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Editorial on Syrian Refugee Crisis: Safe or Sorry? When we do admit these people, we must do so safely. Though the vast maThe attacks on Paris resultjority of the 10,000 refugees ed in 130 deaths and 368 injuries. the US has pledged to take in And despite the left’s denial, the are peaceful, only a few terrefugee crisis is inherently conrorists are needed to wreak nected to the incident. Two of the havoc. It’s certainly better to be perpetrators had entered Europe safe than sorry. Syrian refugees through Greece, posing as refuare not potential dangers because gees. ISIS is not above exploiting they’re Muslim, but because they the public’s c o m e sympathy from a for people w ar- t or n in genuine c o u n t r y. crisis. MovAnd since ing forward, they’re the safety of from such Americans an unstashould be the ble enviUnited States’ ronment, priority. Yet, the very we can acpeople complish refugees such while are fleeing maintainfrom can ing our hueasily hide man duty to among provide shelt h e i r ter for Syrranks, as ian refugees. s h o w n S l a m m i n g Residents of refugee camp of Yarmouk gathering to receive food supplies. by two of the door shut the Paris on a distressed people is un- has accepted just 42 refu- attackers. Therefore, the sysequivocally un-American. gees. It’s not enough for the tem needs to be absolutely One of the main ques- United States and its allies airtight. Now, it’s important tions revolving around the to diplomatically ask these to note that the American refugee crisis is whose re- countries to share the bur- screening process for refusponsibility it is to take these den. President Obama needs gees is much more rigorous people in. Wealthier, western to take a stand and back up than European models, but countries like the US cer- refuge expectations with eco- that does not discount the fact tainly have a responsibil- nomic sanctions and inter- that we oftentimes have absoity to give shelter to refugees national condemnation. Per- lutely no information on refuflowing from Syria’s borders. haps showing some strength gees coming from the region. However, Muslim countries in this regard would aid his continued on page 4 need to bear the burden as weak foreign policy record. By Robbie Warming Staff Writer
Look Inside Intel Science Awards pg 2 College Football Playoff Prediction pg 3 Ten Dollar Bill Opinion pg 4 Review of Adele’s Latest, “25” pg 6 Best Country Albums of the Year pg 7
D e c emb er 1 7 t h , 2 0 1 5
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
well. Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey have done so already, taking in a combined 4.8 million refugees. But Saudi Arabia and Iran, two of the more developed nations in the Middle East, have, as of now, taken in a none as of recent. Qatar, the country with the second highest level of living in the Middle East,
Promising Start to Hockey Season these mistakes and converted them into goals. After Berwick scored two goals in the first minute of the The varsity hockey team has first game, Belmont Hill shut them started what will hopefully become down for the rest of the game and a successful season. After winning again used its conditioning to its a scrimmage against St. Sebastian’s, fullest extent, scoring all of its goals their first game against Berwick in the second and third periods. Academy (5-2) and their second Nobles led early on in the game on By John Gosselin Panel Staff
Ricky Cronin (21) skating up the ice with the puck game against Nobles (4-3), many are confident that the team will be able to continue to be successful into the rest of the season. Captains Brian Matthews and David Giunta have been able to lead the team effectively during these critical first weeks. At the scrimmage against St. Sebastian’s, Belmont Hill progressively wore down the opposing team’s stamina to the point where they began to make mistakes. The team then capitalized successfully on
December 5th, but for a third time the opposing team could not keep up with the ferocious pace and high level of play; they lost in overtime. The pattern established in these three games shows that Belmont Hill knows how to manage their players such that they will be able to perform at their highest level. These early games have helped to define the team in a positive way. Confident and optimistic are two words I would use to describe how team members feel at this moment. ☐
Teachers Dominate Senior-Faculty Soccer Match DiResta or the Irish sniper Mr. netting the first goal for his Hegarty. After a nasty colli- squad. Not even three minutes sion at midfield between Mat- later, Brian Melly responded with On a cool, fall Tuesday ty Glynn and Mr. Harder, it an incredible redirection goal of in mid-November, a large turf seemed as though none of the his own– into the wrong net. soccer field tucked in the corner Faculty’s quick passing or the Soon after that, Mr. Hegarty paid of a small Boston suburb witnessed a clash of epic proportions. Granted, the hype leading up to the annual Senior vs. Faculty soccer game was a bit more eventful than the actual match, but the intensity and skill on display still made for a memorable day. The seniors fielded a team of a few resident JV B players, some 3B retirees, and most notably one former varsity player in James Collins, while the Faculty ran out established superstars such as Señor Steffey, Mr. Holland, and Doc “Shakespeare” Fast. Some vicious possession Students and faculty members who participated following the game battles dominated the game’s early minutes, with Mr. Feldman Seniors’ physicality would man- off the apparently unbiased playand Ethan McIlhenny fighting ifest itself on the scoreboard. er-referee Doc Fast with some for control of the sideline, while However, a whiffed clear at the gold from the end of the rainbow Griffin Gustafsson stopped quite back end of the Senior defense and scored a quick-strike goal a few through balls intended for resulted in a 3-on-zero chance into the top right corner during either the lighting-quick Mr. for the Faculty, with Mr. George a Senior substitution. Due to this By Matt Reppucci Staff Writer
string of shaky play and questionable officiating, the Seniors found themselves down 3-0 at the half. The Faculty made very few adjustments heading into the final 25 minutes, although with Doc Fast and Mr. Brownell calling it a day they knew they would need bigger contributions from the likes of Mr. Doar, Mr. Moronta, and resident Mets fan Mr. Smith. To counter these moves, the Seniors brought on a shirtless Max Rudzinsky and started letting the speed of James Collins dictate the pace of the game. Holding the Faculty scoreless in the second half, the Seniors had numerous opportunities to find the back of the net and make a comeback but ultimately fell short when the final buzzer sounded. Nonetheless, it was a great afternoon of competition and camaraderie that ended the soccer career of most Seniors while providing a reality check that we all still have a long way to go. Congratulations to the Faculty on a great win. ☐
Belmont HIll NEWS
Pa g e 2
Thanksgiving Chapel Reminds Students to be Grateful
Woodbury Finalists Talk About Movember Raises Gratitutde to Family, Emotions, Awareness For Men’s Health and Public Speak ing
By Henry Wyett Staff Writer
By Jason fischman Panel Staff
On a bright November 24th morning, the Belmont Hill students and faculty excitedly gathered in the chapel on the final day before Thanksgiving break to hear the wise words of Mr. McAlpin. Full of joy, Mr. McAlpin preached to the chapel the benefits everyone in the world can receive if they just expressed more gratitude. He told us about teenagers who do better in school because they are more appreciative, a point that hit home for a lot of Belmont Hill students. Why would teenagers do better if they are more grateful, Mr. McAlpin prompted the chapel. The answer may come down to the fact that they are less nervous when taking a test or writing a paper if they are already grateful for everything they have instead of taking things for granted. Similarly, Mr. McAlpin said that gratitude makes us happier. If you’re sad, you may as well start appreciating other aspects of your life, because, as Mr. McAlpin said, it can only make you feel better about yourself. Another very interesting point was that people who are more grateful get more sleep, and are thus healthier. If you count your blessings before bed, rather than sheep, studies will indeed show that you are getting more sleep than the person counting the sheep before bed. The last talking point I found most interesting is that being grateful makes us less envious of other people. If you are grateful for everything you have, there is no reason for you to be envious of other people, plain and simple. Overall, Mr. McAlpin’s Thanksgiving chapel speech was very heartwarming and was a great start to a Tuesday morning, and made students truly appreciate where they go to school. ☐
On the first morning back after a relaxing five day Thanksgiving break, the entire community gathered in the chapel to hear three speeches from the fall Woodbury finalists, DJ Demetri, William Ryan, and Jacob Whitney. DJ led off with a speech discussing how family should always come first, and related it to the recent Thanksgiving holiday and his family’s traditions and experiences. He described how one year, the stuffing, his family’s most valued portion of the meal, didn’t come out like usual, which led to a series of other unfortunate events that day. However, DJ explained that, even though everything was not perfect that year, more memories of spending time with family were formed, because simply spending time with one’s family is more important than any other portion of Thanksgiving. Next up was Will Ryan, who described how all Belmont Hill students, and young men everywhere, need to be more willing to cry and show emotion. Will told his own story of bottling up his sadness for many years because society taught boys that they should not cry. He eventually moved past this irrational fear after crying tears of joy on a beach over the summer, and realizing that tears were not the end of the world. Will then described how he cried after his brother went to college because he would miss his brother, and that was perfectly acceptable, and prompted everyone at Belmont Hill to worry less
about bottling up their emotions.
