The Forge Vol. 106 No. 5

“Confidence Carried Me” p. 4 | Australian Wildfires p. 8 | The Royal Exit p. 9| College Football p. 12

THE FORGE Vol. 106 No. 5

SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Est. 1914

Winter Formal Recap

Saying Goodbye to Otto Layman

Kobe Bryant In Memoriam

Didn’t get a chance to get to know the WF princes?

We’ve got you covered. | p. 6

Long time SBHS theatre director announces his final show. | p. 11

Paying respects to the legend that was lost and all that he did for the world. | p. 2

Long Live Mike Moropoulos

The Pride of SBHS Athletics and His Lasting Legacy Mike Moropoulos, one of the most iconic Dons of all time who recently left the physical world. | p. 2

Photo Courtesy of Craig Moropoulos

2 | NEWS

THE FORGE STAFF

THE FORGE

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Paying Respects to an SBHS icon, Mike Moropoulos

2019 - 2020 700 East Anapamu Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103 (805) 966-9101 ex. 5031 Room 204

EDITORS EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Hannah Ziouani Madeleine Mishler

LAYOUT EDITOR Jacqueline Morison

SPORTS EDITOR Andre Battle COPY EDITOR Emerson Steady

STAFF REPORTERS Zane Forte Elias Campos Sam Long Michael Elias Anya McCue Esme Gonzalez Viviana Trujillo Karissa Fields Will Goligoski Morgan Maloney Genesis Zarate Caroline Nuhn Sofia DiPadova Ella McMillan Will Salazar Grace Larson Annie Knecht

ADVISOR Otto Layman www.sbhsforge.com

BY JACQUELINE MORISON

“Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.” On Monday, February 17th, Santa Barbara lost an icon. Michael James Moropoulos was “the face of the town,” but besides that Mike was a longtime coach, father, grandfather, player, husband, and certainly a friend to a multitude of Santa Barbara community members. Being lifelong best friends with his granddaughter, Elyse Moropoulos, allowed me to benefit from a relationship with Mike on a personal level, which is what makes writing this tribute that much more difficult. Mike, better known to me as “Papou”, was easily the most amiable, welcoming human being I have ever come in contact with. Papou was an avid member of Santa Barbara High School’s community -- and perfectly exemplified what it means to be a Don.

I’d never truly understood the saying “the prettiest flowers are always the first to be picked” but today, as I sit, and sit, thinking about how the world can be so utterly unfair sometimes, I finally understand

the metaphor. Why are the best people the first to go?

Don’t get me wrong, Mike lived a long and fulfilling life of 90 years, but at the same time, he still had so many more lives to change! One of the attributes (besides making the Best. Waffles. Ever.) I came to know of Mike was his way of making people feel welcome, whether it was to his home or anywhere -- there was something about him that just made you feel at home. Personally, this extended as far as considering him my Grandpa, despite having no blood relation to him. He was the type of guy that listened to you intently, even if he had no interest in what you were talking about; the type of guy that everyone tries to be more like, and the guy that you couldn’t say a single bad thing about.

Mike left his mark all over Santa Barbara. Shortly after earning his high school diploma, he entered the Army as a Military Policeman and served in the Korean War. Eventually, he joined the SBHS Community by becoming a part of the football coaching staff starting in 1955 and lasting until 1981. In addition to

building his reputation as a CIF-winning football coach, Mike served as SBHS’ second ever athletic director in 1965 and, for good measure, also served as the Dons’ swim, dive, baseball, and golf coach! As if that doesn’t scream “distinguished Don” enough, Mike is a Hall of Famer and taught at Santa Barbara High for 35 years!

In the late 1970’s, Mike had the opportunity to coach his son, Craig Moropoulos, who starred as the team’s quarterback throughout his four years. Evidently, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree; Craig continues to display all of Mike’s best qualities, including being an exemplary Don and an exemplary Dad to his 3 children, Trevor (23), Peyton (21), and Elyse (17). Craig followed in his father’s footsteps, and began coaching and teaching 35 years ago, the last 13 years have been at Santa Barbara City College, where he works today.

And somehow, while positively impacting so many lives in those roles, he found time to serve his other love -- hunting, fishing and all things outdoor. From the late 1990’s to early 2000’s he authored the outdoor column for the Santa Barbara News

Press. His columns were incredibly informative, wide ranging and, often funny. Once, for example, he wrote about how fishing forced him to invest in hearing aids. Along with all his other talents, he was an accomplished writer. Mike also co-hosted a radio program on fishing, and was a member of the Outdoors Writers Association of California.

My deepest condolences extend to the Moropoulos family, which has served as a keystone to my childhood and personal development. I cannot imagine the pain you’re all feeling these days. The Moropoulos family has been forever changed, but this is one of the strongest, most resilient families, and I can say with full confidence that the Moropouos family will carry on Mike’s ways for years to come.

Papou -- thank you for demonstrating to generations what it looks like to be a true, dignified Don. Although you are no longer with us in the physical world, your legacy of tireless public service, and the class you brought to everything you did will carry on forever. Santa Barbara will never be the same without you.

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

NEWS | 3

THE FORGE

Coronavirus Outbreak Wreaks Havoc

BY MORGAN MALONEY The Lunar New Year is one of China’s most important holidays in which families from all over the country gather together to enjoy eachothers company. This time is typically filled with joy in bringing in the new year with high hopes and expectations, but this year, it’s different for the people of China. The Coronavirus, “Covid-19”, broke out on December 31st, 2019 in Wuhan, China and its surrounding province of Hubie, where it was believed that the detrimental virus originated at a local seafood market, where wild animals were illegally being sold for human consumption. Over the past month, the virus has spread internationally, affecting the lives of many.

According to CNN, as of February 12th, 2020, “The Coronavirus has killed more than 1,100 people and has infected approximately 4,500 people globally, and those numbers are increasing rapidly everyday.” Infections have been confirmed in 20 countries, including China, France, Cambodia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, Twain, and a dozen more. The vast majority of the people who are infected within these countries are believed to be Chinese tourists. Here in the United States, there have been five confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, and there are 60 more cases that are suspected to be in relation, and are currently under investigation.

A Coronavirus is defined as a group of different viruses, also known as a family of viruses, which are commonly found in different types of species, such as bats, cats, cattle, camels, turtles, porcupines, snakes, etc.

According to the World Health Organization, “The Coronavirus tends to only circulate between animals, but recently health officials assume that

the Coronavirus has been transmitted from animals to humans, most likely through the consumption of these species.” The Coronavirus causes humans to have symptoms similar to those presented in the common cold and the flu, but in more severe cases, the Coronavirus can eventually lead up to people contracting phenomena, severe acute respiratory syndrome (also known as SARS), and kidney failure, which all can acquire fatal consequences. At the moment, there are no cures or vaccines for the Coronavirus, because unlike a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics, the Coronavirus is much more complicated. Making a vaccine for the Coronavirus is far from being complete, along with medicine being very misunderstood in relation to the virus and otherwise expensive, there is an insanely high demand to cure patients and to stop the virus from spreading.

Today, the virus is rapidly spreading from human to human through travel and daily human interaction.

In parallel to the flu, the Coronavirus can be contagious during its “incubation stage” before symptoms even tend to appear. According to The World Health Organization, “The Coronavirus is similar to the SARS epidemic, which occurred from 2002-2003, but it is expected to surpass SARS due to the increasing cases every day.” Even though the Coronavirus is less severe then SARS, it spreads much quicker and is more infectious, meaning overall, it will affect more people. SARS spread quickly throughout Asia and then it rapidly spread internationally and consequently killed 774 citizens along with infecting approximately 8,000 more, but luckily, the virus was eventually controlled.

Due to the Coronavirus spreading swiftly, authorities encourage tour-

ists who plan on traveling to China to put their trip on hold, unless it’s deemed a completely necessary trip.

International airports are screening for any signs of the virus to prevent it from spreading to new territories and infecting more people. Airlines like Delta, American Airlines, and United are even canceling flights traveling in or out of China until February, or even March, due to the fiercely growing virus. According to NPR, “The U.S State Department organized a flight to evacuate American Citizens from Wuhan, China and send them back to the U.S and throughout the flight passengers would be heavily monitored and medically screened for any symptoms of the virus, to ensure the well being of everyone’s safety and health.” The evacuees would stay at the March Air Base Reserve in Riverside California, and they would stay at the base for three to fourteen days to make sure that they weren’t infected with the virus.

According to the Financial Times for the citizens and other foreigners in Wuhan China, people are advised to stay inside and avoid interaction with others to avoid the growing virus. Many chinese citizens are trying to leave Wuhan, but are stuck there due to the government closing public transportation and airports in efforts to contain the virus.

The Coronavirus is not only affecting the people, but the economy. According to CNBC, “They are hoping that this impact on the economy will only have a temporary effect and not have any long term effects. From local businesses to large businesses like Starbucks, they are closing stores in parts of China that are being heavily affected by the Coronavirus for an uncertain amount of time to protect employees and customers.” During this time, millions of people are, as by tradition, traveling to China for the

Lunar New Year to see friends and family, but as a result of the spreading virus, people aren’t able to travel which could pronounce a huge toll on the economy.

According to The New York Times, in efforts to contain and help those infected with the Coronavirus a makeshift hospital was built within ten days as best as it could be given the limited time to help people receive medical attention as soon as possible. In attempts to contain the virus, airports are medically screening passengers to look for symptoms of the Coronavirus to make sure that they aren’t infecting others while traveling, and scientists are trying to find a cure and make vaccines as soon as possible to prevent the virus from spreading even more. According to CNN, Health officials are recommending a number of things to help protect yourself from the rapidly growing virus, such as avoiding contact with people who are showing symptoms of the virus, they also recommend staying away from consuming raw meat, avoiding live animal markets, and lastly if you aren’t feeling well or experiencing similar symptoms to the cold of flu, to wash your hands and avoid contact with others, and then seek medical care.

The Coronavirus is still a mystery and is continuing to grow everyday, and at the moment it doesn’t look like it is going to end anytime soon, but with the help from doctors and scientist who they are saving the lives of many are doing everything they can to help, and donations from people globally is helping those get medical attention and resources to keep their families safe.

M The United States Senate voted on Wednesday, February 5th to acquit President Donald Trump on both abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The vote, which needed 67 senators in order for Trump to be removed from office, fell far short of that tally, with only the 47 Democrats in the Senate voting for both counts. In an act of defiance, Mitt Romney the Senator from Utah and 2012 Republican presidential candidate, voted for removal on the charge of abuse of power. This vote marks the anticlimactic, but widely expected, end of Trump’s impeachment trial, only the third one in U.S. history.

Although the original impeachment inquiry from the U.S. House of Representatives regarded a phone call Trump made to the President of Ukraine Volodomyr Zelensky, where he allegedly used American military aid as a bargaining chip for his own political goals, the number of issues in question quickly expanded. The prosecution led by Representative Adam Schiff attempted to prove that Trump used his public office for personal gain, while painting a broader picture of Trump as an irresponsible and pathologically criminal President. On the other hand, Trump’s defense led by his personal lawyer Jay Sekulow argued that even if the claims about the Ukraine call were true, Trump never explicitly violated

the law. Additionally, Harvard Law professor, Alan Dershowitz, made a controversial argument that President Trump could not be impeached for abuse of power if he believed that his reelection was in the best interests of the country. The trial was capped off by a contentious vote on whether or not to allow new witness testimony, which narrowly failed in the Senate on Friday, January 31st.

