PonyExpressVolume 44, Number 3 • San Marin High • Novato, California • January 26, 2012

What’s Inside:

Trouble of Being a Twin pg. 3

Plus Program Defends pg. 4

Star Studded Alumni pg. 8

To any San Marin student, the annual class selec-tion form may appear daunting with several arts, band and choir courses to choose from. With Drama, Creative Writ-ing, Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Dance, Photography, Concert Band, and Rock Band, the list goes on and on. Clearly, San Marin does not lack an abundance of different visual and performing arts programs. However, what our school is lacking is a program name to unify them all. Principal Adam Littlefield said, “San Marin has all these amazing tools and resources, but doesn’t have an identity that the public can easily know about.” The brainchild of Ms. Kislingbury, San Marin’s dra-

ma, and technical theatre teacher, smARTt is seen by many as the answer to this problem. Standing for San Marin Arts and Technical Arts, “smARTt is a program that encompasses all of San Marin arts classes and emphasizes the wonderful arts program we have here.” said Principal Littlefield. How-

ever, the new name does not mean an entirely new curricu-lum. Music Teacher, Ms. Maaslehbrown said, “While the title smARTt is new, the classes and philosophies behind it have been successfully in practice at San Marin for years. We are

not doing anything new, smARTt is just packaging what we already offer.” San Marin’s arts classes will remain

relatively the same, with some minute changes. Under the new program, teach-ers will meet regularly to foster collabo-ration and cross-curricular projects be-tween the classes. Basically, classes within

smARTt will be able to help each other, and students will be able to experience some classes that they never signed up for. Therefore, smARTt will serve as a bond to unify San Marin’s arts classes and improve cohesion between them. “Our goal with smARTt is not to radically alter any of our existing classes, but to publicize the great programs we have here and encourage kids … to come to our great school.” said Principal Littlefield.

“smARTt is here to stay, baby; we’re not going away!”

The smARTtest Decision We’ve Ever MadeNew identity for San Marin arts talentby Paul Shin and Lauren Bollinger

For over 40 years, San Marin se-niors have visited Disneyland for Grad Night, a continuing a tradition that many upperclassmen view as a rite of passage. However, a combination of financial is-sues and safety concerns has created un-certainty about the annual trip. In the past, seniors at San Marin have left school following a morning viewing of the se-nior slideshow, and after a long bus ride to Southern California, have arrived at the park by evening. They would stay at Disneyland all night and leave the park the next day. Instead of vis-iting California Adventure on a special day exclusive to high-school students, the new changes , institut-ed by Disney, state that the theme park would be open to the public like any nor-mal day. There is no cost adjustment to accommo-date these changes. Dis-neyland coordinator, Mrs. Blair explained that stu-dents would leave Novato around 6 am to be able to take advantage of the full day.

According to Mr. Littlefield, there are two pieces of the puzzle the school must figure out, one being the fi-nancial issue. He explained a recent case in the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) stated that schools cannot charge students for certain events and that stu-dents are entitled to a free education. Board policy states that school field trips are legally authorized “as long as no stu-dent is prevented from making the field trip or excursion because of lack of suf-ficient funds.” Meaning if a student was

interested in attending this event and was not able to afford it, the school would have to pay for them to go. San Marin does not have any money set aside for the event, so depending on the number of students who are financially unable to pay the fee, the school will have to figure out a way to raise funds for the activity.

“If the people who can pay for the trip don’t pay, there’s no way we’ll be able to go,” says ASB Vice President, Matt Gauci.

On average prom costs about $20,000, and Disneyland has cost about $48,000. “Most of the fundraising we do is for prom, maybe in the future some will go to Disneyland,” says Littlefield.

The other problem lies with the safety of the students. Since the park is open to everyone, there is no way to prevent stu-dents from going to Downtown Disney or to anywhere outside the Disneyland area. When asked if he was concerned

about students leaving, Mr. Littlefield said, “I’m more concerned as to how oth-ers interact with our students, but I hope that they would make good choices.”

Students and faculty are frustrated by the sudden changes made by Disney-land. “It’s not fair that we have to suffer for something we didn’t do, last year they

made changes to the final schedule so the seniors could go to Disneyland, our school needs to find a way to let us enjoy the an-nual senior night,” says senior Nicole Crouse. “I think it’s a shame that it’s an opportunity that the students won’t most likely be able to take advantage of,” says Mrs. Blair.

Senior leadership will be sending home a survey to students asking if they would be inter-

ested in attending the event and if they will be able to afford, it in order to figure out how much money will have to be raised.

Mr. Littlefield and the administration are open to suggestions and still reluctant to cancel the event. Alternative events are also up for suggestion. “At my old school kids would go to a special screen-ing at a movie, to the park, or ice skat-ing during finals week,” says Littlefield. There is speculation that if an alternate event is not suggested, seniors will-probably not attending school that day.

by Anahita Najafi

Disneyland Disaster

Photo by Laura Darken

Students are distraught over the possibility of the Disneyland trip being canceled.

See “smARTt” on page 2...

Although the Speech and De-bate team was just started last year, after winning a few times and gaining precious experience; the rising group of young ora-tors is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Public speaking stirs up fear in the pit of anyone’s stomach, rendering legs limp and tongues leaden. It’s intimidating to many, but for the team members, it’s starting to become a valuable and effective skill.

The speech and debate team participates in a variety of events; there are individual ones where a speech can be memorized, or impromptu speeches are given from a topic learned just a few minutes before. Parliamentary debate is another option for members of the team, where teams of two argue the affirmation or negation of a law or proposal over three rounds, with only 20 minutes of prepara-tion beforehand. “It’s challenging, but really interesting,” said Gabby Skarka, a freshman new to high school Speech and Debate. “It’s really helped me meet new people with similar interests,” she added.

Sophomore Ben Rasmussen and his parliamentary debate partner Gurleen Rai, a senior, won their first gold medal in November. “We already had a couple wins under our belt and we had some fire in us to win this.” Rasmussen said. Mrs. Ke-nyon, former Sinaloa English teacher and two-year coach for the team, said “For a young school like ours that’s just start-ing out, it’s a great accomplishment.” The team has doubled in size since last year, now with two debate wins, two trophies in individual events, and success in the Lion’s Club contest with over $250 won in cash prizes. The team is also a mem-ber of the National Forensic League, a nonprofit honor society, and six students from the team have earned enough com-petition points to be a part of the league.

Though they face many challeng-es with inexperience, a desire for more members, and finances, they still show plenty of potential with all of their hard work and commitment. Mrs. Kenyon , who is optimistic about their future as a team said “As people spread the word about our team and our accomplishments grow, more students will come and discov-er how exciting speech and debate can be.”

by Sumaiya Mubarack

Club Spotlight

Disneyland discontinues Grad Night for high schools

Speech and Debate success

NEWSJanuary 26, 2012 • Page 2Pony Express

Pony Express Staff

Editors-in-Chief Michaela Giunchigliani and Sara HaugenChief Growth Officer Anahita NajafiNews Editor Gabrielle PflugradtFeatures Editor Anahita NajafiOpinion Editor Natasha OsmidoffCenter Spread Editors Sara Haugen and Michaela GiunchiglianiArts Editor Nik OczkusSports Editor Justin WaxBack Page Editor Julia Raven Advertising Managers Julia Raven, Samantha Simmons, Sumaiya MubarackCirculation Managers Laura Darken, Nidhi MamidiFundraising Managers Jackson Grover, Chris Gorman, Lauren BollingerAdvisor Scott MacLeodPrincipal Adam Littlefield

ReportersLauren Bollinger, Ryan Burke, Owen Cao, Amanda Cardy, Natalie Dagnino, Laura Darken, Rachel DeFilippis, Chris Gorman, Jackson Grover, Louis Henry, Nidhi Mamidi, Sierra Mayer, Katherine Minkiewicz, Sarah Monti, Sumaiya Mubarack, Lauren O’Brien, Nikolas Oczkus, Paul Shin, Samantha Simmons

The Pony Express is published by the journalism class at San Marin High School. The Pony Express seeks to provide a public forum for student expression and encourages letters to the editors. No unsigned letters will be accepted; however the author’s name may be withheld upon request.

