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Volu m e 6 5 , Issu e 1
May 5 , 2 0 1 6
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
MUGGED BY REALITY Matt Trevithick advocates for improved U.S.-Middle Eastern relations
By Mack Perry Panel Staff “Right now, the Middle East could not be more present in our lives,” opened Matt Trevithick, a writer, researcher, and author specializing in the region. “It’s certainly been an odd place to call home.” “I’ve spent time in places that ten years ago went from quiet and sleepy to completely destroyed,” he detailed to the school. Just three months ago, Mr. Trevithick was one of five Americans released from an Iranian prison. A Hingham native and 2008 graduate of Boston University with a degree in International Relations (and the recipient of BU’s 2014 Young Alumni Award), he has worked at the American University of Iraq and the American University of Afghanistan, speaking fluent Farsi and Dari along with conversational Russian and Arabic. Mr. Trevithick, a former rower at BU and silver medalist at the Head Of The Charles, launched and coached the first Iraqi and Afghanistan national crew teams, proof of his commitment to fostering strong relations with Middle Eastern countries. He traveled to Tehran in September for four months of intensive Farsi study. Due to strained nuclear relations between Iran and
Look Inside
the U.S., he realized that foreign students were in danger and was detained on his way to buy a plane ticket home. Mr. Trevithick spent 41 days in Iran’s most notorious prison, including 29 of those in
three ideas to how America can invest in a meaningful relationship with the countries it is working alongside. “The road we’ve been on since 2001 is littered with the debris of the mistakes we’ve
the Middle East has been inefficient. Mr. Trevithick criticized the flimsy policies designed in the US; they break down almost immediately, as they do not translate to the field of engagement.
solitary confinement, and was recently released in a prisoner swap between the two countries. Now, he has returned to the states to speak about the Middle East and U.S. relations. “I’ve learned most about the United States and us, and how we work to influence the course of events in countries we’ve attacked or supported.” Mr. Trevithick presented
made,” he stated. He believes that the US has an insufficient understanding of the places it works in. “There’s a common notion that if we all understood each other, there would be no war,” he said. “Sadly, I don’t believe that’s true.” Despite the fact that more than 40 countries have sent troops or military advisors to Afghanistan since 2001, the foreign help in
His second point noted that the US has an interest in arriving as a “clean slate,” where scholars and diplomats do not research the region prior to arriving in order to enter with an unbiased opinion. This is a huge mistake, according to Mr. Trevithick. He noted that a friend followed this costly advice and said that it was like “getting mugged by reality” once he ar-
Ben Bramley ‘18 Shows Diving Talent By Duncan Grant Panel Staff
News p2 Opinions p3&4
Arts p5
Sports p6&7
Back Page p8
Ben Bramley ‘18 earned the title of Athlete of the Issue with his outstanding performance in San Antonio, Texas, at the 2016 USA Diving Synchronized National Championships. At the meet, Bramley and Max Flory, his diving partner out of Fairfax, Virginia, took gold in the ten meter competition for boys 14-18, and the two are now focused on the upcoming Olympic trials in June. For Bramley, this victory has been a long time coming. Bramley first started diving six years ago, when he joined Charles River Diving under coach Agnes Miller. In 2014, Bramley and Miller attended the 2014 USA Diving Junior National Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he took fourth in the three-meter springboard for boys 14-15. Not only did he finish well, but his combined scores qualified him to compete at the 2014 FINA World Junior Diving Championships in Penza,
Russia, representing the US. Before travelling to Penza, Ben told Wicked Local that he “was extremely excited because I did not expect to make the meet at all.” After a successful trip to Russia, Bramley returned ready to work even harder. This fall,
Bramley left Charles River Diving for the Beede Center out of Concord Carlisle High School, a much easier commute from Belmont Hill. As well as individual diving from heights of one, three, and ten meters, Bramley started working with Flory for synchronized diving. Because Flory lives in Virginia and there are no ten meter platforms in New England, Bramley has had to make several trips to practice with him. Virginia also offers ten meter diving platforms, something not found in any New England diving facilities. Leading up to this year’s Synchronized National Championships, Bramley practiced seventeen hours a week. When the time came for Flory and Bramley to compete in San Antonio, they blew the field away with a combined score of 618.27. The Olympic trials in June present the duo with a new challenge, meaning more diving trips and extra hours at Concord Carlisle. In the face of this daunting task, Bramley is all smiles, saying, “it’s just nice to see all my hard work pay off.” ☐
rived. Trevithick advised that it was important to break the language barrier and learn the local dialect, sharing a story of a Russian embassy worker he met who fluently spoke four languages, which allowed him to easily manage the diverse array of people. By contrast, no one at the US embassy in Afghanistan spoke “more than two words of the local language”. Lastly, Mr. Trevithick advocated for longer stays of diplomats and advisors, noting the incredibly short tours of Americans in foreign embassies. “We haven’t been fighting one fifteen-year war in Afghanistan,” he stated. “We’ve been fighting fifteen oneyear wars.” The one-year tours of Americans and other advisors are ineffective, and that we should invest more time into creating meaningful relationships instead of rotating on a one-year schedule. To close, Mr. Trevithick offered three pieces of advice for students to maximize their impact as global citizens. First, learn a language: “pick one and own it.” Second, read Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, as “it’s one of the best books on how to start an adventure,” he said with a laugh. Finally, he recommended that we go there and advocated to break out of one’s comfort zone and experience another culture. “Get out there, because the world is waiting for you.” ☐
The Trump Effect By Robbie Warming Panel Staff Donald Trump has already wreaked havoc on the GOP. Whether Trump wins or loses, the destruction of the Republican party is imminent and will come to full fruition in the elections next November. If the unlikely occurs and Trump walks away from this year’s convention victorious, the damage to the party would be significant. Despite the Donald’s declaration that he is “the last person Hillary wants to run against,” the exact opposite is true. A Trump nomination would nearly guarantee a Clinton presidency. According to a Real Clear Politics poll of polls, Clinton beats Trump by nearly ten points in the general. Trump even beats out the seemingly hated Hillary in unfavorability ratings, with his 64.5% to her 54.2%. If Trump were to be nominated, not only would he lose the general election, but he’d be a terrible face for the Republican party. (continued on page 4)
Belmont HIll NEWS
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Th e Pan el
Ray Hunt ‘17 Elected School President to work with boarding representatives to accommodate their goals for the next year, which include adding more dining options and unblocking some forms of social media on campus.
