The Tam News — November 2016
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November 2016
CONTENT
08 lifestyles Danford on Fire by Marie Hogan
04 news
05 news
06 news
07 lifestyles
09 lifestyles
10 features
15 op/ed
16 op/ed
17 op/ed
18 op/ed
19 sports
20 sports
21 sports
22 sports
Homecoming Rally: The Bay Can Play by Ethan Swope & Dean Weiler-Zilberman
Rise in Mill Valley Mail Theft by Kennedy Cook & Charlie Rosgen Request for Girls’ Field Hockey Team by Tessa Lochman
Briefly The Health Food Store That’s Been by Abby Frazee, Sophia Krivoruchko & Here the Whole Time: 7-Eleven Jack Loder by Milo Levine Measure E to Prolong School Funding by Elise Korngut
Head Case by Adam Tolson
Link Crew: The Real Value by Elissa Asch
New Athletic Trainer Hired by Piper Goeking By the Numbers by the Sports Staff
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Meet one of Tam’s newest faces, Dan McCann. Find out how he went from a renowned street performer to Tam’s top IT consultant.
November 2016 — The Tam News
EDITORIAL: Campaign For Your Opinion by Staff Crackin’ and Slackin’ by the Opinion Staff
The Way I Talk Literally Doesn’t Matter by Kendall Lafranchi COMIC: The College Dream by Emma Blackburn & Georgia Pemberton
Tam Players Follow Kaepernick’s Lead by Will Moye
The Bowls Kids Love: The Best Ramen Joints in the Bay by Nicole Anisgard-Parra & Emma Steinberg
Link Crew: A Missed Connection by Georgia Pemberton Heard in Tam Hallways by the Opinion Staff
Sports Opinion: Why We Need To Stop Calling Our Female Athletes “Lady Hawks” by Maddie Wall
Athlete of the Issue: Sabrina Haechler by Calvin Rosevear
Dear Reader,
I grew up in a football family. We had season tickets to the 49ers (even through the rough Mike Singletary era), and my Sunday mornings were spent on the couch watching Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN. Football became a part of my life from a very early age and was presented as a carefree American pastime even though the sport itself is based on rough hits and hard tackles. Football is the sport the U.S. is known for internationally. The average NFL franchise is worth $2 billion and the average player makes $2.15 million. Mainstream media paints an NFL player as an ideal specimen. Movies and TV shows present football as a tool to become the hometown hero or a clear way for young boys to get out of poverty. What young boy didn’t grow up with dreams of becoming the next Peyton Manning or Jerry Rice? Over the past few years, some retired NFL players have spoken out about lasting brain damage that they suffered from playing the game. This month’s feature by Adam Tolson explores the long-term effects of concussions and brain injuries on high school football players. While many of us have seen the highlight reels of the hardest NFL hits, not many of us know that these hits and their effects are present on our high school’s field too. “Head Case” reveals the risks of playing football and the ways that some programs are beginning to act against these health hazards. This feature will make us think long and hard about how we idolize the hardest hitters in professional sports and make us second guess what society encourages young boys to pursue.
Kendall Lafranchi
EDITORS IN CHIEF: Danielle Egan, Marina Furbush, Raqshan Khan & Kendall Lafranchi
NEWS: Maddie Asch, Megan Butt & Josh Love LIFESTYLES: Francis Strietmann, Maddie Wall
Cover by: Lucky Schulman On the Cover: Tolson explores the injuries faced by football players and the impact it has on their lives.
PHOTOS: Lucky Shulman & Ethan Swope GRAPHICS: Nicole Anisgard-Parra COPY EDITORS: Piper Goeking & Samantha Locke
& Dahlia Zail
DESIGN: Kennedy Cook & Lucky Shulman
FEATURES: Kennedy Cook, Arya Guinney & Marie
BUSINESS TEAM: Megan Butt, Michael Diamandakis,
OPINION: Elissa Asch, Glo Robinson & Dashiell Yarnold
SOCIAL MEDIA: Francis Strietmann
Hogan
Calvin Rosevear & Adam Tolson
SPORTS: Jack Loder, Calvin Rosevear, Miles Rubens, Adam Tolson & Zoe Wynn Tamalpais High School 700 Miller Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941 www.thetamnews.org
Volume XII, No. II November 2016 A publication of Tamalpais High School Established 1916
ADVISOR: Jonah Steinhart PRINTER: WIGT Printing
REPORTERS: Lucy Allen, Sabrina Baker, Michael Balistreri, Griffin Barry, Grace Bell, Mackenzie Bell, Andrew Bishop, Evan Boatright, Abigail Cabana, Connor Cardinal, Griffin Chen, Birgitta Danielson, Connor Dargan, Kavi Dolasia, Julian Dreyer, Jack Ferguson, Samantha Ferro, Andrew Ferron, Ava Finn, Maxine FlasherDuzgunes, Abby Frazee, Jacob Goldman, Benjamin Grant, Ephets Head, Caroline Herdman, Hannah Jeffris, Derek Jennings, Ravi Joshi-Wander, Keana Kennedy, Elise Korngut, Ivan Kovalev, Sophia Krivoruchko, Shane Lavezzo, Ginger Lazarus, Ryan Leake, Sofia Leuterio, Milo Levine, JT Lieser, Gabriela Lilien, Katherine Liviakis, Tess Lochman, Savannah Malan, Clodagh Mellett, Isabella Minnie, Cal Mitchell, Nell Mitchell, Celeste Moore Malnar, William Moye, Connor Norton, Hannah Nygard, Ben Olizar, Mary Overton, Emily Pavis, Georgia Pemberton, Evelyn Power, Alexander Price, Satori Richards-Bailey, Charlotte Rosgen, Kylie Sakamoto, Dylan Sgamba, Francesca Shearer, Emily Spears, Emma Steinberg, Sarah Stone, Spencer Stone, Kyle Sullivan, Jacob Swergold, Red Thompson, Scarlett Trnka, Sam Uriarte Sanders, Sophia Venables, Benjamin Wall-Feng, Daisy Wanger, Nikola Weisman, Maxwell Williams, Aaron Young EDITORIAL BOARD: Elissa Asch, Michael Diamandakis, Danielle Egan, Marina Furbush, Piper Goeking, Arya Guinney, Raqshan Khan, Kendall Lafranchi, Connor Norton, Georgia Pemberton, Dashiell Yarnold The Tam News, a student-run newspaper publication, distributed monthly, is an open, public forum for student expression and encourages letters and article contributions. The Tam News reserves the right to edit submissions for length and content. All content decisions are made by student editors. The Tam News is published monthly, though dates may vary. The Tam News is nonprofit and any proceeds and contributions are used in the production of the newspaper publication and for journalism education. Additional information concerning contributions or advertising can be obtained by writing to the address provided above or through our website. Copyright © 2016 by The Tamalpais News. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent.
The Tam News — November 2016
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News
Homecoming Rally: The Bay Can Play PHOTOS BY ETHAN SWOPE AND DEAN WEILER-ZILBERMAN
Seniors Ryan Leake and Luke Toy race towards the stands (right).
Tam News reporter Connor Norton helps leads the senior lip-sync team to victory (above).
The juniors scream for physic teacher Dave Lapp’s decibal meter (below).
Senior Milo Ryan plays his guitar (right).
Senior MC Maxi von Welczeck rides into the rally on a tricycle (below).
The sophomores cheer at the rally (above).