San Marin Pony Express15 San Marin Drive, Room 411Novato, CA 94945

phone: (415) 898-2121e-mail: smponyexpress@gmail.com

Become a Pony Patron and never miss an issue!Send your name and address with a contribution to San Marin Pony Express to San Marin High School, 15 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA 94945 and start receiving your Pony Express in the mail next month. All contributions are tax deductible.

The staff of the Pony Express appreciates the generous support of our patrons for 2011 - 2012:

Major Mustangs Jack and June Haugen Jean Harris Johnson Julie Krasner Leslie Murphy David Oczkus Tapanainan FamilyMike and Cindy Testa

Stallions Jennifer AltmannJennie and Tom BarrGail BeachLinda BlumBianca BoyajianBeke BrowneMiriam CamposKevin ChengAnna ChinSaundra DagninoKaren DohemannCynthia FalzonBertie FreebergKelé GaspariniEric and Maryann GroverAnne HadleyJulie HaukeEllen HazelriggLisa IacovelliMike JoyceMike LipsKatie Lucey Diana Luhmann

Janet MinkiewiczTerry NilsenThe O’Brien FamilyGlenn and Beth Osmidoff Diane RankinThe Raven FamilyGaye RoegiersSusan SchmidtAnn SimmonsMichelle SittonDenise SmithLeslie SkegrudLisa SpencerDavid and Sara SudlowThe TompkinsLeah TufanelliMarji Zona

ColtsDon and Mai-Liis Bartling Louis BlockAnita BollingerTom BollingerJanice and Bill BurkeJohn and Marian CaldwellCarla CardarelliRegina Chambers-Rebelo Liz ClausenChrist and Helen CoaleThe Corbridge Family Gigi Crowe Michele DamazynThe Darken Family

Linda DeFilippisPhil and Laurie DoughertyJanis DuffyLinda EimerKathy FairbanksTheresa Fitzgerald Timothy Friedman Erika Fuentes Fuyo Don and Marcia GonzalezTom GormanGeremy GruhlAnna GunnCindy HammettElaine Hannah Carol Hayes Irene HaugenRuth HenryMitchell HoBeth HuizengaMike JoyceRandy KellerLydia Knight-OriordanAllison KoenigKradephol FamilyKim KulpMary LamerdinLaura LeonardMamidi FamilyPhyllis ManningElsa MarconiKris McGarty Jeannette McAlonan

Kim McClureKimmy McIntyre Wendy Meluch Pat Minor The Molloy FamilyJeff MooreThe Mubarack FamilyFarideh Najafi Mary O’KeefeTravis PickLaura Posylkin Michael and Elaine ReyffEllen and Batty RichterMaija SchaeferLori SheronPaul ShinJanet Shouldis-Rothermich Gabriella SkarkaJoan SlateDebbie SmithMartha and Scott StewardVicki Sutton-BeattieAndrea SweatlandSK TomczakLaura and John Triantafyllos Lisa TuscherChris Vavuris Kauie Von Husen Andrea and Larry WangKristina Warcholski Maija Waschke Samantha Watson

Are you angry, bitter or depressed? Write to the Pony Express! We take all com-plaints and opinions seriously--we might even publish them!

The Italian and Greek economic crises have been caus-ing turmoil in Europe, threaten-ing a collapse that would reach as far as San Marin. If the European Union collapses, the United States could face another economic spill as well. Both Greece and Italy are facing heavy debt that is putting all of Europe in a tight situation. Many countries in Europe switched all of their currencies to one type, the Euro, in an effort to strengthen Europe’s role in the global economy. It was working quite well until 2008, when crisis struck the global market. The United States was the first country to experience a huge downfall, but the Eurozone, or countries that are on the Euro, was unafraid of the crisis’ outreaching arms. Soon, economic turmoil was on their doorstep as well. Although the Euro kept the European economy strong for many years, the bubble has just burst. Greece and Italy are both experiencing national debts of over 80 percent of Gross Domestic Product. Mr. Spinrad, Economics teacher, said “simplistically, these countries promised much more in social services (health

care, retirement benefits, and social services) than they were willing to balance in tax revenue. Their governments are near bankruptcy.” Basically, they can’t afford to pay back the money they owe other countries. As a result, many countries have stopped doing business with both Greece and Italy, leaving the two countries helpless in their debt crisis. Ranjit Dighe, an economist, said “If the Euro falls because of this [debt] contagion, then European goods become cheaper and U.S. goods become relatively more expensive. [U.S.] net exports would go down. And also as Europe goes deeper into recession, they’ll just be buying less stuff, period. Including less stuff from us.” With the initial collapse occurring in Italy and Greece, the entire Eurozone faces ruin with them. Spain is experiencing a skyrocketing unemployment rate and France’s debt is mainly tied up overseas, creating less incentive to trade with other countries. Spinrad said “if they bring down the European market then Europe will buy much less American goods. Our exports will be affected, perhaps

sending us into a recession. The chaos of the above will also affect us negatively.” If all of these countries go bankrupt and require bailouts, the entire world will face the toughest economic time it has ever experienced. As for bailouts, Germany is participating in one in an effort to revive the Italian and Greek markets, but believe it isn’t the solution to the problem. Sophomore Evan Triantafyllos said “if [Greece] is ready to move on, only at their consent, then [Germany] could. It could also cause a lot of problems.” Spinrad also believes it isn’t the solution. He said “[Germany] will but, no, it’s only a bandaid on the problem. It only puts the day of reckoning a little farther into the future.” Although this crisis seems relatively far away, the ripple effect will soon create waves larger than anyone could ever expect. Senior Angela Huidekoper believes that “most students haven’t heard about these problems.” As for San Marin, students can expect to see the effects of this economic crisis reaching U.S. shores by the time they are tax paying adults.

European Economic Catastrophe Threatens American Shoresby Michaela Giunchigliani

“smARTt” continued...

While it may be a source of pride to our principal, teachers, and many of our stu-dents, the public beyond San Marin doesn’t have a clear understanding of all our arts accomplishments. In addition to performing at the largest drama competi-tion in the world, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, San Marin is the only school in Marin County that has four annual major drama and musical productions. Other unique characteristics include having a recording studio and being the only school in the Novato Unified School District to have a UC-approved journalism class and student-run paper. Moreover, many successful people in the entertainment industry have taught classes and given professional help, such as three-time Emmy winning actress Kathy Baker, voice actor Terry McGovern, and San Marin gradu-ate, actor Jim Poulos, who has starred in Broadway plays such as Rent and The Ad-ventures of Tom Sawyer. Whether it be performing at Carnegie Hall or on our

own stage, San Marin has proven itself to be major school of the arts in Novato. With the official launch of the program to the community at smARTt Shad-

ow Day on January 26th, countless people at San Marin are excited for the new change. Although the program is still in its infancy, many are certain that it will succeed. Mu-sic teacher Ms. Maaslehbrown said “smARTt will help San Marin grow into an even closer knit community, teaching students the value of many artistic disciplines [and] will help Novato see the great things we have… to offer to our children and our com-munity.” Ms. Kislingbury, added “smARTt is here to stay baby; we’re not going away!”

Poetic Success Junior Anna Erice is on her way to the County’s Poetry Out Loud Contest after sweeping the school-wide com-petition with Sonnet XVII by William Shakespeare and Candles by Carl Dennis.

Rising Robotics After gaining money from NASA and attending a kick-off event, San Marin is ready to build a robot to com-pete at the Davis tournament. After the Rotary Club reduced their donation to the Penguin Empire—a name created for San Marin’s Robotics team—they ap-plied and recieved a grant from NASA, enabling them to build a robot which will shoot basketballs into hoops.

Club News

Kelsey Long Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Major: Fashion Design Fear most: “All nighters designing clothes”.

Shannon Ainsworth University of Oregon Major: Dance and Psychology. Miss Most: “ All of my friends at San Marin. I hope to stay in touch over Skype”.

Early Acting Seniors End Anxiety:

FEATURESJanuary 26, 2012 • Page 3Pony Express

I’m shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts at a local mall, browsing the electronics aisle when suddenly a woman approaches me. She has a confused look in her eyes as she glances back and forth from my sister, Michelle, to me. “Hi. I just happened to notice, but you two look awfully alike. Are you twins?” I answer “yes,” and banter on about my sister and me to a woman I have never met. After talking to her for a couple minutes, I continue on with my holiday shopping. In a matter of 30 minutes, this happened two more times. Same question. Same conversion. I can’t go anywhere in public with my sister without this happening to me. Along with 4.5 million other Americans (roughly 3% of the population), I was born a twin.