In the days leading up to that vote, it was unclear if Democrats would be able to convince enough Republicans to break ranks in order to get the simple majority they needed. If they had succeeded, the trial would have been greatly extended and the new evidence brought forth may have made Trump’s removal from office a real possibility. Instead, the vote failed by a tally of 49-51. Republican Senators Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine crossed the aisle to continue the trial, but potential swing votes Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska ended up siding with their party’s establishment in its unwavering support for Trump and his administration.

The main witness who Democrats hoped to call was former national security advisor, John Bolton, who had recently had an excerpt leaked from his upcoming book, The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir. In this excerpt, he claimed that Pres-

ident Trump had explicitly told the Ukrainian government that he would withhold aid until they investigated Joe and Hunter Biden, a key claim in the abuse of power charge of the impeachment. John Bolton, who has served in the cabinets of four Republican presidents since Ronald Reagan, was fired by Trump back in September over fundamental differences in their approach to foreign policy, especially with regards to Iran and North Korea. Five months later, Bolton has fully turned on his former boss by releasing this book which the publisher claims contains damning evidence, and saying that if he had been subpoenaed, he would have testified against Trump at the impeachment trial. Because of the failure of the witness vote, however, this evidence will probably not be uncovered until May 17 when the book is set for publication. Furthermore, it is very possible that the book will not be published altogether as Bolton followed normal procedure for government officials by sending a draft to the White House which could theoretically kill the entire project. Even still, The Room Where It Happened, its title being a reference to a song in the musical Hamilton, has reached the top of the Amazon book charts and had a clear impact on the Trump administration.

Although Trump was not removed from office as a result of the impeachment trial, it has still

“She goes to, like, UC Alabama.”

“Sorry can you not rap right now? I’m in crunch mode.”

“My worst fear is bell peppers.”

“If you’re a furry, meet me in the back.”

“You don’t know how badly I want to fight Banksy.”

“You know when you take the Pottermore quiz just to make sure you’re still Ravenclaw.”

“People their

who

burger

order ‘protein

style’ at In n Out: crackheads.”

President Trump Acquitted On All Counts

BY EMERSON STEADY

OVERHEARD IN THE HALLWAY

“Well I’m gonna set up left a mark on the American political landscape. As the 2020 election quickly approaches, it is unclear whether this whole ordeal will help or hurt Trump’s reelection chances.

On the one hand, very few presidents have ever come as close as he has to being removed from office, but Trump has tried to spin the process as just another example of the “evil” and “corrupt” Democrats embarking on a witch hunt in their own politically motivated attempt to remove Trump from office. Additionally, because of its collision with the first voting in the Democratic primary in Iowa, three of the major Democratic candidates, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, had to put their campaigns on hold to fulfill their constitutionally required duties as Senators. Clearly, both bases have been impassioned by this trial with both sides viewing the other’s actions as clear examples of disregard for the Constitution. This has only further divided the nation in such a contentious time in American politics. But even after all of the political drama of the impeachment trial, life goes on in Washington DC and the rest of America, pretty much as usual. There will be no President Mike Pence or great political upheaval anytime soon. Now, the only thing capable of removing Trump from office is the American people, as they prepare to cast their ballots in

for quidditch, and you’re not gonna help!”

“My hamster had a nightmare last night.”

“You don’t understand me, mom! Only Gwen Stefani understands me!”

“Who do you think he is today, the surfer or the hypebeast?”

“When I was 5, I had a crush on my cousin.”

“You have 3 dads?

Like Mamma Mia!”

4 | NEWS

Dog for Governor?

THE FORGE

How to Find Pure Happiness

BY ROBERT GILCREST

Recently a Kansas man, Terran Woodley, tried to run his dog Angus for Governor. Although the wiry haired vizsla was denied the right to run in the gubernatorial race, this attempt highlights the history of animals in government offices in America. While animals may not be able to run for Governor, many have run and successfully won positions in small local governments.

There have been a plethora of fuzzy Mayors throughout America and the world; for example, Bosco the dog was Mayor of Sunsol, California. As a true American hero Bosco was able to do some good ol’ commie stompin’. A Chinese publication tried to use Bosco as evidence for why democratic elections do not work, give the people the privilege of voting, and they choose a dog. Bosco and his office could not stand for this and made Bosco the symbol of democracy as the mascot of the Tiananmen Square Protests, where Chinese students gathered to advocate for democracy and choice.

Having a dog represent your town is a true representation of democracy. Some of these animals have even benefitted the town. In Talkeetna, Alaska a tabby cat named Stubbs was elected mayor and the small town actually saw an increase in tourism.

You could see the little tabby doing his business in his mayoral office, which was also the town’s local general store. His term as mayor was not all sunshine though; in 2013 Stubbs was attacked by a dog and came very close to death, but due to worldwide donations and taxpayer money Stubbs was able to pounce another day.

Other times animals in government have been elected as a symbol. Tiao was a monkey from Brazil, the citizens used him to try and bring more attention to the corruption of their government. They used the campaign slogan, “Vote monkey-Get monkey” in order to try and distinguish how the monkey would get business done compared to all the career politicians who, in their eyes always claim to promise one thing and when they get elected they do not keep their promises. Brazilians also used a rhino named Cacareco to once again protest the corruption of their government. These kinds of protests are creative and fun but they both failed to bring the real change that I think the Brazilians wanted.

What about a goat President… or a poodle? In the small New Zealand town of Whangamomona, the town opted to be a republic and elected a human president, Ian Kjestrup, who was unaware of himself being on the ballot. In order to add another anomaly to their election history the town elected Billy the goat. He had a short term of just 18 months until his death. The town decided to keep the tradition of having animal presidents, and after Billy the goat came Tai the poodle, who had a similarly short career. Now the town of Whangamomona has a human president, Myrtle “The Turtle” Kennard. We could have had a similar situation in our country.

Pigasus aimed to be the president of the United States and was backed by prominent activists Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin. Although he was a tough candidate during his candidacy speech he was arrested and never seen again; maybe someone had him for dinner?

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

BY JACQUELINE MORISON Before I begin, I want to make one thing very, very clear: I’ve been sad, I’ve cried, and I’ve felt like the entire world around me was crumbling. I’m not perfect, and in fact I’m far from it, but in regards to my own personal happiness, I’m virtually flawless.

The point of this article is not to be condescending to readers for not yet knowing who they are, but rather to lift up the people around me who are struggling to feel genuine happiness.

High school is notorious for being one of the most socially challenging, and mentally exhausting periods of one’s life. Feeling alone, feeling lost, confused, stressed, and sometimes unsure of how to continue- these are all normal feelings. Inevitably everyone struggles, and life comes with highs and lows, but it’s up

to you to decide how to cope with the lows that defines who you really are.

The moment I altered my outlook on life, is the same moment I found myself and began to enjoy life like never before. Metaphorically speaking, I began to view the glass as half full rather than half empty and my life has never been the same since.

We live in a world of hate and judgement, but the second we deeply love ourselves is the second we come alive. I’ve found that in order to feel genuine happiness, one must first find happiness far within themselves.

It sounds cliche, likely because you, like the rest of us, have been raised on the saying, “love yourself ”. But in all seriousness. . . when you look in the mirror. . . are you satisfied? Not in terms of image, but rather in terms of overall being? I believe there is no excuse for someone to respond “no”

to that question; you are in complete control of the person you are. Sure, you might have similar tendencies to your family or friends, but at the end of the day, you are the only person in the world who is in control of your body. Take it upon yourself, and be the person you want to be.

Every single day of my life keeps getting better- thank you, confidence.

I finally came to the realization that I am enough, and even though I’m not perfect, I refuse to take my positive attributes for granted. Confidence in myself has led me to take risks that I never would have attempted and guided me down roads that had never even been in sight before. Having self worth and confidence in who I am was the first and biggest step towards finding out the meaning of happiness. I went from constantly demanding better from myself, to finally being willing to step back, take a deep breath, and appreciate the way I am. Easier said than done, I know, but if you make it a priority to find one new feature about yourself everyday that you’re proud of, your self confidence will inevitably rise. If complimenting yourself daily is too uncomfortable, according to MicroBuzz.org, distributing compliments to peers will have a similar effect.

Letting go of the “more, more, more,

better, better, better” mentality is the first step in achieving pure, unprecedented happiness.

As soon as I began living life for myself rather than to satisfy those around me, my eyes were opened to the endless opportunities the world was throwing at me. Life is too short to wait around for people to like you, it’s that simple. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t find enough value in you, change that. Change can be scary, but it’s absolutely essential to improving. Some things in life we have no ability to change, and that is recognized; however, controlling the people we surround ourselves with is completely in the palm of our hands.

After almost 18 years of life, I can finally say that I have found the true meaning of happiness: to be self satisfied, surrounded by people who bring out the best in you, and to live for yourself rather than to be “good enough”’ for others. You are good enough, you are worthy, you deserve to be happy-- and that starts now.

Confidence has carried me above every obstacle, and led me to the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. Join me in living a fulfilling life, which everyday continues to shine even brighter than the days prior.

Kobe Bryant — Gone but Never Forgotten

BY JACQUELINE MORISON Besides being a legend and taking the game of basketball to the “next level,” Kobe Bryant, who we lost on January 26th 2020, was a father, uncle, brother, cousin, son, and husband. Sometimes, things happen so unexpectedly and so quickly, that we have a hard time believing they’re real, especially when regarding someone so revered. Together, let’s recognize Kobe Bryant’s extensive achievements over the course of his life, which was cut far too short.

Whether or not you’re a basketball player, or even a basketball fan, it’s impossible to overlook Kobe Bryant’s accomplishments throughout his life and in particular, his basketball career. To say Kobe was an inspiration would be an understatement, Bryant was an icon -- the face of NBA basketball, and easily one of the best players to ever have taken the court.

Kobe ‘Bean’ Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father was Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former Philadelphia 76ers player. Bryant was

pushed by his father from an early age to take up basketball, and he began playing the sport by the mere of three years old. Since Kobe was able to speak, his beloved team was the Lakers. When Bryant was six, his father left the NBA and moved his family to Rieti, Italy to continue playing professional basketball. Though it wasn’t easy, a young Bryant adjusted to his new lifestyle and even learned to speak Italian fluently. During following summers, however, he would come back to the United States and play in a basketball summer league.

Bryant shined bright throughout his high school career at Lower Merion High, playing five different positions throughout his high school career.

As he progressed through his high school years, Duke, Michigan, North Carolina and Villanova grew to the top of his college list, but when Kevin Garnett was picked in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft straight out of high school, Bryant began considering skipping out on college and going directly to the NBA. Bryant eventually made the executive decision to enter the draft after graduating high school and was chosen in the 13th

round by the Charlotte Hornets, but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers shortly after in a brilliant trade orchestrated by Jerry West (the legendary NBA logo). Bryant didn’t waste any time before making history: in just his second season as the youngest player to participate in the NBA All-Star Game. Bryant was not handed his titles by any means -- he was known for his fierce competitiveness, dedication and commitment like no other.

