UltraViolet May 09

The

UltraViolet

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Marlborough School 250 S. Rossmore Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90004

Volume 39, Issue 6

Former child soldier provides grisly account

By Sally ’09 The UltraViolet

A polo-clad girl filed past the screen in the back of Caswell Hall. The projector emitted a blurred freeze frame depicting the wide-eyed face of a ten year old child and, behind him, a black AK-47.

Madeleine, a former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who served in the army from ages 11-14, spoke to juniors and seniors about her three years of service in the army, where she was repeatedly raped and forced to perform acts of violence. About 200 students attended the April 29 event, though it was only required for students in the Regional Studies history elective.

Madeleine said that female child soldiers are especially victimized.

“Not only were we soldiers, but we were there as sexual slaves,” she said. “Many of us girls came home with babies, and not only with babies, but with HIV-AIDS.” Yet Madeleine dwelled on the darker details of her story only briefly and spent more time describing her rehabilitation and her decision to testify against the generals at the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. She also challenged students to use their own voices for good.

“You have a chance to be raised in a powerful country. You in this country, you can be heard,” Madeleine said, “which is different from my country.”

Bukeni Waruzi, director of a Congolese NGO called Ajedi-Ka, also spoke on the issue of child soldiers. His group goes into military camps in the DRC to negotiate with commanders to free children. So far, he said, the group has freed more than 300 child soldiers from the squalid camp conditions, where many contract diseases or suffer from hunger.

Nancy Nazarian Medina, program director of the Human Rights Watch student task force, gave the opening speech. History

Photo by Colleen Loynachan

SEE “CHILD SOLDIER” PAGE 4

TRANSFORMATION: A construction worker sprays paint on a column on the east side of the new Munger Hall. Though the new building will have many modern touches, designers said that they wanted it to mesh with the traditional look of the rest of the campus. Photo by Colleen ’10

Munger Hall heads into final stretch

Construction crew begins finishing touches; with doors set to open in August, attention turns to Mitchell Hall

By Sally ’09 and Cassidy ’10 The UltraViolet

Upon returning to Marlborough next September, students should expect to find a fully completed Munger Hall and a new front plaza as well as continued construction on Café M. Teachers and administrators will pack their offices after graduation, and this summer the construction crew will mainly work on Mitchell Hall while finishing a few additional details, such as painting and lighting fixtures, in Munger Hall.

Furnishings will be delivered to Munger Hall in mid-July, and faculty will move into the building in August.

Marissa ’11 said that when they provided students with a tour inside

Club versus in school sports: drawing the line Many student-athletes must balance club and school practices. Students and coaches voice their opinions on the issue of attendance, loyalty, and individual and team needs, as well as whether a school wide policy should be implemented.

See “Club” page 12

INDEX Under the blazing sun Highlights from Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival See “Coachella” page 9

News..............................2 C o m m u n i t y. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Feature...........................8 E&A.............................10 S p o r t s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Opinion.........................14 Bac kpage........................16

Munger Hall, “I was surprised by how far they’d come - that Munger Hall was an actual building. I’m especially excited for the new photo room.”

However, some students said that while they are excited about the building, they were disappointed that the exposed red brick was painted white.

“It would have looked classier and more elegant if it was kept red,” Lyric ’10 said.

The school is painting the brick in order to be consistent with the original architecture, said Director of Finance and Operations Nick Hernandez.

Over the summer, the construction crew will gut the lower floor of Mitchell Hall and reconstruct the front plaza. The modular village units, as well as the

vegetable garden, will also be taken away (see “Vegetable Garden” page 7), and the full field will be restored.

The new Café M, which will be located in Mitchell Hall, will not be finished until January 2010. Students will face two and a half to three months with no permanent cafeteria.

Hernandez said the school has been looking into temporary solutions. Some options include a kiosk selling prepackaged foods or a pre-ordering option that would allow students to pick up hot meals that they have ordered.

Hernandez said that the school has also been looking into vendors to staff and stock Café M when it opens in January, including CulinArt, the group that provided the Earth Day lunch on April 22.

By Amanda ’09

Dube said the school and students impressed the delegation in several ways “They were impressed by the small size of classes and with the remarkable self-discipline and order that the students conducted themselves,” he said, “They noticed the Honor Code and how most students during free periods were studying.”

The visit occurred on Earth Day, and Lube said delegates also noticed the ways that environmental issues were introduced to students. This was the first time that they visited a single-sex school.

Head of Middle School Robert Bryan, who led the delegation’s tour, said that the visit allowed the school to develop beneficial connections with a number of Chinese schools.

“We’re interested in developing an academic relationship between our girls and their girls and broadening our reach beyond campus,” he said.

The delegation also visited public schools in Kansas City and Washington.

Chinese delegates observe campus The UltraViolet

A delegation of Chinese officials visited campus April 22 as part of an effort to reform China’s secondary school curriculum and train teachers to make students more creative.

USC’s China Institute arranged the visit as part of its exchange program with the country. The delegation included members of the Chinese Ministry of Education and principals from across China. Joining them were a facilitator from the China Educational Exchange and members of the U.S. State Department and the National U.S.-China Relations.

“We wanted to show them a distinguished independent school, so we took them to Marlborough,” said Clayton Dube, associate director of the institute.

“I wanted it to be a two-way exchange not just for people to visit and take a look but to also make it possible for the people at Marlborough to benefit from the visit, as Marlborough increases its focus on China.”

2

News

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Photojournalism Contest Winner

NEWS IN BRIEF

Proposed uniform changes will not be implemented The administration did not institute the second phase of uniform changes due to compliance issues.

Head of Upper School Laura Hotchkiss said that the changes could go into effect in the fall of the ’09-10 school year. The phase included a new upper school skirt, Bermuda shorts, and black pants.

Angela ’12 said that although she was not fond of the Bermuda shorts, she would have taken advantage of the black pants and polo.

Math instructor and uniform committee adviser Sandra O’Connor said she has not seen an improvement in compliance after the first phase of changes and still sees girls wearing skirts with their boxers hanging out, out-of-uniform shirts, and shoes that are not fully on.

However, O’Connor is positive about changes happening next year.

“We’re hoping. If the girls are willing to comply with what we want, I don’t see why not,” she said.

- Julia ’09, UV Staff

FLYING FISH: An acrobat leaps into a backwards dive during a Cirque du Soleil water show in Las Vegas called “O.” The photojournalism contest will continue next year, and submissions are welcomed. Photo by Kiki ’13

Student Body Council elected

Student Body Council Selections from the speeches of newly-elected members “You know how Leadership in Learning keeps giving us these construction souvenirs like the water bottles and the stress balls? Next year, I was thinking that we could also have complimentary air filtering oxygen masks to filter out the fumes we are constantly exposed to in the spirit of construction.”

By Brooke ’10 The UltraViolet

Newly-elected Student Body Council President Maya said she is confident about what the ’09-10 council can accomplish, despite an unconventional election in which three of the candidates for nonpresidential offices ran unopposed and there was a tied vote for the community service representative.

Maya said her focus will be on fun and unity. She will be working with Vice President Kayla, Assembly Coordinator Cara, Athletics Representative Miranda, Secretary/Treasurer Christina, Visual Arts Representative Tashi, Performing Arts Representative Taylor, and Co-Community Service Representatives Chelsey and Carter.

Maya said she already has created plans for the year and discussed them with Upper School Director Laura Hotchkiss.

In her speech, Maya proposed implementing Fired Up Fridays, for which the council would give treats every month and lunches every other month. Maya also proposed a masquerade ball and said that she hopes everyone will really get into the spirit of the event and dress up in disguise with masks and gowns.

Many members of the junior class decided not to run for council. English instructor and junior class leader Reid Cottingham said juniors were being mindful of the responsibilities council members have to take.

“I think the juniors recognized how much work and responsibility are involved in serving on Student Body Council and were self-selecting in a thoughtful way,” Cottingham said.

Lack of competition for the position of community service representative was not a problem however. The vote ended in a tie, and Carter and Chelsey will share the position.

“Carter and I both have so many great ideas, and I can’t wait to make them all a reality with her next year,” Chelsey said.

Volume 39, Issue 6

President Maya

“I’ll bring Sprinkles cupcakes to the Quidditch matches and blast music every Friday morning cuz yeah its Friday!”

“I hope next year we can also successfully rally support for the unspoken arts.”

Vice-President Kayla

Visual Arts Rep. Tashi

“I could give the teachers a dance tutorial on stage, I mean what better form of entertainment than making a mockery out of our very own faculty!

Assembly Coordinator Cara

”I won’t run away with the big bag of money from the Leadership in Learning Campaign!”

“It’s the little things that bring us together that make us a spirited group of girls.”

Athletics Rep. Miranda

“One of my biggest ideas is to have a Violet Awards, in which awards are given to all the outstanding artists of the year.”

Co-Community Service Reps. Carter (right), on working with Chelsey (left).

Photos by Brooke ’10

Leading the class Presidents for ’09-10

Eighth grade: Ninth grade:

Sydney Rachel Ella

The regional studies class was recently visited by Banafsheh Akhlaghi, the western regional director of Amnesty International USA. The focus of Akhlaghi’s presentation was on how to stop human trafficking.

Akhlaghi made her presentation interactive by separating students into groups, each which assessed either a legislative, media, or advocacy angle of the issue.

“She had extensive knowledge of the human rights issues and spoke to the nature of Amnesty International,” said Amy ’09, a student in the class.

- Amanda ’09, UV Staff

Yearbook dedicated to Brown

“We can work together to have a positive impact on the community.”

Seventh grade:

Once the eighth grade community service representative and president for the sophomore and junior classes, Lauren ’10 is now the regional president of Los Angeles for the California Association of Student Councils (CASC).

CASC is a student-led nonprofit that has been empowering youth for more than 50 years. One piece of legislation CASC has brought about is the rule that allows students to have cell phones at school.

Lauren’s many responsibilities include hosting two conferences and recruiting the people that will make up her cabinet.

Her goal for next year is to get every private school involved as a member of CASC. “I wish I had learned the skills CASC teaches before I became president, because they are so effective,” Lauren said. “They promote team building and how to run meetings so efficiently, two skills that could benefit all student councils.”

- Amanda ’09, UV Staff

Amnesty director visits

Performing Arts Rep. Taylor

Secretary/Treasurer Christina

Rubin named CASC’s regional president

Tenth grade:

Gwen

Eleventh grade:

Julia

Twelfth grade:

Rosie

Middle School: Genny

The Sundial was dedicated to Tinka Brown, physical education instructor.

The yearbook staff listed her optimism, her witty t-shirts, and her constant guidance as reasons why they chose Brown.

Yearbook adviser Les Klein agreed with the students’ decision to choose Brown.

“I really trust her and feel quite connected with her,” Klein said.

Brown said that she felt “incredibly honored, touched, and truly blown away.”

“I was a little embarrassed that my flood gates were filled up, but more heart felt energy emerged when I saw so many students and faculty members with tears too,” she said.

- Brianne ’10, UV Staff

www.theultraviolet.com

3

News

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Parent car robbed on Muirfield

Neighborhood crime isn’t seen as a major problem, but incident serves as a reminder for precautions

By Rosie ’10 and Sophie ’10

8th graders tackle renewable power in Global Energy Summit

Hancock Park Crime

Ben Thompson, a board member of the Hancock Park Association, said that he agrees The UltraViolet that Hancock Park is a generally Despite a recent break-in safe community, but he advises of a parent’s car on Muirfield students to take precaution no Road, administrators and security matter what. officers said they believe that “I’d advise Marlborough students are safe in students to be the neighborhood but aware of their should take proper surroundings “This is why safety precautions. while walking and The car of Dennis we ask girls to travel in groups,” Dixon, father of Erica not to park Thompson said. ’10, was broken into The school’s while he was attending on Muirfield.