More specifically, I’m a fraternal twin. Granted that I do look like my sister, I’m not an exact duplicate of her. One of the biggest grievances among twins is that they are constantly compared to each other. If one twin gets a better math grade, they are deemed

the “smart twin”. If one gets a better mile time, they are the “athletic twin.” Whether one twin is better at science or swimming, the comparisons are nonetheless emotionally harmful, and can create an unhealthy level of competition between siblings. Seniors Angie and Tina Nibbi face a similar problem. A fraternal twin, Angie Nibbi said that “we get compared a lot by people. It’s really annoying.” Sister Tina Nibbi added, “Competition among classmates is hard enough, but to be compared to your sister just makes it even more stressful.” From my experience, I’ve frequently gotten questions like “Why don’t you run as fast as your sister?” or “Why doesn’t your sister do gymnastics?” The answer is simply because we are different people. We’re not always going to get the same grades or perform the same athletically, just like regular siblings.

Additionally, twins are not only different people, but they have different interests as well. According to popular stereotypes, twins are likened to be two halves of the same collective identity. TV Shows such as Sister, Sister and The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley, along with J.K. Rowling’s famous red-headed duo, Fred and George, have only furthered this misconception. Unlike the media’s wrongful portrayal, twins are not co-dependent beings but are often passionately individuals. Junior Monika Neuweiler, who is the fraternal twin sister of Kurt Neuweiler, says that, “My brother is more musically talented, being involved in school musicals and jazz band, whereas I’m more athletic with cross-country and soccer.” She later adds that while their hobbies may differ, “we balance each other out.” Sophomore Erica Gonzalez agrees, saying that “while I’m sportier than my sister, she is more talkative and outgoing.” Additionally, the fraternal twins added that “Ever since we were young, we’ve been known as ‘the Gonzalezs’.

This leads to another annoyance that many twins have to face: name-calling. While none of the students I interviewed said that it escalated to bullying,

many reported that they’ve been teased since childhood simply because they weren’t born alone. Tina Nibbi said that “some people don’t even care to call us ‘Tina’ or ‘Angie.’ It’s just the ‘Nibbis.’ Sophomore Adrian Taul, who is an indentical twin, added that “It makes me really angry that people always see me as half a person, just because I’m a twin.” I’ve personally been called ‘Twinny,’ ‘Thing 1/Thing 2’or the even just ‘Twin.’ However, I’ve always found that misinformed people choose to label and call names, rather than understand the unique experience of being a twin.

Nonetheless, there are definite benefits to being a twin. From when we were first swaddled in our coordinating pink blankets, my sister and I have shared a bond for our whole lives. Although I resented it when I was younger, I am beginning to understand that it’s a bond that is stronger than sisterhood. Even before I was born, it was necessary for my survival to get along with her. It is a friendship that I was born into and I know is guaranteed for life. Sophomore Miranda Kuehn, about her twin, Justin Kuehn, said, “It’s really neat; even though we’re different people, we’ve always been really close. We’re both really protective of each other and always have each other’s back.” Sophomores Melissa and Megan Hosking, who are identical twins, agree. Megan said that “Because we’re the same age, and we’re sisters, it only makes our relationship stronger,” later adding that “Melissa is my best friend.”

Known as novelties to many, that perception is quickly changing. As a result of fertility treatments and an increased gene pool, the number of twins born in the United States has doubled in the last three decades, with one in thirty infants born in 2009 a twin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thus, more and more “normal people” you may know may actually be a twin. So next time you see one, whether it be on campus or in everyday life, just remember: looks can be deceiving.

The Trouble With Being a Doubleby Lauren Bollinger

Matt GauciUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnMajor: Hospitality Management

Most Looking Foward to: “Meeting new people and attending crazy sporting events”.

Sara Fargo Educational Counseling

Email: sarafargo@hotmail.comPhone: 415.464.9533

25 years experience

Strong knowledge of public/private colleges

Use for 1 or more appointments ~ hourly rate

Sara Fargo Educational Counseling

Leeann Alferness University of California San Diego Major: Biology Why UCSD? “I like their academics and I got a

scholarship for basketball!”

Kelsey Long Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Major: Fashion Design Fear most: “All nighters designing clothes”.

Shannon Ainsworth University of Oregon Major: Dance and Psychology. Miss Most: “ All of my friends at San Marin. I hope to stay in touch over Skype”.

Thomas MercurioBrown University

Major: UndeclaredMost excited about: “Having the freedom to learn what I

want and not what I am required to learn”.

Illustration by Ruthe Huang

Early Acting Seniors End Anxiety:Mustangs make college decisionsby Jackson Grover

OPINIONJanuary 26, 2012 • Page 4Pony Express

Tell us what you think! Send feedback to

smponyexpress@gmail.com

To the Pony Express, In regards to the article, Plus Program Gets Mixed Reviews, in the November 3 paper, we would like to respond. First off the article never fully explained what the Plus Program is and what types of students are in the program. The only problem stated in the article was about freshman and sophomores slacking off so they could get into the program. That is not a problem of the Plus Program but it is a problem for San Marin to address, not the Plus Program. So what is the Plus Program? It is more than just Physics, Algebra, English, Government, Economics and United States History. According to Colin Davenport and Max Delaney the program is for students who didn’t find a traditional school working for them to learn. “It is like a family where everyone works together to succeed,” Delaney stated. Mrs. Blair a counseling secretary said, “People’s perception of the Plus Program is uninformed.” Many of the students in the Plus Program are there because of something that has happened in their lives-something or situations that no one knows-not just because they are slackers. Plus students are credit deficient and have to take control and put in extra effort to earn their diploma. Mr. Whitburn said that the program provides students with a second chance. He also stated that many people have the wrong opinion that all the students are slackers. “I see many San Marin students struggle to finish one class online for credit recovery. Plus Program students have five to seven classes and have made up to 80 units in a year. We have students who have done all that and work 30 hours a week. These kids are anything but slackers.” Brennan Dunn, a junior student in the program said, “Compared to regular San Marin teachers, our teachers really seem to care about the students. They take an interest in our lives and make me want to do well.” According to Mr. Blok some of the strengths of the program are the small class sizes, extra time in class to finish work, and extra attention from counselors and administration to help the students graduate. Mr. Littlefield also likes the fact that it allows students to finish high school at San Marin and not somewhere else. A few areas that could improve are better attendance by a few students and some internships and work experience. As Ms. Pettis stated’ “I would like more people to be better informed about the program and the program be better publicized.” For many students graduation is a given. They have not had to worry one day whether they would graduate. This is not so for the Plus students. All senior Plus students will give a graduation speech in class at the end of the year. “The two days we did this last year were the most emotional days I have ever spent teaching. To hear the trials and tribulations these kids went through in order to graduate was amazing. The tears in the classroom never stopped for two days. The proudest day of my teaching career was watching these kids graduate,” Mr. Whitburn said. The best thing we can say is next time take a moment to hear our stories and recognize the fact that we are accomplishing quite a bit.Thank you,PLUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

A tie dye blanket and a cloud of marijuana smoke sets the scene. Jimi Hendrix plays in the background and somewhere, a protest is taking to the streets. The scene is not 1969, but 2012. A parallel generation, Generation Y, has been slowly shaping itself, mirroring the Woodstock Generation of 1969. The Woodstock Generation was defined by experimental drug use, revolutionary music, unpopular wars and shattering the norm. Young adults during the 60’s practiced free love and left their material possessions behind in an effort to release the world from its conservative confines. Almost 50 years later, the current generation of young adults is falling into the same step. The 60’s were plagued by the use of drugs like marijuana and LSD. Music festivals like Woodstock acted as gathering places for ‘hippies’ to enjoy their trips and jam to artists like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Currently, youngsters are experimenting with drugs like MDMA and Oxycodone at raves. Senior Alaina Collins said “the intent of why people experimented with drugs is the same as in the 60’s, but the drugs are different.” As the drug usage parallels the hippie generation, another similarity manifests itself in the form of music. In the 60’s, rock and roll had fully gained its momentum and expanded itself to a broader audience with artists like the Beatles, Grand