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November 2016 — The Tam News
News
Rise in Mill Valley Mail Theft by Kennedy Cook & Charlie Rosgen
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ver the past month there has been a series of mail thefts around Strawberry and Tam Valley. The alarm has spread throughout the social media site, Nextdoor, which is popular among adults in local neighborhoods. There are high and low points of activity, and this year seems like mail thieves are a bit more active,” said Mill Valley police officer Steve Heisinger. The thieves have been targeting credit card and checking account information, which after being used, have been helpful during investigations to identify the thieves. The Mill Valley Police Department (MVPD) is advising the public to invest in lockable mail boxes in order to make their contents harder to steal. Staci Robinson, a Homestead Valley
resident, has been a victim of mail theft on multiple occasions over the past few years. “They probably hit our mailbox three to four times one fall, [and] since then they’ve raided our mailbox at least three to four times a year,” she said. The Robinson family has since installed security cameras and a lockable mailbox. Another family in Homestead Valley suffered the same crime. “On about five to six occasions over the last two years we’ve driven past [our streets’ community mailboxes] in the early morning and every mailbox has been wide open and empty,” parent Saor Sterler said. More recently, people have reported their mail being opened and left in locations far from their homes. There has been a lot of talk regarding the Mill Valley Inn room that was raided by the po-
lice on August 18th. Two suspects rented the room via Airbnb, but failed to pay the fee. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a large amount of mail that was believed to be stolen. “The mail was turned over to the Postmaster at the MV Post Office and the investigation is ongoing,” Hiesinger said. Police say residents should be cautious of suspicious vehicles driving around their neighborhood, and communities with large clusters of mailboxes should purchase lockable boxes to ensure the safety of their mail. MVPD Patrol divisions have been deployed to protect the targeted areas. Residents should also report any unfamiliar cars or questionable personnel in their neighborhoods. The MVPD emphasizes community watch as the key to ensuring the safety of everyone.♦
Request for Girls’ Field Hockey Team
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am High School might have its first field hockey team. Athletic director Christina Amoroso, is organizing a team of girls who are interested in participating in the inaugural season starting next August. “The athletic council needs to approve the team first because it’s a lot of money, but I think they will,” sophomore Annika Emblad, who plans to join, said. The district’s athletic council consists of representatives from Tam, Drake, and Redwood. Redwood already has a field hockey team, inspiring both Tam and Drake to start one. Drake, like Tam, is awaiting approval for their team. About 25 Tam girls are interested in joining, according to Amoroso, who held an informational meeting for the team on September 21. If the request is approved in time, the team will be official next fall.
by Tess Lochman
“We knew that as soon as Redwood had their team that the interest would infiltrate into other schools and it definitely has,” Amoroso said. The more girls that show interest, the higher the chance the athletic council will approve the request, according to Amoroso. Tam is planning on only having a varsity team, like Redwood, for the first season. The total cost of the equipment, coaches’ salaries, officials’ dues, league dues, and uniforms comes out to about $12,600, which is considered a lot in the public school system where that money could be used elsewhere, according to Amoroso. “It seems only fair and right f o r t h e
have [a team] especially considering the interest level,” Amoroso said. “I think it’ll be really fun especially because it would be the first field hockey team at Tam and not much experience will be necessary,” Emblad said. A majority of the interested girls are underclassmen, and many of them attended a field hockey clinic at Redwood earlier this year. The athletic council is expected to give their final verdict in May. “The whole thing is extremely time sensitive considering it’s a fall sport and they would start in August but... I think it’s do-able,” Amoroso said.♦
board to allow other schools besides Redwood to
GRAPHICS BY EMMA STEINBERG & NICOLE ANISGARD-PARRA
The Tam News — November 2016
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News
B R I E F LY Senior Revives Garden Club at Tam
Bill Restricts Phone Use While Driving
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by Abby Frazee
new California assembly bill will increase restrictions on phone use while driving, starting in January. Not only will texting or talking on the phone be prohibited, but “holding or operating a handheld wireless telephone” while driving will not be allowed for any reason, according to the bill. Since 2013, 426,000 convictions, ranging from texting-while-driving citations to fatal collisions and property damage, have been caused by the use of a handheld device in California according to the California State Assembly Democratic Caucus. “[Phone related accidents] are completely preventable...and [the bill] will save lives,” Bill Quirk, the democratic representative of Hayward district and creator of the bill, said in a press release. ♦
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by Sophia Krivoruchko
fter interning in Panama this summer and working in a preserve, senior Eva Brazer was inspired to revive the gardening club at Tam. Brazer hopes start a hydroponic garden at Tam, that will grow plants in water rather than soil. “Hydroponic gardening systems tend to use less water and plants grow faster,” she said. The club plans to restore the garden behind the student center, making it a nice place for students to eat lunch and meet up. “We want to make the gardening area behind the student center a beautiful place for people to hang out,” said junior club member and Tam News reporter Evelyn Power. “It has a lot of potential.” The club meets in room 63 or the garden every Wednesday at lunch.♦
Redwood Reacts to Hate Crime
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by Jack Loder
edwood school officials discovered racist graffiti spray painted on the school’s spirit ball early on September 20. The racial slurs were directed at Assistant Principal LaSandra White, who is African American. Central Marin Police Authority (CMPA) Spokesperson, Margo Rohrbacher, told the Marin IJ that this case will be investigated as a hate crime. On a more positive note, Redwood students have responded with support towards White following the crime. “We all gave her flowers and hugs the next day, something that reflects our school values more so than the racism,” said Redwood junior Audrey Peck. Authorities are still looking for a suspect and urge citizens to alert the CMPA with any tips.♦
Measure E to Prolong School Funding
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by Elise Korngut
n November 8, Marin voters will decide whether they want to use their tax dollars to continue to fund kindergarten through eighth grade public education in Mill Valley. Measure E would renew the parcel tax that passed in 2008, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of the Mill Valley School District (MVSD) budget. The measure needs to pass by at least two thirds of the vote, and would have a 12year term. Although similar propositions to Measure E have passed, there are voters who oppose this new tax. As a parcel tax, Measure E would require anyone owning land in Mill Valley to pay an annual fee, with a five percent annual escalator, with those who are 65 years or older exempt. Funding would go towards salaries for core teachers, continuing physical education, libraries, and counseling programs for Mill Valley Middle School, Edna Maguire, Old Mill, Park, Strawberry Point, and Tam Valley Schools. Chair women of Measure E, Emily
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Uhlhorn explains that if the measure passes, it will bring approximately $9 million into the next year and around $140 million over its term. Government funds account for only 62 percent of MVSD revenue, around 25 percent of funding comes from parcel taxes. The remaining 13 percent comes from other sources such as Kiddo and PTA. Many homeowners who don’t have children in the MVSD don’t want to pay the annual $980 per parcel tax. The County of Marin website states, “Enough is enough. Yes, we readily support our schools and quality education. But...it is a ‘tax-payer as piggybank’ measure, which directly drives up the cost of living in Mill Valley.” Those against Measure E feel it is unnecessary to annually increase the tax, and feel it would greatly increase the cost of living in Mill Valley, and teachers would no longer be able to afford living here. The website further states, “[Measure E] is marketing manipulation for the School District to tug on voters’ heartstrings with
November 2016 — The Tam News
the theme “it’s for the children” and set an excessive annual renewal rate.” Others feel that the proposed amount of money is not enough for the school district. “It would be a catastrophe if [Measure E] didn’t pass, not only because it is expensive to put another measure on a future ballot, but more importantly, because if the district put a measure on the ballot with a three percent annual escalator, the district would blow through its reserve in the next six years,” said Uhlhorn. Uhlhorn explained that people who are opposed to the measure feel raising the tax by three percent would be adequate to support the MVSD however according to the Community Financial Advisory Committee the school district requires a five percent annual escalator. If the measure doesn’t pass, Robin Moses, President of the MVSD Board of Trustees, believes class sizes would increase, many teachers would be laid off, and school libraries would face budget cuts. On the other hand, homeowners will have lower property taxes.♦
Lifestyles
The Health Food Store That’s Been Here the Whole Time: 7-Eleven A s I walked through a double door that read “pull” but really needed to be pushed, I couldn’t wait to see what kind of clientele was lurking on the other side. Could it be truckers, ex-cons, current cons, rural Americans, young entrepreneurs, the confused elderly that thought they were at the Mill Valley Market, or fellow high schoolers who need that mid-day Arizona Iced Tea for no good reason? After I made my entry, I took a deep breath and acknowledged the beauty of it all: 7-Eleven. Often called the Harvard of cheap chain convenience stores, 7-Eleven has been a staple of this nation since 1927. In Mill Valley, we
by Milo Levine
All they had in store for me was an exotic green apple (no red ones on the premises), a majestic banana, and an oddly round mango. I do have to say that I was very pleased with the price of my items: under $3 in total. I would be willing to bet that Good Earth and Whole Foods have nothing on 7-Eleven prices. Quality, on the other hand, is another story. I started off nice and slow, going for the apple first. After just one bite, something hit me: this was a terrible idea. The apple was so bitter and acidic that I had to inspect it to make sure I hadn’t accidently gotten a lemon. But like any great journalist, I kept on digging, no matter how ugly the story got. Bite after bite, I devoured the apple, until that wretched thing was all but a core. It was so gnarly that I even accidently ate some seeds on a particularly aggressive bite. Okay…that one might have been on me. But besides that, I had exhibited excellent journalistic behavior. I was all over
"The mango had the texture I was expecting to find in the apple, and the apple had the texture you would expect to find in a really crappy apple."
