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Volume 66, Issue 5
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill and Winsor Schools
December 15, 2017
HEALTH CLASS AND CONSENT Education in the Wake of the #MeToo Movement By Austin Kwoun ’18 and Ellisya Lindsey ’19 Panel Staff
In 2017, many people have began to realize the prevalence of sexual assault in our society. The rise of the #MeToo Movement has brought the issue of sexual assault to the forefront of our culture. Sexual assault “includes sexual harassment, unwanted sexual contact, child sexual abuse, incest, and rape” (Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Assault). Every 98 seconds, an American experiences sexual assault. Over 63,000 minors have experienced sexual assault (often at the hands of a relative or an acquaintance), and the problem only becomes more severe as we age (Rainn). 21% of transgender, genderqueer and nonconforming undergraduate students being victims of sexual assault, while 18% of non-TGQN women and 4% of non-TGQN men experience sexual assault. Only 310 cases of sexual assault for every 1000 are reported to the police. Out of every 1000 cases, 994 perpetrators will walk free. The amount of sexual violence has halved in the last 20 years, but it is still a very prevalent issue in our society (Rainn). Clearly, sexual assault has always been an issue for many people, but the media only began to discuss it so avidly because of the #MeToo Movement. On Octo-
Adage.com ber 5, 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker published exposés about Harvey Weinstein’s many sexual assault accusations. On October 16, Alyssa Milano posted her own story with “#MeToo,” which was inspired by Tarana Burke’s sexual assault
story in 2006 (Fast Company). Since that day, many other Hollywood stars, including Jennifer Lawrence, Gabrielle Union and Terry Crews, have come forward to share their own stories, which led to the condemnation of the very powerful perpetrators,
including Louis CK, Matt Lauer and Melanie Martinez. The prevalence of these issues has affected both Winsor and Belmont Hill by influencing students to discuss sexual assault. Continued on Page 17, 19
Belmont Hill-Winsor Play: A Raisin in the Sun Selldorff ’19 Named Levitan Youth Ambassador to use it to fund one of their dreams; as the play continues, these individual dreams begin to clash. Walter hopes to use the money to open up his own liquor store so that he can better provide As the winter season approaches, so for his family. Beneatha hopes that the money do new school productions. But Belmont can help pay for her medical school tuition. Hill’s production with Most importantly, howevWinsor of Raisin in er, Mama plans to use the the Sun, in particular, money to fulfill a lifelong stands out from the rest. dream held by both her The highly acand her husband to buy a claimed play centers nice house. The neighboraround the Youngers, an hood in which this house African-American family lies, Clybourne Park, is living on the South Side predominantly white. of Chicago in the 1950s. What makes this The family consists of play so special compared five members: a mother to typical Winsor-Bel(Mama), a daughter (Bemont Hill plays is its focus neatha), son (Walter) and on a black family’s life and his wife (Ruth), and their struggles in America. The son (Travis),. Following play beautifully explores the death of their father, issues of socio-economthe family prepares to reics and race during the ceive a $10,000 insurance post World War II era. check. As they await the behance.net Chloe Duval ’19, who is money’s arrival, each adult in the family hopes
By Qirrat Anwar ’19 Panel Staff
By Matthew Goguen ’19 Panel Staff
On October 2nd, 2014, Francis Selldorff ‘19 was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. A well-known athlete in the school, Francis stars in the hockey rink and on the water, as he is one of the top sailors on the BH varsity sailing. Entering in Form III, after previously attending Shady Hill School, Francis’ perseverance did not go unnoticed. After his diagnosis, Francis sought care at the Joslin Diabetes Center, one of the best the nation has to offer. His mother, Nancy Selldorff, says that: “Everyone knows that Joslin has such a high standard of care and that was very important to us.” At Joslin, Francis grew very close with Dr. Lori Laffel, Chief of Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult diabetic care. Francis says, “Dr. Laffel Matt Teuten is more than just a doctor. She has an amaznormal life.” To raise more awareness to the ing way of connecting with her patients. She cause, Francis is in the process of planning really got to know our family and does eva fundraiser similar to the Dance Marathon erything she can to make sure I can have a Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 9
Look Inside The Panel BH Sports 22-23 Varsity Wrestling Starts Hot
Early success at Rumble on the Hill, Caruso, and in dual-meet matches set the tone for a promising season.
Winsor Community 10 2017 People of Color Conference
A Winsor delegation attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Anaheim, CA.. Students reflect on the formative experience.
Winsor Ops 18-19 Implementing Global Forum: Ms. Pelmas’s Compact Lessons to learn from Ms. Pelmas’s publicized 2005 year of “living secondhand” and avoiding unnecessary purchases. A quest covered by NPR and The Today Show.
BH Arts 4-5 Mr. Duarte in the Landau Gallery
Faculty member Mr. Duarte’s “New Work,” “Para Mi Gente, No Es Mi Gente” photography featured this month in the Belmont Hill Landau Gallery.
Duncan Grant ’18
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A Christmas Prince: The Best Worst Movie This Holiday Season By Teresa Lawlor ’19 Panel Staff
Winsor students feverishly scrolling through Netflix for new entertainment options were treated to a new classic this Thanksgiving break: A Christmas Prince, a gloriously clichéd and deliciously awful jaunt in the generic European kingdom of Aldovia. Amber (Rose McIver) is a reporter from New York City desperate for her big break, which just happens to be the crown prince of said kingdom, Richard (Ben Lamb), a philandering playboy (or so it seems) who has to choose between taking on the throne or abdicating. It’s exactly what you might expect from a holiday rom-com -- an endearing little sister for Richard who just so happens to be Amber’s partner-in-crime, a power-hungry baroness, a strict and etiquette-obsessed housekeeper, a gruff old diner owner who doles out fatherly advice. The movie hits all of the major plot points that we’re waiting for, from a frolic out in the snow that convinces Richard that Amber might actually be different than all those other girls he knows (!!!), a romantic rescue, the adorably clumsy exit complete with the destruction of a priceless heirloom, a magical makeover, a dramatic graveside confessional (and a bonus round of brooding in front of portraits of dead people), and much, much more.
A Christmas Prince tells the story of an American journalist sent to investigate a mysterious prince. Netflix.com And yet, the movie manages to keep “Male bloodline. It’s totally unfair.” -- well ilar fare. it interesting with quirky and amazingly said, Emily, well said) and seems to be the Early Winsor viewers have nothing nauseating details like how Amber is always only one who knows what’s going on. There but praise for the film. Kayla Lee ’19 calls wearing red converse and is prone to pen- are also some real zingers that viewers are it “a wonderfully cliché movie that restores sive voiceovers as she writes hard hitting sure to try out (Jealous cousin: “Still soul your faith in humanity” and said that she journalism like “I think I’m finally getting searching?” Richard: “Well at least I have “10/10 would recommend” it to other stuto know the real prince… so not what I one…” and Emily: “The Queen is speaking, dents. After all, there is a reason why clichés thought!” and important notes like “I have so zip it!”) and that have already been heard are clichés -- they’re funny, entertaining, and to dig deeper. Have to figure out what’s go- bouncing around Winsor homerooms. beloved by all. A Christmas Prince is exactly ing on in his head...” Emily, the aforemenThen, at the end, comes a dramatic what you want (and maybe even a little bit tioned younger sister, also comes up with plot twist that breaks the mold just enough more!), and that’s what makes it the perfect some very astute observations (Exhibit A: to distinguish A Christmas Prince from sim- film to curl up with this holiday season. ☐
United on New Year’s Eve in Celebration, Tradition, and Joy By Katherine Loose ’20 Panel Staff
With 2018 quickly approaching, people around the country are looking forward to New Year’s Eve fireworks, making resolutions, and watching the iconic ball drop in New York City. These traditions have come to define New Year’s Eve in the United States; however, many of us may have unique traditions that make our New Year’s Eve experiences different. Athena Blyth ’20 describes her family’s tradition: “We put out an envelope for each member of our family and throughout the day everyone puts resolutions in for each other. At midnight we read all the resolutions in our envelope.” Caitlin Smith ’21 adds, “One year my family lit a floating lantern and said our resolutions as we watched it float into the sky; it was a really peaceful start to the new year.” Not only do individuals celebrate the new year in unique ways; entire countries do, too. While we count down the seconds until midnight on New Year’s Eve, people around the world are doing the same, but in completely different ways. For example, the new year in Africa and the African diaspora has more significance than simply a fresh start. On New Year’s Eve, Africans and people of African descent pray for those in their community that are still suffering and remember their ancestors. New Year’s Eve is also a celebration of independence from slavery. The African community in the Bahamas hosts a carnival called Junkanoo that was originally the celebration of slaves getting time off for Christmas. Victoria Cadostin ’19 addresses a tradition in Haiti, “There is a special soup that Haitians traditionally have on New Year’s Day called Soup Joumou to celebrate Haiti’s independence in 1804. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all Haitians have Soup Joumou on New Year’s.” New Year’s celebrations throughout Asia vary greatly, even in timing. Some Asian countries follow the solar calendar, on which January 1st is the new year, but others follow the lunar calendar. For the purpose of direct comparison, this article will focus on the countries that follow the solar calendar.
New Year’s Eve is often celebrated in the United States with a ball drop or fireworks. One such country is Korea. KoreIn Greece, gambling plays a major ans bow to their elders and ancestors on role in New Year’s Eve celebrations. Greeks New Year’s Eve to demonstrate respect. exchange gifts on New Year’s Eve instead of Haley Kwoun ’20 explains that in the pro- Christmas, and they even have a figure just cess of bowing, they “wish good health and like Santa Claus named Agios Vasilis who strength in the next year.” Most Koreans also also delivers gifts to children. officially turn a year older on New Year’s inIreland introduces a political spin to stead of their birthdays. New Year’s Eve: if the wind comes from the In the Philippines, people celebrate west at midnight, Ireland will have a sucNew Year’s Eve by completing small actions cessful year, but, if it comes from the east, that are associated with good luck. For ex- Britain will steal their luck. Single women ample, if you open your windows and doors and turn on all the lights in your house, the What’s Winsor Watching? new year will bring good fortune. Sophie de Movies: A Christmas Prince, Lady Bird, Castro ’19 says, “From my experience FaceCoco timing my family in the Philippines on New TV: Stranger Things, Great British Baking Year’s Eve, I know that it is super loud beShow, The Crown, Riverdale cause people make their own fireworks and light them right in the middle of the street What’s Winsor Playing? for hours straight after midnight. It almost “Man’s Not Hot” by Big Shaq seems like a competition to see whose fire“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé works are the loudest or can go on for the longest.” There is just as much variation in Book Recommendations traditions throughout Europe. Scotland’s Courtesy of the Upper School Book Club New Year’s Eve is celebrated with a tradition called first-footing. Each family selects Red Plenty by Francis Spudford a tall, dark-haired man to be the first perThe Hate U Give by Angie Thomas son to enter their house after midnight. This Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar by man, who comes bearing gifts, will ensure Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein the family prosperity in the new year. Scots Atonement by Ian McEwan take January 2nd off from work to continue The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst the celebrations!
Nycnewyearseve.com
also have a tradition of sleeping with mistletoe under their pillows in hopes that the new year will offer love. Evidentally, New Year’s Celebrations around the world have many similarities but also many differences. So, when you turn on the TV to watch the ball drop or step outside to see fireworks this New Year’s Eve, take a moment to appreciate all of the incredible celebrations that are happening around the world at the exact same time. ☐ December in the Arts December 12th - 20th: Hanukkah Saturday, December 16th: US Food Bank December 20th - January 2nd: Winter Break! December 25th: Christmas Day December 26th - January 1st: Kwanzaa December 31st: New Year’s Eve ••••••••• COOKIE WEDNESDAY Speaks: You were crunchy, crunchy as a scrunchie, crunchy, don’t get punchy. (“Crunchy Mic” by Cookie Wednesday)
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SLAMP: Winsor’s Art Hub Winsor Artist of the Issue
“I have found everyone to be supportive and encouraging of one another.” Winsor’s first SLAMP of the year was on November 10th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Remember UTL? How could anyone In conjunction with this event, Winsor held not. UTL is one of Winsor’s biggest events. its own juried art gallery opening backstage However, there is one catch. UTL is only for for the first time ever. The art was judged by sports. art professors from Boston University, and As a school of such diverse inter- the results were read by Winsor art teachests, Winsor has many students who excel ers Ms. Harrison and Ms. Macaulay. Every not only in sports, but in the arts as well. year, SLAMP allows Winsor students to Thankfully, with invite guests to atthe recent Lubin tend the event as O’Donnell Center well. By expanding for Performing Arts the community to that provides Wininclude students sor students with from Belmont Hill a beautifully furas well, SLAMP has nished drama stucreated a one-of-adio, music rehearsal kind atmosphere room, and blackbox where students theater, Winsor stucan appreciate the dents have more beauty of performopportunities to try ing arts. Annie Kaout different types Art by Kathy Lin ’18 was featured. Winsor.edu plan ‘19 commentof art. ed, “The blackbox This is why SLAMP is such an im- [theater] had transformed from a quiet portant event. Although not on as high of awkward sitting place to a hub of laughter, a scale in terms of school hype as UTL, talent, and fun.” SLAMP is an event that offers Winsor SLAMP helps the arts attract more students a chance to share creative mate- attention. Leslie added that “the arts are so rial, be it a song, a poem, or a duet, with important and they should get just as much the student body. Leslie Moukheiber ’19, attention as sports. The Winsor students one of the students that attended SLAMP, who enjoy and are good at art deserve a said, “My favorite part was the performanc- place for it to be displayed and recognized, es and watching everyone show off their which is why I really enjoyed SLAMP.” For talents. I myself sang a song and it was so those who really want to promote and expegreat! It is the best feeling to perform in rience the importance of art in our commufront of friends and other people who en- nity, participating in SLAMP is the first step joy performing.” Her opinion is shared by that they can take. In fact, there is going to Tatiana Finley Marques ’19 who remarked, be another SLAMP this spring! ☐ By Dayoon Chang ’19 Panel Staff
A Raisin in the Sun
Continued from Front Page playing the role of Mama, comments that “it is arguably the most important play in the black community.” She continues, “Being part of a mostly black cast (and that’s purposeful, there is a white character written into the play) means that our story/ stories are finally being heard, and that the theater is finally open to more than just the white experience and the white voice.” Donavan Payne ’18, who will be playing the part of Walter, and who has extensive experience in theater, is also excited to be involved in a play “that explores another American perspective. Much of the literature we read in class, especially at Belmont Hill, is often centered around white men.” He explains that, with A Raisin in the Sun “we not only get to learn about the black experience in a more personalized context, rather than the surface level, historical and analytical approach, but also we have a male and female perspective reflecting the diversity within the often generalized ‘black experience.’” Being at such privileged schools, we often fail to acknowledge and explore different points of view of the American experience. Not only is this play simply an amazing dramatic work, but it will also help to raise awareness and start conversations regarding diversity and the different disparities in American society. The play will be performed at Belmont Hill on February 9th and 10th in the Kraft Theater. ☐
Dtcab.com
By Teresa Lawlor ’19 Panel staff
What do you love most about acting? I think it’s being able to totally not be yourself and become someone else. I’m definitely a control freak about other things in my life, and so it’s hard for me to understand why in this one environment I’m very good at letting go. There are endless things, though, that make theater great: the casts you meet, just that energy on stage when you get a really good scene with really good people, and, of course, the costumes. What has it meant to have the theater community throughout your time at Winsor? Oh, so much. I had a hard time transitioning from Lower School to Upper School -- people grow up, friends change. So, going into Upper School and coming together with a lot of people who felt as passionately as I did about acting was awesome. It’s such a strong support system. And we’ve mostly been the same cast throughout all these plays. It’s changed, we’ve lost people and gained people, but it’s just such a family. I can tell everyone wants everyone else to succeed, and, in a world that’s not always like that, it’s so great to have a community where everyone is rooting for you and cheering you on. ☐
Penny Mack ’18 is one of Winsor’s most prolific actors, having performed in or worked on six productions while a student in the Upper School. She has portrayed rebellious Adela in The House of Bernarda Alba, the librarian-esque Narrator in Into the Woods, and most recently complicated Abigail Williams in The Crucible. She will next be seen on the Winsor stage in the student-directed production this winter. Penny also enjoys writing, Mock Trial, vintage clothes, and witchcraft. How have you changed as an actress? Before I had actual theater classes, specifically with Mr. Johnson (he changed the whole way I thought about acting) it was kind of this idea that, “Okay, I am sad, so I will say this line, that is a line, sadly.” And then after those classes, it became about inhabiting the character and thinking, “This is the first time I’ve ever said these words. This isn’t something scripted. I’m not saying this line because it was scripted for me, and I’m not saying it sadly because it should be sad, but because it’s a natural response to whatever is going on in the scene.” So it was the first time I had ever really thought about acting not as reading things off of a page with emotion, but reacting in real time to a situation. What are your favorite productions that you’ve done at Winsor? Stuff I’m really proud of: The Heidi Chronicles was a great time, The House of BernarKristie Rae Gillooly da Alba, Into the Woods, and, of course, Mack (front right) in The Crucible. The Crucible, my ultimate pride.
A Green Holiday: Sustainable Gifts from COW Conserve Our World Contributing Writers
Holiday season is upon us! As you start searching for the perfect gifts for your family members and friends, Winsor’s “Conserve Our World” Club encourages you to be mindful of your purchases. We understand the appeal of fast fashion and gag gifts, but as tempting as a 5-dollar t-shirt or an amusing trinket might be, consider the broader consequences. Who made your product, and out of what materials? How long will you use your product before you send it to a landfill? To minimize your environmental impact, COW has created a list of gifts you can buy with a lighter conscience! NOTHING ($0)! Show your appreciation with actions instead of material objects. Give someone a hug or a meaningful compliment! Klean Kanteen Water Bottle or Travel Mug ($20). Klean Kanteen uses only eco-friendly materials to make their products and partners with several organizations to rally for an environmentally sound world. West Elm Organic Plisse Blanket ($99). The Organic Plisse Blanket is made with 100% organic cotton, which is produced with minimal environmental impact. Notably, growing organic cotton maintains soil health by avoiding toxic pesticide and fertilizer usage. The blanket is certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard, meaning it’s assembly maintains a set of rigorous environmental and social standards. Madewell Jeans ($75 + $20 off!). Madewell partners with Blue Jeans Go Green, an organization that transforms used denim into housing insulation. To participate, bring in your old jeans to a Madewell store, and as an additional incentive, you’ll receive a $20 discount towards a new pair of Madewell jeans. Thus far, Madewell has
saved 133 tons of waste from 223,290 pairs of recycled jeans! Fjallraven Re-Kanken Backpack ($90). Each special edition Re-Kanken backpack is created with polyester recycled from eleven plastic bottles. The bags are dyed with the SpinDye technology, which uses minimal water, energy, and chemicals. Bureo Skateboard ($129). Bureo makes skateboards out of recycled fishing
tions, and brand transparency. All products come from carefully selected sources and will last for years. Arvin Goods: Arvin Goods creates all products from recycled materials and lets you send back your worn out clothing. Ollin Arm Candy: Ollin bags are created from discarded candy wrappers -- a single bag can be made of nearly four thousand wrappers! Wrappily Recycled Gift Wrap ($8). Wrapping paper generates 4 million tons of waste per year. Wrappily paper is printed using soy-based inks and is recyclable and compostable. Also consider using fabric gift wrap, newspaper, paper bags, or reusable gift bags! Tesla Model S ($105,000). Just kidding. But seriously, Elon Musk’s Tesla offers a range of all electric powertrain vehicles, Grindtv.com which leaves less of a carbon footprint nets, as discarded fishing nets make up 10% than gas-powered cars. Volvo also recently of the plastic pollution in the ocean. Since pledged to introduce only battery-powered Bureo’s initiation they have recycled over or hybrid vehicles by 2019! Since a Tesla might not actually make your list, consider 80,000 kg of discarded materials! alternatives such as a bike or a CharlieCard. Gift Cards: Local thrift shops: Save money and reduce waste by giving a gift card for second hand clothing from local thrift shops. Buffalo Exchange or Goodwill have great selections. Urban Renewal: Urban Outfitters’ Urban Renewal line consists of items revamped from vintage or surplus materials. Reformation: To combat the fact that the fashion industry is the world’s third most polluting industry, Reformation practices sustainability when making their products and keeps track of its carbon footprint with the RefScale. Everlane: Everlane’s philosophy revolves around quality, fair working condi-
Visit ProjectJust.com to learn more about the environmental impact of your favorite brands. Lastly, COW invites you to participate in COW’s December sustainability challenge: be mindful of your holiday lights and winter heating! Make sure to unplug lights whenever possible, especially during the day and before you clock out Jamila O’Hara for the night. Instead of cranking your heat up, turn down the thermostat a few degrees and instead opt for a cozy sweater or blanket. Happy Holidays from everyone at COW! ☐
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Identity, Home, and Faith: A Look Into Featured Artist Mr. Duarte’s Work By Seth Israel ‘18 Staff Writer After graduating from Bowdoin in 2007 with a degree in studio art (painting), Mr. Duarte’s artistic passion drove him towards a new medium...and he eventually arrived at photography. As he said, “There are no constraints in painting. I can control every element. Photography is different. There are physical constraints and natural rules I have to follow.” Not only did Mr. Duarte step out of his comfort zone when transitioning to photography, he challenges himself further as he prefers to shoot film over digital. He generally shoots using 6x6” medium and 8x10” large format film. The entirety of his new body of work, the unframed pieces cur-
rently on exhibit in the Landau Gallery, uses the silver gelatin process. When asked about the nature and settings of his new body of work, Mr. Duarte explained his fascination of the tradition of the “American road trip”: “I had a desire to go, a desire to find pictures in nature.”
