November 2019 (68, 4)

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Volu m e 6 8 , Issu e 4

A Student Publication the Belmont Hilland School A Student Publication of theof Belmont Hill Winsor Schools

Novemb er 18, 2019

Belmont Hill & Winsor Endowments Assessing the Financial Status of Both Schools

Graphic by Jack Weldon ‘20

By Charlie Donahue ‘20 and Elly Pickette ‘21 Panel and Banner Staff Belmont Hill: Currently, Belmont Hill is in outstanding financial health. The school’s gross endowment, i.e. the amount currently invested in equity, alternative investments (hedge funds), fixed income securities, and cash, exceeds $130 million. In assessing the business

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of running the school, it is important to consider, however, that Belmont Hill owes about $40 million in debt, which it took on in order to complete projects such as the Jordan Athletic Center and Prenatt Music Center. This means that the school’s “net endowment” is $90 million, and in the event that these debts needed to be paid tomorrow, they would be drawn from the endowment. However, given that this is not the case, we have enjoyed the benefits of the full endowment to supplement the costs of running Belmont Hill. Each year, Belmont Hill collects only $23 million in tuition money, but the cost of educating all of our boys exceeds $35 million. While the Annual Fund, a yearly capital campaign that targets parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends of the school, makes up some of the difference, the majority of the extra funding comes from endowment draws.

Mr. Bounty, the school’s CFO, estimates that each year between 4-5% of the three-year average endowment gets skimmed to cover about 25% of the $35 million yearly overhead.

As a school, we owe a great debt of gratitude to the generous donors who partici-

pate in capital campaigns that benefit the endowment, and also to the Board of Trustees’ Investment Committee, which is charged with making decisions about the school’s investments. Over the last decade they have done a truly outstanding job, and the endowment has grown from $50 million in June of 2009 to its current $130 million. These excellent returns mean that Belmont Hill currently has a net endowment per student of more than $200,000, which is extremely strong compared to similar independent day-schools.

By Jackson Riffe ‘20 and Alex Gorham ‘21 Panel and Banner Staff

ticipated events that allow school communities to support athletes and celebrate their successes.

Each year, fans travel to Belmont Hill for Homecoming and expect impressive athletic performances. This fall, the BH teams did not disappoint; varsity soccer and varsity football routed their opponents while the cross country team performed well in their only home-race of the season at the Rock Meadows course. The soccer team kicked off the Homecoming festivities when they played against Tabor Academy. Erick Silva (‘21) and Jayson Firmin (‘21) each netted goals, and Belmont Hill emerged victorious with a final score of 2-1. The football team continued the success with a dominating 21-0 victory of Roxbury Latin. Finally, the cross country team finished

Winsor:

Every year on Death by Chocolate day, students beg their long-block teachers to let them out early in order to beat the immense lines that come hand-in-hand with the beloved dessert day. Special lunches like Death by Chocolate, as well as all meals and snacks provided by Winsor, are made possible by Winsor’s annual budget, which is used mainly for salaries for faculty and staff, as well as financial aid; the rest is used for events and maintenance.

The budget is made up of the annual fund, the

tuition, the renting out of the fields, and the endowment. The bigger the budget, the more teachers and staff can be paid, and the more people can be offered larger financial aid packages. Tuition does not cover what it actually costs to attend Winsor; the rest of the money in the budget helps cover the gap. So, tuition could also be lowered if the budget was large enough.

The annual fund is exactly what it sounds like: a fund for annual expenses. The endowment is a little more confusing but, put simply, resembles a savings account from which money is never removed. Its importance lies in the investing of it; every single gift that is put into the endowment is invested into something. Right now, Winsor’s endowment is approximately $77 million, which may sound large, but is actually small in comparison to other independent schools, namely all-boys or co-ed schools. continued on page 5...

Fall Traditions: Belmont Hill Homecoming vs. Winsor UTL

Every fall, Belmont Hill and Winsor students, teachers, and alumni all support their respective schools at Homecoming and UTL. From a cursory glance, these two events appear drastically different from one another; Belmont Hill’s Homecoming always occurs on a Saturday afternoon and showcases soccer matches, cross country races, and the fan-favorite football game, whereas Winsor’s UTL takes place on a Friday night with main attractions such as volleyball, soccer, and field hockey. Despite these differences, the two events are more similar than they may seem; Homecoming and UTL are both highly-an-

off the day with a meet against St. Sebastian’s, Nobles, and Groton, in which both the varsity and junior varsity teams defeated Sebs but lost to the latter two teams. Additionally, at Homecoming this year, school spirit was as prevalent as ever. The Loop, led by Quinn Richards (‘20), Trevor Reilly (‘20), and Luke Khozozian (‘20), declared a ‘white-out’ theme for the day, inspired crowds of students to come out in support of the teams, and organized chants that celebrated the success of our athletes.

Like Homecoming, Winsor’s UTL is an event focused mostly on fall athletes; however, Spirit Week and the Pep Rally are much more than just that. Each year, Winsor’s school spirit club, SASS (Students Advocating for School Spirit), chooses a continued on page 13...

BELMONT HILL NEWS

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Novemb er 18th, 2019

The Food Committee Strives to Improve Food For All

By Ryan Griffin ‘22 Panel Staff The Belmont Hill Food Committee, led by Abe Tolkoff and the dining coordinator Ms. Sharon Wu, is off to a strong start this fall. The team consists of students from all grades, including but not limited to: Dietrich Jacobs ‘22, Brogan Chitkara ‘23, and former head Timothy McCormack ‘21.

Abe says, “the goal of the Food Committee is to introduce more student and faculty opinion into the dining service, and bridge the gap in what the community eats and what is served.” The committee has discussed many matters regarding paninis, pasta, fruits/vegetables on tables, and main course options.

The panini machines have the full support of the food committee and Ms. Wu as long as peanut butter never enters the press, and Panini Press before it is crowded by hungry students.

oils such as butter remain on the inside of the bread. Additionally, pasta is now being introduced as a main meal while also being offered at the salad bars. With this change, the kitchen staff hopes to reduce the congestion at the salad bar, and the food committee hopes to provide the student poll-driven demand for more pasta. Regarding the small bowls of fruits and vegetables on the tables for lunch, there are discussions that these bowls may be removed, and a pan available in the kitchen if you would like some. Finally, the main course options are always being adjusted and refined to fit the likes of the student body and faculty. The food committee is always taking suggestions for new meals and meals that students would like to see less off. If you have any suggestions, please email Abe Tolkoff or Ms. Sharon Wu. ☐

Alumni Mark Milley ‘76 Sworn in as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

By Sammy Jomaa ‘21 Panel Staff On September 30th, 2019, with a nearly-unanimous vote (89-1) in the Senate, Belmont Hill alum General Mark A. Milley was sworn in as the twentieth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the Chairman, Milley is the principal military advisor to the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, the Secretary of Defence and President Trump himself. Due to the responsibilities of this prestigious position, Chairman Milley will face numerous challenges.

As Chairman, he’ll advise the President on perhaps the most pervasive threat environment since the Cold War. As he has said before, the United States doesn’t have the “luxury of a single opponent.” In the realm of nation-states, he will counsel President Trump on a resurgent Russia, a rising China, and an emboldened Iran. He will also advise President Trump on how the United States should handle the issue of international terrorism, particularly focusing on issues such as the likely rebirth of ISIS. In addition to foreign threats, General Milley will advise the President on matters of military readiness and modernization.

Besides the typical responsibilities of the Chairman, Milley must also face several challenges unique to serving under Trump.

Most immediately, he has to handle the President’s haphazard pullout from Syria, and he will have to temper the president’s isolationist impulses going forward. He will also have to navigate the fallout from ‘Ukrainegate’, something that he’s already struggling with as evidenced by his anguished composure while listening to the President and the Speaker of the House argue.

General Milley’s education at Belmont Hill has equipped him to deal with these challenges. Mr. Martin, who was his hockey

“ Now more than ever, these virtues are critical to the success of a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - and General Milley has them in spades.” coach and is still in touch with him to this day, believes that Belmont Hill has imparted on him the values of being “reliable, hardworking and respectful.” Whatever challenges Milley will face as Chairman, the president and the nation are in good hands. ☐ General Mark Milley ‘76

Seniors Explore Tough Topics during New Freedoms Program

By Streetej Digumarthi ‘21 Panel Staff On November 3rd, the seniors of Belmont Hill headed over to NCDS for the day to participate in a workshop about mental and relationship well-being. Led by the peer leaders from both schools, New Freedom’s day covered everything that concerned the transition to college life from general nutrition to more serious topics such as date rape and abusive relationships.

To start the day off, Jay Civetti, a Belmont Hill alum from the class of ‘97, gave an enthralling speech about motivation and a positive mentality. Speaking from his experience as the current head coach for Tufts football, he walked students through what he does to motivate his team when things get rough. Having taken

an utterly defeated team to an impressive final 7-2 record, many students were listening carefully to his hour-long speech.

Following Civetti came Tara Greeley from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Her speech both impressed and informed, as she not only helped students identify the signs of depression but also drew from popular activists such as Billie Ellish and Tyler Posy and their “Seize the Awkward” campaign for support. By helping students learn to talk to potentially suicidal friends, Greeley helped prepare them for yet another challenge they might face in college next year.

After Greeley’s speech, Dr. Malcom Astley took the stage and spoke to students about his firsthand experience with relationship abuse. His daughter, Lauren Astley, had been murdered by her boyfriend in 2011,

and, ever since, he has devoted much of his time to violence prevention and healthy relationship workshops. His work in these fields has been honored by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Second Step, the Melrose Alliance Against Violence, and the Jean Geiger Crisis Center.

Afterward, the head Peer Leaders displayed an educational video titled “Escalation,” in which an abusive college relationship ends in murder. While it may have seemed far-fetched, it was accurately based on a multitude of real-life examples, helping many students realize that these things can actually happen. After the 40 minute movie, the seniors were split into mixed groups and held discussions about the video and its message. These workshops helped students recognize the early signs of an abusive relationship and how to handle an abusive partner.

Finally, after a short lunch break, school president Jack McHugh ‘20 and NCDS student Kat Kane ‘20 presented a skit about the dangers of date rape and lack of communication between partners.

While this was incredibly uncomfortable for just about everyone, its message about misread signals between partners and the inability of a victim to say “no” were powerful enough to get the message across.

Overall, the day was a success. The event was well organized, and although the topic material was sensitive, it was handled very well by everyone that presented. By learning how to identify the signs of abuse to preventing it outright, it’s safe to say that ever senior left NCDS more prepared for their transition to college. ☐

BELMONT HILL NEWS

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Novemb er 18th, 2019

Interesting Finds from the Better Buy Sale

By Howard Huang ‘22 Panel Staff Annually, Belmont Hill holds a Better Buy Sale where donations delivered by Belmont Hill families are discounted up to 95% off and sold to students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Most of the items are either gently used or brand new, which makes it easy to find greatly valued items. Below is a compilation of items that I found throughout the Better Buy Sale prior to its opening.

7. Prepare for the winter season by 9. Obtain a Party with a Purpose acquiring an old pair of skis or a snow- hoodie so you can wear it during the board. Maybe you can make the ski team. month of dress down in support of the party for Boston Children’s Hospital.

4. Find a colorful mug from this basket including 2 M&M mugs, an R2D2 mug, a basketball mug complete with a hoop, multiple mugs with jokes im1. Birkin handbag for only $50, printed on them, and a monkey mug. which is a great deal considering most of their bags are listed in the thousands.

2. On the bottom right, there is an old copy of “Richardson’s piano method” published in 1859. The pages are already flaking as this book is very old. In the center is a Yashica camera in good condition, the model is Yashica-D and it was manufactured between 1958 and 1972.

3. The pair of heels to the left was designed by Stuart Weitzman, a fashion brand in New York. The pair on the left is branded Prada.

5. This stylish Theory suit would look great with a blouse from the shirt section of the Better Buy Sale.

8. Get some furniture to fill up a room very cheaply. The Belmont Hill 10. Lots and lots of Monopocross country team got 2 armchairs ly. Even a Fortnite version (probably for their locker room for only $10! here because the game Fortnite is dead)

7. A basket of brand new ties for 11. Buy a bike or a scooter only $5 each is perfect for any Belmont to get to school without contributHill student because everyone wants to ing to the world’s carbon emissions . be able to wear a fresh tie every morning!

12. Full Lego sets are hard to come by 8. Buy some Belmont Hill gear, it’s and often very expensive. At the Sale there a lot cheaper than waiting for the Holi- were many sets including this fully built day Hill shop. They also might have spe- Death Star with almost all of its pieces. ☐ 6. Get this fur winter coat in cific athletic teams already embroidered. preparation for the winter months.

SPARC: Belmont Hill’s New Social Science Research Program

By Abe Tolkoff ‘21 Panel Staff The beginning of the school year this fall saw the inception of a new extracurricular study program called SPARC. With a group of thirteen students and three faculty members, SPARC’s goal is to conduct YPAR or Youth Participatory Action

“ Headmaster Mr. Schneider says that SPARC ‘is a chance for students to have agency in school change over time.’ ” Research, essentially to study the school.

Belmont Hill is the newest member of the network of schools that conduct such programs, and the school is excited about the opportunity. Headmaster Mr. Schneider says that SPARC “is a chance for students

to have agency in school change over time.”

Belmont Hill’s SPARC class has two final goals: to present their findings at a conference at UPENN in the spring and to report results to the school in various ways. Coordinating the program is Dr. Tift who says that she’s “excited to see students lead the way in this important venture that helps our community both further define itself and seek to grow and improve itself.” The research will be action-oriented, and the group will likely recommend steps to improve the school.

This year’s class is comprised of all juniors, and have been meeting bi-weekly all fall. Mr. Schneider says that “It’s a chance for them to differentiate their experience at Belmont Hill academically” especially in their junior year. About this year’s group of participants, Dr. Tift says that they “are working hard and bringing excellent ideas to the table.” The students started by delving deeper into their own identities through

a variety of exercises and, more recently, have decided on a research topic and begun a design memo. While the exact wording of the questions has not yet been finalized, the group will be researching student identity at Belmont Hill. This can include the broader aspects of mental health, socioeconomic status, and inclusion. To conduct their research, the students will learn about and employ both quantitative and qualitative approaches. They will carry out various surveys, hold focus group meetings, and do individual interviews.

