December 2014 (63, 5)

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A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School

Winsor’s College Culture: A Senior Looks Back

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By Bibi Lichauco Panel Staff Time has a funny way of catching up with you. Two years ago, I wrote an article addressing the sophomore’s point of view of the notorious col-

lege process, which, more or less, I have now completed (or at least I have endured enough to know at least a little about it). At this moment in late November, I am in the waiting period, a murky void of uncertainty and ephemeral relief.

Bibi Lichauco

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These weeks after I have relinquished my control over early applications and before I have some concrete results have presented a compelling opportunity to reflect upon the frenzy of investing so much into college and how Winsor has

played a role in this process.

“We should not obsess over college,” I wrote in sophomore year. Honestly, I think that I do a fairly good job of doing the opposite now, as, ashamedly, I have woken up from nightmares of getting re-

jected from the University of Whoville. Perhaps that subconscious activity seems extreme, but it is a strong indication of what has been on my mind for the past several months.

And, to be frank, that is okay.

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Boston Women’s College 2014 Student Diversity Leadership Conference Adjusts Perspectives of Students and Teachers Hockey Takes Center Ice

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By Brigitte Schmittlein Panel Staff Boston women’s college hockey is better than ever.

Of the seven women returning from the Sochi Olympics to play college hockey in the U.S., five are returning to Boston teams.

One is returning to Boston University, two to Harvard, one to Northeastern, and one to Boston College. While these four college teams have been strong in the past, the uncommonly high

Look Inside Social Media & Activism pg 2 Keystone Pipeline pg 5 Woodbury Finals pg 6 Fall Coffeehouse pg 14 Featured Athlete: Katherine Hintlian ’15 pg 17

number of Olympic athletes has increased both level of play and competition within the region.

Olympic hockey player Kendall Coyne currently plays for Northeastern.

Not only did she contribute to the US team’s silver medal, but she also was the leading scorer, with six points and four assists.

The BU women’s hockey team, currently ranked seventh in the league, houses Olympic player Marie Poulin.

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By Michael O’Neill Panel Staff Of the 1,620 students who made the excursion to Indianapolis for this year’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference, a lucky eight were from our very own Belmont Hill School, accompanied by chaperones Mr. Collins, Mrs. David, and Mr. DiResta. Mr. Ekwelum also attended the conference, but actually worked as one of the faculty leaders of the event. The conference, which took place from December 4-6, has been held annually since 1986 and is designed to educate the attendees on all matters of diversity, and train them to bring this knowledge back to their schools and reiterate it to the rest of the student body. The various workshops were centered around eight “core cultural identifiers,” which serve as the basic foundations of diversity. The eight identi-

fiers were ability, age, family structure, gender, race & ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.

The conference was opened to much fanfare by acclaimed Georgetown professor and intellectual Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, who has contributed to MSNBC and the New York Times as well as penning and publishing eighteen different books. Dyson concentrated his address on the idea that issues of civil rights remain just as relevant in America today as they have ever been, made even more timely given the conference’s near-concurrence with the divisive grand jury decisions in the cases analyzing the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

“When we think about the issue of race, we’ve got to talk about the past, we’ve got to talk about the present, and we’ve got to talk about the future,” Dr. Dyson asserted. “The past is critical be-

cause without understanding where we have come from we do not know where we are heading, and where we have come from is deeply, profoundly troubling.”

His speech reverberated with the audience, and set an excellent tone for the rest of the week.

From the opening ceremonies, students split off into “family groups,” while chaperones began visiting entirely separate seminars and workshops.

The family groups consisted of between 75 to 125 students each, were all lead by two faculty members, and were deliberately designed to sengbeh.com break up students from the same schools so as to ensure more openness and confidentiality. It was within these groups that students participated in the workshops surrounding the eight core identifiers, sharing incredibly personal and moving stories and opinions on each topic.

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Fall Sports Awards Handed Out Feature Artist: Sophie Applbaum’15 enth overall in the Independent School league. The awards that were given out were the SocAfter an exciting and cer Trophy, the Soccer Coaches’ successful season of athletic Trophy, and the Henry B. Sawcontests, students and faculty yer Sportsmanship Award. The gathered in the Soccer Trophy chapel on Nowas presented vember 24th to to the soccer acknowledge player who in the achievethe judgment ments of Belof his coaches mont Hill made the greatSchool’s fall est improvesports teams. ment in the While all of sport this year. the middle and Football’s prize winners pose This year’s upper school winner was teams had outstanding sea- senior goalie, Eric Rolfs. The sons, the various awards were second award, Soccer Coaches’ given out to deserving mem- Trophy was awarded to that bers of the Varsity Soccer, Foot- player(s) who made the greatest ball, and Cross Country teams. contribution to the soccer team.

The Varsity Soccer Team There were two winners: senior ended their 2014-2015 cam- forward, Emmett Gordon and paign with an overall record senior sweeper, Josh Fischer. of 8-5-3, while finishing sevContinued on page 19

By Gus Lamb Staff Writer

Applbaum plays Schubert

By Sea-Jay Van Der Ploeg Panel Staff You might have seen her listening to her iPod while rapidly tapping her fingers on her extended forearm. Perhaps you have overheard her gushing excitedly about a recent concert.

You have definitely seen her toting around her bulky, black cello case. Yep, that is Winsor’s own avid cellist, Sophie Applbaum ‘15.

Long before coming to Win-

Arielle Mitropoulos Courtesy of Sophie Applbaum

sor, at the age of five, Sophie started playing cello. Explaining that her parents allowed her to choose her own instrument, she commented, “I naturally gravitated towards the cello. It probably was because I’m a small person, and it’s a big instrument--so it’s nice to get to compensate!” Sophie’s cello studies have progressed since then; today, she enjoys a rigorous daily practice schedule and many weekend commitments.

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Winsor Editorials

Th e Pan el

Social Media Facilitates Modern Activism Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr Form Crucial Part of Current Protests Just a few months ago, the names Michael Brown and Eric Garner meant little to the average American. Since their deaths, however, the lack of consequences for the police officers who killed them have sparked outrage around the country. Thousands of protesters took to the streets around the country to decry the grand juries’ failures to indict the officers. They argued that these failures were appallingly symptomatic of the continuing presence of racism in the United States. Thousands more took to social media. Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr were flooded with messages protesting (and, in some cases, supporting) the decision and asserting that “#blacklivesmatter.”

In many ways, the events recalled the beating of African American man Rodney King by police in 1991. Then, the footage was publicized on television; the video of King’s beating reached an angered public through news channels. The video of the events that led to Eric Garner’s death, by contrast, was spread over the internet. Though it did not prove to be enough to indict the officer who held the asthmatic Garner in an apparent chokehold, it was certainly capable of mobilizing thousands of Americans to voice their anger in tweets and posts. Today, social media is a crucial tool for generating awareness and encouraging activism.

This function of social media can seem to represent merely a change in medium from the screens of our televisions to those of our computers, tablets, and smartphones; however, the rise of social media as an outlet for protest and a forum for discussing current events has in fact altered the way we learn about and respond to potential injustices. It has contributed new dimensions to our relationship with the news by facilitating protests and furthering the reach of activist messages-and nothing has demonstrated these advances in America more clearly than the protests surrounding Brown’s and Garner’s deaths.

Protesters’ signs use twitter hashtags

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Eric Garner’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” are often posted online

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For one thing, social media is, by nature, an interactive tool; it thus enables people to comment publicly on current events with an immediacy and regularity that neither television nor newspapers could offer.

When it comes to activism, this dynamic assists people invaluably in making their

voices heard. Just as significantly, social media ensures that one person’s protest will quickly be heard by others. According to The Telegraph, the average Twitter user has 208 followers--that means that when one person tweets #blacklivesmatter, or someone else posts a picture of a protest they attended on

facebook, their friends and followers see it, it has the potential to reach hundreds of others.

Furthermore, the use of social media as a tool for activism expands the demographic of those who know about and actively oppose injustice. Though protests are often associated with youth, in the past, that “youth” usually meant college students and perhaps some particularly aware high schoolers. Such a demographic made sense: most very young people do not read newspapers or watch news channels, where they would learn about current events. Therefore, before social media, most youths simply would not know much about injustices unless they were directly affected by them. However, young people today frequent Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and other sites long before they begin to actively seek out information about current events from traditional news sources. Because those sites are platforms for the dissemination of activist messages as well as cat videos, youth are exposed to arguments against injustice from a far earlier age. In addition, the easy access social media offers to a variety of opinions from around the world virtually guarantees that young people will see multiple sides of any issue and ultimately come to their own conclusions. Social media’s contribution to youth awareness has been particularly apparent in the cases of Garner and Brown; for instance, the day after a grand jury’s failure to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot Michael Brown several times, my classes were filled with students talking about the decision--many of them had followed the events as they unfolded on Twitter.

Ultimately, social media is integral to the modern fight against injustice. It helps people, especially young people, become aware of and speak out against the wrongs that exist in America today. Its greatest asset is its potential for education, for mobilization, and for activism-its potential to make a difference. ☐

Mark Wahlberg: Should He Be Pardoned?

Massachusetts Actor Seeks Forgiveness For Past Assault Charge Today Mark Wahlberg is an Oscarnominated actor and producer known for his performances in “The Departed,” “The Fighter,” and “Ted,” but as a teen growing up in our very own Boston, MA (more specifically Dorchester), he was a high-school dropout and delinquent prone to frequent run-ins with the law. Late this November, Wahlberg filed paperwork with the Massachusetts Board of Parole requesting pardon for a crime he committed in 1988 at age 16, when he attacked and severely injured two Vietnamese men while uttering racial slurs and attempting to rob their store. Tried as an adult and convicted of assault and battery, Wahlberg served a mere 45 days in prison, during which time he allegedly resolved to give up crime and drugs and turn his life around.

In order to be successful in obtaining pardon in Massachusetts, Wahlberg must demonstrate to the Parole Board (1) a specific compelling need for pardon and (2) substantial time of exemplary citizenship (at least 10-15 years). Although he clearly meets the second condition, there remains controversy over whether he meets the first.

Wahlberg suggests

that the pardon would send a positive message to teens growing up in similar situations to his own: that one can “move on… and move forward” after making mistakes and that “anything’s possible” regardless of the circumstances. In reality, Wahlberg’s ability to start his celebrity career was largely contingent upon the connections he had through his then more fam o u s b r o t h e r, Donnie Wahlberg, m e m ber of the 1980s boy band New Kids on the Block. The pardon, he claims,

would serve as a “formal recognition that [he is] not the same person that [he] was” and that he has “dedicated [himself] to becoming a better person and citizen so that [he] can be a role model to [his] children and others.”

Despite these apparently noble aims, many critics point out that a pardon, if granted, would reinforce the injustice of the current system, bring many personal benefits to Wahlberg, and could in fact send a negative rather than a positive message. Though Wahlberg has firmly denied the accusation, some claim that he “feel[s] entitled to get [the pardon] because of the fame and fortune.” Especially in the wake of the decisions not to hold accountable the white officers who killed Michael Brown and Eric Garner, some journalists such as CNN reporter Jeff Yang see Wahlberg’s request as yet another example of white privilege: “If a black, Hispanic or Asian youth [acted as Wahlberg did], it’s inconceivable that he would have been let off with such a light sentence; implausible that he’d have gone on to the kind of marquee stardom that Wahlberg has obtained; unlikely that he would have the sense of unvarnished privilege that is driving Wahlberg’s desire for a whitewashing biography.com of his

record, if you’ll pardon the pun.” Indeed, according to ProPublica, white individuals are four times more likely to be granted pardons than are people of other ethnicities. A pardon would furthermore bring certain practical benefits, allowing Wahlberg to obtain the liquor license necessary to expand his California restaurant chain and to become a volunteer officer in the Los Angeles Police Department.

Rather than encouraging kids involved in delinquency to reform their lives, a pardon could potentially send a message that crime and violence is permissible and easily erased from one’s record.

Massachusetts has not granted a pardon since 2002, and the odds that Wahlberg will be successful are low--rightfully so. Wahlberg has repented verbally, yet his actions do not support his words. As Yang points out, he has never apologized to his victims or shown the “kind of targeted charity and philanthropic presence befitting someone who was truly remorseful.” Regardless of his celebrity status or his ‘white privilege,’ Wahlberg must be held accountable for his deeds until he shows genuine regret. As we live out our teenage years, we should be mindful that our actions have repercussions that stay with us throughout our lives; and if we happen to make a mistake, we should do all we can to make ourselves truly deserving of others’ forgiveness. ☐

D e c emb er 18t h , 2014

Belmont Hill Editorials

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A Journey Through Belmont Spreading Social Awareness and Hill’s Storied Athletic Legacy Generating a Welcoming Evironment

By William Treanor Panel Staff You just have to take one look at our Athlete of the Issue or really any of our athletes to know Belmont Hill is an athletic powerhouse. Whether it’s the Crew team’s ten New England Championships since 2003 or Lacrosse’s nine Division One committed players last season, Belmont Hill is full of incredible athletes and athletic accomplishments.

The rafters in the hockey rink, full of stories from champions past and present, stare ominously down at every young athlete in the school. How can one expect to succeed in such a competitive and skilled environment?

This is a question I’ve grappled with for all of my six years at the school. I came here in 7th grade convinced that I would play football, hockey, and lacrosse, and that I could contribute in all three. For the most part, I did, as a starter in both football (at left tackle, believe it or not) and lacrosse, I couldn’t wait for the days when I would play a part in Varsity Football or Varsity Lacrosse’s next ISL championship. Then 8th grade came with the realization that I was not nearly as big or strong as I thought. In football I went from left tackle to left out, then I quit hockey out of fear I would never make the 4th team and picked up squash instead. If I was barely cutting it in middle school, how would my high school sports career turnout? A lot of Belmont Hill students struggle with the same issue, as nearly everyone has to adjust to the fact that they are mere mortals. From that entire 7th grade hockey team, exactly two currently play on varsity.

It’s part of growing up to realize that no matter how good you are, there will always be someone better; no matter how much you’ve achieved, someone will have achieved more.

Flash-forward to this past fall. As one of a few returning athletes from the previous year’s soccer team, I entered the season with low expectations. We had lost some of our best players from a team that was under .500, and this season our prospects were not looking too promising. But by some miracle (and some exceptional performances), we really came together as a team and doubled the amount of points from the previous year. And, due to injuries, I even became captain for a few matches. Even though we did not win a single game while I was in charge and failed to qualify for the playoffs, I’ll always look back on the time that I helped lead Belmont Hill in a hard-fought game against the Galacticos of Lawrence Academy with extreme pride. And what makes it so special were the guys I played with, and the way we never gave up and played an awesome 90 minutes of soccer.

In a school with such incredible athletes, it can be hard to make your mark. At Belmont Hill, it can seem that it is all about winning. But while winning is important, I’ve found the connections you make and enjoyment you get out of it are just as important. In my fondest sports memory at Belmont Hill, our team lost. But it was a moment I’ll never forget, and I got to experience it with people I’ll never forget. 20 years from now, you may not remember the score of your last midseason clash against St. Pauls on a spring Wednesday afternoon, but I guarantee you’ll have more than a few memories of the guys you played with. Even though I missed Lacrosse’s ISL championship during my sophomore season, this year we have a fantastic group of players, and, although a few years later than I dreamed, I hope this year I’m part of a team that gets to add to the banners in the hockey rink. ☐

The Belmont Hill Trophy Case near the hockey rink displays all of BH’s trophies

By Michael O’Neill Panel Staff The world has a way of making us feel small -- constantly reminding us that we’re all just one in over seven billion, telling us that one individual can hardly make a difference. This is especially pertinent to us as teenagers, as we typically have the awareness to know what we want to do, but usually lack the power and tools to actually do it. Thus, it’s easy to forget that our perceived irrelevance is just that: perceived. The truth is that everybody has the ability to make an impact in the lives of others, particularly within a tight-knit community like Belmont Hill’s.

This idea, this feeling of empowerment, was one of my biggest takeaways from this month’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Indianapolis. The main goal of the entire conference, which is detailed more thoroughly in this paper’s news section, was to to take the messages they receive during the program and relay them back home at their high schools. The ‘leadership’ aspect of the conference was key, as it is up to us as supporters of diversity to spread the ideas discussed at SDLC to other students who may not possess comprehensive knowledge or understanding of the issues facing minority groups each and every day.

For me, this mission applied most to my role as one of the heads of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. To be frank, the GSA is not Belmont Hill’s biggest student group, nor is it the most universally supported. But the work we do is important nonetheless. It’s wellknown that not a single Belmont Hill student has ever openly identified as gay (or anything other than heterosexual, for that matter) while in attendance at the school. To assume that

this is simply by coincidence and that it has nothing to do with the school’s social environment is, frankly, irresponsible and naive. If through the GSA, we can help just one student who feels suffocated by our community based on his sexuality become more confident with his identity, then we’ve succeeded. Even if all we manage to do is spread awareness about the plights of LGBT+ youths across the world to a handful of people, it’s progress.

At SDLC, I developed a more nuanced and complete understanding of the struggles these teenagers face, and now feel even more passionately about my work with the GSA. My fellow group members, two of whom also attended the conference, and I have already been bouncing ideas off of each other as to how to make the club more effective and resonate with more students across campus. A name change to a more inclusive ‘Gender-Sexuality Awareness’ title, safe-space stickers, anti-bullying pledges, and other measures are all in the works, and attempts to bring a gay-rights advocate to speak at our school are ongoing.