Post Commander a college night for It’s not just about of Security Yolanda juniors held at school construction - it’s Jones also agreed in January. that crime in the for everyone’s “It wasn’t until Hancock Park area is I drove away that I safety. ” very rare. noticed my window D i r e c t o r - Clinton Oie was open.

My Finance and Auxiliary Services of briefcase and laptop Nick Manager Operations were stolen from the Hernandez said, car,” Dixon said.

“I’ve met with Dixon said he never suspected the Hancock Park Association he would experience crime in and gone to community meetings. such a safe neighborhood.

I think Hancock Park is safe, “It never crossed my mind, but the surrounding areas are an but the person who replaced my issue.” [window] glass on La Cienega Auxiliary Services Manager said that [crime in] Hancock Park Clinton Oie said that he asks for keeps him in business,” Dixon participation from the students to said. help make safety a collaborative Dixon said that he believes and proactive effort. safety is less of an issue for “This is why we ask girls students during the school day. not to park on Muirfield. It’s “I think it’s something to not just about construction - it’s think about at night,” he said. for everyone’s safety,” said Oie,

During the spring term, several incidents have occurred within the roughly three-block radius of the school, according to LAPD data.

By Cami ’10

Catherine ’13, who was part of the Southeastern Asia group, focused on hydropower. She said the difficult part was collaborating as a team.

“That is tough with nine opinionated young ladies.

Ultimately, we worked hard to make this a group effort, and in the end, everything came together smoothly,” Catherine said.

The presentation was held in Auxiliary Services Manager Clinton Oie’s backyard, and groups spoke for twenty minutes in front of their entire grade; science instructors Sean Fitts, Amaria Parker, and Judy Storm; history instructors Martha Schuur and Eryn Hoffman; and two professional judges, engineer Randy Schultz from Southern California Edison Company and Kenji Ogawa, vice president of the renewable energy team at Union Bank of California.

Schuur, who spearheaded the event, said that the judges highly praised the girls.

“The comment I kept hearing from the judges was, ‘I really would like to take your presentations back with us, because you understand the information really well, and you’re able to articulate it really clearly – better than the people who we work with,’” Schuur said.

Schuur, who was also impressed, said that “it was just really clear that they had put a lot of effort into this,” she said.

The UltraViolet

Sitting in white plastic chairs, students whispered about which group would go first. Although allowed to bring their lunches, students were hardly eating and grasped on to their note cards, mumbling parts of their speeches over and over.

For the first Global Energy Summit on May 19-20, groups of students used knowledge built in Exploring Science II and Global Studies to make presentations about the impact of renewable energy sources on developing regions of the world. The summit was the culminating piece of the eighth grade’s traditional country project, in which students study a developing country throughout the year.

For the summit, students were placed into groups based on the regions their individual countries fell into. The regions included Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and a combination of Central Asia, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. They then chose solar, wind, or hydroelectric as a renewable energy source and researched the feasibility of that source in their region. Laying out the pros and cons, the groups reported how the energy would affect the local population and economy and what role the government would play in distributing the energy source.

• VIOLENT ROBBERY

500 block of S. Muirfield Rd. March 26, 8:35 p.m.

• THEFT FROM VEHICLE Muirfield and Rossmore Ave. March 19, 6 p.m.

• THEFT FROM VEHICLE 500 S. Rimpau Blvd.

Feb. 18, 9:45 p.m.

• BURGLARY

200 block of N .Arden Blvd.

Jan. 29, 10:30 a.m.

• BURGLARY

200 N. Rossmore Ave. Jan. 23, 8:30 a.m.

Source: www.lapdcrimemaps.org

“The only thing we can really do is promote prevention.”

While incidents in the area raised concern, administration representatives are confident that with appropriate precautions, students can stay safe.

Nonetheless, Oie warns that the student population should remember that even the three block radius from school is not a safe haven from crime.

“No matter how safe an area is, you always need to take the same precautions,” said Oie.

=== Matriculation Map 2009 === Kenyon College (4)

Northwestern U. (3) U. of Denver

Lewis and Clark College

l

U. of Notre Dame U. of Michigan

UC Santa Cruz

Harvard U. (2) Tufts U. (2) Boston U. (3) l

l l l l ll l

l l

l

l l l

l

l

Emerson College (2)

l l l ll l ll l ll l

Brown U. (2) Yale U. (2) Pratt Institute

l l

NYU (2) Columbia U. (6)

l l

l

l

l l l

UC Santa Barbara (3)

l

U. of Pennsylvania (4) U. of Delaware Johns Hopkins (2) Georgetown U.

UCLA (2) l

USC (11)

Wesleyan U.

Oberlin College

UC Berkeley (3)

UC Merced

Smith College

Bucknell U.

l

U. of San Francisco

Stanford U. (3)

Amherst College

Cornell U.

l l

Saint Mary’s College

Williams College

Vassar College(3)

U. of Chicago

Macalester College Carleton College

Reed College (2)

Colgate U.

UC Irvine

George Washington U. (2)

U. of San Diego

Duke U. (4) Spelman College

Southern Methodist U.

Washington University, St. Louis (2)

Emory U. Vanderbilt U.

OFF TO COLLEGE: The Class of 2009 has accepted admission offers from a wide variety of schools, ranging from private universities to public schools, and big-city schools to small liberal arts colleges. While a high percentage of students were accepted to Harvard, Yale, Brown, Cornell, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford and other highly selective universities, other students have chosen small liberal arts colleges including Kenyon, Oberlin, and Vassar. A large number of students have chosen big-city schools. Eleven will attend USC, while three will attend UC Berkeley. While most students will start their college education next year, three students will defer their admission for one year.

Graphic by Julie ’10

www.theultraviolet.com

Marlborough School

4

News

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Students select “The Book Thief” as all-school summer book

By Julia ’09 The UltraViolet

This year, a committee of 13 students under the guidance of English Department Head Joseph Koetters chose Australian author Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief” as the summer all-school book, rather than a committee of faculty members.

“I think students should pick the book,” Koetters said.

Koetters, who called the book a “page turner” said he had “every reason to think people will enjoy it.”

Originally sold and marketed in Australia as a book for adults, “The Book Thief” became a teen favorite in the U.S. In addition to being popular for its suspense, the book touches

on deep topics, Koetters said.

“It is a serious piece of literature and very easy to read,” he said.

Taking place in Germany and leading up to World War II, “The Book Thief” revolves around a girl named Liesel whom Death, the narrator, meets when her brother dies. The story focuses on the issues of dying and the power of friendship in a time of need.

Anna ’14, who was one of the committee members, said she is “excited” about the book and thinks it would be “fun to read [it] again.”

Some other choices on the list were “A Separate Piece,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” “Prime of Ms. Jean Brody,” and “The Magic Barrel,” but students enjoyed “The Book Thief”

Former soldier looks forward, not back Continued from cover

DEALING WITH DEATH: The novel takes place during the Holocaust.

Photo by Colleen ’10

from the very beginning, Koetters said.

Koetters also said that despite the difficulty to get 13 people to decide on a great book, he is pleased with student participation.

“Ultimately we got a great

Council term limit proposition voted down

By Cassidy ’10 The UltraViolet

The proposition to limit a student’s term limit on council failed to pass by a large margin.

Applicable for the class of 2011, this amendment would have changed the student constitution and would have prevented students from serving for more than two consecutive years on council.

Although approximately sixty percent voted against the amendment, the issue was controversial. Some students, such as Annie ’11, said that they had a hard time making the decision.

“I think that it’s nice for everyone to have an opportunity to be on council, but often there’s

Volume 39, Issue 6

a person on council that everyone wants to keep in that position because they did a great job. I understand how they want to give everyone an opportunity, but I also think it would be unfair for students who really enjoy being on council,” said Annie.

History & Social Sciences Instructor Thomas Millar, grade level leader of the tenth grade, said that he and many other teachers heard students talking about how some council positions were often held by the same person over the years, and so the teachers brought up the idea of a proposition during the 2008 mock-election in the fall. However, grade level leaders, Head of Middle School Robert Bryan, and Head of Upper

School Laura Hotchkiss decided to wait until this spring to conduct a real proposition.

“We were interested in getting the students perspective on the issue because I think you can make a good argument either way,” said Bryan. “I think that’s appropriate for when there’s not a clear-cut solution, and faculty can see the good parts of both sides.”

Millar said the proposition also served as an experiment to see how student propositions might work in general. He said that overall he thought it went well, but there aren’t any immediate plans for another one.

“It was more of a one-time thing,” he said.

on drugs,” she said. “My strength and Social Sciences Department is killing with knives and rope.”

Another female soldier, 15 Head Catherine Atwell said that year old Mafille, was freed by Medina is an Honors Research in Waruzi’s organization. Looking Humanities mentor for Amy Calfas at her hands and picking at her ’09, and it was Calfas who linked fingernails, she described her Marlborough with Madeleine and experience in the camp. the Human Rights Watch.

“Before that, I didn’t know Medina thanked Madeleine men.

My first experience was being and Waruzi for sharing their taken by force,” Mafille said. “I cry stories. This was the third day of whenever I think about it.” their tour, she said.

Waruzi said one of the main “They have been such things American students can do incredible troopers,” Medina said. is help contribute to educating An awkward laugh rippled Congolese children. through the room at her word “It is cheap, the education in choice. our country.

It only costs about Waruzi spoke following $150, which is the equivalent of Medina’s introduction.

He maybe two CD’s of Jay-Z,” he described seeing a nine year old said.” in one of the camps who couldn’t Regional Studies student even lift an AK-47.

Tracy ’10 said the speeches were “I was asking myself, what is fascinating. she doing here?” he said. “They “It seemed so strange that she is train her how to kill, how to smoke marijuana, how to cause violence, a junior, so we’re at the same place, but living completely different how to kill her own relatives.”

Waruzi said that students are lifestyles. It really broadens your his favorite audience to speak perspective,” she said.

Atwell agreed. “It’s always to about the issue because they have a sensitivity to children that inspiring for me to meet people adults sometimes lack. Learning who have displayed such personal about the issue now, he said, may courage,” she said “There’s a mean that students are equipped certain disconnect when you see it in a film or read it in a book... to change things in the future.

Waruzi also showed a seeing them in the flesh is so documentary “A Duty to Protect,” much different.”

At the end of the program, which depicted female child Madeleine took questions. Asked soldiers telling their stories.

One, a 16 year old named how it was being in school in the January, sat dressed in a United States, she responded with camouflage suit and wore a dark a quiet smile, “It’s OK.” Medina took the mic. green hat pulled over her forehead.

“She’s being too modest.

She said she is a sergeant first class and doesn’t want to leave the army When Madeleine came to the because she has worked hard for United States, she didn’t speak her rank, and she described some any English at all,” Medina said.

“This morning, she was up early of her duties.

“I like to go to the front lines already working on her homework. on drugs. I have no pity when I’m She’s preparing for the SAT’s.”

www.theultraviolet.com

Community

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Senior researches autism

Haven’t You Wondered...

How are streets named?

By Julie ’10 The UltraViolet

Lindsey ’09 studies autism’s effects on language in children

By Celine ’11 The UltraViolet

While most people view RESEARCH: Lindsey looked at children with both a high level of autistic talking as a daily routine, Lindsey symptoms and studied whether their was a correlation between their ability to communicate socially and their tested verbal and non-verbal intelligence. ’09 truly appreciates the ability to The pie chart to the upper right shows the results for autistic children who verbally communicate. have the ability to speak fluently: 63% of the time, the tested verbal (“VMA”) Lindsey’s younger brother, and non-verbal (“NVMA”) intelligence was equal for the children; 20% of who was diagnosed with autism the time verbal intelligence was higher; 17% of the time non-verbal intelwhen he was three years old, is ligence was higher. The graphic to the right shows how these factors are connonverbal and communicates via trolled by different parts of the brain. Photo by Julia and graphics courtesy of an augmentative communication Lindsey device, which is a small computer shying from interactive play and a that the measles-mumps-rubella programmed to be his “voice.” low IQ. vaccine and vaccines that contain a She said that She ran statistical mercury-based preservative called her brother, who tests to compare thimerosal did not cause autism in is two years her “My family and I autistic children who three different cases. junior, sparked don’t have spoken believe that Lindsey disagrees with this her interest to language with those ruling. She said that her brother study autism and there is a who have it, and she was born with normal language spoken language genetic discovered that children development, and it wasn’t until development for without language he received the vaccines and her honors research contribution tended to have more became sick that he began to lose project. to autism and an symptoms related to the all of his language until he had no “When we were disorder. environmental speech at all. growing up, I went Honors Research “My family and I believe that to all his therapies trigger, whatever Instructor Arleen there is a genetic contribution to and different types of that may be.”