By way of an incredible work ethic and perseverance, Bryant achieved one goal after another.

After Shaquille O’Neal left the Lakers in 2004, Bryant stepped up and scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006, the second highest single game mark in NBA history, and led the league in scoring that year and the next one. In 2008, Bryant was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and carried his team to the NBA Finals. In the 2009 NBA Finals, the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic to win the championship. The following year, the Lakers won their second straight title by defeating the Boston Celtics.

Struck with sorrow, shock, and confusion, the world will continue handin-hand towards getting through this tragic loss. In addition to the devastation that surrounds the loss of Kobe, is the tragic loss of his 13 year old daughter, Gianna, and the additional seven people on board who were killed in the shocking helicopter crash. Gianna, commonly referred to as “Gigi,” was a rising basketball player who was on her way to a travel ball-game in Thousand Oaks along with two other teammates and their parents. Endless thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who also lost their lives in this horrific event.

As we move forward, the world will continue to send their deepest condolences to the Bryant family, as well as the families of the other victims of this horrific event.

Thank you, Kobe Bryant, for displaying to the world what it looks like to be great. Your loss puts everything into perspective. Rest in Peace, gone but needless to say, never forgotten.

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Houston Astros Cheating Scandal

BY ELIAS CAMPOS Major League Baseball is no stranger to controversy. Most notable are the doping scandals that have plagued the sport for decades. Some of the most popular names in baseball have been caught violating the MLB’s anti-doping policy, which prohibits the use of banned substances such as anabolic steroids and other illegal drugs. The most recognized of these players would be MVP recipients Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco, who both admitted to using steroids at some point or another during their All-Star careers. With the revelation that the Houston Astros used technology to facilitate their 2017 World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, once again the integrity of the MLB is being called into question.

It was former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers who first alerted the sports world of his former team’s duplicity in their 2017 championship run, alleging that the team used cameras in center field to illegally steal the signs of the opposing LA Dodgers.

Sign-stealing is an accepted practice in baseball, but doing so with the assistance of technology is strictly forbidden by MLB. In a report by ​The Athletic,​former Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran, and former Astros manager Alex Cora, were named as the ring-leaders for the teams sign-stealing system.

Just two days after the report by​ The Athletic​ , the MLB opened an investigation into the extent of the

Houston Astros wrongdoing in the 2017 World Series. To the dismay of Dodgers fans, the MLB did not rescind the Astros World Series title, instead, the MLB fined the team five million dollars and voided the Astros rights to their first and second round picks in both the 2020 and 2021 MLB draft. The MLB also suspended Astros general manager, Jeff Luhnow, and manager, AJ Hinch, for one year each. Many baseball fans saw the MLB’s punishment as harsh, but not as severe as the crime warranted.

The MLB has now started an investigation into the Boston Red Sox, the team who won the 2018 World Series while being managed by Alex Cora. The investigation came about after a new report by ​The Athletic​ alleged that while managing the Red Sox on their 2018 championship run, Cora set up a new sign-stealing system similar to the one he employed in Houston that facilitated their World Series victory just a year prior in 2017. While Cora has yet to be punished by the league itself, he has since been fired by Red Sox management for his involvement in multiple

cheating scandals. Carlos Beltran was first believed to have stepped down from his position as manager of the New York Mets, but it was later revealed that the Mets and Beltran mutually agreed to part ways in the wake of the discoveries made in the MLB’s investigation into the cheating scandal in Houston.

The extent of the manipulation of the sports most important series has served a mighty blow to the already struggling sport of baseball.

The MLB has been losing viewership for years, and the continued scandals that before only threatened the legitimacy of some of the leagues batting records now threatens the very integrity of the game, and the entire sport of baseball as a whole. If the biggest stage in baseball is so easily manipulated to the point wherein two consecutive World Series the winner was able to cheat their way to victory, then how can loyal fans trust the outcome of future World Series’?

These concerns, among others, must be addressed by the MLB if they wish to stand as ‘America’s Pastime’.

President Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan

BY SAM LONG On January 28 President Trump, along with multiple advisors released a possible solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, in yet another effort to end the ongoing conflict.

Writers of the plan included Jared Kushner (President Trump’s son in law), Jason Greenblatt, and David Friedman. All are current members of the Trump administration, and have no political experience or background whatsoever, (and had similar ‘incidents’ regarding bank scandals with President Trump’s real estate business). The design wants to reestablish borders from the late 60’s, and inject 50 billion dollars into the Palestinian economy. Then this would supposed stabilize the economy; the money, however, comes with worry about Trump’s intentions regarding the Palestinians economic situation.

Some find that throwing money into the mix doesn’t solve legitimate political issues. Jared Kushner has also expressed his strong belief that Palestinians cannot govern themselves, but they must have an outside hand to manage them. David Friedman, the US Israel ambassador, has a clear bias against Palestine and would like to give much more power to Israel.

Jason Greenblatt, the third member, a lawyer for President Trump, left the administration due to backlash after contributing to the ‘peace plan’, and lives part time in Israel with his family-Aljazeera.

The ‘plan’ was briefly sketched outlined, President Trump desires to establish Israeli control of most of Jerusalem, while Palestinians would take an area further in the east of West Bank. This is called a “two state solution.” President Trump’s explanation for this split is that it will separate each side while not relocat-

NEWS | 5

THE FORGE

ing enormous amounts of Palestinians from their homeland. Along with other issues, some Israelies are camped illegally in Palestinian land, which Trump has announced as part of Israel. Some also call Kushner’s ‘plan’ Merely a “game of manipulation” towards Trump, and has other controversies of manipulation, including suspected bribery of his Harvard diploma involving a 2.5 million dollar donation by his father, -New York Times. Others say that this plan is just a scheme for President Trump to be on good terms with the Israeli prime minister. Since the Trump administration has a biased history with the Israeli people and openly dislikes Palestinine, Trump’s ‘plan’ as a whole talks largely about Israeli control, with Palestinians being restricted in a certain section of land; rather than the idea of split power, it shows more of an authoritarian approach by Israel to Palestine. This includes placement where Palestine is surrounded by Israeli territory, the supposed sharing of Jerusalem (even though it’s under the control of Israel), and certain Palestinian land being given up that they have been pushed into from the late 1940’s.

The response to Trump’s “Deal of the Century” was nearly immediately rejected by Palestinians, as well as the Democratic Party, who both

had similar views that this division of land is clearly an unfair proposal. On the other hand, the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, found this plan to be “a great plan for peace,” and wants to establish this play of actions immediately. This contradiction has other Middle Eastern countries and the United States divided about this ‘plan’. Furthermore, an emergency meeting has been called to action with the Arab League on Saturday, February 1, in Cairo, Egypt. This will address possible alternatives to what President Trump calls “The Deal of the Century”, which at this point isn’t considered whatsoever by either Palestinians and Democrats.

Overall, President Trump’s plan turned out to be nothing more than an announcement. This kept both Americans and Middle Easterners more divided than before. Now with the growing conflict in the the Middle East, this bias-filled proposal did nothing but anger a suffering people. This leads to the conclusion that President Trump’s proposal was nothing but a distribution of power to a country which he finds superior-Israel.

Martha Graham Dance Company

BY ANYA MCCUE Martha Graham was a revolutionary dancer who forged American Modern dance in so many ways. Some claim her to be, “One of the greatest artists of the 20th century” and she just happened to be a fellow Santa Barbara High School Don. Born on May 11, 1894 she lived a good, long life until she passed away on April 1,1991. During her career she created more than 180 works and she danced in most of them herself. As a teenager in 1916 she was introduced to dance at the Denishawn dance school and company. It was then that she was introduced to all sorts of dance from folk to classical. She stayed at Denishawn until 1924 and she left for a teaching job in New York at Eastman School of Music. It was there that she experimented with techniques, though she didn’t have her official independent artist debut until 1926. Her works were talked of as ugly, dark and obscure. Graham mentioned this as, “my period of long woolens.” referring to the costumes her dancers wore. But as she matured and created more and more dances her work eventually was recognized for the fresh and beautiful art that it was. She derived ideas from Greek mythology and other well known stories. Some of the pieces are “Errand into the Maze” inspired by the classic Minotaur and the labyrinth myth, “Embattlement Garden” referring to the Garden of Eden and one of the most famous, “Appalachian Spring.” She retired as a dancer in 1970 but continued to create more dances and to teach. The Martha Graham Dance Company is Graham’s legacy as an innovative choreographer, and exemplifies everything she stood for when her company takes the stage and performs her work, as well as new pieces inspired by her legacy.

UCSB Arts and Lectures announced the Martha Graham company’s local performance on January 24th at the Granada Theatre, presented by UCSB’s Department of Feminist Studies and the UCSB Department of Theater and Dance.

SBHS’s Dance Program was generously invited to come. Ms. Goldman and about ten of her students, including myself, were able to attend. I asked one of the students who attended what they thought, and she said that she thought it was really good and that, “the dancers were so strong!” The dancers were amazing at conveying messages through their movements. They were strong and sharp in certain roles, and soft and delicate in others, which painted an abstract understanding for the viewer of what they were watching. Although it

was a beautiful production, it started at 8pm to 10pm. This was way too late for the audience because it was almost perfect sleeping conditions, especially for the older people in the audience and the younger, and by the end it seemed like everyone was struggling to keep their eyes open, even the UCSB students who were invited to come.

Other than this, the production was phenomenal and it highlighted the very important discussion of women’s rights.

Graham’s company created The EVE Project that was inspired by the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It takes female power to the spotlight in their performance. “The EVE Project is intended to connect audiences—in the ephemeral and visceral way dance does—to both historical and contemporary ideas of the feminine,” says Janet Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company. The Eve Project was performed in the 2018-19 season and is being performed for the 2019-20 shows.

SBHS’s dance program was lucky enough to get a personal lesson from Denise Vale, who is a rehearsal director in the Martha Graham dance company, and usually leads the training and coaching of the dance company. The Dance Production and Dance Team stretched with Vale using the company’s techniques. Vale discussed with the dancers about how to express yourself through dance. As an example, she asked what type of animal they were. This got the dancers thinking about how this could be expressed through dance. She also demonstrated for the dancers different ways that you can dance in terms of Graham’s Modern dance techniques. This was easy for some, but more difficult for others who were more classically trained. It’s hard to move your limbs in new ways you’re not used to, but it’s exceptionally healthy for the mind and body.s It is extremely valuable for young dancers to be exposed to different types of dancing and to expand their knowledge on dance techniques. The Martha Graham Dance Company was so generous to teach SBHS dancers and we are so grateful for the opportunity. Martha Graham is one of the most important people in dance history and it’s important for young dancers and everyone else to be aware of her awe-inspiring work.

6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE FORGE

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

WINTER FORMAL 2020 PRINCES- Congratulations Charlie!

