December 14, 2006

Props to Israel
Page 2
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Page 6
Cheerleading to Nationals!
Page 8
On the Internet:
www.samohi.smmusd.org/thesamohi
Circulation: 3,600
Published Biweekly
Vol. XCVI No. 6 Dec. 14, 2006
COLUMN ONE:
Teacher Pay Raise In Progress
Menkes Kidney
Transplant A Success
By Chelsea Rinnig
By Michael Bromberg and
Jacquelyn Hoffman
Staff Writers
Samo junior Pesach Menkes
underwent a kidney transplant
at UCLA Medical Center on
Nov. 29. He received the kidney
from his mother.
Menkes comes from a
family of nine children, of which
three are developmentally
disabled and have kidney
problems.Hisbrother,Yehduda,
also in the Special Education
program, underwent a kidney
transplant four years ago. In
addition, their sister, Rivkah,
suffers from kidney disease.
Due to hereditary history,
Menkes’ family was aware
that a transplant might be
necessary for him. Menkes
fell ill several weeks before
the surgery and was placed
on kidney dialysis, which
removed toxic substances from
his blood in place of the kidney
until surgery.
A well-known member of
the Circle of Friends program
on campus, Menkes will return
to school in approximately six
to eight weeks and is currently
missed by many of his friends.
Said senior Omid Adami:
“Pesach is a really good friend
of mine and my lunches won’t
be the same without him. I
wish him the best recovery
possible.”
Aliza felt that donating her
organ to her son was imperative
and an obligation as a mother,
especially as a donor can live
healthfully without one kidney.
She explained: “It was a given.
I knew I was a good match for
him and I knew that he needed
it. It wasn’t difficult to come to
that decision.” Aliza hopes that
her son’s new organ can remain
healthy in the future, “We hope
that the kidney lasts for many,
many, many years.” She added,
“We wish that Pesach is happy
and healthy and productive to
the best of his ability.”
C u r r e n t l y, M e n k e s
recuperates at home. He
is monitored closely, in
conjunction with multiple
doctor ’s visits and routine
blood tests. Between resting,
watching DVDs, and walking,
a home teacher comes to teach.
Aliza summed it up, “We’re
playing a lot of Uno!”
Photo Courtesy of Aliza Menkes
the bill has the potential for
official approval if SMMUSD
demonstrates a substantial
The Santa Monica-Malibu recovery plan in January.
U n i f i e d S c h o o l D i s t r i c t ’s Coincidently, Braham submi�ed
(SMMUSD) Board of Education his le�er of resignation one week
delayed its tentative agreement following the Board meeting.
with the Santa Monica Malibu It is due to be processed this
Classroom Teachers Association evening.
(SMMCTA) regarding a
All members of the
five percent increase in
Board of Education
District supported the pay
teachers’ salaries at its
spending
Nov. 16 meeting due to
raise, except outgoing
conflicting financial
would be Board member Shane
foresights.
dangerously McCloud. The Los
A l t h o u g h
below the AS cnhgoeol el s DUins itfriiecdt
the
SMMUSD
state’s
administration and
teacher, who was not
required reelected, disagreed
SMMCTA had both
signed the agreement,
reserve. d u e t o c o n c e r n s
SMMUSD must show
regarding funding for
a three-year solvency
improvements like the
in order to pass new bills reduction of class sizes.
according to State Law AB1200.
SMMCTA Representative
Chief Financial Officer Winston of High Schools Don Hedrick
Braham’s financial report based concluded: “The majority of
on SMMUSD current spending teachers are happy that the
showed that within the third vast majority of the Board of
year of the bill’s implementation, Education is in favor of the
spending would be dangerously agreement. We’re both hopeful
below California’s required and confident that the agreement
reserve of three percent.
will be approved in January.” If
However, the District’s the agreement is indeed ratified,
Financial Oversight Commi�ee teachers will begin receiving
(FOC) recommended that their pay increase in February,
the agreement be postponed; retroactive to July 1, 2006.
Opinion Editor
Sophomore Melissa Sanchez attempts to dribble through two
Torrance defenders in the girls soccer home opener on Dec. 11.
The ladies have had the best start in Samo history, undefeated
as of Dec. 12. See page eight for further coverage.
Photo by Samantha Walters
30 Credit Math Requirement
To Prevent Senior Graduation
By Aaron Eslamboly
Staff Writer
Samo’s newly implemented
three year math requirement may
prevent seniors from graduating
at the end of the 2007 school year.
Thirty-five to 40 students are
currently at risk, according to SHouse Principal Greg Runyon.
The Santa Monica-Malibu
Unified School District (SMMUSD)
Board of Education increased
Samo’s requirement from two
years to three in 2003 to align
with University of California (UC)
admission requirements. The
legislation went into effect this
year; students must now complete
30 math credits to graduate.
Runyon noted that the Board
of Education legislation addressed
the math requirement issue with a
“long-term view;” however, some
Samo seniors face immediate
consequences. Administration is
assessing the appropriate routes
for seniors who fail Algebra II
first semester. Currently, H-House
Principal Ruth Esseln believes
“the only option available to
seniors second semester will be a
repeat Algebra II A and support
course.” In future, Samo may
offer a math-related ROP course
for credit, and students may also
take classes at SMC. In addition,
seniors might be able to continue
studying throughout the summer,
receiving a diploma at the end of
their term. Eventually, SMMUSD
may address middle school
curriculum.
Senior Quiana O’Guinn
shared her opinion: “I don’t think
they should have changed the
math requirement. It just makes
it harder...for us seniors.”
Despite student skepticism,
Runyon feels three years of math
will help seniors leave Samo
“college-ready.”
Freshmen Failing PE
By Saba Boradeh-Hamedy
Copy Editor
Recently, Samo’s Physical
Education (PE) Department
noticed an increase in freshmen
failing PE classes.
Head Volleyball Coach
and PE teacher Lianne Sato
explained, “The main reason
students are failing is because
of their lack of participation and
non-suits in the class.” Because PE
courses assign no homework, the
grading scale is based solely on
student participation, including
“dressing” in Samo PE clothing.
Freshman Salonee Bahman said,
“I think it’s irrational. Even if
we don’t have assignments, the
grading scale should work the
way it normally does.”
If a student fails PE in
ninth or tenth grade, they must
then retake the course as an
upperclassman at Samo or over
the summer at a school where PE
is offered. Otherwise, they will
Stranger Follows Female Athletes
Samantha Walters
By Nick Barlow
Editor-At-Large
Santa Monica Police
Department (SMPD) officers
escorted an unauthorized man off
campus under suspicion that he
had followed two Samo athletes
returning from a run a�er school
on Dec. 8.
The man, in his mid-twenties,
stopped and questioned Samo
sophomore Sara Falter and
freshman Nina Thompson
near Santa Monica
Place.”He
asked if we
played volleyball, and about
our season and training,” said
Thompson.
