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Volu m e 6 4 , Issu e 6
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
Sleep: A Second Priority but a Primary Concern By Susy Liu & Claudia Meyer Panel Staff Beep-beep! Beep-beep! Beep! You groan and grope blindly for the snooze button. The mechanical voice falls into silence and yields to the first thought of your day: “I really should have gone to sleep earlier last night.” We recognize this moment all too well - when we are most aware of the widespread disease called sleep deprivation. Sleep seemingly eludes the majority of students in our generation. People today sleep 20% less than they did 100 years ago, and 70% of high schoolers get below the minimum of the 8-10 hours of sleep that teenagers need to function best (The Sleep Foundation). We accept lack of sleep as a fact of life. It’s not that we don’t understand the importance of rest - we feel and hear about the consequences of sleep deprivation on a daily basis, rather, we are convinced that nothing can be done to fix the situation, as our lives seem to be under ever increasing pressure as school and society continually expect more and more of us. However, after surveying the Upper School’s sleep habits and attitudes, it seems that the mentality
around sleep itself is also a large culprit behind sleep deprivation. Survey responses conveyed Winsor students’ dilemma of choosing between homework, school, and sleep. One of our poll questions, which asked students to describe what they could possibly do to go to bed earlier, received responses such as, “nothing,” “I don’t know,” or even, “pray, drop out of school, or learn to sleep work.” These responses are completely relatable for all of us, but they do convey the attitude that, at this point, increasing the number of hours of sleep each night seems like a hopeless cause:
getting more sleep is impossible so long as school exists. The majority of students actually suggested that procrastinating less on homework and thereby cutting out more time to enjoy themselves would be a good solution, indicating that homework is not only an enemy against sleep, but
also against leisure and relaxation. As shown by the open comment space at the end of our survey, students love sleep- saying simply, “I just want more of it,” “I love it,” “Sleep is life. Literally,” and, one of our favorites, “I dream about getting more sleep.” But although students are constantly reminded of the importance of sleep, they still, as one student commented, “often de-prioritize it in the face of school work and other commitments.” As another student summarized, “When you have an overwhelming amount of commitments, what else can you sacrifice? You have to eat, you have to shower, you have to do your work. So losing a few hours of sleep is not seen as too bad in the long run.” The fact that sacrificing sleep can be detrimental to our physical and mental health is inescapable, but nonetheless we’re all guilty of making this mistake in order to fulfill our responsibilities. Sleep is evidently not a priority at Winsor - education takes precedence over everything. Each student works insanely hard to achieve lofty goals and often unrealistically high expectations set Continued on page 4
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BH Panel Now Online! www.bhpanel.org (Read more on Page 3)
Crossing the Line:
Outrage Over Senator Cruz’s Insult of New York Values By Isabel Isselbacher Staff Writer “I think people know exactly what New York values are.” Despite previous cordiality between the two candidates, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz went head to head in the January 14 GOP debate hosted by Fox Business Network. Likely feeling the threat of Cruz’s rising poll numbers, Trump had begun questioning Cruz’s eli-
stands,” he continued, “that the values in New York city are socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage ….[and] focus around money and the media.” It was clear that Cruz was trying to alarm the largely-conservative audience by framing Trump’s hometown as the antagonist of the Republican party. He depicted the city as shallow and materialistic, going to such lengths as calling it “pro-abortion” despite the fact that the Democratic
theintercept.com gibility in the presidential race due to his birth on Canadian soil. In response, Cruz attempted to discredit Trump in the eyes of the Republican Party by attacking New York City, home of Donald Trump and another 8.3 million Americans. “I think people know exactly what New York values are, Cruz stated. “Everyone under-
party champions a very different platform of “pro-choice.” Trump responded immediately with uncharacteristic calm: “When the World Trade Center came down, I saw something that no place on Earth could have handled more beautifully, more humanely than New York.” Cruz hastily nodded and clapped along with the Continued on page 4
Mr. Murphy Becomes Interim Director of Middle School Look Inside MLK Chapel pg 2 BH Scoreboard pg 7 Winsor Sports Team Updates pg 8 Socioeconomic Status at Winsor and BH pg 10 BH Politics Poll Results pg 16
By Ishaan Prasad Panel Staff As boys returned to campus rested and ready to embark on the few remaining days of the first semester, the beginning of 2016 saw a change at the top of the Middle School, with Mr. Murphy taking the helm as Director of the Middle School while Mrs. Hamilton prepared for a well-deserved sabbatical. Having joined the faculty in 1995, Mrs. Hamilton has been immersed in almost all aspects of the Belmont Hill community, whether coaching Cross Country, teaching English, or acting as advisor to First Form boys (and I’ve had the pleasure of learning from her in all three settings!). While we will surely miss Mrs. Hamilton this semester, we hope she has a great time off-campus, and can’t wait to hear about her experiences and stories! Mr. Murphy, who gradu-
ated from Belmont Hill in 1998, has been teaching Mathematics here since 2006, in addition to serving as Assistant Athletic Director and Head Coach of the Varsity basketball team. Although Mr. Murphy works with Middle Schoolers throughout the year, teaching seventh grade Pre-Algebra and coaching Fifth Soccer in the fall, he took up the position in
an effort to “get to know the boys better and from a different perspective.” With an already busy schedule to begin with, Mr. Murphy is aided by Mr. Davis ’07, who joined him as Assistant Athletic Director this year; however, serving as head is no easy job itself. As Mr. Murphy explains as we sit in his office in the Melvoin Academic Center, “there are so
many different aspects of the Middle School, and the position is definitely as busy as I expected it would be. It really does show me just how involved Ms. Hamilton has been every year as Middle School head!” With the door to his office, across from the second form study hall, almost always open, Mr. Murphy mentions that he really enjoys having “the kids stop by: it really makes my day hearing their stories and whatever else they have to say.” For Mr. Murphy, his primary goal is to have “as smooth a spring as possible. The boys already know that this semester is business as usual, and I’m not hoping to make any crazy changes.” As an alumnus and longstanding member of the faculty, Mr. Murphy has been integral to Belmont Hill for many years, and is well-prepared in leading the Middle School to another great semester!☐
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Lebanos Mengistu and Gus Lamb ‘17 Take Belmont Hill Students Volunteer at Semester Abroad for New Oppurtunities Christmas in the City, Annual Holiday By Robbie Warming Staff Writer On the last Friday of the semester, two Belmont Hill Fifth Formers departed campus for semesters away. Gus Lamb, with 31 other students from across the country, will head off to New York City for CITYterm. The program is centered at the Masters School
in Dobbs Ferry, just thirty minutes from the city. Three days a week, Gus will be involved in a traditional high school curriculum: AP US History, Spanish 4,
Both Lebanos and Gus look forward to a coed experience that brings together students from across the country. Lebanos anticipates “meeting new people from all around the country, forming strong relationships, and learning as much as I can while having the most fun as possible.” as well as CITYterm’s Urban Core which, as Gus put it, “encompasses three classes using curriculum based on New York.” The other three days will be spent in the city, with experiential learning that ties their courses to the life of New York. Lebanos Mengistu will be embarking on a wholly different experience. Lebanos will be the first Belmont Hill boy to attend the School of Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) in Washington, DC. The school is centered around students with “character, promise for
leadership, and scholastic ability.” And, being in the heart of our nation’s capital, this provides a unique setting to explore leadership and international relations. For instance, one could be “studying North Korean politics in a State Department conference room,” or perhaps even run into a senator on one’s walk to school, according to SEGL’s website. Being on Capitol Hill, SEGL is certainly in the mid-
dle of the American political universe. Both Lebanos and Gus look forward to a coed experience that brings together students from across the country. Lebanos anticipates “meeting new people from all around the country, forming strong relationships, and learning as much as I can while having the most fun as possible.” Though their respective programs offer top-notch educations, they will ultimately remember their relationships the most. These programs will also offer Gus and Lebanos opportunities to become more self-supporting. As Gus put it, “I’m looking forward to becoming more independent and learning in a very diverse environment.” Indeed, this new independence and maturity is one of the highlights of any study-away program. Didier Lucceus ‘16, who attended School Year Abroad France last year, said that just traveling around an unfamiliar location is “a really important skill” he’s picked up. Because of his experiences away from the norm, Didier noted, “I feel like I’ve matured a lot.” However, both see their leaving as bittersweet. Lebanos and Gus stressed how much they’ll miss all their friends back at Belmont Hill, and they hope that they can keep in touch. As Gus put it, “S/o to my homies, you know who you are.” ☐
Party for Boston Homeless Families By Matt Bracken Staff Writer
C hr ist mas in t he Cit y st ar te d of f as a sma l l fami ly t radit ion t hat prov ide d a C hr ist mas p ar t y w it h de corat ions, games and a me a l for approximately 165 mot hers and chi ldren in t he B oston are a. Founde d by Ja ke Kenne dy, C hr ist mas in t he Cit y relie d init i a l ly up on on ly donat ions f rom fami ly memb ers, f r iends, and coworkers to prov ide
p aint ing wo o den C hr ist mas t re es to cre ate a fest ive at mosphere for t he e vent its elf. Howe ver, t he 2015 C hr ist mas in t he Cit y g roup was resp onsible for t ransit ioning t he p art icip ants f rom t heir bus es to t heir cor re c t sp ot w it hin t he convent ion center. Wit h 170 s cho ol bus es to accommo d ate, t he organizat ion of dif ferent g roups was a cr uci a l j ob, esp e ci a l ly in a g i ant convent ion center. For t wo and a ha lf hours, many
Children Enjoying Christmas in the City pres ents for fami lies in ne e d. Howe ver, t his sma l l, non-prof it organizat ion quick ly exp ande d, and in 2010, it prov ide d a fest ive C hr istmas spir it, including live enter t ainment, games, r ides, and a p ett ing zo o, for over 3000 fami lies f rom ne arby homeless shelters. Addit iona l ly, C hr ist mas in t he Cit y dist r ibute d toys and g if ts to a lmost 2000 fami lies w ho were not able to attend t he e vent. As t his phi lant hropic venture has g row n, t he ne e d for volunte ers has dramat ic a lly incre as e d as wel l. S o, on D e cemb er 20t h, a sma l l g roup of students le d by Ms. Z ener, lef t t he B elmont Hi l l c ampus for t he B oston C onvent ion and E xhibit ion C enter to volunte er for C hr ist mas in t he Cit y. L ast ye ar, t he B elmont Hi l l volunte ers cont r ibute d t he d ay b efore t he ac tu a l C hr ist mas in t he Cit y e vent,
B elmont Hi l l students p ers ona l ly g re ete d and le d t he incoming attende es into t he fant ast ic C hr ist mas in t he Cit y l ayout, w hich t his ye ar fe ature d b o ot hs r un by Mus eum of S cience, t he Mus eum of Fine Ar ts, B oston C hi ldren’s Mus eum, Z o o Ne w Eng l and and t he Ne w Eng l and Aqu ar ium. The e vent a ls o fe ature d a climbing wa l l, g ingerbre ad houses, and a sp e ci a l app e arance f rom Sant a and Mrs. C l aus. C hr ist mas in t he Cit y a ls o s et up a j ob fair for t he p arents attending , s o t hat any unemploye d p arents cou ld st ar t to get b ack on t heir fe et. O vera l l, t he 2015 C hr ist mas in t he Cit y, w it h t he help of many B elmont Hi l l volunte ers, prov ide d a go o d me a l, presents, and most imp or t ant ly, a j ov i a l at mosphere for over 4,500 fami lies, s o t hat t he y cou ld have an enj oyable C hr ist mas holid ay. ☐
Mr. Collins Reminds School Community of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Commitment to Socio-Economic Equality in Annual MLK Chapel By Jason Fischman Panel Staff After returning from a long weekend devoted to honoring Martin Luther King Jr, the entire Belmont Hill community gathered for a meaningful school meeting regarding Dr. King and current issues of race. The Chapel started by listening to one of Martin Luther King’s many inspiring speeches, “Beyond Vietnam,” in which he criticizes the war in Vietnam, citing the vast cost of a military effort overseas while the American government still does not spend enough money to help its own citizens. Hearing Dr. King provided students an opportunity to quietly reflect about what his words mean to
them, while the content of the speech re- King’s life, first remarking how power- opposed to one of Dr. Martin Luther mains applicable to our current society. ful it was to hear Dr. King’s voice bellow King’s more famous speeches, explaining that he wanted students to hear a speech that they were not as familiar with, and one that is still very much relevant today. William Stonestreet, an active member of SAFE (Student’s Actively Fostering Equality), said, “Mr. Collins’s speech was really inspirational and allowed me expand my view of Dr. King’s influence on this country, and it was interesting to hear a different speech that I had never heard before.” Overall, the chapel was a great way of honoring Dr. King’s memory and reflecting on the meaning of the day, providing students an opportunity to consider how Dr. King’s work still influences Mr. Collins then took the podium through the chapel, and then explain- them today and reminding the commuand provided further insight into Dr. ing why he chose “Beyond Vietnam” as nity of problems still facing our society.☐
Febr u ar y 11, 2016
Belmont Hill NEWS
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BH Panel Launches New Website For Easy Online Access, Faster Article Publishing and Updates
The website can be updated at any time and will feature content from the print issue, as well as online-only content. With space for all
www.bhpanel.org
“After attending Columbia’s Annual Journalism Program this fall with the Panel Staff, we saw a ton of newspapers that all had a great online presence. Looking at other publications, including the Harvard Crimson and Phillips Exeter’s Exonian, we decided that it was time that The Panel got an online update as well!” -Ishaan Prasad, Website Co-designer
In an age where more people read the newspaper online than in print, The Panel has decided to modernize and improve its online profile, and we are proud to introduce The Panel Online, designed by Arnav and Ishaan Prasad ‘18.
six “print” categories, and a newlydesigned weather section and staff portal, The Panel Online hopes to provide a space for Panel Staff and the Belmont Hill Community alike.
The new website will provide students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the Belmont Hill community the ability to read The Panel from anywhere in the world on any device at bhpanel.org When asked about the website, Ishaan Prasad said: “After attending Columbia’s Annual Journalism Program this fall with the Panel Staff, we saw a ton of newspapers that all had a great online presence. Looking at other publications, including the Harvard Crimson and Phillips Exeter’s Exonian, we decided that it was time that The Panel got an online update as well!”