This year’s Winter Formal King| Photos Courtesy of Jacqueline Morison

Chase Raisin

Charlie Bittle

Stephen Davis

What’s going on SBHS seniors, My name is

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Charlie Bittle, a

Stephen has been playing basketball since

Chase Raisin. I was raised in Santa Barbara and

5th generation Don with family roots as far back as

he was five. He has been playing on the varsity

my great grandfather was in the first graduat-

130 years, loves the city he was raised. Playing both

basketball team since sophomore year and has

ing class here. My life consists of water polo and

football and baseball for the Dons, Charlie considers

been a two year varsity captain. Stephen loves

work. I have been playing water polo since I was

sports a huge part of his life. He loves spending time

to spend time with family and friends and loves

10 years old, it is my favorite thing to do! I’ve

at the beach with friends, going to movies, and just

to go on adventures. Stephen is not quite sure

been on varsity water polo for four years and

enjoying life. He has volunteered for Direct Relief

where he is going to be going to school next year,

played Junior Varsity basketball my junior year.

and Challenger’s Baseball Program, and is planning

but he is looking forward to the next chapter of

I am attending Santa Clara University next year

on becoming physical therapist.

his life, whereever it might be! Stephens friends

to play water polo and take part in their business school. My favorite things to do when I am free is to go to the beach and hangout with my friends. Thank you for your votes!

often describe him as funny, and outgoing.

THE FORGE

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 7

The Winter Formal Princes 2020 | Photos Courtesy of Sofia Dipadova

Nick Baizan

Dakota Hill

Chase Kamin

Nick Baizan is on Santa Barbara Highs foot-

What’s up guys my name is Dakota Hill I was

What’s good forge my name Chase Kamin, and

ball team and plays with his fellow princes

born and raised in LA and transferred to Santa

I was born and raised in sunny Santa Barbara. I

Chase Kamin and Charlie Bittle. He loves Santa

Barbara High School my sophomore year to play

played youth soccer and basketball growing up, even

Barbara and sports are a huge part of his life!

football and because my family loved it here!

competed in BMX bike racing. I found football in

He likes hanging out with his friends, going to

With that being said I am a 3 year starter on the

8th grade and it’s been my passion since. I’m lucky

the beach and playing ball! He is thankful for all

varsity football team and I have embraced the

enough to have the opportunity to play college ball

the opportunities SBHS has given him these last

Santa Barbara lifestyle by going fishing and surf-

and get my education paid for. I’m especially thank-

four years.

ing when I can! After high school I would like to

ful for SBHS and all the doors this school has opened

try and become a pilot and fly planes for FedEx

for me with opportunity over my four years here.

! I am so happy with the friendship that I have

Vote me king of hearts you won’t regret it!

made here at Santa Barbara High and couldn’t be more thrilled to be in the position that I am in!

8 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE FORGE

Kansas City Chiefs Win Superbowl LIV

BY WILL SALAZAR The Kansas City Chiefs went on to beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in just the fourth super bowl ever. The Chiefs dominated american football throughout the 60’s and early 70’s.

Later, in 1982, The San Francisco 49ers began their rampage to becoming the best NFL team of that era, with a super bowl win against the Cincinnati Bengals. They won again in 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1995, gaining a total of 5 championship titles in 13 years.

The 49ers still had a superstar lineup. Running back, Raheem Mostart, scored 4 touchdowns in the semi final against the Green Bay Packers.

George Kittle, in only the past three seasons, had become one of the most consistent tight ends ever. Nick Bosa, a defensive end and absolute beast, had nine sacks, a 46 yard interception, and 47 tackles in just his first professional season. Richard Sherman, no rookie to such a competitive scene, has been to the Pro Bowl five times in his career and voted All-Pro four times. In 2013, Sherman won the Super Bowl while playing with the Seattle Seahawks. With a nearly

perfect mix of young and experienced, the 49ers were nearly unstoppable February 2nd.

The Chiefs offense wasn’t looking too shabby either. Current star quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, in only three seasons with the Chiefs, has an average passing rating of 108.9 and has thrown 9,412 yards in his career so far. Teammate and wide receiver Tyreek Hill has shown off his skills with just over 4,000 receiving yards in his career. February 2nd was definitely interesting and a true battle of strategy between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, two teams past due for a big win.

As I sit here, broken hearted in a pool of post Super Bowl depression, with a shocking $30 dollars less in my wallet due to am overwhelming faith in Jimmy Garoppolo’s ability to throw a football, I notice a problematic and continuous lapse in my judgment. Tyreek Hill’s receiving skills were severely underestimated by everyone on the 49’ers defense. Nick Bosa, weighing in at 6’4”, 267 pounds, sacked the young Kansas City quarterback thus leading to a turnover.

However, the Chiefs defense pulled through in outstanding fashion. The 49ers faced significant trouble in the second half and had issues getting the ball up the field.

Despite the 49ers many relentless attempts to drive the ball, the Kansas City defense stopped them just short every time. The comeback made by the Chiefs in the last two quarters could have been predicted based on the games played before the Super Bowl. In the NFL Conference Championship against the Titans, they came back after a tricky and hard fought first quarter. And before that, in the NFL Divisional round against the Texans, the chiefs conceded to a 21 point deficit at the end of the first quarter. However, they scored 28 points in the second quarter, and continued to suppress the Texans strategic gameplay, eventually winning 51-31.

To say the loss for the 49ers was harder on the fanbase than anyone else would be an understatement. Jimmy Garroppolo has since bounced back in full effect ready for next season.

The Forgotten Horrors of “Slave Day”

BY MADELEINE MISHLER Santa Barbara High School was established in 1875, and considering our school’s great age, it is no surprise that we have outstanding traditions as well.

Some have withstood the test of time, others have definitely not--and for good reason. Like most schools and organizations, SBHS’s traditions have evolved with the political climate of America; what is socially acceptable, and what is not over the course of many years. Some traditions that have, at least to my knowledge, never changed are totally innocent, like walking down the hill at graduation (let’s hope we can resume this one for the class of 2020) or The Forge which was established in 1914. Interestingly enough, because of The Forge’s thorough documentation of the school, some of SBHS’ former traditions can be discovered by rifling through the antique pages of old issues. The Forge’s weekly issue in January 1957 said it all, in twelve letters titled in bold: “Slave Day Set For Thursday, February 21 Boys Leading in Basketball Attendance.”

This is where the internet failed me; after countless google searches, SBHS’ “Slave Day” was nowhere to be found. In actuality, it seemed that no one was aware of “Slave Day’s” existence. One thing is for certain, SBHS did an expert job in burying this fundraising tradition.

To confirm, the title is just as bad as what the tradition entails. To raise money and promote attendance to sports games, the sex that dominated in attendance was allowed ot purchase the opposite sex, that was in the minority for attendance for one day in the following week. This prompted a question: how many young women were realistically attending sports games in the 1950s? Of course there were cheerleaders, sisters, and girlfriends who wanted to support their boyfriends, but was the attendance of young women similar to that of today? Even if it were, I am not sure female students would have a fighting chance. Unsurprisingly, not a single article or advertisement mentions the women dominating in attendance to the sports games. The headlines were exclusively along the lines of, “Boys Lead Slave Day, 265-189.” In this particular article from the January issue, it instructs students that after they have purchased their tag for their “slave” they must write the “master’s” name on it and collar their slave. For the day that the slave is pur-

chased, they are to cater to their master’s needs for the day. After carefully scanning through SBHS yearbooks within the same decade The Forge article was published, I found some incriminating pictures.

Female students were photographed on their knees tying their masters shoes, or even shaving their masters facial hair. In one of the photographs, a female slave, named Marla Hepp, was Homecoming Queen that same year. Obviously, this was a well accepted fundraiser--likely popular, and there were no documented objections or resistance to it.

Interestingly, student Kay Gerdes, chairman of the slave day function, lead editor of The Forge, and assumed founder of the fundraiser, advertised slave day in several issues, week after week, until the advertisements and little blurbs abruptly stopped. Since my only resources were The Forge and SBHS’ school yearbooks, the only logical explanation was that Kay Gerdes had retired from her position as editor of The Forge and her predecessor did not take interest in advertising slave day. Maybe the fundraiser stopped because of the political climate at that time; the sixties was a decade known for its political and social activism. While I would have hoped to find answers, slave day remains a shameful and elusive mystery in SBHS’ past.

Regardless, this old tradition speaks volumes about how our school and community has adapted within the past sixty years. Despite this former tradition that clearly reflects (racical) insensitivity and misogyny, it does not change that our school, for centuries, has been the key to the production process of generating truly wonderful people. It is important

to acknowledge that slave day was an accepted integral fundraising practice of our school--and that was a very poor choice.

In retrospect, it was more common and more accepted to act in discriminatory ways to minority groups, however, that does not excuse the insulting existence of this tradition. While it is important to acknowledge slave day, it is absolutely essential to recognize that it is a distinction of Santa Barbara High School. After the shocking uncovering of slave day, my personal opinion of this school has not changed. In the same way that Micheal Jackson may have committed some god-awful crimes, it does not change that he was a talented musician and creator. In the same way that Ghandi may have expressed racist and offensive ideologies in the beginning of his legal career, it does not change that the movement he created changed the way we treat and interact with each other amd changed the world.

In the same way that Kobe Bryant was an alleged rapist, it does not change that he was a legendary athlete. While you may disagree, I am thankful for what they have done for us, for our communities, and for the world. Similarly, and on a much smaller scale, Santa Barbara High School is a fostering community, and despite slave day, a tradition contradicts all of my personal values, I love this school, I love the people here, and I love the connections I have made. At the end of the day, I am deeply grateful for all of that.

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Celebrating Black History Month

BY GENESIS ZARATE Black History Month is where we celebrate and recognize Black people in the United States for their bravery, intelligence, strength, beauty, and power for their accomplishments and how far they have come in history. History, especially American history, has a tendency of underrepresenting, not giving credit, and oppressing people of color. The month of February is the time this country gives them the recognition that they so deserve.

In 1915, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

They promoted the study of black history because Woodson said, “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” In 1926, their organization created “Negro History Week” to bring attention to their cause and in hopes that school systems would start to bring attention on the topic. Woodson and Moorland’s celebration of the study of black history and culture spread, and many Black formed clubs were developed which supported and promoted their cause of teaching black studies. Colleges and universities were the first places that celebrated and transformed the week into a month. Finally, in 1976 President Gerald Ford turned Black History Month into a national observance. Now, Black History Month is celebrated annually in the United States and other countries as well around the world.

In Santa Barbara, although our Black population is small, making up only 1.3%, the city makes sure to celebrate and recognize them for their accomplishments. There are community events that are going to be held by local black/African American formed groups and committees such as African American Women in Santa Barbara County, The Black Rock Coalition, Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara, Coffee with a Black Guy, and so much more.

The events will be celebrating Black History Month through film screenings, dances, food, music, art, literature, and so much more.

These celebrations are in hopes to bring the community together no matter what race you are, where you come from, or what your background is, so we can all enjoy, support, experience, and educate one another. Santa Barbara is also launching a Black History Month Culture House at 1219 State Street and is set to celebrate and display black culture and it is also meant to be a safe space for Black individu-

als. James Joyce III, the founder of Coffee with a Black Guy said that, “Our hope is that we form such a shared celebration where we can all learn from one another and uplift Santa Barbara as a whole”.