amount of compensation awarded to the school. In a matter of weeks, the contest will be narrowed down to semifinalists, as the entrants eagerly await their fate in the contest. Between the applicants there is a high possibility of a winner. All eight students went to a research lab every Thursday junior year and worked 6 weeks over the summer conducting re-
Through Mustaches By Bennett rush Panel Staff
Ja c o b W h i t n e y c l o s e d o u t t h e day by exploring the topic of a n x i e t y. He t a l k e d a b o u t h o w, i n his preliminar y round speech, he was so stressed that after wards he could only recall the smallest mistakes he made instead of looking at the bigger picture. F u r t h e r m o r e , Ja c o b e x p l a i n e d , i f he did not have his speech printed out in front of him at that moment, he would be so crippled by fear he would not be able to s a y a n y t h i n g . Ho w e v e r, h e w e n t on to say that without the inevitable anxiety that comes with many activities, including public speaking, sports, or a test, are s i m p l y p a r t o f l i f e . Ja c o b f i n ished his speech by advocating for ever yone to face their fears instead of avoiding them, and described how only then can one overcome them. In the end, there could o n l y b e o n e w i n n e r, a n d Ja c o b W h i t n e y r e c e i v e d t h e h o n o r. ☐
Intel Science Competition Honors Eight Dedicated Belmont Hill Seniors at Esteemed Competition realms of gene therapy, personalized medicine, cancer research and neuroscience among others. Examples of projects On November 11th, 8 students include designing a strip to test urine for pressed submit on their Intel applicacancer on a smartphone using nanopartions. These students, Alex Afeyan, Brenticles (Spencer Kim), and developing a nan Adler, Matt Armstrong, Connor system derived from bacterial immune Ghazaleh, Spencer Kim, Ethan McILhensystem to edit the human genome and ny, Harrison Rohrer and David Yellen, restore normal function to patients represent the epitowith Dystonia, a me of scientific talneurological musent the school has to cular disorder offer and with David (David Yellen.) Yellen, Matt ArmResearch by the strong and Harrison 8 other students Rohrer as their leadproved equalers and Mr. Courtly impressive. ney as their teacher; While comthey decided to take pletion of the on the world’s greatIntel project reest High School quired applicants Science competito test the limits tion, The Intel Sciof their own intelence Talent Search. lects, the reward Acclaimed by of research outGeorge H. W. Bush weighed the stress as the “Super Bowl of the project. Acof Science,” the Incording to David tel Science Talent Yellen, “Though Search is the oldest the project was and most prestigiousThe Eight Senior Intel Science Applicants. From left to right: Brennan Adler, Ethan McILhenny, Alex Afeyan, daunting and an science competitionConnor Ghazaleh, David Yellen, Spencer Kim, Harrison Roher, and Matt Armstrong arduous process, in the nation pitting in retrospect it the smartest budding researchers from search which was compiled into a science was incredibly rewarding in terms of across the country against one another. paper over the fall. This hard work was learning about the process of scientific The three winners of the contest will re- spent contributing to meaningful research research and seeing how much was acceive $150,000 each with an equivalent with potential real life applications in the complished over a year and a half.” ☐ By Matt Armstrong Staff Writer
Th e Pan el
As the winter began to encroach on our warm weather, Belmont Hill students desperately searched for ideas to keep their upper lips warm in a school unfairly biased against facial hair. It was then that the hero this school needed, Callen Morris, appeared to grant the students the salvation they deserved. Movember - a global charity that began in Australia in 2003 - has become a Belmont HIll annual community service rite of passage. During November, students raise awareness and money for the Movember Foundation which uses the funds to address issues that affect men’s health such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health, and physical inactivity. The school was able to raise $490 for the Movember Foundation. Callen Morris has recounted the story of the month in the following tale:
“On October 31st, the night before November (32nd does not exist), I was visited by a ghost. Being Halloween, I double-checked to make sure it was not a man in a costume. It was not. It was the ghost of Movember. He said no words and even if he tried, his impressive mustache blocked his mouth so any words spoken would go unseen and would be murmured. The ghost simply looked at me, held my Gillette (“The Best a Man Can Get”™) razor in the air, snapped it in half, and gave me a nod. It was destiny. I woke up the next day with a purpose– to lead the best Movember Belmont Hill has ever seen. I had faith in the upper school. I knew we could raise money for the great cause and have a great time doing so. And we did just that. We raised $490 (school record!) and gave Belmont Hill the gift of mustaches on campus (sorry admissions!). In closing, I would like to thank everyone who participated and donated and I mustache everyone to continue the tradition next year! It truly was a month to remember.” Now moving into December, any leftover mustaches can be accompanied by a full beard in the Beard Off for $10. All funds will go to Globe Santa to give books and presents to children in need in the greater Boston area. ☐
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Belmont Hill Sp orts
College Football Playoff Predictions By John Markis Panel Staff It’s that time of the year again. The birds are flying south, snow will be on the ground soon, and the bowl season is starting. With the inaugural year of the College Football Playoff (CFP) going quite well with three exciting games in 2014, the standards for this year’s tournament are quite high. Let’s look at the teams that are vying for a national championship: Clemson (13-0): The Tigers simply dominated most of their opponents this season, with wins of 58-0, 49-10, and 41-10. With dualthreat quarterback Deshaun Watson leading the charge, Clemson had almost 3,000 rushing yards this season, not to mention almost 4,000 passing yards; however, the team is not all offense, as demonstrated by their goal-line stand to preserve a win against Notre Dame. This senior-led squad certainly has oodles of talent and future NFL draft picks, but its lack of quality opponents could come back to haunt them. Alabama (12-1): Alabama’s offense can be summed up in two words: Derrick Henry. Although Jake Coker is a fine quarterback, without Henry, the Crimson Tide would not be even close to where they are today. Opponents can game plan as much as they want for Henry, but, behind a massive offensive line, it remains a herculean task to slow him down. Alabama’s kicker, Adam Griffith, gives the team a secret weapon of sorts, with a range extending past 50 yards. Michigan State (12-1): The Spartans are one of the grittiest teams out there; although they don’t have any offensive stars, they continue to churn out yardage and find a way to win. Connor Cook is playing injured right now, but he still has the ability
to avoid turnovers and make the occasional big play. On defense, defensive end Shilique Calhoun is an absolute wrecking ball, routinely getting into the backfield and stuffing runs. If the Spartans can control the pace of the game, they will most likely win. Oklahoma (11-1): Baker Mayfield and Samaje Perine lead what is the best offense left in contention. Mayfield, while not as much of a scrambler as Deshaun Watson, can run with the best of them if the Sooners need him to; however, star wide receiver Sterling Shepard makes sure that his quarterback runs as little as possible, making spectacular catches all season long. The Sooners are not playing for just their team but also for the entire Big 12, as the conference was excluded from the CFP last year. Clemson v. Oklahoma Prediction: Oklahoma has played much higher quality opponents this season than its ACC counterpart, in part because of the natural strength of each conference, and that will show in this game. Clemson’s defense has not played a team on the level of Baker Mayfield so far this season, and, if Mayfield can at least match Deshaun Watson, the Sooners will win. Look for Samaje Perine to have an outstanding game in an Oklahoma win, carrying over the momentum from three straight weeks of wins over ranked opponents. Oklahoma 27, Clemson 17 Alabama v. Michigan State Prediction: These two teams are almost mirror images of each other style-wise; however, the difference is that Alabama has better players. The Crimson Tide will dare Connor Cook to make the big plays, and, especially considering his shoulder injury, he will not make them. Look for Derrick Henry to ice the game with power runs in the fourth quarter. Alabama 23, Michigan St. 10 ☐