Still, many steps must be taken before it can truthfully be said that the Belmont Hill community “values the differences,” as it so says in the school’s mission statement, of LGBT+ students and faculty. But neither I nor my fellow GSA members will be giving up anytime soon, because we know that the idea that a few people can’t make change happen is ludicrous. The same is true for every student at Belmont Hill; whether you’re a star on the football team, a gifted actor or musician, a leader on the school senate, or simply a hard worker and considerate person who treats others well, you absolutely can and do make a difference, and that is something we should all take advantage of. ☐

Leaving Your Mark on Belmont Hill’s Extracurricular and Global Scene entirely receptive to this idea, and MUN, an overnight conference hosted made sure we had every resource we by Boston University, with 2,000 felneeded at our disposal. In our first low high schoolers from around the year, a core group of around 10 stu- country. With the help of our faculty There are many ways at Bel- dents began attending conferences advisor, Ms. Zener, and the school, mont Hill for students to make an im- around the Boston area, and in Feb- we identified a mutual interest of stupact, whether it be in the classroom, ruary of 10th grade we attended BOS- dents at Belmont Hill, formed a group outside the classroom or on the athletic fields. Extra-curriculars provide a chance to pursue passions that aren’t offered in the Belmont Hill curriculum, or to explore academic subjects at an even deeper level. There is a wide breadth of clubs offered at Belmont Hill, from the Aeronautics club to Philosophy club to Improv club. If there isn’t a club offered for what you are interested in, you can start one.

One of my interests at Belmont Hill was foreign affairs and current events. After World Issues ended in 9th grade, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to take any more classes about current events until senior year. As a result, I decided to join Orbis, an existing club at Belmont Hill, and also decided to start a Model United Nations club at school as well. The school was The Model UN group has more than doubled in size just two years since its founding.

By John Driscoll Panel Staff

and turned it into a thriving club.

During my time at Belmont Hill students have founded various other clubs as well. Last year, students founded a sports debate club to talk about various topics that are of importance to fans at Belmont Hill. If you prefer a meaningful discussion about life, maybe the Philosophy club is for you. Karaoke club was founded for the less-talented singers at Belmont Hill, and the Chinese club was founded to give Chinese students even more exposure to the culture, or for students who aren’t able to take the language to enjoy the culture as well.

One of Belmont Hill’s best assets is its extra-curriculars. No matter what your interests or passions, there is probably a club for you, and if there isn’t, the school has made sure to provide the resources for you to pursue that interest in a meaningful way. Starting a club or contributing to a club you are passionate about are fantastic ways to leave a legacy at Belmont Hill, and it’s a shame that not every student takes advantage of these fantastic groups. ☐

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Th e Pan el

Class IV Shines in Annual Shakespeare Production

By Alexa Lyons Panel Staff “Let us not burden our remembrances with a heaviness that’s gone,” wrote William Shakespeare in The Tempest. On December 11, Class IV presented “Happy Endings and New Beginnings” to Winsor students and faculty, celebrating the last Class IV Shakespeare project to take place in the current assembly and looking forward to future productions in our new theater. The production contained eight scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and six from The Tempest. The scenes were woven together by a frame play consisting of construction workers to continue the theme of saying goodbye to the assembly before moving to the Lubin-O’Donnell Center for the Performing Arts, Athletics, and Wellness in the spring. Two Class IV students, Nancy Kaneb and Izzy Thorndike, played the construction workers, adding humour to the show while also provid-

on the production gives the eighth grade

“As a Lower Schooler, I looked up to the IVs, and now as an Upper Schooler, watch- time to get to know each other even ing the show reminds me of how great a bonding experience it was for my class.” more while working together. Genna

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Cast of “Happy Endings and New Beginnings” ing brief summaries of the scenes to help are not only actresses in the play, but the audience follow along with the plot. they also work on committees to conThe tradition of the Class IV struct the set, sew costumes, and comShakespeare Play has existed since 1931, pose music. They stage manage and run and the show is always a treat for the the sound and lights during the perforWinsor community. The Class IV girls mance as well. Spending so much time

Brusie ’17 said, “As a Lower Schooler, I looked up to the IVs, and now as an Upper Schooler, watching the show reminds me of how great a bonding experience it was for my class.” Marie Kester ’19, who performed in The Tempest, agreed and said, “My favorite part of the project was seeing the other girls in my class acting.

I love having all of us work together.”

The show was both hilarious and exciting, and it was a great way for the Winsor community to spend one of the last assembly periods of 2014. Some highlights were the beautiful costumes constructed by the costume committee, the fantastic special effects in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the energy of all the actors and tech crew. Emily Chen ’17 remarked, “It was such a funny show, and it was great to see how enthusiastic the IVs were while performing!” The Panel congratulates Class IV on a wonderful performance!☐

Obama Announces Sweeping Immigration Reform

By Bibi Lichauco Panel Staff The U.S. is known as the “melting pot” of the world; it attracts people from all countries, many of whom come here seeking a better life. Whether it be because of our quality education systems, higher paying jobs, or capitalist society, for many, the U.S. is the land of opportunity, and for this reason we have a diverse population made up of many immigrants.

The topic of immigration in America is a complex one, as many people feel the system is not as restrictive as it should be.

for at least five years, they have children who are citizens or legal residents, they are willing to pay taxes, and they can pass a criminal background check.

President Obama’s speech sparked reactions all across America, receiving both praise and scrutiny from politicians of various political parties.

The Secretary of US Department of Homeland Security defended the President, saying, “given our limited resources, these people are not our priorities for removal.” On the other hand, many Republicans claim the President Obama does not have the power to take these ac-

“President Obama’s speech sparked reactions all across America, receiving both praise and scrutiny from politicians of various political parties.”

According to the Pew Research Center, there are approximately 11.7 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., and this number is only rising. On November 20th, President Obama addressed these issues in the country’s immigration system and presented the nation with his plan, which he claims will protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation.

As described in his speech, President Obama’s plan consists of three executive decisions that will change the way the US immigration system operates, some of which will begin in early 2015.

First, he plans to add “additional resources for our law enforcement personnel” at the borders of the country to prevent the flow of more illegal crossings. Secondly, he will aid “highly-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs” in getting jobs and contributing positively to the US economy. Third, he is going to “take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country,” primarily focusing on those who are threats to the U.S. and need to be held accountable. He emphasizes the prioritization that will occur in law enforcement when dealing with these cases; he explained, “We’re going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. Gang members, not a mother who’s working hard to provide for her kids.” In order to strike a balance between offering a myraid of opportunites but not overlooking the felony of being an illegal immigrant, President Obama offered a compromise that allowed illegal immigrants to temporarily stay in the country under these conditions: they have been in the U.S.

tions, and some even feel he should be “It’s in your hands, Mr. President.” politifact.com taken to court. This issue has also become a topic of discussion on our own Winsor community. Victoria Ontiveros ’16, the head of Progressives Club, sees potential in the plan but wishes it had come about in a different way. “The new legislation will help a lot of families,” Victoria said, “but I had hoped Congress would pass comprehensive immigration Editors-in-Chief reform.” Caroline MacGillivray ’15, a coExecutive Editors Copy Editors Maddy Batt head of Winsor Conservatives, also “unJohn Driscoll Matt Reppucci Michael O’Neill derstands the President’s approach, but Caroline MacGillivray Sea-Jay Van der Ploeg does find the plan to be a bit lenient and Natalie Sayegh not as strict as it should be. “Although I William Treanor Online Editors don’t altogether disagree with it, I think Sreehaas Digumarthi News Editors it is rather generous considering the curBibi Lichauco Sreehaas Digumarthi Arts Editors rent immigration laws,” she said, “the Lilla Gabrieli Brendan Pulsifer U.S. should be more stringent about borAbigail Simon der patrol as they try and create easier paths for people to come here legally.”

Opinion Editors Assistant Editors Sports Editors Political parties aside, there is a Hailey Fuchs Chip Daley Joanna Chen general concern that Obama’s plan will Jay O’Brien Jake DeCaprio Liam Foley not help a number of immigrants who Victoria Farina should be getting these benefits, but do Faculty Advisors Jason Fischman not fit all the criteria. For example, imPhoto Editors David Hegarty Betsy Kim migrants who are qualified but have been Kiran Butte Stephen Murdock Mack Perry in the U.S. for fewer than five years or Alexa Lyons Thomas Wensink Helen Sayegh immigrants who have been here for a Jamie Mazzio-Manson Sarah Wolf Brigitte Schmittlein number of years but do not have children.

Juliette Zener Caitlin Weldon President Obama took on a controversial topic for Americans; he came Backpage Editors Graphics Editor up with a plan that addresses many conAndres Cordoba Arielle Blacklow cerns the government and the people of Myles Walsh the U.S. have regarding illegal immigration, but he still faces a notable amount of criticism. The debate of immigration 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 in America is an ongoing one, but regardbody. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel belong less of personal opinion, there are 11.7 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 undocumented people in this country, reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2011 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. making illegal immigration an issue that President Obama needed to address.☐

D e c emb er 18t h , 2014

winsor NEWS

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Fragile Hopes of Boko Haram Releasing Schoolgirls Shattered

By Isabel Griffith-Gorgati & Saphia Suarez Panel Staff In a recent statement, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau declared that “over 200 Chibok girls have converted to Islam, which they confess is the best religion. Either their parents accept this and convert too or they can die.”

Last April, 276 girls were abducted from a school in Chibok, Nigeria by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram. This name translates to “Western education is sin.” Abolishing western education in Nigeria and creating an Islamic state are two of Boko Haram’s main goals. Therefore, the kidnapping of the girls in April was likely an act of violence against the school, which is government run. Boko Haram views the Nigerian government and therefore its institutions of education as westernized.

Some of the students were Christian, and, according to one of the girls who was lucky enough to escape, Boko Haram separated the Muslims and Christians and released the Muslims. The kidnapping prompted a worldwide movement to rescue the young women, including an international campaign called “Bring Back Our Girls.”

Despite international action and repeated news that rescue missions have

#Release Our Girls Now! been organized and deals have been made to retrieve the girls, they have still not all been rescued. Recent rumors of a proposed deal between the terrorist organization and the Nigerian government have been dismissed by Abubakar Shekau, the terrorist leader. Shekau claimed that the young women had long since converted to Islam and been married off, shattering hopes of their return. He continued, “in this war, there is no going back,” reaffirming beliefs that this first attack was just a step in Boko Haram’s mission to create an

Update on Keystone Pipeline

By Bibi Lichauco Panel Staff Environmentalists all across the country held their breath on November 18th, as the Senate voted on the authorization of the notorious Keystone XL pipeline. Passing this controversial bill that would have allowed the construction of a massive 5.3 billion dollar pipeline capable of carrying 830,000 barrels of crude oil from Alberta, Canada to Nebraska, where it would connect with the southern trail that leads to Texas oil refineries. There are both economic and political implications in the construction of this pipeline.

Supporters, who are composed of the Canadian oil companies, labor and building trades unions, most Senate Republicans, and 66 percent of Americans, believe that the pipeline will create thousands of jobs and greatly advance economic growth. The

Map of proposed keystone pipeline State Department released a review that estimated the pipeline would generate about 2,000-4,000 jobs over a two-year period, most of which would be temporary. The pipeline was also predicted to contribute 4.3 billion dollars to the American economy over this time. Additionally, a “pro” for the pipeline is that it would strengthen

trade relations between the United States and Canada, as Canada’s only customer for oil trade is the United States. On the flip side, environmentalists and Senate Democrats are opposed to the bill. Environmentalists use the point that the pipeline will cause greenhouse gas emissions, which trap heat in the atmosphere and are heavy contributors to climate change. The pipeline would therefore contradict Obama’s efforts towards adapting America to more sustainable sources of energy; however, Obama has left this decision to the State Department and tiptoed around proclaiming a definitive opinion on the issue for several years. On the day of the vote, the bill failed to pass by one vote. Senator Mary Landrieu, a Democrat from Louisiana, faced a runoff election in her home state and attempted to use the bill’s passing to bolster her political legitimacy and help her campaign. Ultimately, her loss was humiliating, as the Senate was still dominated by Democrats who would not vote for the bill, Ironically, this bill will most likely pass easily in a Republican majority senate, which we will see this coming January.

Overall, putting the issue back on Congress’ floor was nearly futile as the situation is at a standstill but will undergo discussion again when the Senate changes in a few weeks.

In the month of November, the Keystone XL pipeline served as a political wedge; we washingtonpost.com shall await the final decision to come early next year, around the one-year anniversary of the protests in Washington in which some Winsor students were involved. Perhaps because the pipeline bill is expected to be passed, Winsor environmentalists might venture back down to the National Mall and show Congress that this pipeline would not be beneficial for Americans. ☐

telegraph.co.uk

Islamic state. The extremist group recently took the town of Mubi under its control. In October, another 60 women were abducted from the village of Garta, which has a strong Boko Haram presence. The group targeted Christian girls, and local Catholic Bishop Mamza said, “this is actually what is happening on a daily basis, only it is

not reported.” Many have expressed frustration that the Nigerian government has not been sufficiently proactive in rescuing the kidnapped girls. Since the abduction of the young women in Chibok, multiple violent attacks and killings in northern Nigeria have been attributed to Boko Haram.

Boko Haram continually attacks the freedom and rights of Nigerians. With the repeated abduction of young women in the name of the Boko Haram movement, the fundamental rights of religion, education, and personal freedom are violated. As members of the Winsor community, where all religious backgrounds are accepted and education is viewed as an intrinsic right, the deprivation of education and the infringement of religious freedom being is hard to imagine. To have one’s home, family, future, and identity violently stripped away based on religious and institutional affiliations is unthinkable. As young women in a privledged country, it is important for us not only to recognize that the things we take for granted are being endangered in other parts of the world but also to act on these injustices through our connections to the larger global community. ☐

extreme disapproval, praise, and some reviews that glossed over the subject.

Having diverse characters is especially important since Disney movies are so popular among children.

Including diverse characters would give the comAmplifying Glass pany an opportunity to teach young chilIllustration from The Princes and the Treasure dren the importance of accepting people of all sexualities.

Chanel Matthews ’17, a member of Winsor’s upper school GBSTA club, said, “It

By Alexandra Lyons helps people to identify with characters Panel Staff they have similarities with, and it introAre you ready for the release of a duces diversity to kids from a young age.” new, modern Disney movie with diverse Disney may be hesitant to create characters? Last month, news started a movie like Princes because of the fear circulating that Disney was planning a new that conservative parents might prevent movie called Princes to be released in the their children from being exposed to nonfall of 2015. Unfortunately, it was soon no- heterosexual characters, which would ticed that this website, Amplifying Glass, cause two serious problems: Disney could was notorious for creating false rumours. lose considerable profit and receive exWhile Disney does not have any plans for treme backlash from anti-gay communithis movie, which was said to be centered on ties. However, as our country is becomtwo gay princes who would end up marrying ing more supportive of LGBTQ rights each other at the end of the film, the article since 35 states and counting now allow left many discussing whether a movie like same-sex marriage, Disney should recthe rumoured Princes should be produced. ognize that although some parents might Disney has both been complimented make the decision that they do not want and criticized in the past about the types their children to see this movie, the benof characters featured in their movies. In efits are stronger than the risks of losing terms of diversity, reviews of older Disney profit or critical reviews. A major benmovies criticized the racist portrayals of Jim efit would be the positive reactions from Crow in Dumbo and King Louie and the same-sex families to seeing a character other monkeys in The Jungle Book. Howev- their child can identify with based on their er, Disney has improved in terms of diver- parents’ sexualities. Additionally, diversity sity in the fifteen years with the releases of should not be compromised due to posMulan in 1998 and The Princess and the Frog sible risks for the production company. in 2009, which both starred non-white feMany Americans, and specifically male protagonists. Additionally, many were members of the Winsor community, would impressed last November after seeing Fro- be excited about the promotion of equality zen, which told the story of two strong prin- among sexual orientations in movies. Chacesses who did not rely on the men in their nel commented, “Even if some people get lives, and some also believed a gay couple angry with Disney for making the movie, I was quickly featured in one scene. How- think all groups of people deserve to be repever, while Disney movies have never con- resented in the media, and if parents don’t tained non-heterosexual protagonists or agree with Disney’s decision to include a relationships, some other production com- same-sex couple, they shouldn’t let their panies have begun to feature such charac- children watch it rather than preventing ters. In August 2012, Dreamworks released everyone from seeing it.” Julia Mastandrea ParaNorman, which included a character ’17 added, “Any possible negative reactions named Mitch who came out as gay at the would be outweighed by the positive results end of the movie. There were many differ- this movie could produce, so I hope Disney ent reactions to this character, including makes a film like Princes in the future.” ☐

A Tale of Two Princes

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Belmont HIll NEWS

Th e Pan el

Woodbury Tradition Continues as Max Khadduri ‘15 Wins Fall Round

By Sreehaas Digumarthi Panel Staff The Woodbur y Public Speaking Contest has become a biannual Chapel tradition at Belmont Hill. Speeches from Woodbur y’s are often some of the most memorable, powerful, or extraordinar y talks from any Belmont Hill student’s career. While a talk from Dr. Melvoin or a guest speaker can be significant in its own right, there is just something different about hearing a great speech when it is delivered by classmates, teammates, and friends. For many Belmont Hill students, past and present, their favorite Chapel memor y is of a speech given for the public speaking contest. This year was no different, as six semifinalists continued the Woodbur y tradition during this year’s fall round.