Arnav Prasad said: “The Website took a lot of planning and hard work, but I think it is a really important feature that the Panel should have in the future.” The Panel website reveals a new age in news publishing as more and more people abandon printed publishing in favor of their online counterparts. With user accounts for every member of The Panel, staff writers and editors can easily edit and layout articles online. The Panel Online will revolutionize the publication and we can’t wait to see what’s next for The Panel. ☐
MAP/SAFE Breakfast to Discuss Issues of Community and Diversity By Arnav Prasad Panel Staff When a B elmont Hill senior graduates, diploma in hand, he embarks on an odyssey that stretches far beyond our compact campus in B elmont. His interactions with his family, friends, and coworkers ref lect not only the academic rigor of our curriculum, but what he has internalized from B elmont Hill’s core values as a school. The Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) Breakfast, hosted alongside Students Actively Fostering Equality (SAFE) on Januar y 7th, ser ved to reconnect alumni to the B elmont Hill community to share their invaluable and unique experiences with current students. Students, alumni, and faculty engaged in meaningful discussion around issues of diversity and inclusion at school. Consider the questions below that participants tried to answer themselves:
Which aspect(s) of your identity and/or your personality are you most proud of ? Why? Imagine that your families will be meeting for dinner (for the first time). What would your family need to know about the other family before they met? In your opinion, should feminism be a core value at Belmont Hill? Why/Why not? Hypothetically, would you send your son to Belmont Hill? Why/Why not? Each of these questions posed a different challenge to each person, some became more controversial, some invoked quick responses. No matter the scope of the prompt, however, everyone contributed their own thoughts and perspectives in a respectful and constructive manner. Although an awkward silence creeped into the room at points, the gathering had likewise moments of laughter, head-nodding, and agreement. As Mr. Ekwelum, an alumnus, teacher, and key orchestrator of the event, added, “Discussions on diversity can be
challenging, but in order to grow as a school community, we can’t be afraid to
have these discussions--we are all affected by issues of diversity and inclusion.” ☐
Belmont Hill Students, Faculty, and Alumni at the MAP/SAFE Breakfast
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Ted Cruz Takes Down New York in Attack on Trump
Polyvore.com
sophomores if they agreed with the can- was accurate, and 60% concurred with didate’s idea of New York values. 100% of “pro-abortion” and “focus around monthe participants felt that “socially liberal” ey.” These affirmative responses suggest Continued from page 1 and “pro-gay marriage” were legitime, that the public actually believes Cruz’s had offended many by attacking 80% said that “focus around the media” notion of New York Values to be true. one of America’s most cherished cities. Trump then finished his rebuttal “I think people know exactly what New York values are.” with a final flourish, “I have to tell you, that was a very insulting statement that Ted made” (Fox Business Network). Backlash against Cruz’s comments did not stop there. Newspapers and networks ran headlines like “Just no value to Cruz’s ‘New York values’ comment” (NY Daily News) and “Ted Cruz fractures GOP over ‘New York Values’” (CBS News). Two days later, Trump tweeted a picture of firefighters on the scene of the collapsed twin towers and asked, “Is this the New York that Ted Cruz is talking about and demeaning?” Hillary Clinton, former New York Senator, tweeted herself, “#NewYorkValues: Just this once, Trump’s right,” and Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey and potential Republican candidate, called Cruz’s comments “asinine.” Wnd.com A small survey asked five Winsor Trump (left) and Cruz (right) face off in heated debates. By Isabel Isselbacher Panel Staff
However accurate his portrayal of New York may have been, 100% of the girls participating in the survey believed that Cruz crossed the line with his comments, like many other Americans. He engaged with Trump’s home rather than the candidate himself, and in doing so, he vilified a landmark city, home of both the Statue of Liberty and millions of Americans. The idea of having a president that is so openly hostile to a significant United States citizens, and hostile to an influential state as well, is disconcerting. This instance is not the first time a candidate has crossed the line in this Presidential race. Despite his celebrated response to Cruz’s comments, Trump himself is guilty of overstepping bounds; just this January 23, for example, Trump boasted rather controversially, “I could stand on 5th Avenue and shoot somebody (miming the action with his fingers) and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” With conventional political etiquette and professionalism being broken so frequently, the race for the White House this year will certainly be an interesting one to watch.☐
Sleep: A Second Priority but a Primary Concern By Susy Liu & Claudia Meyer Panel Staff Continued from page 1 may downplay the importance of getting the hours they need, but they cannot ignore the reality that the amount of sleep lost prevents them from completing quality school work or enjoying extracurricular activities. Here’s a friendly reminder: Sleep deprivation negatively affects your ability to focus and finish tasks efficiently. Additionally, it increases moodiness, skin problems and unhealthy eating; it’s a fact that sleep deprived people are as incapacitated as those with a 0.08% blood alcohol content. Sacrificing sleep to finish homework will only contribute to the vicious cycle - drowsiness causes inattention in class, which leads to unproductive and inefficient hours spent on homework. Extra time needed to focus on homework, as well as moodiness, leads to additional stress and later bedtimes. Our sleep schedules eventually become so skewed that normal sleep habits are hard to recover
Two Winsor students hard at work.
and seem ineffective. These unhealthy sleep habits need to be corrected while we’re still in high school, or the mentality of prioritizing work over health will lead to chronic sleep deprivation that can result in cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes and even early death. So what can we do to get our sleep back? For one, we must remember that the quality of sleep is just as important as the quantity of sleep. Meditating and avoiding screen time and exercise at least an hour before going to bed can help you relax and reduce stress, and keeping your room dark can further improve the quality of sleep. In addition, establishing a consistent sleep schedule and refraining from sleeping in more than 2 hours after your normal wake time will help your internal clock running smoothly. As for finding the time to get more hours during the school week, part of the solution is out of our control; teachers still have to give homework, and school still has to start at 8:05 am to accommodate parents’ work schedules and traffic patterns. However, we can’t completely blame it on the school - the people who run it don’t get much sleep either. As individu-
als with the freedom of choice, we ourselves have control over how much we sleep we get and how much we let school take over our lives. Getting 8 hours of sleep is not impossible. Of those surveyed, around 20% get at least 8 hours of sleep, and 60% believe that they could get more sleep if they tried (although the “yes” responses probably weren’t all that enthusiastic). Sleeping late has become a habit for many Winsor girls and it takes a lot to break the unhealthy cycle. In a way, it’s almost like trying to quit drug use-Winsor girls are addicted to school. The first step to getting more sleep is to break through the mentality of elevating education over our personal health and make sleep a priority--education is not worth permanent damage to your brain and body or an early demise. If we make our health our first priority (as it should be), we will actually make a sincere and effective effort to sleep more. The phrases “stop procrastinating” and “improve time management” will then hold real meaning rather than exist as empty promises. If it comes to it, dropping extracurricular activities or strategically skipping certain homework assignments are also ways we can try to get more sleep. More than a few students in our survey responded that they go to bed after midnight, whether it be to finish up an assignment or engage in some “guilty” pleasure activity on the internet, because with all the stress, we need some way to unwind. And we all see with our own eyes how students plod into classes half asleep each morning and for the most part seem pretty unenthusiastic about being alive. But take this issue into a larger context: does the conflict between sleep and school represent something larger than late hour homework cramming and early mornKristie Rae Gillooly ing exhaustion? Perhaps it reflects an
Do you think you could get more sleep on school nights than you do now?
issue with our values and a conflict between internal and external motivations -- our happiness versus our success. We’ve all been taught to strive for success because it will apparently make us happy, but we need to honor the fact that we are more than just working machines instead of pushing blindly along some preset path to what society defines as “happiness.” If we can recognize the fact that perhaps our lives should not be lived according to what society pushes us to do -- get good grades, get into a “good” college, get a respectable job -but according to how we innately want to live them, maybe we’ll remember to take care of our bodies and our health.☐ **Data and chart compilation courtesy of Susy Liu ’17 and Claudia Meyer ’17
winsor NEWS
Febr u ar y 11, 2016
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The Winsor Community Joins in Inspiring MLK Celebration By Talia Ruxin Panel Staff The imperative to “resist complacency” is how Rahimah Ahmad P ’19 began her welcome to a large group of parents, faculty, alumnae, and current Winsor students to the annual
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Ahmad’s words get to the theme of the night: racism is no longer just associated with slavery or segregated water fountains; rather, today’s racism is constituted of many small pieces, such as microaggressions and stereotype threats, that form a subtle racist system
Audience members listen attentively to performances and speakers.
Winsor students, families, alums, and faculty
in which white people have advantages in access to housing, employment, and education, to name a few. Ahmad called for us, the Winsor community, to actively resist this system in order to change it. “Standing Up by Sitting Down,” as the event was entitled, inspired the crowd to carry the same spirit that Rosa Parks and Dr. King embodied as they stood by their beliefs of equality and social justice. The program began with an introductory film about the Civil Rights Movement, narrated by Winsor’s Valerie Becker, that featured Elizabeth Howell-Egan ’18 and Unique Hodge ’18. The film focused on the bus boycott that led to the Supreme Court decision to declare racial segregation on buses in Alabama unconstitutional, often hailed as the start of the Civil Rights Movement. The event also featured personal reflections about identity and active antiracism by Maslen Ward ’16, Sophie Khorasani ’16, Kiara Witter ’16, and English faculty member Piya Kashyap. In addition to the reflections, the parent, alumnae, and faculty Winsor InKristie Rae Gillooly spirational Singing Ensemble (WISE)
energized the crowd with their songs. Lower school students Mya Salazar ’21, Catherine Friendly ’21, Ellie Pellegrino ’21, and Darena Garraway ’23 presented a spoken word poem directed by Tricia Morrow P’16, P’13 and Jackie Hodge P’22, P’18. After an audience participatory song, "I Feel Like Going On," led by WISE, Jolean Ashman ’20 recited Tricia Morrow’s poem, "Before and After Rosa." Bringing Dr. King’s message and call to action back to the forefront, Ms. Kashyap concluded, “if we honestly consider the reality of racial injustice in this country... we too will feel a sense of urgency.” In keeping with Winsor’s guiding principle of diversity, the program spoke to the school’s values of “consciously creat[ing] an environment of respect and inclusion” and of “recognizing the importance of communication and encouraging dialogue among all constituencies.” Overall, the evening “sparked interesting conversation,” as Maslen Ward ’16 reflected, and was “very thought-provoking and moving.” After this year’s successful celebration, everyone is looking forward to next year’s program.☐
Kristie Rae Gillooly Students eagerly await the start of the celebration.
Kristie Rae Gillooly
2016 Iowa Caucuses: Explained and Analyzed By Caroline Hearle Staff Writer As we neared February 1st, an increasing number of Americans turned their focus to Iowa, where the first caucus is held. However, apart from the residents of states that hold caucuses, only a fraction of the population know how caucuses are different than more contemporary primaries and why caucuses are important to the election process. Both a primary and a caucus are voting processes which result in the nomination of a presidential candidate for each political party; however, there are three major differences which can be used to distinguish one from the other. In most areas of the country there are a few states that utilize caucuses to decide their chosen presidential nominees. From the Northeast and Southeast, Maine and Florida, respectively, hold caucuses; from the Midwest, Idaho, Iowa, Wyoming, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, and Kansas all use this method. From the Northwest and Southwest, Nevada and Washington use caucuses, as do Hawaii and Alaska. Thus, each area of the country has its views expressed by both primaries and caucuses to truly reveal how the national polls translate to support for each candidate. As opposed to primary elections, which are held in voting booths with a cer-
tain level of privacy, caucuses are held in more communal spaces such as gymnasiums, local political party meetings, and living rooms. Voting is done by a show of hands; however, before anyone votes, speakers for each candidate attempt to sway voters to cast their vote for the speaker’s candidate of choice. This method is used to show which candidates have strong and organized campaigners who can bring in votes; therefore, the frontrunning candidates in the polls, such as Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, may not win caucuses if they do not have enough active supporters willing to speak on their behalf.
