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Volu m e 6 8 , Issu e 5
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A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
Belmont Hill Utilizes SEED Diversity Program Faculty and Staff Trained in Matters of Identity and Inclusion
By Charlie Donahue ‘20 Panel Staff This year, a group of almost two dozen Belmont Hill faculty and staff members have begun participating in a comprehensive diversity training program through the prestigious SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) program under the direction of liaisons Mr. George and Ms. O’Connor. Last year, inspired by the renewed commitment to diversity efforts by Headmaster Mr. Schneider and sensing
widespread interest, a group of faculty and staff members created a forum in which to discuss issues relating to identity and inclusion. Mrs. Sweeney took a leading role in orchestrating the three meetings that were held during the spring, and each time almost 40 people came voluntarily to share their stories and opinions. Everyone present deeply appreciated the opportunity to discuss issues important to them both personally and professionally. Building off of the success of those meetings, Mr. Schneider asked both Ms. O’Connor and Mr.
George to attend a week-long SEED training program at Milton Academy during the summertime. Mr. Schneider’s previous school, Berwick Academy, had used SEED as part of school-wide initiatives, and he knew how powerful the experience would be for our faculty here. Consequently, Mr. George and Ms. O’Connor spent a week of the summer at Milton, staying in the dorms and participating in rigorous daily training activities. A team of roughly twelve facilitators would model each activity, and the teachers, parents, and administrators in
attendance would then spend time reflecting on their objectives before meeting as a whole group to discuss. SEED places a distinct emphasis on talking about yourself and coming to truly understand your own role in relation to community and diversity before you can engage with others to become a change maker. cont. on p. 11
A Review of the Exam Schedule By Abe Tolkoff ‘21 Panel Staff As the Belmont Hill student body navigates the 2019 Midyear exam period, it is worth a moment to examine the history of our current schedule. Recent Belmont Hill alums will remember the years of holding the Midyear Exam period after Winter Break, a concept that seems foreign to current students. Motivated by stu-
dent requests, the administration explored various options, which yielded our current mid-December exam schedule, with three review days and three exam days the final week before break. While the schedule has proved navigable for students over the past seven years, the many conflicting interests at this time of year make it nearly impossible for students to achieve exam perfection. cont. on p. 11
A LOOK INSIDE THE PANEL
NEWS....................................2-3 OPINIONS...........................8-9 -Exchange Students -NCAA Policies -Holiday Hill -Streaming Services -SEED Program -Does Santa Exist? -In Case You Missed It ARTS.................................10-11 SPORTS.................................4-5 -Playlist of the Issue -Effects of College Sports -Artist of the Issue -Winter Sports Previews -Athlete of the Issue BACKPAGE...........................12 CENTERSPREAD...............6-7 -Faculty Athlete Hall of Fame
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Harvey Rupp, the Newest Member of the Belmont Hill Community By Charlie Donahue ‘20 Panel Staff This year, Belmont Hill has the very good fortune of having Harvey Rupp as a member of the fifth form. Harvey joins us from Wesley College in Perth on the west coast of Australia, where he is a standout student and stellar oarsman for the crew team. So far this year, he has been living with fourth former Gabe Klug and his family and, over the Christmas holiday, will move in with his next host family, the Perrys. In the spring, he will move in with Jack Curtin and his family, where he will stay through the remainder of the year. In the first semester, Harvey has been an amazing addition to the Belmont Hill community. He has tackled a very difficult course-load with relative ease and is enjoying the opportunities to compare Australian and American culture in his classes. He notes that American Literature and US History in particular, “tie in well together and the Harkness table is good for asking and answering questions about cultural divides.” He has also loved getting familiar with the intricacies of ceramics under the direction of Mrs. Kaplan. On the other side of campus, Har-
8+ time at the Head in over a dozen years. With the winter barely underway, he has already taken to cross country skiing like a fish to water, although he did point out that “his face has gotten to know the snow quite well.” Despite this, his fearless attitude has been most impressive to his teammates and coaches. His goal for the season is “to do well in a race or two”, which certainly looks attainable based on the leaps of progress he has made so far. After the winter, he will once again row for the crew team, wherein a few short months he has become indispensable to the squad both on and off the water. While from the outside Harvey has done a phenomenal job in all aspects of school life this fall, he did note that some aspects of his new routine took some adjustment. For one, the homework load here is much greater than what he was used to at Wesley College, but the exam period pales in comparison to the 18 hours worth of mid-years he would be taking at home. Additionally, he misses his friends and family at home, although he is feeling more settled Harvey Rupp Joins Form V for the Remainder of the Year (Photo by Jalen Walker) into both his academic and social settings. vey is an athlete par-excellence. In the fall 8+ entry. On the water, he quickly adjust- Overall, we are so lucky to have Harvey with he competed in both cross-country and ed to the American technical style and was us and cannot wait to see what great things he Belmont Hill’s annual Head of the Charles a major component in the school’s fastest does with the remainder of his time here! ☐
Exciting New Changes Coming to Belmont Hill Gear Purchases By Howard Huang ‘22 Panel Staff The Holiday Hill Shop is an annual popup shop that has opened in the Wadsworth room of the Jordan Athletic Center every winter for over 25 years. Often very crowded due to its popularity, the shop provides a cherished opportunity for students and parents to purchase Belmont Hill branded clothes. While the booktore also sells BH-branded clothes, the options are more limited, as they are at the reunion and Homecoming pop-up shops. While the prices in the shop may seem a bit high to some students and parents, the Parents’ Council organizers strive to include a wide range of options, including apparel made by top brands like Under Armour and Nike; oftentimes these high-quality brands are associated with higher prices. The shop inventory is purchased in amounts that can be completely sold in one day; this is why certain popular items sometimes run out later on in the sale. According to student Michael John ‘21, “Although products may be a bit overpriced, this event still provides students an op-
portunity to donate money to the school while getting cool gear.” Raising over $30,000 dollars each year, the Holiday Hill Shop is indeed a major Parents’ Council fundraising event. In order to make it easier for students and families to obtain Belmont Hill gear, the school plans to launch an online store for Belmont Hill apparel (including sport-specific apparel) in January. To this end, the school has partnered with SquadLocker, a company that advertises itself as a portal for convenient access to custom team gear, uniforms, and spirit-wear. This portal represents another of the school’s efforts to modernize its online presence. Another option for students to obtain Belmont Hill branded gear is through the issued apparel that is offered to all Varsity teams. Before this program started, teams would work with Mr. Negron to set up online gear orders for team members to buy branded sport-specific clothes which would be delivered a while after the season started. Now the same apparel is ordered advance of the season and provided to the teams at the beginning of the season greatly increasing efficiency. Students can choose to opt-out of any of the issued apparel items if they wish.
In Case You Missed It
In January, the school plans to launch gear, uniforms, and spirit-wear conveniently. ☐ an online store to buy Belmont Hill apparel including sport-specific apparel. The school is working with the company SquadLocker which advertises itself as a location to get custom team
Students Shopping at the Holiday Hill Shop (Photo by Howard Huang)
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Belmont Hill Welcomes Back Javi Sánchez By Tyler Forg ‘22 Panel Staff For the first time in Belmont Hill History, Belmont Hill has an exchange student who is returning for his second year.
“ While many Belmont Hill kids dread the cold winter climate, Javi has come to make the best out of it.”