By Ishaan prasad Panel Staff As the campus already looks forward to next year, this April Ray Hunt ‘17 was chosen by his peers to represent the student body as President of the School. A veteran senate member, Ray has served as president of his class since Form I, an astonishing feat that rarely occurs on the Hill. While Hunt has been a perennial powerhouse on the political side of campus, he fills a wide diversity of roles on campus; a captain of varsity football and a member of the varsity track team, Ray also heads up the Coding Club. Next fall, Ray hopes to foster a community where boys can continue to explore their passions. “In the past 5 years,” he explains, “it’s been fascinating to see each class leave its own mark on the school; some of these grades have excelled in certain areas in particular, and my goal is to see as wellrounded a school as possible next year.” With five years of experience in representing a diverse group of boys, Hunt also has a host of goals all aimed at “improving the lives of students on a day-to-day basis.” First on this list, Ray plans to address the community’s suggestions regarding food: from offering a wider range of options at snackbar, to providing boys with a nutritious, high-protein option at lunch everyday,
Debate Holds Tournament on Campus By Armin Thomas Panel Staff On April 10th, Belmont Hill’s Lyceum demonstrated its commitment to the art of debating by hosting its very own debate tournament. Unlike most of the parliamentary-style debate tournaments that take place throughout the year, the Belmont Hill debate was a prepared debate, requiring extensive research on a specific topic. This year’s resolution was whether or not to pass Bernie Sanders’s bill to rebuild American infrastructure with a $1 trillion government spending program. A wide variety of schools from distant lands in the far reaches of New England came to partake in the debate tournament, showcasing their talent at making persuasive arguments on a specific topic. The Belmont Hill advanced debate squad was led by veterans Alex Czarnecki and Jason Fischman and consisted of many other seasoned debaters like Louis Gounden and Bradley Hart. Novice teams from Belmont Hill were made up of slightly less experienced debaters. Belmont Hill did not take home a win, but many teams did win a majority of their rounds during the debate, a fulfilling conclusion to a year of hard work from the debaters.
“It’s been fascinating to see each class leave its own mark on the school; some of these grades have excelled in certain areas in particular, and my goal is to see as well-rounded a school as possible next year”
A veteran Senate member, Ray has been President of his class since Form I. Ray hopes to continue off of the improvements made by the Senate this year. A senate initiative headed up by the Class of 2017 this year, next fall Ray also hopes to make the lending library for used books a reality: a part of Belmont Hill
that is relatively unknown, the lending library would allow boys to borrow, rather than purchase, textbooks and other literature for their classes. In an effort to improve the lives of the boarders on campus, Ray also plans
When considering technology, one of Ray’s biggest goals next year is to lighten some of the internet restrictions for students; with a Belmont Hill email address for unblocking sites already created this year, by the fall, Hunt also hopes to lift restrictions on Spotify and Snapchat. Ready for his final year on campus, Ray feels poised and ready to take on the responsibilities of representing the school. Serving alongside Vice President Brian Tanabe ‘17, Senators Nick Delhome ‘17 and Peter Tamasi ‘17, and the other members of the Senate, Ray has the experience and the drive to help the Belmont Hill community accomplish all these goals and more. ☐
March Trips a Resounding Success By Matthew Goguen Staff Writer On the first day of vacation, three planes left Logan Airport with Belmont Hill groups on them. One plane was headed to San Francisco for the annual community service trip, another south of the United States to Frenchspeaking Guadeloupe, and a third to Beijing to experience China firsthand. On the service trip, students spent two days in San Francisco sightseeing the abundance of tourist attrac-
tions, such as Alcatraz Island’s prison and the world famous Golden Gate Bridge. They then headed off to the woods for the rest of the trip, where they helped a Stanislaus National Forest. Because this part of California had been devastated by forest fires a year earlier, students and faculty chaperones planted new trees, rebuilt paths, and rebuilt a new facility for the national park. In the Caribbean, French students explored the beautiful landscape of the island. Additionally, students learned the diverse culture of the island. They cooked food with the locals and even at-
tended classes at a nearby high school. Finally, across the world, students visited Beijing and Xi’an. In both places, students had the chance to speak with locals in Chinese, eat authentic Chinese food, and observe the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. As each trip returned one-byone, stories would be told throughout the next week about memorable experiences at each places. As Jack Hanna once said: “The world is the true classroom. The most rewarding and important type of learning is through experience, seeing something with our own eyes.” ☐
Top Row (Left): Form IV Boys enjoy the view in San Francisco Top Row (Right): The boys at the Guadeloupe trip pose with their teammates after a soccer match Bottom Row: Form III and Form IV boys carry the Belmont Hill School Seal with them across the Great Wall.