son who agrees with the policies and views of a candidate, versus a supporter, who will actively organize speakers for a caucus to persuade an increased number of voters to cast their vote for their candidate. The more extreme candidates inarguably have more fans; however, these fans are not usually the traditional republican or democratic voters. Therefore, some of them are most likely registered as Independent. Pbs.twimg.com Therefore, unless they register as Republicans or Democrats before February first, their candidate will have a greater chance of losing the caucus. Because
"Frontrunning candidates in the polls, such as Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, may not win caucuses if they do not have enough active supporters willing to speak on their behalf." The specific types of voters in these caucuses is also an important factor when analyzing the potential outcomes. Contrary to primaries where any registered voter may cast a vote, in caucuses, only registered Republicans and Democrats are able to vote. This difference again contributes to the idea of a fan, or a per-
of their rather fan-like status, the motivation to register as a Republican or Democratic will be decreased as well as their motivation to complete the two hour long caucus to support their presidential hopeful, again leading to a lower number of votes for candidates on the farthest ends of the political
spectrum. This information on the difference between caucuses and primaries enables us to gain insight into the “upset” that Cruz claimed over Donald Trump in the Iowa Caucus and the exceedingly close race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Before the caucus, one Winsor student remarked, “Although I think Bernie may win the primary, I’d rather Hillary Clinton get the Democratic nominee because I feel she would have a higher chance of beating the Republican nominee.” Well, he only lost by 0.2%, an astonishingly close margin; however, Clinton will still be the Democratic candidate representing Iowa. Although Cruz was supposed to trail Trump around 5% according to the polls, Trump trailed Cruz by almost exactly the same amount. This victory may be attributed in part to the Trump’s recent absence from the Republican Debate on January 28, and the fact that Trump admitted that many of his shocking views were to gain attention, possible causing a decrease in his more radical following. However, the specific way caucuses are run may also be held responsible for Trump’s defeat. In particular, either having more fans, who support ideals, or more campaigners comes into significant play here. We leave Iowa with freshly ingrained knowledge that every vote counts, and the Iowa caucus assists us with explaining the results of the New Hampshire primary.☐
Belmont Hill Sp orts
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Varsity Basketball’s Youthful Squad Finding Success in 2016 Varsity Hockey in Hill had lost talented seniors the year indispensable include sophomore start- the Hunt for Spot By William McCormack earlier. The team struggled that year, ing point guard Jake Haase, sophomore Staff Writer in Elite Eight finishing a meager 8-16. Accordingly, Jake Bobo, and sixth man shooter Kev Sophomore Jake Haase maneu- David Mitchell entered this season with in Michael O’Boy. Senior AJ DiFillipo vers around a Lawrence Academy player an important goal: “We need to contin- and junior John Sommers also proTournament and strips the ball from a guard, while number 23 Jovan Jones sprints up the court. Stooping over, Haase scoops up the loose ball and lobs it up the floor. Bouncing once, the ball meets 6-foot five-inch Jovan in stride. Without dribbling, he effortlessly takes two steps and jumps, curving his body to the left before slamming the ball into the hoop. This memorable play, one that has infiltrated the monitors around campus recently, begins the highlight reel for Belmont Hill’s January 23rd game at Lawrence Academy. It is a play that encompasses the team’s ferocity, explosive nature, and ability to rise above the competition (and the rim, in Jovan’s case). Belmont Hill wasn’t supposed to win the game at Lawrence. Upon seeing the height of Lawrence’s center, the athleticism of guard Maurice Works, and the endless variety of dunks Lawrence players were performing in warmups, I wondered if our team had a chance. Even when I texted sophomore cocaptain David Mitchell that night and heard the final score was 66-49, I assumed Lawrence had been the victor. David’s follow-up text, “Yea we played well,” shocked me...had Belmont Hill really beaten Lawrence Academy’s juggernaut basketball program by 17? The varsity basketball team had certainly surprised me, as they have been doing to countless people all season. After the skilled trio of SultanFarouk Olusekun ‘15, Hilal Dahleh ‘15, and Jesse Wims ‘15 graduated last Spring, the varsity basketball team prepared itself for a rebuilding year. When they were sophomores during the 20122013, Sultan, Hilal, and Jesse fell victim to a similar phenomenon, as Belmont
ue the success of last year. We can’t drop off like Sultan and those guys did their sophomore year. It would be great to be a top team in the ISL like last year.” Jo-
By Robert Griffin Staff Writer
the Exeter heavyweight, and Ryan Williams have continued to make huge strides as well and will certainly make some noise at the Graves-Kelsey and New England tournaments. The team is now looking to close out an undefeated regular season and secure ISL Dual Meet Championship with only matches against Nobles, Sebs, Brooks, and St. Mark’s remaining. If you haven’t made it out to a match yet, I implore you to do so, because this team both is unbelievably exciting to see in action and is looking to make a statement as they begin to look forward to the postseason. It has been nothing but pure dominance all season long, and no team on campus has worked harder to earn it than the wrestling team. With a healthy roster, Belmont Hill Varsity wrestling is undoubtedly the top dog in the ISL and perhaps in all of New England. The toughness, focus, and intensity of this team is unmatched at Belmont Hill, and you should expect big things from them in the next few weeks.☐
van also noted the leadership void left by the departure of Sultan, Hilal, and Jesse: “They’re not here to be the go-to guys anymore.” David echoed this sentiment: “We [Jovan Jones and David Mitchell] have to step up and be leaders now.” The team has done a tremendous job maintaining the momentum built by last year’s success. As they hoped to do, David Mitchell and Jovan Jones have both been key, while senior cocaptain Austin Masel with his unmatched athleticism has also played a crucial role in their 5-1 ISL start. Other
Varsity Wrestling Eyeing ISL Title
If you haven’t hopped on the wrestling bandwagon yet, shame on you. After a successful weekend up at Tabor, with dual meet victories against Avon Old Farms, Long Island Lutheran, and perennial New England powerhouses Phillips Exeter Academy and Northfield Mount Hermon, the Varsity wrestling team is firing on all cylinders as they approach the Graves Kelsey and New England Prep tournaments. C apt ai ns DJ Demetri, Sean Rayment, and Pete Te d e s c o continue to carve a path of destruction across all of New England. Returning AllAmerican Phil Conigliaro has hardly been scored on all season, and new additions to the team, Mike Glauninger, Luca Pontone, and Colin Vallis--all three of them freshmen--are among the team’s strongest starters. Returning starters such as Alex Afeyan, coming off an impressive win against
vide valuable minutes off the bench. Their 5-1 ISL start is validated by big wins over Lawrence, Rivers, and St. Sebastian’s and has earned them second place in the standings, behind only Brooks. Their single ISL loss was to 6th-place Milton Academy, a game David and Jovan agreed has been the low point of the season. Unfortunately, the non-conference schedule has been marred by close losses to Nobles and the Masters School, but also includes wins over Trinity Pawling and Marianapolis. As the season progresses, Belmont Hill Varsity basketball looks to maintain its top standing in the ISL. While it is more difficult to attain, “making the NEPSAC Class A playoffs would be awesome too,” says David. With a strong February, Belmont Hill will certainly have a shot at this year’s ISL title. However, even more exciting about the program is their future. The 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons will reap the benefits of this year’s astonishingly young lineup. Currently, four out of the five starters are sophomores (Mitchell, Jones, Bobo, and Haase), while the sixth man (O’Boy) is only a freshman. David and Jovan lead this promising group of young, talented athletes. Already the team’s most valuable players, Mitchell and Jones will tremendously impact the ISL basketball landscape over the next two years. With maturity, growth, and improvement, their potential as individual stars and as a cohesive unit is limitless. Plus, with sophomores Quentin Harris, Spenser Smith, and Justin O’Neil Riley set to play bigger roles next season, the future is very bright. Take it from Jovan: “Senior year, the varsity team will be the best basketball team Belmont Hill has ever seen.” ☐
By Evan Ricci Panel Staff The Belmont Hill Varsity Hockey team’s season is well underway. As January closes and February begins, the team has played 19 games so far in the season. Their record stands at a solid 11 wins, 4 losses, and 4 ties. In the early stages of the season, the team competed in the annual Lawrenceville Tournament in New Jersey, placing third. The squad features seasoned veterans and captains, David Giunta and Brian Matthews, alongside new members such as freshman goalie Conor Hopkins. The team got off to a fast start with an exhilarating overtime win over one of the team’s many ISL rivals, Nobles. However, the team has hit a bit of a slump as of late, tying three straight games against Governor’s, St. Mark’s, and St. Paul’s.
The team was determined to bounce back, and that is exactly what they did on January 27 against Brooks, earning a crucial win over the team that defeated Belmont Hill in the Large School Championship in last year’s NEPSAC tournament. The team continued with their winning ways with an enormous 5-3 win over highly-ranked Cushing Academy. Most recently they won a close one against Lawrence but lost a heartbreaker to Rivers, 6-5. From here on out, the team looks to finish strong and cement their place in one of NEPSAC’s highly coveted tournaments. ☐ Bill Mahoney
Recap of FIFA’s Ballon d’Or Award Show Yet there is still a relatively little known By Gavin Colbert Staff Writer
The FIFA Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in the sport of soccer. Starting in 2010, the FIFA Most Valuable Player of the Year Award and the Ballon d’Or were merged into one. This award is given to the greatest male player around the world. To close out 2015, the semifinalists for the award were the Spanish La Liga standouts: Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar. They were chosen not only for their tremendous statistics and moments of soccer brilliance, but for their team play and sportsmanship in the game. In a tight decision, Leo Messi took home the award for a record fifth time, begging the question of who is the best player to ever play the game. While he has had great club and international success, many claim he needs to seal the deal and win the World Cup with his national team, Argentina, a task easier said than done, as he reached the finals in the 2014 World Cup against Germany only to lose in extra time on a remarkable goal from Mario Götze. Also, at this end of the year FIFA celebration, Carli Lloyd received the women’s equivalent of the Ballon d’Or in the form of the FIFA World Player of the year.
award given out at this ceremony, called the Puskás Award, given to the “most beautiful goal of the year,” according to FIFA. The winner for 2015 was a small league player in Brazil named Wendell Lira who scored a truly incredible off balance bicycle kick, netting it in the bottom corner of the goal and giving the goalie no chance. This award is so special because it is given to any goal, scored by any professional player, not just players in big and famous leagues. This is an account of Wendell Lira from Brazil: “once, his dream was to meet Neymar. He was happy to be on the short list beside Lionel Messi. He didn’t sign a single autograph before the ceremony while walking on the red carpet, because nobody wanted one… On a rainy day, he scored that goal in front of 250 spectators only. Someone uploaded that video to YouTube, and the rest is history.” While soccer may not be the most popular sport in the US, it is most definitely a global phenomenon and a universal language, uniting people from all walks of life and of every age because of its moments of passion, heartbreak, and uncompromising victory. Amidst FIFA’s problems with corruption, the Ballon d’Or shines a light of hope, showing that nothing can taint the Beautiful Game or its magnificent virtuosos, from the magical Messi and the lucky Lira to the little toddler learning how to dribble a soccer ball.☐
Belmont Hill Sp orts
Febr u ar y 11, 2016
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Belmont Hill Varsity Scoreboard Team
Record
Notable Results
Team MVPs
11-5-4
W 1-0 vs. Brooks W 5-3 vs. Cushing Academy
Brian Matthews David Giunta
Basketball
9-8
W vs. 45-30 vs. Rivers W vs. 60-58 vs. St. Sebastian’s
Jovan Jones David Mitchell
Wrestling
21-0
W 45-30 vs. Brooks W 49-24 vs. Phillips Exeter
Pete Tedesco Phil Conigliaro
Alpine Ski
N/A
Harrison Rohrer Sam Rohrer
Nordic Ski
N/A
Henry Swain Will Weiter
Hockey
Squash
7-0
W 5-2 vs. Deerfield W 4-3 vs. Nobles
Blake Gilbert-Bono Jack Bell
Squash Teams Dominating Despite Alpine Skiing Competing for ISL Title Key Injuries newfound young talents including Sasha Gannon, By George Hu By J.P. Champa Staff Writer The Belmont Hill Varsity and JV squash teams are off to an excellent start this season. However, the team has suffered a few setbacks early in the season. Injuries have plagued both Timmy Brownell and James Bell, each of whom had to sit out the first half of the season; however, both are on the mend and are expected to return by High School Nationals, the biggest event of the year. Even without two of the top seven players, which forces the majority of both the Varsity and JV players to compete two seeds higher than normal, the squash team has dominated the competition so far, with a 7-0 Varsity record and a 7-1 record
for the JV squad. Two of the Varsity’s most notable wins came against St. Georges and Nobles, in which the team earned 5-2 and 4-3 victories, respectively. Against Nobles, the Belmont Hill team demonstrated the depth of their ladder when the bottom four players secured wins to defeat Nobles, a top competitor in the ISL. Robert Williamson ‘17 and Douglas Conigliaro ‘21 have proven themselves to be strong additions to the team, filling the void of the two injured players incredibly well at positions 6 and 7, respectively, with neither of them having dropped a match so far this season. The team is training hard and looking forward to the upcoming High School Nationals and the match against Brooks to finish out an already successful season in a strong manner. ☐
Strong Senior Prescence Leading Nordic Ski Team By William Galligan Panel Staff The Varsity Nordic Skiing team has come prepared to win races under the command of new head coach Mr. Courtney. With most of the skiers coming off of a tough cross country season, the fitness level is outstanding and the team’s morale is high. With fire in their eyes, the captains, William Weiter and Henry Swain, led the team through the streets of Arlington and Concord on rollerskis during the absence of snow. Coach Courtney commented on the team, saying that he believed the pure cardiovascular fitness of the team was some of the best he has seen in recent years. Although the lack of snow proves problematic to the sport, the team took their annual trip to the AMC Joe Dodge Lodge in Jackson, NH, to get some quality training on the
hills surrounding Mount Washington. Coming off the hard weekend of training, the Varsity Nordic Ski team went up north to Proctor for their debut race to challenge some of the best skiers in the nation, and against the likes of Dublin School, St. Paul’s, Holderness, and the Lakes Region schools. William Weiter showed off his skill as he led the team to a solid 6th place finish, with Henry Swain, Ben Pradko, and Cam Hall giving it their all on the groomed snow of the Lakes Region. Although a small team, the Nordic Ski squad has a strong senior presence in William Galligan, Ethan McILhenny, Jack Richards, and the two captains. Although snow is scarce as we approach the tail end of winter, the Nordic Ski team is practicing hard on the man made snow of Weston Ski Track and hopes to carry on the great legacy of Belmont Hill’s Varsity Nordic Ski Team.☐
Staff Writer
The Belmont Hill Alpine Ski Team has been enjoying another thrilling, competitive, and successful season on the slopes of Nashoba Valley this winter. In one of the most competitive years that the ISL has recently seen, the varsity team has locked itself into a 3-way battle, alongside strong squads from Middlesex and St. Sebastian’s, for yet another ISL title. When hardened veterans such as Sam Rohrer, Gifford Metz, Henry Moukheiber, and captain Harrison Rohrer began to combine nicely with
Bobby Stevenish, Danny Tsyvin, Quinn Richards, and Jack Theberge, the team’s record stands at an impressive 27-5 after 4 meets in a 9-team ISL. Furthermore, with senior captain Will Cannistraro primed to return to the slopes after a month of illness, the team will become more ready than ever to make a final assault on its 10th ISL title in the past 12 years. As the ski season reaches its climax in the coming weeks, with crucial ISL and NEPSAC races all on the February horizon, the team looks to replicate its success from years past. Hopefully, the team, with a good mix of veteran experience and young talent, will once again stand on the ISL’s summit. ☐
Athlete of the Issue: Brian Matthews By Chip Daley Staff Writer Hockey captain Brian Matthews ‘16 has made incredible strides this season as a starting defenseman, totaling an impressive seven goals and seven assists on a team that has faced both success and challenge from a perennially strong league, earning a record of 11-5-4. A fouryear veteran for the team and versatile two-way player, Matthews has played outstandingly well on both sides of the ice while powering through a hip injury. “He’s a great leader who contributes well to the offense and is responsible in the defense zone,” says co-captain David Giunta ‘16. “It’s been great playing alongside him for all these years.” A versatile athlete, Brian has also stood out as a defenseman and face-off specialist on the lacrosse team. Brian commends the strong work ethic of the group and recognizes the triumphant efforts of new and returning players after several talented seniors graduated last year: “We’ve had a lot of new guys step up and fill difficult roles, which has been huge for us as a team.” Brian also notes that the
team’s physicality has seen major improvement from last year, saying, “we’re never shying away from the physical aspect of the game.” “He leads with both words and example and works incredibly hard - always the first guy on the ice, last guy off. He’s so passionate - he competes so hard,” lauds Coach McCarthy. “He’s playing through injury, which I think is just absolutely remarkable. I think it speaks volumes about his character about his passion and about how much he cares for Belmont Hill’s success and how proud he is to be a member of the Belmont Hill Varsity Hockey team. I think that is the greatest statement I can make about Brian.” Brian has won an ISL championship, appeared in one New England championship final, and hopes to add another banner or two before the end of the season. “In the second half of the season, there’s a different feeling in the locker room,” Brian remarks. “It’s easy to tell everyone is pulling on the same rope, ready to make a final push for the ISL and New England Championships.” After he graduates this spring, Brian will play two years of junior hockey before attending and playing at Yale University.☐
Winsor Sp orts
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Winter Sports Updates Basketball
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Current Record: 8-5 Coaches are most likely to… Fall and injure themselves while trying to participate in the drills Learn how to whip/nae nae during practice Favorite Drill: Cut-throat or knock-out Least Favorite Drill: LADDERS :( Exciting Game: One of our most exciting games was probably our very first game to kick-off the season, against Newton Country Day (one of our team rivals). Not only was it our first game, but it was our first game in the new gym! We had a record number of spectators and the game began with the national anthem sung by our very own Isabelle Bastian ’17, Anna Morrow ’16, and Michelle Walsh ’16. The Wildcats were pumped up and ready to go; by halftime, we were looking good but we knew the matchup would be tough. The game came down to the wire, but Brigitte Schmittlein ’16, Alina Brennan ’18, and Elizabeth Roe ’16 clinched key foul shots at the end to seal the deal! It was a nail-biter and a well-deserved first victory.