“I was born in Venezuela. I’m a first -generation American. Spending a month on the road in his van this past summer, Mr. Duarte traveled far and wide around the United States, shooting in nearby Plum Island, to the historical sites of Gettysburg, Virginia, and even into the North Carolina-Tennessee Smoky
Mountain National Park. Mr. Duarte’s “American views” are inspired by photographers like Robert Frank and Robert Adams. In his photographic work, Mr. Duarte seeks to explore our relationship to the land on which we live and how humans impact the landscape. Mr. Duarte sets out every summer—this year he plans to travel west, the American West being a region he has not yet explored. The framed section of Mr. Duarte’s show, which are untitled works from the series “Para Mi Gente, No Es Mi Gente,” is what he refers to as “more cohesive.” While the unframed pieces are still a work in progress and their narrative has not yet been totally realized, Mr. Duarte had a clear understanding of the concepts he tackles
in his more polished work. The pieces focus around how Mr. Duarte handles issues of identity, home, and faith: “I was born in Venezuela. I’m a first-generation American. I struggle with my sense of identity in
“I struggle with my sense of identity in America... Am I just a visitor, or do I really live here? America. It’s this concept of home: Am I just a visitor, or do I really live here?” Mr. Duarte’s “New Work” and selection from his series “Para Mi Gente, No Es Mi Gente” can be found in the Landau Gallery from November 13 - December 22. ☐
Duncan Grant ’18
Arnav and Seth (’18) are Back: The Panel’s Playlist of the Issue By Arnav Prasad ‘18 and Seth Israel ‘18 Panel Staff For the complete Playlist of the Issue, follow the official Spotify account of The Panel, @ bhpanel Curator’s Note: Welcome to The Panel’s second iteration of the Playlist of the Issue, a tradition started by Arnav Prasad ’18 and Seth Israel ’18. For each issue, we’ll give you our current top five songs, tunes which span across genres, moods, and time periods. It is our hope that our playlist can serve as inspiration for your own creativity. Likewise, if you have a catchy beat stuck in your head, please feel free to let us know--perhaps you will see your pick in the next issue! Arnav’s Picks: Live in the Moment - Portugal. The Man From the band that produced “Feel It Still,” a single that has broken through Rock and Pop charts, “Live in the Moment” builds upon their previous success. Featured on the latest FIFA videogame, the song demonstrates a unique musical elasticity. Replete with swagger, “Live in the Moment” seems perfect for the idyllic sports moment or car ride.
Icon - Jaden Smith Naysayers are not as pronounced as they once were with the release of Jaden Smith’s album Syre. Although “Icon” departs from the concept-driven musics lain down by earlier tracks, Jaden Smith decides to recreate a “Ultimate”-esque banger. While I still cannot understand the opening sample nor what “all your verses sound like dirty dishes” implies, Jaden Smith’s brags and boasts will always have a special path to my heart. Lay It On Me - Vance Joy After almost two years since releasing an album, Vance Joy’s single “Lay It On Me” tells a vivid story. Unlike the sea of acoustic-songwriters that seemingly have taken over the pop scene, Vance Joy’s distinct voice and story-telling ability breaks the norm. The sultry acoustics that underlay the track lends the song a sense of casualness and peace.
Atlas - COIN COIN, a synth-pop from Nashville, released its album on June 8th, yet will probably preserve its shine throughout the winter. Through upbeat and enthusiastic tempos, COIN compiled an album that makes it hard to not yell all of the lyrics. “Atlas,” the album’s opening soundtrack, guarantees tasteful elements of funky bass and rhythmic beats that sets a tone for
the rest of the album.
and rap with completely different genres of music, like orchestral groups or jazz vocalists. Tyler Mykonos - Fleet Foxes combines his personal narrative with the voices “Mykonos” has become one of the Fleet of others, which gives the already diverse song Foxes’ most notable classics, and deservedly so. another layer to consider. The song meshes the gentle voicings of lead singer Pecknold with the natural riffs of the acoustic Wanted You - Twin Peaks band. Released in 2008, the Seattle band seems as Twin Peaks is a 5-person indie rock group influential as ever following the fame of “Myko- from Chicago. This track features melancholy nos” and the rise of folk and indie-rock in the guitar chords and vocals, and the mood realpop scene. ly fits the time of year as we transitioning from the warmer days of fall to the bleak, early-sunset Seth’s Picks: days of winter. The song focuses on the speakBower - Inner Wave er’s love life, which is filled with frustration and Inner Wave is an indie group from Los longing—as you can tell, he’s having a pretty Angeles. They don’t have a huge internet pres- tough time; however, he recognizes that change ence, but from what I gather they are made up will come, and things will get better. Whether it’s of either four or five members who trade off love, or other personal problems, or really anybetween playing drums, guitar, bass, keyboard, thing in our lives that we struggle with, I think and a lot of crazy synth. They have a very unique everyone has gone through something like this at sound and they’re tremendously talented. I’m al- some point, and we can relate to their emotions. ways pleasantly surprised when listening to Inner Wave. I particularly like the songs “Bower,” Skating - Vince Guaraldi “Nice One,” “Eclipse,” and “Buffalo.” If you haven’t heard Vince Guaraldi, you’re missing out. But you probably have, if November - Tyler, the Creator you’ve ever watched Peanuts or A Charlie Brown In his most recent album, Flower Boy, Ty- Christmas special, because he composed a lot of ler fully completes the realization he began with the music for the shows! He is one of the greatest Cherry Bomb. He has finally blossomed into a jazz pianists/artists of all time. All of his music true musical visionary. I’m always impressed Continued on Page 5 with how the LA native can intertwine hip-hop
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Retrospective: Ranking the Best Rap Albums of 2017 Artist of the Issue: By Jake Pappo ‘20 and Owen Pickette ’18 Rhocar Constant ‘20 Staff Writers
1. More Life After disappointing his fans by postponing the merely mediocre Views for half a year, Champagne Papi shook the rap game with the surprise release of More Life in March. In this “playlist” (it’s an album), Drake tries to establish a fanbase in Britain. While this is sometimes entertaining, some of the “tings” he says get to be annoying. He also brings some British members of his collective OVO (October’s Very Own), like Skepta, into the spotlight by giving them features; unfortunately they fail to step up to the plate. Besides these minor flaws More Life is full of both relaxed songs like “Get It Together” and “Do Not Disturb”, and vibrant songs like “Gyalchester” and “Ice Melts”. The 6 god leaves us ready for his next project, which he is rumored to have already started working on in Toronto this summer. 2. DAMN Kendrick Lamar does not have much to prove, since everyone already knows of his lyrical genius, yet he still added to his well-earned reputation with DAMN. The premature release of “HUMBLE.” set an aggressive tone for the album, but K-Dot still surprised fans with emotional R&B that had fantastic complementary features, such as Rihanna in “LOYALTY.” and Zacari in “LOVE.” Both are radio-worthy hits and a number of others were reminscent of Kendrick’s older songs. Overall, the album hype was well-deserved making it worthy of a stop on the top 3 list. 3. Trust the Process Ace Hood has been non-existent in the rap game ever since Bugatti, his hit in the album Trials and Tribulations (2013). The following series of Starvation albums, which he dropped over the course of several years, were neither good nor popular. However, his recent album Trust the Process proved that Ace Hood has not lost his sense of flow, but in fact has significantly improved since his most recent projects. The album includes banger after banger, yet several interludes come as a small setback which interrupts the consistency of the songs. Although the album did not rise to the top of the charts, mainly because Ace Hood has essentially been forgotten since Bugatti, it nevertheless was an unexpected and underestimated gem among the rap albums of 2017. He then followed this up with two strong singles, 3 Bless and They Said It, auspiciously revealing that the 29 year-old is not afraid to get back in the booth and produce more hot tracks.
By Austin Kwoun ‘18 Panel Staff
Owen Pickette ‘18 generously took some time out of his rigorous prep for directing God of Carnage, the senior play, to talk to me. A good friend of mine and real stand-up guy, Owen has starred in many a production in his days on the Hill, and he’ll graduate in June with 10 shows under his belt (his classmates have affectionately dubbed him “most likely to win a varsity letter for theater”). His dedication to theatrical and musical ventures can be traced back to sixth grade, when in addition to singing in Chenery Middle School’s chorus and chamber singers, he also was accepted into a regional districts choir. He credits Megan Fitzharris, his middle school chorus teacher, for getting him interested in theater. Calling her “the reason that he does all that he does today,” Owen recalls how she pushed him to partake in the school musical. While he enjoys the theater experience in and of itself, he most fondly associates the theater and his choir experiences with all of the close friends he has made. “Theater and choirs bring people with similar interests and passions together,” opines Pickette, “and I hope to continue both in the future and find more people who love the things that I do.” His plan for a future in the arts doesn’t stop there; he strives for a career in screenwriting. For now, though, he reflects on his experience in the theater and as vice-president of the B-Flats at Belmont Hill. He sees the arts as being in a slight transition period in our community, but that our grade has really planted some new seeds and has provided new ideas, whether in its production of Guys and Dolls or in its contributions to the music program. He calls the grades below to action: “it’s time for the younger guys to step up when we graduate.” Owen has built a wonderful foundation for the arts going forward, and the classes of ‘19, ‘20, and ‘21 would do well to build upon it. ☐
Honorable mention: Issa. ☐
Playlist of the Issue: Spotify Series (Cont.) Spotify Pre-Game Playlist: Varsity Wrestling is so lively and beautiful, and this piece is a clas- isode. This piece of the Stranger Things Season sic Christmas song. I was brought up on Vince Guaraldi during the holidays, so this holiday season, turn off all those new Christmas pop songs, and turn on some classic Guaraldi jazz.
2 soundtrack is one of a whopping 109 songs written by the composers written for the show’s two seasons to date. If you’ve watched Stranger Things, you know how integral the music is to developing each scene, and I truly believe the Kids - Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein show would not be nearly as good as it is without Although “Kids” isn’t really a song, I the musical expertise of composers Dixon and couldn’t help but include it because I have Stein. ☐ Stranger Things withdrawal. You would probably recognize this song from the emotional parts of the show, especially at the end of many an ep-
The Panel is excited to continue this new feature that acknowledges the intersection of music and sports. Each issue in Volume 66, we plan to publish the pregame playlist of one of Belmont Hill’s varsity teams. Varsity Wrestling serves as our fifth featured team. Check out the full playlist on Spotify (@bhpanel)
WINSOR News
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Debaters Take Home Trophies in a Series of Competitions By Rani Balakrishna ’21 Contributing Writer Make some space in the trophy case, because recently there have been many Winsor Debate victories from astounding arguments that blew their opponents away! Winsor debaters recently competed at Phillips Andover Academy, St. Sebastian’s, Roxbury Latin, and Internationals in Winnipeg, Canada. At the Phillips Andover Academy Invitational Debate Tournament, Haley Kwoun ’20 and India Glenn ’20 won awards for first and second speakers, respectively, in the novice division. Winsor fielded a team of two with Haley Kwoun ’20 and Hana Karanja ’20. Additionally, Berneece Tam ’19, Jolean Ashman ’20, Haley Kwoun ’20, and Hana Karanja ’20 were in novice as the top four person team, and Claire Westerman ’19, Angela Su ’19 (secretary), Kayla Lee ’19 (secretary), and Annie Kaplan ’19 were the third highest four person team in the advanced division. Angela Su ’19, said that one of the problems she faced while debating was “having to debate for things we didn’t believe in,” a common problem among debaters, but they “maneuvered themselves through loopholes to make a clear and thoughtful argument.” At the St. Sebastian’s Invitational Debate Tour-
Winsor Debate Team nament, India Glenn ’20 and Tina Gong ’20 were the first and second debaters (respectively) in the novice division. Earlier in the fall, a Winsor Internationals team competed in the International Independent School Public Speaking Competition in four days of parliamentary debate (a style of British debate with ten minutes of preparation where you have to argue for one side of an issue), extemporaneous speaking (without preparation), persuasive speak-
ing, after dinner speaking, and interpretive reading. Ellen Burstein ’18 (debate head), Katherine Lin ’18 (debate head), and Annie Kaplan ’19 won the trophy for the second highest American team in Winnipeg, Canada, competing against students from many other countries. Annie said “Winsor always sends three kids to Internationals, and this year was an incredible opportunity to meet people from all over the world and see international talent.” Ellen advanced to
“it’s important to hear those stories unfiltered— not from a textbook but from someone who’s actually been there. I think it’s important the Winsor community takes an active global role in helping refugees and other victims of humanitarian crises. We’re taught to be kind, and I think we should actually help instead of sitting around.” Beyond the new perspective Sana Mustafa delivered to the student body, she also serves as a role model
of female power and leadership. Says Emily, “Sana is a clear example of a passionate, dedicated woman who all Winsor [students] should look up to. In Syria, she fought for what she believes in, despite the fact that it meant getting detained and being forced to leave her home without her family. Now, with her own consulting business in the US, she continues to support refugees all over the world. Sana is a changemaker.” Mr. Griffin, Amnesty’s advisor, was
the finals, and qualified for the World Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Cape Town, South Africa next April, a competition for top speakers from all over the world. Coach Jean Berg said that Ellen is one of many Winsor debaters to qualify and advance in Worlds to compete against many other countries; last year, Talia Gifford ’17 was a trophy winner at last year’s Worlds in Australia. I talkwinsor.edu ed with Ellen about her achievements, which include being the fourth place American speaker and qualifying for the American delegation to the World Debate Championships in South Africa this fall. Ellen said “she was proud of the Winsor team and it was a great experience to compete with such talented public speakers.” Overall, the Winsor Debate team’s accomplishments are numerous to say the least, and hopefully they will continue to have great success in competitions to come! ☐
Sana Mustafa Speaks at Winsor Assembly By Penny Mack ’18 Panel Staff
On November 8, activist and Syrian refugee Sana Mustafa spoke to Winsor students and faculty about the crisis in her country and her personal experiences. She recounted the political climate in Syria before the war began, and her father’s abduction-- he has not been heard from since. Winsor’s Amnesty Club first heard of Sana through Mr. Braxton, who suggested her as a speaker for assembly. “One of our goals for the year was to bring in a speaker, so we quickly accepted his offer,” said Emily Drucker ’18, Amnesty head. Crucial to Mustafa’s presentation was the dispelling of popular rumors about Syria and its refugees. Mustafa emphasized that the conflict in Syria is not a civil one-- it is a proxy war with Russia and the United States vying for control. She talked about the negative perceptions Americans have of refugees, especially in the Trump era. She urged students to consider the diversity of the refugee population and to dispel stereotypes, asking, “Do you know who refugees are?” She also urged us to consider what we were doing to help and to ask the Winsor administration if they were supporting local refugees. Her presentation made clear to Winsor students and faculty that they are very sheltered from the harsh realities of conflict zones and refugee resettlement. “This new understanding of the details of the Syrian crisis started a spark within the student body and made all of us want to help in any way possible. In COLLECT, we have started discussing how we can help as individuals and as a community. I don’t think that conversations regarding the Syrian crisis would have transpired without Sana’s honest presentation,” commented Emily. Jane Wrenn ’18, realized that Sana Mustafa
impressed by “the poise, humor, and directness with which she handled tough and important questions from students in the audience, in the Middle East Global Studies class, in Class IV Art, and in Amnesty.” As students and clubs continue to discuss our role in such a conflict, the Winsor community should remember Mustafa’s powerful words and even more powerful example. ☐
nytimes.com
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DACA Dinner at Roxbury Latin By Alison Poussaint ’18 Panel Staff
Winsor and Roxbury Latin seniors flooded into the doors of Roxbury Latin’s Gordon Great Hall on the night of November 19th. Each senior was promptly seated as the program began. Mrs. Elizabeth Carroll ’89, Roxbury Latin Science teacher, introduced fellow Winsor alumna and speaker Rachel Casseus ’02, a United States immigration attorney who works to secure green cards and visas for immigrants around the country. Her presentation was on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. President Obama established the policy in November 2014 in order to protect undocumented immigrants under 31 who arrived as children in the country before 2007. DACA was proposed in place of the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors), a more permanent solution to the influx of immigrants coming to the United States. The policy allows these immigrants--called DREAMers--to obtain work permits,
driver’s licenses, and secure jobs as long as their status is renewed every two years. Since 2014, 800,000 immigrants have been protected under the policy. After explaining and defining what DACA entails, Casseus began to discuss the current controversy surrounding the policy. In early September, President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions called for the end of the policy, claiming that DACA “denied jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans by allowing those same illegal aliens to take those jobs.” Though many DREAMers’ statuses will expire on March 5, 2018, they did have the opportunity to renew their status through October 5, 2017. However, after March 5th, these DREAMers will have to face a life-changing decision if legislation is not passed to keep them in the country. “I think that immigration and DACA are underrepresented topics in the classroom setting, yet are personal, critical issues that affect many people’s lives,” Selina Li ’18 commented, thus emphasizing the importance in learning about it. Therefore, as an activity, Winsor and RL
Rachel Casseus ’02 speaks to RL and Winsor seniors
seniors were split up into groups of 6 to 8 and instructed to propose legislation in place of DACA. Though a bit awkward at first, conversations were ultimately productive. Some groups proposed that undocumented immigrants should only be allowed into the country if they are continuing their education or if they are serving in the U.S. military or that undocumented immigrants are to be granted American citizenship if and only if they live in the country for a certain number of years. “Although I personally believe that it was good to start from the ‘basics’ and learn about DACA from a surface level, the fact that people did not understand what DACA and ICE mean indicates the privilege that we all hold as well-educated citizens who are granted special governmental rights that undocumented immigrants, green card holding people, and refugees do not have,” Li reflected later. Ms. Pelmas “thought the activity was very interesting and hard! Students were asked to do something in 30 minutes that legislators haven’t been able to do in years, even with full staff who can help. The seniors were very thoughtful about the larger philosophical issues and the smaller logistical ones, and they quickroxburylatin.org ly saw how hard it was to establish clear
roxburylatin.org
guidelines without a lot more research. One thing I really appreciated is that all the groups brought a lot of respect to the process, and the students all listened well to one another and genuinely worked together--something that rarely seems to happen in Washington these days. It gave me a lot of hope for how things could change.” Nicole Chung ’18 expanded on the complexity and difficulty of the activity: “I personally felt quite overwhelmed by having only 30 minutes to discuss such a vast and layered topic. Even after 25 minutes, I was still grappling with the very fact that almost 800,000 people in our country could face deportation. How were we to wrap our heads around something so beyond our experiences, and furthermore try to resolve it? I appreciate that the goals were to spark an intelligent discourse between our schools and think critically about tough issues, but it felt almost belittling to the people who’ve fallen victim to the DACA repeal to try to come up with a legislation in a 30 minute time frame.” After the discussion and subsequent presentation, seniors, faculty, and staff headed to the refectory for a nice dinner, good conversation, and a cordial end to the night. ☐
The Boyfriend Loophole By Katie Burstein ’21 Contributing Writer As the United States recovers from two of the deadliest mass shootings in its history, some of America’s most prominent politicians have decried calls for gun reform as “inappropriate[ly] politicized.” Gun violence is a problem in the United States, a fact that should - but does not yet - receive bipartisan support. While legislators from both parties will continue to propose new plans for gun reform, it is important to understand current gun legislation, specifically the ways in which it allows these mass shootings to occur. The Lautenberg Amendment, also known as the “boyfriend loophole,” is one such piece of legislation which has come to national attention following the Sutherland Springs shooting. Devin P. Kelly, who killed 26 people at a church in Texas, was previously convicted of physically abusing both his wife and his stepson. Under the Lautenberg Amendment, this conviction should have prevented Kelly from purchasing a firearm. However, two years after he was sentenced, he was able to buy an AR-15 military-style rifle. So how was Kelly able to commit such a heinous crime? The Lautenberg Amendment, described by Senator Frank Lautenberg himself, was “dedicated to the simple principle that wife-beaters and child abusers should not have guns.” The law only applies when the victim and the abuser are
