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Volu m e 6 3 , Issu e 7
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
Marc h 1 2 t h, 2 0 1 5
Social Media Causes a Generation Gap at Winsor By Sea-Jay Van der Ploeg Panel Staff “I made a Facebook for one day and deleted it because it was boring! Who uses Facebook, anyway?” I overheard this snippet of conversation among a group of Lower Schoolers and pondered the greater implications of this declaration. Inspired to surf the Internet, I found a
January 2014 Princeton University study that posited that Facebook will lose 80% of users by 2017. How unlikely—or how accurate—was this claim? Is Facebook truly past its heyday? And if so, what form of popular media supplants it—or will supplant it? The revelation that Facebook may be past its prime led me to reflect upon my own personal relationship with Facebook. In Lower School, I used
my profile to post inside jokes on my friends’ walls (affirming my popularity by tagging the names of everyone involved), to share photo albums, and to chat with my friends online. Today, as a senior, I use my account mostly for social planning, creating Facebook events, chatting friends, surveying group pages, and occasionally (often) stalking other people. Younger elementary schoolers and middle
schoolers today, however, do not seem to have the same uses for the application. Perhaps I simply do not network enough with younger people, but generally speaking, I have seen younger people’s accounts less and less on Facebook. There lies some accuracy in my observations; a study by consumer research organization GlobalWebIndex published that between 2012 and 2013, the percentage of 16 – 19
year old active users dropped from 62% to 52%, and the percentage of 20 – 24 year old users dropped from 63% to 52%. So where is everyone going? My sixth grade sister RuYao Van der Ploeg explained, “My friends and I use apps like Instagram and Snapchat, and none of us really use Facebook at all.” This preference shift can be attributed to a couple trends. Continued on page 9
Deep Playoff Run for Hockey Finishes With Close Match at St. Anselm’s By Michael O’Neill Panel Staff After putting together an inspiring comeback attempt within the game’s final seventyfive seconds, the hockey team fell just short of claiming their first New England Prep title since 1990 after a 4-2 loss to Brooks this past Sunday. Belmont Hill, the number four seed in the Martin/ Earl Large School tournament, had beaten Berkshire and Thayer in the previous two rounds to reach the final against Brooks. A sizeable contingent of Belmont Hill students, alumni, faculty, parents, and friends made the trek up to St. Anselm’s hockey arena in Manchester, New Hampshire to support the hockey squad. The game got off to a defensive start, as a backand-forth first period ended scoreless. Both teams struggled to break through in the second period as well, though Belmont
Look Inside Poetry Fest pg 2 New Roles for Winsor Administrators pg 4 Snow days pg 6 Climate Myths Debunked pg 9 Drake review pg 13 Squash Nationals pg 17
Hill killed a power play after a captain and departing senior Loop cheeringly them on wildly, holding penalty call. With just Charlie Barrow gave Belmont the side nearly tied the game under eight minutes to go be- Hill a glimmer of hope, tipping up on several close shots before fore the break however, Brooks one into the back of the net off Brooks sealed the victory with snagged the first goal of an empty-netter with just the game and took the 1-0 under a minute to go. Relead into the locker room. gardless of the end result, The third period the team put in an outseemed to breathe new life standing effort in what was into the game, as a total the last hockey game at of five goals were scored Belmont Hill for all of the in the ensuing eighteen team’s seniors. The travelminutes. Two minutes ing fans stayed behind to after the restart, Brooks give the team and Coach doubled their lead, then McCarthy a standing ovaadded another goal 30 tion for their outstanding seconds after the resultseasonal performances. ing face-off. It didn’t look The road to St. Angood for the boys in blue, selm’s was an impressive but in true Belmont Hill and entertaining one for fashion, the team refused The team celebrate with the Loop after their the Belmont Hill squad. to surrender. The team exciting 5-4 semi-final win vs. Thayer They opened the tournapiled on in attack for the ment by beating #5 seed final fifteen minutes, nearly scor- fellow captain Charlie McCon- Berkshire on the back of Charlie ing on a power play and later on nell’s assist. Just twenty seconds McConnell who notched a hat a 2-vs-1 while shorthanded, only of game time later, Belmont Hill trick in the match. The semito be stopped by the Brooks goal- added a second, and the come- final matchup against Thayer, ie. With 2:15 left on the clock, back was officially on. With the who had knocked out top seed
Brunswick in the first round, was even more thrilling, a 5-4 affair that saw three goals being scored in each period. Thayer jumped out to an early 1-0 in less than a minute, but fellow Dartmouth committees Charley Michalowski, ‘15, and Sam Hesler, ‘17, combined to score all five of Belmont Hill’s goals and lead them on the path to victory. Hesler, who announced his intention to play hockey at Dartmouth just last week, grabbed a hat trick for himself on the day. The hockey team this year was one that really came together at the right time, playing its best hockey just as the post-season approached. Though unable to collect the tournament win, the side gave it their all right up to the final whistle and can rest easy knowing their performance this season will not go unheralded. A big round of applause for Coach McCarthy, his staff, and all of the players on this year’s team. ☐
Boston Buried under Record Amounts of Snow By Susy Liu, Claudia Meyer, & Hailey Fuchs Panel Staff Ten foot snow banks. Cars shrouded in white. Five foot icicles hanging from snow-laden buildings. Boston is up to its neck in snow, forcing residents to shovel driveways, sidewalks, and streets again and again and again. Thanks to four massive snowstorms in two weeks, February set the record for the snowiest month in Boston since the first recorded winter snowfall in 1872. After Winter Storm Neptune dropped another foot of snow over Valentine’s Day weekend, snow totals reached 58.5 inches for the month and 95.7 inches for the season. The snowstorm brought winter 2015 less than a foot away from surpassing 1995-1996’s 107.6 inches
of snow and becoming the snowiest winter Boston has ever seen. The Massachusetts government has tried its best to keep up with the onslaught of snow. On February 8th, Mayor Walsh announced a state of emergency and set parking bans that lasted weeks. During Winter Storm Neptune, Massachusetts dispatched 3,366 crews to clear the snow, which was shipped to snow farms for lack of space. As the snow farms reached their full capacity, crews began melting truckloads of snow and considered dumping it in the Boston Harbor as a last resort. The massive post-blizzard clean-up cost was inevitable--Massachusetts spent around 7 million cleaning up after Neptune, adding to the 37 million dollars already spent on snow removal. The extreme weather has forced the city to shut down, dis-
rupting daily life. The past few weeks have been a vicious cycle of snow emergencies, plowing, flight cancellations, and school and MBTA closings. Flooding has caused streets to shut down, and power outages have affected hundreds of people. Roofs of houses and buildings have col-
lapsed under the sheer weight of the snow, and the number of carbon monoxide incidents has increased due to blocked heating vents. The MBTA’s incapacitation has only exacerbated the issues that the snow has brought to Boston this year. Continued on page 5
Faith Danglo ’15 achieves internet fame shoveling snow
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Belmont HIll NEWS
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Poetry Festival Ends With a Bang by Neil Hilborn). On the morning of February 23 rd, each of these twelve finalists gave excellent performances In a Belmont Hill English cur- of their poems in front of Chapel. riculum that is filled with prose, the The three judges for this year’s annual Poetry Fest provides students contest were Mr. Armstrong, Ms. Vaiwith a welcome aside to the world of las, and Ms. Zener. The judges assessed poetry. A long-standing tradition of the performances based on the conthe school, the Poetry Fest has held testant’s ability to recite their speechstrong for the past two years, even af- es correctly, their inflection, and their ter Mr. Brodie, the man who started cadence, among other factors. Each and ran the Poetry Fest for contestant delivered excelmany years, retired. This lent recitations. Highlights year, Dr. Tift ran yet another of the Chapel included successful and meaningful Brendan Pulsifer’s dramatic edition of the Poetry Fest. delivery, Alessandro ZenaThis year’s contest had ti’s passionate commentary the same rules as always. on technology in today’s Underclassmen were resociety, and Cam Connor’s quired to recite a poem in near-rap about the underfront of their English class, appreciated President Alwhile the senior inquiry Mr. Mahoney exander Hamilton. In the classes had the option to end, the judges could only do the same. Each class chose one choose three winners however. This student to move on to the next round year, the three winners were Vishnu for an exceptional recitaNair, Noah Levine, and Mr. Mahoney tion. After in-class recitaCam Connors. All finaltions chose semifinalists ists did an excellent job. throughout the beginning When asked about of February, the semifihis win at the Poetry Fest, nalists moved on to reVishnu Nair said, “My excite their poems again in perience in the Poetry Fest front of Dr. Tift. Dr. Tift was a very valuable one then chose the twelve fifor me. I learnt that when nalists that would move you want to recite a poem on to recite their poems in well, you really have to front of Chapel in an allput yourself in the mindschool meeting. This year, set of the poet. I picked a the twelve finalists (with their poems poem that I felt would suit me, and I in parentheses) were Alex Czarnecki went with it. I am so honored that the ’17 (Repetition judges selected Mr. Mahoney by Phil Kaye), my performance.” Oisin Treanor ’18 This was the gen(Dance Russe by eral consensus William Carlos among all of the Williams), Juan participants. Not Carlos Fernandez only was the Podel Castillo ’16 etry Fest an excel(And Death Shall lent opportunity Have No Dofor each of these minion by Dylan participants to Thomas), Cam showcase their Connors ’16 (Alamazing declaexander Hamilton mations to their by Lin-Manuel Poetry fest winners (from top to bottom) Vishu peers and the BelMiranda), Noah Nair, Cam Connors, and Noah Levine mont Hill comLevine ’15 (Macmunity, but it was rophobia by Jamaal May), Jackson also a great chance for them to O’Donnell ’20 (Totally Like Whatev- learn more about their own reciter by Jackson Mali), Vishnu Nair ’16 ing abilities and to find a poem that (Conscience by Henry David Thore- they felt was important to them. au), Charlie Danziger ’16 (Football by All in all, this year’s Poetry Fest Louis Jenkins), Owen Grady ’18 (The was yet another successful edition of Raven by Edgar Allan Poe), Alessan- a long-held, important Belmont Hill dro Zenati ’16 (Touchscreen by Mar- tradition. All of the finalists providshall Davis Jones), John Markis ’18 ed entertaining, well-spoken recita(Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence tions, especially the three winners, Thayer), and Brendan Pulsifer (OCD Vishnu, Noah, and Cam. CongratuBy Sreehaas Digumarthi Panel Staff
Th e Pan el
BH Flower Sale A Roaring Success By Sebastian Themelis Staff Writer This Valentine’s Day, many people were pleasantly surprised to receive flowers from Belmont Hill boys, bought during the S.A.D.D. flower sale. 1500 flowers were sold, marking a great increase in flower sales from last year, when only 1000 were sold. “We had a very good turnout this year,” stated Andrew Wilkins, who is the head of S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions), a group not only committed to informing teenagers about destructive activities such as drunk driving and tobacco, but also minor things like sleep deprivation and stress. Many people were instrumental in making the S.A.D.D. flower
sale such a success. Andrew Wilkins concocted the brilliant idea of digitizing the sign up forms, making it tremendously easier to order for the flower sale. Mrs. David helped organize the flower sale, and her connections at Winston Flowers were also immensely helpful. Chris Byrne, co-head of S.A.D.D., also helped to organize the flower sale. Students could either buy the flowers to give to their special someone themselves, or they had the option to have the flowers sent to certain schools. One problem that arose during the flower sale was that some schools sadly would not accept flowers that were sent. All in all, the S.A.D.D. Flower Sale was again a tremendous success, and all the proceeds went to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. We look forward to breaking this number next year! ☐
12,000+ Diapers Raised by BH Community for Boston Families By Michael O’Neill Panel Staff
St. Anthony’s Shrine has Seniors Colin Ward and Evan Chaletzky to thank for over 12,000 donated diapers this winter, as the two soon-to-be-alumni ran an incredibly successful diaper drive all through February. “The drive started two years ago in memory of my mom, who passed away in 2013 after a difficult battle with cancer,” explained Colin. “St. Anthony’s is a special place to me and my family, and they really could use our school’s help. Diapers are a hot commodity at St. Anthony’s, and they struggle to help all the families that they want to.” Each year since its inception, the drive has aimed to double its tally from the previous year; the original goal of 2,500 became 5,000 in 2014, and this year the goal was raised to a tremendous 10,000 diapers. Thanks to the hard work of Colin and Evan and the generosity of countless Belmont Hill families, that mark was actually surpassed
by a sizeable margin; this year, the number of donations totaled to 12,400 diapers, a sum that more than pleased the drive’s organizers. “It has been a tremendous drive for a great cause,” commented Evan. “I’m extremely happy with all of the support we got this year, it was incredible,” Colin added. “We want to extend a huge thank you to everybody who contributed - this will undoubtedly help lots of families in need, and that is something everyone should be proud of.” While Colin and Evan are graduating in the spring, the departure of the drive’s two chief organizers does not mean the diaper drive will leave with them. Starting next year, current Third Form student Will McCormack will take the reins. The Panel would like to congratulate Colin, Evan, and everyone who helped the drive in some capacity for their generous and inspiring work, which serves as a perfect example of the Belmont Hill community rallying around a common cause to help those in need. ☐
Deven Ferguson-Perez Starts Diversity Workshop By Mack Perry Panel Staff For his senior project, Deven Ferguson-Perez is taking a unique opportunity to lead a weekly diversity workshop at Belmont’s Butler Elementary School. The course, named “Difference and the Same”, is taught to the school’s third-graders, and will teach about diversity and inclusion. Each week, the students are shown a video in a series produced by Family Communications, Inc., the producers of the popular PBS program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”. The series addresses the complexities of human relationships, teaching children identify bias so it can be prevented. “My goal is to help the kids develop positive at-
titudes toward themselves,” says Deven, “as well as to live in harmony with all people -- both those who are different from them in some ways and those who are the same.” By teaching young minds about current-day social problems and how to approach them, he hopes they will be prepared to recognize and deal with these situations in a positive way when they tackle these challenges. “As we get older, we find young kids who struggle with ‘different’, whether it be culturally, socio-economically, racially, or a different ethnicity or gender,” describes Deven, “but if I can teach kids how to embrace other people’s differences, I hope they will be less likely to be perpetrators of bigotry, and be able to speak out or be an ally of those who are victims of bullying and hazing.” ☐
Mr. Mahoney Alexander Santangelo, Colin Ward, and Evan Chaletzky as they deliver the diapers
March 12th, 2015
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Two Belmont Hill Graduates Featured on Famous Forbes “30 Under 30” List By Evan Ricci Staff Writer Every year, Forbes Magazine publishes an issue detailing 30 up-andcoming entrepreneurs under the age of 30 years old. Forbes includes entrepreneurs from many sectors of the business world, including finance, food and wine, sports, health care, law and policy, and many more. Being included on the business magazine’s renowned annual feature takes a lot of hard work, and success at your job. Need- Nick Rellas, ‘08 less to say, the list is a pretty exclusive one. However, not one but two recent alumni of Belmont Hill have achieved
enough early in their respective careers to snag a spot on this year’s “30 Under 30” piece. Harry Greene, ‘03, and Nick Rellas, ‘08, found themselves being interviewed by Forbes early this year. Greene, 29, Forbes serves as a vice president of Goldman Sachs at the impressive age of 29. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking and investment management firm that provides services to a substantial client base all throughout the world. These clients include corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm’s headquarters are located in New York City, although offices
Seniors Organize Belmont PMC Kids Ride By Benny Wanger Staff Writer This spring, five seniors will be continuing the tradition of hosting the Pan Mass Challenge Kids Ride. Ariel Borsook, James Russo, Charlie McConnell, Charlie Barrow, and Benny Wanger have decided to organize this fundraiser for their senior project. It will be a great opportunity for young kids to get outside and have some fun while also making an impact and contributing to a great cause. This year will be the 4th year Belmont Hill seniors have organized and hosted the PMC Kids Ride since its formation by Teddy Metropolos in honor of Mr. Goodband. All the proceeds from the event
will be donated to cancer research and in 2014 that number exceeded $25,000. The goal the seniors have set to beat this year is $30,000 in donations. This is where the Belmont Hill community comes in. In order to meet this steep goal, the seniors need as much help as possible spreading the word about the ride to different towns and specifically to families with younger kids who may be interested in riding. There will be raffles and games with prizes so families are encouraged to get outside and enjoy the event. So, this year, the seniors are inviting over 250 kids to come out to Belmont Hill in the Spring and bike the PMC Kids Ride. It will be a great event and fun for all families! ☐
are widespread all throughout the world in major financial centers. Harry graduated from Yale University with degrees in economics and math. As Vice President, Harry helps oversee major portfolio projects in Goldman Sachs’ investment strategies unit. Rellas, 25, is a cofounder of Drizly, and was featured in The Panel’s November issue. Drizly is essentially a beer, wine, and liquor delivery business. Through Drizly’s website and apps on the app store, customers are able to notify Drizly of their location, confirm their order, and wait Harry Greene, ‘03 for about 40 minutes until their order arrives. The goal of Drizly was to make alcohol delivery an option with just a couple of clicks on your smartphone.
Since the company’s beginning about two years ago, Drizly has worked with more than 100 retailers Forbes to deliver beer, wine, and liquor to businesses and consumers. Drizly has been featured in many newspapers across the country, as well as being featured in “The Today Show.” In its brief but successful time on the market, the company has been able to deliver products to consumers in places such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, St. Louis, Washington D.C., and even Vail, Colorado. Anybody over the age of 21 is now able to purchase beer through the app ‘Drizly’ and have it delivered to them, thanks to Nick Rellas and his pioneering ideas. ☐ Ariel Borsook
The seniors hope to recreate the success of last year’s successful PMC Kids Ride.