Forsheit said that autism and an environmental trigger, programs and methods Geher’s success with whatever that may be,” she said. of communication,” -Lindsey her research is largely she said, “It was always Regardless of what caused ’09 due to her passion for her brother’s autism, Lindsey said really interesting and the topic.

I wanted to find out “Not only that she wouldn’t be the same more about the scientific aspect of was she talented in mastering person if her brother did not have it.” complicated statistical software, the disorder.

Under the guidance of Dr. “It’s not easy, but it’s all I’ve but it’s clear that her drive to Ramani Durvasula, Lindsey work in autism was something grown up with, it’s all I know. It compared language development that developed deep inside of her forced me to mature early and made in autistic individuals with the me really appreciate being able to for a long time,” she said. prevalence of other symptoms of the This past February, the U.S. have a conversation,” she said. disorder such as lack of eye contact, Lindsey said that she Court of Federal Claims ruled

Intelligence, judgment and behavior

Language

Autism basics Autism is a brain developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and repetitive behavior

Typically diagnosed in

• children between the

ages of 2 and 4 years old

• It affects 3-6 children out of every 1,000

• Four times as many

males are affected than females Evidence of language

• loci is on chromosome 7 Related conditions in-

• clude Asperger and Rett syndromes

Source: http://www.ninds. nih.gov/disorders/autism/ detail_autism.htm

Canadians are coming, eh?

By Ileana ’11 The UltraViolet

OH CANADA!: Sisters, Rachel ’11, Julia ’15, and Elaine ’13 will be entering Marlborough this coming fall. The family is moving from Toronto, Canada. Photo courtesy of the family

9th Grade application and acceptance trends 80

Number of students

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

2007-08

2008-09 Academic Year

2009-10

ADMISSION: The graph above shows the number of applicants and enrolled students for the ninth grade in the past three academic school years.

Graphic by Julie Huh

www.theultraviolet.com

5

Julia ’15, Elaine ’13, and Rachel ’11 will move to Los Angeles from Toronto, Canada to join Marlborough next year.

After learning about the school from friends in Los Angeles, the family decided to pay a visit to Hancock Park.

“The girls at Marlborough seem like such a great group of kids and got me more interested in Marlborough,” Julia said.

The three sisters already attend an all girls’ school and are making plans to load up their schedules.

“Some electives that I’d like to participate in are journalism, drama and Spanish. All of these subjects appeal to me and I hope to take these classes at Marlborough,” Elaine said.

Elaine is also on a competitive swim team in Toronto and is interested in joining debate.

One thing the girls aren’t concerned about is fitting in. Even Rachel, who will join the junior class, isn’t worried.

“Junior year means we only have two more years to go, but

I’m sure we will adjust quickly,” Rachel said.

The Tobins make up just three of the 104 new girls joining for ’09-10 school year. 22 girls will enter the ninth grade, and 81 girls will enter the seventh grade.

While 22 seems like a high number of new ninth graders, the admittance rate has stayed the same as previous years. However, the percentage of ninth graders who accepted their offers to enroll increased, said Admissions director Jeannette Woo-Chitjian.

Woo-Chitjian said that she is excited about the number of accepted girls.

“Given the economy, our previous statistics, and that these girls are so talented that they have many, many school choices, we were honored and flattered that so many chose Marlborough,” said Woo-Chitjian.

With so many new girls coming from different schools, ninth grade level leader and history instructor Helen Mendoza said that there will be more “twin sisters,” where students are paired within the grade to support each other.

As I was walking my dog in my neighborhood, I came across a street called Oso, which I thought was quite an odd name.

Why would someone name a street after the Spanish word for a bear? Quite perplexed, I thought of an even bigger question: how are streets named?

Having waited on the phone listening multiple times to the broken record of Beethoven’s 5th symphony, the “hold, please” music for the City of LA, I finally exited the labyrinth of bureaus that deal with naming streets and was transferred to Maritzza, who works for city planning on Westlake, near Macarthur Park.

Maritzza told me three distinct ways of how streets are named.

First, the community of a certain district can rename an existing street if they bring up the motion to its district council. If the motion passes, the Bureau of Engineering changes the names on the maps and the street signs.

The same thing happens for parks or any other public properties.

“The name changes according to what’s more popular at the time,” Maritzza said.

She joked about the possibility of an Obama street being named in the future.

Secondly, when there’s a large development for private streets, the owners of the property propose the name to the Subdivision of the Land Department of the Planning Department of LA (whew!). Until then, the subdivision temporarily names the streets A, B, C, etc.

Thirdly, when there’s a large project, such as the building of Union Station, the owners of the project get to name the street(s) near the project once the city has a development agreement with the owners.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find details on any recent cases of streets being named. Most streets in Los Angeles have already been well-established and named, said Carolyn Ramsay, communications director for councilman Tom LaBonge (Thank goodness. LA doesn’t need to be bigger than it already is).

More specifically, Ramsay enlightened me and said that the area around Marlborough was established ninety years ago by main developer Henry Hancock (hence the name Hancock Park).

“The street naming depends on the age of the neighborhood and the developer, who can either be a private owner with lots of money or land,” said Ramsay.

So I guess if I wanted to start naming a street, I should start gathering land (which is totally possible at my age) and then sell it to the public. Well, I know what my first street is going to be – Huh St.

Marlborough School

6

Community

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A first-person perspective on community service

School team joins Revlon Run/Walk

By Ileana ’11 The UltraViolet

SPARROWS: Ariella ’11 extends her hand out to Dillon, one of two brothers with Tay-Sachs Disease the sophomore class is helping through the Sparrows Club. Photo by Colleen ’10

Class of ’11 rallies to fight Tay-Sachs

By Celine ’11 The UltraViolet

The sophomore class completed 160 hours of community service and raised $1600 for Nathan and Dillon Robaut, two young boys with Tay-Sachs Disease, through an organization called Sparrow Clubs USA. Sparrow Clubs allows a school to “adopt” a child in medical need. For every hour of community service that Marlborough donates, a donor pledges to give ten dollars to the boys, said Ariella ’11 who organized the class’s involvement.

The sophomore class volunteered for Heal the Bay at the Santa Monica pier and donated these hours to Sparrow Clubs for the boys on March 20.

“I thought that it was a great way to help two charities at once. We got to clean the beach, and we got to help Nathan and Dillon,” said Ariella.

Tay-Sachs is an incurable genetic

Volume 39, Issue 6

disease that causes a variety of neurological symptoms, mainly cognitive, motor and speech difficulties.

Although the disease has not yet affected Dillon, who is only ten months old, Nathan, who is three years old, has already lost his ability to walk and talk.

The money raised by the sophomore class funds the boys’ medical bills, medications and therapies.

Recently, the boys traveled to Korea for gene therapy surgery. While Nathan began to show some improvements in Korea, the results did not last. The boys’ parents are currently looking into other treatment options.

Dillon and Nathan recently visited Marlborough on April 28. Ryanne Chitjian said that their visit was a valuable experience for the class.

“It was an eye-opening experience because it’s not something we see every day,” Chitjian said.

The flames of the Los Angeles Coliseum torch glowed with hope on May 9 as more than 50,000 women, men, and children joined together in the EIF Revlon Women’s Run/Walk 5K, a walk through the USC campus to raise money for researching cures for women’s cancers.

Science instructor Elizabeth Ashforth, math instructor Melissa Banister, Sarah ’11, and I walked with the John Wayne Cancer Institute team at the 16th walk.

Ashforth is a three year member of the board of trustees at the John Wayne Cancer Institute.

She has walked many times before, but this was her first year walking with the Institute.

In addition to walking for the Institute’s team, Ashforth said that she also participated in support of a close friend, who is a 10 year breast cancer survivor that is currently battling thyoma cancer.

Many of the walkers and runners were friends or family of cancer patients, cancer survivors, or even current cancer patients.

When we arrived at Exposition Park at 7 a.m., I was amazed to see the already growing crowd of people filling up the front lawn of the Coliseum. At 9 a.m., I experienced an intense moment when the large crowd started walking down the same route at the same time.

We could hear the loud speakers telling us to get pumped, but the farthest we could move was half a step every five minutes. Once we finally crossed the starting line, the walk was on.

As we moved through the crowd in our blue t-shirts with the recognizable cowboy’s shadow insignia of John Wayne, we read all the signs people had taped on their backs. Most were dedicated to moms, grandmas, and aunts fighting cancer, and sadly, many others were “in loving memory of” deceased loved ones.

WALKERS: Sarah ’11 and Ileana ’11 pose for the John Wayne Cancer Institute team photo. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Ashforth

Having suffered a great loss myself due to cancer, it was heart-breaking to see how many countless lives have been affected by cancer. But, it was up-lifting to see how many survivors there are and how many people are willing to fight for a cure for this despicable affliction.

As we entered the Coliseum, where we would finally cross the finish line, we all received gold medals.

Since 1993, the EIF Company and Revlon have worked together to gather funds for research towards the cure for women’s cancers.

This year, they gathered over two million dollars for research from registration fees.

By participating in the walk next year on May 8, you too can help make a difference by joining the Marlborough team or individually registering online at revlonwalk.com. Walking only 5k can help an important cause. To quote the announcer at the walk: “Help bring a cancerfree tomorrow today.”

www.theultraviolet.com

Community

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

7

COMMUNITY IN BRIEF

Vegetable garden removed Students will lose the vegetable garden located in the modular village at the end of this year, as the field is restored to its original size at the end of construction.

Although there is no plan currently in place to have a garden within the new structure, Dean of Faculty Martha Schuur is hopeful to continue teaching sustainability in the future.

“I’m thrilled to utilize the technology in the new Academic Resource Center and expand on experimental learning,” Schuur said.

Schuur, who initially helped plan the garden, said the garden didn’t produce enough to do all the things they had envisioned, which included supplying the surrounding community with fresh organic vegetables. The garden was used for “grazing” more than “harvesting,” she said.

Many students said they have enjoyed eating the ripened vegetables from the garden.

“The tomatoes are amazing,” said Alexa ’13. “It was so cool to see how bell peppers grow.”

- Colleen ’10, UV Staff

UV receives national recognition The UltraViolet was nationally recognized this year for its editorials, columns, and cartoons by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and Quill and Scroll.

For CSPA’s editorial cartoons category, Kat Lee ’09 took second place for her commentary on the PSAT exam for eighth graders and Diana Ling ’08 was awarded a certificate of merit for her perspective on last year’s writers’ strike.

For CSPA’s editorial category, Lorraine Lee ’08 won a certificate of merit for her editorial “Under Pressure,” which discussed the tutoring culture of competitive students. Several staff opinion writers won a second certificate for “We love the cake, but...,” which addressed student feelings about the construction.

In the Quill and Scroll’s International Writing and Photo contest, Amanda Chan’s ’09 editorial on the music ensemble program was a national winner. In the category of general columns, Ali ’09 was a national winner for her “On Diversity” column on how people react to racist opinions.

- Julie ’10 and Brianne ’10, UV Staff

Students receive scholarships

Lauren ’09, who worked on the link between blood pressure and serum levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, was a regional finalist for the Young Epidemiology Scholars competition and was invited to compete in the national event in Washington, D.C. on April 17-20.