Coming from Zaragoza, Spain, Javi Sánchez has pleasantly enjoyed the different climate in New England. Last year, Conner Willet ‘21 took Javi up to Mount Sugar Bush in Vermont, and he learned how to alpine ski for the first time. Not only has Javi been able to experience New England, but Javi has also been able to visit the Southeast with Conner. Last year, the two of them went down to Florida, where they practiced gulf and enjoyed the warmer weather at the beach. Similarly, this Javi Sánchez returns to Belmont Hill for the second time (Photo from @jshuerta9)
year, the two of them went down to North Carolina for Conner’s golf tournament, and Javi also got to visit Davidson College and watch golf. The two of them plan on going back up to Sugar Bush to go skiing again. Javi has noticed a few major differences in the schooling systems between his high school, Montearagón, in Zaragoza and Belmont Hill. The school schedules, in particular, seem to contrast greatly. At Belmont Hill, students take five classes with three free blocks, and the majority of school days are from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Javi takes classes from eight to five with a two-hour lunch break between 1:30 and 3:30. Furthermore, Javi takes ten classes including Philosophy, Economics, French, English, Spanish. He plays soccer for his school team and in his free time focuses on photography and video editing. Belmont Hill is very lucky to have Javi, and we hope he comes back next year! ☐
Instituting the New SEED Program to Belmont Hill School cont. from font page activities in the MacPherson room which are INSERT PHOTO OF GEORGE/SEED essentially mock-ups of their summer sesMany days, Mr. George and Ms. sions at Milton, but in a less concentrated O’Connor journaled extensively about format. Much like the diversity group fotheir own identities, and came to realize rums last spring, these meetings have been that they were most blind to issues in areas a huge success. In future sessions, they will where they had the most privilege. Once begin to discuss strategies to equip adults the attendees at the conference had done in the community with skills that will make extensive self-reflection, they dove into the the school a more inclusive place. As Mr. intricacies of making schools more equita- George pointed out, “the elusive thing about ble for all. They came to learn that things like posters of white mathematicians on a “ In the first two meetings, Mr. wall in a classroom, while seemingly inGeorge and Ms. O’Connor noted nocuous, actually speaks volumes about that a strong rapport and trust systemic oppression at work. Overall, Mr. was built, which is essential when George and Ms. O’Connor walked away beginning this kind of program..” from the week feeling prepared to spread what they had learned to a more comprehensive group of our faculty here at school. SEED is that it is not a program that necesWhen the year began in Septem- sarily has an end, or a goal we are trying to ber, over 20 faculty and staff members made reach, we just want to build a groundswell of a significant commitment to participate in awareness and participation that will result the school’s SEED training. In a series of in bettering the school going forward.” ☐ monthly, three hour training sessions, Mr. National SEED Project Logo (from nationalseedproject.org) George and Ms. O’Connor have conducted
Continuing a Thankful Tradition, the 2019 Turkey Drive
certainly astounding, the impact of each of these meals proved much more rewarding for each family that received a meaningful and quality meal for Thanksgiving. Continuing the Thanksgiving The community service drive, tradition of giving back to local commu- spearheaded by Form III, was undertaken nities, the 2019 Turkey Drive once again with the commitment, eagerness, and drive necessary to continue this meaningful tra“ A total of 576 complete Thanksgiv- dition of helping those in need during this ing meals were provided across New Thanksgiving with a focus on giving thanks. England to families and organizations A lesson in leadership and service, which who would have otherwise lacked embodies the spirit of the Turkey drive, or only had a limited meal for this that should be remembered by Belmont celebrated holiday.’ ” Hill boys is that “to those whom much has been given . . . much is expected.” ☐ proved a success. This event proficiently led by the Third Form and Mr. George, A Total of 576 Thanksgiving Meals were Completed for Families Across New England while the number of meals provided was By Daniel Bittner ‘22 and Howard Huang ‘22 Panel Staff
Belmont Hill Sp orts
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Th e Pan el
Alpine Ski Team Hits The Slopes a few weeks of dryland training, where athletes were pushed to their limits with leg work, and thanks to the early snowstorm, the team is Boasting an ISL Championship last now able to prepare on the slopes at Nashoba year, the Alpine Ski Team is ready to compete for it again! Returning senior co-captains Sa- “Returning senior co-captains Sasha Gannon sha Gannon and Quinn Richards are leading and Quinn Richards are leading the team with the team with coaches Feldman, Trautz and coaches Feldman, Trautz and Cushman.” Cushman. With all previous varsity members returning this year, including, Danny Crowley, Sascha Gannon, Luke Gulesarian, Valley! With many new experienced ski racers Jack Olton, Nathan Pappas, Quinn Richards, joining, the team is set up for a great season! Anton Schmitt, Jack Theberge, and Conner The team’s first race will be on January 8th Willett, the team is ready to fight to keep the and their season will have seven ISL races in A member of the alpine ski team coming down the slope (Photo by Jalen Walker winning streak. Recently, the team completed total. Good Luck to the Alpine Ski Team! ☐ ‘21) By Luke Hogan ‘22 Panel Staff
Belmont Hill Basketball Shooting for Success 58 on Friday. With stellar performances by guards Max Hall ’21 and Martin Wilson ‘22, the team has the necessary talFollowing a solid season last year, ent to compete with other ISL teams. the Belmont Hill Varsity basketball is Emphasizing the importance of “finding returning this year and hoping for more a team identity,” Coaches Murphy and success. With the departure of only five seniors, the core of the group remains “With stellar performances by guards Max intact. Led by captains Josh Baldwin Hall ’21 and Martin Wilson ‘22, the team ‘20 and Casey Rockett ‘20, the team has the necessary talent to compete with other ISL teams. ” has been practicing nearly every day in preparation for the season. The team lost a hard-fought battle against St. Pauls in Cofield have already helped the team its first game of the year by a score of drastically improve. The team antici59-56. Then, in the following week, the pates a successful rest of the season and team lost to Rivers on Wednesday and especially hopes to defeat rivals BB&N, then to Nobles by one by a score of 59- Sebs, and RL later in the season. ☐ By Jackson Riffe ‘20 Panel Staff
The team huddled up following the game against Rivers (Photo By Andrew Dummer ‘22)
A History of Excellence: Belmont Hill Hockey an energy of excitement for the upcoming season. Coming off of a disappointing season last year, many players are excited to have a fresh The Varsity Hockey Team is off to start and create a new environment on the an auspicious start to their season this winter. They began with nearly fifty players try- “ Players have expressed a deep team bond ing out for the team, including an impressive and have already formed and an energy of showing of younger skaters. Tryouts consistexcitement for the upcoming season. ” ed of various fitness tests, including running and strength, as well as on-ice scrimmages and practices. This year’s team is one of the team. The leadership of last year’s senior capyoungest in recent history, with only three tains and others will certainly be missed, but seniors playing including captain Luke Kho- this year’s upperclassmen players remain comzoian. Despite this, players have expressed a mitted to filling in their footsteps. Good luck to deep team bond and have already formed and the hockey team on their upcoming season! ☐ By Abe Tolkoff ‘21 Panel Staff