At Santa Barbara High School however, there hasn’t been any acknowledgement of Black History Month. There has been no mention of any of the community events being held or even an announcement acknowledging the celebration.

Black Santa Barbara High School students makeup only 1.4% of the school’s population. Although they make up a small percentage of our students, that doesn’t mean that it should stop us from celebrating their history, culture, and roots that make and shape who they are.

When important events like Black History Month aren’t acknowledged students don’t feel represented or appreciated, so it becomes our duty as students to reverse the roles, and help teachers and staff to become aware of these types of issues in order to make a difference.

Casmali Lopez, the ex-president of the Ethnic Studies Now! Club, said that, “In this case, the lack of celebration and representation stems from a fake and facile support of black people.”, and that, “It only matters if the students make it matter, otherwise the bureaucracy sees no purpose to follow through, and, whose morals does not possess the care or drive to guide them to follow through.” In regards to the ex club, Ethnic Studies Now!, possibly being revived in the future if students chose to do so, Lopez believes that, “the vision of an education that has community involvement and control, a cutting edge and innovative analysis of the history of the United States, and an unwavering commitment to the well being of all its students, we have much work to do still.”

It is important that we acknowledge and recognize people of color not only in the months of their celebration, but everyday because they are the backbone in which this country was built upon, even though it was through inhuman and unfair treatment. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for their struggle, hustle, and groundbreaking achievements. The least that could be given to people of color is recognition. Recognition makes people of color finally be seen and heard after being pushed aside for so many years throughout history, so celebrate them for the story behind their skin and culture.

If you are interested in the community events being held to honor and celebrate Black History Month please visit the Forge’s website at sbhsforge.com.

THE FORGE

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 9

The Royal Exit

BY CAROLINE NUHN The continuing saga of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been dominating current news coverage surrounding the royal family. It has been reported on The Royal Sussex website that Harry David and Meghan Markle have made the decision to step away from the crown-financially and role or duty wise, that is. Harry’s statement posted on The Official Website of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, reads, “We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family.” The update that follows is one including a link to a post on the official instagram of the Duke and Duchess from the 18th of January, 2020. The post is a statement from the Queen stating her thoughts and views on her son and daughterin-law’s decision. In the statement she says “It is in my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.” Based on the na-

ture of the Queen’s message it seems as if she is quite accepting of their choice and simply wants the best for both of them.

What is still up for debate, though is the true reasoning behind why Harry and Meghan have made the life changing decision to leave the royal family. Some sources, such as USA today and Showbiz, state that it was due to the many stresses involved in royal life, while others, like Inc. state that racism and overall discrimination towards Meghan was the cause. Prince Harry states, however, that the reason for their exit was that he wished to “continue serving the queen, the commonwealth, and my military association but without public funding,” he goes further to say, “that wasn’t possible”. Although Harry does not release the exact reason his request was refused one can assume it has to do with the Queen and her advisor’s view on how the royal family should be run. Harry gave his exit speech at a charity to help children in Africa, the coverage can be viewed on youtube.

There is a significant

amount of curiosity and speculation in the air regarding how Prince Harry and Meghan will be involved in the Royal, life if at all. It’s apparent that they will continue to work with charity and organizations, they’ve committed to, as well as future charity projects they’ve announced. At the moment, it is difficult to find sources where the Sussex brand, a brand that featured a large amount of Harry and Meghan’s wedding merchandise, can be purchased. It’s been reported that their titles have also been revoked; they will no longer go by His/Her Royal Highness however their titles of Duke and Duchess will remain in good standing.

With the internet being a more pervasive part of today’s culture, it comes as no surprise that they’ve received plenty of comments from fans and a remarkable amount of backlash from those who dislike the couple. Meghan, in particular, seems to be facing an incredible amount of negativity and hateful comments, especially on Instagram, in response to what seems to be her husband’s decision. Despite this backlash, it seems

that Harry, Meghan, and the Queen are handling the situation maturely and respectfully.

The speculation and rumors surrounding Meghan and Harry’s decision are not guaranteed to be true. As viewers watching the royal family from the outside,we cannot assume all that is truly going on within the “walls”. This is why we should remember that they are still people, and they should be treated as such in turn. People make mistakes, and want things that seem foolish or unwarranted by others; the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no excep-

tion. The two seem to be furthering their help within charity and creating more opportunities for people to get involved. This generous work is what should be focused upon, rather than the reasoning behind their exit or how this exit determines the type of people they are.

Santa Barbara’s 35th Annual Film Festival

BY KARISSA FIELDS 2020 marked the 35th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This year’s carpet was star-studded with Oscar and Golden Globe winners. Over the past 34 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States. It attracts 95,000 attendees and offers 11 days of over 200 films, tributes and panels. The festival has various award shows, from the Virtuosos to the Montecito Award. The mission of the film festival is to “engage, enrich, and inspire people through the power of film. We celebrate the art of cinema and provide impactful educational experiences for our local, national and global communities”(sbiff.com). The Riviera theatre is now SBIFF’s year-round home, showing new international and independent films every day. In May of 2019, the organization opened an Education Center (downtown SB) to serve as a home for its many educational programs and a locale for aspiring creatives. The SBIFF serves to give our little bubble a worldly perspective.

This year’s Virtuosos were vibrant and utterly entertaining. Rodger Durling (Executive Director) himself said that this year’s Virtuosos was the best in SBIFF history. It was a dynamic group of grantees, and a very receptive audience. The grantees this year were George MacKay from 1917, Taylor Russell from Waves, Cynthia Erivo from Harriet, Beanie Feldstein from Booksmart, Awkwafina from The Farewell, Florence Pugh from Midsommar and Little Women, Aldis Hodge from Clemency, and Taron Egerton from Rocketman.

The grantees all ranged between the ages of 24 to 33, many of whom had prior connections, whether it be past projects or even as far back as drama school. Taron Egerton and upcoming EGOT extraordinaire Cynthia Erivo both attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Taron reminisced about one of his most memorable moments at the Academy which just so happened to contain Cynthia. In school, she went up to him and handed him an apple, reminding him to eat and sustain his energy. He recalls this moment being the first time he was seen at the Academy.

There were also quite a few comedians. Before acting, Aldis Hodge was a standup comedian. He surprised the audience with his charisma and humor. He had the audience laughing throughout his entire interview. We came to know and love Awkwafina for her comedy, but also through her emotional work in The Farewell, where we were able to see a new depth in her artistry. During the show, she interacted heavily with the audience and her humor definitely shined through. The host had various interactive questions. When asked what their go to karaoke song was, Hodge shocked the audience with his vocals to the intro of Gold Digger by Kanye West. Cynthia blessed our ears when she belted the chorus of Tina Turner’s We don’t need another hero. Egerton even sang a tidbit of George Michaels. Cynthia’s vocals blew everyone away, including me, and that moment remained the highlight of my night. The grantees showed their multi-dimensional talents. All of the grantees showed their passion and charisma.

Another charismatic individual being recognized at this year’s film festival was Lupita Nyong’o. She was awarded the prestigious Montecito Award. Lupita is a highly accomplished individual and an inspiration to girls and women everywhere. She is a producer, author, activist, and songwriter, Academy Award winner, and SAG Awards nominee. Lupita was born in Mexico and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. As a child she would perform skits for her family members and didn’t think of “playing make believe” as a career until she realized that: “oh the people in that tv box, they do that too.” She attended undergrad at Hampshire University in Massachusetts. After graduating, her visa expired and she returned to Nairobi. She spent some time back home deciding whether or not acting was it for her, and when she did, she applied to Yale drama school. Nyong’o said, “I went to Yale with no craft. I wanted to understand my instrument, and emotions are a hard thing to tame, to train; I didn’t think relying on vibes was a sustainable way to be an artist”.

Her first film straight out of Yale was 12 Years a Slave. This film earned Lupita her first Oscar. This win was not only incredible that it was awarded to a fledgling actress, but it also marked the first Kenyan to win an Oscar, the first African actress to win Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and the first Mexican-born actress to win an Academy Award. This award usually marks the most pivotal and peak moment in an actor’s career; most jump on every big acting gig they can get, but Lupita went a different route. She felt her world becoming smaller and wanted to go back to what sparked her passion for her art, theatre. She starred in the broadway show Eclipsed, where she went on to earn a Tony.

Lupita also starred in Black Panther, which sparked a cultural phenomenon. Women were represented as powerful and fierce both in front of and behind the cameras. Lupita spoke upon women’s involvement in the creation of the Marvel movie saying, “It wasn’t a woman’s set; it was a great set. The value is not the womanhood, it is the excellence that those

women brought”.

Lupita Nyong’o came to Santa Barbara to be awarded for her enticing and terrifying performance in Us. The director Jordan Peele surprised the audience by presenting Lupita with the Montecito Award. While accepting the award and over the course of the night, Lupita carried herself with poise and influence. She spoke with intelligence and consideration for every word she spoke. She is truly an inspiration for creative thinkers and all women, especially women of color. She is the epitome of representation.

Speaking of representation, the film festival also brings students to center stage through educational programs and competitions such as the 10-10-10 screenwriting and film making mentorship and competition. It began in 2004 and has continued since. This program offers aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers from local high schools and colleges the expertise of a panel of successful industry professionals. Over a span of several months prior to the festival, professionals lead and mentor 10 film crews through all stages of planning and production. All the films are shown at the Arlington Theatre and the winning filmmakers are presented with their awards.

I got to talk to a couple of this year’s contestants - our very own Dons. The application process looks daunting online but according to Alexa Aosti (filmmaking) it was “actually pretty easy”. Applicants filled out some questions and submitted previous work. They didn’t have to make anything new. Melia Haller submitted a surfing video from the past summer.

A large part of the program is the mentorship aspect. Alexa says that, “Taking input from our mentors was a very cool experience...I gained a lot more knowledge from them”.

Melias mentor even gave her some lights and equipment she needed for her project. The mentors seemed to pretty hands off until someone would come to them for specific help. They definitely put in their opinions but did not influence the creators’ creative decisions.

Through this experience they

learned a lot. Alexa “didn’t realize how hard and time consuming it was going to be. I applied just for fun and really had no idea I was going to get accepted.” Melia collaborated with a student from another school. The screenwriters would itch their satires to a filmmaker and they would choose whos they like the most. Through this collaboration she learned more and more and what she wanted to do in the future. She experienced the inner workings of production and everything that goes into it. Both agree that it was a lot more work than they expected.

The biggest obstacles the competitors faced was time. Alexa stated “feel like it was a very short amount of time... as short as a 10 minute film seems it takes a lot of time and work”.

For Melia it was hard “to find reliable crew members willing to work extensively for 5-6 hours”. Alexa recalls wishing she “did things differently; I had technical difficulties, but I now have learned from my mistakes”.

Despite these obstacles, the competitors gained industry experience and a preparedness for entering film and screenwriting.

Our little corner of California attracts the biggest names in the film industry. This year’s Film Festival featured powerful films, star studded guest appearances and award recipients, as well as an outlet for educating the creative youth of the city.

Congrats to our Dons who were able to participate in this year’s festival, and to Santiago Bailey on winning the award for screenwriting, and Melia Haller for winning the award for filmmaking!

10 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE FORGE

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Does Academic Success Measure Intelligence?