Nordic Skiing Preview By Jack Richards Panel Staff The Nordic Skiing team is off to a good start this season, despite the obvious lack of s n o w. T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l n e w r e cruits to the team from almost all grades, and all are showing promising signs for the near future. The skiers have been training by running Harvard stadiums, as well as taki n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e s c h o o l ’s
new roller skis. The team is also preparing for its annual showdown with the Alpine ski team in Zippy Fun Ball. Finall y, t h e t e a m i s l o o k i n g f o r w a r d to its yearly trip up to the skiing areas in Jackson, NH, right n e a r t h e b a s e o f M t . Wa s h i n g ton. The team may even be using paintball guns to practice biathlon skills while up in NH. Ever ybody is now looking forward to getting their skis on t h e s n o w, a n d a r e p r e p a r i n g f o r a fun and successful season. ☐
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Wrestling Team Hits the Mat Another winter season brings the Varsity Wrestling Team back to the mat hoping to add another year to the banners in the wrestling room. Captains Sean Rayment, Pete Tedesco, and DJ Demetri all remember the upsetting loss just two years ago in the 2013-2014 season to the Brooks School for ISL dual-meet champion. With another series of losses to the Brooks School in the ISL’s Graves-Kelsey Tournament and the ISL dualmeet last year, the entire team should be hungry for revenge. Our varsity team looks to fill each of the 14 weight classes with returning seniors and a handful of new freshman. Some also expect great seasons from those younger standouts who were on the team last year such as Seth Israel and Phil Conigliaro (now Sophomores) and Will Ryan (now Junior). The Wrestling Team jumps into
their season hard and fast bouncing from three tournaments and wrestling five schools in just two weeks. The Caruso Tournament down in New Jersey on December 5 kicks off the year and the first league match is the following Wednesday on December 9th, at home, at 4:00PM, against Governor’s Academy. That Saturday, the 12th, Belmont Hill will meet four other teams at Tabor Academy including: Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy, and Worcester Academy for a long day of nonstop, non league action. Then the Wrestling team will look forward to the Beast of the East and Battle on the Bay tournaments exactly a week later. With the season just beginning, hours of sweat and hard work have already been put towards the thought of success down the Jordan Athletic Center. The school looks forward to the rest of the season and the mid-season report and wish this year’s Varsity Wrestling Team the best of luck on their endeavor. ☐
By Thomas Wolpow Staff Writer
By Ranjit Thomas Staff Writer
The Varsity Squash team is off to a painful start. Two preseason injuries (Timmy Brownell, torn ligaments in the right foot; Thomas Wolpow, fractured left shoulder), have held up the tryout process. The matches played thus far have produced some unusual results. Fifth Formers Alex Kurtin and James Bell have come out in topform, with strong wins in the early rounds over historically higher ranked players. What could appear to be a concerning switch in team dynamics will ultimately prove beneficial to the squad. Each member has worked hard in the off-season, and the skill levels among the squad appear to be evening out, especially with Brownell, the consistent number one, out for a majority of the regular season. In the end, the order of the ladder is not of the highest concern for Coach Brownell; rather, he wants to see each member of the team improve throughout the year, with the long-term goal of a national championship in February. First, however, the team must defend its ISL title, with the first, and likely the hardest, match of year, against St. George’s in early January. Last year, the team powered through the Dragons in a 7-0 win. Save a medical miracle, it appears as if Brownell will be out for that match, which will put inevitable stress on the rest of the ladder as each player moves up a spot to fill his place. Nonetheless, the team is confident that it can pull-out another strong win. The rest of the ISL season should go without a hitch. No other team poses a serious threat to Belmont Hill, with or without its #1 player. Come February, however, and the Team Championships at Trinity College, a less experienced player at the top spot would surely stand as a major obstacle in the later rounds. Luckily, Brownell should be ready to go by then. The Varsity Squash team is ready to bring home Belmont Hill’s first National Championship; preseason tribulations are no indication of future success. ☐
Coming off of a second-place finish in the ISL, Belmont Hill’s basketball team awaits the daunting task of matching the success of last year’s season. With many integral starters graduating last spring, the coaching staff was right away tested as they searched for a group of talented student-athletes who could fill the new holes of the team. Returning senior Austin Masel (captain) and sophomores David Mitchell (captain) and Jovan Jones lead the new starting squad. Joining them are the young but talented sophomores Jake Bobo and Jake Haase. Other returners include Tejas Agnihotri, Patrick Shea, and John Sommers. First-time varsity players include seniors Johnny Hincks, Robert Celado, Aj DiFillipo, Quentin Harris, Kevin O’Boy, Justin O’Neil-Riley, and Spencer Smith. The team faced a tough Loomis Chaffee team on Saturday, December 5th. The challenge in and of itself was not a surprise as the game was ultimately a contest between a very young BH team with 4 sophomore starters and an aged Loomis Chaffee squad of post-graduate 19 year-olds. However despite the unideal start to the season, Coaches Murphy and Martellini and Captains Masel and Mitchell are confident it will be a winter packed with basketball success. Before the new year, the team will have many opportunities to redeem itself as it faces off against a number of league rivals including the likes of Rivers (away, December 9th), Nobles (home, December 12th), Exeter (tournament-away, December 18th), and Roxbury Latin (tournament-away, December 30th). Upon being asked about the prospects of the team, firsttime varsity small forward Johnny Hincks said “We get a great set of guys, we’re very athletic, as the season we should really hit our stride. I don’t see any reason why we should settle for striving for anything less than ISL Champs.” ☐
By John Markis Panel Staff
title this year. We have a lot of younger middle school skiers joining the team this year, and hopefully they can meaningfully contribute.” So far though, the team has engaged in rigorous dry land training since the start of the winter season. As Coach Trautz has repeatedly noted over the years, “There may be teams better than us, but there won’t be any teams more fit than us.” Nevertheless, the team is eagerly anticipating the onset of the coming season, especially its upcoming Zippy Funball scrimmage against the Nordic team. As the team’s manager noted, “While dry land training is great and all, I think that everyone really just wants to start racing and see what this team is truly made of.” Hopefully, the team’s effort in December will lift them to another ISL title come February. ☐
By DJ Demetri Panel Staff
Auspicious Start to Squash Season
Basketball Hopes to Carve New Path
Alpine Skiing Ready to Hit the Slopes
Even without snow, Belmont Hill’s alpine skiing team looks forward to another great season of racing on the slopes of Nashoba Valley. While the losses of Dan Remondi (Class of 2015) and Bobby Jahrling (Class of 2017) do represent holes that need to be filled, the team, led by captains Harrison Rohrer (Class of 2016) and Will Cannistraro (Class of 2016), again looks to be in the hunt for the ISL and NEPSAC Class A titles. As Captain Rohrer noted about the team’s ISL chances and competition, “Middlesex looks very strong this year, Nobles maybe too, but hopefully we can give them a good run, perhaps even chase them down for the ISL
BELMONT HILL OPINION
Pa g e 4
The Founding Father Without a Father
Th e Pan el
Syrian Refugee Crisis Opinion Continued from page 1 FBI Director James Comey, when testifying before Congress in October, stated, “If someone has not made a ripple in the pond in Syria in a way that would get their identity or their interests reflected in our databases, we can query our databases until the cows come home but nothing will show up because we have no record of that person.” In light of this, Congress, showing a surprising flash of reason, passed a bipartisan bill to pause the inflow of refugees. This temporary pause is needed for gathering some information on individuals coming in and fixing any cracks in our current system. There should be a database containing all incoming refugees. Since the refugees would not immediately be American citizens, this would be perfectly legal and reasonable, unlike Trump’s plan of blocking all Muslim immigration and investigating mosques. But how exactly do we treat these people once they’re within our borders? France provides an example of how not to