Captain Luke Khozozian ‘20 celebrating a goal against Berwick (Photo by Jalen Walker ‘21)
The Effects of College Sports on Belmont Hill Students
By Ryan Griffin ‘22 Panel Staff Sitting in Chapel on a March day, Max Peterson ‘20 received a text from the LSU football coach asking him to give him a call later in the day. During that call he was informed that he would be having a tryout at the school and later received an offer to play football at LSU as a PWO (Preferred Walk-On). Max is a long snapper, meaning he snaps the ball to the punter on punt plays. Long snapper is a specialized position, as it is a much farther snap than just a snap to the quarterback, and requires two hands instead of one. Max got into snapping his freshman year at Weston High, as he simply wanted to make the team, and his dad told him how much of an underappreciated position it was. When he came to Belmont Hill, he had the same goal of making varsity, and after he made it, Max realized that he had great potential at the position, so he started going to Kohl’s football camps, where he was ranked. To get on the radar of colleges, Max was sending around
100 emails per week to almost every D1 school in the country. After committing to the admissions process at LSU in August, LSU’s coach asked Max if he would be interested in joining the team early in 2020 since they needed a second long snapper for the spring training season. Therefore, Max is graduating from Belmont Hill on December 20, 2019, and soon thereafter he will arrive in Baton Rouge to begin classes and training for their spring term. Because Max earned such high marks on his AP exams, he will receive automatic credit for a number of courses which will help him graduate early from LSU and begin study toward his Masters degree with two years of eligibility remaining. But, for all of this to happen, Dean of Studies, Mr. Smith, and Director of College Counseling, Mrs. Bobo, along with the entire faculty, worked hard to help Max realize his plan. Mr. Smith noted that before Max’s case, the school did not have a policy for situations like these. Additionally, Max’s situation is so unique and unlikely to be replicated because Max was able to meet the NCAA eligibility requirements
since he reclassified coming from Weston High School and repeated his 9th grade year at Belmont Hill. The NCAA requires four years of non-repeating English courses prior to meeting the eligibility requirements, so most students won’t be eligible to compete until after their full senior year of high school. Mr. Smith also notes that, while the school does not want any boys to leave early, it was an exciting opportunity for Max and the school did not want to get in the way of it. So, the Academic Policy Committee (APC) had to establish some guidelines. The process went as follows: First, Max submitted his request to graduate early and receive a Belmont Hill diploma to the APC, which then met and reviewed it. The APC then decided to bring the request to the full faculty for a vote, which went in Max’s favor. Mr. Smith and Mrs. Bobo both agree that a case like Max’s may never come before the faculty again. The final Belmont Hill graduation requirement Max has to fulfill is his panel carving.
I had the opportunity to interview Max about how this January start opportunity has impacted his life inside and outside of school. Max notes that the college early start is more common in the Division 1 FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) world, depending on the position; he mentions that it more frequently happens to quarterbacks who need extra time to learn the playbook before the season. Finally, Max mentions that only being at the school for half a year has made him appreciate every day even more. The reality that Max will be leaving for an extended period of time has been hard on his two younger brothers, one of whom attends Belmont Hill, and because of this, he likes to prioritize time with his brothers. Max says “You can always make up a paper, but you can’t make up time with your younger brothers.” One thing Max finds special is being able to spend time with his brother every morning when he drives him up to Belmont Hill. We wish Max the best of luck at LSU. ☐
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Belmont Hill Squash: A Smashing Success
the season has just started with less than two full weeks of practice, the team’s chemistry is ap-
By Chetan Shukla ‘20 Panel Staff
Doug Conigliaro ‘21 playing in a match (Photo by Jalen Walker ‘21)
“ Although the season has just started with less than two full weeks of practice, the team’s chemistry is apparent. ”
Coming off a solid season last year, the squash team is geared in and prepared to improve upon last year. Having lost a few veteran seniors in Josh Fairman ‘19 and Julian Wambach ‘19, leadership could have potentially dropped. However, through senior captains Andrew Lee ‘20 and Jack Winston ‘20, the opposite has occurred. Although
parent. Coach Brownell hopes to expand upon his excellent squash legacy though another great season. Good luck to the entire squash team on their upcoming season! ☐
Belmont Hill Nordic Skiing: The Quest for NEPSACS By Charlie Wells ‘21 Panel Staff
James Eyesenbach ‘19, Aidan McGaugh ‘20, Christiaan Eikeboom ‘21, and Charlie Donahue ‘20 celebrating the team’s win last winter (Photo by Jalen Walker ‘21)
Following what was undoubtedly the best year for Nordic Skiing in recent memory, this year’s team hopes to soar to even greater heights. Last year, the team secured a first-place finish in the Lakes Region championship and secondplace in the NEPSAC, both for the first time in the team’s history. This year, coaches Courtney, DeCaprio, and Kirby hope to lead the team once again to a Lakes Region championship and to secure the team’s first-ever NEPSAC championship. The team lost only one scoring senior to the graduating class last year, with James Eysenbach having gone on to ski as a walk-on at Bowdoin.
Aidan McGaugh has returned for his second year as the captain of the team, and after finishing third overall in the NEPSAC championship as a Junior, he is hoping to win it all this year. Captain Charlie Donahue is excited to return to the snow for a 6th year, having practiced hard over the summer on his roller skis. Along with them is junior Christiaan Eikeboom, who finished 11th in the Lakes Region last year. The 4th place spot is up for grabs, with a number of talented skiers vying for it. Looking farther into the future, the ski team has recently had an influx of younger skiers, such as Tim Hebard ‘23, Brian Lee ‘24, John Luehrman ‘24, Will Walton ‘25, Davis Woolbert ‘25, who can hopefully carry the team from its few-year hot streak into a full-fledged dynasty. Good luck to the nordic ski team! ☐
Dominating the Mat: Belmont Hill Wrestling By Jack Weldon ‘20 Panel Staff Over the past few years, the Belmont Hill Wrestling team has defined itself as one of the leading programs in New England. In the past four seasons alone, the team claimed the titles of ISL Dual Meet Champions and Graves Kelsey Tournament Champions four times, while also securing three New England Championships. Hot off the heels of last year’s championship season, captains Harrison Shapiro ‘20 and Hamza Shemsu ‘20 are eager to lead this year’s squad to similar results. In mid-November, the team hit the ground running, both figuratively and literally (much to the grievance of certain wrestlers). Coach Donald Bradley, who has led the varsity team for thirty years, reflected to a room full of parents and athletes that he had never seen a wrestling team transition into the season so quickly. As usual for the Belmont Hill program, the team is stacked with talent. The squad includes returning All-Americans such as Shapiro and Jimmy Harrington ‘22, mem-
bers rising from the middle school team such as Cord Vallis ‘24, seniors who have wrestled for Belmont Hill since joining the team in seventh grade, and even a few new recruits such as Ruphael Getahun ‘20. Over the weekend of the 7th, the team travelled to the Hopkins School in Connecticut to compete in the Rumble on the Hill tournament. With strong 3rd place finishes out of wrestlers such as Jason Wolf ‘20 as well as two individual “Captains Harrison Shapiro ‘20 and Hamza Shemsu ‘20 are eager to lead this year’s squad to similar results.”