Funk Railroad and Led Zeppelin pushing boundaries. Sounds began to shift from doo-wop into heavier guitar sounds and twangy mandolins inspired by Indian music. Mr. Whitburn said “Music seemed to inspire the generation and the generation seemed to inspire the music. It seemed that something new and moving would come out every week.” Today, a culture of electronic music has begun to take over. Genres like House and Dubstep have revolutionized the scene by adding a new instrument: computers. Collins said “the evolution of rock was more important overall, but today, the electronic music revolution is just fun to work with and it’s gaining momentum faster.” The Vietnam War ravaged the country’s unity. Suddenly, a generation built on respect for elders and loyalty to one’s country was set up against the young generation of kids who despised the war and their country. Protests broke into streets, involving college students that weren’t drafted into service. If one looks at a college campus today, they would see protests against Iraq and Afghanistan. The unpopularity of war has reached Generation Y. During the 60’s, free love was flocking to the streets. Hippies were skipping marriage and having children with several different people, shocking the older, tightly-knit folks at the time. Any kind of social norm or restriction was being tested. People pushed back simply to reach beyond the conformity of their

world. Today, that conformity is smeared with the symbol of the 1%. Corporate America is currently being scrutinized by Occupy protestors all over the country. Social norms like the restrictions of marriage are being tested by homosexual rights campaigns and a growing sense of independence. Generation Y can basically be called Generation Woodstock because of all the parallels between the two. Present-day America is experiencing an era of unrest and it’s just such a drag, man. So turn up the Pink Floyd spinning on vinyl in the background and watch as history repeats itself.

Plus Program Defends Purpose

Generation Y Follows Path of Hippie Eraby Michaela Giunchigliani Illustration by Michaela Giunchigliani

OPINIONJanuary 26, 2012 • Page 5Pony Express

Tell us what you think! Send feedback to

smponyexpress@gmail.com

The hard, permanent ink of your report card stares back at you as you scan the column of letters, the grades, that only really seem to matter. But do they? Students today value the grades we receive rather than the knowledge that's really important in the long run, and the current system makes it easy to do so. We've all done it; as a result of our procrastination, laziness, or blatant disinterest, we complete homework by just plucking meaningless answers out of the text rather than actually reading it. Full credit in a fraction of the time- it tempts even the best students. But we're manipulating the system so that we can get the grade without learning anything to justify it. The motivation has shifted mostly from the pursuit of knowledge to getting a percentage that will satisfy our parents and impress our peers. "It's easier; the grades have more short-term value to people than learning it," said senior Thomas Boeck. This way of thinking can be detrimental in the near future, when that knowledge will be put to use in the real world. Mr. Busselman, who deals with the issue in his own classroom, said "Where the grades are meaningless is in learning the actual skills. If [students] can't research something or if they don't actually know how to read something on their own, it doesn't matter what grades they got in high school; they're not going to be able to do it later on." Though we may not be passionate about every subject, we can't short change ourselves and risk missing something important or meaningful. Still, I don't believe students are completely to blame for that unfortunate mindset; the system put in place makes the high school environment too forgiving for underachievement. Though this doesn't occur in all cases, the methods used take emphasis

away from the learning aspect, such as "teaching to the test," where students are told what is specifically going to be on tests, or other topics not on it are downplayed. It makes the words "learning" and "memorization" almost interchangeable, and students lose sight of the real intent behind the teaching. In years past, students have been given money in the form of gift cards and raffle tickets for good scores in standardized testing, essentially bribing them to do well. There is also the fact that extra credit is being given for unused hall or bathroom passes, and as helpful as they are, they give a grade bump without any academic justification. The fact that it's used for classroom management purposes doesn't rationalize it; participation should be prompted by methods that don't include extra credit that required no work to obtain. It taints the system we have in place for college acceptance as well, which puts significant emphasis on the grades that may not

reflect the actual learning behind them. Students feel overwhelming pressure to appeal to this system, and let questionable teaching methods slide for the sake of an impressive transcript. Ms. Laabs, who feels otherwise, believes that the system cannot be changed, as it extends even beyond our years at school. "In the workplace, your motivation is your salary; the grade is like the money one would earn in a job. We don't live in a world that is all about the acquisition of knowledge; it's all about earning more money. That's a perfect utopian idea... Rather than change the system, maybe it's the people we need to change," said Laabs. To add to this, sophomore Michelle Bollinger brought up the proverb "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." Now, though many are motivated by their genuine interest or enjoyment of a job or subject, I do agree that ultimately, it's up to the individual to shift from the motivation of grades or money

that is prevalent in our society. People are very difficult to change however, but we’re clay in the hands of our society. Since our current system shaped us the way we are to begin with, it’s the best outlet to change us once more, this time, for the better.

It’s inevitable. Girls and guys can’t be friends. I’m sure all of you girls are sitting here reading this thinking “pffft, no, I have tons of guy friends!” But think about it. Any friend you have of the opposite sex either has a past with you, has liked you, has been liked by you, or would have a future with you. A study done at Utah State University asked random students one simple question: Can guys and girls be friends? All of the girls immediately answered yes, while the guys all hesitated or were quick to say no. Prying further into those girls’ lives, the survey asked them if their guy friends had ever tried to hook up with them, or if their guy friends would, if given the chance. The girls all said yes and quickly came to a realization: heterosexual girls and guys simply cannot be just friends. “I feel like if a person of the opposite sex is attractive to our mind and body, you can’t fight it no matter what the situation,” said senior Travis Grossi, who often finds himself faced with this dilemma. In the 1989 film, “When Harry Met Sally” the fine line between friendship and relationships is tested when the two main characters constantly fight a battle to keep their friendship without letting sex get in the way. They do everything from setting each other up with friends, to not talking at all, only to find themselves eventually falling for each other. The recent movies “Friends with Benefits” and “No Strings Attached” also have similar plots, and although these are just movies, they depict common real life situations about facing the inevitable fact of falling in love with your best friend. The point is, when men and women have late-night phone conversations, spend a lot of time together, or confide in each other with personal issues, they often grow to love the other person. It becomes easier to picture yourself in a romantic relationship. “You definitely think about what would happen but don’t do anything about it because they’re too scared to lose the friendship,” says sophomore

Katherine Gonzalez. When listening to the other person’s dating experiences, a natural thought pops into your head “If I were dating them, I would have done that differently, I wouldn’t have treated them like that, I would do my best to make it work, etc.” The thoughts will always be there subconsciously. Whether or not you decide to do anything about them is up to you. There are, of course, ultra-rare exceptions such as long time family friends

or your best friend’s ex, but again, those are close to unheard of. There is usually an attraction from at least one end. Even just the subtlest attraction, such as a middle school crush or a drunken night, either way, there was a time where you felt something MORE than friendship. Friends stay just friends usually because either one person is not interested, taken by someone else, or neither will speak up. Grossi explains that the reasons one would not voice their feelings would be based on the consequences, “Losing a friend, losing respect, or risking future relationships.” Sophomore Tanner Rhodes says, “If my boyfriend and I broke up I couldn’t see us staying

friends because those feelings will always be there.” An article written in the Ohio University paper solidifies this statement. It said, “Of course we are all prone to associate with members of the opposite gender in a non-romantic way, but the animalistic instincts are still present. There is unintentional flirtation exchanged, the occasional and innocent physical contact, and even loaded eye contact.” So ladies, there’s a reason your boyfriend gets mad when you hang out with other guys, and visa versa. But if you do have someone you truly find to be “just a friend” of the opposite sex, consider yourself lucky because they are almost impossible to come by. But take some time to look at your friends and see how “friendly” they really are, and remember “the best relationships start with friendships.”

“Friends stay just friends usually because

either one person is not interested, taken by someone else, or neither

will speak up.”

