March Madness
68 teams, six rounds, one winner. This year’s March Madness begins on March 18 and will crown a champion on April 7. The single-elimination college basketball tournament is an American establishment and has acted as the national championship for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 College Basketball since 1939. Last year, a combined nearly 34 million viewers tuned in to the finals of the men’s and women’s tournament.
Tentative peace talks begin begin Between Russia and Ukraine
After over eleven years of conflict, world leaders have met to discuss a resolution to the Russo-Ukrainian war. President Donald Trump, who made promises to end the conflict in his first 24 hours in office, has been in negotiation talks with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since mid-February.
Public lands threatened by government
In just their first months in office, the Trump Administration has removed safety nets from U.S. national parks, adding to a long list of other executive orders. One of President Donald Trump's campaign slogans—“drill, baby, drill”—refers to his plan to boost fossil fuel production and reverse climate change efforts. His efforts began with a mass termination of National Parks Service (NPS) workers, first announced on Feb. 14, in what some federal employees are calling the ‘Valentine’s Day massacre.’ The cuts led to around 1,000 NPS workers being forced out – 5% of the staff. In addition, 10% of the Forest Service staff have been fired, an estimated 3,400 people. With the busy spring and summer seasons approaching, parks employees and tourists alike have raised concerns about park welfare upon the arrival of millions of visitors.
What's going on around Samo?
The California Science Center interships; Project Lead The Way: Animal Shelter;National Holocaust Survivor Day Celebration; New Alcohol Policy.
The Truth About College Essays
The college application process isn’t as stressful as most high school students think.
Lack of fundraising could mean the end of samo programs
SMMUSD schools are witnessing a sharp decline in fundraising from the Ed Foundation, which could mean the end of various programs in the 2024-2025 school year.
California Increases minimum wage for fast food workers
On Apr. 1, the minimum wage for fast food workers was increased from $16 an hour to $20 an hour as an attempt to provide aid to the low-paid workers, some of whom are homeless or supporting more than one person on their wage.
The dangers of Doctor Goodle: stop self diagnosing
In recent years, it has become far more common to find teens and young adults self diagnosing- as the stigma around mental health has begun to melt away… but this can be far more harmful than one may believe.
Psych(o) paths: The variability of a psychology degree
Gaslight. Narcissist. Trauma response. Terms like these have proliferated through today’s society along with an uptick in interest of psychology. This increasing popularity has created not only a major point of interest among students but also opened the door to diverse career paths.
The blatant truth about Brandy Melville
Inside almost every young women’s closet, you can find the highly questionable and controversial business of Brandy Melville. This fashion symbol of our youth’s culture has held a distinctive grasp on women for the past decade through their minimalist and effortlessly fashionable clothes.
Athletes continually facing criticism over self-expression
College athletes often face criticism due to concerns about expression, as they gain significant revenue and attention from the recently allowed NIL deals, and for universities while receiving limited compensation and facing strict rules regarding NIL endorsements and outside income. Recently, college basketball players Jared Mccain and Caleb Williams have been criticized for painting their nails, and they additionally signed with nail polish companies to update their NIL catalog. After these signings, they were bombarded with negative comments, surrounding and questioning the player's sexuality.
The Renaissance of Digital Art
Digital art first blossomed in the late 90s and early 2000s and while initial forms of it were not as expansive as current apps such as Procreate, these beginning stages opened a new medium into the art world.
KCRW, Keeping Local Radio Alive Since 1945
In recent years, radio channels have declined in quality while platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have replaced go-to sources of personalized sound. Amidst these modern music empires, KCRW, an iconic radio station based in Santa Monica, is hard at work to keep independent media alive.
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Prompts Response in Santa Monica
On Apr. 8, multiple reports came out detailing the use of swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti marked on sidewalks, trees and lamp posts within the SM-Pico neighborhood.
Samo choir echoes their Spain trip at Cathedral Classics
On Friday April 19, 2024, Samo’s top choir showcased their skills at the Cathedral Classics Concert, held in the foyer of Barnum Hall. This performance culminated their recent tour across several Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Zaragoza, Segovia, Madrid, Toledo and Burgos, where their melodious voices graced iconic cathedrals, including the renowned Catedral de Burgos.