As per usual, six semifinalists were selected to present their

preliminar y speeches in front of Chapel after delivering them in a one-on-one round with Ms. Zener.

This year, the six semifinalists were Jack Tamasi ’15, Jonathan Innocent ’15, Christopher Byrne ’15, Hartman Russell ’16, Andres Cordoba ’15, and Max Khadduri ’15. Spread out over two days, these six contestants delivered their speeches during two different school meetings.

On the first day, Jack Tamasi began with a speech about a ver y personal problem that he has faced his whole life: a biting problem. Chris Byrne reflected on the decisions that he makes and the effort that he puts in to get where he wants to go, and wondered if he is going on the right path at all. Jonathan Innocent asked the audience to think about all the pressures that they are faced with in their daily lives at Belmont Hill, to tune them out for a second, and realize that life will go on. On the second day,

Hartman Russell recounted a confusing and challenging experience from his childhood: a time when he remembers a woman hitting his black father with her car but not being brought to justice by a questionably diverse jur y. Max Khadduri gave a speech on how not to talk to girls, recounting some hilarious events from his own life and reminding the audience that, even though you may fail in some of your pursuits, that should never stop you from tr ying. Finally, Andres Cordoba, reigning winner from last spring’s Woodbur y’s, told the audience about his struggles with wanting to be the “funny guy,” while also being viewed for who he really is. All six speeches proved to be outstanding and meaningful in their own ways, but the judges, Mr. Hegarty, Mr. DiResta, and Dr. Tift, could only choose three finalists: Max Khadduri, Andres Cordoba, and Hartman Russell.

The finals brought three more fantastic speeches. Hartman painted a portrait of his grandfather, a man who dedicated his life to his countr y and those around him.

Andres humorously talked about his baby half-brother and how he wants to pass on his own lessons to him. Max finished it off with a light-hearted piece about some isolated times where he has not been so thankful for his family and friends. All three finalists proved to be worthy contestants, but after much deliberation, the judges chose Max Khadduri as the winner of this fall’s Woodbur y Public Speaking contest. This fall’s participants again showed why the Woodbur y’s are such a beloved Chapel tradition on campus. Congratulations to Max and all of the contestants for a job well done.

Videos of all of the speeches can be found online in the news archive of the Belmont Hill website.☐

Dr. Leah Somerville Visits Belmont Hill

By Sreehaas Digumarthi Panel Staff On the morning of December 1st, the school piled into Chapel for a school meeting unlike most others. That morning, Dr. Leah Somerville, a principal investigator in charge of a neuroscience lab at Harvard, came to speak to the school about her work. Dr. Somerville’s connection to Belmont Hill stems from the Advanced Science Research (ASR) program here at school. Last year, Reed Junkin ’15 worked in her lab through ASR, and this year Harrison Rohrer ’16 began work there. In her talk, Dr. Somerville talked about the research that her lab was currently working on and explained why it is relevant to our own lives.

After completing her undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Dr. Somerville received her Ph. D. from Dartmouth. She then came to Harvard to do her postdoctoral work.

Soon after, she became a principal investigator, in charge of her own lab and conducting her own research. She is remarkably young for a principal investigator, an incredible achievement and a testament to her work. As she explained during her talk, her lab focuses on the developing adolescent brain, an obviously relevant topic to us. Using various technologies, such as MRIs and EEGs, her lab studies the changes that the adolescent brain

goes through, the various processes that it undergoes, and how these changes translate to real-life behavioral and mental effects. Dr. Somerville explained that because of all these changes, our brains are not only the most interesting, but also some of the most complicated.

Later in the day, Dr. Somerville delivered a similar speech to teachers and faculty members from fifteen different local independent schools that came to Belmont Hill to hear her speak. The overall focus of her speech remained the same, but her explanation was much more extensive. She backed up her research with more concrete facts and some of the data that her lab has come up with. She explained that the physiological and behavioral changes that they observed in adolescents leads them to believe that teens are especially prone to peer pressure and are much more likely to make poor decisions in the presence of another teenager. This is obviously very useful information, for students and the teachers who attended the conference, as it is very helpful in understanding how our decision-making processes function during these very formative years and how to address some of the problems associated with these processes. Overall, Dr. Somerville proved to be a great visitor to campus, bringing her vast knowledge in the development of the adolescent brain and sharing her research with all of us.☐ Mr. Mahoney

From left to right: speech contest winner Max Khadduri, ‘15, and runners-up Hartman Russell, ‘16, and Andres Cordoba, ‘15

Noah Baerman Delivers Inspiring Talk

By Mack Perry Panel Staff “Noah Baerman is the definition of perseverance,” asserted music director Mr. Glenn when introducing the chapel’s distinguished guest. Mr. Noah Baerman, an acclaimed jazz pianist who has recorded with some of the finest musicians in the world, spoke in a recent Monday morning chapel. “What is success? ” he asked. “S etting high goals for yourself and achieving them? We’ ll go with that as a good definition.

My goal has always been to be a great musician.” Mr. Baerman spoke about the Greek legend of Sisyphus, a man condemned to rolling a boulder up a hill, only to have the rock slip and fall each time he neared the top. “Most things in my life are Sisyphian,” notes Baerman. He was born with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS), a hereditar y connective

tissue disease that makes skin extremely fragile, gives one’s limbs extreme f lexibility, and can be ver y damaging to muscles. EDS presents an incredible challenge to those with physically-demanding careers, such as pianist.

Baerman noted that “if you don’t get exMr. Mahoney actly what you want you want, and you push yourself, that makes you s t r o n g e r .”

The musician ended the chapel by treating a lucky crowd to an a b r i d g e d rendition of the title track off of his latest record, Ripples. “I tried to make this an incredibly emotional song,” noted Baerman before sitting down at the piano to play his fast moving, sensitive piece for his B elmont Hill audience.

“Dream big and pursue those dreams,” Baerman exclaimed to the school, leaping up from the piano stool as he finished his piece. “B e OK with failure.

Keep on pushing yourself.”☐

D e c emb er 18t h , 2014

Belmont Hill NEWS

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Indianapolis Diversity Conference Inspires Belmont Hill Community Leaders Continued from page 1 and defeated legal racial segre- continuing to act on the principles gation of public schools and, in and legacies of the likes of MarThe community of support the process eliminated the unjust tin Luther King and other civil and welcome established within the family groups facilitated remarkable discussion about all things related to diversity, and strong bonds were quickly formed with one’s fellow group members.

Another major aspect of the SDLC program was the time spent in affinity groups, with students choosing which one to attend based on which was most crucial to their personal identity. The options included affinity groups for each of the major racial identities, international students, transracially adopted students, and LGBT+ students. Here, the conversation boiled down to a more specific analysis of the challenges facing and responsibilities of individuals within each affinity.

Two more speakers deliv- Eleven individuals from the Belmont Hill community participated in SDLC 2014. ered inspiring talks to the SDLC attendees. The keynote address ‘separate but equal’ clause of the rights leaders. “You are here bewas given by Mrs. Cher yl Brown fourteenth amendment, trigger- cause it is your turn to act,” she Henderson, whose father, Oliver ing the civil rights movement of explained. The final address was Brown, was the named plaintiff in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Mrs. Brown given by journalist Sonia Nazario, the legendar y and landmark Su- Henderson declared that today we who presented harrowing and rivpreme Court case Brown v. B oard are witnessing and participating eting tales of both her teenage of Education. The case challenged the “second wave” of civil rights, years in war-torn Argentina and of

the dangers faced by Latin American children attempting to reach and cross the border between Mexico and the United States.

It is fair to say that each and ever y individual who attended the SDLC symposium in Indianapolis this year came away from the experience more compassionate and more socially aware than when they arrived, ready to take on the challenges of diversity head on in leadership roles upon their returns to their respective high schools.

The B elmont Hill faction is not exempt from this concept. “I’ve experienced a rollercoaster of emotions over the last few weeks, and being at SDLC during this period of our countr y’s racial histor y was ver y important to me,” described Mr. Ekwelum. “Although I experienced a range of emotions while at this year’s conference, I remain grateful for the opportunity to better understand the complexities of my emotions regarding Black livelihood, equity, and justice.” “SDLC changed my life,” concluded Junior Chip Daley. “It was an experience I will never forget. I learned more about myself in these two days than I have in my whole life.”☐

Race, Gender, and Class All At Play in “Defamation” Production

By Michael O’Neill Panel Staff

Af-Am Scholars Take Tour of Roxbury

By William Treanor Panel Staff On Monday, November 24, two senior African-American Studies classes took the day off from school and participated in a walking tour of Roxbury. The students were in the midst of their unit on the Civil Rights Movement in America after studying the Great Migration and the culture that came North with the former slaves and had just began to explore the effect of music, especially jazz music, on the community and the fight for full equality. So, course teachers Mr. Ekwelum and Ms. Zener took everyone out on Discover Roxbury’s “High Notes of Jazz Roxbury” walking tour. On Discovery Roxbury’s website, this tour promises to explore “Lower Roxbury, the former center of Boston’s jazz scene, home of the Pullman Porters, and stomping ground for many of the people who would eventually become leaders in the Civil Rights Movement.”

After a tough morning of travel, which included a few attempts to navigate a school bus through Cambridge at rush hour and trying to squeeze a group of near thirty people into one subway car at 9:00 in the morning, we landed in Roxbury’s Ruggles Station, where we met up

with our tour guides, Marisa and Stacy. Stacy, a lifelong resident of Roxbury, was about as excited as we were to explore the impact of Roxbury and its jazz scene on the Civil Rights Movement. We learned that Roxbury grew as a community because it was the end of the railroad line to Boston; many of those who built the tracks settled in Roxbury. As churches were built to ground this community in faith, other places sprung up where the people could come together. At barber shops, restaurants, and especially jazz clubs people met and discussed the ‘topics of the day,’ ranging from something as simple as who was dating whom to something as important as Civil Liberties. Right at 977 Tremont Street in Roxbury, a restaurant, salon, and newspaper converged on the same spot, with a Jazz Club just across the street. Without taking more than a few minutes to walk in each direction, one could experience all the places that made Roxbury so unique and important in the 1960s. Everyone from Martin Luther King Jr. (who lived in Roxbury while studying at Boston University) to the average black male in Roxbury spread the ideas of equality and standing up for your rights at these jazz clubs, making them an integral part of the Civil Rights Movement. ☐

A unique social awareness workshop was brought to Belmont Hill on November 14th in the form of Defamation, a courtroom drama that examines racism and classism around a defamation lawsuit.

Written by Todd Logan, the play depicts the legal proceedings of a defamation case in which the plaintiff, Ms. Wade, is suing Mr. Golden, the defendant, under the claim that he falsely accused her of stealing a valuable watch after a business meeting at his home.

Ms. Wade has recently lost her graphic design business, and argues that the partnership she had with a legal firm that ended shortly after the watch incident was a key factor in the loss of her livelihood. Wade claims Mr. Golden defamed her when he accused her of the theft and pressured his lawyer into dropping Ms. Wade as a client.

Her case pursues reimbursement for what she claims was the resulting damage to her livelihood and character. The attorneys and their clients then lay out the facts of the case before the judge and the audience, who act as the jury at the conclusion of the performance and decide the result of the case.

Because of the circumstances of the case and the people involved, the play at its heart examines the issues of race relations and socio-economic status. The plaintiff, Ms. Wade, is African-American and grew up poor on the South Side of Chicago, while Mr. Golden, the accused, is a white male from a wealthy and homogeneous North Shore enclave. Ms. Wade indicates in her testimony that she feels her race made Mr. Golden quick to assume that she had stolen the watch, rather than consider the possibility that he misplaced it over the course of the day. The element of class is also present, as Mr. Golden’s attorney brings up how the monetary value of the watch would go a long way towards supporting Ms. Wade during her newfound unemployment. The physical evidence was scarce, but since defamation cases are civil suits, there is less of a burden of proof on the plaintiffs.

The case saw many twists and turns,

and in the end it was up to the students observing the production to determine whether Mr. Golden was guilty of defamation. In order to vote guilty, each individual must both believe that Ms. Wade did not steal the watch, and that Mr. Golden’s allegations severely damaged her business prospects.

After much deliberation and cross-examination, the student body in the end found Mr. Golden not guilty, and overwhelmingly so.

The actors and writers then took questions dealing with both the specifics of the play and the broader issues it confronts. According to the director, the groups they perform for actually typically side with Ms. Wade, with about 80% of audiences awarding her hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. The discussion about the case extended outside the chapel, proving that the play generated intelligent analysis of the issues of race, class, and the law. “Watching Defamation was an incredible experience,” summarized Will Treanor, who takes AfricanAmerican Studies this semester. “It helped everyone acknowledge their own implicit bias and brought attention to issues that too often go undiscussed at Belmont Hill.”☐

Winsor Opinion

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Th e Pan el

Get In, Get Out: the Navy Shower

By Emily Litz Contributing Writer For most of us, showering is a vitally important part of our day, often both physically and psychologically. Showers provide alone time for listening to music, singing (á la Becky G’s “Shower”), reflecting, and getting clean after our long days. The importance w e put on our showers is probably why we spend so much time in them: apparently, the average American shower is just around 10 minutes, but a lot of people I have encountered take much longer ones (I certainly have, regrettably). It is also winter, and we live in New England, and a nice steamy shower can be perfect on a cold night/morning. However, heating and using this water costs a lot of money, not to mention our planet’s finite resources…

Here’s an interesting fact: the average “flow rate” of American showers is 2.1

gallons per minute. Think about how large a gallon is. Does this concern you at all in the slightest, given the fact that most of us shower once a day for around 10-15 minutes? I’m looking at you, people who take 30-45 minute showers. In our area of the country, water conservation isn’t as much of an issue as it is on the West Coast, so what should be the greatest environmental concern for us is heating this water and the energy and money it takes to fuel that.

We all know what goes into heating (burning fossil fuels, unless your family is super cool and you have a solar water heater), so long showers that require a lot of Sjbparish.com hot water are really environmental issues. Now that you know how much water and energy are used in your everyday shower, I bet you’ll become acutely aware of it during your next shower and might want to do something about it!

At a lot of summer camps, like the

Citizens protest and urge the government to reform the immigration polcy

environmentally conscious one I went to over the summer, there is a finite amount of hot water, and everyone has to take short showers to make sure that there is some remaining (although some individuals chose to take their time and use all the hot water). Two to five minute showers weren’t a rarity for me at summer camp, and I got just as clean, but we learned of another way to shower in which you can spend a lot of time in the shower, while saving money, heat, time, and water.

What is this other way? It is called a navy shower, and in order to take one, here is what you have to do:

1. Get in the shower and get your body wet.

2. Turn off the water.

3. Lather up (or other things that you do not need water to do).

4. Turn the water back on and rinse the shampoo/body wash/shaving cream, etc. out.

5. Repeat until you’re clean & done!

warmth when the water is on by making the warm water seem comparatively warmer! My dad is also a big proponent of the navy shower lifestyle: “You think it’s going to be a hassle, but it’s really not, and you feel instantly gratified knowing how much water and energy you are saving.” If the next shower you take is a navy shower (and I dare you to try taking one), you will Surprisingly, turning the water off probably cut your water usage by more for a minute to rinse off and thus getting than half while still being able to get warm a little colder makes you appreciate the and sing a few songs in the shower. ☐ allow immigrants who have been in the United States for more than five years and are parents of citizens or legal permanent residents to apply for citizenship. These parents will be exempt from deportation for a period of three years while they apply but still must pay appropriate and belated taxes. Furthermore, immigrants who were brought to the United States as children are also allowed to apply for citizenship. According to the New York Times, none of these policies apply to imNews.stanford.edu migrants with a criminal record. Obama’s policy aims to increase border security by emphasizing that the government should be specifically targeting criminals.

The topic of “immigration reform” can be heard throughout the Winsor halls as well. There are mixed opinions from students at Winsor, as Priya Shukla ’17, a British citizen and American immigrant, wrote, “I think that his policy, although bold, is necessary to solve the current problem of illegal immigration in America. I do believe that all children should be given that opportunity to become citizens of the United States.” Priya argued that this reform will prove advantageous to the immigrants, and some other supporters believe the reform could actually prove beneficial to everyone as workers will invest their well-earned money in the American economy. Another supporter, Victoria Ontiveros ’16 also stated, “I was getting frustrated with Obama because he has been promising immigration reform for a while and hadn’t acted on his promises until now. Obama had to be pushed to act by activists who were tired of his delays to what he had promised them.

I also want Congress to act on immigration.”

As Ontiveros said,

Debating the Immigration Policy

By Hailey Fuchs Panel Staff According to the New York Times, 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in the United States live in hiding. While there are some repeated criminals attempting to cross the border, most are simply attempting to escape the corruption and poverty from which they came; these immigrants arrive in the United States seek-

policy, many employers nationwide are given the opportunity to take advantage of undocumented employees. These immigrants are “exempt” from minimum wage laws and laws relating to proper working conditions because they are not legal citizens. While they strive to create better lives for themselves, these immigrants are forced to live in a fear that is the antithesis of the fundamental apothegm of the United States: “liberty and justice for all.”

