March 2017 (65, 7)

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Volu m e 6 5 , Is su e 7

A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School

Marc h 9 , 2 0 1 7

The History of Diversity in the NFL

By Arielle Blacklow Panel Staff In 1968, the National Advisory Commission claimed that “our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, and one white, separate and unequal.”

In the context of diversity in the National Football League, this was true until 1933; football was a segregated sport, and the NFL was comprised of only white players. Today, however, the NFL is

made up of 68% African-American players. While the NFL has made progress diversifying, there are still stereotypes that propel inequality and skew the diversity within teams and positions.

After the NFL shifted from a segregated sport to an integrated sport in the 1940s, racial inequality persisted and racism on teams was prominent. The Wash-

ington Redskins owner, George Preston Marshall, was a racist leader among early NFL executives and persuaded the NFL to institute segregation. Marshall was quoted saying “We’ll start signing Negroes when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites.” Thus, from 1933 to 1946, no AfricanAmerican players were allowed onto NFL football teams. However, there was too much talent from black college football players to ignore, and by 1946 Kenny Wash-

ington had signed onto a team as the first African-American player since 1933. By 1962 there was at least one African-American player per team. In addition to the overt racism of coaches as they recruited players, the slow progress of integration was also due to the racism that African-American players experienced once on a team. Not only were black players’ likelihood of being drafted substantially lower than that of white players with similar or even weaker skill, but

black players, once drafted, were subject to much lower salaries than white players. Moreover, racial slurs and derogatory terms were used by coaches, athletes, and fans, hurting African-American players and discouraging them from continuing to play for their team. Finally, in 1968, concern was drawn from people within the NFL and the National Advisory Commission as they stated that the country was separating into two parts. continued on page 12

Jovan Jones ‘18 Reaches One Thousand Points

By Will McCormack Panel Staff Belmont Hill will have to wait one more year for that coveted ISL basketball title. After a ferocious 10-0 start to ISL play, the Varsity Basketball team struggled to stay at the top of league standings during the last stretch of the season, dropping close games to undefeated league champion Brooks, Milton, and Governor’s.

Despite three losses, the team managed to finish in second place (tied with Governor’s) in the ISL for a third consecutive year.

One indisputable highlight from the end of the season was senior night, a Friday night home game played against Middlesex. As is tradition, the evening began with the national anthem, a special ceremony for the team’s four seniors (Jack Daley, John Sommers, Patrick Shea, and TJ Agnihotri), and starting lineups announced by retired faculty member Mrs. Whitney. After the seniors were honored and

Look Inside The Poetry Fest pg 4 Op-Ed: Standardized Testing pg 7 Panel Editor Switch Day pg 10-11 The Oscars pg 13 BH Scoreboard pg 19

propelled Belmont Hill to an early lead, co-captain Jovan Jones ‘18 entered just seven points shy of 1,000 in his Belmont Hill career. After a bucket near the basket to score his first two of the night, Jovan continued to drive to the hoop, drawing fouls and making free-throws. He was soon just two points away from the fabled number. The crowd in the gym was clearly aware, tracking each Belmont Hill possession with excitement and quickly rising whenever the ball entered Jovan’s vicinity. It became evident that Jovan wanted to hit 1K in style, as he passed up easy looks in the paint.

Even open 3s lacked enough flair to be deemed acceptable. On one possession, Jovan received a pass far beyond the 3-point line, spun the ball around his back, waited for the defender, and then launched a deep shot, unfortunately missing. As the 1st half progressed, excitement and expectation grew with every pass-

ing minute. Many in the gym stole glances at the mounted scoreboard, worrying that they would have to sit through halftime before witnessing a piece of Belmont Hill athletics history. Yet the long wait was definitely the worth it—with just less than 40 seconds remaining in the half, Jovan received the ball at halfcourt on a fast break. Quickly passing to point-guard Jake Haase ‘18, he sprinted up the court, eyes on the hoop. Haase, needing no reminder, skillfully lobbed a pass to a soaring Jovan, who finished the stunning alley-oop with two hands. With the sweetest dunk of his career, Jovan Jones joined only five other Belmont Hill basketball players in scoring 1,000 points. Jovan doing so as only a junior is especially impressive.

BallasTV was present to record the basket, and a Coach Murphy timeout following the play allowed Jovan the chance to embrace family and friends before enjoying more time in front of the camera. continued on page 19

Seniors shine in Of Mice and of Men, The Senior Directed Play

insecure and apologetic, Clair provided an image of a man tr ying his best to fit in When I returned home but subtly aware of his own late on the night of disability March 3rd, hours and its effect after watching the on others. senior-directed perHis perforformance of John mance also Steinbeck’s Of Mice highlighted and Men, my mind Lennie’s delingered on the inpendence nocent simplicity of on George: Lennie Small. I could ever y one still hear his eager of Lennie’s voice in the final sentences scene – “I can see it, seemed to George. I can see it!” hang in the I found myself even air, waiting re-reading Robert for George’s Burns’s “To a Mouse,” approval. the poem from which Clair fosSteinbeck’s play detered a great rives its title. That sense of the show left such an The Cast and crew of Of Mice and Men, directed by student directors Peter Knowlton and pity for his impression on me is in- Varun Shah ch ar a c te r, dicative of its success. and I found Set in the Great myself sitDepression, Of Mice and per vision of George – who simple, gentle, lovable, but ting in silent agony while Men tells the stor y of two find work on a ranch and tragically helpless. Endear- watching Lennie make friends, George Milton and dream of saving up enough ing and insistent, but also mistake after mistake. ☐

By Andrew Kaneb Staff Writer

Lennie Small – the latter of whom has a mental disability and struggles to operate on his own without the su-

money to buy their own plot of land. Seamus Clair masterfully captured the essence of Lennie Small’s character:

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New Potentially Life-Sustaining Planets Discovered

By Sindu Krishnamurthy Panel Staff Scientists have discovered a new next door neighbor--a solar system with seven exoplanets, some of which could foster life.

The research began in May 2016, when scientists using the robotic telescope TRAPPIST in Chile discovered three exoplanets from a new system. The system--named TRAPPIST-1 after the telescope--lies about 235 trillion miles away from Earth. Researchers then used Spitzer, an infrared telescope, to investigate TRAPPIST-1 because the system’s star shone brightest under infrared light. They could use it to look for variations and shadows in the starlight that might indicate a planet. Late last year, researchers used the telescope to study the system for 20 days. The data verified the existence of two of the discovered exoplanets and indicated five more as well. NASA called it “the first known system of seven Earth size planets around a single star.”

Spitzer data suggests that the TRAPPIST-1 system could sustain life. Three of the seven planets exist within the habitable zone of the star, or the region where liquid water can be retained. Water is an important requirement for life because it is

ideal for chemical reactions and dissolving, and it has a high heat capacity. While all of the exoplanets could have water under the right conditions, the closest two to the star are likely too warm, and the farthest planet is likely too cold. The reason why some are able to retain their water is the fact that the star of the system is an ultra-cool dwarf.

Characteristics of the TRAPPIST-1 system Although the planets are much closer to their star than our planets are to the sun, this type of star is cold enough that water can exist even on closer planets. The plan-

SNL Slams Kellyanne Conway

Inspired by recent politics, Saturday Night Live has created numerous witty, entertaining sketches that represent some of their best material yet and have caused their ratings to skyrocket. Last week, SNL portrayed Kellyanne Conway in one of their sketches as a psychotic, knife-wielding woman. The sketch begins with CNN anchor Jake Tapper, a skeptic of Kellyanne’s unsubstantiated and sometimes outrightly false comments, walking into his hotel room. There awaits Kellyanne in a nightgown, begging Tapper in an overbearing and over-sexualized way, to let her have air-time on the news.

Some viewers are delighted by the sketch; they believe that the acting is brilliant and captures the desperation that political figures, like Kellyanne Conway, have for media attention. These political figures are not thinking about the importance of

the political state of the country but rather looking more towards their public appearances or trying to prove that they are remain relevant. Additionally, viewers enjoyed Kate Mckinnon’s deeply disturbing and exaggerated performance that served just as much as entertainment as political commentary.

However, other viewers angrily insist that the sketch really went too far. Some believe that the sketch is sexist, portraying a wife and mother as overly sexualized, tyrannical, and disturbed in contrast to a professional, reasonable man.

SNL portrayed her as having a personality similar to that of Glenn Close’s, a character in Fatal Attraction. Celebrity Olivia Nuzzi tweeted, “Casting Kellyanne Conway as Glenn Close was a miscalculation on SNL's part. Will be interpreted as unfair and mean to a wife and mother.”

Kellyanne did not respond to the sketch with the anticipated outrage, simply tweeting “Um” in response to it. She

Kate Mckinnon

Beck Bennet

By Alison Poussaint Panel Staff

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ets themselves are closer together as well.

If you were to stand on one of the planets, it would be rather dark, like Earth appears during a sunset, since most of the light is infrared; it would still be warm, however, due to the planet’s closeness to its star. You could probably make out the clouds and features of another planet—maybe even see it

star. Therefore, one side of a planet always experiences day, and the other side always experiences night. This is not simply the difference between day and night we see everyday though; one side could have extremely high temperatures, and the other could be extremely cold with heavy winds. Scientists are worried that these extreme temperatures could hinder the development of life-however, it is still possible as long as the planet’s atmosphere spreads heat over the whole surface. Deeper investigation over the next few decades will hopefully give us more insight on the nature of these planets.

In the meantime, NASA has launched a website called “Backyard Worlds: Planet 9” where you can review animations of space and help spot another unknown planet. While computers have trouble distinguishing important moving objects from other shapes, it is much easier for the human eye to spot a brighter, larger dot on the animation and flag the page for a researcher to later study. NASA is taking full advantage of its greatest resource—human observa inverse.com tion. If we all join our minds and try to solve larger than we see the moon from the Earth. these problems together, there are sure to be In addition, the planets are tidally more discoveries in the near future. Check locked to the star, which means that the out Zooniverse.org and join the search!☐ same side of each planet is always facing the

Artist's rendering of a TRAPPIST planet later tweeted, “Inquiring minds re: #SNL: @ jaketapper & I spoke this morning just before brunch time. No boiling bunnies on the menu,” referring to the bunny scene in the same movie, Fatal Attraction. Though she argues that she has a friendly relationship with Jake Tapper, she played along with the sketch by referring to “boiling bunnies.” By playing along, she attempted to win her way back into the public’s good graces and tried to show how much of a good sport she really is.

Claire Ganiban ’18 supported the sketch and its effects on its viewers. She stated, “SNL’s most recent Kellyanne Conway sketch “Jake Tapper” received pushback from both the left and the right on the grounds that its sexualization of Kellyanne was anti-feminist and tasteless. While on the

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surface the focus of the sketch may appear to be Kellyanne’s sexualized relationship with Tapper, this parody of Fatal Attraction truly portrays Kellyanne’s attraction to the news rather than to Tapper...Many people also criticized this skit for being too violent, but in reality, McKinnon’s dark portrayal of Kellyanne simply reflects the very real threat that Kellyanne poses to this country.”

The Kellyanne Conway-Jake Tapper sketch allowed viewers to glimpse the true nature of politicians and their desire to gain media attention. Through politically-motivated sketches, SNL will be able to get reactions out of people who should be speaking against the country’s political situation; its satirical sketches are thus just as functional as they are entertaining.☐

The real Conway interviews with Tapper

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March 9, 2017

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Hybrid Embryos Could Save Those on Transplant List

By Juliet Isselbacher Panel Staff According to OrganDonor.gov, since 1993, the number of people on the organ transplant waiting list—now totaling 122,000—has quadrupled, while the number of donors has stagnated at around 15,000. Demand is higher than ever; each day, 22 people die waiting for a transplant.

A new groundbreaking study, however, may portend a future in which the lives of these 22 men, women, and children can be spared. The study, conducted by a team at the Salk Institute and published in the journal Cell, reports the successful creation of human-animal hybrids—the first step on the path towards growing custom human organs in animals.

The idea of a human-animal hybrid—scientifically known as a chimera— has long offended the public’s moral sen-

sibilities. Unsavory, aberrant, and obscene connotations have even precluded research on chimeras from receiving government funding. Yet lead researcher Jun Wu remains optimistic that the tide of public sentiment will eventually change. As he points out, our society’s vision of chimeras is not monolithic; for example, angels, or human-bird hybrids, constitute a pervasive and positive image of chimeric beings.

The team at the Salk institute began with a proof of concept. Using CRISPR (a genome editing tool), they “hacked into” mouse blastocysts and deleted genes that dictate the growth of certain organs. Then, borrowing a method devised by other researchers, they introduced to the blastocysts rat stem cells capable of manufacturing those organs.

To their delight, the rat cells thrived and the mice enjoyed normal life spans.

The team replicated this same pro-

Pig blastocyst being injected with human cells

cess with human stem cells and pig blastocysts. The timing was difficult to perfect, but with extensive trial and error, they successfully created 186 chimeric embryos. Unfortunately, analysis revealed that the embryos boasted only one human cell in 1000. This low percentage represents an appreciable flaw in the method, since human bodies would likely reject organs with so much pig tissue. The team must now endeavor to increase the number of human cells that the pig embryos can tolerate. Nonetheless, their work represents a significant breakthrough—one that stands to revolutionize medicine.

Another concern that complicates the issue is that this study may exacerbate the deep distrust of science promoted by our current political administration. Science is already perceived as elitist; this study could frame it as sinister as well.

As Simran Khanna ’18 summarizes, “Not enough people are aware of their option to give consent to donate their own organs after they die, or they are simply unwilling to donate for multiple reasons.

The facts are, however, that approximately 8,000 people on the national waiting list for organ transplants in the U.S. die every year waiting for the organs that they need.

The concept of growing organs inside of an animal may seem unusual and appalling; however, the potential for this new discovery, as measured in the number of people it could help worldwide, is immense.”

Alison Poussaint ’18 has similar thoughts but comes to a different conclusion: “I disagree with the creation of human organs in pigs because though it would help a lot of patients who are on the transplant list, scientists need to consider the moral consequences of this study.”☐

nationalgeographic.com Pig-human embryo

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Russia Breaches Long-Standing Treaty with U.S.

By Alison Poussaint Panel Staff

lation, the U.S. should stop adhering to the treaty and build up their nuclear weapons and resources within Europe. Taking destructive action against Russia, an action supported by US politicians, is a direct result of the deployment of Russian missiles.

The Trump administration’s reaction to the missile deployment could exacerbate the already dangerous crisis.

President Trump’s Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, has said that Trump “fully expects to and wants to be able to get along with Russia unlike previous administrations," suggesting that Trump’s intentions of improving US-Russia relations may preclude him from taking definitive action.

The reactions of previous admin-

The Russian government has been in political conflict with the United States for around seventy years; a recent point of conflict was established by Russia’s hacking of the 2016 Presidential Election. Last December, the Russian government strained tensions even further by deploying a cruise missile that violates an important treaty with the United States and thereby poses a political and military threat to our nation.