are blessed with not just one, not just two, but three 7-Eleven stores. Well… two are technically in unincorporated areas that border Mill Valley, but it’s all the same to me. This was not just any trip to 7-Eleven, for me. I was on a mission: review every fresh produce item they had to offer. As it turns out, this wasn’t a very difficult task, given the extremely slim selection in the fresh fruits and vegetables section. GRAPHICS BY EMMA STEINBERG
this breaking story, even before USA Today got a hold of it. However, the pain and suffering that I had experienced was beginning to take a toll on me. I realized that I had two choices: forget about the assignment and play Uncharted 4 or continue uncovering the untold truth, and eat the mango and banana. Guess which one I picked? After playing Uncharted 4 for about six hours, I got back to saving the day,
even though the day was almost over. I had to pick up where I left off immediately, so I grabbed a meat cleaver, and went to work on that poor mango. Note to self: when cutting a mango with a meat cleaver, wear shoes, in case you drop the cleaver on your foot. But anyway, I gobbled up that slimy mango, and boy was it hard. Literally. The flavor of the mango wasn’t awful. It was nice and tangy, although at times it lacked sweetness. Despite all of this, it was probably twice as good as that nasty apple. Finally, I give you the 7-Eleven banana. Actually, I gave myself the banana, but that sounds kind of weird. I was burned out from all of my hard work earlier, but I knew I couldn’t leave any stones unturned. So I closed my eyes, said my prayers, and swallowed that banana. I couldn’t believe it: The banana was mediocre! It was ripe, smooth, and flavorful. It lacked in size a little bit, but I felt like I got my money’s worth. So, to all of you Tam kids out there, never forget: Arizona's are dumb. I don’t care if it comes in a cool looking can that was hand painted by an edgy street artist. I don’t care if it’s the official sponsor of skateboarders everywhere. I don’t care if all of the popular kids are doing it. Just drink some damn water. Is it really that hard? Also, stick to Good Earth, Whole Foods, and Safeway, for your fresh produce. I love 7-Eleven, but next time I go there I’m sticking to a Slurpee.♦
The Tam News — November 2016
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Lifestyles
Danford on Fire: Our New IT Specialist I
by Marie Hogan
nformation Technology specialist Danford McCann knows what it’s like to play with fire and get burned, literally. “Your first thought is to go screaming, running," he said. "Actually, the real thought that went through my head was I got no one to blame but myself.” McCann, who joined Tam staff this year, previously worked as a street magician. He was performing in downtown San Francisco when a trick went wrong. “My quote unquote magic sprung a leak and it was leaking in there, and I’m
mode.” McCann considers comforting stressed clients to be part of his job. “My job is being halftime IT guy and halftime psychiatrist,” he said. In times like those, McCann takes issue with the stereotypical I.T. guy. “I feel the stereotype kind of falls short, meaning that the I.T. guy is there and helping out, but they don’t try and comfort the person,” he said. “I kind of go against the grain of your stereotypical I.T. guy,” McCann said, describing himself as a people person. “IT people are usually viewed as hermits or reclusive. They don’t want to interact with the public or any-
McCann was never formally trained in IT, something he considers an advantage. “My lack of knowledge and education comes from the actual terms… that’s where I lack,” he said. “But when it comes to fixing the systems, and the skills and experience, and coming across those error codes and going, oh wait, I’ve run into those before, that’s what I feel sets apart from the education, versus the experience.” After working at Tam for little more than a month, he said the mystique has lost much of its appeal. “When I was a student, whenever I went to school, there was always some sort
" In fact, when I was a kid,
the two things I hated most were computers and school. "
body else.” McCann never expected to PHOTO BY LUCKY SHULMAN work in technology. “In fact, when I was a kid, the two things in downtown San Francisco, I can’t smell I hated most were computers and school. anything. So when I lit the match, the flame And I work for a high school as an I.T. shot up and back into my jacket, and lit my guy,” he said, laughing. “I was kind of the entire arm on fire,” he said. “People around anti-technology kid.” me thought it was part of the trick, so they It wasn’t until McCann was 19 that didn’t put me out, or anything else. I started his brother, who also works in I.T., intropatting it down. I finally put it down, and as duced him to “technology and the wonders I did I said, 'good night everybody.' And I of the internet,” as he put it. “I remember had second degree burns all up and down my training was just that my brother locked my arm.” me in a room with 20 computers that were Staying cool under pressure is a skill broken, and said, "You have eight hours to McCann finds himself using when work- try and get it fixed.’” ing on computers. “You got to keep a poker To his surprise, McCann found that he face, plain and simple…There are some- enjoyed it. “[IT work] is problem solving, times…where I’ll enter in a fix, or rather it’s a puzzle,” he said. what I thought was supposed to be a fix, In part because of his experience with and it comes back with a brand new error technology, McCann considers education I’ve never seen before,” he said. “And, of to be an important part of his job. “Any course, every single time I’ve had the user way that I can make a person more combehind me, just staring over my shoulder, fortable with technology, teach them some which as uncomfortable as that is, I under- tips and tricks, that makes it worth it at the stand why [they do it]. And they look at end of the day,” he said. Whatever he’s doit, and they’re already in kind of a panic ing, McCann likes to help others.
No task is too big for Dan McCann, Tam’s new I.T. specialist.
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November 2016 — The Tam News
of quote-unquote mystery behind closed doors, server rooms, things like that. You get called into the principal’s office and you don’t know why,” he said. “When you hit my age, and you’re here, and you get to see behind the scenes.” Nevertheless, McCann knows his behind the scenes role holds a lot of power. “I have full access to be able to view everybody,” he said. “Do I do that? No, because that’s just creepy.” McCann’s still settling in. “My predecessor Charlie, I believe 18 years he used to work here, that was some pretty big shoes to fill,” he said. “There’s still teachers out there that I don’t even know their names.” But, he said, “I actually look forward coming into work, because I know that even if it’s a busy day, or a hard day, or whatever it might be, I’m still going to have fun here. And that’s really what I was looking forward to, and this place definitely has it.” And as for the fire magic, McCann’s beginning again. “I just started getting back into fire breathing and eating, and stuff like that,” he said. “It’s kind of tough, because again, I don’t want to lose an eyebrow.”♦
The Bowls Kids Love: The Best Joints in the Bay O
by Nicole Anisgard-Parra & Emma Steinberg
ften considered a staple in our households, instant ramen is a meal that is readily made in less than three minutes and satisfies any and all hunger pains. Who wouldn’t want to indulge in a savory broth coupled with delectable, sodium-enriched noodles? But for the times you are looking for a more authentic dining experience, packaged ramen may not be adequate. Fortunately, good ramen is readily available in the Bay Area. We have compiled a list of three of the best ramen joints within 15 miles to fulfill those everlasting noodle cravings.