Lauren and Carlyle ’09 won the National Achievement Scholarships and entered the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Ashtynn ’09 received the Mahatma Rice Scholarship by writing about, “How will your college education help you achieve your lifetime goals?”

Chelsea ’10, who was accepted into JPL’s Space Grant Summer Internship Program, will work under Leon Alkalai on the Moonrise Student Collaboration Project, which is designed to generate potential ideas for JPL’s New Frontiers Proposal, a lunar mission planned for launch in October 2016.

Jasmin ’10, was a finalist for the Princeton Prize in Race Relations for her documentary about the black community with a focus on HIV/AIDS, gang violence, and education.

- Julie ’10 and Brianne ’10, UV Staff

www.theultraviolet.com

ADIOS: From left to right, English instructor Justin Suran, librarian Zorana Ercegovac, English instructor Eliot Sloan, and science instructor Jeffrey Morse will be leaving this year, after 18 years of combined service. Photos by Brooke ’11and Colleen ’10

Four teachers, new and veteran, pursue new options

By Amanda ’109 The UltraViolet

Four faculty members ranging in tenure from one year to nine, will not return to Marlborough next year.

Science instructor Jeffrey Morse said he is most proud of the inroads in multiple scientific arenas that have been made in his nine years at Marlborough, prompting progress and change.

With science instructor Arleen Forsheit, Morse helped to grow the Honors Research program. When serving as the head of the science department, Morse purchased digital microscopes and installed Smartboards in every classroom and at the same time reduced the cost of lab fees.

In addition to teaching AP Environment Science, biology, and Exploring Science I, Morse reformatted the interdisciplinary Science and Society course to one that focuses more on how diseases originate and how the science and historical context are intertwined in his Global Health Matters class this year.

However, Morse said that he most enjoyed teaching biology students, and truly felt rewarded when he could “demystify the fear of the subject” and spark an interest for discovery in students

who weren’t previously as engaged in the sciences.

“I believe in taking students through windows of opportunity,” Morse said.

English instructor Eliot Sloan, who is moving back to the East Coast this summer, said her fondest memories of her four years at Marlborough have been teaching the senior creative writing workshop. Next year, she’ll be revisiting those moments by writing a book on teaching memoir writing to teenage girls.

“The way the students support and edit each others’ work is inspiring,” Sloan said.

“The quality of work they’ve produced is better than some graduate students’ work.”

Sloan will continue with college application essay tutoring and has hopes of starting her own business. Sloan said she is so inspired by the amazing quality of writing from her seniors that she might return to Marlborough one day.

“I’m torn about leaving Marlborough, but I need to do some personal exploration,” Sloan said. “I want to keep the door open for the potential to come back, because I will miss the girls.”

Library department chairwoman Zorana Ercegovac will be busy working at the research consulting firm she founded, InfoEN Associates, and writing more

books when she leaves Marlborough, after four years here.

Ercegovac is looking forward to teaching at the university level to future educators and graduate students who are interested in becoming media specialists, librarians, or teachers. However, she will miss witnessing students’ “aha” moments at Marlborough.

“I’ve enjoyed the one-on-one collaborating and coaching and being helpful to the students in the research process,” Ercegovac said.

Though English instructor Justin Suran has been teaching and lecturing in history since graduate school at UC Berkeley twelve years ago, he claims that teaching at Marlborough has been the most fun and rewarding.

“In some ways, my job here was easy because the students were highly motivated, focused, and cooperative,” Suran said. “The tenth graders are so fun and spontaneous, and the seniors are so sophisticated.”

His fondest memories of the school include the birthday party his tenth grade English class hosted for him (complete with a birthday crown), going to the senior prom with math instructor Alison Moser, and teaching modernism, which he described as a “mini-academic conference.”

explorer

Kogi truck unites people over love for tacos

By Colleen ’10 The UltraViolet

I never thought I would stand in line for two hours to pick up tacos from a truck, when I could find a taco stand or truck within a mile radius from any location in Los Angeles. However, the hype surrounding the Kogi Korean barbeque taco truck was too intriguing to pass up.

On Kogi’s infamous Twitter feed, which has over 24,000 “followers,” I found that there would be a truck between Wilshire and Cloverdale on Friday night.

Famished at the front of the line, I ordered an array of tacos (at $2 a piece), but the Korean barbeque short rib tacos were a personal favorite. Marinated and mixed with a Mexican chili soy sauce, salsa roja, and a lime cilantro relish, the tacos had a slightly sweet, salty, and nutty flavor and were double wrapped, lightly fried, and slightly crispy on the edges.

After the meal, I was curious how Kogi was revolutionizing street food, so I called Kogi’s public relations director Alice Shin.

Shin said the family business was started one night over a late night taco run, when her brother-in-law, Mark Manguera, the co-founder of Kogi, suggested creating a Mexican-Korean fusion.

Kogi officially opened in late Nov. 2008, and since then Shin has used food blogging to spread the word about the new restaurant on wheels. Shin especially works hard at responding personally to every “tweet” or comment the restaurant gets on Twitter.

Within a few months, the LA Times

TWITTER TACOS: Visit Kogi’s twitter at twitter.com/kogibbq to see when a truck like the one above will be in your neighborhood. Photo by Colleen ’10

reported on Kogi’s use of Twitter, which helped spawn a huge following of Kogi fanatics addicted to the unique blend of Kor-Mex flavors.

“We’re successful because we don’t run it like we went to business school,” Shin said. “Half the time we don’t know what the hell we’re doing. It’s fun and people respond to that.”

Executive chef Roy Choi, who previously worked in four and five star restaurants, gets creative control over Kogi products and introduces specials like the Kogi burger with salted watermelon and the spicy pork hot dog. Kogi’s usual items include short rib tacos, kimchi quesadillas,

and barbeque burritos.

On its busiest days, Kogi may encounter 500 customers at one stop. However, the lines should begin to die down because the company will soon introduce two more trucks to compensate for the increasing demand for Kogi tacos.

“I want the trucks to reflect the community they serve,” Shin said. “Each crowd has its own flavor and identity.”

I didn’t just get a few tacos; I got the whole Kogi experience: everyone around me was talking to each other - both strangers and friends; everyone’s boundaries were broken down by the mutual love for tacos.

Marlborough School

8

Feature

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Anime fans “cosplay” roles of favorite characters

By Rosie ’10 and Colleen’10 The UltraViolet

Virtual reality becomes actual reality when Taylor “Chibi” ’10 becomes Sora, her favorite Anime character, and attends anime conventions with all her costumed counterparts.

Though she hits smaller conventions year round, this summer brings two of the largest Anime Expo at the LA Convention Center and Comic-con in San Diego, where she’ll partake in what is known in the Anime world as “cosplay” or role playing dressup, in which one assumes the role of a character from an Anime show or video game.

Chibi’s cosplay character is Sora from the video game Kingdom Hearts II. She said she feels a connection to him because his values are so close to her own.

“I love Sora so much. I want to be him,” Chibi said.

Chibi studies Sora’s mannerisms so she can keep up with his character developments as Kingdom Hearts II changes.

Though Sora is her favorite character, she has over 20 full cosplay costumes and over 15 wigs, that go with numerous characters.

Chibi’s passion comes with a price. She has spent over $600 for one of her costumes, which includes a fluorescent pink wig, a scythe, blue contacts, production makeup, a jacket, 5 inch boots, pants, gloves, and a fake rose.

Chibi bristles at the attitude that some people hold that cosplay is childish, just playing dress-up, but she sees it as an art form.

“It’s important to me,” Chibi

ROLE PLAY: Juniors Evelyn Sanchez and Taylor Wolk dress-up as Zexion and Xigbar, who are members of Organization XIII, which is part of the Kingdom Hearts series. Photo courtesy of Taylor said. When she goes to Anime conventions, Chibi is in character the whole time. “You don’t drop the role for anything,” she said.

Although Chibi said she leaves her personal identity at home, she must have a strong sense of self before cosplaying.

“You have to be comfortable in your own skin before you assume another character,” she said.

It is not uncommon to see girls dressing up as male characters and vice versa because a lot of the characters are androgynous, Chibi said.

Chibi said that it’s not about the gender of the character, “it’s about the personality matching.”

Chibi prefers dressing up as male characters, because she said many female anime characters, are perceived as very sexual.

Chibi has fans all over the world that have connected with her through the art-sharing website Deviant Art. Chibi said she meets other Anime fans that range in age from twelve to fifty online and at conventions.

One of her friends is a 32 year old man, but they cosplay

together because “age isn’t a big boundary,” Chibi said. “We do it for the art. It’s our life.”

Evelyn ’10, who will also be going to Anime Expo, edits Anime Music Videos (AMV) during her free time.

Mikaela ’14 considers herself a “pro-gamer.”

She won’t stop playing a game until she beats it. Her favorite game is “Assassin’s Creed,” and despite its violent images, “it’s really realistic and beautiful,” she said.

“It makes my heart race,” Mikaela said. “I feel like I’m the character, and I’m merged into the game.”

NOM NOM: Above, Taylor as Sora from Kingdom Hearts II attempts to scare Mikaela Spielberg as Gothic Lolita. Below, Taylor battles a member from Organization XIII at an Anime convention. Photos courtesy of Taylor

By Rosie ’10 The UltraViolet

She can pop a wheeley on a lawn mower, teach physics, and tattoo. Essentially, there’s not much that science instructor Judy Storm can’t do.

Her career as an unofficial tattoo artist began in 2001, when Storm’s husband mentioned that he wanted a tattoo sleeve. In efforts to conserve money, she decided she would learn how to tattoo and do it herself.

With a heavy background in arts and crafts such as etch glass, ceramics, beading, stamp cards, and drawing, Storm was eager but anxious to pick up this new art form.

“I was very nervous at first, but my husband has a lot of confidence in me and encourages me to do things I’ve never done before,” Storm said.

Storm went to the store and bought a video tape, sterile

Volume 39, Issue 6

INKED: Top left is the Sanskrit phrase tattooed on Storm’s husband’s arm that means “om mani padme hum,” which is the Buddhist “Mani” mantra for “I honor the Jewel of the Lotus.” On the bottom left is a pentagram tattoo. On the right is Storm’s home tattoo kit. Photos courtesy of Judy Storm needles, and the motor equipment needed to successfully tattoo.

“I basically taught myself how to tattoo, except I had a little help from a friend who led me through the steps,” Storm said.

“You start off tattooing a grapefruit - apparently it represents the different types of human skin.”

The first tattoo Storm ever did was a pentagram on her

husband’s arm.

“I made the image on a software program called Flash and I printed it out. Then with surgical pens that have pigmented ink, you basically make a carbon copy on the persons arm,” Storm said.

Along with a pentagram, Storm has also tattooed a Sanskrit phrase on her husband’s arm and has outlined and filled in parts of

the sleeve that started this hobby.

“I work in two to three hour increments. I like to do it with the TV in the background. The noise keeps me focused, and I can talk sometimes, but when I actually put the needle to the skin, I’m completely determined,” Storm said.

Colleague Nessim Lagnado is not surprised that Storm is able to tattoo so well.

“Judy sees the world in a different way than most people.

She sees it in a way that is essential for physics and creativity.”

Storm does not plan to make a career out of tattooing or to open her own shop, she said. It would be too much dealing with sanitary issues and insurance. Still, “it’s something to fall back on if I ever find myself out of work,” Storm said.

