September 28, 2006

Throw Out the Trash Talk
Page 3
Designs for Ground Zero
Page 6
Football 2-1
Page 8
On the Internet:
www.samohi.smmusd.org/thesamohi
Circulation: 3,600
Campus Briefs:
New Senior Parking Policy
By Kevin Katz
Staff Writer
This year marks the
beginning of a new crackdown
on tardiness. Aside from daily
tardy sweeps and calls to parents,
seniors’tardies now count against
their parking privileges.
Every senior with a spot in
the North Parking Lot must agree
to the new policy outlined in
the parking contract. Students
lose their parking privileges
for the day a�er two tardies. If
students are tardy three times,
their privileges are revoked for
the entire semester. Furthermore,
students are not reimbursed for
their $90 deposits. Though parent
and doctor excused tardies do
not count against students threetardy maximum, their privileges
are lost for the day.
Forty students received spots
for the fall semester, allocated
by lo�ery. Students from a 25member waiting list will replace
anyone who breaks the three
tardy rule.
“It’s a pre�y harsh policy”
said senior Benjamin Gray. Still,
the administration hopes that
these new rules will support
the school wide tardy policy.
“I do think it will work to a
degree…It provides a good
incentive for students [to be
on time],” said English teacher
Alison Kennedy.
Tardy Sweeps Now in Effect
By Emily Foshag
Editor-in-Chief
Samo’s administrative team
implemented a new tardy policy
beginning on Sept. 18. Unlike
previous systems, the new design
features immediate consequences
for those who arrive late to
periods one through six.
A�er a week-long pilot last
June and adherence to the policy
throughout summer school, HHouse principal Ruth Esseln is
confident that the tardy policy
will prove effective. A team
of Samo staff initially devised
it out of concern for students’
safety. Esseln feels that the new
policy addresses that concern in
addition to improving students’
academic achievements and
relationships with teachers.
Senior Yusaf Syed feels it
is unfair for students who are
occasionally late to face the same
consequences as those with a
chronic habit. However, he
understands why teachers want
to stop tardiness: “Classes always
start late because kids come in
late, and then think its okay...and
it just continues like that.”
Published Biweekly
Vol. XCVI No. 1 Sept. 28, 2006
Under the new policy,
students who arrive late are
locked out and ushered to the
cafeteria, where staff members
alert students’ parents of the
tardy with a phone call. S-House
Advisor Al Trundle recognizes
the challenge this presents for
administrators and advisors who
do not have time to address their
primary responsibilities. Still, he
feels, “students going late to class
is a school-wide problem, so a
school-wide solution is needed.
We all have to do our part.”
The new policy is in effect
for period one, unlike last year’s
pilot. Students arriving after
8:15 must enter from the 6th and
Pico gate, where they are led
to the cafeteria. “It’s pointless...
because a lot of people are late
regardless,” said sophomore
Myrecio Castro. “People have
to catch the bus or rely on other
people for a ride.” Esseln knows
that tardiness to first period can
never be eliminated, but believes
it can be reduced.
Students tardy five times in
six weeks face disciplinary action
including Saturday School and
In-School Suspension.
Samo Principal: Dr. Pedroza
By Nick Barlow, E-A-L and
Molly Strauss, News Editor
Dr. Hugo Pedroza accepted
Samo’s principal position
f o l l o w i n g I l e n e S t r a u s ’s
resignation last June. The Santa
Monica-Malibu Unified School
District (SMMUSD) approved
Pedroza on Aug. 31, six days
before the school year began.
Raised in National City,
California, Pedroza graduated
from Sweetwater High School
in San Diego. He earned a
Bachelors Degree and two
Masters from UCLA, leading to
a Ph.D. in Policy Studies.
After college, Pedroza
played guitar professionally
with Jackson Browne. He later
formed a Latin rock group
dubbed “Machehual,” while
teaching students and adults
at Belmont High School in
downtown Los Angeles.
Pedroza found teaching
children during the day and
their parents at night a powerful
experience. He went on to
become Assistant Principal at
Lincoln High School, where
he created a program called
“Axis Academy.” Teachers
volunteered to spend Saturdays
with students in the classroom
teaching subjects they felt
passionate about. One hundred
and fifty students attended
voluntarily to learn about
Music, Drama, Animation and
Astronomy. By the second
semester, five hundred students
Photo by Owen Gorman
had joined the program. Pedroza
explained, “These teachers were
passionate, so the kids became
passionate, too.”
Pedroza was originally
introduced to Samo through
his mentor and former Samo
principal Dr. Sylvia Rousseau.
Pedroza has a strong faith in
education, and believes in
a leadership approach that
relies on “modifying behavior,”
a theory that everyone is
constantly learning. He hopes
to foster this sense of continuing
growth at Samo: “What I do, in
terms of leading a school, is to
inspire students, teachers, and
the community in general to
do be�er—myself included.”
With this approach, he hopes
to encourage an “a�itude of
excellence” on campus.
At a recent PTSA meeting,
parent Maurice Maxwell asked
Pedroza what he planned to
do about racial tension on
campus. Pedroza shared hopes
that “students, faculty and
parents” will collaborate to find
a solution, as Samo’s multi-racial
community is one of its assets.
Pedroza used Chilito, his
chihuahua, to sum up his
administrative philosophy:
“When Chilito does something
bad, it is my instinct to want to
smack him. But then I realize I
haven’t taught him what is right
yet. He doesn’t know be�er.
Now, I don’t think of [high
schoolers] as puppies... But, isn’t
this the same for students?”
See page 5 for additional
coverage of new staff.
UC Admissions Changes Standards
By Jacquelyn Hoffman
Staff Writer
The University of California
(UC) Board of Regents has
updated freshmen requirements
for Fall 2007 applicants. Now
students must earn a minimum
3.0 grade point average (GPA) in
their “a-g” classes, instead of a
2.8, to a�end a UC.
These more rigourous
requirements, intended to
increase the caliber of students
admitted to UC schools, will
remove approximately 700 to 750
students from the eligibility pool.
The selection process will remain
the same in nature despite this
decrease in applicants.
Samo college counselor Stacy
Harvey does not foresee the
eligibility modification as an issue
for Samo’s aspiring applicants, as
22 percent of the 2006 graduating
class now a�ends UC schools:
“The increase in GPA will not
have a negative affect on [us], since
Samo is a high achieving school
with motivated students.”
Senior Bianca Greene
expressed concern over the new
requirements: “It’s unfair because
some kids deserve to go to the
UC’s [who] might not have had
the same opportunities as other
kids because of bad teachers
and family situations.” The
UC System, however, defines
eligibility beyond the scope of
grade point averages using a
process called comprehensive
review. Admissions officers
evaluate applicants’ academic
achievements based on
opportunities available to them
and their demonstrated capacity
to contribute to the intellectual
life of the campus (Introducing the
University Handbook).
In light of changes, students
are encouraged to select rigorous
academic courses and view the
3.0 GPA as a minimum, not a
goal. “Working hard is still the
foundation for earning a place
at UC,” said M.R.C. Greenwood,
UC provost and senior vice
president for academic affairs
(www.universityofcalifornia.edu).
Students Prep for CAHSEE Math World News Top Five
By Jennifer Galamba
Ad Editor
Samo now offers a new
mathematics class geared towards
students in danger of not passing
the California High School Exit
Exam (CAHSEE).
CAHSEE scores have
decreased recently, following 2004
when more Samo students passed
the test than in any of the previous
five years. Administration sees the
course as a preemptive measure to
increase the number of students
that pass, and who can therefore
graduate from Samo.
Only those recommended
by previous math teachers can
take “Essentials for Algebra,”
which covers basic Algebra and
Geometry concepts and counts
for a year of math credit.
Mathematics teachers from
every House teach these new
classes in small community
Photo by Samantha Walters
An Essentials for Algebra class
environments of 12-16, where
students are more likely to share
questions and receive individual
a�ention than in a larger se�ing.
Math teacher Ramon
Veral explained that the class
emphasizes “the importance of
notes, a�endance, promptness,
and doing homework,“ as well
as mathematics proficiency, in
hopes that these skills will help
students succeed in educational
and professional situations.
Teachers and administrators
are currently determining the
parameters of the curriculum,
focusing on topics that will give
students skills to avoid common
mistakes. Mathematics teachers
meet weekly to create lesson plans
for the upcoming week.
As the program is still in its
beginning stages, administrators,
advisors, and support staff await
test results from this coming
year before deciding whether
the course will continue in the
future.