May 5, 2016
Belmont Hill NEWS/Opinions
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Why Kasich Should be the GOP’s Nominee By John Markis Panel Staff
antees a victory. Going 12-0, Kasich is undefeated in Ohio, and crushed the Democrats in his 2014 gubernatorial reelection,
In terms of whom it wishes to nominate for president, the Republican Party may seem to be in disarray, with one section coalescing around the loathed Cruz, another the ebullient Trump, and a third potential white knight Paul Ryan; however, none of these candidates will be favorites in a general election against Hillary Clinton. While any of these men could win the general election, they will each be faced with unique issues and, in the case of Cruz and Trump, record-low favorability ratings. With that being said, all has not been lost for the Party of Lincoln. John Kasich, the governor of Ohio, remains in the race and is the most viable option for the GOP for three reasons: 1. Ohio. No Republican has won the election without Ohio. The last Democrat to win without Ohio was JFK in 1960, over Richard Nixon. Needless to say, the GOP needs to win Ohio and its 18 electoral votes in order to have a chance against the Democrats’ “blue wall.” Kasich guar-
winning 86 of 88 counties. 2. Experience. If Cruz or Trump were to win the nomination, the national media and Democrats alike would slaughter them based off a lack of experience. It could make no such claim against Kasich. He has worked for the Republican Party since Reagan’s 1976 election bid, making him the only candidate on either side to stay loyal to his party. While 2016 may be
the year of political outsiders, many people will accept a lifelong politician, someone who has made difficult decisions his entire life, in the coming months due to continued threats from ISIS. Hillary Clinton is without question the most experienced person in the race, but Kasich will make a strong claim. 3. Broad Appeal. This is Kasich’s strongest argument. He is the only candidate who beats Clinton outside the margin of error on a consistent basis. Furthermore, while Cruz may divide the Republican base and drive moderates to the left, Kasich would have the opposite effect; centrists would have no problem supporting him. And while he may not wave the
Bible around à la Cruz, he will still gather right-wing support with a Tea Party running mate, such as Nikki Haley or Marco Rubio. Such a ticket would also attract minority groups to the GOP, groups who feel disenfranchised by Trump’s rhetoric but still believe in fiscal conservatism. Ultimately, while Cruz or Trump could pull off an upset victory, Kasich would start as the frontrunner in a campaign against Clinton. If it were Clinton v. Kasich, I envision Kasich flipping Iowa, New Hampshire, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Colorado, and Wisconsin, while also winning the states that Mitt Romney won in 2012, giving him 295 electoral votes. In contrast, for Trump to win without Florida, a near guarantee due to his negative relations with the Bush family and Florida’s large Hispanic population, he would have to win nearly every Rust Belt state, something that hasn’t happened for Republicans since the Reagan administration. At the end of the day, if the GOP wants to ensure the reestablishment of a conservative Supreme Court and hold a Republican-majority Congress, it should choose Kasich. ☐
Explosion at Ohlin’s Shocks Community By Leighton Dolan Staff Writer At 2:45 a.m. on March 15, 2016, an explosion rocked Ohlin’s Bakery in Belmont. The blast occurred when gas was collected in a large industrial oven, having been ignited by an unknown substance. Owner Paul Klemm had turned the oven on and walked behind a six-foot stack of pans when the explosion occurred. The pans, which for years had been used to make Ohlin’s famous donuts and baked goods, probably saved Klemm’s life, as they shielded him from the force of the blast. The explosion was powerful enough to blow through a brick wall and cause the roof to partially
collapse. Klemm escaped with only his hair and eyebrows singed by the flames. Generations of Belmont Hill students have been introduced to Ohlin’s during early morning advisor meetings. Although many bring in Dunkin’s Donuts donuts, the ones who bring in the old fashioned Ohlin’s donuts are admired. Once you taste an Ohlin’s donut, there is no going back to Dunkin’s. The rich and sugary taste leaves you licking your fingers after the last bite. Ohlins will be closed indefinitely due to the structural damage, but the owners promise to reopen as soon as possible. Everyone hopes that Ohlin’s will be able to reopen and make its return to the Hill before too long. ☐
Dr. David Keith gives enlightening Chapel Talk By Nick Daley Staff Writer
Instrumental to bringing the Doctor to Belmont Hill, William McCormack ‘18 stands with David Keith
Anticipation was high in the days leading up to Dr. David Keith’s Chapel speech. Dr. Keith, one of the most distinguished and respected scientists and professors, specializes in the controversial area of climate engineering, the intentional manipulation of the Earth’s climate to combat global warming. He has given a TED talk, appeared on The Colbert Report, and was named to Time Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment List in 2009. He was brought to the school in large part by sophomore William McCormack. On April 5th, students and teachers took a break from their school day and watched Dr. Keith command the audience for his full 40 minutes. He started out by discussing the dangers of climate change, explaining that human infrastructure and natural ecosystems may not be able to adapt if something is not done. He then began to make a case for
geoengineering. Stressing the uncertainty about what the future will hold and the amount of time it will take for renewable energy to counteract carbon’s effects, Dr. Keith asserted that we will need to do something more drastic than just phasing out fossil fuels if the planet is to survive. All this led into an explanation of the main types of geoengineering, such as the hotly contested idea of solar radiation management, which would involve putting reflective particles, possibly sulfuric acid, into the upper atmosphere to block out the sun and cool down the planet. The plan has met some skepticism from people who worry about the unintended consequences of deliberately putting pollution, as Dr. Keith called it, into the atmosphere, but it is an inexpensive and possibly effective strategy. The lecture left no doubt that climate change is an urgent and serious threat, and that it is up to our generation to address it, whether it is through renewable energy and reduced waste, or, as he suggested, through geoengineering. ☐
belmont hill Opinions
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Opposites Attract: Trump vs. Sanders In this new volume of The Panel, we are continuing a tradition of good-hearted debate between two Belmont Hill V Formers, Phil Bailey and Robbie Warming. They will satirically argue views completely contrary to their true beliefs. We are proud to present: “Opposites Attract.”