Emmie Atwood Discusses Dangers of Distracted Driving for Text Less, Live More By Augustus Lamb Staff Writer Ever y day in the United States, eleven teenagers die in accidents related to texting while driving. The TextLess Live More campaign hopes to play an important role in preventing such tragic incidents. Founded in September 2013 by three students at Milton Academy in honor of their friend and classmate, Merritt Levitan, who was killed by a distracted driver while on a bike trip that July, the campaign’s purpose is to help decrease excessive phone usage. One of the ways they attempt to accomplish their mission is by organizing phone-free days in which students turn their phones off at the start of the academic day and then turn them back on at the end. In an early morning Friday chapel, our school had the chance to hear from one of the founders of TextLess Live More, Emmie Atwood, a Milton Academy graduate and current student at Har vard University. “Merritt knew how to live in the realest, most authentic way possible. We started this campaign to honor her way of living,” Emmie said. Before participating,
students must sign a pledge that states, “I pledge to spend one day, from eight in the morning to three-thirty in the afternoon, cell-phone free. I also pledge never to text and drive, stream and drive, or drive distracted by technolog y.” Despite the fact that not using phones in school does not directly relate to driving, it is the organization’s hope that by helping people change their behavior with technolog y, they can be more committed to driving without distraction. Although TextLess’ main priority is raising awareness about the dangers and impacts of texting and driving, the movement is much bigger than that. In a world where texting, Facebook, Twitter, and other ways of communicating through phones are extremely popular, we often have less and less person-to-person interactions. Emmie explained, “Our hope is that in encouraging the practice of phone-free living, students will be more willing to resist the instinct to pick up their phone when it buzzes in the car, and also be able to have more substantial, real world relationships,’’ a statement that perfectly summarizes the TextLess Live More campaign. ☐
Executive Editors John Driscoll Caroline MacGillivray Natalie Sayegh William Treanor Arts Editors Brendan Pulsifer Abigail Simon Sports Editors Joanna Chen Liam Foley Photo Editors Kiran Butte Alexa Lyons Jamie Mazzio-Manson
Backpage Editors Andres Cordoba Myles Walsh
Editors-in-Chief Maddy Batt Michael O’Neill Online Editors Sreehaas Digumarthi Bibi Lichauco
Assistant Editors Chip Daley Jake DeCaprio Victoria Farina Jason Fischman Betsy Kim Mack Perry Helen Sayegh Brigitte Schmittlein Caitlin Weldon
Copy Editors Matt Reppucci Sea-Jay Van der Ploeg
News Editors Sreehaas Digumarthi Lilla Gabrieli Opinion Editors Hailey Fuchs Jay O’Brien Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Stephen Murdock Thomas Wensink Sarah Wolf Juliette Zener Graphics Editor Arielle Blacklow
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 2011 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
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Boston Buried Under Record Amounts of Snow By Hailey Fuchs, Susy Liu, & Claudia Meyer Panel Staff continued from page 1 According to AccuWeather, MBTA managers estimate that it may take thirty days, assuming there will be no more blizzards, to completely repair the transit system and resume full service to the 300,000 Boston commuters that rely on it. Citizens across the state have become frustrated with these impairments, and they are especially angered by the MBTA’s lack of service. As reported by the Boston Globe, their exasperation was shown in a petition calling for reimbursements from the MBTA, which attained over 200 signatures in three days. However, MBTA officials have also highlighted to the public the immense cost if they decide to refund or reimburse riders for all the lost service. In response to the MBTA’s chaotic state during the past month, MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott announced her resignation on February 11. Scott will leave the MBTA in April after the winter has passed. MBTA dysfunctions during this historic winter were in part due to a staggering $9 billion in debt and $3 billion in maintenance backlog. The T has been investing in a series of ventures such as daily service to Gillette Stadium, which would cost $23 million, even while there remain serious infrastructural issues that need immediate attention. Replace-
ment for the current decrepit and dilapidated equipment will not occur overnight; new cars for the Red and Orange lines, which have already been ordered, will take years to implement. Meanwhile, the lack of service continues to impact commuters, especially low-wage workers, who, according to Mayor Walsh, are “losing more than anyone else here.” The lost work time is taken out of workers’ paid holiday time and even straight out of their Boston residents brave the winter weather paychecks. A decrease in business productivity, due to the absence of lane closings. However, traffic-induced taremployees, has caused significant damage to diness is not the snow’s most dramatic effect an economy already suffering from the massive on Winsor--the school has been forced to costs of snow removal and MBTA malfunctions. close on six days so far. Though students have The snow has affected everyone--Win- enjoyed the days off, the snow days have unsor students included. For many of us, get- doubtedly inhibited learning progress. Many ting to school by car has been a disaster in teachers are anxious about fitting the necesthe last few weeks. Traffic in the Boston area sary material into the remaining school days, has been terrible, as people who are no lon- and teachers of AP classes have decided to ger able to commute via public transportation hold class on certain days that students would are forced to drive. These commuters have to usually have off. Winsor has decided not to drive much more slowly and cautiously than extend the school year, however, choosing inthey normally would in morning rush hour, stead to decrease the number of Upper School given the treacherous road conditions and exams as well as move them back a week.
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Needless to say, everyone is sick of the snow. Who can say when it will stop and give New England a chance to recover? In the mean time, people have tried to make the best of the weather. Though highly discouraged by Mayor Walsh, many thrill seekers took on the Blizzard Challenge, jumping from second-story windows into snow banks. Winsor students and faculty stayed optimistic by holding a beach party among the snow dunes and below freezing temperatures, bringing summer to the school for a day. The snowstorms may be far from finished, but if we maintain a sunny attitude, we can definitely beat Winter 2015! ☐
Changes in Winsor Community Keystone Pipeline: To Veto or Not to Veto By Betsy Kim Panel Staff
In the past few months, announcements of several major administrative changes in the upcoming year have rocked the Winsor community. Familiar administrators seen at Winsor for years are making significant transitions within the next two years; here is a brief breakdown of those changes. Firstly, after twelve dedicated years of service, Ms. Stettler, Winsor’s beloved head of school, will be retiring. In a letter to the Winsor community, Ms. Stettler wrote, “By the end of 2015-2016, the extensive campus projects, The Winsor Promise campaign, and the Learning in the 21st Century plan will be finalized. I feel confident that Winsor’s place as a world-class educational institution in Boston will be ensured for decades to come.” Until her retirement in June of 2016, however, Ms. Stettler stated that she “will relish the remaining time with Winsor students,
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families, alumnae and friends of this school.” In addition to this upcoming change in school leadership, several other administrators are taking on new roles. After spending six years as Winsor’s Upper School Head, Ms. Grant will also be stepping down in order to teach upper school history full-time. When asked about the change, Ms. Grant expressed enthusiasm about spending more time with students in the classroom: “My absolute favorite part of my job has always been interacting with students. It will be great to be doing that full time again.” In addition, Ms. Geromini, Winsor’s Director of Athletics for the past 13 year, will leave her position to take on the significant role of Winsor’s Director of Operations and Auxiliary Programs. Her new areas of responsibility will include marketing school facilities, managing emergency preparedness and the security of the campus, and further developing missionappropriate summer and weekend programs. In perhaps the most surprising administrative change of all, Winsor created the entirely new role of “Director of Performing Arts,” a position that will play an instrumental part in expanding Winsor’s music and drama programs, as well as creating a new dance program. Winsor’s first Director of Performing Arts will not only directly coach students in music ensembles, but will also lead the Arts Department in fostering the presence of the performing arts in the Winsor community. It is a difficult to imagine Ms. Stettler, Ms. Grant, and Ms. Geromini, three prominent leaders in our community, outside of the critical roles they have played with such expertise, commitment, and passion for many years. However, stability through change has always been among Winsor’s many strengths, and the Winsor community remains confident that these transitions will be smooth ones.☐
By Juliet Isselbacher & Hammond Hearle Contributing Writers Is Obama preparing to use his third veto? This single action has the potential to determine the future of energy use and the balance of power in the energy industry. On February 11, the House of Representatives voted 270-152 to pass the Keystone Bill, which the Senate sanctioned on January 29. However, the White House has made known Obama’s intention to allow the State Department to review the project proposal. According to CNN, the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would serve to transport tar sands from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas, where oil refineries would process 830,000 barrels of crude oil daily. Supporters of the pipeline claim that increased Canadian oil imports will reduce US oil imports by 40 percent from unstable regions, strengthening the U.S. economically and politically. Retired General James Jones, former National Security Advisor, stated that the U.S. is giving its rivals leverage by neglecting to establish energy independence. In addition, Senator John Hoven asserted that the U.S. is currently expediting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria (ISIS) acquisition of resources by purchasing oil from the Middle East, thus completely undermining US efforts to suppress ISIS’s growth. Opponents of the pipeline insist that it will entail devastating environmental consequences. Keystone XL would facilitate an expansion in production from
Congress’ map of pipeline
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oil sands, which release 17 percent more carbon dioxide than the average barrel of crude oil refined in the US. It has been estimated that Keystone XL would render 4.5 percent of the world’s oil 17 percent dirtier by 2030. However, environmentalists argue that Keystone XL will not only undermine efforts to manage climate change but will also hinder the transition to renewable energy sources by serving as a symbol of commitment to the exploitation of tar sands oil. Some senators prioritize long term effects while others prioritize immediate benefits, rendering both sides seemingly irreconcilable. The senators who keep the former in the forefront of their minds are concerned with sustaining a “green” world for future generations, while other senators prioritize US energy independence. While both sides desire to preserve civilization through maintaining either political or environmental stability, politicians have contrasting perspectives on the correct decision regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline.☐
March 12th, 2015
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The Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms By Talia Ruxin Contributing Writer The genes of every living organism on Earth consist of varying sequences of adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. Scientists today hope to identify and manipulate these genes in efforts to face increasing demands of global population growth and climate change challenges. This concept of gene manipulation is the basis for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that are the result of a deliberate process to transfer a copied gene for a desired trait from one organism to another. Yet, many environmentalists assert that the use of genetically modified crops will have detrimental effects on the organisms that make up the crop’s ecosystem, and many countries have prohibited the production of GMOs. Today the global population is 7,298,771,400 and increasing every second. But tremendous controversy exists among lawmakers, environmentalists, farmers, and scientists as to what extent advances in biotechnology, the means with which scientists produce genetically modified seeds, could solve the food shortages of a growing population and whether doing so would be worth the potential environmental cost. Governments in more than 60 countries around the world, including Japan, Australia, and European Union countries, have severely restricted or even banned the production of GMOs. Although breeding weed-resistant and insect-resistant crops have allowed farmers to stop using traditional herbicides and pesticides, “super weeds” and “super bugs” have emerged because of the newly-resistant crops that can be killed only by toxic poisons. Although the long-term impact of GMOs is largely unknown, the adverse effects of “super” weeds and bugs poses a significant hurdle for the success of widespread GMOs. However, many farmers believe GMOs are more cost-effective and less harmful to the environment than traditional farming methods. Some farmers select genetically modified seeds because GMOs can reduce yield loss or crop damage from weeds, diseases, and insects, as well as from extreme weather conditions like droughts. In addition, recent studies suggest that GMO
crops are also safe to eat, despite allegations that they are dangerous to human health. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require companies to label foods that contain GMOs. However, the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit dedicated to “protecting the nonGMO food supply and giving consumers an informed choice,” verifies certain products and labels them “Non-GMO.” As a result, consumers can decide for themselves whether or not they would like to purchase foods that contain GMOs. Winsor’s Conserve Our World (COW) club head Adriana Jacobsen ’16 remarked that “if the United States does continue to permit GMOs...they [GMOs] should be engineered for a more constructive and less damaging use…they should be labeled as genetically modified and the information about the modifications should be readily available to consumers.” On the one hand, GMO crops pose a severe threat to the environment in the Pro-GMO campaign short-term due to the emergence of increasingly aggressive pests and weeds. On the other hand, both food-related and non-food related GMOs possess the ability to change traditional agriculture and possibly prevent disease. Jacobsen commented on the challenges and opportunities inherent in the GMO debate, saying, “GMOs pose a chance of being a very positive innovation...we need a way to sustain the needs of a world that is predicted to reach a population of 11 billion by 2100. However, I believe that if we are to genetically modify our crops, we should work towards adding more nutrients into our food or something similar instead of modifying them to withstand herbicides and create insecticides, which will only allow for increased use of extreme weed and insect killers that could upset the balance surrounding environment and food chain.” The ever-growing population and increasingly jeopardized food supply spark the need for investigation into whether or not GMO foods and crops will be part of the solution or part of the problem. The controversy remains as to whether the costs to GMOs on the climate, in the age of detrimental climate change, is worth the benefit of potentially solving a world food crisis. ☐ Anti-GMO protesters take to the streets
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Ops Insert: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant By Bibi Lichauco Panel Staff
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has been flooding international politics and discussion for over a year now. The BBC reports that the extremist Islamist rebel group started as an umbrella group of al-Qaeda
and advocating Sharia law. Following the United States’ invasion of Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein, al-Zarqawi transformed Tawhid wa al-Jihad into al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). AQI was distinguished from other Iraqi and al-Qaeda leaders because of its brutality; for example, from 2003-2004 tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians were killed by AQI. In 2006, the United States led an airstrike which resulted in Zarqawi’s death, af-
rt.com One of ISIS’s recruits brandishes the group’s flag in the early 2000s by Jordanian militant Abu ter which AQI joined with other militant groups Musab al-Zarqawi. The group was called Tawhid in the region to form the Islamic State of Iraq wa al-Jihad, which roughly translates into Unity (ISI, an earlier name for ISIS), now led by Abu and Jihad, and its mission was centered around Bakr al-Baghdadi. However, the U.S. quelled eliminating Western involvement in the region ISIS’s immediate uprising through a violent
surge of troops. Our generation may remember terfering with ISIS. In light of the publicized hearing of ISIS only in more recent killings o f American, years, as the militant group has British, and Midsupported the outbreak dle Eastern isisstudygroup.com of anti-government rebelhostages alike, lion in Syria since they intensialong with what seems to be the fied in 2011. ISIS’s cruel and violent measures exponential escalation of ISIS’s viohave been condemned both by Syrian rebels lent capabilities, the president anand members of al-Qaeda, but the brutalnounced in February that “[the ity has only increased since the United United States] will be prepared States troops withdrew from Iraq in 2013. to take precise military ac2014 was the year ISIS made its true tion if and when the situation advances. The group has spread its influon the ground requires it.” ence to the Syrian and Turkish borders and Amidst this brutal chaos has pillaged and captured dozens of towns and and unpredictability, there is one nomassacred thousands of people. Following the tion to keep in mind. While few would argueconquering of the Iraqi city Mosul in June, ISIS -including the UN Independent International became what it is known as today, the Islamic Committee of Inquiry on Syria--that what ISIS State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Later that sum- has been doing is justifiable, it is perhaps too mer, the U.S. began remote airstrikes against the easy to associate the extremist group with the extremists, who had displaced over one million entirety of the Middle East. Similarly to the Iraqis. Today, the group allegedly has over 10,000 spawn of reactions to the Charlie Hebdo attacks fighters between Iraq and Syria as well as over in January, it is important to recognize that one two billion dollars in funding, a large part of group does not represent the ideology and mowhich has derived from taking over oil industries tives of the region from which it comes; in fact, in the Middle East, kidnapping people and hold- that one group victimizes those who share anying them for ransom, and profiting from the sale thing in common with it, such as ethnicity, reliof stolen historical relics. ISIS’s primary goal is to gion, or geographic location. Moving forward, create the Islamic State, also known as the caliph- we will be hearing more and more about ISIS, ate, that follows Sharia law and knows no inter- and we should be attentive to the progression national borders, with more recent statements of the situation until it is somehow resolved. reaffirming its desire to dismantle and suppress However, in doing so, be prudent as to continuWestern values. Quite recently, President Obama ally making the distinction between one group made a statement about the United States’ in- under the umbrella of an entire civilization.☐
BELMONT HILL OPINION
Pa g e 6
Is Facebook Still Relevant Among Teenagers? Jay O’Brien Panel Staff As the Internet continues to grow, and the number of social media websites grows exponentially, there will always be a hot new trend among teenagers that manages to grab their attention. Yet Facebook has remained a constant in the lives of most teenagers since those awkward middle school days. Facebook is capable of connecting people like no other social media site on the web, and gives its users the power to upload pictures, publish their opinions via status updates, send messages to friends, or reconnect with old companions. Everyone remembers the feeling when they first created their Facebook account, and how happy they were to become a part of this growing phenomenon; however, it seems that Facebook has lost its relevance among high schoolers and college students as more and more social media websites on our computers and phones begin to compete for ‘facetime.’ Is this phenomenon true? Is Facebook no longer cool among the younger generation? I believe that the answer is yes. When listing the different capabilities that Facebook’s users demand, it is clear that other websites and apps are far more efficient or specialized in a given task than Facebook. In other words, Facebook is more similar to a large department
The point is that, while Facebook is able to combine many different capabilities into one social media site, over time, the number of visits per day on Facebook is likely to dwindle among teenagers as newer and more appealing apps or websites are created. store, whereas specific apps like Vine or Snapchat are like boutiques. While Facebook is used on occasion to upload a large amount of pictures to an album, Instagram has become the
reliable sources like CNN.com or the New York Times are a much more practical choice than relying on a possibly fake article that pops up on your Facebook News Feed. Nowadays, it seems that Facebook has become more widely used among teenagers for cyberstalking, uploading an enormous amount of pictures to an
the New York Times published an article that encouraged young teens to comment in a designated space below regarding their point of view of Facebook’s current status within social media . One teen wrote, “I do believe that Facebook has lost its edge. Facebook used to be ‘the’ social media site. Basically, it was the first
New York Times
album titled after an inside joke, or just something to do on a study break. Researchers recently became intrigued by the possible end of Facebook’s reign, where there is now data that supports such an idea. This past month, Time Magazine published an article that reveals the findings from a study at Princeton University: “Researchers predicted that Facebook would see a rapid decline, causing the site to lose 80% of its peak user base between 2015 and 2017.” These researchers believe that the sharp decrease will be a product of users simply losing interest in the site, and similarly to a disease, the trend of people leaving Facebook will gradually spread throughout the nation, especially among teenagers. In 2013, Facebook’s Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman said during Facebook’s fourth quarter earnings call, “We did see a decrease in daily users, specifically among younger teens. We wanted to share this with you now because we get a lot of ques-
social media site...What used to be purely Facebook territory has now been taken over by Twitter, Snapchat, Buzzfeed, Pinterest, and Instagram,” while Hunter K. adds, “Since so many people have switched, many people don’t see the point of Facebook anymore because there are very few people left to connect with.” Thus, Hunter’s point signifies that once people start to leave Facebook permanently, the growing waves of deleted accounts will only increase once mutual friends are no longer part of the site. The point is that, while Facebook is able to combine many different capabilities into one social media site, over time, the number of visits per day on Facebook is likely to dwindle among teenagers as newer and more appealing apps or websites are created. In the end, teenagers continue to log on to Facebook not because they are still attracted to what it offers, but rather they continue to check the social media site out of habit. Simply stated, Facebook is a jack of all trades,
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premier source for the posting of pictures. If a high schooler wants to inform the public about what they are doing, they would likely choose Twitter and My Story on Snapchat over Facebook’s status update. For a brief period of time, Vine had become more popular for the creation of videos. Text messages are much more efficient than Facebook Messenger, and when looking for news stories,
tions about teens.” Fifth Former Chip Daley can serve as one of the many teenagers who are no longer accessing the site on a regular basis: “I don’t really go on Facebook as much as I once I did, just with all of the different social media sites present on the internet and on my phone.” Yet obviously, Chip is not the only one to find himself logging off of Facebook for longer periods of time: just recently,
but a master of none. Creative, young entrepreneurs are more than capable of inventing new trends that shift the public away from outdated technology. While Facebook has had its day in the sun, it won’t be long before a much more innovative site comes along and effectively removes Facebook from the spotlight once and for all, moving Facebook to the same status as MySpace and Friendster. ☐
Th e Pan el
Belmont Hill Snow Days: Making Up Lost Time By Jason Fischman Panel Staff This year, Belmont Hill was struck with an unprecedented five snow days, compared to the average year in which we have, at most, one. Staying on schedule is important for all classes, but AP courses in particular, who have specific material they must cover before their exams in early May, felt this pressure the most. After much deliberation, it was determined that two methods would be employed to add time in the classroom. First, during the 2:15 to 3:15 period after school during mudweek, classes would have the option to meet for that hour long period on one day. As a last resort, three weekends in April have been reserved as potential Saturday morning class days, specifically for AP courses who need to do some last minute catching up before their exams. Of the five snow days, only four were regular academic days; the other was diversity day, which will be rescheduled some time after AP exams in the spring.