married, share a child, or live together. Thus, the “boyfriend loophole” is created: if an abuser convicted of a misdemeanor has neither married, had a child with, nor lived with their victim, he is still able to purchase guns. While recently many states have moved to close the boyfriend loophole, only about half prohibit firearm possession by dating partners. According to the US Department of Justice, “By 2008, the proportion of intimate homicides committed by a spouse (46.7%) was nearly equal to the proportion committed by a boyfriend or girlfriend (48.6%).” Simply put, a victim is as likely to be killed by a partner who they are not married to, and under the Lautenberg Amendment, such abusive partners are able to purchase guns. The Lautenberg Amendment is not the only loophole through which abusers are able to possess firearms. Through unlicensed sales, a system which other criminals use to buy otherwise illegal firearms, domestic abusers are able to evade a background check which would disclose their inability to purchase a gun. Only sixteen states enforce laws mandating that all buyers go through background checks, meaning that in the 34 states that don’t, domestic abusers are able to purchase firearms online or at gun shows. According to a report by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, one in thirty online gun buyers has a criminal record that should prohibit him from buying guns. To demonstrate just how widespread and dangerous this loophole is, since its creation in 1998, the National
hopesreadywriter.wordpress.com Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has stopped over 2.2 million gun sales to prohibited buyers. There are many other “loopholes” that allow domestic abusers to purchase guns then used in mass shootings; however, there is one common thread between them all: lack of enforcement. Gun control can work, as proven in many states already. In the ten states that enforce a mandate requiring domestic misdemeanors to relinquish their guns, cities have 25% fewer domestic gun homicides. And according to the Boston Globe, Massachusetts, with its strict gun laws ,had 70% percent fewer gun deaths than the national average. However, there is room for growth. There is a clear link between most mass shootings and domestic abuse;
54% of mass shootings are perpetrated by abusers. While we wait for enlightened gun laws, perhaps we can find consensus for preventative domestic abuse laws, which will hopefully further decrease the number of mass shootings. Regardless of party or opinion, gun laws affect every citizen in the United States. It is crucial for all, not just lawmakers, to understand the depth of legislation in this country. Said Elly Pickette ’21, awareness of gun legislation allows her to “see a more clear path to getting stricter gun laws to prevent more tragedies from happening.” Generating new gun reforms and solutions to domestic abuse, both problems that are deeply embedded in American society, will take time, but common understanding is the first step. ☐
B elmont Hill News
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Beloved Augustus McCrae “Gus” Martellini Passes Away at 13 By Austin kwoun ‘18 Panel Staff Any and every student of mathematics at Belmont Hill crossed paths with Gus. Gus - named for Lonesome Dove protagonist Augustus McCrae - spent his first and last days as a mainstay of Belmont Hill lifestyle, a staple who defines the BH experience alongside milk and cookies and 2:15 study halls. Gus weathered more than his fair share of maladies and misfortunes across 13 years. He was hit by a car in his younger days, and he was famed in his latter days for his hypnotic limp in the wake of his adoptive father, Mr. Martellini. Yet it was in the face of such physical adversity that Gus proved his worth as a companion and as a lifelong friend. Mr. Martellini recalls a cross-country skiing adventure, wherein he and Gus, brothers in stride, bounded through the snow. He recalls Gus favoring his back left leg, and he recalls brushing the limp off as salt in the paw or some other minor ailment; needless to say, he was alarmed to see that Gus had torn the ACL in his right hind leg. What truly stuck with Mr. Martellini - and what compounds the undying loyalty that we as a community tends to associate with “the mutt” - was that Gus had
barely made a sound. After an injury that sees even the bravest men wailing with pain, Gus had trekked a few wordless, barkless miles through the snow. That was Augustus in a nutshell; docile and quiet, yet fiercely loyal. It was on the platform of illness and ailment that Gus earned the love of his family; he certainly received it as days wore on, bringing his family closer together in the process. Last year, the Martellinis discovered a malignant tumor on Gus’ eye, a potentially life-threatening issue if not properly treated. The operation would cost an exorbitant amount of money; the Martellinis had already Illustration: funnelled thousands Elias Hyde ’20 of dollars into Gus’ health, and they were hard-pressed to turn up with the funds necessary to operate on his eye. By some miracle, the Martel-
linis’ long time friends in Colorado offered to perform the option on the cheap, but that they’d have to get out to the Rocky Mountains if they wanted it done. It was never a question for Gus’ father, and he and his wife and his dog piled into the car and drove the requisite 2,000 miles to Colorado. On the whole, Mr. Martellini estimates they saved $30, tops. But that wasn’t the point in the end; Gus had prompted a family trip, one that saved his life and brought everyone closer together in the process. For all the physical wear and tear on Gus’ 13 year old body, his mind was still sharp, and he’d have his moments of brilliance. Mr. Martellini muses that Gus knew the day inside and out, start and end times on normal class day schedules, long chapel schedules, and special assembly schedules alike. In a Pre-Calculus A class, Mr. Martellini had Gus square up with A Student ‘17 on a four question multiple choice set; the dog knocked down 3
of 4, beating the student handily. Gus had game on the math front, but the salient lesson of his sound victory was that he had a real, tangible way of bringing people together. He made students cry with laughter as his competitor hung his head in shame; he would inhale and exhale therapeutically as students gathered around him, lying in bunches on the floor. Those same students would stifle their laughter as Gus would roll around on the floor, somehow discovering a logistically improbable way to clean out every square inch of a yogurt container. In spite of his reserved nature, Gus was an unfailingly electric personality on the Belmont Hill campus, one that energized, relaxed, and united. The Martellinis will adopt again, but not for a little while. The hole that Gus leaves is impossible to fill, but the earnest nature, the sincerity, the tenacity, the loyalty, and the love of creatures such as he can move us, and it can happen in unique, wholly unprecedented ways. Gus brought indubitable happiness to everyone on the Hill. As his adoptive father put it, he “touched the soul” of both his Martellini family and of the Belmont Hill family on the whole. We wish him the best as he crosses into his promised land, his Montana. ☐
Donavan Payne ‘18 Captures Fall Woodbury BH’s Top Gun By Will LaFarge ‘19 and Tommy Smith ‘19 Panel Staff
On Monday, November 13, Austin Kwoun ‘18, Jeff Price ‘18, and Donavan Payne ‘18 took part in the Woodbury finals. Following a superb semifinal, there was great anticipation for the second round, and each speaker delivered wonderfully.
Photo: Donavan Payne
Kwoun spoke about how he chooses to pursue more subjects that interest him. Kwoun is a fan of baseball, especially advanced baseball metrics, which measure a player’s performance more thoroughly than traditional stats such as ERA or batting average. Thus, Kwoun decided to take AP Statistics over Latin, even though he had taken Latin for several years. While he hesitated to switch at first, he is glad that he decided to enroll in his preferred class. Price talked about his evolution from a timid child to the proud young man he is today. When he was young, Price could not pronounce his name properly, so he called himself “Jesh.” From elementary school until he came to Belmont Hill, Price remained uncomfortable with his voice and aimed to become a new person at Belmont Hill, to become Jeff instead of Jesh. However, Price was shy in the classroom at Belmont Hill, and his teachers often commented on his lack of participation in class discussion. Eventually, though, Price grew into the person he is today: someone confident enough to speak for
five minutes in front of the whole school. Price encouraged everyone to try to be themselves and to not be afraid of what others think. Payne, the eventual winner, delivered a powerful speech about how he has become an active member of the Belmont Hill community. In his opening sentences, Payne connected with the audience, and he never looked back. His message, to wield the powerful voice we possess at Belmont Hill responsibly, is a lesson pertinent to everyone. One of Payne’s key points involved the childhood maxim “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” and how that phrase may no longer ring true in today’s society. Whether one will use their words kindly or disrespectfully is his/her own choice, but Payne’s speech emphasized the importance of kindness, as one does not know the effect his words have on others. All in all, another excellent Woodbury season came to a close, leaving behind many important messages for all members of the school to consider in daily life. ☐
HQ Craze, Scott Rogowsky Strike Belmont Hill By Mathew Smith‘19 Panel Staff If you’ve seen large groups of students assembling around campus at the end of 2:15, they were probably playing HQ. Put on the App Store 3 months ago, HQ is a completely free, live trivia game show for the iPhone. The rules are simple: the host, usually internet comedian Scott Rogowsky, but occasionally former BBC reporter Sharon Carpenter or actress Sarah Pribis, will ask a series of 12 questions ranging from easy to hard (most are the latter). For each question, players must choose one of three multiple-choice options and answer within 10 seconds. If you answer all 12 questions correct, you split a pool of money, ranging from $1000 on most days to $8000+ on Sundays and holidays, with the other winners. If no one wins a given game, the money rolls over to
the next day. Games, lasting around 15 Belmont Hill, the app has earned an minutes, occur on weekdays at 3:00 and almost cult-like following. Especially in the Form III study hall, discussion every day at 9:00. about HQ is frequent and lively, as students complain about difficult questions from past games or joke about funny comments in HQ’s chat feature. With a mix of luck, skill, cooperation, and some speedy typing skills on Google, a number of Belmont Hill students have even won money on the app, although no winnings thus far have broken double digits. Win or lose, HQ provides Belmont Hill students the unique opportunity to bond over the experiences and rewards of a traditional television show with the convenience and accessibility of smartphone games. The app marks a Since its creation, the HQ app has drastic change in the smartphone game drawn viral support. Currently #2 in the market and is likely only beginning its Trivia category on the App Store, HQ rise in popularity. Belmont Hill will has accrued over a million downloads. likely see the emergence of similar apps For any given game, the number of play- on campus soon, such as HQ knockoff ers can range from 100K to 300K+. At “The Q.” ☐
By Charlie Mullaney‘20 Staff writer
On November 10, Belmont Hill had a special visitor for its annual Veterans Day assembly. Bruce Greer ‘78, a former member of the Naval Reserve Officers Corps Training (NROTC), presented his thoughts on the meaning of service. Initially, Greer talked about many of his classmates, some of whom had attended the event, and their own paths in life. Not many of them had known where they wanted to go from Belmont Hill, but Mr. Greer did. He had always aspired to be a pilot like his father and learned to fly before he knew how to drive. Afterwards, the theme song “Danger Zone” began to play, and Tom Cruise’s Top Gun filled the screen, replete with action shots of fighter jets. Greer took the opportunity to describe each and every scene in incredible detail. From the tailhooks trailing behind the F-14 fighter jets to the incredible speeds at which these planes could travel, Greer knew this movie as if he had shot it all himself. From there, he talked about his time at the Navy and Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, and the countless hours it took for him to get there. At the end of his enlightening speech, Greer said that his years of hard work were well worth the effort. In addition, he asked the audience to remember that freedom comes with a price. Belmont Hill will look upon this speech fondly in the years ahead, and students are grateful that Greer was able to spend his time with them. ☐
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Francis Selldorff ‘19 Named 2018 Meritt J. Levitan Youth Ambassador Continued from Front Page... we have here at Belmont Hill School. In doing so, Francis will raise more awareness about the effect of diabetes and will raise money to strive for a cure to diabetes. “It’s an opportunity to advocate a condition
that is overlooked by many. Type 1 diabetes is something that never goes away and is often confused for Type 2 diabetes, hence the ‘infamous diabetes.’ I have been lucky to be put in a position to try and be an epitome for adolescents and children like me, or sim-
ply just anyone affected by Type 1 diabetes.” athletic fields, Francis is an inspiration to all As he accepted this award on November of us here at Belmont Hill School. ☐ 4th, Francis inspired the Belmont Hill community with his perseverance through this disease. Always with a smile on his face, and a stellar presence in the classroom and the
Editors-In-Chief
Isabel Isselbacher ’18 Ishaan Prasad ’18 William McCormack ’18
Photo Editors Duncan Grant ’18 Donavan Payne ’18 Jamila O’Hara ’19 Ellisya Lindsey ’19
From the Archives: 1967 Fall Stats
David Hegarty Juliette Zener Meghan Hazard Veronica Plata
Executive Editors Arnav Prasad ’18 Jordan Sclar ’18 Juliet Isselbacher ’18
Note from the Editors This year, the 66th Editorial Board of The Panel has chosen two core themes for the publication — retrospection and celebration. From exploring the history of the Hamilton Chapel to considering the announcments of the most recent Heads of School, we at The Panel have found great enjoyment in linking Belmont Hill’s past to its present. Throughout the year, The Panel intends to include excerpts from older editions and articles, providing the student body with an accessible means to investigate the Belmont Hill experience from 1923 to 2017. As we embark on our school’s 95th year, we at The Panel hope to lead the school through the beginning of an important transition period. The process of both celebrating and re-evaluating the past will be as important as pondering the future.
Faculty Advisors
Copy Editors
Arts Editors
News Editors
Clara Halston ’18 John Markis ’18
Austin Kwoun ’18 Teresa Lawlor ’19
Penny Mack ’18 Charlie Booth ’20
Graphics Editor Bennett Morris ’18 Elias Hyde ’20
Sports Editors
Assistant Editors
Hammond Hearle ’18 Thomas McEvoy ’19
Online Editors
Matthew Smith ’19 Sindhu Krishnamurthy ’19
Alison Poussaint ’18 Dayoon Chang ’19 Josh Fairman ’19 Matthew Goguen ’19 Mikayla Chen ’19 Nick Daley ’19 Chetan Shukla ’20 Haley Kwoun ’20 Jack Weldon ’20
Opinion Editors Gavin Colbert ’18 Katie Tsai ’19
Back Page Editors Lawson Morris ’19 Leighton Dolan ’19
The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill and Winsor schools. The Panel is the voice of the student body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright © 2017 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.
In Case You Missed It... Nov. 14, 2017
The Fall Blood Drive secured 23 units of blood from select faculty and students over the age of 17. 23 units benefits 46 patients.
Nov. 15, 2017
In advance of an away game at Minnesota, the Harvard Men’s Hockey team practiced on Belmont Hill’s olympic-sized rink.
Nov. 15, 2017
JV A soccer players took part in a FIFA 18 tournament with Coach and Science Department teacher Mr. Schneider’s Promethean board.
Nov. 20, 2017
The History Department sponsored a Form V field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts and Faneuil Hall, allowing fifth form U.S. History students to interact with much of what they’ve been studying.
Nov. 20, 2017
Nov. 21, 2017
Nov. 30, 2017
Dec. 1, 2017
Dec. 7, 2017
Mrs. David, Mr. George, Mr. Trautz, Form III leaders, and hordes of helpful parent volunteers oversaw the successful delivery of 579 complete turkey dinners, a new record for Belmont Hill’s annual Turkey Drive.
The community convened in the Hamilton Chapel to celebrate the accomplishments of fall teams and athletes at the School’s seasonal sports awards chapel.
New Belmont Hill slides, Under Armor hoodies, and smartphone pockets flew off tables in Wadsworth as students, parents, and faculty took advantage of the annual Holiday Hill pop-up shop.
Quin McGaugh ‘18 organized a chapel in which recovering opioid addict Andrew McCall delivered an impactful account of his struggle with addiction. Belmont Hill’s Ms. Schmunk and Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Bagley engaged in an onstage discussion about addiction after McCall shared his story.
A dinner honored Belmont Hill’s first African American student, Carl Dawson ‘72, as this year’s recipient of the Alumni Award.
Dec. 8, 2017 Olympian and rower Mike DiSanto ‘08 returned to Belmont Hill to share a recollection of his time at Belmont Hill and his path to Rio with the community in a morning chapel.
Looking Ahead Winter Break
Dec. 8, 2017 A “Get Sweaty” Dress Down Day raised over $2,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital as a kick-off event for the School’s second annual Party with a Purpose, which will take place Saturday, April 21.
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Students Reflect on Diversity Leadership Conference From November 30 to December 2, six juniors attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in Anaheim, California at the same time that Winsor’s eleven faculty chaperones attended the People of Color Conference (PoCC). Hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in a different city each year, SDLC and PoCC hold activities and workshops to educate students and faculty, respectively, about various diversity issues and to provide attendees with the tools necessary to extend such conversations to their own school communities. Although most of the faculty and administrators’ activities at PoCC and the student’s activities at SDLC were separate, the two conferences came together for the opening and closing ceremonies. This year’s conference hosted a record-breaking 6,000 attendees, 1,600 of whom were students attending SDLC. Throughout SDLC, individual students attended each of three uniquely diverse groups: Family Groups, Affinity Groups, and Regional Groups, in each of which they discussed the eight core cultural identifiers -- race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, family structure, religion, and age -- and the cycle of oppression, among other topics of controversy and of interest, and participated in activities like a diversity spectrum or two-circle discussions. Over the next two and a half days, the students quickly opened up to these three groups, sharing personal experiences and opinions and thinking about how they could implement change back at their schools. ***
love, and your support have opened my eyes and filled my heart with hope.…I…wish you the best of luck with changing your schools, this country, and the world.…Use your words to inspire and encourage.”
Kayla Lee
The most valuable part of SDLC for me was my time in the Asian affinity group. Throughout my life I have struggled with my Asian identity and I have tried to shut out the parts of me that were too Asian. As a result, I lost a major part of who I was and it was only at SDLC where I found my love of Asians and myself again. In the East-Asian affinity group we talked about the model minority myth, affirmative action, and what it’s like to be Asian-American in today’s America–the last being the most valuable part of my SDLC experience. Through these difficult discussions I learned that there is an unspoken familiarity among Asian-Americans that is impossible to find elsewhere– to have everyone immediately know what my favorite Asian food is by just saying its name is a bonding experience unlike any other. Contrary to my viewpoint on Asians in my childhood, to be Asian, is to be cool. The East-Asian affinity group also let me talk about issues that I felt uncomfortable
economic status, and ability. The immediate understanding that I felt between and with everyone was that my SDLC family group was a safe space. Whether we agreed or didn't agree with each other, it was our obligation to take advantage of the time that we had together and to challenge not only our own way of thinking, but also each other’s. The friendships that I built in two days were unlike any that I’ve had with people that I’ve known for years; the connection and understanding was indescribable. It made my heart so happy to be a part of a unique community where it was 100% a safe space.
Jamila O’Hara
Through Family Groups, Affinity Groups, and general interactions during mealtimes and assemblies, it was amazing to see how quickly strangers were able to become friends and confidants; for me, this experience truly reaffirmed how inspiring, mindful, supportive, and capable our generation is. It was immensely empowering to be with so many students who are so interested in various social and diversity issues, willing to listen and learn, and eager to improve their own communities. I attended the Multicultural and Multiracial Affinity Group, which I believe was truly a one of
Lydia Broderick
Perhaps the most striking thing I experienced at SDLC was the vulnerability that my Family Group developed over the course of the conference. Our Family Groups were made up of random assortments of 50 to 90 independent school students from schools all over the country, and we spent most of our time at the conference sitting on the floor with them in a little, weird-smelling room in the convention center. I was skeptical of past attendees who promised that I would make lifelong connections and be crying by the time we left; after all, we only had two days. Our initial conversations, while revolving around important issues like intersectionality, gender, and race, were somewhat general; we talked about things like blackness and femininity with only a few personal anecdotes. While those conversations were life-changing and essential, for me, the most powerful conversation we had was our last one. Finally, after two days of being cramped in a windowless room, we reached a level of openness in discussing family structure that was one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced. One by one, people began sharing deeply personal stories about things that affected or were affected by their family life, which ranged from sexual orientations and gender identity to mental health, fears about the future, suicide attempts, and conflict and loss within their family, and, thirty minutes after laughing about the discovery that one of our members drinks his orange juice warm (as in, microwaved for exactly 22 seconds), all seventy of us were ugly crying. Many of us, myself included, told our Family Group things that we had never been able to voice to anyone before, and I think all of us heard things that completely changed our opinions. Among many other things, SDLC reminded me of the human need to be heard, to feel, and to know that we are not alone. As Orange Juice Boy put it in our new Snapchat group, “This week was life-changing and I thank each and every one of you for being a part of it. Your stories, your opinions, your
Students gather for a photo at the conference
bringing up in my family group; in family groups, discussions about racism, bigotry, and oppression were not necessarily inclusive to Asian voices (or at least that’s how it felt). To be able to talk to fellow Asians about microaggressions that have bothered me in the past was an experience that I had never been able to have. SDLC has changed me as a person, and I am extremely grateful for this experience.