Squash
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Record: 9-4 Coaches are most likely to… Worry about the number of injuries on the team Favorite Drills: Offense, Defense or Conditioning games Least Favorite Drills: Ghosting or Sprints Exciting Game: One of the most exciting matches was when the whole team played against Nobles. In the past, playing Nobles has always proved difficult, so everyone was very nervous and excited going into each match. Once the games were underway, the girls began to calm down and it grew into a highly competitive afternoon. Although Winsor did not win, every match was very close and each player really stepped up and played some of her best squash of the season. The supportive cheers from teammates really boosted the team morale- Nobles players even said Winsor had given them the hardest match of their season! Everyone agreed that it was great to work together so well, and now we know that the team is so close to beating them! Kristie Rae Gillooly
Ice Hockey
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Record: 3-3 Coaches are most likely to... Wear matching outfits, Let in goals to the defense Bring you food Favorite activities/drills: Stealing coach Elek’s stuff; 4 minute tricep dips *sarcasm* Least Favorite Activities/Drills: Full Circles Inconvenient Snack Bar hours Exciting Game: “WVH had an amazing game versus a very competitive NCDS team. It was a back and forth battle with the lead switching back and forth 4 times. It ultimately resulted in a 5-2 loss but included incredible performances by Nicole Cerulli ’16 in net, Maddie Lehan ’18 on Defense, Ann McDonald ’16 at Center, and the most unbelievable wrap-around goal by Maslen Ward ’16.” - Grace Eysenbach ’16 Kristie Rae Gillooly
Swimming
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Record: 2-4 Coaches are mostly likely to... Ms. Baudis: make a minimum five dryland workouts for each holiday Sandy: tell it like it is. Favorite Drill: Anything that’s a 25 Least Favorite Drill: 50 50s on 50 seconds (hell on earth) Exciting Game: Our meet against Lincoln Sudbury might have started out silent and odd with a twenty minute diving excursion we had no part of, but soon enough we were in the pool and doing amazingly! Even though Lincoln-Sudbury beat us, everybody had great swims and the bulkhead was full of people cheering the whole time. Kristie Rae Gillooly
Curling
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Record: Good...ish! Coaches are most likely to... Laugh at us for falling Favorites Drills: Sliding Down the Ice In Upward Dog Least Favorite Drills: Picking Up the Stones Exciting Game: In the final end of the Brimmer and May match, it felt like Emily Litz ’16, Charlotte Pollard ’16, and Karina Singhal ’16 were bound to lose. At 0-5, it seemed impossible that the team could defeat the odds. However, they were able to secure 5 stones in the target. But these stones were useless, as the opposing team had a single stone in the direct center. After Karina ’16 flew down the ice, a miracle occurred. She knocked the stone out of the center, causing Winsor’s own stone to replace it. The team won the game 6-5 in a miraculous recovery. Karina Singhal
flckr.com
Febr u ar y 11, 2016
Winsor Sp orts
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Changes to Injury Prevention and Treatment By Hailey Yetman Contributing Writer
Chances are, as you wander through the hallways on your way to class, you have noticed one of your peers hobbling up the stairs or into an elevator. Surprisingly, approximately 89 Winsor students are injured or have informed Winsor of a moderate to severe injury in the past year, and nearly 30 students a day visit the training room. This large number of reported injuries just so happens to correlate to an increase in treatment accessibility; with the completion of L.O.C., Winsor has visibly taken a stronger and more comprehensive stand on injury and injury prevention. We are now equipped with a state of the art training room, with ice baths, Game Ready (icing compression machine), STEM machines, and a full-time trainer, Meghan Tracey, who is dedicated to improving Winsor’s current treatment and prevention program. “If I do my job right, I won’t have to see anyone after I see them for an injury the first time,” she remarked. “I’m trying to implement strength and conditioning programs to go over proper form and good mechanics that will also help with injury prevention [...] it all starts with that, really.” In years previous, injury management has been considered notoriously onerous and overbearing. One student remarked that treatment of her minor concussion last year felt “redundant and rigid” (Anonymous). Though she was “cleared by
[her] pediatrician as being ready to return to the student received before the injury. “Each practice,” Winsor told her to see a concussion plan is set up for the student individually. specialist, thus preventing her from attending The only things you really have control over the UTL pep rally or playing in her varsity is how much rest you get, the amount of waUTL game. According to the majority of con- ter you drink, how much time you spend cussion-enduring students, the concussion looking at screens,” remarked Ms. Sneider; treatment program tends to feel somewhat to that end, the academic assistance for drawn out. But Ms. Sneider, the school concussion recovery is individually nurse, tries to help students get based. Students recovering from back to sports and academconcussions are often allowed ics as fast as is safe for that to delay taking cumulative individual: “the girls here assessments, yet are able are so driven that they to take tests and quizdon’t want to give up zes on smaller amounts anything; they want to of material, since it is keep producing and harder for some stuperforming at the same dents to study large level as they could beamounts of material fore the concussion. But in certain subjects. the thing is, they can’t. With injuWe want to make sure we ries to the bone aid in the healing and not or muscle, the cause more damage or stress treatment plan outfor the student,” clarified Ms. lined by Ms. Sneider Sneider. According to the conand Ms. Tracey is a cussion policy outlined on the little more lenient. “Of Winsor website, students may course we wouldn’t let not participate in athletics or people play if the exsports on campus until they tremity is swollen or very painare fully cleared, a process ful because it would cause more that entails daily check-ins, damage,” remarks Ms. Sneider, “but her evaluation, a doctor’s ability is very much up to the indievaluation, and successvidual.” Ms. Tracey responded in a ful completion of the similar vein: “Depending on the Impact test to receive individual, the healing process a baseline equivahas to take place. Depending hrosm.com lent to that which on the severity of the injury,
that takes about a week.” After the healing process, Ms. Tracey works with the athlete to work on range of motion and sport specific skills until they are ready to play. There is no question that many students view the recovery process as somewhat tedious. Emily Keigher ’18 noted the difficulty of fitting physical therapy into her already busy schedule, yet appreciates the care of her teachers and dean in assisting her in creating a manageable schedule to get back on track. Similarly, regarding her concussion recovery, Adrienne Conza ’16 remarks: “It’s annoying to have to go through so many stages of testing to be able to return, but I understand it is required for my safety.” Yet athletes and students suffering superficial injuries, such as sprains and soreness, feel their treatment process is much faster. “I feel much more comfortable asking for help with my injuries this year than I have been in the past, mostly because I know Ms. Tracey will help get me back on the field as fast and safely as possible,” stated Nicole Cerulli ’16 as she iced her shoulder in the training room. While concussion treatment remains seemingly tedious, unnecessarily drawn out treatment plans for musculoskeletal injuries appear to be few and far between in recent experience; distant are the days of hiding a sprained ankle or sore pinkie for fear of missing months of practice. “I try to get people back on the field as fast as possible,” remarks Ms. Tracey, “But hopefully I won’t have to see any of you.” Considering the up and coming injury prevention program, here’s hoping for the realization of that goal.☐
Featured Athlete Izzy Thorndike: They See Me Rollin’ Panel Interviews Winsor Athlete Izzy Thorndike ’19 about her Sport, Roller Derby By Abigail Golden and Abbigale Shi Contributing Writers
ing to skate really well. The hardest part is the fact that it’s on wheels.
How is a team organized? There are always five people on a track for each team, one of them being the jammer. Jammers earn points by passing blockers on the track. Blockers block jammers from the other team. There aren’t any assigned spots though.
How were you introduced to it? Well, first I saw a movie about it. Then I saw it again at a Boston Pride Parade. It’s mostly a west coast sport, so I didn’t think it could be found in Boston, but then I saw a junior roller derby league at the parade handing out Which position do you like better? flyers. That’s how I got interested. I like being a blocker better because it’s easier since I’m tall, but I also like being a How would you describe roller derby? jammer, too, because I like going fast. It’s a sport that’s played on roller skates where you go around fast on a circular track, How are games structured? usually in a warehouse. It’s also a contact When did you start playing roller derby? sport, which means that you knock into There are officially two periods per game I started in September. I haven’t done much people. It’s a good time. with a break in between. Periods have actual playing though— I’m mostly learnshorter sections within them called jams. Each jam can last up to two minutes, and players switch out every jam.
Have you ever heard loud music coming from the Wildcat Room in the L.O.C? Chances are, it’s Izzy Thorndike ’19 jamming out on her skates. Many peers were intrigued to hear about her adventures in roller derby, a little known sport that involves roller skaters racing and knocking into one another. Panel decided to ask Izzy a few questions about her experience with the sport.
Are the rules strict? There are a lot of complicated rules about falling and hitting. For example, you can hit the hip and the shoulder, but you can’t hit below the knee or above the shoulder. There are also penalties when you hit someone in one of these places. You can’t hit with certain body parts either, like your forearms. Also, you can get a penalty for falling down and staying down for more than five seconds. Penalties are just temporary set-
backs, though; they don’t change the score, they just take players in or out.
Are injuries common? Not so much in the junior league, but adults get all kinds of injuries. It’s pretty dangerous. You can break a bone or get a concussion. It’s usually fine since there’s a lot of gear, but there’s a lot of falling. Do you do workouts as a part of your training? Yes, we do. Usually workouts involve the thighs, legs, and abs. We do a lot of squats. Do you enjoy roller derby? Yeah, I met really cool people through roller derby. It’s really fun; I like it a lot. What’s your favorite part? Just the feeling of being on wheels and the fact that you can go faster than you do when you run. Do you think more people should get into roller derby in the Winsor community? It’s certainly not for everyone, but it can be a good way to let out your energy. It’s a really cool sport, and it seems really hard, but anyone can get the hang of it. If you’re interested, I would definitely suggest trying it out. ☐
Upcoming Games: Friday, February 12th.................Varsity Swimming VS Portsmouth Abbey Varsity Ice Hockey VS NCDS Varsity Basketball VS Beaver Wednesday, February 17th..........................Varsity Squash VS St. Paul’s Varsity Basketball VS Pingree Varsity Ice Hockey VS Berwick Wednesday, February 24th.........Varsity Basketball VS Portsmouth Abbey Izzy Thorndike poses in Roller Derby gear.
Izzy Thorndike
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Socioeconomic Status at
It is no secret that not all Winsor and Belmont Hill students come from the same socioeconomic background. While both Winsor and Belmont Hill unq status between students are invariably sure to manifest themselves. And yet, while both schools embrace a wide range of financial backgrounds, discussion aro Schools, only 25.4% of Winsor students felt comfortable discussing their socioeconomic situation with classmates compared to the 63.7% of Belmont Hill stud factors into financial aid as well as three main categories of life at Winsor and Belmont Hill: “academic,” “social,” “athletic.” We hope to shed light on the ways in w
Financial Aid Belmont Hill is intent on making the school affordable for all because it values socioeconomic status as a critical part of the school’s diversity. “For the 2015-2016 school year, Belmont Hill has a $4.1 million dollar budget for financial aid awards to current students and accepted applicants,” reports Mrs. Hacker, Belmont Hill’s Director of Financial Aid. “Belmont Hill’s admissions process is completely need blind - all decisions are made without any regard for a family’s financial situation: the school will never turn an applicant down for a financial reason.” With that, approximately 30% of Belmont Hill’s students receive financial aid to some extent. While the average grant for students currently stands at $30,826, grants range from $5000 to over $42,000 in order to help families afford Belmont Hill’s $42,800 tuition. The school’s allocated budget for financial aid grows at a pace that is significantly higher than tuition increases, especially since the 2008 financial crisis, largely because Belmont Hill’s tuition has outpaced income growth in the US. Currently, financial aid sits as the second largest budget item, falling only behind employee salaries. In addition, 21 percent of the gross tuition revenue each year goes towards future financial aid for students. Though the school highly values financial aid, because of budgetary restrictions, it cannot promise meeting 100% of a family’s need. The school first awards grants to returning students, then to accepted students with what remains in the financial aid budget. Ultimately, Winsor’s admissions process is not completely “need-blind.” However, as Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Ms. McLaurin reminds us that, regardless of income, all parents are making a sacrifice by sending their daughter to Winsor.
Academic Though class materials (textbooks, novels, etc.) are one of the most important items boys need to succeed at Belmont Hill, 7.5% of students cannot afford them. Much of the materials that the school says are “required” are in actuality expendable. And the prices of textbooks are only rising - it’s not uncommon to spend over $500 per student. Two years ago, Belmont Hill decided to stop distributing materials on the first day of classes. Instead, students purchase all their books on a certain website over the summer and have full authority to decide which ones to buy. At the end of the school year, this website then buys back used textbooks for a hefty price, lifting the strain on many families’ wallets. By having students obtain their books before classes commence, Belmont Hill avoids the uncomfortable moment felt by some Winsor girls when teachers hand out expensive books. To help alleviate the cost of books for some, the school has implemented a “voucher” program to subsidize the cost of books on the school’s online bookstore, which is available to a limited group of students on financial aid.
Social Unlike Winsor students, Belmont Hill boys must wear a specific dress code to school every day, consisting of a button-down shirt, dress pants, a blazer, a belt, and a tie. The formal look serves many purposes - young scholars appear refined and professional, but more importantly, the uniform hides any glaring difference in wealth. A student who cannot afford the brand names his classmates wear does not have to worry that he will be singled out as much, since everyone is dressed in almost-identical khakis and navy blazers. Even with the homogeneous apparel, some distinctions can be made - certain boys can be seen wearing expensive glasses, watches, or shoes and buying from stores like Vineyard Vines and J. Crew. The popularization of the Better Buy Sale, however, helps bridge the gap between classes. Everyone on campus can be seen sporting used clothes from the thrift shop, so But for the most part, the dress code creates a sartorially unified student body.
Athletic Every year, Belmont Hill boys must play three sports in the Middle School and two in the Upper School in order to graduate their senior year. Completing this fundamental requirement, however, can be challenging: 6.2% of athletes cannot afford to pay for the proper equipment. Whether it’s new soccer cleats or a hockey stick, mandatory purchases for just one sport - let alone three - can add up quickly. Luckily, many sports do not require any fee; however, must-have accessories can quickly press students’ wallets. While purchases are not required to join the crew team, practice uniforms and specialized crew gear seem almost like necessities. Football players stride the campus proudly wearing the coveted lettermen jacket, but these jackets are costly (around $250), and families facing economic challenges may need to spend that money elsewhere, leaving their varsity ball-player feeling like a team outlier. In a conversation on the topic, Ms. Zener noted that “economically constrained students face obstacles beyond academics and the playing field, whether it be juggling hours-long commutes to school, after-school care for siblings, or helping families get food on the table. This takes not only self-reliance, but also pride, and that pride can sometimes prevent a boy from asking the school for help. Some years ago, one of our boys was unable to afford the jacket and the school didn’t know about it. It was only after his family borrowed money from extended family that he was able to get the jacket.” To curb the class division on the field, Winsor has set a limit on how much their girls can spend on athletic apparel. Belmont Hill, on the other hand, has no plans to institute a similar cap, believing that athletes should buy what they want without interference.