One of the deployed cruise missiles was initially tested in 2014 in Kapustin Yar, a Russian Rocket launch and development site located in southern Russia. The missile, named SSC-8, was brought to an operational base last December. The deployment of the missile violates the Intermediate Range-Forces (INF) Treaty, a treaty from 1987 that dictates that the United States and Russia must “eliminate and permanently forswear all of their nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers.” The treaty, signed by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, signified an ending to the Cold War. According to Julie Smith, former senior White House and Pentagon official, the first weeks “are a convenient time for our adversaries to test the administration while it’s short staffed and distracted”; it seems that Russia is attempting to take advantage of the United States’ weakened state. Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis, says that the deployment of the missile poses a military threat to the NATO nations. Putin is “testing” President Trump, attempting to see whether or not the new administration will remain loyal to Russia. Despite Putin’s actions so far, President Trump has continued to promise a USRussia alliance. An instance of state-wide response from political figures occurred when Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said that he believes that, in response to this vio- Trump and Putin: friends or foes?

istrations can give some insight into how the current Trump administration might react. In 2014, the Obama administration decided that the United States should adhere to the treaty and suggested Russia do the same. The Pentagon suggested that the U.S. take military action against Russia as a reaction to Russian cruise missile testing.

Isabel Isselbacher ’18 reflects on what she believes the Trump administration should do about this violation. She states, “I hope that the Trump administration would impose sanctions on Russia to make it clear that the United States will not tolerate a violation of this treaty. However, based on the attitudes towards Russia that President Trump has been demonstrating

throughout his presidency and campaign, I fear that that's not going to happen.”

Izzy’s opinion is a small glimpse into the opinions of those Americans who agree that the Trump administration should be taking action against Russia. It is crucial for the US to defend itself and defend its policies when they have been violated, especially when a country with whom the U.S. has a great amount of conflict violates a long-standing treaty. Though there is irresolute knowledge in terms of the reaction of Trump’s administration towards the violation, US citizens must remain defensive in order to begin the movement that will allow for the defending of US policy.☐

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Violinist Austin Kwoun ’18 Performs Shostakovich Piece at Chapel

By Armin Thomas Panel Staff Most Friday Forum chapel meetings adhere to a rather mundane routine. Announcements are made from various faculty and staff, and an occasional speech is given.

But on February 17, the formerly disinteresting forum was electrified by the virtuosic and intelligent performance of Belmont Hill’s own demon fiddler, Austin Kwoun ‘18.

Kwoun achieved an impressive victory in New England Conservatory Preparatory School’s Concerto Competition in 2016, taking first prize in Category D, the bracket containing some of the finest musical talent produced at the Conservatory. His performance of the complete Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 99, by Dmitri Shostakovich, earned him the prestige associated with a victory in Category D, as well as an eventual performance with NEC’s premier orchestral ensemble, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. In keeping with the tradition among classical musicians at Belmont Hill started by mythical cellist Spencer Kim ‘16 three years ago, in which the winner of a major music competition would play their instrument for the entire school community to hear.

Due to the inevitable time con- as well as their jubilation and exultation straints associated with a 15-minute cha- following his death. Kwoun drew the audipel, Kwoun decided to forgo the first three ence in immediately, with his soaring line movements of the concerto, opting to play in the cadenza bringing Shostakovich’s crethe melismatic and dazzling cadenza fol- ative mind to life for all present. Despite the lowed by the finale. Nevertheless, what his performance lacked in length, it was surely made up for in musicianship and artistry.

Kwoun possessed fine control of his bow, gliding it across the strings to ring out melodious sonorities and sharply striking the strings to deliver incisive and acute twinges of discord. His Bill Mahoney diverse palette Austin Kwoun ‘18 performs to an attentive Chapel. of tonal colors clearly communicated the audience’s relative unfamiliarity with the image conveyed in his pre-performance apparent dissonance of twentieth-century remarks on the Soviet people’s oppression music such as Shostakovich’s, they were so under communist dictator Joseph Stalin, invigorated that they broke long-standing

musical traditions and clapped at the beginning of the fourth movement to show their appreciation for Kwoun’s unique talent. He flawlessly executed his interpretation of the subsequent finale, bringing the piece’s truly Russian dance-like spirit to the forefront of the listener’s ear. Pizzicato chords and endless runs of devilishly fast notes gave way to more adulatory applause in the midst of the finale. The ending leap of a fifth downward to the final A was a fitting finish to the grand performance; just as Spencer Kim ‘16 did three years ago, so too did Kwoun receive a standing ovation. This was another capstone moment in Kwoun’s decorated career as a violinist at Belmont Hill.

Kwoun’s performance brought excellent classical music to those who would not have heard it otherwise; it also showcased the surviving strength of Belmont Hill’s music program even after a large loss of graduating seniors. With a strong pool of musical talent still to draw from, Belmont Hill Music shall survive. And Austin Kwoun, Class of 2018, has shown himself to be prepared to lead it into a new age of prosperity.

(For more information about the storied history of Belmont Hill Music, read The Podium’s “History on the Hill” section in Volume II - Edition I, February 2017) ☐

Annual Poetry Fest a Resounding Success Dance Marathon

By Jason Fischman Panel Staff The annual Belmont Hill Poetry Fest is a long standing tradition that is cherished by all in the school community, as it offers all boys the opportunity to present a poem of their choosing. One boy from each English class moves on to the semi-final round, and, from there, about a dozen top presentations move onto the final round, which takes place during a long school meeting.

Though all the finalists were phenomenal, only four could be crowned winners and have their names forever inscribed on the banner in Morse.

Senior Alex Czarnecki’s (‘17) recitation of “What the Confederate Flag Said to the American Flag” was a powerful poem choice with a deeper message, and Czarnecki performed it with an inflection that reflected the content of the poem.

First Former Daniel Bittner

‘22 wowed the chapel with his incredibly energetic presentation of “Charge of the Light Brigade,” earning him the honor of a distinctive recitation, an uncommon feat for a First Former.

Brian Antonelli ‘18 chose to perform “59,” a more light-hearted poem, and his strong presentation of the poem’s story was rewarded with a victory.

Junior Macdony Charles’s (‘18) rendition of “Dinosaurs in the Hood” was an impactful display that highlighted important racial issues with touches of humour throughout, earning Charles his second distinctive recitation honour in two years.

Overall, the Poetry Fest lived up to its reputation as one of the top school meetings of the year, providing the entire community the opportunity to listen to and enjoy poetry presented by their peers.

The Thirteen 2017 Finalists:

Alex Czarnecki (VI): “What the Confederate Flag Said to the American Flag” by R. J. Walker Armin Thomas (VI): “Beowulf ” Prologue, recited in both Old English and Modern English Brian Antonelli (V): “59” by Harry Baker Macdony Charles (V): “Dinosaurs in the Hood” by Danez Smith Gavin Colbert (V): “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus Ben Awtrey (IV): “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden Charlie Donahue (IV): “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Harrison Hill (III): “Ode to a Large Tuna in a Market” by Pablo Neruda Elias Hyde (III): “Anthem for the Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen Jack Weldon (III): “Ulysses” by Tennyson Kai Ogenah (II): “Son to Mother” by Maya Angelou Daniel Bittner (I): “Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson Jacob Czarnecki (I): “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley ☐

(Left to Right): Brian Antonelli ‘18, Daniel Bittner ‘22, Alex Czarnecki ‘17, Macdony Charles ‘18

By Maahin Gulati Staff Writer

For the past few months, members of the community have been a part of organizing Belmont Hill’s first ever Dance Marathon. The dance will be on April 1st, 2017, open to all forms, from 6pm-11pm (7th and 8th graders have to leave at 9pm) and features many attributes that differ from your regular dance. Dance Marathon’s motto is FTK: for the kids. At the Dance Marathon, Belmont Hill will host former and current patients from Boston Children’s Hospital, who will join us in celebration of their recovery. It is a time to bring the community together and enjoy something bigger and better than just yourself. The evening will feature activities such as dance instructions, karaoke, carnival games, bouncy houses, and card-making for the patients at Children’s. We will, of course, have food, too! As of right now, five restaurants have granted us a sponsorship and will provide free food for 400 people. The schools invited to this event are Dana Hall, NCDS, and Winsor. As Peter Tamasi said last week, “it’s really important for everyone at this school to be a part of the community. Last year, Children’s Miracle Network raised over 27 million dollars for local Children’s Hospitals, and it is remarkable to think that we have an opportunity to donate to this wonderful cause.” This April 1st, come out, support your community, and help us reach our goal of $20,000.

Let’s be a part of something really amazing. ☐

Belmont Hill NEWS

March 9, 2017

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Jack Daley ’17 Crowned Winner of 2017 Winter Woodbury Speaking Competition

(Left to Right): Donavan Payne ‘18, Jack Daley ‘17, and Armin Thomas ‘17

By Ishaan Prasad Panel Staff On February 25, Upper School orators Jack Daley ‘17, Armin Thomas ‘17, and Donavan Payne ‘18 returned to the Chapel stage for the 2017 Winter Woodbury Finals.

Following a strong fall edition and equally impressive winter semi-final round of Belmont Hill’s bi-annual public-speaking competition, the three finalists skillfully delivered their speeches on a host of topics this winter: from the importance of preparation to childhood memories playing board games with family. After an impressive speech to cap off the competition, Daley clinched the top prize, having returned to the podium this year as a veteran Woodbury speaker.

Armin Thomas began the Chapel with an exciting tale of his adventures in

camping. Having to square off and outwit a bear, he ended his speech by championing the importance of being prepared. Donavan Payne followed with a compelling oration about the importance of empathizing with protesters — as he explained, it is important “to recognize that the ‘goggles’ through which you see the world may differ from the views of others. We should remove our goggles and reserve our judgements to commit ourselves to seeing how someone else constructs their world.”

Rounding off the finals, Jack Daley recounted his earliest memories of his uncle to an attentive audience, explaining the stark differences in political beliefs between his liberal-leaning parents and conservativeminded Uncle Frank. Daley maintained that “Americans across the political spectrum have more in common than we [sic]

think, we are capable of understanding and respecting one another, while also learning from each other in substantial ways.

“In short,” ended Daley, “life is more meaningful when we resist the urge to make negative assumptions about people, seek to find common ground, and take the time to walk a mile in each others shoes.”

In an interview with The Panel, Jack remarked that he wouldn’t have expected himself to have tried out for the Woodbury’s; nevertheless, after being persuaded by Dr. Tift in his American Literature class junior year, Dal-

ey decided to try out for the competition with an essay he wrote in the class.

Ultimately, Jack beamed that he “came away with confidence in public speaking and in myself,” wholeheartedly encouraging all rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors to consider trying out for the competition next fall. ☐

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Accomplished Reporter Michael Rosenfield ’91 Returns to Belmont Hill to Speak to Students

By Thomas McEvoy Panel Staff Born in Jamaica Plain, and a proud graduate of Belmont Hill’s class of 1991, Michael Rosenfield now works for NBC Boston, an up-and-coming news station under the umbrella of the established NBC. After high school Rosenfield attended the University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism. Rosenfield attributes his success as a journalist to the education he received at these institutions (along with the unrelenting support of his parents). A career in journalism or media can sometimes feel like a long and arduous road and, as Mr. Rosenfield informed those assembled during his visit this past Monday, he encountered many obstacles and put in countless hours of hard work to keep ascending and striving for success.

Rosenfield’s time at Belmont Hill resembled that of many students today.

He took similar classes, had some of the same hobbies, and even shared of the same teachers. Looking back on his time here, he named Dr. Wachtmeister, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Brownell as some of his most impactful teachers. Rosenfield enjoyed playing sports, especially tennis, and participated in the theater department. Twenty-six years later, Rosenfield’s top three memories from his time at Belmont Hill are playing the lead role in the Neil Simon play Brighton Beach Memoirs (a role Henry Vettel played masterfully in last year’s production), earning a spot on the varsity tennis team, and soundly defeating a Dr. Wachtmeister biology test. However, as many of us students know all too well, the Belmont Hill experience is a constant up and down, and despite his successes, Rosenfield began to feel like somewhat of a wallflower. As he progressed through the school, Michael began to work harder and harder to break out of his shell, as seen through

his getting involved in theater. Seeing as his current job requires his speaking to thousands of people over live television, it appears his efforts were quite fruitful.

Rosenfield’s career in journalism really began at Belmont Hill, though as he noted: “I just didn’t know it at the time.” Michael was a copy editor and wrote several articles for The Panel. In college at U Penn, he joined the campus television station and even hosted his own entertainment show. Upon graduation, Michael found himself with a good degree, but also filled with a good degree of uncertainty; in the end, he followed his gut yearning to head for California.

Rosenfield interned at Inside Edition and kept a close watch on the day-to-day practices of the reporters and journalists.

It was there that Michael began to realize that journalism and media might be the career path he had been searching for.

From Inside Edition, Rosenfield decided to pursue a graduate degree in journalism at Northwestern University, where he got the opportunity to do live broadcasting.

The program opened doors for Michael, and he went on to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where, as Rosenfield put it, a young journalist and reporter, could “pay your dues” before taking on the big news markets. From the NBC affiliate in Sioux Falls, Rosenfield began to move into larger and larger television markets. Before reaching Boston, where he works today, Rosenfield had to face hard deadlines and tough pay in Flint and Detroit, Michigan.

These challenging conditions intimidated many of his early co-workers away from the field, but Rosenfield was unfazed.

Today, Michael Rosenfield is just as hardworking as ever, and works for NBC Boston, a relatively new, but nonetheless very successful, news station. Michael covers all kinds of stories, but his favorites are those of action, chaos, and drama.

During his visit, all those in attendance

got the opportunity to watch some of Michael’s work. Michael emphasized that although some stories may be tragic and difficult to cover, each story deserves to be told. Rosenfield added, “it’s an honor to tell these stories.” Finally, I would like to

Executive Editors Kiran Butte Elizabeth Kim Mack Perry Arts Editors Augustus Lamb Susy Liu Isabel Isselbacher Sports Editors Evan Ricci Abby Weyer Photo Editors Arielle Blacklow Duncan Grant

express my gratitude to both Mr. Hegarty and Mr. Sherman for coordinating Mr. Rosenfield’s visit, as this past Monday was a truly special experience for all of the students and faculty who showed up. ☐

Editors-in-Chief Bennett Rush Jason Fischman Helen Sayegh Online Editors Emma Pan Arnav Prasad Assistant Editors Sophie Stone Armin Thomas Hammond Hearle Matthew Bracken William McCormack Philip Bailey Jordan Sclar

Copy Editors John Markis JP Champa Emily Chen News Editors Ishaan Prasad Juliet Isselbacher Opinion Editors Robbie Warming Priya Shukla Faculty Advisors Meghan Hazard David Hegarty Sarah Wolf Juliette Zener

Backpage Editors Seamus Clair Matt O’Leary

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 2015 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.

Winsor Opinion

Pa g e 6

Th e Pan el

The Voice of the People: Inspired By Obama A student reflects on influencing change in the community Sophie Stone Panel Staff Obama began his farewell speech with a beautiful tribute to Chicago and his experience there. One point of his introduction in particular stood out: “This is where I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged, and come together to demand it.” It would seem as though his message of political involvement has been heard loud and clear.

The shockwaves of reactions against the most recent election have yet to cease. If anything, the movement against Trumpism has snowballed, especially in the wake of some of the more recent Trump scandals, including but not limited to Michael Flynn’s resignation, attempted White House suppression of FBI investigation, and the fake “Bowling Green Massacre,” Session’s lying under oath, the repeal of transgender bathroom rights, etc. Protests such as the Women’s March have inspired many to march who hadn’t taken political action before.

Congress adjourned February 21st for the House and February 23rd for the Senate. When Congress adjourns, often congressional representatives return to their districts and hold town halls, open forums in which voters can ask questions and share their opinions about policy and current affairs of government. A Congressional town hall is an opportunity for voters to connect directly with their elected officials. Especially in the wake of such a contentious election, town halls across the country have been at the center of heated debate and protest. Major news sources have reported on numerous towns where impassioned crowds appealed to their congressmen.