European soccer’s top teams fight for league titles
As we begin to prepare for summer, Europe’s biggest soccer leagues are preparing to crown their newest champions. Europe’s, and subsequently the world’s top five leagues, are in England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. They range from having 34 to 38 games per season with a point system of zero points for a loss, one point for a tie and three points for a win.
Boys’ tennis find success amidst challenging season
The Samo boys’ tennis team started off the season strong with a big win against Venice when the Vikings defeated the Gondoliers 16-2 on Feb. 29. They played their final match on Monday, April 22 against Culver City, ending the season on a high note with a win of 11-7. Although the team performed well on both ends of the season, they faced challenges in consistently holding their form steady. The Samo boys’ tennis team finished the season with a record of 5-9.
The College Admissions is Raising its Bar
This year, the looming anxieties that seniors must face when applying to colleges didn’t budge, and neither did the privatized aspect of most Ivy and UC institutions. It seems as though highly regarded colleges are only accepting students who have essentially accomplished career-level achievements, such as writing books and creating start-ups, and even then, these kids are being rejected from their dream schools.
The fUTURE OF THE SANTA MONICA Airport
While the Santa Monica Airport is projected to close by the end of 2028, its spaces are being utilized in contemporary ways.
Track optimistic after record breaking Pre-season
During the 2022-2023 track season, Samo’s track stars set records, advancing individuals and relay teams into CIF. Last season, the 4x200 team of Lucas Milk (’24), Dylan Hanvey (’23), Spencer Hotch (’24), and Gus Reyman (’23) broke the school record twice for a final time of 1:29.03. The Samo team appeared in multiple prestigious track meets including The Arcadia , the Redondo, and the Mt. SAC Invitationals where the team proved themselves against other highly ranked runners.
Spring Break Staycations
For those who are in town for Spring Break, and still are seeking an abnormal adventure, don’t spend your spring break rotting away in your bed. Your newfound time is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of all southern California has to offer.
Girls’ beach volleyball makes waves in the 2024 season
After only two years as an official Samo sport, Samo girls’ beach volleyball team is gearing up for their third season in CIF. In their 2023 season, the team placed fourth in the Bay League after a tough loss against Mira Costa, Beverly Hills and Palos Verdes, but a successful win against Redondo. The girls began practicing on the sand immediately following the end of the indoor volleyball season under the guidance of Coach Liane Sato.
sports culture: why it’s deeper than just a game
It can be agreed upon that sports have turned into a sort of religion in the United States. For many, there is much more behind sports than just playing and watching the game itself. The fan bases and traditions behind each sports team and players make a significant difference in sports culture.
March Madness: UConn and South Carolina reign supreme
The 2024 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have concluded, marking the end of another chapter in the story: March Madness. A surge of excitement in women's basketball has increased popularity, while the men's tournament saw more predictable results.
Samo alumni Greg Morena gives winter sports athletes NIL course to learn crucial money management skills
Samo Theatre performed The Phantom of the Opera to sold-out audiences for two weekends, from February 23 to March 3, setting the stage with luxurious costumes, digital backgrounds and operatic singing.
Federal aid falls behind as college expenses are on the rise
While students wait for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on how much government money they’re getting, some short-term fixes may alleviate the stress on the expenses of colleges.
LA Hotel Strikes begin to end after negotiations
The hotel strike, which started on July 10 2023, began to reach closure in early January after successful negotiations with hotels.
Inside inclusive on Victor the Viking
A quick bit from an interview I had with Victor the Viking yesterday.
The unfiltered truth about social media
As discourse about the most desirable body image, bullying, grooming, self-harm and unhealthy beauty standards flood our feeds on social media, tech giants seem to find themselves entangled in messy court cases regarding the safety of their apps for teenagers.
Girls’ lacrosse looking to regroup with a new roster
Samo’s girls’ lacrosse team is officially in season. The team began with a game against Notre Dame High School, resulting in a loss by 9 points as the scores totaled 5-16. Additionally, they competed against Saugus High School on Feb. 20, ultimately leading to a tie of 14-14.
Boys’ volleyball off to a promising start under new coach
Samo Varsity Boys Volleyball begins off their season with a strong start, looking to go forward, win CIF and build valuable experiences with their new head coach Pete Barraza.