champions, Aaron Stanger ‘24 at 106 and Jack Weldon ‘20 at 170, the team placed fourth overall. However, the team was not nearly in full strength at the tournament; a small portion of the team’s best competitors headed to the Germantown tournament in Pennsylvania to compete against some of the nation’s top talent. Shapiro, Harrington, and others wrestled against fierce opponents from Blair Academy and
James Markis ‘20 destroying his opponent (Photo by Brian Mullaney) Northfield Mount Herman. The team also won their first four dual meets against Governor’s, Choate, Worcester, and Deerfield. The upcoming season will be filled with challenges, including an unprecedented match against nationally acclaimed teams such as Blair Acad-
emy and the McDonogh School. However, Coaches Bradley, Leonardis, Davis, Kaplan, and Sullivan will ensure that their athletes train smart and hard to replicate the success to which the program has become accustomed. Good luck to the wrestling team on their upcoming season! ☐
Athlete of The Issue: Aidan McGaugh ‘20 By James Markis ‘20 Panel Staff There is no denying the most popular sports at Belmont Hill are football, hockey, and basketball. They always have the highest attendance and have multiple “LoopTM” emails throughout their seasons. Nordic Skiing is not one of the most attended sports on campus, but it might be the most grueling of any of our sports. Nordic Skiing is cross country running but on skis, and for Belmont Hill’s team, they frequently travel to the negative temperatures of Vermont and New Hampshire to race elite competition. The hard work and perseverance that the team puts in to succeed is truly astonishing, which isn’t surprising considering their
two-time captain is Aidan McGaugh ‘20. Waking up at 5:30 every morning for early workouts, which include training at Harvard Stadium or roller skiing for 25-miles through Belmont, Aidan is the quintessential leader and captain. He is willing to do the most grueling workouts in the morning and still leads his team in the afternoon; he sometimes even does the same workout twice in one day. This dedication had direct results for the Nordic Ski team last season. Aidan led the team to Belmont Hill’s first-ever Lakes Region championship as well as 2nd place at New England’s, which is the highest in school history. His leadership led to team success, but his hard work also resulted in the highest finish ever of an individual skier from Belmont Hill,
with Aidan placing 3rd. The greatest accomplishment in Aidan’s Nordic ski career came in early December when he set the world record for his age group for a 10k on the Ski Erg, with a blistering time of 39 minutes 44 seconds, beating the previous record by over two minutes. Even though Aidan is the most successful Nordic Ski Captain in the history of Belmont Hill, and is in the top tier of athletes in the senior class, with 12 varsity letters, it is his leadership that sets him apart. Having attended most Cross Country meets, I saw up close how, as captain of XC, his pre-race speeches and calm demeanor before extremely difficult courses and conditions, would impact the team. His teammates have full faith in him as a leader,
and he has earned their trust through the examples he has set. Fellow Cross Country, and Nordic Captain, Charlie Donahue ‘20, knows the impact Aidan has, commenting, “Aidan truly leads by the power of his example and no one works harder and I think the entire team takes their cue from him.” His teammates, his coaches, and his friends will all tell you there is nobody they would rather have by their side, and personally, I hold Aidan in the highest regard as a friend and as a man, which is the ultimate validation of somebody’s character. These beliefs truly exemplify who Aidan McGaugh is as a captain, a leader, and a person, and why there is nobody better to lead Belmont Hill’s Nordic Ski Team to their first-ever New England Championship this season.☐
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Faculty Athlete Hall of Fame: Third Edition by Charlie Donahue ‘20 Panel Staff
Mr. Brownell:
Best Overall:
While a number of the choices on this list were incredibly difficult, ranking Mr. Brownell as the best athlete on the faculty proved quite easy. What differentiates him from the rest of the athletes on this list is his versatility and ability to compete at a high level in almost everything he does. After high school at Phillips Exeter, Mr. Brownell chose to attend Williams College, where the small-school model allowed him to compete in three varsity sports: soccer, hockey, and baseball. Ever humble, he notes, “that doesn’t make me any better than the other members of this list, it [Williams] was just a place at a time where it was possible to do that.” Perhaps even more impressive than his collegiate endeavors, Mr. Brownell is a standout squash player at the masters level. He was once ranked third in the country for his age category, and it takes an incredibly skilled squash-pro to defeat him even now. Additionally, he is capable of playing an incredible round of golf and can beat almost any local pro. Adding to his legend, he won many New England championships in swimming as a teenager and held records that existed for decades. Overall, Mr. Brownell is the most well-rounded natural athlete on the faculty.
Inductees: Mr. McCarthy: As a Belmont Hill student, Mr. McCarthy played soccer, hockey, and baseball. He was a star hockey player and continued his career at Harvard University. When he started at Harvard, it was somewhat in doubt whether he would play at the varsity level. However, true to his nature, he grinded his way from junior varsity to dressing for varsity and eventually earning ample ice time. After his sophomore year, legendary BU coach Jack Parker chose him to represent the United States of America on the World Junior team. Upon returning to Harvard he played two more years of varsity hockey and captained the team his senior year. After college, he played six years of AHL hockey for a number of teams including the Worcester Ice Cats and the Peoria (IL) Rivermen. The highlight of his career was playing an exhibition game with the Carolina Hurricanes. After the AHL, he played three more years of professional hockey in Sweden, Italy, and Slovenia, where he experienced other cultures and fulfilled his lifelong dream of a worldly education. For his accomplishments on the ice, Mr. McCarthy easily makes the grade as our second pick.
Mr. Leonardis:
Mr. Leonardis is truly an outstanding athlete. At High School National Preps, competing for Blair Academy of New Jersey, he was a four time All-American wrestler and twice a Prep National Champion. Even more impressively, he won the High School nationals, which encpomasses all schools, public and private. After Blair, he matriculated at UNC-Chapel Hill where he wrestled all four years. He consistently ranked in the top 12 nationally in his weight class and at one time ranked as high as third. At UNC he was an ACC champion and qualified all four years for the NCAA tournament. Today, he continues to wrestle and often holds his own against guys half his age down in the Jordan. Additionally, he still lifts, runs, and occasionally plays frisbee competitively. In fact, he met his wife playing frisbee. Finally, we believe Mr. Leo to be the toughest athlete on the faculty.
Mr. Cofield:
At Roxbury Latin, Mr. Cofield played varsity football, basketball, and lacrosse freshman and sophomore years, and then continued as a star basketball player during junior and senior year. After RL, he continued playing basketball at Division 1 William and Mary where he was Rookie of the Year. He was second team all-conference, and was a 1000 point scorer in both high school and college.
Dr. T. Davis:
Dr. Todd Davis makes our list both for his athletic accolades but also for his tenacity and overall versatility in athletic pursuits. In high school at Roxbury Latin, he was a three sport varsity athlete in football, wrestling, and lacrosse. In football, he earned an ISL All-League honorable mention and twice won a New England champion. After being admitted to Harvard as a student, Dr. Davis walked on to the wrestling team where he quickly realized his dream of competing for Division 1 Crimson. As a sophomore he broke into the starting lineup and then as a junior was named most improved on the team. For his senior year, his teammates elected him captain. In addition to his wrestling commitments, Dr. Davis also boxed and played rugby competitively in college. However, after a near miss with a rugby injury, he decided to quit in order to focus more intensely on wrestling. After college, he practiced martial arts and ran marathons. He also picked up squash and tennis while teaching here at Belmont Hill and as a graduate student at Columbia University. Today, he continues to run regularly and wrestle as a coach of the varsity team.