BY HANNAH ZIOUANI Intelligence, as defined by the Webster Dictionary, is “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.” German-born theoretical physicist and considerably the smartest man to have ever lived, Albert Einstein, was one that anyone would undoubtedly classify as intelligent. What’s particularly interesting, though, is Einstein was considered by his teachers to be ‘mentally retarded.’ Einstein was fairly vocal about his dislike towards formal education and struggled immensely in his academic performance. This same ironic situation is seen with Charles Dickens; the greatest novelist of the Victorian Era, Walt Disney; the most influential animator the world has ever seen, and Thomas A. Edison; a world-renowned inventor. All three of these geniuses were widely looked at by educators as too ‘unintelligent’ to learn anything within the classroom. Often, students feel discouraged by their academic executions in school as the false assumption that the grades they achieve correlate with their IQ (intelligence quotient) have installed itself into its society. Although academic performance can be an accurate indicator of a student’s persistence, motivation, memorization, or dedication--academic success is about fitting into a system, not about being smart. More specifically, it teaches us to sit down for long periods and answer to a boss for symbolic compensation. It’s not about learning: it’s about teaching us to be ready for the corporate world.

Academia in and of itself is a very specific format of teaching, testing, and politics.

How one absorbs this format does not correlate with IQ level, it is, in fact, random. One’s IQ level is something that they are born with, the only way the levels can alter is if there is some sort of encounter of physical trauma to the brain. Even President Donald Trump has claimed to have

an IQ that is “one of the highest” in a well-publicized 2013 tweet, suggesting that his wealth was somehow linked to his intelligence. Professional scientist, Laidra Pullmann, concluded in 2007 after studying the relationship for years, that the relationship between intelligence and achievement is reciprocal. Pullmann further reported that students’ achievement relies most strongly on their cognitive ability through all grade levels, those abilities being mental speed and inherited memorization skills. In other words, intelligence only indirectly predicts academic achievement. Time and time again, we see highly successful people being a part of the percentage that draws outside the lines, the percentage that didn’t religiously follow a structured curriculum. This argument doesn’t imply that academic success isn’t admirable, as it measures many impressive attributes and traits, but one cannot immediately infer that they are intelligent only based on their grades.

If the brain is well-developed, free from genetic defects, free from neurochemical imbalances, then it will work well, given a decent environment. This brings those who struggle with learning disabilities (Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory Processing Disorder, Autism, Short-Term Memory Loss) into the discussion. All learning disabilities require extra attention in certain areas.

For example, a student with Dyslexia; a general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, could do poorly in school due to lack of mandatory individualized attention because of their inevitable drawbacks. To assume someone that acquired those learning misfortunes is less intelligent than another student with no learning disabilities is simply ignorant. This is parallel to those struggling with mental illnesses (Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, PTSD) - these illnesses have great

Just Mercy Movie Review

BY VIVI TRUJILLO M The United States Senate voted on Wednesday, February The newly released movie that has been sparking endless conversations upon hitting the big screens, titled: “Just Mercy ‘’, follows African-American icon and Harvard University graduate, Bryan Stevenson, as he defends those wrongly condemned of charges and those not afforded proper representation. Warning: spoilers ahead. I highly recommend reading the book the movie was based off of first, which is also titled: “Just Mercy”. I recently read the inspiring book myself, and appreciated the work so much that watching the movie almost felt mandatory.

The movie was incredibly touching, and projected an unfortunate yet truthful message across a broad audience. Despite the moviebeing well acted and a great movie overall; from reading the book, I expected much more from the movie. The book had many sad, tragic cases, but cases that needed to be acknowledged in order to prove just how broken our judicial system here in America truly is. The book also contained facts, such as how quickly states filled prisons and built new ones because of the rapid incarceration rates, and many more details about incarceration. Of course, if the whole book, with every detail, was put into a movie, it would be far too long for most to watch, but I do believe that important aspects were missing.

Just Mercy, the movie, included amazing acting with beautiful performances from Micheal B Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, and Anthony Ray Jackson Jr. The movie highlights Bryan Stevensons journey in starting his pro-

gram, Equal Justice Initative (or EJI), and freeing all those wrongly convicted and helping those who never got proper help in our judicial system.

However, the only case discussed in the movie was the Walter McMillian case; Walter’s case tells a story of a hard-working man, a black man living in a racist town; he owns a business and has a family of his own. One night, while he is on his way home, he is stopped by police and arrested on charges of murdering Rhona Morrison, the case had spread fear into the town. Despite the charge, on the day of this girl’s murder, Walter was with his family, and most of the black community within the town was there as well. The court had no evidence to convict him, but the state coerced a man, Ralph Myers, to wrongly testify Walter and in return, he got time off his sentence. When both Walter and Ralph refused to follow instructions, they were thrown onto death row, which is illegal. The movie also briefly showed another case, but because it focused primarily on, a lot of information was missing from the book that I felt was necessary. I felt that the movie did not hold true to the message that Stevenson is trying to express through his book.

Stevenson has been working these impossible cases for over 30 years trying to fix our judicial system. His book is 368 pages of facts, and evidence of this cruel society we live in; it is filled with first hand stories of the wrongs in our system. Nonetheless, this movie is wildly entertaining and anyone interested in experiencing an emotional roller coaster that will change your perspective on our judicial system should certainly watch this movie.

potential in providing inescapable distractions to students performing in a learning environment. With that, it should be an obvious deduction that a student struggling with mental illness and/or mental disability is less fortunate, not necessarily less intelligent. This conclusion is not insinuating that anyone with a mental illness or a mental disability is intelligent, it’s merely suggesting that how well or poorly that student performs in school cannot be hypothesized based on their IQ levels.

A common misleading question amongst students today is “Are they smart?” amidst conversation surrounding another student to evaluate them as a person more in-depth. The issue with this question is that the answer usually stems from whether or not that student has shown to have an admirable report card or standardized test scores. According to the Department of Pedagogical and School Psychology, school achievement can be defined as demonstrated knowledge required for the fulfillment of the content of educational standards. This definition is reflected in operationalized academic achievement by overall scores from various standardized didactic tests (e.g.

SAT, LSAT, GMAT, etc.). This is the kind of “intelligence” entitled: practical intelligence for school, which refers to the individual’s understanding of, and ability to respond appropriately to, demands of the school environment (Williams, Blythe, White, Gardner, & Sternberg, 2002). Practical intelligence is often reflected in tacit knowledge, or other words, the knowledge that one uses without being explicitly aware of possessing such knowledge, or to follow the implicit rules in a given environment (set of procedural-knowledge skills that are relevant to their adaptation to real-world environment).

These scientific conclusions should skew most views on what attributes are required to deem someone “smart”, as academic achievement is a

poor indicator.

The overarching curiosity reigns on what exactly does qualify someone as smart other than IQ levels. IQ levels are, of course, the most accurate indicator of a beings “smartness,” but what’s interesting is what else indicates the trait if the results of those levels aren’t directly at hand. Smartness, as defined by the Webster Dictionary, is “having or showing a quick-witted intelligence.” Someone capable of talking in ten different languages is most likely to be considered smart, someone who knows pretty much anything about the ancient times, too.

Someone who taught themselves calculus by the age of ten, is most likely to be called smart too. So in my opinion, some things are native in terms of smartness, but one also has to “feed” their intelligence-- they have to be willing to learn and gain experience at things. Smart people never feel the need to prove to other people how smart they are, they’re patient, they’re good listeners, and they seek new perspectives and the truth. Truly intelligent people can occupy a dissimilar perspective, especially a perspective they disagree with. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, for instance, would occasionally argue with a friend from one perspective, then would switch and argue from the opposite perspective. Most importantly, intelligent people aren’t afraid or ashamed to tell you when they don’t know a certain answer.

Confidence in one’s mental capacity is the main driver towards outside perspectives on their level of intelligence. Therefore, the first step in being perceived in such a way is to stop basing your capacity off of the grades you receive in an institutionalized curriculum and to rather dig deep in your brain, find how deep you can go, and embrace that depth.

Tik Tok Doctors?

BY MICHAEL ELIAS Imagine this, a doctor sporting scrubs and grinning into the camera pointing at text on the screen which explains what to do when a condom breaks during sex and how the anti pregnancy pill known as Plan B is 95% effective. That video is the handiwork of Dr. Danielle Jones, a gynecologist from College Station, Texas. The video has racked up 11 million views and has mixed reviews.

Dr. Jones states, “My TikTok presence is like if you had a friend who just happens to be an OB/GYN, it’s a good way to give information to people who need it and meet them where they are.”

Dr. Jones is just one of many doctors on TikTok who use the app to spread medical information, the app TikTok has been downloaded 1.5 billion times, and 40% of its users are between ages 16 and 24. TikTok poses challenges, all the medical messages on there have to be short and sweet, thus making it difficult to give detailed medical lessons, and some doctors who use the website to spread credible information find themselves the target of harassment.

Dr. Rose Marie Leslie, a family medicine resident physician who studies at the University of Minnesota Medical School, said that TikTok provided a huge platform for medical PSAs. Her posts about vaping, the flu, and HPV vaccines each have millions of views, and reach out to many people beyond hospitals. Striking a chord on TikTok, she says, means tailoring medical messages to the app’s often goofy form. In one post she advises her followers to burn calories by practicing a viral TikTok dance. She also notes one trend on TikTok in which teens brainstorm creative ways to destroy your e-cigarette, such as running it over with your car. TikTok’s executives accept people using the app for medi-

cal purposes. “It’s been inspiring to see doctors and nurses take to TikTok in their scrubs to demystify the medical profession,” said Gregory Justice, TikTok’s head of content programming.

Dr. Jones, the gynecologist previously mentioned in this article, says she hopes that TikTok could help young people trust their doctors and view them as more accessible. “Back in the old days, there was a town doctor and everyone knew where he lived, and you traded milk and eggs for health care,” Dr. Jones said. “You had trust in your doctor because you trusted them as a person first.” She said, TikTok can help humanize doctors, she also states that her patients who have seen her social media posts are typically more comfortable around her than those who have not.

Dr. Nicole Baldwin, a pediatrician from Cincinnati, posted a list on TikTok of diseases that vaccines prevent and explains that vaccines don’t cause autism. Following that video, her accounts were flooded with threats, including one that labeled her “Public Enemy #1” and another comment stating, “Dead doctors don’t lie.” She’s over 5,200 accounts from her Facebook.

“There’s a fine line physicians are walking between trying to get a message out that will appeal to this younger generation without being inappropriate or unprofessional,” Dr. Baldwin said. “Because of the short content and musical aspect of TikTok, what adolescents are latching onto is not the professional persona we typically put out there.”

The abuse of the app is also discussed.

Recently, a medical professional used the app to show her speculation that her patient’s chest pain was caused by consuming cocaine. Another TikTok showed an ER doctor mocking people who sought care in the emergency room rather than a primary care phy-

sician.

Sarah Mojarad, a lecturer who teaches a course on social media at the University of Southern California, said she frequently sees doctors use the app in order to bash their patients or to use their status as doctors to sell inappropriate and unauthorized products.

The youth of TikTok’s audience is also an issue.