Uchiwa Ramen
821 B St, San Rafael, CA From Tam approximately 12 minutes by car and 40 - 50 minutes by bus Uchiwa is the only restaurant in Marin County to specially cater to the rameneating crowd. The owners are very friendly and accommodating, always greeting their customers and asking for feedback on their dishes. Uchiwa Ramen offers a decent selection of broths, toppings, as well as delicious appetizers such as the Asian kale salad ($5.45-$8.45) and Uchiwa fries ($5.45). Customers select from various selections of broth ranging from tonkotsu (pork), vegetarian miso, shio (salt based), or shoyu (soy sauce based). The cost of a bowl ranges from $11.45-$12.45, which can increase based on type and amount of toppings. The broths are all rich in flavor, the noodles are al dente and do not get soggy, and the ambience is warm, authentic, and comfortable. There are also vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available at no additional cost. Overall Rating:
Suzu Noodle House
1825 Post St, San Francisco, CA From Tam approximately 23 minutes by car and 50 - 70 minutes by bus Located in the esteemed Japantown, the cramped Suzu Noodle House is constantly bustling with tourists on the weekends. Due to the restaurant’s small size, be prepared to put your name on a waiting list; however, it is worth the wait. A standard bowl of ramen, which includes chicken and pork broth over noodles, green onion, bamboo shoots and tonkatsu (pork slices), can be as cheap as $8.95, but prices increase based on other assorted toppings such as butter corn, fish cakes, and additional tonkatsu. The portions are huge, so sharing is recommended. If you are looking for a decent bowl of ramen in Japantown, this is the place to go. Besides ramen, Suzu Noodle House also offers soba, udon, and small rice bowls topped with meat. From vegetable/shrimp tempura to gyoza to sashimi appetizers, any craving can be satisfied. Overall Rating:
GRAPHICS BY EMMA STEINBERG AND NICOLE ANISGARD PARRA
Slurp Ramen
710 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA Approximately 28 minutes by car and between an hour and 10 minutes and an hour and 40 minutes by bus You might be thinking that a Japanese ramen noodle joint in Chinatown is somewhat perplexing, but Slurp Ramen defies any preconceptions. The restaurant has a big personality but its location tucked into a tiny space can make it easy to miss. Be sure to keep your eyes wide open as you search the alleyways of Chinatown . When you finally stumble upon the place, you will be greeted by a friendly and helpful wait staff. The noodles offered are cooked al dente with a perfectly springy texture, and are offered in tonkotsu, shio, shoyu, or miso broths with your choice level of spiciness. They also offer a wide selection of Ramune (Japanese marble soda) flavors (original, strawberry, melon, and lychee all for $2.50) to accompany your mouthwatering bowl of ramen. Overall rating:
The Tam News — November 2016
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unior Trevor Lopez will never play competitive football again. Years of hard hits and gruesome blows to the head have taken their toll on Lopez, who has had a passion for the game ever since seventh grade. Up until now, football has been the centerpiece of Lopez’s life; to see it come to an end was devastating. But he is not alone. Every year, an average of 12 high school and college football players die as a result of injuries sustained from the sport. Most of these are the results of second impact syndrome, in which a second concussion occurs before the first one has healed fully. The deaths are often preventable - a result of players, coaches, and referees not addressing the seriousness of
a concussion. During a concussion, the force of being hit in the head shakes the brain which is floating freely inside the skull, causing bruising. Helmets protect against the impact on the skull, but don’t prevent concussions. A build up of bruises on the brain can cause long term damage including dizziness, memory loss, depression, Alzheimer’s, and damage to the senses. “It was terrible. It felt like I was wearing a helmet and the helmet was just squeezing in on itself slowly,” said Lopez, remembering his first concussion. Coach Jon Black’s varsity team has only suffered one concussion this season, thanks to their new practice method which involves rugby style
tackling and focuses on protecting the head, but he recognizes that a new practice philosophy alone does not solve the problem. “I would say the way that we practice tackling probably helps,” Black said. “We teach our kids to practice tackling with their heads up, and I think part of it is just luck.” According to Robert Cantu, a professor of neurosurgery at the Boston University School of Medicine, second impact syndrome has a 50 percent mortality rate, and the player is 100 percent likely to have neurologic deficiencies even if he survives. “Had I been told the concussion statistics of death and brain damage by my coaches or doctors, I would’ve stopped playing [earlier],” Lopez Graphic By Lucky Shulman
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November 2016 — The Tam News
Features
said. Concussions happen more often to high school players because their developing brains make them more vulnerable to catastrophic head injuries compared to college and NFL players, according to a peer review of head injuries in football. Once the first one has healed, players are not in the clear. University of Pittsburgh’s Brain Trauma Research Center found that the risk of reinjury increases with each concussion. If a player has had two concussions, then a third is 2-4 times more likely, and if they have had three concussions, then they are up to nine times more likely to receive a fourth concussion. While it is true that football is not the only sport with risks of concussions, it poses by far the largest threat, with three out of every four high school players sustaining one or more concussions during their career, according to the Sports Concussion Institute. Football injuries are common, affecting millions of kids every year. According to a study conducted at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Injury Research and Policy, 38 percent of all severe injuries in the nine sports studied occur in football, and 69.3 percent of the severe football injuries are results of player-to-player contact. The past twenty years has seen an increasing awareness of the dangers of football. In 2005, evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, commonly referred to as CTE, was in found in the brains of former football players. CTE, caused by repetitive hits
to t h e head, is described as a “progressive degenerative disease of the brain most commonly found in athletes with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head,” by Dr. Bennet Omalu, who first discovered the disease in football players. As of now the only way to diagnose CTE in someone is by examining their brain in an autopsy. Even Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump squaring off didn’t surpass the viewing record set by the Broncos and Panthers in Super Bowl 50. But for all that attention, most ignore the serious risks posed in the sport. “If most people knew how high the risk was for concussions, what concussions can cause, then they wouldn’t have as many players,” Lopez said. The game of football always came naturally to Lopez. The very first time he touched the ball during a game, he scored a touchdown. From that point on he excelled, and was placed on teams full of players older and almost a full foot taller than him. The players were stronger, faster, and hit harder than Lopez, and often times, he came off the field shaken up.““I think I had the skill set to play against older people,” Lopez said.
“But I didn’t know what I was getting into before I played.” Six concussions later, he will be on the sidelines for the rest of his life, with retinal damage and the fear of future neurological disabilities to show for his years on the turf. “I have to wear glasses now,” Lopez said. “My vision wasn’t perfect before, but now that I have [to wear] glasses… it’s different. It’s strange.” Lopez felt the effects of his concussions off the field as well, and explained how that impacted his everyday life. “At first, I thought it was just a headache, and I wasn’t really sure. I went to school, and actually it just hurt so much that I couldn’t even focus in class. I couldn’t do anything,” he said of his first concussion. Things only got worse from there, as his brain couldn’t handle the repetitive blows to his head. In his most recent concussion, he lost consciousness. “That was probably the freakiest one, because I’d never actually
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Features passed out before,” Lopez said. “After that, my doctor told me that after six concussions, there’s a very increased amount of brain damage, and that there’s a serious, serious risk after that much, and that when I’m older I might have memory loss, or be disabled in some ways mentally.” This news from the doctor turned out to be the best and worst thing Lopez had ever heard, as it changed his perspective on the game that he loved. He decided to stop playing football to avoid future damage. “I felt scared,” Lopez said. “I didn’t think I was at risk. No one had informed me prior to that of the risks of concussions.” Lopez believes that all he was doing was demonstrating the proper form which he had been taught. It was the poor technique of others which left him walking off the field shaken up and concussed. “The coaches did their job and taught all of us the right way to tackle so that we can prevent injuries to best that we can,” Lopez said. Even while exhibiting the proper form, he sustained injuries that pose both future mental and physical health risks. He says that the reason that injuries are still very present in youth and high school football is because while the coaches drill perfect form into the heads of their players, it all goes out the window when a big play is made. “The game itself is dangerous, but the technique makes it somewhat safer.” Lopez said. “The coaches work a lot on offense and defense teaching great form,” Lopez reiterated, “but the reason it is so dangerous is because they reward those who hit harder and do the dangerous things.” Even though it was the opposing player that was playing dangerously, it was Lopez who came away with injuries. “When kids get hurt, It’s not so much that they do it on purpose,” Coach Black said. “It’s bad form. They kind of forget what they’re doing and maybe they’re out of position or they’re not very ex-
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November November2016 2016——The TheTam TamNews News