Later this month, the students will conduct the first and largest survey, named CASL. This is a pre-written questionnaire produced by the UPENN SPARC program and will be sent to all students ninth grade and above. Unlike many previous surveys this fall, the roll-out of CASL will be mostly student-led. The anonymous results will not only be used to fo-

cus the research of this year’s group but

“ Dr. Tift is ‘excited to see students lead the way in this important venture that helps our community further define itself and seek to grow and improve itself ’ ” also guide topic selection for next year. The group hopes that students will take the survey seriously so that it can more positively impact the experiences of future Belmont Hill students and SPARC participants. ☐

Winsor News

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TTh h e eBPan a n n eelr

Ethiopian PM Wins Nobel Peace Prize

By Caroline Cromwell ’21 Staff Writer On October 11, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to rekindle discussions about peace between Ethiopia and its neighboring country Eritrea. In addition to his push for peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ahmed has begun to reclaim Ethiopia’s sovereignty after its many years of economic and political injustice.

The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea has endured for the past two decades.

The countries share deep cultural and ethnic similarities, but their relationship is loaded with increasing tension. Conflict initially arose because Eritreans decided in 1993 to secede from Ethiopia after helping defeat the Communist party. While the countries were not formally at war, the division separated families and incited violence, causing instability throughout the two countries. Furthermore, one of the most notable parts of the conflicts between the two countries was the two years of border violence from 1998 to 2000 that cost the lives of 80,000 Ethiopian and Eritrean citizens. However, when Ahmed was elected to be Prime Minister by Ethiopia’s House of Representatives in April 2018, he immediately took action by starting peace negotiations with Eritrea to repair their broken relationship.

Ahmed also focused on reducing some of the oppression within his country

when he became Prime Minister. During his first 100 days in office, Ahmed improved the quality of life of many Eithiopian citizens by bringing the country out of a state of emergency, granting freedom to thousands of political prisoners, and giving women a stronger voice in society. The Nobel committee recognized these and many more of Ahmed’s accomplishments when awarding him the Peace Prize.

npr.org Abiy Ahmed at a news conference The committee also noted that Ahmed was awarded the prize because he gave “many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future.’’ However, despite the widespread positive view of Ahmed, many people do not support the decision to award Ahmed the prize. Ethnic rivalries in Ethiopia have grown in recent years, and some critics feel that the Nobel committee has spoken too soon in awarding him the prize because not enough time has passed to see how his actions will play out. This is not the first time the Nobel committee’s choices have

been questioned. President Barack Obama was awarded the prize in 2009, nine months into his term, for his accomplishments in improving “international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” However, when Obama’s efforts wavered, the decision to give him the prize was questioned by many people throughout the world. Those who criticized the Nobel committee’s choice to award Obama argued that the prize had been given based on what Obama hoped to achieve rather than what he actually did achieve.

Ahmed has tried to extend his actions to the region surrounding Ethiopia.

This year, for example, he intervened in Sudan to convince military and civilian leaders there to sign an agreement to equally share the power in Sudan with each other. This agreement demonstrates Ahmed’s intent to encourage peace throughout Africa.

Mr. Julian Braxton, a Winsor history teacher who teaches African History believes that “Abiy Ahmed winning the Nobel Peace Prize is an example of what can be done when someone is committed to the cause of peace and mercy.” Furthermore, Mr. Braxton says that in history, “we seem to glorify tough guy leaders, but Ahmed reminds us that peace and diplomacy should always be the order of the way.” Although Ahmed’s long-term legacy cannot be predicted yet, the immediate effects he has had on Ethiopia and its surrounding countries have been extremely positive. His efforts show that he has earned his Nobel Peace Prize.☐

ternational community. Turkey threatened to move into Syria without the approval of the US and Russia. Eventually, Turkey and the US agreed to a 5 km (3.1 mi) safe zone that would be patrolled by Turkey and the US, prompting the SDF to move some of its forces out of Turkey. Though this plan was already in place in August of 2019, President Erdogan subsequently pushed for a larger safe zone with a 30 km (18.6 mi) depth and a 480 km (298.2 mi) length across Syria. He proposed that over 2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey be resettled in this safe zone. This proposal caused Syrian Kurds to worry for their safety because they feared the Turkish government would try to attack them.

On October 13, President Trump called for the removal of US troops soon after Turkey sent in troops to Northern Syria.

The departure of US troops broke the American alliance with the Kurds. The entrance of Turkish forces has caused chaos in Syria and many Kurds’ and Syrians’ communities have been destroyed. There have been over 200 civilian casualties and many injuries. Turkish forces have also left over 180,000 people

displaced. Currently, many people are living in makeshift shelters such as schools. The prisons holding members of ISIS that were previously controlled by Kurdish forces are no longer guarded so many prisoners have escaped. A Kurdish soldier who had worked alongside US soldiers, when asked by the New York Times, reported how the US troops’ departure has affected him: “If a person makes a promise, he shouldn’t break it. But if he breaks it, once, then again, then that’s a betrayal.” Children are greatly affected by the attacks with “an estimated 80,000 children who are among those most recently displaced” (NPR). Day by day, the situation in Syria and the United States’ involvement changes.

Though President Trump pushed to remove US troops, some are also being sent in due to backlash he received and the possibility of more violent attacks and concern about ISIS gaining control of oil fields. It is not clear what will unfold between Syria and Turkey, but it looks like the US troops will not be completely out of Syria any time soon. ☐

Trump Pulls US Troops out of Syria

Graphic by Annie Adams

By Lillian Gibson ’21 Banner Staff Currently, Turkish forces have made their way into northern Syria after President Trump’s call to remove US forces on October 13. The situation between Turkey, Syria, and President Trump’s push to pull US forces out is quite confusing without background.

This current conflict has a long history and involves Syria, Turkey, and the Kurds, a stateless ethnic group. The Kurds were between 25 to 35 million spread across Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Armenia and the large ethnic group was threatened by ISIS in the early 2010s. Kurdish militias and other non-Kurdish militias joined to form the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played a large role in the fight against ISIS. The US partnered with the SDF, providing aid and military supplies to Syria. Though the Kurds were an ally of the US, Turkey saw the Kurds as a group that threatened their nation since they have been previously linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a recognized terrorist group by the United States (NYT). The US troops in Syria helped patrol the border and fought ISIS with the SDF. The SDF set up prisons for ISIS members and displacement camps for their families (VOX).

This past year Turkey’s GDP has been dropping and the unemployment rate rising; causing many Kurds in Turkey to feel disappointed in the government and begin turning towards Kurdish political parties such as the PKK, a Kurdish nationalist group. The Turkish government has felt threatened by the rise of Kurdish popularity and Kurdish groups in Turkey’s relationship to the SDF. In the most recent election, President Erdogan’s party, the Justice and Development Party (JDP), lost 11 of its mayoral seats to other political parties, with 8 of the seats specifically going to a Kurdish party: the Peoples’ Democratic Party. The turnout was the worst that President Erdogan’s Party had ever experienced.

To fight the growing support for the Kurds, President Erdogan began to push the idea of a safe zone between Syria and Turkey which was not received well at first by the in-

Map displaying the extensive spread of the Kurdish-Inhabited Area

bbc.com

Winsor News

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Keeping Up with the 2020 Democratic Candidates

As 2019 draws to a close, the candidates in the 2020 Presidential Election are working hard to promote themselves and their policies. While Donald Trump still dominates the Republian primary, here’s a look at the candidates in the Democratic Primary and their current standings in the polls. Biden seems to be maintaining his position at the top of the polls, but it will be interesting to see how the polls fluctuate in the coming months as election day draws nearer. ☐

By Anna Murphy ’22 Staff Writer

Name

Poll Avg. Prior Experience

Priority Policies

Joe Biden

26%

Former vice president, six-term DE senator, third campaign for

Maintaining the Affordable Care Act; Green New Deal; Protecting

president

low-income workers

Elizabeth Warren

21%

Former Harvard law professor, MA senator since 2013

Free public college; Medicare for all; Address climate disaster

Bernie Sanders

14%

Current VT senator, former mayor of Burlington VT, former

Free public college; Medicare for all; Raise minimum wage

congressman from VT, second campaign for president Pete Buttigieg Kamala Harris

8% 4%

Current mayor of South Bend, IN, combat veteran of the Navy

Green New Deal; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA);

Reserve

Single-Payer Healthcare

Current CA senator, former district attorney and attorney gen-

Raising income for working and middle class; Medicare for all

eral of San Francisco and CA respectively Amy Klobuchar

2%

Current MN senator, former Hennepin County Attorney

Green New Deal; Gun control; Medicare Advantage

Andrew Yang

2%

Former tech executive

Establishing a universal basic income

Tulsi Gabbard

2%

Four-time congresswoman from Hawaii, Major in the Hawaii

Foreign Policy (getting out of foreign wars and forming peace with

Army National Guard

countries such as Syria, Iran, and North Korea)

Remembering the Influential Elijah E. Cummings Elijah E. Cummings, a former representative of Maryland’s 7th congressional district and beloved congressman, died at 68 on October 17, 2019. He passed away in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, due to “complications from long-standing health issues.”

Born on January 18, 1951, Cummings grew up in South Baltimore. He said that, since both of his parents were sharecroppers, they emphasized the importance of education to him and his six siblings. In elementary school, teachers told him he was too slow, spoke poorly, and that he could never accomplish his dream of becoming a lawyer. In response to these insults, Cummings worked diligently to achieve his dreams and became an admirable American politician who fought for those who could not fight for themselves. Cummings proved his teachers wrong by graduating from Howard University with high honors, earning his law degree from the University of Maryland, and becoming a highly respected politician.

Elijah Cummings became a mem-

ber of the US House of Representatives for Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in 1996 and, at the end of his esteemed career (during his 13th term in the House), was the Chairman of the Committee of Oversight and Reform and on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He advocated for a better life for the citizens of Maryland and was a strong believer in civil rights. His wife, Maya Rockeymoor Cummings, stated that he was “an honorable man who proudly served his district and the nation with dignity, integrity, compassion, and humility.”

In Maryland, Cummings worked tirelessly for the inner city communities of Baltimore. For example, he strongly supported needle exchange programs to prevent drugrelated diseases. Cummings also observed the increasing presence of white supremacy and gun violence in the United States and made it his mission to improve how the government deals with those issues. His wife recalled his efforts, stating, “He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation’s diversity was our promise, not our problem.”

Cummings took a stand during the investigation of a 2012 terrorist attack, he defended former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from Republicans’ questioning.

During the more recent trials of President Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, Cummings played an influential role in giving a passionate closing statement in the proceedings.

Equally important, Cummings was a strong advocate and leader in the impeachment inquiry of President Trump, and many hope that his work will be carried on by his peers.

Thousands of people attended Cummings’ funeral service on Friday, October 25.

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as Hillary Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the Senate Majority and Minority leaders, Cumming’s wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, and his two daughters, all spoke about Cummings’ legacy and impact on American politics. Speaker Pelosi noted that “as a master of the House, he was also a mentor of the House.” His mentorship, compassion, moral integrity, defense of democracy, and love for his home of South Baltimore were among the many qualities that speakers highlighted regarding Cummings.

In terms of lessons and connections

that the Winsor community can learn from Cummings’ work, Mr. Braxton, a member of the history department and the Director of Community & Multicultural Affairs, said “He fought for so many of the values we hold dear hear at Winsor: equity, justice, and community. Most of all though, his life is a testament to what it means to stand up for what you believe. He was considered to be the ‘North Star,’ a guiding light to many in Congress. He embodied what it means to live a purposeful, honorable life and for that, we all owe Congressman Cummings a debt of gratitude.” ☐

Continued from Front Page For reference, Roxbury Latin’s endowment is $189 million, Belmont Hill’s is $125 million, and Exeter’s is $1.25 billion. Historically, heterosexual couples have donated 75% of their education donation money to the husband’s schools. Of the 25% going to the wife’s schools, only 25% of that went to their high school, meaning that only a tiny sliver of a couple’s education donations went to a woman’s high school, causing all-girls schools to typically have smaller endowments than their all-boys or co-ed counterparts. So, it is especially important to invest endowment money and try to expand the endowment for Winsor.

Every year, the endowment makes

approximately 8% returns from the interest of its investments. About 4% of that return money is funneled into the annual budget; the rest is put back into the endowment and reinvested. The larger the endowment, the higher the return and the more that goes into our budget and back into the endowment. Because of this cycle, Winsor wants to invest in funds that will bring back the highest possible returns. Winsor’s Investment Committee is responsible for making these investments. Mr. John Barker, chair of Winsor’s investment committee, explained, “We use external investment firms who employ an active investment strategy. Winsor’s Investment Committee sets asset allocation targets and hires these investment

management teams to invest the school’s endowment...Winsor’s portfolio is invested in global equities, hedge funds, and fixed income.” In short, the Investment Committee is responsible for hiring the people to invest the endowment following directions from the committee.

The desire for the highest possible returns, however, coexists with ethical considerations; Winsor’s managers employ ESG principles, which stands for environmental, social, and governance, and they serve as guidelines for socially responsible, ethical, and fair investing. Divestments can occur for a variety of reasons and often follow a shifting market that causes funds to stop being profitable. However, they also happen for social reasons. Recently, the issues of climate change and fossil fuels have sparked divestment. Although it is hard to say whether Winsor has never had an ethical need to divest for social reasons ever, Mr. Barker said that, “Winsor has not recently divested from a manager for social reasons. We do monitor current ESG divestment trends.” Ms. Sarah Pelmas, Winsor’s head of school, said, “A number of the sectors we’re invested in are things like healthcare, so it isn’t going to necessarily be ‘Are we invested in fossil fuels or

the prison industrial complex?’ because that isn’t the sector that we’re looking at...but I’d be surprised, given the nature of things, if there weren’t some energy component.”

Mr. Barker stated that, “[The Investment Committee] believes there is a relationship between ESG principles and good investments.” Winsor wants to have the morally strongest investments possible, but it also needs to make the most money off of the endowment possible in order to pay the faculty and staff salaries they deserve and to offer the largest financial aid packages and lowest tuitions so Winsor can be as diverse as possible.

Ms. Pelmas explained Winsor’s relationship to endowment as “a really interesting challenge: if our goal is to educate as broad a population as possible and send them into the world to fix everything, then how do we maximize the return on our endowment so that we can achieve our goal?

That’s a different kind of social good, and it is certainly our mission, and we want to be sure we can always fulfill our mission. The amount of money we can earn in the endowment is a priority because we are investing in people here and we want to be able to do that for as long as possible.”☐

By Rani Balakrishna ’21 and Ava Hawkins ’22 Banner Staff and Staff Writer

Elijah Cummings

jmoreliving.com

A Closer Look At the Schools’ Endowments

UTL, an event that is paid for with money from Winsor’s annual budget

Kristie Rae

Belmont Hill Sp orts

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Th e Pan el

Athlete of The Issue: Matthew Goncalves

By Charlie Booth ‘20 Panel Staff

If you’ve had the chance to wander down to the varsity soccer field and watch a game, chances are you’ve witnessed senior striker, Matthew Goncalves, score a few goals. This past Wednesday at St. Marks, the team won 3-0 and Matthew banged in two goals to tie the Belmont Hill all-time scoring record of 60 set by Jake Duker ‘05. This past Saturday, he scored a beautiful goal away against Governor’s Academy to secure his spot in the Belmont Hill history books. Matthew’s stats since Form III are incredibly impressive despite multiple injuries.