#TrumpTrain
Team AARP (Sanders)
By Phil “Seize the Memes of Production” Bailey Panel Staff
By Robbie “Don’t You Die On Me, GOP” Warming Panel Staff
For years, our politicians have been selling us out to the highest bidder. The wealthiest people buy politicians and use them for their own purposes. Donald knows this. He has been buying off politicians for years. We cannot afford to elect politicians who are beholden to wealthy people, so let’s just directly elect a wealthy person instead! Bernie Sanders receives his money from ordinary people, not the kind of people who should be having a say in our political system. One can only imagine what kind of people are contributing that $27 average campaign donation. Yes - those people! We need a wall and Mexico will pay for it. China has a wall, and they don’t have any Mexicans there. I love China (China China China China), but they’re beating us because they have a wall. We need to beat China. And these ridiculous young kids thinking college should be free. Donald J. Trump worked his way through college in 1965 with only a small loan of $1 million, no problem. Sure, back then public college costed an average of $2,000 (after accounting for inflation). But that’s irrelevant. Point is: it was easy for him, so screw you. Did I mention he also went to Wharton? Great school. Ivy League. Fantastic. And why do these liberal softies even wanna go to college if they’re
just gonna get “triggered” when they get there? Not everyone needs to go to college. I love the poorly-educated by the way. We are done being politically correct. All Lives Matter, black, white, Mexican; you know Mexicans love Donald J. Trump, love ‘em. And now Hillary Clinton is saying she no longer supports Bill Clinton’s crime bill and Defense of Marriage Act. She no longer thinks African-Americans are “superpredators.” Hillary Clinton has flip-flopped on being racist and homophobic. At least Donald J. Trump has remained consistent in his racism. Besides, we need someone to work for cheap prison labor. Especially if our loser government is gonna let Verizon workers protest: losers. We don’t win anymore. Fine, keep protesting. Trump will continue to lock people up who will work for Verizon for free! Capitalism works, especially private prisons; great projects, (Check out the Trump Correctional Facility, top of the line). Trump will continue to keep America #1 in one of the few categories we still lead: per capita prison population. And now Obama wants to release nonviolent drug offenders who have lifetime sentences, which will make us lose in that category! We are losing to everyone with Obama in office, especially China. Trump knows how to win. ☐
Until recently, I thought I was a Conservative. I believed in fiscal responsibility and had proudly voted for mi amigo Marco Rubio in the Republican primary. But now that the youthful Marco is gone, I am left with Ted Cruz, whose plan for world domination isn’t so attractive, John Kasich (wait, he’s still in the race?) who’s from Ohio, Hillary Clinton *gags*, and Donald Trump, who is Hitler. My heart feels empty and yearns for a candidate who understands me, who knows where I’m coming from, who cares. And I have found him: 74-year-old Bernie Sanders. And I get it. Robbie, isn’t he a bit old for you? Robbie, isn’t he going to die in like a month? Are his socialist plans completely unreasonable in a country currently $19.3 trillion in debt? Yes, yes, and yes. But he cares, and that’s what matters. Caring is something Donald Trump lacks. Since the 1980s, the Donald has been musing over running for president. And for what? The title. All Donald wants is the flashing lights and a new Trump Tower, D.C. located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Bernie doesn’t want that. All Bernie cares about is free college, free healthcare, free food, free housing, and,
hopefully, a free Belmont Hill education. Free is something I can get behind. And sure, some people in the top 1% of the top 10% of the top 50% will have to pay for all of it, but who cares? I’m a broke kid, who’s unemployed most of the year and has $2,000 to his name on a good day. I’m not going to have to pay for it. My kids, maybe, but definitely not me. And I can live with that.
All Bernie cares about is free college, free healthcare, free food, free housing, and, hopefully, a free Belmont Hill education. Free is something I can get behind. But why not vote for the Hilldog, you ask? And yes, other than the other Republican candidates, Hillary is probably the next best thing to rightwing. Though this is true, she just doesn’t have that X factor, that mojo. She’s just… lame. While Bernie rules the internet, spreading his good word in meme form, Clinton embarresses herself trying to do the whip & nae nae on Ellen. She’s just too out of touch and unqualified to be a millennial president. That is why this millennial is Feeling the Bern. This hip senior citizen gets me, so he’s got my vote. ☐
The Trump Effect and the Future of the GOP Continued from Front Page He’d drive voters away from Republican congressional candidates, many of whom have already started to distance themselves from him. With a Trump nomination, the Republican party could literally lose their place in federal government: in the executive, legislative, and, indirectly, the judicial branch. The second loss with a Trump nomination would be purely ideological, as the Party of Lincoln would go from an ever-modernizing, fiscally conservative party to one that is populist and authoritarian. A Trump win would be a devastating loss to American conservatism. The second, more realistic possibility would have Trump not gathering enough delegates to reach the magic number of 1,237 and losing an open convention. Since March 15th, according to FiveThir-
tyEight, Trump has fallen well below the target delegate count he’d need to win in order to se-
discern why. The 50% delegate rule has been in place for years. It ensures that the entire
cure the nomination. Because many of the delegates attending the convention belong to the Republican establishment, Trump would surely lose once their votes become unbound in the second round. And to this, the hoards of Trump supporters cry foul, but I cannot
party, not just a rambunctious sect trying to hijack it, is behind a single, solid candidate. Here, we can witness a divide brewing, as an entire third of Republicans view Trump unfavorably, according to CNN/ORC and Quinnipiac University polls. If and when
the Republican establishment taps a candidate other than Trump, he may very well walk out of the convention as a third-party candidate, taking his loud, angry, and loyal followers with him. This will not only hand the election to Hillary Clinton but could destroy the Republican party as a whole. With two opposing groups emerging from the convention—one populist, one traditional conservative—the party could very well split in two. Such a rift would shudder the old GOP on all levels, as Trump and his minions would run with a vengeance in local, state, and federal elections. Trump, through his dividing rhetoric, has embodied the Four Horsemen in his torching of the GOP. Whether he wins or loses, the GOP has lost. Only a miracle can save it. ☐
Th e Pan el