Town halls of Democrats after Obama’s election made national television, but the town halls post-Trump have garnered an unprecedented level of attention due to heightened passions and tensions.

Many Republican members of Congress have returned to their districts to sharp dissent. Though many of these districts had voted overwhelmingly for Trump, many town halls have

been packed with Democrats (or Republicans with buyer’s remorse). Many of the representatives have been met with boos and jeers and calls of “tell the truth” and “we’re not stupid; you have to do better.” One seven-yearold in Arkansas drew applause after he spoke to his congressman: “Donald Trump makes Mexicans not important to people who are in Arkansas who like Mexicans, like me, like my grandma,” Toby Smith said. “And he’s deleting parks and PBS Kids just to make a wall.”

“He shouldn’t do that,” Smith ended.

Whether the events of recent town halls will be an effective tool for change remains to be seen. Jeering and booing is generally a counterproductive debate strategy. However, real issues have been raised, and many districts have been reported to have productive dialogue and debate. Most major news outlets have reported on the events of recent town halls.

Town hall headlines have appeared on publications from the New York Times to Breitbart . These gatherings are garnering attention for a number of issues, including but not limited to immigration, jobs, and the Affordable Care Act. In a somewhat predictable fashion, Trump took to Twitter in an attempt to quell the protests: “The socalled angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!” At this time, no evidence has been presented by the administration to support Trump’s claim.

His wholly unsupported claim is direct attack on one of the most important tenets of democracy: the right to dissent.

Representative Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) even elected not to field questions at all, citing the raucous presence of “the more violent strains of leftist ideology” at town halls and http://www.nbcnews.com the 2011 shooting of Ex-Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz) while meeting with

constituents as a reason not to hold town hall for his own district. In an impassioned statement that has attracted national attention, ex-Rep. Giffords urged members of Congress to “have some courage” and face their constituents. This is not just a partisan issue; Republicans and Democrats have both avoided town halls. But especially when Trump has shown an impressive inability to deal with dissent and has generally shied away from dealing it. He often engages in petty Twitter wars instead of meaningful debate, and in a recent press conference, after reporters had charged questions that exposed his lack of knowledge and consistency, he asked them to give him an “easy question.”

When the question was shown to be a complex and important one that challenged his stance on anti-Semitism, he told the reporter to “sit down.”

As a country, we must embrace dissent, whether it comes from the left or the right. Genuine ideas that do not harm others ought to be accepted and debated.

Town halls are a unique opportunity for voters to engage with their elected officials. Find out which district you live in and figure out who represents you in the House and Senate. Go to your town hall.

If you don’t have something to say, listen.

If you have something to say, speak.☐

“It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we’ve been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen.” ~ President Obama

Victorious Valentine’s Variety: A Faculty Showcase Students look back on the biannual Faculty Variety Show Teresa Lawlor Contributing Writer On Valentine’s Day, the Winsor Faculty treated the students of Winsor to an unexpected show of love. Having received a vague email about a Global Forum WrapUp Presentation from Mr. Braxton, the students dragged themselves to the theater for yet another long (albeit educational) hour of talking about trash. What awaited them was instead the Faculty Variety Show, the highly anticipated biannual event that allows Winsor’s favorite teachers and faculty members

to finally follow their true passions for music and drama. And, in response to this newest installment of a Winsor tradition, the student body would like to offer its thanks.

Students noted the faculty’s secrecy in planning the event, which was maintained through the leadership of Ms. Brady-Lopez.

“We had no idea,” said Anya Samtani ’19.

“The teachers were really good at keeping the secret – I had a chemistry class right before the show, and Ms. Ramos told us that she had to leave early to help introduce a Global Forum speaker.” Samtani’s classmate, Becca Lin ’19, noted that she “did think it

“Faculty Small,” led by Ms. Taillacq performs a song.

winsor.edu

was a little weird that Ms. Ramos was wearing all black.”

Many responded positively to the change of schedule. One student said that she was “so glad to have not skipped assembly that day” and wishes to remain anonymous.

The acts this year were varied and featured teachers and faculty from all of the Faculty performing a grammar rap. winsor.edu departments and many of the administration offices. Some Mr. Player contributing his DJ-ing talents. departments, such as Science (a science par- “My entire Chemistry class was in one secody performance by “The Beakers”), Histo- tion, and when Mr. Player popped out [as the ry (a Harry Potter sorting ceremony/poetry DJ in the Grammar Rap] we all screamed so slam/quidditch match/lightsaber duel), and loud!” said an enthusiastic student. Students P.E. (a video presentation that called out the also favored the ‘Faculty Small’ acapella many Winsor students who evade the Win- group, headed up by Ms. Taillacq, and Ms. sor PE requirement), chose to put on their Brady, Mr. Mosher, and Mr. Schopf ’s rendiown acts, while other acts such as the funky tions of “Revolution” and “Love Song.” opening dance number to Bruno Mars’ “24k The show was a wonderful exhibiMagic” and closing performance of “La tion of hidden talents, including Ms. Pelmas’ Bamba” were wonderful examples of the art knack for painfully funny jokes, and all of created through interdisciplinary collabora- the acts stood out in their own unique way. tion. One of the most popular acts was the But, most importantly, it was a treat for all inGrammar Rap performed by Ms. Ryan and volved. As said by Lucie Kapner ’18, “seeing Mr. Griffin of the English department, with the teachers so happy made me happy!” ☐

March 9, 2017

Winsor Opinion

Pa g e 7

Standardized Testing: Meritocratic or Elitist?

Students and college counselors examine the value of standardized tests Priya Shukla and Jordan Sclar Panel Staff

“On a personal level, the SAT frustrates me as I don’t believe the structure of the test or the individual questions give an accurate representation of a student’s potential to achieve in college. The SAT isn’t a measure of how well you will do in college or have done in high school; it’s a measure of how well you take the SAT. Additionally, on an institutional level, the SAT supports the larger elitist structure of higher education as students who can afford the expense of prep courses and private tutors have a distinct advantage on the test and subsequently in the college process.” ~Iona Gossage ’18 There are few things that create more anxious homeroom chatter than the words standardized testing. Just the thought of sitting alone in a quiet room for up to four hours, with nothing but a few No.2 pencils to help you fill in the correct answer to hundreds of little oval bubbles, can fill a student with self-doubt and nerves. For many Winsor students, the first round of standardized testing begins when applying for admission to private schools. From as early as fourth grade, students are told the scores of these tests hold enormous weight in their educational future. Standardized tests are comprised largely of multiple choice questions and often focus more on the memorization of knowledge, or a knack for test-taking rather than the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in a classroom or life.

With companies like Princeton Review or Kaplan Test Prep capitalizing on college entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT, many low-income students are put at an unfair disadvantage. In a meritocratic system, what is the value of standardized testing?

In Class V, most Winsor students are encouraged to take the Biology SAT Subject Test. An hour long and with roughly 80 questions, the Subject Tests are advertised by the College Board as a way to “showcase [a student’s] strengths and interests”.

If these tests are designed to test a student’s

http://directhitseducation.com/

aptitude in one of his or her strongest subjects, why are test prep courses and tutoring so popular? The Princeton Review, a very popular SAT and ACT prep company, explains that its Subject Test tutoring offers a “personalized” and “unbeatable” plan for “busy” students.

Of course, this is only available to students with the financial ability to pay for such a plan. According to Ella Necheles ’17, “scoring seems to be largely based on how A map of colleges that do not require scores. much money you can invest in study prep and tutoring. It’s unfair to dents who are not already looking for low income students because it’s so difficult to study materials. With more time devoted do well on without taking it multiple times and to studying or tutoring, the student can investing in significant prep, which many fam- learn to think like a test writer, and unilies cannot afford”. Students with the financial capability to take such prep courses often receive better scores by understanding how to take the test or what the question is asking far, rather than how to improve any academic skills. Kiran Butte ’17 believes, “standardized tests are a skill in and of themselves! In a way, the SAT is a test of how well you can take the SAT, not how “smart” you are.” Even for the college counselors, it is important to remember that standardized testing is not necessarily an accurate representation of a student’s abilities.

Ms. Graham, one of Winsor’s college counselors, believes “while standardized testing might capture certain information about a student’s abilities and academic background, it cannot measure many, many other skills that are essential to college success such as creativity, perseverance, planning, communication...

So, it is important to remember that the skills testing cannot measure are actually more important to future success than those it can.” For students that literally buy into the test prep network, do the extra fees and tutoring actually improve students’ scores? In 2009, the National Association for College Admission Counseling reported that test prep courses only increase scores by an average of 10-20 points in Math and 5-10 points in Critical Reading. In fact, a number of test prep companies have even stopped guaranteeing their attentiongrabbing score jumps. derstand what kind of answer is expected.

For many students, However, understanding how the writers test prep can provide a think is expensive; it costs $54.50 to regnewfound confidence ister for the SAT with Essay and $39.50 in their abilities. This in for the ACT. Though one may benefit itself can contribute to from taking a test more than once, many a rise in scores. Avan- students simply cannot afford to do so. tika Kothari ’19 thinks The inequity of the system has that these tests “cater been acknowledged by few educational only to certain learning institutions, and the antiquated standardstyles”; as a result, stu- ized testing system has undergone little dents who do not think modification. Ms. Graham remarks “As the exact same way the a college counselor, I’ve come to view ACT or SAT writers do testing as a necessary part of the college may still have trouble application process, but one that has limdespite test prep. In ad- ited predictive value for a student’s actual dition, students who are success in college. Since colleges receive able to dedicate more applications from literally thousands of time to studying, even high schools (both domestic and interby themselves, will have national), testing provides “standardized” an obvious advantage information that colleges use as part of in a structure where their selection criteria. There are also scores increase when certain programs, such as engineering, students take more where standardizing testing correlates practice tests. Though strongly with classroom performance.” many public librarAlthough standardized tests provide ies have SAT or ACT colleges with objective, comparable data, practice books, this is many institutions have recently elected not advertised to stu- to make the submission of test scores op-

http://diycollegerankings.com

tional. One such institution, George Washington University, explains that it adopted the “test-optional policy” in an attempt to “strengthen and diversify an already outstanding appliamazon.com cant pool.” In theory, the i mp l e m e nt a tion of this policy could serve to reform the admissions process and level the playing field.

In fact, many schools have seen increasing diversity in apwinsor.edu plicant pools.

However, some studies have shown that even eradicating a testing requirement may not yield the desired result.

At Winsor, students are schooled on most of the basic knowledge required on tests such as the SAT and ACT. Clementine Perry ’18 believes “as girls attending an elite private school, we have an advantage over most of the country when taking these tests. We have learned the grammar, the reading skills, and the math or science concepts necessary to do well on the SAT or ACT. Many of us can afford tutors and/or practice books to improve our scores. A lot of us have the time to practice and study outside of school and to take these tests multiple times. So, I think that we have a definite advantage in this sense and it makes me wonder whether it is our “aptitude” or our resources that give us our scores.”

It is frustrating to think that one of the defining pieces of data in the college decision process is dependent on socio-economic class instead of knowledge. However, this inequality has sparked much debate and will hopefully lead to reform in the near future.☐

“Studies have found that the SAT correlates only with socioeconomic status. It’s really a measure of privilege, not intelligence.” ~Juliet Isselbacher ’18

Pa g e 8

Belmont Hill Opinion

Th e Pan el

Milo Yiannopoulos: A Cytoplasmic Cocktail of Crapulous Contradictions

By Armin Thomas and Robbie Warming Panel staff He was on top of the world. He had it all for the future. As leftist protesters at colleges all across America erupted into violent riots amid his controversial rhetoric, his notoriety and fame only continued to meteorically soar. A invitation to speak at CPAC, one of the preeminent conservative conferences in the United States, was beckoning to him. The news agency he worked for, Breitbart “News,” was in a love affair with the Trump administration, being granted exclusive White House interviews. Everything was going his way, that is, until a 16-year old Canadian girl leaked a video of him, the infamous Milo Yiannopoulos, defending illegal and pedophilic acts of underage homosexuality.

It’s puzzling that it took this long. As an executive editor, Milo cooperated with anti-democratic ethnonationalist Stephen K. Bannon to create a media platform for the self-styled “alt-right”, a movement that holds white nationalist and white supremacist views, placing outlet Breitbart “News” into increasingly troubled waters.

In 2015, he wrote an article titled “BIRTH CONTROL MAKES WOMEN UNATTRACTIVE AND CRAZY” (yes, all caps).

He attacked female scientists, blaming feminism for forcing women into roles they, according to him, simply weren’t made for. Yiannopoulos claimed that cyber bullying, something that affects 43% of students at some point in their lifetime, “wasn’t real.” He leapt to the defense of

hazing, claiming that efforts to make hazing illegal were threats to masculinity itself. Fifteen men have died from hazing since 2010.

The initially well-intentioned motives of political correctness has evolved into militant intolerance of nonconformist and anti-leftist ideas, thus making the time ripe for a polarizing figure such as Yiannopoulos to emerge.

Cocky and loud, Milo was the king of talk shows. News anchors would have him on to debate the other side. From an objective point of view, what he spun was genius.

Yiannopoulos would confidently spew alternative facts (thanks, Kellyanne) and deploy clever debate tactics to confuse, anger, and finally trap his victim. Many of the times, he seemed to make good points. And he almost always won the argument. And that’s what made him so dangerous. He could turn the everyday viewer into an indoctrinated believer in the failure of the left, pontificating against hallmarks of American liberalism such as political correctness and receptiveness towards people of LGBT orientation.

His entire persona is a hypocritical cytoplasmic cocktail of crapulous contradictions. Yiannopoulos is openly homosexual, yet decries the very lifestyle he lives as indecent and worthy of undergoing conversion therapy that allegedly alters one’s sexual orientation. Furthermore, he has been shown to possess a degree of Jewish ancestry; nevertheless, despite his quips to the contrary, he has enabled the rise of the “alt-right” movement, which holds neo-Nazi ideologies. He has helped bring the movement from a fringe rabble of lunatics on Internet websites like 4chan and Reddit into the potent force for evil that is embodied in White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon.

When, on 21 February 2017, after his meteoric star came crashing down following the allegations of his defense of pederasty, he blamed the revelations of his remarks on a “cynical media witch hunt”. The media found a genuine video of Yiannopoulos stating that “13-year-olds can consent to a sexual relationship with an adult” and that consent is an “arbitrary and oppressive idea.”

His supporters rushed to defend him, and many of them hold similar beliefs as Trump supporters who believed that Hillary Clinton and her campaign manager John Podesta were operating a child sex trafficking ring in the back of a pizza shop. The blind support engendered by Yiannopoulos, typified by opposition and hostility to “apologists” for political correctness is not conservatism but rather anti-liberalism. Actual conservatives must make sure that they see the truth beyond the veneer of his silver-forked tongue. They must protect and preserve real conservative ideology and not be clouded by anti-liberal hate and intolerance associated with current celebrity “conservatism”.

So far, it seems that with the utter downfall of Milo, this advice is being heeded.