This past June, the United States Treasury announced that our country’s iconic ten-dollar bill will be remodelled. In a public statement, Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew explained, “The new ten-dollar bill will be the first bill in more than a century to feature the portrait of a woman.” Accordingly, the bill will no longer spotlight founding father
of the Federalist Papers, Hamilton wrote fifty-one of the eighty-five essays. A defender of the Constitution, Hamilton stressed the importance of a document to safeguard American values: “And? If we win our independence?/ ‘Zat a guarantee of freedom for our descendants?/ Or will the blood we shed begin an endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?/...we studied and we fought and we killed for the notion of a nation we
Alexander Hamilton’s recognizable face. Lew’s decision is an atrocious mistake, though his intentions are valid. Secretary of State John Kerry described the Treasury Department’s June statement as “a terrific, historic announcement.” Indeed, women’s contributions have gone unnoticed and underappreciated for far too long. A woman’s appearance on an American monetary note should not be groundbreaking. As much as men, they have impacted the course of American history and thus deserve spots on paper currency.
now get to build./ For once in your life, take a stand with pride.” And finally, as Secretary of the Treasury who founded the monetary system, Hamilton solidified America’s economic foundation under a strengthened central government: “We need to handle our financial situation./Are we a nation of states? What’s the state of our nation?” Removing Hamilton is an injustice to his untiring work ethic and powerful vision. Hamilton himself was a poor orphan-immigrant from
The problem with the Treasury Department’s decision to redesign the tendollar bill lies in the act of withdrawing Alexander Hamilton from his flagship pedestal on the bill. Hamilton’s impact on the course of our country and the state of today’s America is momentous and extensive. A military general, primary author of The Federalist Papers, avid defender of the Constitution (and a catalyst for its ratification), and most fitting with his prominent position on the ten-dollar bill, America’s first Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton served his country’s interests valiantly and embodies today’s American dream. The immensely popular Broadway production Hamilton provides the best defense for Hamilton’s importance. Through hip-hop scores, a diverse cast, and its churning plot line, Hamilton, crafted by mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda, celebrates the lasting significance of Alexander Hamilton, portraying him as one of the most important fathers of our nation. Hamilton, which enjoyed its Broadway debut in early August, has revolutionized the debate and provided ample support for Hamilton’s continued reign on the ten-dollar note. Through I have never seen the play, Miranda’s lyrics (quoted below) have inspired me to write this article. A military general, Hamilton was George Washington’s “right-hand man,” leading the charge against the British at the Battle of Yorktown. A prolific author
smoothly settle Muslim immigrants or refu- tribution if possible. It is also paramount that we gees into society. France’s Islamophobia has avoid both extremes for the crisis at home. Shutting ostracized their Muslim neighbors. When down the refugee program because of American French Muslims are cooped up in separate Islamophobia is simply inhumane. And yet, letting neighborhoods, given little access to economic in all refugees without at least taking a short pause mobility, and are not properly welcomed into to make sure our system is as airtight as it can be, is French society, radicalized individuals spring unsafe. And finally, once these innocent people are up. John Horgan, a psychologist at UMass- within our protection, we must embrace them as Lowell, said that the “People who join these our fellow men and make sure that their humanity [terrorist] groups are trying to find a path.” is valued. Never forget, however, to take a step back These people are often castaways from so- and remember what’s important. The humanity ciety with nowhere to turn. Therefore, radi- of Syrian refugees cannot be lost in political banter. the Caribbean who forged his own cals are not so much drawn to their ends by These are people. Whatever action we take will path to America and to the Consti- Islam, but rather by the failure of inclusion. greatly affect both refugee and American alike. ☐ tutional Convention through endless ambition and hard work, not by class, status, or name: “The ten-dollar founding father without a father got a lot farther by working a lot harder…” Current Treasury Secretary Lew has summoned the American public to Editors-in-Chief brainstorm female candidates to appear Jake DeCaprio Executive Editor Faculty Advisors on #TheNew10, emphasizing the comJay O’Brien Brendan Pulsifer David Hegarty munal, representative nature of curJuliette Zener rency: “America’s currency is a way for Copy Editors our nation to make a statement about Ishaan Prasad who we are and what we stand for. Our Arts Editor News Editor John Markis paper bills...have long been a way for us Alex Afeyan Jason Fischman to honor our past and express our values.” Do we not stand for our ConstituSports Editor Assistant Editors Opinion Editor tion? Our protected rights? Are we not Matt Reppucci Gus Lamb Mack Perry supporters of our federal government? Evan Ricci Of zeal and hunger? Of hard work? Jack Richards Harriet Tubman, Eleanor RooOnline Editor Photo Editor Bennett sevelt, and Rosa Parks have all been Arnav Prasad John Gosselin proposed as possible candidates by Back Page Editor Americans on Twitter and Facebook. Gabe Schmittlein All are worthy of consideration, but we owe Hamilton too much. Regardless of gender, any nominee to replace Hamilton pales in comparison to his achievements and character. He deserves no less than a spot on 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 the ten-dollar bill. Put a woman on body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in the Panel belong to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment a bill (why not replace slave-owning solely about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We Andrew Jackson on the twenty?), but reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2015 the Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be don’t discredit Hamilton. Remem- reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Printed by Belmont Printing Company, Belmont, MA 02478. ber, “History has its eyes on you.” ☐
By Will McCormack Staff Writer
Because of these conditions, about 1,000 French nationals have joined ISIS. These people either relocate to create chaos in the Middle East or remain to form dangerous homegrown terrorist cells. In fact, four of the Paris attackers were French nationals. We should thus work to fully integrate refugees into American society through both governmental and communal measures. We should not put them into cramped camps, like many Eastern European countries have done, as these horrifically inhumane grounds breed radicalization. America should truly be a melting pot. Refugees should be encouraged to take on American values while maintaining parts of their cultural identity that make them unique. In such, they become tethered to the United States and relinquish any chance of becoming radicalized. Instead of being Muslims, they become Muslim Americans. Instead of being a collection of fractured and self-segregated groups, America needs to be one. America and its allies need to find the proper balance between compassion and safety. The crisis needs to be treated by the entire world accordingly, and every nation has to make a con-
BELMONT HILL OPINION
D e c emb er 17 th, 2 0 1 5
Pa g e 5
Comedy or Action? In this issue of The Panel, we are continuing our feature debate between Form VI 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 ninth debate—Comedy vs. Action Movies
Team Comedy By Jay O’Brien Panel Staff As you search the expansive movie collection on Netflix at night, there is one dilemma that always seems to present itself: “Do I want an action movie or a comedy movie?” Sure, at times your decision can be based on your current mood, but for the sake of argument, let’s say for the rest of your life you can only watch one of those two types of movies. You absolutely have to choose comedy movies, right?