The girls noticed him again on
Fourth St. across from the SMPD
building. Thompson later saw him
walk onto campus and look into
the girls locker room window.
Thompson and Falter notified
security guard Ray Cooper and
Cross-Country Coach Patrick
Cady, who called the SMPD.
The officers recorded the man’s
information and gave him a
“Verbal Stay Away” order.
The man said he wanted
to a�ain an assistant coaching
job, said Thompson. Officer
Dave Rynski feels his “story [is]
consistent,” and that there is “no
clear cut crime.” However, if
Samo security catches the man
on campus within seven days of
his “Verbal Stay Away” order, he
could be arrested.
not receive the necessary credits
to graduate.
Said Esseln, “[This issue] is
the source of frustrations for many
teachers and staff members.”
To solve the problem for next year,
Administration is considering
starting a new system in fall of
By Carl Nunziato and Matt Weber
2007 where students who do
not dress in the first two weeks
Staff Writers
of school will a�end a “service
iji’s military has toppled elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
to campus” class instead of
during the country’s fourth coup in under 20 years (CNN).
PE. They would receive PE
credit by picking up trash on
ate on Dec. 4, NASA revealed plans to construct a self-sustaining lunar
campus.
base
by
2024 that could be used as a way-station for manned missions to Mars
However, this
(Reuters).
solution does not effect
students failing this
n Sunday Dec. 3, Haiti successfully conducted its first national election since
school year. M-House the 2004 revolt that toppled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide (Associated Press).
Principal Becky
Romanocommented,
21 year study on over 400 thousand cell phone users in Denmark has found
“Hopefully changes no significant connection
between cell phone use and increased risk of cancer
will be made in the (democraticunderground.com).
students’ efforts
he White house appointed Iraq Study Group, led by former Secretary of State James
or else they may
find themselves Baker, has released it’s recommendations for Iraq policy. According to the bipartisan
not being able to panel, the “grave and deteriorating” situation can only be improved if all of their
recommendations are adopted (MSNBC).
graduate.”
World News Top Five
F
L
O
A
T
OPINION
Let’s Support Israel
By Marissa Silverman
Feature Editor
Sunday, July 23: I am participating in yet another political
rally, standing with my parents
on Wilshire Boulevard in a sea of
thousands of American and Israeli
flags. But this is unlike any other
rally; Israel and Lebanon have
gone to war as my friends are on
a plane to go live and study in Tel
Aviv, and I am terrified.
As the summer progressed, I
found myself constantly on the
defense-- at the nail salon, at
parties, with dinner guests, with
friends at the
promenade-tiresomely justifying the actions of Israel
and my support for them.
After a long
and frightening summer,
I was not
shocked but
saddened by
the response I
received from
my peers at
school when
expressing
such beliefs.
Venting about
my concern for Israel would lead
my friends to quickly turn into
an exchange of political a�acks,
usually ending in the idea that
my sentiments were arising solely
because I am Jewish. Now in one
of the most “we’re-liberal-for-thesake-of-being-trendy” cities in the
country, I’ve go�en a lot of flack
for expressing my support for
what is apparently a “Republican
platform.” Well I’ve got news:
Support for Israel has nothing to
do with being a Republican or a
Democrat, a Jew or a gentile, or
even a Bush lover or Bush basher.
Support for Israel is about being
an American.
As a Jew, I do feel a great connection and responsibility to the
nation which is my safe haven and
homeland. A nation whose citizens
fight on my behalf to protect the
country so that it will be there for
me to visit, for my children and my
children’s children to visit. Yes, as
a Jew, I am deeply compelled to
speak out on this issue.
But I’m first and foremost an
American, and in the midst of a
war on terror and other ongoing
“projects” that the United States
has taken on, li�le old Israel is our,
the United States’, only ally in the
Middle East.
Now I have desperately tried
to explain this to the many Americans I have found myself discussing Middle Eastern affairs with.
And so, in an a�empt to most
logically make my argument, I ask:
If Israel is “wiped off the map”
like Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad is adamantly trying to accomplish, what are we
as Americans,
supporters of
democracy
and freedom,
to do? Unfortunately, absolutely nothing. Without
Israel, the
United States
has no support or even
geographical
connection to
a pertinent
region in the
world. And
without the
United States,
Israel is nothing either.
Although Israel is no longer
officially at war with Lebanon, the
scar has remained and violence
will persist if the rest of the world
continues to bash Israel’s actions
and Americans fail to give our
only ally much needed support.
Therefore, it is time people stop
resorting to uninformed “Bushbashing” tendencies and recognize that we need Israel as much
as they need us.
So please, throw out all the
pe�y reasons you’ve been told
why Israel is or is not right, or why
Bush is or is not stupid, and think
for yourself. Think about what Israel means to this country’s future,
and what it means to your future.
As a Jewish American, I ask each
of you to speak up and support
Israel; their foundation parallels
ours--their value of freedom and
their moral integrity. That’s far
more important than sporting
the latest Bush-bashing bumper
sticker.
Page 2
Sporty Blue and Gold Nerds Galore
Crocs: The Footwear of Satan
By Sophia Young
Copy Editor
Crocs have been inflicted upon
us like a black plague. They are
springing up like evil toadstools,
making their presence painfully felt
in local grocery stores and even
the painfully chic boutiques
of Main Street and Montana
– a parasite wrought upon
our society by Satan himself. I for one have had
enough of this charade
of footwear: It is time to
say no to our society’s
recent shoe debacle, the
rubber gardening clogs
called Crocs.
You probably know them
as the supposedly comfortable
yet undeniably hideous gardening
clogs that pervade the checkout
lines and every other place somewhat suburban. They are also frequently worn by those who are naive enough to believe that because
they are so hideous, they must be
cool. Frighteningly enough, their
popularity is spreading past the
soccer mom and yuppie demographic. “They’re comfortable,” is
the most common argument I have
heard in their favor. This may be true,
but does not validate looking like an
idiot. A business suit made of down
pillows would probably be comfortable as well. You may wonder then,
why
don’t
we see more people wearing pillow
suits? The answer to this question is
simple and applicable also to Crocs:
It doesn’t ma�er how comfortable
you are, you look ridiculous. And
while you might be ok with that,
I, and other innocent civilians, are
not.
My friend once told me ugly is
selfish – by forcing everyone to
look at your eyesore apparel, you
are causing a lot of unecessary
grief. This is a concept definitely
proven by Crocs. By wearing
this mockery of footwear you
become the center of your own
gardening clog-centric universe.
In this sick and twisted place,
trolls roll free and unciorns
knit ponchos, another one
of those inventions that
has caused more harm
than good. If you are
wondering why people
stare when you wear
these shoes, it’s because
they are wondering how
you could stoop so low.
Perhaps you should ask
yourself this too.
Gardening was once an innocent hobby, but it has become
dangerously corrupt in the process. Crocs are the epitome of
self-centeredness – anyone who
chooses to support this evil trade
is asking everyone who gazes
upon their feet to claw out their
eyes. I would honestly rather
see you wearing dead baby seal
carcasses on your feet than these.