Hillary Clinton and the AfricanAmerican Vote By Charlie Donahue & Richie Kendall Staff Writers While campaigning for Hillary in Philadelphia, Bill Clinton got into a vehement altercation with Black Lives Matter protesters over the 1994 Crime Bill. Addressing them, he said, “Let’s just tell the whole story...You are defending the people who kill the lives you say matter. Tell the truth.” He noted that we are currently experiencing a 25-year low crime rate in America, a 33-year low homicide rate, and a 46-year low gun violence death rate. It is ironic he claimed to “tell the whole story,” and urged protesters to “tell the truth,” when he did just the opposite. The Crime Bill provided 10,000 new police officers, expanded prisons, banned certain assault weapons and enacted the three-strike rule in which criminals convicted of drug crimes after two prior convictions would be sentenced to life. What he left out in his remarks: when his presidency ended, the U.S. had the highest incarceration rate in the world and African-Americans made up 80-90% of drug offenders in prison despite being no more likely than whites to commit drug-related felonies. The number of AfricanAmericans sentenced for drug crimes in 2000 was 26 times higher than in 1983. Hillary supported the bill, and referred to young African-Americans in gangs as “super-predators” who needed to be “brought to heel.” Both Clintons have expressed regret over the bill’s effect on blacks, however, it is clear they believe it was ultimately successful. Not only was Bill’s response to BLM protesters hypocritical and misleading, it was practically political suicide considering how heavily Hillary’s campaign relies on the black vote. Another issue the black community has with Clinton’s record is welfare reform. In 1996, as the torchbearer for the “New Democrats,” Bill passed reforms that added roadblocks to entitlement benefits and slashed the total welfare spending some $54 billion. As a result, impoverished African-Americans receiving welfare benefits dropped from 68% before the bill to 26% following its enactment. Again, Hillary and Bill believe that while the legislation did have negative effects on AfricanAmericans, it was a success overall. Despite continually changing her support for Bill’s record on those issues, Hillary praises the fact that the economy was booming in the 1990s. She leaves out, however, that the economy was not good for the black community. For example, the 90s saw record high numbers of unemployed black men in their 20s without college degrees. Also, the gap between black and white median income continued to grow. Unfortunately for Hillary, she can’t have it both ways. She will either have to distance herself from Bill’s administration, in which she played a major role, or take more responsibility for the impact his policies had on African-Americans. ☐
Belmont Hill Arts
May 5, 2016
Featured Musical Group: Belmont Hill Chamber Society By Armin Thomas Panel Staff Since the official formation of the instrumental music program at Belmont Hill in 2004, the quality and variety of the performances put on by the musicians have been steadily increasing. This trend is best typified by the Belmont Hill Chamber Society (BHCS). President George Hu stated that “the initial purpose of creating the society was to push classical music further into the limelight of Belmont Hill music. Two years after the founding of the society, I think that it has promoted/increased classical music’s presence at Belmont Hill, especially since we have three extant groups on campus now: two trios and a piano duet.” These three ensembles are the Belmont Hill Piano Trio, the Brandenburg Trio, and the Piano Duet. The Belmont Hill Piano Trio is the oldest and most established active chamber group on campus, consisting of pianist George Hu, cellist Spencer Kim, and violinist Austin Kwoun. Formed during Mr. Fiori’s sabbatical year and coached by Mr. Glenn, the Belmont Hill Piano Trio earned the reputation of being the flagship ensemble for the music program as a whole, with Dr. Melvoin likening the three musical wizards to “All-Americans”. Their standout ability as a group led them to perform for distinguished audiences such as Professor Mia Chung-Yee from the Curtis Institute of Music, Harvard Dean of Admissions William Fitzsimmons, and the Belmont Hill Corporation. Individually, each member of the trio is an exemplary musician. Cellist Spencer Kim was selected to perform in the 2014 National Honor Orchestra, as well as the 2012 and 2013 Foulger International Music Festivals. Austin Kwoun most recently won the Category C at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School Concerto Competition and has also performed
at famous locations such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Finally, pianist George Hu has attended the International Institute for Young Musicians and has performed in locations such as Paris, Vienna, and Budapest for distinguished professors such as Gabor Eckhardt of the Liszt Academy. This excellence in music is continued by the second trio, the Brandenburg Trio, consisting of pianist Armin Thomas, violist Didier Lucceus, and violinist Andrew Kaneb. As Hu said, “the new members of the society have also contributed immensely to the society’s ongoing expansion by forming a second trio. Each of them is a fantastic musician, and collectively they bring a new dynamic to the society as a whole.” Pianist Armin Thomas was a finalist in the 2015 A Ramon Rivera Piano Competition and will perform internationally in a 2016 tour to Germany. Violist Didier Lucceus had the opportunity to study with Carol Foucher at the Conservatoire Regional de Bretagne in France where he spent the 2015-16 year and is a member of the 2015-16 Center for Development of Arts Leaders. Violinist Andrew Kaneb is a member of the Youth Symphony Orchestra at NEC and will tour internationally in 2017. He has also been contacted by developers for his musical expertise in helping to make the music app Cadenza. The Piano Duet is an amalgamation of the pianists from both trios that provides joyous and lighthearted music to audiences, such as Schubert’s Marche Militaire in D major and Strauss’s Radetzky March. All three groups coordinate their efforts to create a thriving classical music scene at Belmont Hill. As for future plans, they look promising. “I am very optimistic about the program next year, hopefully we can replace the outgoing seniors that have been a foundation for the program”, said Hu. In the meantime, the BHCS is hosting a benefit concert for local orphanages on 26 May and would like people to attend. ☐
Senior Rock Band after their last coffee house performance
Executive Editor Mack Perry
Editors-in-Chief Jason Fischman Bennett Rush
Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Juliette Zener
Arts Editor Armin Thomas
Copy Editors John Markis JP Champa
News Editor Ishaan Prasad
Sports Editor Evan Ricci
Assistant Editors Mattew Bracken Phillip Bailey William McCormack
Opinion Editor Robbie Warming
Photo Editor Duncan Grant
Online Editors Arnav Prasad Matt Smith
Back Page Editor Matt O’Leary and Seamus Clair 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. Printed by Belmont Printing Company, Belmont, MA 02478.