Monique Singletary
Mr. Braxton
a kind experience. I initially had difficulty deciding whether to attend the Black affinity group or the Multiracial affinity group, but I eventually figured that the multiracial affinity group might provide some useful insight, as I have always grappled with my biracial identity on some level. I have always faced pressure to “choose” one of my ethnic identities or one “side,” and I have attempted to reconcile my own self-definition of my identity with the opinions and perspectives of others. The multiracial affinity group was such a unique experience, as each member of the group had a truly unique and interesting mix of ethnic backgrounds; however, we were able to forge connections and discuss our common experiences as multiracial individuals despite these dissimilarities. One particularly powerful takeaway was the “Multiracial Bill of Rights” that our facilitators had created and presented to us. This list of rights addressed many of the difficulties of multiracial identity and encouraged us to embrace ambiguity in each of its provisions, including the right to self-determination of our own identities, as well as the right to identify differently at different times and in different situations Such discussions were very refreshing, as they reminded me of the importance of vocal activism, and demonstrated to me the capacity for hope and change that a group of individuals truly passionate about equality and justice possesses.
I can honestly say that for me, every single part of SDLC was incredibly validating and empowering. For a long time I felt ashamed to be black and never wanted to be associated with black people, or anything having to do with my black identity. The Black Affinity Group was so special to me because I was meeting and connecting with other people who understood me and who also openly shared their experiences with me. I had never seen so many black people in a room before and that was powerful in ways I can’t really describe. I never would've pictured myself being a part of such a crowd of proud, hype young black people who were not only connecting but also yelling chants, having fun dancing so freely, and being ourselves. The Family Groups were also an important part of my experience at SDLC. The thing about family groups that left me in awe was that we were a group of 55 strangers, yet within two days we were able to sit down in a room for hours and hours and have intense, emotional, and amazing Sophie de Castro discussions surrounding topics such as race, For me, the most meaningful part of identity, gender, sexuality, religion, socio- SDLC was my Affinity Group of Asian Pa-
cific Islanders (API) as it was the first place where I had met Filipinos that were my age besides my cousins and family friends. In addition, the discussions with my Family Group about racial issues were often portrayed as “black-white” issues, so I struggled to find my place to share my perspective on or my experience with the matter, while I felt I was able to share openly and to relate easily to my peers in the API affinity group. Furthermore, what I have reflected on most is the stereotype of Asians being “the model minority,” which I believe, in effect, makes it more difficult for Asians to discuss our oppression especially as the public is more exposed the oppression of other minorities. Therefore, in having the opportunity to be in this safe, open space, we took it as a chance to open up about the problems and issues in Asian culture rather than to celebrate it. While I am proud of the progress we made towards accepting ourselves as Asians and Asian-Americans, I believe we still need to work towards feeling pride for our Asianness just as our peers in Black and Latinx affinity groups demonstrated in leading upbeat, inspiring chants after their meetings.
Karen Torres
There are those moments in one’s life that one will never forget. On the first day the atmosphere of the conference blew me away. Everyone was so kind, supportive, and confident, and all six thousand of those who attended participated in a silent movement that made me see the beauty and diversity of community that surrounded me. My family group went into deep conversation about our personal experiences surrounding these eight core cultural identifiers and by the end of the conference I felt that my own personal values were strengthened even more. For example, when discussing religion, I learned that religion is my moral anchor, but others have things that anchor them morally. To strengthen my values but also learn about other’s values was incredible. Over the period of two days we told each other things we have never told anyone else. We became a family who all agreed we wanted to make the world a better place, a place in which everyone could be as open as we were. I loved the conference as a whole, but my favorite part of the conference was attending the Latin affinity group. I couldn’t help but smile when I walked into the room full of my fellow Latinos and Latinas. Being only one out of the two Latinas in my class and one out of three consistent members of SOMOS, it was the most amazing feeling. We talked about the intersectionality between our ethnicity and the other cultural identifiers. To hear that others have faced the struggles of having a Spanish speaking only parent and feeling alone attending a private school where you don’t have other Latinos/ Latinas to talk to made me feel not as alone. We discussed Latino food, had a huge Latino dance party, and left the room chanting “Si se puede,” meaning “It is possible.” To be surrounded by such confident, young Latinos during a time in which young Latinos are being attacked was truly breathtaking. *** It is impossible to truly capture how important and life-changing SDLC was for us. In the end, however, we would love to continue sharing what we learned about the impact of diversity and inclusion on individuals as well as on the community beyond this article. We believe some of the most important takeaways from the conference that we can bring into our daily lives back at Winsor are to lean into discomfort, engage in difficult conversations, and to be accepting of everyone’s individual beliefs. With these norms in mind, Winsor has the potential to be an environment that is more accepting of everyone and their beliefs!
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At Winsor: How Should We Approach “College Talk” because it allows us to bond and lightens up tension.” During this homeroom discussion, both Penny Mack and Selina Li ’18 made incisive comments exhorting their classmates to maintain some perspective about their privilege throughout the college process. Selina criticized her peers for making disparaging jokes about community college, pointing out that, “Community college is a reality for many immigrants, low-income students, students unable to obtain their high school diploma in time due to extraneous family or health issues, and more. The notion that community colleges are intended for individuals who are “stupid” or “uneducated” is an elitist thought that is rooted on a foundation of socioeconomic and educational privilege. Several of my family members including my mother, my cousins, and my sister have taken courses at community colleges and they are some of the most hard-working, resilient, and intelligent people that I know. We need to stop equating intelligence with the reputation of a college or the amount of education that an individual has obtained.” Penny offered a second point: “I was thinking about conversations I had with girls while in Rwanda [this past summer].
They were so proud of their accomplishments and would never think to insult themselves. Being able to self deprecate--that’s a privilege. I can say I’m stupid, and dumb, and horrible, as much as I want, but I’m still going to get a job, I’m still going to go to college. Not everyone has that privilege.
arts supplements can reflect a broad array athletes. Coleman Walsh, for one, relied of artistic talents. Donavan submitted col- heavily on his viola instructor, a private lections of photography, and drawing on his teacher who had experience assisting stuAlmost all liberal arts schools and theatrical talents, Owen submitted a dra- dents with the supplement and penning music recommendations for their students. even many research universities (especially matic monologue to many schools. The guidance Belmont Hill musi- Unlike Coleman, Paine primarily drew supin the Ivy League) allow applicants to subport from Belmont Hill and Mr. Fiori, who mit an “arts supplement” to showcase talent and invested time in an artistic pursuit. “I felt like it would be a meaningful originally suggested he submit the suppleThough the number of students who engage part of my application...it can cap- ment. The speed with which arts supplein athletic recruiting significantly exceed the number who prepare such a supplement, a ture a different aspect of what I love ments are prepared highlights the most sigto do” nificant difference between the experience few Belmont Hill seniors take advantage of of most student-athletes and musicians. For the opportunity each year. Submitting a supplement or electing cians received when submitting their sup- many sports, college coaches enjoy the opto perform in a live audition do not con- plement mimics the distribution among portunity to monitor an athlete’s evolution stitute “music recruiting;” however, the art departments at respective schools do review supplements, and their assessments can have the same effect as athletics in the college process since art assessments can provide a “tip” in admissions committee review. Violinist Austin Kwoun ‘18 received generic brochures about certain schools’ music opportunities through his participation in selective orchestras and chambers, but none of the contact was personalized. Much of what students hope to accomplish by detailing their artistic and musical skill, however, relates to how student-athletes treat their own recruiting process. Both athletic recruits and those who submit an arts supplement seek to market College hats hung across the walls of Mr. Doar’s room their ability and demonstrate interest. Coleman Walsh ‘18, who plays viola, explained he sought to “reach out to schools directly to show that I was interested in pursuing music at certain schools...They have plenty of prospective Econ. and Bio. majors, but to diversify yourself as an applicant who is interested in a discipline that’s not super popular adds to your application, provided that you have general talent in the field.” The music resume, repertoire list, and three recording samples that Coleman submitted highlighted the time he’s invested in viola practice and performance. Musician David Paine ‘18 “submitted a piece of original music and a score for all the instruments along with it. I felt like it would be a meaningful part of my application...it can capture a different aspect of what I love to do and it can showcase some of my skill as a player and a writer.” While students most often demonstrate musical talent, seniors Donavan Payne ‘18 and Owen Pickette ‘18 prove that Jeff Price ’18 walks with Mrs. Bobo, Belmont Hill’s Director of College Counseling
at different showcases, camps, and scouting days; however, musicians must take advantage of a much smaller window. Paine didn’t start preparing his supplement until “the week I was supposed to send in the application,” while recent graduate Armin Thomas ‘17 performed a live audition as a substitute for his application. Thomas had a single ten-minute block to demonstrate his ability, and the finite nature of this opportunity made the experience pressure-filled. The musical process is thus smaller in scale than that for athletic recruiting, but the stakes are sometimes higher.
By Winsor Executive Editors Panel Staff In October, the senior class had a homeroom discussion about how we should approach “college talk.” Daphnee Piou ’18 and Simran Khanna ’18, class president and VP respectively, presented methods previous senior classes had used to minimize tensions throughout the application and admission process. For example, the class of 2017 used a color-coded system: each student placed a red, yellow, or green sticker next to their name, which indicated whether they were uncomfortable, impartial, or comfortable being asked about where they were applying. Daphnee and Simran then asked the seniors whether they would like to implement such a system, and if so, what kind. Over a 30-minute homeroom discussion, the class struggled to arrive at a consensus. While some liked the idea of using sticker system to cater to each student’s personal preferences, others felt that such a method was a testament to how overblown the college process had become at Winsor, and that we should keep discussions natural, casual, and unfettered. “Why can’t we all just be mature and use our common sense?”
was a popular refrain. Others protested that forcing each student to label their status as “comfortable” or “uncomfortable” with college-talk was an invasion of privacy in and of itself. Another source of contention during the homeroom was “college sweatshirt day”—a day towards the end of the year on which seniors are invited to proudly sport their new apparel. One respondent to our survey wrote, “It’s not the college sweatshirt day that is the problem but the environment about college that has already existed before this day—the way that we talk about college like it’s taboo then suddenly start being open about it one day.” Another girl expressed appreciation for the tradition: “I like it. I think it’s a nice way to celebrate everyone’s new journey, whatever that may be. Whether or not students are entering a college the next year, it’s a fun way to think about new journeys, both others and their own.” The sole proposition that received enthusiastic and unanimous support was the “rejection wall”: a tradition inaugurated by the senior class several years back. In a humorous and, perhaps, cynical display of solidarity, students post their rejection letters on a board in the senior homeroom. Clara Halston ’18 explains, “It’s a really great idea
“It’s important that we remember that what makes our community so special is the fact that we are made up of unique individuals--meaning that we all have unique ways of thinking and processing this whole process.” - Daphnee Piou ’18 Even if I don’t believe in myself other people are going to believe in me. I have a community that supports me so if I don’t advocate for myself they will. But some people have only themselves to speak up for them. It just made me realize that self-deprecation is a privilege that doesn’t work in our favor.” While the college process is no doubt fraught with stress and tension, we encourage girls in all classes to take these final reflections to heart.
At Belmont Hill: Recruiting in the Arts? A Look at the College Supplement By Belmont Hill Executive Editors Panel Staff
Duncan Grant ’18
Adam Richins
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The College Process at Winsor and Belmont Hill By Arnav Prasad ’18, Isabel Isselbacher ’18, Ishaan Prasad ’18, Jordan Sclar ’18, Juliet Isselbacher ’18, and William McCormack ’18 Panel Staff During this week of early decisions— when seniors are receiving their first round of letters and rumors fly furiously amongst the student body—the college process is cast in an uneasy mystique. The Panel feels it timely to deconstruct and demystify a process that can seem vast and senseless. College talk is not restricted to the junior and senior classes. Although most respondents shared that they began thinking about the process in 10th or 11th grade, 23% of current Belmont Hill seniors first started thinking about college before high school. Winsor ninth grader Annie Adams
’21 shares, “Even though I’m still only a freshman in high school, I probably started thinking about college in the beginning of eighth grade...we’ve been told since elementary school that the end goal is college.” We set out to compare the culture around college at both Winsor and Belmont Hill, and we both decided to administer anonymous surveys to our respective senior classes. Before the surveys were even sent out, however, it became clear that the Winsor and Belmont Hill executive editors intended to focus on different aspects of the college process.
In lieu of asking many personal questions about the survey takers’ applications, the Winsor survey focused primarily on college culture and inquired about interpersonal class dynamics. Examples of these questions included “To what extent is there concern about discussing the college process at Winsor?” and “How sensitive/respectful do you feel your classmates are in discussing financial aid?” Conversely, the Belmont Hill survey placed a greater emphasis on individual applications and athletic recruiting. Examples of these questions included “What aspect of your college applications do
you feel least confident about?” and “what/ who was the most helpful resource when it came to applying to college?” While Winsor only asked three questions about sports recruiting, Belmont Hill asked seven. The Belmont Hill survey collected responses from 83.1% of the seniors (69/83 students), and the Winsor survey collected responses from 67.9% (38/56 students). We present selected results and analyze them below. See a full list of survey questions at winsorpanel.org and bhpanel.org. ☐
Joint-Analysis: Surveying the Student Experience
Thinking about a Gap Year
Consideration of a gap year is much more common at Winsor than at Belmont Hill. Exactly 50% of Winsor respondents shared that they were either planning on taking a gap year (5.3%), currently considering delaying enrollment for a gap year (23.7%), or had previously considered doing so (21.1%). Gap year consideration among Belmont Hill seniors is rare. A resounding 89.9% did not consider delaying applications for a gap year, and only 17.4% predict they’ll consider delaying enrollment after acceptance. Winsor awards one senior each year with the Saltonstall scholarship, which “enables her to study in an academic year abroad program at the Sorbonne University in Paris.” Iona Gossage ’18, who has expressed interest in this program, reflects, “You’re never going to get another chance when you can just drop everything and move to another country. As adults, we’ll have mortgages,
children, jobs...So my philosophy is carpe diem! Seize the day and take the opportunity when it presents itself.” She adds, “I think the experience of having another year to get to know myself will help me be more mature and successful going into college--especially a pre-professional program.” According to our survey results, Iona’s sentiments are espoused by half of the survey takers. Belmont Hill’s Jake Carter ’18 agrees, explaining that he feels there “would be value in breaking out of the bubble of Belmont Hill and Boston by finding new perspectives and gaining new experiences before taking the next step onto college.” On the other hand, the majority of BH seniors share Jared Stier’s (’18) outlook: “I’m ready to explore a new city and continue my education, and taking a gap year would make me feel as though I am falling behind all my friends who are starting college a year before me.” ☐
Testing – SAT vs. ACT
The College Board announced a redesign of their hallmark SAT test in late 2014, implementing the so-called “New SAT” in March 2016. High school seniors graduating in 2018 across the country constituted the first group to test solely with this redesigned test. At Winsor and especially Belmont Hill, the change drove many to choose to take the ACT, a test whose popularity was historically confined to the Midwest. 63.8% of senior survey respondents at Belmont Hill sat for the ACT, while 36.2% solely took the SAT. About 15% of respondents reported taking both tests; the number of boys planning to submit an ACT score was equal to those planning to submit their SAT result. Winsor students also prefer the ACT, although their preference is not as extreme; 58% took the test. Survey data reveals that the frequency with which Winsor girls took major
standardized tests was rather evenly distributed. About 35% took the SAT or ACT once, 35% tested twice, and just below 30% tested three times. At both schools, preparing for the test with a private tutor proved the most popular option. 58% of Belmont Hill students used a private tutor as one method for standardized test preparation, while 68.4% of Winsor respondents hired a test prep tutor. Students were welcomed to select multiple means of preparation, and after tutoring, reviewing with print materials like test prep books from the Princeton Review, Barron’s, and Kaplan appeared as the second most popular option. ☐
Early Applications
Overwhelmingly, both Belmont Hill and Winsor students applied early to schools — 100% of Winsor’s survey participants and 97.1% of Belmont Hill’s respondents submitted applications to early action, early decision, or rolling decision programs. When asked about their motivation to submit an early application, nearly 75% of Belmont Hill students cited the prospective university as their “first choice.” In contrast, just 8.8% of Belmont Hill students considered their parents’ opinion as a primary motivation for their decision to apply early. *Note: Both Belmont Hill respondents who did not apply early committed athletically to the regular decision process at a D1 program. ☐
The College Timeline at Belmont Hill and Winsor Late Summer Brief letter sent out to parents and students
BH W
Freshman Year January Parent Q&A June SAT IIs (Bio E/M)
Late Summer Brief letter sent out May AP Tests (e.g. Bio, Euro) June SAT IIs (Math I, Bio E/M)
Late Summer Brief letter sent out
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
October PSAT (Optional)
October PSAT (Required)
October January March PSAT College Kickoff Meeting Updated Resumes due PACT Non-Negotiable Deadline (NND) #1: Before spring break, at Questionnaire & least one "official" Resume due to student-counselor Counselors; meetings begin meeting
May NND #2: Teacher Recommendations to be chosen Essay/Interview Workshops AP Tests (e.g. U.S., Chemistry)
June SAT IIs (e.g. Math II, Chem
Before end of school one more "official" s counselor meeting
SAT/ACT Prep & Testing (Usually anywhere from Junior Fall through Senior Fall) December College Night Questionnaire due
February April Review of Student Transcript Student-counselor meeting Student/Family Appointments to revise college list with counselor begin
May AP Exams Decide teacher recs
June SAT IIs
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Examining Campus Culture The Counselor Perspective At Belmont Hill, the college pro-
cess endures as a prominent dimension of campus culture. College admissions frequently appears in casual conversations among Belmont Hill students, whether seniors in the midst of the application process or middle schoolers talking about a recent athletic commitment. With a plurality of students starting to think about college in seventh and eighth grade (42%), discussions of commitments and matriculation pervade every grade on campus. For Belmont Hill students, college matriculation seems indicative of academic success on campus; thus, students often find their stress related to college tied with the pressure of succeeding on the next test, exam, or paper. Furthermore, the college process at Belmont Hill has become less stressful for students who have come to trust that their success in the classroom will translate into the college admissions process. While the majority (79.7%) of the senior class considered the college process to be either “more” or “equally” as stressful as they had expected, the atmosphere on campus and among friends remains overwhelmingly open and positive. Teachers and college counselors urge students to adopt an open-minded perspective, and most Belmont Hill students fundamentally understand that the correlation between college acceptance and happiness may not be as pronounced as they may
have previously thought. With Belmont Hill students often encouraging each other throughout the college process, nearly 70% of boys found their classmates to be supportive rather than competitive; moreover, 62.3% of Belmont Hill respondents felt comfortable discussing the details of their college with “anybody.” College-related stress at Belmont Hill stems more from personal challenges rather than from a culture of competition in the community. To students and their families, grappling with rankings, understanding their nuances, and searching for a “dream school” can be intimidating; as one student describes, “Searching fruitlessly for a dream school has been most challenging. As opposed to tests or essays or applications, finding the right school that I truly like—not what “society” expects or what others think I’ll like—has sometimes been the most frustrating part of the process.” For other students, the uncertainty and waiting time associated with receiving college decisions become the most daunting element of the process. Belmont Hill college culture encourages students to strive for their best while encouraging their peers. At times of personal stress and tension, members of the Belmont Hill community, whether friends, teachers, or college counselors, all offer their encouragement. One student writes, “Even though I don’t think I can get into my ED school, my friends are always quick to support me. They make make me feel that I can succeed.” ☐
••• with one another? How does this approach
At Winsor,
we asked seniors, “Would you prefer that students are discrete or that they are open about college-talk?” The responses were overwhelmingly—and strikingly—convergent. Indeed, 27 of 34 respondents preferred openness. Six respondents expressed no preference, and only one preferred discretion. We also asked, “How do your friends at other high schools talk about college
compare to what you see at Winsor?” 27 of 31 respondents concurred that college discussion at other high schools was far more open. Although there was no objective basis to these responses, the trend nonetheless reveals our own self-perception as comparatively secretive, tight-lipped, and discrete— traits that contradict the openness idealized by the majority of the class. ☐
Selected Quotations from the Winsor Survey:
“My friends at other schools are much more open about discussing the college process. I admire the way that they are so comfortable, but I don’t see how this approach would work at Winsor where we are taught to be uncomfortable about the college process since Class I.” “[My friends from other schools] talk about college completely comfortably and not secretly at all. Winsor [has] a completely different and strange culture regarding college.” “My friends outside of Winsor are far more open and encouraging of one another when it comes to college.” “‘Where are you applying?’ isn’t a weird question [at other schools]. That is not how it is here.” “It’s more open [at other schools], I like it better. Too sensitive here.”