Wave of prestigious colleges re-requiring SAT and ACT
SAT and ACT tests, formally made optional in elite colleges around the country, have now in a wave decided to re-require the controversial exams for admissions. This decision will affect many members of the Samo class of 2024-2025 during their college applications.
Breaking seams and stereotypes through women’s fashion
From the Lex Oppia (a series of laws under the Roman Republic that restricted female extravagance) 215 B.C.E. ruling that women could not wear more than a half ounce of gold to early American indecency laws, women’s fashion has always been a way for men to stifle and patrol women. In the face of oppression, women have found ways to overcome, and fashion is a central part of this progress for women.
Lights, Camera, Recycle: Is the movie industry running out of ideas?
Movies are arguably a foundation of today’s society. People generate much of their ideals from the information perpetuated in the media, especially when it comes to film. This presents a pressing problem when today, the film industry has increasingly refused to be original and daring. How will this travesty change our society to come?
Is it possible to be a “girl’s girl”? Exploring female friendships and stereotypes (Copy)
A girl’s girl is the confident girl that helps other girls out and is there to uplift and empower women. Being called a “girl’s girl” is a newer term but the root of the term is about supporting other girls rather than bringing them down. But like most trends, is being a girl’s girl too good to be true? Are there actually women like this?
Samo introduces fem-lit course
In its first year at Samo, feminist literature emerged as a standout course among one of the several senior English electives, each with an identity-based focus. The class delves into women's literature and was originally formed by a passionate group of students, which stemmed from the Feminist Literature Club led by Lillian Topp (’23). Topp, along with Halie Matsui (’23), Rosie Haygood (’23), and Kaela Khorsand Mashhadi (’23) shared their vision with the English teacher, Elizabeth Waters, which eventually gained traction among Samo’s English department and SMMUSD administrators. Through much collaboration, they created a curriculum teaching students a nuanced understanding of feminism and the active presence of gender within historical and modern writing.
Unmasking samo theatre’s “The Phantom of the Opera”
Samo Theatre performed The Phantom of the Opera to sold-out audiences for two weekends, from February 23 to March 3, setting the stage with luxurious costumes, digital backgrounds and operatic singing.
HOTLB: Samo’s “her-story” faves
March is National Women’s History Month (NWHM) – a time to celebrate historical women from the United States of America and around the world. The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom all celebrate Women’s History Month in March, while many other countries celebrate Women’s History Day on March 8. With women so often overlooked in history, NWHM celebrates and recognizes women’s grand achievements and the important contributions that they have made to America. We asked Samo students who their favorite historical woman is and why:
Samo orchestras leave sold-out audience in awe
On March 7, the Samo Orchestra Program put together its long-anticipated 2024 spring concert, where all eight orchestras got the chance to perform their pieces to a sold-out audience.
Color guard continues to compete in spring season
Color guard is a performing art that incorporates contemporary and jazz fundamentals along with anything that implements color and story into performances. For this, they use equipment varieties such as flags, rifles and sabers.
Celebrating the True Origins of St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated across the U.S. however, in Ireland, this holiday's birth country, festivities are entirely on another level.
Boys’ tennis aims for CIF this season
The Samo Boys’ Tennis team finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 1-5-1 and a league record of 0-4-1. After an unfortunate run last season, the team is determined to turn it around and prove themselves this spring. Coach Shaun Simone explains that pre-season has been full of hard work and constant effort to ensure a great season ahead.
Fleeting Knowledge: The downsides of summer courses for student retention
In a society so brazenly proud and insistent of its sensitivity to women’s needs, there is a significant area in which we remain unenlightened: medicinal research. Despite major strides in recent years, the advancement of women’s health remains at a disadvantage, hindered by years of exclusion and discrimination in an industry so long dominated by the male perspective. To this day, women continue to suffer from the shortcomings of the pharmaceutical industry, an industry that they are forced to support if they wish to live.
Samo’s new buildings revolutionize learning
SMMUSD has persevered in their attempt to revolutionize the learning process with the construction of Samo’s new buildings, the Exploration Building and Gold Gym. The three-sory Exploration Building will be home to multimedia, visual arts and the Capstone program.