To those who believe that illegal im-

While they strive to create a better life for themselves, these immigrants are forced to live in a fear that is the antithesis of the fundamental apothegm of the United States: “liberty and justice for all.” ing refuge but soon find that they endure further suffering. In fear of being deported back to their native country, these immigrants must live in the shadows, unknown to the American government. Alarmingly, under the current immigration policy stated in the Session 744 of the 113th Congress, parents can be deported from the United States, leaving their children to fend for themselves, and immigrants who were brought here illegally as children can also be deported. Furthermore, according to AmericanProgress.org, a progressive organization that is “dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action,” under the current

migrants who were brought to America as children should not be the responsibility of the state, President Barack Obama responds, “Young people who were brought here when they were two, three years old are just as American as any of us;” these immigrant children who have grown up here also deserve the rights and protection that we all enjoy. President Barack Obama’s new immigration reform seeks to ease such flagrant suffering. Because, as Obama articulately stated, America is “a nation of immigrants,” these people deserve the full respect and liberty that is representative of the United States and given to current legal US citizens. Obama’s new reform will

http://spiritvoyage.files.wordpress.com

The typical American shower

some believe this reform has been a long time coming and more reform needs to be done in order to adequately solve the issue.

Nevertheless, some students disagree with Obama’s new policy. An anonymous student said, “For the government to spend funding on immigrants who came here without permission, it just doesn’t really make sense and does not seem really advantageous to current American citizens.”

Some students also believe that many immigrants who broke the law by coming here illegally should not be granted citizenship.

A major debate still exists as to whether or not Obama had the legal right to use his executive power and to bypass Congress. Emily Litz ’16 added, “I think immigration reform was overdue and I’m proud of our president for having the chutzpah to take action in a heavily contested but also very necessary way.”

Supporters of Barack Obama are drawing parallels between his decision and those of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, revealing that Presidents of both parties have fully employed their executive power. The New York Post added that some are comparing this bill to Lincoln’s use of executive power in the Emancipation Proclamation. Elise Wu ’15 said, “I feel like he is going in the right direction, but there will be a lot of potential problems.” Wu foreshadows real opposition from other politicians. Barack Obama himself sardonically replied to these dissenters in his original speech on the new policy, “Members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: pass a bill.”

While many support the policy, it also has definite adversaries. Nonetheless, this new policy will provide the much needed support and freedom to the 11.7 million immigrants living in fear and hiding. There is still room for improvement to ensure freedom and equality for all people in America, but this new policy will help our nation to continue to progress to become a land of full freedom Cdn.abclocal.go.com and equality. ☐

Winsor Opinion

D e c emb er 18t h , 2014

Pa g e 9

College Culture Today

From a Winsor Girl’s Perspective

By Bibi Lichauco Panel Staff continued from page 1

One of the driving factors for acquiring a Winsor education is knowing that involvement in this engaged community and challenging learning environment facilitates the path to a great college or university. In other words, part of why we invest in those late nights of studying is to set ourselves up for success, in the eyes of not only college admissions officers but also people close to us and society on a whole. Sometimes, the idea of college seems ubiquitous and unavoidable. “Talking about college is a huge taboo at Winsor, and it’s on everyone’s minds no matter what grade they’re in,” commented Audrey Bloom ’17. “I’d be lying if I said college wasn’t at least a factor in my decisions to work hard at [the school work and out-of-school activities I do now].”

My main concern, therefore, looking back so far on this unfinished journey, is how the Winsor community, influenced by internal and external pressures, treats the notion of college. It seems that we students perpetuate a lot of the pressure we face.

I know from my own experiences that it is not uncommon for lunch conversations to concern the application process and past matriculations, which involves determining how “good” alums’ schools are and manifests an implicit stigma around colleges that are perceived as less selective.

Seniors in the homeroom noted that in the time leading up to this year, “there was a lot of judgment around students not going to Ivy League or NESCAC schools. When you’re younger it’s easier to have an idealistic view of getting into college, but then

lists. Perhaps this would be a healthier approach, as expecting students solely to get into selective schools not only reflects a naivete about the likelihood of that happening but also an oversimplification of why people decide to apply where they apply.

There is one thought, succinctly articulated by Joanna Grill ’17, that I have tried to hold onto over these past few years. She said, “I try to spend my time doing what I love because at the end of the day, I want to go to a college that accepts me for who I am, not who I’m pretending to be. I really just want to be happy at whatever college I end up, and being true to who I am in high school is how I plan to get there. Sometimes I think about college, but I try to remind myself to be content with the here and now.” Now that I am on the flip side of the college process, I could not agree more. College is nerve-wracking even to think about, and every

Thecollegesolution.com

year the application process becomes more complicated and convoluted. What I have taken away from the past few months is how important it is to identify what matters to you and to recognize what you do not know about others. When it comes time to get introspective and spill the beans in college essays, you will realize not only how much insight you possess based on life experiences but also that everyone is going through the same process and that you cannot know what leads them to make their ultimate decision about which college she attends. The best thing we can do,

Every year the application process becomes more complicated and convoluted. What I have taken away from the past few months is how important it is to identify what matters to you and to recognize what you do not know about others. you go through a period of realizing [how unpredictable and difficult it really is].” I hope that somehow and some time soon, girls will not have to feel like they will be or are already judged by the schools on their

as a whole community, is to be supportive of each other and humble ourselves with the fact that we not only have the opportunity to apply to college but also are graced with ample resources to do so. ☐

Cartoon illustrates the convoluted college process

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Girls learn valuable life lessons from a self-defense class

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Value of Self-Defense Classes

By Victoria Farina Panel Staff As Winsor girls, we are taught to be independent and to be in control of our education, so why not take control of our own safety? A self-defense class not only teaches you to take control of your safety, but consequently helps you feel comfortable in your own abilities to protect yourself. Have you ever thought about how you would protect yourself in the event of an assault, more specifically of a sexual nature? The statistics are alarming. According to RAINN (one of the largest anti-sexual assault organizations in the U.S.), every year, there are an average of 237,868 cases of rape or sexual assault in the United States; this is the equivalent of a woman being raped approximately every two minutes. Thinking that sexual assault only happens to “someone else” is a huge and potentially dangerous misconception. Instead, have a plan in the event of an assault. One plan would be to take a self-defense class, which not only has huge benefits in terms of feeling physically safe but also has huge advantages in terms of your own confidence level. If the world that we live in were “perfect,” then I would not have to write this article, and there would be

no such thing as sexual assault, but the truth is, we do not live in a perfect world, and being prepared for all kinds of situations is never a bad thing. That being said, something important that we must all note, is that in the event of sexual assault, the victim is never at fault. Sexual assault is a heinous crime, and no matter what the person is wearing or whether she or he are intoxicated or under the influence, does not matter. Furthermore, whether or not she or he are “prepared” for that particular situation does not change the fact that he or she was assaulted and that the perpetrator should be punished.

The fact that this article has to be written speaks volumes about the collective societal mind. As women, we are taught from a young age that we must be able to protect ourselves against the possibility that we may be sexually attacked in our lifetime. Unfortunately, the statistics back this opinion up, as, according to RAINN, 1 in 4 women will get sexually attacked at least once during their life. It would be a mistake to rely solely on arguments that the law, our spouse, brother, father, mother etc. are protecting us. There is a history of people being brutally attacked for standing up to people being assaulted or harassed

in any way. That being said, I am not saying that all women should constantly be paranoid that someone could attack them at any moment. I say this because, and I cannot stress this point enough: it is important for a woman to be able to protect herself by herself because one can never know who will (or will not) be with us if something of this nature does occur.

Let us be honest with ourselves; if we expect things to change, at least in our personal lives, then we need to be the principal creators in achieving that change. So, without further ado, here are three basic reasons why I personally believe every female should be taking some type of self-defense class.

1) Crime can happen to anyone at anytime. Whether you want to live in a “fantasy world” or not, that is the harsh truth. The statistics are not on our side, and although it is a difficult reality, it is one that needs to be acknowledged.

2) Be the role model for the next generation. We are told by our parents, guardians, and mentors that we can be anything they want. How about being safe? In what way do we show them how to protect themselves against rape and assault, if we do not set the example of being strong and defending ourselves e m o - tionally, verbally a n d physically?

Although this is true, please do not misunderst and me. I am not

saying that the only way to become a “strong and independent woman” is by taking a self-defense Katherinesiegel. class. Every perfiles.wordpress. son has the capaccom ity to be independent and strong by herself, and a self-defense class is one of the many ways that a woman can enhance that strength and independence.

3) Become empowered. A self-defense class cannot totally empower you on its own, but it can educate you by showing you how to take control of your life and feel safer in your world. You should take pride in your ability to protect yourself in these situations, and, even if you never do experience harassment or assault in your lifetime, the lessons that you will learn in a self-defense class can be transformative.

Hailey Fuchs ’16 commented on her experience taking a self-defense class: “While the [self-defense] course I attended was both mentally and physically taxing, I really feel like I gained a lot from the experience.

Now, I feel a lot more confident, and I believe I have a set of skills necessary for such a situation. All girls should attend a selfdefense class because the skills these classes teach are, sadly, imperative to the safety of any girl living in our current society.” ☐

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BELMONT HILL OPINION

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A Student’s Perspective on Controversy in Ferguson, Missouri Benefits of New Exam racism, who made a series of hei- is their truth, and their evidence. ing upon our law enforcement, and Schedule

By Jonathan Innocent nous decisions… like so many white When many of the people of keeping this from happening again.

Contributing Writer

What exactly happened that day in Ferguson? Is this even a race issue? Why wasn’t Officer Wilson indicted? How does this relate to Eric Garner? Why do people think it’s okay to burn flags and businesses, ultimately damning the community? These are all questions many in our school’s community have grappled with. Let’s look at some of the facts: Michael Brown was unarmed; he was shot at least six times; the situation was escalated by physical c o n f ro nt at i o n ; Officer Darren Wilson gave chase at some point after said physical c o n f ro nt at i o n .

Now do any of those facts, which both prosecutors and defendants can corroborate, completely answer any of those questions?

No. The only truth to this matter is that nobody beyond Michael Brown and Darren Wilson knows what happened, and even they might have seen the events differently.

So how do we answer our questions? We don’t. We sit with the uncomfortable reality that, perhaps Michael Brown was a “demon,” just looking for trouble… like so many young black men in such troubled communities. Or, that Darren Wilson was a cop, informed by his own

cops have done in similar situations.

When many of the people of Ferguson sat with their reality, many felt unsafe. Many feel that, in a society that has already left them at a disadvantage, they are no longer welcome. They are no longer protected by the Bill of Rights. They are no longer part of this, “one nation under God.” One of their own could be swept away by six bullets, but not swept off the hot summer asphalt.

Belmont Hill sat with their reality, many felt critical. Many criticized, not the ruling, but the training officers received that didn’t quite prepare them for such heated moments. Many feel that people who make this tragic incident an issue of race are missing the point, overreacting, or both. Many thought that this was not the right case to make about race; there’s too much gray area. When they look at the

In response to their loss, they are told there will be no justice, at least as they see fit. To them, this isn’t about education in schools, better community centers, laws and precautions preventing similar events, or a more diverse police force. This is about survival. To them, this is about preserving the lives of their sons, nephews, fathers, brothers, neighbors, and themselves. That

few indisputable facts of the case, Darren Wilson’s testimony, and the inconsistent eyewitness testimonies, they have no choice but to side with the jury. They feel that there is not enough proof to justify an indictment. It scares them too, but for reasons that are pragmatic.

This is about facts: tangible evidence. To them, this is about preserving our system of law, improv-

When I sit with my reality, as a young black man, I too feel unsafe. I love this country, I love my culture, I love my privilege, but I resent my stigma. My sentiments aren’t rooted in facts, or the burden of proof, but they are rooted in my experience, and in the burden of my history. Michael Brown was not just Michael Brown to me. Michael Brown was an example of what can happen to me when somebody fails to see Jonathan, my family, my tears, my joy, my future, my faith, and see instead only darkness and danger. I am not an abstract; my feelings and emotions are real.

I notice when I sit on the train and an old white lady would rather stand than sit in the open seat beside me. I notice when I have to prove to people that I’m not just here at Belmont Hill because I’m black, but because I’m just as capable, if not more so, at succeeding in a system built by white people 45 years before a student of color was accepted. I fear the day another Darren Wilson thinks I’m Hulk Hogan and sees it as his duty to shoot me down. To me, this is about being seen as myself and not the “other,” about being a member and not an outcast, and about being American. There’s my evidence.☐

Rating the Fairness of the Belmont Hill Academic Point System

By Jason Fischman Panel Staff The point system at Belmont Hill is a system of measuring grades in which an A+ is worth 12 points, an A is worth 11, and every grade’s value decreases by one from that point on. For most students, the objective is to achieve a 10 point average, which is considered high honors, or an 8.8 average, which is honors. However, the point system is not so simple, and there are numerous ways a student can earn additional points, specifically through musical ventures or advanced courses. Nevertheless, many questions concerning the fairness of the point system arise, especially revolving around the extra points students can, and should, earn.

By participating in the B Flats or Upper School Jazz Band, a student will receive one additional point to go towards their average. Both of these musical groups involve significant time commitments, but should musical ventures, something independent from their time in the classroom, boost students’ grades? If a student plays a varsity sport, they practice or have games six days a week, which requires a massive amount of time, yet they receive no academic bonus. Furthermore, many extracurriculars at Belmont Hill, including community service or debate, require a similar time commitment, but

the participants do not receive an extra point. Most students play on varsity teams or join a club because they enjoy it, and the same goes for many musicians. If someone enjoys playing an instrument or singing, they will likely join the B flats or jazz band, and the extra point provides no incentive for them.

Furthermore, by providing an extra point, some students who are not interested in music and who only want an academic boost will join, which could result in a negative effect on the group.

The other area where students earn extra points is through taking advanced or AP courses. These courses provide additional challenges for students, but, because of the extra vigor, many students achieve lower grades in the course than they otherwise would in regular classes. This begs the question as to whether, if students grades in AP and advanced courses should be elevated to the level that student could achieve in a regular class. A student could achieve at least one grade point higher in a regular course than the advanced or AP version; however, the one extra point for the faster-paced classes may not balance out the grade.

However, for many AP students, it is not about trying to boost their grade point average, rather that AP and advanced courses challenge students. Very few, if any, students see advanced courses as an opportunity

to improve their grades. Most people who take AP courses know that their grades may be lower, and they accept that principle by signing up for the course. The goal of advanced courses is to make kids work hard, and, for many students who have not taken any very challenging courses before, AP courses are a time to learn that their grades will not always be perfect.

The extra point then, seems to be the proper amount. If any more points were given, grades would be overly inflated in many courses. Although there are very difficult advanced and AP courses at Belmont Hill, there are also some that are not as challenging, and those courses should not be awarding more than one extra point. And, since there is no way to definitively judge the very difficult AP courses from those that are not as vigorous, rewarding more than one point is not logical. Lastly, by giving away greater than 1 extra point, the goal of AP courses is being compromised. In an AP or advanced course, students are forced to work much harder than usual to receive a similar grade, but if their grade is being subsidized by numerous extra points, the individual would not have to work significantly harder to achieve the grade they desire.

Giving some form of an extra point, however, is critical to AP and

advanced courses. This extra point, although it may not salvage your grade at the end of the semester, is motivation for many students for challenging themselves. If you can get a good grade in an AP course, the extra point is rewarding you by improving your grade by one notch, and is incredibly motivating for many people. Alex Czarnecki, a sophomore taking multiple advanced courses, said, “The actuality of the point system is that advanced classes, primarily AP courses, are substantially more challenging and time-consuming than regular classes. Eliminating extra points for advanced classes would certainly disincentivize students from taking such courses, degrading student achievement.”

Overall, the point system for advanced courses is fair. One point is the correct incentive, because it motivates students without making it too easy to recieve a good grade.

The extra point received for music is more controversial, because, although these groups can be very time consuming, there are other non-academic, and very vigorous, activities on campus, including varsity sports and clubs, which ventures many people think should also receive an extra point. Despite this, I feel that, collectively, the point system at Belmont Hill is generally a fair one.☐

By Jay O’Brien Panel Staff With the conclusion of the second semester rapidly approaching, and the winter vacation almost upon us, Belmont Hill students are adjusting to a rather foreign idea: mid-year exams in the month of December. While mid-year exams tend to take place in December for colleges and certain high schools across the nation, Belmont Hill students are familiar with taking all of their exams following the conclusion of the winter hiatus. Yet this year, amidst a fairly significant change to the daily schedule, the exam schedule has also been revised to include history and math exams on December 15th and 16th, respectively, whereas the remaining classes will assess students after break. The separation of exams appears to be well received among Belmont Hill students in hopes that the new schedule can ease the stress that typically takes place before mid-year exams, as well as provide more class time for teachers later in the year.

With the introduction of the new exam schedule, students in Forms III through VI--those who have to take the exams--must prepare for a relatively rapid transition from learning new material at the end of the second semester, to studying pages of content for a looming mid-year exam. Yet the new revisions to the exam schedule will likely reduce the stress among students over winter vacation, as they no longer need to study for four or five exams, but rather two or three assessments instead.

According to Mr. Grant, the Dean of Studies at the school, “For the last several years, we have tried looking at different mid-year schedules in hopes of providing a better experience for the students.” The new exam schedule also looked to add an additional number of teaching days, specifically for the AP courses where teachers are pressed for time to prepare students for the AP exam in early May. “Now, with anything new, be it the new schedule or the new school year, there will always be tweaks, or unintended consequences,” says Mr Grant. “But we are willing to try things that will make life a little easier for students within reason.”