Discussion of Socioeconomic Status at BH
In comparison to Winsor’s results to the survey, a surprising number of Belmont Hill students responded that they felt comfortable discussing their socio-economic situation with classmates (BH’s 63.7% to Winsor’s 25.4%). Based solely on the percentage of students receiving financial aid - around 30% - it appears that BH and Winsor have a similar student socio-economic composition. At first glance, that statistic makes the survey’s discrepancy unexpected. When asked why he felt at ease about such conversations, one Belmont Hill senior said, “I feel comfortable talking about personal things with many of my friends on campus. I’ve found that the Belmont Hill students I interact with typically aren’t judgmental and are genuinely interested in learning from and understanding their peers.” Though a majority of boys are comfortable talking about socio-economic issues, over a third of students still find it uncomfortable to talk about, a significant portion of individuals who may often feel awkward and unheard. Much of the discrepancy in the results of the question may stem from the inherent ambiguity in the question itself. One’s socio-economic status is not simple - it pertains to a long list of aspects of a person’s life, including income. Therefore, it is certainly reasonable to reply “no”: serious financial situations are hard enough to share around family, nevermind friends. Furthermore, socio-economic status is not often discussed directly around campus. Though notions of affluence appear ubiquitously as boys share what brands they wear or what car they drive, we rarely engage in sobering conversations about personal economic struggles. It might be one thing to tangentially talk about wealth by bringing up a vacation home or frequently dining out, but another to talk about financial struggles at home, such as the loss of a job or the need to take out a second mortgage. Though all students are immersed in the Belmont Hill community together during the day, each boy goes home to a different environment in the evening and may experience a vastly different life from his classmates. Some boys return home to a paid family caretaker, while some boys have to act as caretakers themselves for a younger sibling or grandparent, sacrificing extracurricular activities for a family commitment. Still others must work on weeknights out of necessity to help support their families. One student who responded as uncomfortable discussing his socio-economic situation said, “I don’t want my socio-economic status to define me, so I choose not to discuss it with friends at all.” In a school that seems, on the surface, to be populated with a disproportionately high number of wealthy students, we must all realize that not every student can afford certain “extras,” such as family trips, sports equipment, dress clothes, etc. Belmont Hill is more socio-economically diverse than many seem to give it credit. ☐
Center Spread
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s at Winsor and Belmont Hill
ont Hill unquestionably make an effort to give all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, an equal-opportunity education, differences in socioeconomic cussion around this issue at Winsor and Belmont Hill could not be more different. In fact, according to recent questionnaires that were sent out to both Upper nt Hill students. With such a wide discrepancy in mind, the Panel has thus chosen to focus its center spread around a discussion of how socioeconomic status he ways in which socioeconomic status is discussed and addressed at our two schools with the hope of sparking further conversation about this important issue.
Financial Aid As a result of the hefty price tag of Winsor tuition ($42,400 per year), 23.7% of Winsor students reported that they received financial aid from Winsor. That number may even be deflated given that some students were unsure of their families’ contributions. Nevertheless, according to the Office of Financial Aid, more and more families making over $150,000 a year are asking for financial aid following the 2008 economic crisis. Even within those families, the admissions officers noted that there is a broad range of those receiving financial aid: from those who do not earn enough to fill out tax return forms to those with yearly salaries of over $190,000. It is important to note that data from the questionnaire does not account for families who receive outside loans. Some students may also receive financial assistance from non-reported sources like family members or friends. As a result, the number of students on financial aid is still not a complete representation of the number of families who can independently afford a Winsor education. Beyond just who can and cannot afford tuition within the community, socioeconomic status also plays a role in who is even admitted to Winsor in the first place. While the admissions committee makes the initial admissions decisions unaware of any student’s financial status, the financial aid office does take socioeconomic status into account in the final steps of the process. Specifically, once the admissions committee creates a recommended list of who should be accepted, the financial aid office calculates whether or not Winsor can afford to pay for the financial assistance of all of the prospective students and is forced to adjust the acceptance list as necessary. For three years since the 2008 recession, Winsor unfortunately had to adjust who would be accepted based on who could and could not afford to pay Winsor tuition.
Academic With every Winsor student carrying around her own Apple laptop, the ability to pay for class materials may at first appear to be ubiquitous. But looks can be deceiving; not all students, of course, can afford these laptops. In fact, according to the questionnaire, 4.7% of students cannot afford class materials. According to Ms. McLaurin and Ms. Toon, students who get 80% or more of their tuition paid don’t have to pay for any materials that will help them succeed academically - graphing calculators, books, and Apple computers. However, this means that there may still be number of students (both on and off financial aid) who struggle to afford these academic materials but do not qualify for financial assistance. Nevertheless, teachers hand out textbooks to every student, one by one, as if these students automatically have the financial resources to purchase them. As one Winsor student commented, “I have never seen a student return the textbook, and I don’t think that anyone would feel comfortable refusing one in front of peers in Winsor’s current environment.” Those students who struggle with these expenses may not be vocal about their experiences––and understandably so. Yet without a climate that easily allows for such conversations to take place, the entire Winsor community cannot be fully aware of the financial challenges that some of our peers experience within the classroom.
Social Outside of affecting whether students can or cannot afford various class materials, socioeconomic status may also impact students’ social lives at Winsor. While different social events ranging from Prom to Semi to just hanging out with friends can sometimes come at a high costs, such costs are rarely discussed by students. At Winsor, prom dress catalogues, filled with garments costing upwards of two hundred dollars, can be found scattered across the senior homeroom. Classes have also been known to create Facebook groups for the sole purpose of ensuring that no student endures the embarrassment of wearing the same dress as a peer. However, 8.8% of students cannot even afford prom or semi-formal dresses. Beyond just prom, the cost of out-of-school social events (like dinners, birthday parties or get-togethers that involve tickets or travel) may be challenging for some students, especially given the fact that there is no financial assistance for events outside of school. And yet, students at Winsor rarely speak up about the economic burden these social events place on their families, leading to a culture in which socioeconomic status often silently dictates who can and cannot afford to attend certain events.
Athletic
Information courtesy of 21st Century Forum
With a three-season physical education requirement, playing on a sports team is a significant aspect of many students’ experiences at Winsor. However, 7.3% of students cannot pay for sports equipment, and 10.3% of Winsor students cannot afford Winsor apparel. Despite this fact, many athletes are frustrated by the $30 cap on apparel cost, especially because, as one student athlete noted, “it’s so hard to find apparel that people will actually wear and that looks good for less than the price Winsor has set.” While apparel is optional, it is important to remember that the mandatory costs of Winsor sports can quickly rack up, especially for students who play on more than one team at Winsor; players are often required to pay for general athletic equipment, apparel and gifts for coaches, gifts for Senior Day, and food for after games. One student recommended that Winsor subsidize apparel costs, which would allow students to afford apparel “without a substantial burden.” But as another student said, “The issue with Winsor’s student culture is that the majority of privileged students become the sole voices when we’re talking about buying more expensive apparel or paying for a coach’s gift. Those of lower socioeconomic classes become drowned out.”
Discussion of Socioeconomic Status at Winsor
Despite the evident socioeconomic diversity present at Winsor, conversation around this topic seems to be limited, bordering on taboo. In fact, according to the recent questionnaire, 68.1% of students do not feel comfortable discussing their socio-economic situation with classmates. Perhaps the lack of discussion stems from the fact that, according to the census, 40.9% of students reported feeling uncomfortable about their socioeconomic situation at Winsor. There seems, however, to be no singular, common thread for why students feel this way. As one student remarked, “Coming from an upper class family, I often feel uncomfortable discussing my socioeconomic status with my peers simply because I don’t want to seem like I’m bragging or holding my privilege over their heads.” On the other hand, some students feel that the topic matter itself is private and “should not be discussed openly,” as it could lead to hurt feelings, while still other students are not even sure what “class they fall into” and reported not even being sure how to have such conversations sensitively. Out of a fear that they may be judged, many students whom The Panel interviewed reported that such discussions are simply “more comfortable” with friends than with peers. According to one student interviewed, “My friends know me well enough to not just judge me based off of my socioeconomic status, but I don’t know if I can say the same thing about my peers. I don’t want them to get the wrong impression of me or form certain opinions about me based off a few comments about socioeconomic status.” And yet, 58.6% of students said that class is one of the core identifiers that influences their lives the most. A dilemma thus arises in which one of the most important facets of our identity is failing to be discussed within our community-- in fact, 50.4% of students reported that they feel that we do not talk about class enough at Winsor. So, how can we open up such a sensitive and personal topic for comprehensive discussion within our community? The first step seems to be, at the very least, ensuring that all students are cognizant of the socioeconomic diversity at Winsor - but equally important is to then spark discussion within our community. Many students expressed that they would be open to discussing their socioeconomic status, but perhaps in a more “structured setting.” For students like these, classes (like the senior elective, Politics of Identity, or the junior elective, Quest for Identity) seem to be a perfect vehicle for opening up this discussion about class (as well as other core identifiers like race and gender). But as one student noted, it seems like many of these opportunities to discuss socioeconomic status, particularly in the classroom, do not come until Junior or Senior year-- and even then they are optional. In many ways, this perhaps reinforces the notion that discussion of socioeconomic status is “taboo,” but on the other hand, these discussions no doubt require a certain maturity that students may not have until Junior or Senior year. Perhaps the answer then lies in tackling these issues out of the classroom in assemblies or in advisories where students may feel more comfortable voicing their opinions. Ultimately, while the solution is not yet clear, 21st Century’s questionnaire has certainly drawn much-needed attention to an oft-overlooked issue. ☐
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Senior Directed Play Prepares for Performances By Duncan Grant Staff Writer Move over, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest! William Galligan and Christian Dolan have taken on the task of directing Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, this year’s senior directed play. The show is free, and tickets can be pre-ordered on the Belmont Hill website. The play is showing at the Kraft Theatre on Friday, February 26th at 7pm, as well as Saturday, February 27th at 4pm. Written by Neil Simon, the play takes place in the Brighton Beach, a section of Brooklyn, in September of 1937, just before the WWII. The play follows the young Eugene Morris Jerome (Henry Vettel, Form IV), a Jewish kid who has recently discovered girls, and is obsessed with baseball. Also on his mind is his hardworking family: his father, Jack Jerome (Steven DeVellis, Form VI), works two jobs, and
his 18-year-old brother, Stanley Jerome (Brendan Pulsifer, Form VI) is forced to take up a job in a factory. This bittersweet account of family life beautifully captures a struggling Jewish household, as well as the tight family bonds that hold the characters close together. The play opened on Broadway in 1983, and has won multiple Tony Awards for best actor, actress, and directing. Senior directed plays provide an unrivaled experience of working together, and Brighton Beach Memoirs is no exception. “It’s a very different experience working with a peer as a director,” says Brendan Pulsifer, who plays Stan. “It’s much more collaborative and relaxed, but just as intense and fun.” The cast has put in countless hours perfecting one of America’s greatest stories, and there is no real reason not to go to one, if not both of the performances. “The cast is very excited to show you what we can do this February,” says lead Henry Vettel. ☐
The 1975’s New Album By Augustus Lamb Panel Staff
On February 26th, The 1975 will launch their sophomore album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It. Almost three years after their self-titled debut album was released, the British alternative rock band is making its highly anticipated return to the music scene with a new record that has fans jumping, and critics praising the group as “the next biggest band in the world.” After over two years of touring and working in the studio, lead singer Matty Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and drummer George Daniel have completed an wordily-titled album said to be just as coherent and conceptual as the first, compiled of 17 tracks centered around the band’s ethereal brand of soundscape-y, 80s-inspired synth pop that numerous artists around the world have borrowed and cited influence from. Since the album was announced on October 8th, 2015, the band has released three singles. The first track released was Love Me, a jam about rejecting the superficiality of fame, which shocked supporters with its lack of trademark ethereal/ambient elements that were replaced by “new wave/post-punk type aspects,” such as the guitar being used in light, funky spurts instead of droning and echoing. UGH! was the second single released, which re-famil-
iarized fans with the synth-pop brand of music they cherished so much in the first album. Crooning about his comedown from a drug high, its side effects, and his failure to quit, Matty Healy described the song as “something that goes back to the early foundation of how we write music as The 1975.” The most recent tune to drop is The Sound, which, similar to UGH!, is more akin to the upbeat, catchy tunes that were the centerpiece of the previous album. The lyrics describe how Healy has fallen so in love with a girl that he can distinguish her from others by “the sound of her heart,” metaphorically describing how he knows who she truly is on the inside. Dubbed “the hardest working band of 2014” for playing more gigs and traveling farther than any other artist since 2010, The 1975, as of February 26th, will have been fully resurrected in the music industry. After spending 10 years working on the first album, the band has waited 13 years to get to this exact moment in its career. The 1975 has been described as electro pop, funk rock, indie pop, indie rock, pop, pop rock, and rock; however, the band isn’t letting the possibility of change take over the second album. Before surprising the audience with some of the new songs at a show in November, Matty did his best to describe the album in saying, “There are 17 tracks. There’s no way we could delineate what it’s about, but we want to have a party.” The fans agree; it’s time to throw down. ☐
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David Bowie: Remembering the Great Ziggy Stardust
hallmark in his career, Bowie did not stop writing music; two days before his death, on his birthday, he released his final album, On January 10th, 2016, the world lost Blackstar, to overwhelming critical acclaim. one of its greats, music star David Bowie, age Now finally at rest, David Bowie really is the 69. As he says in the title of one of his songs, Starman in the sky that he always sung about. we must all accept changes, and, although his death brings sorrow to many, it should My Top Six Bowie Songs: provide a time of reflection and appreciation -Young Americans rather than of mourning. Born in England, -Moonage Daydream David Bowie gained worldwide recognition -China Girl and acclaim from his 1969 hit, “Space Odd- -Space Oddity ity,” an existential, psychedelic song which -Rebel Rebel describes the strange new world of space -Modern Love travel. He continued his success in the early 70’s with his movement into glam rock, securing himself as one of the greats with his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. This album describes Bowie’s “transformation” into his androgynous alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, and is most notable for containing the song “Starman,” recognizable to many for being featured in The Martian. His trippy music style as Ziggy, along with his poetic lyrics, provides a refreshing and new flavor of music in an era dominated by rock and disco. He was a unique, individualistic artist who was not afraid to push the boundaries of music. Ziggy Stardust, as a sex symbol, represented the sexually experimental and diverse nature of the 70’s, displayed via bizarre costumes and Bowie as Ziggy Stardust highly theatrical stage performances. He continued to try new forms of music, venturing into “plastic soul” and collaborations with other musicians, most notably “Under Pressure” with Queen, and “Dancing in the Streets” with Mick Jagger. His constant changes in musical style have earned him the title of “Rock and Roll Chameleon.” For those who still are unaware of whom this article is about, he is also famous for these songs: “Changes” (in Shrek II), “Moonage Daydream” (in Guardians of the Galaxy), and “Young Americans.” David Bowie, one of the most acclaimed musicians of the past 50 years, was inducted into the Rock and Blackstar Album Cover Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Even after that By Jack Richards Panel Staff
Executive Editors Hailey Fuchs Brendan Pulsifer Abigail Simon
Editors-in-Chief Jay O’Brien Lilla Gabrieli Jake DeCaprio
Copy Editors John Markis Ishaan Prasad Talia Ruxin
Arts Editors Alex Afeyan Betsy Kim
Online Editors Joanna Chen Arnav Prasad
News Editors Jason Fischman Helen Sayegh
Sports Editors Matt Reppucci Brigitte Schmittlein
Assistant Editors Kiran Butte Augustus Lamb Susy Liu Evan Ricci Jack Richards Bennett Rush Priya Shukla Abby Weyer
Opinion Editors McAlister Perry Caitlin Weldon
Photo Editors Arielle Blacklow John Gosselin
Backpage Editors Emily Litz Gabe Schmittlein
Faculty Advisors Meghan Hazard David Hegarty Sarah Wolf Juliette Zener
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 2016 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
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Grammy Nominations 2015: Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff 2015 was undeniably a big year in music, from the introduction of trap beats in hip-hop, to the rise of streaming services, and, of course, Taylor Swift’s ubiquitous pop smashes. And there is no better event to honor the year’s best material than the Grammy Awards, set to air February 15th, replete with performances, tributes, and celebration. The nominations for the 58th Grammys diverge from the norm in that this year’s largest commercial successes don’t overwhelm the big four categories (namely Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist.) Enigmas such as Courtney Barnett and James Bay receive unforeseen nods for Best New Artist, and only two of the five ‘Song of the Year’ nominations peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Popular acts do, however, get their fair share, and performances from superstars like Adele are sure to highlight the year’s most infectious tracks. Though the Recording Academy often surprises viewers with its unpredictable voting record, the night will almost certainly belong to Kendrick Lamar, whose album - To Pimp a Butterfly - enjoyed critical and commercial success upon its release and heavily influenced the Black Lives Matter movement. If Butterfly wins Album of the Year, it would be the first
Record of the Year D’Angelo and the Vanguard - “Really Love” Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars - “Uptown Funk” hip-hop album to prevail in that category Ed Sheeran - “Thinking Out Loud” in fourteen years. Nevertheless, he will Taylor Swift - “Blank Space” surely dominate the Rap categories, aveng- The Weeknd - “Can’t Feel My Face” ing his 2014 shutout from the Acedemy. Lamar stands at the top of the pack Album of the Year with eleven nominations, ahead of Swift Alabama Shakes - ‘Sound and Color’ and The Weeknd, who both have seven. Kendrick Lamar - ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ Taylor often leaves award shows with Chris Stapleton - ‘Traveller’ armfuls of trophies, but it is unlikely that Taylor Swift - ‘1989’ “Blank Space” will achieve either Song or The Weeknd - ‘Beauty Behind the Madness’ Record of the Year status this year. Her chart-topping album 1989, however, re- Song of the Year mains a likely contender for Album of the Kendrick Lamar - “Alright” Year. As a dark horse candidate, The Week- Taylor Swift - “Blank Space” nd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” could easily pull Little Big Town - “Girl Crush” off a Song and Record of the Year win, even Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth - “See though his Beauty Behind the Madness has You Again” little chance of being Album of the Year. Ed Sheeran - “Thinking Out Loud” This year saw huge successes in Rap and Pop genres, but perhaps the Best New Artist best sounds of the year lie in the Coun- Courtney Barnett try categories. Newcomer Chris Stapleton James Bay revives an older, more organic style of Sam Hunt bluegrass music on his album Traveller, Tori Kelly which has already earned him numer- Meghan Trainor ous commercial and critical accolades and could give him an Album of the Year win. In the Song of the Year category, the mainstream country quartet Little Big Town boasts its number one hit “Girl Crush,” awash with enough agony and passion to reach even the coldest heart. For a list of nominations for the big four categories, see below, and tune in to CBS to find out who wins! ☐
Artist of the Issue: Peter Knowlton By Bennett Rush Panel Staff
Upper School I do one sports season a year and two acting seasons. What was your favorite show you acted in? It’s honestly a tie between Ed Parlor from Death by Chocolate (at Fessy) and Banquo from Macbeth. What do you do outside of school for acting? I did an acting camp in Maine called Acting Manitou two summers ago. It’s a great institution and I would encourage anyone interested in acting to give it a try. It’s three weeks of intense all day acting, and at the end of the session you have the opportunity to put on an amazing show. Busy summer schedules have made it difficult for me to attend the camp since, and I very much regret not going back when I had the chance.
