The drama students, meanwhile, are defensive these days, annoyed at being sought out by reporters, and scrutinized by schoolmates. This is my place, the group I identify with. There's us in here and them out there. But I find Chaparral a pretty easy place to live. Still, when asked what she would like to change about the school, she named the cliques, saying her aversion went back to middle school, when the popular, preppy students would not accept her.
Some students do cross social lines, maintaining varied webs of friendship.
Scott Kirschenbaum, who writes a music column for the local newspaper, heads several of Chaparral's clubs, and will attend Yale next fall, has actively sought to know a lot of different people. To be on top, you have to finagle. There's a lot of back stabbing. You can't be flawed, or your friends will kick you out of the group. Well, I wish somebody would do that at Chaparral, would sit down and think about what kind of place it ought to be.