Throughout the years, there have been so many incredible comedy movies that I’m almost doing an injustice to the cinema industry by not listing all of them. For starters, some of the greatest comedy movies of the 21st century all depends on the type of humor you prefer. For example, if you are a big fan of Will Ferrell’s juvenility, then movies like Anchorman, Step Brothers, Elf, Old School or Other Guys are probably in your top 10 favorite comedies, as all five films have an abundance of quotes to use in everyday life. Ben Stiller certainly has his fair share of classic’s with Dodgeball, Tropic Thunder, and Zoolander, as does Seth Rogen with Superbad, Pineapple Express, and This Is the End. Some other great comedies of the 21st century include The Hangover, Mean Girls, Wedding Crashers, and 21 Jump Street. While I may be just rattling off some of my favorite movies from the past 15 years, to all of you reading at home, I’m sure at least a handful of these movies are favorable within your minds and have brought you happiness and laughter.
Moving outside of the 21st century, each decade seemingly produces numerous Hall of Fame flicks. For example, the ‘70’s brought us movies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Animal House, and Blazing Saddles, while the ‘80’s introduced us to Airplane!, Caddyshack, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and The Princess Bride. Lastly the ‘90’s gave old school Adam Sandler films, Austin Powers, and Dumb and Dumber. The number of classic comedy movies is rather
overwhelming, and while I’m sure that I left a couple of your personal favorites off the list, I can also guarantee that at least one or two of these movies made you laugh. Life is already hard enough, so at times, us human beings need to escape the harshness of reality and enjoy a couple of chuckles from a solid comedy. Now I don’t want to go too far into the science of it all, but laughing has been proven to trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s “feel-good” chemicals, which ultimately leads to a healthier immune system. As for action movies, I’ll be the first to admit that there are at least one, MAYBE two, solid action movies that I’ve watched multiple times. Yet let me tell you, loud explosions and cheesy dialogues were entertaining the first 100 times I saw them, but now that I’m older and wiser, action movies are simply blending together into one big cliche. Comedy varies offer a wide variety of movies that are appealing to at least one individual on this Earth. This is why if you ask someone what their favorite comedy movie is, they can easily rattle off half a dozen movies or so, while the same can not always be said for action movies. In conclusion, I put it in the hands of Belmont Hill students and faculty to make the right decision. Vote comedy. ☐
Team Action By Gabe Schmittlein Panel Staff Comedy movies are almost always entertaining and predictably funny, but what they aren’t is great, because the great movies are action movies. I’m talking the true classics, the sort of movies that people put in their “best movies of all time” lists. Those films aren’t comedy movies; those movies are action movies.
When I think of a starting five of the best action movies ever made, I’m literally just looking at a list of the five best movies ever made. Down in the post at power forward and center I’ve got my Twin Towers of the Lord of The Rings and Star Wars series, although, to be exact, LOTR is Olajuwon and the Star Wars movies are Ralph Sampson. At small forward I’m thinking of putting probably my best all around player, Die Hard. I mean, that movie’s got it all -- explosions, famous quotes (yippie-ki-yay….), riveting plot. Die Hard’s the sort of movie that I might just have run point in a crunch time situation, but can also bang with the bigs down low and get me some crucial rebounds. True versatility. To fill out my five is an excruciatingly tough task considering the depth of incredible options, but I’d probably end up going with the Dark Knight trilogy and The Matrix. That leaves a downright filthy bench made up of some of my personal favorite movies of all time like the Bourne trilogy (forget about the newest one), The Italian Job (both the original and the Marky-Mark version), all the Avengers movies, Inception, Ocean’s Eleven, and the Bond flicks, along with some legendary films such as the Indiana Jones movies, Top Gun, Terminator 1
Results from Last Debate Chocolate - 129
62%
Sweet
38%
- 79
Advantage: Chocolate
and 2, all of the Mission Impossibles and Star Treks, Gladiator, and Jurassic Park. I’m genuinely not sure that more than 2 or 3 comedy movies would even manage to make the practice squad of this incredible team. What’s more, when you begin to expand the definition of the “action movie” to include some movies that ride the tight line between action and drama, you pick up some more of the greatest flicks of all time, including The Shawshank Redemption,
The Godfather, Forrest Gump, Rocky, and Goodfellas. On the other hand, when you try to expand the definition of the “comedy movie” you generally just end up with action comedies, which, of course, shouldn’t count towards either side in this debate (sorry The Princess Bride). The word “count” now looms ominously in on me as I finish this article and if you could see me right now, you’d see a man who’s visibly shaken because there are so many great action movies that I wasn’t able to mention throughout the course of this article. I only included a single Brad Pitt film, while all of Denzel Washington’s had to be left off. Some of the action greats like Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger only managed one mentioned movie apiece! No Chuck Norris, no Jackie Chan, no Liam Neeson, no Nicolas Cage! Jay you don’t stand a chance against this pedigree of movies! Action movies must take the cake and thus I entrust the voting to you Belmont Hill students and faculty… Make the right choice. Chuck Norris will be watching you. ☐
Belmont hill arts
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Album Review: Adele’s 25
Top Ten Christmas Songs
By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff
By Alex Afeyan Panel Staff
“Hello, it’s me.” As if Adele Adkins, the awardwinning international superstar and devoted mother, needs an introduction on her third studio album, 25. It has been nearly five years since the British singer satisfied her growing fan base with new music, and understandably so, after she underwent throat microsurgery in 2011, gave birth to son Angelo in 2012, and experienced writer’s block throughout 2013. The wait, however, has finally ended. At the end of August, Adele announced the impending release of new music and, as promised, put the record’s debut single, “Hello,” on iTunes on October 23. In its first week, the track sold 1.1 million downloads, an unprecedented feat. When 25 was finally released four weeks later, it too smashed records. The album sold over one million copies in its first day alone, an extremely impressive accomplishment in an industry now ruled by free streaming services and where purchasing music is taboo. If you still want more stats, 25’s first week sales (a whopping 3.38 million) surpasses the previous record holder - NSYNC’s No Strings Attached - by over a million copies. Those who purchased the album were not disappointed. In eleven gripping tracks, Adele expresses conventional themes of nostalgia and growing up in an unique, poignant way. Though sonically, 25 presents itself almost identically to her blockbuster sophomore album 21 - with more than enough piano ballads to go around - its lyrics demonstrate Adele’s four-year evolution from a desperate, heartbroken girl to a wiser, more appreciative young woman. There are no upbeat songs as there were on 21 - think “Rolling in the Deep” or “Rumour Has It” - but perhaps they aren’t necessary, as Adele’s crooning lulls the listener into a sentimental trance. As Adele said herself, “My last record was a break-up record, and if I had to label this one, I would call it a make-up record. Making up for lost time. Making up for everything I ever did and never did.” In the opening track, “Hello,” Adele immediately transfixes listeners. While the beginning chords prepares us for a quiet ballad, the chorus thunders with pow-