When and why did you start acting? Fessenden required acting up through eighth grade. I remember enjoying it but I didn’t pick it up again until 7th grade, where I was Uncle Henry in the Wizard of Oz. I just wanted to try it out again and see where I stood with it. I loved the people and the atmosphere there, and a lot of people said that I had potential in the theater. So I’ve stuck with it ever since. Is there a specific role you’d like to play in the future? My dream role is Javert from Les Miserables. How difficult is it to manage acting at BH, specifically when it comes to our athletic requirements? I’ve actually managed to weasel my way out of the requirements by supplementing them for the shows. Ninth grade was hard because, since I was new I felt obligated to do a sport every season, so doing shows was difficult. But now in
Has the BH theater program been meaningful to you? The BH Theater Program has helped establish both a name for myself and a close group of friends whom I would otherwise probably not know. It definitely helped make the transition at Belmont Hill easier, and since then it has served as an escape from the intense academics and stress of Belmont Hill. When and why did you pick up singing as a major hobby? I started singing at Fessy in fifth grade. My dad sang in college, so after seeing him and his friends sing I wanted to try it out and see what it was like. I’ve continued to sing ever since. I’ve enjoyed both the people who sing with me and becoming more musically literate through singing. It’s a fun pastime and hope to continue it. Do you plan on continuing either acting or singing in college? I definitely plan on continuing both acting and singing in college.
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Erin Simshauser ’17 Directs It’s Not You, It’s Me By Abby Weyer Panel Staff Earlier this winter, Erin Simshauser ’17 and her chosen play, It’s Not You, It’s Me, a short comedy about relationships and more specifically, breakups, were selected for this year’s student directed production. The play, a series of scenes centered around five couples going through rocky relationships, is a hilarious and quirky exploration of the act of breaking up. Erin’s play was one among several submitted to the arts department for selection. In the past, this opportunity was offered exclusively to seniors, but this year was also open to juniors and sophomores. When asked why she decided to propose this play, Erin explained that she “really loved its outrageousness and the characters.” Some technical thinking went into the decision as well: “I also chose this play because the cast size is flexible, and the set is very simple.” Choosing adaptable plays can be beneficial for directors because they are less restricting and there-
fore allow for more freedom of expression. Having been solely an actor in previous Winsor and Belmont Hill productions, Erin has really enjoyed the newfound autonomy
scienceofrelationships.com and freedom that directing affords her: “I’ve always relied heavily on what my director wanted from me, but now I have the chance to make the show exactly what I envision.”
However, she has faced some hardships during her time as a director as well. Not yet used to commanding a sizable group of people, she has found that communication and organization have been difficult to manage. She elaborates, “I’m not able to fully express what I want, and sometimes the actors don’t understand what I’m saying… also keeping track of ten girls’ schedules has not been easy.” Although Erin faced great obstacles, she worked hard to successfully overcome them. Overall, production has been going very smoothly and is well on track for its opening night later this month. The cast members seem to also think so. Azanah Khadurri ’17 explains, “having Erin as a director has been an amazing experience. I am seeing a different side to her and it’s really fun!” Erin elaborates, “Despite the hard work, directing has definitely been worth it. I can’t wait to see the final product.” The Panel staff can not wait either! proKristie RaeThe Gilooly duction will be held on February 26 in the Winsor theater. Be there to see the culmination of Erin and the cast’s hard work! ☐
Oscars Season 2016: Which Movies Came out on Top who was captured by the Soviet Union. Bridge of Spies received wide critical acclaim for its direction and acting in particular. In addition, Mark Rylance was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globe Awards.
By Julia Mastandrea Contributing Writer DISCLAIMER: This article most likely contains some kind of spoiler for one or more of the movies that are nominated for Academy Awards this year, although I did my best not to include any major spoilers. Read at your own risk. Chris Rock will host the most glamorous event of the year -- the Academy Awards Ceremony-- on February 28th. The list of Academy Award Nominees was released on January 14th, and this year some truly incredible films are being honored, along with their casts and crew. Here are some brief summaries and reviews of the films nominated for Best Picture this year. The Martian: Matt Damon plays an astronaut who gets stranded on Mars after a freak storm forces the rest of his team to evacuate. He must figure out how to survive until NASA can rescue him. Along with awesome visual effects, The Martian features very strong performances from a phenomenal cast. Matt Damon in particular is amazing as astronaut Mark Watney, bringing charisma and humor to the role.
Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen in Brooklyn survives and is abandoned to die by the man who was left to look after him, John Fitzgerald (Hardy).The movie tells the (true!) story of Glass’s incredible journey back to the group’s camp. While visually beautiful, this movie contains some rather gory scenes, so I wouldn’t recommend this movie to anyone who cannot stomach blood and gore. Leonardo Dicaprio won a Golden Globe Award for his role, and since he’s been nominated for an Academy Award five times already, let’s all pray that he finally wins!
Mad Max: Fury Road: Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy (he’s had quite the year, hasn’t he?) lead this crazy action-packed movie. In a post-apocalyptic future, Max Rockatansky (Hardy) is a prisoner of the “War Boys,” a group led by the tyrannical Joe. When a Lieutenant named Furiosa helps several of Joe’s wives escape, he sends his entire army in pursuit of Furiosa, and Max gets dragged along. Max eventually escapes and forges a grudging alliance with Furiosa and the other women. This movie has been highly praised for the character of Furiosa, an incredibly strong female lead. DiCaprio in The Revenant awardswatch.com. Charlize Theron is spectacular in this role, and Tom Hardy gives an excellent perforThe Revenant: Leonardo Dicaprio and mance as well. Mad Max: Fury Road was Tom Hardy star in this visually stunning nominated for Best Motion Picture and movie from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards. After being mauled by a bear while on a hunting expedition, Hugh Glass (Dicaprio) barely Spotlight: This movie, starring Mark
consequencesofsound.net
Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Liev Schrieber, and Rachel McAdams, tells the entirely true story of how The Boston Globe shocked the world when they uncovered the immense scandal of child molestation in the Catholic Church and how the church covered it up. Spotlight won three Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director for Tom McCarthy, and Best Screenplay for McCarthy and Josh Singer.
The Big Short: The Big Short, starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, tells the story of four people who predict the collapse of the credit and housing bubbles and decide to challenge the powerful banks for allowing it to happen. The Big Short is extremely intriguing because it poses major ethical questions: the main characters are betting on the collapse of the economy, so if the American populace loses, they win. The Big Short was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards (Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actor for Carell and and Bale, and Best Screenplay for Adam McKay and Charles Randolph).
Brooklyn: Set in 1950s Brooklyn, this movie is based on Colm Tóibín’s novel of the same name. It follows an Irish immigrant named Ellis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) who moves to Brooklyn, and after falling into a romance, must choose between two countries and what her life would be like in each. Saoirse Ronan was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Motion Picture for her role, and the film has received widespread critical acclaim. ☐
Room: Based on the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue, Room stars Brie Larson as Ma and Jacob Tremblay as Jack, a mother and son trapped in a room by their captor Old Nick. The film explores the relationship between mother and son as they escape from captivity, and Jack experiences the outside world for the first time (and no that actually isn’t a spoiler, it is shown in the trailer that they escape). The movie has been praised the most for the performances of its lead actors. Brie Larson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a leading role for her breakout role and Tremblay won the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Young Actor. Bridge of Spies: Starring Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, and Alan Alda, Bridge of Spies is another movie based on a true story. During the Cold War, lawyer James B. Donovan (Hanks) was enlisted to help the CIA facilitate the exchange of a cap- Charlize Theron in Mad Max wikipedia.org tured Soviet Spy for an American pilot
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A Tribute to Two Icons: David Bowie and Alan Rickman
arts and the world as a whole.” In addition to Mars (among others)--have made their way Blackstar’s topping UK’s album chart and the into the British Top 40 in the recent wake Billboard 200, some of David Bowie’s most of his death. Some fans remember Bowie by beloved albums--Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane, his famous declaration from 1971’s Hunky The week of January 10th, 2016 saw Diamond Dogs, and his first big break, The Rise Dory: “Time may change me, but I can’t the unexpected loss of two artists whose and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From trace time.” Bowie was always authentiinfluence has spanned generations. David Bowie and Alan Rickman both passed away from cancer at the age of 69, having devoted themselves to their careers practically until the day they died. Bowie, the eclectic British rock and roll icon, released his final album Blackstar as a poignant goodbye to his fans only two days before his death. The album topped the UK charts and has been widely acclaimed by critics. Rickman’s last screen role as the voice of the caterpillar in Alice Through the Looking Glass will hit screens in May 2016. David Bowie’s passing inspired countless musical artists, both his contemporaries and young musicians, to pay tribute to his life and profound influence. Many recalled his “chameleon” style of creating music: his constantly changing persona and defiance of categorization that have allowed him to remain relevant to each new generation of listeners. Beyond epitomizing self-reinvention in his music and performance style, Bowie is remembered for his public experimentation with sexuality and gender expression as early as the 1970s. His courage opened doors for LGBTQ youth of the time and for those in the future, as well as other artists. Sofia Vicinelli ’17 commented: “I think David Bowie is one of the most important and influential icons in music; he changed the way the world thought of music, sexuality, gender, etc. His death is a tragic loss to society; however, his legacy reminds us The great late David Bowie am.ac.uk Alan Rickman cdn1.theodysseyonline.com to uphold his creative contribution to the Isabel Griffith-Gorgati Panel Staff
Winsor Students “Start It Up!” Erin Lyons Contributing Writer On January 21, Winsor’s new dance program presented an assembly titled “Start It Up!” in the L.O.C.’s new theater – its first-ever performance for the Winsor community. Upper School and Lower School students shared the stage as they performed in 11 different numbers, showcasing the variety of styles and skills they had learned in dance classes at Winsor. Some of the performances were lively and upbeat, like Lower School Performing Arts Block’s “Baka Play Baka” and Class III Dance’s “Weary Lonesome Blues,” while others were more mysterious and thoughtprovoking, such as Class IV Dance’s “What’s
which was performed at the assembly. The dancers’ preparation for the show was not only about putting on a performance but also about the fundamental concepts of dance and choreography. Overall, the assembly showcased Winsor’s new dance program’s potential to teach dance as a powerful form of expression. Ms. McKinley says, “My hope is for Winsor students to feel empowered to create dances that express their own experience, feelings or causes, as well as to develop an appreciation for the many roles that dance plays in our lives and in cultures around the world. And of course to learn how to look good dancing at a party!” ☐
Under the Bed?” and Upper School Performing Arts Block’s “Collision Theory.” The show also featured some duets: Marie Kester ’20 and Daphnee Piou ’18 danced in “Volkswagen 2001” and “Crash,” Alex Farina ’17 and Serena Pellegrino ’18 performed “Doors,” and Winsor faculty Ms. McKinley and Ms. Ramos were in “Chinese Variation #1 from Nut/Cracked.” Two Winsor students performed solos as well: Isabella Guerra-Uccelli ’16 (who was accompanied on the violin by Andrea Alvarez ’16) and Julia Mastandrea ’17. Also dancing in the assembly was the flamenco club, which performed “Tango Flamenco”, and Upper School Foundations of Dance, which performed “Shades Variation from Nut/Cracked.”