Matthew scored 11 goals in Form III, 16 goals in Form IV, 14 goals in Form V, and 20 so far in his senior season.

Matthew is a scoring machine. Defenders everywhere have learned to fear his skill on the ball and finesse finishes.

Captain Hamza Shemsu ‘20 speaks very highly of Matthew: “He is a very talented player who can make something out of nothing. He’s a dynamic player that is able to connect well with his teammates and also dribble.” With this talent, Matthew has helped the team qualify for New England’s three out of the last four years.

Coach Holland also admired Matthew’s skill by saying “Matthew possesses a high level of ability in mind, body, and spirit.

He is a savvy, smart player who has a terrific sense of the field, spacing, and timing. He puts himself in positions that maximize goalscoring opportunities by moving off the ball and anticipating the play before it unfolds. His athleticism provide him with the tools to run at defenders at high speed, and is an incredibly fast player with the ball at his feet.” While Matthew’s soccer skill is certainly something to admire, it is his heart and desire to win that sets him apart. Despite being the alltime goal scorer at Belmont Hill, he remains down to earth. Hamza commented, “He looks to improve every day and knows that he can continue to get better in every aspect of the game.” His work ethic and desire to grow as a player inspires the rest of the team to be the best that they can. He truly puts his heart and soul into every game he plays. Any Belmont Hill soccer player can attest to the fact that he is the most excited when the team wins and the most heartbroken when they lose.

Being a recruited athlete at Cornell University, a two-time all-ISL player, and an allstate player, his accomplishments are many but he still looks towards the future. According to Mr. Holland, “The fact that Matthew has accomplished what he has over the last four years is truly special, but I am sure he would be the first to admit that this could not have been accomplished without the supporting cast around him.” Matthew can’t wait for the challenges ahead of him and will surely do everything he can to assure that the team

performs well in playoffs. Matthew genuinely believes that “we can shock a lot of people in New Englands and win the championship.” I believe him too! Varsity

soccer is set to play Worcester Academy on Wednesday, November 13th, at 2 PM. With Matthew’s skill combined with his worth ethic and heart, anything is possible. ☐

Matthew Goncalves ‘20 celebrating a goal (Photo By Jalen Walker ‘21)

Belmont Hill Crew’s Succesful HOCR Performance

By Jack Weldon ‘20 Panel Staff

Liam Peterson ‘20, Luca Foschi-Walko ‘20, Charlie Mullaney ‘20, and Jack Curtin ‘20 preparing for the race (Photo By Brian Mullaney)

On October 20th, Belmont Hill faculty, family, and friends gathered on the dock of the Belmont Hill and Winsor Boathouse in Cambridge to watch the 55th Head of the Charles Regatta. Drawing competitors from all around the globe, the rowing event is the largest two-day regatta in the world. Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the Charles River course throughout the weekend to catch a glimpse at the boats racing by, with events ranging from Youth Eights to Master’s Singles.

More than 11,000 rowers participated in the event and were fortunate enough to row in clear, sunny weather throughout the regatta.

Entering the Men’s Youth Fours and a Men’s Youth Eights events, Belmont Hill raced two boats on Sunday. The four, which included Liam Peterson ‘20, Luca Foschi-Walko ‘20, Charlie Mullaney ‘20, and Jack Curtin ‘20, was coxed by Sreetej Digumarthi ‘21 and placed 18th out of 85 with a time of 17:10, an excellent finish for the crew. The eight,

which included Nicholas Hebard ‘21, Christiaan Eikeboom ‘21, Harvey Rupp ‘21, Charlie Stevenson ‘20, Jack Weldon ‘20, Charlie Donahue ‘20, Howard Huang ‘22, and Aidan McGaugh ‘20, was coxed by Michael John ‘21 and laid down a speedy 15:59. The crew initially placed 40th out of 86th, but a one-minute penalty was later tacked on to their time.

Alumni were also present in the regatta; representing the US National Team in the Men’s Championship Eights event, Alexander Richards ‘14, Andrew Reed ‘10, and Michael DiSanto ‘08 placed 2nd with a blistering time of 13:32. Dara Alizadeh ‘11, rowing for Bermuda, raced in the Men’s Championship Singles event, placing 15th with a time of 18:58.

Overall, the program enjoyed a successful day on the water. The four performed extremely well in their race, while the eight, penalty aside, exhibited the strongest performance for a Belmont eight in the regatta in recent memory. Coach Christopher Richards was exuberant about the regatta, labeling it an “A+ day for Belmont Hill Crew.” Supported by those who came out to watch the event, the rowers were satisfied with their performance and look ahead to the spring in hopes of another successful season. ☐

Belmont Hill Sp orts

Novemb er 18th, 2019

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Belmont Hill Football: A Run to Remember

By James Markis ‘20 Panel Staff The Belmont Hill Football Team continues to display their elite talent and work ethic on the field. After losing to BB&N for 3 straight years, Belmont Hill went into Cambridge and proved they were officially the ‘Big Brother.’ Down 21-20, with 2 minutes to play, quarterback Luke Bobo ‘21 converted to junior Cam Reirden on a 4th and 14 to put BH in a position to take the lead. The next play, Greg Desrosiers ‘20 did what he does best, making multiple jukes and diving into the endzone as BH pulled away 28-21.

Following a win under the lights against Thayer Academy, 21-7, Belmont Hill suffered losses against Milton Academy and St. Sebastian’s and Governor’s Academy.

Nevertheless, our esteemed Coach Butler has been “extremely impressed with the leadership of the senior class and how hard they have worked all season. Their dedication in practice has set an excellent example for the younger plays on the team. We know the hard work we put in will translate onto the field and success in

“ After losing to BB&N for 3 straight years, Belmont Hill went into Cambridge and proved they were officially ‘Big Brother.’’’

their careers.” Even though Belmont Hill will not have the chance to win back to back New England Championships, the team will continue to cement their status as an elite team in the ISL next fall. ☐

Members of the football team running a play against St. Sebs (Photo By Jalen Walker ‘21)

Belmont Hill Cross Country Cruises to the Finish

By Sreetej Digumarthi ‘21 Panel Staff

Members of the Belmont Hill Cross Country team running in a race (Photo by Adam Richins)

The cross country team’s season is coming to a close after over two months of training. The team, led by senior captains Charlie Donahue and Aidan McGaugh, has shown clear signs of improvement over the course of the season on both the varsity and junior varsity levels, and this improvement has been reflected by the runners’ times and the team scores.

After starting the season with a two and three record, the team raced their only home race of the season on the Rock Meadow course during homecoming, with both varsity and junior varsity beating St. Sebastian’s but losing to Nobles and Groton. The team then traveled to Roxbury Latin for their next race, where they lost to the hosts but beat Lawrence Academy. Despite the loss, the team’s score against RL had improved significantly from their race against them prior in the season. The next race took place at St. George’s, where the team won the junior varsity race and lost the varsity race. The following week, the team raced at Rivers, coming up

with a win over BB&N but suffering losses against Rivers and Middlesex.

The last dual race of the season took place at Milton Academy, and the team lost to the hosts and Tabor Academy but beat Brooks. At Milton, sophomore James Donahue won the varsity race and set a course record while doing so.

With the regular season complete, the team again traveled to St. Mark’s to compete for an ISL Championship against rival schools such as Roxbury Latin. The varsity and junior-varsity teams earned a ninth-place finish and an eight-place finish respectively, and James Donahue earned a medal at the event, running the seventh-fastest time in a field of 112 varsity runners and 365 total runners. The team’s last race was the Division 1 New England Championships at the Northfield Mount Hermon School. At the race, varsity finished in ninth place overall and junior varsity finished in eleventh. After his seventh-place finish the week before, James Donahue had another excellent race and finished in sixth place, making him the fastest sophomore at New Englands. Looking to next season, the team will be returning four of their seven varsity runners as well as many junior varsity runners, with the goal of winning the ISL. ☐

Belmont Hill Soccer: A Smashing Success

By Chetan Shukla ‘20 Panel Staff Predicted to hit the ground running, the Varsity Soccer team has not disappointed. Featuring last-minute header goals (Eric Silva ‘21) and many close scorelines, the team’s season is one to watch. The team features incredible talent: Matthew Goncalves ‘20 has already broken the Belmont Hill record for most goals scored in one season.

Matthew Brit Webb ‘21 is a brick wall in defence, preventing countless strikers from reaching James Cahill ‘20 in net. Charlie Richards ‘20 looks like lightning as he sprints down the wing, and can even land an assist from his own half when needed. The chemistry and comraderie between the members of the team reverberates off the field.

As seen during a goal celebration or after a tough match, the team comes together as one, each and every day.

As the team press on towards glory, their main competitors are Milton Academy and Nobles and Greenough School.

Head-to-head, their record against these teams is admirable, as they tied Milton 0-0 and provided Nobles their only loss of the season, in a 3-1 win. Good luck to the Varsity soccer team as they continue to pursue their ISL aspirations! ☐

Center Jayson Firmin ‘21 juking a defender (Photo by Jalen Walker ‘21)

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The B anne r

Winsor Varsity Fall Sports Recap and Successes Dana Hall, beating Concord Academy, and strong performances from veteran players and new additions to the team.

This fall, Winsor Varsity sports WVS, unfortunately, had one of their teams excelled on the field and the court, experienced defenders, Lauren Price ’20, with several teams competing in the EIL injured halfway through the season and out for the rest of the season with a knee Tournament.

Winsor Varsity Field Hockey, the defending NEPSAC Class C champions, was ranked 4th out of 34 teams in the New England region and is seeded 2nd in the EIL. With an impressive regular-season record of 13-2-1, WVFH beat BB&N for the first time in thirteen years, a feat that propelled the team to other big victories against Thayer Academy, the New Hampton School, NCDS, and Dana Hall. Midseason, WVFH faced off against big rival Pingree and Worcester Academy, and unfortunately had two tough losses against the two schools. Commenting on the Head Coach Erin Calamari said “I think the biggest overlap from last year to this year is the team chemistry. It makes a big difference when the group generally gets along with each other and the members of the team are committed to putting the team before themselves. This group has really taken that idea to heart; cheering each other on when a teammate does something awesome during practice, yelling out positive, supportive words when someone seems frazzled during a game, and go bananas when someone scores their first goal (or makes a dirty save.) I love that!

That’s what being on a team is all about.”

Unfortunately, WVFH lost to rival Pingree in a tough battle in the EIL Finals, however, the Wildcats will continue to compete in the NEPSAC tournament.

Winsor Varsity Soccer had a fun injury. Nevertheless, the WVS enjoyed season, despite having a tough record fun team bonding, including team laser of 3-6-5. Highlights included tying rival tag and fun pre-game rituals (see BH vs.

By Rani Balakrishna ’21 Banner Staff

Winsor pre-game rituals article for more).

Winsor Varsity Cross Country enjoyed another outstanding season, winning their fifth consecutive and 16th overall EIL title. Winsor XC also had a good showing at the Brown Invitational, placing 4th out of 16 large public and private high schools from around New

1 compete. Meg Madison ’24, Winnie Wang ’20, and Eve Lesburg ’21 individually placed in first, 11th, and 18th respectively, and all three are excited to compete at all stars!

Winsor Varsity Crew had another successful season, and at the Head of the Charles, a boat of four placed 24th, and a boat of eight placed 66th. Other big races were the Mass State Champs, where out of the three varsity boats, one placed second, another placed third, and another placed seventh. Some varsity rowers noted that novices this year were great to watch and develop as a team over the course of the season.

Winsor Varsity Volleyball had a very strong record of 13-4 for a varsity program that is only three years old, and they won their first-ever EIL post season tournament! A big regular-season win for Kristie Kristie Rae Goolilly Photos the team was beating Beaver 4-1, clinching Rae Goolilly the third seed in the EIL, after they lost to Beaver last year in a close match. WVVB then beat Beaver again in the EIL semi-finals and won against rival Dana Hall, 3-1 to win the first of hopefully many for the Winsor Volleyball program. In terms of how the Wildcats were so successful on the court, Co-Captain Michelle Pu ’20 noted that “We came together more as a team, there was more team bonding and good off-court team dynamics. And on the court, we had more experience under our belts than in previous years.” WVVB also qualified for the NEPSAC Class B Tournament, and are very excited to compete for the very first time in program history!

Overall, Winsor fall sports team Winsor Parent enjoyed another successful fall, the Banner England. At NEPSTAs, Winsor placed second Sports Staff looks forward to seeing our and sent three runners to all-stars, which is teams continue to compete and have more where the top 20 runners in Winsor’s Division success in the winter and spring as well! ☐

Kipchoge Breaks Marathon Record Fall Sports Seniors

By Jessica Wei ’22 Banner Staff

Human history is marked by breaking human limits, both intellectually and physically. Our society is constantly advancing as we are conquering old records and setting new standards. Humans are never satisfied with the status quo and continue to strive to break barriers. For example, we were not content with traveling only on Earth, so we created rocket ships for humans to land on the moon. Recently, Elon Musk even talked about landing on Mars. The spirit of breaking records is what drives human civilization forward. This competitive spirit is also evident in our athletic pursuits. We appreciate all the world records in various sports that test the true limits of human beings and set very high standards to be conquered. For example, currently, the 100-meter race record is set at 9.58 seconds by Usain Bolt; this is the fastest human speed for a short distance sprint.

A particularly difficult athletic record to be broken is the marathon. A marathon is the ultimate test of human endurance and persistence. Imagine running for 26.2 miles straight- that’s roughly from Winsor to Worcester! For a long time, people never thought that a human being could finish this lengthy distance in under 2 hours. On October 12, Kenyan marathon runner and Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge became the first runner in history to complete a 26.2-mile marathon in under 2 hours. He accomplished this seemingly impossible goal in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds, averaging around 4 and a half minutes per mile. “Wow, that’s amazing! That

impressive record makes me reconsider my own athletic limits,” said Emma Sun ’22. Before reaching the finish line, Kipchoge triumphantly pointed to the once doubtful speculators, boasting a proud grin.

In a phone interview with Kenya, Kipchoge motivates and

further and dream even bigger. Achieving his goal, he says, “I have broken a barrier. Which makes a difference in human life, in a human family.” Not only did Kipchoge break the human

By Rani Balakrishna ’21 world record, but he set up a great example of Banner Staff setting personal goals and achieving them. Ms. Gauvin, the fitness supervisor, also noted that Our seniors this fall led our sports “A sub two hour marathon is a great feat to teams through lows and highs, both on and off the field and court, and the Sports Staff wanted to recognize our seniors for their hard work and dedication. We wish them the best in their future athletic careers and can’t wait to see what they accomplish!