By Carl Nunziato and Matt Weber
Staff Writers
•Pope Benedict XVI quoted a text stating that the early spread of
Islam had been accomplished by violence. A�er the ensuing uproar,
he apologized profoundly and invited Muslim diplomats and
dignitaries to his summer home near Rome. (New York Times)
A
•
new NASA study shows that Earth may soon reach its highest
average temperature in one million years. (nasa.gov)
•The National Intelligence Estimate, a report compiled by 16
American intelligence agencies, warns that continued United Statesled occupation of Iraq is fueling Islamic fundamentalism worldwide
and increasing the threat of global terrorism. (Reuters)
•Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez likened President George
Bush to the “devil” in front of the United Nations. (cnn.com)
•The Thai military staged a coup to oust Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra from power because of widespread corruption in his
administration. They have promised to restore a democratically
elected government within the next year. (BBC News)
OPINION
Page 2
Breakup Letters From Outer Space: Pluto’s Gone Solo
As of August 24, the International Astronomical Union declared Pluto no longer a planet.
The Sun: “I need some Space”
Pluto: “Is it Because I’m too Old?”
By Bennett Rankin and Jeremy Tramer
By Zoe Young
Staff Writer and Special Report Editor
Staff Writer
Dear Presumptuous Pluto,
Dear Sweetheart Sun,
I guess I’m just gonna go ahead and get it out of the way: I’m breaking up with you.
It’s been a blast, but it just isn’t working out. I’m seeing somebody else. Okay, I’ve been
sneaking around with eight other planets behind your back
ever since I let you into my solar system 76 years ago.
The whole “long-distance relationship” thing never works
out. You’re lucky I even noticed you to begin with. There are
seven moons bigger than you that are orbiting around planets
in this solar system. What made you think that you could be
a planet forever?
If I let you be a planet, then I’ll have to let Eris be a planet
too.You know that. Eris is bigger than you, and even though it
was only discovered a year ago, I can’t play favorites. And if I
had decided to let Eris be one of my planets, then pre�y soon
every li�le low-life, scumbag rock this side of the Orion belt is
going to want to be one too. And I can’t have that.
The decision to “deplanetize” you was an international
agreement made by people who spend their lives studying
my solar system. Trust the nerds, they know what they are doing. True, you fit two of
the three criteria for being one of my planets: you orbit me and you are round. But if
you want to be one of my planets, you are going to have to clear your neighborhood.
Your gravitational pull isn’t strong enough to get rid of all of the cosmic debris around
you. And lets face it: you just aren’t very a�ractive.
If its any consolation, you can be my binary dwarf planet, but your 15 light-years
of fame are over. I suggest you move on. You were never meant to be in my solar
system.
Yours truly,
The Sun
Afghanistan Needs Help, Can
We Meet the Challenge?
By Evan Perkins
Staff Writer
The nation of Afghanistan is
fighting for its future, and needs
help. Afghanistan has long been
the punching bag of Asia, having
been invaded by Arabs, Greeks,
British, Mongols, Persians, Indians, Russians, and countless other
countries. Unfortunately,the
current Afghan government has
shown itself to be ineffective and
without the support of large segments of the population. Combine
this with a constantly declining
Western presence in the country,
and you have a recipe for disaster.
Unless our government sends far
more men and women to help aid
Afghanistan in its current precarious state, tyranny will very likely
take over once again.
This is a far cry from the days
of late 2001 when the United
States launched Operation Enduring Freedom, mostly as a
response to the September 11th
attacks. Al Qaeda had received
overt support from Afghanistan’s
Taliban government, which itself
was responsible for creating one
of the most oppressive countries
in the world. Under the Taliban,
life was something out of the
Middle Ages, with beatings and
stonings doled out for those who
did not conform to the Talibans
strict moral code, which included
a ban on western music and movies, mandatory headscarves for
women, and total prohibition on
anything that could be considered
“Western” and “corrupt”. With
the overthrow of the Taliban, the
future looked bright for a new,
modernized Afghanistan, a government that seemed like it could
be stable and peaceful at last.
Unfortunately, things didn’t
happen that way. The Taliban was
never quite destroyed, merely
being forced into hiding, biding
their time until they could strike
back. And of late, they’ve been
fairly efective at striking back.
Today’s Afghanistan is wracked
by conflict, much of the country being held together only by
a small NATO peacekeeping
force, under constant attack by a
resurgent Taliban, which is now
the de-facto ruler of most of the
south. However, the US troop
presence in the country, already
at a low after the invasion of Iraq,
is steadily decreasing, and support for remnants of the Taliban
is increasing.
Things are looking bad, and
are heading for worse. Unless
our government devotes far
more support to eliminating the
Taliban once and for all, we could
be looking at another decade of
decade of warfare for an already
ravaged country, another decade
of wanton destruction and carnage. While the headlines may
be dominated by bad news from
Israel and Iraq, Afghanistan still
deserves attention. This often
neglected corner of the world
cannot afford to go down the dark
path of the Taliban once again.
But until we, the United States
of America, can dedicate more
of our time, attention, and power
there, we are giving a message
that we don’t care. After all it has
been through, Afghanistan and
its people deserve better.
Do I mean nothing to you? Do I not have feelings? I might be a frozen rock, but I
have never felt anything more icy than your cold shoulder. I am nothing if not a planet
and no measly star can take my dignity from me.
I have been more than a planet; I’ve been a guiding light,
Would the scores of innocent people killed by plutonium poisoning approve of dying at the merciless hands of an element
named for an astronomical anomaly? Absolutely not! They
died in the name of a planet…me. And by revoking my title,
you are spi�ing on their memory.
Scientists have “proven” that I am not a planet. You have
teamed up with them on the bandwagon of deceit and dub
me a “binary dwarf plane.” I shudder at the thought. As if
you’re so hot and important. How would you like it if someone
called you a “dwarf?”
As if things weren’t bad enough, NASA wants to change
my name to their arbitrary astronomical number, 134340.
Just looking at these digits defiles all the romance we once
shared together, sun. Would Edgar Allan Poe have let his raven quoth “nevermore”
on the night’s 134340ian shore? NEVER! That shore was “Plutonian” and “Plutonian”
shall it remain.
I will be back. Your flirtation with Neptune may hurt me inside, but it won’t break
me, and neither will you. Despite your efforts to find someone younger, I will resurface,
and your former galactic love child will be a planet once more. And I never loved you
anyway, you flaming gas ball.
Spitefully,
Pluto
Sophomores in BC Calculus: Get Out Now, Please
By Nora Casey
Campus Life Editor
So apparently, being in AP BC
Calculus is no longer good enough.
Nowadays Samo’s most precocious
students not only have to take A.P.
BC Calc, but they have to do it as juniors, or in some cases, sophomores.
I blame the middle schools.
I blame them because they
were lame enough to start le�ing
kids test out of a year of math so
they could be a year ahead on the
advanced math track. Why, I ask?
At what point did people decide
that what our community needs is
a greater divide between those who
are succeeding in school and those
who are failing out? At what point
did they decide that what today’s
youth needs is even more competition and stress?
There is no reason to be done
with the highest level of Calculus by
11th grade. There is no reason to be
finished with BC Calc as a senior. Instantaneous velocity won’t do wonders for your social life. As of now,
these kids will be done with Samo
math classes with a year still
le� in school. So you can either
be finished with Calculus entirely- which doesn’t explain
why you rushed through it- or
take Multi-Variable Calculus
at SMC.
I know that the overachiever mentality is when a
challenging class is offered,
it looks good to take it. But
with multitudes of AP classes
and honors math already
available, it seems unnecessary to add another level of
competition.
For example, Samo does
not offer AP History in 10th
grade, which allows sophomores have a more relaxed
year and actually take classes
with everyone in the school,
before being divided up into
those who are in APs and those
who are not. And it doesn’t
look bad to have taken regular
World History, because there
is no other option.
So its not that I blame
these students for trying to get
ahead, I just blame the schools
for enforcing that social division. I think it is stupid to be
two years ahead in math. Math
is not the sort of subject that you
just know, you have to learn it,
even if you learn quicker than
others.
Students need to take all the
required math classes, and if
you need to learn Pre-Calc/Calc
A then you are going to have
to be in that class for a year.
It doesn’t matter if that year is
10th or 11th. But it does matter
to the other students in your
grade who now feel like they
are behind while being in Honors
Courses.
You only have one childhood, so why cut it short?
Math will be around. There
is no need to wander blankly
through the abyss of already
taken math classes.
So middle schools- for
making achievement divides
even greater, and stress and
competition more abundantshame on you.
Senior Parking Lo�ery by Jessica Gerhardt
Opinion—Page 3 The Samohi September 28, 2006
“Dude, Where in the World is My Chapstick?”
By Jackie Berkman
Opinion Editor
Every now and then, I find
it necessary to reflect on the
progressively worsening state of
our world. Now I need not look
any further than my makeup bag,
where my tube of mascara is no
longer allowed on an airplane.