Seriously.
Whether You Love or Hate the Bus, It’ll Always Make You Laugh
By Natalie Yadegar
Staff Writer
The last thing you want to do
at 3:16 p.m. is wait in the sun for
20 minutes and get crammed into
a bus packed full of rowdy Samo
students. But no matter the complaining and whining, taking the
bus after school is, ultimately, a
valuable and humorous learning
experience.
In a way, students who take
the bus are very similar to objects
being shipped for delivery. We
have to be packaged, sorted,
loaded, and shipped off, and we
can only hope that we aren’t delicate enough to break through all
that shaking and tossing around.
While our initial thoughts are
that “taking the bus sucks!” we
bus commuters always find a
way to amuse ourselves. A game
called “Jell-O” was invented,
where in a bus so full you can
barely move, you run forward
as hard as possible to see the
domino affect. And yes, it is
gross, but it’s rather reassuring
to know that if I get flung across
the bus, there’s no way I’ll go flying into the glass, but simply get
pushed an inch into the people
surrounding me.
After a full day at school,
you’d think that students would
have a headache and be too tired
to do anything more than sit and
gaze out the window, but that
is definetly not the case. Once,
while my friend and I were talking, we heard a group of a dozen
boys chanting at the back of the
bus. Were they chanting about
something interesting? Not at all,
but instead they were repeatedly
making a football-esque grunting
sound,like “OOwoo, OOwoo,
OOwoo.” This may sound rude
and annoying, but it is ultimately these moments that
shape our day, they separate the
mundane from the extraordinary.
Overall, they contribute to a more
amusing high school experience.
I speak the truth when I say
that myself and all my fellow
bus riders secretly enjoy being
victim to the childish stupidity
around us.
And then, of course, there are
the times when bus activity goes
awry. One day on the number
three bus, two obnoxious boys
dumped juice on the head of
an innocent freshmen before
promptly taking off, undoubtedly to cause more mischief
elsewhere. Several people actually stood up and tried to comfort
the kid, who had started to cry.
I know the freshmen deserve it
and all, but still, it was a little
extreme. And despite all the
hating we do on the freshmen, I
couldn’t help joining the search
for napkins to clean him up. In
a way, the experience taught me
not to be a bystander. Taking the
bus made me a more honorable
person, if you want to take a really indirect and philosophical
approach about it.
Through thick and thin,
the number three bus always
proves to be a memorable transportation experience. The bus
shouldn’t be a place to whine,
rather it should be a place to
laugh, because what more is
taking the bus after school than
a humorous road trip through
otherwise mundane high school
days?
Opinion—Page 3 The Samohi December 14, 2006
Off-Campus Lunchtime: Lose the Long Lines
By Bennett Rankin
Staff Writer
Every year I see freshmen positively
itching with impatience as the blessed
sophomores, juniors, and seniors make
their exits out of the Sixth and Pico gate
at 12:35 every lunch. What they fail to see
however, are the monumental snaking
lines that form in front of every eatery in
the Lincoln-Pico area that constrict and
crush the hope of hot food out of any but
the most punctual of diners. Let this serve
as a warning to you restless freshmen: the
off-campus pass just isn’t all it’s cracked
up to be.
I’m a senior and have had the pass for
the past three years. However, during these
three years with the pass, I’ve been compelled to use it fewer than 50 times. There
are simply too many obstacles standing in
MyTurn: Flames
Not So Funny
By Nellie Kadkhoda
Senior
As I was walking down
the stairs of the History
Building, I overheard two
peers talking about the
burning of Firoozeh Dumas’ book, Funny in Farsi. I
was shocked. I initially felt
like someone was attacking
me and my culture. As a
Persian-American, I felt a
complete connection with
Dumas’ book. While the
Persian community is often
portrayed in a negative
manner, for the first time I
saw my people represented
in a good light.
I believe that the stude n t s we r e a l l o we d to
d o w h a t t h e y wa n t e d
with their copies of the
book because of their first
amendment rights. However, it is important that
they realize their actions
can hurt others and they
should be willing to take
responsibility for others’
reactions. I personally
felt offended. This was a
highly insulting act that
disrespected the author
who was sharing her life
story and struggle as an
immigrant in America. But
even more, it affected all
immigrants, both Persian
and others.
I would expect more
from my peers, especially
since we live in such a
highly diverse city as Santa
Monica. With Iran expressing its desire to take Israel
off the map and radical
Islamic groups fighting
to take over the world,
brainwashing their citizens
in the process, I felt like
the one true interpretation
of the majority of Middle
Eastern people was flushed
down the toilet. What
upsets me most is that
this one form of accurate
media, in the form of an
autobiography, is taken
negatively, whereas the
distorted news about the
conflicts in the Middle East
are “credible sources.” By
burning books with such
valuable content, we are
failing to use a discriminatory eye in order to find out
the truth. Mark Twain once
said, “If you don’t read the
newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the
newspaper, you are misinformed;” this book was
intended to open our eyes,
but with such demeaning
acts taking place, we have
become blinded to the potential value of this book as
a positive representation of
the Persian people.
the way of having a fulfilling off-campus
lunch experience.
Time is always a limiting factor. With a
mere 35 minute lunch at our disposal, obtaining and enjoying a substantial lunch is
difficult. When you factor in the serpentine
lines of students who never know what they
want, 35 minutes becomes quickly shortened to 20. A�er you order your food, you
then have to wait for the 60 other people
ahead of you in line to get theirs. If you’re
lucky, this may only take five minutes. Now
you are faced with a choice: play the role
of garbage disposal and unceremoniously
devour your food to be able to make it back
to campus on time, or savor your hard
won meal, only to have to sprint back to
campus with speed that would make most
cheetahs jealous. Neither of these choices
is particularly appetizing.
Yet another constraint on off campus
adventures is cost. You will be hard pressed
to find a worthwhile meal beyond Samo’s
gates for less than five dollars. The most
cost efficient eateries in the area, Taco Bell
and Jack in the Box, are too far away to be
a real viable option for all but the most accomplished of power walkers. This means
that you must make the choice of either
languishing in the line at El Pollo Loco or
se�ling for a bag of chips from the gas station that you could’ve bought on campus
anyways.
Despite all of these drawbacks, off-campus lunch is still an a�ractive alternative
to the warmed over pizza and tepid bean
burritos that populate our own lunch carts.
The proposition of real, hot food does demand a certain amount of patronage. Be
warned though freshmen, you may well
find that lunch isn’t always be�er on the
other side of the fence.
NC-17 Now Under Seven
By Analee Abbott
Managing Editor
When I was a kid, children saw
child-appropriate movies. The Lion
King was amazing and A Bugs Life
rocked our worlds. You would never
see a five-year old in Saving Private
Ryan anymore than you would have
seen a five-year old in a strip club.