Doc Fast:
Other than Mr. Brownell, Doc Fast is the only three sport college athlete on the faculty. He dominated in soccer, hockey, and lacrosse at Oberlin College and captained both the soccer and lacrosse teams. He shined in lax where he played attack. “I could kill a fly on the wall at one time,” he boasted. In one of his best games at Oberlin against Ohio State, he rushed and scored but had his rib broken by a malicious Buckeye. To this day, he cannot tolerate this kind of play and recently had a confrontation with a referee for failing to castigate a Milton player for slashing one of his JV Lax boys. He narrowly avoided being ejected from the game, and thankfully Mr. Phinney talked him off the ledge. With regard to his long career as a coach, Doc says, “I didn’t invent JV lax, I am JV lax.” Additionally, his personal record for consecutive push ups exceeds 170.
Mr. Martin:
Mr. Martin was a standout athlete at Belmont Hill, lettering all three seasons in four different sports, soccer, football, hockey, and baseball, over the course of his five years at the school. He captained the baseball team twice and the hockey team during his senior year, and won the Babe Ruth Sportsmanship award at graduation. One of his proudest Belmont Hill hockey memories was winning the Lawrenceville tournament during his senior year, defeating Andover in the finals 3 to 2. This achievement was especially meaningful because his teams had lost in the finals the previous two years, and just three weeks before the win they had been defeated by Andover 5-1. In fact, the focus of Mr. Martin’s panel, which hangs in the MacPherson room, is the Lawrenceville Trophy. After graduation, Mr. Martin played cape-league baseball for Cotuit and was one of the league’s top 10 hitters. For college, Mr. Martin attended Bowdoin where he was a two sport athlete. His freshman baseball team still ranks among Bowdoin’s best of all time, going undefeated and having 8 hitters bat over .300. In hockey, he was a three year star on the varsity after a season on the freshman team. He played under legendary Bowdoin hockey coach Sid Watson, and became the first Bowdoin hockey player to reach the 100-point mark despite playing just 3 years. Additionally, he served as captain his senior year and received the ECAC- Most Valuable Player award which put Bowdoin on the map nationally. After Bowdoin, Mr. Martin pursued hockey further, playing in the minors for teams based in Framingham, MA, and Manchester, NH. He attended training camp with the Buffalo Sabres, and upon the conclusion of his own hockey career started coaching at Brooks School and then here at Belmont Hill.
Mr. Holland:
At Belmont Hill, Mr. Holland was a varsity soccer player, a squash and basketball player, and a track runner. Soccer was his focus, and he competed with a club team outside of school. In college at Amherst, he played all four years and captained the team his senior year. His team was the first to win a NESCAC tournament during his junior year, and they made a run to the NCAA Final Four his senior year. He thrice received the Eli Marsh award for passion in sports and won numerous other individual and team honors. After college, he briefly tried his hand at the world of semi-pro soccer.
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Mr. Montoya:
At Newton North, Coach Montoya was a star soccer player who was voted among the top 10 athletes in a class of 1000 kids at his graduation. After, it was off to Boston College where he played varsity soccer all four years and was captain as a senior. Throughout both high school and college, he won numerous awards for his talent, work ethic, and sportsmanship. For a few years after college, he played soccer professionally. He played four seasons of indoor soccer and the seasons of outdoor soccer for the Boston Bullets, a precursor to the New England Revolution. As a defender, he captained that team as well and was voted Most Valuable Player. In addition, he has been a lifelong runner and track enthusiast, a participant in city league basketball, and an avid tennis player.
Mr. Doar:
Aside from Mr. Brownell, Mr. Doar may well be the best “sleeper” athlete on the faculty. He is an absolutely outstanding golfer, and this past summer at Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska, he shot his best round yet, an astonishing 65 (-6). Arguably, this is the most impressive athletic feat of any of the faculty members on this list. In addition to playing regularly and coaching the golf team here at school, he sometimes has the chance to show off his athleticism at home in front of his wife when he drops something, as he notes that he is unusually adept at catching falling items in mid-air. Impressive, Mr. Doar!
Dr. E. Davis:
At Tower Hill School in Delaware, Dr. Elizabeth Davis played varsity volleyball, basketball and lacrosse. Her lacrosse team won the Delaware state championship, and she personally earned all state honors in all three sports. Once, she scored 28 points in a single basketball game. After graduating with 10 varsity letters in total, Dr. Davis continued her athletic career at Williams College where she played lacrosse all four years, captaining the team in her senior year. There, she scored 7 goals in a single game, and still enjoys coaching basketball and lacrosse.
Mr. Schneider: Mr. Schneider achieved all-state honors as a soccer player in Connecticut during high school, and his team finished third in the state his senior year. He also played volleyball, and was voted all-state his junior year. In college at Trinity, he was an all-NESCAC soccer player and team captain his senior year. Following graduation, he played semi-pro soccer in the Connecticut Soccer League (CSL), and won the league championship.
Mr. Carr:
At Belmont Hill, Mr. Carr played soccer, hockey, and lacrosse. He lettered three times in soccer and twice in lacrosse, and then continued his soccer and lacrosse careers at Amherst. He played for four years on each team and captained both teams during his junior and senior years. He was a third team All-American his senior year in lacrosse and was named to all-star teams in his senior year. He also ranked second in the nation in assists per game as a senior in lacrosse.
Mr. Butler: When asked to be part of this article, Mr. Butler responded with, “Are you kidding me? No. I’m the worst athlete at the school, I just work hard.”
Mrs. Bobo:
After an amazing career at Hotchkiss in which she lettered all twelve seasons of high school in field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse, Mrs. Bobo continued her athletic career as a hockey player for Dartmouth. She was also recruited by a number of schools for field hockey (her favorite sport), although Dartmouth was the highest caliber option on her radar. As a junior there, she was invited to try out for the U.S. Olympic hockey team, and only narrowly missed making it. Amazingly, she notes that her athletic accomplishments pale in comparison to those of her three sisters: one twice captained Harvard’s hockey team and played for the US Olympics team, another won two national championships in lacrosse at Middlebury, and the third captained UVA’s lacrosse team. As an adult, Mrs. Bobo and her husband have run four marathons, and she continues to occasionally skate circles around some of the players on Fifth Hockey.
Mr. Grant:
A three sport star at Nipmuc Regional High School, Coach Grant played soccer, basketball, and baseball. He was an all-New England soccer player and earned academic all-state honors in Basketball. He continued his athletic career at Amherst where he was a two year started at right back for the soccer team and a four year started as a second baseman for the baseball team. Furthermore, he captained the baseball squad as a senior.
Mr. Collins:
As a Belmont Hill student, Mr. Collins played three seasons on varsity teams: football, basketball, and track. He fondly recalls winning the ISL one year in football, and in track he and his relay teammates set a school record which stood until 2008 (16 years). They also set the league championship meet record, and won ISLs once and New England’s twice. Personally, he achieved a number of impressive milestones including the 6’ high jump, a 20+’ long jump and 40+’ in the triple jump. After Belmont Hill he attended Tuskegee University, where he chose not to play football due to the caliber of the school’s team. However, after college he played six years of semi-pro football. He was a linebacker for the Boston Panthers, and was team all-star as a linebacker. A few of those six years, the Panthers were nationally ranked, and he recalls that he played some of his best games against the now defunct Charlestown Townies. Also, he was once profiled for the TV-program Chronicle, along with his brother Jeremy, who also played for the Panthers.