A�er the planned terrorist a�acks
involving liquid explosives were
uncovered at Heathrow airport
this summer, it is undeniable that
airport security needed to take extra precaution to ensure the safety
of travelers. The unse�ling issue
remains not in the fact that we are
no longer allowed to bring almost
half of our disposable items on
board rather than the symbolic
message that lies underneath. Five
years post 9/11, we continue to
live in a world that is submerged
in fear with piles of discarded
perfumes to show for it.
Senior Kiana Ashtiani discussed her not-so-relaxing traveling experience from the airport
in Frankfurt, Germany to
the Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) a few
days after
the terrorist plots
at Heathr o w
airport
were revealed:
“ I n
Frankfurt
they made
all American
citizens sign a
form stating their
nationality and place of
residence in case they needed
to contact our relatives,” Ashtiani
said. “It was very unse�ling and
morbid.” Ashtiani added that the
security in Frankfurt secluded the
American
citizens in
a separate air terminal, and made
all of the passengers go through
Have an Opinion? Submit a MyTurn or a Letter to the
Editor via e-mail to SamohiOpinion@gmail.com
Submissions Due: October 3rd and October 17th
Throw the Trash Talk into the
Garbage Can Where it Belongs
By Michael Bromberg
soccer, as shown by the girls and
Zidane, frustration caused by
insults o�en leads to some kind
of violence.
But in football, a sport based
on violence, excessive celebration,
essentially a form of trash talk, is
prohibited. The taunting rule in
made some a�empt at stopping
trash talk on the field, it would
seem that soccer officials should
This past summer, in the wantoo. Yet, Marco Materazzi, the man
ing minutes of the World Cup
who insulted Zidane, was handed
Finals, Zinedine Zidane, a French
a light two-game suspension for
soccer superstar, head-bu�ed an
his role in the World Cup fiasco.
Italian player in the chest as retaliWhen soccer officials start treating
ation to a derogatory
trash talk like the
comment. As a result,
serious offense that
French soccer
Zidane was red-card- legend Zinedine
it is, players will
ed and removed from
have no choice but
Zidane ended
the field immediately his career on a
to follow suit.
while the Italian player sour note after
Tr a s h t a l k ,
continued playing.
whether we like it
headbutting
While violence is an opponent in
or not, causes fights
never necessary, for the 2006 World
and will continue
refs to turn a blind eye
Cup Final
to cause fights unto trash talk on the field
less something is
is at once irresponsible
done. Athletes at
and stupid. Zidane
every level are only
should never have
human, and it is huresorted to aggression,
man nature to lash
but had the Italian
out when offended.
player been penalized
Being active in a
for his comments in
sport is a great way
the first place, Zidane
to increase one’s
would never had to act
ability to work with
so brashly.
others. The phrase
We are all taught
“sportsmanlike
in kindergarten that
conduct” directly
“sticks and stones may
refers to the noble
break our bones, but
demeanor an athwords will never hurt
lete is supposed to
us.” Well, I’m sorry to
display. But, someall the kindergarten
where along the
teachers out there, but
line, soccer officials
it’s an idiotic saying.
started allowing the
If say, an individual
dignity of the game
is derided for their
to be taken hostage.
sexual orientation or
With brawls hapinsulted with racial
pening throughout
slurs, is he not supthe progression of
cnnsi.com
posed to react? In a
the World Cup this
perfect world, words
past summer, the
do not hurt one’s soul,
look of admiration
but we as a society don’t live in a football states that “an unsports- once given to these world-class
perfect world. Two years ago, in manlike conduct foul will be athletes has been replaced by that
a girls’ soccer game here at Samo, called when two or more players of scorn and pity. By penalizing
“a full blown brawl broke out,” engage in prolonged, excessive, those who trash talk, soccer ofrecalls senior Michela Fi�en. “The premeditated, or choreographed ficials will reinforce the ideal that
fight escalated from derogatory celebrations,” (chicagotribune. sports are made for the graceful,
comments made on the field.” In com). Since football officials have not the savage.
Staff Writer
security once more a�er they were
past the gate in the blasphemous
event that they tried to bring water
from the gi� shop onto the
airplane. “There was
a definite sense of
paranoia, especially among
the American passengers,”
Ashtiani
said. “I
d i d n ’t
really
relax until I left
the airport
at LAX.” It’s
true—when
one can’t take a sip
of their Dasani water
bo�le without enduring another round of security checks,
relaxation tends to remain out of
the picture.
While these extra precautions are necessary in a time of
world wide crisis, the traveling
experience has become somewhat traumatic in the process.
As we watch security personnel
confiscate many of our carry on
items, we find ourselves questioning everything. Will we be
able to buy a new chapstick at
our next destination? Will we
even get to our next destination? Who can we even trust
anymore? And as we continue to
commute in a state of troubled
uneasiness, I find myself sadly
asking the same question the
Black Eyed Peas eloquently
posed in one of their songs:
Where is the love?
Note: As of Sept. 26, carry on
toiletries are limited to three
oz. containers and water can be
purchased in secure areas of the
airport.
Sexless Sex Isn’t Justified
By Jennifer Galamba
Ad Editor
When the scandalous show Sex
and the City premiered on HBO
in 1998, fans adored the comedy
because “Sex struck a chord they
couldn’t find on network TV”
(CNN.com). The only problem is
that the show has gone celibate.
The highly censored versions that
air on TBS and the KTLA lack the
blunt comments, raw passion, and
edgy honesty that made the show
a pioneer of its time. By removing
all of the show’s vitality, we lose
its originality.
While most of the leading ladies
roles are only slightly scaled back
in the weak rebroadcast, the lusty
vixen Samantha is almost entirely
cut out. The character, portrayed
by Kim Catrall, who was hailed
for her brilliant satire of audacious
women everywhere is now a meek
reminder of what she used to be
thanks to the network’s excessive
censorship. Granted though, the
Federal Communications Commission “may withhold or place
conditions on the renewal of a
broadcast license, or issue a warning, for the broadcast of obscene
or indecent material”(fcc.gov).
Networks, out of fear of losing
viewers and pushing the limits of
taste, edited in hopes that the program would become more family
accessible. Marissa Cartwell, Director of the Parent’s Television
Counsel explained, “Each episode
is so centered on [sex] it’s hard to
imagine that they have edited it so
that it can be shown on cable”(npr.
org). The networks have edited
out all language and nudity to the
point that the sex in the episode
is hardly recognizable.
This blatant botching of the
quality of the show has only deterred fans that are loyal to the
uncensored version of the show.
However, it is a parent’s responsibility to teach children to understand why programs with sexual
content, such as Sex or Friends, are
not for them. These shows are targeted at a mature, adult audience
and society must trust parents
to control what their children
watch. Because of the concerns
of a group that has no interest in
the program, the shameless core of
the show is obliterated. The news
is devastating, but true; The City
has lost its mojo.
Sex’s uncut material, and the
disputes that came in its wake, are
legendary. Its success skyrocketed
because it “ took the sitcom to new
realms of mature content” (CNN.
com). Not only did it prove to be
a phenomenon on the television
circuit, but it also propelled its
actors to international stardom.
To leave the juiciest details on
the cutting room floor leaves
the moments that set a new
precedent in television history a
vague memory. Sexless Sex is an
echo of what the show was in its
prime, and does not nearly reach
the level of candid passion in the
original. Why should fans have
to buy $35.00 DVDs to relive the
juiciest moments?
Editor-in-Chief..................Emily Foshag
Managing Editor..............Analee Abbott
News Editor........................Molly Strauss
Opinion Editors............Jackie Berkman
Chelsea Rinnig
Feature Editor...........Marissa Silverman
Special Report Editor.....Jeremy Tramer
Campus Life Editor..............Nora Casey
Sports Editors........................Erin Nadel
Charlie Paris
Photo Editor...............Samantha Walters
Ad Editor....................Jennifer Galamba
Copy Editor.......Saba Boradeh-Hamedy
Sophia Young
Art Editor.......................Sarah DeRemer
Outreach Coordinator.........Matt Weber
Editor-at-Large...................Nick Barlow
Adviser...............................Kathleen Faas
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Published biweekly during the school
year by the Associated Student Body
of Santa Monica High School, 601
Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA.
90405. Unsigned editorials reflect the
opinions of the staff. Signed editorials
represent the opinions of the writer.