Crew: Sophia Copeman (tri-captain), Avery Beber (tri-captain), Briggs Negrón (tri-captain), Dora Friedman, Haley Kwoun, Lulu Ansari, Nicole Masuoka, Hannah Hummel Soccer: Caitlin Bracken (tri-captain), Elizabeth Martin (tri-captain), Lauren Price (tricaptain), Katherine Loose, Ella Zimmermann, Elizabeth Xu, Hana Karanja, Rosie Carroll (manager), Lara Simshauser (manager), Lucy Binder (manager), (JV) Ashley Krawshuk (tri-captain) The New York Times

inspires: “I’m sending a message to every individual in this world that when you work hard, when you actually set your goals and put them in your heart and in your mind, you will accomplish, without any question.”

In Kipchoge’s previous official Berlin marathon run in 2019, he already broke a world record by finishing in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 39 seconds. Even though he could have settled with this time, he wanted to push his limits even

accomplish. However, the amount of assistance he was given, such as his use of pacers, makes me question the legitimacy.”

Regardless of the legitimacy of this time trial, goal setting can apply to all aspects of our daily academic, social, and athletic lives.

Whether it’s hitting the ball harder or being a better teammate, it is important to carry goals and be driven by the determination to conquer them. This mindset is the true spirit of forward-thinking, and it effectively drives human beings to continue to advance. ☐

Field Hockey: Rachel Place (tri-captain), Brianna Feliciano (tri-captain), Cece Woo (manager), (JV) Sophie Yates (co-captain), Sadie Golen (co-captain) Volleyball: Michelle Pu (co-captain), Eva Shin (co-captain), Asrah Rizvi, Jenna Peterson (manager) Cross Country: Maggie Furlong (tri-captain), Winnie Wang (tri-captain), Indi Aufranc (tri-captain), Isabella Sibble, Ellen O’Hare, Anahita von Adrian-Werburg ☐

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Winsor vs. Belmont Hill’s Pre - Game Rituals Winsor and Belmont Hill’s sports teams each utilize their own unique pre-game traditions to get their bodies ready and their heads in the game! We took a look at our teams’ favorite rituals below!

By Charlie Mullaney ’20 Panel Staff Cross Country: While from the outside, the cross country team may seem like one of the tamer sports on campus, nothing is more wild than their exciting pre-game rituals. From electric speeches by former BH Alum and now assistant

all attention to whoever wants to get the boys going. Cole Mathews, Hamza Shemzu, James Cahill, or Erick Silva are reportedly the usual suspects, and after a rallying pregame speech, they take the field. “This is extremely important for team morale,” Captain Mathew Goncalves says, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.’’

Football: With one of the rowdiest

coach Jake Decaprio ’16 (also known as the “Blue Bolt”), to savage, uncontrollable barking at the race starting line, the Belmont Hill Cross Country team makes sure the rest of the ISL knows they are there. “I don’t know what we’d do without our Blue Bolt,” states Captain Charlie Donahue ’20, “He just knows how to turn us on.”

Soccer: Over towards the turf fields, the soccer team has a different way of doing things. Before heading out, they like to gather in a dark locker room, giving

teams on campus comes one of the rowdiest pre-games of all. Similar to soccer, they too like to gather in their dark locker room and call upon teammates for motivational speeches. But sometimes, it’s more than a teammate that steps up. “The only thing that fires us up more than the purge remix is Coach Butlers pregame speech,” says Captain Jack McHugh, noting the importance of coach participation. After a speech like that, they erupt from our beloved Jordan to the horns of the purge, ready to take on whatever team might stand in their way. ☐

rehearsals at BH, however for plays at Roxbury Latin, this transportation is not available.

Another difficulty for students trying to participate in the arts is the fitness requirement. While participating

that athletes have practice, they must either stay at school later or use their frees during school hours to fulfill this credit. This requirement poses even more challenges during tech week, where students have rehearsals until very late at night. As Salma

in a play or musical accounts for the same hours of engagement as a sport, students are additionally obligated to fulfill the fitness requirement, which mandates that a student must work out twice during a week. Because students in plays have rehearsal after school for the same length

Ibrahim ’21 states, “one of the reasons why I haven’t participated in any Winsor plays is the added PE requirement on top of lengthy rehearsals. Staying an extra forty minutes past the end of rehearsals to work out just would not be a possibility for me.”

In regards to student recognition,

some students consider that there is preference to sports when it comes to early dismissals and recognition of commitments. Maya Bodick ’21 notes that “as a student, I clearly see the difference in the amount of importance given to a sport commitment versus something like a theater commitment. Often times teachers think to ask students about their sports practice/ games for scheduling purposes, but asking about dance or play rehearsal doesn’t even come to mind.” Eve Lesberg ’21, also thinks that “sports tends to get more priority in regards to dismissals and recognition.”

Not all students necessarily see this as bad. Jane Hwang ’21 observes that “although I do feel that sports are prioritized higher than arts is, I don’t think I have too much of a problem with it because I feel as though the general Winsor demographic is more involved in sports than they are with the arts.” Other students are also conscious of the resources in some of the arts departments. Ava Nace ’21 comments that “at least in the visual arts department there are abundant resources,” a sentiment that is echoed by Hwang in regards to the “20-some electric keyboards that are rarely used.” Additionally, Winsor has “astoundingly qualified and dedicated to their craft” performing arts instructors, as noted by Audrey Wu ’20.

Wu comments that she “owes a great deal to Winsor for its incredible facilities and artistic education for building my own career.” However, most importantly, what she, and other students, wish for is simply “more recognition for [my peers] brilliant work… They deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated.” ☐

Since Winsor Crew has race days that begin at 6 am and end at 6 pm, they have a variety of pre-race warmups. Upon Winsor Varsity Soccer has “got a arrival, rowers and coxswains assemble few funky fresh rituals that have helped us the boats and set up a camp complete with to tie literally every single team in the league sleeping bags, blankets, and food. Some this season,” says Elizabeth Martin ’20. They boats visualize; the rowers of the boat lie begin with “add-in fade-out” percussive on the ground with closed eyes while the rhythms, followed by a scream circle. In the coxswain shouts at them as if they are in circle, they “link arms and bop slowly while the race. The Winsor cheers can be heard gradually reaching a pitch which we lovingly as boats shove from the dock to begin their refer to as ‘Falsetto.’” They then perform their warm-up on the water. The race day ends choreographed dance to “Yeah!” by Usher with a deep-voiced “Winsor” in a huddle, to effectively “get in the mindset to take Captain Briggs Negrón ’20’s favorite part of the day!

The Winsor Volleyball teams have great both pre- and post-game routines.

Before a game, they begin with a team meeting and a group huddle, encouraged by their captains and coaches, as well as Ms. Reynolds’ enthusiasm. Throughout the games, you can spot a variety of intricate handshakes coordinated by pairs and trios. After the game, according to Captain Michelle Pu ’20, the team meets and collectively throws a ball in the air. The Winsor Parent Winsor Volleyball team had a great season, risks because cleats on tile floor is hardcore.” and the team is hoping to continue to grow The team ends with a meditation led by the next year after winning their first ever post coaches. season tournament!

Winsor’s Field Hockey team Winsor’s Cross Country team has emphasizes having a blast both on and off its own unique way to get in the zone. One the field. Before major games, many players of the captains, Winnie Wang ’20, enthuses dye their hair, tape the season motto, “all that the team shares a pre-race creme brulee out,” on their sticks, and receive personalized followed by frequent nervous bathroom goals from Coach Calamari. The team’s use breaks. They end the race preparation time of dance parties or games of “hi-yah” to “have with a shout of “I feel healthy, I feel happy, fun and go crazy,” comments Captain Rachel I feel TERRIFIC!” The team had a great Place ’20, “translates pretty well [on the field] season and Winsor’s runners look forward because it gets the energy up!” to new traditions next year! ☐

By Haley Kwoun ’20 Banner Staff

Arts vs. Sports at Winsor: A Difficult Choice

By Katie Burstein ’21 Banner Staff As the first sports season of the year comes to a close, Winsor has been celebrating outstanding victories among its fall sports teams. Among students, however, there is considerable discussion about the prioritization of sports at Winsor.

The prioritization of sports over the arts has long been a contention at schools across the country. Funding for sports programs often comes at the expense of arts programs or vice versa. Despite similar goals (providing students with new opportunities, education, and outlets) the two extracurriculars often seem at odds.

At Winsor, students have the opportunity to participate in performing or visual arts through classes in the arts department and can join a sports team in the afternoons. However, within this system, some students believe that acknowledgment and recognition, as well as financial or supplemental support, are dis-proportionately distributed to sports activities.

There are logistical challenges to participating in both sports and the arts at Winsor. Firstly, the timing of plays or musicals are such that they require students to choose between either a sport or a theatrical production. This scheduling is an attempt to ensure that they are not too busy that their academic performance declines. In addition to these logistical challenges, although Winsor provides athletic transportation, they do not provide transportation for plays or musicals at other schools. Belmont Hill does provide transportation for students attending

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Th e Pan el

Novemb er 18th, 2019

Winsor/Belmont Hill Staff Editorial

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Our Hope for Winsor and Belmont Hill’s Siblingship As most students know, Belmont Hill and Winsor have a brother-sister school relationship. We perform plays and musicals together, share certain extracurriculars (such as the newspaper!), attend the same prom, and more. There is a lot of overlap between Belmont Hill and Winsor families; oftentimes brothers and sisters attend Belmont Hill and Winsor respectively. Despite these shared traditions, there is little substantive collaboration between the schools; how is it possible that we share a brother-sister school relationship, yet barely know each other beyond a surface level? By giving an overview of the history of our relationship and sharing insights from students and faculty from both schools, we aim to shed light on this issue.

The information in the following history summary is sourced from “The Story of Belmont Hill School” by Roger Duncan, as well as first-hand accounts from Harold Prenatt.

In 1973, Belmont Hill Headmaster David Aloian and Winsor Headmistress Virginia Wing officially established the coordinating relationship between our respective schools that exists to this day. While Winsor had enjoyed formal ties with Nobles for many decades, the implementation of coeducation at that institution a few years before rendered the partnership increasingly unnecessary. From the outset, the relationship between Belmont Hill and Winsor was an unnatural and sometimes awkward one. Many questioned the similarities, if any, of the two very different, independent institutions. In truth, it was primarily a matter of convenience: the Heads of School enjoyed a cordial relationship, and many families had children at both schools.

Unlike the majority of single-sex schools in the early 1970s, neither Belmont Hill nor Winsor was exploring the option of coeducation. During the first year of the relationship, Belmont Hill began a tradition of sending three seniors to Winsor for a day, but the first boys (Joe Johnson, Andre Bernard, and David Blair) reported back that they did not feel as though they made a significant contribution in the classes they visited. Likewise, Winsor sent seniors Myra Tillotson, Julie Richardson, and Karen Leavitt to Belmont Hill, and while they added some excitement to the day, little real academic coordination occurred. Although both faculties agreed that the option of holding joint classes was impractical because of commuting logistics and differing schedules, they still searched for ways in which Belmont Hill boys and Winsor girls could interact. In 1973 the thriving theater program at Winsor absorbed its then-struggling Belmont Hill counterpart, and a co-ed glee club was formed.

In the athletic realm, a Winsor crew was formed that year when Belmont Hill permitted the girls use of a bay in the new boathouse. Other group activities occurred, although throughout the years these interactions have largely depended on the personality of each class. Some years interactions have been prolific, and in others Belmont Hill boys have been more closely associated with the girls at Newton Country Day and Dana Hall, and the Winsor girls with the boys at Roxbury Latin.

The one area which has exemplified the coordination between Winsor and Belmont Hill the most has been The Panel. Winsor was first permitted as staff contributors in the early 1970s and then gained its own editor soon after. Sometime later in the seventies, a Winsor co-faculty advisor was added, and lastly Winsor gained its own co-Editor-in-Chief a few years after that. For decades this relationship was more fruitful and enduring than many of the other coordinated activities, although in recent years the relationship has atrophied as the majority of issues of The Panel at both schools have become increasingly independent. The title change from “The Panel” to “The Banner” at Winsor is more of a formality, as it truly has been its own distinct paper for some years now.

The Winsor Perspective

Although Winsor and Belmont Hill have an established sibling school relationship on paper and therefore many opportunities for interaction, many Winsor students lack the time to participate in them fully. Given the awkward and sometimes tense nature of our relationship with Belmont Hill, many Winsor students do not see much of an incentive to prioritize our interactions, despite the potential benefits. At first look, the seven-day cycle and weekly schedule make regular collaboration very difficult. Even the crew teams, who share a boathouse and equipment, have drastically different schedules, so facilitating team interaction is challenging.

Another isolating feature of our sibling relationship is the difficulty in transportation between the campuses. Belmont Hill provides transportation for plays, but distance greatly hinders the ability to bridge other gaps between our schools. Logistical difficulties aside, one of the main purposes of our sibling school relationships is to have the opportunity to experience a diversity of opinions, particularly in conversations regarding gender and/or politics. As is visible in the democratic primary infographic, the political diversity of the two student bodies is significant, so what would discussions amongst Belmont Hill and Winsor students look like? Audrey Wu ’20 points out “that we tend to have different political opinions (or perceptions of each others’ political opinions) as a school collectively, which could make communication difficult.” Winsor does a great job of increasing our comfort in engaging in difficult conversations, whether they explore topics about class, racial equity, or sexual harassment. However, many discussions at Winsor are dominated by the liberalleaning beliefs of the student body.

Conversations with Belmont Hill would promote a greater variability of opinion, but we would have to figure out how to navigate such co-ed discussions in an effective, respectful way. It can be difficult to fully express opinions while being mindful of potential discord, so perhaps more structured discussions in explicitly academic settings would ensure that these interactions remain polite and intentional. Ms. Pelmas, Winsor’s Head of School and a current board member of Belmont Hill, hopes that future collaborative endeavors could consist of “meaningful activities where people are really engaging about something that matters.” In terms of difficult or heavy discussions between the schools regarding current events, politics, and/or social justice issues, she believes that “it is very hard [for students] to make [their] way through a sensitive conversation with new people,” and that, for now, many crucial conversations might be most navigable when kept within the student body and Winsor community. The diversity of opinion provided by Belmont Hill could be potentially beneficial, and may prove to be a future resource, but, at the moment, the air between the schools seems too awkward to begin a productive conversation that would allow those opinions to be voiced. Going forward, we believe having more academic interactions with Belmont Hill would allow the two schools to engage in difficult conversations in the future.