Parents back then knew what was
appropriate. Most parents these
days are not as cautious with their
children. It is a parent’s job to protect
their children from extreme violence
and sex in movies because children
are too young to handle the material
and could easily be damaged by it.
Without much thought, parents
bring their children, no ma�er how
small, to outrageously inappropriate
movies. I saw several elementary
school children watching the recent
movies Casino Royale and Borat.
Movie ratings serve as warnings
to the general public that if you’re
under a certain age this movie is
not for you.
Children in their formative years
are affected by mass amounts of violence. It desensitizes them, showing
that violence is not something to be
alarmed by. Also, small children
have a hard time separating imagination from reality. Movie stars are
modern day heroes and kids get the
impression that it is okay to shoot
people, even when the victims are
the “good guys.” Social Learning
Theory experiments have proven
that children who are exposed to
violence are more likely to be violent.
Violent movies gain popularity and
inspire copycat crimes.
Movies also make sex cheap.
They glorify sex and promiscuity,
making one-night stands and affairs
okay. Rarely do they glorify intimacy
within a marriage, or the emotional
aspects of sexuality. Movies are a
horrible guide to the world of sex
and intimacy, especially if children
are told nothing else.
Some people blame the media
for ripping our children of their
innocence. That’s just not true. A
parent’s job is to monitor and protect
their kids from the harshness of the
world. Everything from TV shows to
movies to video games have ratings
these days. Kids are always going to
want to see these movies, but nurturing parents should not let them.
If children went back to the days of
cartoons and finger paint, maybe this
world would be a be�er place.
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 Editors.....Saba Boradeh-Hamedy
Sophia Young
Art Editor.......................Sarah DeRemer
Outreach Coordinator.........Matt Weber
Editor-at-Large...................Nick Barlow
Adviser...............................Kathleen Faas
Subscriptions
$20.00 PER YEAR
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, Jesse 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
Putting the
Happy in
Happyness
By Aaron Eslamboly
Staff Writer
It is something that can
make you happy, something
so great that the slightest idea
of it can put the simplest grin
on your face. It can be so enjoyable that it may become the
only thing you think about.
It doesn’t come easy though;
Thomas Jefferson wrote in the
Declaration of Independence
that it must be pursued. The
Pursuit of Happyness brings this
valuable lesson to its viewers.
Will Smith portrays the life of
Christopher Gardner, a man in
a midlife crisis that encounters
hardships in every aspect of his
life all while raising his trifling
son in the city of San Francisco.
Gardner begins as a medical supply salesman who
struggles to make ends meet.
Soon, Gardner finds himself
homeless: falling into a train
wreck of bankruptcy. But as the
movie title suggests, Gardner
pursues his goals to become
a stockbroker only to make a
be�er life for him and his son.
Just as Director Gabriele Muccino said, “he doesn’t know
how to spell the word ‘giveup.’ He just encompasses the
confidence to do what he can.”
Throughout the movie, Gardner makes his son
(played by Smith’s real-life son
Jaden Smith) his first priority.
As a whole, this movie
brings to its viewers valuable lessons and splices a bit
of comedy in as well. Italian
director Muccino also adds a
unique perspective to the concept of the American Dream.
All in all, The Pursuit of
Happyness is a movie that we all
should put on our lists. Happiness cannot always be given; it
must be pursued. As Gardner
(Smith) says, “you got a dream,
you go�a protect it. People can’t
do something themselves, they
wanna tell you that you can’t do it.
You want something? Go get it. Period.” The Pursuit of Happyness opens
in all theaters tomorrow Dec. 15.
FEATURE
Eating Outside the Box
By Bennett Rankin
Staff Writer
Sometimes we just get tired of peanut bu�er and jelly; sometimes we need
more variety. If you ever have the
daring to step out of the realm of
familiar foods or you just can’t
stand having another dry turkey sandwich, here are odd food
combinations that, though they
may sound repulsive at first, are
full of the exotic flavor that may
just be able to bring enjoyment
back into our culinary lives.
Currywurst—This
German favorite adds a new
spin to an old favorite. Begin by cu�ing a hot wurst
(sausage) into small, bite
-sized pieces. Next, cover
the sausage morsels with
ketchup and curry powder.
This intercontinental flavor
combination adds spice and
complex flavors, converting
a simple breakfast dish into
a full bodied meal. If you
want to feel really European
though, add mayonnaise.
PB&CC Quesadilla—This is a
great dish for a busy student. It
takes mere minutes to prepare and
its exciting flavor combination does
not disappoint. Begin by toasting
a tortilla (flour preferable to corn)
until it is hot but not crispy. Next
By Zoe Young
Staff Writer
We are now deep into
the holiday season. It is a
time for togetherness, family, warm fires and most of all
the perfect ambiance. There
is no background music more
classic than that of the Christmas carol. A good carol can
bring families together, begin
new love, and incite babies to
laugh. But those babies know
nothing of the pain and dedication that goes into that “We
Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
My feet hurt, my voice
is cracking, my throat is
spread a layer of peanut bu�er on
one half of the quesadilla. Spread a
layer of cream cheese on the other.
Fold and enjoy this creamy treat!
If you want a tasty dessert sensa-
flavor with every bite! If you want to
complete the American conversion
of this dish, add mustard or relish.
Hot and Creamy Sandwich—
Cream cheese makes another
all-star appearance in this
personal favorite of mine.
Toast bread and spread a
layer of cream cheese on
each slice. Add hot sauce
to taste. The perfect sauce
for this dish is the Vietnamese wonder sauce, Sriracha
(which works perfectly
with basically any food). If
you want something a li�le
more substantial with this
sandwich, add a spicy meat
such as salami or pepperoni.
Red Rice—This simple snack leaves
room for creativity. Begin by preparinghot,white,steamedrice. Then,dip
your fork (or chopsticks) into ketchup. Enjoy this simple but rewarding
Sweet Fries—If you ever
find yourself bemoaning the
lack of variety at your local
burger joint of choice, give
this combination a try. Order French fries, the ho�er
the be�er, and a milkshake
of your choice (strawberry is
my personal favorite for this).
Instead of dipping your fries
in the all too familiar ketchup, dip
them in your shake. The contrasts
between hot and cold and sweet and
salty provide a tantalizingly complex
flavor that is sure to leave you clamoring for more. If you desire something more exotic, substitute onion
rings or fried jalepenos for fries.
raw, and the heel has broken
off of my shoe. I am a Samo
Madrigal. This is a picture
of myself after our first caroling gig of the season, the
Main Street tree lighting. The
event is picturesque, turning
Santa Monica into a small
town with an even smaller
tree. Singing at the lighting
was wonderful, but the subsequent caroling from store
to store became a marathon
that left weary singers at Urth
Café two and half hours later.
By the time Christmas rolls
around I will have sung “The
First Noel” at least 200 times.
Why do I do it, you ask.
Why subject myself, a Jew,
to carol after carol, praising Jesus Christ, the Lord
and savior? Because I love it.