“With a young audience, it’s really important to make sure that the content getting out is professional and accurate,” Ms. Mojarad said. “People may think some of it is medical humor, but it impacts care.”

TikTok’s community guidelines state that misinformation that may cause harm to an individual’s health, such as misleading information about medical treatments is strictly prohibited.

“The demographic of TikTok is very young, and as a plastic surgeon I don’t feel comfortable marketing my services to children,” Dr. Schulman said. Simultaneously, he knows the app is growing fast. “I don’t want to be caught playing catch-up. In two or three years the platform could change, and if I already have an established account I’m ahead of the game.” In the meantime, while creating top-notch content, he still relies on his kids to edit his videos.

These videos can be beneficial, in the cases that they do not spread misinformation and are credible with the potential of helping others. As a writer, I have noticed that medical guidance being put places where young people go can be very helpful for their health and well being. It is important to encourage all people, especially those who are young to seek medical advice when something is ailing them. I believe that TikTok doctors will help reach that demographic and I hope they continue to inform youth about their overall well being.

THE FORGE

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 11

Martin Luther King Jr., Remembered

Otto Layman’s Grand Finale

BY GRACE LARSON

BY EMERSON STEADY

On January 20th, we celebrated Martin Luther King Day, an American holiday honoring the birthdate of Martin Luther King Jr, a courageous leader and spokesperson of the civil rights movement. He led protests, including the Montgomery bus boycott and the Birmingham campaign.

The idea to honor Martin Luther King’s birth as a holiday came into existence directly from labor unions. The bill to honor Dr. King was signed into law by Ronald Reagan, 15 years after Dr. King’s death. The honoring became an official holiday by all 50 of the United States in 2000.

Martin Luther King Jr has accomplished many things in his life, but probably the most notable was fighting for freedom peacefully. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the front of a bus, and was arrested due to segregation laws. In retaliation, E.D. Nixon planned the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led

by Dr. King. The boycott lasted a total of 385 days, and by the end of it, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public busses is unconstitutional. In 1963, Martin Luther King, Fred Shuttlesworth, and James Bevel led the Birmingham campaign. Birmingham, Alabama was one of the most racially divided cities at the time, including a white-on-black bombing, which gave rise to the nickname “Bombingham.” Adult volunteers were not plentiful in the campaign, so the leaders decided to begin recruiting children.

The volunteers organized peaceful protests, such as having 50 people walk from the local Baptist church to the city hall to talk about, and advocate against segregation. The police department of Birmingham, led by Eugene Onner, set attack dogs after the protesters and viciously sprayed them with hoses. These protests prompted much needed attention to segregation in the south, and forced desegregation in Birmingham.

Despite Dr. King’s efforts, racism is still a global issue at large today. One example is police brutality, an extreme form of police violence involving physical harm or death to a person or animal, and one of the many victims was Rodney King. Rodney King was a black construction worker that was brutally beaten by police on March 3, 1991. A bystander by the name of George Holliday recorded the incident from his balcony, and it got huge media attention. Three of the four officers who beat Mr. King were aquitted, and the jury failed to reach a verdict for the fourth. In retaliation, the citizens of Los Angeles started riots, causing 50 deaths, over 2,000 people injured, and caused one billion dollars worth of damage.

White supremacy, the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, and should therefore dominate society, is also a form of racism. Adherents believe that the white race will face extinction, and their goal is to save the race. The KKK, or the Klu Klux Klan is a violent white sup

premist group whose primary target is Afrian-Americans.

They have been terrorizing African-Amerian groups by assaulting and killing them since the 1860’s.

There have been three different iterations of the klan, one still exists today.

During the march on Washington in 1963, Martin Luther King gave the“I have a dream” speech. In Dr. King’s speech, he shared his philosophy on segregation in schools and in society in general. This imbued people with a sense of inspiration and immense hope for change.

The famous speech began with “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.’’ That statement still rings true, as the March on Washington was one of the main events in the civil rights movement that helped segregation to come to an end in America.

Due to Dr. King’s courage and determination, he was awarded an entire holiday in his name. This holiday serves as a yearly reminder of how far we have come, and how much we still need to change. Although his life ended on April 4, 1968, the work that he has accomplished has changed the nation. King will be remembered not only for his commitment to the cause of equality for African Americans but also for his unapologetic hope that change can occur, starting with the citizens.

Australia’s on Fire!

BY ZANE FORTE Sant Wildfires have always been a present danger in Australia, but never before in history have they been so out of control. These wildfires have burned over 20 million acres, destroyed more than 3000 homes, killed an estimated 1 billion animals along with killing 34 people. The wildfires have been burning for over 3 months and are not expected to be fully contained anytime soon.

A few factors led up to these fires including drought, high temperatures, lightning, suspected arson, and climate change. In recent years, Australia has experienced long dry spells, and scientists say they have gotten progressively worse in the past decade. The fires spread quickly, burning out of control due to the extremely dry forests and strong winds. New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia are the most populated areas affected by the fires.

Animals have also been greatly affected by these fires.

The World Wildlife Fund in Australia estimated between 500 million and 1 billion animals, including Koalas, Kangaroos, and Wallabies, have been killed or directly affected by the fires. Critically endangered animals such as the Regent Honeyeater lost critical habitat, which could potentially affect their survival.

Due to the long dry season in Australia, water has been a huge scarcity. Being so desperate for water, Australia decided it was necessary to shoot up to 10,000 camels on sight due to their large water intake.

Airplanes and helicopters have dropped almost 5000 pounds of carrots and sweet potatoes to give animals a better chance of survival. 90,000 animals have been rescued by volunteers, including the Irwin family.

The Irwin family owns the Australia Zoo, and they have been passionate about animals their whole life.

While some animals have been saved, their habitats have been destroyed, which will make it much more difficult for them to survive. These fires have been devastating to all the animals in Australia, volunteers are doing everything they can to give them a better chance of survival.

Thousands of firefighters have gathered in Australia, most of them being volunteers, to help control the fire and help wildlife. Firefighters have traveled from

countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. This is the first time Canada has ever assisted Australia in this way, and the first time since 2010 for the United States.

Unfortunately while attempting to help, three firefighters from the United States died in a water tanker plane crash. All of the victims were military veterans.

Additionally, the areas that are not directly affected by the fires had to deal with the smoke. In Sydney, the air quality reached hazardous levels, which made it unsafe to go outside without wearing a mask. According to NASA, this smoke has already made it halfway around the world, and is expected to make a full loop!

This smoke has already affected New Zealand, worsening the air quality and darkening the snow on their mountains. This smoke is expected to negatively affect the air quality of other countries as well.

Overall, these fires have devastated Australia’s forests, animals, and houses. While it has burned over 20 million acres, Australia is staying strong with firefighters and volunteers slowly making progress to contain these massive wildfires.

Santa Barbara High School’s longtime theatre teacher Otto Layman’s final show can be summed up in one word: Epic. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, based on the Victor Hugo novel and Disney movie of the same name, tells the tale of Quasimodo, the misfit bellringer of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, as he is raised by the misguided religious zealot Claude Frollo and falls in love with the gypsy Esmaralda. This story, however, extends far beyond the walls of the cathedral, as it tackles some of the deepest questions at the heart of the human experience: What makes a monster and what makes a man? Who is worthy of redemption? And can’t we all love each other just a little bit more?

Hunchback, with its score composed by Disney sweetheart Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz of Wicked fame, is far more operatic than many of the shows in the string of contemporary and comedic musicals recently performed at SBHS. With a score that draws from choral and liturgical music as well as musical theater traditions, and the show being almost entirely sung-through, SBHS will take you on an intensely emotional musical journey. Although some of the music is drawn from the famed 1996 Disney film, this is a much more mature, dark, and urgent version of the story. Quasimodo, played by whose name literally means “half-formed” is the deaf hunchback bell-ringer of Notre-Dame cathedral whose caretaker, the archdeacon Claude Frollo mentally abuses him. His one longing in life is to leave the cathedral where he has been kept and join the people on the streets below who he watches everyday from the heights of the belltower. When he finally does, he finds that Frollo was right about the cruelty of the world, but that Frollo is even crueler. When it comes to telling such a famous story, Layman’s directorial philosophy

is to avoid seeing the film or any other version of the production in order to create an uninfluenced, deeply original version of this famous epic.

As this is Layman’s final show at SBHS, he intends to go out with a bang, planning this show on a larger scale than any he has ever done before which is saying a lot. This particular production’s book, written by Peter Parnell, prominently features the ensemble as narrators and Quasimodo’s stone saint and gargoyle “friends,” In addition to the large ensemble of “priests, soldiers, gypsies, tramps, and thieves,” a full choir will be onstage to deliver the powerful Latin chants which are interwoven into the score. Under the lead of music director Jon Nathan, and vocal director Sio Tepper, the full orchestra will create a sound that entirely fills the space of the SBHS theatre and will not soon be forgotten. Additionally, two separate choreographers, Gianna Burright and Christina McCarthy, will contribute to the artistry of the production, collaborating with the students to create the joyous dancing spirit of the gypsies and the intense fight scenes of the show, including the struggle for power between Frollo and his captain of the guard, Phoebus de Martin.

Despite the original novel, Notre-Dame de Paris having been published in 1831, and set in 1492, this production comes at a vital moment.

Namely, the real Notre Dame, an 850 year old gothic cathedral in the heart of Paris, lost its famed spire and suffered severe damage in a fire last April, drawing attention to preserving the importance of our shared cultural heritage.

Similarly, in Victor Hugo’s time he wrote the novel to call attention to the disrepair of the crumbling cathedral and the potential loss of a French icon. But beyond that, Hunchback’s messages of seeing beyond someone’s outside appearances and combating racism and ableism feel particularly resonant in the America of 2020. For example, in Quasimodo’s famous

cry of “Sanctuary, sanctuary!” to protect Esmaralda in Notre-Dame, it is hard not to see reflected the current headlines of undocumented families attempting to evade ICE after crossing the southern border, some claiming sanctuary in American churches.

This is a story that will tear at your heartstrings, and Layman describes the tone of the show as “soaring, often dark, with shafts of brilliant sunlight piercing the clouds of despair that hang over the poor misfit Quasimodo.”

These are shafts of sunlight we could all use in our lives.

The massive cathedral, spire and all, will be recreated on stage in spectacular fashion by the skilled student builders under Layman’s creative vision and the guidance of technical director Talitha Blackwell. As the story travels from the cathedral itself to the bell towers to the city to the marketplace and to the Gypsy hideout in “the Court of Miracles,” audiences will be immersed in the epic scale of the sets and operatic passion of the story. Additionally, audiences will be transported back in time by Eliana Mullins’ period costume design, and the intense dedication of all the students in Santa Barbara High School’s theatre program.

Hunchback of Notre Dame, which began rehearsals this week at Santa Barbara High School, will play May 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th at 7pm and May 9th and 10th at 2pm in the SBHS Theatre. Tickets will be available for pre-purchase online or at the door.

You don’t want to miss this impassioned tale which Otto described as singularly epic and tragic. Whether you have never seen a musical at SBHS before, or are a dedicated superfan of the renowned and award-winning theatre program, all lovers of story will be transfigured by compassion for the hunchback Quasimodo, and brought to a place of hope and love by his selflessness. Come see this sublime and necessary show at SBHS before the bells toll one last time for Otto Layman.