These efforts extend to the administrations of both schools; as Ms. Pelmas explains, activities with Belmont Hill could be greatly advantageous, but “first it has to be the best thing for Winsor.” She hopes to continue to pursue value in our sibling school relationship, as well as “make sure that we’re not just trying to be partner schools for the sake of being partner schools.” We can maintain this balance by engaging with Belmont Hill through a variety of activities, both artistic and intellectual. At the moment, we see much of our collaboration happening through social events, but we look forward to seeing what the administration is planning and their ambitions to increase collaboration.

The Belmont Hill and Winsor Boathouse, one of the schools’ only shared facilities

The Belmont Hill Perspective

It sometimes seems like we’re sibling schools in name, but not in practice. Beyond prom, where do Upper Schoolers consistently interact with Winsor girls? Different students have different levels of engagement with our sister school, but consistent interaction with our sister school is not part of the regularly scheduled program. Furthermore, the fact that we have so few events together means that the rare, school-organized socials, whether it be a dance or otherwise, result in another problem altogether: awkwardness.

At Belmont Hill and Winsor alike, the prospect of attending a joint event between the schools often draws sighs and eye rolls. In the context of the present situation, why wouldn’t it? The respective student bodies hardly interact with each other, so when they finally do, they don’t know where to start. As a result of their lack of contact, students from Winsor and Belmont Hill alike have formed misconceptions about each other, resulting in a sense of apathy at the prospect of crossing over. Over time, some Belmont Hill students have developed a caricature of what a Winsor student is like: politically far-left, condescending, and stubborn. Similarly, some Winsor students likely have their own ideas about Belmont students: uninformed, more concerned with athletics than academics, and less intelligent. Both of these caricatures are inaccurate generalizations of diverse student bodies that result from a lack of contact between the schools.

Belmont Hill and Winsor are both independent schools, and, in the words of Headmaster Mr. Schneider, “independent schools love their independence.” We each have rigid schedules, have tasks we want to accomplish and are separated by the logistical obstacle of distance that is only exacerbated by urban traffic. Where both schools could stand to improve, however, would be in the realm of academic overlap. Our interactions with Winsor are often limited to social events such as dances or conversations over controversial topics. Where’s the middle experience? We have access to technology that could join classes that are separated geographically. Why can’t politics classes engage in debates over current events through a Promethean board or English classes discuss a jointly-read book? The curriculum does not have to line up exactly; it seems unlikely that Belmont Hill and Winsor would ever teach a class in complete conjunction with one another. But even conversations just once or twice a quarter would serve students greatly as they develop their thoughts.

“Could we get Belmont Hill kids doing shared academic work with Winsor girls on some kind of combined project related to overlapping academic interests?” Mr. Schneider asked. “To me, to have an intellectual experience that gets you out of the bubble of your own institution can be really powerful.” Indeed, it seems as if Belmont Hill and Winsor are moving towards joint academic work, as Dean of Studies Mr. Smith revealed.

The plan that is currently in development would involve several in-person meetings in Boston between similar Belmont Hill and Winsor classes, culminating in a joint final project.

Concluding Thoughts

Both schools stand to gain from this relationship—in today’s social climate allboys schools are under fire for potentially having a negative influence on men and how they learn to interact with women, while all-girls schools are often accused of developing similar mindsets as a result of their environment. As such, we believe that it is more important than ever to strengthen the relationship between Winsor and Belmont Hill to help both student bodies develop healthy behavior for the future and experience a healthy diversity of opinion. Sports is also an unrealized opportunity to improve the relationship between our schools. By sharing our athletic facilities, the sports culture at both schools could be celebrated. Belmont Hill teams could occasionally use Winsor’s turf fields or vice versa; both schools would likely see an increase in game attendance. These sports games would invite social interaction between our student bodies and develop a unifying team spirit. Furthrmore, why don’t students from the two schools ever work on joint projects as part of their formal curriculum? What if Winsor and Belmont Hill classes met, whether digitally or in person, to debate and engage in thoughtful discussion?

By engaging in academic overlap, we could work to break our respective institutional bubbles and develop more nuanced, complex thoughts about both our classwork and our society. We believe that it is vital to our education of becoming global citizens that we experience collaboration with those different and similar from us alike, so we believe there would be great benefit in increasing not only social events but also efforts that produce a final product that positively contributes to both student bodies.

B elmont Hill Opinions

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T he Panel

The Growing Movement against Climate Change

By Jackon O'Donnell '20 and Charles Richards ‘20 Panel Staff Over the past few months, climate change has been highlighted more than ever as a threat to the human population and the planet as a whole. The Office of the Director of National Security explains that climate change is “likely to fuel competition for resources, economic distress, and social discontent through 2019 and beyond.” Dangers associated with climate change include extreme weather, droughts, wildfires, storms, floods, rising sea levels, soil degradation, and ocean acidification.”

“Receiving significant attention, sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg pleaded world leaders to take action against climate change at the UN Climate Action" Summit."

Loss of biodiversity as a result of these human-produced problems will have catastrophic effects on ecosystems, and further jeopardize food and water sources, while ruining economic avenues for millions. Climate change greatly endangers the planet and, in conjunction, contributes to various alarming problems.

One flaw evident in America is the

largest carbon footprint, but also have the “denialism” of the U.S. government, with wealth and the resources to make an im150 of the 535 members of congress still pactful difference. It is necessary for them denying that climate change exists. When to take notice and, more importantly, take a large portion of those in power refuses action. to acknowledge an issue’s legitimacy, it beWith the continuing popularity of clicomes almost impossible to fix. In response, mate strike protests, it is going to get harder climate activists have led massive worldwide and harder for them to deny what’s happenclimate strikes with millions of participants ing.

Climate change will undoubtedly play to raise awareness. Notably, 7.6 million peoa major role in our lives, but if we want to ple were involved in the Global Climate minimize its impact and protect our future, Strike from September 20th to 27th, where immediate change is needed. ☐ a record-number of students and young adults called out the older generations and politicians in hopes of promoting change.

Receiving significant attention, sixAlthough the issue stems from evteen-year-old Greta Thunberg pleaded eryone, the chances of significant change world leaders to take action against climate are especially dependent on the affluent change at the UN Climate Action Summit. and powerful. They naturally produce the In a heartfelt speech, she stated, “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!” Continuing this movement, student-led walkouts have trended across the globe; most recently, on October 25th, the streets of Vancouver were flooded by a climate protest.

Despite an undeniably bleak future, there is hope, yet it requires global action.

All must make a conscious effort to be environmentally aware of the repercussions of their behavior and habits and attempt to live their day-to-day lives sustainably.

A dismayed Greta Thunberg from The New Yorker

“7.6 million people were involved in the Global Climate Strike... where a record-number of students and young adults called out the older generations and politicians in hopes of promoting change."

Why JID Will Soon Inherit the Throne from King Kendrick

By Rhocar Constant & Jake Pappo ‘20 Panel Staff

Twe nt y - e i g ht - ye ar- ol d _ D est in Route, also known as JID, has recently been taking the rap game by storm. Given a boost of clout in 2018 with his impressive performance in the otherwise mediocre XXL Freshman Cypher, the previously overlooked wordsmith was picked up by Dreamville Records in the Spring of 2017. JID has reinvigorated the mumble- and trap-dominated rap game with a different approach to the popular genre.

His complex flows over smooth, jazzy instrumentals are very reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar’s style. Considered by many to be the greatest rapper of all time, Cornrow Kenny very similarly seized

Voices

on

The Panel administered an anonymous poll to its staff to gauge their thoughts on the ongoing impeachment investigation. Below are the questions used to reveal their knowledge and beliefs on the issue: "Please give a 3-5 sentence opinion on the impeachment investigation currently taking place. Do you believe it to be partisan or nonpartisan?

Do you believe the impeachment push will reach the Senate? Do you believe the Senate will convict the president? What do you believe should be the result of the process for President Trump? Feel free to share any other thoughts you may have."

hip-hop earlier this decade with hits like Sean, and A$AP Rocky. On the other hand, M.A.A.D City and Swimming Pools, bring- JID grew up in the East coast city of Atlaning conscious rap into the mainstream. ta, idolizing the ‘90s New York rap moguls Despite their similar styles, there are such as Jay Z, Nas, and Mobb Deep. Destin’s several key conrise to fame partrasts between alleled that of the Kendrick and new generation JID. The “good of SoundCloud kid” from Comprappers like ton grew up in the Gunna, Lil Baby, ‘90s listening to and Ski Mask the hip-hop legends Slump God. such as Tupac With a and N.W.A., new generation which greatly incomes differfluenced his own ent emphases music. Kendrick’s in music, which contemp oraries explains why include the likesJID looking dapper on stag from Bossip JID does have of late-2000’s and more of a pop vibe; however, the influearly-2010’s musicians such as Drake, Big

ence of New York’s hip-hop scene at the turn of the century presents itself in his raw delivery, lyrical dexterity, and often spooky tone. As he garners more experience and time in the limelight, his unique sound and identity will continue to develop and we fans will continue to eagerly await his work.

JID has a lot to live up to, though, as Kendrick simply does not make bad music. Even his collection of throw-away songs, “Untitled Unmastered”, was one of the better albums of 2016. It is certain, however, that, if he continues to ride off the momentum of his contributions to the most recent Dreamville album as well as back-to-back bangers with “The Never Story” and “DiCaprio 2”, the young rapper has a promising career ahead. ☐

vanguard of Trump's possible impeachment, I believe there are some Republicans who see him as unfit for office as well. I honestly don't know what will happen to the Don, but there appears to be sufficient evidence collected throughout his term to impeach and convict him."

one need look no further than the fact that the resolution that passed the House Thursday morning (10/31) did so almost entirely along party lines... Additionally, I believe nothing will truly come of this, and it will only embolden President Trump's supporters to reelect him by larger margins. If the Democrats want to win in 2020, it would behoove them to focus the country's attention more on the primary taking place and their own ideas to move America forward, rather than obsess about Trump and his every move.

For almost four years they have allowed him to dominate the dialogue and the impeachment is just the latest step in this catastrophic mistake." ☐

Impeachment

"The impeachment investigation, like many other aspects of American politics, is partisan. The votes of representatives will likely lie in their party loyalty as opposed to their genuine beliefs in the legality of President Trump’s acHere are the responses: tions. I believe the impeachment push "It is obviously partisan, but that is not will reach the Senate, yet not pass, and necessarily a bad thing. It will likely reach that Trump will continue his presidency the Senate as the Dems have a majority in as if nothing happened." the House. The Senate will likely not go through with it, however, for Trump is the Republicans' best hope in the election." " I really haven't been keeping up with "While Democrats are certainly at the the impeachment investigation to be

from

the

honest and believe my opinion would be uneducated and poorly based. But on that note, it does remind me of a Russian collusion scandal our country endured for two years that ended up with nothing to show. Personally, I feel like its just another mouse for politicians to chase, distracting them from legitimate issues they're too afraid to confront. I believe both parties are incredibly out of touch with their voting bases, and this will be shown in the results of the 2020 election."

"I think that the impeachment is partisan and do not believe that it will reach the Senate. If it does reach the Senate, I do not think that the president will end up getting impeached, but he should be."

"I believe very strongly that the impeachment investigation taking place is highly partisan. To prove this,

Panel

Staff

Novemb er 18t h , 2 0 1 9

B elmont HIll Opinions

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Debate of the Issue: Mandatory Sports vs. Fitness Requirement

Pro-Sports

By Jake Pappo '20 & Charlie Wells '21 Panel Staff A sports requirement is obviously necessary to any small school that considers itself legitimate. While it would be cumbersome to implement this at a large school, given the quantity of teams and resources that would be required to enforce it, at a small school it is a necessity. When one looks back on their high school experience, they scarcely recall individual tests or classes, but they will always remember the comeback football victory or the blowout against the rival team. Furthermore, carrying on a school’s reputation of athletic excellence is a strong point of pride for many students and alumni.

The requirement for middle schoolers to play a sport each season allows them to become athletes qualified for competing on more serious upper school teams. One may think that this investment takes away from other aspects of the school; however, as Belmont Hill demonstrates, a rigorous academic standard and a robust arts programs are more than capable of coexisting with sucessful athletics.The only way to ensure this strong athletic performance is to establish a sort of requirement. The high school should take it upon itself to initiate the engagement of its students in athletics, and the athletes will take it the rest of the way.

The benefits of mandatory sports are increased average fitness of the student body and an opportunity for them to bond. It is important for students to be fit

as it will result in them leading a healthier life and improve their general well-being at school. Furthermore, the social climate of a team is an apt environment to make friends as they all have to work together. Students who have a close group of peers will generally do better in school, as well, both academically and socially.

The latter half of this two-sided benefit to mandatory sports is completely lost in a mere fitness requirement. Though the student body may not devolve into obesity, they will not have access to the humanity at the heart of sports. Competitive athletics programs allow important lessons of teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship to be taught to the players.

An optimal interdisciplin- Illustration by Elias Hyde '20 ary education (such as that of Belmont Hill) does not let its students pat themselves on the back for fulfilling some invalid fitness requirement.

Sports serve as the mortar that holds together a school community and, unless it receives the attention it deserves, the student body will never reach its full potential. ☐

Pro-Fitness

By Lauren Hogan & Giselle Chu ‘20

Banner Staff

Are sports a burden? Many schools promote and emphasize the importance of staying fit through school sports. However, some may argue that these schools neglect the variation of athletic capability among students.

Within the student body, many individuals are immersed in extracurriculars such as the arts, club teams, and other high commitment activities. Schools should respect one’s personal values and strengths, and therefore should not confine them to a sports requirement.

After-school activities and pastimes are a personal preference that should be chosen by the student.

If a student is passionate about other extracurriculars and is eager to achieve higher results in their own independent activities, the addition of a required sport may be a waste of valuable time that could be spent on improving a desired skill.

Mandatory athletics also add yet another task to the hectic schedules of students, which could ultimately lead to a decline in academics due to a lack of time. Furthermore, the choice for sports is fairly small as there are only so many to choose from. If a student wishes to pursue a particular sport then they have the option to do so, but it is unjust to force the requirement upon someone who is not interested

in athletics or the sports available at the school.

On the contrary, the Winsor gym provides a variety of equipment which allows students to voluntarily create their own personal workout. This privilege enables students to enhance their athletic skills through several modified exercises. Students are therefore able to primarily focus on areas for improvement. Instead of limiting a student to one individual sport, the fitness requirement permits students to explore different athletic skills, techniques, and activities. Fitness is frequently portrayed as a solitary exercise; however, it can also be a way to bond with your classmates and meet other students from different grades, similarly to the environment of a sports team. Specific work-out times are never planned in advance, which promotes students to exercise with a fellow peer or friend.