Despite their religious connotations, every carol has a
message of peace. The underprivileged children at the
Sears/Salvation Army benefit and the retired teachers
at their luncheon have been
two of the most appreciative
audiences I have ever had
the pleasure to sing for. They
are blissfully ignorant of the
calluses and laryngitis that
went into the performances. And if I can fool them, I
can definitely fool myself.
tion though, substitute marshmallow cream for cream cheese.
Page 4
Challenging
Reality with
René Magritte
By Jackie Berkman
Opinion Editor
Upon walking into the
René Magri�e art exhibit,
one finds oneself standing
on a carpet of blue sky and clouds
and looking up at a ceiling of Los
Angeles
freeways.
It
is
easy to see why the show,
which is running at the
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) from
Nov.19-March 4, is entitled
“The Treachery of Images.” Surrealism is a style of art that stresses the
nonsensiblesignificanceofimages,
anditseemsthatMagri�e’sobjective
in his work is to take our
perception of how things
should be and alter them
completely.Theresultisashowthat
is both original and provocative.
Some of Magri�e’s most famous works include the classic
piece titled “The Treachery of Images” which is a
picture of a pipe and then
the
contradictory
French
phrase
underneath--Ceci
n’est pas une pipe--”This
is not a pipe”. Magri�e’s intention is to show us that
while the image looks like a
pipe, it is not actually a pipe-- it
is merely a picture of a pipe. One
cannot touch, smell, or smoke the
pipe, therefore it remains only an
illusion,justlikemostofourperceptions.AnotherofMagri�e’sfamous
works, “Personal Values,” challenge our obsessions with materialistic objects by giving
them much more emphasis than
theydeserve.Theresultisaglimpse
into the values of our society, and
how distorted they have become.
Going to see an art exhibit might sound like the
absolute last thing high school students would want to do. But the
exhibit is free to everyone 17 and
under. This exhibit is designed to
a�ract those who like to
question the world around
them, and when forced to
challenge
everything
you
know,
you’re
bound
to
learn, and more importantly,
open
your
mind.
Samo Helping Africa
NIGERIA
Nigeria is home to the world’s
ninth largest population, and
is the most heavily populated
nation in Africa. Forty percent
of the 132 million Nigerians do
not have access to a clean water
source, and Nigeria is ranked
159th out of 177 countries in
the United Nations’ Human Development Index, which ranks
countries by a formula based on
life expectancy, education, literacy, and standard of living. Nigeria is one of the world’s least
sanitary nations, with raw sewage present on city streets.
MALI
Mali is ranked 175th out of
177 countries in the United
Nations Human Development Index (see above). For
decades during the 20th century, Mali was widely recognized as one of the poorest
nations in the entire world.
65 percent of Mali is desert
or semi-desert, making it extremely difficult to make a
living there. Children born in
Mali have a 22 percent chance
of dying before the age of
five. 17 percent of these infant
deaths are caused by malaria.
Frequent droughts in Mali
have drastic effects on its agriculture-based economy. 33
percent of children under age
five in Mali are underweight
for their age.
The Malaria Club
Presidents: Jon Pritcher and
Jeremy Tramer, Juniors
The Malaria Club is doing
well in its inaugural year.
Pritcher and Tramer were inspired to start the club a�er a
doctor from Mali who works
with malaria patients came
into their biology class last
year and talked to them about
malaria. The goal of the club
is to raise money which it will
then use to purchase mosquito
nets. The nets will be used to
help potential victims in Mali
who could become infected
with malaria. The club raised
money at Club Day, and its
members are planning to go
door-to-door to raise money
for their cause. They also plan
to sell t-shirts.
CLUB UNICEF
President: Jen Rivera, Senior
Club UNICEF helps the organization UNICEF fund raise
for underprivileged children in
different parts of the world. It
collects money and gives it to
UNICEF, which uses it to put
well taps in villages in Africa, in
order to give them fresh water.
They also help support women’s
education and give immunizations to children in Africa. Last
year, Club UNICEF donated a
majority of their money (raised
at club day and by trick-or-treating for UNICEF) to Nigeria.
SUDAN
The Darfur region in Western
Sudan has gained global a�ention recently a�er the tension
that has plagued the region for
years escalated into armed violence in 2003. Almost half a million Sudanese people have been
killed as a result of the fighting
between the Janjaweed militia
group and local tribes. The situation in Darfur is causing an international media firestorm, and
many are calling for the United
States †o step in and help out.
The conflict has displaced 2.5
million people.
Statistics for this report
came from
WHO.com
UGANDA
contributed to this report.
Tanzania, although in be�er
shape than many of its war-torn
neighbors, still comes in a dismal
162nd out of 177 in the Human
Development Index. Tanzania
still has its fair share of danger,
an example of which would
be the 1998 bombing of the
US Embassy in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania’s largest city. The 2004
Indonesian tsunami hit the Tanzanian coast, killing 11 people
and causing extensive damage.
44 percent of Tanzania’s residents are under 15 years of age,
and child homelessness there is
a significant problem.
How You Can Help
The following are charities that donate money to various causes in
Africa. In addition to joining one of Samo’s many clubs that help out
in Africa, this is another way that you can make a difference. Visit the
websites listed at the end of each paragraph for more information.
Africare works to improve the quality of life in Africa and focuses
on assisting Africans and their communities in the most pressing
areas, including food, security, agriculture, health and HIV/AIDS.
Since 1970, Africare has raised more than $540 million to assist Africa. For more information or to donate online, visit www.africare.org.
African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) USA seeks
to improve health in Africa and help millions of Africans take control of their health and their lives. AMREF USA works to educate
Americans about the struggle of Africans and hopes to build partnerships with similar organizations to ensure that everything possible to improve the African living condition is done. Donations are
accepted online at usa.amref.org.
VolunteerAfrica offers opportunities for anyone age 18 and over to
work with villagers to construct various buildings, including health
centers and classrooms, or to work with orphans in Tanzania. For
more information, visit www.volunteerafrica.org. Donations are also
accepted online at the above website.
The goal of Club S.O.S. in Sudan (S.O.S. is an acronym for
Students Opposing Suffering)
is to unite the student body in
an effort to provide aid for Sudan. It also would like to push
the United States Government
to provide aid for Sudan. “We
think that the suffering in Sudan
has not been receiving enough
a�ention,” says Bhamani. Last
year, S.O.S. in Sudan raised
$1000 through fund-raising and
bake sales.
Uganda, the country where
infamous crazed dictator Idi
Amin once wreaked havoc
on the population (killing
hundreds of thousands of
innocent people), is now the
home of the brutal and ruthless Lord’s Resistance Army
(LRA). The LRA is engaged
in one of Africa’s longest conflicts, as it has been fighting
against the Ugandan government since its founding in
1987. The LRA is known for
frequent torture and rape of
innocent people, and its members routinely commit human
rights violations. In the last
20 years, LRA members have
kidnapped over 20,000 children and forced them to become soldiers.