Why Can’t We Be Friends?by Anahita Najafi and Laura Posylkin

It’s Better to Get It Than to Get The Aby Sumaiya Mubarack

A closer look at friendships between the opposite sex

Students focus on earning a better grade over actually learningIllustration by Ruthe Huang

‘Til Divorce January 26, 2012 • Page 6Pony Express

Dear Sally, I am the product of a nasty divorce. My parents split up when I was five and ever since then, I have been caught in the line of fire between them. Every night, I have to make a decision of whether I’ll stay at my mom’s house or my dad’s house. It doesn’t seem like much, but either way, I get the guilt trip from one of my parents. It becomes this looming decision over my head every day and I dread making it. If I choose my mom’s house, my dad will start yelling about how terrible she is and how terrible I am for not wanting to spend time with him. If I choose my dad’s, my mom will invent things about my dad in an effort to make me hate him and choose her. I only need a place to sleep; a place that is safe and calm. Instead, I get anger and untrue stories and lies and name-calling. God forbid I ask one parent for money. It then turns into more yelling about how incompetent my other parent is; about how the other can’t even support their own daughter, pathetic. The truth is, I want to spend time with my friends and be away from the volatile home life I live, and that requires spending money. What’s pathetic is the fact that two people who were once in love can’t even find common ground and be civil on their daughter’s behalf. That is pathetic. They can’t even talk to each other, let alone be in the same room. Graduation parties, family reunions, birthdays, are all plagued by the fact that my parents can’t even attend the same event. I don’t know how to fix this. I am constantly caught in between their fights and inability to communicate, but I am their only method of communication. How can I make them see that they are destroying me without causing more problems in the process?

Sincerely, TornInTwo

Dear TornInTwo, First of all, your situation is not your fault whatsoever. You may be their daughter, but you didn’t cause any of this. In fact, you have probably mediated the situation more than you have hurt it. Most children that come from divorced parents blame themselves for the problems that arise. Communication is the biggest one. However, you have the ability to put your foot down when they begin to name-call and bash each other’s reputations. It starts by simply explaining to them that it hurts you and they can take their comments elsewhere. Sometimes, parents need more than a hint when things they do are hurting their children. If it comes down to it and they are still dragging you into their personal issues, then involve another adult. Whether it is an aunt or uncle, older sibling, or a family friend, the message will be clear and undeniable when it comes from an outside source. They won’t be able to call you ‘over-dramatic’ if it’s coming from someone they respect as a peer. One thing that you must remember is that you don’t have to participate in their battle. In fact, you shouldn’t. Whenever they begin to fight or criticize each other, remind them that you are their child and they aren’t acting like parents when they do these things. Lastly, always remember that you have the power to cut off their communication. If you are the only way they can converse civilly, then you absolutely have the right to take that away. It may not benefit how efficiently things get done, like payments that need to be shared between parents, but it will force them to make contact with each other in a civil form. Talk to each parent about your feelings because they are your parents. Sometimes, they need to know when they aren’t doing it right.

Sincerely,Sally the Mustang

Dear Sally: I’m the Product of a Nasty Divorce

Marriage Has Lost Its SanctityHow an entire generation is choosing not to tie the knot In 1960, everyone expected to say those two little words: I do. In 1970, many women knew they could live without a man but shuddered at the thought of being alone when they were old. In 1980, conservatism took its place in society again and knots were tied again. In 1990, young parents were celebrating their new babies with their new husbands and wives. Three decades of marriage and family starting paved the way for these new-borns, but something occurred that would forever shake up the sanctity of marriage. Those new-borns would grow up to question the very foundation of marriage and whether or not they wanted anything to do with it. For centuries, marriage was more than just a way to say “I love you.” It meant security, safety, and a lifetime of partnership. Children were raised to listen, do their chores, and grow up nicely so someone would

fall in love with them and marry them. Most of the time, love wasn’t even a requirement. But now more than ever, love is the only requirement. Generation Y, people born between 1980 and 1994, has been dubbed the ‘me-generation’ because of their lifelong desire to satisfy their wants and needs. Marriage doesn’t always follow suit in this category. In 1960, a twenty-year-old girl would be a prime candidate for marriage, regardless of her love life. A 20 year old in today’s generation would barely be a sophomore in college, let alone engaged. The average age of marriage for a woman in 1960 was 20, with men at 22. Today, the average age is 26 with men at 28 years of age. A full six years later, people are waiting to marry themselves off in an effort to pursue careers and delay the ‘seriousness’ of their adult lives. Junior Massimo Cardarelli believes that “people are waiting longer to

have kids as well. Basically, family slows your career.” Senior Phillip Testa said, “the fact that divorces cause so much heart ache and so many financial problems for families, it is financially smarter not to marry.” Many young adults have set aside marriage in the effort to pursue a career. In this economy, the job market is a difficult place to navigate. Most men and women would rather set up a reliable career and think about family after the fact. After college, possibly graduate school, and a stable career are accomplished, people are already in their late twenties before marriage even becomes a possibility. The notion that marriage is a necessity has left this generation. People have grown more independent than ever and forgone the search for a partner, taking up the search for happiness, whether that means someone is by their side or not.

by Michaela Giunchigliani

63% Married

24% Divorced

9% Other4% Declined to Answer

Results of a school-wide survey conducted by the Pony Express

Marital Status of San Marin Parents

Illustration by Sara Haugen

Do Us Part January 26, 2012 • Page 7Pony Express

Honey, Daddy’s going to live somewhere else for a while. Your mom is moving out. You get to live in two houses now. We think it’s the best for both of us. It’s not your fault. We still love you. We’re separating. We are getting a divorce. No matter how they’re told, children across the nation remember the day their parents decided to break their marriage, if they were old enough. Their lives were forever changed. The word “divorce” rings ugly in their ears. Despite what they’re told, they blame themselves for it. They start to live a double life with each parent or one of them is cut out of the picture completely. They begin an awkward relationship with a step parent they will never call “Dad.” Two out of three of marriages with children in the U.S. end in divorce. Students at San Marin are no exception to this. According to a school-wide survey conducted by the Pony Express, nearly a quarter of San Marin students here have separated or divorced parents. The effect it has on them varies. Senior Adrienne Nichelini said, “For me, the immediate effect was hurt because my parents had been together my whole life. I had a feeling it was coming when they had me relay messages back and forth since they weren’t speaking.” When the relationship turns for the worse, the kids not only have to deal with the fear of the split that is coming, but they may be involuntarily recruited as a mediator. As the oldest of her siblings, Nichelini constantly worried about impending divorce and how

their lives would change as a result. One junior, who asked to be anonymous, is still recovering from a divorce last year. “Obviously I could see it coming, but it was also a little bit of a shock. I’ve always been closer with my mom, and now the relationship with my dad is strained. The divorce definitely widened that gap.” The student mentioned that the past tumultuous year has gotten better, and the situation with the parents is “at a much better place.” While the father is now more focused on bettering the relationship, the hurt is apparent and the student is still dealing with the life-changing circumstances. Others have had a different experience. Junior Lindsey Zecherle, whose parents divorced when she was very young said, “Having two of everything is nice. My parents are good friends so it works out.” For some, being younger when it happens is for the better, and the results may even be positive. Sophomore

Camille Pflugradt, who was age six during the divorce, said, “My dad isn’t really part of my life anymore, but you get used to it. He used to visit but now he just calls on our birthdays.” The severity of hurt seems to correlate with the age that split happened; younger kids see it as a way of life while teens with recently divorced parents have a harder time. However, during the survey of parents’ marital status, one response brought up an interesting point. The anonymous student circled “married” but also commented, “Whether married or divorced, it’s the amount of fighting that affects the children.” For cases in which the parents are

in constant battle-mode, staying together for the kids may actually be detrimental to the family. Perhaps divorce is not the only issue, but parents choosing an incompatible partner to begin with. While many families live together tolerably, some parents may try to force the “happy family” portrait by staying married even if their relationship negatively affects the children. Regardless of marital status, parents have an obligation to do what is right for their children, and sometimes divorce may be the answer. As a result of the whole process, Nichelini said, “I want to be with someone for at least ten years before marrying them. I want to go through the emotional roller coasters so I can know for sure we can make it through a marriage. Everyone should think seriously beforehand; it’s expensive, it’s emotional, and it takes so much time.”

Stay Together For The Kidsby Sara Haugen

Illustration by Sara Haugen

Families find heartbreak in the face of divorce, or the need for one.