up, and encroaching into the weekend just seems a little unnecessary.” The weekend is a time where students can unwind from the stressful school week and take a short break, and a Saturday morning class
Having another class after lunch does make the academic day seem quite long, but it is manageable because there are no athletics afterwards. would make that significantly harder. It is understandable that AP courses may need a little extra time right before the exam, but hopefully these Saturday morning classes are used only when desperately needed. That being said, Saturday mornings are a relatively quiet time for most students, and, if classes are truly in need of extra time, Saturdays may be the best option in the busy schedule of a Belmont Hill student. The last question is why classes are behind at all. Four academic days were missed, but, using technology, teach-
Mr. Mahoney
Much to the appreciation of the student body, Dr. Melvoin noted that school would not be added during March break or at the end of the year. The mudweek classes worked very well, with some teachers choosing to use them and others not. Having another class after lunch does make the academic day seem quite long, but it is manageable because there are no athletics afterwards. Fourth Former Drew Bowser said: “The mudweek classes have been pretty effective. They give us the time we need to catch up without interrupting any other aspects of the schedule, and they’ve allowed us to get back on track in classes that were behind.” These additional periods have provided academic time in a time slot where not much else was happening, and it did not interfere with student’s time management because there are no athletics during that week. However, the Saturday classes are receiving more criticism from students. Fourth Former Bobby Jahrling, on the subject of Saturday classes, said: “Between sending out work via email on snow days, and the mudweek afternoon classes, we should be pretty much caught
ers are still able to be in contact with students even on these days. Work is sent out via email, many classes give out long term assignment sheets so students can check their work even if they don’t have class that day, and nearly all teachers were able to keep students up
The weekend is a time where students can unwind from the stressful school week and take a short break, and a Saturday morning class would make that significantly harder. to date on homework. The issue then comes in class time, when most teachers would discuss the homework in greater detail and answer questions about it, which is where classes are currently falling behind on. Even though students may be up to date on readings, they may not understand the material fully, and that is why these extra classes are needed. However, students can still make a greater effort to understand the material on their own by spending more time reviewing, and a little extra commitment from students could nearly alleviate the pressure of a lost day. Overall, Belmont Hill is handling our snow ridden winter well. ☐
March 12, 2015
Local Trio Put Out Year’s Best Rock Record By Michael O’Neill Panel Staff 2015 has already been frontloaded with early album of the year contenders: Father John Misty, Torche, and Sleater-Kinney have all put out outstanding records in the year’s first few weeks. Yet another album has been thrust into the conversation this week with the release of Krill’s A Distant Fist Unclenching, the Boston-based group’s third full-length output and by far the most well-worked of the bunch. The band has been compared in the past to the likes of Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, and Pavement, but in truth Krill are too unique to be pinned down to a like-for-like comparison. The trio’s penchants for big guitars, quiet-loud dynamics, and candid lyrics aren’t anything revolutionary, but there may not be anybody else in the underground scene making better music right now than Krill. A Distant Fist Unclenching marks a clear turning point in Krill’s discography, as the bite-sized songs of albums past have been replaced by sprawling, restless anthems - all but two of the record’s nine tracks approach or surpass five minutes in length. The seven-minute “Tiger” serves as the album’s centerpiece, building off of a chirpy guitar riff into the explosion of sound that closes out the track, demonstrating the band’s ability to stretch out a song without droning on. Singer/bassist Jonah Furman’s lyrics have matured greatly as well with A Distant Fist Unclenching. The album as a whole serves as a strikingly identifiable depiction of anxiety and other mental health issues, making it hard to believe this is the same band that wrote the cheekily hilarious “Turd” just a year ago. Furman’s improvements are most noticeable on “Brain Problem,” which arrives with what are bound to be some of the year’s greatest lyrics. “God grant me the strength/ To know what is a brain problem/ And what is just me.” He details his struggles in the song’s verses, howling, “The problem comes and goes with the weather/And I know/Just ‘cause it’s not getting better now/ Doesn’t mean it won’t ever.” Furman’s ability to explain something as complex as what appears to be depression in such a potent and comprehensible way is unbelievable, and shows his songwriting ability is not one to be underestimated. Krill seem poised to use A Distant Fist Unclenching as a launching pad into a long, successful career of making remarkable guitarrock records. The group stated in a recent Vice interview that touring is both “boring” and “terrible,” but that hasn’t stopped them from making big plans for 2015 already: they’ve booked European tour dates as well as shows across the American east coast and midwest, all culminating in a slot at May’s Boston Calling festival. For Krill, the music is worth the stresses of touring and finances, but if they continue writing songs like those found on this record, I suspect those will both become much smaller issues in the future. ☐
BELMONT HILL OPINION /arTS
Pa g e 7
Student Debate: Lord of the Rings vs. Star Wars In this issue of the Panel, we are continuing our feature debate between Form V students Jay O’Brien and Gabe Schmittlein. After the Panel is released, a poll will be sent out to assess the student body’s views on the topic at hand. These results will be published in the subsequent issue along with a brand new talking point. So without further ado, we present the fourth debate—Lord of the Rings vs. Star Wars.
Team Lord of the Rings By Gabe Schmittlein Staff Writer Ah... The Big Kahuna. The Cat’s pajamas. The Bee’s knees. The Lord of the Rings vs. Star Wars debate. You all knew its presence on our list of ongoing debates was inevitable. Admittedly, though, we put it off for some time. Why? You might ask. Well, to be completely frank with you, Jay O’Brien and I have had one particular caveat regarding this debate which has caused us to delay its production - Jay has never seen The Lord of the Rings and I have never seen Star Wars. However, we must persevere to provide for the people and will thus power forward with our obvious biases exposed but our arguments still fuelled by passion. Let the debate begin... In my completely biased opinion, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a better group of films in every facet of filmmaking than Star Wars. It all starts off with the plot; each of the three Lord of the Rings films brings its own unique adventure that is enthralling and action-packed, despite the entire premise being refreshingly simple. The journey is relatively “point-A-to-pointB,” but the intricacies within this
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is also replete with natural beauty, filmed as it was in New Zealand’s stunning hills. Furthermore, the soundtrack is in another dimension when compared with that of Star Wars, as marvelous musical pieces create the backdrop for nearly every scene within the movie. Lastly, The Lord of the Rings are some of the most widely quotable movies I have ever seen. For your benefit I offer a small, comprehensive selection of my favorite quotes from the movie, so here goes: “You shall not pass!” Gandalf. An absolute classic of a line; you knew it had to top this list. “Come on Mr. Frodo, I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you.” - Sam. Truly inspirational from the humble gardener Samwise Gamgee. “What about second breakfast?” - Pippin. We’ve all been there Pippin; unfortunately, I doubt Aragorn knows about afternoon tea either. “I’m no man!” - Eowyn. The famous retort to the Witch King’s claim that “no man can kill me.” Of course, Eowyn is no man, she’s a woman. “That still only counts as one” - Gimli. The plump dwarf ’s response to Legolas’ stupendous elephant take-down.
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linear design create a narrative that is both easy to follow and infinitely enjoyable. This simple approach allows individual character models to flourish, which is why the likes of Gandalf, Legolas, and Aragorn have gone down in Gabe’s Modern Movie Folklore (that’s totally a real thing) as a few of the most badass and awe-inspiring roles to appear on the big screen. One final plot aspect of The Lord of the Rings movies outside of the fantastically simplistic narrative structure and the free-form character development is the array of incredibly dramatic and remarkably uplifting battle scenes. Whether it was the Helms Deep Charge, led by a prodigal-son-like Gandalf, or the Ride of the Rohirrim (one of the best moments in film history as the Riders of Rohan emerge from the dreary skyline to save the besieged city of Minas Tirith) The Lord of the Rings movies always create an astonishing action sequence. In addition to the plot,
Thus concludes my overtly partisan argument that The Lord of the Rings trilogy is farand-away better than Star Wars. Maybe Jay and I will manage to put our differences aside just this once and actually watch the other side’s movie here, but then again maybe not. Jay - I’ll do it if you do it, just don’t come crying to me when the renegades of ring destroying rock your world and you become a diehard Lord of the Rings fan.☐
Results from Last Debate
Advantage: Marvel
Team Star Wars By Jay O’Brien Panel Staff There are two kinds of people in this world: those who like Star Wars... and liars. Star Wars masterfully created an alternate universe unlike anything moviegoers had ever seen before, filled with a varied cast
Sidious, a guy who shoots lightning from his fingertips, or even Darth Maul, who’s double sided red lightsaber and intimidating attitude makes him an underratedly cool villain. Hobbits are just annoying, plain and simple, and the characters in Lord of the Rings lack the depth and quality of those of the Star Wars franchise. wallpapers.com
of likeable characters, a plethora of incredible action scenes, and a memorable soundtrack that adds to the suspense. Meanwhile, Gabe’s “love” for Lord of the Rings makes absolutely no sense to me. I mean, I stopped watching the first Lord of the Rings movie halfway through because, believe it or not, I don’t enjoy simply watching people walk around for three hours with little to no action. At least try and make it a fair fight Lord of the Rings, it’s almost too easy to argue against you. When analyzing the wide variety of characters that George Lucas and his team created, one can not help but be overwhelmed by the abundance of roster talent within both the Jedi and the Sith. The superstars for the Jedi include Luke Skywalker and his journey to become the trilogy’s hero, Harrison Ford as Han Solo with his quick wit and sarcastic humor (yet clearly sub-par flying abilities), and Princess Leia and her confident yet calculated thought process. Yet, whether it be the wise old Yoda, or the non-English speaking Chewbacca, or the adorable R2-D2, the cast of supporting characters in this franchise has always differentiated Star Wars from other successful movie franchises. When looking at Lord of the Rings, they have without a doubt the worst hero of any movie, ever, seeing how Frodo can’t even find his way out of a paper bag without Sam’s help. Though arguably the best part of Star Wars is the villainous cast of characters that make up the Dark Side, where Darth Vader is obviously the star of the show. Vader’s red lightsaber, awesome voice, and eventual moral transformation makes him my favorite character in Star Wars, and I assume many other fans agree. But who could forget Boba Fett, another favorite among Star Wars fanboys, Darth
Obviously, the first three Star Wars movies make up the franchise’s core, and yes, the most recent trilogy has taken some heat from fans and critics alike; however, I’ve always believed that the final battles in both The Phantom Menace and Revenge of the Sith are severely underappreciated. First, when a young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Liam Neeson (of Taken fame) battle against Darth Maul, the ensuing and very entertaining battle scene maybe, just maybe, offsets the first movie’s below-average build-up with characters like JarJar Binks. Then, skipping over Attack of the Clones, though Revenge of the Sith may not be at the same level as the original three Stars Wars movie, there are plenty of thrilling action scenes--most notably the final battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin (marking Anakin’s official transition to the Dark Side), along with important plot developments that make me believe the three prequels did not ruin the Star Wars brand. I’m sure that Gabe will have no problem raising such issues in his argument against Star Wars, but two can play at that game. Talk of underachieving sequels/prequels: I unfortunately wasted nearly six hours of my life watching the two recent Hobbit movies. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Finally, let the market decide. According to the internet, the Star Wars franchise has amassed more than $27 billion in profits since the release of A New Hope in 1977, demonstrating the incredible value of the Star Wars brand, built on the foundation of entertaining fight scenes, innovative film technology, and unique characters within this expansive universe. In conclusion, the Lord of the Rings and their silly hobbits don’t hold a candle to the ingenious empire created by George Lucas. Ride or die with Star Wars. ☐
Winsor Opinion
Pa g e 8
Th e Pan el
The Results of the Snow Endless snow and endless school By Caitlin Weldon Panel Staff
Truly anyone can hack a computer, and it can happen to anyone
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The Hacked Are Attacked
Lessons Learned from One Victim By Emma Pan Panel Staff What if every time you looked at the screen of your laptop, tablet, ipad, or phone, someone else was looking back at you? Cassidy Wolf was 19 when she received an email from Facebook notifying her that someone from another state had logged into her Facebook account and had tried to change her password. Just 30 minutes later,
sidy’s case revealed that the hacker had actually gone to high school with her. According Wolf, “I was pretty under-the-radar in high school, with a close group of friends. If it happened to me, it could happen to anybody.” After Cassidy Wolf ’s hacker, Jared James Abrahams, had been found, 11 other girls joined Wolf in filing criminal complaints against him. According to prosecutors, Abrahams had hacked the computers of 100 to 150 other people. He was
“If it happened to me, it could happen to anybody.” she received another email, saying that the sender had access to her computer and that if she didn’t do what he asked, all the photos he had of her would be posted on her social networking sites. It turned out that the sender of this email had hacked her computer and had been watching and listening to her through the computer’s webcam and microphone for over a year--ever since her senior year in high school. She had no idea that he had been watching her because the camera’s light had never turned on. This stranger had also discovered many of Cassidy’s passwords and could see all of the sites she visited by tracing the keystrokes on her keyboard. This type of tracking was a huge violation of privacy, and Cassidy Wolf had kept her computer in her bedroom--she said, “It’s your bedroom. That’s your most private, intimate space and that’s where you should feel the most safe.” This hacker had violated what should have been her safe haven by listening to her private
put on trial and sentenced to 18 months in prison. On the brighter side, Cassidy Wolf ’s story does have a happy ending. Just months after she was hacked, she was crowned Miss Teen USA, and has been using her influence to visit high schools, giving talks about her experience to educate others on how to avoid and deal with computer hacking. Her advice is to change your passwords frequently, delete browsing history regularly, and to keep a sticker over your computer’s webcam when not in use. The malware that Jared Abrahams used to hack his victims’ computers was the infamous Remote Access Tool, more commonly known as RAT in online hacking communities and forums. Hackers can access the computers of their victims by deceiving them into clicking on malicious links, and a RAT can be sent through people’s social media accounts. According to Krebson Security, the RAT was “marketed principally for hackers who didn’t know how to hack their way out of a paper bag.” Blackshades sold the RAT to several thous a n d users for just $ 4 0 . According to US Manhatcontan Attorney v e r Preet Bharara, “As Newblog.easysol.net sations, [Wolf]’s case makes watching her clear, we now live in a world private life, and accesswhere, for just $40, a cybercriminal halfing private information in her com- way across the globe can – with just a click puter; all without her knowledge. of a mouse – unleash a RAT that can spread Cassidy Wolf ’s first reaction to this a computer plague not only on someone’s email was to call her mom, who then called property but also on their privacy and the police. The FBI’s investigation of Cas- most personal spaces.” Although one of the
It is no secret that in the past few weeks, Boston has fallen victim to over one hundred inches of record-breaking snow, humorously dubbed “Snowmageddon.” Winsor itself has had six snow days this winter, resulting in a schedule change. This change will include pushing exams back to the Monday and Tuesday before graduation so that students will not lose an entire week of the second semester. In addition, AP classes will be held on some days students were originally meant to have off. The chaos surrounding so many snow days has been unprecedented, and as Izzy Guerra ’16 puts it, “Snow days have been very hard. We normally have this positive perspective on snow days; however, this year’s snow days have been really hard, primarily in terms of school work.” Freelargeimages.com One of the chief concerns is that students, especially juniors or sophomores who are taking the SAT in June, will not be able to study for all of the exams if classes end so close to exam days that take place a mere day or two before graduation. Daria Crawford ‘16 expressed some dismay, fearing that “the extended schedule interferes with SAT studying and test dates and will most likely lead to a lot of cramming for exams.” The short time frame and the deviance from normality will no doubt heighten the already somewhat high stress levels surrounding the exam period of the second semester. The second major concern surrounds the added school days for AP classes, affecting primarily juniors and seniors, and potentially interfering with plans made prior to the
A Bostonian struggles to clear the snow. founders of Blackshades and over 90 others who have used RAT have been arrested, the purchasing and exploitation of malware still persists. Plus, despite the fact that RAT was originally designed for Microsoft Windows, there is a newer RAT, created by another organization called BlackHole and designed to infect Mac OS X--the operating system used by the majority of Winsor students. Since we are constantly using our laptops and ipads, it seems plausible that this technology could get infected by malware like the RAT. However, according to Mr. Young from the Winsor Tech Office, “The Winsor network is secured by a next generation firewall appliance made by Palo Alto, a leader in network security. The firewall works by blocking all incoming traffic except that which we have approved via security policies that we add as needed.” This firewall has probably blocked us from Facebook and Tumblr on various occasions, but it also blocks out harmful websites and “sus-
schedule change. Elizabeth Roe ’16 explained some conflicting emotions regarding the AP situation, noting, “I’m not entirely sure how much a class can get done with just a couple of rescheduled classes, though, and a lot of people already have travel plans on the days we were originally supposed to have off, so I think a lot of people are not completely sure it’s worth it to take away the long weekends. Having said that, I understand the school’s motive, and I appreciate their trying to make up school due to lost days without shortening our summer.” Shortening summer or other vacations like March break were two ideas that the Winsor authorities veered away from. Head of School Rachel Stettler expressed in an e-mail to the Winsor community, “We were able to modify our spring semester calendar to add class time, without lengthening the school year.” Although the change has caused some stress, many students are very grateful that their need for consistent vacation time was taken into consideration. Victoria F a r i n a ’17 respects the way the administration approached the change and communicates, “I think the schedule change was obviously needed, and sometimes it’s a little different for me because I don’t have AP classes, but I think it was a relatively efficient way to get a week of classes into the schedule without disrupting a lot of other vacations.” The extreme snow days and schedule change, like any abnormalities, have their positive sides and their downsides, and taking a step towards accepting the positive side of things and doing our best to work with the new adjustments would be the ideal mindset for any Winsor girl. ☐
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picious traffic,” thus helping to keep us both productive and safe. However, even this firewall cannot prevent people from unwittingly clicking on disguised links carrying adware or malware like RAT. Winsor has apparently already had a few cases in which adware was accidentally downloaded from places like MacKeeper and VSearch. Luckily for us, the Winsor IT Department has got us covered. In each instance that a problem has been reported, they have been able to remove the problem successfully. Common signs of being hacked are redirected internet searches, frequent random popups, emails to your friends that you didn’t send, passwords being changed, the mouse moving without your will, and the camera light going on when you’re not in photo-booth. As seen with Cassidy Wolf ’s case, hacking can be terrifying; if you even suspect that your computer has been compromised, do not wait--report it to the Winsor IT Department, and they will do their best to help. ☐
Sources: CNN, Today News, New York Post, Washington Post, FBI.gov
Winsor Opinion
March 12th, 2015
A Facebook Profile of Facebook’s Own Founder Mark Zuckerberg
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The Fading Facebook Phenomon: Dead and Gone? a need for speed and an inclination for more anonymous profile responsibilities; we gravitate towards apps that cater to these tendencies. On the other hand, Facebook has become a website for crafting and remaining loyal to a long term profile, a process that creates a heightened, perhaps less appealing degree of social pressure. Lucy Kaneb ’15 agreed, “I find that most of my favorite apps are typically faster, and they involve pieces of information spread very quickly in small chunks, like on Twitter, rather than in big chunks.” She also highlighted a newfound degree of social expansion and stated, “I also like that on apps like Instagram I can follow people outside my normal friend groups.” Will Facebook be the next Myspace, another site which has faded into obscurity? Although one demographic may be shifting, the total Facebook user numbers are still