9

Feature

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Coachella ’09

PUT YOUR HANDS UP: Standing under the hot sun, wild Coachella fans shout to show their love for the band TV on the Radio. Photo by Colleen ’10

UV reporter Taylor Thompson gives helpful tips for exploring the Coachella music scene

By Taylor The UltraViolet

Blisteringly hot weather. Lines of identical Southwestern-style homes. Old, saggy golfers. Let’s just say the Indio Valley isn’t exactly an elegant, bustling metropolis, but it has its redeeming factor: Every musical stereotype imaginable treks toward Indio’s musical Mecca once a year for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Forget April showers. I braved the hot, hot sun in the name of rock, folk, metal, electronica, industrial, and hip-hop. They say the third time’s the charm, and I can’t help but agree. With the ’07 and ’08 festivals under my belt, I was able to take full advantage of all that Coachella had to offer in ’09. So for all you folks vying for a breath of Coachella next year, here are some tips.

First and foremost, do your research. Make it a point to explore new artists of which you’ve never heard, because knowing which bands are must-sees will make your experience more fulfilling.

In years past, I would literally spend hours binge eating funnel cake while waiting in the sun for

some overrated electronic act.

This year, I YouTubed countless bands (you’ll get a good idea of which acts put on the best live performances) and asked for recommendations from a number of knowledgeable folks.

Secondly, apprehension must be completely banished from your mind. When the clock struck ten (“When the iPhone struck ten” would be more apt) on Sunday night, a British industrial band by the name of Throbbing Gristle took center stage. The band been around since the ‘70s, had performed only fifty times, and was highly controversial, as violent and pornographic images would accompany its shows on a projector… Let the good times roll. I watched a few YouTube videos of the band’s performances, all of which featured the male lead singer screaming. I was plain frightened, but I decided to check the show out for the sheer thrill. It turned out to be one of my favorite performances of the weekend; very unusual and musically complex. I was happy to have shed no blood. Oh, and the lead singer is now a woman.

Thirdly, make new friends,

WORLD CROWD: Singer M.I.A. brings her audience up on stage while singing World Town. Photo by Colleen ’10

AMIDST THE CROWD: Megan ’12 and Audrey ’12 pose with other fans at Ghostland Observatory’s show. Photo courtesy of Audrey but keep the old. One of my least favorite parts of Coachella is choosing between bands that are playing at the same time, but I’ve found that choosing older bands is wiser. Live shows are infrequent, and they’re more likely to give solid performances. I was reluctant to choose between ’90s shoegaze gods My Bloody Valentine and fun British dance group Late of the Pier, whose members are devastatingly attractive. Putting aside my persistent desire to stare at good-looking men, I ventured toward the main stage for MBV. The sheer volume of the performance was enough to put me in a trance. My eardrums buzzed with dreamy guitar licks for the rest of the night. Late of the Pier, on the other hand, sucked, according to my regretful friends who caught the band’s performance.

Speaking of dance acts, let’s touch on the Sahara Tent. All of the hot-shot DJs (see: ambiguous French dude in tight pants) play in the Sahara Tent throughout the weekend, and let’s just say it attracts head-to-toe American

Apparel-clad twelve year olds and weird ravers like bees to honey. Frankly, it scares me, and smells like a ripe armpit. I was in there only four times this year, and each was disappointing (other than Crookers, which was the perfect post-Fleet Foxes guilty-pleasure dance party).

Most people in the Sahara have a bit of chemical assistance (if you know what I mean) to aid them in their movements. Everyone is bessssst friendssss. Being a highly

judgmental person, I steered clear of that love-fest. To each their own, I suppose.

So if you want something more musically rewarding than some Eurotrash techno act, don’t be afraid to walk around alone and explore the festival grounds.

This is one of the best parts about Coachella: you can almost always find someone you know, unless, of course, it’s night time. When the sun sets, it becomes a completely different event, with only gargantuan neon sculptures, stage lights, and well-lit food courts to guide you. The beating sun tucks itself beneath the desert horizon and you become submerged in night and pure sound.

After the final Sunday midnight exodus from the festival grounds, I showered with vigor and slept, my ears still ringing.

I was ready for day four, day five even! However, prepare to be Coachella-sick, literally and figuratively. Despite the fact that my immune system decided to vacation and I looked like a lobster-human crossbreed (not enough Coppertone), I still long to celebrate music and art with my closest friends again.

LA FAMILIA DIVINA: This shrine, filled with eclectic, colorful artwork and lanterns, was displayed at the front of Coachella’s entrance. Photo

by Colleen ’10

Marlborough School

10

Entertainment and Arts

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Senior photographer named Presidential Scholar in Arts Julie’s work will be exhibited at the Smithsonian

twenty scholars in the arts, as well as the 121 academic Presidential The UltraViolet Scholars. President Obama is Senior Julie has been named expected to be in attendance. one of twenty Presidential “I’m most looking forward Scholars of the Arts and will to spending time with the other travel to Washington D.C. in June, Presidential Scholars. They’re all where her work will be displayed very talented students and they’re in the Smithsonian National all interested in very different things, Museum of American Art. She’ll so I’m looking forward to getting to also attend a White House gala talk to them and see if any of our in honor of all the interests overlap,�

Julie said. scholars.

Visual arts Julie’s road to the “I’ve met my instructor Judith capitol began this fall Tanzman was with the youngARTS competition awarded a teachercompetition, which is the people I was recognition award part of the National running with by Julie, and will Foundation for the travel to Washington and I know what Advancement in the D.C. with her.

Arts. Out of the 6,000 kind of work “I’m very students who applied they’re doing. excited for Julie, and for the distinction, proud of her. It was Kellman traveled to I’m very such an impressive Miami for a week in honored to be recognition - she January as one of the represents the top recognized 140 finalists. arts students in the Based on her among them.� performance there, she country,� she said.

- Julie won a Silver Award, Julie originally which included a ten ’09 submitted $5,000 scholarship photographs, and a week-long including aerial residency program in New York shots she took flying over Los City last February. In addition, Angeles with her father, a youngARTS nominated her for professional pilot, and later, the Presidential Scholarship. another twenty pieces that ranged “It was incredibly exciting in theme and technique. to win the award. I’ve met my “In the past three years, she competition – the people I was has shown such a diverse and running with – and I know what wide-ranging exploration of both kind of work they’re doing,� said art and technology. Her final Julie, “I’m very honored to be portfolio of her aerial shots were extremely well thought-out and recognized among them.�

The gala in June will honor the presented,� said Tanzman.

By Cassidy ’10

SECRET REVEALED: Allison ’13, Kimi ’13, Zena, and Cassidy wear tree-inspired apparel in the Middle School play, which is set in a future world where trees grow only on special farms. The scene above takes place in a tree museum, where the buddha explains tree blossoming. Photo courtesy of Paula Riff

Middle schoolers write their own play

By Rosie ’10 The UltraViolet

The Middle School play gave audiences something they’d never seen before. After drama instructor Gleason Bauer struggled this winter to find a strong play for a large cast, she invited a group of ninth graders to brainstorm ideas for a completely new play, and their work inspired “The Secret Life of Trees.� “I was looking for a play that was appropriate for Middle School that could use 30 girls,� said Bauer, who directed the production, “I couldn’t find anything pre-existing remotely appropriate or of the right sophistication, so I decided we could develop our own.�

Bauer knew she wanted to put on something about trees after attempting to do “The Giving Tree.� The girls met twice a week before auditions to conduct research about trees and perform

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improvisational exercises based on their ideas. Students also created a wikispace to house their ideas, she said.

Over spring break, Bauer took this idea to her friend, playwright Anneliese Euler, who helped Bauer transpose the ideas into a script.

This left the girls limited time to rehearse because they continued the development of the script throughout the whole rehearsing process. “It was really interesting to see our ideas taken by someone and made into a script. It was a great experience being able to pick our setting and ideas for the play and be able to actually perform them,� said Sarah ’13, who helped Euler write parts of the play. Sarah said a self-made script was unpredictable. “We never really knew where the process was going because we had nothing to draw from, we really had to invent the characters

E+A IN BRIEF

Performing arts department holds its first banquet Performance artists, teachers and families ate food and played games at the first Performing Arts Banquet.

The banquet was held on May 9 and included a potluck and a variety of games, such as creating a costume for Jack Sparrow out of toilet paper.

The whole school was invited to the event, and a couple hundred people attended.

Performing Arts Department Head Anne Scarbrough said, “We wanted to invite everyone because we’re not the boss of who’s part of the performing arts community.�

- Brianne ’10, UV Staff

New dance concert with more styles to take place next fall

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Volume 39, Issue 6

as we went along,� said Sarah.

Performing Arts Department Head Anne Scarbrough said the work continued through dress rehearsals. “Even up until a couple of days before the opening, small changes were still being made,� she said.

The student-inspired script wasn’t the only new twist this year. Visual arts instructor Chelsea Dean brought together a group of girls to design trees for the set, and the movement in the play was choreographed by new dance instructor Laura Iacuessa. “Theater does not always go as planned, but I feel the play was very successful,� said Bauer.

Despite that feeling, Bauer does not know if she would do a project like this next year. “It allowed us to be more flexible but did not allow us as much time as I would like,� Bauer said.

Dancers from all grades will have the opportunity to perform in a new dance concert that will premiere next fall.

Auditions will be held in early September for the concert, which will showcase a diverse range of styles and levels of training. “I want to have a concert that embodies different dance styles,� dance instructor Laura Iacuessa said, “Everyone will have a place.�

Iacuessa is bringing in outside choreographers, so the students will learn techniques from a variety of perspectives.

Interested students can sign up outside the dance studio.

- Colleen ’10, UV Staff

CLOSE READING: Poet Derrick Brown reads from his book, “I Love You Is Back,� during lunch. Photo by Colleen

Derrick Brown returns to perform in intimate setting

Derrick Brown, one of the artists who performed during Poetry Jam, visited on April 29 to read more poems from his books “I Love You Is Back� and “Scandalabra.�

Taylor ’10, president of Poetry Club, hosted this coffeehouse event and said she loves Brown’s work. “He’s poignant and inventive. He creates metaphors and similes that are weird yet super-imaginative. He makes it cool to be a nerd, to be religious,� Taylor said.

During Brown’s reading, Taylor held a bake sale to raise money for Project Spotlight, a community service program for young performing artists.

- Julie ’10, UV Staff

www.theultraviolet.com

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Entertainment and Arts

11

Mineko Grimmer chosen as this year’s Artist in Residence Grimmer installs the “imaginary tea houses,” allowing students an escape from school

By Cassidy ’10 and Brianne ’10 The UltraViolet

As you enter the vegetable garden tucked behind the modular village, two new wooden structures are lined up along the wall, created as cool and peaceful meditation rooms, separate from the business and stress of the Marlborough campus. As you lean against the wooden bench, a plate of ice melts slowly and drips into a large handmade vase, making rhythmic sounds that are crafted to mirror the sound of raindrops on ponds.

These “imaginary tea houses” were created by Los Angeles sculptor Mineko Grimmer, this year’s Artist in Residence.

The Artist in Residence program, which was founded by a grant from the Berman/Bloch family, funds a professional artist to work on campus each year.

Marlborough Trustee Nancy Berman worked closely with Visual Arts Department Head Gina Woodruff to choose Grimmer.

Grimmer’s pieces, which were built as a sanctuary to meditate, were installed during spring break, and on April 21, Grimmer returned to Marlborough to discuss her artwork with students.

Yoga instructor Judith Sekler took her yoga classes to visit the structures and meditate.

“I think they’re fantastic. I think that they provide a muchneeded rest from the rest of our day,” said Sekler. “What I love is that they’re both encompassed

by our regular life but separate from the chaos of the day, which is what meditation is - finding a quiet space among the rough and tumble of everyday life.”

Sekler said that students especially enjoy the duality of the structures: they provide privacy but also access to nature.

Julianne Green ’10, who visited the tea houses in one of Sekler’s classes, said, “It’s so rare to find a place on campus that is relaxing, especially with all the construction going on, but the tea houses offer just that - a place to escape from the chaos of school, a sanctuary of peace.”

Grimmer’s work encompasses primarily “kinetic-sound producing” sculptures that center around both movement and sound. The L.A. resident grew up and began her art education in Japan, and then attended the Otis College of Art and Design, where she met Woodruff.