perienced, and that’s what causes them to get into trouble.” Black’s son, a former Tam football player, suffered a concussion while on the team. He attributes it to improper training. “The kid came in with the helmet and just hit [my son] right in the face,” Black said. “...That was a play where I think the kid was coached to hit as hard as he could.” Ex-football player and junior Nicki Brass said the pro game glorifies the most violent hits. “If you watch any college football or NFL biggest hit highlights, there’s always one guy on the ground at the very end who is just lying there, completely injured or messed up,” Brass said. Lopez added to this opinion on football highlights, saying that many people forget to think about the injured player. “I’m scared for the player,” he said. “I kind of feel like a parent watching their kid. It’s really scary knowing what can happen from that. I’m worried.” Many players will stay silent and not act upon injuries in order to avoid missing playing time and potential scholarships or recruitment. But it is important to address issues and think about your future outside of football, as Brass did. He showed potential in his freshman and sophomore seasons, but chose to quit the sport when he realized that this fear of concussions and brain damage could very easily become a reality. Knowing that one concussion can open the door to more, he decided it wasn’t worth the risk. “I didn’t want to continue the trend of head injuries,” Brass said. His concussion was not his fault, yet he paid the price. It was the poor technique of the defender that led to a helmet-to-helmet hit. This is because of the player’s lack of instruction and taking advantage of the refs, who are not as assertive as they need to be in order to protect the players at the high school level. “I am fairly certain that the player who [gave me a concussion] knew that [the illegal hit] would not be called and wasn’t taught how
Features happens in football, no matter the equipment and to hit properly,” Brass said. “So with proper teachrule changes. ing and refereeing, that injury could have easily Naqvi recalled countless practices in which been prevented.” As a player of high value, he felt he sustained a potential concussion and the coach pressured to return to the field before his concuspressured him into staying on the field. He desion healed. Like Lopez, Brass found that dangerscribed a football coach he had in middle school ous plays were often rewarded by coaches, leading who was especially encouraging of dangerous to more serious injuries. This pattern mirrors the play and hard hits. Whenever a player appeared NFL: in 2009 it was discovered that players for tentative to step up and make an aggressive and the New Orleans Saints were being paid secret bopotentially dangerous play, the coach would slam nuses for injuring opponents with illegal hits in the a helmet on top of the player’s helmeted head and infamous Bountygate. They won the Super Bowl tell him to get aggressive. the next year. He explained that during freshman practice, According to he had a full on head-to-head Brass, the “tough guy” attitude surI got knocked out on the field and collision with another player and collapsed. For a few secrounds all levels of had to go to the hospital... onds he couldn’t get up, and football. Brass said that one of the main I don’t remember anything from when he looked up everything he saw was blurry. Naqvi said reasons for this atthat day. he asked the coach if he could titude is the belief play at a half speed without that your pads and Junior Ben Whitaker his helmet, since it was giving helmet make you him a headache to wear. The coach, he said, sent invincible. Without pads, it could be a safer game. him back on the field, with a headache and feeling “Look at rugby. They get beaten up, but head inalmost certain that he had a concussion. juries are almost non existent. And in football, the People often see the big hits during games second we put a helmet on a head, it is used as and assume that those are the source of the cona weapon,” Brass said. “In a way, the more padcussion problems. However, 60 percent of high ded up we get, the more protected we feel, and the school football concussions occur during practice. harder we hit....Naturally, you’re going to want to Drills specific to an exact moment in a game can protect your head. But when you have a helmet on, result in the repetition of a dangerous play. Almost you [think] that [your] head is now a weapon; it’s all of the offensive line drills involve two players fully protected, even though that’s a false sense of running at each other at high speeds. One drill inprotection.” volves one player running towards a cone, with Former Tam players and juniors Alex Naqvi an oncoming defender trying to knock him and Ben Whitaker have both sustained brutal condown before he gets there. Head-to-head cussions while playing football. Whitaker was hits often occur in this drill, which is blindsided during a game and was out for over five a source of many concussions. “I weeks. “I got knocked out on the field and had don’t see a lot of people comto go to the hospital…I don’t remember anying out with [visible] juries thing from that day,” he said. According in [these drills], but you to Whitaker, that’s just something that
“
”
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Features can tell that over time it can’t be very good for your head,” Naqvi said. However, there may be a solution to injuries during practice, which occur quite frequently. Dartmouth College’s engineering program has developed a tackling robot which can move up and down the field and simulate a real player’s running patterns. Dartmouth has stopped all drills that involve players tackling each other and has seen injuries drop 80 percent. Head coach Buddy Teevans said on the Late Show that his goal was that “no Dartmouth player will ever tackle another Dartmouth player.” The NFL has put almost 40 rules in place both on and off the field in efforts to decrease concussions, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Though the number of reported concussions fluctuates from year to year, it remains significantly over 200 despite attempted reforms. In 2014, 206 were reported, but by 2015 it had jumped back up to 271. Even with all of these changes in football regarding the rules, technique, and practice methods, concussions are still a major problem. NFL commentators have said countless times during a dangerous play that there is no way of avoiding certain plays that cause head injuries. This begs the question: is the game of football fundamentally unsafe? “[Football] inevitably will always be at times an
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unsafe sport,” Naqvi said. Junior Gabe Villavicencio, a varsity football player, agreed with Naqvi. “It’s kind of inevitable that [concussions] are going to happen. You’re always going to be hitting someone else,” Villavicencio said. He added that players of high value can generally get less time to recover from a concussion, in order to help the team. “If you really are a big part of the team, the coaches might pressure you more,” he said. Villavicencio also agreed with Lopez about proper technique being essential to the protection of players. “All I can say is that the only way to prevent concussions is to really know how to tackle and always keep your head up, and remember that your head is what you’re going to have to protect the most,” Villavicencio said. Whitaker argued that contact and injury will always be part of football. “Implementing rules will just change the game for the worse,” Whitaker said. “I think you have to accept the fact that [concussions] are just part of the game.” Football at its core is entertaining because the premise is to see athletes in top physical shape collide with one another. Many think that making certain hits illegal would take away its main attraction. Players need to consider all risks and variables that come with football. What are you giving up to play the game?♦
Graphic By Nicole Anisgard-parra
Opinion/Editorial
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EDITORIAL: Campaign For Your Opinion
n this presidential election, stakes are higher than ever. On one hand, we have a populist billionaire running on a platform of hatred and bigotry, and on the other, an experienced politician with a history of deceit. Many members of our community have shown support for Hillary Clinton due to Donald Trump’s tendency to make outrageous and unagreeable statements in a public setting. Out of frustration for the lack of adequate candidates, there are still those in our community who have decided to abstain from voting; in particular, left wing liberals who will accept nothing less than Bernie Sanders, due to his advocacy of democratic socialism and vast change. However, abstaining from voting in this election cycle may have adverse effects. In order to send a message to the Republican Party that nominating an individual who lacks the temper-
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” -George Washington ament and knowledge to run our country has consequences, Clinton needs to win by a landslide. This is why every vote matters, along with every individual’s opinion. After the emergence of Trump’s notorious video, recent poll information shows there’s a probable chance the vote will be in favor of the democratic candidate in the state of California. Despite this feeling of inevitability, if you can vote, do it. Our founding father encouraged American citizens to express their views. As George Washington said, “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep
Crackin’ and Slackin’
to the slaughter.” Even though many students aren’t old enough to vote, they can still engage in the political process and stay informed about current political events. Students can read both conservative and liberal news sources to procure a more rounded understanding of such political issues. Furthermore, students can engage in political discussions with their peers to broaden their understandings of the political machine as a whole. For even further involvement, individuals can organize rallies and help with local campaigns, which have more of a direct effect on their lives than the presidential election. Even if you feel the presidential election is out of your hands, you can still impact your local elections. Become informed about propositions that could impact your future, such as Measure E, which earmarks money for the Mill Valley School District, and Proposition 64, which would legalize marijuana in California. Begin informing yourself about the potential bills as a minor, so when you come of age and vote you can make a greater impact by understanding how to inform yourself and contribute to the process. We live in a country founded on the principles of democracy and voting is a crucial aspect in retaining our freedoms. While your opinion might not affect the course of this presidential election, staying informed and understanding the facts will have beneficial effects on the future of our country. When our youth reaches the age of maturity and possesses voting rights, a more informed populous will result in a better functioning democracy. Every American citizen has the power and responsibility to voice their opinion. If we fail to do so, we may find ourselves living in a world dictated by other people’s activism.♦
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Opinion/Editorial
O
Link Crew: A Missed Connection?