Saba Boradeh-Hamedy,
Copy Editor; Sara DeRemer,
Art Editor; Aaron Eslamboly,
Staff Writer; Erin Nadel, Sports
Editor; Jeremy Tramer, Special
Report Editor; and Danielle
Worthy, Staff Writer, all
TANZANIA
S.O.S in Sudan
Presidents: Nadia Bhamani and
Alysha Javani, Juniors
Club Amani
President: Sara Landon, Junior
Landon decided to found Club
Amani a�er becoming acquainted over the summer with the
head of the Amani Children’s
Home. The Amani Children’s
Home provides a home for orphans and street children in
Tanzania. Club Amani plans to
donate the money it raises to the
home. So far, it has raised money via bake sales, garage sales,
and donations. It plans to hold
a charity event at which it will
collect donations for The Amani
Children’s Home. Says Landon:
“The more we give, the more we
give them a chance.”
The Invisible
Children Club
Presidents: Rina Amatya and
Ye Ji Lee, Sophomores
Amatya and Lee started The
Invisible Children Club after being inspired by a video
about Uganda, Invisible Children, which they watched last
year in school. “It’s such a big
crisis, but no one cares about
it because no one knows
about it” says Amatya. They
raised money at club day, and
are planning to have a movie
day, either in Barnum Hall or
in a classroom, at which they
will sell food and collect donations. They hope the club
will raise awareness about the
problems in Uganda. “I just
wanted to make a difference,”
says Amatya.
CAMPUS VOICES
“I think it’s unfortunate that our president is doing negative things in African countries like Sudan and Uganda
when he could be really helping these people.”
-Cindy Arevalo, Senior
“It’s a travesty that we allow things like this to happen on
our planet.”
-Eryca Sender, Junior
“I’m not really up and current on the situation, but I do
believe something needs to be done about it.”
-Mike Leonard, Sophomore
Spotlight
on: WAC
By Kelly Snyder, Senior
We, the World Awareness Commi�ee (WAC), meet
Wednesdays at Lunch in Rupprecht’s room (H208), or next door in
Acker’s room. I’ll get that info out
there now, because we want as
many students as possible to get
involved!
WAC is trying to get more
students aware of various issues
facing our world today -- like the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, access to education, and world hunger. But as
our main project this year, we’ve
decided to take on the Invisible
Children Schools for Schools program. Basically, as a school, we
raise money to build a school in
Northern Uganda, a country now
in a dire situation. But we can do
something for the kids over there
by taking on Schools for Schools.
About six weeks ago, I got a
phone call from one of the filmmakers of Invisible Children, Jason Russell. He was calling to tell
me about Schools for Schools and
to ask Samo to get involved. He
asked us to raise $25,000 to build
a school for the children of Northern Uganda. If anyone can do it,
it’s us, Samo.Maybe some of you
saw Invisible Children last year
at one of the screenings, or in Mr.
Verdugo’s class, or maybe you’ve
heard about it from a friend. It is
amazing. But don’t take my word
for it. You can watch it online at
Google video, or hopefully in January in your social studies class.
WAC is working on ge�ing the
social studies department to be
a part of the Schools for Schools
project by showing the film in
their classes next month. Then, on
Feb. 2, we’re ge�ing the Invisible
Children World Tour to come to
Samo to show some new media.
Now it’s time to start talking about the fundraising events
WAC is planning. First, we have
“V-Show,” which stands for “variety show,” and it’s a talent show
where YOU can sing, dance, act,
perform stand-up comedy, submit
a film, or whatever else you want
to do. Applications will be out in
February, so start practicing!
Then there’s a Dance Marathon. Find people to sponsor you
and then dance until you can’t
anymore! Also, everyone who
raises at least $100 gets a free tshirt, and we’ll have food, drinks,
and a DJ for your enjoyment.
Speaking of t-shirts, WAC
is working with AP Art students
Darya Farhoodi and Jun Cha, and
potentially a 2nd grade class at
Roosevelt Elementary School to
design t-shirts. We should have
them ready to sell by the beginning of February.
Our final event is Ba�le of
the Bands, but the plans are still
in their infancy. We know you
guys are in awesome bands,
or you know people who are.
Listen for announcements next
semester about auditions.
If you want to help out
with WAC and the Invisible
Children Schools for Schools
program, come talk with us
at Lunch on Wednesdays. If
you have questions, email us
at
[email protected].
CAMPUS LIFE
Grammy Star Sings to Choir
By Molly Strauss
News Editor
British soul singer Corinne
Bailey Rae answered questions and
performed for Samo choir, orchestra and band students on Dec. 1 as
part of the Grammy Sound Check
Program.
Bailey Rae, 27, her petite figure
clad in a striped dress and
tights, seemed relaxed
as she addressed the
crowd of 40 Samo
students in her
cockney accent.
Eyes closed, tambourine in hand,
she began the first
song in her set, the
American hit single “Put
Your Records On.” “Breathless” came next. Bailey Rae’s style,
influenced by everyone from Billie
Holiday to Led Zeppelin, is an
eclectic mix of soul and rhythm
and blues: raw, melodious and
genuine.
Audience members seemed
hesitant to volunteer in the ensuing question and answer session,
but soon warmed to Bailey Rae’s
authenticity. The artist played
classical violin as a child and emphasized the importance of this
training in helping her succeed as
a musician. Though she admired
Whitney Houston and Mariah
Carey, she felt disheartened by
the technical perfection. When
she heard Holiday, Bailey Rae
realized she could pursue music
professionally without a flawless
voice. Coming from a racially
mixed family, Bailey Rae did not
“fit in” at school. However, when
she discovered the rock guitar
world and formed a band called
“Helen,” she knew she had found
her place. Now married, she
lives in England with
her husband.
Bailey Rae
ended with “Like
A Star,” the lead
track on her CD
and the only song
that “just came to
her” effortlessly.
As an added surprise, every audience member received a free copy of Bailey
Rae’s self-titled album. Students
lined up to meet her and obtain
autographs; Bailey Rae spent a
few minutes with each.
The Grammy Sound Check
Program facilitates interaction
between artists, music professionals and students. Huls was pleased
with the event, and feels “ students
benefited tremendously.”
Sophomore Ariana Nedelman characterized the experience
as “awesome,” though Bailey
Rae’s music was “a li�le pop-y.”
She added, “But you’ve got to love
how much she loves it.”
Bailey
R a e : r a w,
melodious and
genuine.
A smalll fraction of the graffiti found on the Samohi campus.
Photos by Owen Gorman and Evan Perkins
Shakespearean Sex Romp
By Nora Casey
Campus Life Editor
I’ll be honest—I had fun.
If you aren’t a big Shakespeare fan, don’t let it stop you
from seeing A Midsummer Night’s
Dream. When reading the play
in class the play is all about
the beautiful language. But on
stage in the Humanities Center
it’s about the comedy. Reading
sex jokes in 16-century English
may not be funny, but watching
them is.