It is fitting that someone so devoid of substance as Yiannopoulos is now made a pariah. As a moderate-liberal myself, it is appalling that he dared to call himself a conservative. I have many friends who hold conservative viewpoints, and I can tell you that Milo is categorically not a conservative. Bereft of an actual agenda, conservative or liberal, he resorted to describing the left with sensationalist and outrageous language, under the guise of free speech and freeing people from the shackles of political correctness. The lesson that conserva-

tives, liberals, and moderates should learn from Yiannopoulos’s downfall? Though sensational words garner buzz, in the end it is actual substance and ideology that are the real test of one’s motives. See through the fog of lies created by people like Milo, and overcome it in service of the truth.

Milo Yiannopoulos, pictured above, displays a placard endorsing the deportation of “fat people” from the United States. Incendiary remarks made Yiannopoulos famous worldwide and helped fuel the anti-leftist movement

Milo Yiannopoulos, pictured below, apologizes in discgrace after the shocking revelations of his comments defending pederasty.

Claiming to be destroyed by the “liberal mainstream media”, he vowed to return to his former fame in future endeavors.

Down With Jeff Sessions As Attorney General!

By Armin Thomas Panel staff

It was November 18, 2016, when then President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate to the position of United States Attorney General the longtime Republican senator and former Alabama attorney general Jefferson Beauregard Sessions. Just like with all other nominees of Trump’s cabinet, Sessions’s nomination was met with condemnation from Democrats and from civil rights activists.

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) swears an oath of truth in his confirmation hearing to be At His voting record on civil rights torney General of the United States. It would later be found out that he committed perjury issues is most alarming, therefore conserunder this oath by not disclosing his communications with the ambassador of the Russian vatives tried to paint his attitude toward Federation. civil rights as warmer than it actually was.

Conservative media like National Review and Fox News claimed that Sessions has stood up for the rights of all people as guaranteed by the law. During questioning conducted in his congressional hearings by fellow Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.), he claimed that he filed “20 or 30 desegregation cases” during his time as the Attorney General of Alabama. As Franken followed the line of questioning to its conclusion it became clear that Sessions’s involvement with those desegregation cases was nothing more than mere signatures on paperwork. Furthermore, when asked about his position on the white Christian hate group of the Ku Klux Klan, he stated that “I [Sessions] abhor the Klan. I worked to obtain the successful capital prosecution of the head of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan.” News flash, folks. Hating the Ku Klux Klan is not a great achievement. If one is truly a worthy Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), has been an early supporter of the campaign and presidency nominee for attorney general, vowing to of Donald J. Trump, who is pictured at right. Just as many other cabinet members of Trump’s protect the rights of all Americans regardpresidency have controversies of their own, Sessions is dogged by allegations of racism and less of differences, then hating a group as collusion with the Russian government. virulent and as hateful as the Klan is a requirement that one should be indoctrinated into believing from the earliest age possible.

The story even gets better when you hear the Sessions story of the 1980s.

Back in 1986, Jeff Sessions was rejected by a Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee for a federal judgeship over accusations of being a racist. He was rejected by a committee with members of his own party, who tend to hold less savory views on civil rights than the Democrats, and he was deemed “too racist” to be a judge from Alabama, a state with a known history of racist laws. His nomination was opposed by minority interest groups like the NAACP and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, putting to rest any claims that Jeff Sessions is not a stark raving racist. The evidence points all to him being a politician with racist views in line with other famous Alabama politicians such as George Wallace and Bull Connor, both of whom advocated segregationist views on race relations.

Finally, the Sessions debacle has revealed that he committed an act of perjury by not revealing that he had communications with the Russian ambassador soon after the election. Even Republicans turned against him, finally forcing him to recuse himself from any ongoing and future investigations into Russian election-rigging that may have taken place. For someone who prides himself on being devoted to the law, and especially for someone who advocated for the presence of a special prosecutor when Bill Clinton was charged with perjury, such a move is truly hypocritical.

There are too many unsavory characteristics of the Sessions, and if the Republican Party and Congress had any spine to put country before party and protect the rights of all citizens, they would force Jeff Sessions to resign just as Democrats now demand.

Belmont Hill Opinion

March 9, 2017

Pa g e 9

Nate Parker and the Importance of Forgiveness

By William McCormack Panel staff After director Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation was met with euphoric praise (and not one but two standing ovations) at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016, critics immediately thought ahead to the 2017 award season, expecting Parker’s film about Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion to secure several prizes at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and, most impressively, the Oscars.

The festival concluded with Nate Parker’s team signing a Sundance record $17.5 million dollar deal with Fox Searchlight, victors of an all-night bidding war that included Netflix, Sony, Paramount, and others. Rappers Nas, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Trey Songz, and Ne-Yo even prepared an “inspired by” album to accompany the film’s release. At Sundance 14 months ago, film enthusiasts expected African American director Parker, who also produced, starred, and wrote the movie, to remedy the Academy Awards’ recent lack of minority representation. Yet, with the 2017 installations of the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Oscars now behind us, The Birth of a Nation received neither awards nor even a single nomination.

A great movie has gone unrecognized. Not because of acting, not because of cinematography, not because of execu-

tion, but because of Nate Parker’s past, a past that should not have overshadowed the work of art he spent six years producing.

In 1999, Nate Parker, then a 19-yearold wrestler at Penn State University, and his roommate Jean Celestin, who is also black and co-wrote The Birth of a Nation, were accused of raping a white female student.

Parker and Celestin both admitted to having sex (which they believed was consensual) with the classmate and were brought to trial shortly after charges were pressed. Facing fifty years in prison, Parker was acquitted by the jury, while Celestin’s conviction of sexual assault was overturned after an appeal.

As The Birth of a Nation and its creators received increasing publicity throughout 2016, the 1999 sexual assault trial was reexamined with heightened interest. Devastating news surfaced that the accuser took her own life in 2012, turning sentiment against Parker and his film. Simultaneously however, a group of Penn State alumni collectively released a statement defending Nate Parker’s innocence, noting he had been acquitted by a jury that was 11/12ths white.

The truth remains cloudy and too difficult to decipher, as everyone’s version of the episode seems to differ on important details.

As public debate over the trial grew and The Birth of a Nation neared its October release date, Parker continued to profess his inno-

cence, refusing to apologize in a 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper: “I went to court. I sat in trial. I was vindicated. I was proven innocent. I feel terrible that this woman isn’t here. Her family had to deal with that, but as I sit here, an apology is — no.”

The Birth of a Nation has been tainted by the attention on Parker’s 1999 trial.

A sizeable contingent of the film community pledged not to see it, hoping to make a statement. Their success, evidenced by abysmal performance in the box office and the cancellation of international releases in Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Austria, and Latin America, reveals that our society, unable to forgive, judges an individual by one action. Rape and sexual assault are certainly not accusations to take lightly; however, should these offenses define the rest of his life or determine the worth of a movie he creates? By refusing to watch The Birth of a Nation, Americans also refuse to acknowledge one’s potential to grow from sin, crime, and wrongdoing.

Race also plays a role in the public demise of Parker and his film. In his 1940 novel Native Son, author Richard Wright comments on the situation of black protagonist Bigger Thomas, who is fleeing authorities after accidentally murdering a white girl: “To hint that he had committed a sex crime was to pronounce the death sentence; it meant a

wiping out of his life even before he was captured; it meant death before death came, for the white men who read those words would at once kill him in their hearts.” Though so much has changed in 77 years, I can’t help but picture Nate Parker when I read those lines about Bigger Thomas. After all, why did Casey Affleck, a white actor and star of Manchester by the Sea, emerge unharmed and in possession of a shiny “Best Actor” Oscar after 2010 claims of sexual harassment (granted, a less serious offense than assault) resurfaced before awards season?

As all Belmont Hill students know, Just Mercy author Bryan Stevenson criticizes judges for losing hope in the potential of clients to rehabilitate themselves, to add something more to the world. Instead, such judges choose to eternally imprison individuals who have done wrong, preventing them from ever having a chance to positively impact society. As quickly as Parker was celebrated as a budding superstar, he was just as quickly banished, locked away as Hollywood’s great shame. Although no one should downplay the severity of sexual assault accusations, it is important to consider one of Stevenson’s most important lessons from Just Mercy: “Every one of us is more than the worst thing we’ve done.”

Two Houses Both Alike In Dignity: Belmont Hill and Winsor

By Robbie Warming Panel staff The infamous headline “Belmont Hill Breaks up with Winsor over Text” was positioned prominently on the front page of last year’s Flannel. The line drew laughs, but at the same time it exposed the widening rift between Belmont Hill and our sister school, Winsor.

On paper, on admissions catalogues, and to parents, our relationship couldn’t seem more harmonious. We do everything together. We act together. We share a boathouse. We hold prom together. And we even share a school paper. But below the surface lies Belmont Hill’s worst secret: the student bodies of Belmont Hill and Winsor are growing increasingly apart.

At first glance, the difference seems to be purely political. Belmont Hill conservatives (and even some liberals) often lament about Winsor’s leftward-leaning views. You only need to pick up a dual Belmont Hill-Winsor issue of the Panel to see the generally partisan divide between opinion sections.

In the Panel’s election poll, a third of Belmont Hill respondents considered themselves Democrats.

On the other hand, 56.6% of Winsor considered themselves Democrats, showing a much more stronger liberal base. With such contrasting results, coupled with a toxic and divisive political atmosphere on the national scale, a rift between Winsor and Belmont Hill doesn’t seem too far off.

The rift is highlighted by conflicting views on an age-old issue. As captured in a December editorial by Bennett Rush, I’ve seen Belmont Hill boys roll their eyes at the dreaded Fword, “feminism,” a movement Winsor wholeheartedly endorses.

Belmont Hill boys see the Winsor brand of feminism - or in some cases feminism in general - as militant and extreme. At the same time, Winsor looks down at Belmont Hill as sexist and out of touch with the actual definition of

feminism, the equality between men and women. Looking towards mending our relationship, the least Belmont Hill can do is get the definition right.

But this general dislike runs deeper than politics and feminism.

I’ve heard grumbles at Panel meetings about Winsor’s censor-happy administration. I’ve seen utter repulsion between some members of the Belmont Hill and Winsor Crew teams.

The dislike was so strong that some Belmont Hill rowers covertly rooted against their boathouse counterparts.

How do I know all this? Perhaps I’ve just had an incredibly observant two years at Belmont Hill. But it’s probably because I’ve been a part in opening this rift. I’ve bashed Winsor my fair share. To be honest, I’m sick of it. I’ve seen the damage it can do within a boathouse and I don’t want to see that happen at a school-wide level. And although this Winsor bashing sect is surely not everyone, it’s still a large group within Belmont Hill.

So what do we do? I’m not asking anyone to change their politics and become a bleeding-heart liberal.

I simply ask that you try to humanize Winsor. Too often do we lump our sister school into an image corrupted by stereotypes. The visceral dislike of the idea of Winsor is transferred onto the actual student body. The only way to combat such a divide is to build bridges. As a student body, we need to commit to getting to know our counterparts on Pilgrim Road. They’re actually not that bad. Go to Jamnesty, their plays, and their sports games.

Then reach out and invite them to our events; the Loop could always use extra voices to cheer for our teams.

We need to bring together Belmont Hill and Winsor from the bottom up.

To Winsor, give us thy hand, this is a token of our friendship, for no more can we demand. And if we aren’t willing to offer the hand of friendship to our sister school, we might as well not have one.

Nate Parker stars in the 2016 film “Birth of a Nation”. The film depicts the struggle for freedom that ensued in the Virginian slave revolt led by Nat Turner. Turner’s revolt was instrumental in polarizing the North and South over the issue of slavery, with Southern slaveowners fearing subsequent slave uprisings and Northern abolitionists decrying the “peculiar institution”.

Nate Parker, starring in ‘Birth of a Nation’, has been scarred by a 1999 trial over allegations of sexual assault. Will McCormack ‘18 argues that these previous allegations should not diminish the quality of his artistic work, and urges viewers to objectively judge “Birth of a Nation”, rather than let previous bias and imposition supersede this desired objectivity.

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Senior Switch Day: Our Thoughts and Reflections

For one day, the Winsor Executive Staff went to Belmont Hill while the Belmont Hill Executive Staff visited Winsor. Here are their firsthand accounts and reactions. Last week, The Panel staff took part in the tradition of Switch Day between our two schools. After working with each other for so long and hearing about what life was like at different schools, we finally got to experience each other’s school. It’s safe to say that none of us truly knew what to expect, but we were all pleasantly surprised. There are obvious differences between the two schools--some positives and some negatives--but we are each a bit more the wiser for having switched. In the following section, we will discuss the different aspects that make the other school attractive to us in hopes to spread what we have learned and help the other students to better grasp what life is like on the other side.

Winsor at Belmont hill cons PROS

Chief Editor Helen Sayegh Even prior to Switch Day, I presumptuously felt I had a decent understanding of the logistical life of a Belmont Hill boy: he wore a tie and khakis, sometimes going for Nantucket Reds if he was feeling particularly bold that morning; he enjoyed daily milk and cookies, along with a weekly late start; and he finished his classes sometime midday. But spending time inside Belmont Hill exposed me, albeit briefly, to an aspect of the school that I had only ever been able to speculate on: the culture. Though I’m sure many were stressed over tests, grades, etc., everyone was, first and foremost, friendly and upbeat—there was an incredible vitality inside and outside the classroom, enhanced by an open, airy campus. Generally, I got the sense that Belmont Hill students lead more balanced lives. As I participated in a family-style lunch, witnessed frequent inter-grade interactions, and attended a particularly energetic Calc class, I started to notice the ease with which community and academics mesh together at Belmont Hill.

• Walking throughout the open cam- • Walking outside gets cold in the pus between classes is refreshing.

• Assigned seating during lunch • • •

winter.

• Students can’t spend time with

strengthens bond between students in different grades.

Students get to eat cookies and • milk every day!

Faculty can bring their dogs to • campus.

Everyone looks put together in • their uniforms.

students in their same grade level during lunch.

Students could get sick of having the same snack.

Allergic students may sneeze, but who cares?

Wearing a blazer all the time could get uncomfortable.

Panel carvings at Belmont Hill

Executive Editor Kiran Butte First off, the open campus definitely made a difference -- because the campus consists of separate buildings for each academic discipline, walking throughout Belmont Hill felt more similar to walking through a college campus. I also found it was very conducive to establishing a close-knit community; at each bell, students of all ages walk through the campus to get to their next class and mingle. Lunch at Belmont Hill was a also unique experience that was representative of Belmont Hill’s emphasis on community. Students are assigned to tables with kids from all grades (besides seniors, who have their own assigned tables) and a faculty member. Food is served family style and underclassmen clear plates for the table. The cafeteria was lively and provided space for the upper school to be together in a social environment, whereas at Winsor, clubs during lunch interferes with this dynamic.

Betsy Kim

Executive Editor Betsy Kim I loved my day at Belmont Hill. After years of attending an all-girls school, being in a classroom with boys was definitely refreshing. Beyond the obvious excitement of single-sex to co-ed education, however, there were other aspects of Belmont Hill that I really enjoyed. First off, I enjoyed witnessing the senior tradition of carving a 12-inch by 12-inch mahogany panel. Each student was making a design that was personal to him; while one senior was carving a ring simply because he is a fan of Lord of the Rings, another senior carved a tuk tuk, an auto rickshaw from Sudan, his birth country. Spending time at Belmont Hill also allowed me to appreciate the value of a school uniform. Belmont Hill students are required to wear a button-down shirt, blazer, tie, khakis, and dress shoes or boat shoes. Not only did the uniforms give the school a professional air, it also allowed students to appear and to feel as if they are all on the same socioeconomic level.