n Freshman Orientation Day, hundreds of new students gather outside Gus Gym before being welcomed with cheers and high-fives to Tam. This is what Link Crew aims to be: a high-energy group of upperclassmen and teachers dedicated to helping the freshman class make the most of their first year as Red-Tailed Hawks. Link Leaders welcome freshmen, show them around our large campus, and help them get acquainted with each other as well as upperclassmen. However, as orientation wraps up, Link Crew goes on, with frequent events continuing into late May. It becomes the helicopter parent: well-meaning but over the top. Link Leaders are required to give up two lunch periods a month to sit in a circle, and give each other (mandatory) back massages while they discuss the upcoming “advisory,” a tutorial period dedicated to activities (read: games). If freshmen actually enjoyed advisory, this would be an entirely different story. But for the majority of freshmen, advisory feels like nothing more than a waste of time; which was made clear to me after talking to at least twenty freshmen in various advisories. “I feel like I don’t really need [advisory],” freshman Ethan Zener said. “I’d honestly just rather do my homework, I think that’s what tutorial should be for.” It’s not just the fact that advisories exist that’s frustrating, it’s what they’re used for: games. Freshman Ava Shulman agreed, adding, “I think that sometimes [the games] make us, as freshmen, feel like this is our first time at school. It makes me think of being in sixth grade, when our WEB [Mill Valley Middle School’s version of Link Crew] leaders were introducing us to MVMS. We’re all 14 and 15 years old, we’re not little kids, and we don’t want to
Heard in Tam Hallways 16
by Georgia Pemberton
be treated like we are.” Link Crew is designed specifically to both integrate freshmen into their new community and to help bridge the gap between upper- and lowerclassmen. But unfortunately, while the former is usually accomplished, the latter is often left undone. Luckily, this isn’t always the case., “I loved [my Link Leader], Amaia...she was the only Link Leader who seemed to really care about us, and she definitely helped me feel like a part of Tam,”senior Edie Frederick said. So perhaps the issue with Link Crew isn’t entirely program-based. It’s pretty well-known that Link Crew is looked upon fondly by colleges, and for many students, it’s becoming a way to get ahead in the college admissions arms race. To be completely honest, I was one of those students, and it wasn’t good for me or the freshmen I was supposed to be helping. Missing lunch periods and tutorials (time I could be using to lighten my workload) to give back massages and play games didn’t really seem worth the boost on my college apps. As a result, I played games halfheartedly, and my freshmen didn’t get even the minute benefits that those games could potentially yield. Luckily, there are upperclassmen who join the program solely with the intention of welcoming freshmen. They are the Link Leaders who will be memorable, not those of us who just want to look better on paper. If there’s any advice I can offer to underclassmen, it’s to not make my mistake: Link Crew asks for motivated applicants for a reason, and if college is your only (or even a big part of) motivation to join, then don’t apply. Link Crew is a good concept with a wonderful mission, but it’s too overdone to be helpful. There’s a fine line between
“I’m going to make my child have A.D.D. so they can have extra time on the SAT.” -Gus Gym November 2016 — The Tam News
by the Opinion Staff
making freshmen feel comfortable and making them feel coddled, and it’s a line that Link Crew is beginning to cross. It does exactly what it’s supposed to for the first few weeks, but after freshmen have been welcomed and are already starting to feel at home, Link Crew resists the seemingly natural step back. If Link Crew were to put less of an emphasis on games and focus more on what freshmen want, the program could be vastly improved. Albeit it’s hard to have a custom experience for every one of the 400-plus freshmen, Link Crew’s current “one size fits all” approach isn’t working either, especially when that “one size” is more fit for a toddler than a teenager. Tam’s youngest students are 14 and 15 years old, not four and five, and when Link Leaders play icebreaker games for the majority of the year, it’s belittling. It’s a complicated problem with a simple solution: get rid of the games. Do what the other Link Leaders in my tutorial and I did last year, and have open conversations with freshmen about what they think is helpful. If a student needs help with Home Access or organizing their binders, then help them with it. Don’t make students stand in a circle and squeeze each other’s hands for 20 minutes to show the importance of teamwork. Talk to freshmen about what they do and don’t like about their new school. Freshmen want to be treated like young adults. Including them in the decisions of what exactly advisories should be dedicated to, or if they should be dispensed with entirely, would put Link Crew back on the right track. By including only the Link Leaders who truly want to make a difference while letting go those who are only trying to look better on paper, Link Crew could once again become the dynamic and resourceful program it was intended to be.♦
“I didn’t even bring a backpack to school today...I just brought a rock.”
-Upper Keyser
Person 1: “I like sex and drugs.” Person 2: “Well how do you know if you haven’t tried either.”
-Freshman Court
Opinion/Editorial
Link Crew: The Real Value By Elissa Asch
F
rom the very first summer meeting of Link Leaders one thing is drilled into our heads: The freshman come first. As the Link program is designed to welcome new students into our community and integrate them as effectively as possible, this saying is the core of the Link value system. Each team of upperclassmen partners are assigned a group of around 10 freshman to mentor throughout the year. I, as a link leader, cherish this responsibility. I follow my Linkies on social media, take them out to lunch, and have even been known to reference them as “our kids” when talking to my Link partner. These steps are vital to the Link Crew experience as it’s ultimately the Link leaders that will make or break the program for the incoming students. Unfortunately it is all too common for link leaders to apply to the program for the wrong reasons and not follow through on their commitments. The affluence and perfectionism of our community puts pressure on high school students to fill their lives with activities they think will reflect well on them in the college application process. Link Crew is often used as a way to boost one’s resume to impress these various universities. During the application season for Link Crew, teacher advisors for the program make it clear that only students specifically interested in improving the lives of freshman and who are willing to be an active role model throughout the year should apply to the Link Crew program. These warnings should be taken seriously; it is important for future students with an interest in Link Crew to really consider the responsibilities of a link leader before applying. More importantly, is what these Link leaders do when they find themselves in a program that they have no interest in. This commitment is not an English
“he’s so ugly, I can’t even come up with an erotic murder scenario.”
-Ruby Scott Gym
essay that you can slack off on because you were up too late last night, or a club that you can stop showing up for when you lose interest. Whether it was a good decision or not, you now have a responsibility as a mentor on our campus. There are 10 lives that have been put under your purview, so it’s too late to back down. Spend time in your tutorials and embrace the fact that you now have to fake it until you make it, even if you made a mistake in signing up. Yes, the signature Link optimism can be overdone. I see the value in getting to study an extra hour for that test the period after tutorial, and even how the activities presented to freshmen throughout the year could be construed as games. I was even one of those freshmen who would groan upon realizing it was an advisory day, but looking back on my freshman link crew experience I have a drastically different perspective. I talked to people that I never would have had the chance to connect with without link and I formed bonds with my peers and link leaders during the very same activities I would roll my eyes at. Now, from the upperclassmen perspective I see ninth graders complain about participating in events such as the freshman scavenger hunt. Some students took part enthusiastically, but the other students were at best persuaded and at worst forced to participate. Despite this, I saw all the students smiling, talking to each other, and overall having a positive experience by the end of tutorial. I encourage freshmen who feel
“I Followed a dog account on instagram and the next day the dog died.”
that they are uninterested in advisory and other Link activities to give them a second chance. The term “freshman” is often considered derogatory, but it really just means that you are the newest members of the Tam community. Even after incoming students know how to find their classes and use home access, the relationships and support systems they can find in Link Crew are invaluable. And it’s very possible that you look back on the experience a few years from now with a different perspective. Above all the opportunity to have friends in eleventh or twelfth grade is extremely beneficial. Link leaders have overcome similar challenges to their freshman, made mistakes that they can help their freshman avoid making, and be an informative example of an experienced member of the Tam community. Link is one of the most important programs that Tam offers, and after being a Linkie and now a Link Leader, I can say wholeheartedly that I have seen its effects first hand. This year alone, freshmen have come to Link leaders with problems ranging from sexual assault to changing their class schedules and everything in between. If even a quarter of the freshman can have their year positively impacted through support, advice, or even someone who recognizes them as a person that matters, Link crew is doing its job, and a superb one at that.♦ GRAPHIC BY MIRANDA CHURCH
“Well it’s a long story but it involves a lot of felonies.”