Julia Mastandrea ’17
Alex Farina ’17 and Serena Pellegrino ’18
Kristie Rae Gillooly
cally himself, as he embraced the inevitably shifting world of society and music around him and thus never failed to find his place in it. His music, message, and persona are as varied and lasting as the fans that remember and celebrate him. The late Alan Rickman began his career as a stage actor but is best known for his roles in movies such as Die Hard, Love Actually, Galaxy Quest, Sweeney Todd, Sense and Sensibility, the Harry Potter series, and Truly, Madly, Deeply. Rickman’s rendition of Snape, a complex antagonist of the Harry Potter movies, is perhaps his most memorable role for the teens of today. Genna Brusie ’17 reflected, “My mom really loved [Rickman], and I have so many memories watching Harry Potter and Love Actually and even Galaxy Quest. Even as a kid I loved him and his characters. He created these amazing memories for me, and I know those memories will be around for a long time.” Maddie Latimore ’17 remarked, “I think he was an amazing actor, and what makes him even more amazing is that many of the characters he played were so unlike who I’ve heard he was as a person -- a very good guy.” Rickman stood out to many for his nuanced ability to play sympathetic villains, but he proved his versatility as both a supporting and main character in films throughout the years. Those who worked with him as well as his fans mourn the loss of a unique talent and warm-hearted man. Both David Bowie’s and Alan Rickman’s artistic spirits will outlast their deaths. Their cultural influence has been and will continue to be both far-reaching and deeply personal. ☐
Kristie Rae Gillooly
According to Ms. McKinley, Winsor’s dance teacher, “A lot of work went into analyzing repertory work by guest choreographers and in choreographing new work for the concert.” Dancers in Class III and IV studied the relationships between space, time, and use of body parts in dance, while students in Upper School focused on technique, character, and “creating relationships with other dancers” on stage. Both Upper and Lower Schoolers analyzed the work of other choreographers, some of
Izzy Guerra Uccelli ’16
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A Student’s Analysis of Obama’s Last State of the Union By John Markis Panel staff
gees from the Middle East, standing in stark contrast to the GOP, 27 of whose governors propose at least a temporar y ban on Syrian refugees. Had Obama stuck primarily to bipartisan values, he would have given Democrats a stronger chance of retaining the White House. As noted in a recent Gallup poll, nearly 45% of the countr y considers itself independent of either
On Januar y 16, President Obama delivered his thoughts on the state of the nation to both Congress and the American people, an annual tradition mandated by the Constitution. The President’s final Address was made doubly important by 2016’s being an election year ; for Democrats to maintain control of the executive branch, President Obama would have to perform exceptionally well. Overall, President Obama’s speech was effective and should help the eventual Democratic nominee gain some i n d e p e n dent voters. For instance, by talking about cur- Obama’s State of the Union Address January 12, 2016 ing cancer in America, President Obama major party ; as these votunited both sides of the ers will determine the winaisle against a common en- ner of the 2016 contest, the emy, a stark contrast to bi- President might have been partisan America today. wise to avoid statements that Although his speech might disaffect a sizable secwas generally positive, tion of the electorate. On a President Obama occasion- related note, the president ally mocked GOP candi- should not have insulted dates, something that could Governor Christie, because hurt his party in the general Christie’s type of voters, election. He affirmed his those would would be willconviction that we should ing to vote for a strong cancontinue to accept refu- didate from either party, are
exactly who the Democrats need to win. After all, he won the usually-blue state of New Jersey with support from many unique groups. Republican Governor Nikki Haley (South Carolina), the daughter of Indian immigrants, and a potential vice presidential candidate, delivered the Response to the SOTU. Interestingly, Governor Haley, hardline conser vative and Tea Parti-
congratulations. Governor Haley’s speech was so lauded by the GOP because she gave the party a huge boost, separating them from outsiders who claim to represent mainstream American conser vatives. Assuming that Trump does not win the nomination, the ultimate GOP candidate will be dogged by liberal propaganda portraying the candidate as “worse than Mr. Trump,”
er, devoted as much time in her speech to attacking Donald Trump as to President Obama. In a statement clearly directed at Mr. Trump, she declared that, “During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation…”. The usually reser ved Republican National Committee’s chairman was among many to offer his words of
particularly on the issue of Muslims and Islamophobia. On this night, Governor Haley demonstrated that the GOP establishment does not condone anti-Muslim rhetoric in any way, shape or form. In addition, by distancing the GOP from Mr. Trump, Governor Haley was able to show that the party of Lincoln supports women; by distancing the party from Trump, the ma-
jority of Republican moderate females will be likely to support the eventual GOP nominee. Governor Haley’s speech is already showing positive effects in the Granite State, where one-quarter of all New Hampshire women promote Marco Rubio. Overall, Governor Haley’s speech allowed the GOP elites to heave a deep sigh, knowing that leaders such as Haley can respectably present the Party as representing America’s diversity and youth. Over the past eight years, Obama has matured from an inexperienced one-term senator into a confid e n c e - i n s pi r i n g Commander in Chief. No matter who succeeds in next fall’s election, whether it be a former Secretar y of State, a current governor, or one of the handful of congressional candidates, our system of checks and balances will ensure that the US will be in good hands. Both Obama’s and Haley’s speeches effectively calmed some of the fearmongering rhetoric as did the more moderate results of the recent Iowa Caucus. I look forward to observing the rest of primary season unfold and seeing how both orations continue to impact the 2016 campaign discourse. ☐
Belmont Hill American Politics and Policy Poll Results By Jake DeCaprio Panel staff
11. Do you favor or oppose the United States sending ground troops into combat operations against ISIS forces in Iraq or Syria?
In December, Dr. Buckley’s senior histor y elective, American Politics and Policy, sent a political sur vey to the Belmont Hill community, including students, faculty, staff, and parents, to compare Belmont Hill’s political inclinations to those of the entire United States. Included here are the results of three of the sur vey questions pertaining to The Affordable Care Act, Syrian Refugees, and the prospect of sending ground troops to combat ISIS. All national polls were conducted in Novmber or December of 2015, and results are courtesy of www.pollingreport.com and their associated polling outlets. All Belmont Hill results come from the 458 students, faculty, staff, and parents that responded to the school sur vey. The complete set of results for all 21 questions are available at the all new Belmont Hill Panel website, www.bhpanel.org ☐ 9. Do you think allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S. poses a threat to the security of the United States, or not?
13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
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Student Debate: Facebook vs. Instagram In this issue of The Panel, we are continuing our feature debate between Form VI students Jay O’Brien and Gabe Schmittlein. After The Panel is released, a poll will be sent out to assess the student body’s views on the topic at hand. These results will be published in the subsequent issue along with a brand new talking debate. So without further ado, we present the ninth debate—Facebook vs. Instagram.
Team Instagram
Team Facebook By Gabe Schmittlein Panel staff Kids these days. Flaunting all their technolog y -- their iPad Mini’s, their color television, their toaster ovens, their Instagram. They keep me young. Back in my day, though, Instagram wasn’t even a thing, and it was Facebook that was the sole ruler of the social media universe. Now I do realize I’m treading dangerously close to sounding like your grandfather who always grumpily mentions that “life was better back in his day when shoes weren’t a thing” (I made that up but I’m pretty sure it’s
However, unlike the invention of shoes, which was pretty much universally accepted as being better than “no shoes,” the creation of Instagram has not completely marginalized Facebook. been said before). For starters, there’s just more you can do with Facebook. It facilitates both word-based and picturebased posts and allows for
By Jay O’Brien Panel staff
more extensive and diverse communication through sharing, liking comments, and even poking (just kidding - don’t poke people). Perhaps the most popular use of Facebook by people nowadays is through its direct messaging system, which is so ef fective largely because of the sheer number of people who have Facebook accounts in the first place. I get that this may have changed for the younger crowd, but there are may be five people in the entire senior class without a Facebook (ver y much an estimate), making it an extremely ef fective platform for communicating with people who you aren’t close enough to have exchanged phone numbers with. Facebook’s friend system also creates a big distinction with Instagram, and I do appreciate the fact that on Facebook I don’t have to worr y about maintaining my ratio. Of course they’re fundamentally dif ferent systems and Instagram does what it’s intended to do ver y well, it just doesn’t have the depth or wholescale appeal that Facebook has managed to capture.
While Facebook may have been the premier social media site back in middle school, Instagram has quickly surpassed Facebook to become the primary app of choice among younger generations. For multiple reasons, Instagram is simply superior to Facebook, which may be why so many Belmont Hill middle schoolers have hundreds of followers on Instagram with no burning desire to get a Facebook. It’s 2016 people: Mark Zuckerberg is no longer the nerdy twenty-something-year-old who understands the trends among
Unlike Facebook, where someone you know fills your newsfeed with 173 pictures from their winter vacation to Florida, Instagram limits tat user to upload one or two of their best photos. America’s teenagers, but rather a 31-year-old dad who is now out of touch with the youth of America. First and foremost, Instagram’s layout is very straightforward and easy to use for people of all ages. With Facebook, a person’s news feed is cluttered with URL’s, photos, statuses, and unoriginal videos. In addition, Facebook bombards the viewer with undesirable ads and “cutesy” things like Friends Day and Face-
Results from Last Debate Comedy - 101 Action
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book memories, all of which may be appealing to the older members in the Facebook community, but completely unused by high schoolers. Instagram is just a series of high quality, filtered photos uploaded by a user one at a time. Unlike with Facebook, where someone you know fills your newsfeed with 173 photos from their winter vacation to Florida, Instagram limits that same user to upload one or two of their best photos. Instagram also tailors personalized “breaking news” or “explore” updates in sports or current events, depending on who the user chooses to follow. Comedy accounts, actors, athletes, or “Instagram celebrities” are all exciting options to make one’s Instagram experience as enjoyable as possible. When it comes to privacy settings, Facebook is infamous for having incredibly complex and nuanced privacy settings that are quick to change with every new update. Instagram on the other hand is very straightforward: make your account either public or private with a single button. Facebook is quickly evolving into the Myspace of our generation, and Instagram will readily take its place as the number one social media site. Lastly, everyone knows that all trends starts with the youngest generation, so don’t be surprised if over the next couple years parents soon become involved with Instagram as they try and keep up with the cool kids. Thus, Instagram membership will continue to soar while Facebook quickly fades into an oblivion.
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BuzzFeed: Is There a Budding Bias?
Examining the potential prejudice of “progressive” BuzzFeed By Elizabeth Kim Panel Staff
With its endless lists of funny memes and quirky quizzes, BuzzFeed has understandably become one of the most popular websites among teens today. Within the Winsor community, many students rely on BuzzFeed for comic relief; as one junior commented, “I use BuzzFeed primarily to look at funny lists of people doing dumb things, or just anything that will make me laugh.” Indeed, BuzzFeed appears to be a popular and creative website, well-liked for its amusing content, spontaneous reporting, and interesting commentary. As a frequent user of BuzzFeed myself, I’ve enjoyed much of what it has to offer immensely. However, having partaken in my fair share of articles, quizzes, and videos, I’ve come to the conclusion that BuzzFeed is a media company that is hypocritical and dismissive of academic integrity. Here’s why: To start off: for a company that boasts extensive diversity in race and gender among staff members, BuzzFeed remains woefully lacking in variety of political opinion. In fact, many of its articles reveal a remarkably closeminded attitude towards any viewpoint that isn’t entirely liberal. For example, in a recent article entitled “18 Reasons Why Urban Outfitters Is The Worst,” BuzzFeed writer Matt Stopera cited Urban Outfitter’s owner Rich-
ard Hayne’s conservatism as a justification for disliking the retail store. Articles such as these make BuzzFeed’s hypocrisy painfully obvious: according to BuzzFeed’s standards, it is unacceptable to be prejudiced against someone for their sexual orientation but socially acceptable to criticize others for their political affiliation. Also, through publishing articles that praise women who reject society’s beauty standards, BuzzFeed seems to oppose the objectification of women. However, BuzzFeed is extremely inconsisent; for every article entitled “Here’s A Hilarious Explanation For Indian Media’s Objectification Of Women,” there is another article called “13 Things Kim Kardashian’s Outfit Looked Like At The 2015 VMAs,” which compared the star’s appearance to a
potato and a deflated football. As one online commenter aptly stated, “Honestly Buzzfeed, y’all try to act so progressive and accepting and then go and post sh** like this. Stop picking on women… for what they wear or look like.” In my opinion, BuzzFeed’s willingness to ridicule certain female celebrities’ looks compromises its professed acceptance o f women w h o come in all shapes and sizes. Lastly: a quick Google search citymaps.com of “BuzzFeed plagiarism” yielded a troubling number of articles about BuzzFeed’s history with plagiarism: in 2013, BuzzFeed employee had plagiarized and published 41 articles before he was caught. In 2012, a post entitled “21 Pictures That Will Restore Your
Faith In Humanity” was panned for copying NedHardy.com’s 2011 post “7 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity.” Four of the pictures from the NedHardy article were re-used by BuzzFeed, and yet, BuzzFeed gave no credit to the website. Not only are the articles inauthentic, they are also often factually inaccurate. Amanda Lu ’17 remarked, “[BuzzFeed] is hard to view as a serious source of news because sometimes some of the articles have many errors in them”. Eliza McNay ’16 agreed, saying, “When you have a significant following, it’s your responsibility has a journalist to make sure you’ve been fact-checked. It’s really irresponsible…” BuzzFeed has an editorial staff, though the company’s tendency to overlook both plagiarism and false information causes one to wonder what purpose it truly serves. BuzzFeed is an entertaining website, and its endeavors to capture the attention of the younger generation are largely successful. (Believe me, trying to stay focused on writing this article while browsing through BuzzFeed was extremely difficult). However, despite its efforts to be progressive, BuzzFeed has become unreasonably prejudiced against conservative opinion. Also, in its attempts to be entertaining and relevant, it has sacrificed both academic integrity and general editorial quality, a cheap trade for a company that claims to be “intensely focused on delivering high-quality original reporting.” ☐
techboomers.com
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abastomedia.com
Powerball: The Ethics Behind the Billions
An analysis of the moral code - or lack thereof - of Powerball
business of selling hope to [the poor.]” Billboards in the low-income districts of Chicago actually proclaim that a lottery ticket “could be your ticket out.” Indeed, a PBS reWith 1.6 billion dollars, you could fi- port revealed that households earning less nance the final Star Wars trilogy, visit space 6,400 times, or perhaps simply live a luxurious life. You most likely followed the recent Powerball frenzy after the jackpot climbed to this unprecedented amount. Despite that the chances of winning were no better than becoming the President, you figured that two dollars wasn’t a whole lot to spend. But imagine if you played the lottery every single week—the money would certainly add up. And for economically disadvantaged people, that’s money they don’t have. Forget the lighthearted excitement that swept the nation; the everyday lottery, largely sustained by “poverty, habit, and desperation,” is actu- than $13,000 a year squander nine percent ally quite a dismal business, said journalist of their income in the lottery. However, it Natasha Lennard. Victor Matheson, profes- can be contended that playing the lottery is sor of economics at the College of the Holy voluntary. Moreover, said Isabel Isselbacher Cross, explains that the lottery is “in the ’18, “It would be condescending to tell peoBy Juliet Isselbacher Contributing Writer
ple that they aren’t spending productively.” Another Winsor student, who wished to remain anonymous, was opposed to the lottery not because she thought it was exploitative of the poor, but rather because, “It’s sim-
that its chance of winning is miniscule. In this case, the consumer is being tricked into participation.” Yes, the public may be aware of its poor odds, but does it truly comprehend them? Robert Williams, a professor of health sciences at the University of Lethbridge, explains, “People just aren’t able to grasp 1 in 175 million...we have nothing in our evolutionary history that prepares us...to try and grasp the remoteness of those odds.” So we proceed to buy tickets. “And,” Claire added, “aren’t profits used to benefit the public anyway?” Not quite. Indeed, defendants of the lottery claim that state governments allocate supplemental funds to public education, noting that primary and secondary schools alone have received $19.3 billion since 1985. Thus, it seems rather bizarre that California public schools have had to hold bake sales cdn.abclocal.go.com in order to afford electricity. As it turns out, legislatures ply hypocritical how the government deems allocate education funding to other purposes gambling a crime until it’s profitable.” To this, and then fill the hole with lottery revenue. Claire Ganiban ’18 responded, “I think that Thus, the education system does not receive the morality of [the government promoting] an extra cent. Yes, the lottery is pretty deceitgambling increases when the public is aware ful–will you still buy a ticket next time? ☐
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New Exam Schedule Gets Student Feedback
Out with the old and in with the new: a change for better or for worse? By Jordan Sclar and Dagny Reed Contributing Writers For Upper School students, something about this January was different. No, we do not mean the tragic shortage of snow days; rather, this year, Winsor students were introduced to a new exam schedule quite unlike the ‘old’ exam week. The new policy eliminates the designated exam weeks in January and June. Additionally, Reading Day, which was traditionally provided as a time for students to study and meet with teachers, was removed. A letter sent to Winsor families explaining this change stated, “we have found that high stakes, cumulative exams are not always an adequate assessment of a student’s mastery of concepts, but can favor memorization and place undue or excessive importance on one assessment.” Many students appreciated these changes, as they allowed students to focus more on their math exam, and ultimately eliminated the stress generally associated with major assessments. Sarah Quraishi ’17 stated, “I thought
that having only the math exam took some of the stress off,” but added that she found “the old exam schedule more satisfying for the end of the semester.” Others noted that this change was beneficial as it allowed them to balance their math exam with smaller assessments in other classes. One sophomore felt “the new schedule allowed [her] to be more organized, and therefore less stressed.” However, several students remarked on how the elimination of Reading Day and the fact that exams were one week earlier than in previous years made it more difficult to schedule meetings with teachers before the exam. Iona Gossage ’18 noted that the implementation of the seven day rotational schedule added another layer of complication to the testing process, stating, “I felt that I did not have adequate class time in which to learn the material, and therefore felt that I was forced to do
too much preparation by myself.” When asked about the general emotions of the Upper School towards the exam schedule revamping, Priya Shukla ’17 shared that “I felt better about not having to study for four days of exams, but I still feel that there are ways to improve the new exam schedu l e ”.