The highlight of my day, however, was attending Dr. Buckley’s “Institute of Politics” class. I was impressed by how fluid and varied the political discussion was.

Executive Editor Kiran Butte ’17 approves of Belmont Hill’s cookies

Betsy Kim

Opinion: Winsor needs an “Institute of Politics” Class

by Elizabeth Kim and Kiran Butte Panel Staff Winsor and Belmont Hill encourage students to talk about politics, both in everyday conversation and in classes.

At Winsor, the senior fall elective “Election 2016” familiarized students with the electoral process and encouraged them to research topics such as healthcare and taxes in the context of the election, while “Politics of Identity” explores the implications of race, gender, and social class on politics in the 21st century.

Belmont Hill has several politicsrelated classes. Its “American Politics and Policy” class examines consequences of certain policies on the American people, while its “Institute of Politics” class allows students the opportunity to gain experience in the political field through internships and hands-on projects. For example, Dave Conforti ’17 is currently interning at the State House.

When the Winsor Executive Staff visited Belmont Hill for our annual switch day, we were lucky enough to sit in on “Institute of Politics,” taught by history teacher Dr. Kara Buckley. On this

The course readings of “Institute of Politics” particular day, Dr. Buckley was leading a discussion based on the texts that the students had read: Glass House: The 1% Economy and the Shattering of the AllAmerican Town by Brian Alexander and Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. Both books are popular and relevant reads that detail the struggles of small town, working class families who played an influential role in this year’s election results.

We were struck by how Belmont Hill students were able to discuss politics, as well as the voters portrayed in “Glass House” and “Hillbilly Elegy”, without

amazon.com

bringing up their own political leanings.

As Bennett Rush ’17 commented, “It’s important that students have an area to strip themselves of any partisanship and assess the world around them… Having a place to form your opinions without any influence and pressure to lean one way or the other is something that high school students need.”

Furthermore, each student seemed very well-informed on the issues at hand – which ranged from free trade to the rift between President Trump and the Republican Party – thereby allowing the discussion to remain well-grounded within the facts. Similarly,

because everyone seemed well-aware of Trump’s day-to-day actions as well as the general trends of his behavior, everyone was able to make an educated prediction about what President Trump would discuss in his State of the Union address.

Winsor’s classes, teachers, and overall environment are conducive to political discussion; however, in our experience, it is often difficult to have a discussion about politics without party biases coming into play, especially given the strong negative reaction that the majority of Winsor students had to President Trump’s election.

We recognize that both the “Election 2016” and “Institute of Politics” courses only represent small fractions of the Winsor and Belmont Hill student bodies.

However, because part of the goal of “Institute of Politics” is to understand voters whose background and education differ drastically from the student body of Belmont Hill and Winsor, we think Winsor would benefit from a class such as “Institute of Politics”. Not only would it encourage Winsor students to base their discussions in fact rather than opinion, but also challenge them to understand the mindset of a white, working-class voter. ☐

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Chief Editor Bennett Rush Going to Winsor was a truly eye opening moment for me- for five years I’ve been forced to conform to the model of a Belmont Hill boy as I felt so much social pressure that there was no other option. Even as a boy, as soon as I entered Winsor I felt so much more accepted as myself. It seemed to me that at Winsor nobody was stripped of their individuality, and the community thrived around the idea that people are different. The fact that someone could get up on a stage and talk about their sexuality was one of the bravest things I’ve witnessed to this day, and meanwhile at Belmont Hill we’ve only had one student come out during his time here. One student from Winsor told me that when she looks at the old pictures of Belmont Hill classes, it seems like every boy is the same person- looks the same, dresses the same, and has the same expression on his faceand it still seems that way today. At Winsor it was apparent to me that girls could express themselves and didn’t have to force their individuality to reside deep within themselves. Part of that may come from being able to dress any way they like, but more than anything it’s the idea that there is no quintessentially Winsor girl that they all have to mimic. At Belmont Hill, we should only be so lucky.

Belmont hill at Winsor cons PROS • Restaurants and shops within walk-

• Parking only available to

• New building - recording booth,

• More, longer classes • Commute is difficult • No X block free or other uni-

ing distance

• • •

practice rooms, white board walls, iLab Senior Homeroom more private More even balance between sports and arts, student-wise and attention-wise Walkthrough lunch everyday- can leave early

seniors for a semester

versal free period

• Students spoke less in class

Thank You from the Panel Heads

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Chief Editor Jason Fischman The major difference that struck me between Belmont Hill and Winsor is the urban campus of Winsor. In my six years at Belmont Hill, I’ve grown accustomed to the quiet suburban campus and spacious outdoor scenery that the location brings. At Winsor, I was shocked by the constant buzzing of car horns and squeal of ambulances. The constant commotion was overwhelming to say the least, especially for someone who has been going to school in the suburbs my whole life. However, the urban campus had its upsides. There are a plethora of stores within walking distance, including Starbucks, Panera, Brueggers, and many others.

Belmont Hill students are only allowed go to off campus as seniors, and all restaurants require at least a short drive. Winsor students can earn off-campus privileges as early as ninth grade, which is certainly an upside of the urban campus. The urban campus revealed another downside: parking. As seniors, Winsor students can enter a lottery for parking, but spaces cost $300, and students can only drive for one semester, whereas Belmont Hill students can drive whenever they get their licenses, as soon as they get their licenses, and there are typically enough spots for the majority of seniors and juniors to drive. The Winsor facilities are also a stark contrast to Belmont Hill. Winsor’s new building, the LOC, is spacious and elegant. It has a lot of high-tech musical stuff, including a recording studio, various practice rooms for bands, and classrooms with walls that can be written on. It was a very different experience walking around Winsor and not leaving the building the entire day, compared to Belmont Hill where I need to walk outside between every class period. It would certainly be an upside in the cold winter months, but I also missed my breaths of fresh air between periods.

Executive Editor Mack Perry The three of us visited Winsor’s exclusive senior homeroom.

With its decorations and couches, it seemed much “homier” than our open Goodband Commons. Girls sat on couches and did homework, surfed the web, or talked while music blasted from a speaker.

Even more than Goodband, the senior homeroom is seen as a prize for Winsor students.

The room is designed and personalized by the senior class for the senior class; Winsor girls spend the week before senior year starts decorating the room with a chosen theme for the year. While the “seniors-only” rule for Goodband is lax, Winsor seniors attempt to enforce a strict policy for underclassmen; however, there are occasional exceptions. Outfitted with couches, lockers, and a ping pong table, it was a much more relaxing environment for seniors to escape their day.

We are grateful for the opportunity to leave our legacy behind on The Panel, Volume 65. We’ve enjoyed every day of work, discussion, and laughs with our staff and our advisors. Special thanks to Mr. Hegarty, Ms. Zener, Ms. Wolf, and Ms. Hazard for keeping us in line. We loved working on this paper for you this year and listening to your reactions, thoughts, and opinions on the paper. Good luck to next year’s staff! We’re excited to see where you take The Panel.

Sincerely, Helen, Jason, Kiran, Betsy, Bennett, and Mack

The Panel heads at Belmont Hill at the end of switch day.

Armin Thomas

Opinion: Belmont Hill Needs a Revamped Senior Project By mack perry Panel Staff As soon as second semester hits, senior work ethic and motivation seems to disappear. Many schools around the country infected with “senioritis” have decided to change their senior spring schedule, allowing students to pursue an off-campus project or passion for their last month of school.

This year, it seems like Belmont Hill has further tightened their leash on the senior class, requiring students to take a minimum of four classes (including an inquiry), as well as finishing up any graduation requirements. We have the option to drop a non-required class in exchange for five hours a week of senior project work; however, we must keep our year-long courses (such as AP classes) and an inquiry course. We saw seniors from classes before us producing albums, writing books, or working at hospitals. Now, project requirements have been tightened to just volunteering or internships. A minority of seniors do a project, a vast majority of which are on-campus. Most students still take a full course load, leaving little time to pursue independent projects and passions.

Instead of fighting senioritis, why not work with it?

For the month of May, each Win-

sor senior participates in an “Independant Learning Experience”-- an independant project, an internship, or a group-based senior studio--which gives students the chance to explore a question, idea, passion as their final piece of their Winsor education. The goal of ILE is to challenge seniors to engage with new environments and experiences, providing the opportunity to do something meaningful that they haven’t had the chance to do before.

The project is handled like a college senior thesis; each student has an advisor with whom she meets regularly to discuss ideas and planning of her project before May. During Switch Day, I attended an ILE seminar, where students were beginning to form ideas for their projects, ranging from working on a farm to writing and producing an EP. Seniors write about their daily experiences in a blog and share their ILE in a symposium at the end of May. The ILE is much more structured than our senior projects - they have to publish a day-by-day calendar of their plan two months prior - yet being able to focus on a single passion seems to bring a deeper sense of accomplishment. “I’m excited to be able to focus on something I’m genuinely interested in and get real-life experience with it, rather than studying about it in school,” says Kiran Butte ’17. “I was surprised at how much Winsor emphasizes being

able to do something non-school related.”

“Going into the ILE, I knew I wanted to learn something that was hands-on and have an experience different from Winsor,” said Iona Forrester ’16, who worked on an Asian-American food truck called Mei Mei. “I knew that working on a food truck would introduce me to interesting people and teach me some new skills. I became great friends with the people I worked with and still keep in touch with them.” She concluded, “The ILE gave us all the opportunity to do something we created or organized ourselves, and this independence was something we were all ready for by the end of senior year.”

Belmont Hill flirted with the idea of an extended senior project about eight years ago, where a group of faculty looked broadly at the senior year, aiming to redesign the second semester by looking at programs from neighboring schools such as Winsor, Roxbury Latin, and BB&N. They concluded that if projects were required, they would come out with uneven dedication and quality, and some students wanted to continue their courses. Instead, they introduced a hybrid model that combined two or three classes and a project, introducing inquiry courses and the Things You Should Know (TYSK), a series of seminars teaching “real-life” skills, such as personal finance and auto mechanics.

Over the past couple of years, this hybrid model has shifted into an uneven balance that favors the academic side over the ex-

perience side. The TYSK program, once done with Winsor, has been relegated to 3-5 hour-long meetings over the course of the second semester for just BH seniors.

There are several challenges to adopting an ILE-type project. The biggest drawback to Winsor’s school-free May was being off-campus and away from friends in their last month together. Second, many Belmont Hill seniors play a spring sport; however, Winsor students are able to shift their schedules to allocate practice time. An internship from 9AM-2PM, for example, would allow a student to fufill their required 25 hours a week and be on the field for a 3:30PM practice. Lastly, panel carving, which takes upwards of forty hours of oncampus time to complete, is a rite of passage (not to mention a graduation requirement) for Belmont Hill seniors. Two two-hour carving classes a week along with daily practices during a BH ILE period would allow a senior to spend time on campus, bond with friends, and finish their panel.

Instead of counting down the days until graduation on-campus, we should utilize this time for seniors to explore a passion in depth and get the most out of their last month of Belmont Hill. Senior spring is an opportunity to tap into resources around us to bring different thinking and experiences from our out-of-theclassroom learning back to campus. ☐

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“Album of the Year” Controversy at the Grammys

ner, Lucas Graham, and Justin Bieber for the Nonetheless, while the two artists award. Based on the popularity of “Hello” after were both amical after the fact, many viewers its release, her success in that category was not expressed frustration that this was “not the unexpected. However, when Adele later won first time Beyoncé lost an award to a far more

Popular not only for their music but Album of the year, an award that many believed tempered album from a popular white artist” also for their personalities, Beyoncé and Adele should have gone to Beyoncé, she herself was (Vox). The events from this year’s Grammy’s are arguably two of the most well-liked musimore shocked than anyone in the audience. have raised a pertinent question: should the cal artists of our generation. Therefore, when “I can’t possibly accept this award...I’m very judges have given more weight to the politithe singers were both nominated for the three humbled and very grateful and gracious, but cal relevance of Beyoncé’s album, rather than biggest music awards – Record of the Year, my life is Beyoncé,” she affirmed in her accep- the sound? According to student who wishes Album of the year, Song of the Year – contance speech. In a rather emotional moment, to remain anonymous, “I guess it matters on troversy over the rightful winner was ineviBeyoncé nodded and smiled tearfully as Adele your opinion about what the purpose of mutable after the Grammys aired on February 12. continued, “The Lemonade album, Beyoncé, sic is….when it comes down to two well-liked was so monumental, and so well thought out, albums with high-quality sound, the one with and so beautiful and soul-bearing….And the the important message should definitely win.” way that you make me and my friends feel, It’s impossible to know precisely the way you make my black friends feel, is em- how the judges arrived at their pick for best powering, and you make them stand up for album; however, the question of whether polithemselves.” Adele later broke her Grammy tics should play a role in the arts and other mein half to symbolically share it with Beyoncé. dia is still an interesting one, especially in to Winsor students on the whole ap- day’s political climate. Whether it be charged proved of Adele’s gesture. “I thought her ef- speeches at the Golden Globes or emotive telefort was extremely humble,” reflected Nicole vision commercials (for Coca Cola or Lumber Chung ’18. “Despite the incredibly awkward 84), Academy Awards or ACLU ribbons at the situation she was put in, she did Beyoncé Oscars, social justice issues are certainly gainright by acknowledging the political impor- ing a platform in the entertainment industry. tance of Lemonade in light of recent events.”

Today, it is important for individuChloe Duval ’19 agreed: “I think that speech als to use every platform available to them and the breaking of the award were Adele for effecting positive change, and thus soBeyoncé and Adele perform at the Grammy Awards. nytimes.com recognizing that the Grammys weren’t cial messages in music should be considered ready to praise an amazing album celebrat- during the judges’ decision making process. ing black culture and confronting the prob- Whether activism be factored into the “Song lems the black community faces. I think of the Year” category, or given its own category Adele was trying to give Beyoncé the respect all together, the political significance of music tice went into learning and performing ‘Nut/ she felt Beyoncé and her album deserved.” merits recognition at the Grammy Awards. ☐ Cracked,’ so I was super excited to show the rest

By Katie Tsai of the school!” Having performed in the conPanel Staff

Did anyone notice Mr. Mosher cert myself, I liked that the pieces that I was in – a character who might otherwise be misuntip-toeing across the stage like a ballerina? two choreographed by Ms. McKinley and one

By Isabel Griffith-Gorgati by guest choreographer David Parker – were derstood or oversimplified; in fact, some of On Friday, March 3, 2017, he, Ms. McKinley, Ms. Panel Staff vastly different from each other.

It was challengthe most poignant moments of the producRamos, and 19 students in the Lower and Upper ing to assume the roles of different characters

The cast of Winsor’s student-di- tion depict a frustrating disconnect between School performed with energy, passion, and enand to build stamina to dance in three numrected play put on a powerful performance Austin’s thoughts and his outward actions. thusiasm in the Winsor Dance Concert, the secbers, especially the fast-paced “Russian Disco. ” Genna commented that a couple of Ariadne Blayde’s The Other Room on ond one that the school has had in recent years.

Throughout the process of choreographof the most challenging aspects of directing Thursday, February 16th. The production,

Since November, students had been ing and rehearsing, Ms. McKinley noted the this show were getting the “tight” timing of only about a half hour long, tells the story working diligently to create artistic and ingrowth she saw in each of us performers.