stable and even on the rise, just in different areas—predominantly parent-age users and other growing markets, such as in Europe, according to Business Insider. Regarding where Facebook currently stands, CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself explained, “People assume we’re trying to be cool…It’s never been my goal…We’re definitely not a niche thing any more so that kind of angle for coolness is done for us.” As journalist Alyson Shontell stated, “Facebook has decided it’s better to be like Google than Snapchat. It’s more focused on building a lasting product than on being the latest fad.” Evidently, even though we teens do not view the basic site Google as the coolest Pressdemocrat.com new trend, its dependable existence and widespread usage persists. In light of this comparison, I contend that, while Facebook is indeed evolving, it is not yet time to say goodbye. ☐
stream news avoided discussing the killer’s beliefs on Facebook regarding his hatred towards Muslims, Christians, and religion in general, according to The LA Times. Why is The media defines a large part of how it that in the Copenhagen shooting, reporters we see the world. Without it, we would be oblivious to the events that affect those who asserted terrorism as a major and essentially are everywhere but in our homes. Thankthe only motive in the act, while in Chapel fully, we look to newspapers, television, Hill, they focused on the more ordinary, less controversial idea of a “parking dispute?” Why Even though it is easy to take mainstream news for its face value, it is impor- are we being constantly assured that this is an “isolated” incident, and that it is “socially and tant to question how information is presented to us. politically meaningless?” Of course, in some situations these powerful labels are justified and magazines to tell us about our world as a possible factor, but “were not dismissing and accurate, but it is important to highlight and what is going on around us. But how the possibility of a hate crime (CNN).” The can we be sure that the information we are media, though, heavily promoted the parking given is not skewed by the journalists who dispute motive while withholding the more produce it? Well, the truth is, we cannot. drastic hate crime motive. In other reported By Bibi Lichauco & Talia Ruxin When violent crimes occur in the events when perpetrators are non-Caucasian, Panel Staff United States, news sources are quick to write the criminals are often deemed “terrorists” what they claim are factual, up-to-date articles very quickly after the incidents occur. For to inform the public. But when a middle- example, on February 14 and 15, Omar AbAccording to NASA and other meteoaged white man broke into the apartment of del Hamid el-Hussein attacked a cafe and a rological organizations, 2014 was the hottest three young Muslims and shot them to death synagogue in Copenhagen, Denmark where year on record since 1880. But if the world on February 10th, there was no mainstream he shot seven people, killing two and wound- is supposed to be heating up, why is it that news coverage of this event until about 15 ing six. The initial reports, which were broad- Boston experiences so much cold weather? hours after it had already happened, accord- casted and written within hours of the event, Panel staff Bibi Lichauco and Talia Ruxin exing to NBC News. In fact, it first received at- gave general overviews of the shooting, but plain common misconceptions about climate tention on Twitter, where outraged tweeters the words “terrorist” and “terrorism” were al- change, which is the major change in temcriticized the lack of reporting just as much as ready in the headlines, according to The LA perature, weather, and precipitation patterns. they criticized the heinous crime itself. If the Times. Soon after these stories were released, ethnicities of the murderer and the victims news sources dived into the personal history Myth: Climate change is not real -- otherhad been switched, would this story have got- of Omar Abdel Hamid el-Hussein, publiciz- wise,howcouldwebehavingcrazysnowstorms? ten more air time? That situation is one we are ing his criminal record and reiterating that To believe that climate change is false unfortunately more familiar with, a storyline he “had connections to gangs” quoted US because you see harsh winter weather is quite we are more used to telling and hearing. It is News. In the Chapel Hill case, however, main- naive. In fact, colder temperature and weather part of a narrative patterns corroborate the existence of climate change. Global temperature and saturation point (the point at which no more moisture can be stored in the air) are directly proportional to one another -- the higher the temperature, the more moisture is stored. Therefore, mass precipitation occurs quite aggressively as a result of climate change, simply because there is more water falling from the atmoMillerlittlejohnmedia.com sphere. Consequently, agriculture and water
the differences in how and when they are used. The Chapel Hill shooting was tragic, and unfortunately there simply is not enough information to know for sure what happened. Even though it is easy to take mainstream news at its face value, it is important to question how information is presented to us. It is easy to deem a criminal from the Middle East a “terrorist” and his Caucasian counterpart “mentally disturbed” because of this dominant bias, and even though sometimes those descriptions are truthful, neither one should be broadcasted globally without equal investigation and thought. ☐
By Sea-Jay Van Der Ploeg Panel Staff
continued from page 1 First, although there has been a drop in younger teenage activity, more parentage users have been creating accounts. As explained in an article by Business Insider, between 2012-2013, 35-44 year-old user activity grew from 47% to 53%, 45-54 yearold user activity grew from 43% to 49%, and 55-64 year-old activity grew from 39%45%. Of all popular social media, Facebook maintains the oldest user demographic with twenty five percent of members over forty five years old. I personally can confirm this trend; to my horror, my dear father joined Facebook quite recently. Commenting on all my photos with the slightly disturbing, uncharacteristic zeal of a tween girl has become his new favorite hobby, and I now struggle to avoid him online. As corroborated by several articles I read online, these similar “Oh no, my parent just friended me” experiences have inspired many young people to revert to newer forms of
media, which have not yet been inundated by old folk and thereby rendered “uncool.” Yet, the ephemeral quality of Facebook is perhaps the leading, most discernible contrast between Facebook and other widely used apps. Apps such as Instagram or Snapchat are inherently catered to capturing brief moments in time due to their mobile platforms. The social process involves only three easy steps: snap a photo, add a quick filter, and share! Popular non-photo apps, such as Twitter or Tinder, also satisfy users’ preferences for fleeting, rapid second by second updates. Furthermore, the newfound degree of anonymity offered by many apps, such as Yik Yak and Swipe, also appeals to teens. On the mobile app, Yik Yak, social discussion is created through anonymous, open discourse that swells based on the user’s physical radius to other users (popular on college campuses). The other mobile app, Swipe, which has recently grown in popularity, encapsulates both elements of speed and anonymity; the app involves users’ liking anonymous photo posts within a determined social circle—all with a quick swipe of the finger. Teens have
Chapel Hill Reporting Indicates a Bias in the Media By Kiran Butte Panel Staff
our media has created, one in which the major reports focus on threats to Caucasians and people of color committing dangerous crimes. When the news of the Chapel Hill shooting finally surfaced, it was presented as a case where the motive behind the crime was unclear, given how little authorities knew. Police cited an “ongoing dispute over parking”
Climate Change Myths Busted
management suffer as a result of sudden, large amounts of water that ruin crops because they cannot be drained quickly enough. According to the U.S. National Climate Assessment, New England has experienced a 71% upswing in heavy precipitation patterns over the past five decades, a continuing trend that can be attributed to warmer global temperatures. Myth: The Antarctic ice cap is growing and cooling down the earth, so climate change isn’t happening. It is true that the Antarctic ice cap is growing. However, there is a difference between the ice of the Antarctic and the Arctic, the latter of which is what is more concerning. Antarctic ice is sea ice (frozen saltwater), which grows and shrinks rather frequently because it comes from frigid ocean water. Arctic ice, on the other hand, is land ice, which is decreasing much faster than sea ice and develops much more slowly. Furthermore, the ocean north of Antarctica is warmer than the ocean around it, so ice growing outwards will melt and shrink back. Therefore, it is unrealistic to believe that Antarctic ice expanding is bringing down the earth’s temperature. ☐ For more busted myths, visit WinsorPanel.org
Switch Day
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Boys at Winsor?!?! Girls at Belmont Hill?!?! An Inside Look at How the Other Half Lives By Michael O’Neill Panel Staff As students at an all-boys school, it is almost impossible to not view the world through our Belmont Hill-adjusted filters. One of the biggest measures the administration takes to provide us with different perspectives is working closely with our sister school, Winsor. The 40 year-old relationship between the two makes a lot of sense, as both schools boast exceptional academic reputations, are single-sex, and are located in close proximity to each other. However, despite sharing musicals, a boathouse, prom, and yes, even a newspaper together, students of each institution understand very little about how the “other half ” is run. Belmont Hill boys may interact with Winsor girls often, and vice versa, but more than likely have no insight into what a day at Winsor is like. Heading into our annual editorial “switch day” last month, I was eager to get an inside look into what life at Winsor entails. Expecting a radically different school day experience, at the end of my day-long enrollment, I was struck not by the contrasts between Belmont Hill and Winsor, but by the sheer number of similarities. The passionate faculty, close-knit student body, and dedication to excellence all fundamental to Belmont Hill’s identity are also immediately visible and just as central at Winsor. Some of the most noticeable similarities to Belmont Hill I witnessed at Winsor were the manners in which lessons were taught, class discussions were held, and students conducted themselves. Teachers spoke with the same remarkable enthusiasm for their subject materials as By Will Treanor Panel Staff On two consecutive Fridays in late February, the editors of The Panel participated in our annual Switch Day, in which the Belmont Hill staff went to school at Winsor for a day and took classes with our female counterparts, and vice versa. For two full days, we members of The Panel trekked through a wide range of strange classes, hot debates, and countless learning experiences in an attempt to bring to you our knowledge of how the other gender lives. After travelling through a series of Boston road closings and detours and then circling Winsor’s campus trying to find their parking lot, we finally made it in the building and were greeted by our hosts and a request to sign in and put on our nametags. Although Winsor has only one academic building, they are much tighter with their security. This includes security cameras around campus (we were shocked when a Winsor teacher giving us directions to their parking lot insisted that we slow down, despite being two blocks away), a visitor sign in sheet and name tag system, and a student sign out sheet for when they left the building during the day. This is fairly different from Belmont Hill, where one can stroll about campus without much of a second thought. The first classes I visited were Calculus and Physics, which ran similarly to our math and sciences classes at Belmont Hill. They checked up on their homework problems while reviewing some of the previous day’s material before starting the day’s lesson. The one difficulty was the fifty minute classes. I had begun to understand the greatness of our
our faculty do, and that earnestness was throughout my six years here. In creative clearly and effectively transferred to their writing, two students submitted their students. In my first period class, an Art work for peer review, the instructor once History course, much of the block was again letting the girls self-govern the diadedicated to a debate on whether bronzes logue as they supported their friends with made from resized versions of French kind compliments and constructive critisculptor Auguste Rodin’s plaster molds cisms alike. In calculus, I felt particularly could at home be connot only sidered because Maddy Batt authenthe lesson tic. The structure debate was the was run same as m u c h that of my like one AB class at Belwith Mr. m o n t Feldman, H i l l but also would because be: the the actual teacher lesson was p rov i d what I ed the had done prompt for homebefore work the stepping The walls Winsor’s senior homeroom are repainted each year; night beb a c k this year’s theme, chosen by the senior class, was superheroes fore. And and letting the students determine in Latin, we supplemented translating a the course of the conversation, pick- reading on Cleopatra with the Elizabeth ing their own sides and speaking from Taylor film bearing the Egyptian queen’s their own opinions rather than an as- name, providing both historical context signed one. I personally have been a for the time period during which Latin part of several classroom debates at was used being examined and visual repBelmont Hill that played out in practi- resentations of what had been read in cally the exact same way, so after just one our textbooks twenty minutes previous. class I already felt a sense of familiarity. Of course, throughout the day I Art History wasn’t the only subject noticed quite a few distinctions that enthat could have been taught the exact sured the Winsor experience could not same way at Belmont Hill; in fact, all four be totally confused with Belmont Hill livclasses I attended on the day remind- ing. Lunch is cafeteria-style, which obvied me of various courses I’ve studied ously is substantially different than our
family-style sit-down meals, and is held earlier in the day than BH’s 1:35 Upper School slot. There was no equivalent version of our X-block or afternoon study halls, forcing extra-curriculars to meet during lunch and leaving a little less flexibility in the range of clubs students can participate in. Less structurally but just as noticeable, Winsor students are not obliged to nearly as strict as dress code as Belmont Hill boys are, presenting a more relaxed (though not necessarily better or worse) approach to the day. Despite these differences, however, my ultimate feeling upon leaving Winsor was that it was essentially as close a counterpart to Belmont Hill as one could expect to find. For the last part of the day, all three of us visitors spent a free block in the Senior Homeroom, a place for soon-tobe-graduates to congregate during down time and take a break from the rigors and stresses of day-to-day life as a high school student. A space reserved exclusively for seniors, the colorfully-decorated and vibrant homeroom serves as Winsor’s parallel to BH’s Goodband Commons. Conversations covered a number of topics, from the best Wiki-race strategies to a debate of Taylor Swift vs. Beyoncé, all of them light-hearted and sociable. In these last few minutes at Winsor, I came upon what was perhaps my biggest realization of the day: these girls, and in truth the entire Winsor community, are a family. At both schools, we congratulate each other when good news arrives, and pick each other up when bad news does. We truly, deeply care for one another in a way that students of most schools don’t, and that is just one of the many things Belmont Hill and Winsor share in common. ☐
forty minute periods because of the new seventy-five minute long blocks, but now that I’ve sat through fifty minutes (plus stoppage time) of a physics class on electromagnetism and diverted induction, I truly appreciate our shortened periods. Next we had a free period. Winsor’s senior “commons” had its own room, with couches, walls painted with superheroes and super quotes (superheroes is their class theme), and everyone’s college rejection and deferral letters hanging from a board right by the entrance. Whereas a lot of Belmont Hill seniors discussed our rejections and hugged it out, they took it a step further in not just individual motivation but motivation for their entire class. Besides that, free periods were essentially the same: we sat on the couches, they talked about some of their classes, John tried to convince them all that Taylor Swift was the greatest person on the planet, just common Belmont Hill topics of discussion. Then John and I sat in on one of their “senior project” classes. Their projects are much more involved, as after AP exams in May, they mostly stop taking class and instead work at an internship or community service project, at which they have to spend around 30 hours each week. They also had to set up a blog to report and track their progress throughout the spring Finally, our last two classes were English and French, which were strikingly similar to many of our English and Language classes. Although there were no Harkness tables, in English we sat in a circle and discussed the previous night’s reading. In French we watched the girls perform skits. Although they were in French and I could not understand any of the words, it was still a fun experience for our last class of the day. ☐
best and worst, and the meal was the highlight of an all-around great day. Last period we got to experience something every Senior is used to by now- a free block. The Winsor Senior Homeroom is similar to Belmont Hill’s Goodband Commons in that it’s filled with couches and furniture to relax and (pretend to) do work on. Unlike our common space, however, the Winsor homeroom was separated from the rest of the school by two sets of doors, leaving them free to be as loud as they want without any ridicule from teachers. The homeroom was also noticeably more messy at Winsor, and I was especially surprised by the “rejection wall” where students printed out their college rejection letters and hung them proudly for all their classmates to see. Belmont Hill is very open about college, but it was a little odd to see such personal letters hung up for everyone to see. By the end of the day I was mentally exhausted from sitting through so much class time, and I also realized when leaving the building that it was the first time I had been outside all day. Belmont Hill students may resent a long walk across campus when it is rainy and cold outside, but spending the entire day in one building made me appreciate the fact that we get to go outside as much as we do. The switch day was a tremendous experience to observe first hand at what factors Winsor and Belmont Hill share, and what distinguishes them as well. Thanks to the Winsor community for welcoming us to spend the day among them. ☐
By John Driscoll Panel Staff My first impression of Winsor didn’t have to do with the school itself; rather, that it is very hard to find. After a tumultuous drive filled with detours, closed streets and bad directions, Will, Mike and I found ourselves at the entrance to the main building in Boston. Winsor consists of one main academic building, which would be a bit of a surprise to the typical Belmont Hill student who is used to trekking across campus, rain or shine. We followed our respective Winsor counterparts to their first classes, which in my case was a Calculus BC course. The material covered was identical to that at Belmont Hill, but I was surprised to find that students at Winsor take five classes a day, each of which spans an hour, meaning they spend, on average, an extra hour and forty minutes a day in the classroom than students do at Belmont Hill. After observing an English course similar in design to the inquiry courses Belmont Hill students take during their Senior spring and a physics course, we enjoyed a quick snack break similar to milk and cookies before continuing on with the day. After French class is when things began to get interesting, as we were informed that lunch that day was “Death By Chocolate”, which meant that in addition to the normal lunch, various chocolate treats would be served for the students to enjoy. Witnessing all the students devour their chocolate was to see Winsor at both its
March 12th, 2015
SWITCH DAY
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The Winsor Editorial Staff at Belmont Hill The Editors reflect on their experiences at their brother school By Maddy Batt Panel Staff I arrived at Belmont Hill not quite sure what to expect. Thus, during my first few minutes at the school, I was on guard for any detail that might foreshadow the sort of environment in which I would be spending the rest of my day. It was there, standing by the entrance of Belmont Hill, that I spotted my first few un-Winsor-like phenomena: nearly every student wore a woollen hat with a pompom and greeted his friends with expressionless upward nods. There were also significantly fewer giggles from younger students and significantly more references to professional sports teams on clothing than I was accustomed to at Winsor. Once I adjusted to this new culture, however, I saw far more similarities than I had anticipated. The students spending their free periods rushing to finish their homework for a next period class made me feel quite at home; so did the Bruegger’s I passed on my way to Belmont Hill (though their students did not have to bring their snacks to the cafeteria). The Chinese and calculus classes I attended were also not too different from my own. The teachers explained theorems or aspects of Chinese culture, and the students asked questions and shared their thoughts, just as in any of my classes. I probably should have
expected that most schools--whatever the gender of their students--will share the same essential qualities, but somehow I was still startled by it. At Belmont Hill, seniors take an elective “inquiry” course in the spring; during the two inquiry courses that I attended, I realized that Winsor and Belmont Hill do, in fact, have their fair share of differences. For instance, during a class on diversity, the students’ discussion about gender revealed several dynamics that Winsor does not have in common with its brother school. When asked by their teacher about instances of sexism in their everyday lives, boys mentioned how frequently one hears phrases like “don’t be a girl” around Belmont Hill, especially in the context of discouraging emotional sensitivity. At Winsor, one hears statements that empower women far more often than ones that put them down, and I have never felt that my peers dismissed my emotional responses. The other inquiry course that I attended, “Sports and the Statistical Revolution,” I could not even imagine existing at Winsor. We have plenty of sports fanatics at Winsor, but the idea of a course on the subject--even one that is based largely on statistics--was utterly alien to me; I could not imagine using a recent game as evidence in a class discussion. I have not yet decided whether I would want something similar at Winsor; the appeal of a class relevant to my non-academic interests is, for me, tempered by the distinction
Belmont Hill students in Chapel, their version of Assembly I see between analysis of an athlete’s level of play and literary, philosophical, or critical analysis. I am intrigued by the idea of understanding statistics through the lens of sports, however, and I wish I could have seen more of the class. The difference I most enjoyed, though, was the fact that Belmont Hill is an extremely dog-friendly campus. Teachers even bring their dogs to class, a change I sincerely wish would be adopted at Winsor.