Schools constantly ask students to write down their own personal goals for the year ahead. One of the most used statements is “time management.” The fitness requirement only requests a student to sacrifice two, one hour periods per week. However, sports require a considerable amount of commitment. Depending on one’s values in academics, with sports, it becomes more difficult to manage your time for homework and extracurriculars in preparation for school the next day. Through fitness, a student can remain both physically and mentally healthy without having to commit to a full-time requirement.

Several disputes have been made regarding athletic requirements. Both systems benefit the student body, but the real question is whether students should feel confined towards a sport, or limited in their choices. The fitness requirement provides students with the option to pursue a sport, or engage in other after-school activities. Through this choice, students are able to feel more comfortable with their decisions and therefore excel in their selected area. ☐

Reflecting on Belmont Hill's Foreign Exchange Program

By Khelan Dheda ‘22 Panel Staff America has the unique position of having an influence so pervasive throughout the world that many people form rather strong opinions about it without having ever been there. As a result, I was initially ambivalent about my trip, having been exposed to the worst of American stereotypes throughout my life.

I had also, in fact, never been to the United States, a place which in my mind could be no further than my Indian-South African heritage; however, there is a strange allure that many across the world feel towards the country - awkwardly juxtaposed with their dislike – that, ultimately, it is a land of opportunity and freedom. After all, emigrating to America is a dream for many middle- to upper-class members in South Africa; a place with quality education, functional public services, and a life free from (relative) corruption and crime.

So, given these two conflicting per-

ceptions in my head, when I landed at Logan International I had absolutely no idea what to expect. And there were definitely a few culture shocks that I did experience on arrival.

Even though I am from South Africa, nothing comes close to the diversity in culture and people in America. Another was the sheer friendliness of American people people here are very much more outgoing than in South Africa, and this made such a strange and unfamiliar environment quite welcoming. The New England autumn is absolutely spectacular and unlike anything that I have ever seen before. The natural beauty in Boston is something I think many take for granted. Even though I have been placed in Mr. Duarte's fantastic photography course, I don't think any exposure I take will do justice to it!

One thing that I really found quite surprising was the number of homeless people. I had this perception of America (despite its flaws) being a largely wealthy firstworld country, and to see people braving the

Boston cold was quite shocking. Furthermore, Boston is an incredibly exciting place to live, with so much to see and do nearly every weekend. One of my favorite things to do is to take a train to a random stop and get off to explore the area – Cambridge, so far, being one of the places that I have enjoyed the most.

So what about school? There are several immense differences between Belmont Hill and Bishops (the school in Cape Town that I attend), despite also being an all-boys elite private school.

More saliently is the intense focus on academics. Although Bishops is known for its rigor, the atmosphere is nowhere near Belmont Hill academically. The exceptional quality of teaching, the pace at which work is covered, the far superior curriculum, and fantastic facilities all contribute to this, and there are several sub-factors that I simply won’t be able to cover in this article. I can, however, confidently say that Belmont Hill is leagues ahead of any South African school academically. Some of the most en-

joyable aspects, in my opinion, include the sheer variety of interesting and engaging courses, the attitude of students towards academics and culture, and the fact that nearly all Belmont Hill students are astoundingly intelligent. The pedagogy is more geared towards stretching the students and making them think and be curious (through extensive reading and the Harkness method), whereas, in South Africa, the emphasis is much more focused on what is on the limited curriculum and how much you can memorize and regurgitate.

To conclude, I am having the time of my life at Belmont Hill and on my exchange here in Boston. It's a fantastic experience and virtually every aspect of it is absolutely brilliant. Given the choice, I would instantly move here without a second thought. It’s been a thoroughly amazing few weeks that I’ve had here and I genuinely hope to come back someday. I am truly grateful for this life-changing opportunity that I have been given, and I hope to make the most out of it whilst I’m here. ☐

Belmont Hill Homecoming vs. Winsor UTL

Continued from Front Page

theme for each day of the week leading up to UTL and the entire school dresses in costumes accordingly. This year, the themes were Boston Day, Famous Duo Day, What You Found at Area 51 Day, and, according to Winsor tradition, Red Day on Friday. Each day of spirit week is a new opportunity for Winsor students (and many members of the faculty) to showcase their creativity and school spirit. During the Pep Rally on Friday before UTL, the SASS heads Elizabeth Martin ‘20, Dora Freidman ‘20, Isabella Sibble ‘20, and Caroline Cromwell ‘21 announced the winners of the costume competition for each day of the week. Additionally, each grade performed a cheer during

the pep rally. In many cases, these routines were worked on for months beforehand and included original music remixes and choreography. This year the class of 2020 won the cheer competition, with the class of 2021 coming in second.

After the pep rally, though, the anticipated event of UTL officially begins. The sports games kick off with middle school field hockey and soccer. JV volleyball, soccer, and field hockey games start as the sun is going down, and varsity games start just as it gets dark and the field lights kick on.

This year, varsity field hockey had an astounding 10-0 victory against LCA while varsity soccer fought hard for a 2-2 score against LCA and varsity volleyball played

their closest match yet against a formidable opponent, Dana Hall, almost closing out what would have been their first set ever won against Dana but ultimately losing 0-3. On the sidelines and the bleachers, Winsor students, countless alumni, and parents cheered on their team. While Winsor doesn’t have Loop leader equivalents during UTL as many of the SASS heads are athletes and playing their own games, Winsor students take it upon themselves to lead the crowd in rounds of the Red Hot cheer.

Upper Schoolers also volunteer for 30-minute shifts being the Winsor Wildcat, donning the fluffy red costume and interacting with fans. Athletes and non-athletes alike see UTL and the preceding Spirit Week as

the greatest expression of school spirit at Winsor.

Even though they have their differences, Homecoming and UTL are both opportunities for the Belmont Hill and Winsor communities to come together and support student-athletes. This year, both events continued to be uplifting, energetic displays of school spirit. Since students, teachers, and alumni alike enjoy these occasions, Homecoming and UTL are traditions that are sure to last. ☐

Winsor Opinions

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TThhe e BPanel anner

The Downfalls of Today's Cancel Culture

By Katherine Loose '20 Banner Staff

To many adults, the term “canceled” might have no significant meaning. But to teenagers, the word is thrown around social media so often that it’s almost impossible to avoid. According to the all-knowing Urban Dictionary, “canceled” is used “to reject an individual or an idea.” So when someone—usually someone in the public eye—does something deemed ignorant or offensive, that person can be canceled.

They are put on an unofficial blacklist and lose some amount of public support. This so-called “cancel culture” has become a threat to celebrities all across the board, and in doing so, has generated both criticism and praise.

Cancel culture started as a way to hold celebrities accountable for their actions.

One of the earliest and most high-profile cases concerned R. Kelly, the singer who faced numerous allegations of sexual assault against young girls. In 2017, a movement called #MuteRKelly was started in an attempt to interfere with the playing of R. Kelly songs and stop them from playing altogether. Unfortunately, R. Kelly continued to perform and his music remained on streaming platforms. However, the protests sparked by the movement were proof that with enough public support, cancel culture could make a difference.

Today, social media plays an enormous role in cancel culture. In 2018, comedian Kevin Hart stepped down from hosting the 2019 Oscars when old tweets of his resurfaced, revealing homophobic remarks. In the same year, beauty Youtuber Laura Lee lost over 300,000 subscribers for the racist tweets found on her Twitter from 2012. But that was only a

minor consequence; James Charles lost 3 million subscribers overnight in 2019. Tati Westbrook had posted a Youtube video in which she accused Charles of both manipulating her and sexually harassing straight men, and he had immediately been canceled.

Recently, cancel culture has expanded into the political world. In fact, even Barack Obama has commented on the idea. “This idea of purity and you’re never compromised and you’re always politically ‘woke’ and all that stuff… You should get over that quickly,” Obama told CNN. “The world is messy, there are ambiguities. People who do really good stuff have flaws.” Although this is not a direct reference to the term “canceled” itself, Obama’s words challenge the very essence of cancel culture.

Now, there’s a difference between sexual assault and tweets from 2012. And that’s why our responses to R. Kelly and Laura Lee have rightfully been different. Not only did their actions differ in severity, but they also differed in how they were affected by social norms.

Cancel culture has everything to do with political correctness, and not long ago, political correctness was not such a sensitive topic in our society. People could get away with offensive tweets because calling them out had not yet been normalized. That doesn’t mean that Laura Lee’s tweets weren’t racist; it just means that racist tweets weren’t an immediate red flag in 2012.

In contrast, political correctness does not factor into R. Kelly’s sexual assault.

There is also a difference in how canceled individuals respond to their criticism.

Kevin Hart, for example, blatantly refused to apologize for his homophobic comments. He rejected the opportunity to own up to his mis-

takes and move forward. On the other hand, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly apologized for wearing blackface in high school. In September, Trudeau stated, “I take responsibility for my decision to do that. It was something I didn’t think was racist at the time, but now I recognize it was racist, and I am deeply sorry.” Trudeau’s apology did not make his actions any less harmful, but it did demonstrate that he understood the harm he had caused.

Cancel culture is an incredibly nuanced topic because each case is completely different from the last. In some cases, it makes sense to permanently cancel someone, and in

others, it’s more important to give them another chance. Ifeanyi Umunna ’20 shared her opinion on the issue: “I think that it stops otherwise privileged people from engaging in necessary conversations for fear of being canceled.” Although cancel culture is intended to foster a conversation about political correctness, it can actually prohibit that conversation from happening. The message behind cancel culture is also problematic. Rather than encouraging self-reflection, it promotes the idea that we are our mistakes. There needs to be an alternative to cancel culture that allows room for growth and forgiveness. ☐

YouTuber James Charles was canceled in May 2019.

Insider.com

Eco - Friendly Clothing ACT Unveils New Changes

By Abby Groom '22 and Abbie Peterson '22

Contributing Writers

What do you think of when you hear about compostable or eco-friendly clothing?

Our first thoughts included vegans, tree huggers, and muted, earthy colors. Other thoughts from Tia Sheth ‘22 and Sarah Loose ‘22 were, “sustainable but not affordable,” and “comfortable but not necessarily stylish.” Just like our fellow classmates, we were worried that the quality and aesthetic of the clothing wouldn’t be on par with popular and fashionable brands. So what exactly is eco-friendly or compostable clothing?

Eco-friendly clothing is made using organic, raw materials, such as cotton grown without pesticides and eco-friendly silk. Compostable clothing is a subcategory of eco-friendly clothing that refers to clothing that can be composted because it is not made of synthetic fibers. Imogen Cabot ‘22 stated, “textile waste is one of the most destructive things to our environment. Second hand or sustainable clothing is a better option, but sustainable clothing is expensive.” The fashion industry is one of the world’s leading polluters and consumers of water, accounting for 8% of a global climate impact. Fast fashion brands such as Zaful, Shein, and Romwe produce cloth-

Reformation Dress

TheReformation.com

ing on a massive scale, which creates an immense amount of waste. The average American throws away about 81 pounds of clothing every year and that doesn’t account for the clothing brand’s waste. These fast fashion brands seem optimal for the consumer looking for on-budget and trendy choices.

In the fashion industry, there needs to be a greater push for more affordable, eco-friendly clothing. Some companies are making steps towards becoming eco-friendly and sustainable.

With greater demand for eco-friendly clothing by consumers, companies will be motivated to produce more eco-friendly clothing! Here is a list of stores that are eco-friendly or companies striving to lessen their impact on the world.

1. Amour Vert: In addition to using exclusive, eco-friendly fabrics, Amour Vert plants a tree in North America for every T-shirt purchased. Amour Verts pieces are made in limited quantities to ensure the highest production standard and eliminate excess waste.

2. Reformation: Reformation is 100% carbon, water, and waste neutral. In their Yearly 2019 Report, they have saved 8474 metric tons of CO2, 445 million gallons of H20, and 344 metric tons of waste, and continue to strive to become even more eco-friendly.

3. Tribe Alive: Is a company run by women and their manufacturing process is free of toxic chemicals and synthetic fibers. The company continues to reduce its carbon emissions, minimize high production of raw materials, and lessen the use of water and energy.

4. Athleta: In 2017, Athleta set goals to reduce waste made by packaging, use sustainable fibers, and create products with water-saving techniques in order to become a more eco-friendly brand by 2020.

Although it is easier to purchase from brands in fast fashion, we all should strive to make use of eco-friendly and sustainable clothing brands for the well-being of the environment. In terms of the expenses, we think that buying second hand clothes from thrift stores is a better option than sustainable clothing.

Re-wearing clothes reduces waste, which would likely to end up in landfills. We hope that learning about alternative clothing brands that are sustainable will help implement eco-friendly clothing in your life. ☐

physical and mental burden on the students,” and “students also have way more freedom and can organize their time better. They can really focus Standardized tests are a marathon. on one thing, which I take as an advantage.” TakThree hours of testing, accompanied by waiting ing the test online also holds many benefits: stuoutside the testing rooms, filling out registration dents would not have to worry about bubbling in information, writing an essay, and taking an ex- answers too slowly, and the often agonizing two to perimental fifth section, and suddenly you’ve been eight week wait for scores would be shortened to a in a random high school for six hours. The ACT mere two business days. is no different. After the math section, a full hour Looking at these rules more closely, of straight stress, you’re definitely drained. But though, I realized there are drawbacks to the new what might be even worse than the math section system. The ability to retake individual sections is realizing that you have to keep testing for an- and essentially customize scores could lead to other three hours. And by greater pressure to get a high, the end of those six hours, almost perfect score – if it’s your brain is fried and your so convenient to retake the hands are tired, maybe even test, why not just do that and cramping, from filling in keep raising your score? Admore than 215 bubbles on ditionally, retaking the test so an answer sheet and furimany times is less accessible ously scrambling to write to those who cannot afford those last few words in the to pay the extravagant fees essay. associated with the ACT or When I took who cannot get as much test the ACT in September prep. Taking the test online this year, one of the survey could also be less accessible, questions asked was along Standardized Testing Dragon Tina Gong '20 especially in areas where the lines of “Would you take computers in schools are the ACT if you could retake it section by section?” hard to find. Some students also would rather not and “Would you take the ACT if taking it online “look at a computer for 3 straight hours” and “like were a possibility?” I answered yes to both ques- to take notes in the sections”, as Jane Hwang ’21 tions. Soon after I took the test, it was announced says. that both these changes will be implemented We still don’t know how these changes starting September 2020. Students will still have are going to play out, though. Craig Allen, a colto take the test in full at least once, but can retake lege counselor at Winsor, says that “we haven’t individual sections separately to improve their to- heard how colleges are going to respond: it really tal score. The test will also be offered online. depends on how they decide to implement this As soon as I heard of these new rules, I system.” However, as a whole, “we tend to put way saw the benefits and was a little jealous of students too much emphasis on testing. Standardized testin grades below who could fully experience them. ing is not a good indicator for admission by itself.”