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Artist of the Issue: Harrison Rohrer By Mack Perry Panel Staff As lead singer of the senior rock band, singer and section leader of Tenor 2 in B-Flats, Harrison Rohrer has had a prolific music career at Belmont Hill, taking guitar and piano lessons in middle school and concentrating on his singing in upper school. Rohrer helped start the Spanish Rock Band, a group formed by several of his fellow then-eighth graders who focused on playing Latin-inspired music, such as “Smooth” by Santana. The band still holds its core membership of Rohrer, Juan Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, Matt Armstrong, Greg Katz, Tommy Ruggles, and Gabe Schmittlein. “It’s always a team effort,” noted Rohrer. The band occasionally features guest artists like guitarist Sean Rayment and singers Alex Afeyan and David Yellen. Rohrer’s repertoire holds a diverse spread of genres, ranging, for example, from rock classic “Only The Good Die Young” by Billy Joel to modern blues piece “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges, which were both performed at his final Coffee House in early April. Although those songs are vastly different, each compliments Rohrer’s vocal range. “We’ve all got-
ten better at our instruments, but we’ve especially improved in knowing what we can do as musicians,” he says. Harrison’s band capped off with a grand finale at last month’s Coffee House, performing “Bright Lights” by Matchbox Twenty. In college, Rohrer hopes to join an acapella group or band, but “I can’t imagine anyone beating our band here.”☐
Spring Coffee House Showcases Performing Talent on Campus By Armin Thomas Panel Staff On Friday 8 April performers from Belmont Hill convened in the Kraft Theater to perform at the second Coffee House of the 2015-16 year. The fame garnered by the first coffee house this past December proved instrumental in attracting the largest-ever crowd present at a coffee house in Belmont Hill history. The April coffee house showcased the quality of music being made at Belmont Hill, as many new performers were present on the program as well as many established solo acts and groups. The show started off with a performance of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black” by the Middle School Rock Band, setting the upbeat and lively tone for the rest of the night. Afterward, Al Zenati and Heather Forbes sang a Meghan Trainor song, with virtuoso pianist George Hu accompanying. A couple of acts later, Marshall Knight wowed the audience with his introspective and passionate singing of “The Gardener,” while playing his guitar. Following Knight was a trio consisting of trombonist Armin Thomas, trumpeter Jacob Welborn, and drummer Scott Jackson who performed a live rendition of the “Timmy Trumpet Freaks” meme. The Jazz Combo took the stage after them, and sported their swag with “Soul Man”. Two songs later, was a haunting rendition of Schubert’s Erlkönig by Armin Thomas, followed by a revolutionary motivational speech à la Shia
LaBeouf made by Gifford Metz that left the audience awestruck by the power of Metz’s oratory. Towards the beginning of the second half of the program, Varun Shah and Mack Perry sang and played Mr. Brightside, to wild applause. The night only got better from that point, with the Upper School Rock Band #1, supplemented by the fresh tenor voices of Alex Afeyan and Harrison Rohrer singing “Only the Good Die Young”, the Billy Joel classic. Following them was Armin Thomas, on solo trombone who played “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons, wowing the audience and getting them on their feet by exhaling in the style of the original song. A few acts after Thomas was the
Country Band, with Andrew Kaneb soloing on violin, who played “El Dorado,” a popular country tune. After them came elements of the Upper School Jazz Ensemble, the premier jazz group on campus, who played “Red Clay” to the audience’s delight. Brendan Pulsifer and Alex Afeyan showcased their vocal and pianistic abilities with a harmonious duet of “Bridge over Troubled Waters” that duly pleased the audience. And finally, to close the show, the full 9-piece Upper School Rock Band, nicknamed “the Boys of the Boat”, played “Snow, Bright Lights”. The audience loved all the performances, and after the final chord proceeded to enjoy their Friday nights satiated with music. ☐
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Lacrosse off to a Fast Start By Evan Ricci Panel Staff The 2016 spring season of Belmont Hill Lacrosse is well underway. Having been crowned co-champions of the ISL last year with Gover-
nor’s Academy, the team looks to win this year’s ISL crown as the outright champion. The team is off to a fast start, currently sitting with a record of 5-0 behind captain Johnny Hincks. On a brisk Friday afternoon, the team picked up its first victory against Thayer Academy. Having been up
Callen Morris ‘16 Taking a Faceoff
by four goals at the beginning of the second half, the team’s lead disintegrated. However, hungry to start off the season with a win, tied at 6, Belmont Hill found themselves with on offense with 30 seconds remaining. After moving the ball around for about 20 seconds, Belmont began their final move. In a series of plays, Junior Zach Geddes fired off a shot with five seconds remaining and found the back of the net. Following an easy win against Roxbury Latin, the team was set to face Governor’s Academy in a battle between the reigning co-champions of the ISL. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, Belmont Hill took on this extremely talented Governor’s squad. Virtually trailing at all points of the game, spirits were nearly dashed. However, in epic Goalie Danny Hincks ‘18 fashion, the squad mounted an have many future implications later incredible comeback. Having been in the season. Griffin Gustafsson was down by 5 goals for a long duration of the game changer, as he potted home the game, the comeback began in the the ninth goal with only 33 seconds second half. As the second half began, remaining. The team looks forward to the score sat at 6-2. Belmont Hill big games against Nobles, Rivers, and closed out the game on a 7-2 run, fin- St. Sebastian’s. Good luck to the Varishing with a crucial 9-8 win that will sity Lacrosse team down the line.☐
Young Baseball Team Looks to Finish Strong By Austin Kwoun Staff writer The B elmont Hi l l b as eb a l l s e as on is under w ay! As t he we at her has b e en cold and wet t hus far in t he spr ing s e as on, t he varsit y te am has st ar te d in a simi l arly lu ke war m manner ; t he y k icke d of f t he ye ar w it h t wo c ons e c ut ive shutout v ic tor ies, defe at ing Worcester Ac ademy and Thayer on b ack-to-b ack d ays by s cores of 1-0 and 3-0, resp e c t ively, but fel l to R oxbur y L at in, Phi l lips Ac ademy Andover, and G over nor’s Ac a demy by s cores of 5-3, 8-1, and 3-2 in t he next we ek. The init i a l t wo game s et was hig h l ig hte d by an opp osite-f ield shot by lef t y-s w inging junior and st ar t ing c atcher Brend an R o cha, w hi le Br yan G ott i has a ls o gone de ep to st ar t t he s e as on. Fol low ing t he dep ar ture of