When examining the benefits of the new exam schedule, the most important idea is that with a separation between the four or five exams, students will be able to focus on a reduced number of assessments, creating the opportunity for more successful results. Based on personal experiences, one of the worst feelings as a student is the sensation of being overwhelmed due to schoolwork, a feeling that tends to be relatively common for many students during exams; however, with the new schedule, students can relieve some of the inevitable stress that comes with exams because they no longer have to study five different topics, all within a condensed period of time. Instead, students will be able to focus on the two exams before break, followed by the subsequent examinations after vacation. Also, for the exams set to take place before vacation, the amount of content that teachers will be able to assess students on will be reduced slightly as a result of losing one or two weeks of teaching and preparation. Consequently, the impact that exams will have on the final grade will potentially be reduced from the traditional twenty percent influence, to a number much closer to ten or fifteen percent.

Thus, it appears that with a more relaxing, yet centralized studying period over winter break, the strengths will seemingly outweigh any weaknesses of the new exam schedule by allowing students the opportunity to receive better grades on the exams, a change that they will gladly accept.☐

D e c emb er 18, 2014

BELMONT HILL OPINION

Student Debate: Professional Sports vs. Collegiate Sports In this issue of the Panel, we are continuing our feature debate between Form V students Jay O’Brien and Gabe Schmittlein. After the Panel is released, a poll will be sent out to assess the student body’s views on the topic at hand. These results will be published in the subsequent issue along with a brand new talking point. So without further ado, we present the second debate—professional sports vs. collegiate sports

Team Professional Sports

By Gabe Schmittlein Staff Writer Let me start off by saying I admire Jay O’Brien’s audacity and courage in taking the collegiate side of this debate– I really do. Nonetheless, It’s truly a futile undertaking for him considering how high the odds stack up against his side.

We’re talking professional athletes versus glorified students, paid entertainers versus recent high school graduates, grown men and women versus mere kids. The debate is one that is rather like the stor y of David and Goliath in nature, so I’d like to reiterate my respect for Jay in his heroic sacrifice in defending collegiate athletics. However, while the foundations of this battle and the one that David and Goliath experienced are similar, the final product figures to be much different, for professional sports are destined to reign supreme in this remarkably one-sided debate.

The reality is, humans have a natural tendenc y to enjoy the highest levels of talent and skill. S o, if professional sports offer that, why

would it make sense to reduce oneself to the comparatively amateurish world of collegiate sports? Watching Tom Brady or Peyton Manning pick apart a defense has an awe-inspiring effect that college players of inferior talent simply cannot offer. We feel such veneration for the accomplishments of professional athletes because they endure situations that elevate them above the human race itself. Meanwhile, though college athletes strive to reach this status, they are ultimately more relatable than professional athletes due to their relative lesser skill, which ser ves to paint them as more “human.”

In addition to the large jump in terms of talent, professional sports hold the clear advantage over collegiate sports in terms of competitiveness. B ecause all professional teams are at the

same time businesses with monetar y interests, there is an added incentive in having a successful season that is absent in the college. Also, professional athletes are under contracts that attempt to ensure that the players will feel an obligation to perform to the best of their abilities.

As a result of these two features, professional spor ts have leagues that are much more balanced than what college leagues have to offer, eliminating that boring 72-0 victor y that Florida State wins over Savannah State ever y year. This also makes ever y team a realistic title contender within the immediate future, especially in a sports like football or baseball where the only differences between teams can sometimes be the character of the players or the locker-room chemistr y.

Simply put, professional sports have more talented athletes and more competitive teams than collegiate sports do. Thus, while Jay is commendable in taking the side of collegiate athletics here, it is ultimately a fruitless fight for him, as

professional spor ts hold the advantage in both skill and competition level. I f rankly don’t see what’s left to debate.

Jay will likely argue that college athletes give more ef for t than their professional counterparts, and I’ ll concede that to him; however, that’s pretty much all I’ ll concede. We watch sports for the skill and competition, both being categories in which professional sports reign supreme.☐

Results from Last Debate

Advantage: Dinner

Team Collegiate Sports As reigning champion of the first Panel Debate, I hope to continue my winning streak into the next issue. Gabe Schmittlein made a valiant effort in the last debate by supporting breakfast, but as expected, dinner emerged victorious. Now, I am optimistic that college sports

mon goal of winning the national championship. Ohio State and Michigan in football is certainly a bitter rivalry as well, but there is also Duke and UNC in basketball, BC and BU in hockey, or UConn and Stanford in women’s basketball. Professional sports may have rivalries of their own, but the passion and tradition seen in college sports is absolutely impossible to replicate at the professional level.

Along with these fierce rivalries

will also be named champion.

First, when examining the main events that define college sports, one can be overwhelmed by the number of high-quality possibilities. March Madness may be the greatest sporting event in the history of competition, where college basketball’s top 68 teams enter a bracket for non-stop basketball over the course of an entire month full of upsets, Cinderella stories, buzzer-beaters, and emerging stars. Each and every year, underdogs are able to dethrone heavy favorites and make a run deep into the final few rounds of the tournament. While the College Football Playoff has not even happened as we go to print, I already know it’s going to be unbelievably phenomenal. As of right now, for example, the powerhouse institutions of college football–Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, and Oregon–entered a four team bracket after weeks of predictions, politics, and heartbreak regarding the final decision made by the selection committee. While not as popular, I recommend that sports fans also watch college hockey’s Frozen Four tournament, as well as the College World Series in baseball.

The quality of play is excellent, and passion seen among players is just as great, if not greater, than the passion seen by professional players in their equivalent sport.

Next, college sports have some of the greatest rivalries to be broadcasted on television. In this past Iron Bowl game between Auburn and Alabama, Alabama’s stadium became flooded with a sea of crimson red in one of the most highly anticipated football matches of the season. Games like the Iron Bowl are unique to college sports, seeing how these borderline maniacal fan bases can center their college experience around a single team, bounded by a com-

and loyal fanbases comes the tradition, pageantry, and electrifying stadium atmosphere at the collegiate level of sports. Whether it be Clemson football’s tradition of rubbing Howard’s Rock before a game, or Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo’s getting fans pumped up at Midnight Madness before the start of the season, college sports are in a league of their own when it comes to tradition.

Lastly, college sports allow fans to see the biggest stars in sports develop as athletes before reaching the big leagues. Gabe will likely argue that he prefers watching the best of the best in pro sports. Newsflash: almost every single player in the NFL and NBA, as well as a sizable number of players in the NHL, played in college beforehand, allowing fans to see these incredible talents before they even reach the big leagues.

College players are also forced to play to their full potential every game, not only because in a sport like college football where a single loss can knock a team out of the playoffs, but also because the quality of play and the individual statistics that are generated dictate whether or not a player will be drafted. The harsh reality is that a select few are able to play in the next level, so the passion seen by players on the field is unlike anything seen by professional players who are already making millions of dollars. As a result, there tends to be a larger number of outsized egos in pro sports that have not yet developed at the collegiate level.

When examining the unique qualities that college sports offers to their viewers, whether it be entertaining rivalries, March Madness tournaments, or storied traditions, there is absolutely no question that collegiate sports are superior to those seen at the professional level. Checkmate.☐

By Jay O’Brien Panel Staff

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Opinions on New MAC Site

By Evan Ricci Contributing Writer Following the opening of the Melvoin Academic Center, there was much excitement spreading throughout the campus among Belmont Hill students and teachers alike. Many teachers were thrilled to begin new chapters at Belmont Hill and students were excited to see what this new building had in store for them. The building contains an abundance of new classrooms for teachers who had previously been relocated to “Howe Now,” along with a new Innovation Lab, three new study halls for the First, Second and Third Forms, and several areas for students to lounge around and finish upcoming assignments. The new building also contains a projection screen to display weekly news and updates on happenings at the hill, multiple laptop carts, and several TVs used for posting information.

Thus far, seemingly all the members of the community seem to really enjoy their experiences in the new building, whether it be attending classes, catching up on daily news, taking part in meetings, or just relaxing on the cushioned, green seats. When asking people different questions regarding their opinions on the new building, all the interviewees stated in one way or another that they have enjoyed their experiences in the Melvoin Academic Center thus far. In the opinion of Fourth Former James Cardichon, “The new building is a great place to lounge around and hang out while getting some work done; however, there’s a bit of space that has been wasted.” He continued to say, “It’s quite spacious, and I don’t mind the large space, but I think that there could have been more objects or things placed there. Also I think it would have been awesome to include a connector from Melvoin to Morse, just like the Science Building and Morse has, but it still looks great.”

He then continued to explain that “It would have been neat if a computer lab, much like the language lab and library lab were added so that students could use it when needed. However, the new furniture and technology is definitely something to be excited about.” When Gus Lamb was asked, he said how pleased he was with all that the new building has to offer: “I think the new building is really cool, and has quite a modern look and feel to it. Also, the new building is certainly a change of scenery and pace from the old Howe building.” He then stated, “There are tons of new features within it that give it a different feeling and make it special compared to the other buildings at Belmont Hill.” Gus then continued, “Despite its classrooms primarily being used for middle school, there is still enough room to relax, put your feet up, and get work done during the school day.” In another interview with Fourth Former Mack Perry, he remarked, “I’m excited to use the space the building has to offer, as well as getting work done in the new tech lab, and also using the 3D printer and the laser cutters.”

It seems that there is a common theme between students, and that is that the new building has lots to offer and that it is a very nice place to get some work done, as well as hang out with some friends. Although there are a few minor suggestions, it seems that the new building is definitely a great new asset to the community. So far so good. ☐

Winsor Arts

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Wonderful Winter Activities: Recipes, Games, and Crafts Get busy this winter break with these delicious holiday recipes and activities to enjoy!

By Jane Wrenn, Olivia Brasher, Jordan Sclar & Isabel Isselbacher Contributing Writers Secret Kiss Cookies – For Any Holiday Isabel Isselbacher

Ingredients • 1 cup of soft butter • ½ cup of sugar • 1 teaspoon of vanilla • 1 cups of sifted all purpose flour • 1 package (5 ¾ cups) Hershey’s milk chocolate Kisses • Confectioner’s sugar • Fine sprinkles Instructions 1. Remove foil wrapping from Hershey Kisses and preheat oven to 375°.

2. Using a mixer set to a medium speed, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla until mixture becomes light and fluffy.

3. Then mix in the flour at a low speed until fully blended.

4. Chill the dough.

5. Scoop approximately one tablespoon of dough.

6. Shape it around a Hershey Kiss so the chocolate is in the center.

7. Place unbaked cookies on an ungreased pan and bake for 12 minutes (they should not be brown).

8. While the cookies are still warm (wait for them to cool slightly first), carefully roll them in a mixture of confectioner’s sugar and some sprinkles, but refrain from making the coating too thick. The colors are up to you.

9. Enjoy!

Isabel Isselbacher

The Dreidel Game Jordan Sclar

Tissue Paper Menorah Olivia Brasher

“Snowball” Christmas Cookies Jane Wrenn

About the Dreidel: Supplies Needed: The Dreidel, a toy traditionally associated • 8 small black pieces of construction with Chanukah, can provide wonderful paper, cut to around 4”x2” family entertainment and can be played • 1 larger paper rectangle, around 5”x2” by any number of people. Traditional • An assortment of colorful tissue paper dreidels are shaped like tops and have four (blue for candles and yellow for flame) different sides, Each one is printed with • Glue or tape the following .

Instructions: Hebrew letters: 1. Fold each paper rectangle lengthwise.

Nun (meaning: nothing) 2. Cut a long thin rectangle on the folded Gimel (meaning: everything) side, leaving about a half inch to an Hey (meaning: half) inch on the bottom and about one and Shin (meaning: put in) one half inches on the top.

3. In the one and one half inches on the What you need: top, cut a half of a teardrop shape on • 1 dreidel the folded edge.

• 10 game pieces per person (can be 4. When you unfold your rectangles, the pennies, chocolate chips, Chanukah cut out space should resemble a candle. gelt, etc.)

5. Cut different color tissue papers to match size of the construction paper.

How to play: 6. Tape or glue each sheet of tissue paper 1. At the beginning of each game, or on the back of each sheet of paper, so when there is nothing left in the the front looks like a candle made out center, each player puts one of their of tissue paper. You can use different pieces in the center of the table. colors for the candle and flame.

2. On your turn, spin the dreidel. Based 7. When you have taped the tissue paper on where it lands, you perform one of onto each candle, arrange all of the the following actions: candles on a large sheet of white or • If it lands on Nun, don’t do anything. clear tissue paper with the larger candle • If it lands on Gimmel, take all of the in the middle. pieces in the center of the table.

8. Tape all of the candles down.

• If it lands on Hey, take half the pieces 9. If you prefer, you may omit steps 7 in the center. and 8 and tape each of your candles • If it lands on Shin, add one of your together with tape, leaving no space in pieces to the center. between the candles. This is the proce3. If you run out of pieces, you are out. dure used for the menorah pictured.

4. The game continues until one person 10. Hang your menorah in your window has all of the playing pieces. and let the light from your home shine 5. Have fun! through the tissue paper!

My mom and I have made these delicious cookies together every Christmas since I can remember. They are very simple and easy to make, and they are absolutely delicious. I hope you enjoy them! The recipe makes around 35 small cookies.

Olivia Brasher

ourbestbites.com

housetenpress.com

Ingredients: • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, soft • 3 tablespoons honey • 1 cup all-purpose flour (We suggest you use King Arthur Flour; it’s the best!)

• ¼ teaspoon salt • 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract • 1 cup confectioners sugar Instructions: 1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cream the butter. Mix in the honey, and gradually add the flour and salt.

Lastly, add the vanilla. Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

3. Remove from the fridge. Roll the dough between your palms to form balls about the size of a quarter. Place them two inches apart on the cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for 35 to 40 minutes.

4. Remove the cookies from the oven.

Place the powdered sugar in a large bowl. Once they are cool enough to handle, roll the cookies in powdered sugar. Let them cool completely, then roll them again in powdered sugar.

Variations: After adding the vanilla, add 1 cup finely chopped pecans. Also, you can sandwich cookies with jam or Nutella! ☐

Reflections About the Enron Production Looking Forward to the Winter Concert Final Thoughts About the Winsor-RL Play

By Helen Sayegh Contributing Writer This fall, students from Roxbury Latin and Winsor banded together to produce Enron, a play based on the real-life Enron Corporation scandal.

Although the Roxbury Latin directors took some artistic license with the Broadway production--the music was cut out, and some changes were made to the script--they skillfully left the integrity of the play’s meaning intact. Following the company Enron through its peak to its end, “the audience watches as the company rapidly unravels, and, as each person eventually deserts the ‘sinking ship,’” summarized cast member Isabel Griffith-Gorgati ’17.

Throughout a grueling two-month-long process, the cast rehearsed and prepared after school; however, the preparation did not stop after rehearsal had ended. The students spent countless hours at home devoted to memorizing their lines and blocking, entrances and exits. Griffith-Gorgati commented,

“The commitment everyone put into their roles made a big difference. I think we all reached a deeper understanding of the play by the end.”

The play required students to understand and portray not only their characters, but also the complex themes involved in the production. Those thematic ideas include sexism, corporate greed, money, and reality. One student who saw the play remarked, “I was really impressed with how well they handled the gravity of the production and the themes within it.” Priya Shukla ’17, praised, “The actors portrayed the nuanced messages in a very captivating way.”

Clearly, audience members enjoyed the production; they were on the edges of their seats. The cast members admitted that they rl.com also loved working on the play.

Griffith-Gorgati reflected, “The Director, Mr. Nelson, did a great job. We were all very proud of our work on both nights...I felt very confident in myself and my cast members.

This is the most fun I’ve ever had doing a play.”

The Winsor community congratulates the entire Enron cast on a job well done! ☐

By Helen Sayegh Contributing Writer The music from the Winter Concert will ring for a final time in the soon to be “old” Assembly. This year, as a one of the multiple goodbyes the Assembly, many student music groups will give beautiful, memorable, and bittersweet performances. As Ms. Taillacq puts it, “the concert was a great opportunity to showcase our wonderful student musicians--singers as well as instrumentalists who sing in Descants, Chorale, Small Chorus and Senior Small and those who play in our Chamber Music class, our Percussion Ensembles, and many other Winsor string players.”

The concert will beabegin with the Lower School Descants singing a moving performance of “Candle Glow” by Daniel S. Godfrey. Upper School Chorale then took the stage for the first time this year to sing “Kol Han’Shamah” by Robert Applebaum and “In Every Soul” by Mark Patterson. Chorale will sing with emotion and depth, showcasing their talent as a group this year. Ms.

Taillacq is impressed by Small Chorus, who will perform next, commenting, “I am very proud of what the girls have accomplished so far this year.” From singing the upbeat “Samba de las Escrituras” to the a stunning performance of “O Holy Night” by Adolph Adam / J. S. Bach, Small Chorus demonstrated, yet again, their ability to sing songs from a variety of different cultures and religions. Senior Small will also make an appearance that will blow away the audience with their display of emotion during an exquisite performance of “White Christmas”

by Irving Berlin. A couple of other highlights during the concert will include “Tumbao Talk” by Julie Davila, featuring the Percussion Ensemble, a solo performance of Bach’s beloved “Violin Concerto for Two Violins” from Emily Chen ’17 and Susanna Monroe ’17, and Sophie Applbaum’s beautiful cello solo during a memorable performance of winsor.edu“Jerusalem of Gold” by Naomi Shemer-Sapir and arranged by our own Ms. Taillacq!