She “certain sequences to work” and “figuring of a single encounter between two high spiring pieces. The concert, which consisted reflected, “It’ s exciting to see the Winsor stuout a balance between wanting to work with schoolers: Lily, a sociable cheerleader, and of 12 dances, encompassed a variety of styles, dents’ perspectives on dance broaden.

In all [her] actors but also getting them to do what Austin, a socially isolated boy with autism. including contemporary, hip hop, jazz, modmy classes, I sense students’ curiosity and they had to do. ” As for the most rewarding They connect over their mutual love of asern, ethnic, and musical theater. Choreoopenness to the possibilities of the form, ingraphed by students, faculty, and guest artists, the numbers ranged from graceful and airy to cluding and beyond what’s popular in social intense and sharp to upbeat and comedic. All media. Students are creating original work the dances premiered at the concert with the and moving in unique ways. They are developexception of two variations, “Mirlitons” and ing a language to talk about dance, movement “Russian Disco,” which had been performed and dance making, and they are open to how at the Boston Center for the Arts by a group their peers may work differently. I love seeof Winsor students and faculty last December ing students learn about themselves through as part of David Parker and the Bang Group’s the work, and appreciate each other for their annual holiday production, “Nut/Cracked.” uniqueness. I hope we can create a tradition of

Dancers shared with me what they diversity where many styles, approaches and enjoyed most about being in the concert. Grace subject matters are included and celebrated.”

Wang ’19, who choreographed a Chinese fan I encourage everyone who enjoyed watchdance, enthused, “The part that I loved the most ing this year’s dance concert - even those was being able to choreograph my own piece. without much dance experience - to conThe process was hard and there were many sider participating next year. You and your times that I felt drained of ideas. Luckily, I man- friends can choreograph a piece together, or Connie Zhou ’18, Lydia Forti ’19, Erin Lyons ’17 in The Other Room Kristie Rae Gillooly aged to get through the tough parts, and I was you can have someone choreograph one for proud to show it to the school.” Ifeanyi Umunna you, and you can choose your music, light- tronomy, while a cast of characters on the part of her directing experience, she pointed ’20, added, “I was most excited to showcase ing, and costumes. Either way, the experience other side of the divided stage brings the to “the times when I would have an idea that ‘Nut/Cracked’ because we had been working will be rewarding: you will be both delight- complex inner workings of Austin’s mind to wasn’t in the script or would deviate from it on it for so long! A lot of hard work and prac- fully surprised by and proud of your work. ☐ life. The Winsor actresses who brought us entirely, and I’d ask the actors to try it, and this show were Erin Simshauser ’17, Saphia it would work really well.” Genna also said Suarez ’17, Chanel Matthews ’17, Erin Ly- that directing a short production allowed ons ’17, Isabel Isselbacher ’18, Connie Zhou for more time to concentrate on details than ’18, and Lydia Forti ’19. The cast brought would have been possible to allot in longer the production to a play festival in Fram- shows. The play certainly manages to pack ingham on March 4th and will perform at a lot of punch in a short period of time.

This successful student-directed Winsor again in a Community Time block.

This year’s director was Genna production was thoughtfully selected and exBrusie ’17, who has previously acted in sev- ecuted; as someone who learned in Mr. Johneral Winsor productions, including Pippin son’s directing class how difficult it is to get the and She Kills Monsters. Genna explained seemingly small details right in theater, I apshe selected The Other Room because she preciated the smooth and purposeful block“had never read or seen a play that so ex- ing and set design. Genna’s words of advice to plicitly addressed the inner thoughts of a future Winsor directors: “trust your instincts character while they were onstage, much and try new things! Push yourself to think less a character with autism.” This setup al- outside of the box and beyond the script, beMs. McKinley takes the stage.

Kristie Rae Gillooly lows the audience to understand the mind of cause that’s how you’ll get the most out of it.” ☐

By Isabel Isselbacher Panel Staff

2016 was a significant year for both singers. Adele saw the release of her album after a five year hiatus from the music business, and her single “Hello” charted at number one for a full 10 weeks. Meanwhile, Beyoncé’s album Lemonade gained critical acclaim for its political message “about the experience of the black woman, ‘the most disrespected person in America,’” as she quotes Malcolm X in the Lemonade music video (The Guardian).

Adele won “Song of the Year” early in the night, beating out Beyoncé, Mike Pos-

2nd Annual Dance Recital

Student Directed Play a Success

Winsor arts

March 9, 2017

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Oscars with Julia & Erin: A Cinematic Showdown

Casey Affleck, Best Actor

Mahershala Ali, Best Supporting Actor

stopped watching after the initial announcement. Julia heard from at least four different people that they had turned off their TV

Whether one is a movie aficionado or and had no idea about the mixup until the just enjoys a good awards show, the most recent next day. Erin does find it hilarious, though, Academy Awards, which were held on Februthat Julia thought for a moment that she had ary 26th, made for quite the interesting viewing scored a point on this one. (From Julia: rude!) experience. That night, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded many films Predictions for Best Directing and people with the highest accolade in the film industry in a televised event that featured musi- Julia: Damien Chazelle (La La Land ) because cal performances, jokes both good and bad, and La La Land is really just that good. Side note: one shocking slip-up in announcing a winDamien Chazelle is only 32. 32!!!!!!! ner. But rather than just tell you who won, the authors of this article, who represent both of the Erin: Moonlight because I saw an article the aforementioned categories of Oscars-watchers, Holly Gettings other day saying it was good. That’s all I’ve decided to have a “friendly” competition to see got. who could predict the winners most accurately.

Julia is a big movie fan who tries to watch as Actual Winner: La La Land (making many of the nominated movies as she can beDamien Chazelle the youngest winner ever fore the awards ceremony, while Erin, who has in this category!) never even watched the Oscars live before, has decided to offer her opinions nonetheless. Here Erin: Though I find Chazelle’s accomplishare our predictions for some of our favorite cat- ment very impressive, I’m bitter that I did not egories, and our reactions to the actual winners: win a point. I had an article. An article! This was probably my most informed prediction Predictions For Best Picture of them all!

By Julia Mastandrea and Erin Lyons Contributing Writer

Julia: La La Land because it is my favorite movie Julia: Yes!! I get a point! I think that the I’ve seen this year! directing was one of the strongest aspects of La La Land so I was actually fairly confident Erin: Lion. I closed my eyes and pointed!

I would get this one right. (But then again, I (from Julia: I don’t need your sass, Erin.) really thought I had Best Picture too, so...)

Actual Winner: Moonlight. In a shocking turn of events, the presenters initially announced La La Land as the winner, only to correct themselves midway through the film producers’ speeches and announce that Moonlight had actually won. What seems to have caused the confusion is the fact that presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were mistakenly handed the backup envelope containing the information about the Best Actress category. Beatty was clearly confused upon opening the envelope, showing it to Dunaway. Dunaway apparently saw the words La La Land , since Emma Stone had won just minutes before for her role in the movie, and simply announced it as the winner.

Yikes! On a slightly more serious note though, a lot of people were upset that Moonlight did not get to have its moment since a lot of people

Moonlight

Predictions for Best Actor Julia: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) Erin: Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge). I think he is pretty attractive.

Actual Winner: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea). Erin is not too pleased with this result, since a) Julia won, b) Andrew Garfield is *still* more attractive, and c) there has been some controversy surrounding allegations of sexual assault against Casey Affleck.

Apart from enjoying beating Erin, Julia agrees with the fact that Andrew Garfield is, like, 1000 times more attractive and was also disappointed and angered by the allegations against Affleck.

imdb.com La La Land

Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress

Predictions for Best Actress

Emma Stone, Best Actress

oscars.org

really nailed this one! We do love Viola Davis though. (sidenote from Julia: Her. Speech.

Though.)

Julia: Emma Stone because I loved her performance in La La Land , although I (like others) was upset that Taraji P. Henson and Amy Best Animated Feature Film: Adams were snubbed for their performances in Hidden Figures and Arrival respectively.

Julia: Zootopia because the unexpected but extremely important message it sends really Erin: Meryl Streep. Doesn’t she usually win impressed me. (I did love Moana too, though.) these things?

Erin: Moana because I have actually seen it Actual Winner: Emma Stone ( La La Land ) (shocking, I know) and loved it.

Erin: Wow, La La Land is winning everything. Actual Winner: Zootopia I guess Meryl really is overrated?

Erin: Fine. I did like Zootopia, I guess. It didn’t Julia: Yeah, everything except Best Picture (that make me cry, though. I 100% cried watching was mean, I’m sorry. Kind of.) I mean we all Moana. know that Meryl Streep is the most overrated actress in Hollywood, so that was to be Julia: I LOVE ZOOTOPIA I AM SO HAPPY. expected.

That is all.

Predictions for Best Supporting Predictions for Best Original Actor Song Julia: Dev Patel (Lion) Erin: Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea).

Not gonna lie, I closed my eyes and pointed again.

Actual Winner: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) Erin: Frankly, I’m shocked that my expert prediction methods failed me yet again. Ouch.

Julia: I would laugh at Erin, but I got this one wrong, too. Although I’m slightly annoyed that I was wrong, I’m extremely happy that Mahershala Ali won! He is a really cool human and it was great to see just a little more diversity at the Oscars this year.

Predictions for Best Supporting Actress Julia: Nicole Kidman (Lion) Erin: Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures) because why not? I like her.

Actual Winner: Viola Davis (Fences. Wow, we

imdb.com Hacksaw Ridge

wikipedia.com

Julia: (Unfortunately) I think that “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from La La Land will win, even though I actually want “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana to win because I am the biggest Lin Manuel Miranda fan on the planet.

Erin: “How Far I’ll Go” (Moana). This is a song I like to sing at the top of my lungs. In my car.

Alone. Good stuff.

Actual Winner: “City of Stars” from La La Land (note from Julia: can I get half a point for getting the movie right?) (response from Erin: fine. I guess my solo-car-singing preferences differ slightly from the Academy’s.)

So, after tallying up the points, the winner is… drumroll, please… Julia, with 4 points! (4.5 if we count getting the movie right for Best Original Song. Which Julia does. Erin is still on the fence.) However, there was not much tallying to do in the first place, as Erin scored a whopping 0 points (though this should surprise no one).

Clearly, we are pros at these predictions. ☐

Zootopia

disney.com

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Armin and Gus’s Final Playlist of the Month

By Armin Thomas ‘17 and Augustus Lamb ‘17 Staff Writers Hey Panel readers, this is our last playlist, so we decided to make it a special one. We hope you enjoy our song selections and will try them out on Spotify or wherever you can find them.

Gus Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra - Full Body Yawn A few weeks ago, I was watching the Instagram live stream of one Josh Kennedy, a teenage viner whom I loved in ninth grade. Josh was getting asked lots of questions, but he managed to relay that his favorite band was Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra.

The name brought back lots of good memories. Immediately, I thought of my experience reading The Secret Life of Walter Mitty in Mr. Brodie’s class in eighth grade, along with the sweet, sweet imagery of Ben Stiller jumping down from a helicopter into the green depths of Iceland that has forever been imprinted in my memory through the motion picture depiction of the same short story. So I went on Spotify and hit shuffle and Full Body Yawn played.

It was so good that I have yet to move on and give my full attention to another Walter Mitty song. I would imagine the other songs are quite good, though!

John Lennon - Watching The Wheels My weird and beautiful friend Wil loves this song. John Lennon wrote it after taking a fiveyear break from releasing music.

Armin Justin Hurwitz - City of Stars Who doesn’t love La La Land these days? Well, maybe the Academy. But I still love this movie and all the songs in it. Just too perfect.

Maggie Rogers - Dog Years Ever since she got noticed by Pharrell and her first single, Alaska, became a huge hit, Maggie Rogers has been doing well. She has a really different sound that’s kind of pop but kind of not at all really. Dog Years is nice. I might see her at SXSW this summer if I convince my mom to let me take a roadtrip to Texas even though I don’t have my driver’s license.

er

Frank Ocean - White Ferrari So I text to speech, lessspeeds, Texas speed, yes.

The Mountain Goats - This Year

Artist of the Issue: Bennett Rush

By McAlister Perry ‘17 Staff Writer As Vice President of the B Flats and Belmont Hill’s most-beloved lutenist, Bennett Rush is a staple in Belmont Hill arts. Bennett started singing in Second Form, when two classmates approached him and asked if he would sing in their

A fast-tempo anthem that is very good for senior year. Senior year is coming to a close, and I am looking back on the past six months and my time at Belmont Hill. I have made it through this year - even if it’s killed me! Also, listen to The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton.

new Acappella group, as they needed a low voice for the bass. “I said yes because of the gesture,” Bennett recalls.

“I didn’t expect to go in there and find my passion.” The seven Second Formers, named “Not The B’s,” performed at the spring concert with their one-song repertoire, singing “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz. “I just sang bum, bum for the entire song,” Bennett laughs, “but we worked on something for so long, and it finally came to fruition. It didn’t matter what role I was in, and it’s a group of friends I’ve kept with me.” The ensemble added a member in Third Form and graduated to the B Flats the following year.

Now the VP of the school’s premier singing group, Bennett handles the logistical side of business, taking charge in organizing the choir’s upcoming spring break trip to Nashville, the first time that they have gone on tour in years. “In Not The B’s, we always talked about how we were going to bring the trip back when we were seniors.” Bennett sings in the bass section of the Flats, leading with fellow seniors Peter Knowlton and Dan Zakon, two singers whom Bennett has been singing with for years.

“We all work and sing very well together,” says Bennett. “Bass anchors the song and really deepens the harmonic texture of the music.”

Bennett’s favorite performance is the annual Gospelfest, a concert featuring dozens of schools

Super Furry Animals - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgoger ychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (In Space) EP Psychedelic rock has been a bit new to me. But as I’m reading more of Lord of the Rings, my knowledge of herb lore is increasingly deepening, and so psychedelic rock is really hitting me hard with its power to take the soul to somewhere else. Also, who doesn’t love pronouncing Llanfairpwllgwyng y l l go ge r ychw y r n d robw l l l l ant y s i l iogogogoch? Why don’t you give it a try?

Leonard Bernstein, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1 Over the President’s Day weekend, I went to New York and watched the Philharmonic play Mahler 1. Easily one of my favorite concerts ever. Look for Frere Jacques in the third movement, except it’ll be on double bass and featuring a klezmer band. Also, that ending is killer. Mahler really had an excellent endgame. Brass power! around the area. “There’s this spirit to the event that’s incredible,” he says, recalling their performance which was rewarded with a standard ovation from the audience.

His favorite style of song is folk/country, a genre the ever-innovative Flats have experimented with.

Bennett’s first solo was last spring on Zac Brown Band’s “Remedy”, a song he arranged after pitching it to the group.

Outside of the Flats, Bennett sings first tenor in his church choir, and loves jamming with his uncle, a guitarist and fellow vocalist, on beach-esque Jack Johnson and Jimmy Buffett tunes. He made his theatrical debut in last weekend’s Of Mice and Men, playing Candy, a ranch hand with a Southern-drawl.

“You never know what you’re going to get with Brother P, but you know it’s going to be fun,” Bennett says of the B Flats director with a grin.

“A lot of our time is put into making our pieces as fun as we can make them. The driving goal of our group is “We’re going to have some fun and enjoy doing it’. It’s visible on stage, too. People enjoy that style and the audience can tell that we like what we do.” Bennett thinks he might join another singing group in college, “but I need something that’s going to be as fun as B Flats, and that’s hard to do.”