Last year, current seniors had complained about Standardized testing is definitely not needing to retake the entire test just to improve the be-all and end-all of college admissions, but one section’s score, and I was worried about hav- it is still a very significant and stressful process. ing to do so as well. Now, students won’t have to Ultimately, despite its disadvantages, the ACT will take such a large chunk of time out of their day likely draw many more students to taking it. For or undergo such an immense amount of stress to many students, the ACT has numerous advanretake the ACT. Others agree: Amelia Zhang ’21 tages, so why would they even bother to take the says that because “the time is shorter, there is less SAT? ☐

By Ellie Wang '21 Banner Staff

Novemb er 18t h , 2 0 1 9

Winsor Opinions

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The Implications of the Impeachment Inquiry

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is leading the impeachment inquiry.

ABC News were removed from office. President John- tion. Inviting foreign governments to interson was impeached in 1868, and it was an- fere with our political process compromises other 112 years before President Clinton the foundation of our democracy’s free and was impeached. Now, we find ourselves fair elections. Therefore, I believe that the on the brink of potentially having two im- Presidents’ actions deserve to be investigatpeachment proceedings less than 25 years ed in the serious manner that this abuse of apart. This increase in impeachments shows power deserves. the growing division in our country. Critics Although the President dismissed of Trump’s impeachment say that Trump’s the impeachment proceedings as “PRESactions do not rise to a high crime and the IDENTIAL HARASSMENT!” in a Tweet, process is being abused by Democrats to it seems that there is sufficient evidence hurt a president whom they don’t like. of significant wrong-doing that should Because of the severity of im- be further investigated to either clear the peachment, we should expect that members President’s name or protect our democratic of Congress put their country ahead of their values. The transcript of Trump’s call with partisan politics. However, we live in an era Ukrainian President Zelensky, along with when our leaders are increasingly motivated the whistleblower’s report and the testimoto do what is best for themselves politically, ny of many witnesses, point to potential which might not be what is best for our na- wrong-doing.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi resisted jumping into impeachment until a clear case could be made. Pelosi understands both the severity of impeachment and how it could play out going into the 2020 election. A very likely scenario is that the House will vote to impeach the president, but he will not be convicted in the Republican-controlled Senate. This scenario will have one of two effects on the President—either it will be highly motivating for his base or it will turn public opinion against him. Speaker Pelosi’s support for impeachment shows that the latter is increasingly more likely and that it’s Congress’ job to check these allegations, even if it may not be politically beneficial.

These proceedings are significant not only because they have the potential to mark Trump’s presidency with a scarlet letter, but also because we, as citizens, must set an important precedent that we will always defend the foundation of our democracy.

Some believe that with the 2020 Presidential Election just one year away, American voters should decide Trump’s fate at the ballot box. But I believe that our founding fathers laid out in the Constitution that Congress has a responsibility to provide a check for presidential power. As an American citizen, I would hope that all our representatives have an open mind and follow the facts as they are revealed in this important preceding. ☐

tion, they may be using financial needs against students.

Although this practice is relatively new, it is beginning to become more and more common, and the records reviewed by The Post show that at least 44 public and private universities in the United States are currently implementing tracking software.

These new scoring and tracking practices are especially popular at schools struggling to fill their college body. It allows the school to target and attract students who have a higher chance of actually attending their college, rather than wasting time on someone who can’t afford to pay tuition or who may not be interested in the school.

However, most prospective students don’t even know when they’re being tracked. In a review

esting concept, but as a student, there are some examples I don’t particularly like. For example, the financial aid aspect, or if you’re looking at a school with competitive major. Some colleges don’t accept you based off of a major.”

Additionally, Brianna Feliciano ’20, says “I feel like using tracking software to calculate an applicant’s displayal of interest is very iffy and it could easily be manipulated and miscalculated if you were to simply leave your laptop tabs open. I hope it isn’t ever used in any admissions decision making.” Overall, although this process is extremely beneficial to colleges, it may actually hinder students’ chances at being admitted to the college.

Next time you’re browsing a college website, remember, someone may be tracking you! ☐

By Catherine Friendly '21 Staff Writer The House of Representatives’ vote on Thursday, October 31 marked the official beginning of the impeachment inquiry against President Trump. This inquiry stems from Trump’s phone call with Ukraine President Zelensky in which he allegedly offered military aid in exchange for information on a political rival. Although this vote was merely procedural, as it approved guidelines for the public hearings, it had symbolic meaning, marking the first time members of Congress had to vote on the record. The House members largely voted along party lines, with Democrats in support of the impeachment proceedings and Republicans opposing them. This partisan division has been present since the beginning of the Trump presidency. But since the impeachment inquiry began, this division has become even more apparent and is reflected in the House’s vote.

Removal from office is the most severe punishment a president can receive, and thus, impeachment should never be taken lightly. The Constitution states that a president “shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” In the history of our country, only two presidents have been impeached, and neither of those presidents

College Website Tracking: You're Being Watched

By Sam Maynard '21 Banner Staff

of the online privacy policies of all 33 schools using Web tracking software, only three explained the purpose of the tracking. The other 30 schools either completely failed to address their tracking systems, or they did not explain its full purpose. Overall, there is usually no warning for the students that they are being tracked, and many say these tracking systems violate students’ privacy. Despite this possible violation of privacy, in my opinion, the benefits of this practice outweigh the negatives because it greatly increases the convenience of colleges’ obtaining information about prospective students and gives students the chance to express their interest in their college.

The Stem and Society class at Winsor also spoke to me about their opinions on the topic. Alexis Vilmenay ’21, thinks “it’s an inter-

Have you ever browsed a college’s website? Well, without your knowing, that college may have been tracking your activity on their website! A recent article by the Washington Post reveals how certain colleges monitor and rank prospective students by installing tracking software on the college’s website. This report observes a specific case of this tracking in which the University of Wisconsin-Stout installed software that immediately recognized who the student was based on a piece of code, “a cookie.” After one student browsed UWStout’s website, the software sent an alert to the school’s assistant director of admissions. The alert said that this student was a high school senior of Mexican descent in Little Cute, Wisconsin who had applied to this school. The alert also included a link to a private profile of the student and listed each page she viewed on the website and how long she spent on each page. In other cases, information such as scanning test scores, zip codes, high school transcripts, academic interests, can be included in the data.

This data helps colleges make better predictions about which students are the most likely to apply, accept an offer, and enroll. The data is formulated into a point system, from one to 100, which determines how much attention the college gives them. For example, if a student scores a 91 on the point system, the school will pay more attention to them.

Because colleges are able to observe how long students spend on different pages of the website, this new practice helps increase the chances of college education for underprivileged students. In the past, while looking for prospective students, many colleges have simply ignored entire regions and high schools based solely on the assumption that these areas would be unable to pay their tuition. Now they are able to quickly determine the financial needs of each prospective student. For example, a student who spends more time on the financial aid page, is more likely to need financial aid. Thus, despite many colleges claiming that they are being need-blind, in this situa- University of Wisconsin-Stout is one of the schools that uses website-tracking technology.

The Washington Post

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Museum of Fine Arts Highlights Female Artists

By Ellie Wang ’21 Banner Staff “Can you name five women artists?” asked the wall in bright red letters. Walking into the “Women Take the Floor” exhibition at the MFA, you’re faced with this difficult question, which is harder than most people think.

When I visited the exhibit with my Art History Class, I was taken aback by that first question. Could I name five women artists? I ran through my limited knowledge of art history but could only come up with three or four. Most people, even those who aren’t well-versed in art, can come up with five male artists with little difficulty.

However, for the average person, naming five women artists is almost impossible. Women have been and still are suppressed, ignored, and underrepresented in art. Museums reflect this disparity almost perfectly.

Success as an artist requires, at least in part, being accepted by the art community, which is dictated by museums and their curators.

Women artists lack much representation at all in museums around the world, and the MFA is no different. In 2012, a billboard by the famed Guerrilla Girls stated in bold letters, “Do women have to be naked to get into Boston museums? Plenty of the nudes in the Museum of Fine Arts are female, but only 11% of the artists are women.”

“Women Take the Floor,” running from September 2019 to May 2021, features solely women artists. While this concept may seem radical to some, it’s important to remember that many art galleries only contain works by male artists. The exhibit addresses not only sexism in the art world as a whole, but also the MFA’s role in perpetuating it. It seeks to rewrite the art history narrative by highlighting women’s

role in it.

Located on the third level of the MFA’s Art of the Americas Wing, the exhibit is split up into rooms, each with a different focus: landscapes, fiber art, women depicting women, and more. Some shed light on women’s contributions in maledominated art forms, while others present women reclaiming art forms typically dismissed as “women’s work.” Around 100 different women artists are featured over the course of the exhibit, including wellknown artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and some who weren’t “discovered” until late in life, such as Carmen Herrera. The space itself is also very dynamic. Some rooms have a more traditional “gallery” layout, but others have works of art to walk around and

performance art recordings to watch.

When I visited the exhibit with Ms. Macaulay’s art history class earlier this October, I was amazed by the variety of art that was showcased, from performance art to fiber art to printmaking. Some works that struck me were Lorna Simpson’s “She,” a series of faceless photographic portraits of a woman in traditionally men’s attire and body language, and Alice Neel’s “Two Girls, Spanish Harlem,” a painted portrait of two girls in front of an otherwise plain background.

It surprised me that most of the works had already been in the MFA’s collection – it had just never gained the recognition that this exhibit finally provides. While the exhibit does highlight the historical and ongoing

Women in Arts Exhibit at the MFA

discrimination against women in the art world, it ultimately provides the message that change is coming. Female artists can finally gain recognition for their incredible talent and long history of hard work. Kaitlin Kolb ’21, who also attended the Art History trip, said, “it was really empowering to see so many great women artists in one space since so much of art history is about men.

This exhibit shows how bright the future of women artists is and makes me hopeful that other museums will feature more women in their galleries.”

Not only is the artwork in this exhibit enough to warrant a trip to the MFA, but so is the message it sends and the self-reflection it prompts. Like Sophie Yates ’20 said, “It’s worth the three flights of stairs.”☐

MFA

Take Your Palate to this Authentic Cuban Restaurant called “morir soñado.” In English, the name means “to die dreaming.” The beverage, being a combination of orange juice and milk, Rich tangles of Spanish words weave somehow manages to capture the feeling of through the air. The slightly sweet scent of a dream. With the sweetness and tang of the tostones wafts towards me. Pictures of Cuba in all its glory adorn nearly every square inch of the white walls. I’m surrounded by thick, glossy green leaves and the vibrant pinks, blues, and yellows of Havana. Despite what you may be thinking, I’m not in Cuba.

I’m in El Oriental de Cuba, a restaurant in Jamaica Plain. El Oriental is made up of an array of magical parts, but today, I’m going to be focusing on the food.

If you look forward to beans and rice at Winsor, you’ll love the food at El Oriental. The arroz and frijoles are served separate from each other. The rice can be found in a mound on the plate and the bowl of beans comes on the side. The rice’s perfectly round figuration somehow manages to make it far more delicious than if it were served in a disheveled pile. The beans are flavorful and have a perfect consistency that allows for them to mingle cohesively with the rice. The tostones (fried plantains) are out of this world: crispy and savory with a very slight sweetness that is made even more delectable with a light sprinkle of salt.

If you crave carbs, I highly recommend el pan cubano, a soft yet crunchy bread that is lathered in butter and served warm. For an entree I would suggest pan con croquetas or pechuga de pollo a la parilla. Pan con croquetas is a sandwich with cuban bread and croquetas made of ham or chicken. Pechuga de pollo a la parrilla is chicken breast charred slightly, and is best served with limón squeezed on top.

If you find yourself parched, I would strongly advise you to try a drink El Oriental Cuban Restaurant

By Aria De Marc0 ’21 banner Staff

orange juice and the smooth element of the milk, the flavors capture the feeling of being at ease. If you aren’t too full after indulging in your delicious meal, the tres leches cake is perfect for dessert. Its cake base is drenched

in cool milk and is topped with heavy whipping cream and a bright red maraschino cherry. This delicious dessert is the perfect way to end your meal and your culinary trip to Cuba. ☐

MFA

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Artist of the Issue: Showcasing Audrey Wu’s Talent

By Anna halfman ’23 Contributing Writer

Audrey Wu ’20 is well known throughout Winsor as a talented composer and musician. She continually dazzles the community with her classical music, and she recently showcased one of her electronic music pieces as well.

Q: When did you start playing music, and what genres of music are you most interested in making and performing?

A: As a kid growing up in elementary school, I had a very specific idea of what and what not music was supposed to be: music was supposed to be enjoyable, people are supposed to like listening to it, etc. Over time, however, I became fascinated by the musical works that sound dissonant, jarring, and atonal, or generally unpleasant to most ears. Ultimately, I found that noise and sounds and music that people tend to avoid can reveal a lot about people themselves.

Now, I actively search for music I find disconcerting or frightening or downright confusing, because they reveal to me more about the deepest and most uncomfortable parts of the human spirit.

I would say that this is one of the things I love most about being a composer; before composing, I had pretty strictly played works composed before the 1920s.

Now, I embrace new works with a passion that I never would have prior to composing, and contemporary classical music is the genre of music I love to perform the most.

These days, compositions that I would have never even considered “music” ten years ago are my favorite pieces of all time.

Q: What projects are you currently working on or have finished recently?

A: One of the pieces I’ve most recently finished — and likely one of the most experimental pieces I’ve written thus far— is a piece titled LET ME ALONE, composed with voice actors, wine glasses,

Audrey Wu on the piano

Audrey Wu

and electronics. Understandably, this is a very funky instrumentation, especially since (as most people might expect) my past compositions have been for individual classical instruments or orchestras or choruses. However, I wanted to create an unnatural soundscape that would make the audience uncomfortable from the very beginning to reflect the heavy and deeply uncomfortable nature of my subject matter— that is, sexual assault in the workplace.

Essentially, I composed the music based on multiple audio clips that I compiled, some famous ones from the news and some monologues from the play Machinal by Sophie Treadwell (directed by Mr. Johnson in 2018) recorded by two of my peers. I had wanted to set this monologue to music ever since I was the stage manager for Machinal and I heard Shantel audition for her role as Helen in the play.

In order to render this composition, I filtered these audio recordings (as well as famous excerpts from the news, such as Donald Trump’s infamous Hollywood access tapes and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s opening statement at the Kavanaugh hearings) through an electronic software and manipulated each note and line using equalizers and levels.