Grimmer said she was surprised by the amount of creativity encouraged in the United States.

“I was fascinated by how teachers and trends encouraged the students to move in their own direction. I didn’t have to replicate masterpieces, I could do my own work,” she said.

Since the 1980s, Grimmer has focused on “materials that would change while you were watching,” specifically ice. In many of her pieces, including her work here, the artist uses handcrafted ceramic vessels from Huaca, Mexico.

Woodruff is enthusiastic about the new opportunities from interacting with artists that the Artist in Residence program provides.

“I’m kind of excited for doing things differently. We’re looking for ways to get different people involved - interactive things outside of the gallery that help people realize that art doesn’t have to be in a gallery,” Woodruff said.

Currently, the administration has not determined where the structures will be re-located on the new campus.

IMAGINARY TEA HOUSES: Above and to the left, Artist in Residence Mineko Grimmer explains her work to students during her April 21 visit to campus. Directly above, Grimmer and Marlborough trustee Nancy Berman, who helped fund the Artist in Residence program, stand next to Grimmer’s tea houses. Berman worked closely with Visual Arts Department Head Gina Woodruff to choose this year’s artist. To the left is the ceramic pot, found in the wooden tea houses, that are covered with ice that drips inside the teapot, producing soothing sounds. Photos

by Colleen ’10 and Judith Tanzman

Interdisciplinary performance class set to begin next year

By Brooke ’10 The UltraViolet

SCREEN GRAB: Actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel reverse the stereotypical gender roles in relationships in the new romantic comedy, “500 Days of Summer.” Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Press Room

An inside look into a new kind of romantic comedy

By Ileana ’11 The UltraViolet

If you’re looking for another one of those romantic comedies where you ask yourself, “whoare-they-kidding-there’s-noway-you-can-find-a-perfectmatch-that-easily,” the uniquely entertaining movie “500 Days of Summer,” which premieres July 15, doesn’t fit the bill.

The film stars Joseph-Gordon Levitt as Tom and Zooey Deschanel as Summer (nice play on words). It’s essentially the story of the year-plus on-again, off-again relationship between a stubborn guy who believes in happy-endings and a girl who doesn’t. The fun twist? It’s all told from the guy’s point of view; even the ominous narrative voice

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of Morgan Freeman is a creation of Tom’s vivid imagination.

Feminists out there, relax, the girls in the flick still exert their dominance. Take Tom’s little sister Rachel, for instance, played by Chloe Grace Moretz.

Throughout the movie, Tom, a 20-something Holden Caulfield impressionist, looks to his 12year old sibling for counsel in his love life.

Still, it’s Tom’s innermost thoughts that tell the captivating story of this failed architectturned-greeting-card-writer, and his desire for the love for Summer that she seems too fickle to grasp.

While first-time feature length film director Marc Webb took some expected Hollywood-style liberty in presenting the Los Angeles, which

looks more like Boston or New York based on the building heights, he did an impressive job using all sorts of effects in capturing Tom’s emotions.

For instance, what better way to portray Tom’s depression than by having three minutes of the movie film shown as a black and white French film? Also, nothing says I’m happy like a dance number in a public park where Levitt is joined by an animated blue bird.

“500 Days of Summer” does a great job presenting this realitybased romantic comedy without over-doing the comedy part, though the montages and other special effects make the trip through Tom’s brain all the more entertaining. The film does have its dull parts, but there’s enough summer fun to make you smile.

Combining multiple disciplines into physical performance, a typical day in Interdisciplinary Performance would begin with a kata.

A kata is a motional meditation warm-up. The goal of the exercise is to move your arms and feet around in a circular motion while keeping one’s center.

To begin, one must stand perfectly still. A helpful tip is to imagine there is a rope coming out of the top of your head to keep your back straight. An essential part is to remember to breathe deeply.

The day could continue on with any number of adventures.

For instance, Performing Arts Department Head Anne Scarbrough hopes to bring in a physics instructor to teach students the physics behind hanging their bodies in the air with acrobatic ropes.

After not having enough signups last year, Interdisciplinary Performance, or ‘XD,’ has garnered enough students to go forward in ’09-10.

The class will mix together aspects of dance, music, and theater as a way to help students look at art through different

lenses.

Phoebe ’12 is excited about the revamped program.

“I love the idea of going into class having no idea what activity we might end up doing. I’m particularly passionate about musical theater, but I’m excited about mastering all the different disciplines,” Phoebe said.

Heather ’11 signed up for the class in the hopes of expanding her horizons.

“For a long time at Marlborough I’ve wanted to get involved with the other arts, and I’m grateful to have that opportunity now. I’m also happy that I can do something I love (drama) while still fulfilling my PE requirement,” Heather said.

Heather is also interested in working with all the different teachers. The class will have three instructors, one from each discipline, and they will change each year.

Self-defense instructor Heidi Hornbacher will be teaching the girls fight and combat skills next year.

“Most importantly, I want my students to leave the class feeling secure and confident. I want them to know they have the power to save their own lives,” Hornbacher said.

Marlborough School

12 Sports What’s most important for school to foster, The Club Question: the varsity team or individual achievement?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

By Celine ’11, Jenny ’10, and Casey ’10 The UltraViolet

Jane Huh ’07 knows both sides of the story. She knows how important it is for top athletes to find the highest level of competition, even if that means stepping away from the school team. She also knows how important camaraderie can be to varsity sports, and what a difference top players can make by fully participating.

When Huh came to Marlborough as a freshman, she said the friends she made while playing varsity tennis were a main factor in helping her adjust to the school.

“Before Marlborough I was always playing by myself, but on the team I felt I played for not only myself, but also for the team. I was proud to represent Marlborough,” said Huh about her high school experience.

However, she said she still needed to concentrate on private lessons and outside tournaments because that’s what you have to do to get recruited by colleges. In fact, in her junior year, Huh left the team altogether to pursue tennis individually.

“When you play tournaments you are playing for yourself against other girls, for your own ranking, and to get recruited,” said Huh. As a senior, though, she returned to play varsity in addition to her outside competitions. Though she couldn’t make every practice, Athletic Director David Collicutt said Huh was the catalyst that led the team the CIF Southern Section title.

In an interview from the University of Arizona, where she now plays, Huh agreed.

“The chemistry lead to great energy, support, and confidence for everyone on the team,” she said.

Collicutt said Huh’s willingness to compromise her schedule meant a great deal to the team: “When a top player does that, everybody else follows her lead.”

THE CHALLENGE Huh’s difficulty with balancing school sports and outside competition isn’t unusual.

This year, the two strongest retuning tennis players from the 2007-08 team decided to only play outside school instead of participating on the varsity team. Though the team had its worst record in several years, new Coach Dale Jones said the two players alone wouldn’t have had a major impact on the record, and more important to him was creating a sense of team commitment.

While the track and swim teams continued to perform very well, tension arose on both between players who played only for the school team and athletes who practiced more often with club teams but still competed in school competitions.

And even with sports such as basketball and softball, where there is no conflict between club and varsity schedules, there can be concerns about players overextending themselves.

The challenge to the Athletic Department is complex: How do you reward loyalty, keep strong teams, and encourage stand-out individuals to develop to their fullest potential, whether they do it on campus or not?

Marlborough will “always be flexible for the athletes,” Collicutt said. “We have to compromise, so that is where the battle comes in. Most schools have to deal with the gray area.”

WHAT’S FAIR Swim coach Peter Lambert’s policy requires club members to attend at least one

Volume 39, Issue 6

CHANGE OF PACE: Above left, Jasmin ’10 runs for the Cougars, a club track team. Photo courtesy of Jasmine. Above right, Reyna ‘12 (middle) and Andrea ‘09 (far right) with their club swim Team Santa Monica. Photo courtesy of Bailey ’11

Marlborough practice a week; however, team captains are required to show up to every single practice.

Co-captain of the swim team Caitlin ’10 said that Lambert’s policy for practices is unfair because she and co-captain Sacha ’10 are then forced to practice four hours a day (2 hours at Marlborough and 2 hours immediately after at their club team at Crossroads School).

Caitlin said that when academics overwhelm her, she skips Marlborough practice and only attends club practice, leaving her enough time for homework.

“The coaches get mad when we can’t attend the Marlborough [practice] and go to club instead,” said Caitlin. She emphasized that she prefers not to miss varsity practice, but overall, academics have to come before swimming, so she can only attend one practice a day.

An anonymous varsity swimmer who also swims for a club team (we’ll call her Janelle), said the attendance policy is unfair.

“We dedicated our lives to the sport, that’s why we practice for hours outside of school,” Janelle said. “It helps me swim faster when I’m practicing with my club teammates. If they want us to win CIF championships for the school, we need to be swimming at our best,” she added.

Over the years, similar tensions have existed on the track team. Taylor ’10, a varsity team member who previously also ran with a club team but now only runs for the school team, agreed that players get better participating with a club team, and said club team members should be required to show up to a minimum number of practices with the Marlborough team. Harvey said that she believes that the fact that club team members don’t show up to practice hurts the Marlborough team as a whole.

“It really puts a dent in our unity,” Taylor said. “We perform well, but we’re not unified.”

This year, however, the addition of more specialized assistant coaches has attracted some of the top athletes, who before had spent more time with private coaches – such as nationally ranked seniors Ashtynn Baltimore and Carlyle Davis, to practice more often with the team, said track-runner Colleen ’10.

Their presence makes a big difference to the team, she said.

“Seeing them work motivates everyone on the team to push themselves and do better,” said Colleen.

The tennis players who decided not to play varsity this year didn’t attribute the decision to schedule conflicts. But Jones, backed by the Athletic Department,

Other schools’ policies Harvard-Westlake does not have a policy on club sport participation.

However, the school has an informal ‘no surprises’ rule, which ensures that everyone who needs to know (teachers, coaches, parents and friends) is aware of any potential schedule conflicts ahead of time.”

DRIBBLE: Tyler ‘11 plays for AAU basketball club team. Photo courtesy of Tyler

did make all tennis practices mandatory.

Because of Marlborough’s “exceptional coaches, an athlete working with a private coach is not an excuse for missing practice,” he said.

He said that unless the players are highly ranked in California in the junior open division, high school coaches can still give them the training they need. In a private setting, he granted, an athlete hits more balls individually, but he said that doesn’t give them the advantage of playing with a variety of partners and developing strategies and relationships with them.

“If you’re going to be playing for a college team, you won’t be playing in an individualsetting-you’llbeplayingforateam,” he said.

THE EASIER ROAD Certain sports, like basketball and softball, don’t have direct conflicts.

Members of the basketball team who are part of club organizations, such as Amateur Athletics Union (AAU), play at a different time of year than the varsity team.

One the softball team, only two players, Alix ’11 and Taylor ’12, also play club, and both successfully juggle their time because their club teams only practice over the weekend.

Alix said the effort of balancing both teams is worth it, because that “when you don’t show up to practice, you lose some of the respect of your teammates.”

However, Collicutt said the situation

Marymount has an unwritten policy regarding club athletes that says all athletes and team members are expected to attend all school practices. Some exceptions may be made so that athletes can attend their club practices or work with their personal coaches once a week during the season. In an extreme case, an athlete may be excused from two school practices a week but this is rare and usually only occurs when there is a double day practice situation where the athlete may miss either the morning or the afternoon. still isn’t ideal because athletes are more susceptible to exhaustion and injuries through over-exercise.

Alix said if she had to choose between the two teams, she would play with her travel club team because it provides better college recruitment opportunities, but she’s glad she doesn’t have to.

“I don’t think there should be a general school policy on practice attendance.

Instead I think it should be left up to the individual coaches,” said Alix.

THE POLICY QUESTION Although many student athletes play for both club and school teams, there is no specific school-wide policy governing participation in club and school sports any issues are dealt with on a case-by-case basis with the individual team coaches.

Collicutt, who before coming to Marlborough coached extensively with club sports, said he understands how important participation in club athletics is to top players because of recruiting.