Combining his interest in medieval culture with love of music, Bennett became the first lutenist at Belmont Hill in recent memory. “I wanted to be unique and do what I enjoy. I

Howard Shore, Annie Lennox Into The West As this is Gus and my last issue, we now say goodbye and shall fade away into the West. But fear not, I shall see you again at the End. Lord of the Rings is just such a perfect trilogy, and this song is the perfect ending to the greatest movie trilogy of all time.

Christopher Jackson, LinManuel Miranda - One Last Time Kinda the same deal as the last one, except instead of fading away, this one is about all the hope we have for the future. Let’s go out with fireworks, folks. One last time.

Thanks again, and been a great year y’all.

Signing off for the last time, Armin and Gus

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searched for an instrument that reflected my passions.” After searching overseas in Britain for a luthier, Bennett was connected to a local luthier through his lute teacher, Mr. Wright, who also teaches guitar at Belmont Hill, whom Bennett bought his lute from.

“There’s this bond with the instrument like no other. I don’t think that can be replicated with other instruments because they’re so readily available. I can go play drums or piano in any room in the music building--I can’t do that with a lute.”

“I can call this lute my own. This is my lute.”☐

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Of Mice and Men Review continued...

By Andrew Kaneb ‘17 Staff Writer Owen Pickette, Clair’s foile, and the only Belmont Hill junior in the production, played the difficult role of George Milton. Pickette captivated the audience from the opening scene, deftly displaying George’s inner conflict, as his anger at having

to clean up for Lennie’s mistakes competes with his sense of moral obligation to take care of Lennie. As Pickette related George’s dream to “live off the fat of the land” with Lennie to the audience, his character’s ambition was evident. Pickette’s finest moment came in the final scene, when

he demonstrated Steinbeck’s beautiful use of “bookends” (a literary device in which the author begins and ends a story with the same or similar scenes or lines). In a scene nearly identical to the opening, George depicts the same dream – but this time with tears, not

ambition, in his eyes, as he says goodbye to Lennie. With shaking hands and an unsteady voice, Pickette gave a powerful ending to the unsettling play.

Other moving performances included those from Bennett Rush (Candy), Scott Jackson (Slim), Sebastian Themelis (Curley), Mr. Pat-

terson (Crooks), Emily Belina (Curley’s wife), Gus Lamb (Whit), Nicole Chung (The Boss), and, of course, Bella Ryan (Candy’s dog). Bennett Rush, with his flawless southern drawl, was born to play Candy, while Scott Jackson, with his calm temperament and

soft-spoken wisdom, played a fantastic Slim.

Mr. Patterson’s smooth portrayal of Crooks provided an excellent contrast to Sebastian Themelis’s fiery rendering of Curley. The play’s casting across the board was exceptional, and reflects the senior directors Peter Knowlton and Varun Shah’s impressive understanding for the character dynamics of the play. Having neither read nor seen Of Mice and Men prior to this performance, I feel lucky to have witnessed such an artful interpretation for my first show. Bravo!

A Message from the Heads of S.A.F.E. (Students Actively Fostering Equality)

By James Cardichon ‘17 Staff Writer As s t u d e nt s w h o a c t i v e l y f o s t e r e qu a l it y, w e s t r i v e t o c om b at i g n or a n c e by e n c ou r a g i n g s tu d e nt s t o s p e a k up a b out t h e i nju s t i c e s t h e y s e e , r at h e r t h a n s w e e p t h e m u n d e r t h e r u g . A c om m on l e v e l of u n d e r s t a n d i n g c a n b e re a c h e d t h rou g h c onv e r s at i on s t h at a re re l e v a nt , pro du c t i v e , a n d i n c lu s i v e . We k n ow t h at d i v e r s it y i s n ot ju s t a b out r a c e , but m ore

a b out u n i qu e n e s s , i n d i v i du a l it y, a n d w h at m a k e s u s d i f f e re nt f rom on e a n ot h e r. Pe r s p e c t i v e m att e r s .

In S . A . F. E . , r at h e r t h a n ju d g e on e a n ot h e r, w e op e n ou r e a r s a n d eyes and take the time to listen t o w h at i s b e i n g s a i d i n ord e r t o t h i n k a b out s om e t h i n g i n a n e w l i g ht . O u r m e e t i n g s a re t r u l y s a f e s p a c e s w h e re e v e r y on e i s e n c ou ra g e d t o s p e a k b e c au s e t h e y k n ow

The Prospective: A New Creative Outlet

By Austin Kwoun ‘18 Staff Writer The Belmont Hill arts have decidedly blossomed in recent years, and The Prospective was created with a mind to capture the splendor of what we consider now to be a peak, but what we hope is just the beginning of an expansion of creativity at this school. We aspire to establish a newfound hub for self-expression; this publication figures to address ever y corner of the burgeoning arts community from a perspective seldom seen in school histor y, and then some.

The Prospective will explore all sorts of music from ever y genre imaginable, whether it be classical music with appeal to the modern listener (at my own recommendation), or in David Paine’s expertise in the unappreciated realm of metal, or in celebrating rap and hip-hop culture, or in appreciating theater music.

And speaking of theater, not only will Belmont Hill theater frontmen

offer insider information on our own theater program, but also the thespians will review professional shows like Hamilton. Other reviews, of music, movies, books, food, and more, will abound. Short stor y writers, members of Short Stor y Club or not, can feel free to submit their works of fiction for publication.

And we won’t stop there.

The Prospective will be so over the top that it’ll make your brain hurt.

Upset that there won’t be a Flannel this year? Don’t be, because there probably will be one, but if it doesn’t satisfy your satire desire, come give our publication a shot; nowhere else can you get your fix of Armin Thomas’ epic poetr y. We’ll tr y our best to carr y a unique standard for Belmont Hill artists and non-artists alike, because, in all seriousness, that’s our bottom-line goal in the creation of The Prospective: to bring this community a little closer together in a novel way that makes ever ybody just a little bit happier. ☐

t h e re s t of t h e i r p e e r s a re b ot h re c e pt i v e a n d re s p e c t f u l t o i d e a s t h at m ay n ot b e t h e re ow n . We e mbr a c e ou r d i f f e re n c e s a n d l e a r n t o a c c e pt a n d re s p e c t t h e m . O u r s tu d e nt s a re a c t i v e , a n d ou r c lu b i s n ot l i m it e d t o m e re l y w e e k l y g roup d i s c u s s i on s — w e re g u l a r l y p a r t n e r w it h ou r s i s t e r pro g r a m , N C D S’s P R I SM , br i n g i n s p e a k e r s s u c h a s p o l i c e of f i c e r s w h e n w e t a l k a b out p o l i c e br ut a l it y, att e n d

c on f e re n c e s s u c h a s SD L C a n d A I SN E , h o s t t h e a n nu a l S . A . F. E .

D a n c e , a n d r u n D i v e r s it y D ay at B e l m ont Hi l l . We prov i d e s tu d e nt s w it h k n ow l e d g e a n d i n f or m at i on t h at re g u l a r c l a s s e s of t e n f a i l t o prov i d e . Wo k e s tu d e nt s m a k e b e t t e r c it i z e n s , a n d w e k n ow t h at .

St ay L it , St ay S . A . F. E , St ay Wo k e , Ja m e s C a rd i c h on

Upcoming Arts Events Spring Coffee House - 6:30 PM, April 7, 2017 @ BH Theater Jazz Night at Ryles - TBD @ Ryles Jazz Club Middle School Musical: Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr. 7:00 PM,

May 5-6, 2017

@ BH Theater BH Spring Concert - 3:00 PM, May 7, 2017 @ Hamilton Chapel Dana Hall Musical: Footloose - 8:00 PM, May 1213, 2017 @ Bardwell Theater, Dana Hall

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2016-2017 Winter Sports Wrap-Up Swimming

Record: 6-5 Team saying: Eat, sleep, swim Favorite game: St. George’s Meet and EILs Favorite pump-up song: “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson Captain quote: “I am so, so proud of our team this season. We worked hard, supported each other, and swam fast. I could not have asked for better teammates and coaches, and will miss our team incredibly.” - Arielle Blacklow ’17 Least favorite drill: Shark Drill Captains: Arielle Blacklow ’17, Grace Hamblett ’18,

Ice Hockey

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Record: 3-8 Team Saying: Hockey is a social construct Favorite pump-up song: “So What” by P!nk Favorite game: Pingree Game Captain quote: “despite being a young team and battling many injuries this year we put together a competitive season. We as captains are so proud of WVH and are looking forward to next season.”

Least favorite drill: Monstahs Captains: Michaela O’Connor ’17, Clementine Perry ’18, Maddie Lehan ’18

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Basketball

Record: 12-9 Team saying: ballfam = bestfam Favorite game: 1st Berwick game Favorite pump-up song: “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada Captain quote: “This season was so great. We molded together so quickly. It was awesome working hard everyday together, but even better having so much fun while doing it.” - Maggie Hart ’17 Least favorite drill: 10 in 10 Captains: Maggie Hart ’17, Isabelle Bastian ’17, Alina Brennan ’18

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Squash

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Record: 13-1 Team saying: Butternut squash!

Favorite game: Beating Milton Favorite pump-up song: “Shots and Squats” by Vigiland ft. Tham Sway Captain quote: “This has been an incredible year for Winsor Squash. The varsity and JV teams were both able to see their hard work play off: this year was marked by outstanding records from both teams, but most importantly it was defined by the camaraderie and intensity show by every girl.” -Alexa Jacobs and Eve Elizondo ’17 Favorite drill: Dice Game Captains: Alexa Jacobs ’17, Eve Elizondo ’17

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Curling

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Record: N/A Team saying: “Good curling!”

Favorite opponent: Boston Latin Favorite pump-up song: “Africa” by Toto Captain quote: “Although we didn’t win the finals, curling this year was so much fun. All the new curlers improved so much!” -Sandra Lee ’17 Least favorite drill: Shoot-outs Captains: Christina Bulkeley ’17, Sandra Lee ’17, Diana Faust ’17, Lena Fulkerson ’17, Azanah Khadduri ’17, Haley Nolan ’17

Kristie Rae Gillooly

March 9, 2017

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Diversity in the NFL Thoughout History

By Arielle Blacklow Panel Staff continued from page 1... After that, the diversity in the NFL continued to increase throughout the 20th century. The progress that was made, however, was fueled mostly by racial stereotypes; AfricanAmerican players were recruited to teams based mostly off of these stereotypes instead of objective evaluation. Science had not yet disproved stereotypes regarding the athleticism of different races, so many within the NFL latched onto the false idea that African-Americans “were naturally more gifted athletes while whites possessed superior mental capabilities.” The media promoted this idea as well. CBS Sports football commentator, Jimmy Snyder, announced live that “the black is a better athlete to begin with because he’s been bred to be that way-because of his high thighs … and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs.” This offensive, inappropriate, and unsubstantiated remark was just one among many, and reflected the beliefs of the time. Coaches began to match black players to positions, such as running back, wide receiver, or defensive back, that would correspond with the stereotypes of speed and quickness. On the other hand, white athletes were seen as having leadership skills and greater mental capabilities, so were often put in positions of quarterback and kicker. Therefore, the dramatic increase in the number of African-American players during the mid to late 20th century was offset by the fact that

it was largely caused by racial stereotypes.

In the 1990s and 2000s, however, these stereotypes began to crumble and black players started to be seen in more leadership positions. In 1984, Warren Moon became the first ever African-American quarterback and was the highest paid football player at that time. By 2007, fifteen African-American quarterbacks were playing in the league.

The punting and coaching spots remained mostly white, however. Out of the 32 start-

the Jacksonville Jaguars) are not white. While there was progress in the diversity of positions for African-American players, there remained much progress yet to be made.

The number of African-American coaches, quarterbacks, and punters today is a sign of improvement in diversity of players and positions in the NFL. Yet even today, African Americans in leadership positions, especially quarterbacks, appear to be subject to a higher level of scrutiny and pressure than

blog.sportlio.com

ing kickers in the NFL in 2013, only one was African-American. The first black head coach in the NFL did not lead a team until 1989, when Art Shell coached Los Angeles Raiders. Moreover, the NFL has never had a black franchise owner, and only two of the league’s owners (Korean-born Kim Pegula of the Buffalo Bills, and Punjabi Shahid Khan of

their white counterparts. Deshaun Watson, an African-American quarterback and number one draft from Alabama State commented, “People think, ‘Oh, he’s a black quarterback, he must be dual-threat.’ People throw around that word all the time.” While Watson has led his team in an incredible amount of passing yards, he still believes he is called a mobile

quarterback or “dual threat” because of his race. Furthermore, famous quarterback from the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton, is scrutinized because of the way he acts, sometimes boisterously, on the field. Jeffri Chadiha, a writer for the NFL news proceedings, writes about Cam Newton and the fact that “if a young, black athlete like Newton wants to push the boundaries of acceptability, then it’s something that attracts haters on social media and motivates self-righteous parents to deliver sermons on proper decorum.” It is encouraging that Newton has found a way to walk this line (he is not completely hated but rather loved and respected by most), but learning how to balance expressing oneself and conforming to expectation is not something every black player should have to do. Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks has endured criticism from not only the media, but also teammates who claim he does not act “black enough.” For an African-American player, particularly as a team leader in the quarterback position, expectations are significantly higher and more controversial than they are for white players.

While the NFL has had its share of separate and unequal moments and is still battling racism and stereotypes, it has made a lot of progress since 1968 when it comes to African American diversity.

However, there is still a long way to go with them, and with people of other demographics as well. What about players of other races? Where can gender equality play a role in a completely male dominated sport? And, what role can athletes play in the battle against inequality in America? ☐

WVH:What Happened? Winter Sport Candids

By Abby Weyer Panel Staff This year’s hockey season came to an unexpected end when, a day before senior day, the season was cancelled. But what caused this abrupt and shocking turn of events for one of Winsor’s most loved winter teams? Due to the large amount of injuries on the team, coaches and sports administrators were worried about the team’s ability to play in the upcoming games, so they decided what they believed was best— to end the season all together. Out of the sixteen players on Varsity, there were only nine healthy players when they made their decision. The previous game against Pingree had claimed three of these injuries, and even the student-faculty dodgeball game during Global Forum had claimed one. Ms. Granese commented, “Safety is our first priority. Having a game with just nine players could result in even more injuries because they would be they would be playing much more and could tire easily. Injuries often happen when a player is tired.” Unfortunately, they had to cancel pretty far in advance to give the other teams opportunities to reschedule their games. For obvious reasons, the team was disappointed in the cancellation, especially after they had hyped up the school with countless posters advertising their upcoming senior day against Berwick.

Kristie Rae Gillooly

The news of the cancellation arrived late; captain Clementine Perry ’18 commented, “Even though we understand the reasoning behind the cancellation, the way we found out, by an email the day before senior day, was pretty shocking. Obviously, we were sad that our season had to end that abruptly. We felt that we had another level to give in our games. However, we were more disappointed that Michaela’s 6-year career had to end without a senior day and without a final game.”

Often the best highlights of a sports season are the last few games—one of which is always a senior day when the team’s seniors are celebrated for their time on the team.