Nationwide Divorce Statistics

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENTJanuary 26, 2012 • Page 8 Pony Express

Drew Gasparini, a graduate of the San Marin class of 2004, has come a long way in the music business since his days at San Marin. After attending the Musicians Institute of Los Angeles, where he shared the stage with musicians such as the Plain White T’s and Jason Mraz, Gasparini continued to do exciting things with his talents. Some of his many accomplishments include having three albums on iTunes, selling his sheet music worldwide, writing three musicals, writing song demos for Avril Lavigne, and being hired

to write the music for a brand new television show. One of the three musicals that Gasparini wrote is called Crazy Just Like Me. This musical has been performed throughout the country and in Australia, and will soon be featured off Broadway. Gasparini has known what he wanted to do with his life from a very young age, and had guidance from one specific teacher during his years at San Marin. He said, “The only teacher to really show me that this was a realistic goal was Ms. Gates and the rest of the support I had from the music department at San Marin. It was a fantastic program, and I can realistically say that Ms. Gates did a better job prepping kids for the study of music in college than most music teachers. It’s inspiring.” Drew isn’t the only talented Gasparini either; he has 3 siblings, Danny, Kasie, and Chloe (currently a sophomore at SM), who have all participated in the San Marin music or drama program as well.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the latest and greatest in an epic series of games. The game puts you in control of the Dragonborn- or Dovahkiin, in the language of the game. This means your character has dragon blood running through their veins. Your character is fully customizable, and with ten races and thousands of variations, every character is unique in appearance. Using skills improves them, so you are constantly customizing your character. These include combat skills such as using weapons and armor as well as crafting them with smithing. Also, there are stealth skills like lockpicking and pickpocketing, and there are also several schools of magic, as well as alchemy and enchanting. You can do just about anything, from catching butterflies, becoming a vampire or a werewolf, to killing dragons. Actually, killing dragons is a central part of the game. The main quest line focuses on the return of the dragons to the titular region of Skyrim, and it is up to the Dragonborn to stop them. But that is nowhere near the bulk of the game. You could join any and all of the four major guilds: the Dark Brotherhood, a cult of assassins; the Thieves Guild; The Companions, a group of warriors; or you could go to the wizard’s college. The entire scope of this game cannot be put into words, but Junior Hakeem Sherif tried, and he said, “It takes a week of solid playing to scratch the surface of this mammoth of a game.” It includes an unparalleled number of side quests, hundreds of unique locations scattered throughout the humongous world, and the denizens of the nine major cities all have something to say. Many have

things that need doing, but not necessarily so drab as delivering a letter. It could be that they need you to retrieve a precious possession from deep in the bowels of the earth. To complete a quest, generally you return to the quest giver, for a reward that could be monetary compensation, an enchanted weapon or training in a skill. Also completing a favor makes this person like you, and possibly even become a follower and take orders.

The game world is enormous- and completely explorable from the start. Freshman Miriam Halbany says, “It is very wide open, and I’m very bad at following the roads.” It is a completely fleshed out and beautiful landscape, divided into nine holds, each with a capital city. Ranging from the expansive tundra of Whiterun Hold to the stellar mountain ranges of The Reach, all the way to the striking valley that is The Rift. Each hold has numerous locations, that could be villages or castles or even ancient burial dens where the ancient dead walk the halls. Nothing is off limits, save some places that are only available if you are on their respective quests. The game world is not quite as big as in the previous installment: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, but it is so much more detailed and alive than any game ever.

This is easily the greatest game ever, and that is not a title to be thrown around lightly. Sophomore Justin Schaefer said, “At the risk of sounding cliché, you haven’t lived until you’ve played this game.” The sheer size and beauty that is this game easily scores it five completely insane jesters out of five.

by Louis Henry

Students Lose Social Life Due to Skyrim™

Two San Marin Alumni Rise to Stardom

Heather Gordon, San Marin class 2002, has really made a name for herself in show business. Recently acting as a major role in the movie, Seducing Charlie Barker, was a big step in her career of being an actress. But before she was starring in movies and performing in theatre, Gordon attended San Marin and participated in San Marin’s drama program. Gordon was here during Ms. Kislingbury’s first year at San Marin and Ms. K remembers Gordon “standing out because of her dedication to paying attention to detail.” Throughout her time at San Marin she participated in peer counseling, which was a group of juniors and seniors who made sure the school was a safe environment, as well as many plays. While attending College of Marin and still working in plays, Gordon was accepted into graduate school with the A.R.T (American Repertory Theatre) program at Harvard. At Harvard she learned many different types of acting and techniques, and earned her Masters degree. Since graduating school, Gordon has been in countless plays, played Amanda Seyfried’s double for Red Riding Hood, starred in many commercials, and has even been in a few movies, the most recent one being Seducing Charlie Barker. Gordon says, “seeing how acting and drama can have an effect on some people is really great.”

by Amanda Cardy

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Drew Gasparini Heather GordonPhoto by Jane Rollo Photo by Craig Tomasi

The player battles dragons trhoughout the game.

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENTJanuary 26, 2012 • Page 9Pony Express

Colorful. Creative. Artistic. Junior Ruthe Huang is known for being the smartest person in the class and also an amazing artist. “I work on design concepts… I see a photo that I like and I paint it, ” Huang said after becoming really interested in art in her freshman year. Although becoming interested in art two years ago, Huang has been taking an art class in San Francisco for ten years; first starting with Chinese brush painting for seven years, then moving onto sketching for about two years. Currently, Huang is focused on portraits and is a first year president of the art club and last years’ secretary. The goal of the club is to give a scholarship to one lucky senior every year, yet this doesn’t always happen; the members are also in charge of painting the pillars around the school. Art teacher Denise Mozzetti says, “ Ruthe always goes the extra mile and is very organized.” Huang says, “ In general to do art, painting calms me and I could do it for hours while listening to music.” In the future Huang hopes to continue to be successful in her AP Art 2 class and is debating whether or not to double major or get a minor degree in art. Like so many other artists, sophomore Jose Flores didn’t know he could draw until he picked up a pencil and put it to the paper. “ I consider myself an artist because every time I draw something and show it to people, they give me lots of compliments.” Flores is taking his first year of art this year, yet became interested in art two years ago. Flores said, “ I saw something beautiful and I wanted to draw it. I also draw best with music on in the background and that’s

when I focus on one thing… drawing.” Flores enjoys drawing people and Mexican style artwork, yet rarely colors his art because he feels it looks more classy in black and white than in color. Flores’ current art teacher Ms. Mozzetti says, “I see a bright future for him. He’s broadening his horizons by getting better at his art and I like that.” At some point during his high school experience, Flores wants to take a sculpture class and wood shop. Flores wants his career to also be about art by painting cars, along with drawing and painting and possibly double major in art when he goes to college.

by Sarah Monti

Imagine Disney’s child friendly Snow White and the Seven Dwarves as a violent, dark and sinister affair, without the cute melodies and dwarves. This is Hollywood’s new take on the classic animated kids movie. Snow White and the Huntsmen comes out in June and the happy-go lucky story of Snow White is dramatically changed. In this version, the evil queen (Charlize Theron) sucks the life out of young girls to stay young and beautiful.When she learns that Snow White’s heart can make her fairest of them all, she sends the huntsmen (Chris Hemsworth) to find Snow White (Kristen Stewart) and kill her. With the trailer out, it is clear that this is a darker twist to the original and the PG-13 rated movie may be frightening for children. When asked about his opinion on fairy tales gone dark,

English and Philosophy teacher Mr. Swedlow had this to say, “the dark fairytales are the return of the truth. These new movies are basically a white-washing. The fairy tales like Snow White always had dark things in it, like in the original story she falls asleep, and the prince comes and rapes her and she wakes up pregnant. These dark movies are becoming more honest.” So it’s a mix of all things original and new Hollywood scripts that are turning the fairy tales back around. Yet this isn’t the only movie that has been revised by Hollywood to expose a darker meaning. Catherine Hardwick’s Red Riding Hood was a recent movie that is not your friendly bedtime story. Brother Grimm’s popular fable is adapted to take place in a medieval village that’s haunted by a werewolf. Red Riding Hood (Amanda Seyfried) is intrigued by the peculiar village orphan who may be the wolf terrorizing and killing the townspeople. This is definitely different than the innocent little girl who goes to see her sick Grandma, but finds a wolf in her bed, and exclaiming ‘my what big teeth you have’. The movie version is quite different and shows Red Riding Hood’s relationship with an eccentric man who may be the horrid creature. Not only is it a more adult like version, it also conotates dark meanings behind the famous story. These include gruesome killing and rebellious love. Of course for Hollywood directors, children’s stories are easy to adapt and make big bucks. But do the original fairy tales really have darker meaning to them, or is everything just innocent and fun? These types of fairy tales have been around for centuries in Europe, but when the Grimm Brothers adapted the German version they added small dark details

like the poisoned apple, the witch and Snow White’s ‘blood red’ lips. Yet the French based story of Red Riding Hood already had subtle dark element, like the grandma being eaten and the Hunter ripping her out of the wolf ’s stomach. All these details weren’t really terrifying when you heard them as bedtime stories, and the endings were always happy and cheeky. As we grew up we came to notice eerie parts of fairy tales. For example in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves when the witch is pushed off a cliff and crushed by a boulder on a stormy night it actually is a bit strange to watch as you hear her howls of defeat. But now with the big screen intensified action and dark plots it may be a bit unnerving without the singing dwarves and happily ever after when you visit the movie theatre.