Staff
Zoey Baldwin, Hannah Bernstein,
Maisy Bragg, Michael Bromberg,
Sam Cotten, Aaron Eslamboly, Henry
Garf, Jessica Gerhardt, Owen Gorman, Gabrielle Hernandez, Jacquelyn
Hoffman, Jessie Grebler-Hull, Kevin
Katz, Jade Kedrick, Vincent Lai, Tina
Naderi, Carl Nunziato, Evan Perkins,
Bennett Rankin, Anthony Ramirez,
Leah Robinson, Danielle Worthy,
Natalie Yadegar, Zoe Young
FEATURE
Ground Zero, Out of the Dust
What’s Happening
In Los Angeles?
By Molly Strauss
By Leah Robinson and
Danielle Worthy
News Editor
Staff Writers
Five years a�er the September 11th World Trade Center
a�acks, Ground Zero remains
barren. Thousands of tourists
visit daily, the site’s grimness a
shocking reminder of the tragedy that occurred there. But it
will not stay empty for long.
In April 2003, the Lower
Manha�an Development Corporation (LMDC) launched the
“largest design competition in
history” to select a memorial
concept for Ground Zero. Over
5,200 people from 63 countries
submi�ed proposals. Michael
Arad and Peter Walker of the
United States won for their design, called Reflecting Absence.
Music:
All tickets may be purchased from
Ticketmaster.com
* Guster with special guests NadaSurf and Tristan Prettyman
Sept. 29 at 8p.m. Wiltern LG
Tickets are $27.50
* Good Charlotte and The Pink
Spiders
Sept.30 at 7:30 p.m Avalon
Hollywood
Tickets are $20, doors open at
6:30 pm
*Mariah Carey with special
guest Busta Rhymes
Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Staples Center
Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Arrowhead
Pond of Anaheim
Tickets start at $19.50
*The Killers
Oct. 6 and 7 at 9 p.m. Wiltern LG
Tickets are $35
Reflecting Absence Memorial.
At 1,776 feet in height, the structure will contain 2.6 million
square feet of office space and a
cubic base exactly the same size
as the World Trade Center’s.
Freedom Tower will emit light
from its spire and reflect sunlight off of geometrically complex outer walls.
The remaining acres of
Ground Zero will contain both
a Port Authority Trans-Hudson
(PATH) station and subway
station, plus three Greenwich
Street towers to be built along
the eastern edge of the site.
Original plans predicted
that design implementation
would be underway by the fi�h
anniversary of September 11th,
which recently passed with no
sign of construction. However,
the memorial is still expected to
be completed by 2009.
Slang Word of the Issue: Wanksta or Wankster \ ‘wank-sta, - ster
n : a person who pretends to be a gangster without having experi-
enced the challenges of true gangster life. “You’re such a wanksta.”
Sports:
All tickets may be purchased
CoastToCoastTickets.com.
* Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Oakland Athletics
Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, Angel Stadium
Tickets are $25
* UCLA Bruins vs. Stanford
Cardinals
Sept. 30, Rose Bowl
Tickets start at $20
* Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. LA
Kings
Oct. 6 at 7:05 p.m. Arrowhead
Pond of Anaheim
Tickets start at $50
* LA Kings vs. St. Louis Blues
Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Staples Center
Tickets start at $35
* USC Tojans vs. Washington
Huskies
Oct. 7, Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum
Tickets start at $35
* UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats
Oct. 7, Rose Bowl
Ticket start at $25
The core of Reflecting Absence is a 6-acre memorial plaza-deciduous trees surrounding
two recessed pools encompassing the footprints of the twin
towers, with waterfalls in the
square shape of the original
buildings. Ramps lead down
into the memorial spaces, where
visitors can read the names of
the deceased engraved in the
pools from behind a curtain of
water (wtcsitememorial.org).
Underneath the park, the Memorial Center’s Bedrock Level
will display the actual Tower
foundations and a portion of
slurry wall, while also providing space for reflection.
The site will house Freedom
Tower, the first office building
scheduled for construction at
Ground Zero, in addition to the
Page 4
The Best Shows for Fall: What You Should be Watching!
By Zoey Baldwin
Staff Writer
Day Break (starts Nov. 15)
Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC
Cast: Taye Diggs, Moon
Bloodgood, Adam Baldwin
Think Groundhog Day
mixed with 24, and you’ll get
the edgy show Day Break. A
Los Angeles detective, Bre�
Hopper, wakes up every
day... at the same time, on the
same day...to find that there
is a conspiracy to try to frame
him for murder. The show
documents Hopper’s multiple a�empts to move on with
his life. “If we could re-live
a day and fix the mistakes we
made, what would we change?”
posed actor Adam Baldwin, as
to the show’s premise.
Heroes
Mondays at 9/8c on NBC
Cast: Ali Larter, Hayden Panettiere
In this highly anticipated
drama, several ordinary people
discover that they possess supernatural powers. There is the
high school cheerleader who
cannot be injured, the man who
paints the future, and the woman with an alter ego. The show
depicts the “heroes” and how
they use their powers.
Grey’s Anatomy
The Office
Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC
Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Ellen
Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine
Heigl
McDreamy is returning
for his third season on a new
night, and followers could not
be more hyped. If you haven’t
been watching, you should
be! The storylines are addictive, and the audience grows
to truly love the characters.
“You should expect to find out
about some of the characters’
pasts, and you should expect
to need a lot of Kleenex,” said
producer Rob Corn.
Thursdays at 8:30/7:30c on
NBC
Cast: Steve Carell, Jenna
Fischer, Rainn Wilson
This Emmy-winner for
Best Comedy definitely deserved its award. This show
is also going into its third season, and the office workers
at Dunder Mifflin, Inc. have
just go�en funnier. Whether
it’s Steve Carell’s character
Michael Sco�’s power trips,
or Rainn Wilson’s character
Dwight’s eccentricity, this
show keeps viewers laughing
every week.
hibition. So stick to the slogan,
grab yourself a cup of joe!
bookstore where locals can
relax, use the computers, mix,
mingle, and of course, get
a bite. The two story structure is surrounded by bookshelves filled with old books,
magazines, and newspapers.
Best of all, there is almost always a short line and plenty
of space to sit.
Steve Irwin, In Memoriam
By Jade Kedrick
stingray a�ack) but the barb of
the stingray went right into the
Irwin’s chest and the poison sent
“Crikey,” the worldwide him into cardiac arrest.
“I was shocked, he seemed
catchphrase in Steve Irwin’s devishly charming accent rings in indestructible,” said sophoour ears. “The Crocodile Hunt- more Maddy Sco�. “It seemed
er,” the man who glued audi- like nature betrayed him,” said
sophomore Eli
ences around
Linnetz. His
the world to
wife, daughhis
wildlife
adventures,
ter, son and
died on Sep. 4
the rest of his
2006.
fans were le�
He was
devastated.
taping a televiWith his
own TV prosion program
off Australia’s
gram
and
Great Barrier
his
passion
Reef when he
rfleming.mplc.co.uk for preservswam over the
ing wildlife,
top of a stinghe
quickly
ray hidden under the sand. The won his way into our hearts.
startled stingray used its com- Animal Planet aired a 15-hour
mon defense mechanism and program, from 12 to 3 a.m. on
stuck up its rigid tail, which Sept. 17, devoted to all the best
went directly into the crocodile shows of Steve Irwin.
As fans mourn his death,
hunter’s heart.
This accident is not typi- we vow to remember a man
cally fatal (only 17 people in who will always be one in a
the world have died from a million in the eyes of America.
Staff Writer
By Saba Boradeh-Hamedy
Copy Editor
Santa Monica has so many
flavorful places to drink your
cup of coffee other than the
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on
Lincoln or the Starbucks on
Ocean Park. Ready for an alternative option? Try these four
top coffee shops and get a taste
of something new.
#1. UnUrban Coffeehouse
Five stars, 3301 Pico Blvd.
“Death Before Decaf” is the
infamous slogan posted under
the entrance sign. Half of the
café is dedicated to food and
drinks, the other to nightly entertainment on a homemade
stage. UnUrban Coffeehouse
also features a weekly art ex-
#2. The Talking Stick
1630 Ocean Park Blvd.
Four stars
When I walk in, I immediately feel at ease. The surroundings are so friendly, small and
cozy that I can’t help but sit
down and enjoy myself. “It is
a quiet place to study. There’s
a nice pillow room in the back
where you can sit and drink
your really expensive but totally worth it smoothie,” said
sophomore Claire Stringer.
The Talking Stick is also a
weekly host to an open mic.
#3. Novel Cafe
Four stars, 212 Pier St.
A funky coffee house and
#4. 18th Street Coffeehouse
Four stars,1725 Broadway
Though not very large or famous, it has made a name for
itself as one of the greatest
coffee spots with its delicious
beverages, unique style and
creative decor. Senior Sophie
Abramowitz adds that, “The
best part about the café is its
laid back atmosphere.”