- art building 17 - wood hall The Tam News — November 2016
Opinion/Editorial
Why the Way I Talk Literally Doesn’t Matter by Kendall Lafranchi
I
talk like a stereotypical teenage girl. I’m prone to exaggeration. I use “literally” in a figurative sense. My speech is littered with “um,” “like,” and “so yeah,” and people easily understand me. I can also write a coherent essay. I write eloquently, use a wide range of vocabulary, know where to properly place my commas, and people can still understand me. What seems bewildering to some people is that these two types of speech can coexist within the same person. In elementary school, I started to say the word “like.” I used it in place of “she said” and sometimes as a filler word, but rarely did I use it within the context of similes and comparison, like I was taught. It became a common part of my speech and dialectical rhythm, and I didn’t think twice about using it. “Like” was natural to me, and when I said it, people understood the points I was trying to convey. That was until I was telling my family a story in third grade. Apparently, my use of “like” was unacceptable to my uncle who then proceeded to imitate me and give me a lecture on the word’s proper use. Somehow, my singular use of the word “like” was so distracting, that it invalidated my entire story and made it impossible for my uncle to take me seriously. After that moment, I got stage fright whenever I had to speak in front of my third grade class. I not only had to handle my nerves, but each time I presented, I second guessed the way in which I was speaking. I would practice my presentations in-
cessantly to make sure that there were no grammatical errors or improper word use. I started focusing more on how I said the words than the actual words themselves. Naturally, I would slip up sometimes and a “like” or “um” would fall from my lips. These instances would haunt me; I would constantly worry if anyone noticed my error, and this was only in elementary school. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to simply drop a word from your vocabulary when you use it multiple times a day, so “like” stayed put. Once middle school rolled around, my use of improper grammar and slang had reached unprecedented levels. I remained anxious about the way I spoke, afraid that my natural speech would overshadow my ideas. I also garnered criticism for my tone of voice and it turns out that I am not the only young woman who has experienced this disapproval. Experts call my type of speech “vocal fry.” Vocal fry is the droning and sometimes nasal tone of voice that has been popularized by celebrities such as Britney Spears and the Kardashian clan. Another common vocal trend is “uptalking.” These are instances in which people end their sentences with a slight upward inflection to make their statements sound more like questions. Studies show that uptalking is seen as a lack of confidence and women who use vocal fry are less likely to be hired. This contributes to the stigma that women should be more worried about their presentation than their actual message. Freshman year, I began to notice the
THE COLLEGE DREAM
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vocal fry and uptalk in my peers’ voices. When my friend told me about her trip over the summer, she had the signature “valley girl” drawl; she used “like” and “literally” constantly; and it seemed like she told me the entire story without taking a breath. But I was engaged. I heard her run-on sentences and her misused words, but that didn’t stop me from fully enjoying every word she said. She didn’t sound dumb, she sounded passionate and excited. This made me realize I like the way I speak. I think I sound more relatable and approachable when I’m not attempting to have perfect grammar and to fully enunciate every word. I understand that at times, it is important to speak with streamlined eloquence and advanced vocabulary. Many people will argue that articulate language indicates a well educated individual and I would agree with that in some instances. If the goal of a project is to test someone’s public speaking abilities, then they should be criticized for their pacing, tone and diction. So what if I talk in hyperbole? It should be acceptable for someone to exaggerate when they are excited. As for when I speak in never-ending sentences, it’s because I’m engaged in what I’m saying and I want to get all of my thoughts out. Just because I use informal grammar and put emphasis on different words doesn’t make my opinions invalid, and doesn’t mean anyone should take me less seriously. What does matter is the content of my words, not the way in which they are said.♦
BY EMMA BLACKBURN & GEORGIA PEMBERTON
Sports Opinion Sports
Why We Need to Stop Calling our Female Athletes ” A
by Maddie Wall
friend of mine was on the girls’ varsity basketball team last year. After the end of a pretty successful season, she finally got her team sweatshirt. I saw her wearing it and commented that I liked it. She agreed, but then pointed at the bottom, where it said, “Go Lady Hawks!” That was the first time I heard this phrase used, and I wasn’t too fond of it. She expressed her dislike of it as well, saying that it felt degrading towards the team, and towards girls in general. I have recently heard this phrase used a lot, and the more I hear it, the more I hate it. Never have I heard the words “Gentleman Hawk” leave someone’s mouth, so why should it be any different for “Lady Hawk?” It implies that girls’ teams are secondary to the boys’ teams. Why do we have a separate term for the female athletes? The girls on our teams work just as hard as the boys do, and using phrases that completely separate girls’ teams from the boys’ teams doesn’t help. We might as well have a second mascot that has the hawk
s k w a H y d “La
in a short pink dress. There are already several barriers to equality in athletics at Tam. For starters, the cheerleaders don’t attend any of the girls’ varsity basketball games. There should be an effort in treating both teams equally, if there are cheerleaders at a boys’ varsity basketball game, then there should be cheerleaders at a girls’ varsity basketball game. This is despite the girls’ varsity basketball team winning MCALs last year, while the boys’ varsity team was sixth in MCALs. Even Redwood has cheerleaders at its girls’ varsity basketball games. There are significantly fewer fans at girls’ games in all sports and that needs to be changed. They work just as hard and the entertainment of the game is just as good if you give them a chance and actually watch. Basketball isn’t the only sport where inequality occurs. The girls’ volleyball teams have recently been getting yellow carded for changing into their jerseys on the edge of the gym because a sports bra shows. Meanwhile, the boys’ water polo teams are literally stripping down naked, with the minimal cover of a towel on the edge of the pool, which
leyball players for the same thing, and he responded, “the male chest doesn’t bother me.” Does that not seem a little questionable? We live in a world where female athletes receive considerably less pay than their male counterparts, women’s game coverage is budgeted lower, and shaming occurs to women who do well in a sports environment for being too manly. So why should we subtly degrade the girls that work so hard for our school? As everyday sexism regularly occurs, we are already dealing with forms of oppression, so rather than give us a different name than that of the boys, even if it was unintentional, support us! Come to our games and cheer us on the same way you would the boys. There is so much that needs to be worked on at Tam to make girls feel more equal and appreciated, but we can start by cutting “Lady Hawk” from our vocabulary.♦ GRAPHIC BY NICOLE ANISGARD-PARRA
would be completely unacceptable for female athletes. An MCAL referee was asked by Tam News reporter Abby Cabana if he would give a yellow card to the boys vol-
The Tam News — November 2016
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Sports
New Athletic Trainer Hired by Piper Goeking
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he athletic department hired new trainer Jessica Dominguez in early September, replacing former trainer Aubrey Yanda. Dominguez is already working to keep athletes healthy, and is looking to apply her knowledge of sports medicine outside the trainer’s office in the coming year. Dominguez began her undergraduate program at Azusa Pacific University in 2010, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training. “In my undergrad I did rotations with two different high schools in southern California,” Dominguez said. “I worked primarily with football in one school and with spring sports in the other, so I got to work with a lot of different athletes.” After her time at Azusa Pacific she attended Upper Iowa University to complete a Graduate Assistant program, leaving with a Master’s of Science in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention. Dominguez brings her knowledge to Tam through the University of California San Francisco’s Play Safe Program, a program that gives high school athletes access to athletic trainers and orthopedic doctors. She believed the program positively impacts the lives of student athletes and she wanted to make an impact of her own. “I liked what the Play Safe program represents and their views on things on what needs to change in a high school athletics,” Dominguez said. “I wanted to work at a high school and be a part of high school athletes careers, and the Play Safe Program enabled me to do that.” Dominguez’s experience with athletic training while she was in high school drew her to the field. “I participated in a sports medicine program at my high school that was very intense,” she said. “The teacher gave us a
New athletic trainer Jessica poses for a photo outside of her Gus Gym office. Jessica Dominguez joined theDominguez Tam High athletic department as an atheltic trainer in September. PHOTO BY LUCKY SHULMAN
lot of scenarios of injuries that could happen on the field and made sure that we were prepared if something were to happen. We did a lot of coverage for our school and would help our teacher out with the athletes during practice and games.” In addition to working with Tam athletes, Dominguez hopes to create a biomedical program available to all students. “Because I went to a high school that had a really involved sports medicine program I’ve been really interested in getting students involved in sports medicine,” she said. “Once I’ve gotten used to things here at Tam I want to reach out to the students to see if they are interested in doing something like that program, getting a real taste of what the athletic training profession is.” Such a program would include education on the human body, rehabs, taping, and an opportunity to cover sports events
BY THE NUMBERS
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Number of points given up by the boys’ football team in their loss to rival Redwood at Tam’s Homecoming game.