Early Summer Letter sent out
August Common App Express (Essay Workshop)
l, at least student-
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1st Day of School NND #3: Common App, Resume, Essay due
For seniors around the country,
extensively with their students in a oneon-one setting — a near impossibility in a typical public schools of hundreds of students per grade. As accessible and honest advocates for their students, Mrs. Bobo, Mr. Coppedge, and Mr. Doar empower Belmont Hill boys to make informed choices and successfully navigate the college process. Ultimately, the counseling office’s efforts to foster a supportive environment have facilitated an overwhelmingly positive campus culture. With the office alleviating many of the stresses associated with the actual college application, the stress for survey respondents stemmed primarily from the wait for decisions — an inevitability in the admissions process. An April 2017 study of stress among upper class students at Belmont Hill corroborated this claim. Conducted by Stefan Beljean, a PhD candidate at Harvard University’s Department of Sociology, the study applied the “Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)” to rank stress among students at Belmont Hill and other local high schools. Beljean found that students at Belmont Hill expressed only moderate levels of stress when compared to other students from two larger public schools. Through a survey asking “how have you been feeling about the college process on a scale from 1-5 (“very calm” to “very anxious”),” which was administered to all juniors at Belmont Hill in the spring of 2017, Belmont Hill juniors’ (class of 2018) responses compiled for an average score of 2.4—which translates to a verbal response of “calm.” Thus, as Belmont Hill students move through the college pro-
the “college process” is synonymous with chaos and confusion. Facing an array of mixed messages from parents, online forums, friends, and family, many students grow disheartened at the apparent “randomness” of the undertaking. In combating this feeling of discouragement, Belmont Hill College Counseling seeks to empower students to take ownership of their college process. Operating with the same invested learning model championed by Belmont Hill faculty, the College Counseling office provides students with the analytical “tools” to tackle the problem — in this case, the college process. As Mrs. Bobo explains, “our focus is on providing students the tools they need to navigate the process...ultimately, we hope that all boys can be empowed by their own agency.” While this agency allows students to make their own informed decisions, their increased freedom and power does not equate to a lack of engagement from the counseling team. Instead, the team looks to support students by “chopping up the numbers and helping with interpretation of data.” With this goal of empowerment in mind, the College Counseling office seeks to balance firm deadlines with personally tailored goals and expectations. Having established five non-negotiable deadlines — from creating a resume and filling out a college questionnaire in Junior year to finalizing the college list in Senior year (see Timeline for more) — the College Counseling office helps students break down the college process in manageable segments. Furthermore, with just over 80 students in a typical fifth and sixth form class, the Belmont Hill counseling team has a rare opportunity to work cess, they find ample support in the College Counseling team. ☐
••• may be unintentional, it sometimes seems
To gain a complete understanding of
all sides of Winsor’s college culture, we spoke to Winsor college counselor Ms. Graham. She noted, “The college process is highly individualized, so it is extremely difficult to make general statements about how students should or should not share their experiences. I have found that each class tends to have a different approach to discussing the college process.” This tremendous individuality has been reflected in the behavior of the senior class--while some have been open with their college process, others have chosen to keep the details of their college process more private. Winsor faculty and administration acknowledge and respect this diversity in comfort levels, and individual college discussions never occur in the classroom. However, the college counselors have picked up on underlying sentiments that can impair healthy college discussions. Ms. Graham acknowledges, “The assumptions and judgments we make about others based on where they apply or attend college hinders open conversations and exacerbates stress and pressure.” While these assumptions may not verbally infiltrate conversation, all girls seem to be hyper-aware of them. Ms. Graham went on to say, “I know we are not unique in this regard, but this aspect of our culture inhibits informed and thoughtful conversation about a wider range of schools and serious, authentic reflection on what matters most to each individual.” In fact, Ms. Graham’s comments allude to a greater issue. Although it
Mid September On campus meetings with college reps. begin
Mid October NND #4: Final college list due
as if the Winsor community covets a select few elite schools, and that any school outside of this short list is seen as “less than.” Indeed, one anonymous survey respondent observed that on “college sweatshirt day,” “you can always hear people picking out the Ivy League sweatshirts and comparing numbers to other years.” It is important to acknowledge that there are many factors besides acceptance to an institution that determine a student’s attendance, one of these key features being financial aid. Ms. Graham brought up an important point, noting, “While individuals often prefer to keep their own financial circumstances private, I would love to encourage everyone to remember that for many students at Winsor, the college process is not simply about being admitted, but also about being able to afford to attend.” It is heartening to note that roughly 68% of members of the Class of 2018 surveyed were “comfortable” or “very comfortable” discussing financial aid with classmates. Consistent with these results is the fact that 65% of individuals surveyed noted that their classmates were “respectful/sensitive” or “very sensitive/respectful” when discussing financial aid. Although the majority of students are satisfied, there is still room to grow; the Winsor community as a whole can always be more mindful in these conversations to foster a more accepting environment. ☐
November 1-15 Early Application Deadlines
December 1 NND #5: Last day to make changes to college list
Mid-December Early Decisions arrive
November 1-15 Early Application Deadlines
December 1 Last day to make changes to college list
Mid-December Early Decisions arrive
Senior Year August Common App Workshop
September College event for parents On campus meetings with college reps. begin
October Deadline to request teacher recommendations Preliminary college list submitted to counselor
The C ollege Pro cess
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T he Panel
Athletic Recruiting at Belmont Hill: An Inside Look By William McCormack ’18 Panel Staff
Introduction Of the seniors who responded to the survey, exactly a third confirmed that athletic recruiting had played a role in their college process. Although not all Class of 2018 recruits have necessarily committed—at time of publication, that number is 21, representing slightly more than 25% of the form—the significant role that athletics play in School culture clearly prompts a similar place for sports within the college conversation. In fact, much college-related discussion among boys in Forms I-IV revolves around recruited Upper Schoolers and their college commitments. Especially for student-athletes that commit to play more publicized college sports like football, basketball, and hockey at a Division 1 program, there’s a burst of community excitement that originates with sixth formers and ripples through the student body, eventually reaching first formers. I remember Dewey Jarvis’s (‘13) commitment to Brown football piquing the interest of Class of 2018 First Formers, while David Mitchell’s (‘18) commitment to Brown basketball last summer and Jake Bobo’s (‘18) commitment to Duke football last February resulted in a similar buzz among the current corps of middle schoolers. The Process Begins Commitments from student-athletes like Mitchell and Bobo, as well as the pride, relief, and congratulatory wishes that follow, represent the end of a long process that for some consumes most of their Belmont Hill careers. Anthony Marinello ‘18, who will play lacrosse at Middlebury next year, “started going to tournaments the summer before 8th grade. The first one I went to—UMBC in Maryland—every single D1 coach was there, and a few D3.” Marinello didn’t start at Belmont Hill until Form II, and long before Coach Sullivan, Mrs. Bobo, or Mr. Coppedge assisted with his process, his club program (the Top Gun Fighting Clams), secured him exposure to college coaches and programs at showcases, summer camps, and scouting days. Danny Hincks ‘18, committed to Dartmouth lacrosse, compared his Clams coach to “an agent...he is constantly on the phone with college coaches and seems to be always working to get his players into the best college fit for them. Basically, he got my name on the radar for certain colleges which I liked, and it was then up to me to play well when they were watching me.” David Mitchell ‘18 (Brown basketball) and Jovan Jones ‘18 (Williams basketball) communicated similar information around the role their AAU program and coach, Vin Pastore of Mass Rivals, played in the recruiting process. “Before Mass Rivals,” Jovan explained, “I felt like I wasn’t known in the basketball world. As soon as I joined the team, even though I didn’t get that much better, the brand got my name out so much more.” The program’s 9,000+ Twitter followers include coaches from nearly every D1 program in the nation, and coaching staffs take note of the positive news Pastore shares about his players. The role of well-established club teams and coaches extends beyond opportunities for showcasing talents at events like scouting days. “My coach is really respected in USA diving, and colleges trusted what she said about me,” related Ben Bramley ‘18, committed to dive at Purdue. Like Bramley’s coach, Vin Pastore at Mass Rivals has developed personal connections with many of basketball’s most famous programs. “I remember we went to Dunkin’ Donuts in Dallas [after a tournament],” Mitchell said laughing. “Coach Calipari [of Kentucky] suddenly pulled up, and
Vin just goes outside and says, ‘Fam, what’s up my man.’ They had coffee and talked.” For Jones, Mitchell, and many of their Rivals teammates, that anecdote encapsulates much of their motivation for joining the Mass Rivals. The program’s prominent alumni—former lottery pick Noah Vonleh, Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste, Kentucky’s Wenyen Gabriel, and UConn’s Jalen Adams— and the relationship the program shares with such college programs -- proved “Coach Vin had a track record of getting kids into schools and putting them into the right situations,” according to Mitchell.
Belmont Hill’s Guidance After cementing their recruiting foundation with major assistance from their outside clubs, student-athletes often utilize more Belmont Hill guidance during their junior and senior years once they narrow their list to a few schools. Belmont Hill coaches advocate for students over the phone; Marinello said, “Coach Sullivan has connections with lots of the NESCAC programs I was looking at, especially with Middlebury.” Once Jovan chose to pursue NESCAC schools as opposed to accepting one of his D1 offers, Coach Murphy reached out to several Division 3 schools to gauge their interest. Mrs. Bobo and Mr. Coppedge, according to Quin McGaugh (Middlebury Track and XC), often called schools to see where he stood in their recruiting class, communicating with the admissions office while he and Coach Harder coordinated with coaching staffs. For other Belmont Hill student-athletes whose sports lack a dominant club presence, Belmont Hill varsity coaches were the only ones who handled recruiting. “All my recruiting went through Belmont Hill—Coaches Leo, Bradley, and Davis.” said Phil Conigliaro ‘18, committed to wrestle at Harvard. Like Conigliaro, Sam Rohrer ‘18, excited to play baseball at Williams next year, said Coach Grant and Varsity Baseball assistant Pete Feeley helped his process most by “putting me on the field and having a lot of coaches come to see our games.” Having played at Amherst himself and served as a recruiting coordinator for Northeastern, Coach Grant has “formed really good relationships with schools he knows Belmont Hill kids will want to go to.” For all Belmont Hill student-athletes who are recruited by college coaches, the college counseling office supports the students by coordinating with coaches and college admissions personnel to be sure that the student’s academic recruitability matches their athletic recruitability.
frustrating to repeatedly reach out to schools who he believed were disregarding his communication when they learned he was “just a small school kid” and ran in the Independent School League—typically a strong marketing point for athletes, especially for sports like lacrosse and hockey, but not when leagues with larger populations claim faster average cross country times and more exposure to inter-league competition and large invitationals. Seth Israel ‘18, an uncommitted wrestler who started the process later than most of his peers, “really had to prove to the coaches that I was excited about their program and could be an asset to the team, which was tough at times.” Since Belmont Hill student-athletes often market themselves to schools as opposed to enjoying the reverse relationship, news coverage on investigations into bribery, under-the-table dealings, and NCAA rule infractions are essentially absent from the process. “They’re not offering me a Mercedes,” joked Sam Rohrer. One BH recruit anonymously reported being illegally purchased a sweatshirt, virtually nothing in the face of the $100,000 payments Louisville basketball funnelled to recruit Brian Bowen earlier this year. On the other hand, a different anonymous recruit shared that his teammate from outside of Belmont Hill was offered an immediate $10,000 in cash by a tournament organizer to commit to a certain school: “He [his friend] went over and looked and said it was real, but I didn’t believe him, so when the guy said to come look, I peered into the backpack, and there were just stacks of 100s. I was shocked. I think it happens more than the news lets on in [anonymous sport].” After demonstrating interest in programs and schools and receiving news about where they stand in a recruiting class, almost all Belmont Hill student-athletes assess “fit” in the same way their non-recruit classmates do. Rower Andrew Berg ‘18, attending Princeton next year, said that he loved “the structure of the classes” and Princeton’s activities period, in addition to “the team and coaching style.” Marinello explained that “once I had an idea of where I could play, I did a normal college search from there. It was back to reality. I found an area that I liked and a school that I liked.” McGaugh went so far as to say that his Middlebury choice was “not a cross country decision. I just really thought the school was a great personal fit.” Jovan shared advice from his mother that captures the mentality many BH athletes have when they decide to pursue playing college athletics: “I knew I wanted to use basketball as a tool to receive the best education possible—that’s what my mom always wanted for me.” While most Belmont Hill commits consider much more than their sport when making a decision, Ben Bramley ‘18 may be the one exception. After finishing sixth at Olympic Trials before Rio in 2016, Bramley obtained impressive options for college diving, and many classmates criticized his decision to attend Purdue over Stanford. For Ben, his college choice was “very much a diving decision...If I didn’t think I was being given the best opportunity to become the best diver—through coaches, facilities, and the team—I wouldn’t be happy at the college.”
Demonstrating Interest; Assessing Fit Although club programs, Belmont Hill coaches, and Belmont Hill college counselors provide significant assistance throughout the recruiting process, student-athletes often take on the bulk of burdensome work themselves. Especially in smaller sports or at the D3 level, it can be quite draining to reach out individually to a wide variety of schools and programs, while simultaneously advocating for yourself (not to mention, completing homework and going to practices). “Unless you’re the top 1% of all recruits, nobody’s bowing down for you,” said Marinello. Even as a D1 commit, Conigliaro remarked, “it was a lot to deal with. Sometimes I would get two or threehour phone calls a night from coaches that I had to answer, even though I should have been doing homework...It was fine at first, but after months of this, I would dread when my phone rang and had the name of a college coach on it.” Runner Quin McGaugh remembered he “started sending emails to a ton of coaches the fall of my junior After the Commitment year just expressing some interest.” He found it After such a lengthy process, many Belmont Hill athletes simply feel relieved after they finally commit to a school. Commits continue to remain in contact with their future coach, usually texting or talking on the phone—about Belmont Hill classes, senior year, family, other vests students in the future college careers of sports an athlete might be playing, or updates their recruited classmates and friends. on the college team—anywhere from between Though athletics define much of Beltwice a week to once a month. Committing also mont Hill culture, it’s important to acknowlrequires cutting off communication with other edge that the other 75% of an average graducollege coaches: some welcomed the chance to ating class receive much more comprehensive disconnect with coaches who had criticized their college counseling programming. Non-reultimate decision, while others, like David Mitchcruits progress through the college experience ell, expressed appreciation for those who had rewith individualized guidance and a structured cruited him. Referring to Harvard basketball’s roadmap that encourages choice, allowing Tommy Amaker and the communication they students to take ownership of their process. had shared, Mitchell said Amaker “could see See our timeline, “Recruiting in the Arts?” that I could be a strong, young man, and it and “The Counselor Perspective” for more. ☐ was special to see he wasn’t only talking to
me about basketball.” Even after committing, most Belmont Hill athletes hesitate to wear apparel from their future school. Sam Rohrer explained, “If you wear it now, you’re going to get a few chirps for it—that’s just how it is—but if you’re proud about it—and I am—I think you’ll wear it eventually.” All other commits shared Sam’s sentiment. Hincks shared that most comments he receives for wearing Dartmouth gear falls along the lines of “weird brag,” “let us know,” or “seek it, chieftain.” Berg and McGaugh interpret chirps as “typical BH behavior,” boys’ school language that masks congratulatory intentions and pride for classmates. Others aren’t so sure. One athlete anonymously shared that he thinks comments about apparel reflect jealousy: “The average Belmont Hill student believes that because I am a recruited athlete, I did not have to work as hard as my peers to get into a school like [anonymous school]. However, I think if you combine all the time me and all other student-athletes alike have put into their sports and their academics, it equals out or even outweighs the time put in by many kids who believe student athletes have an easy path to college.” Though Anthony Marinello thinks sarcastic comments reflect good intentions, he agrees that not everyone acknowledges the full length of the recruiting process: “Any time someone says, ‘Oh, you’re so lucky you’re done with this,’ I think, I did my grinding already. I’ve had to deal with this for 5 years.” Conclusion Sports have always been part of Belmont Hill’s college conversation. The Class of 2018’s 21 commits represent a return to the average percentage of Belmont Hill graduates who play a sport in college: commits among 2017 graduates numbered 17, representing a slight uptick from the 15 in 2016, while 29 and 32 boys committed in the Class of 2015 and 2014, respectively. Historically, the Belmont Hill average has stabilized at about 25% (a figure that matches the ISL’s league-wide average), and analyzing the recruiting process for many Belmont Hill students reveals a more nuanced aspect of the school’s college culture. Like students who do not pursue college athletics, BH’s recruited athletes learn and stumble on the fly (as our recruiting “bloopers” can attest), receiving assistance from parents, outside clubs, Belmont Hill coaches, and college counselors. They emerge from the process excited to play a sport they love at the next level, appreciative of the path that led them there, and with new knowledge about themselves. ☐
Editor’s Note
Although committed Belmont Hill student-athletes represent only 25% of the average graduating class, our substantive coverage on the athletic recruiting process reflects Belmont Hill’s majority athletic culture. Community interest in the experience of a recruited Belmont Hill athlete speaks to the broader institutional role that sports play at Belmont Hill, and required athletic participation for boys in all forms drives this correlation. Broad student investment in The Loop and widespread student support for Belmont Hill athletics similarly in-
David Mitchell ’18, a threeyear captain at Belmont Hill, will join Brown Men’s Basketball next fall
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B elmont Hill Opinions
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A Tradition of Wa s t e f u l n e s s By Jack Weldon ‘20 Panel Staff One of the Belmont Hill trademarks is the “family-style” lunch system. Instead of having each student individually fill a plate (like walk-through lunches), a waiter collects two or three bowls of that day’s lunch for each table. Initially, the table’s proctor prepares servings for each student at the table, and then leaves the bowls of food on the table in case students want seconds. The purpose of the system is to create, as the name suggests, a “family” meal atmosphere. If a student at one end of the table wants another serving of chicken nuggets, they have to ask other students to “pass the nuggets,” much like what would occur at a traditional family dinner. As a concept, the system seems practical; fostering a welcoming, co-dependent relationship during meals. But there is an issue with the system: food waste. According to the traditional “whoever kills it fills it” rule, if a bowl becomes empty, the student who took the last serving must refill it at the lunch counter for the rest of the table. However, as a waiter, I have often found myself dumping out entire bowls of chicken or trays of meat into the garbage--wasted food that could have been better used elsewhere. Some pin the problem on the lunch itself, claiming that if they enjoyed the lunch, they would have eaten it, and therefore there would not have been any waste. But even with the most popular lunches at school, such as General Tso’s chicken or Turkey Dinner, waiters dumping out full bowls of food at the end of the lunch period is a common sight. This is a result of the aforementioned “refilling” system that is an inherent byproduct of the family-style system. It is a common occurrence during a lunch like General Tso’s for a student to refill the bowl, and return with a heaping pile of chicken, only to learn that no one wants any more. The result is an entire bowl of General Tso’s chicken dumped into the trash at the end of the period. This is only one potential instance; the “before you get more, ask whom it’s for” rule does not always apply. Often half-full bowls of food are dumped out, as it is hard to predict how much food each student will take after the bowl has been refilled. Belmont Hill places a great deal of emphasis on the problem of world hunger. Oxfam banquets and fasts are held annually to educate students on how many people live in perpetual food insecurity. In fact, a recent chapel talk about the annual Turkey Drive, which raised 570 meals for families in need, pointed out how one does not have to look far to find people suffering from hunger--many are afflicted here in the Commonwealth. But even with the constant promotion of consciousness of food insecurity, the wastefulness of our own lunch system is overlooked. Yes, the family-style meals promote a friendly atmosphere, and yes, the system is a tradition of the school. But full trays of food, food which is desperately needed elsewhere, are emptied into a trash can at the end of each lunch. We could institute a process whereby a student must ask how many people want more food before he goes to refill the bowl. Additionally, the kitchen staff could refill bowls conservatively so as to prevent heaping piles of food being thrown away. As the family-style system is inherently wasteful; Belmont Hill should take further steps to decrease lunch wastefulness and move in a direction that more carefully stewards our food resources. ☐