This piece is dedicated to all of the incredibly brave women who have come forward during the #MeToo movement.

productions like musicals or operas, as I am excited about utilizing the skills I have learned as an active member of Winsor’s performing arts programs.

My ultimate objective is twofold— first, to help break down the strict, artificial separation between “concert music” and any other sort of art, as I feel the most powerful works are multimedia by nature (as I’ve spoken about before), and second, to increase diversity and inclusion in the classical canon of composition.

Q: In the future, what would you like to do with music?

A: In the short term, I am starting to draft my second work for full orchestra, which is a very exciting process! Thinking longterm, having written works for orchestras and choruses, I hope to grow in composing larger-scale pieces for multimedia

Audrey has the goal of encouraging other girls to contribute to the world of music and composition, both of which have been previously dominated by men. She inspires others to pursue music as confidently as she does, and we hope she will continue to compose and perform music throughout her time at Winsor. ☐

Time Out Market: A Comprehensive Food Review By natalie Pan ’23 and Ashley Xu ’23 Contributing Writers Are you tired of eating Winsor’s cafeteria food day after day? Are you searching for new restaurant options in the Fenway area? Bring an open mind and an appetite to TimeOut Market Boston! Only an eightminute walk from Winsor, TimeOut Market considers itself “not only a culinary and cultural but also a visual experience.” The new high-end food court, which only opened in

June of 2019, includes 14 restaurants and two bars from famous Bostonian chefs and a diverse selection of dishes. According to TimeOut Market’s website, “Everything that is being offered in TimeOut Market must have been tested and tasted and finally selected by independent Time Out journalists.” The contemporary architecture combined with the upbeat music and youthful atmosphere will make off-campus privileges an adventure!

Monti is one of the two TimeOut Mar-

ket Boston restaurants by Michael Schlow, an ambitious and well-known cooking entrepreneur. The establishment serves woodfired, Roman-style pizza to its many customers. The warm aroma drifting from their visible brick oven set it apart from the other restaurants in the marketplace. We ordered the Margarita pizza, an elevated version of a regular flatbread that was oval-shaped and cut into six small slices. Each pizza can be shared with up to three people. Despite its appeal, the pizza cost $15, which is a steep price for pizza. Regarding its taste, the pizza had a slight kick of spicy flavor. The basil was present but not overwhelming, and while the cheese was delicious, it was not evenly distributed. Overall, we would recommend Article authors this dish to other Winsor students but sug- Gogo Ya meals gest that they share the pie with friends. had a fresh, smoky taste, and the rice was well-accentuated with soy sauce. We lAoved Chef: Michael Schlow the creative and trendy concept of the sushi’s Dish(es) tried: Margarita pizza taco form, blending Japenese and Mexican Overall rating: 3/5 // We would recommend. cuisine into an unexpected, yet delicious, Creativity of Concept: 3/5 combination. The taco came with a napkin Reasonable Pricing & Appeal to Customers: with an adorable sushi taco cartoon design 1/5 on it. Overall, Gogo Ya was our favorite resTaste: 4/5 taurant. The pricing is on the expensive side: Presentation & Plating: 4/5 $9 for one taco, but it was definitely worth it!

We would highly recommend Gogo Ya for students who love traditional Asian Chef: foods with a unique twist. Gogo Ya is an Dish(es) tried: Spicy Torched Hamachi Asian fusion restaurant that specializes in Overall rating (out of 5 stars): 5/5 // We sushi tacos and bento bowls. The dish that would definitely recommend we tried, the Spicy Torched Hamachi Taco, Creativity of Concept:5/5 featured a nori seaweed taco shell that held Reasonable Pricing & Appeal to Customers: up surprisingly well, hamachi fish, and rice. 4/5 This dish captivated our attention immedi- Taste: 5/5 ☐ Time Out Market ately. The nori seaweed was crunchy, the fish Presentation & Plating: 5/5

Belmont Hill Arts

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The Artist of the Issue: Charles Stevenson ‘20 so much that, in seventh grade, Charles began playing the bass guitar. When reminiscing about these artists, he remarked, “The jazz artists sparked an inCharles Stevenson ‘20, a commit- terest within me that led me to pursue ted musician, has contributed much to a form of art that I love. For that, I am the Belmont Hill community through very grateful.” From then on, Charles his talent in the performing arts. He began his musical journey at the age of 8 when he discovered his skill with the guitar. Three years of playing this instrument served as a catalyst for Charles to find a passion in the acoustic genre.

In the third grade, he took up the upright bass; with this instrument, he took private lessons and performed in various orchestras in Massachusetts.

By Andrew Jinhee Lee ‘20 Panel Staff

has passionately played both the upright bass and the bass guitar for the Belmont Hill orchestra and other musical groups.

Through countless hours devoted to these instruments, Charles Stevenson achieved many honors during his time at Belmont Hill School. Not only did he

“Music is essential to my life because it allows me to express myself ” Although he found a passion for classical music, Charles Stevenson always held a love for jazz. From a very young age, he would listen to jazz musicians such as Jamie Jamerson and Markis Miller. These artists influenced him

Charlie Stevenson performing at coffee house, photo by BH Communications

receive the Instrumental Music Award at Prize Day, but he also earned a full scholarship to Berklee’s five-week musical program during the summer of his junior year. At this prestigious camp, he further explored his talent within the performing arts while also meeting other dedicated musicians. Charles deemed this experience as “an opportunity I will never take for granted.” For him, these honors are only a springboard to what he wishes in the future. He stated, “I will continue music in whatever college I attend. No matter what, I will play these instruments for a very long time.”

Music has given Charles an outlet to relieve stress, have fun, and express creativity. When asked why music is so important in his life, Charles responded, “Music is essential to my life because it allows me to express myself, which traditional schoolwork does not.”

Charles Stevenson has participated in the school Coffee House, Commencement, Open House, various Chapels, and many concerts at Berklee College of Music. He is looking forward to more school performances, especially performing with Mr. Schneider soon. ☐

The Belmont Hill Music Ensembles

By Abraham Tolkoff ‘20 Panel Staff As the fall days become shorter, Belmont Hill’s music building continues to host a variety of talented student music groups. In highlighting each group, The Panel hopes to convey how many students are involved with music to some extent at Belmont Hill and the time commitment that these boys have made to the arts. Several new middle school musicians have provided great additions to the lower numbers of Upper School participants. According to Mr. Fiori, this year’s groups have proven ready to take on challenges, and student-musicians have not shied away from the challenging repertoire.

The Middle School Jazz band, for the first time in recent history, can be classified as a full ‘big band.’ The group touts a full rhythm section of piano, drums, and bass guitar, as well as four trumpets, two trombones, and five saxophones. The players have been working on “Soul Bossa Nova”, which is the Austin Powers theme

song, and “superstition” by Stevie Wonder.

Mr. Fiori says that he is excited by the various number of participating students and to feature the school’s new tenor in the traditional five-piece saxophone section.

After a reduction in numbers last year, the Upper School Jazz band is excited to welcome four new members and attain the size of a ‘Little Big Band.’ This classification has broadened the number of scores available for the group to play; currently, they are working on “Freddy Freeloader,” “Ran Kan Kan,” “Pick up the Pieces,” and “Jazz Bug.” The Upper School Jazz Combo, while slightly reduced in numbers, remains energized for a year of music. They finally have a full time singer who provides an exciting addition for the piano, bass, and tenor saxophone players. The group has been rehearsing “Take the A Train,” a Jo Henderson bossa nova called “Recorda Me,” and a Sam Rivers ballade named “Beatrice.”

Both the Middle and Upper School Rock bands have enjoyed the additions of new multi-instrumentalists musicians, creating exciting arrangement opportunities. Of note, the Middle School group features two singers and has been working on “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mack,

The Middle School Jazz Band performing songs, photo by BH Communications

and “More Than a Feeling” by the band Boston. The Upper School group has notably chosen both exciting and challenging repertoire, which reflects the character of the group. The players have been working on a variety of different pieces, including “Reptilia” by The Strokes and a hybrid disco-pop and jazz piece called “What a Fool Believes.”

The Belmont Hill orchestra, after several notable senior losses in recent years, has regained their numbers in new First Form students. The makeup of the group features several firsts in recent history, including two double bass players, a more established wind section, and two pianists. As a whole, the group has been experimenting with their collective playing and finding their unique sound.

They have been working with a mix of repertoire, including “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles, “Czardas,” and a selection from Disney’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

The group is excited to feature several younger musicians who will hopefully help the sound grow in the coming years.

The iconic school singing group, the B-Flats, began the year with a group smaller in size but high in energy. Broth-

er Patterson commented that the group is diverse in ability and power, and remains well balanced despite many scheduling conflicts restricting some singers from participating. The boys have practiced “I Can See Clearly Now” for the Open House, and “Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran for an upcoming collaboration with Roxbury Latin. This event, which took place in early November, featured a variety of songs and members of the group in a celebration at RL. The group looks forward to a year of spreading joy through singing.

Due to the reconstruction of the Belmont Hill Chapel, the primary performance space for the school, the Music Department has significantly altered the performance schedule for the year. Upcoming is the Fall Concert, which will take place on Friday, November 22nd, at 7 pm in the Kraft Theater, and the Winter Recital, which will be held on Thursday, February 20th, at 7 pm in the Wadsworth Room. ☐

Mr. Fiori skillfully conducting the orchestra, photo by BH Communications

The Sparrow Flies into Theaters Near You

By Tyler Forg ‘21 Panel Staff Belmont Hill and Winsor are proud to announce the co-production of the play The Sparrow. This piece of theater was devised rather than written, which means that the actors and the directors collaboratively de-

veloped the show. Through the devising process, the original writers ended up writing a nontraditional type of story. The plot is centered around Emily Book, who is the only survivor of a terrible bus accident and has to return back to her hometown of Spring Farm to graduate from high school. At the school, she befriends the head cheer-

leader, Jenny McGrathy, who helps her assimilate into the school culture.

However, one day, Jenny’s life is put into jeopardy, and Emily is forced into the spotlight to help save her friend.

Unlike past Belmont Hill and Winsor plays, the practices and the play take place at the Winsor School.

There, Winsor’s drama director Jer-

emy Johnson will direct the play, and Mr. Conway will work as the dramaturge. The only Belmont Hill actor, Daniel Rashes, has a leading role as the adoptive father of Emily. Howard Huang will serve as the lighting and soundboard operator. Everyone should come out to see the thrilling play and support Daniel Rashes. ☐

Novemb er 18th, 2019

Executive Editors Chetan Shukla ‘20 Caitlin Smith ‘21 Crystal Yang ‘20 Sports Editor Rani Balakrishna ‘21 Jackson Riffe ‘20 Photo Editor Jalen Walker ‘21 Back Page Editors Helen Buckley-Jones ‘21 Becca Goldenson ‘21 Charlie Mullaney ‘20 Liam Peterson ‘20

Belmont Hill Arts

Editors-in-Chief Charlie Donahue ‘20 Haley Kwoun ‘20 Jack Weldon ‘20 Arts Editors Andrew Jinhee Lee ‘20 Elly Pickette ‘21

News Editors Annie Adams ‘21 Andrew Jonghyun Lee ‘20

Copy Editor Charles Booth ‘20 Elizabeth Xu ‘20

Opinion Editors Katherine Loose ‘20 Jake Pappo ‘20

Assistant Editors James Markis ‘20 Renny Gong ‘20 Sam Maynard ‘21 Alexandra Gorham ‘21 Ellie Wang ‘21 Tyler Forg ‘21 Jessica Wei ‘22 Howard Huang ‘22 Charlie Wells ‘21 Sreetej Digumarthi ‘21

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Faculty Advisors David Hegarty Veronica Plata Andrew Riely TomWensink Juliette Zener Online Editors Katherine Burstein ‘21 Abe Tolkoff ‘21 Graphics Editors Elias Hyde ‘20 Lillian Gibson ‘21 Staff Artist Tina Gong ‘20

The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill School. The Winsor School changed the name of their newspaper from The Panel to The Banner in 2019. 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 2013 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.

Overheard in the Winsor Hallway

By Helen Buckey-Jones and Becca Goldenson

bBy Helen Buckley-Jones and Becca Goldenson

Disclaimer: These are 100% authentic and not made up.

I know, we’re shocked, too.

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“The Scarlet Letter” - some book I think (?) everyone else read in sophomore year that English teachers reference for literally every single thing ever. Your class participation grade?

Clearly a metaphor for Dimmesdale in those woods or whatever.

“Collect Forums” - a place to voice your opinions about the cafeteria “Founder’s Day”- not spirit week but essentially spirit week but for only one day with a super Winsor-specific theme that no one really knows how to dress up for…

“Alumni Commons”- DO NOT SIT THERE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES THESE COUCHES ARE NOT FOR YOU DON’T EVEN LOOK AT THEM DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT THEM CLOSE YOUR EYES AS YOU WALK PAST

• • • • •

“Orchestra” - Winsor VARSITY Orchestra thank you very much.

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“Professional Day” - let’s shorten Thanksgiving break and add a random Monday off for absolutely no reason whatsoever

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“Bathrooms near college counseling” - secret pooping hideaway (crying works too)

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“Joining my friends at the front of the cafeteria line” - a not-so-clever way to cut the cafeteria line (“friends” = literally anyone in my class so long as they’re near the front)

• •

“Junior homeroom door” - the murder weapon used against every lowerschooler ever.

“Toaster” - a magical, mystical machine that seems to hypnotize all Class II students who come within 35 meters of it.

“Open House” - [1] WHY ARE WE HERE, [2] WHY DON’T WE GET THE FANCY SNACKS TOO

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“CVS was out of extra toasty Cheez-Its so I think I need to take a personal day tomorrow.”

“Does Mr. Sirochman live at Winsor? How about Ms. Grant?”

“How many air mattresses do you think it would take to fill the floor of the junior homeroom?”

“Honestly, now that I’m Tik Tok famous I should probably just drop out and move to LA to focus on my work.” (teacher) “things like morality -- take kids young enough and you can wipe those things out” “Instead of dealing with my stress and emotions I made a Spotify playlist. Follow it!”

“I accidentally got two ACT tutors” “I literally triple dog dare my computer to connect to a printer in this school.”

“Look! My backpack peed itself! The poor thing.” (teacher) “I’ve always thought humanity was rather depraved” “I think I’ve always just hated religion for some reason. Maybe I should start going to church.

Can I go to church with you?”

“What if you put a chicken nugget in a taco” (prospective parent) “So would you say that your parents want you to go to a good college?” (student tour guide replies) “Well……. uh… yeah?”

“I once shut my brother in the dryer. Shh, don’t tell anyone though”