Fall Instrumental Concert By Ishaan Prasad Panel Staff On a chilly Sunday in November, boys from Forms I through VI gathered with their families in the Chapel for the start of the first instrumental concert of the year. From duets to trios, ensembles to soloists, the Fall Concert offered only a glimpse of the shining musical talent at Belmont Hill this year. To start things off, the Orchestra performed arrangements of “Dance” (from Snow Maiden)
The Jazz Combo performing (Mr. Zamore)
This list is my personal take on a top ten ranking for Christmas songs. Apologies to those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, but there are a couple of generic holiday songs on here too. I made an attempt to put songs that are classics and musts for the Christmas season, and some erful emotion and introduces her newly- songs you may never have heard, but I indiscovered vibrato. Like many songs on vite you to give them a chance, because I the album, “Hello” shows a retrospective think they are all great. Adele; here, she is ready to make amends with a former paramour after years apart, 10. “Christmas” – Michael Buble’s singing, “I was wondering if after all Christmas Album I tried to pick a song from this althese years you’d like to meet to go over everything.” She evokes the same yearn- bum to start out the list, but there are too ing for the past in “Million Years Ago,” many good ones to pick from. This song, as she laments, “I know I’m not the only a Christmas album, was the second highone who regrets the things they’ve done.” est selling album of 2011. That means that, Adele’s music is often categorized in the two months of the year Christmas by and even dismissed for its quiet, de- songs are listened to and bought (the alpressing melodies; though these criti- bum was released at the end of October), cisms are not unfounded, Adele can also it sold more than any other album except understand that nostalgia has a beautiful, for the unbeatable 21, by Adele. People albeit melancholy, side too. This wist- bought this album for a reason: it is fanfulness shines through on “When We tastic. Michael Buble’s voice has become a Were Young,” the most understated yet Christmas staple, and his soothing timbre most awe-inspiring track from the set. and interesting takes on classic Christmas Similar to how Roberta Flack had her songs make this a must for the Christmas breath taken away in “Killing Me Softly season. With His Song,” Adele becomes paralyzed as she sees a boy from her child- 9. “Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo”, “A Mad hood, and happy memories flood her Russian’s Christmas” – Trans-Siberian mind: “You look like a movie, you sound Orchestra Number nine belongs to Trans-Sibelike a song / My God this reminds me of when we were young.” Though not as rian Orchestra as a group, but I wanted to emotional as “Young,” “Water Under the highlight these two songs, medleys of clasBridge” also shows off a more sanguine sic Christmas songs – the first of “God Rest side to Adele as she convinces her lover Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Carol of the that their romance has not yet ended. Bells”, and the second of the soundtrack of To put it simply, Adele has saved “The Nutcracker”. The Trans-Siberian Ormusic in 2015. She has revived, even if chestra brings so much energy and such a only for a brief moment, a dying industry great rock vibe to classic Christmas songs, plagued by poor sales. She has brought and their songs always serve as pump-up lyrical substance, musical talent, and el- music to important events, be they exams egance back to a culture dominated by or athletic competitions. the likes of Fetty Wap and Pitbull. She has taken her relatable experiences and 8. “This Christmas” – Chris Brown This song, recorded for the movie of expertly put them to heartbreaking melodies. There’s a reason why the board of the same name, is a modern song that has, directors at Kleenex rejoices whenever at least for me, earned its standing with Adele sings. Though 25 might not wholly the rest of this list comprised of songs by measure up to 21 - and what else will? - it Christmas all-stars like Bing Crosby and certainly stands out as a laudable addition Nat King Cole. The lyrics are great, the to Adele’s oeuvre and leaves us in anticipa- singing is superb and impressive, and the tion of her next endeavor (29 perhaps?).☐ song really makes me think of my family and friends around Christmas and Break. and “Russian Sailors’ Dance” (from The Red Poppy). The ensemble was followed 7. “The Christmas Song” – Nat King Cole You may know this song by its by the Jazz Combo and five dexterous soloists, Abe Tolkoff (Piano), Juan opening line: “Chestnuts roasting on an Carlos Fernandez del Castillo (Piano), open fire”. I know it for the warm feeling Nicholas Gallo (Violin), Coleman Walsh it brings me on the cold mornings of De(Viola), and Austin Kwoun (Violin). cember and January, when walking across Joined by a few Upper Schoolers, the campus. On days like those, Jack Frost reMiddle School Jazz Band performed ally is nipping at my nose, and Nat King an buoyant rendition of “Take the ‘A’ Cole’s voice makes me wish Christmas Train”, with Armin Thomas and George could come earlier. Hu performing solo pieces afterwards. After the success of last year’s Pi- 6. “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” ano Trio (Austin Kwoun, Spencer Kim, – Frank Sinatra For all of us who miss the snow, and George Hu), this year the audience was treated to the returning trio, the thought last winter was amazing, and want Brandenburg Trio (Andrew Kaneb, Di- a comparable winter this year, this is a redier Luceus, and Armin Thomas), and assuring tune. In spite of the lack of snow a piano duet by Armin Thomas and thus far this year, I listen to this song to George Hu. Finally, the Upper School cheer me up for the rest of this winter, Jazz Band performed “Shiny Stock- when snow will blanket New England (and ings” before ending the concert with a give us snow days!). This song is fantastic, thrilling rendition of “Tiger San Pedro. not just because of Sinatra’s iconic voice. With such great talent showcased in only the first concert of the year, clear- 5. “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby This song IS Christmas to many of ly the Fall Concert is only the beginning of what will be an impressive year for us, with the dulcet voice of Bing Crosby the music program at Belmont Hill. ☐ ringing out our collective desire for snow
Th e Pan el on Christmas. Released in 1942, this song still holds the record for highest-selling single ever recorded in any genre, with 50 million copies sold. If you live in a cave and haven’t heard this song, give it a try, it will be worth the time! 4. “The 12 Days of Christmas” – Straight No Chaser This song is so fun. A medley of all your favorite Christmas classics, some of which are kind of boring on their own, this song is so well executed. Straight No Chaser give their full energy the entire song, and perform perfectly and with much hilarity the entire time. Who doesn’t love to sing that high notes during Toto’s “Africa”, or join in on the many songs Straight No Chaser managed to combine in this medley. 3. “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” – NSYNC You may have heard this song, but if you haven’t, listen to it. Young JT and co. give us a pop classic that is an integral part of my yearly Christmas experience. Much like “The Christmas Song”, this song paints a picture of an ideal Christmas, with children going to sleep on Christmas Eve, ready to wake up to family and presents on Christmas morning. Plus, the harmonies are on point, and everyone, even the randos who aren’t JT, give great performances. 2. “Go Tell It On the Mountain” – Pentatonix I know that you haven’t heard this song, unless I showed it to you. Please go listen to it - you won’t be disappointed. It has one of the most epic bass (singer) parts of all time. The Pentatonix are fantastic at what they do, and they show off all their singers in this underappreciated song. 1. “All I Want for Christmas is You” – Mariah Carey Is this even a question? Answer: Nope. If you need convincing, get into your car and play this song full blast, and then you’ll understand. You can’t resist trying for the epic high note. Mariah Carey is such a talented singer, and this song has been described as “one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon” by The New Yorker.
