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Volu m e 6 4 , Issu e 4
Novemb er 2 3 , 2 0 1 5
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
General Mark A. Milley, ‘76, Returns to Belmont Hill as Chief of Staff of U.S. Army explaining how ever y student in the room is lucky to be here, and, regardless of anyone’s familial status, simply attending such a great school with such experi-
examined just how much By Jason Fischman the world has changed since Panel Staff his days on the Hill and said On the day before Vetthat the world would likely erans Day, General Mark change even more in the near Milley ‘76, a Belmont Hill future, but a Belmont Hill alumnus and education and the Chief of the benefits Staff of the of it, includUnited States ing skills like Army, spoke critical thinkto the Beling and reamont Hill soning, will alcommunity ways be valued. in a riveting General and powerful Milley then Long School outlined his m e e t i n g . own story and Dr. Melhow he landed voin started in his current off with a position. Afbrief welcome ter graduatand introducing from Beltion to Genmont Hill in eral Milley, 1976, he went and Mr. Maron to Princtin followed, eton, where he describing his played hockey days coaching and participatMilley on the ed in the ROTC varsity hockprogram. Afey team. The ter graduating, former stuMilley served dent turned in numerous militar y comarmy posimander then tions, doing launched into tours in Iraq, his tale, deAfghanistan, scribing his Egypt, Panainitial impres- General Milley speaking (top) and walking across campus (below) ma, Haiti, and sions of Belmont Hill: “I enced and dedicated teach- more, as a member of the came here 44 years ago as a ers places all graduates at Special Forces and variThird Former and freshman, a huge advantage, stressing ous other military units. and I’ll tell you, this school that teachers are nearly as General Milley then was a bit intimidating to me.” important as parents when it delved into the issues currentMilley then dove into came to molding boys with ly threatening our society. his praises of Belmont Hill, strong character. He then Continued on page 3
An Opinion on the Pitfalls of Campus Activism: A Culture of Political Correctness
By Juan Carlos Fernández-del Castillo Staff Writer This article contains content that some readers may find challenging or uncomfortable. It may make assertions readers disagree with or force readers to consider new ideas. Discretion is advised. Political correctness is the effort to avoid action or expression that might marginalize or offend groups of people, especially those who are at a social or economic disadvantage. This model of political correctness is one we should all apply- courtesy and respect dictate that much. It would theoretically embrace plurality of thought and the freedom of expression, especially for underrepresented groups. This is valuable and commendable. Recently however, flaws in the aggressive application of political correctness have risen to the fore. The first of these is the repression of expression, often oddly in the spirit of tolerance. This has been on striking display in the recent events at Yale. Before Halloween, their administration sent out an email advising students to avoid culturally insensitive costumes. This is a fine starting point - no one should willfully, hurtfully mock another culture. The issue began to receive national attention after a lec-
turer and Assistant Master of Silliman College named Erika Christakis sent out an email to her college in response to the advice. (The position of Master, based on the British term for teacher, places someone in charge of running a residential college at Yale.) One might assume (as I did) that Ms. Christakis had written something grossly offensive for the wrath she invoked. But in fact, her email was humble and thoughtful. It deferentially invited the community to discuss the role of the administration in students’ lives through an intellectual, civil, mature lens. As she wrote: “I don’t wish to trivialize genuine concerns about cultural and personal representation, and other challenges to our lived experience in a plural community.” Her main point? She asks, “What does this debate about Halloween costumes say about our view of young adults, of their strength and judgement?” And she does not authoritatively answer this question. I invite you to find the original text online. Firstly, the context in which this happened helps us frame and understand the student reaction to it in many ways, and I will discuss that at length. But regardless of what preceded it, the response by some of the Yale student body was intolerant and disproportionate. Continued on page 6
Winsor Gala Celebrates the Newly Opened LOC Look Inside SYA Check-in pg 2 Turkey Drive pg 3 American Gun Control pg 9 Heidi Chronicles pg 14 Fall Sports Team Playlists pg 19
By Susy Liu & Claudia Meyer Panel Staff
have set the performing arts programs on a course to reach their full potential. The gala featured 61 Winsor students, faculty, and guest artists, and Ms. Taillacq was struck by how meaningful it was for the Winsor girls themselves to show the Winsor family what they have accomplished in the new building. The gala’s
audience included volunteers, architects, acousticians, and others who helped design and construct the building as well as Winsor faculty, alumni, trustees, parents, and board members. Donors to the Winsor Promise Campaign, including Richard Lubin and Joseph O’Donnell, were also present. In order to do
“This was once a dream. Now it’s a promise.” The gala Winsor held on Friday, October 23 sported this slogan, taken from a poem composed by Audrey Wu ‘20 for the event, in celebration of the Lubin-O’Donnell Center’s (LOC) contribution to Winsor’s performing arts programs. The night, which was filled with music, dance, poetry, and drama, displayed how the LOC’s new technology and facilities have enriched Winsor’s performing arts. The gala was held to show the Winsor community the opportunities the LOC has brought to the performing arts as well as thank those who have made the completion of the LOC possible. Ms. Taillacq said, “The gala was a celebration of a dream come true.” Winsor reached a major milestone in the completion of the LOC, and the new facilities Students and faculty form an ensemble for the gala.