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Ultimately, my day at Belmont Hill was interesting for both its similarities to and its differences from the days I spend at Winsor. So many of the basic aspects of life at each school resembled each other closely; however, an all-boys school seems to breed a culture which is quite different from that of an all-girls school. To come from Winsor into that culture, which was at once familiar and strange, was a fascinating experience.☐
By Natalie Sayegh Panel Staff An alarm set for 7:00 instead of the usual 6:15, a shorter commute, and mild Belmont Center traffic in place of severe Brookline Ave back-ups: these circumstances formed a promising start to a fun and informative day at Belmont Hill. Upon arrival, I met up with the other Winsor editors and our Belmont Hill hosts, and we joined the steady stream of students walking towards the chapel for one of the school’s unique daily traditions: a brief all-school assembly to commence the day. As I listened to Mr. Melvoin’s announcing the results of certain Belmont Hill sports games and urging students to see the upcoming play, I was struck by the emphasis on school-wide community. Winsor’s morning routine of arriving at school, chatting with classmates in the homeroom, and soon afterwards rushing off to first period does not seem to achieve the same effect. The daily community time in Winsor’s new schedule seems to serve the same function as Belmont Hill’s assemblies, however, and will undoubtedly be a positive addition. Despite the different start to the day, I was surprised to find significant similarities in Belmont Hill’s academic environment. Like at Winsor, studentdriven discussions and interactive classes seem to be integral parts of the classroom experience, as was especially evident in the two “inquiries”—a group of six senior English electives—that I attended. In The Artist in Time of Protest, I participated in an activity in which students sorted themselves by core identifiers (age, race, socioeconomic status, etc.) according to various prompts. Likewise, each student in Statistical Revolution in Sports had to either record or make up the results of 50 coin flips to show that we tend to underestimate the frequency of streaks and that events we see as reflecting skill could be due to chance. Though perhaps only a symptom of the specific day I attended, it seemed that such interactive lesson plans occur more frequently at Belmont
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Hill (two out five classes), though they certainly have their place in Winsor courses such as Macroeconomics. I was also intrigued by the concept of the sports statistics course, as Winsor has yet to draw from the sports/entertainment world in its electives. Other specific highlights included taking a quiz during AB Calculus, learning about gaslighting and “clutch players,” listening to piano performances by students during Music Appreciation, and managing to follow a discussion about the use of music, color, and other effects in a Chinese film, thanks to English translations by the teacher and students. I also observed a piece of technology that could put an end to the recurrent Winsor struggle of raising and lowering projector screens: an electronic version that descends from the ceiling at the press of a button. In fact, technology appeared easily integrated into classes, with frequent use of smart-boards and video without the complications sometimes experienced at Winsor. The well-known Belmont Hill tradition of daily chocolate chip cookies and milk (which I can now confirm is worthy of its reputation), the fresh air in walking outdoors between classes, and a campus atmosphere greatly enhanced by the presence of dogs--from the hyper, labradoodle puppy with which I spent some time to the older dog I saw lounging in the ceramics room amidst students—were among the best parts of my visit. I left Belmont Hill with the knowledge that the two schools share profound similarities and that each can inform the other regarding academic and campus life. Winsor, for example, could take inspiration from Belmont Hill’s sports statistics course, or perhaps consider the de-stressing effects of dogs and daily cookies.☐
By Caroline MacGillivray Panel Staff Hands down, my favorite part of Belmont Hill was the panel carving. I had heard of this tradition from friends and alumni; but, like anything, I had to see it for myself to grasp its significance. In his senior year, each Belmont Hill graduate carves a design into a wood panel. The walls of Belmont Hill are lined with them. A panel is a student’s blank canvas; many boys choose to commemorate their sports teams, hobbies, favorite places, and messages to the community. The collection of the panels throughout the school, I think, is also a great Belmont Hill timeline for current students! When I discussed the panels with the seniors, I could tell that the panel-carving process requires a lot of thought, followed by a fair amount of work to get the finished product. The panels allow each Belmont Hill graduate to leave a reminder of who he is--and I imagine years later, the panels remind alumni about what they were thinking about in their last year of high school! The students and teachers made us feel so welcome. Ms. Zener very kindly explained to me the current situation in Nigeria during Comparative Government, and I learned a lot about oil during Mr. McAlpin ’s Environmental Science class. I have not taken Mandarin Chinese since Class IV, but I was greatly impressed to
see that the students in Chinese 5 were watching a full-length movie in Chinese-and they understood it! Mr. Martellini’s AB Calculus class, which is right on par with Winsor’s calculus curriculum, made me feel a little less guilty about missing a day of classes at Winsor! But the icing on the cake had to be Mr. Patterson (better known as “Brother P”)’s Music Appreciation class. The boys were asked, in pairs, to learn twelve measures of music on the piano. The performances had a little humor thrown in, but I have complete faith that everyone will have their parts memorized for the graded performances. I enjoyed all the classes I observed at Belmont Hill As for the boys themselves, they welcomed my input on the “What Color is the Dress?” debate. Otherwise, they asked me a lot of thoughtful questions about Winsor and the all-girls experience. We compared notes on how the college process has differed at both schools; while the boys had their grievances as we do, they seemed much less high-strung about matriculation. Winsor could definitely afford to take a page from Belmont Hill’s book on that one. I had such a nice day at Belmont Hill--I owe a great thank-you to John, Michael, and Will for hosting the three of us. I greatly appreciate all the kindness we received from the entire Belmont Hill community!☐
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Five Belmont Hill Students Recognised for Their Artistry By Jake DeCaprio Panel Staff The Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, in collaboration with the Boston School of the Museum of Fine Arts, is a New England division of a national arts and writing competition that reviews submissions from students in grades seven through twelve. For the 2015 competition, over 17,000 pieces of student artwork and writing were submitted in the Boston area. Belmont Hill has had a number of students win honors from this competition in the past, and this year five Belmont Hill students were recognized for their artwork. Winning a silver key, the second highest award in the competition, was Lawson Morris’s ceramic sculpture “Treehouse.” Though Lawson is new to ceramics this year, his natural skill for the art shows clear in “Treehouse.” Lawson claims he faced fierce competition, especially in the ceramic sculpture category, and that the silver key award, the first recognition Lawson has had in an arts competition, came to him as a pleasant surprise. If his schedule allows for continued participation in ceramics at Belmont Hill, Lawson is excited to continue working at the craft. Four Belmont Hill Students achieved “Honorable Mention” status from the competition: Christian Dolan, for his photograph entitled “Under the Willow Tree;” Owen Greenwood for his ceramic bowl, “Wave Bowl;” Jovan Jones for his ceramic basketball clock; and Zach Shpilner for his ceramic bowl, “Unexpected.” Christian has been working in photography for four years, and this is his fourth recognition in the Scholastic Art Awards competition; he has received two other honorable mentions and a gold key from the competition for his photography. When asked what his recognitions in this competition mean to him, Christian said “All of the awards
given by the competition are really appreciated in the art community because it’s a form of validation and recognition for all of the work that goes into making works of art. Many people don't realize that hours and hours go into making a single piece, and this competition recognizes that hard work.” Christian plans to continue his photography career into the foreseeable future, and has established his own website and will take this year’s senior photos. Owen was first introduced to ceramics by a friend, a ceramics student, and found that he loved it so much that he would take ceramics as an independent study for the first semester of this year, and is currently taking an advanced ceramics course. Owen’s recognition in the competition struck him as surprising because this is his first year taking a ceramics course and the submitted piece was a bowl in a style that he did not initially set out to make. Because Owen regards ceramics as a wonderful stress relief and day-to-day motivational tool, he hopes to continue the art throughout his Belmont Hill career, and beyond. Zach has been working in ceramics since the beginning of ninth grade, and last year he was awarded a silver key for another ceramic sculpture. When asked about his recognition this year, Zach said “I was very surprised by my recognition in the contest this year, as the piece was quite literally an accident. The piece was meant to be a glaze tester, but turned out pretty interesting after getting fired. Mrs. Kaplan and I were so surprised by how it turned out that we actually titled the piece ‘unexpected’.” Zach says that ceramics allows him to have a creative break from his schoolwork, and he hopes to continue with it in the future. Congratulations to all of these recognition winners! You can learn more about the national and regional Scholastic Art Awards competitions at http://www.artandwriting.org. ☐
On Friday, 6 March 2015, nearly three months to the day after the previous Belmont Hill concert, the instrumental and choral groups of Belmont Hill’s music program convened to put on another concert: the Winter Collage Concert. This concert featured the main ensembles that play at all Belmont Hill musical events: the Orchestra, the B-Flats, the Piano Trio, the Jazz Combo, and the Middle and Upper School Jazz Ensembles. First to take the stage was the Orchestra, led by concertmaster Andrew Kaneb and conducted by Mr. Matthew Glenn. They were joined by Mrs. Ruth Sweeney (French horn), Ms. Letitia Hom (violin), and Ms. Justine Popik (oboe). The group played two pieces, the arrangement of “Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold” from the Hobbit film franchise, composed by Belmont Hill student Armin Thomas and the “Pavane pour une infante defunte” (Pavane for a Dead Princess) by Maurice Ravel. The Thomas piece featured the B-Flats on vocals and showcased the epic scale of the Hobbit films. The Ravel piece showcased the composer’s beautiful writing for woodwinds, as Popik and Tomas Paris (principal clarinet) played very well-executed solos. Spencer Kim (cello) played an enchanting duet with the oboe in the middle of the piece. The rest of the orchestra did an excellent job holding
the piece together and playing steadily. After the last open fifth died out, the audience applauded the spectacular performance, and the Orchestra left the stage. Following the Orchestra was soloist Nicholas Gallo (violin), who played the famous “Minuet in G-dur” by Ludwig van Beethoven. He demonstrated his proficiency on the instrument by producing a very refined and finessed interpretation of the piece. The audience showed their appreciation for his excellent work with more applause. After the solo performance, the Jazz Combo performed “Grant’s Tune” by Grant Green, a jazz standard. Jack Richards (alto sax) and David Yellen (alto sax) improvised great solos, and again the audience was rapturous. More jazz followed the Combo, when the Middle School Jazz Band entertained the audience with “25 or 6 to 4” written by the band Chicago. Ben Blaustein (trumpet) soloed on this tune, and excellently exhibited the aggressive upbeat tempo of the tune. This concert also marked the return of trumpeter Jacob Welborn to Belmont Hill’s music program. Following the Middle School Jazz Ensemble was violist Coleman Walsh. He finally completed the arduous task of learning a complete sonata, and he performed the final three movements of the “Sonata in G-dur” by Benedetto Marcello, after performing the first movement earlier this year in November.