SPECIAL REPORT
New Faces in the District
Principal Pedroza
Answers YOU
Interview by Jeremy Tramer
Special Report Editor
The Samohi asked students what
what they would like to know
about our new principal, Dr.
Hugo Pedroza. We caught up with
Pedroza, and posed the students’
questions to him.
Student Question: How is Samo
different from other schools that
you have taught at?
Pedroza: It is different from
other schools in one very
important
respect:
The
involvement of community and
parents here is massive. We have
an intergenerational strength
that people take very seriously,
and I haven’t had that at other
schools.
SQ: Why do you put such a
large emphasis on maintaining
a clean campus?
Pedroza: Because this is our
house. You want your house to
be clean and to take pride in it.
This brings about a culture of
caring about your house. All I’m
New Staff
2006-2007
asking is, if you ate something,
whatever debris you have le�
over, put that in the trash can.
SQ: What are your favorite
sports teams?
Pedroza: Honestly, right now,
my favorite sports teams are all
of the Samo teams. I try to go
to as many games as possible.
In terms of pro sports, I don’t
really have an allegiance to any
particular teams. But I like to
watch. I’m a fan of sports.
SQ: Where did you receive your
education?
Pedroza: I graduated from
high school in San Diego. Then
I went to UCLA, where I got a
bachelor’s degree, two master’s
degrees, and a Ph.D. I’m a
Bruin.
SQ: What are your feelings on
the zero tolerance tardy policy?
Pedroza: I’ve been very pleased
to see how this policy has
evolved. The students have
responded. I care about you
going to class and ge�ing
S-House
Pulido, M. 9/11 Advisor
Doughty, L. Math
Aiello, J. Performing Arts
Perry, B. Special Education
Pedroza selects names at the Senior Parking Lottery Sept. 12.
Photo by Owen Gorman
the most out of it, and if you
aren’t on time, then we have
a problem. This is not an antistudent policy.
SQ: How do you feel about the
house system?
Pedroza: I feel strongly about
it. I think small learning
communities are definitely
worth pursuing. The concept is
to try to give the students much
more of a connection with the
adults in their houses. One of
the biggest problems in many
schools is anonymity. I want
teachers to know things that are
important about you.
SQ: How do you plan to respond
to possible racial tension?
Pedroza: My approach is to
rely heavily on students. If
you have an issue, bring it out
and talk about it. If we have
the parents on our side, and if
we have the students and staff
understanding that we are here
to support students, it becomes
easier to deal with.
Becky Romano: There’s a New Sheriff in Town
Romano replaces Tristan Komlos, the new Principal of Lincoln Middle School, as M-House Principal
By Analee Abbott
Managing Editor
There lies within the gates
of Samo a woman who surfed
competitively for 19 years and
preaches that chocolate is a
separate food group. That same
woman speaks affectionately
about her “prima donna” dog
Muffy and believes in the
gospels of diet Pepsi and green
tea. She’s new to Samo, but
plans to stay for a while. This
woman is the new M-House
Principal, Becky Romano.
Romano moved to Camarillo
when she was in fi�h grade
and later a�ended Rio Mesa
High School. A�er graduation,
she headed off to Fresno State
where she received a bachelor’s
degree in History and a
master’s in European Studies.
A�er receiving a teaching
credential, she went on to teach
at various secondary schools,
as well as Juvenile Hall. She
eventually a�ended Azusa
Pacific, where she received her
master’s in education and her
administration credentials. As
an administrator, Romano has
spent 10 years in Fresno and
Oxnard, both as an Activities
Director and an Assistant
Principal.
When not in the classroom,
Romano enjoys anything to
do with the beach, including
SMMUSD Welcomes
New Superintendent
By Chelsea Rinnig
Opinion Editor
Dianne Talarico replaced
John Deasy this August as the
Superintendent for the Santa
Monica-Malibu Unified District.
Deasy resigned in order to
accept a similar position in
the Prince George’s County,
Maryland District. Talarico,
appointed July 20 and employed
Aug. 15, has since assumed his
vacant position and all of his
responsibilities.
Talarico began her career
as a special education teacher,
and a�er various educational
positions in San Francisco
and Rome, she became
Superintendent of the Canton
City Schools in Ohio. Her
leadership and cooperation
with the district raised the high
school graduation rate by 25
percent and propelled overall
improvement in the areas of
reconstruction, technology and
communication.
In her message to the
District, Talarico looks forward
to accomplishing goals of
unity within the educational
community:
“Our
District
will continue to focus on our
very clear and direct mission
of extraordinary achievement
for all, while simultaneously
closing the achievement gap.”
Hopefully, her past experience
will provide for a successful
term, as well as the achievement
of such ambitions throughout
the entire Santa Monica/Malibu
community.
volleyball and surfing. She
doesn’t have a husband or kids
of her own, but she claims that
her two brothers, and her eight
nieces and nephews, provide
plenty of family.
She wants M House to feel
like a family. “I really want to
focus on bringing the house
together,” said Romano. “I
want M-House students to
have a good support system
and provide opportunities for
everyone to get to know each
other. Students in M-House
should know that my office is
an open one. I want them to
drop by, even if they’re not in
trouble.” She also stresses that
she is still talking to teachers and
fellow M-House administration
about what they want. “It’s not
all about me, and my ideas. It’s
important for me to know what
the rest of M-house wants as
well,” said Romano.
Romano truly does believe in
the importance of savoring every
moment. While reminiscing
about one of her favorite
vacations to Ixtapa, Mexico,
she says: “The people were
very friendly. They’re willing
to sit down with you and have
a conversation. They’re happy
that you’re there right now. Life
is all about the right now. People
need to think about where they
are in the moment. It’s very
much a spiritual thing.”
Who’s Who?
1
A-House
Ramos, I. 10/12 Advisor
Pust, J. Teacher Leader
Keller, J. Outreach Specialist
Bloom, E. English
Kennedy, A. English
Wethern, H. Language
Halley, S. Social Studies
Silvestri, M. Social Studies
Gaynor, S. Math
Moulton, E. Math
Kay, B. Science
M-House
Romano, B. House Principal
Fairchild, L. English
O-House
Hardt, R. Outreach
Specialist
Zenoff, K. English
Lee, B. Science
Gangler, S. P.E./ISS
Cierra, J. Special Education
H-House
Colmonero, M. Language
Kinzly, R. Math
Morse, K. Science
Johnson, L. Special
Education
I-House
Gollan, A. Language
Toumayan, G. Language
Gaul, P. Special Education
Other
Pedroza, H. CEO/Principal
Burdick, B. Golf Coach
Patridge, J. AD505
Poon, W. Tennis Coach
Simon, M. Childcare
Velasco, H. Tech Support
Match each new teacher pictured at left
with one of the descriptions on the right
A
--Went rock climbing at Joshua Tree last Spring
--Played softball in the Pan-American Games
--Has a 1,000 gallon coy pond
B
--Used to figure-skate competitively
--Has an English Cocker Spaniel named Papel
--Is from Chicago and taught there for five years
C
--Recieved a national “Beating The Odds” award
--Worked at Starbucks for three years
--Climbed Machu Picchu
D
--Was born in Australia
--Gave up software company position to be a teacher
--Ate deep-fried locusts in Japan
Maribel Pulido, S-House
2
Irene Ramos, A-House
3
Andrew Gollan, I-House
4
Lauren Fairchild, M-House
Compiled by Sam Cotten, Staff Writer
Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B
CAMPUS LIFE
Farsi Found Funny
By Nora Casey
Campus Life Editor
Samo students stare at the painted-over wall that once served
as a memorial to Eddie Lopez.
Photo by Owen Gorman
Firoozeh Dumas’Funny in Farsi
is an international hit, which Dumas
feels is fi�ing as its message is one
of “shared humanity.”
That message was shared at
Samo on Sept. 15 when Dumas
came to speak, for a reduced price
of $2000.
Dumas discussed the political
significance of a book about a normal Middle Eastern family when
the post 9/11 media had “nothing
out there that put a face on Middle
Eastern people.”
Dumas wanted to publish her
book to offset the negative image of
Iranians and to spite an agent who
rejected her because she wanted
Iranian oppression, not humor.
Funny in Farsi showed that Middle
Easterners could be normal and,
well...funny.
But Dumas also just really,
really likes to tell stories. While at
Samo she talked about her name,
Persian food, being a mom and her
struggle to get published.
Dumas also re-told stories from
Funny in Farsi, despite the fact that
the audience had either read them
before or hadn’t bothered to.
Still, many students enjoyed
the talk. “I thought it was great,”
said senior Alex Sassoon. “She was
able to explain Iranian traditions to
people who didn’t necessarily know
anything about it.”