D e c emb er 17 th, 2 0 1 5
belmont hill arts
Country Album Rankings 2015 but the album is not complete without moments of flash. “I’m Coming Over” is not great and it does not meet Chris Young’s So I recently got some feedback potential, but it is a solid album. (Favorite that the concept of a Top Ten Country Songs: “I’m Coming Over”, “Sober Saturday Album list from 2000-2010 was kind of Night”, “Callin’ My Name”, “Think of You”) a strange idea. First off I didn’t mean, “that’s the greatest decade of music any 6) “Wild Ones” - Kip Moore genre has ever seen.” But second off, I am If I were to describe “Wild Ones” by a man of the people, so here are your Top Kip Moore in one word, that word would be Ten country albums of 2015. This was a steamy. To say that there are sexual themes contentious year for the country music in this album would be an understatement. scene in which each album release re- And while this can be potentially probsembles an epic battle between the tradi- lematic, Kip Moore presents his music diftional and the pop/metro/bro/whatever ferently than bro and pop artists. Moore other stupid new trend is going on. While has his own unique lingo and instrumenthe politics of country music are beyond tal choices contrasting with the “checklist heated, the musical elements often are for- lyrics” and “mindless background noise” gotten amidst the chaos. And with that, much of country music is guilty of today. I present to you the top albums of 2015. Kip Moore pulls off this hard-rocking af*Annotation on the list: I would fair because the album is honest and true argue that there is a substantial jump to Kip, even if that truth can be at times between the quality of the top 5 albums misguided. There are also many moments of the list and that of the bottom 5. throughout the album when it is impossible to not feel the power of Kip’s music, 10) “Something More Than Free” and be truly in the moment and at one with Jason Isbell the sound. (Favorite Songs: “I’m to Blame”, For most people Jason Isbell would “Come and Get It”, “That Was Us”, “Magic”) either not be present on this list at all or be the Number One selection. This is a 5) “Jekyll and Hyde” - Zac Brown Band result of the polarizing nature of his muJekyll and Hyde is the perfect name for sic and his lack of exposure. Isbell’s music this album. On one hand, Zac Brown Band’s is unlike anything else on this list too, in potential is evident in both their carefully that it is an incredibly different style, often crafted songs and unreal instrumental abilacoustic and more focused on story over ity. However, “Beautiful Drug” and “Tomelody. “Something More Than Free” morrow Never Comes” both made the alis not Isbell’s best album - that accolade bum, and so Zac Brown is at a serious risk would belong to “Southeastern” - but it of becoming Avicii. The attempt at trying to is nonetheless solid. I do, however, im- knock down the fences of genre failed mismensely respect Jason and what he stands erably because, at the end of the day, there is for and, while I pledged not to be politi- bad music in every genre. In fact, EDM artcal and his rank reflects his music, in my ists should be insulted by Zac Brown’s failed opinion, this man deserves more popu- attempts at EDM and Zac Brown should have larity and I definitely suggest listening more respect for country music. Those two to him and gauging your own reaction. songs were absolutely embarrassing, but, as far as the rest of the album goes, it was good 9) “Angels and Alcohol” - Alan Jackson but not up to the standards of Zac Brown Ah, Alan Jackson, perhaps the Band. (Favorite Songs: “Homegrown”, “Lovmost consistent country artist over the ing You Easy”, “Wildfire”, “Dress Blues”) last two and a half decades, (although George Strait could give him a run for his 4) “Mr. Misunderstood” - Eric Church money) because with Jackson you know Is Eric Church “the man”, or is Eric what to expect. On “Angels and Alco- Church “the man”? I mean his was one of hol” he once again stays true to himself. the coolest moves in the world, dropping It is not flashy or catchy by any means, an album unannounced and sending free but there is no reason to complain, and copies to fans. What is more, I more or less there are a lot of above-average songs fell in love at his CMA performance of “Mr. across the board. While Jackson may have Misunderstood,” the greatest country song only slid onto the list due to the lack of to be released in a while, possibly ever. pop country productivity, that detract While the rest of the album was on a level from the quality of his music. (Favorite below the lead single, it definitely delivered, Songs: “Jim and Jack and Hank”, “You and saw Eric Church heading in a much Can Always Come Home”, “Gone Before better direction than his song, “The OutsidYou Met Me”, “Mexico, Tequila and Me”) ers,” ditching the hard rock attitude of that song for maturity and greater musical atten8) “Southernality” - A Thousand Horses tion. (Favorite Songs: “Mr. Misunderstood”, Let me start this off by acknowledg- “Knives of New Orleans”, “Round Here ing the fact that there are some down- Buzz”, “Mixed Drinks About Feelings”) right miserable songs on here (“Trailer Trashed” and “Southernality” are the 3) “Start Here” - Maddie and Tae worst, as you can probably tell from the Wow. Did anyone see that coming? A titles). But there are also some amazing couple of 19-year-olds picking up a bronze Stapleton-esque songs that improved the medal on the most prestigious Country Alalbum, and the good most definitely out- bum Countdown? I’m not gonna lie, I was weighs the bad. A Thousand Horses is a skeptical of Maddie and Tae: after “Girl southern rock band, not a country band, in a Country Song,” could they rise above but that is not necessarily a bad thing, and their role as a symbol of discontent with their uniqueness without a doubt adds to bro country and demonstrate true musithe appeal of their sound. (Favorite Songs: cal talent? Well, the short answer is “yes”. “Tennessee Whiskey”, “Sunday Morning”, These girls are so much more than “Girl in “Hell on the Heart”, “Heaven is Close”) a Country Song” (which is in fact one of the worst songs on the album, as ironic bro 7) “I’m Coming Over” - Chris Young country effects were added, interestingly Perhaps the one true pop country decreasing music quality, but increasing singer featured on this list, Chris Young popular appeal). Maddie and Tae are a perdefinitely pulls off this album. While at fect blend of The Dixie Chicks and Taylor times the songs can be bland, boring, and Swift, and I am incredibly excited to see how similar, there is a sense of consistency pro- the duo matures. (Favorite Songs: “Sierra”, vided by Chris’ amazing voice. His voice “Shut Up and Fish”, “After the Storm Blows has been described as too perfect by some, Through”, “Downside of Growing Up”) By Matt Armstrong Staff Writer
2) “Turnpike Troubadours” - Turnpike Troubadours So, quick reader poll: How many of you have heard of the Turnpike Troubadours?... That’s what I thought. Well, let me tell you, they are absolutely worthy of the number two spot on this list, and are currently the best band in country music (Yes, Zac Brown that was directed at you and your “Beautiful Drugs”). Their music is simultaneously powerful and fun. They straight rock while managing to stay true to who they are, and are unwilling to bend their sound to the constraining ear of the populous. (“Bird Hunters”, “Down Here”, “Bossier City”, “The Mercury”) 1) “Traveller” - Chris Stapleton Please. just listen to it. Words do not describe the power of this man’s voice. The awards and hype are finally correct on this one. In fact the only thing exceeding Stapleton’s voice is his songwriting. The simultaneous diversity and quality of Stapleton’s songs are astounding. There is not a single throwaway song on the album. I can confidently say Stapleton is the best, and I am proud to rank him number one. Next time you’re thinking of “bumping some Cole Swindell” or “tossing some Florida Georgia Line on the boombox, baby,” please, please, please, noooooo! You will enjoy Stapleton with all your heart and he will make you a better person.