Mazzio-Manson and Schwartz Take a Seat in the Director’s Chair By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff
From top to bottom: Jovan Jones’s ceramic basketball clock, Lawson Morris’s “Treehoue,” Christian Dolan’s “Under the Willow Tree”
Belmont Hill Musicians Convene at Winter Collage Concert By Armin Thomas Staff Writer
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After the viola sonata came more classical music, played by the Belmont Hill Piano Trio, the school’s newest musical ensemble. George Hu (piano), Austin Kwoun (violin), and Spencer Kim (cello) masterfully interpreted the Latin tango vibe of Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango.” Once again, as has happened previously, the group elicited an enthusiastic response from the crowd, garnering wild and uncontrollable applause. The second half of the B-Flats’ performance came after the Trio, when they performed “Sincerely” by Harvey Fuqua and Alan Freed. Soloists included Christian Little, Callen Morris, Nate Trznadel, and Chip Daley. After the B-Flats, the Upper School Jazz Ensemble took the stage to close the show. Their tune selection was varied, showcasing their versatility. First they played “Take Five,” the famous 5/4 Dave Brubeck classic and played a chill performance (Benny Wanger soloed on trumpet), and then they played the funk tune “Brick House” by the Lionel Richie and the Commodores (Solos included Marshall Knight on baritone sax, John Lazor on trumpet, and Armin Thomas on tenor trombone). After the performance, the night of music concluded, and the audience retreated to the Music Building to enjoy a post-concert reception. The musical ensembles of Belmont Hill will convene again on 24 April 2015 to take part in the 2015 Spring Concert. We hope to see you there. ☐
There are many unique opportunities at Belmont Hill for students to assume a leadership position and make an outstanding contribution in an activity for which they have a passion. In sports, an athlete can vie for captaincy; in a club, a member can become the president. Perhaps Belmont Hill’s most special opportunity for leadership is found at the Kraft Theatre, where a Sixth Form student who has a serious interest in acting can direct a play of his very own. A play directed by a student might seem less professional than one put on by a respected faculty member, but if the Senior Directed Plays from past years are any indication, that assumption is far from justified. The distinguished seniors who get to direct the show are dedicated to making the culmination of their acting career at Belmont Hill fun, exciting, and an artistic success. This year, two experienced and talented actors don the director’s hat – Charlie Schwartz and Jamie MazzioManson. Both of these seniors have been acting in plays and musicals since their First Form year at Belmont Hill and have been key to the continued success of the school’s drama program. Instead of choosing just one play to tackle this spring, Charlie and Jamie opted to direct two one-act plays, both modern, quirky comedies: Check Please and Wake Up Call. In Check Please, an amalgam of couples proves just how awkward blind dates can be, as some hopeful romancers get stuck with mimes or senior citizens. Equally as funny, yet much spookier, is Wake Up Call, in which the protagonist, Jim, struggles to discern reality from dreams. In one world, his girlfriend plots to poison his father, while in a second world, his mother regretfully tells him horrible news. The task of directing from ten to twenty fellow actors, putting in countless hours of rehearsal three to four nights a week, and tweaking every minute detail of a show may seem daunting, but Charlie and Jamie could not be more excited about their project. “We just finished our auditions for the show, and things are looking auspicious,” says Jamie; “I’m most thrilled about working with Charlie, with whom I’ve worked as an actor many times before. He’s so on top of everything – I just hope I can keep up! As directors, we’ll try to make the play both fun and relaxed as well as professional and fulfilling.” Charlie too is eager to take on the challenge. He especially noted the diversity of talent in auditions: “It’s awesome seeing new people in the theatre. A lot of seniors are giving acting a try for the first time, and Jamie and I have discovered many hidden talents already.” Charlie and Jamie’s play will be shown at the Kraft Theatre on Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m.. Even though May might seem quite a long way away from dreary March, there is no time to waste. After eleven short weeks of rehearsal, students will finally be able to see the directing capabilities of these two student-directors. ☐
March 12th, 2015
2015 Panel Previews
Belmont Hill Arts
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9th and 10th Grade Play, The Dining Room, Doesn’t Disappoint
By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff
By Ben Rush Staff Writer
Ever y Belmont Hill boy must take a certain number of required courses, participate in a number of athletic seasons, and meet many other requirements to graduate as a senior. The most important requirement to receive a diploma, however, is not fulfilled in the classroom or on the athletic field, but in the woodshop. Ever y student must car ve a panel of his own so that he can remain a part of the school for decades after he graduates. It is not expected that ever yone—or anyone—will know what his panel will be like when he first steps on campus, but by the middle of senior year, each senior must have a good idea of his final design. The process of creating a panel starts in the early winter months of senior year, when Mr. Kaplan gives seniors a presentation on how to choose, make, and complete their ver y own wooden work of art. Mr. Kaplan, a master craftsman, has been helping students craft panels for decades. “One of the hardest decisions a student has to make is what he wants his panel to look like,” he says. In his experience, panel ideas usually have one of four main themes. First, and most commonly, students find a defining moment in their life, whether it be an activity, a place, a person, or a mixture of those. The second most popular option is to car ve an intricate design, with or without any personal significance. An effective and provoking theme, common in the some of the older panels, is a current event – in MacPherson and some hallways in the Jordan Athletic Center, images depicting various wars are myriad. Finally, if all else fails, Mr. Kaplan suggests picking something random—anything which would suffice to represent you. By the beginning of March, the seniors’ panels are starting to take form. Ever y senior has chosen a design approved by Mr. Kaplan and has begun chiseling away at their block of wood. Senior Andrew Wilkins fashioned his panel after a favorite vacation spot that reminded him of great adventures with his family, saying “I really wanted to choose a design that held significance in my life, and I think I did. After I showed Mr. Kaplan the design, we pressed in the background and I started whittling. Now, I’m a little more than halfway done, though there’s still a long way to go.” Clark Doyle decided to incorporate both meaning and beauty in his design - the fleur de lis on his panel harkens back to his days as a child in New Orleans, and also demonstrates aesthetic creativity. Justin Grady, a true New Englander, has been constructing his panel using the theme of “Boston Strong,” a commemoration of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Mr. Kaplan estimates that an average panel takes anywhere from 20-40 hours to make, depending upon how well the student works with his hands, how much time he has, and his design. Now that all their college applications have been sent in, the seniors have no excuse to delay their car ving. There are less than three months until the due date and until their graduation, but they aren’t slacking - the woodshop is often filled with the lively buzz of Sixth Formers chipping away at their last project at Belmont Hill. ☐
After one of the worst months of weather that Massachusetts has seen in a long time, the Middle School production of The Dining Room was a welcome highlight. The Kraft Theater was transformed into your family dining room on Februar y 27th and 28th. The American play by A.R. Gurney takes place in a beautifully decorated dining room and follows the families that gathered in it, showing how special the dining room is to each one. The play does not follow a single set of characters, so each actor had to learn numerous roles and play them each differently. Sharing the stage were Ninth Graders Owen Pickette, Macdony Charles, Will Thompson, Emily Belina, and Alexandra Barton, as well as Tenth Graders Peter Knowlton, Se-
bastian Themelis, and Seamus Clair. Each scene related a different stor y, and therefore a different emotion around which it centered. Themes ranged from divorce and death all the way to children playing and birthday parties. Yet, there is something universal about a family gathering around a dinner table. Unlike larger productions, the small cast faced the challenge of learning many different roles and portraying many emotions. Peter Knowlton says “the show was unique this year because it was an ensemble play, meaning that there was not one three act stor y, but a bunch of small scenes tied together by an overarching theme. That meant that ever y actor had to play at least five characters. This is no easy task for any actor, but our cast did a really good job with character and costume changes, especially the Winsor girls
who had about eight different roles.” The crowd seemed to enjoy the humor of the show, which was strategically placed into some ver y serious scenes to lighten the mood. The actors effectively delivered their part for maximum impact. With little to no set changes, the production relied purely on the director and the actors. Under the direction of Mr. DiResta, the production moved across generations, drawing the audience into each scenario. Actor Sebastian Themelis said in reflection on the show “although at first with many of the cast members leaving, it looked like we wouldn’t be able to pull it off, we pushed through and had an amazing performance and a great time doing it.” Although mother nature tried to get in the way, the show went on and it proved to be an enjoyable and moving production.☐
The Dining Room cast (from left to right): Theo Why, Alexandra Barton, Macdony Charles, Owen Pickette, Seamus Clair, Emily Belina, Will Thompson, Sebastian Themelis, and Peter Knowlton
If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late Review By Mack Perry Panel Staff
Fresh off of his OVO Sound label release, Drake has slowly worked his way up to the top of the rap game. From Johnny Manziel flashing Drake’s signature TopSZN “money maker” sign after every touchdown he threw at Texas A&M, to their ruling of Soundcloud last summer, Toronto-based OVO has slowly infiltrated pop culture: now is their ringleader’s time to shine. Drake has wasted no time in between his September 2013 Nothing Was The Same and his new project, If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late, which was released with no prior announcement on Friday, February 13th (Drake had previously stated that his next full album would be titled Views From The 6). Recent news has emerged that the collection was indeed supposed to be a mixtape to be released for free, but due to the ongoing dispute between Drake/Lil’ Wayne and Cash Money Records, the project was sold as an album to fulfill contract obligations. Nevertheless, If You’re
Reading This debuted at #1 on iTunes. OVO’s executive producers Noah “40” Shebib and Boi-1da stay true to their style, mixing their unique, dark, bassy ambiance into their beats, leaving Drake plenty of room for his thoughts. Drake steps away from treating his music like a diary, succombing to the “I’m better than you” lyrics of most MCs today. From slow-moving tracks “Legend” and “Know Yourself ”, to high-energy “6 God” and “Used To,” Drake experiments with his flow and style, filling beats with biting raps and smooth harmonies. The tone of the album is set with the opening track, “Legend.” We take a peek into Drake’s childhood in “Star67”, learning about the phone scams he ran with friends to earn some extra cash, and listen to the voice of his budding protege PARTYNEXTDOOR on “Wednesday Night Interlude” and “Preach”. In “6PM in New York”, sequel to 2013’s “5AM in Toronto” and 2010’s “9AM in Dallas”, Drake takes the opportunity to attack his rivals with seething critiques and disses. He takes a page from the producing style of Nas and Kanye West, rapping over an old-school rock drum kit with a prominent bass line, giving it a modern twist with a bass-filled synth subtly overlapping in the hook-less track. He gives several shoutouts to his hometown of
Toronto (“The 6”) in “Jungle”, “Know Yourself ”, and “You & The 6,” the lastmentioned of which is an intimate talk to his mother about his fame and struggles, and features some of his most personal and well-written lyrics on the album, a relief from the usual braggadocio that we see on previous tracks. If You’re Reading This is certainly not Drake’s finest or cleanest work; he fills the 17-track album by experimenting with several different subjects and vibes, testing the waters as to see what fits best. Drake has done his job on amping up anticipation for his next move. Even if this is just a warmup to “Views From the 6,” Drake must get credit for his stellar creativity in his lyrics and wordplay, especially when he makes something sound much cooler than it is. “Runnin’ through the 6 with my woes” sounds a hell of a lot better than “Hanging in Toronto with my besties”. ☐
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Looking Ahead: A Preview of 2015’s Summer Music Festivals By Sea-Jay Van der Ploeg Staff Writer Given the snow piling up outside, it may seem hard to believe that spring is almost here! Spring--the time to get excited for sunny days, spending time outdoors, warm weather and of course… summer music! Annual music festivals Coachella, Bonnaroo, and local Boston Calling have recently released their official performer lineups. Panel presents a brief rundown of each festival’s major themes and featured artists to help you get in the summer festival spirit. Take a look at the highlights of these concerts!
3. A Solid Amount of Rap and Hip Hop: Popular artist Drake will headline the last Sunday of each weekend. Other appearances include Raekwon and Ghostface Killah from Wu-Tang Clan, Tyler the Creator, The Weeknd, and Azealia Banks. 4. Variety of Electronic Music: There will be no shortage of Electronic Dance Music DJ acts, such as ODESZA, Kaskade, Flosstradamus, Porter Robinson, Axwell^Ingress, and Alesso. Providing more experimental sounds, hip hop electronic acts like Flying Lotus and Toro y Moi will perform as well.
portalsmusic.com
columbiaslive.com
well. Gerard Way, lead vocalist from now & The Sensational Space Shifters (Robert Plant was Led Zeppelin’s lead singer) are all separated band My Chemical Romance, actor Jack Black and his band Tenacious D, highly anticipated acts. and alternative band The Pixies will satisfy 3. A Sprinkling of Hip Hop and R&B: Rap anyone looking for a 90’s and early 2000’s throwback. superstar Kendrick Lamar leads as major headliner this year. He will be joined by other similar artists such as Run the Jewels 3. Mellow Summer Crooners: Singers Ben Harper from California and Vance Joy and Childish Gambino. (Singer of “Riptide”) from Australia will supply summer appropriate, beachy West Coast 4. Diversifying With Some Electronic vibes. Australian artist Chet Faker will also Guests: Electronic act Deadmau5 will be a featured main stage performer this year, perform in his electronic, jazzy style. and other electronic dance music perfor4. Soulful Folk and Country: Any country mances include Caribou, Bassnectar, and music lovers looking for a new obsession Flumel. relix.com should check out the lyrical, twangy Jason Isbell, a Boston Calling performer hailing from Alabama. Two other bands, The Lone Bellow and The Ballroom Thieves, will also bring an invigorating, indie folk sound (think Fleet Foxes). 5. Gotta Love Those Female Singers: Characterized by their signature airy voices, female vocalists Marina and The Diamonds, Tove Lo (Singer of “Habits/Stay High”), St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, and MØ will perform.
Coachella
Themes and Highlights: 1. Plenty of Guitars and Male Vocals: For anyone looking for classic rock, AC/DC will be a featured headliner. Other fun head banging bands include Jack White, Tame Impala, Interpol, and Ratatat for a still head-banging but more electronic feel. 70’s jazz rock band Steely Dan will also make an appearance. 2. Enough to Satisfy Your Indie Band Fix: As expected, the festival has garnered various established indie acts, including Alt-J, Alabama Shakes, and Hozier. This umbrella of indie bands also includes female voices— Marina and The Diamonds, Florence & The Machine, St. Vincent, and Lykke Li.
6. Soul? Funk? Rap? Boston Calling still has you covered: One of Bonnaroo’s headliners, rap duo Run the Jewels, will also perform in Boston! Jungle, described as a “modern soul collective” from London, is another entertaining act to look out for.
Bonnaroo
Boston Calling
Themes and Highlights: 1. Folk Rock and Lighthearted Indie Vibes: Well known folk rock band Mumford and Sons will perform. Ed Helms (star of “The Office” and “The Hangover”) will visit The Bluegrass Situation SuperJam portion of the festival. Other indie acts include Spoon, Belle and Sebastian, Guster, and The War on Drugs. Fun fact: the lead singer of The War on Drugs is a Roxbury Latin graduate!
Themes and Highlights 1. Summer Indie Rock (predominately male vocals and guitars): It will be difficult for most of us Multi-instrumentalist and cross-genre singer Winsor girls to snag tickets to the first two Beck will be the main headliner, but other festivals, but for any music lovers wishing to similar indie rock acts include My Morning attend an accessible concert, Boston Calling Jacket and TV on the Radio. is definitely a viable option. Tickets are on sale now for both three day passes and indi2. Heavier Rock Bands: vidual day passes. If live music is not for you, After their April Coachella appearance, you can easily search and listen to all these Tame Impala will perform their psycheartists’ tracks online! ☐ delic, head-banging tunes in Boston as
Where and When: Indio, California. Three- Where and When: Manchester, Tennessee, day intervals in April (April 10-12, 17-19) June 11-14
2. Oldies Ranging a Variety of Genres: Who does not love rock and roll headliner Billy Joel? For anyone craving some soulful, funky jazz and R&B, Earth Wind & Fire will be performing. Metal band Slayer, 80s band Tears for Fears, and Robert Plant
Where and When: City Hall Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, May 22, 23, 24
Class I Play Excitement
weeks due to all of the rehearsal time missed on snow days. The students spent time memorizing lines on days offhousetenpress.com and also have “I cannot wait to see all of Class I’s hard extra rehearsals during some P.E. periods work culminate in such a fantastic produc- and studies. Mr. Johnson said, “[The Class tion,” said Emma Bernstein ’17. On March I students] have been great sports about it, 11 and 12, fifth grade students will perform and we have managed to catch ourselves up a The Velveteen Rabbit for the annual Class I bit.” Daisy Pressman, Class I, added, “Everymusical. Based on the 1922 book by Mar- one has been working really hard through gery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit follows the snow days, and we are really excited to the relationship between a stuffed rabbit share [the show] with the whole school.” and its owner. Mr. Johnson, the director of As in previous years, the play, explained, “The story addresses the members of Class I are able to act in the play ideas of old and new and how important it is as well as work behind the scenes on sets to love and rememand with Ms. Padula to ber the old things create the fantastic coseven when they tumes seen in the progo away. It seemed duction. Additionally, like an approprithe experience always ate and respectful allows the class to work way to say goodbye together on a project to a space that has that always has a fantasserved the Winsor tic result. Marie Kester community well ’19 reflected on actfor many years.” ing in Where the Wild With this Things Are in 2012 and bostonchildrenstheater.org said, “The musical was fantastic production, the Class I students will con- a highlight of my year in Class I because it tinue the four-year tradition of basing the was such a great bonding experience for my rl.com show off a children’s book. Mr. Johnson class.” Chanel Matthews ’17 agreed, “The is working with a friend outside of Win- play was probably one of my favorite memosor, who also composed the music for ries from Class I. Everyone who was here in the Class I play last year, The Cricket in fifth grade always references our show, and Times Square, to develop the script and we all have really great memories from it.” the original score for this production. Good luck, Class I - we canClass I has worked hard in recent not wait to see your performance! ☐ By Alexa Lyons Staff Writer
Winsor actresses during the production!
winsor.edu
Upper School’s Radium Girls By Abby Weyer and Isabel Griffith-Gorgati Staff Writers This year’s upper school winter production of Radium Girls, directed by Mr. Tupper, brought to the stage the sobering, true story of the fates of radium factory workers in the 1920s. The play follows the story of Grace Fryer, a young watch dial painter at a radium plant, as she fights to sue the company that caused her friends and eventually herself to fall prey to the devastating effects of radium poisoning. Once considered a miracle cure for cancer and used in the production of dials by female factory workers, radium was discovered to be a deadly poison that stole the lives of many young women in the span of a few years. The actresses, with the careful direction of Mr. Tupper, executed a seamless production. The tragic story told in the play required the actors to tap into their more serious and woeful emotions. The cast seemed to have little difficulty doing so, as their performances were skillfully delivered. The acting was accompanied by live violin music
from Isabel Seguin ’16 that greatly enhanced the emotion of the play and provided smooth transitions between scenes. The set of the play was very plain; its simplicity provided a sense of desolation that mirrored the plot and kept the audience’s focus on the actors. Joanna Grill ’17 remarked, “I thought Radium Girls was really interesting and thought provoking. The acting was spectacular and really opened my eyes to the process of lawsuits with large factories and the people behind them.” In addition to Radium Girls, the same cast of actors put on two short comedic plays that greatly contrasted the somber mood of the main production; these skits were aptly named “Departmental” and “Words Won’t Help You Here.” Each was filled with wordplay and silliness that had the audience in fits of laughter. The cast, faced with limited rehearsal time due to the unexpected surplus of snow days, worked hard to recover lost time and work around complicated costume and set changes throughout the show. Despite these conditions, they pulled off the play seamlessly and it was a huge success. ☐
March 12th, 2015
Winsor Arts
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Review of a Hit New TV Show: Check out “Empire” on Fox