Junior Donnisha Udo-Okon
regre�ed not being able to hear
Dumas. She said “[Funny in Farsi]
wasn’t interesting...If she would
have explained some of it I probably would have liked the book
be�er.”
But aside from breaking down
stereotypes and spreading laughter, Dumas had another reason for
Funny in Farsi; “When I write a story,
it makes me really happy.”
Romance on Campus Music Spreads the Word
By Hannah Bernstein
Staff Writer
Samo teachers Amy Estabrook and Jimmy Chapman were
engaged in August. The wedding
will take place in July, at
an undisclosed location of emotional
significance.
Estabrook
is a sophomore English
teacher and
advisor to
the Yearbook,
and Chapman
teaches Spanish and
coaches soccer.
Estabrook and Chapman met
at Samo in the fall of 2003 when
Estabrook first started work here.
“I didn’t know how to use
Pinnacle and he really helped me,”
said Estabrook.
“I used my four months experience to train her with all the ins
and outs of Samo, and our friendship blossomed into a beautiful…”
Chapman trailed off and Estabrook
dissolved into a fit of giggles.
Soon, the story of Chapman’s
proposal emerged. “He tricked
me and told me we were going
to dinner with my parents,” said
Estabrook. Instead, she found
herself enjoying a picnic dinner at a
park overlooking a view
of the water. “He
did the traditional
down-on-oneknee thing,”
continued
Estabrook.
It was a very
emotional
proposal, and
“we bawled like
babies,” said Chapman.
Their engagement has generated a lot of buzz on campus. “All
our students promised to make it to
the wedding; unfortunately they’re
the ones who’ll have to be bounced
out,” joked Chapman.
Both plan to continue teaching
at Samo. “They hope they make
not only their career at Samo but
their life at Samo,” said Soccer
Director and future groomsman
Frank Gatell.
Touring, Training
and Rocking
Carnegie Hall
By Natalie Yadegar
Staff Writer
Orchestra in Documentary
This fall Samo’s music program
is being filmed in a documentary
of Los Angeles County, studying
music in public schools. The documentary is about the importance
of rigorous music programs in
California, and will be shown at
the California Superintendents
Educational Association and California Department of Education of
Arts Cyber conference on Oct. 18
as well as at other schools across
the state.
Orchestra working with L.A. Phil.
Director Jody Swenson says
“With our free time, we’re trying
to focus on strengthening our
musicianship by getting extra
coaching with musicians from
the L.A. Phil.” Every week musi-
ROP Dominates the World
By Saba Boradeh-Hamedy
Staff Writer
In 2006, victory, success and
happiness overwhelmed Samo’s
Regional Occupational Program
(ROP) as they won competition
a�er competition.
In the spring, ROP participated in a statewide California
championship and a�er a regional
win, moved on to the national
competition in New York.
Going to New York was
exciting enough for the business students, and so was their
first-place victory in the national
Students for the Advancement of
Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE)
competition for the successful café
and store they run on campus, The
Vikes Inn/Cafe. A�er nationals,
they were selected as one of the
top three schools to go to Shanghai
for the Worldwide competition,
the SAGE World Cup.
Despite the long hours and
hard work that helped their
enterprises gross more than $70
thousand last year, the fledgling
entrepreneurs still needed the
community’s help in their bid to
go global. The students needed
to raise $33 thousand to compete
as national champions in August
against their international peers
from countries as far abroad as
South Africa, the Philippines and
Tajikistan as part of a program designed to foster ethical and socially
responsible entrepreneurship on a
global level. A�er a few months of
hard work and fund raising, they
had enough to participate in the
big international cup. In August
ROP set off for their long destination over seas.
The judges first observed and
noted the teams’ appearance from
their suits to their nails. Next, they
listened to the team’s propaganda
and paid close a�ention to how
they presented themselves.
A�er a rigorous competition,
Samo was presented with a first
place award. ROP’s success was
praised and the proud Samo team
did not return empty-handed. They
came back with a shiny trophy and
smiles upon their faces. Though
most of the class that competed
has now graduated, senior Jasmine Coker continues to lead the
group. “I guess the rest of the world
sees the U.S. as lazy,” Coker said.
“We’re actually hard working and
dedicated students. As members of
ROP we try to show that.”
ROP offers career and technical
classes to high school juniors and
seniors. These classes are run by
Terri Jones and Anita Kemp and
help individuals be prepared for
future business careers and presentation abilities. ROP continues
to run their program smoothly and
those involved are proud to be a
part of such a fantastic class.
cians come to Samo and lead
sectionals during and a�er school.
However,Philharmonic violinist
Caer Ferguson says, “Sectionals
are helpful, but since there are
so many mandatory rehearsals,
students are less inclined to participate or take sectionals seriously.”
Wind Ensemble to Carnegie Hall
Wind Ensemble is performing
in Carnegie Hall, in New York,
on Fri. May 25, where they will
be representing our band as they
play in front of an audience of
about 650.
Madrigal and Chamber Singers to
Italy
Samo’s two top choirs are going on tour and performing in Italy.
Choir Director Jeffe Huls thinks
that “it’s important that our trip
represents the curriculum, and
a vast amount of the music came
from Italy... I plan to spend the year
studying Italian composers.” The
choirs will be traveling to Rome,
Venice, Tuscany, Florence, and
Siena. They will perform in two
masses, and two concerts.As for
Chorale, Huls says, “plans are in
the making.”
Page 6
Yearbook
A New Look for ‘07
By Bennett Rankin
Staff Writer
It’s the dawning of a new age
for the Samo Nautilus.
The Nautilus is undergoing
changes a�er the resignation of
previous advisor of more than
30 years, Carol Jago. S-House
English teacher Amy Estabrook
says she has “big shoes to fill.”
“She is very involved with
the process of the yearbook,”
says senior co-Editor-in-Chief,
Nita Contreras. However, while
Estabrook is more involved with
the class than Jago was in the
past, she is still dedicated to
keeping yearbook a student run
organization.
One of Estabrook’s goals this
year is to increase the number of
business ads, thereby increasing
revenue that could be used to
improve the Yearbook.
In addition to Estabrook,
the Nautilus welcomes two new
co-Editors-in-Chief. Both three
year veterans of the Nautilus,
seniors Eric Windell and Nita
Contreras have plans to set this
year’s Yearbook apart from ones
in the past.
“We hope to reach to the
whole school more than the
other books in the past,” says
Windell of the 2007 Yearbook’s
plans.
The Nautilus intends to depart from the geometric theme
of the 2006 Yearbook. According
to Estabrook, the yearbook is
working very closely with an
artist this year and while all
plans remain confidential the
prospects are “very exciting”
says Estabrook.
Although Windell and Contreras are in charge of the class as
a whole, they still want all staff
members to express themselves
through their various sections.
“We have a fresher take now,”
says junior Shea Ritchie of this
year’s Nautilus.
Yearbooks are available for
presale now in L104 for $60.
Snacks, Drugs and Rock & Roll
The Samohi conducted a survey of
219 students on their expectations
and interests for the new school
year. So meet your classmates.
46% of students
do drugs.
70% didn’t like
Funny in Farsi.
54% are not
involved in
sports.
33% listen to rock music most
o�en.
31% listen to rap music most o�en.
28% listen to hip-hop
most o�en.
67% like the new
principal.
73% don’t like the tardy policy.
62% have a locker.
33% think this year
will be tough.
38% like their
schedule.
61% are not in music .
Of those snacks available at the
vending machines;
41% students prefer to buy drinks,
29% prefer chips,
15% prefer nutrition bars,
14% prefer candy,
11% prefer cookies.
Survey compiled
by Saba Boredah
Hamedy, Copy
Editor, and Aaron
Eslamboly, Staff
Writer
Lacy Reveals Budget Cuts,
Capital Improvement Plan
By Emily Foshag
Editor-in-Chief
Just a few months into his
tenure as Samo’s new Athletic
Director, Norm Lacy is already
making his presence felt.
Recently, Lacy has unveiled
several budget cuts
designed to counter
the
athletic
d e p a r t m e n t ’s
$42 thousand
debt and has
started a new
campaign
that requires
all
athletic
programs
to
raise
additional funds
to put towards
improving
the
athletic facilities on
campus.
Athletes must now pay $75,
up from $60 last year, to compete
in a sport at Samo. Two-sport
athletes, who in the past have
not had to pay additional
money to compete in a second
sport, must now pay an extra
$50. In addition, each athletic
program is now responsible
for raising enough money to
cover weekend transportation
fees and tournament fees for
lower-level teams within that
program. Lacy will also a�empt
to combat the financial burden
of the athletic department by
raising the price for drinks in
the vending machines located
in the vicinity of the athletic
facilities to $1.25 in the near
future. The vending machines,
which Lacy estimates bring in
around $20 thousand a year,
currently offer sodas, sports
drinks, juices, and water for $1.