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The Fall Concert: A Gratifying Experience By Tyler Forg ‘21 and Ryan Cannistraro ‘21 This year’s Fall Concert was the first of its kind and an excellent kickoff to the Thanksgiving holiday. Previously, there had been a fall recital and a winter concert. However, this year, the music department combined the two. The middle school jazz ensemble started with a banger from Stevie Wonder, famously known as “Superstition.” There were terrific solos from Daniel Xie ‘24 on the alto saxophone, John Ma-
zur ‘25 on trumpet, Derrick Huang ‘25 on the tenor saxophone, TJ Cannistrarlo ‘24 on the bass. After the middle school jazz ensemble, the jazz combo took the stage. The quartet plus Mr. Fiori on the drums played the classic “Take the ‘A’ Train.” Of note included the rarity of vocals, pronounced exquisitely by Jacob Czarnecki ‘22. Next, the upper school jazz ensemble performed their four pieces, which featured, in total, a solo from every member. Nevertheless, in his absence, one of the private music lesson
teachers rose to the occasion and, in his endeavor, crafted a beautiful solo that resonated with all the audience members. The B-Flats sang four songs, two of which featured members of the up-
“All in all, it was a gratifying experience filled with many talented musicians.” per school jazz ensemble. The other two songs were acapella; the last one featured Head of School Mr. Schnieder, who, over the summer, recommended the song to be performed at a chapel. In
solos, he sang the verses of what is often known as the second Canadian national anthem, “Northwest Passage,” while the Flats accompanied him. Lastly, the all-school orchestra played three songs. All in all, it was a gratifying experience filled with many talented musicians and their beautiful music. Everyone should come out to see these groups play this February again. ☐
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The Artist of the Issue: Elias Hyde ‘20 By Andrew Jinhee Lee ‘20 Panel Staff If you have seen illustrations in The Panel, chances are the artwork was made by Elias Hyde. This artist has contributed much to the visual arts at Belmont Hill through his compositional prowess in painting and drawing. Beginning in Form II, Elias came upon a passion for the arts when assigned a school project to paint a mural of a woman in Central Square, Cambridge. From then, he found a natural allurement to pencildrawings and paintings, mainly focusing on murals. His perseverance, along with his natural talent, earned him four
Scholastic Gold Keys and the Belmont size the intense facial expressions within Hill Art Award at Prize Day last year. his work. When asked about his main focus when creating murals, he respond“Paintings have given me a role ed, “I like to focus on creating works that highlight the expressions that one in many communities and I makes. Each stroke of the brush counts.” have been able to find my place Continuing on his artistic journey, through it” Elias has participated in more public art for charitable causes, such as painting Inspired by Guy Denning’s style damaged store shutters in poor neighborof art, Elias taught himself the ways hoods. He wishes to bring life to run-down of the brush and pencil, though he at- buildings — a means to leave his legacy. tributes much of his improvement in “Everything deserves a chance to be relandscape art to Mr. Zamore’s guid- stored. I wish that my art can help.” By creance in his Advanced Drawing Class. ating a specific voice in his art, Elias wishFocusing on each detail with every es to address serious issues in the world stroke of the brush, he tries to empha- with his drawings of portraits. He finds
Photograph of the Artist of the Issue: Elias Hyde
that the canvas is the best way to express himself. Commenting on his passion for art, Elias said, “Paintings have given me a role in many communities, and I have been able to find my place through it. I have found myself through my brush.” Currently, Elias continues to improve upon his painting and drawing skills. He has left an impact within the Belmont Hill Community through his constant illustrations in The Panel and other works inside the art building. Though, he says, that his artistic style has much to improve upon, he looks forward to participating in Advanced Painting and Drawing in the spring and creating more of his masterful artwork in the world. ☐
Photograph of Elias’s Scholastic Gold Medal Piece Entitled “Protest”
Winter Coffee House: A Night to Remember By Andrew Jinhee Lee ‘20 Panel Staff Another year, another success. Performed at the Kraft Theater, the Belmont Hill Winter Coffee House held many unforgettable musical acts. With Kailen Richards and Adam Alto as MCs during the performances, the tension in the room was relaxed and filled with laughter through their various jokes surrounding both students and faculty members. Starting off the Coffee House was the Middle School Rock Band, performing beautiful renditions of “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac and “More Than A Feeling” by Boston. Following this group of boys were James Markis, Jack McHugh, Aidan McGaugh, & Mr. Bracken playing “Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran; Mr. Bracken, on the viola, stunned the crowd even though
he only practiced for a few hours prior. Other memorable performances were that of Kailen Richards singing and playing the guitar for Walter Mitty’s “Let’s Get Breakfast,” Andrew Jinhee Lee’s solo delivery of “Naked” by James Arthur, and Brian Lee’s beautiful cover of Yurima’s “River Flows in You.” Mr. George, performing a unique cover of Coldplay’s “Trouble” on garage band and piano, amazed the crowd with his musical prowess — followed by the Upper School Rock Band playing “Reptilia” by The Strokes and “What A Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers and Tim Brown, Charles Geddes, Charlie Stevenson, Mr. Fiori delivering a cover of “The Dream” by David Sanborn. Though the night was filled with acts from very musically gifted musicians, one of the most captivating acts of the Winter Coffee House was An-
drew Jonghyun Lee’s solo performance of his song “Cigarette Lady.” After his and Adian McGaugh’s performance of Howie Day’s “Collide,” Andrew left the crowd in awe while performing his original song through his amazingly clear voice mixed with his mastery of the piano. Nevertheless, Coffee House could not
Executive Editor Chetan Shukla ‘20 Arts Editor Andrew Jin Lee ‘20 Sports Editor Jackson Riffe ‘20 Photo Editor Jalen Walker ‘21 Back Page Editors Charlie Mullaney ‘20 Liam Peterson ‘20
Photograph of Upper School Rockband Performing a Song
have been possible without the faculty and students running the lighting, set, and sounds during the show. Abe Tolkoff ran the lights, Mr. Duarte and Mrs. Kaplan created the set, and Daniel Cho, Will Kelly, and Alex Lo handled the sounds. Thank you, Mr. Fiori, and all the performers for a marvelous Coffee House. ☐
Editors-in-Chief Jack Weldon ‘20 Charlie Donahue ‘20 Copy Editor Charles Booth ‘20
Assistant Editors James Markis ‘20 Tyler Forg ‘21
Sreetej Digumarthi ‘21
Howard Huang ‘22 Renny Gong ‘20 Charlie Wells ‘21
Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Juliette Zener News Editor Andrew Jo Lee ‘20 Opinion Editor Jake Pappo ‘20 Online Editor Abe Tolkoff ‘21 Graphics Editor Elias Hyde ‘20
The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill and Winsor schools. The Panel is the voice of the student body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2013 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
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Should NCAA Athletes Be Paid? By Charlie Wells '21 & Sreetej Digumarthi ‘21 Panel Staff The question first emerged in the 1950s when the NCAA designated athletes as “Student-Athletes” to help the NCAA fight against worker compensation insurance claims for injured football players. Since then, there have been numerous cases in which an athlete has sued their school or the NCAA for workers comp and all of those cases have been shut down by this definition of “Student-Athlete.” Now, the argument is less about health insurance and workers comp and more about the rights of
