Samo wrestling ready to pin their competition in this winter season
The Samo co-ed wrestling team has begun their long anticipated season, currently standing evenly with three dual-meet wins and losses against their rivals in Bay League and two tournament placements. Led by Coach Jason Mun, boys team captains Raden Madley (‘25) and Frederick Ekberg (‘25) and girl team captain Maia Baker (‘25), the team is confident the season will be success for the program.
Returning starters look to lead boys’ basketball to postseason
In the 2023-2024 season, the Samo boys’ basketball team finished their year strong, ending with a 16-13 record overall. A 4-6 record in the league allowed them an at-large playoff bid in the CIF-SS playoffs. Seeded against a tough Westlake team, the Vikings fought hard until they were eliminated with a final score of 71-49 in the first round of playoffs.
What South Korea’s crisis reveals about modern democracy
In less than 48 hours, on Dec.3, South Korea found itself under martial law by the order of President Yoon Suk Yeol — a turn of events almost unbelievable in its sheer surreality. Tanks rolled into the streets of Seoul and congress members scaled barricades to enter parliament, creating a dramatic spectacle of democratic collapse. The turmoil, which ended in a quick repeal of martial law amid overwhelming public protests and government opposition, exposed the fragility of South Korea's democracy. And although overwhelming public disdain for President Yoon eliminates any immediate threats to the country, the line between democracy and authoritarianism has never been thinner.
Proposition 36
Proposition 36, if passed this Nov., will increase felony charges, turning some current misdemeanors [low-profile criminal offenses] into felonies [high-profile criminal offenses].
Newsom attempts to tackle homelessness crisis
Governor Newsom has recently approved two new bills in order to address the homeless crisis by expanding housing options in California.
theater behind the scenes
On Nov. 11, Samo Theater hosted its closing show of The Outsiders. As the audience applauded the actors and actresses, many students were working hard behind the scenes to make this play possible. Creating alluring characters through their costumes, makeup, props and more, the cast and crew of Samo’s theater program spent weeks preparing their debut.
samo sports hub
On Nov. 3 and 4, the San Antonio Spurs, a National Basketball Association (NBA) team, rented out Samo’s gym in preparation for their match against the Los Angeles Clippers. From NBA teams such as the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and the Oklahoma City Thunder to the U.S. Olympic Artistic Swimming Team, professional sports teams have been renting Samo’s sports facilities for years.
athlete’s impact on viewership
From Caitlin Clark’s ability to represent strong female athletes to Jared Mccain’s ability to bring in a younger crowd, a new wave of sports fans have been formed. Many sport surrounded fan bases aren't just built off of the love for the sport, but also from seeing the athletes you admire and look up to on the big screen.
DTLA Welcomes new christmas market
On Nov. 29, Downtown Los Angeles welcomed the Los Angeles Christmas Market for the first time. Themed as the bustling city of Germany, the market features festive holiday music, freshly baked food, treats and dozens of open-air booths.
HOTLB: What’s your holiday hot take?
As the holiday season has arrived, Samo students have endless opinions. In every busy hallway or crowded lunch table, you’ll hear debates over anything and everything festive - from the tastiest new holiday drink from Starbucks to arguments over the best Christmas movie. To avoid the overbearing stress of final grades, students can’t help hopping on the holiday train and discussing the controversial topics of the season with each other.
why we crave cozy
Now that the temperatures are dropping, have you noticed that you start gravitating towards your bed and living room couch more often? We all crave coziness at this time of year, but psychologically, why do we want to feel more at home during the winter months?
Rising Freshmen Win DTASC Acting Competition
32 schools, hundreds of students, Samo emerges victorious. On Nov. 9 Calliope Kirschbaum (’28), Sage Moore (’28), Alexandra Ornelas (’28) and Lea Zakharia (’28) took first place in the Female-Centric category at the Drama Teachers’ Association of Southern California (DTASC) Festival. Each of the four girls feels especially proud of their performance of “Dance Nation” by Claire Barron.