12 | SPORTS

THE FORGE

College Football

BY WILL GOLIGOSKI

The anticipation and excitement surrounding the College Football 2019-2020 season was high after the Clemson Tigers took home the National Championship the previous year, ending their season with a perfect record. Going into the season, the top-ranked teams included Clemson, Alabama, and Georgia. The prestigious Heisman Trophy award goes to the best player in all of college football and last season it went to Kyler Murray from the Oklahoma Sooners. The players that began the season leading the Heisman Trophy race were Trevor Lawrence, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa. Quickly however, LSU quarterback, Joe Burrow, began to make his case as the leader in the Heisman race, which he eventually won, as he was voted college football’s best player.

Some of the notable games from this year included Alabama vs. LSU where the LSU Tigers, led by Heisman trophy winner, Joe Burrow, beat the Crimson Tide in a high-scoring 4641 outing. Another noteworthy game was at the Iron Bowl, where Auburn beat Alabama in a close 48-45 game, in which the Alabama kicker missed a field goal that would’ve tied the game in the closing seconds. A final significant game this year, prior to the playoffs, was the Notre Dame vs.

Georgia game, where Georgia came out on top with a close final score of 23-17 over the Fighting Irish. There were plenty of other fantastic games this season; it’s hard to pick just a few.

Throughout the season, there was the rise and fall of multiple top tier programs. Possibly the biggest surprise this year was how inconsistent Texas played. Expected to be in the running

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Girls Basketball

as one of the top teams in the nation, they eventually finished 8-5. Another suprise for this season was when unranked South Carolina devastated Georgia’s playoff hopes in an overtime upset with a final score of 20-17.

This season’s bowl games were full of incredible plays, huge games, and program defining moments. The two semifinal games this year were the Peach Bowl at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the Fiesta Bowl at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale. To finish the season the top four teams playing for the championship were LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, and Oklahoma. In the Peach Bowl, the LSU Tigers smashed the Oklahoma Sooners with a score of 63-28 in a riveting game where LSU quarterback and Heisman winner, Joe Burrow threw for 493 yards and 7 touchdowns. The other semi-final game was the Fiesta Bowl, where Clemson beat Ohio State 29-23, and Clemson safety Nolan Turner made the game-sealing interception that advanced the Clemson Tigers into the National Championship Game where they would take on the LSU Tigers.

This year’s National Championship Game took place at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

For the LSU Tigers, the Championship game felt like a home game, as the Superdome is only 80 miles from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. It was the opposite for the Clemson Tigers, as they had to travel nearly 600 miles from South Carolina to New Oreleans. The match between these powerhouse teams was destined to be a quarterback duel between two top tier quarterbacks. Going into the game, the LSU Tigers were as confident as can be in their offensive efficiency that would eventually carry

them to a championship win. When the game began, LSU got off to a slow start in the first quarter, but once the second quarter hit, the team kicked it into another gear and led 28-17 over Clemson going into halftime. Coming out of the locker room, Clemson needed to pick it up on offense and find a way to shut down LSU’s high powered offense. Unable to get the ball in the end zone more than once in the second half and stop Joe Burrow, the Clemson Tigers fell short of the a National Championship with a final score of 42-25. After this enormous win for the LSU program and the state of Louisiana, the LSU Tigers ended the season with a perfect record of 15-0, and Joe Burrow set a new NCAA record for touchdowns responsible for with 65 total. This season of college football was an incredible one filled with record-breaking moments, huge upsets, and incredible matchups.

BY ANNIE KNECHT With the end of the lady dons varsity basketball season approaching, let’s do a quick recap of the stars thus far. The team is composed of four seniors, three juniors, and four sophomores. The three captains leading this team are Maya Banks, Trina Regalado and Maraya Gil. These leaders are strong, powerful, and a positive influence to their teammates on and off the court. This current season of basketball has been nothing short of exhilarating. With a record that stands at 17-10 and being the Channel League Champs.

They were ranked 19th going into playoffs where they played their first playoff game on February 13 against Marlborough High. The dons fought hard to keep their spot in playoffs but could not pull out the win. With a score of 33-49, the dons season sadly came to an end.

This season contained epic wins, bitter losses, and heart racing tight games. In a very close neck and neck non-league game the lady dons and the Buena bulldogs, are taken into a ferocious overtime game. Maya Banks scored a layup with 20 seconds left in the game to fight in order for the win. Sadly, they were outscored by 10-1 in overtime. Some of the high scores of the game were Athena Saragoza who scored 16 points in total. Cia Trimble also was a big big asset to the game by scoring 10 points in the match. It was a tough loss for them, but they got back on their feet and ready for their next game at Santa Ynez which they won with a score of 66-83. In another nonleague game against division 1

Harvard Westlake, the dons held their own in the first two quarters, but Harvard Westlake began to pull away near the end of the game.

One game in particular that was a huge victory for not only the players, but for the students and fans, was the big rivalry game vs. San Marcos royals the where the girls took it home for the win. Playing the royals twice and winning both with a score of 50-35 the first game and then 64-38, the second, the girls were on fire and played to the best of their ability. Athena Saragoza had a huge impact on this game leading the girls leading 25 points.

Jaeda Spencer also had a big night with 13 rebounds and five assists for the lady dons. The big game against San Marcos had the crowd on their feet screaming and cheering on the team that we all know and love in order to bring them victory. Overall the girls played well and worked together.

These girls are an amazing group of talented athletes, both on and off the court they excel.

Many of them are multi sport athletes and their performance in the classroom is just as outstanding as their performance on the court.

Although the girls only made it to one round in the CIF Southern Section,they played well and fought hard for them and for our school.

2020 Basketball Season Comes to an End

BY ANDRE BATTLE Last year, the Dons varsity boy’s basketball program had an outstanding season, one of their best in years. They made it all the way to the CIF semifinals, losing in a heartbreaker. Although most people might see that season as a success, the Dons were not satisfied. They saw the playoff run as an opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes.

This year, the Dons started off auspiciously, as the varsity basketball team’s whole coaching staff changed. Both the varsity head and assistant coach were replaced with new Santa Barbara High School teachers Cory Adams and Greg Zuffelado, who have done amazing jobs this season as coaches.

The Dons had a solid preseason at 8-6, and were confident going into their first game against Santa Ynez. The game would be at Santa Ynez, but that was not a disadvantage as the Dons had only one home game during their preseason. To make matters better, Santa ynez did not have a very good team, and the Dons won with ease 67-42 which was a great way to start their Channel League season.

Their next game was against San Marcos at Santa Barbara City College, a new location able to fit thousands of people.

This was one of the biggest games of the season, given that it is a rivalry game and it would be played at a college gym in front of tons of fans. The Dons were behind for most of the game. The Royals came out hot and hit 2 three pointers in a row to give San Marcos a 12-4 lead by the end of the 1st quarter. The Royals kept that lead and played tough defense in the second quarter, so tough, that one player inadvertently elbowed the Dons star forward Bryce Warrecker. He was forced to leave the game, and returned later in the second half with a protective face mask. San Marcos took advantage of the big man’s absence, and went on a run that put the Royals up 10 points in the middle of the second quarter. The Dons, however, did not let them go much further.

Jasper Johnson, who had sat out for much of the season due to illness and injury, knocked down back-to-back threes and cut the deficit to two points. The score was 25-23 at the end of the first half. The game was back and forth in the third quarter, but the Royals went on another run to give them a six point lead at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter was all Dons though.

Bryce Warrecker finally found his touch, and brought the Dons back into the game. After some big free throws made from both teams, the score was tied at 43-43 with 20 seconds left. The Dons had the ball and, after a missed three pointer from Johnson, they got the ball back under their own hoop with 1.1 seconds left.

The Dons had one play left to win the game, and it was their final chance. Stephen Davis took the ball out. Jasper Johnson went off of a back screen, which blocked his defender from guarding him, and elevated toward the hoop. Davis tossed the ball up and connected with Johnson. Johnson, who was already in the air, got the ball in the key and threw the shot up. The crowd went silent. The ball dropped in, and the crowd erupted. The Dons fans stormed the court, San Marcos fans in shock. It was one of the greatest plays in San Marcos vs. Santa Barbara history. This improved their record to 2-0 in league, and 11-6 overall.

The Dons kept their momentum and were on a fourgame win streak. Their next game was against Cabrillo at home.

Although they started slow, the Dons defense took over in the second half and they finished the game with a 55-39 win over Cabrillo. Their next game was against Lompoc, at home once again. Lompoc posed no threat and the Dons crushed them, 7840. The Dons took a detour, and snapped their win streak as they lost to Pasadena High School 57-45 at a non-league game despite their comeback.

Their next game was against Dos Pueblos at Dos Pueblos High School. The game was a huge success for the Dons as they got a big win over the chargers, 70-60, behind a very big game from Bryce Warrecker, who dropped 30 points. This would be the end of the first round in league, as they would play San Marcos for the second time this season. It would be a good game as both teams needed this win in order to win or tie for Channel League.

Once again, the Dons played San Marcos at Santa Barbara City College. And once again the stands were packed with fans. The game started fast, and the Dons never really got their footing. They were down in most of the first half and only had two leads in the entire game. But it never seemed to be a blowout either. Every time San Marcos scored, the Dons would come right back. They kept the game within tenpoints and showed potential throughout the game that they could win. But they had an off shooting night and missed a lot of free throws that could have put them up.

San Marcos hit a huge three pointer with two minutes left to put them up 43-41. Stephen Davis was able to hit one free throw, but again, the Royals converted and made a free throw after they were fouled, increasing their lead to three at 45-42. The Dons were able to get two more free throws to drop, but after a big layup with 6 seconds left in the game for the Royals, it was game over. The Dons were forced to throw a long pass down the

court for a three, which was blocked by San Marcos. The Don’s crowd was stunned as the San Marcos crowd stormed the court.

This was Santa Barbara’s first league loss which brought their record to 5-1 in league, and 14-6 overall. Their next game was against Santa Ynez at home. The Dons demolished Santa Ynez and in their 64-41. It was a big win coming off their loss against San Marcos.

They wanted to regain some momentum as they headed in their game against Lompoc, at Lompoc High School. Once again, Lompoc had no chance at beating the Dons, as Santa Barbara beat the Braves easily 71-58. Their next game was on the road again against Cabrillo. It was another easy victory for the Dons, as they only allowed Cabrillo to score 18 points in the first three quarters and beat them 58-31.

Their final game of the season was against Dos Pueblos. It was an important game that the Dons needed to win in order for them to get a good seed in CIF. Although the Dons started out slowly and were down 26-22 in the first quarter, they were able to keep their composure and make a quick comeback.

The game was over in the third quarter as they were up by 30 points moving into the fourth quarter. The Dons ended up winning 67-48. It was a great way to wrap up Senior Night, and a fantastic way to end their Channel League season.

The Dons finished their regular season with a final record of 17-9 (9-1 in league). They are now looking ahead to the CIF playoffs. They hope that they can make it all the way to the CIF championship, and get their first ring since 2016. Good luck to the Dons in their future games.

Photo courtesy: Noozhawk