Senior Bradley Ng won the 2011 Chess tournament, hosted by Branson, with 3 wins, one due to default but the other two wins were acquired by playing fierce chess and eliminating competition. “It felt great and exciting to know all my hard work this chess season paid off,” said Ng, who started playing chess at age eight, but didn’t start competing until this year. Ng is a part of San Marin’s chess club. They have competed in two tournaments thus far and practice every Friday at lunch. The club consists of five people including Ng and Chess club president, Preetham Sridhar. The tournaments usually consist of four groups, and do round robin matches where one can face everyone in the group and the one with the most wins, wins. When asked to describe his strategy he said, “I try key pieces while also waiting for my opponent to make a mistake I can capitalize on.” Club advisor Mr. Spinrad says he was excited about Ng’s win and hopes it encourages him to play in the future. His plans for future chess matches are unclear, and as of right now, he’s just working on making the tough decision choosing which college to attend.

Senior Wins Chess Tournament

Fairy Tales Gone Dark: Hollywood darkens childrens’ stories

by Samantha Simmons

Photo courtesy of Google Images

by Katherine Minkiewicz

Painting The Town Red Art standouts excel in many mediums

Photo by Sarah Monti

Ruthe Huang and Jose Flores with their art pieces.

January 26, 2012 • Page 10SPORTS

With basketball season underway, more and more students are beginning to attend games, and many are finding that they just don’t know how to be a real “fan.” Here are some general guidelines on how to become a good fan:

1. Be Loud: Nothing can get your team more ready than a “We Believe” chant to start a game. A loud crowd gives your team momentum and an advantage as the other team cannot hear in a packed gym. Senior Basketball player John Seavey said, “Last year the fans were ridiculously loud, especially against Novato, Marin Catholic and Bishop O’Dowd. It helped us because when they were on offense they couldn’t hear what their coach wanted them to do.” In the NFL, the crowd is known as the “12th Man” at many stadiums because it gives an advantage to the home team, so why not make a “6th Man” San Marin?2. Be Spirited: When attending a game, it should be common sense to dress in your teams colors, but some fail to do this. If everyone in the stands dressed in the same color it would intimidate the other team into playing worse. Also, for those fans who want to take it to the next level, there is nothing wrong with going over the top. Face paint, exotic outfits, and flashy colors add to the experience and anyone who ridicules you is just jealous.

3. Sporting Events are not a Social Gathering: You go to the game to watch and cheer for your team, not spread the latest rumors. It’s okay to talk in between quarters or a timeout, but pay attention when the game is being played. You don’t want to be the person who

misses the game winning shot because you were texting or checking facebook on your phone. Your iPhone is not more important than the game, so just put it away. Senior Matt Gauci had this to say, “If you actually get into the game it’s fun to cheer. If you watch the student

sections in college they are crazy and I want our games to be like that.”4. Don’t be Late: Everyone hates the person who walks in halfway through the second quarter and expects a full report on what already happened in the game. Maybe if you would have shown up on time, you would know what happened. It also makes no sense to pay to get into the game and not see it all. So why not save yourself some criticism and money and get there on time?5. Be Classy: It is one thing to be loud, but another thing to be rude and immature. Even though games get very intense and emotional, it’s not okay to swear at or degrade the opposing team’s players. Everyone tries their hardest and even if they deserve it, be the bigger person. San Marin Head Coach Craig Pitti said, “In many people’s eyes, the way our fans react reflects our school as a whole. If some kids make the wrong decision and say something inappropriate, they think we are a bad school which is not the case.” If you can keep it appropriate, then yell it; if not, say it under your breath. Overall, high school sporting events are a place where students can come together and have fun while cheering on their peers. A real fan is dedicated to what they’re doing, so be that person.

Standing at 6’0, John Seavey, starting shooting guard, is the only returning starter from last year’s MCAL and NCS championship team. The 3-time varsity starter is averaging 16.8 points per game in the first nineteen games the Mustangs have played in. Seavey led the Mustangs to a 9-3 preseason record by scoring 199 points in the 12 preseason games, including his career high 29 points at Petaluma High School. The 2010-2011 honorable mention player is not only seen as a leader on the court, but off the court as well. Teammates and coaches have described Seavey as a very passionate, yet humble player. Junior Shay Stubblefield, a teammate

of Seavey, defined #22 as “a great leader who always has confidence in everyone.” Coach Craig Pitti said that he sees Seavey as one the top offensive players in Marin. “When he’s hitting [shots], our offense opens up as a whole,” Pitti said. Junior Noah Everly, another teammate of Seavey, added, “Although he is a horrible NBA 2k12 player, he is a determined player that makes everyone around him better.” Although the Mustangs are off to a rocky start, Seavey still expects his team to do well in MCAL’s and make a third straight playoff appearance. The Arizona native is looking to take his talents to a small school next year in California or back home in Arizona.

The 2010-11 Mustangs basketball team show their appreciation for their fans after their victory in the NCS championship at Saint Mary’s College.

Stand Up and Cheer: The dynamics of being a San Marin fanby Ryan Burke

San Marin Alumnus Attracts Attention For NFL Coaching Job by Justin Wax

by Justin Wax

Where did all of this success from Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow come from? A San Marin alum of course. Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, 39, (class of 1991) had the most successful season of his coaching career and is now in discussions for a head coaching job with the J a c k s o n v i l l e Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and Oakland Raiders. McCoy helped design the Broncos offense, adjusting to sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow. McCoy spent nine years as the quarterbacks coach and offensive assistant for the Carolina Panthers, taking them to the 2004 Super Bowl, during their three year playoff stretch before beginning his offensive coordinator role in Denver in 2009. Coach McCoy has guided four of

his players to Pro Bowl selections. The former San Marin football player was

the quarterback for the Mustangs when current math teacher Mr. Zechlin was the coach. Zechlin d e s c r i b e d McCoy as a player that knew the game better than anyone else he had ever coached. The San Marin superstar set a high school record by passing a perfect game against Terra Linda High School (16-16). According to

Mr. Zechlin, McCoy ranks in the top three best quarterbacks in San Marin history. McCoy has been a coach with Denver since 2009 and wherever he ends up next year, he is expected to continue to be a successful coach in the NFL for more years to come.

John Seavey splits the defenders for a layup in the Mustangs’ first MCAL victory against Terra Linda.

Photo courtesy of Novato Patch

Former San Marin Mustang, Mike McCoy, coaches Tim Tebow as the Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

Photo courtesy of Phil Alferness

John Seavey: Mighty mustang continues to put fans in the stands

SPORTSJanuary 26, 2012 • Page 11

The San Francisco 49ers made the NFL Playoffs and their gear has taken San Marin by storm. Just as the Forty-Niners gear has arrived, it seems that the Giants gear has disappeared. Only one year ago, the San Francisco Giants won the World Series and San Marin students jumped on the bandwagon and bought the championship gear, some of them true fans and the others fair-weather fans. This year the Giants missed the playoffs and it was the Forty-Niners that made the postseason, and now almost all of the Giants gear has disappeared while the amount of Niners gear has grown exponentially. Some non-San Francisco fans have noticed this drastic change in loyalty. Los Angeles Dodgers fan Cameron Sheron said, “Of all the San Francisco fans I believe that only 20% of them are true fans, the others are just bandwagon fans. I bet half of the kids can’t even name five players on their supposed ‘favorite teams’.” Being a Dodgers

fan can be rough for a kid living in the Bay Area. “I can usually take most of it, but when the fair-weather fans are the ones talking trash that makes me mad,” said Sheron. Even loyal Giants fans have seen fewer students wearing their gear. Giants fan Mr. Davis said, “I’ve noticed a huge drop-off in Giants gear around this school, and it seems like there’s a ton of Niners fans now that they’ve made the playoffs.” Although he’s seen a massive Niner movement at San Marin, Davis is keeping his loyalty with the Oakland Raiders. There is no question that San Marin is home to many sports fans. However, their loyalty to their teams is often questionable. Although there are a lot of true fans, San Marin appears to host more of a bandwagon population. The question is, are you a fair-weather fan?