Much time and effort has been invested in creating a new exam policy that more accurately supports students and their learning processes. This policy aims to decrease stress and promote learning, a priority for the Winsor faculty and administration. While there are many benefits to this new policy, it has created an alternative method of testing to which students must become acclimated. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Winsor’s exam schedule.☐
mocks.ie
The Future of Gun Control: When Psychology Affects Reality
turing of how guns are sold in America. According to the recent Winsor 21st Century Forum poll, 82.3% of the Winsor population is in favor of stricter gun It is saddening how frequently our control: “There should be universal and social media feeds light up with debates consistent restrictions/requirements for concerning a shooting. Activists on both all states,” stated Izzy Macenka ’17, “We sides of the political spectrum require people to take drivers’ offer their reactions and ed before driving a car ideas about how to because the misuse address the most of a car can have recent atrocterrible conseity. Most quences; why tweets is it not and upthe same dates for firee x arms?” press She acsadknowlne ss edged, f irst howand e ver, forethat the most, “bigb u t gest ist h e n sue [facing m a n y gun legislaposts fall tion] is that into two catthe dissenting egories. More minority is much politichicks.com conservative-leanmore vocal than the ing arguments tend toindifferent or assenting maward discussing second amendjority.” Another Winsor girl called ment rights and the general call to “fight the situation an “impossible problem,” recguns with guns.” More liberal-leaning ognizing that a middle ground between the arguments call for tighter gun control re- two sides of the gun control debate must strictions and often a fundamental restruc- be found, but not knowing “if it exists.” By Sophie Stone Contributing Writer
But what if neither of the common responses actually encapsulate the true solution to America’s problem? America must bring an end to the grim drumbeat of these mass murders, yet while we are trying to quell the violence, we still glamorize war movies, let young children play violent, first-person video games, and often glorify the gun-toting, violent heroes of these stories. Guns are arguably a part of the American identity. Our country was founded as a result of an uprising. The “Wild West” culture of lone rangers and gunfights is highly valorized. America values independence, autonomy, and individual rights. I am not saying that independence, autonomy, and individual rights are bad things-far from it. What I am saying is that the basic principles of America lend themselves well to fierce
rejection of what may be seen as infringing on those rights. Would there still be gun violence with strict gun laws? Yes. Would there have been 51 mass shootings since 1997, with around 32,000 gun deaths per year? Would Americans still be ten times as likely to die from firearms as citizens of other developed countries? Most likely not. Vi o lence and guns are so ingrained in our nation’s ideas of heroism and freedom, it is almost no wonder that the debate about gun control seems stalled. Nobody wants to admit that the root of our gun probartizans.com lem may well be the psychological status of the American public. Until we can publicly discuss and address America’s grotesque fascination with guns, we will keep witnessing the murder of our fellow Americans.☐
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BEST WATER FOUNTAINS AT BELMONT HILL
6. Outside the Woodshop -- The water fountain outside the woodshop is the Jamarcus Russell of water fountains.
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ROAD LOVE An original epic poem by Gabe Schmittlein. Based on a true story.
When you turn it on it seems to have a pretty decent stream, but then you go in for a taste and you’re left extremely disappointed because its actual quality could never live up to its physical potential. I totally do a lot of tough work in the woodshop and when I need a break all I ask for is a refreshing blast of cool water, but instead I receive a luke-
Sitting at a red light Listening to Bedtime Magic My song comes on, “Josie’s on a vacation far away” “Come around and talk it over” I’m on lead vocals ooyuz.com Drums too, “So many things that I want to say” “You know I like my girls a little bit older” Never really listened to these lyrics Didn’t know it was that sort of song I wonder who Josie is, Turn to my right There she is No not Josie I’m going to call her Betty Betty turns to her left Betty is on lead vocals too It’s a duet now, I smile She cringes complex.com But it’s a playful cringe Betty is playing the air guitar She’s also playing my heart, “I just want to use your love tonight” “I don’t want to lose your love tonight” I hit the high note She doesn’t I don’t care though, Then the miracle happens It’s a double chorus, “I just want to use your love tonight” “I don’t want to lose your love tonight” I hit the high note again Green light She speeds away Very quickly But we’ll always have that moment, Road love.
warm sputter of metallic awkwardness. 5. New Building -- Some people like these fountains because they have the attached water bottle filler, but I don’t bring a water bottle to school so what’s that doing for me?! The stream is small and even though it’s fairly powerful, it leaves you wishing for something more (that “something more” generally being water within this context). I guess they look pretty suave and technologically advanced, and the taste of the water itself is crisp and cool, I just need more water than it’s willing to give me. 4. Jordan Athletic Center -- Jay O’Brien thinks these are the best water fountains in the school, and while I usually respect Jay’s opinion (hahaha just kidding), I can’t say they’re anything more than average. The stream width is solid and the taste is fine, but there’s nothing really spectacular to say about them. I don’t love their design either, and I’m somewhat overwhelmed by all the different buttons (that’s definitely not the right word) that can be used to turn it on - do I use the ones on the sides? Or the one on the front? Oh wait but that one on the front is jammed what do I do now? Very confusing. 3. Music Building -- Sleek design, strong stream, cool temperature. I’m a big fan of the music building water fountains. Only gripe that I have is that last year there was a piece of gum stuck in the drain of the one on the first floor and it lasted there for several months, which was gross, but I guess that’s a pretty minor gripe in the large scheme of things. 2. Second Floor Morse -- The water fountain on the second floor of Morse is consistently great, it’s like the Tim Duncan of water fountains. There’s nothing about that fountain that’s going to make the front pages of the New York Times, it’s not the flashiest fountain, but it simply doesn’t have a flaw. Large stream? Check. Aesthetically-pleasing design? Check. Great taste? Check. Good temperature? Check. This water fountain is just the complete package. 1. Library -- You had to know it was coming. The library water fountain is practically a legend at this point. Hundreds of years from now people will be writing myths about the library water fountain, debating whether or not it could have existed. Well, people living in the future, it does exist, and it is incredible. The stream is huge; the water is as crisp and cold as you could ever imagine water to be; the design is brilliant. This water fountain is the greatest of all time.
acclaimmag.com
For those of you living under a rock, Season 20 of America’s favorite (and classiest) dating show, The Bachelor, is already underway with only 10 female contestants remaining (at the time this article was written). Current Bachelor and bland person, Ben Higgins, is doing an admirable job this season of being respectful and un-scandalous on his quest to maybe find his wife. The competition between his 10 girlfriends (a normal amount), however, has gotten stiffer and stiffer each week. Since this is the Super Bowl of dating shows, Gabe and Emily decided to do a Bachelor Draft and are going to go through each of their picks.
“Squad Gabe”
Caila
I love Caila as my first overall pick. I mean, she gives off these super nice, shy vibes when you first meet, but then literally every time she goes off with Ben they’re making out faster than you can say “Olivia-is-a-serial-killer.” She had a pretty innocuous first date with Ben, but let’s just say the night ended with some fireworks. It’s clear that she has a pretty special connection with Ben and I’d be surprised if she wasn’t around come the final couple rounds. Also Ben has given her a nickname which is not to be reapeated on this back page but may or may not rhyme (sorta) with flex antler and everybody knows that good nicknames are the key to long-lasting relationships.
Amanda
Lowkey (but in fact very highkey because I tell everyone) Amanda might be my favorite candidate, so you can imagine that I’d be extremely happy to land her with the fourth pick in this year’s Bachelor draft! Now because I’m writing this up after Emily Litz has already written her side I have the advantage of being able to look at her comments and play off them, so I’m going to attack the fact that Emily calls Amanda unoriginal. Amanda is the most sincere person on the show so Emily you can GET OUT OF HERE. When Ben is having his super emotional rose ceremony moment after a couple of his family friends died she’s the only person that genuinely offers support. Anybody who wants to fight me about Amanda can meet me in the trash compactor space behind the Jordan Athletic Center to settle our “disagreement.”
Emily
“Litz’s Pickz”
vs.
Emily’s occupation is listed as “twin” which is super funny. Emily, I too am a twin so we’re basically coworkers now I guess. Also we should go on a date some time, but only if Caila and Amanda aren’t free. Definitely don’t bring Hailey though because I won’t be able to tell you apart. I’m convinced that when Ben had to kick one of the twins off he just said a random name and waited to see who stood up. There’s no way he could tell a difference because they’re as identical as Pete Bechtol and Teddy Danziger, who, for your information, are identical. I like Emily a lot so I’m happy to welcome her to team Gabe even if I don’t really think she’s going to because Ben doesn’t even know her name. (Last point, she had Amanda’s back during all the Olivia teen mom drama so that’s big points in my book)
Leah
I don’t know who Leah is, but I’m sure she’ll help out with squad Gabe’s team chemistry or something. I don’t really know. She may be a horrible person. She may be a real nice person. She’s almost certainly not going to be the person that wins the Bachelor. (editors note post-monday’s episode: ABORT MISSION “DRAFT LEAH.” ABORT. SHE DID NOT ENCANCE TEAM CHEMSITRY AND SHE IS IN FACT A HORRIBLE PERSON)
Olivia
We thought Lace was crazy, and she was, but she was more of an “oh my gosh look at that Lace, she’s so crazy” sort of crazy. Olivia is like an “oh my gosh she’s gonna kill Ben if he sends her home” sort of crazy. She only refers to Ben as “my husband.” She talks in the third person way too much. Her mouth is gigantic. She’s bananas. I must admit, though, I’m actually pretty happy to have Olivia on my squad. I know, everybody hates Olivia, even Ben hates Olivia, but she will do anything to win. She’s the type of player that plays with a shank hiding in her shoe and actually uses it. Sometimes you need a player like that. I am also very confident that she’s secretly blackmailing Ben so that doesn’t hurt either.
Lauren B
JoJo
Becca
Lauren H
Jennifer
My first round draft pick is Lauren B because she epitomizes the girl next door thing that Ben is totally into. She’s mastered the doe-eyed look and knows how to appear confident but not come on too strong (unlike someone from team Gabe i.e. Olivia). Given that the majority of Bachelor winners and runners-up have had straight, blonde hair, Lauren B’s blondeness and straight-haired-ness give her a statistical advantage. She and Ben even have a common interest in aviation. He’s taken the majority of his dates on planes/helicopters/hot air balloons and she’s a flight attendant. Ben + Lauren B = match made at high altitudes. Plus she has a job which is more than I can say for one of Gabe’s team members (i.e. Emily, professional Twin).
I would like to express my feelings about JoJo with an acrostic poem: Jocular (she’s entertaining, she has a good sense of humor) Open-minded (she’s excited to try new things, she’s easygoing) Joyous (she’s carefree) Original (she has a personality unlike a certain girl on Gabe’s team i.e. Amanda)
I’m so pleased to welcome Becca as my third round pick because she’s done this before! She was first runner up last season so I’m sure she wouldn’t be here if she were insincere. Becca = marriage material. For their one-on-one, they married people together and that’s weird but a unique date and I’m sure they bonded. Lauren H is so #real. She #wokeuplikethis. Her secret weapon is how relatable/ normal she is. When Ben woke everyone up at like 4 AM last week, Lauren was wearing her retainer (whereas all the other girls inexplicably had makeup on) and we all could relate. She has a good sense of humor and does goofy stuff which we can all appreciate (and Ben def appreciates). Also Lauren H is a Kindergarten Teacher, which I’m pretty sure is the most legit and least vague job held by a contestant in all of the history of the Bachelor franchise (we’re talking about the show that has brought us the “Pantsapreneur,” the “Grain Merchant,” and the “Mineral Coordinator”).
Ok, to be honest, I don’t really know who Jennifer is but I’m still happy to welcome her to the Litz Fam. She’s irrelevant but she’s more relevant than one of Gabe’s picks i.e. Leah. They actually talked last episode which I consider to be a step forward.
Bachelor contestant pictures courtesy of abc.go.com