The actors do a lot of running, jumping, sliding, screaming, and dancing. The play is
filled with modern music, and
these Shakespearean fairies appear by blacklight. Theater Director Dr. Frank X. Ford made each
character outrageous and funny
and modernized the se�ing , even
adding some modern lines in
keeping with the se�ing.
I figured this out when senior
Daniel Parfrey came on as Theseus, the Duke of Athens, speaking like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Then Theseus’ fiancée Hippolyta,
who in Shakespeare’s version
is a proud Amazon warrior, came
on as an alcoholic with a fondness for singing Marilyn Monroe
songs to herself.
“I was trying to make the
play more accesible to students,”
said Ford. “I want them to understand that plays can be fun.”
Senior Nick Leonard, a seasoned comedy veteran, stole the
show with an incredibly funny
performance as Bo�om, an aspiring actor who gets turned into a
donkey. “I really got to go all out
on this [part] and not hold anything back.”
Bo�om was an accompanied
by a troupe of cra�smen-turnedactors who were fond of line dancing and highly reminiscent of The
Village People.
Parfrey was great in his Samo
debut, playing both Theseus and
Oberon. Senior Collin Hurst,
formerly President Roosevelt in
Annie, was grand as a 70’s-themed
Demetrius wearing a stylish green
jacket with bright blue pants.
Almost all the female parts are
double cast, the ladies would not
be put to the sides. Helena and a
finger-snapping Hermia shouted
and stormed with great intensity,
and the neon-clothed fairies fli�ed
and flirted with ease.
The story is amusing and not
so far beyond the experiences of
a bunch of teenagers who spend
way too much time thinking about
sex anyway.
Freshman Nicola Weiss, double-cast with senior Hannah Getz
as Spout/Wall, said that Samo theater is “just amazing...the funniest
play I’ve been in or seen.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
is playing Friday and Saturday
nights at 8 p.m., and Saturday
matinees at 2 p.m. in the
Humanities Center until Dec. 23. Admission
is $15.
Sophomores
Cary Forest,
L s y a n d e r,
and Zoe
Rose, Hermia, on
stage.
Photo by
Maisy
Bragg
Page 6
You Know You
Go To Samo
When…
...you believe Tommy’s, El
Pollo Loco, and Coffee Bean
are essential food groups.
...you’ve had a class where
more than five people were
on their sidekicks.
...you know which vending
machines are still on during
class.
...you’ve seen green people
run in Speedos.
...you’ve had a sports coach
as a teacher.
...you can smell cookies from
your second period.
...you have to wait in line to
use the stairs.
...you can see the Pacific
Ocean from at least one of
your classes.
...you think Mr. D secretly
controls the universe— with
his mind.
...your school has actually
been on lockdown.
...you don’t know any of the
words to the Hymn of Praise
...you’ve fallen down the
stairs of an amphitheater.
...you’ve been so bored in
class that you’ve resorted to
reading the Code of Conduct
for entertainment.
Compiled by Leah Robinson,
Staff Writer
Fight, Fight, Fight! It’s Football Season
In light
of the UCLA
football upset over USC,
The Samohi decided to line
up our school
rivalries.
Team USC:
Washington
Morales
Dearn
Lacy
Iniguez
Okla
Trundle
McGee
Team UCLA:
Thais
Harris
Flanders
Stevens
Karyadi
Tipper
Acker
Rupprecht
Beeman-Solano
Barraza
Teran
Gaida
Ha�
Kennedy
Faas
Sakow
Compiled by Saba Boradeh-Hamedy, Copy Editor, and Aaron Eslamboly, Staff Writer
Bruno’s World: Samo’s Smelly Underbelly
By Sam Cotten, Staff Writer and
Erin Nadel, Sports Editor
A copy of Deepak Chopra’s
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
can always be found at the bottom
of custodian Bruno Anderson’s
backpack. The book is Anderson’s
favorite, and has inspirational. “I
live my life by it.” said Anderson.
So far, it seems to be working out
for Anderson, who, in addition
to being custodian at Samo, is an
avid reader of spiritual literature
from a religious blend of sources
including Buddhism, Hinduism,
different meditative exercises
and even Yoga.
Anderson grew up in Monterey, California, where his parents raised him along with five
other sons. His father worked
in the military for thirty years
at Ford Ord. After high school
Anderson followed his father’s
path and had a brief stint in the
military where he worked as a practice, they cannot get in,
Tech Commissioner for three and the mysterious Anderson
years and developed an affinity cannot be found.
Besides reading, Anderson
for computers and electronics.
For the last nine years An- enjoys lifting weights, playing
derson has worked at Samo, basketball and roller blading,
which is like a second home to activities that he partakes in
him. At school he works primar- during his time off from Samo,
ily in the sports locker rooms, which can be minimal.
Anderson’s job often reand can always be found there
late after school. He has been quires him to extend beyond
seen still at work as late as 10 his normal custodial duties. He
p.m.
said, “I try to help any student
Anderson’s wrath is feared the best I can.”
in the locker
room. If he
UNIVERSITY DRIVING SCHOOL
finds that a
sports team’s
(310) 559-9056
locker in unDrivers Education, Enrollment, and Training
nessacarily
Six hours of driver’s training includes:
dirty, he has
Free pick up, drop off, and private lesson
been known
Good price- Good service
to lock them
10680
W.
Pico Blvd. #288 L.A., CA 90064
out. When
www.universitydriving.com
the team returnes from
Boys Soccer Loses Two in a Row,
Record Now Stands at 3-2
By Emily Foshag
given talent up front,” said junior
forward Artur Jozkowics. “Even the
Editor-in-Chief
guys coming off the bench bring a
lot to the table as well.” Jozkowics,
For a team that found a way to
who will return to play Saturday
score 11 goals in its first three games,
a�er missing the last two games
offensive production shouldn’t be a
with a sprained right ankle, should
cause for worry. Yet, as Samo’s boys
be instrumental in ge�ing the team
soccer team failed to find the back
back on track.
of the net in the last three halves
The Vikings displayed the
of soccer it has played, the team’s
a�acking style that they hope to
record now stands at 3-2.
return to when they defeated El
In addition to picking up
Camino Real 4-2 in
the
offensive
theirhomeopeneron
production,
the
Nov. 30. Junior Eddie
coaching
staff
Delgado helped get
recognizes that the
the Vikings off to
team still has other
an early start when
areas in which
scoring on a free kick
it can improve,
in the 11th minute
particularly on the
defensive side of
and assisting on
the ball. Although
fellow sophomore
Samo’s
defense
Juan Magaña’s goal
wasn’t much of a
midway
through
concern in a 3-1
the first half. A�er
win at Harvardplaying to a 2-2 tie at
Westlake on Dec. 5, it
hal�ime, the Vikings’
quickly became one
two
second-half
when the Vikings
goals sealed the win.
gave up three
Defender junior Nick Ferro steals the ball from a West Jozkowics scored in
second-half goals
the opening minutes
Torrance attacker on Dec. 12.
to Gahr on Dec. 7.