While dealing with the
financial issues, Lacy has a
campaign in the works to help
be�er the school’s athletic
facilities, which requires that
all athletic programs fundraise
Sports— Page 7 The Samohi September 28, 2006
Girls Volleyball Ready to Bounce Back
By Gabrielle Hernandez
Palisades on Sept. 21.
The girls put up a great
fight, but in the end, Palisades
prevailed with the victory,
team
winning 3-2. Palisades
took the first game
25-17,
but
Samo
came back to even
the score with a 2522 game two win. In
game three, Palisades
came
back
from
being down 24-21 to
win, 27-25. But, Samo
seemed to regain
the momentum after
winning game four
25-22, and forcing a
game five. Tension
was high as the two
teams fought hard
for every point. In
the end, however,
Palisades came out
on top with a 15-13
win.
Although the girls
volleyball team has
improved
greatly,
many of the girls
think there is more
work to be done.
“We need to fix the
Sophomore Jeana Schkud, senior Michelle de
little mistakes,” said
la Puente, and sophomore Jenny Katona (front sophomore
hitter
to back) get ready before a serve in their game Heidi Hillman, “and
we need to start
against Palisades on Sept. 21.
playing as a team.”
additional money to put into
improving the athletic facility
of their choice. The soccer
program, for example, plans to
put a scoreboard on the soccer
field this year. “This way,
students can benefit for years to
come,” said Lacy of his Capital
Improvement
Plan,
which is one of a
kind among other
departments on
campus.
He
hopes that by
demanding
that programs
help improve
facilities rather
than just raise
money to pay
for
uniforms,
equipment and
transportation and
tournament
costs,
Samo’s athletic department
will improve as a whole. “If
the city sees the pride we have
in our athletics, perhaps they
will be even more supportive
financially in the future,” said
Lacy.
Lacy recognizes that his style
of administrating is different
than what the coaches are used
to, but claims that the changes
he is making will only be�er
the department. Said Lacy, “I
wouldn’t ask the coaches to do
anything I haven’t done.”
A 28-year employee of
Samo, Lacy has toured the
athletic department as a
football, wrestling and golf
coach, and enjoyed a brief stint
as Athletic Director from 19871989. He took over the position
of Athletic Director a�er
Doug Kim stepped down last
year. During Kim’s two-year
tenure, the athletic program
reached new heights. Four
teams reached the semifinals
of CIF competition and the
boys volleyball team won a CIF
championship last May for the
first time since 1979.
Staff Writer
Sophomore Jordan Keslow
led the way for Samo, finishing
second overall with a time of
17:35. “He’s fast,” commented
Fischer. Keslow was followed
by teammates Julio Alba (17:43)
and Daman Coffman (17:53),
who finished third and fourth
respectively. Brothers Simon
(18:22) and Max (18:25) Einstein
rounded out the top five for
Samo, pushing each other
to sixth and seventh overall
finishes.
“We have strength in
numbers,” said senior captain
Wyles Vance, who is known
for his work ethic. “We don’t
have just one super star, but a
solid team.” Fischer agrees with
Vance on the subject: “We have
such depth on our team, that
it pushes everyone harder and
raises the level of competition.”
Fischer, delighted with the
team’s performance, still sees
ways to improve. “Our spread
(the distance between first and
fi�h runner) is a minute right
now. I want to see us bring that
down to about 30 seconds.”
The girls voleyball
got off to a rough
start, losing their first
game of the season and
making an early exit
in the North Torrance
Tournament.
But,
the team is working
hard to make a strong
comeback.
Senior
captain Michelle de la
Puente commented that
“Everyone is a lot more
focused at practice.”
This year’s team
is a fairly young one,
comprised
of
six
sophomores, four of
which are returning
varsity members, one
junior and six seniors.
Nevertheless, de la
Puente has high hopes
for her teammates. “We
have a really young
team,” said de la Puente,
“but we’ve learned a
lot. We’ve been playing
together all summer,
and we’ve improved
a lot. Hopefully this
season goes well.”
After a disappointing
performance during the
Sept. 16 North Torrance
Tournament,
where
they went 3-5 in pool play and
lost in the first round of the
playoffs, the team was hoping
to turn things around against
Photo by Maisy Bragg
UPCOMING ATHLETIC EVENTS
All events listed will take place at Samo.
Sep. 28 - Freshman football vs. St. Monica @ 3:15
Sep. 29 - Varsity football vs. St. Monica (at SMC) @ 7
Oct. 5 - JV football vs. Los Alamitos @ 3:15
Oct. 3 - Girls tennis vs. Beverly Hills @ 2:30
Oct. 5 - Girls tennis vs. Culver City @ 2:30
Oct. 5 - Girls volleyball vs. Beverly Hills @ 3:15
Oct. 10 - Girls volleyball vs. Culver City @ 3:15
Oct. 6 - Boys water polo vs. Beverly Hills @ 3
Oct. 9 - Boys water polo vs. Culver City @ 3
Cross Country
By Charlie Paris, Sports Editor
Photos by Jesse Grebler-Hull
Boys
The Samo boys cross country
team came into their first league
meet on September 21 very
confident. They le� even more
so. In the first of three league
meets, Samo dominated, easily
beating close rivals Beverly Hills,
with all seven runners finishing
in the top 11. According to
Coach Tanya Fischer, “One of
our strengths is that we run in
a pack,” and that they did en
route to their first team win of
the season.
Girls
Sophomore Gabi Cruz looks toward the finish line on Sept. 21.
According to captain senior
Helen Yu, the girls cross
country team is “Definitely
working more as a team than
ever before. We’re a lot more
united.” It took a team effort
for the girls to win their first
league meet of the season on
September 21, as they edged
out Beverly Hills 33-36 for first
place.
Sophomore Gabi Cruz, with
a time of 22:06, was Samo’s top
runner, finishing fourth overall.
Junior Karissa Gonzalez (22:52)
and Yu (23:13) were also top
finishers, sixth and eighth
respectively. Samo was able
to win despite not having a
runner finishing in the top
three by running and operating
as a team. “We’ve really been
working on training and
running together [in practice],”
said head coach Patrick Cady.
“I am very happy with this
win,” Cady continued. “Last
year, I was very frustrated with
Sophomore Jordan Keslow runs
to a second place finish at Kenneth Hahn Park on Sept. 21.
all of our girls being sidelined
due to injury. That made this
win all the more satisfying.”
Juniors Maki Nakamura
(23:32) and Rachel Horn (24:15)
rounded out Samo’s top five,
racing up the notorious ‘Suicide
Hill’ and across the finish line
at Kenneth Hahn Park.
Cady, easy with praise for
the squad, remarked: “It’s a
good start, but we still have
to keep going out there and
perfoming.”
Why We Run
By Michael Bromberg
Staff Writer
We’ve all seen the cross
countryteam--running,sweating,
panting with exhausted looks on
their faces. Everyone on the team
has to run two three-mile races a
week, with the average practice
run being four to six miles. But,
where is the fun in running
continuously for miles on end?
What is the motivation for a cross
country runner?
Cross
country
coach
Tania Fischer said, “I love the
competition and the feeling of
accomplishment a�er finishing
a race.” But, we are not all
world class athletes like Fischer.
She’s raced competitively for
an Olympic team and has
won multiple national races
throughout her career. Only a
few runners on the team can
compete for first place, so what’s
the motivation for everyone
else?
Alex Frumkin, a freshman
new to the sport says, “I run for
myself. I run to get in be�er in
shape.” But still, lots of things
can get you in shape. Basketball
is athletically taxing, but not
nearly as painful as cross country.
The allure of running miles upon
miles still eluded me, so I went to
a superstar.
Wyles Vance, the senior
leader of the boys cross country
team, is known as one of the
hardest working runners this
school has ever seen. His drive
to improve himself has earned
him a spot on varsity the last
three years. “Running brings out
the best in you. Shared painful
experiences make this more of a
family than a team. Se�ing goals
and achieving them through
hard work is a skill that transfers
into life.” Apparently, the feeling
of finishing a race is worth the
exhaustion of running one.
SPORTS
Page 8
Football Seeks to Uncramp its Style
By Emily Foshag, Editor-in-Chief,
and Anthony Ramirez, Staff writer
tougher challenge for the Vikings
offensively a�er having allowed
just four touchdowns through its
first three games of the season.