Duncan Grant ‘18
Pictures from a busy end to 2017
David Hegarty
Duncan Grant '18
B elmont Hill Opinions
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T he Panel
Should Belmont Hill Require Students to Participate in Arts ? year in the B-Flats would suffice, as would electronic equipment, the premier opportuOrchestra, Jazz Band, or any other group nity for STEAM-fascinated students. which meets under teacher supervision. Presently, such a proposal may not The theater also furnishes myriad roles: lead seem feasible due to a logistical concern: As an institution dedicated to edactor, makeup, set tech, lighting, and sound. time. With a six-hour school day, a mound ucating boys per its mission statement, in “mind, body, and spirit,” Belmont Hill strives to encourage growth in a variety of arenas. The focus on athletics, demon“What I want to bring to your attention is that the Winter Concert was tostrated through mandatory participation night in the chapel. It was merely 15 minutes after the end of the basketball each sports season, has begotten undeniable success, as evidenced by a trophy case game, yet I did not see more than 5 people from the gym in the chapel. I also packed with awards. Alas, performing arts noticed this at the most recent coffeehouse, where the majority of the audido not receive nearly as much interest. 21 ence was family and fellow performers. Why not give your friends 1 hour of approximately 250 eligible boys sing in of your time to recognize their hard work and dedication to their craft? I the B-Flats, and only seven, six of whom are mean, you’d get to hear some harmonious music in return too. seniors, performed in the thrilling fall musical. To bolster the arts department, not to Especially for the seniors who are in their final year of playing and singing mention the general cultural understanding together, but also for those burgeoning artists with bright futures in muof the student body, the Belmont Hill Senate should implement a new statute: in order to sic, I ask that you consider supporting the arts. You never know what you graduate, one must partake in performing may like.” arts during at least one-third of his time in the Upper School. At first glance, a full year of per- For those a bit wary to face the heat of the of schoolwork that never ceases to accumuforming arts, or three of nine seasons, looks spotlight, these invaluable backstage posi- late, and a demanding sports schedule, the arduous, but students could fulfil this re- tions allow each student to contribute to the typical student appears too consumed in quirement through a variety of venues. One show in a meaningful way. In addition, time other activities to engage in the arts. But free spent backstage involves much high-tech blocks offer a convenient time slot to join
an arts group. Most students spend those forty-minute chunks engrossed in Clash Royale rather than their biology textbooks. Even if a student does prefer to utilize his free block as an oasis from the day’s stresses, B-Flats provides the perfect outlet. Singing with the B-Flats and Mr. Patterson out-endorphins any video game! Even without a requirement, Belmont Hill should encourage more students at least to try the performing arts field. The bonds built during rehearsal cannot be understated; personally, I continue to speak with young alumni whom I knew solely from our shared time within the Prenatt Building just as much as I contact those with whom I shared a locker room. Even if one embarks on an arts career with ulterior motives, namely college admissions, he learns to love his respective discipline. Many recent alumni have extended their love for singing, founded under the tutelage of Mr. Patterson, into the undergraduate experience. Ultimately, Belmont Hill should consider the above proposal seriously, as both the school and the student body would glean much. ☐
sure on students as it benefits those who plan ahead and get work done early. As the class of 2018, we are the second-to-last group to experience the old schedule of five classes for all five days of the week. Even as a 7th and 8th grader, I remember finding it difficult to do work for all my classes each and every night; I imagine it was tremendously difficult for the sophomores and juniors with that high-intensity schedule. In addition to school nights becoming freer, so too do school days for upper schoolers. That one day with a free block means that most students will have only two classes and thus are able to study and do work during that 75-minute free period or go visit a teacher. The long block schedule also benefits teachers as they can dive further into topics in class with more time or perform labs/activities that last longer than 40 minutes. The long block schedule
day and being spread too thin. Although this system gives students protections, the testing day schedule is not readily available online as Mr. Grant usually has to send it to a student upon request. Therefore, the schedule should be sent out to all students say at the beginning of the month so students can plan ahead and map out their study schedules. Belmont Hill has worked hard to help students make the most of school and alleviate stress by creating the long block and testing day schedules. In light of this positive impetus from the school administration, I urge you, yes you reading--skimming--this article right now, to seize the day, to plan ahead, and to make the most of your Belmont Hill experience. ☐
By John Markis ’18 Panel Staff
Excerpt from Jeff Price’s (’18) Email to the School:
Early Birds Get the Worm During Long Block Era By Gavin Colbert ’18 Panel Staff In a stressful school environment with so many moving parts, one night can make a huge difference for the rest of the week: Tuesday night. Let’s say you have a test on Thursday. If you get the other four subjects of homework done on Tuesday night, you are afforded flexibility in the rest of the week. You are now free to solely focus on studying for that test on Thursday or work on that art project or go to your club sports practice. We take it for granted now, but the long block schedule has been a very positive step by the school administration that truly makes a difference in our daily lives to relieve stress and give us more agency in time management. Instituted in 2014, the long block schedule has helped to alleviate some pres-
benefits the dedicated early birds who will get the worm as long as they put their heads down and work hard Tuesday night. Paired with long blocks, another invention has come out of the administration in recent years: the rigid test day schedules. Over a weekly cycle, each subject is afforded primary and secondary testing days upon which the teacher can give full-period examinations or have papers due. This
“Instituted in 2014, the long block schedule has helped to alleviate some pressure on students as it benefits those who plan ahead and get work done early.” helps teachers plan assignments and set the speed of their course while also preventing a student from having multiple tests on one
Blood Drive Seeking More Participation from Students By Seth Israel ‘18 Staff Writer Blood donation has always been an aspect of service and giving back that I feel personally connected to, as the results of these donations hit close to home. In 1996, my sister was born prematurely, and among various procedures and measures taken to save her life, she required multiple blood transfusions. Without the kindness and selflessness of my sister’s donors, she likely would not have made it through the operations. Given all of this, I learned from a young age how important and impactful blood donation is. On November 14th, Belmont Hill hosted its 13th annual Kraft Blood Drive. From students to teachers to faculty to parents, there were 27 donors processed throughout the day. Of those 27 donors, 11 of them were new donors to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women’s Hospital donation system. Unfortunately some of the generous potential donors were unable to give, whether due to sickness or another issue, but ultimately 23 pints of blood were donated, including three known O positive, one known O negative (the universal donor blood type), and a variety of other blood types, all of
which were equally important and valuable to their eventual recipients. From the 23 pints of blood donated, 46 patients can benefit. Last school year, during the February Blood Drive, only 12 pints were collected. Although November’s 23 pints improves upon February’s, both numbers leave room for improvement. About 120 prospec-
These excuses, however, seem pretty trivial in comparison to the incredible impact a blood transfusion can have on another person’s life. Giving blood is quick, not very painful, and if you prepare yourself correctly, should have a minimal impact on how you feel afterward: a few snacks from the kind nurses rejuvenates your blood sugar
The Dana Farber “Blood Mobile”
levels, making you feel as good as you did when you walked into the donation vehicle. When talking to those who gave, the response was unanimous. First-time blood donor Jared Stier ‘18 found the process extremely straightforward: “As it was my first time giving blood, I was slightly nervous, but the nurses were very nice, and it ended up being a very easy process.” John Markis ‘18, a second-time donor explained, “As
tive donors from the Upper School were eligible to give last month (17 or over and weighing more than 110 pounds), yet only 13 did. There are many excuses for not donating blood: having sports practice later in the day, missing a class, not having enough time, or being fearful of the false notion that donation is a painful and draining ordeal.
someone who cringes at the sight of a needle, I was apprehensive about giving blood initially; however, the process was quick, straightforward, and pain-free. Teachers are more than happy to permit students to miss a class, and I did not have to miss any practices due to the school-wide mud week.” It is important for us to come together as a community to perform service, and especially to give blood. Together, we can pool our collective efforts; relatively simple actions can make an enormous impact on those in need. I know that there are many patients out there, patients like my sister, who require the generosity of others to survive, and we can take advantage of our privileges to support these people’s lives. The second-semester blood drive is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27th, 2018, so consider helping others less fortunate than you, and, when the time rolls around, give blood. One day, you, or maybe a loved one, may need a blood transfusion, and you will be relieved, just like my parents were, to know that there is someone out there generous enough to donate their time and blood for a patient in need. I challenge those who are eligible to be one of those courageous souls by spending time giving blood, and, as the nurses say, “saving a life.” ☐
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B elmont HIll opinions
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Get off the Fence: D’Agostino’s vs. Ma Magoo’s
In this issue of The Panel, we are continuing our feature debate between two students with opposing beliefs. 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 debate--D’Agostino’s vs. Ma Magoo’s
Pro-D’Agostino’s
out about Dags is that they make your sub right in front of you, so you never are left worrying about how much longer you’ll have to wait (or about the food quality). In contrast, Ma Magoo’s makes you wait anywhere from 15-20 minutes*. Although this in itself is not much more time, the drive to Fresh Pond takes about 20 minutes—30* with traffic. This really adds up and can be a deal breaker for students on The Hill who then opt for Dags. It is also worth noting the difference in caloric intake between your average Dags sub and the classic Chicken Tender Honey Mustard sub from Ma Ma-
By Joshua Fairman ’19 Panel Staff D’agostino’s has to be one of the greatest local delis in the area; their quick service, great employees, and delicious offerings all serve to make Dags the best dining option available to a Belmont Hill Student. Just a short 5-minute drive down Park Ave, this deli is truly a go-to on a day when you’re just not feeling the Sodexo meals (we’ve all been there). Now, when you go, they have a great selection of subs; my favorite is the Chicken Parmesan, but my friends also go for the Meatball on occasion. The food is really incredible and will leave you feeling content after a long day or practice. There is also practically no wait, 10 minutes tops if they’re busy. One thing that really stands
“Consuming a whole Dags sub is safe. However, taking on an entire Ma Magoos’s Chicken Tender Honey Mustard sub will put anybody out of commission for the next several hours.” goo’s. Although my analysts haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact numbers, I feel confident in saying this; consuming a whole Dags sub is safe. However, taking on an entire Ma Magoo’s Chicken Tender Honey Mustard sub will put anybody out of commission for the next several hours, except for maybe the legendary Bobby Paré, who is rumored to have consumed two in one sitting. Although I respect Ma Magoo’s and have eaten there many a time, I believe that D’Agostino’s is the superior of the two. #Parm>Tendy #BigBob #JustJoshin ☐
Pro-Ma Magoo’s
By Matt Smith ’19 Panel Staff If you’ve been attending Belmont Hill for more than a year now, you probably know about D’Agastino’s and Ma Magoo’s. For those who don’t, D’Ag’s and Ma Ma’s are the preeminent sandwich shops near Belmont Hill and are widely enjoyed by Belmont Hill students. Which is better, however, is a question for the ages, hotly contested and divisive. Personally, I think the answer is clear: Ma Ma’s is by far and away superior to D’Ag’s. Its tastier and more filling sandwiches and scenic location both tip the scales drastically in its favor. While the sandwiches of D’Agastino’s are adequate lunch options, they are far out ranked by those at Ma Magoo’s. Ma Ma’s huge subs burst with meat and and drip with rich sauce. The meager D’ag’s subs, in comparison, can be polished off by the most voracious Belmont Hill eater in a matter of minutes, leaving much
to be desired in both flavor and size. As put so eloquently by Mitch Tor ‘19, “ D’Ag’s is a convenience, Ma Ma’s is a luxury.” For some, a detractor from Ma Magoo’s is definitely location. Situated in Cambridge, the commute to Ma Ma’s is far longer than that to D’Ag’s. What the location lacks in accessibility, however, it makes up ten fold in scenery. Neighbored by the glistening waterfront of Fresh Pond, Ma Ma’s for any special occasion, from picnics to first dates. The proximity to wildlife and nature
“Consuming a whole Dags sub is safe. However, taking on an entire Ma Magoos’s Chicken Tender Honey Mustard sub will put anybody out of commission for the next several hours.” provides a truly magical experience for customers. Ultimately, Ma Ma’s represents the pinnacle of sandwich shop dining, whereas D’Ag’s barely improves upon school lunch. Ma Ma’s checks all the important boxes, making it more than just a sandwich, but truly a culinary experience. ☐
BH Grapples with Implications of #MeToo Movement By Austin Kwoun ’18 Panel Staff As sexual assault accusations continue to propagate in Hollywood and on Capitol Hill on the wings of the #MeToo movement, it begs the question: how hard is it to understand? Sexual assault is a violation of human privacy, human sanctity, and human rights, and, for the longest time, nobody really seemed to care. Sexual assault has been treated as an issue of status before it has been addressed as a violation of the most basic human rights. Yet in that vein, the baseline issue with sexual assault culture, whether on a global scale or at Belmont Hill, is not that we fail to condemn such harassment or to treat it with indignation; it is something far more frustratingly fixable: ignorance. For all its success as an educational hotspot, Belmont Hill needs to become better educated with regards to sexual assault. Theo Why ‘18 puts it best: “It isn’t an issue of ‘sexual assault is bad’; the problem is that every component member of a case of sexual assault is, to varying degrees ignorant of how to deal with the situation.” Accusations are a slippery slope for the accuser and the accused, and onlookers often struggle to decide how to deal with the physical and emotional stigma of being sexually assaulted. Therein lies the biggest issue with sexual assault culture: we have created an environment that makes individuals doubt the validity of their own accusations or those of others. The basis of the #MeToo movement lies in that women who were victimized by producing giant Harvey Weinstein feared the detrimental impact of confessing on their careers. In a similar vein, the trend of victim blaming places the burden of responsibility on an individu-
al that is already charged with facing their own hurdles. Indeed, American sexual education is wont to exclude the emotional connotations of sex and sexual assault, even in the paltry 13 states that mandate medically accurate sex ed. Massachusetts is one of those 13 states, but few, if any, private or public institutions discuss how sexual assault victims face depression, dissociation,
and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), each of which can entail traumatizing nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, hopelessness, and more. Catholic schools skirt the issue of consent by avoiding “taboo” topics like rape and sexual assault. Even schools like Belmont Hill fall victim to the fallacy of failing to reach beyond the hard, objective facts, obscuring the emotional aspect of sexual assault and relationships in general. Belmont Hill’s sexual education program is noble, but it falls woefully short of providing the education necessary to yield consistently strong characters in regards to sexual assault. The Belmont Hill sexual education program is a relatively cur-
sory, 8th-grade-only program that does not cover nearly the same bases that does Winsor’s 7-year health program. Spenser Nuzzo ‘18 says that, despite the fact that he arrived in 10th grade and did not experience the sex ed program here at Belmont Hill, “it’s clear that the school teaches little in its sexual education program about what it’s like to be in an actual relationship and deal with real-life problems that involve emotions and unwholesome intentions.” From that standpoint, it is easier to see exactly why Belmont Hill students tend to have a vague idea that sexual assault is bad, but don’t tend to discuss or truly comprehend its connotations. Sexual assault isn’t a common issue at Belmont Hill, whether in regards to a victim or a perpetrator. Perhaps it is for that reason that the issue is often skirted outside of niche communities across the school. With that in mind, certain courses and certain teachers do give students the opportunity to face the difficult issue of sexual assault. Donavan Payne ‘18 sings the praises of Dr. Tift’s Literature of Social Reflection class, a junior elective that focuses much of its core curriculum on sexual assault. Using the novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Dr. Tift “does a wonderful job raising a sensitive issue and gets people talking about it, which is an extremely important first stem when
it comes to raising awareness about sexual assault.” Donavan agrees that insensitivity to sexual assault at Belmont Hill stems from ignorance and ambiguity and agrees that the teachings of Social Lit “should be expressed to the rest of the community in whatever way, shape, or form necessary.” General consensus around Belmont Hill campus is that the student body would be accepting of a sexual assault victim and would readily condemn a sexual offender. However, a handful of students questioned just how actively the community would enforce the latter statement. Owen Pickette ‘18 in particular feels that, “in the culture of sexual one-upmanship at Belmont Hill and that exists in society on the whole, it’s easy to blur the line between something you can high-five your buddies about versus something that violates the basic principles of human rights.” Indeed, several Belmont Hill boys reported that their peers had partaken in actions that they themselves would subjectively question; where do we draw the line as a community? There exist pressing questions such as these, and the overarching opinion is that Belmont Hill needs a more clearly defined stance; it needs a better, more comprehensive sexual education program that accounts for the intangible; it needs to draw a line with regards to extracurricular activities and take accountability for the questionable actions of its students; and it needs to talk about the issue. Nothing is more important for Belmont Hill’s sexual assault culture than spreading it, propagating it through the curriculum, mandating an understanding of the issue. Only then can we move forward as a community, uniting in a more cohesive effort to raise awareness and discourage sexual assault in society. ☐
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Implementing Global Forum: Ms. Pelmas’ Compact By Nicole Chung ’18 and Selina Li ’18 Staff Writers Though Winsor’s student body may have spent an entire week in February learning about ways to conserve our world, few are aware of the epic sustainability project conducted by our very own head of school back in 2005. Nearly 12 years ago, Ms. Pelmas was living in San Francisco when she decided to make a pact - or “compact,” so to speak - not to buy anything new for a year. She accomplished the feat with a few close friends, all of whom encouraged and held each other accountable throughout the year. Save health and hygiene necessities like fresh food, drink, and toothbrushes, everything Ms. Pelmas and her friends purchased was second-hand or borrowed. What started as a pledge between friends spiraled over the year into a national and even international phenomenon, catching the eyes of notable media sources like NPR and “The Today Show.” Conglomerating into one large online Yahoo group, people joined Compact from all around the globe to make strides in environmental consciousness, divert away from a consumerist-centered society, and recognize what things in life are truly fundamental. When inquired about the influence of Compact in her life today, Ms. Pelmas imparted her firm belief that you can truly buy anything used. She shared, “One of the things that I’ve gotten feedback on is [that] the furniture in my office ought to go, and I ought to get new
furniture.” But such suggestions can’t faze her. “From my perspective, until the couch is on the floor, it’s a perfectly good couch,” she laughed. Deftly named after the historical Mayflower document, “Compact” was clearly an environmentally conscious ini-
Ms. Pelmas Giving a Speech tiative whose frugality made a permanent footprint in Ms. Pelmas’ life. Viewing Compact under the lens of class and privilege, however, adds a deeper, less comfortable dimension to the project. Could people have viewed this seemingly benevolent initiative as coming from a place of privilege and elitism? Yes, says Ms. Pelmas. She recalls receiving criticism for
A headline from an article about Ms. Pelmas’ compact
her actions via “shock jocks” on the radio whose jobs were seemingly “to get people outraged.” She recalled their adamant arguments: “If you stop purchasing things, are you thinking everybody should just stop purchasing things? You’re trying to
The Winsor School save people’s livelihoods, but nobody in Walmart will have a job if everybody stops buying stuff.” In the face of such critics who saw Compact as a holier-than-thou, didactic sort of project, Ms. Pelmas would often explain that her intention was not to tell other people how to live. In her words, “It [was] no referendum on anything; it [was] just our choice.”