Musicians Shine in the Fall Coffee House By Will Ryan Panel Staff
Musicians Harrison Rohrer, Matt Armstrong, Greg Katz, Juan Carlos Fernandez del Castillo, Gabe Schmittlein and Tommy Ruggles perform
The bi-annual celebration of music known as Coffee House was an incredible success this fall. The event celebrated musicians who perform in larger groups on campus, as well as those who dust off their instruments and take their talent to the stage for one or two nights a year. Coffee House provides students to display the wide range of their talents. Andrew Kaneb performed a beautiful classical piece, Fritz Kreisler’s “Prelude and Allegro,” only to be heard later that night playing fiddle in “Devil Went Down To Georgia,” with a passion which captured the audience and drew their attention to the bow which skillfully flew across his fiddle. The event provides our musicians an opportunity to be heard in ways they might not be heard in our orchestra, ensembles, or the B-Flats. A truly remarkable part of the evening was the emergence of a voice that few, if any, expected to hear. Armin Thomas, a veteran of our orchestra and talented musician, revealed his great talents far beyond the piano. “How many of you have seen Step Brothers?”, he asked as he walked out
Pa g e 7 Honorable/Dishonorable Mention: Chris Janson, “Buy Me a Boat” This is a solid first album. The energy and attitude is great. But he definitely needs to tidy up his sound before he can compete with the big boys. A+ lyrics (see “Power of Positive Drinkin’”). Carrie Underwood, “Storyteller” - Carrie was oh so close to making the list, and she has proven to be a formidable force on the charts. But why does she always have to be so angry? Her sound is far superior when she doesn’t take up the whole “Before He Cheats/Something Bad” persona. Also, “The Girl You Think I Am” is a jam. Luke Bryan, “Kill the Lights” - Oh, Luke, what to do with you: such a great voice but such awful songs. Free from substance, musical creativity, even instruments. And then he hits you with songs like “Love It Gone”, displaying the full potential he showed before 2011’s “Tailgates and Tanlines”. Luke Bryan is temptation. There is simply no other way to describe it. I won’t put Luke on this list because I know I would regret it in the morning. Thomas Rhett, “Tangled Up” - This album is downright offensive to the ear, mind, body, soul, puppies, morality, and the concept of good.
onto the stage. To those of us well versed in Will Ferrell’s angelic vocal rendition in that movie, this question foreshadowed Holly Gettings what would soon be one of the most outstanding acts of the show. Armin then proceeded to give a beautiful rendition of “Con Te Partiro” which shocked the audience and earned a standing ovation. MC’s Jake DeCaprio and Gabe Schmittlein led the night with an intoxicating e n e r g y. Their humor and enthusiasm kept the night moving smoothly from one performance to the next. The two c o u l d be seen performCowboy/Co-MC Jake DeCaprio ing themselves, even creating a little jingle to promote the ORBIS bake sale. The bake sale made another appearance when, during the final performance, Harrison Rohrer left the stage during his song, with money in hand, only to return with a cookie from outside. The night was filled with incredible music and skilled musicians, unfortunately too many to list. There are many ways to spend a Friday night, but sitting there listening to Marshall Knight play “You Belong To Me,” I could not think of anywhere I would rather be. A huge thank you to everyone who helped put together such a fantastic event. Lastly, congratulations to all the musicians who performed at Coffee House. ☐
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Best of Movember
Th e Pan el
(*Imagine listening to Closing Time while these photos scroll through in a dramatic slideshow*)
The General and Sergeant
The Hot Brian
The No-School-Zone Seibel
The Rush-Stache
Dogs of Belmont Hill: Basketball Team Name: Weezy
Name: Gus
Position: Point Guard
Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 1’5”
Drool Per Minute: Actual Gallons
Pro Comparisons: Allen Iverson, Spud Webb, Muggsy Bogues.
Pro Comparisons: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady.
Strengths: Cute. Ability to crawl through opponents legs. Super large ears.
Strengths: Name recognition -everybody knows the Gus Bus. Big body.
Weaknesses: Basketball weighs more than body. Struggles to get shots off against taller defenders.
Weaknesses: Affinity for lying on back in front of SmartBoard which tends to be unhelpful. Couldn’t be any more in the way. History of ACL injuries.
Name: Sandy Position: Power Forward Named After: That dog in Annie (Pulsifer told me this, I’ve never seen Annie, but of course he has) Pro Comparisons: Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer Strengths: Veteran Savvy. Wisdom. Experience.Other words/phrases for “old” that don’t sound demeaning.
Name: Wally Position: Small Forward Teething: Yes. Pro Comparisons: Vince Carter, Andrew Wiggins, Scottie Pippen. Strengths: Young and energetic. Really good at chasing tennis balls. Weaknesses: Generally prefers to chew on backpacks rather than play basketball. Fouls a lot (I don’t know why, I feel like Wally just would foul a lot). Might not be able to see due to hair acumulation on face.
Weaknesses: Eats a lot of paper.
Name: Tucker
Name: Venkman
Position: Center
Position: 6th Man
Ear Length: 3’5”
Named After: Main character of Ghostbusters
Pro Comparisons: Shaquille O’Neal, Glen “Big Baby” Davis, Boris Diaw. Strengths: Has a fondness for stealing sponges which probably translates well on to the court. Ears can hang with the best of them Weaknesses: Doesn’t move too fast.
Pro Comparisons: Nick “Swaggy P” Young, Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams. Strengths: Energy like you read about. Seems like a really confident player. Weaknesses: I mean Venkman is an interesting name.