Finally, the concert will close with an intergenerational performance of the “Hallelujah” chorusand“LetItSnow.” TheAssemblywillbefilled with these uplifting and memorable pieces - a perfect way to close the concert, say a final goodbye to the Assembly, and welcome the holiday season. ☐

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Winsor Arts

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A Fascinating Look into the Eastern District Auditions

Detailed and Descriptive First Hand Account Written by Panel’s Staff Writer Emily Chen exciting to have so many musicians all in one

11:15am – Well, this time was the place, although hearing the same piece over and supposed call time for all of the Winsor stuover again was not the most pleasant experidents to start auditioning, but most of us were ence. It made me wish that we were allowed to still waiting to play. There is such a thing as Music is not a sport. At least not in the play our own choice of piece rather than having “over-practicing,” and I think that I was definiteconventional sense in which musicians team up the standardized Czardas drilled into our heads ly starting to reach that point! and attempt to score points with racing hearts for weeks.

11:30am – The warm up room got and cheering crowds. However, music has its 10:33am – Finding the group of Win- continuously emptier as more players were own special set of competitions and activities sor girls clumped together in the strings warm pulled out in groups to start the audition prothat allow our hearts to beat just a little faster up room was a relief. Even though we had nine cess. While it became easier to hear myself play and make those long hours of practicing seem representative string players, our group was still with less people screeching around me, my worth it. In mid November, nine students of the too small for one of our music teachers to come self-consciousness increased because I Winsor School had the opportunity to represent as a chaperone. Thankfully, all of personally do not enjoy having musiclover.com our community at the the parents were there, support- other people hear me pracMassachusetts Music ing and being our authoritative tice if they don’t have to. It Educators Association representative for the school. also meant that my turn Eastern District Senior

10:35am – was coming sooner rather Festival auditions. Over Around this time, I realized than later! The situation guitar.com 1,000 musicians from that I probably had to unpack reminded me of the Agatha all over the Eastern my instrument and start to Christie novel, And Then There District of Massachuwarm up, or I would look like Were None. As more and more people stepped setts gathered at Milthe black sheep amongst outside, my nervousness became worse, as ton High School for a the many nervous musicians frantically evidenced by my damp hands. I just wanted to seven minute audition that would practicing last minute. get this over with! determine whether or not they moved on 10:50am – The news went around

11:45am – No need to be nervous to the next round of competition for a posi- the warm up room that the adjudicaanymore, right? After all, I’m still waiting tion in the Massachusetts All State orchestra. tors were asking the violin players for a G after being here for over an hour! I was one

10:30am - Upon arrival at Milton major scale and a Bb major scale. It was also of six other players left in the warm up room.

High School, overwhelming chaos descend- revealed that the excerpt from Czardas would All of us looked at each other wearily, not sure ed upon me. The noise of thousands of in- be the first three lines and the last page. I was whether to practice or just sit there and construments warming up was both intimidat- impressed by how everyone, no matter template our upcoming audition. ing and a reality check that I was actually what school we went to, helped each 11:50am – Finally! They called my participating in the Districts Festival. other out. There was an air of intensity name! Let the audition commence.

10:32am – The number of different in how everyone nervously eyed each 11:53am – The runners brought me instruments at the Festival was incredible. There other, but this situation wasn’t your typito the room where I would play my scales. were singing groups warming up in the audito- cal cutthroat competition either.

As I walked into the audition room, I took rium, their voices flying high above the honking 11:00am – The first Winsor in my surroundings. It looked like an trombone sounds coming from the brass warm girl was called in! Having someone elementary classroom, even though up room. As I tried to navigate my way to the from the same school go into an this was a high school. The desks warm up room for strings, the twittering noises audition made me think that my turn were really close to the ground, and violinla.com of a dozen piccolos came out of nowhere. The wasn’t so far away. This realization the colorful posters on the wall had the sounds were definitely unique to this frenzy of made my palms sweat and my heart race a typical cheesy slogans like “Confidence!” At activity known as Districts. It was somewhat tad faster. the teacher’s desk sat the adjudicator, hidden bostonballet.com

behind a poster board. For some reason, I was expecting a much more sophisticated set-up, but the classroom poster board worked too!

The runner read off my audition number and the male voice from behind the poster board intoned, “Please play a G major scale.”

Here we go!

11:54am – The first audition didn’t go even half as long as I had expected. Immediately after stepping out of the first room, I was whisked away to the second room where I would play the standardized concerto for this particular competition, Czardas by Vittorio Monti. The entire process was like a well-oiled machine; there was a person to hold your audition ticket, a person to open the door, a person to read your audition number out loud, and even a person to walk you down the hall! I contemplated the number of people involved in this whole process as I stepped into the second room to play the concerto. Inside, there was the same poster board configuration, but this time a lady’s voice came from behind the board, “We don’t have much time, so please play only the first three lines and the last page.”

11:57am – Two auditions down, one more to go! The last room was where I would show my sight-reading skills. Looking at the unfamiliar piece on the stand, I had about 15 seconds to figure out how to play it before the judge (behind yet another poster board) chirped, “Please begin.”

11:58am – And the auditions were over! As I walked down the hall, I felt a sense of accomplishment, but also some uncertainty.

Once the process started, everything went by so quickly! I was glad that I had had the opportunity to play at the Districts Festival. Just playing in the same competition as hundreds of other musicians was incredible. ☐

continued from page 1 Every Saturday, Sophie plays at The New England Conservatory from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Her schedule includes practice sessions, private lessons, two chamber ensemble rehearsals, and a three hour Youth Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsal.

This year, she earned the impressive spot of YPO principal cellist. Although the task requires increased responsibility and leadership, Sophie expressed enthusiasm about the orchestral opportunities to work with conservatory level conductors and faculty.

Furthermore, in her words, “I started playing in an NEC orchestra when I was seven, and it’s exciting to have been able to grow up all within the same program.” On weekdays, Sophie prepares for upcoming lessons by practicing either one or three to four hours a day depending on academic workload. Although she acknowledges the challenges of balancing Winsor’s demanding workload with practice time, she seems to have found a happy medium. She exclaimed, “When I need a break from schoolwork, I can practice. And if I need a break from practice, I can do my math homework!”

Despite this balancing act required for the school year, Sophie has pursued great cello opportunities during the summer. This past summer, she attended to a chamber and solo music program at The National Arts Center in Canada. There, she was able to meet and to play with musicians from all over the world in this (almost) all expenses paid program (sponsored by the Canadian government). She also travelled to California for Music at Menlo, an advanced chamber program for young artists ranging from elementary school to graduate school age students. Students, such as Sophie, were coached by guest artists and performed in weekly recitals. At this program, students spent about six hours a day

with the same four people on a piece--quite the intensive, time consuming workout!

Sophie also looks forward to a couple notable performances and trips in the future. This summer, she plans to travel to Iceland with her chamber group and YPO orchestra. Currently, her chamber group is playing Mendelssohn Octet, a piece she had performed at another institute when she was thirteen but is excited to revisit. Regarding YPO, she expressed enthusiasm about playing the Elgar Enigma Variations, another piece she had “always wanted to play!” Looking towards her postWinsor career, Sophie plans to double major in both music and academics and hopes to continue attending summer programs.

When asked her favorite part about playing chamber and orchestral music, she replied, “I love the collaboration. You interact with others in a focused way that is centered on creating something beautiful together.”

The Panel wishes Sophie good luck in all her future cello endeavors. If you are interested in hearing her play, she will be performing with her octet at NEC in January, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra in February, and at a possible Senior recital at the end of the Spring! ☐

By Emily Chen Contributing Writer

Fashion Forward

Sophie Applbaum: Passion for Cello

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Emily Hoff: Ballet

By Isabel Isselbacher Contributing Writer

This year Emily Hoff ’18 will dance as Clara in the Boston Ballet Nutcracker for the third consecutive year. Here she describes the experience of dancing in such a large role, performing for audiences of over 2,000 and rehearsing up to 30 hours each week. If you want to see her perform, buy tickets at bostonballet.com.

Q: What’s your favorite part about performing in the nutcracker and being in the show?

A: One of my favorite parts about performing in the nutcracker is that I get to know all of the professional dancers. They are all so nice and I learn so much from them.

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winsor.edu

Belmont Hill Arts

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A Guide for Choosing New Christmas Releases This Season

By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff As I was walking through the Burlington Mall just before Halloween, amidst all the hustle and bustle of shoppers, I could hear very faintly some music over the loudspeakers.

Normally, this music is just white noise to make the atmosphere more pleasant. But on this day, the Burlington Mall, like many other shopping centers in America, decided to defy an unspoken holy code: they played Christmas music before Thanksgiving. But the Burlington Mall isn’t alone – across the street, Kohls decorated its entrance display with polar bears and reindeer and played their Pandora Christmas playlist.

With each passing year, the Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier; as a result, the music of the holiday season seems omnipresent.

Most Christmas album releases came much before Thanksgiving this year, a popular trend over the past decade to optimize sales. Popular Christian rock singer Michael W. Smith even decided to put forth his Christmas album, The Spirit of Christmas, at the end of September. On the same day of his album release, the temperature in Boston hovered around seventy degrees, hardly ushering in the true spirit of Christmas.

The premature release caused Smith’s album to commercially fail – on the Billboard 200 chart, it peaked at number fifty. Spirit is unfortunately Smith’s second Christmas album to tank. However, commercial sales do not always correlate with quality of music – Smith’s album includes a diverse amalgam of duets with artists such as Carrie Underwood and Bono who bring simple yet poignant harmonies. Unlike most holiday records, Spirit offers an organic sound of diverse Christmas tunes not known to most listeners. Luckily, The Spirit of Christmas is not the only holiday collection released this year – from Broadway stars to a capella groups, acts of all different musical styles fill this winter season with cheer.

Coming off a big year, with a top five hit and a Tony nomination, Idina Menzel bears her winter album, Holiday Wishes, as a Christmas present to the music world. On tracks like Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” it’s hard not to get lost in Menzel’s beautiful tone; her incredible technique allows her to sing with abandon and reminds listeners why she catapulted into Broadway stardom. Yet on some more popularized tracks, such as her rendition of “All I Want for Christmas is You,” Menzel loses that special classical sound in her voice that

Musicians Give Rousing Performances at Belmont Hill Fall Coffeehouse

By Jake DeCaprio Panel Staff This year’s Fall Coffee House on Friday, December 6 came with acts from sixteen different groups of Belmont Hill musicians. Students from both the Upper and Middle Schools performed songs ranging from “Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Fabian Andre, Wilbur Schwandt, and Gus Kahn to “Holiday” by Greenday.

MC Seamus Clair opened the night with a bit of comedy and by introducing Henry Vettel, whose solo performance of Of Monsters and Men’s “Little Talks” brought great energy and momentum for the acts to come. Other solo acts included Sebastian Themelis’s rendition of the traditional folk song “House of the Rising Sun,” Seamus Clair’s harmonious performances of “Dream a Little Dream of Me” (by Andre, Schwandt, and Kahn) and “La Vie en rose” by Édith Piaf with a ukulele, and Marshall Knight’s performance of “Lucky Now” by Ryan Adams.

Duet performances included Alex Hall and Eric Dawson, who perform together at each Coffee House, playing Green Day’s “Good Riddance” and Sebastian Themelis and Mr. Patterson and their renditions of Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and Elton John’s “Your Song”.

Early in the night, a Middle School Rock Band’s performance of Green Day’s “Holiday” enlivened the crowd and had everyone bobbing their heads, followed soon after by another Middle School Rock Band and Coldplay’s “In My Place”. The Jazz Combo, with Mr. Glenn on drums, performed Clifford Brown’s “Sandu,” featuring saxophone solos from Jack Richards and David Yellen. Despite

brings her songs to life and instead attempts to belt like a pop-star. Accompanied by a jazz interlude, the track sounds jumbled and out of place, especially when compared to Mariah Carey’s original version. Menzel integrates secular songs into her holiday set as well. She brings wintery magic to her cover of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” allowing Pinocchio to stand next to White Christmas effortlessly.

Overall, Menzel caps off her year on a high note with this charming album.

The breakout a cappella group Pentatonix boasts an even more impressive set than Menzel, with their album That’s Christmas to Me, which has so far peaked at number two and is set to dominate the chart in the coming weeks. While Menzel and Smith have produced pleasant records with their own spin on popular songs, the majority of their songs have a traditional and generic feel; their songs have been covered the same way so many times before. Pentatonix, on the other hand, presents a set of eleven tracks totally unique to any previous cover. At the opening of the album, the five singers choose to perform a gospel rendition “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” a risk which paid off. The title track, found in the middle of the set, exemplifies well how tight the singers’ harmonies are; each voice moves simultaneously with the others in highly-layered chords.

Like the soft harmonies the title track, the group shows off true a cappella talent in “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,”

Th e Pan el a fast song with no words in which the singers must imitate instruments to produce the right sound. That’s Christmas to Me is not the only Christmas album by Pentatonix – 2012’s PTXmas also includes an assortment of wellcrafted Christmas songs, especially “Little Drummer Boy” and “Carol of the Bells.” While Pentatonix may never have mainstream, year-round success, they certainly have found a comfortable niche in holiday music.

The Christmas albums of 2014 deliver a better sound to audiences than in most years. In many years, only one holiday set will dominate the charts from the middle of November to the beginning of December. This instance was true in 2011 with Michael Buble’s Christmas, which reigned at number one for four weeks, and in 2007 with Josh Groban’s Noel, a sonically perfect album, which became the top selling album of its release year. As a result of so many holiday artists this year, many acts have been overshadowed. Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, brings listeners back to the days of the Rat Pack with his classic voice showcased on his traditional Christmas record, Holiday for Swing. Now-country singer Darius Rucker, from Hootie and the Blowfish, sends holiday greetings from the South with Home for the Holidays. Yet even with so much new holiday music to choose from these days, there’s nothing wrong with sitting by the fire, roasting chestnuts, and listening to Bing Crosby dream of a white Christmas. ☐

technical difficulties, a performance of OutKast’s “Hey Ya” by Varun Shah and Seamus Clair, with Cam Hall on the guitar, surely livened the crowd.

The highlight of the night was an invigorating performance of Eric Hutchinson’s “OK, It’s Alright With Me” by Juan Carlos Fernández-del Castillo on the keyboard, Tommy Ruggles on drums, Alex Hall on guitar and back-up vocals, and Nate Trznedel’s powerful singing voice on lead vocals.

Other big group acts included the Senior Rock Band (with the additions of Pat Connelly on drums and Cam Hall on the guitar), who performed “Check Yes Juliet” by We The Kings, A performance of “Wonderwall” by Oasis.

Spanish Rock Band’s performanc- Henry Vettel plays the guitar and sings “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men. es included Dispatch’s “The General,” King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight,” with special guest Isaac Fairman on the cabasa, Santana’s “Smooth,” with the addition of Jacob Welborn, and Journey’s “Lights,” with the addition of Nate Trznedel and DJ Demetri on vocals.

The evening came to a close with country music: Juan Carlos Fernández-del Castillo and Matt Armstrong’s performance of Eric Church’s “Love Your Love the Most,” and the Country Band’s performance of “Colder Weather” by the Zac Brown Band, with Andrew Kaneb on the violin.

Director of Instrumental Music Mr. Glenn and Fifth Former Juan Carlos Fernández-del Castillo spread hype around the student body in the weeks leading up to the event; however, student turnout for the event did not reach its potential. This year’s Fall Coffee House was my first, but because of the wonderful performances by sixteen different groups playing various styles of music, it will not be my last; I would strongly recommend attending the upcoming Spring Coffee House. ☐ Guitarist Eric Dawson and singer Alex Hall perform Green Day’s “Good Riddence.”

D e c emb er 18t h , 2014

Belmont Hill Arts

Movie of the Fall: Interstellar

By Colin Ward Staff Writer The last time I truly felt awed by a movie was after seeing The Dark Knight, a movie filled with masterful performances, an intriguing plotline, and stunning visuals. But that all changed when I watched Interstellar. A long, demanding film, Interstellar may deter some with its somewhat confusing story, but it is a journey worth taking simply just to have the feeling of utter amazement as you walk out of the theatre.

Interstellar takes place in a twenty-first century in which food is scarce, and food shortages along with the changing climate will soon render Earth uninhabitable. The planet is dying and the only hope is to find a new home in the stars. A secret NASA mission has uncovered a wormhole near Saturn that leads to another galaxy containing twelve planets. With this information, twelve astronauts embark on a lonely quest to land on a planet and send back data in order to discover if that planet is hospitable to human life. Once a sustainable planet has been found, the crew must explore that planet and colonize the alien landscape.

The film stars Matthew McConaughey as the lead character, Cooper, Anne Hathaway as Brand, Michael Caine as Professor Brand, and Jessica Chastain as Murph. Without a doubt, McConaughey is the star of the film; his touching performance as a father who has so much to gain and lose by this journey captivates the viewer. The audience genuinely feels the highs and lows experienced with the successes and failures of the crew.

Overall, the cast does a great job of engaging viewers with convincing performances, including even some humor. The best acting in the film comes in a scene in which the crew must decide which planets to visit and how to do so, as they will lose fuel and precious time. The proximity of certain planets to the black hole located in the galaxy causes time to shrink relative to the Earth, so an hour on the surface of one planet is really 7 years back home.