College coaches tend to attend club tournaments instead of school competitions because it’s easier to “see the best players compete against the best players” in one place, Collicutt said. That makes clubs sports “the platform to showcase your talent to college coaches,” he added.

But even with no strict policy in place, Collicutt said Marlborough is never in favor of an athlete just competing in meets and games without attending team practices.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Softball makes first CIF-SS playoff

Sports

13

Tough losses at end of season create earlier game date that conflicts with senior class Hawaii trip, forcing team to play short-handed

By Cami ’10 The UltraViolet

FLIGHT: Chloe Cassens ’12 jumps a hurdle in a recent show. Photo courtesy of Alison Moser

Equestrian wins 2nd straight IEL title

By Brooke ’10 The UltraViolet

The Equestrian team placed first at their final show on April 11 to clinch its second straight Interscholastic Equestrian League title.

The team earned 979 points to finish first over its closest rival LA Reina’s who scored 956 points. Team advisor Alison Moser said one highlight of the show was when Kailey Johnson ’14 managed to get her pony back to behaving properly after he was initially spooked and took off.

“Her calm in the face of fear was really impressive and showed great skill as a rider,” Moser said.

Though a challenge this year has been getting every member of the team to attend every show, the team is extremely deep.

Next year the team will lose only two seniors, Lindsay Field and Emily Slemaker, and it expects to gain several new riders from the incoming seventh grade class.

The team won the freshman division with 282 points. It was Reserve Champion (second place) in the JV division with 392 points. Individually, Alexandra Murray ’13 won third place in the Freshman Medal standings for the season.

For the first time in school history, varsity softball made the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The team lost its first game 23-12 to Carpinteria High School on May 19 when it was forced to play shorthanded – its four seniors could not attend due to a schedule conflict with the senior class trip to Hawaii.

After starting the season strong with a record of 9-0, the team had a string of losses at the end of the Sunshine League when it played against teams that were highly ranked in CIF-SS. As a result, the team had to play its first playoff game a few days earlier than expected, creating the problem with the Hawaii trip.

Allyson, a senior on the trip, said, “We considered flying home, but that would have meant that we were only there for about a day. Hawaii is something that I have been waiting for since seventh grade, so I couldn’t do that.”

To fill in the empty spaces the team recruited Mindy ’11, who played on the team last year and two basketball players who had never played softball before, Tyler ’11 and Miwa ’11. The changes also required experienced players to step into positions they had never played before.

Sara ’11, playing her first season with the varsity team, still felt good about the game.

“I was really proud of us. People played for the first time or they played out of position. Under the circumstances, I think we played really well, and we managed to make 10 plus runs,” she said.

ON THE BALL: Taylor ’12 connects against Carpinteria High School in the CIF-SS playoff game on May 19. The team hit well, but lost 23-12. Above, four seniors - Haley, Allyson, Rose, and Sarah - who were unable to attend the playoff game, which the Mustangs lost 3-8, due to the senior class Hawaii trip. Photos by Cami ’10 and Colleen ’10

Senior Rose, who wasn’t present for the game said, “I respect the fact that the team had the drive and the passion to play such a strong game, even in the situation with players missing and ones that were new on the field.”

The team started off its season strong, winning a streak of nine games. The first loss came during the game against Marymount, one of the top ranked teams in the league. The team earned its first

Track sweeps Sunshine League and places sixth overall in CIF-SS

By Julie ’10 The UltraViolet

DIVING: Bailey ’11, center, dives into the pool during the May 7 Sunshine League finals meet at the Coliseum in downtown Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Julie Grist

Swim team earns 7th place in CIF-SS

By Brianne ’10 The UltraViolet

The varsity swim team took home seventh place in CIF Sunshine Section Division IV finals, after a successful season of 15 wins and zero losses, making the team undefeated champions for seven consecutive years.

Seven swimmers swam in CIF finals this year. At finals, Isabel ’11 and Bailey ’11 broke school records for the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle, respectively.

Isabel broke the record of 1:04.44 by less than one second, with a time of 1:04.32, placing her eleventh. Bailey broke the record of 1:58.73 by a little less than a second, with a time of 1:57.67 that placed her third.

The team would have placed third overall at CIF, but its 200 freestyle relay was disqualified in the preliminary round. Had the relay not been disqualified, the Mustangs would have placed second in that relay.

ever top ten ranking in CIF-SS, ranked ten among its competitors. Its losses towards the end of the season were against some of the top ranked teams, with scores that were not disappointing.

“This season was amazing. We tried our best, and we got farther than we ever have before,” said Allyson.

“It was an overall success,” said Sarah ’09. The team finished its season with 9-70 record.

Coach Peter Lambert said, “Unfortunately due to a relay disqualification, we didn’t do as well as I had expected. We wanted to get top three, but got seventh. But we lost [the relay], so we lost 30 points.”

However, other than the disqualified relay in the preliminaries, Lambert said the team overall still performed well at CIF. “The girls came through with a very, very nice meet. They were terrific at league finals and did even better at CIF,” Lambert said.

To improve for next year, Lambert and Bailey hope the team will improve on its team spirit and unity.

Bailey said, “I think there was less spirit this year. Sometimes people aren’t as passionate about the team as they could be.

I hope we can be more unified next year.”

Lambert added, “I feel like some of our technical skills, like relay take off, start and turns, can be improved on as well.”

Despite only having three individual athletes and one relay team competing, the varsity track team still placed sixth out of 26 teams in the CIF Southern Section finals on May 23 at Cerritos College.

Ashtynn ’09 placed first in long jump, setting a school and CIF record of 19’11.75’’. She also came in first in the 100 meter hurdles, ranking her second in California, and third in the 300 meter hurdles. Carlyle ’09 won the 800 meters with a time of 2:10.82 and is ranked second in state for THE event. Danielle ’10 placed fifth in the 3200 meter run. Ashtynn and Carlyle will advance to the CIF-SS masters meet on Friday.

Due to illness and injury, the 4x100 relay team, which had advanced from CIF prelims, was not able to compete at the finals. The 4 x 400 relay team placed ninth.

The team finished the Sunshine League season undefeated, beating Immaculate Heart 91-36 and Ramona Convent High School 101-24 on April 30, and had ten first place winners at league finals.

New team member Katherine ’12, who qualified for three events in the CIFSS prelims, said that she felt great energy from her team members.

“I felt really included. There weren’t any grade barriers, and I was treated the same way as [the team] would treat a junior or senior” she said.

Head coach Jimmie Grant said that he also felt a strong team mentality arising from the younger athletes. He said that

Mount Sac Invitational Carlyle ’09 placed first in both the 800-meter and 1600-meter race at the Mount Sac Relays in Walnut, California on April 18. Her time was 2:09.57 for the 800-meter race and 5:02.46 for the 1600-meter race.

Ashtynn ’09 placed first in long jump and third place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.34.

he really appreciated the young athletes’ major contribution to the team.

“Next year, I’m going to stress making more of a team as opposed to individual performance,” Grant said.

Assisting Grant, new coaches Andrea Burnside and Kym Begel helped to encourage the team to try different track and field events, such as hurdling.

The team swept the Sunshine League championship, winning first place in ten of the events. Carlyle, Danielle, Katherine, and Jasmin ’10 received first, second, third, and fourth places respectively in the 800 meter run. Carlyle, Danielle, and Katherine placed top three in the 1600 meter run, and Danielle and Catherine also placed first and second in the 3200 meter run. Ashtynn placed first in the 100 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, and long jump. The 4x100 meter relay and 4x400 meter relay also came in first. Miranda ’10 placed first in high jump. Jessica ’12 placed first in pole vault.

Marlborough School

14

Opinion

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Give us something to gossip about

By Faith The UltraViolet

EDITORIALS

Cartoon by Kat ’09

End the confusion: Athletes, participate

“When athletes train together, they are united through the common experience of a workout”

What is it about mutual pain that bonds us together?

Imagine you’re running laps or practicing your batting skills with your teammates – even during practice, you support each other with cheering, advice, and even just funny stories. This is your time to bond and support each other, so when you step out onto the playing field or onto the court or track, you can dominate as one.

But what happens when only half the team attends practice?

Although currently there isn’t a policy regulating attendance for athletes involved in both school and club sports, we think installing a flexible requirement for the athletes will help strengthen the entire Marlborough community. Athletes should find a balance between their club and school sports teams, so they’re able to participate in each for an equal amount of time. We propose that each coach devises a policy, according to the sport, in which athletes would have to attend a certain number of mandatory practices a week.

It’s unfair that athletes who show up to practice every day get pushed aside by club athletes during competitions, when coaches allow the girls to play in superior positions or get more recognition. In a fair world, loyalty to the team should take precedence over athletic ability, and this policy would help achieve that.

More loyalty to the team would also increase both team unity and spirit. If more people dedicate time to practicing with their school teammates, the team will have more opportunities to bond with and support one another. When athletes train together, they are united through the common experiences of workouts and can relate to each other’s difficulties. When the whole team participates more often, everyone will know that everyone is giving it their all for the games, as a true team should.

This policy would also allow students who only practice at school to learn skills and gain motivation from students who also play on club sports. More time will be dedicated to polish the team’s strategy, rather than individual players working on improving their own skills at club practices. In addition, this would ensure that potential team leaders should be present at all practices so they effectively lead and support the team.

Although this policy might cause some club athletes not to join the varsity team at school, and therefore leave the chance of having weaker school teams, the overall unity of the teams will be well worth it.

With a flexible policy, there will be less confusion about the expectations for club athletes, and the Mustangs’ pride will be able to live on. Mustangs were meant to run in herds, ladies!

Welcome from our new Editor-in-Chief

“Hey, we want the UV Online to be the Marlborough ‘Facebook’ community (but with less gossip and more insight)” Volume 39, Issue 6

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2008 more people said they got their news online than on the printed page, and the American Society of News Editors reports that employment in the country’s newsrooms has fallen by 15% in the past two years. So the likelihood of my getting a job in the traditional newspaper industry is getting slim. Both the newspaper business and aspiring young journalists must adapt to a new era.

A key challenge the newspaper business is facing is to maintain readership. Much of the younger generation, including myself, is no longer holding the traditional morning coffee in one hand and paper in the other. Papers may not be able to bring young readers to the printed version, but they have to create really attractive online sites that will be able to trump the proliferation of blogs, RSS feeds and social networks where many members of my generation get their news and opinion.

Although this global challenge may not directly apply to the UltraViolet, because many students do take the time to read our printed product, it’s important for our staff to address it just like the “big guys.” The first challenge I, as your editor-in-chief, and the rest of the editing team (which includes Brianne, Cassidy, and Colleen) will face is to keep the UV’s mission intact, whether students read us online or in print. We must write about a wide variety of topics and report different perspectives, and we must address sensitive and controversial issues with objectivity. That said, the second major challenge is to get more people reading the UV Online. As much as we love getting our hands smudged with ink, we want to give you more accessible options, the most updated news, and the opportunity to give direct feedback to what you read. Hey, we want the UV Online to be the Marlborough “Facebook” community (but with less gossip and more insight). That’s going to take a lot of work on our part, but it also requires you to make it happen. Hopefully, by the end of next year, you’ll procrastinate not only by clicking away pictures of your hot guy friends on FB, but also by commenting on the UV site about how you think the cafeteria should lower its fruit prices.

Thirdly (and most importantly) I want you to join the paper! (Imagine my face on an Uncle Sam poster right now). Thanks to our previous editors, we have a national award winning paper. However, this cannot continue if the staff has only five members (which might be the case after the graduation of seniors next year).

You’re reading it. Why not write for it? You’ll learn valuable writing, designing, and leadership skills. We have a bomb newspaper team, so you don’t want to miss out. If you want to join, come talk to Mr. Krewatch or me.

From striving reporters to tech geeks skilled at Dreamweaver, you are more than welcome on our staff.