The Washington Post
Although her intention in posting Compact’s material-conscious agenda online was to spread environmental awareness, what impact did Compact actually have on Ms. Pelmas and her views about socioeconomic class? When we asked whether Compact altered her perspective on the general idea of unearned advantages, she answered, “I don’t think it did. The reason that I say that is that I was always raised with this awareness of incredible privilege and guilt about it. Academics are good at a lot of things, but managing guilt is not one of them.” Though she may not have obtained entirely new revelations about socioeconomic disparity from her year-long endeavor, our headmaster acknowledged the reality of many working class families. She duly noted that “opting for a life, any change in your lifestyle, the fact that you can actually actively change the way you approach things, is a mark of privilege. One thing that happens in the lower classes - both in terms of education and in terms of money - is that you get completely stuck in the place you are, and that’s part of the problem. You don’t have the ability to the resources to change your path easily.” One thing, then, is certain: there lies a privilege in choosing. Although Ms. Pelmas was certainly not ill-intentioned in upping the ante on environmental conservation, she acknowledges that the privileges of education and white skin created a sort of socioeconomic cushion for her. Being able to decide whether one needs to save money on a basis of desire rather than necessity is a comfort in itself. As individuals, we should make an effort to reflect on our feelings regarding such a taboo topic and strive to unpack our discomfort, comfort, privileges, or oppressions around socioeconomic class. Because every choice that we make is inevitably tied to our identities, including class, let us all become more conscious of class-sensitive topics. Let us listen, support, and affirm one another. ☐
Bridging the Gap: Forging Connections Between the Grades By Annie Adams ’21 Contributing Writer
Buddy advisory has long been a widely loved-- and controversial-- aspect of the Winsor community. Buddy advisory is supposed to be a time when Upper Schoolers and Lower Schoolers meet and bond. However, what is supposed to be an enjoyable experience for all often becomes an awkward, forced forty-minute event. Without an Upper School effort to befriend the younger students, buddy advisory can make Lower Schoolers feel intimidated and rejected. In Class III, my advisory and our Class VII counterpart decided to diverge from the icebreaker activities and just talk. While we probably missed out on some epic trivia, talk of prom dresses and complaints about Class III Earth Science
over a bag of Hershey’s kisses was certainly my most positive memory of buddy advisory. More recently, I experienced my first Collect-oween as an Upper Schooler with my advisory and our Class II buddies. The overwhelming thought of candy had many Lower Schoolers hyper. As the “mature” ones, my advisory collectively felt as though we were simply supervisors sent to make sure no one got hurt in the stampede between departments, and there really was no time for bonding with the younger students. Eliza Barker ’23 shared a Lower Schooler’s point of view. She believes that buddy advisories can be tense for both sides of the equation and that “they can sometimes be a little forced.” Eliza also added that “sometimes, buddy advisories can be not so fun because all the Upper Schoolers don’t really make an effort to
Students put away iPads during buddy advisory and talk as a group
Laptops, while necessary for class, can be distracting during advisories The Winsor School make friends with us, and they can be as buddy advisories only happen about pretty scary.” Her opinions are shared by three times per year, it is hard for any real many Lower Schoolers. Additionally, Up- bonding to happen. Another possibility is per Schoolers sometimes either skip bud- for the activities to be less structured and dy advisory or make no effort to befriend allow for more organic connection. Chloe Lower Schoolers they may not otherwise Macaulay ’21 says, “There is no way for us get to know. When Lower Schoolers and to get to know our buddy advisory if we Upper Schoolers don’t make the most of are not enjoying the time we spend with their chances to socialize with each other, them.” Activities that are mutually enjoyeveryone loses a valuable moment to have able and active, like relay races by advisofun and make lasting relationships. ry, or more relaxed activities, like playing How can we turn buddy advisory board games, could also be a solution beinto an opportunity to make memories, cause Upper and Lower Schoolers would rather than an often-dreaded event? Many get time to chat but also have something different opinions were shared during a re- fun to do. An anonymous source pointed cent Collect Forum during Upper School out that that “having activities during budMeeting. Although Collect has not yet dis- dy advisories would help students get to cussed the feedback they received during know each other.” the forum, it is possible that changes will If everyone makes an effort to get be implemented. Perhaps within advisories to know all of their peers here at Winsor there could be some sort of one-on-one ar- through buddy advisories, our community rangement, like with Class IV and Class will have stronger friendships and between I buddies. More buddy advisory periods and within both the Upper and Lower The Winsor School could occur throughout the year, because School.☐
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Mourning (with humor) for the Pre-Reputation Taylor Swift By Elly Pickette ’21 Contributing Writer August 24th, 2017. An innocent summer day turned dark and dangerous with the release of “Look What You Made Me Do”, the lead single of off Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album, reputation. I still remember the moment I heard that song. I was alone in my room, preparing for something I thought would be a beautiful life moment I would treasure forever. It quickly became something very different. I will now always mark this date as the anniversary of Taylor-Swift-as we-knewher’s death, and mourn every year. The song quickly broke millions of young Swift fan’s hearts, such as my own, with the line "I'm sorry, the old Taylor can't come to the phone right now”/"Why?”/"Oh, 'cause she's dead!”. Immediately, the world began to mourn. Tears could be heard whenever one stepped outside. It was, and will always be known as a tragic time for young people everywhere. It can be said that lives were changed within the first seconds of hearing this song. Sadly, it has become evident that Taylor believed that it was time to switch from skirts and glitter to leather jackets and black eyeliner with the release of her subsequent singles and album. In fact, I and many other true Swifties are still shocked by Taylor’s usage of swears and references to alcohol. She mentioned drinking 13 times, something that never happened on
any of her five previous albums, and something that shouldn’t have happened on this album (in the songs “End Game,” “Delicate,” “So It Goes,” “Gorgons,” “Get Away Car,” “King of my Heart,” “Dress,” “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” and “New Years Day” for those who are wondering). Gone are the days of crying with Ben and Jerry’s while listening to the heart-wrenching melodies of young Tay. Here come the days of late nights, partying, and wearing clothing you would be dress coded for. I am not excited. No true Taylor Swift fan is excited. I am doubtful Taylor is even excited. This is clearly a clever ploy to generate new buzz in the era of electronic pop music, and I am sure/very hopeful/pretty much desperate for Pre-reputation Taylor her to return to her earlier, more beautiful sound. However, this album has one such song. One song that I can play on repeat and feel happy to. Only one, but it is there, generating a tiny shred of hope I hold close to my heart. The song is track 15, "New Years Day”, and it is the only song that sounds like anything Taylor has sung or should ever sing. Although it mentions cleaning up bottles, I can naively hope that they are soda bottles and pretend I am back in 2010 listening to Speak Now for the first time. I am sure that albums will come out in the future with songs like "New Years Day" music akin to her previous, much more prefered music, the music that is her real sound. In the meantime, I’ll be listening to "New Years Day” and her previous albums on repeat. ☐ Post-reputation Taylor
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The Influence of #MeToo on the Winsor Community By Ellisya Lindsey ’19 Panel Staff In 2017, sexual assault has become a hot-button issue due to the #MeToo Movement that emerged on social media following numerous sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Ms. Parsley, one of the teachers of the Interdisciplinary Look at Feminism course, notes, “The incredibly brave women who are now coming forward and reporting this reprehensible behavior (in Hollywood, most recently, but certainly not restricted to that arena) are true trailblazers, and they are inspiring others to speak up.” These women have also brought the discussion of sexual assault front and center in current events. Due to current events in our society, it is important to look into not only Winsor’s education about but also Winsor’s attitude toward sexual assault. Winsor students take Health from the day they enter Winsor until the final semester of Health class in Junior year. Dr. Blackburn, one of the Winsor school counselors, says, “Sexual harassment is most thoroughly covered in the Class VI health curriculum...Health teachers use discussion, writing and council to process...films [about dating violence and unhealthy relationships]. Ms. Robb, who has a law degree and is somewhat of an expert on childhood abuse, sexual harassment and misconduct and the legal issues pertaining to these, teaches a few classes each semester in Class VI which the students love.” Ms. Baudis, one of the health teachers at Winsor, added, “While [there] may not be exactly a lesson plan on sexual assault, exploring and practicing [communication, decision making and self advocacy] will allow [students] to be prepared for situations in which they may need to say no...and/or make decisions that will impact their health in a positive way... We have open discussions about [sexual
Harvey Weinstein
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assault and harassment as they] have been headline news for awhile now... Lower schoolers are aware of the media and often ask questions about what is going on...We as [the] health and wellness department are constantly updating the health curriculum as...social norms change.” From their words, it is clear that the Health and Wellness curriculum is in the progress of an update to allow discussion of sexual assault. Despite the intended curriculum, many Winsor students feel that there is not enough discussion about sexual assault at Winsor. Qirrat Anwar ’19 thinks it would be beneficial “to have a larger discussion including the whole community...to educate the younger students [about sexual assault] because it is seen in a lot of cases that young victims don’t know that they are being sexually harassed.” As Ms. Baudis stated previously, the Health and Wellness department has been working to integrate sexual harassment into the curriculum for both upper and lower school due to how relevant it currently is, so hopefully this issue does not arise for more Winsor students. Although students do not often engage in discussions about sexual assault, everyone I spoke with agreed that Winsor students would be accepting of a student that was sexually assaulted. Lia Kornmehl ’19 “feel[s] that the student body would rally around the student and be accept-
ing of their experiences. I don’t think a student would receive any form of [...] shaming or be called a liar, as so many people outside of our community have been when coming forward with their experiences.” It is reassuring to know that the Winsor community is accepting and willing to help fellow Winsor students through hard times in their lives. As for the school itself, Winsor has its own sexual harassment policy that it stands by. Winsor explicitly outlines what constitutes as sexual harassment and promises to “[take] seriously all complaints of sexual harassment or retaliation, and will investigate each complaint thoroughly and promptly” (The Winsor School 20172018 Family Handbook, pg. 78). However, Talia Ward ’19 noted that “[the policy] is fairly vague and never discussed in person.” Despite Winsor’s needing to work on the clarity and discussion of this policy, it is reassuring that Winsor is taking these steps to ensure the protection of the members of the community. Given these student reactions, it is important to analyze the ways that sexu-
#MeToo Solidarity Fists
al assault impacts the Winsor community. Although the education about sexual harassment is lacking in some aspects, it is still sufficient enough that we are relatively well-informed about sexual assault before we graduate from Winsor. As for Winsor’s attitudes, hopefully Winsor continues to be an open and safe space for all people, including victims of sexual assault. Nonetheless, I think it is important that Winsor continues to discuss and educate its students about sexual harassment. Qirrat feels that “making sexual assault a more consistent and solid part of the Health and Wellness curriculum would be good rather than it...be[ing] a floating topic that everyone...knows ‘exists’ but...never explicitly discusse[s].” It is essential that we do not allow the issue of sexual assault to fade out with the #MeToo Movement. Sexual harassment is not a trend, and we should not allow the fight against it to die out like one. It is important for Winsor students to remain educated about issues of sexual abuse because it is imperative that we remain aware. ☐
Magyar Nemzet
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Winter Sports Updates Swimming Captains: Alessandra De Vito ’18, Grace Hamblett ’18, and Sydney Todd ’18 Record: 0-1 We are looking forward to…going to EILs! Goal: Work towards beating Dana during the EIL tournament
Curling Captains: Elaine Chen ’18, Caroline Condon ’18, Grace Condon ’18, Rose Heald ’18, Izzy Isselbacher ’18, Lucie Kapner ’18, Madeline Montagner ’18, and Kym Morris ’18 Record: n/a We are looking forward to…glow in the dark curling and learning more about the sport Goal: Fall as little as possible
Basketball Captains: Alina Brennan ’18 and Elizabeth Howell-Egan ’18 Record: 2-0 We are looking forward to...our holiday tournament next weekend! We are playing some very competitive NEPSAC teams and will also have a lot of off court time for bonding! Goal: Winning the EIL
Squash Captains: Sam Goldenson ’19, Kathleen He ’18, and Casey Hurley ’18 We are looking forward to...squashing the competition in some more challenging matches this season Goal: Have a supportive, productive, and ultimately successful team this year
Hockey Captains: Madison Lehan ’18 and Clementine Perry ’18 Record: 1-2 We are looking forward to...getting into league games, having brunch before our Saturday games, and working hard during every practice Goal: Make the EIL tournament, compete in every practice, and establish great team unity above photos from Kristie Rae Gilooly
above photos from Kristie Rae Gilooly
12 Days of Winter Sports 12 Teams total 11 Varsity basketball players 10 Varsity captains 9 Varsity games total 8 Curling captains 7 JV and Mid teams
6 Hockey players per side 5 Varsity teams 4 Hockey managers 3 Squash seniors 2 Swimming juniors 1 Winsor wildcat
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Featured Athletes: Alina Brennan and Elizabeth Howell-Egan By Hammond Hearle ’18 Panel Staff
Panel sat down with co-captains of Winsor Varsity Basketball, Elizabeth Howell-Egan ’18 and Alina Brennan ’18, to discuss their basketball careers and their upcoming season. Admired by both teammates and other members of the Winsor community, the pair are true team players both on and off the court. We wish Elizabeth, Alina, and the rest of Winsor Varsity Basketball a successful and fun-filled season! How long have you been playing basketball? AB: I first started playing basketball in 3rd grade, and I started playing at Winsor when I was a new student as a freshman. EHE: I’ve been playing basketball since second grade, when I played in my town league (my dad was my coach). Once I was old enough, I started playing travel and AAU basketball, and haven’t stopped since then. What is your favorite Winsor basketball memory? AB: My favorite Winsor basketball memory was the EIL tournament last year! We got a big team win over Portsmouth Abbey, and I scored my thousandth point. It was such a wonderful and emotional moment, and I felt very humbled to have played with and for incredible people who have pushed, supported, and inspired me, people without whom that accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible!
EHE: It’s so hard to choose just one, but one of my favorite Winsor basketball memories has to be the tournament last year. Every year we go to a tournament at the start of winter break, and we always get super close as a team while we’re there. This year we’re going to a different tournament than we have before, so I’m excited to bond with the team, but sad that we won’t be able to go to the huge Yankee Candle store that was out there! How has being both a player and a captain been different from being just a player on the team? AB: The role of team captain involves being a role model on the court, but I have come to understand that being a leader takes so much more than that! Being a respected and successful leader requires selflessness, honesty, and relentlessness, and being a captain has pushed me to improve in ways I hadn’t considered before. EHE: Being both a player and a captain is definitely different. As a player, I’m pretty vocal on the court, but being a captain means being a lot more than just vocal! This year, Alina and I talked about setting the tone for the team and being examples of what we want the culture of the team to be. To be a leader in that way is a challenge, but I’m lucky to have Alina by my side and am really excited about the season. Do you have any advice for other young athletes or captains? AB: My advice for both athletes and captains is to love and appreciate the game every day! Having the opportunity to compete in a sport you love is a privilege that
women fought for over generations, and I hope many Winsor students are able to take joy and friendship away from their athletic experiences. EHE: This sounds super corny, but the seasons go by so quickly and are over before you know it! Every time I think about how this is my last year playing basketball at Winsor I realize how fast everything flew by. The friends that I’ve made on my sports
Mikayla Chen
teams and the lessons I’ve learned from playing here will last me a lifetime, and I’d definitely advise people to take advantage of every opportunity you have at Winsor while you can. What is your favorite Winsor tradition? AB: My favorite Winsor tradition is our
first day of school assembly. Though it’s sad to leave summer behind, being together with the whole school community really energizes me and reminds me how amazing it is to be here! EHE: My favorite Winsor tradition is Under the Lights. I love the cheer competition and how invested everyone gets (winning is also a plus), being able to cheer on my friends and classmates, and the opportunity to support Winsor teams. Being able to play on UTL this year for the first time was awesome, too. Do you have any pre-game rituals that get you pumped up? Any good pump-up songs? AB: I used to be superstitious and wear black socks for every game, but I don’t have anything specific anymore. I get most pumped up from being around my team! Elizabeth’s pre-game playlist is more likely to get me pumped up than my own. EHE: I have my pre-game shooting routine, that I try to do before every game to get ready and focused. Recently, my pump-up songs have included “Do What I Want” by Lil Uzi Vert and “Plain Jane “by A$ap Ferg, or anything by Migos. What are your future basketball plans? AB: Right now I’m just focusing on my senior season and our team’s big goals for this winter, but I am continuing on to play in college as well. I am so excited for the opportunity to play basketball for another four years and compete at the next level! EHE: I will be playing basketball for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps program and attending Scripps College next year, which I could not be more excited about! ☐
What is Victoria’s Secret? High School Sport Referees By Mikayla Chen ’19 and Samantha Chin ’19 Panel Staff After three years, Karlie Kloss has returned to the Victoria’s Secret stage. During her time off, she has attended New York University, founded her company Kode with Klossy, and run her first marathon. Most recently, she has been preparing for this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai. But what does her preparation entail? We tried the workout that Karlie Kloss recently posted on her Youtube channel called “Last Workout Before the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show | Karlie Kloss.” Will we end up looking like Victoria’s Secret models at the end of this? Keep reading and you’ll find out! Karlie’s workout mostly focuses on the lower body and abs. Her lower body workout included three to five rounds of sumo squats with a kettlebell, band walks, split squats, plank spider cross-overs, and walking lunge and pass through. She then did two rounds of slider mountain climbers, a modified v up and a side plank twist. After that it was a “booty kick mega mix” with donkey kicks, triangles/corners, and fire hydrants. A lot of the time we spent on this challenge was devoted to figuring out the routine. We had to rewind the video several times to see what she was doing. It was helpful that we were familiar with many of the movements from our sessions with Renvil Doman, the strength training coach that helps the crew team. However, some reps, like the plank spider cross-overs, were new to us and so we had to spend more time on them. The video’s description also listed all of the workouts and how many reps of each we had to do. Overall, the workout was not as hard as we thought it would be. While we felt a
little sore in our lower body, this exercise was definitely less strenuous than others we have done in the past. If you wanted to create a more challenging version of this workout, you could increase the number of reps, add weights, or prolong the duration of certain movements. Also, the workout’s focus on the lower body reinforced the idea that this workout is for a model. It definitely was not a workout to build strength, but rather one targeted at toning muscles. While we did not magically transform into
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Karlie Kloss within our 30 minutes of exercising, we are glad to have tried a different kind of workout. What famous celebrity/athlete workout should we do next? Email us at mchen@ winsor.edu or schin@winsor.edu! The Link for Karlie’s Video: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=WeOwqu6gOPs ☐
By Hammond Hearle ’18 Panel Staff In a perfect world, referees are a noninvasive aspect of a game who always make the right call and never hinder plays or transitions. However, this is rarely--if ever--the case. Many Winsor students are referees for youth leagues of various sports, and most agree that it is frequently difficult for one or two people to discern what is happening on the field at all times. Mikayla Chen ’19 says, “It is really hard to keep track of what is going on even with another person helping out. It is really helpful though to have another person with you because they are on top of the things you forget and vice versa. I once had to ref alone, and I only made two calls the entire game because it was so hard to keep track of everything by myself.” It is certainly understandable that at some points a referee is unsure of a call, and this seems to be universal across all elementary to high school level sports. This fall, the Winsor Varsity Soccer team had numerous experiences with referees who went beyond what the team felt were excusable mistakes. Instead of accidental errors for fouls, calls often became more subjective to a player. Elizabeth Martin ’20, who often played both on the field and in goal, was wearing her goalie shorts which prompted the official to comment on them numerous times and distract her from the game. Madison Lehan ’18 noticed similar incidents throughout the season. After calls were made the official would often joke that they had not actually seen the play and portrayed an overall attitude of nonchalance. Madison also recalls officials’ irritation with girls not reacting, specifically laughing, when a referee was trying to tell them a joke. At our game against Rivers, officials were overtly rooting for our
opponents during free kicks and dismissive when captains attempted to get their attention about a situation. There have been numerous instances of referees be-
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ing yelled at by spectators, players, and coaches after a seemingly unfair call, but these discrepancies in opinions are decidedly different than the attitudes that we encountered. When referees face criticism, it is because the sport is taken seriously, and each person involved wants to see a fair game. However, during these experiences, it seems that the referees offered a more opinionated commentary than what you might expect from an official. While this lack of focus may seem inconsequential to officials, at times it frustrated and took away from the experience of Winsor players. At the end of most game there is a chant of “ thank you officials, thank you fans,” but when they seem to discredit the legitimacy of the game, it seems that they are undesrving of this automatic ritual. ☐
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Varsity Wrestling Starts Strong in Dual-Meet, Tournament Play By Ishaan Prasad ‘18 and Matt Smith ‘19 Panel Staff
Following another successful championship season last winter, Belmont Hill Varsity Wrestling returned to the mats this November eager to defend their titles and reclaim the New England Championship crown. Just as last year, the team begins the season with remarkable depth; led by returning captain Philip Conigliaro ’18, fouryear starter Seth Israel ’18, and fifth former Luca Pontone ’19, the starting fourteen persists as a formidable crew: Hamza Shemsu ’19, Michael Wade ’19, Matthew Smith ’19, Will Misciagna ’18, Colin Vallis ’19, Billy Weldon ’18, Michael Glauninger ’19, and Shane Rockett ’19 all return to the lineup, with Andrew Herrera ’19, Harrison Shapiro ’20, and freshman Sreetej Digamurthi ’21 rounding out the roster. Coupled with nearly two dozen new and returning wrestlers, the 30+ team boasts both the numbers and depth that have consistently defined Belmont Hill’s wrestling program. Eager to get some early-season competition under their belts, this year the team sent a dominant crew of five veteran wrestlers to the Caruso Tournament in Newark, New Jersey. An annual tradition for the varsity program, Caruso provides Belmont Hill wrestlers an opportunity to wrestle with the
Nordic Ski Strides Without Snow By Arnav Prasad ‘18 Panel Staff As local residents of Concord, Massachusetts tended to their regular week-day activities, they were greeted by an unusual sight: a parade of Belmont Hill Nordic Skiers in their translucent neon vests and bulky bicycle helmets, hustling to learn the mechanics of roller-skis in time for the season opener at Proctor Academy on December 13th. As the team has eagerly been awaiting snow, efficiency has become a theme for the athletes, who consider each moment of technical practice precious, despite the lack of snow. Supplementing the team’s newfound technical focus, the Belmont Hill Nordic Skiers can be found striding Harvard Stadium, beating the Alpine Ski Team in “zippy fun ball” (with a dominant 4-0 sweep), or training with Stella Strength in the Cross Fitness Center. Competition at the Lakes Region remains as stiff as ever, and the team recognizes this reality. The Dublin School, Holderness School, and St. Paul’s all strive to maintain their dominance at the Lakes Region level, albeit with notable losses in national-caliber personnel. Indeed, Belmont Hill has adopted an “us-against-theworld” mentality for the upcoming season. Without the availability of natural snow and lengthy ski trails that Northern teams enjoy, Belmont Hill plans to capitalize upon its athletes’ developed endurance capabilities, with all but three athletes following a successful Cross-Country season from the Fall. Adding three freshmen to the team while awaiting the return of James Eysenbach ’19 from a semester away, the Nordic Ski team finds new blood in its roster. It is a long road to the Lakes Region Championship, where the Nordic Ski team hopes to surpass any precedent established last season. With incremental improvements at practice and local races, Coaches Courtney, Zamore, and Kirby hope to guide the team to its highest potential. Making its season debut against regular Lakes Region competition, the Belmont Hill Nordic Ski team looks for strong results early on. ☐
Photo: Adam Richins nation’s best prep-school squads — from perennial powerhouse Wyoming Seminary to Coach Leonardis’ alma mater, Blair Academy. Indicative of the talent and strength of the program’s top wrestlers, three Belmont boys placed at Caruso — Shapiro and Israel at 4th and Pontone in 2nd. This year also marked a first for the varsity team. Leveraging Dr. Davis’ past experiences coaching in Connecticut, Belmont Hill sent nearly a dozen wrestlers to the Hopkins School in New Haven to compete in their annual Rumble on the Hill.