Some of the best moments in the film occur flying through space, as mind-bending shots of the ship are depicted with certain finesse and expertise. Sonics are an important part of engaging the viewer in Interstellar. When the ship is going through a particularly rough section of space, the volume of the sounds increases to the point where your seat actually feels as if it is rumbling, creating the illusion that you are in the ship with them, hurtling at the speed of light.

There are brief moments of silence, creating a contrast and reminding us that there is no sound in space and of how isolated the crew really is.

As previously mentioned, the plot may scare some off because it is hard to follow at times. Although I found the story to be engaging and mesmerizing, others may find the quantum physics explanations and the somewhat bizarre ending to be puzzling and boring. However, no other movie will leave you in such a thoughtprovoking and captivating way. In the end, Interstellar’s unique combination of captivating acting, visual flair, and thrilling story combine to create one of the best movies this year. ☐

The Orchestra performs “Variations on a Theme by Haydn,” written by Brahms, at the Winter Concert on December 7th.

Belmont Hill Musicians Shine Brightly at Winter Concert

By Alexander Afeyan Staff Writer On Sunday, December 7 th, Belmont Hill musicians had a chance to showcase their talents at the yearly Winter Concert. For those students who were unfortunate enough to miss this event, there was an abbreviated performance held in the chapel on Friday morning.

The orchestra began this sneak peak with a beautiful performance of the “Slavonic Dance No. 8” and was then joined by the B-Flats for a powerful rendition of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” The B-Flats also sang a spiritual, called, “I Open My Mouth to the Lord,” as well as an energetic version of the beloved holiday song by the Beach Boys, “Little Saint Nick” with Sixth Former Nate Trznadel serving as choir

leader. The Jazz Combo took the stage with a smooth performance of “Work Song,” by Nat Adderley, followed by the Belmont Hill Piano Trio. This fantastic group expertly played “Oblivion,” by Astor Piazzolla and garnered enthusiastic applause from the audience. The Upper School Jazz Ensemble showcased their talents, previewing one of the five songs they would play at the Winter Concert.

Just two days later, in the Chapel, the Orchestra built upon Friday’s great performance with an impressive performance of “Variations on a Theme

by Haydn,” by Brahms. Once again, they were joined by the B-Flats to perform the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Then, the Jazz Combo gave a masterful performance of three songs. featuring spot-on solos from each musician. The A-Sharps then took the

Pa g e 1 5 stage and, though, missing one of their five members, sang a melodic version of Uncle Kracker’s “Drift Away.” The Middle School Jazz Ensemble opened with Boston favorite, “Sweet Caroline,” and followed it with a lively performance of Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island.” The Piano Trio followed the Middle School Jazz Ensemble with two spectacular pieces: “Oblivion,” as performed in the school assembly, and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio.

The group deservedly received standing ovations for their masterful interpretations. The B-Flats returned to the stage with a reprise of “I Open My Mouth to the Lord” followed by a chilling rendition of Kurt Bestor’s “The Prayer of the Children.” Mr. Patterson’s adaptation of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech followed; Patterson’s original composition really brought the singers and audience into the music. Their performance of the Latin “Lux Aurumque,” about the birth of Christ, was serious yet joyous.

For their final pieces they transitioned to two energetic Beach Boys classics: “Good Vibrations” and “Little St. Nick.” The Upper School Jazz Ensemble finished off the show with five stirring pieces.

After the performance, there was a lovely reception, with holiday treats for the performing boys and their parents.

When the reception ended, a wonderful day of Belmont Hill music came to a close. This concert truly displayed the marked improvement of many groups on campus, and the rise of the Piano Trio, a group whose mastery has brought a wider appreciation of the beauty of classical music to campus. If this concert is any indication of how quickly all the groups are improving, then I, and many at Belmont Hill, are more than anxious to see the Spring Concert! Thanks to Mr. Glenn and Mr. Patterson for putting on such a great performance. ☐

Dolan Talks Musical Theatre Career Plans, Path into Acting

By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff When people think about Belmont Hill, one of the first things that pops into their heads is sports. Everyone in the middle school is required to play three seasons of sports, and the

majority of students end up playing on multiple competitive junior varsity or varsity teams. Not all students can be on a varsity team, however, so of course there are many athletes who contribute to only one or two JV teams.

Yet there is only one student who does not play any sports at all: Christian Dolan.

Last year, Christian managed to receive an exemption from all three seasons of athletics (a feat that no Belmont Hill boy in recent memory has done) so he could pursue something that satisfied his own interests – acting.

D o l a n first arrived at Belmont Hill in 2011, as a new Second Former, and immediately he signed on for The Beverly Hillbillies, the Middle School fall play. Hillbillies was one of Christian’s first shows, and the positive experience he drew from his work in the Kraft The-

atre provided a new passion for him.

Since then, he has acted in every possible show at Belmont Hill, ranging from small, comical characters such as Randy in Murder Takes the Veil to major leading roles such as Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest.

Last spring, Dolan starred in Dana Hall’s production of Chicago, in which he played Roxy Hart’s meek husband Amos. Amos quickly became Dolan’s favorite role: “Playing the character of Amos allowed me to connect with the audience in a totally new way.” As Amos, Christian also had the opportunity to serenade the audience with the famous ballad “Mr. Cellophane.” When he finished singing, he received a thunderous applause. Although Christian is not partaking in the Belmont Hill athletic program this year either, he has found an activity both athletic and beneficial to a career in musical theatre – dance. Four days a week, Christian treks to the Dana Hall dance studio to learn from professionals how to move his feet. He took hip hop this fall but plans to expand his repertoire to musical theatre and jazz as well.

If it’s not already apparent, Christian plans to pursue a career in musical theatre. Even if theatre is not the path for Christian, he could have an excellent career as a photographer: he has already received one Golden Key Award from the Boston Globe and is hoping for more this year. As Student Head of Theatre, talented singer in the B Flats, and skillful dancer and actor, Christian is well on his way to becoming an incredibly well-rounded artist. ☐

Winsor Sp orts

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Th e Pan el

Winter Sports Updates Varsity Hockey Record: 3-9

Varsity Basketball Record: 2-2

Natasha Jones ’17

winsor.edu

Highlight: Winsor’s 8-3 victory over Dana Hall was secured when Winsor’s goalie, Haliey Yetman ’16 stopped a breakaway shot from one of Dana’s top players. In the Beaver game, Emily Keigher ‘18 set Michaela O’Connor ’17 up for a puck shot from the point for a beautiful goal into the top left corner of the net.

Quote: Grace Eysenbach ’16 remarked, “Everyone on the team has vastly improved during the past few weeks, and it has shown in the games.

We hope to continue growing as individuals and as a team and are looking forward to our next game versus the competitive Watertown team.☐

Highlight: Alina Brennan ’18 has already become a great asset to the team in her first year. One high point occured against LCA, when Brennan made a defensive stop late in the first half and dribbled rim to rim to score over two LCA defenders.

Quote: “We need to work out getting our confidence up and playing like we know we are going to win. Communication is the other big thing; [we need to talk] during the entire game.”

Fun Fact: The team is looking forward to more league competition and the annual Stoneleigh-Burnham tournament at the end of December.☐

Varsity Squash Record: 2-0

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Alessandra DeVito’ 14

Highlights: Winsor squash has had two matches so far, against Middlesex and Portsmouth Abbey, both of which they won 14-0.

Quote: “Our goals for the season are to beat our record of placing 10th at nationals and to be in the top four at New Englands, said varsity captains Junnat Anwar ’16 and Adrienne Conza ’16. “We have a strong team this year and are excited to see where the season takes us!”

Fun Fact: This year’s team is the biggest squash team Winsor has ever had, consisting of 22 people from Classes III-VIII . They have also, for the first time, appointed JV captains, Alexa Green ’17 and Lilla Gabrieli ’16. The Winsor squash team Talia Ruxin ’16 has started off the season strong and is well on its way to nationals!☐

Varsity Swim Record: 2-0

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Highlight: The swim team started the season strong with a win over Berwick Academy. The meet-many swimmers’ first at Winsor-even featured a few personal best times, which are uncommon this early in the season.

Quote: “We’re off to a great start!...

We have a strong team which has put in a concerted effort to set individual and team goals to work towards for the next few months, and I can’t wait to see how far we come,” said Captain Bibi Lichauco, ’15.

Fun Fact: The Winsor swim team will have their candy cane classic race soon! In this exciting practice, swimmers will race one another in relays, all while Grace Eysenbach ’ 16 wearing clothing and reindeer antlers.☐

winsor.edu

Your Guide to the 2014-2015 Football Season

By Caroline MacGillivray Panel Staff

touchdown against the Chargers are two memorable highlights this season.

Over winter break, the Pats play Guide to the NFL two division opponents who they’ve Coming off a heartbreaking already defeated this season: the loss to the Packers, the Patriots beat New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. the San Diego Chargers in an ugly win 23-14. On Sunday they played the Miami Dolphins, who defeated us at the beginning of the season.

Before the Packers defeat, the Patriots had a seven game winning streak going, including defeats of Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos and Andrew Luck’s Indianapolis Colts.

Guide to the NCAA games

On New Year’s Day, be sure to tune in to see Alabama take on Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. On DecemSoutheastern Conference ber 6, Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 59-0 in the blowout of the season The king of college sports and the jewel of the South. Includes powerhouses such as Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia, Tennessee (alma mater of Peyton Manning), and Auburn. The SEC has the grace and the power-their logo even looks like a circle monogram.

Pacific 12 Conference

Guide to Names to Know

Tom Brady: But you already know him. He’s just as wonderful as he was the last time you checked.

Darrelle Revis (#24): This cornerback, traded over the summer from the Jets, has been a key to our defense this season.

Rob Gronkowski (#87): “Tom Brady throwing to a healthy Gronk--it’s almost not fair.”

Julian Edelman (#11): The 5’10’’ wide receiver and Brady favorite has been struggling with a left thigh injury in recent weeks, but he has making great catches all season. The 84-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Broncos and 69 yard catch-and-run

Guide to College Football Conferences

Formerly the Pac-10 until Colorado and Utah joined the party in 2011.

This is the conference of the Pacific Northwest, including Rose Bowl contending Oregon and Stanford.

Big 10 :

Patriots Team Super Bowl, you ask? Don’t jinx the Patriots just yet, but revenge against the Green Bay Packers or a tough away game against the Arizona Cardinals (hosting the Super Bowl in Glendale, AZ this year) could be in the cards.

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to capture the Big 10 Championship.

Alabama defeated Missouri 42-13 to capture the SEC Championship.

Also on New Year’s Day, Florida State will play Oregon in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

The big heavy hitter here is Ohio State. Often takes a backseat to the more glamorous SEC and Pac-12, but a Big 10 game rarely disappoints.

Atlantic Coast Conference In terms of football, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame seem to be the headliners, but this conference also includes Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, Boston College, and UVA.☐

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Winsor Sp orts

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Women’s Hockey Heats Up in the Boston Area Colleges in Boston have a record high number of Olympians continued from page 1 Poulin competed for Canada’s national team in the Sochi Olympics, scored the game winning goal in the finals against the U.S., and brought home a gold medal. Now, Poulin is captaining the BU team and hopes to

Katie Crowley remarked on this year’s Beanpot’s increased importance, “You’re jockeying for who’s gonna win that first national championship.” win an NCAA championship game, as the team was beat out by teams from the Midwest in the past two years.

The Harvard team is currently number six in the league, with two returning US Olympic players: forward Lyndsey Fry and defender Michelle Picard (who played hockey at Nobles!).

Not only does the Harvard team have two Olympic athletes, but the coach, Katey Stone, is also returning from the Sochi Olympics. Over Stone’s coaching career, she has coached 378 victories and was the third coach in women’s college hockey history to win 300 games.

With 18 successful seasons coaching the Harvard team, Stone was chosen to coach the 2014 US team in Sochi.

Boston College, ranked number one in the league, has Olympic forward Alex Carpenter. Carpenter commented on how the skills she learned playing for team USA have helped her during the college season, “I remember my first couple games with the national team I would get knocked around… So that was one of main focuses was not to get knocked around like that, and I think now that I’m more sturdy both on and off the puck that will be an advantage for myself.”

All four of these teams will be competing in the annual Beanpot tournament, a tournament that began in 1961 to determine which women’s college hockey team was the best in the city. Boston College coach Katie Crowley remarked on this year’s Beanpot’s increased importance, “You’re jockeying for who’s gonna Sochi Winter Olympics Women’s Hockey Team win that first national championship.”

As the tournament is coming up in early February, The Panel encourages Winsor students to check it out!☐

Hintlian ’15, Tae Kwon Do Master

By Hallie Fischman Panel Staff Katherine Hintlian ’15 is basically a ninja. She has been participating in Tae Kwon Do for the past 12 years.

Tae Kwon Do is a modern Korean martial art that combines combat positions and self defense techniques from several ancient martial arts forms to create a sport similar to karate, but much faster. Hintlian initially began the sport when she was five years old, but quit after the first lesson. She returned to Tae Kwon Do two years later and has stuck with it ever since. Her persistence paid off, and she currently holds her second degree black belt. Earning a black belt means more than memorizing and perfecting specific routines, or as Taekwondoins call them, patterns. As Hintlian explained, “Wearing a black belt means I have led by example at the school and have focused on improving

Hintlian with her coach

my Tae Kwon Do whenever I can. It’s a lot of responsibility and a lot of fun!”

Hintlian practices about twice a week during the school year and four times a week during school breaks. She enjoys the sport because, as she says, “I do Tae Kwon Do with my friends from my town, and we talk about everything there is to talk about, besides school!

It’s really low stress; in fact, I use it to relieve stress!” Hintlian’s older brother, James, began Tae Kwon Do at the same time she did, and the two still practice together on occasion. Her favorite part of the sport is sparring--practice-fighting intended to improve technique and score points on an opponent. Sometimes, she even spars with the boys at her level! One of Katherine’s Tae Kwon Do goals is to earn her third degree black belt, while continuing to enjoy the sport she has spent so long practicing. We wish Katherine the best of luck at reaching this ambitious goal!☐

Katherine Hintlian

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Sports Banquet Awards

By Helen Sayegh Panel Staff

Sports banquets are among Winsor students’ favorite events; not only do they feature pizza and brownies, but they are also dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of the season’s teams. At the traditional fall sports banquet, which marks the end of the season, Ms. Geromini made her customary speech-- she gave a well-deserved thanks to the faculty, the coaches, the parents, and the athletes who all made the season possible. In that speech, she also announced this year’s varsity athlete recipients of student athlete awards.

Two seniors on the varsity soccer team were recipients of awards, marking their stellar abilities. Jenna Gustafson ’15 was honored with an EIL First Team All-League honor, and Maddy Batt ’15 received an EIL All-League Honorable Mention.

The varsity field hockey team had multiple members who were honored, as well. Allison McGuirk ’15, Arielle Mitropoulos ’15, and Erica Hootstein ’16 were all recipients of the EIL First All-League Team award.

Collage of Sports Award Recipients

The EIL All-League Honorable Mentions was awarded to Sea-Jay Van der Ploeg ’15 and Helen Sayegh ’17.

Members of the varsity cross country team also received many awards. Talia Ruxin ’16, Alex Bardon ’18, and Katie Cronin ’17 were recipients of the EIL All-League First Team award. Nicole Cerulli ’16 and Eliza McNay ’16 were awarded with the EIL All-League Honorable Mention. Chloe Duval ’19 was the only recipient of the All-New England Team award and was invited to attend a NEPSTA All-Star meet.

While the athletes in Winsor’s program are recognized for their individual skills, they are rewarded in other ways besides their honors. Abby Weyer ’17 remarked, “What Ms. Geromini said at the banquet [in her speech] about these teams being a second family resonated with me, and I think it resonated with a lot of other people.

The season is about being on a team... [and] it was really enjoyable for me.”

Considering Winsor athletes’ individual skill level as well as their ability to work on a team, next year’s fall sports season will undoubtedly be a successful one.☐

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Belmont Hill Sp orts

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Seniors Beat Faculty for First Time in Years; Soccer Defeats Football in Battle of the Fall Sports

By Chris Bracken Staff Writer For the first time in forever, the senior soccer squad vanquished the faculty by a score of 3 goals to 2. The faculty started off the game strongly, confidently knocking the ball around, but fell behind to Josh Pradko’s coolly taken finish. The faculty turned up the intensity as they searched for a goal, and Benny Wanger made a stunning fingertip save to divert a point-blank effort from Mr. Collins over the bar. They eventually found an equalizer in controversial fashion, winning a dubious penalty for handball, which Señor Steffey slotted home. Inspired by a halftime speech for the ages, the seniors came out flying in the

second half and quickly built a two-goal lead. Moments after spurning a gilt-edged chance, Connor Metz prodded home from close range, before Myles Walsh scored a classic poacher’s goal at the back post after good work from John Driscoll, Evan Chaletzky, and Editor-in-Chief Mike O’Neill. Walsh had a glorious chance to extend the lead, firing agonizingly wide from distance with the goal at his mercy after going round the goalkeeper Mr. Montoya. Facing the collapse of a dynasty, the faculty attacked in waves, and Señor Steffey backed up his pre-game chirps by cutting the deficit to one with an exquisite halfvolley. Needing a goal, the faculty sent on the wily veteran forward Francis Kirby, but were unable to find the elusive equalizer. Both sides played their hearts out,

and it was a thrilling, well-played match.