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with Dominguez. For now Dominguez will continue rehabilitating, treating, and preventing injuries, as well as supporting students’ development. “Helping these athletes become strong is why I became an athletic trainer,” she said. “They’re at the point where they can go on to play elsewhere, so I think it’s important to inspire them and keep them healthy if they do want to go elsewhere. I love seeing these athletes at a young age pursue their dreams, and I’m looking forward to working with them this year.”♦
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Girls’varsity volleyball’s winning score over San Rafael on September 26 for their first MCAL win in four years.
Sports
Tam Players Follow Kaepernick’s Lead by Will Moye
Varsity football players (left to right) seniors Tre’Chaun Berkley and Leonjae Silas, juniors Tristan Mitchell, Pedro Mira, and Oscar Corona, and senior Jordan Smith take a knee during the national anthem before the homecoming game against Redwood on October 8.
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ix varsity football players: seniors Tre’Chaun Berkley, Leonjae Silas, Braxton Mitchell, and Jordan Smith, and juniors Pedro Mira and Oscar Corona took a knee during the national anthem on September 24 before their game at Marin Catholic, making them the first MCAL players to join the protest started by 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick is using his platform as a professional football player to protest American police officer violence against African Americans by kneeling during the pregame national anthem, and Tam athletes have decided to follow his lead. “Some kids had a very clear concise reason why they did it and for some kids, it was no different then doing it just because a pro-football
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player did it and they just wanted to hop on the bandwagon,” head coach Jon Black said. Berkley said this issue is very real to him. “Say if it was ten o’clock and I was out there [in Mill Valley], I would get stopped by police,” Berkley said. Berkley also stated he has been stopped by the police too many times to count. “If you’re black and [the police] don’t know you then they want to get to know you,” he said. According to Berkley recent shootings of black men in Tulsa and North Carolina were the final straws. “I know it could be me with everything that’s going on,” Berkley told the Marin IJ. Other teammates expressed their support for the kneeling players.“I knew that
PHOTO COURTESY OF HONG SOON PARK
[Tre’chaun Berkley] and [Jordan Smith] were kneeling but I didn’t know about anyone else, but as long as they have a reason for kneeling...I respect their need to kneel and fully support them,” junior Daniel Park said. The players said they plan to continue their protest in future games. Black went on to say that it is important for those who knelt to reflect on why they did so and get the team on board to support each other. He commended Marin County students’ advocacy for equality despite its predominantly white populace. “There are handful of African-American people throughout the county...and we as a school have a long tradition of social justice,” Black said.♦
Check the Tam News online (www.thetamnews.org) for speedy and spectacular sports coverage. The place that junior skipTH per Joe Rico and sophmore crew Frances Tarpey-Schwed recieved in a race in the highest fleet of high school sailing in California on October 8 in Monterey.
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Girls’ varsity water polo winning score over San Rafael on October 5 at Tam.
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Sports
Athlete of the Issue: Sabrina Haechler by Calvin Rosevear
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enior girls’ golf team captain Sabrina Haechler started playing on the team her sophomore year, after playing volleyball her freshman year. Besides occasional trips to the golf course with her grandfather, she began her high school golf career from scratch. “I’d just go and hit the ball just to make him happy, because he really wanted me to be a part of the sport he loved,” Haechler said of her golf course trips with her grandfather. “He loves it so much, he still plays three times a week, eighteen holes, which is a lot.” Haechler admitted that the transition from volleyball to golf was challenging. “It was really difficult, because it’s not as much of a workout and also I played volleyball since I was in third grade,” she said. “So, it was huge to start something new, and of course at the beginning I wasn’t very good….you have to really be patient with golf, it’s not something you can just pick up.” However, after time and effort, Haechler has been able to learn the sport. “Sophomore year, I probably usually shot in the high 50s, and now I shoot in the mid 40s, which is a pretty good improvement,” she said. Haechler also speaks highly of the team’s atmosphere. “I think that the golf environment is way more supportive than any other sport. Like, [in other sports] everyone in their head is like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to
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Senior golf captain Sabrina Haechler has been playing golf since her sophomore year and hopes to positively influence newcomers to the sport.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LUCKY SHULMAN (LEFT) & SABRINA HAECHLER (ABOVE)
beat them.’ But when we go out and play golf, everyone’s always waving, asking how [everyone’s] doing,” she said. “We have practice twice a week because we have matches twice a week. Practice for me is just a way for our team to bond...To really get better, you have to go out and invest your time on the weekends to play golf. So, over the summer, I played for a month straight. I played every morning at six in the morning at Mill Valley golf club.” This year, the golf team is poised to finish high in the MCAL standings. However, like last year, the Justin Siena and Redwood golf teams pose a substantial threat. “[Redwood’s] senior players are really good and they’re consistent. The best part about golf is if your team’s consistent, you’re going to win,” Haechler said. “Our team used to not be consistent. We would have people shooting in the 70s, 60s. But now, we got a lot better because everyone’s shooting in the 50s or 40s, which is really nice. So, [Redwood] has people always shooting in the low 40s, which is ridiculous.” Before focusing on golf, Haechler used to be on the competitive slalom skiing based in Alpine Meadows. “Skiing by far is my favorite sport. I just quit last year, and I was a competitive racer since I was eight, so it was a really big part of my life. I would travel every
November 2016 — The Tam News
weekend….and so then when I tore my ACL freshman year, I thought that would be the end of my ski career, but I decided… I should go back out and try it one more time,” she said. In the meantime, Haechler looks forward to the outcome of the golf season. “We actually thought we weren’t going to do as well, because we lost all our major players, but our returning players stepped up a lot,” she said. “[Freshman] Chloe [Jeamonod] was Athlete of the Week in the “Marin IJ,” so she went from a 70 down to a 47, which is really impressive. That’s a huge improvement.” Tam head coach for golf, John Haight, believes Haechler has been a valuable resource for the team’s success. “Her leadership has set an example for the team that is invaluable and I could not be more proud or appreciative of how she helped me and the team this year,” he said. Above all, Haechler hopes to be a positive influence to newcomers to the sport. “When I first went out and Courtney Chang and Maddie Stoops were so welcoming… I always will remember that, just because they were so nice,” she said. Stoops and Chang graduated with the class of 2016. “And now when we had four new freshmen come this year, I wanted to be there for them. I think having nice people, and that are welcoming is a key thing.”♦ people
The Tam News Thanks Its Patrons Allyson Garay Alpana and Mahesh Kharkar Ana Levaggi Andrea & Jerry Lane Antonette Greene & Chris Dorman April & Howard Solomon Barbara Sobel & Jonathan Rubens Barth Family Beth Inadomi & Tim Newell Bill Lampl Bishop Family Blake Sgamba Bob Schultz Bryce Goeking & Tia Miyamoto Caius Toy Grace Cale & Barrett Nichols Carnevale Family Carolyn & Joe Preis Chris Hill Chris Holden-Wingate Christine Hildebrand Christopher Gate Cynthia Samson Cynthia Stone Dan & Anne Sapp Daniel Jordan Dawn Dobres & Eric Swergold Diane & Brian Weisman Diane Worley Donald & Kathy Reed Eli Rosenthal Elizabeth Brown Ellen Rosenthal Eric Lagier Erika Shern Gale Love Garrett Koehn Gary Ferroni Gregory Bell Gretchen & John Boyle Gustav & Khristene Penther Harold Ball & Amy Zimpfer Heather Hawkins & John Duncan Ingrid & Andrew Tolson Ingrid Lin
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The Tam News October 2016 The Tam News —— November
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November 2016 — The Tam News
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