Photo by Maisy Bragg of the half and then
When senior David
found Victor Rivas
Castellanos
and
for the final goal in
sophomore Ricky Martinez scored the challenge of ge�ing back to the 58th minute. “We played our best
early in the first half, the Vikings what made them successful in the soccer of the season in the second
looked as if they were on the way to first few games – scoring goals and half,” said Gatell. “We stepped up
another big win, but Gahr rallied to pu�ing pressure on the opposing the physicality and continued to
pull off the 3-2 victory. “We stopped teams’ defenses. “We have god- move the ball le� to right, expose
the defense, and a�ack from the
flanks.”
The win came on the heels
of
a
season-opening win at Mira
TS:
When
did
you
know
you
wanted
By Michael Bromberg
Costa
on Nov. 28. Behind two goals
to
be
a
professional
snowboarder/
Staff Writer
from sophomore Orhan Basak, the
skateboarder?
The Samohi, interviewed snow- SW: Since I was about seven years Vikings overcame a 2-0 first half
boarder/skateboarderShaunWhiteina oldIwantedtobeasnowboarder,but deficit to earn the 4-3 victory.
Looking to stop their recent
webchatonNov.28.Hewasinthepro- whenIstartedtherewasnoOlympics.
cessofpromoting“ProjectRed,”anew Ijustwantedtobeaproandfollowed slide, the Vikings will face Crespi
campaign from Motorola advocating what I believed in and this is where I on Dec. 16 and will compete
in the South Torrance Holiday
givingmoneytoAfrica.But,seeingthat ended up.
thisschoolisfilledwithskateboarders TS: What were you like in high Tournament Dec. 20-23.
The Samohi extends its
andsnowboarders,TheSamohihoped school?
White,agoldmedalistinsnowboarding, SW: I wore a lot of tuxedo t-shirts congratulations to the Frosh-Soph
would have some inspiring words for and Birkenstocks. Well, I did a lot of boys soccer team, which won the West
independent study to keep up with Torrance tournament on Dec. 9.
the boarding community.
The Samohi: What would you tell any my work on the road, but I did the
aspiringprofessionalsnowboardersor waddlelikeeveryoneelse.Youknow,
the horrible school dance where you
skateboarders?
By Anthony Ramirez
Shaun White: Honestly, the biggest rock back and forth with the girl.
Staff Writer
thing I would tell any skateboarder or TS: If you weren’t snowboarding/
snowboarder is to just have fun. A skateboarding, what would you be
Last season, the Vikings were
lot of times people are worried about doing?
stunned to be seeded 14th in the
sponsors, money and free stuff…and SW: I’d be a Dunlop sponsored, proCIF Division I-AA playoffs a�er
iftheyjusthavefunandenjoythesport FrisbeeplayerorI’dbeDannyDevito’s
amassing a 20-2 record over the
that stuff will come.
stunt double. I have high goals.
course of the regular season. The
biggest knock against them? Their
strength of schedule. With that in
mind, the Lady Vikings came into
this season knowing that in order to
get any respect, they would need to
compete against the top-tier teams
inthesouthland.That’swherethefirst
annual Ba�le at the Beach Classic at
RedondoUnionHighSchoolcamein.
Aweek-long event, the Lady Vikings
finished fourth in the tournament,
which featured three of the top five
teams in Southern California.
Inthesemifinalsofthetournament
on Dec. 8, the Lady Vikings took on
the number one team in the nation,
Long Beach Poly. Down by eight at
halfitme, the girls were able to hang
with them through three quarters,
but ended up losing 67-37. Katy
Keating led the team with 19 points
and seven rebounds.
In the third place game on Dec. 9,
the Vikings lost to another southland
power, Narbonne. A�er the game,
Keating and senior Ebony Sissac
a�acking in the second half and that
caused them to be able to put more
pressure on us at the other end,”
said junior sweeper Nick Ferro.
Against West Torrance on
Tuesday, the Viking defense
managed to hold the Warriors to
just one goal, but suffered the 0-1
loss a�er the boys failed to score
despite working the ball around
well in the second half.
Now, the Vikings are le� with
Shaun White
Sports— Page 7 The Samohi December 14, 2006
Athletes of the Issue
Selected by their coaches for their hard work and dedication,
these athletes, among others, can be seen in the Breezeway.
Favorite food: cheese pizza
Juan Magana
Pre-game rituals: get-hyped
music
Myspace is good
Favorite Pro Athlete: Rafa
Marquez
Nickname: Maganzo
Last movie seen in theaters:
Accepted
Gloria Esqueda
Soccer, Sophomore
Favorite food: Cookie dough
ice cream
Pre-game rituals: listen to
music
Myspace is good for staying in
touch with friends
Favorite Pro Athlete: n/a
Nickname: Gunner
Water Polo, Senior
Favorite food: Lasagna
Last movie seen in theaters:
Accepted
Ari Feldman
Pre-game rituals: Listen to Lil
John
Myspace is horrible
Favorite Pro Athlete: Dwayne
Wade
Nickname: Big Red
Last movie seen in theaters:
Borat
Collin Roth-
Basketball, Senior
Favorite food: “Meat-lover’s”
pizza from Pizza Hut
Pre-game rituals: slaps face to
wake up
Myspace is addictive
Favorite Pro Athlete: Bre�
Favre
Nickname: The Destroyer
Wrestling, Senior
Last movie seen in theaters:
The Departed
Compiled by Sam Co�en; Photos by Samantha Walters
Lady Vikings Finish Fourth in Tough Tournament
were named to the All-Tournament
team.
The fourth place finish came followingtheseasonopeningMoorpark
Tip-Off Classic Nov. 29-Dec. 2. With
a combined score of 122-62, the
LadyVikingseasilybreezedthrough
Channel Island and Calabasas, on
their way to a 2-0 start. With those
two impressive wins, the girls were,
“no longer under the radar,” commented Verdugo.
Even with the strong start, the
Lady Vikings stumbled and lost to
Newbury Park on Dec. 1. Despite
struggling the whole game, they still
managed to remain close, losing by
only seven points. Coming off the
loss, the girls rebounded to beat
Chaminade in the third place game,
winning by nine. Sophomore Ellesse
Brandis pulled down 15 boards for
the team. The girls showed a lot of
potentialandthattheycanovercome
obstacles. Senior Emily Foshag was
named to theAll-Tournament team.
A�er losing two in a row, the girls
hopedtoreboundstrongagainstMira
Costa.Lookinggoodatthehalfdown
byfour,theladyvikingsfell,losing6577. Looking to put a run together, it
will have to start Dec. 15th at home
against Brentwood.
Sophomore Whitney
Daniels brings down the
rebound between two Mira
Costa defenders on Dec.
12.
Photo by Samantha Walters