abroad in both Ecuador and Spain while attending the University of Oregon. Following his graduation, Tristen toured several South American countries and volunteered for the Peace Corps in Bolivia, focusing on rural sanitation and creating potable water by building wells, water systems and latrines in the mountains. “[Being in Bolivia] wasn’t always fun, sometimes it was boring. But, looking back on it, living in the mountains with the indigenous Quechua people, Photo Courtesy of Tristen Bodle doing rural development SHARING STORIES FROM travels, Tristen keep projects, speaking Spanish his students engaged with Spanish content. and Quechua all day, was

said. “Traveling was embedded in my dad from the moment he was born and my mom lived in Japan for a long time. So when they got married, they wanted to make sure we had those experiences too.”

Tristen and Lucy both loved that living in other countries allowed them to experience different customs and ways of life. For Tristen, his firsthand experience immersed in the unique cultures he teaches about allows him to bring his lessons to life through vivid detail and anecdotes.

“I have so many stories to tell about different adventures I’ve had. If I’m trying to teach grammar or vocabulary, [I like to focus on] how certain words or phrases can be used in the real world context, applicable cultural differences or even embarrassing things that have happened to me in my travels. [Sharing these things] gives students a little peek into life overseas and the different countries,” Tristen said.

Tristen’s stories and personal experiences are aspects of his class that his former student, sophomore Olivia Villanova, enjoyed.

“Last year we did presentations on different Spanish speaking countries and it was really cool to hear his insight because when we were presenting, he would tell stories about being there and it made [the places] come to life,” Villanova said. “He was able to tell us what [locals] would say, instead of what people who were visiting would say. I loved it.”

Villanova was inspired to travel by listening to Tristen’s stories and now wants to take a year off in the future to travel.

Tristen encourages traveling at a young age, as Villanova hopes to do, because he believes that it can teach important lessons including gratefulness and empathy.

“At the core, we are all the same. We all want to live our lives, be happy, take care of our families and have access to the basics: clean water, a roof over our head [and] education,” Tristen said. “And I’ll admit, sometimes I get down on living in Marin.

But then I have to remind myself that we live in an amazingly beautiful place and have access to nature and cultural events. A lot of people don’t have [access to the things we do in Marin], so [traveling] gives me a little more sense of gratitude for the things that we do have.” cdeforrest@redwoodbark.org