nity as well as the negative stigma around homosexuality in the Black and Latino communities. Statistics supporting this stigIf you are anything like me, a good part ma include many studies done specifically of your week is planned out to the second so on homosexuality in African-American and that you can watch each television episode Latino communities. “In the African-Ameron the day it airs, and luckily, this year has been a big year for television. We welcomed the return of shows like “The Bachelor” and “Dance Moms” with open arms and embraced new noteworthy additions such as Jane the Virgin, Black-ish, and Gotham. Among the many new viewing options, one show in particular has caught the attention of millions, both for its deliciously dramatic plot lines and for its refreshingly honest portrayals of race, gender, and sexuality. “Empire”, a modern day twist on Shakespeare’s King Lear, set in the world of hip-hop music, tells the story of the Lyon family: father Lucious (Terrence Howard); his exwife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), who is newly freed from prison; their Cast of Fox’s New TV Show, “Empire” power-hungry, Ivy League-educated oldest son Andre (Trai Byers); their young- ican community, for example, homosexualiest, Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray), a rapper ty is seen as a taboo subject that clashes with on the rise; and middle child Jamal (Jussie race, gender role expectations, definitions Smollett), a singer-songwriter prodigy. of masculinity, community norms relating When Lucious finds out that he has ALS, to sexuality, and is perceived of as sinful his three sons to turn against one another and unnatural” (AIDS Educ Prev).In some in an attempt to be the singular owner of situations, “homosexuality is also seen as a the family’s multi-billion dollar record label. weakness or an embarrassment to the Afri“Empire” pushes back against the ste- can American community” (CDC).When reotypes of both black people as a commu- interviewed, Lee Daniels, co-creator of the By Victoria Farina Contributing Writer
Beck Deserved Album of the Year By Olivia Brasher & Jane Wrenn Contributing Writers One of the biggest moments at the 57th Grammy Awards was the announcement of the 2014 Album of the Year, awarded to Beck’s Morning Phase, which beat out X by teen heartthrob Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams’ Girl, Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour, and, most notably, Beyonce’s Beyonce. Many were pleasantly surprised, while many Beyonce fans were shocked and appalled, including Kanye West, who almost repeated his notorious microphone grab from the 2009 VMA’s (when he stole the micro- Beck with his Grammy! phone from Taylor Swift, stating that Beyonce deserved the award). Beck himself appeared surprised at the announcement and received the award almost speechlessly, simply stating “thank you.” Although Beyoncé may have been the popular favorite in this category, selling the most copies of her selftitled album, which includes hits “Drunk in Love” and “Partition”, Beck’s talent and
authenticity demonstrated in Morning Phase ultimately earned him the award. Although many people are not familiar with the music of Beck, his hit single Loser brought him widespread popularity in 1993. After a brief backlash, he has churned out twelve popular, critically-acclaimed studio albums, including the noteworthy singles “Beercan”, “Girl”, and “Think I’m In Love”. He popularized the style of trippy lyrics and clips of talking in the background of his songs, giving them a distinctly ot her worldly feel. He has also dabbled in multiple genres, includeonline.com ing rap, pop, funk, blues, electronic, psychedelic, and rock. His unique sounds and experimentation with different genres has attracted attention from many, and his unconventional ways (he once brought a leaf blower on stage at a concert) set him apart from other musicians on the scene. On his album Morning Phase, Beck wrote each of his songs, sang all the vo-
show, commented, “Kids are dying because of the homophobia that exists in the African-American community and Latino community...Rather than come out, [gay black men] live on the DL...And it’s sad because your mother says; your priest says, your best friend says, your neighbors say, your classmates say, your teachers say you can’t be who you are. And that’s lethal.” When asked about his opinion regarding the show and the controversial topics that pervade the plot line, Jussie Smollet, the actor playing Jamal Lyon, stated, “[“Empire”] is not shoving anything down your throat. It’s not preaching, it’s not telling you the way that you should feel about a certain issue, but it is giving you options. Lee holds up the mirror to us as human beings.” As Fox’s most popular show in a while with 9.3 million viewers thus far, “Empire” ratings have steadily increased. buddytv.com According to Entertainment Weekly, “The typical pattern is a show’s highest-rated episode of the season is its premiere, then ratings drop for two weeks and then, (hopefully) settle into a groove for the rest of the season, rising somewhat for the season finale. “Empire” has done the opposite. The midseason drama premiered big. Got bigger. Then got bigger again.This kind of growth has not occurred for years and the fact that “Empire” ratings con-
tinue to climb every day, we expect great things from this new show” (http://insidetv. ew.com). If those statistics do not convince you by themselves, I would strongly recommend watching the show. As someone who finds it very refreshing to watch a television that is not completely and utterly transparent, (i.e that guy falls in love with that girl, but she is interested in someone else), “Empire” is one of those refreshing shows. If you are still not convinced, Bre Beaudreault ’15 is quoted as saying that it is her favorite show because, “‘Empire’ is really honest in its portrayal of homosexuality in black culture, which is a first because I have not seen it represented very much. I think that the show itself is generally good fun and very entertaining.” Need any more convincing? Jens Odegard ’16’s first impressions were positive as well. Odegard is quoted as saying, “‘Empire’ is an extremely well-written and extremely well-produced television show, whose dynamic and unpredictable plot draws viewers in and does not let them go. But what I really loved even more than the actual narrative was the story’s incorporation of homophobia and horrible consequences into the conflicts. Homophobia is an issue that desperately needs to be addressed in this nation and a topic to which people often belittle or turn a blind eye, and I truly respect and appreciate the creator’s use of a wide viewing audience to get this critical message across.” I hope I have intrigued you enough to turn on your televisions, computers, mobile devices to watch “Empire” on Wednesdays at 9:00pm! ☐ nme.com
cals, and played the electric guitar, acoustic towards lyrics such as “smack it smack it guitar, keyboard, piano, synthesizer, or- in the air” and “the man ain’t ever seen a gan, electric bass, sound collage, tambou- booty like this.” As Beyoncé explores the rine, ukulele, charango, celeste, dulcimer, topic of the iconic “booty,” indeed a promiharmonica, and glockenspiel--totaling at nent piece of today’s pop culture, Beck fifteen instruments. As a result, Morning takes a more thoughtful approach to his Phase has a distinct instrumental sound music and describes the pain of solitude. unlike that of any of his previous work Through his work on Morning or those of the other nominees in the Phase, Beck yet again proves himself as category. Additionally, he produced a seasoned, talented artist who can the album and arranged the orchesnot only play over 15 instruments tral pieces himself. Each song builds but also excel in a wide variety on the last, creating not only an alof genres. Beyoncé is undenibum but also an experience. The ably a talented artist and a strong lyrics are thought-provoking and full role model, but the cohesiveness of meaningful images, as exempliand talent exemplified on Beck’s fied in the hit single “Blue Moon”: Morning Phase create an album “I’m so tired of being alone / experience unlike that of the These penitent walls are all I’ve other albums nominated. As a howstuffworks.com result, Beck’s Morning Phase known / Songbird calling across the water / Inside my silent asylum.” Be- clearly deserved its well-earned award: Alyoncé, by contrast, channels her talent bum of the Year at the 57th Grammy’s. ☐
Belmont Hill Sp orts
Pa g e 1 6
Th e Pan el
Belmont Hill Varsity Scoreboard TEAM
Hockey
RECORD
16-8-6
NOTABLE RESULTS
TEAM MVPS
W vs Berkshire 4-2 W vs Thayer 5-4
Charley Michalowski Charlie McConnell Charlie Barrow Myles Walsh Jesse Wims
Basketball
18-4
W vs. St. Mark’s 62-57 W vs. Thayer 63-32
Wrestling
13-3
New England Tournament, 3rd Place ISL Tournament, 2 Place
Pete Tedesco Phil Conigliaro Will Ryan
Alpine Ski
36-4
ISL Championship Race, 2nd place
Dan Remondi Harrison Rohrer
Nordic Ski
N/A
Weston sprints, 2nd place
John Power Will Malloy
14-2
Varsity Nationals, 2nd place JV Nationals, 1st place
Clark Doyle Timmy Brownell
Squash
Alpine Ski Team Finishes 2nd at ISLs, Completes Another Successful Season By George Hu Staff Writer The Alpine Ski Team has enjoyed another solid season at the slopes of Nashoba valley this year. Despite losing All-American captain Sabri Eyubolgu to graduation last year, the varsity team finished 2nd in ISL competition behind only an exceptional Middlesex squad. In the first ISL race of the season at Nashoba Valley the team raced its way past the entire league to a first place finish, as captain Dan Remondi placed in the top three while Bobby Jahrling and
Harrison Rohrer both finished in the top ten. Despite the optimistic start, the team fell to Middlesex in a series of extremely tight margins in the ensuing ISL races, and by mid-February it was clear that Middlesex had secured the ISL title. Nonetheless, on February 11, five of Belmont Hill’s best skiers, Dan Remondi, Bobby Jahrling, Harrison Rohrer, Will Cannistraro, and Sam Rohrer, journeyed up to Franconia Notch’s Cannon Mountain to compete in the NEPSAC Class A championship. Despite a very challenging course and some untimely
falls, the team fought its way to a 5th place finish amongst 15 teams. Throughout the season, the alpine ski team was blessed with individual talent. Dan Remondi consistently finished in the top 5 in ISL races, winning a couple of races outright. Bobby Jahrling and Harrison Rohrer both consistently finished within the top 20, even breaking into the top 10 on some occasions. Will Cannistraro, Sam Rohrer, and Henry Moukeibher consistently placed within the top 25 throughout the season, and it will be hard to forget Gifford Metz’s sensational
360 in the last race of the ISL season. Overall, with young talents on the JV team such as Will Neissa, William Hintlian, Jack Olton, and Ben Blaustein, the alpine ski team will be destined to continue its success in the ISL and NEPSAC. Furthermore, JV skiers John Gosselin, Eric Rolfs, and Justin Grady gave much appreciated energy to the team throughout the season. The team would like to thank coaches Feldman and Trautz, its graduating seniors Dan Remondi, Eric Rolfs, and Justin Grady, as well as all of the parents for a wonderful season. ☐
vidual accomplishments, senior captain Hilal Dahleh reached the impressive 1,000 point mark in a game against St. Paul’s. As far as team accomplishments, the season was really highlighted by an overtime win against arch rival St. Sebastian’s. With just 1:30 left in the
game, our boys in blue recovered from a 6-point deficit, consisting of a late 3-pointer sunk from deep range by Dahleh to force the game into overtime. In the final seconds of overtime, freshman Jovan Jones scored a putback jump shot in the paint to secure the win. The entire Belmont Hill fan section stormed the court, celebrating a final meaningful win for the seniors in their last game against St. Sebastian’s. This was the first year since Mr. Martellini coached the team that Belmont Hill reached the New England playoffs. The squad traveled down to Suffield, Connecticut, for their first round matchup. They suffered a heart-wrenching 72-64 loss, but the team can still be proud of what they accomplished this season. “Although we lost in the playoffs, we are more than happy with where we brought the team this season. Our collective goal this winter was to leave the program in a better place than it ended in last year, and I think our performances proved that Belmont Hill basketball is definitely on the rise,” said captain Sultan-Farouk Olusekun. “I still think that our team this year was good enough to beat anybody out there, and that’s something we should be proud of.” Thank you to all the seniors, especially those 8 year Varsity seniors, for making this year so special for Belmont Hill basketball. ☐
Basketball Caps Incredible Season With First Playoff Appearance in Years By Chip Daley Panel Staff The Varsity Basketball team had a historically successful season, finishing with a total record of 18-4 (11-2 in ISL play). Basketball at the varsity level at Belmont Hill has had some struggles in the past 5 years with a losing record in every season since 2009. The last over .500 winning percentage team dates back to the 20082009 season when the team finished with a record of 16-8 under head coach Martellini. But before this season started, captains Hilal Dahleh and Sultan Olusekun promised the school that this year, they really had a special group. After starting off the season a little slow with 3 wins and 2 losses, the team caught fire winning 15 games straight. Just this win streak alone equalled the total number of games the team won the previous two seasons combined! Securing big wins against competitive rival schools Milton, St. Mark’s, Roxbury Latin, Tabor, and BB&N at the TD Garden, the Belmont Hill Varsity Basketball team put themselves in good position for a run at the league title. One big matchup remained to decide the champion of the ISL against the undefeated and talented Brooks School. The team fought hard the whole game, hanging
tough with an extremely skilled and sized team of Brooks players, but could not go ahead and lost a competitive game, 60-44. Though they could not capture their goal of first place in the ISL, some amazing feats were reached throughout the season. In the realm of indi-
The basketball team celebrates qaulifying for the playoffs
Nate Trznadel
Belmont Hill Sp orts
March 12th, 2015
Trio of 1st Place Finishes Power Wrestling By Dean Demetri Panel Staff The wrestling team approached the climax of their season, entering a grueling three week period of back to back weekend tournaments ranging from the ISL’s Graves Kelsey tournament to New Englands and finally, finishing at the National Prep Wrestling Tournament at Lehigh University. The team faced tough losses to the Brooks School for the ISL Dual Meet Champion and Graves-Kesley Tournament titles (losing by only 7.5 points at Graves, 243 to 236.5). At the Graves tournament, Phil Conigliaro, Pete Tedesco, and Will Ryan placed 1st followed by Seth Israel, Tyler Christopher, and Frank McField taking 2nd. Sean Rayment and Pat Forde placed 3rd while DJ Demetri and Alex Afeyan placed 4th. Finally Mack Rush and Ryan Williams took home 5th while Tedesco was named Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament and Pat Forde earned the “most pins in the least time” award. The wrestling team then had a strong 3rd place finish (behind Exeter and Brooks in that order) at the New England Tournament hosted by Tabor Academy. First place medals were won by Third Formers Seth Israel and Phil Conigliaro, and Fifth Former Pete Tedesco. Will Ryan took 3rd, Sean Rayment, 5th, and DJ Demetri and Tyler Christopher, 7th. All seven then qualified for the National Prep Tournament down at Lehigh University. That Sunday, the JV team showed up to Tabor for the Junior Varsity New England Tournament to finish off their season. After a hard-fought day on the mat, Brian Tanabe and Steven Devellis won first place. Henry Griffin Varun Shah, and Hunter Present earned 2nd, and Jacob Whitney took 4th. Congratulations to the JV team for a great season. While the team battled down at Lehigh, only Phil Conigliaro progressed to the second day of wrestling placing 4th and earning the title of All-American. Unfortunately, while the team shared many exciting mo-
ments and great matches at Lehigh, they also endured the loss of their championship-caliber and finals-bound captain, Pete Tedesco, to a concussion in the quarterfinals round. This injury knocked him out of the tournament. While Pete headed home with his family the team wished him well as I can say first-handedly, we hope for a quick recovery so he can come back next year and lead his team on to another outstanding season. ☐ Bill Mahoney
MLB Preview: The National League By Liam Foley Panel Staff NL East: 1. Washington Nationals: The Nats have an amazing rotation with Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, and Doug Fister. Bryce Harper should take a step forward in his age-23 season after a disappointing 2014. Anthony Rendon should continue to dazzle as long as he is healthy and the Nationals defense is improved now that Ryan Zimmerman has moved to first base. 2. New York Mets: The Mets finished with 79 wins last season despite an off year by 3rd Baseman David Wright and a lost season for star pitcher Matt Harvey. The Mets pitching staff is among the best in baseball and catcher Travis D’Arnaud should continue to improve this season. Shortstop is the Mets’ weak spot.
MLB Preview: The American League By Liam Foley Panel Staff AL East: 1. Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox vastly improved their team from 2014 to 15. C Christian Vazquez is a superb defensive catcher, 1B Mike Napoli has solved his health problems and should post a high on base percentage, 2B Dustin Pedroia will rebound from a subpar season, 3B Pablo Sandoval (a new acquisition) will provide strong offensive skills from the hot corner, SS Xander Bogaerts is too good to struggle like he did last year (Do not be surprised if he hits more than 25 homers), new acquisition SS/OF Hanley Ramirez will provide MVPcaliber statistics when fully motivated and healthy, Cuban OF Rusney Castillo should build on a strong debut, 2B/OF Mookie Betts is better than OF Shane Victorino and will lead off and contribute strong OBPs to the Red Sox, David Ortiz will be David Ortiz. The Red Sox pitching is bad: Rick Porcello is good, Wade Miley is OK, Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly are each bad, and Justin Masterson is terrible. Koji Uehara will continue to close games for Boston and, while the bullpen is not strong, it is not a weakness either. 2. Toronto Blue Jays: Toronto will give the Red Sox the biggest headache in the competition for 1st in the AL East. OF Jose Bautista and 1B Edwin Encarnacion are each excellent hitters and the addition of 3B Josh Donaldson makes the Blue Jays’ lineup even more formidable. Undersized starter and former PED user Marcus Stroman will lead the Jays rotation after a strong debut last year. 2B, LF,
and DH are all weaknesses for Toronto. 3. Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles’ rotation is plain and they lost OF/DH Nelson Cruz this offseason but 3B Manny Machado should continue to develop, OF Adam Jones is a star, and 1B Chris Davis should split the difference between 2013 and 2014. OF Travis Snider is my breakout pick for 2015. 4. New York Yankees: It is whatever the bad DEFCON is for Yankee fans right now. C Brian McCann cannot handle the shift, 3B Alex Rodriguez is stealing millions, SS Didi Gregorius is a below-average starter, and Stephen Drew is Stephen Drew. The Yankees do have a strong young rotation led by Masahiro Tanaka and a strong bullpen led by Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller but the team is not a legitimate playoff contender. 5. Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays’ inability to attract fans and inability to draft effectively has really hurt them. A strong rotation led by MA native Alex Cobb and star 3B Evan Longoria won’t be enough for the Rays to contend. AL Central: 1. Cleveland Indians: Last year’s AL Cy Young winner, Corey Kluber, headlines a strong rotation that also features breakout success Carlos Carrasco and talented youngsters Danny Salazar and Trevor Bauer. Offensively, Michael Brantley should take a step back but Brandon Moss is an improvement on David Murphy. Defensive wiz SS Francisco Lindor should be up by mid-season. 2. Detroit Tigers: The acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes will do little to offset regressions from JD and Vic-
3. Miami Marlins: The Marlins are a young team with a great outfield, featuring star Giancarlo Stanton, future star Christian Yelich, and aboveaverage regular Marcell Ozuna. The Marlins acquired speedy 2nd baseman Dee Gordon and starting pitchers Dan Haren and Mat Latos last offseason and will benefit from pitcher Jose Fernandez’s June return from Tommy John Surgery. 4. Atlanta Braves: The Braves lost starting pitcher Ervin Santana to free agency and traded ‘catcher’ Evan Gattis and star outfielder Justin Upton away. The team did acquire strong young talent in Shelby Miller and future talent in third base prospect Rio Ruiz but will not field sufficient talent to contend for a playoff spot this season. 5. Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies have progressively declined in each of the past several seasons and General Manager Ruben Amaro has no clue what he is doing. The team may trade its best pitcher, Cole Hamels, before the season starts and already traded former MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins to the LA Dodgers. The outlook looks bleak for this team for the foreseeable future. NL Central: 1. St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals are always good and this year will be no different. The acquisition of Jason Heyward offsets the tragic loss of Oscar Taveras and the rest of the Cardinals starters remain the same. Former Red Sox signee Carlos Martinez is primed for a breakout season. 2. Chicago Cubs: The Cubs spent big this offseason have a strong group of young starters. Jorge Soler should win the NL Rookie of the Year award and his teammate Kris Bryant (who will likely debut in late April) will be runner-up. Javier Baez has star potential but various question marks and Starlin Castro is still young but has poor makeup. Jon Lester was a statement acquisition to headline the Cubs rotation and Jake Arrieta will build upon last year’s breakout performance. C Miguel Montero, an excellent pitch framer, is an improvement at catcher but the Cubs still have a rather poor bullpen. 3. Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates are a very strong team despite ranking 3rd in the NL Central. Gregory Polanco is better than what his August and September indicated, Andrew McCutchen is one of the best players in the game, Gerrit Cole will continue to develop, and Korean acquisition Jung-Ho Kang could be the steal of the offseason. Josh Harrison will regress and Francisco Cervelli is a major downgrade from Russell Martin. tor Martinez coupled with the loss of ace pitcher Max Scherzer. Justin Verlander was better than how he played last season and Anibal Sanchez must stay healthy. The loss of Rick Porcello will hurt but a full season of David Price is tantalizing. 3. Chicago White Sox: Jose Abreu turned in a remarkable rookie season in 2014 and Chris Sale pitched like the star he is. The White Sox added closer David Robertson, starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, and outfielder Melky Cabrera this offseason but still have holes at catcher and 3rd and a question mark at 2nd. 4. Kansas City Royals: The Royals made the World Series last year but must deal with lots of regression among their players. James Shields, the Royals’ ace, and Billy Butler each left via free agency and only OF Alex Rios was added. Danny Duffy pitched excellently but will regress; the Royals bullpen remains excellent and may even improve with the return of former first overall pick, Luke Hochevar. 5. Minnesota Twins: The Twins are bad but have a strong farm system: 6’9 SP Alex Meyer should debut at some point this season. OF Oswaldo Arcia has huge power but many question marks and SP Phil Hughes will be good again but Danny Santana should regress from his strong 2014. AL West: 1. Los Angeles Angels: The Angels have Mike Trout, the best player in baseball, and Albert Pujols, a future hall of famer. The team downgraded at 2nd base and is still weak at catcher and 3rd base. DH/1B CJ Cron is a strong breakout candi-
Pa g e 1 7 4. Milwaukee Brewers: Milwaukee has stars OF Carlos Gomez and OF Ryan Braun patrolling its outfield and star catcher, Jonathan Lucroy, behind the plate. Aside from its stars, the Brewers have a collection of solid-but-not-flashy players that contribute to a good-but-not-great team. SS Jean Segura isn’t as good as his 2013 would indicate but is not as bad as his 2014 was. 5. Cincinnati Reds: 3B Todd Frazier, C Devin Mesoraco, and SP Johnny Cueto are all not as good as their 2014 seasons and the Reds traded SP Mat Latos away as well. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce should each improve upon poor and injury-plagued seasons last year but the Reds will find themselves at the bottom of the strong NL Central come October.