a st rong s enior cor ps he ad line d by B enny Wanger, Jack Wi l hoite, and C harlie McC onnel l, t he b as eb a l l te am has re ceive d an inf usion of yout h i n t he 2016 s e as on. Not able addit ions include Third For mers Evan Sleig ht, Jay len B ai le y, Ja ke McOsker, and C onnor Hopk ins, as wel l as a t a lente d col le c t ion of Four t h For mers in G ott i, John C op el and, Sam R ohrer, and retur ning shor tstop Sp ens er Smit h. Me anw hi le, t he co-c apt ains, AJ DiFi l lip o and Aust in Mas el, are conf ident in t he te am. Per Mas el, t he varsit y b as eb a l l s qu ad has “a st rong chance at w inning t he t it le” in spite of t he loss of l ast ye ar’s st rong s enior cl ass and a sub-.500 st ar t, cit ing t heir ne w young t a lent and st rong defens e. E xp e c t at ions are cer t ain ly hig h af ter a 17-4 re cord f rom a ye ar ago; hop ef u l ly, as t he we at her he ats up, t he varsit y b a l lclub do es s o as wel l! ☐
Varsity Track Races On By John Markis Panel Staff As Spring athletic contests begin once again, the Varsity Track team sets out to defend their titles. Last year, Belmont Hill achieved greatness by achieving both second place at ISTAs and first at New Englands, as well as having their captain Lucas Ribeiro claim first in the nation for the discus. This year, much of the team is back, with the same goals in mind. Being made up of both young and veteran athletes, this year’s team, captained by DJ Demetri, Frank McField, Will Cannistraro, and Jake DeCaprio, will be compelled to maintain the focus and diligence of the prior year to obtain success. Already having competed twice, the team is off to a tremendous start. At the Thayer Relays, an unofficial but important meet, Belmont Hill displayed sheer athleticism and
dominance in all events. Despite biting cold, the team held its positive attitude and camaraderie through it all. Notable performances from the day include a near record 1500 meter time of 4:15 run by John Pappo and a 52.1 400 meter time by captain Frank McField. The team then made the long journey out to Concord, New Hampshire, to compete against St. Paul’s, Groton, Governor’s Academy, and Middlesex. All of the team was present, withholding a few injured. The team, being blessed with warm, mild weather, won the first official competition of the regular season by a margin of 48 points. With its first win under its belt, the team will now look to more competition. With the championship meets approaching quickly, the Varsity Track team will need to demonstrate continued phenomenal work in order to repeat as champions. ☐
AJ DiFillipo ‘16 Pitching
Sailing Succeeds on the Water By Ben Rush Panel Staff Mother Nature has smiled on the sailing team this year. After last year’s shortened season, the sailors were excited to begin practices before spring break, and it has been great conditions ever since. The right temperature and wind have allowed the team to compete early against some competitive opponents. The first race was against Dover and the next Tabor; the team scored a win of 3-1 in both races. The sailors then headed to Manchester, where they won a day of racing by a score of 3-1 again. The team participated most recently in the O’Day Qualifiers in Maine and finished fifth, just shy of qualifying for the next round. This year the sailing team is cap-
tained by James Collins ‘16 and Lucas Jurgensen ‘16. The team has many returning starters and a few new boys on the roster. The more experienced sailors have helped train the new members on the finer points of roll-tackling, team racing, and fleet racing. The team has practiced out of the Winchester Boat Club on Mystic Lake. The first boat consists of skipper James Collins and crew Jacob Whitney, who have been sailing together at Belmont Hill for four years. Collins and Whitney look to finish their last season strong before Collins goes on to sail at Boston University. Jacob Whitney will return next year with experience to lead the team to another impressive season. The sailing team will continue to compete at a high level throughout the rest of the year. It looks forward to individual races as well as the Downeast Regatta in Castine, Maine. ☐
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May 5, 2015
Belmont Hill Varsity Scoreboard TEAM
RECORD
MVPS
7-0
Johnny Hincks Griffin Gustaffson
Baseball
6-5
AJ DiFillipo Brendan Rocha
Tennis
8-0
Ben Lebowitz Charlie Danziger
Sailing
7-1
James Collins Jacob Whitney
Track
7-0
Frank McField Jamie Feinberg
Crew
20-0
Chris Wilkins Bobby Jahrling
Lacrosse
Tennis Team Continues a Stellar Season By JP Champa PAnel Staff The Belmont Hill Varsity and JV tennis teams are performing incredibly well so far this season. Both teams are currently undefeated, with Varsity at a record of 5-0 and JV with a record of 3-0. The team has already found success where previous teams have struggled. Both the Varsity and JV teams defeated Roxbury Latin 9-6 and 9-3, respectively. Varsity had an especially satisfying win over their ISL rival. Down 2-1 in sets after the doubles round, the team needed to rally in order to win a total of the eight sets necessary to claim the match. As the match progressed, the set totals went back and forth until only two singles matches remained; Belmont Hill was
trailing 6-5. Out of the four remaining sets, Belmont Hill required three sets to win. The responsibility rested on the shoulders of seniors Charlie Danziger and Nico Valette. Both played incredible tennis and clinched the match, not only winning the three necessary sets but the fourth as well. After the weekend wins over Dexter and Governor’s Academy, the varsity team travelled to St. Paul’s School. The team demonstrated both great skill at the top of the ladder and amazing depth, winning in dominant fashion. Both teams are looking forward to the remainder of the season, which includes some very tough competition in BBN, Groton, and Brooks. Under the guidance and direction of Coach McNamara and leadership of senior captains Ben Lebowitz and Charlie Danziger, the tennis team is confident and is striving to attain an ISL title.☐
NBA Playoff Predictions By matthew bracken Panel Staff With the regular season drawing to a close, the obvious favorite to win the NBA championship is the defending champion Golden State Warriors, who just set the single-season wins record at 73. Led by reigning MVP Steph Curry, the Warriors appear poised to make another championship run. Their strongest opposition will most likely come from within their own conference in either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder. In any other season, the Spurs’ 67-15 record would be the best in the league, and they have a nucleus of experienced players who know what it takes to win a championship. The Thunder have two of the NBA’s most electric players in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, but their lack of depth and their inability to close out games will be huge question marks in the post-
season. The fourth seed in the West went to the Los Angeles Clippers, who certainly have the skill to match up with the NBA’s best, with players such as Chris Paul and Blake Griffin; however, Griffin came back from a broken hand only recently, and the Clippers have yet to prove that they can make a deep playoff run. In the Eastern Conference, the spotlight is unquestionably on the Cleveland Cavaliers and four-time MVP LeBron James, With a 57-25 record, the Cavs are the clear favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, which lacks the multitude of championship contenders that reside at the top of the Western Conference. A midseason coaching switch as well as some chemistry issues have made a Cavalier championship unlikely, especially compared to the dominant season that the Warriors and Spurs have had. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, it appears that Cleveland will have to wait another year for an NBA Championship.☐