“The NCAA prohibition against player pay doesn't protect the games' integrity and, in fact, hurts athletes" these players to be compensated for the revenue they generate. From football alone, the NCAA, a non-profit organization, made $2.086 billion in 2015 and is projected to make $2.798 billion in 2020. The top 20 football colleges made $925 million on top of that amount. However, the players, who generate all of these earnings, pocket none of this money. NFL Draft Night 2016 shone a spotlight on this issue when Laremy Tunsil’s texts to an unknown “bagman,” asking for help paying rent among other things, were posted by
a hacker on Tunsil’s Instagram account. A “bagman” illegally compensates players in return for a commitment to signing with a school, and just about every elite athletic school, especially those in the SEC, has them. In short: colleges make millions off of their players, are willing to pay them, and some even do already (despite its illegality). The NCAA prohibition against player pay doesn't protect the games' integrity and, in fact, hurts athletes who, in order to meet their basic needs, accept "back door" money from universities. Back to Laremy Tunsil; after his texts asking for rent money were hacked onto Instagram during the NFL draft, he rapidly dropped from a potential first overall pick to thirteenth. While this may not seem like a significant fall, it totaled $8 million lost in signing bonuses. This was all because of his need to accept rent payments, most likely totaling less than $20,000. In other words, the NCAA’s prohibition on the payment of players directly led to Laremy Tunsil losing nearly $8 million dollars, not because he wanted to buy some luxury goods, but because he needed to pay rent, a basic need. These college football players not only deserve their slice of that $2.798 billion pie but they also often need it. Laremy Tunsil in his texts was seen asking for rent money. In another high-profile case Leo Lewis, a linebacker for Mississippi State, was paid ten grand for his commitment to the school, which he used to buy a car he desperately needed, give his mom money for a down payment on a house, and support his 1-year-old daughter. Although he is not
“Unlike other college students who have the time to do so, athletes are not able to sustain both a part-time job and being a student at once." out of the college system yet, he has been used by the NCAA as a witness in their trial against Ole Miss, which both offered him money, and was Laremy Tunsil’s alma mater. Unlike other college students who have the time to do so, athletes are not able to sustain both a part-time job and being a student at once. During their season, they have to balance practice, school, and games, which often involves traveling to other states, and they, therefore, have very little time for a part-time job. And it’s not
as though that grind really stops or even slows during the offseason, for these athletes are competing to be at the top of the game and secure a lucrative draft spot at the end of their four long years. If the NCAA enabled the payment of players, this problem would be very quickly be solved. The NCAA has begun to move in the right direction. In October of this year, the NCAA enabled athletes to have the rights to their own names and likenesses, so that they are able to get brand deals and acquire some money that way. This, while a step in the right direction, is not enough. The elite athletes on the college stage deserve better, and the “non-profit” NCAA holds their livelihoods in the palm of its hand. ☐
From Huff Post
An Analysis of the Rise of Streaming Services in Global Consumerism By Jack Weldon ‘20 Panel Staff
Netflix changed the game. Twice, actually- first in 1999, when its launch of a monthly DVD mailing subscription doomed classic rental stores such as Blockbuster. Then again in 2007, perhaps more fresh in the minds of Belmont Hill students, when the company announced its intent to shift focus to streaming entertainment. Over the course of the next decade, Netflix spread like wildfire across the globe, forever changing the way we expected to consume content. No longer was it necessary to wait for shows to air on cable, or purchase DVDs of movies to watch at home. Suddenly, the worlds of television and cinema were at our key-clacking fingertips. As “watching Netflix” become a ubiquitous term, other early streaming services such as Amazon grabbed hold of the rising surge in popularity and ascended to a
“Netflix spread like wildfire across the globe, forever changing the way we expected to consume content. No longer was it necessary to wait for shows to air on cable, or purchase DVDs of movies to watch at home.."
dominant position in the entertainment arena. Where did all of this leave us? Happy, for the most part: families cancelled their expensive cable and radio subscriptions in favor of cheap monthly streaming costs, and all the entertain-
ment one could need congregated on a few affordable platforms. But that was years ago; since then, other companies have taken notice. Over the past five years, corporations have scrambled to capitalize on the streaming trend, launching new subscription services and dividing up their content among them. Amazon. ESPN+. HBO Now. DC Universe. Stadia. Apple Music. Apple TV+. Disney+. All of these services launched within the past five years,
of options. Gone are the days of Netflix, “Gone are the days of Netflix, Amazon, and Spotify as the sole rulers; Amazon, and Spotify as the now, consumers might have to search through Disney+, Netflix, Apple Music, sole rulers; now, consumers Spotify, and more to find that movie might have to search through they were looking for. The sheer number of com- Disney+, Netflix, Apple Music, panies trying to get their skin in the Spotify, and more to find that streaming game has many consequencmovie they were looking for." es, but not all of them are negative. For instance, due to the increased compe- of entertainment. For one, it removes tition between platforms, each will be much of the appeal that subscriptions such as Netflix had when they first launched. The promise of “all the entertainment you could ever want” on one platform has vanished as companies pull their product away from competitors. This separation of media creates the same issue that Netflix sought to solve in the first place. Secondly, the financial burden is increasing. Paying for Spotify and Netflix might have been tolerable, but adding three or four more charges a month to that bill? Speaking specifically as a student with limited time and money, that’s a good way to turn off the average consumer. We’ve seen many new streaming services crop up over the past few years, and I’m certain we’ll see more during the next few. Corporations will continue to attempt to draw in subscribers with flashy new shows and other The Average American from Awful Announcing original content. However, as entertainment continues to be divided up across and they are only a few examples of the motivated to create better, more appeal- platforms and subscription prices pile plethora of new platforms onto which ing content. Some of the best television high, I find it hard to believe that any companies are attempting to push their produced in recent years has come show, no matter how binge-worthy, will content. from the likes of Netflix and Amazon; be able to keep this teetering House of Where does this leave us? Con- The Man in the High Castle, The Man- Cards standing. ☐ fused, for the most part: if one simply dalorian, and Stranger Things serve as searches “streaming services” online, examples of critically acclaimed series articles claiming to be the “best guide” that originated on streaming services. to or the “definitive list” of streaming However, there are two key abound, reflecting the utter abundance problems with the continued fracturing
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Debate of the Issue: Does Santa Claus Really Exist?