I can’t wait to face the challenges as your editor: As Doc (and Bob Dylan) always say “Oh the times they are a-changin.’”

As much as I am trying to embrace my inner know-it-all that is essential to the senior persona, right now I am feeling as confused about my school as a seventh grader fresh off the Catalina boat.

How can an establishment that encourages us to speak up about controversial issues now put its figurative hands over our mouths without shame?

Marlborough, much like the teenage girls that its evergraceful halls contain, has its phases. My seventh grade year was marked by lectures on the evils of theft after numerous incidents of stealing were reported. More recent was the Era of the Recycling Bins. Who could forget the countless videos threatening physical assault upon students who dared let a glass bottle go to waste?

However, I have quite a bone to pick with the new subject of recent lectures: gossiping.

I have now sat through about three meetings in which both my class and others’ were chided like toddlers for utilizing our school’s social grapevine. So far, the only effect I’ve seen is no effect, unless you count the resentment for being treated so condescendingly. As much as America’s guidance counselors would jump to disagree, gossip is inevitable. When was the last time you heard of a school successfully eradicating the exchange of rumors from its campus? And no, last night’s episode of Hannah Montana does not count.

The point is, gossip is and will always be a foundation of our society. We are a species that thrives on communication, and especially in this day and age, the spread of information is unstoppable. The only way to truly restrict gossiping is to make it a punishable offense, and this is not an option. Why? Because (and AP US students will back me up on this) the censorship of gossip is a violation of the First Amendment. And to be honest, to hear my fellow students be reprimanded for raising concern about certain incidents around the school is enough to cause my hand to reach for my pocket United States Constitution.

It’s time for the Marlborough establishment to admit there are some aspects of a teenage society beyond their control--and perhaps channel their energy into a more productive realm. A suggestion: we have not had a single speaker this year. Perhaps if that was provided, it would give us something more interesting to talk about than the latest trivial mishap.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Letter to the Editor

Take a second look at weed

By Caitlin ’10

Guest Contributor

One sophomore calls it “Marijuana,” another, “Mary Jane.” A junior refers to it as “The devil’s lettuce.” I hear a Marlborough girl as young as the eighth grade refer to it as “Grass.” Her friend corrects her “everyone calls it weed.” Whatever you call it, marijuana is everywhere.

It catches my eye, casually lying on the table in front of me at a party in the Hollywood Hills. I think, “how can a little green leaf, the size of my forefinger, smuggled across our borders, produce serious consequences and controversy?” I smell it’s sweet, earthy scent.

It is the aroma of generations past, present and future. In both its social and chemical roles, marijuana, once the flag of youth rebellion for the Beats of the ’50s and flower children of the ’60s, has metamorphosed into a much more extreme practice.

The social role has become far less about bringing Beats or hippies together to rise above overbearing authority and, instead, more about isolation and just chasing that high. “Give it up Caitlin, there’s no use in educating people who don’t want to be educated. Kids smoke weed. End of story,” one of my best friends said to me.

But I can’t ‘give it up.’ Beyond its cultural changes, the chemical changes of the drug through the years are staggering.

One freshman naively informed me that “compared to other psychotropic drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, marijuana is considered to be relatively harmless.” Right here in this statement lies the problem - Marijuana is not “relatively harmless.”

Marijuana is now a distant cousin from its tamer predecessor decades ago.

It’s now 15 times stronger due to it’s increased THC content. The average joint in the ’60s and ’70s contained around 10 mgs of THC. Today, the average joint contains 150 mgs of THC (Office of National Drug Control Policy). If the joint is enhanced with “hash oil” to create a deeper more psychedelic effect, the THC content can contain up to 300 mgs. Therefore, a single joint today is 30 times more powerful than the joint that may have been smoked a few decades ago, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).

As Marlborough girls, we are taught to look to the facts for our answers and to shape our own opinions. Well, here are the facts: According to the AMA, “Young people who smoke marijuana are two to five times more likely to move on to harder drugs.” One Australian study found that one in three teens who smokes marijuana becomes psychologically addicted by the time they hit their early twenties. Marijuana users are eight times more likely to use cocaine and 15 times more likely to use heroin.

When I tell my fellow Marlboroughians these facts after interviewing them, they are not only in denial but are shocked. A Marlborough senior testifies, “there’s no way that’s true, I mean, I’m not running off campus to go shoot up some heroin.” A sassy sophomore just flat out doesn’t believe me and tells me to go “check my facts.”

Marlborough teaches us to be independent thinkers by looking at the merit of the facts. I’m not here to sway public opinion, just relay those facts.

There is so much misinformation about marijuana out there, while students seem to brush off the real scientific research like the ash at the end of a joint.

Dear Editor,

The Honor Code is, for me, the most appealing thing about Marlborough. However, something so seemingly flawless is bound to have major flaws. The main thing is that the Honor Code only really works if everyone adheres to it. If one person is dishonorable, the entire system is put to shame. The system of honor is completely disreputable if one person decides to break the system for personal advancement. The Honor Code is put in place for a reason, which is why I was stunned at the number of people who admitted to breaking the Honor Code. The way the school should work, is that everyone should have put themselves down as fives for how well they followed the Honor Code.

One of the main reasons I applied to Marlborough was because of the trust that I saw here. If I can’t trust that my words on a test are mine alone, or I can’t trust that girl I passed by in the mods, then who can I trust?

Trustworthy, Phoebe ’12

Opinion

The UltraViolet

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Editor-in-Chief Julie ’10

Feature Editors Cassidy ’10, Julie ’10,

Managing Editor Brianne ’10

Colleen ’10 Sports Editor Casey ’10

Design Editor Colleen ’10 Online Editor-in-Chief Cassidy ’10

Backpage Editor Justine ’10

Photo Editor Colleen ’10

Reporters Amanda ’09, Celine ’11, Julia ’09, Sally ’09, Taylor ’09

News Editors Jenny ’10, Cami ’10

Cartoonist Kat

Community Editor Ileana ’11

Contributors

E & A Editors Brooke ’10, Brianne ’10 Opinion Editors Rosie ’10, Sophie ’10

Hannah ’10, Faith ’10, Caitlin ’10 Adviser Mark Krewatch

The UltraViolet staff pledges to produce a quality publication which addresses issues of importance in the Marlborough community, sparks interest among its readers, demonstrates ethical and objective news reporting, and represents a range of opinions.

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

Call us at (323) 935-1147 ex. 635, drop off a letter to 250 South Rossmore Avenue at The UV office, or send us an email at uvarticles@gmail.com

Physically, emotionally: parents are too overprotective

By Cassidy ’10 The UltraViolet

I just can’t help but notice, while babysitting at a house in Hancock Park, the sheer number of child-safety devices barricading every possibly dangerous stairway, room, and device, making the house seem like a cross between a giant maze and a military base. And the weapons of choice? Sterilizing hand wipes, hand sanitizers, soaps, and antibacterial everything that seem to be lined up around the house as if they were getting ready for a siege.

So it’s not too shocking that sitting down to dinner with the toddler kids is a full-scale production. After washing their hands with special kid-friendly soap, we sit down on a table that smells overwhelmingly of germ-killing antibacteria surface-cleaner. The dinner is served with child plastic forks (aren’t they old enough to use real forks by now?), and the fruit has been re-washed with a special soap just for cleaning fruit and cut up into tiny pieces along with the rest of the dinner. It’s just like you would feed a two year old, yet these kids definitely have the brain and tooth power to chew their own food. I’m aware that it’s important to keep your kids safe and clean, but are parents taking it too far?

Parents these days have acquired, in mass, an obsession with cleanliness.

The house is perfect and sterile, the kids are smothered with every possible type of anti-germ product, and parents are so overly cautious that kids stay away from anything too dirty when playing outside.

What happened to kids eating worms and dirt? The truth is, when your body is never exposed to any of these bacteria, you don’t develop a strong immune

system, something which scientists are calling the “hygiene hypothesis.”

Dr. Kugathasan from the Medical College of Wisconsin said, “The more hygienic one becomes, the more susceptible one is to various autoimmune diseases.” Is it a surprise that there has been such a drastic rise in kids with allergies and asthma in this generation?

Our immune systems need more exposure to filth when we’re growing up so that we can stay healthy throughout our lives.

But parents aren’t just protecting their children from germs, they’re overprotecting kids in almost every aspect of their life. Parents control what kids are exposed to, limit their freedom, micromanage their lives, and spoil and over-praise their “little angels.”

Everybody has heard about a million times that we need to “learn from our mistakes,” so much that it’s to a point that’s almost never disputed. So why do parents still not let their kids make mistakes? How else are children supposed to learn to be independent thinkers and problem solvers if they can’t deal with the repercussions of their own actions? When these kids go to college, how are they ever going to learn to keep track of their own work and make their own decisions about their lives? Parents who micromanage and control their children’s lives since day one will never teach them how to find success on their own or let them learn from their own mistakes.

Parents also try to protect their toddlers and kids by hiding truths about the world they don’t want them to be exposed to. TV shows picture kids that look like they’re on a drug-induced high parading around, fixing way-too-easy problems in a perfect world. Parents

praise their kids’ every art project, every kind or generous action, and every single photograph (is it just me, or have parents also become obsessed with photographing every moment of their kid’s childhood?).

It’s as if parents are purposefully keeping reality hidden away from their “perfect” sons and daughters. When parents are being overprotective, I might even argue they’re not doing their jobs as parents – because they’re not preparing their children for the real world.

However, protectiveness doesn’t always lead to over-dependent kids. It occurs when some parents shelter their children so much, and are so protective, that when their children grow up they have to break free from the overbearing smothering of their parental figures. This isn’t much better, since these kids start rebelling against and defying their parents just to break away from the trap they feel they’ve grown up in. Is it surprising that teens seem to be wilder, more adventurous, and bigger risk-takers?

That drugs and rebelling have become a commonplace? If parents let their kids breathe while they grow up, maybe they won’t feel like they need to practice such extreme rebellion in their teen years.

I’m not suggesting that parents should ignore their kids, or let them do whatever they want, but parents should step back from their parenting roles every once and a while and realize that too much protection could actually hurt. Although some parents feel it’s their responsibility to be the ultimate protector, a balance must be struck between protecting kids from actual danger and giving them the freedom to make their own explorations of the world, so they will be able to develop into independent minded, strong thinkers.

Marlborough School

1. START

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MAKE WAY FOR DESTRUCTION: Below, a crawler excavator demolishes the south side of school, where the former library, junior gallery, and art rooms were located during spring break 2008.

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Claw ing

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SO LONG OLD ROOM: The ’07-08 UltraViolet staff stands where the old newspaper room used to be. The photo marks the start of the temporary relocation, which occurred during winter break of 2007.

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SMOOTH PAVEMENT: To the right, workers lay the cement and foundation for the new building during late summer and early fall of 2008. Underneath the smooth cement lies the two-story underground parking lot, which will be used by both students and faculty members.

SCAFFOLD STRUCTURES: The building is covered with green and yellow DensGlass, which is the interior board made of dry wall, marking the start of building the outside of Munger Hall.

This phase of the construction marks the halfway point in early December 2008.

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MADE OF STEEL: To the left, construction workers at the top of the girders loom high above. The senior class wrote their names and messages on one of the steel beams. “I Love You Mom” was also written by a construction worker on another steel column. The construction at this point happened during the mid-late September of 2008.

ALMOST THERE: To the left, the UV editing team (Colleen ’10, Cassidy ’10, Brianne ’10, Julie ’10) stands under the skylight of the new academic resource center.

To the east of the editors will be the new newspaper room. To the right will be the study rooms.

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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: Two construction workers place the final touches on the new glass walls.

The glass walls are one of the “green” features of the new building. Behind these walls is the Carol and Jim Collins Room, which is the new junior gallery.

Volume 39, Issue 6

The Back Page

7. END

Photos by Colleen ’10 and Celine ’11

Wednesday, May 27, 2009