Going into next week’s
It would have been huge to earn
the win against cross-town rival
match-up on the road, the ViVenice last week. Monumental
kings will have to be prepared
even, considerfor anything. Samo faced
its share of controversy in
ing the last time
the second quarter against
Samo’s football
Venice when two key
team edged Vencalls went the other way,
ice, everyone on
including one that would
this year’s squad
have put the Vikings on
was still in midthe board for the first time
dle school. But,
since a safety in the openwith powerhouse
Los Alamitos on
ing minutes of the game.
the schedule in
Senior wide receiver Geo
just over a week
Allen, who had a touchfrom now, what’s
down wiped away a�er
the referees ruled it an
more important
interception, maintained
is whether or not
Senior Geo Allen (9) picks apart the Palisades defense
his composure after the
the Vikings can
call that brought Samo fans
improve from on Sept 15.
Photo by Samantha Walters to their feet in frustration:
game to game.
“It’s not on the refs, it’s on
A�er tomorrow night’s contest against the still against Hueneme and Palisades us,” said Allen a�erwards. “I did
winless St. Monica Mariners, Samo to open the season, in which what I had to do, and the ref made
will take on Los Alamitos on the the Vikings put up 13 total the call, that’s the way it is. We had
touchdowns, Samo’s offensive plenty of other chances.”
road Oct. 5.
Los Alamitos, like Venice, has savvy disappeared last Thursday.
Added Cuda, “I’m extremely
a strong running game that will Katz completed just four of 11 proud of the way they responded
give the Vikings problems if their passes and the Vikings had four after a lot of adversity. There
defense doesn’t get be�er. “Our key turnovers. “From an offensive are a lot of things we can build
defense has to be more aggres- perspective, our lack of execution upon for [the game against] Los
sive,” said senior line backer David was frustrating. We didn’t capitalize Alamitos.”
Despite being outscored by
Naylor a�er the loss to Venice last on our opportunities,” said head
week. Throughout the game, the coach Zach Cuda. “We talked all Venice 28-2 through the first 20
Vikings also missed key tackles, week about how we needed to minutes of the game, the Vikings
allowing Venice’s star running back do those things and come game showed resiliency and managed to
junior Curtis McNeal to have his time, we just didn’t get it done.” pull within 11 points with two minway with the struggling second- Los Alamitos looks to be an even utes le� in the third quarter a�er
ary. Said junior quarterback Ryan
Katz of McNeal, who scored four
touchdowns for the Gondoliers,
“He kept coming at us from different angles and we struggled to
stop him.”
Following one-sided victories
Greenies Prepare
for Ocean League
By Erin Nadel
Sports Editor
The Greenies held a 4-3 record as
of Sept. 23. The team lost four starting field players, and their starting
goalie from last year, so the boys
had their doubts about this season,
“We’re just trying our hardest to
win one game at a time,” said junior
Adrian Stepien.
The Vikings opened the season in
the Bell Gardens Tournament held
Sept. 7-9, with a 3-2 record. The
Greenies have a new boys varsity
coach this season, coach Fernando
Navare�e. Navare�e was a four year
starter on the Samo water polo team
1999-2003, and holds the record for
most goals scored in a season, CIF
Division III (135 goals). “It is an
honor to return to Samo as a coach.
This team means a lot to me, and I
am grateful that the boys are accepting me as their new coach,” commented Navare�e. Navare�e has
implemented more conditioning,
more tactical plays and a moving
offense for this season. “I ‘m very
proud of how the boys are coping
with the new changes, and we’re
working very hard every day in
order to represent our school with
pride,” he added.
The addition of morning practice twice a week to the Greenies
workout plan seemed to pay off
when they destroyed Bell
Gardens at home 34-7,
even with starting driver,
Zac Carriere injured. This
year the varsity team consists of 10 juniors, and five
seniors. In this match the
juniors scored the majority
of the goals (a total of 24),
Shane Keckin finished with
eight, Sam Einstein with
seven, and Adrian Stepien
with four. “We were the
more experienced team,
and we executed our offensive strategies well,” Senior Zac Carriere takes a shot
commented Keckin.
against Whittier on Sept 20.
On Sept 20. the Greenies
were truly put to the test
Photo By Jesse Grebler-Hull
when they hosted a match
against Whi�ier, traditionpu�ing in almost 20 hours a week
ally a very talented team (last season of practice. Hopefully it will pay
Whi�ier was one of the few defeats off once league games begin.” The
of the season for the Vikings). The Greenies still have a li�le over a week
Vikings lost 18-9. Senior captain Sky- until before their league games start,
lar Nathanson (who scored six goals and their rivals and main league
this game) was upset that Whi�ier competition, El Segundo, will travel
had scored almost eight goals on to Samo on Oct 16. When asked his
back door passes. “We have to im- goals for the season,senior captain
prove our defensive awereness, and Emme� Bloom said, “I hope to win
get up the pool much faster to avoid league and keep everyone together
counter a�acks and easy scoring on the same page this season.”
opportunities for our opponents,”
stated Nathanson.
The Samohi also extends its conSenior Eliot Storms, former goal- gratulations to the frosh-soph boys waie – now field starter commented, ter polo team who won the Bell Gardens
“We’re all working really hard and Tournament Sept. 22-23.
an interception by sophomore de- forced Adeyemi and Lawrence out
fensive back Terry Wilson brought of last week’s game, another key abSamo in scoring position. How- sence has impaired the Vikings thus
ever, the comeback was short-lived far. Senior wide receiver/defensive
as Samo’s rushing leader, senior back Cameron Collins has yet to
Louis Adeyemi, and sophomore see any time on the field this searunning back Vincent Lawrence son a�er suffering a broken hand
both went out
in practice earof the game
lier this month.
with cramps,
“Anytime you
putting the
have a player like
pressure on
Cameron Collins
the back-up
on the sidelines,
running back,
its going to hurt
junior Jonayou,” said Cuda.
Collins visited a
than Dunn,
doctor Monday
to
make
and will likely
plays during
return to play dethis crucial
time. Venice
fense against Los
added anAlamitos next
week.
other touch“It will be nice
down within
to have him,”
the first two
said senior Daminutes of
the final quarvid Naylor. “He
will really help
ter to hold
Samo back. Senior Louis Adeyeni (8) runs for his us out on both
“ C r a m p i n g 5th touchdown the season against offense and dereally hurt Palisades on Sept 15.
fense [when he
us down the
returns to full
stretch,” said
health].” As a
Photo by Samantha Walters
Katz. Adeyjunior last seaemi finished
son, Collins led
the game with a team-high 211 the team with 547 receiving yards
rushing yards and two touch- and added 69 tackles as a defendowns, but if the Vikings hope sive back.
to have any success against Los
If the Vikings take care of busiAlamitos, Adeyemi will have to be ness tomorrow night against St.
in the game in the fourth quarter. Monica, they will face Los Alamitos
In addition to the cramps that next week with a 3-1 record.
Girls Tennis
By Michael Bromberg
Staff Writer
Under the leadership of
new head coach Wilston Poon,
the girls tennis team is hoping
to keep up its winning ways.
Though the team has lost two
pre-season games, the losses
were to powerhouse schools
Mira Costa and Palisades,
teams not even in the Ocean
League. Poon is confident that
“if we play like we practice, we
will win league.” This statement was backed up with a
crushing win over Crossroads,
a team that has given the Samo
girls trouble in the past.
The Lady Netters are
blooming with talent, led by
some strong veterans. Seniors
Girls Golf
By Erin Nadel
Sports Editor
The Vikings lost to Venice
at Rancho Park Golf Course on
Tues Sept 12. It was a disappointing loss, with only a seven
strokes differenyial. The lead
scores were Junior Gabrielleh
Page and Captain senior Samatha Walters with a score of
49. “It was our first game of the
season and I dont thnk a lot of
us were prepared,” said Page
“a lot of people didnt practice
over the summer. We could
Abby Zaretsky and Alisa
Olinova have been playing
varsity since they were freshmen and create a strong core
for the team. “In the past our
doubles teams hav really hurt
us, but this year we intend
on turning that around. We
have a better group of doubles
players then I’ve ever seen at
this school,” said Olinova. As
well, graceful junior Anastasia Sonkina, also a doubles
player, expects this to be a
great year. Says Sonkina, “we
expect to beat Beverly and
prosper at CIF. This looks
like the best team we’ve had
at Samo in my time here.
Coach Poon has changed the
organization and strategies of
the team and I think its going
to pay off in league.”
of shaved a lot of strokes off
with more summer practices,
but we have improved since
last year.”
There are six girls on varsity
this year; two seniors, three juniors, and one sophmore. “We
hit our balls really hard, and
we are going to dominate the
league this year,” commented
junior Emily Bon
Head Coach Ramon Veral
expects improvement, despite
the small team size. “I want
the team to continue shaving off
strokes and improving.” Wish
the girls luck on their match
today against North Torrance.