With five starters at Caruso, and no age-restrictions at the tournament, the team called on two middle school wrestlers to join the Connecticut crew — Adam Figler ’22 and Daniel Bittner ’22. Unfazed by the older competition, the second formers wrestled to an impressive second and third place, respectively. Following remarkable performances from the entire team — including a first-place finish for six-year veteran Billy Weldon ’18 — Belmont Hill left their inaugural Rumble on the Hill having secured an overall second-place finish.
Early regular season competition has been just as successful for the program. Handily defeating Governor’s Academy (6616), Portsmouth Abbey (56-9), Deerfield (72-6), and Worcester Academy (65-12), the team has dominated both the ISL dual-meet circuit and broader NEPSAC field. Still, the team recognizes the dangers of complacency that often plague a seasoned program. Mindful of the competitive ISL and New England teams that the squad will face this season — including Roxbury Latin, Phillips Exeter, and Northfield Mount Hermon — the Belmont has embraced the challenge with excitement and determination. A program renowned for its historic success, the 2017-2018 season poses a legendary opportunity for the team. With aspirations for multiple all-Americans (a feat yet to be accomplished in a single season), several New England finalists, and a repossession of a team New England title, Belmont Hill holds itself to a high standard. Nevertheless, with strong dual-meet and tournament performance, the team unquestionably has the dedication, experience, courage, and heart to make these goals a reality. ☐ Rumble on the Hill Results: Billy Weldon ‘18 (1st), Adam Figler ‘22 (2nd), Andrew Herrera ‘19 (2nd), Hamza Shemsu ‘20 (2nd), Daniel Bittner ‘22 (3rd), William Misciagna ‘18 (3rd), Shane Rockett ‘19 (3rd), Myron Richards ‘18 (4th), Jason Wolf ‘20 (4th)
Athlete of the Issue: V. Squash Captain Jack Bell ‘18 By Thomas McEvoy ‘19 and Matt Goguen ‘19 Panel Staff
Following in the footsteps of his father, an avid racquetball player, Jack Bell first picked up a squash racket at age eight. A new neighborhood athletic club, Cross Courts, had just opened up ten minutes from his family’s Natick home. It did not take others long to discover Jack’s talent, and by ten he was playing squash competitively. Eight years later, Jack captains Belmont Hill’s Varsity Squash team, which has achieved unprecedented levels of success in recent years, winning the ISL title and finishing top eight at High School Nationals for nine consecutive years. Now in his senior year on the Hill, Jack looks forward to playing on the collegiate level for Dartmouth next fall: “I know it will
take a lot of work to move to the next level, but I’m excited to see where my squash will take me.” During his time playing Belmont Hill squash, Jack benefited from mentoring by older athletes: “A great role model for me here at Belmont Hill was Timmy Brownell, who graduated two years ago. While I try to win matches based on physicality and grinding down the opponent, Timmy’s creativity and sense on court is unmatched, and I learned a lot just from watching him play.” Jack strives to have a similar impact on younger players in his year at the helm of this youthful varsity squad (last year saw the graduation of 4 out of 5 players from the top of the ladder). Though the team is not favored to win the ISL title, he believes that “it is certainly within our reach if we work hard and stay committed. We have a young team this year (I’m the only senior
in the top 7) so I’m looking forward to seeing how the young guys improve and mature over the course of the season.” Throughout his career Jack has sought mentors, both on the Hill and at Cross Courts. He was especially close with his former coach, Simba Muhwati. Originally from Zimbabwe, Muhwati played college squash at Trinity and was a tremendous role model for Jack on and off the court. Now in New York with his young family, Muhwati still motivates Jack to play to the best of his ability on the squash court. Jack loves the physical and mental competition of squash. “When you’re on the court, it is you versus your opponent. You have full control of your destiny.” Take control of your destiny and make sure you head down to Jordan to watch this master at play. ☐
Varsity Soccer Ends Fall with NEPSAC Class A Bid By Charlie Richards ‘20 Staff Writer Belmont Hill entered this year’s New England Class A soccer tournament as the sixth seed of eight and was slotted to play Taft on Wednesday, November 15, in Watertown, Connecticut. The two-and-a-half hour bus ride provided players with ample time to prepare and rest, and the team arrived at Taft’s campus at around 1:00, amped for the upcoming match. Jogging, stretching, shooting, and finally passing concluded warm-ups, and the team was ready to go. Although the icy November wind was brisk, the sun remained out for most of the game, and the players seemed relatively unaffected by the temperature. The first half, although intense, ended in a 0-0 draw, in which both teams had great chances. James Cahill ‘20 made several key saves, including three off of one corner play, that kept Belmont Hill in the game. Additionally, the defense, led by captains Jack Bell ‘18 and Brian Antonelli ‘18, remained strong, holding their positions and forcing the Taft forwards to turn the ball over. Up top, Matthew Goncalves ‘20, Leighton Dolan ‘19, and Oisin Treanor ‘18 kept high pressure on Taft’s keeper, creating numerous chances. By halftime, Belmont Hill knew that this game could go either way, and it was entirely dependent on execution and ef-
fort. The second half started similarly to the 17 minutes remaining. Less than four minfirst, and not until 17 minutes in did either utes after, Goncalves went on a solo run team score. Taft was able to get on the board down the left side, beating his defender and first in the 64th minute with a solo goal. blasting his shot near-post; the goalie had Number 11 from Taft received the ball near no chance of saving it. Everyone, including the 18-yard box, played a one-two with their the bench, was fired up, as Belmont Hill wing, and scored a well-placed strike. Seven now held all of the momentum. Unfortuminutes later, Taft’s attacking midfielder had nately, Taft received a deflection of one of an open shot on the edge of the box their shots that found its way into the back Photo: Scott Matthews of the net with under ten minutes to go. The team continued to fight hard, but the final whistle blew, and the season came to an all-too-sudden close. Belmont Hill had their best result yet after going to the tournament three years in a row. They had never been higher than an eight seed until this year, and hope to reach an even higher seed in years to come. This game capped off an incredible season, in which the team fought through remarkable amounts of adversity. Belmont Hill has now finished top-3 in ISL play four years in a row, which no other team has done recently, and hopes to take home the title in the next few years. Although the loss of seven seniors, three of whom are starters, will and buried it, making the game 2-0 with be difficult to overcome, the team is relying just over 20 minutes to go. Goncalves, after on returning talent to carry the torch. Capreceiving a pass from Ben Ward ‘19, was tains Leighton Dolan and Mikey Montanatripped up five yards outside of the Taft box, ro (both ‘19) will look to avenge any losses presenting him with an opportunity to cut from this year, including Rivers and Brooks, the lead in half. Characteristically, he placed and will hope to make a deep run into the his shot to the left side and scored with only New England Playoffs next year. ☐
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Defense-Minded Varsity Basketball Squad Seeks First Place
David Mitchell ‘18 jogs into offensive position. By William McCormack ‘18 Panel Staff It’s Saturday morning in the Fritz Gym, and the Varsity Basketball team has already compensated for the mounds of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie its members devoured a mere 36 hours prior. High-energy drills that dominate the first half of this morning’s session offset any losses in conditioning wreaked by Thursday’s feast. Excitement levels are high, and everyone understands that this afternoon’s scrimmage against St. Seb’s—though insignificant itself—marks the beginning of the ISL campaign. Photo: Duncan Grant ‘18
Photo: Duncan Grant ‘18
Pre-season buzz about matchups, competitors, tournaments, championships, and away games quietly consumes the gym, and through these debates about goals, challenges, and expectations, one fact shines clear: this team is tired of second place. “It’s not an option,” says guard Quentin Harris ‘18. For three years, Belmont Hill has finished as the runner-up in the ISL. At first, top-three performances in league play excited many about a program that had struggled to post wins. An 18-4 finish during the 2014-2015 campaign marked significant improvement over a 7-17 record during the 2013-2014 season. By now, however, senior co-captains David Mitchell ‘18 and Jovan
Jones ‘18, who have been with the team for all three consecutive second-place years, merely consider second place as recognition for the first loser. “Winning the ISL,” Mitchell emphasizes, “and then winning Class A New Englands—those have become our goals. And if we play our type of basketball, it’ll become the expectation.” Returning an astonishing ten players, the Varsity Basketball team understands what David means when he says “play our type of basketball”. In addition to David and Jovan, Jake Haase ‘18, Jake Bobo ‘18, Kevin-Michael O’Boy ‘19, Quentin Harris ‘18, Spenser Smith ‘18, Sean Mannion ‘18, Luke Jordan ‘18, and Eric Taitano ‘18 remain key contributors on a team that prioritizes high-energy basketball and a stifling defense. Successful scrimmages against Seb’s and Beaver familiarized the team with offensive plays and defenses and acclimated newcomers Isaiah Collins ‘18, Mike Piazza ‘19, Luke Bobo ‘21, and Casey Rockett ‘21 to the pace and intensity of varsity play. Since the official season began, Belmont Hill’s defensive strength has been on full display. Beginning the year with Chick-fil-a sandwiches and a Friday night trip to the St. Andrew’s School in Rhode Island for the Zero Gravity Prep Classic, Belmont Hill defeated powerhouse South Kent, limiting their team to 54 points. South Kent’s historical basketball prowess—in the past ten years, they’ve sent 60 to play Division I basketball and eight to the NBA, including Isaiah Thomas—made the showcase win all the more impressive. Jovan Jones, who’s averaged 21.8 PPG over the team’s first four, added 14 rebounds against South Kent, earning him Player of the Game honors. Jovan adds that “we’re a long team,” and accumulating deflections with tremendous wingspan and honest defense has made opponents claustrophobic on offense. The team beat St. Paul’s at home to follow the win vs. South Kent, and another win against Rivers last Wednesday proved that BH can shut down individual stars. Though Jermaine Samuels and Azar Swain graduated last Spring, Rivers remains a strong program, and Terrence Clarke, their newest Class of 2021 addition, is ranked third in the nation for his age. Only a ninth-grader, he has already received offers from Uconn
and Georgia Tech, and ballislife.com named him the best player at Chris Paul’s 2017 Rising Stars camp. David Mitchell’s defense, Jake Bobo’s five steals, and Belmont Hill, however, limited Clarke to just nine points. Against Nobles last Friday, The Loop™ packed the Fritz Gym to witness a frustrated Nobles squad launch 33 three-pointers, converting eight and attempting a mere twelve two-pointers, again a testament to Belmont Hill’s defense. Although the 2017-2018 ISL campaign has started positively, the competition ahead looms large. Milton Academy’s Stanford-commit Cormac Ryan will lead their program for a final year, and newcomer Tabor Academy features two talents in Chris Herren, Jr. and Noah Fernandez. Finally, Brooks, always the Achilles Heel to Belmont Hill’s championship hopes, will also challenge the team’s title aspirations. “They’ve beaten us these last three years,” reminds David, “so this is our last chance.” There’s no room for second-place. This is the year. This is their chance. ☐
Jovan Jones ‘18
Photo: Duncan Grant ‘18
Win at Lawrence Helps Hockey Rebound from Rough Start Once again, it’s hockey season at Belmont Hill. The rink is up and it’s time for some fast paced, on-ice action. The 201718 Belmont Hill Hockey team is filled with both familiar and new faces. Solid leadership from captains John Copeland ‘18, who is transitioning from center to defense this season, and Robert Radochia ‘19 will surely make for a team filled with chemistry. Although the team is off to an average 2-2 start, it has shown a ton of promise and a ton of talent that will give it the ability to win games and hopefully qualify for the playoffs, which was put on full display in last Wednesday’s thrilling 6-2 win over Govs. Yale commit Connor Hopkins (‘19) returns between the pipes for his role as goaltender, being backed up this year by Jack Eselius ‘18 and Anthony DeVellis ‘18. Coach McCarthy certainly looks to bring home another ISL Finch Keller Conference championship, but also advises the team to play by his mantra: “We will always be winners on the scoreboard of respect.” The Winter Loop will most likely have a large showing at crucial home games throughout the year in the Olympic-sized
rink, nicknamed “The Jungle.” The team will be counting on the Loop’s energy down the stretch. Returners and new players alike on this squad are looking to capture the ISL title and qualify for the playoffs once again. Stay tuned for a season full of big hits and even bigger plays as the boys in blue hit the ice. Last Saturday, the hockey team traveled to Lawrence Academy, a team favored to win the Keller Division in the pre-season. Although getting down early, the team scored 3 goals in the second period and never looked back. Hopkins played stellar in net as the team rolled to a 4-2 victory on the road. As the team will head to the Lawrenceville tournament next week, all signs are pointing to another solid season by the boys in blue. ☐ Photo: Adam Richins
By Payton Privitera ‘19 Staff Writer
Photo: Adam Richins
Young Squash Group Eyes ISL Championship By Josh Fairman ‘19 Panel Staff The squash team is hungrier than ever this season after a strong performance last year. The team will have to overcome the loss of some major talent in James Bell, Alex Kurtin, John Paul Champa, and Robert Williamson, who have all gone on to compete in highly competitive collegiate programs. As a result, the team is relatively young compared to past years. As of the first round of challenge matches, the team is led by Jack Bell ‘18, followed by Dougie Conigliaro ‘21, Julian Wambach ‘19, Jack Winston ‘20, Andrew Lee ‘20, Josh Fairman ‘19, and Sam Freed ‘21. Last year’s troupe
performed very well, garnering 17 wins, with only a single loss to Haverford, who went on to win the National Championship. With this incredible record, the varsity boys secured Belmont Hill its ninth consecutive ISL championship. Adding on to their impeccable regular season performance, the varsity team, competing in the highest division, finished a more-than-respectable third at Nationals. The JV squad also had an undefeated regular season, notching 12 wins, with 2 losses at Nationals to varsity teams. Varsity will be taking on several high-caliber ISL teams in the upcoming Jackson Tournament, where the boys will hopefully be able to maintain the unprecedented ISL domination Belmont Hill has enjoyed in recent years. ☐
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“I Tried”
New Semester 2 Courses By Penelope Mack ’18 Panel Staff
As first semester comes to a close, the excitement for new courses of the next semester is becoming more palpable every day. Hardly can the students of Winsor wait for another jam-packed semester of papers, study guides, and all-nighters. Here are some of the great new courses that will be starting late January. Crafting Tall Tales: How to Sell Unbelievable Experiences as Your Own Taught by Mr. Player Your plane crashes three times in one day. You almost fall off a cliff. You transport a dead body across state lines. If this sounds like your life, then this is the class for you! Learn how to convince your friends and family of your seemingly fake experiences with the master of the absurd, Mr. Player. In this course, you will practice delivering the wildest stories with the blankest of expressions and the starkest of tones. You will learn how to remain completely cool and collected as those around you frantically question the validity of your stories. You will leave them saying, “I mean it sounds fake, but knowing them it’s probably true.”
Taught by Mr. Griffin These days, life is rife with negativity. From the divide in modern politics to the way our planet is withering under the heel of corporate America, our world seems to be growing more hopeless by the day. Wouldn’t you like to learn how to maintain the illusion that everything is okay? If so, this is the class for you. Mr. Griffin’s ability to retain positivity, even as students plaster his wedding photos about the halls and blatantly disregard the homework he assigns, is truly a trait to commend. Good stuff! Nothing Taught by Ms Ryan Ms. Ryan is a jack of all trades. From cheese making to hedgehog rearing, she could teach any class she wanted. She has instead, à la Marina Abramovic, decided to make a radical ascent into performance art. She will be seated across from you at a table. Only her gaze remains. No words, no assignments. One grade at the end of the semester decides your ability to transcend the corporeal body (or flesh prison, as some call it).
Disease Taught by The Juniors Imagine you have leprosy. That’s Saying “Good Stuff ” in the Face of Di- all— just imagine. Thanks! ☐ saster
T he Panel
By Ellisya Lindsey ‘19 and Julia Wilson ‘19 Panel Staff On average, teens need to get eight to ten hours of sleep a night. The concept of getting eight hours of sleep a night is almost unfathomable to most Winsor students. This amount of sleep is required for teens to function properly. Seems like there’s finally an explanation as to why so many students can be found sleeping in almost any location or walking around aimlessly in the halls. On average, most Winsor students don’t get eight to ten hours of sleep a night. Therefore, I decided to try to get eight hours of sleep, and here’s what happened. I can still remember that bleak Monday night in November. The faint smell of dinner still lingered in the air, rain was pattering gently on my windows, and my bedspread looked as if my backpack had vomited up its contents onto it. I scanned the thirteen tabs open on my Safari window with heavy, half-open eyes, looking at the words on the screen but not actually processing what they said. It took more effort than it should have to shift my focus to the top of my screen and reluctantly read the time: 10:08 PM. I knew that I still had at least two more hours of homework. Is it possible to get eight hours of sleep in six hours? I asked myself, despite being completely aware that the answer was no. An inkling of an idea sprouted in my head, as it did most nights--what if I just didn’t finish my homework and got those eight hours? This time, though, I didn’t push that
idea down; I let it grow and come to fruition. Ten minutes later, my lights were out, my eyes were closed, and my unfinished homework was shoved confidently back into my backpack. Unfortunately, I woke up the next day feeling just as groggy and tired as I did most days. As the day progressed, I started to experience the positive effects of getting a normal amount of sleep--I was less irritated for no reason, and I more quickly understood things in class. However, I really felt the benefits of getting eight hours of sleep the day after. I could practically see my under eye bags dissolving into my face when I looked in the mirror, and not even a hard swim practice could bring my good mood down. Would I do it again? I wish, but my grades have to survive. On the bright side, I guess the effects of those eight hours will feel more special if they rarely happen! My skin is clear, the sun is shining and my crops are thriving. Hands down, eight hours of sleep saved 2017. I would definitely recommend that everyone tries getting eight hours of sleep. No joke, I could see this amount of sleep as, dare I say, normal. Although, one con is the way teachers reacted when I didn’t finish my homework, even though I explained that we can’t have the best of both worlds (we’re not Hannah Montana). Maybe teachers will actually give us forty minutes of homework per class a night - as if. Nonetheless, I’ll definitely try to incorporate eight hours of sleep into my daily routine - who actually needs to complete homework, right? ☐
From the Desk of the Non-Denominational 100% Secular Politically-Correct Winter Wizard A Sampling of the Belmont Hill Holiday Wish List (a)
Everyone: Catch and RELEASE the catch of the day
(b)
(c)
Mike Glauninger '19: An Alarm Clock Wrestlers: Ipecac
Mr. George: A great migration of turkeys eastward
Doc Fast: Return to the Glory Days (see figures a, b, c) Mr. Tiberi: Red Ryder BB Gun
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