Perhaps overconfident from their part in the senior victory, the football team challenged the varsity soccer team to a soccer match. With eleven dedicated athletes apiece on each side, the match kicked off, and wave after wave of soccer attack broke on the rock-solid backline of Asheber, Caputo, O’Neal and Ward. But they eventually cracked under relentless pressure and Pradko continued his fine goal-scoring form, before Reed Junkin extended the lead to 2-0 with a bullet header at the back post from a pinpoint Chad Meyers cross. Assisted by some questionable refereeing from Editor O’Neill, the football team cut the deficit in half. The soccer team thought the whistle had blown for halftime, but the

Th e Pan el football team played on, and Jack Wilhoite fired in a low cross that Seamus O’Donovan diverted past Eric Rolfs, only to see Charlie Durbin steal the goal with a sliding tap-in. After an exciting, endto-end start to the second half that saw both Wanger and substitute keeper Metz make smart stops, Chris Bracken struck a howitzer from distance into the corner to provide a two-goal cushion. Scarcely a minute later, the football team were back within a goal as Durbin darted into the box before firing a cross that Myles Walsh deftly chipped beyond Metz. Football pushed for an equalizer with Alex Santangelo entering the game as the 12th man (it’s supposed to be figurative), and an unorthodox six forward formation. Unfortunately, Matt O’Neal put the ball into the wrong net from a corner, stifling the rally, and Ariel Borsook sealed the 5-2 result with an empty-net finish, the third goal from a soccer defender. Thus, confirming that soccer still rules the school. ☐

Wrestling Looks Forward to Another Successful Campaign

By Dean Demetri Staff Writer

Belmont Hill seniors celebrate their victory over the faculty

Hockey Looks to Get Back on Track for a Playoff Year December 6th, the team carried a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period before ultimately losing 3-5. On December 10th, the team traveled to Byfield to play Governor’s Academy but The Belmont Hill varsity hockey team ultimately lost 2-3. The team earned a slightis looking forward to another successful sealy better result on December 13th against son in 2014-15. The hockey team’s first game, Lawrence Academy, tying 4-4. Team captain a non-league matchup against Berwick Charlie McConnell acknowledges that the Academy in Maine went excelteam has had a slow start but lently for the team. Fewer than two that, “the pieces are in place to minutes into the game, sophomore have a good year, and we know forward Christian O’Neill scored a that once we get going we will powerplay goal after being assisted be tough to stop.” McConnell by junior David Giunta and senior adds that the team has a colleccaptain Charley Michalowski. Beltion of young talent this year mont Hill dominated the first periand believes that, “it should od as Evan Daddario, David Giunbe fun to see those young ta, Charley Michalowski, and Mike players progress throughArmstrong all also found twine. out the season.” The hockey The onslaught would slow in the team is hoping to come back second but junior Christian Fagfrom their two early league Bill Mahoney gas would score a third period goal losses and have the talent in to cap off the team’s 6-2 victory. Coach McCarthy talks to the team at Frozen Fenway last winter place to have a good year. ☐

By Liam Foley Panel Staff

Christian O’Neill finished the day with three points, Charley Michalowski, Mike Armstrong, David Giunta, and Christian Faggas all had two point games, and Evan Daddario, John Copeland, captain Charlie Barrow, and Sam Hesler all contributed a point. Belmont Hill’s first two ISL games did not go how they would like them to have gone. On

Alpine Skiing Has a Little Fun Before They Hit the Slopes

By John Gosselin Staff Writer Alpine skiing is off to a strong start, and the team plans on getting to the mountain before the winter break.

The charismatic captain, Dan Remondi, has led the team to fill its roster and to organize an order for great team apparel.

Mr. Feldman, in his first season as head coach, has helped greatly to keep the alpine program on track for a successful and fulfilling season, especially after the great victories the team had last year, when Mr. Feldman was also a coach. Mr.

Trautz has contributed to the team spirit immensely, and with his experience as head coach in previous years, he will continue to see the team through the trials and tribulations to come when we begin racing. Currently, the ski team has not been able to ski, as there is no snow, but with a favorable forecast this weekend heading into next week, we hope to be able to ski before Winter Break. On Thursday, while it was snowing, the Alpine Ski team held its annual game of “Zippy Fun Ball” with the Cross Country Ski team. For those readers who do not know what Zippy Fun Ball is, a short

explanation is appropriate. Played on a large field, there are relatively few rules to the game. There are two cones, around which there is a circle that no players are allowed to enter. There is also a ball in the game. If you hold the ball, you are liable to be tagged, and if you throw the ball and no one catches it, then you must forfeit the ball to the opposing team.

The cross country team was unable to field the necessary 8 players, so they dipped into the Alpine Ski team’s pool of manpower. This is the only logical explanation for why their varsity beat us and their junior varsity beat us 5-0. ☐

With the winter season underway, Belmont Hill’s Varsity Wrestling team steps on the mat with a chip on its shoulder after last year’s losses to the Brooks School in both the ISL Dual Meet and the Graves Kelsey Wrestling Tournament. Captains Pete Tedesco and Josh Fischer (currently on the Disabled List due to a concussion) are looking forward to a strong but hard-fought season as the team enters a dogfight for first place in the ISL. Josh desperately hopes to return to the mat soon, especially after the loss of the third wrestling captain, Ryan Kelley, who moved out West, missing his senior year.

The team, off to a formidable start, took 5th place at the Caruso Invitational Tournament down in Newark, New Jersey as wrestlers William Ryan and Phillip Conigliaro took 3rd place with Mack Rush and Pete Tedesco placing 2nd. Belmont Hill also kicked off their ISL debut Wednesday December 10th in Byfield against Governor’s Academy winning 66 to 12.

Sadly, however, the team was forced to cancel their annual meet with Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy, Tabor Academy, and Worcester Academy due to the possibly negative effect of the two hour drive and daylong event on student preparation for mid year exams. Coach and teacher of AP Modern European History, Mr. Bradley, sympathizes with his wrestlers. Although he wishes they could go down and compete, he understands the importance of academics as he wants his wrestlers to achieve excellence both on and off the mat.

Looking forward to a year of demanding meets and matches, the Varsity Wrestling Team hopes to add to the banners hanging in their wrestling room once more. As the grind for success begins and “the team approaches every day with determination and works hard,” according to captain Pete Tedesco, Belmont Hill’s Varsity Wrestling team hopes to rally behind their terrific coaching staff for yet another impressive season. ☐

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Belmont Hill Sp orts

Cross Country Skiing Races Through Preseason Activities

By Jack Richards Staff Writer This year’s Nordic (Cross Country) Skiing Team appears to be off to a strong start even before the first snow fall. Despite the lack of snow, there are still workouts to improve fitness and strength, a necessary part of skiing. Regular visits to stadiums and the Arlington bike path have displayed the very promising talent of the team. Under the leadership of the captains, seniors Will Malloy and John Power, the rest of the team, which includes all grades from 7th to 12th, eagerly prepare themselves for the first snowfall.

On nearly everybody’s radar is the much-

awaited trip to Jackson, New Hampshire, which takes place the first weekend of winter break. Everyone will stay at the Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch and ski for two days on the expansive and beautiful trails in that area. For some, this will be their first time skiing, but for everyone it is a great learning experience for better skiing technique. Once back from break, there should be enough time for snow to have accumulated at the Weston Ski Track so that practices and races will commence. Further down the road, the team, which took second place by one point at the Weston Sprints two years ago, hopes to take first place, a goal which is being sought after for the whole season. ☐

Basketball Gets Rolling Again

By Chip Daley Panel Staff Wit h 9 pl ayers retur ning to pl ay t his w inter, t he b asketb a l l te am has st ar te d of f t he w inter s e as on w it h ext reme p otent i a l. The s eniors lo ok to c apit a lize on t heir f ina l ye ar in t he B elmont Hi l l cour t af ter pl ay ing s o many ye ars toget her and re a l ly le ar ning how to pl ay w it h e ach ot h er. D espite a s ome w hat dis app ointing s e as on l ast ye ar, t he Varsit y b as ketb a l l te am has a lre ady k icke d t he s e as on of f w it h a 16-p oint w in over a t a lente d L o omis C haf fe e s qu ad, and an ext remely impressive, hard-

Squash Off to Another Fantastic Start, Aim for ISL Title

By Ranjit Thomas Staff Writer Perhaps one of the most successful elements of the Belmont Hill athletic program is its squash team. This winter, the team commences the season hoping to continue its five-year streak as ISL champions. Coaches Brownell and Moronta also look beyond the competition in their league to demonstrate the team’s full potential. To find talent that truly rivals their own, the players look to compete at and win the New England tournament and place at Nationals. That said, there are several squash programs within the ISL that have the talent to challenge Belmont Hill. The teams that could potentially present obstacles this year would be St. George’s,

Milton, Nobles, and Brooks. The season kicked off auspiciously with a home 7-0 win against Philip Exeter Academy on Saturday, December 3rd. It seems the fortitude and consistency of the team stems from the fact that it includes both older and younger players who are uniquely adroit in the sport.

Captains Timmy Brownell and Clark Doyle, two very skilled athletes, are team veterans and plan to lead by example while progressing through the schedule. They successfully led the team to sixth place at Nationals last year without any seniors and only one junior.

Upon speaking to Clark about the season ahead, he had only positive remarks about the team’s future: “Our Varsity Squash Team is as strong as it has been in years with everyone returning. We are in serious conten-

Athletes Honored with Fall Awards

By Augustus Lamb Staff Writer

Mr. Mahoney

tion for the National and New England titles and it will be an extremely fun and competitive year.” Other upperclassmen that add to the strength of the roster are senior Spencer Anton and juniors Blake Gilbert-Bono and Thomas Wolpow, all of whom already have decorated and respectable squash careers.

Additionally, there are several particularly skilled younger players who will not only provide an advantage to the team this season, but also represent a guaranteed continuation of the success of Belmont Hill squash for years to come. These individuals include Alex Kurtin, James Bell, J.P. Champa, and Jack Bell, the last of whom is number three on the ladder as a freshman.

With other teams at the school having venerable but inconsistent seasons, the squash squad continues to dominate its ISL rivals year after year, and is always one of Belmont Hill’s standout athletic programs. ☐

MVPs

foug ht, 2-p oint w in against R ivers.

C apt ains Su lt an Olus ekun and Hi l a l D a h leh le d t he B elmont Hi l l force, and t he te am a ls o gaine d sig nif ic ant cont r ibut ions f rom s eniors Jess e Wims, Nate Trznadel, My les Wa lsh, as wel l as s ome excit ing young t a lent in f reshmen D av id Mitchel l and Jovan Jones. Wit h a comp et it ive ISL b asketb a l l te am t his ye ar, t he B el mont Hi l l varsit y s qu ad hop es to f ig ht to t he top and f inish t he s e as on as much-aspire d le ague champions.

“As t his is my s enior ye ar, it re a l ly hit me how much t his s e a s on me ans to me and how I want to ma ke t he most of it. I have a lre ady re cog nize d a st rong te am-work et hic in prac t ice and it ma kes e v er yone want to work harder in order to achie ve t he u lt imate go a l of a le ague championship,” remarke d s enior gu ard Nate Trznadel. The te am lo oks e agerly a he ad to toug h matches against ISL r iva ls R ivers, Nobles, as wel l as out of le ague tour naments over t he w inter bre a k.

But t he hig h lig ht game of t he s e as on w i l l b e pl aye d against a s olid BB&N te am at t he TD Garden, home of t he B oston C elt ics, on Mond ay Janu ar y 19t h, 2015 (MLK D ay). Junior Aust in Mas el had t his to s ay w hen aske d ab out t he opp or tunit y of pl ay ing at t he TD Garden: “I cou ldn’t b e more excite d. We have a re a l ly sk i l le d and toug h te am t his ye ar, re ady to comp ete, w hich ma kes t he venue e ven b etter.” The B elmont Hi l l varsit y b asketb a l l te am exp e c ts us a l l t here to che er t hem on as t he y cont inue t heir f ig ht for a successf u l s e as on. ☐

UA Athlete of the Issue

Continued from page 1 Lastly, was the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award. The Sportsmanship Award is presented seasonally by sport to “the ideal sportsman whose emotions are controlled by a genuine love and respect for his fellow man as well as the game.” The recipient of this year’s award was Christopher Bracken, a member of the Sixth Form. Congratulations to Eric, Emmett, Josh, Chris, and the Varsity Soccer Team on a great season.

The Varsity Football Team finished with an overall record of 5-3, placing fifth in the ISL. The first award given was the Robert Satterlee Hurlbut Memorial Football Trophy, which is awarded to the player(s) who in the judgement of the coaches made the greatest improvement in the sport. This year’s recipients were seniors, James Russo and Matt O’Neal. The second award given to a member of the football team was the William E. Croke Trophy which is awarded to the player(s) who in the judgment of the coaches was the most valuable player. The MVP’s chosen were seniors Harry Kraft, Lucas Ribeiro, and Jack Tamasi. The Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award was presented as well and was given to Ian Arthur and Evan Chaletzky.

Congratulations to the recipients and the rest of the Varsity Football Team on a hard-fought season.

Our Belmont Hill Cross Country Team ended the fall season with a record of 8-7 and came in eighth

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The Varsity Cross Country team celebrates their awards

in the ISL. The first prize given was the Cross Country Award, which is presented to that team member who has been the most valuable performer this year. The winner was Third Former, John Pappo. A second trophy was presented to the boy(s) who has made the most significant improvement in cross country as judged by the coaches. This year’s winners were Chris Folsom and Jake DeCaprio. Finally, the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award was given to Christopher Duckworth and John Power. Congrats to the Cross Country Team on a tremendous season. Let the winter sports begin! ☐ Mr. Mahoney

The Varsity Soccer team celebrates their awards

Though you might know him as a captain of the Varsity Crew team, Andrew Wilkins actually devotes most of his athletic commitment to swimming outside of school. At age twelve, Andrew began his swimming career in his hometown with the Sudbury Swim Team. “A lot of people are a little bit surprised when they hear I started at twelve… It was a little bit late to start, but I felt like I got into it pretty quickly.” Jokingly, he says, “I was kind of forced into it by my mom. I actually had friends who were into it and my mom talked to their moms. I was in between sports - hockey, baseball, and I couldn’t make up my mind. I figured I’d try this and I was not too thrilled about it.” Obviously, he adjusted.

Currently, Andrew swims for the Shawmut Aquatic Club, a United States Swimming team that practices locally and known as one of the most competitive teams in New England. Shawmut is a year round commitment that takes brief breaks in only April and August. Andrew counts his fellow swimmers as having the most influence on his swimming. When referring to the swimmers across the eight lanes beside him, Andrew says, “having these people next to me is, without a doubt, one of the greatest sources of motivation for me. During a tough set (10x300 yards all out and fast for example), all I have to do is look to my side and I can see someone who is going through exactly what I am, and immediately my competitive nature kicks in, telling me to get up and race, despite the pain.”

The motivation of these fellow teammates have pushed Andrew to extraordinary heights, making the long hard practices on school nights worth the fight. It is because of these swim practices that you wouldn’t see Andrew on many of the Belmont Hill athletic teams.

The one exception, however, is his role with the Belmont Hill Crew team. Much like swimming, Andrew came to rowing later than most, picking it up just last year in Form V. Having used an oar only once or twice at camp, and an ergometer only as a cardiovascular workout, Andrew’s lack of experience didn’t slow him down at all. He missed the first 2k at the start of the season and later tested slowly. It was when it came to his first real erg test that the coaches noticed his skill. Coach Richards commented, “What he has done is highly unusual and I don’t think, certainly in my time as coach, that we’ve had anything comparable happen, and there aren’t many guys who come in here in the eleventh grade to start. But for any athlete to do what he has done would be considered unusual, and very impressive obviously.”

Good Luck, Andrew as you complete your high school swimming and rowing career. ☐

L ast L o ok

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Th e Pan el

Heart to Heart with Deans

Petition from the Members of the Winsor Community We the Students of the Winsor School, in order to maintain equality with our Brother School, establish Justice, ensure Gender Tranquility, provide for the sweet tooths, promote General Welfare, and Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity do request the establishment of chocolate coins with the Winsor emblem.

*DISCLAIMER* We, the Back Page editors, are trying something new for this Issue of the Panel. If at any point in time, you find the content on this back page unfunny, please send any complaints you might have to our Editor in Chief, Michael O’Neill. However, if you ever find yourself chuckling, or even just releasing some air out of your nose (we’ll count that) give us the credit we rightfully deserve.

Love,

Your Belmont Hill Backpagers <3

Yiiiiiiiiiiikes Winsor! First “photes,” now this! Figure it

We would like to raise to your attention the injustice that Belmont Hill provides their students with branded chocolates. We the Students urge the Winsor Administration to thorouhly evaulate the possibility of obtaining such coins.

Katherine Hintlian

http://b68389.medialib.

*Disclaimer from the Winsor Staff* Given the Belmont Hill staff’s disinclination to create their own jokes, the Winsor Staff has generously allowed one of their typos to remain on the back page so that Belmont Hill can feel that they are contributing.

Pfft. Ok - Belmont Hill

We were told that we were not allowed to put a certain comic strip on this here Back Page. We weren’t even allowed to say which comic. So we decided to take matters into our own hands. Enjoy our attempt at a comic strip titled, “Gnarfield.” Enjoy!

Comics are hard...