Having that taken away not only is “shocking,” as Perry commented, but also does not provide closure to the season. This is always especially disappointing for the seniors who, unlike the younger members of the team, will not be returning for another season the next year. Luckily, the coaches worked hard to give the team time on the ice and a good end to the season. Michaela O’Connor ’17, one of the captains of the team and also the only senior, commented, “We were all disappointed that the competitive season had to end in the way that it did, but the coaches put together a great last week—we had captains practice where we all switched positions, had a senior day dinner, and went to the basketball game.” Thinking about the end of her last sports season ever at Winsor, Michaela notes, “It is insane that six years of Winsor hockey went by so quickly. A huge thank you to my coaches and teammates for making this past season a great ending to my Winsor career both on and off the ice. As a young team, WVH has a bright future-- I can’t wait to watch them in action next year!” Although it came to an abrupt ending, there is no doubt that WVH had a great season and will continue to dominate in the upcoming years. ☐

By Panel Staff

When you do all the work for the group project.

Kristie Rae Gillooly

When it’s baked haddock for lunch.

Kristie Rae Gillooly

Kristie Rae Gillooly

“Look Ma, no hands!”

Kristie Rae Gillooly

When it doubt, dab it out.

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Wrestling Dominates With Undefeated ISL Season

By Matthew Smith Staff Writer As the winter sports season drew to a close over the past month, the Belmont Hill wrestling team competed in three tournaments: GravesKelsey (ISLs), New England’s, and

2016. With many highly seeded wrestlers, the team fought valiantly, but the squad was defeated by Exeter, securing second place over Northfield Mount Hermon by a margin of one point. Phil Conigliaro took first, two, Will Ryan and Luca Pontone, took second, Colin Vallis took third, two,

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NBA playoff preview

The 2016-2017 NBA season

offs are nearing and here are the playoff matchups that I believe will occur: There will not be many first round upsets, except for the Thunder beating the Rockets in an excit-

has definitely been one to remember so far. From the extremely disappointing season for the new look Knicks, to the rise of the 76ers and Joel Embiid, it’s been a year some teams don’t want to remember, while others hope it concludes with an unforgettable ending. The emergence of the Celtics star Isaiah Thomas has certainly been a joy to watch for Celtics fans as well as fans around the league. Most recently, the Kings agreed to send the Pelicans their star big man Demarcus Cousins in exchange for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and the Pelican’s first and second round picks in 2017 in an attempt by the Pelicans to make a late playoff push. The play-

ing seven game series led by Russell Westbrook, and the Jazz out bodying the Clippers who have been extremely injury prone. The Celtics and Spurs will get all the way to their conference finals just to be stopped by the two NBA powerhouses, the Cavs and the Warriors, despite Kevin Durant’s recent injury. Finally, the finals everyone wants to see, The Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Golden State Warriors will be just as exciting as it has been the last two years. Lebron and his Cavs will defeat the Warriors for the second year in a row and leave Golden State and their fans hanging their heads.

The Cavs will take home the trophy, and Lebron will have his fourth ring.☐

By Leighton Dolan Staff Writer

2017 Varsity Basketball Roundup finally Prep Nationals. At GravesKelsey, Belmont Hill, with a complete lineup of fourteen wrestlers, cruised to victor y for the second year in a row. Of Belmont Hill’s wrestlers, six, Hamza Shemsu, Seth Israel, Phil Conigliaro, Luca Pontone, Will Ryan, and Michael Glauninger, took first, three, Matthew Smith, Colin Vallis, and Shane Rockett, took second, Henr y Griffin took fourth, and two, Ryan Williams and Owen Grady, took fifth. In addition, Phil Conigliaro was deemed the outstanding wrestler of the tournament. After an easy win in the ISL, the 12 wrestlers who qualified for New England’s (those with either a .667 winning percentage in the regular season or at least a fourth place finish at ISLs) readied themselves to defend their title from

Seth Israel and Hamza Shemsu, took fourth, Matthew Smith took sixth, Shane Rockett took seventh, and Michael Glauninger took eighth. After this impressive outcome, the seven wrestlers who qualified for Nationals, those who placed at least sixth at New England’s, prepared to wrestle on the biggest stage. The team journeyed out to Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on a Thursday afternoon. The next day, wrestlers weighed in, facing off with the likes of Blair Academy’s and Wyoming Seminar y’s best to tr y to move on to the next day. Ultimately, only Phil Conigliaro would make the finals, winning 1-0 in the finals against a wrestler from Benedictine. Congratulations to the team, coaches, and staff for an excellent season!☐

Hockey Team Finishes Strong Season with Elite 8 Playoff Berth

By Jack Ablon Staff Writer Since our last update, the boys of winter have enjoyed an impressive hot streak, compiling a 7-1-2 record. Big results include a 1-1 tie with #1 ranked Lawrence, a 5-4 OT win against Rivers, a 1-0 win against rival St. Sebastian’s, and a 2-0 win against #7 ranked Thayer. Captains Sam Hesler and Christian O’Neill have continued to lead the team in scoring, forwards Peter O’Connell, Andrew Holland and Joe Goguen have stepped up to fill vacancies due to a few injuries, Connor Hopkins has excelled in net, and defenders Brendan Rocha and Mike Armstrong have held down the fortress.

Belmont Hill wrapped up their 2016-2017 campaign this past Wednesday afternoon in the Elite 8 Quarterfinals, the tournament for the top 8 New England Prep Hockey teams. Unfortunately the boys, seeded #5, dropped a tightly-contested 3-1 decision away at #4 seed Rivers. The team finished with a 20-6-4 record and as the #5 prep team in New England, returning Belmont Hill Hockey to its rightful place as one of the best teams in the region. Thank you to seniors Sam Hesler (C), Christian O’Neill (C), Jonathan Folsom (C), Michael Armstrong, Brendan Rocha, Evan Daddario, Peter O’Connell, Kyle Maxwell, and Zachary Shpilner for your leadership and commitment, and we all wish you good luck in college and beyond. ☐

continued from page 1 Belmont Hill’s 2017-2018 campaign has long represented the team’s best chance at a first ISL title. The team returns 11 of 15, including the usual starting five (David Mitchell ‘18, Jovan Jones ‘18, Kevin Michael O’Boy ‘19, Jake Bobo ‘18, and Jake Haase ‘18), preferred substitutes (Quentin Harris ‘18, Spenser Smith ‘18), big men (Eric Taitano ‘18 and Sean Mannion ‘18), and athletic guard duo (Justin O’Neil-Riley ‘18 and Luke Jordan ‘18). Brooks will continue to field a strong team, standout guard Cormac Ryan ‘18 will remain at Milton Academy, and the introduction of Tabor to the ISL may pose some obstacles to Belmont Hill’s title hopes; however, having a whole year left to improve means this current group of juniors (and lone sophomore “Kmo”) could certainly make Belmont Hill the league’s champion come next March.☐

The Seniors on the Hockey Team Pose for a Photo

Bill Mahoney

Belmont Hill Sp orts

March 9, 2017

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Belmont Hill Varsity Scoreboard Team

Hockey

Record

20-7-4

Notable Results

Team MVPs

W 2-0 vs. Thayer W 4-2 vs. Nobles

Sam Hesler Christian O’Neill Connor Hopkins Jovan Jones David Mitchell

Basketball

14-8

W 73-67 vs. Rivers W 68-52 vs. St. Sebastians

Wrestling

19-1

Graves-Kelsey Tournament Dual Meet League Champs

Phil Conigliaro Will Ryan

Alpine Ski

N/A

3rd in ISL W in First Slalom Race

Sam Rohrer

N/A

5th at Lakes Region

Charlie Donahue Quin McGaugh

16-1

W 4-3 vs. Nobles W 4-3 vs. Gilman

Alex Kurtin James Bell

Nordic Ski Squash

Athlete of the Issue: James Bell

By JP Champa Staff Writer As a senior leader and captain of B elmont Hill’s distinguished squash program, much is expected of you. However, James B ell ‘17 has worked his way into the number one spot on this year’s squad, and hasn’t looked back since. B elmont Hill’s squash team is one of the most successful teams on campus, and the squash team has both won the ISL Championship and has never finished worse than third place at High S chool Nationals during James’ six

James started playing squash at a young age. As a premier squash player, James found himself playing in tournaments all over the countr y.

He played ever y year, becoming both stronger and better with age, and he ranked among the top twenty players in the countr y. While James has a solid reputation as an American player, the ISL schools, especially the boarding schools, enroll some of the world’s best foreign players.

This year, as our #1, James had to face several Eg yptian players who ranked among the best in the world, and James performed admirably.

C oach Brownell will cer tainly

Squash Team Completes Another Succesful Season

By JP Champa Staff Writer

The Seniors of the Squash Team: Robert Williamson, James Bell, Alex Kurtin, Owen Greenwood, and JP Champa years on the team. James has been a major contributor, working his way up the ladder to his current placement of number one. According to C oach Brownell, “James is a sixyear varsity standout. He was an instrumental member on 6 ISL championship teams that have finished either second or third in the nation for all of his 6 years. He has been a New England Champion at various f lights over the course of his career.”

miss James next year. “He has been a mar velous captain on this year’s team and he represents the ver y best of a B elmont Hill student-athlete.

I’m ver y proud to have been both his coach and his math teacher.”

James plans to continue playing at Dartmouth, where he will be a valuable member of his team. Whatever the future brings for James, I am sure that success will follow. You wouldn’t want to bet against him. ☐

With the conclusion of the winter season, both the varsity and JV teams can look back on the 201617 season with pride, with a strong performance in both the ISL and national tournament. The varsity team, at 17-1, clinched another ISL championship with a perfect regular season record. The JV had a similarly impressive undefeated ISL record with an overall record of 12-2, with both losses coming at High School Nationals against varsity programs.

On February 14, both teams traveled to Connecticut to compete in High School Nationals. In the first round, the varsity defeated St. Paul’s, winning six out of the seven matches.

In the quarterfinals, the team defeated a tough Gilman team in a 4-3 thriller that came down to the last match. To start off the match, Jack Bell and Andrew Lee each won 3-0 and 3-1 respectively; however, Gilman fought back, taking positions three and five against John Paul Champa and Robert Williamson. Tied at 2-2, Dougie Conigliaro lost in a close 4 games, while James Bell defeated his opponent, also in 4.

With the team score tied, the match

was left on #4 Alex Kurtin’s racquet.

He swiftly took the first two games 11-2, 11-6, but his opponent took the third 11-9; nevertheless, Alex returned to form in the fourth game, winning 11-9 to both seal the match and secure a semifinal opportunity. . In its only loss of the season, Belmont Hill succumbed to Haverford, the eventual winner of the National Championship.

To finish off the season, the varsity team headed to St. Paul’s to compete in the New England Class A tournament. The team had to compete without Dougie Conigliaro, who was unable to compete due to a hamstring injury; however, Jack Winston stepped up to fill the hole in the lineup. Even without a fully healthy team, varsity still fought valiantly, managing to secure a fourth place finish to end another successful season. The New England Tournament also marked the last time that James Bell, John Paul Champa, Alex Kurtin, and Robert Williamson would compete in Belmont Hill squash uniforms, and they all look toward collegiate squash opportunities.

The varsity squash team will look to returners Jack Bell, Andrew Lee, Jack Winston, and Dougie Conigliaro to uphold the tradition of excellence for the Belmont Hill varsity squash team. ☐

L ast L o ok

COMPETENCE. COMMITMENT. COURAGE. COMPASSION. CHARACTER.

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Senior Soup Wisdom

Here at the back page we sat down with senior Isabel Griffith-Gorgati, Winsor’s own self-proclaimed “soup connoisseur,” with the goal of immortalizing her sage wisdom about the Winsor soup dining program. With her help, we have compiled a definitive ranking of soups at Winsor, along with her expert comments.

Must-Haves (in priority order) Black Bean Soup: Spicy and delectable. “I have spent the entire year bemoaning the strange and inexplicable absence of black bean soup from the Winsor soup station. However, I think that I have more influence over the soup staff than I previously thought because on the very day of this interview, black bean soup reappeared at lunch for the first time this year. And it was amazing. I converted Betsy Kim, an Executive Editor of The Panel, who said it was ‘practically a transformative experience.’”

Tomato Soup (with rice). Community favorite, especially alongside grilled cheese. “The tomato soup has been one of the highlights of Winsor soup, but recently it’s been hit or miss in quality. I know I’m not the only one that has occasional complaints about its being watery, lukewarm, and tasteless. However, when they make it correctly, Winsor tomato soup, especially tomato soup with rice, is one of the highlights of Winsor lunch.”

Vegetable Chicken Soups (particularly the lemon variety): Classic, savory warmth.

French Onion Soup: Worth the bad breath.

Clam Chowder: A Boston classic, done justice by the Winsor kitchen staff.

Asparagus Soup. She made me put this here. I wholeheartedly disagree.

Carrot Soup. I also have nothing to say about this.

Blacklisted Soups Beef Mushroom Soup. “The absolute worst soup I’ve had at Winsor. I could barely swallow it.

Similar to the experience many have eating Winsor rice pudding.

Pizza Soup. No further comment is required.

White Bean Soup. “Once a Winsor classic, now on my blacklist. Do they think we don’t notice that this comes out every day after pita pockets?”

Isabel is reunited with her long lost soup love.

“The soup connoisseur” can frequently be found with several empty soup mugs on her lunch tray.

Th e Pan el

As many of you know, the head editors of the Panel participated in a “switch day” at Winsor School last Wednesday. What you may not have heard, however, is that the back page editors were dispatched on a peacekeeping mission to our brothers at St. Sebastian’s School. After being greeted by a man who looked like he had just stepped off a Mississippi River steamboat, we set out on a day of bridge-building and fact-finding. Below are our observations.

Pros: • We had plenty of time to let out our energy in a three-hour Phys Ed class • Great view of the hockey rink and famed “Henry’s Corner” from our first-period metalworking class • Ample parking, between the Upper and Lower Lots.

• A very nice morning Mass, during which they prayed for their alums in the NHL. • Solid food, but the younger students kept trying to put bagels on our head and chanting.

• A penmanship class, where we were taught how to draw the “cool S.” You know the one.

Cons: • Bathroom was very foggy and smelled faintly of crème brûlée • No Mr. Curran :( • Soft serve ice cream machine ran out of cones, and a menacing youth told me to “use ya hands, guy” • No library • Recently added smokestacks instead of solar panels • No Mark Milley posters :( In conclusion, we’re not so different, St. Seb’s and I. Two groups of young men, bonded in school spirit. Much like the crew of the Pequod, our respective brotherhoods of men soldiering on in search of the white whale that is ISL supremacy. Star crossed educational institutions, born on opposite sides of I-95. Striving to educate young men in mind, body, and spirit. #wehere™

Headmaster Search Committee Announces Final Candidates:

• Ted Cruz: Princeton alum, family man, and noted lover of queso • Drew Bowser: Accidentally put his name in the running when trying to sign in, but has been gaining support from BH big wigs as of late • Mr. English: Though he hasn’t been on campus long, Dr. Melvoin has hinted that Mr. English is his personal pick for a successor.

• Sir Gene Widmer-Schlumpf: Decorated war hero, Director of Student Life and head sailing coach at Mr. Ripple’s School for Boys in Crested Butte, CO and close personal friend of Mr. Sherman • Benny Wanger (endorsed by Bradley Hart ‘17): The only player to throw a perfect game in Belmont Hill history and current Yale scholar hopes to continue making history on the Hill.

• Wyclef Jean: His song “Perfect Gentleman” and philanthropic efforts make him a great role model and a slam dunk choice!

• Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20: Vocalist of the Grammy Award-winning 1999 hit “Smooth” by Carlos Santana off the multi-platinum album Supernatural.

• Julien Toulotte: Would expand the BYOD policy to require all students to bring gaming computers and implement mandatory international travel during breaks.