Pro-Santa's Existence By James Markis '20 Panel Staff As Christmas approaches, the debate always comes up as to whether Mr. Santa Claus does truly exist. I am here to tell you that he 100% is real, and there is true proof of his existence. The major theories deployed to cast doubt on Santa’s existence are old and tired, contesting his ability to fit through chimneys given his size and the possibility of him visiting all the houses across the world in a single night. The false narrative of Mr. Claus’s size over the past decades is a misconception based on his frame relative to that of the elves with whom he works. According to Pew Research, elves average three feet in height and 60 pounds in weight. Clearly, Santa will look fatter when standing next to them. Since he is actually much skinnier and in significantly better shape than advertised, Mr. Claus has no trouble whatsoever shimmying down chimneys to deliver presents. Other skeptics may ask, “What about houses that don’t have chimneys?” The clear answer to that is basements and foundations, which Santa utilizes as a mode of entry when necessary. One thing that the general public does not realize is that Santa’s choice of reindeer reflects his mastery of tactics. These animals are known as some of the greatest diggers of dirt in the world. Once again, Pew Research conducted a study that showed reindeer can dig up to 20 feet in 1 minute and can even dig through concrete. Mr. Claus has multiple methods to enter people’s homes and deliver the presents. The other main theory against Santa’s existence is that he could not visit every house in one night. There are two clear rebuttals to this claim. First: time zones. Countries across the world have different time zones; obviously Christmas occurs earlier in China and later in Rome and later even in Boston. Also, Russia. The majority of its 150 million people are Orthodox Christians, and they don’t celebrate Christmas until January 7th, which gives Mr. Claus and his elves plenty of time to refuel and create more presents before
their scheduled delivery to the Motherland. Next: electrons. Yes, the atomic particle clearly disproves this ridiculous theory. After an in-depth conversation with esteemed Chemistry teacher Mr. Butler about electrons, it is clear that they can be in different places at once. Since Mr. Claus lives in the North Pole, which is extremely far from the equator, electron presence is significantly higher, which means he is made up of more e l e c trons, and thus can take full adv a nt a g e of quantum mechanics and be present in mult i p l e places at once. W i t h the two major theories Illustration by Elias Hyde '20 having been disproved, the only evidence that will determine Santa’s validity is true proof of his existence. Lucky for you, there have been multiple sightings and reports of Mr. Claus on December 25th. Stephen Wagner, a 41-year-old man from Little Falls NY, and author of the book “Touched By a Miracle: True Stories of Ordinary People and Extraordinary Experiences,” claims he saw Santa in 2012 while driving home on Christmas Eve. If an accredited author, publisher, and website creator is not enough to sway the jury on the truth of Mr. Santa Claus, then there is no hope for future generations. This combined, overwhelming proof of Santa Claus’ ability to fit down chimneys, take advantage of time zones, multi-locate, and be sighted by Stephen Wagner, provides all the evidence needed to conclude that Santa Claus is indeed real, and will deliver presents again this Christmas... as long as you believe.
Anti-Santa's Existence By Jake Pappo ‘20
Panel Staff
There is no doubt over the existence of Saint Nicholas. You may be wondering, “But, Jake, I thought you were supposed to be arguing that Santa is not real.” Well, you naive delinquent, perhaps you should study up on your saints before questioning the purpose of my statements. Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint o f children, w a s i n deed a very re a l man. H e m a y have given gifts to the kids of Asia M i nor, though he died nearly 1,700 years ago, in 343 AD. Yes, your precious St. Nicholas has since been reduced to bone and dust, meaning you sit in your pajamas every Christmas thinking that some decomposed skeleton just waltzed into your house and plopped some presents under your cute little tree. Unless your mind is comparable to an infantile one, such as that of Markis, then you should be able to see through the parental facade of Santa Claus stands between you and maturity. Now that Western society has emerged on the basis of scientific laws and logical thinking, one can find no plausibility of Santa’s existence. Do you think an old man (who does not even age, though that’s besides the point) can eat the millions, if not billions, of cookies left out for him all in one night without succumbing to a terrible death from a ruptured stomach or immeasurably high glucose levels? Do you think someone can make and deliver presents for more than
2 billion children in twenty-four hours? Do you think a man can hide himself and his elves (whose secondary purpose is likely to satisfy his obsession with children when he’s not breaking into their houses while they sleep on Christmas) from any detection, especially in this day and age of cutting-edge technology and omnipresent surveillance? I am more than happy to maintain children’s belief in this odd character for the sake of Christmas spirit and youthful innocence, but to declare with confidence that he is real is pure folly. Now that I have dragged you out of La La Land and into the light, let’s delve deeper into our analysis of the practicality of Santa. How does one account for the underprivileged children around the globe who have nothing to wake up to on Christmas morning besides an empty stomach and another day of struggle? Does Santa, in all his ironic glory, fly over the poor and provide presents for only those children whose parents can simply buy them? With the safe assumption that, if he were real, Santa would not ignore those most in need, another hole has perforated the dam of your childhood that vainly holds back the flood of reality. Some may argue that all the fables and songs relating to Santa support the theory of his existence, though this is just a distraction from the harshness of life which many, Michael Bublé among them, look to escape during the holiday season. Even so, several of these stories in popular culture present a blemished image of the merry marauder, such as one in which a child claimed to have witnessed “Mommy kissing Santa Claus.” So, taking in all these facts, if one still believes in Santa, then one must also accept that he is a home invader, an elitist, a glutton, an adulterer, and a pedophile. You should be happy that I am assuring you no one like him can exist. If you are tenacious and simple-minded enough to still believe in Santa by this point, I plead that you, as a future parent, rely on him to give your children gifts. I’d love to watch the blood drain from your face as you endure the wailing of your little ones in the morning, knowing that you ruined their childhood because you haven’t moved on from your own.
A Review of the Exam Schedule cont. Hardest Winter Sports Workouts By Abe Tolkoff '21 Panel Staff First, exam review days are not as effective as possible because students still have a full load of classes, leaving little additional time to prepare for the impending assessments. Furthermore, student athletic commitments during those review days and the weekend before exams conflict with finding adequate time to study and sleep in advance of the exam period. Secondly, many members of the community have called into question the learning value of the two school days post-exam, often referred to by teachers and students alike as “throwaway” days. While they serve as backup in the event that school is cancelled due to weather, there are other ways to ensure the availability of assessment days. How could the midyear exams be improved? Instead of holding exams Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the week before Winter Break, what if they were pushed back one day and Monday was an additional review day. This would allow for Friday to be a reserve exam day in case of a Snow Day, and for students to enter the week with a final review session after their
weekend of preparation. Additionally, during review days, only the classes that students have exams in should meet, although a concession for AP classes could be added. This would allow students to seek out their teachers for additional review sessions and provide them with further opportunities to promote student collaboration, in the timeless spirit of Working Together. Student athletic commitments on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday must be required to be complete by 4:00 pm and 2:15/4:00 Study Halls should be canceled to facilitate this change. Finally, the requirement that no athletic commitments can be scheduled during the weekend before exams must be instituted to preserve the time for exam preparation. Despite opportunities to improve, the current exam schedule does allow for most students to successfully complete sufficient review for their exams and get well-deserved rest during the subsequent Winter Break. As the school continues to incorporate student opinion in all aspects, one hopes that the Midyear Calendar will continue to be improved to benefit all constituencies in the greater Belmont Hill Community.
By Charles donahue ‘20 Panel Staff
SPORT
WORKOUT
Hockey
For many years, the staples of Belmont Hill Hockey’s conditioning regimen have been the three puck drill and suicide sprints.
Basketball
The most difficult training workout for the Basketball team is “Colgate”, which consists of a variation of running, calisthenics, and rest over a fixed interval.
Nordic Skiing
The two most difficult workouts for the Nordic Ski team are Harvard Stadiums, which occur weekly during the dry-land training period of the season, and various Ski Erging challenges.
Alpine Skiing
Zippy Funball vs. Nordic
Squash
Running suicide sprints.
Wrestling
One Man, One Minute: two partners take turns practicing a move for a minute each often for upwards of 10 repetitions.
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