Fair-Weather Fans Plague San Marin

San Marin’s 2011 Varsity Boys basketball season was unforgettable, no doubt about it, but the Lady Mustangs are proving that they are in it to win it this season. Starting out their season with victories in the MCAL season against Drake, Branson, and Novato, as well as winning the whole 2011 Sonoma Valley Dragon Classic Tournament in the pre-season, the girls are continuing to impress everyone. The team’s starting five consists of seniors Gabrielle Pflugradt, Nicole Roberts, Sarah Lucia, Leeann Alferness, and Bridget Pachetti. The girls on the team all have

plenty of experience and have a real passion for the game. This season, Coach Dan Lucia, and Assistant Coaches Kevin Murphy, and Liz Clausen have the girls focusing on the mental aspect of the game, which has given them an advantage over other teams. in the league They come into every game knowing where they should be at the right time, paying attention to the opponent’s strengths, and keeping a positive attitude through all four quarters. Alferness, who received a scholarship for basketball at UC San Diego, wants her team “to get better each day

and take each game one at a time.” Pflugradt stated that “the knowledge of the game, maturity, and experience has helped us to excel so far this season and I only hope we keep it up.” Her hopes for the season are to be MCAL Champions and to play deep into NCS in the post-season. When talking about the upcoming season, Lucia said “We’re going into every game like it’s a championship, and if we keep that mindset we’ll finish on top.” We’ll be rooting for you ladies!

by Chris Gorman photo by Natalie Dagnino

True fan Griffin Casassa imitates a fair-weather fan switching teams.

Rise of the Lady MustangsAnything he can do, she can do better by Natasha Osmidoff

Gabrielle Pflugradt puts up a shot in the Lady Mustangs win against Terra Linda.

Photo courtesy of Phil Alferness

BACKPAGEJanuary 26, 2012Pony Express

a YAY to Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor.

a YAY to Temple Run. Being chased through a treacherous course? There’s an app for that.

a YAY to New Years resolutions. The road to redemption.

a YAY to guys in ties. The classy is contagious.

a YAY to Ski Week...if there’s enough snow.

a YAY to gas station hot chocolate. Makes up for the gas prices.

an EH to Blockbuster closing. No more rentals, but cheap movies.

a NEIGH to the apocalypse. It was nice knowing you.

a NEIGH to breaking New Year’s resolutions. Who’s kidding whom?

a NEIGH to taking arrows to the knee. Overused phrase of the month.

a NEIGH to Hulu Plus. It’s not new, it just sucks.

a NEIGH to SOPA and PIPA. There goes the internet...

YAYS and NEIGHS

I have wanted to be a chef since I was ________ NUMBER

years old. Last summer, I had an internship at the cooking

school of ___________. I learned a lot. The first food I PLACE

ever made was __________ __________. It was absolutley ADJECTIVE FOOD

________. When I got home, I got a job at the ________ ADJECTIVE NUMBER

star restaurant, ___________. One day, we had a(n) RESTAURANT

___________ ____________ run across the kitchen floor. ADJECTIVE ANIMAL

The restaurant got closed down, but overall, I had a

_____________ time. ADJECTIVE

There was a tiny movement in the air, and a hummingbird darted out from the shadows. Its wings beat in a low buzz. It was a beautiful, spirited creature, its eyes bright and curious, while it hovered in the window of the bedroom. It knocked at the glass and rebounded when its beak tapped on it, and went at the glass again for several times. They came at ten. They stripped the fridge of its doors, took down the washers, bundled the mattresses, and sent them all, in a gloomy, silent procession, up the ramp where many others have been on before, into the depthless darkness of the container. Soon, the oak writing desks and clumsy bed frames followed. A distant bell tolled noon. Against the cloudless sky, the mountains were a deep shade of red. The air was still and heavy, and heat rose from the earth in waves. The container rattled. For a second the yellow logo on its side seemed to catch the sunlight. Two lanky figures leapt in and the door slammed shut. There came on the tiny drone of a machine, a cloud of dust, and it was gone. The people were a different matter. They didn’t go into the container with the furniture. They didn’t go anywhere at all. They stood around and watched with their frigid faces. Occasionally the glassy orbs turned to stare into those of the others, reflecting more similar faces that told of the same thing: The last of them were gone. It was a little sad at first. Some women hid their faces in their hair while they sobbed quietly. Their material of their gloved hands did little to wipe away the tears, so they used the hems of their sleeves. The men huddled but kept their hands in their uniform pockets. There were neither coins nor Swiss army knives in those pockets. Instead, there were ration tickets and identity cards. Some hands touched the cards and shrunk back into the upper part of the pockets. Some hands held onto the thin ration tickets and rubbed them between their thumbs and fingers, as though checking if there was more.

There were no children. Children were always sent away to be schooled. They lived in the center region of the town, where many buildings carried the identical yellow logo on the container. Neither were there cats nor dogs that disturbed the quiet of a lazy afternoon nap. There were no books. There were rocks and towns, and only rocks were allowed to exist in greater quantity than anything else. When it was different, it was only the annual appearance of the town mayor at the doors of the townhouses, telling the fathers and mothers how well their children were doing, working their hearts out for a brighter future, ruining their very work uniforms in the toil of the mines. But nobody expected the arrival of the container to be so soon and sudden. It was the last of things from the blue-green planet, and they were gone. The blue-green planet has been gone for longer than they could remember, even though it was only three weeks ago when it was up in flames. After what seemed to be a long while, for the sun was already behind the mountains, the men and women became tired of standing on the red earth, and they went back into their houses. An older woman hobbled slowly up to her bedroom. The container with the yellow logo forgot her flowerpot, she thought. It stood in the corner of the room, hidden by the thick legs of her bed. In the dark, rich soil, there was a stem, then leaves, a stigma, and the creamy red petals of a ripe flower. Suddenly wishing for ventilation, she opened the windows. The moon was already up in the cloudless night, and it bathed the mountains in a pale reddish glow. Some stars blinked. She leaned out to catch a whiff of the cool air when she sprang back on her bad leg with a gasp. There, on the sill, was the lifeless body of a hummingbird, its body a silvery sheen, catching the moonlight in the most peculiar way. Next to it, secured by the sides of the trench in the sill, no bigger than a fingernail, was a glistening white egg.

Hummingbird: Student short storyby Garbo Gan

As a teenager, the prime time for snacking your life away is the minute you get home from school. After a long day of monotonous learning and repetitive schedules, your predictable day ends with the usual, predictable snack. It’s time to live life on the edge and mix it up. As an experiment, I decided to open my fridge and my mind to create Frankenstein snacks: abnormal combos and flavors that excite your taste buds as well as add those pounds. Note: the gained weight after this article cannot be blamed on the Pony Express.

1.Peanut Butter and Bacon SandwichThis might seem completely repulsive, but it is one of the most delicious snacks that I have ever discovered. The contrasting richness of the butter and the saltiness of the bacon not only helps you not focus on the fact that the peanut butter is choking you, but also gives you that surprise crunch in a sea of denseness. Not to mention, adding bacon makes it so much healthier.

2. M&M’s in PopcornInstead of going to the movies and enjoying a large popcorn, buttery to disgust, and a huge guilty soda, take all of that and buy a bag of M&M’s. Don’t be the person who buys these two and then switches off eating popcorn and M&M’s as everyone tells you to be quiet from the bag rustling. Just put them together for an easy and delicious combo.

3. Peanut Butter and OreosIf you’re ever feeling really down, and in need of some self-loathing snack, Oreos and peanut butter are the best. It is scrumptious, yet be sure that a fat glass of milk is waiting close by because the snack dries your mouth out like the Mojave.

4. Donuts and ButterThis seems like the craziest of all, but I tell you honestly, you will be licking your lips, your fingers, and the rest of the box when you’re done trying it. You take a glazed donut, smother butter on it and put it in the microwave until the butter is melted. This pile of grease and fat will leave your taste buds in heaven. But watch out, the donuts will pull you in and won’t throw you out until you’re 30 lbs. heavier.

That Tastes Good!

by Gabrielle Pflugradt

The Aspiring Chef:A Mad Lib

Illustration by Ruthe Haung

After school snacks you may have missed