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MLB Promises Exciting Season By Peter Flaherty Staff writer In 2015, we witnessed a changing of the guard in the MLB. Gone are the days of teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox dominating the playoffs. Expect more of the same in 2016. The 2015 postseason had a number of new faces. For example, the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and Chicago Cubs each made their first playoff appearances since at least 2008. (‘08 for the Cubs, ‘05 for the Astros, and ‘93 for the Jays.) Additionally, the New York Mets made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. In 2016, look for these four teams, plus the Royals, to continue their success. The New York Mets have a chance to win it all this year due to their pitching staff. Their core consists of three guys: Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, and Jacob deGrom all of whom top out at 97mph+ and have devastating breaking balls (Syndergaard’s slider tops out at 95
Crew Looks to New Englands By Robbie Warming Panel Staff As the spring season is well underway, the crew team is swinging into some strong performances. Based off of strong erg performances and early race results, the crew team is surely on the path to an extremely strong performance at NEIRAs. A week before the first race of the season, the team invited Deerfield for a scrimmage against our own varsity eights. The Belmont Hill first, second, and third varsity eights walked away victorious, taking many of the pieces by open water. In this victory, the Belmont Hill team showed both its strength and depth against the team that took second in the first four race at NEIRAs and third in the men’s four at Nationals. The crew team also rowed extremely strong races against Choate in their first official meeting of the year. Belmont Hill completed a full sweep of Choate, with three of the four varsity four crews winning by large margins. The BH second varsity four just beat out Choate in the sprint, taking the race by just .7 seconds. Our third varsity eight also crushed their Choate counterparts by nine seconds in a race of their own. The bout was a particularly strange meeting in that the first couple of races of the BH Crew season are usually against lesser competition. However, kicking off the season, and sweeping, against a program like Choate was definitely a feat, as Choate is usually a top contender in the grand final at NEIRAs. Varsity oarsman Ricky Cronin (VI), who rowed in the fourth varsity four, said, “It was a great day for all the boys. I was proud of all the work everyone put in and I can’t wait to make more gains.” The crew team will be heading into one of its biggest regattas of the year this coming weekend. At the Wayland-Weston Invitational, they’ll get to race against some of the top NEIRA competition as well as some club teams. ☐
The Royals Look to Build on their World Sries Win mph). On the opposite side, the Cubs can mash. Top to bottom, their lineup is the best in the major leagues. They have power in Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, contact in Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell, and speed with Dexter Fowler and Jorge Soler. Couple their lineup with pitchers like Jake Arrietta, the newly acquired John Lackey, and one of the best closers in baseball in Hector Rondon, and you get a potential 100+ win team. The Blue Jays are very similar to the Cubs as they have guys like Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Troy Tulowitzki, and Josh Donaldson. Each of these four guys should contribute at a high enough level to propel them to the postseason for the second straight year, but they lack the pitching to make a deep run. Same goes for the Houston Astros, even though they have Dallas Keuchel. They are just too young and inexperienced to really win the Fall Classic. However, in about five years, when guys like Carlos Correa, Jon Singleton, AJ Reed, and Tony Kemp have all had multiple years of major league experience, they will be the favorites to win it all. Now, on to the Boston Red Sox. Now, while they did acquire a number of top players this past winter, such as David Price and Craig Kimbrel, they lack the experience and yes, pitching, to make it back to the postseason. Offensively, they should be in the top half of the league, with guys like the Mayor of Ding Dong City Travis Shaw, Mookie Betts, David Ortiz, Jackie Bradley Jr, and Hanley Ramirez. Runs shouldn’t be hard to come by, but besides Price, Kimbrel, Tazawa, and Uehara, the staff is very inexperienced. Expect no better than an 85-87 win season for the Sox. ☐
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Th e Pan el
About the Editors Name: Matt O’Leary Nickname: Big Red Hometown: East Belmont Favorite Pump Up Song: Beat That Beat Up- DJ Pauly D Favorite Quote: “Real eyes realize real lies” –Girl on Facebook in middle school Favorite Movie: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Favorite Dance Move: Awkwardly standing there and watching other people dance Favorite Sports Team: New England Patriots One wish: To be able to pull off the backwards Kangol look. Prized possession(s): The many Mitchell and Ness Snapbacks he acquired in 8th grade
Editor Matt O’Leary (Left, red hair) and Assistant Editor Seamus Clair (Right, Hermes Belt) circa 9th grade
Name: Seamus Clair Nickname: “The kid from Twitter” Hometown: West Belmont Favorite Pump Up Song: Are You Happy Now? - Michelle Branch Favorite Quote: “Onions have layers. Ogres have layers... You get it? We both have layers.” -Shrek Favorite Movie: Bee Movie Favorite Dance Move: Worm Favorite Sports Team: Seattle Seahawks One wish: To cook with Guy Fieri Prized possession(s): His customized Nicolas Cage bandana
Belmont Hill to Accept Exchange Student From China The back page has received an exclusive story from Mr. Harder that our school will be accepting an exchange student from China named Gunther Clair. A self-described communist, Gunther looks forward to experiencing life in the Western Hemisphere. To combat the possibility that Gunther is a Chinese spy, agent Armin Thomas of the Government Code & Cypher School will be tasked with keeping a close eye on Gunther upon his arrival. Additionally, the entire student body will be asked to report any suspicious behavior or instance in which Gunther says the words “launch codes.” When asked for a quote, Gunther excited to have you too, Gunther.
Teacher Summer Plans The Back Page takes a look at what our favorite educators will be up to. Mr Kirby: Will be kicking off the season with his annual “Fossil Fuel Burning Barbecue.” Don’t worry; it’s perfectly safe because we are in a natural warming pattern, and there is no direct link between carbon emissions and our current rate of warming. Look it up #liberalagenda Mr. McCarthy: Will still be found either in his classroom or stretching in the weight room. Can be found eating chicken parm while watching highlights on NHL.com at any point in the day. Mr. Curran: Will be joining the cast of Wicked Tuna, as he sails around the north shore aboard his vessel, the H.M.S Harlich Man. Can be expected to return in September with a vicious sunglasses tan. Mr. Courtney: Will be spending the summer following around the Vans Warped Tour.