MVPS
NL West: 1. Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers have deep pockets and the best pitcher in baseball but did lose star SS Hanley Ramirez (replacing him with Jimmy Rollins) and Matt Kemp (replacing him with OF Joc Pederson). OF Yasiel Puig, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, new acquisition C Yasmani Grandal, and a strong rotation should all help lead the Dodgers to a division title. 2. San Francisco Giants: The Giants won the World Series last year but lost 3B Pablo Sandoval and Mike Morse. SP Madison Bumgarner and the pitching staff will be above average but the team’s lineup will be devoid of power, especially with star OF Hunter Pence out 6-8 weeks with a broken arm. 3. San Diego Padres: New Padres GM AJ Preller made a splash this offseason, completely revamping his team and acquiring OF Wil Myers, OF Justin Upton, OF Matt Kemp, C Derek Norris, and SP James Shields. San Diego is undoubtedly significantly improved but it is difficult to see how the pieces fit together; the outfield will be perhaps the worst defensive OF in all of baseball. 4. Colorado Rockies: The Rockies are a pretty easy team to predict. 3B Nolan Arenado will have gold glove defense. C Wilin Rosario will not. SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Carlos Gonzalez will dominate. Then get hurt. Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson will regress. The Rockies pitching will be bad. 5. Arizona Diamondbacks: A healthy 1B Paul Goldschmidt will be nice and Cuban acquisition Yasmany Tomas is intriguing but aside from those two, the DBacks team is terrible. Josh Collmenter is the ‘ace’ of the staff and Arizona’s pitching prospects likely will not arrive until mid-June. ☐ date molded similarly to former Angel, Mark Trumbo. Pitcher Jered Weaver still has some gas left in the tank, Garrett Richards should be back in early April, Matt Shoemaker is mostly real, and Andrew Heaney is a highpotential arm in the backend of the rotation. 2. Seattle Mariners: The Mariners are a strong team that added a 40-homer bat in DH Nelson Cruz to an already strong team that includes superstar pitcher Felix Hernandez and star 2B Robinson Cano. Dustin Ackley, Austin Jackson, and Mike Zunino should all improve in 2015. 3. Oakland Athletics: Following a late-season collapse, the Athletics downgraded at 1st, 3rd, catcher, and shortstop this offseason. Undervalued Ben Zobrist should provide some versatility to the team but aside from him, the Athletics are a much worse team than they were last year. 4. Houston Astros: The Astros have been one of the worst teams in baseball for the past few years but have improved the left side of their infield with Luis Valbuena and Jed Lowrie. 1B Jon Singleton should improve, George Springer will be healthy, new acquisition Evan Gattis should provide some power, Chris Carter could hit 40 homers, and pitcher Collin McHugh’s improvements last season were legitimate. 5. Texas Rangers: Everything that could have gone wrong for the Rangers in 2014 did go wrong. Alex Rios (now with Royals) and Shin-Soo Choo struggled and Prince Fielder missed more than 100 games. The Rangers will be better in 2015 but will not have the talent to climb out of the bottom of the division. ☐
Winsor Sp orts
Pa g e 1 8
Th e Pan el
Winter Sports Wrap-ups Varsity Basketball Record: 7-9
Natasha Jones ’17
Grace Eysenbach ’16
winsor.edu
Varsity Hockey Record: 3-8
Varsity Squash Record: 12-3
Highlight: The team played really cohesively during the Concord game, and as a result achieved an outstanding 55-17 victory. Abigail Simon ‘16 contributed with more than 8 defensive steals. After a tough loss to Dana, Winsor was also able to bounce back for the Southfield game, ultimately winning 47-41. While Winsor started off ahead with a significant lead at halftime, a Southfield player hit six threes in the second half to tie the game. Winsor counted on outside shooter Talia Ruxin ‘16 to keep Winsor in it; she scored a total of 19 points; Winsor fought resiliently and was able to pull ahead in the end. Quote: “The team is really hitting our stride. We had a nice winning streak with wins against Concord, Bancroft, and Berwick, and played well at the EIL tournament.” - Talia Ruxin ‘16 Fun Fact: Winsor Varsity basketball finished first in the Caitlin Weldon ’16 B-pool at the EIL tournament!
Highlight: In a recent game against Beaver Country Day, every line contributed a point, and the team came out on top 8-2. Goalie Hailey Yetman ‘16 had an incredible save on a breakaway attempt. The team finished the season strong with one of their best games against one of the strongest teams in the league: Portsmouth Abbey. In a physical and hard-fought game, the team went into the third period tied 0-0. The Winsor team played until the final buzzer and was extremely proud of the effort and intensity they brought to the ice. Quote: “Although we missed many practices and games due to bad weather, our team came prepared and gave our best efforts and attitudes every time we hit the ice. We will miss our seniors next year, but we look forward to next season,” said Katherine Lempres ‘17. Fun Fact: Our team was the biggest Winsor Varsity Hockey team ever with 21 players! Anshi Moreno-Jimenez ’15
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Highlight: Both Varsity and JV Squash had excellent seasons! JV squash won eight out of their nine matches. The Varsity team played well throughout the season, and all their hard work manifested in their matches at the US High School National Championships in early February. Winsor won their first and third matches, but unfortunately lost their second match. Winsor was able to play their final match against Milton Academy back in Boston, which gave family and friends the opportunity to watch as this team made Winsor Squash history. By winning this match 6-1, Winsor secured a 5th place finish overall! Quote: “Adrienne and I are incredibly proud of our team ! We worked hard and it paid off. We are looking forward to next season already and beating our record!” said Junnat Anwar ’16 Fun Fact: Winsor Varsity placed 5th at New Englands in the past few weeks!☐
Varsity Swim Record: 5-4
Highlight: At EILs, our final meet of the season, Winsor Varsity Swimming achieved a second-place finish out of seven competitive teams and earned 37 best times. All four of their entries in backstroke, sprint freestyle, and distance freestyle swam lifetime best times, and all three of their A relay teams made the top three. One of their best events, though, was the 200 yard freestyle relay, where Winsor entries finished both second and third. Quote: “My favorite part of our season was EILs. We had more best times than ever, and all of our relays placed in the top three. I am so proud ,and I will miss this team a lot next year.” Fun Fact: The weather cannot stop Winsor swimmers! During the snow days, they kept fit by doing snow angels! Eve Elizondo ’17
winsor.edu
winsor.edu
Featured Athelete: Nicole Cerulli ’16, Futsal Champ By Talia Ruxin Panel Staff She plays hockey, runs cross country and track, and is, above all, a competitive soccer player. As if those sports were not enough, Nicole Cerulli ’16 also plays fut-
“[Futsal] really tests your reflexes and your ability to make quick tactical and technical decisions.” sal. Futsal is similar to soccer, though it is played on a basketball court with smaller goals and a heavier ball than soccer. As Cerulli explained, “Most of the rules are the same, but players have to be very technical and very tactically aware because the game moves so quickly. It is getting very popular in Europe and South America and is the world’s fastest growing indoor sport.” There is even a Futsal World Cup, which has seen growing global participation since its first occurrence in 1989.
Cerulli began her soccer career 12 years ago when she joined a town league that played once a week. Now, she plays for the Scorpions Soccer Club in the Elite Club Nationals League (ECNL) and practices with her team four to five times a week, totaling eleven hours of skill work and additional hours of fitness training. Although she has played soccer since she was five years old, she did not start playing futsal on a team until ninth grade. Cerulli plays goalie for both sports but explained that because of its fast pace, “[Futsal] really tests your reflexes and your ability to make quick tactical and technical decisions.” Cerulli’s technical skills in goal have stood out on the futsal court, and she has been invited to try out for the US Youth National Futsal Team later this month, as one of fifty selected players from four regions of the US. US Youth Futsal National Teams (boys and girls) will travel to an international event in the winter of 2015-2016. In its first year in 2014, Coach Keith Tozer, who had coached the US Men’s National Futsal Team, led an identification camp that named six 14-player rosters to the youth rosters. Cerulli is
excited for the opportunity to try out for With Cerulli’s dedication and skill, both the National Futsal Team, but she is also her futsal and soccer futures look bright!☐ looking ahead to playing soccer in college.
Futsal Court
USyouthfutsal.com
March 12th, 2015
Winsor Sp orts
Pa g e 1 9 winsor.edu
Varsity Squash Dominates at National Championships By Joanna Chen Panel Staff
pions. Despite best efforts, Winsor lost to Greenwich 1-6. Remarkably, Winsor’s only match won against Greenwich was played by the team’s youngest player, Qirrat Anwar ’18. After a non-stop day of competition, the
girls competed their last match of the day against Germantown Friends School from Philadelphia. Last year, Winsor lost to this team on the last day of competitions 4-3, but they were eager to face them again to
As winter sports came to an end, Winsor Varsity Squash went out with a bang, placing fifth at nationals. Last year, the varsity team made 10th place at nationals, and the team was determined to get an even better result this year. Varsity Squash traveled to Hartford, CT for the 2015 US High School Team Squash Championships for two days to compete against the 69 other girls squash teams entered in the tournament. Because of last year’s results, Winsor competed in Division 1, against 16 other teams in total. Winsor squash’s first round match on Saturday was against Springfield Chestnut Hill Academy from Philadelphia. Winsor girls dominated and won 6-1. This win meant that the team secured a top 8 finish, a new school record, surpassing last year’s 10th place! For the second round, the girls went up against Greenwich Academy, the number one seeded team and 8-time reigning cham- Winsor Varsity Squash Team ready to squash the competition
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avenge their loss. They were especially motivated by the fact that the losing team would have to play at 8am the next morning and would consequently have to wake up early in the morning. A promise of some extra sleep was all the encouragement Winsor girls needed, and the team played with confidence and won 5-2. On Sunday, varsity squash rivaled Milton Academy for their final match. This game had to be postponed due to the storm and was played in Boston on February 8th. The girls left it all on the court and conquered Milton 6-1 to achieve an amazing 5th place overall. Overjoyed at the team’s hard work and spirit throughout grueling matches, captain Junnat Anwar ’16 remarked, “I’m extremely proud of my team this year for our impressive finish at nationals. This was a very important moment for the Winsor squash program and confirmed our standing among the best schools in the country!” Congratulations to Coach Szombati and Coach Grassi and varsity players Junnat Anwar ’16, Adrienne Conza ’16, Alexa Jacobs ’17, Olivia Chapman ’17, Eve Elizondo ’17, Natasha Jones ’17, Qirrat Anwar ’18 and Alexa Green ’17.☐
2015 Spring Sports Preview: Captains Interviews By Talia Ruxin Panel Staff The Lubin-O’Donnell Center for Performing Arts and Wellness building is expected to open by early April, just in time for the majority of the spring athletics season. As the new building is in its final stages, spring sports teams are gearing up for an exciting season. Upper school students can participate in one of six sports on campus: crew, lacrosse, sailing, softball, track and field, or tennis. This spring’s 2015 sports captains are especially excited! Led by tri-captains Beatriz Lichauco ’15, Hallie Fischman ’15, and Katherine Hintlian ’15, the Winsor crew team will be contenders for another New England title. Last spring, Winsor ended the season on a high note by winning the team cup for the fourth time in five years at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) regatta. Lichauco noted that the team’s consistent successes can be attributed to the its incredible depth. She explained, “Often, teams will stack their rowers so that the first boat is significantly faster than the other boats. Winsor does a great job of making sure that every boat is putting in comparable mileage and effort -- this way, it feels much more like a team.” The team will face some tough competitors this spring, including Groton, Wayland/Weston, St. Mark’s, and Choate, but Winsor’s determination and teamwork will “blow everyone out of the water,” as Lichauco articulated. Co-captains Sea-Jay Vander Ploeg ’15 and Anshi Moreno Jimenez ’15 will lead the varsity lacrosse team this spring. Anshi remarked that the team is “most excited to revitalize the lacrosse team spirit.” Because ten varsity players graduated last year, the team is enthusiastic to welcome “around 10 new players to the team.” The team will also welcome new head coach Katrina Hable. A former All-American at Division I Syra-
cuse University, Hable brings will bring a wealth of knowledge to the young Winsor team. This spring, the lacrosse team is eager to compete with long-standing rivals Newton Country Day School and Dana Hall School. Last year, the team harnessed strong defensive skills and positive attitudes to carry them into the EIL tournament. Led by co-captains Nuala Spillane ’15 and Karina Singhal ’16, the sailing team is excited to improve overall. As many of the girls have never sailed before, Spillane remarked that “it [has always been] really great to see everyone improve throughout the season.” Because the team does not have a consistent schedule year to year, the team does not have any traditional rivals. Nevertheless, the team is excited to compete against BB&N and NCDS, as well as Belmont Hill. Sailing hopes to carry over the “really great feeling of community” from last year’s team. Co-captains Kathleen Hart ’15 and Alexandra Theall ’15 will lead the varsity softball team this spring. Last season, the team posted an impressive 7-3 record overall and 8-3 in the EIL. The team won the A Pool of the EIL Tournament for the second straight year with decisive wins over rivals Pingree and NCDS. The team returns AllLeague Kathleen Hart ’15 and EIL honorable mention Abigail Simon ’16. Hart remarked, “despite losing five talented seniors, we have a great group of girls, all who are passionate about becoming better players.” The team’s “enthusiasm and love for the game”, as Hart said, will make this spring another “unforgettable” Winsor softball season. Nicole Cerulli ’16, Charlotte Borden ’15, and Kayla Camacho ’15 will lead the track and field team this spring. The team is the only spring upper school sports team that is also open to lower school students in class III and IV. The 2015 team will return school record-holders Maeve Conway Pearson ’15 in discus and Charlotte Borden
’15 in shot put. Cerulli noted her enthusi- that it would be especially “fun to welcome asm for this year’s team, as it will be the first new players onto the team and hav[e] lots Winsor track team to compete in the EIL. of team bonding.” Traditional rivals NCDS
Spring Sports team ready for the new season! Previously, the team competed in the Independent School Track Association (ISTA) with larger schools including Milton, St. George’s, St. Paul’s, Thayer, Middlesex, and Groton. Because of Winsor’s impressive depth and “strong team performances,” the team has a good shot at becoming the first ever EIL champions in track and field. Captain Surya Pandit ’15 will lead the varsity tennis team as it gears up for fun yet challenging spring season. Although the team lost three players from last year’s roster, captain Pandit ’15 noted
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and Dana Hall were no match for the 2014 team, as the Wildcats defeated both rivals each time they met last year. This year, the team hopes to do the same. Last year, the team also gained momentum and progressed during the season. Because of last year’s stellar performance, the team qualified for the NEPSAC Class C tournament and ultimately placed second. The team will also return EIL All-league #1 doubles partners Surya Pandit ’15 and Alexa Jacobs ’17. Winsor tennis’s fighting spirit is sure to take them far again this season!☐
L ast L o ok
Th e Pan el
Winstagrams: Not Just for Ms. Fig
*DISCLAIMER* We, the Back Page editors, are trying something new for this
The Scramble for Prom 2k15: The top ten “pramas” this season
page unfunny, please send any complaints you might have to our Editor in just releasing some air out of your nose (we’ll count that), give us the credit we rightfully deserve. Love, The Back Page Editors
Belmont Hill Switch Day Every year Belmont Hill has a switch day with our sister school, Winsor. As an editor of the newspaper I was chosen to be one of the Belmont Hill representatives. Due to a clerical error, or a cruel prank by Mr. Melvoin and Curran, I was sent to St. Sebs for the day. This is my story...
1. Say yes to the dress 2. Post your dress on Facebook so no one steals it 3. Scroll through Pinterest for the perfect ’do 4. Will anyone notice if I skip my nails? 5. Stay on those facial routines 6. Find shoes that make you tall 7. Find shoes that don’t make you taller than your date 8. What is this “bootyneer” and where do I acquire one? 9. Plan a YouTube-worthy promposal for “The One” 10. Find “The One”-Does anyone have a sibling??
8:00 AM: On the bus taking me to Winsor. I have high hopes for this day. I haven’t seen a female off my computer in four years. Do they still smell as I remember, the smell of freshly cut grass and recently fallen rain? What if I get nervous and throw up? I have a weak stomach. Will they kiss me? I hope they kiss me. 8:30 AM: Just got off the bus. 8:31 AM: Huh, haven’t seen a lot of girls thus far. 8:32 AM: A large male just bumped into me and referred to me as a “scruboooo” before pushing me to the ground. When I stood back up some other chiseled, muscle bound freak shoved me back down and yelled “have another ked!” I yell back, “You’re built like a statue! Who sculpted you? Michangelo?” I am scared. 8:33 AM: I do not think I am at Winsor. 8:34 AM: There has been a mix up. Oh god, this is St. Sebs. 8:35 AM: Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god, Doba what have you gotten youself into? 12:00 PM: Lunch time. Each boy is given a live chicken for lunch, “Do what you will!” the lunch lady screams as she hands me one. I look in the terrified chicken’s eyes and whisper, “We are not much difThese boys are so big! Do you think they work out? I bet they totally work out. ferent you and I. Caged animals.” The water fountains are filled with protein powder. 8:36 AM: I’ll just call Mr. Melvoin. He kind of likes me, he’ll help me. 9:00 AM: I called him. He just cackled for five minutes straight and yelled, “This plan 12:30 PM: Study Hall. The boys sit at their desks reading. I’m pleasently surprised by this developis almost as good as my Kili speech.” Mr. Curran grabbed the phone and whispered, ment. “What are you reading?” I ask in the vain hope of building a friendship. The boy grunts and “Those kids are mean aren’t they?” points to the title. It is the concussion test. “Coach tell me memorize. Bryce memorize.” I give him a 9:45 AM: I just went to my first class. AP Bio. All they did was giggle whenever they pained smile and nod, I wish I could help him. said “sexual reproduction”. I did not see a single book. 1:30 PM: Time for sports. I walk into the locker room and see a loop of my Schmaint Schmebs speech 10:35 AM: I went to a Spanish class. They watched George Lopez stand-up the entire being played on a TV for motivation. I pray to the God who’s abandoned me that no one recognizes time and kept asking me why I wasn’t laughing. It is because I no longer know any me. A boy with an eight pack and biceps the size of my thighs looks at me and yells, “Hey it’s the guyo other emotions besides fear. trapped in the shiny box that’s making fun of us!” They encircle me. Panic fills my soul as my mind 10:40 AM: I ask to use the bathroom. I need to escape. races. “Hey, uh, guyas, how can I be on the magic picture box and here at the same time!?” They pause 10:45 AM: There are bars on the windows here. What is this place? and mull over this idea. Easily subdued, they leave me be. My mediocre intelligence saves me again. 11:15 AM: Math class. This class is just a weight room. When I question where the 2:30 PM: It’s time for me to leave these keds. I am strangely saddened to leave my fellow Arrows textbooks and writing utensils were, a few kids grunted and asked me to, “Spot them.” behind. For I am now an unquivered Arrow, flying in the wind. No longer a “Hillie.” I will never forget Spot what? Where are the adults?
these guyos.