such an occasion justice, a large team of performing arts faculty and dining and advancement staff began planning the gala last spring. Once the school year started, Winsor performing arts classes like Small Chorus, percussion, and orchestra worked hard to prepare a good show. Continued on page 15
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Belmont Hill NEWS
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Former Belmont Hill Teacher Endows Faculty Chair in Honor of Math Department Legend Mr. Sherman
Th e Pan el
Five Students Spend Junior Year in Foreign Countries Learning Their Languages and Experiencing New Cultures
By Jason Fischman Panel Staff On a quiet Fr iday mor ning in late O c tob er, t he stressf ul f inal week of t he quar ter was capp ed wit h an inspirationa l chap el honoring a ne w fac ulty chair at B elmont Hill. To d Ro dger, a for mer fac ulty memb er, and his wife Lyn gave a ne w fac ulty chair in honor of mat h depar tment legend Mr. Sher man. Bill Mahoney
Mr. Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers, Dr. Melvoin Dr. Melvoin st ar ted t he chap el wit h an intro duc tion to Mr. Ro dger, a passionate co ach, advis or, and mat h te acher for ten ye ars, and t hanked him for his incredibly generous gif t to t he s cho ol. Mr. Ro dger to ok t he p o dium next and ref uted Dr. Melvoin’s des cr iption of t his fac ulty chair as a gif t; he explained t he dif ference b etween an investment, s omet hing t hat will pay of f w hat one puts in, and a gif t, w hich do es not pay dividends in t he long r un. Mr. Ro dger des cr ib ed how, as a student at fellow ISL memb er St. Paul’s S cho ol, his parents would of ten quip t hat he should work harder b ecaus e of how much t he y were paying for t he s cho ol, as many B elmont Hill students likely he ar to day ; howe ver, Mr. Ro dger noted, tuition to an elite indep endent s cho ol is ac tua lly an investment, and t he upf ront cost now wi ll b e dwar fed by w hat a B elmont Hill education can do down t he ro ad. Mr. Sher man, t he recipient of t he fac ulty chair, was t he last one to t he p o dium, and he provided a humorous and appreciative sp eech in regards to t he Ro dgers’ investment in b ot h him and his fellow fac ulty. Mr. Sher man, t ied wit h Mr. Mar tin for t he most exp er ienced fac ulty memb er at t he S cho ol wit h 43 ye ars under t heir b elts, showed his passion for mat h by putting his time in here in ter ms of his 6150 s cho ol days, 2000 students t aug ht, 7400 me a ls, and 24600 class es. He remains excited ab out his work b ecaus e of his, and his student’s, love for le ar ning. O verall, t he Sher man Fac ulty Chair is an incredibly generous gif t, or investment, by t he Ro dgers and t heir fellow donors, and t he entire community is appreciative of t heir kindness in honor ing one of B elmont Hill’s b est fac ulty memb ers.☐
From left to right: Owen Greenwood , Mohammed Osman, and Seamus Clair (China), Sebastian Themelis (Italy), and James Cardichon (Spain) By Bennet Rush Panel Staff While the daily life at Belmont Hill hasn’t changed for most of us, there are currently five students you may have noticed missing from the Hill this year. These five students have taken advantage of the School Year Abroad program. Here is an update on their adventures as well as some insight into the program. Owen Greenwood, Mohammed Osman, and Seamus Clair are in China, James Cardichon in Spain, and Sebastian Themelis is in Italy.
sneezes, not as much personal space, and cars and bikes won’t stop for you, so you must either be very forceful or cautious.
What have you gained from your experience thus far? Sebastian: I would say that I’ve gained a much greater worldview than can be achieved at home. You can study the world as much as you want, but to really understand other cultures and people and languages I think you have to go to that place and live amongst them. Owen: I have been able Owen and Seamus in China to see how a new culture lives, live in and become accustomed to a whole new city, and also met a ton of Seamus: There are obviously a new friends. I have also learned a ton lot of cultural differences between Chiof new words in Chinese that I get to na and the U.S., but the one that surpractice everyday whether I’m with prised me the most was one day when my host family, at school, or in public. it had been a while since I had washed my socks, which is one of the things Seamus: So far I’ve gained a ton I’m expected to do in my host home. of knowledge; I really think my Chi- My host mom seemed to be very upnese has come a long way since I’ve set about that, so since then I’ve been been here, which really helps. I’ve washing them every two or three days. noticed that doing everyday things such as telling a cab driver where I What do you miss? need to go have become much easier. Sebastian: Some things I miss: ReWhat is the biggest cultural difference? ese’s, American TV, being able to just understand things and people around you, Sebastian: The biggest cultural and of course all my friends in the States. difference is probably the eating habits. Whereas in America we say that breakOwen: Each kid misses differfast is the most important meal of the ent things. The most common is family, day, in Italy for breakfast (or colazione) friends, and their homes. The second we have only a cappucino without any would be American foods. Beijing has a food. For lunch (or pranzo) we eat a mod- lot of international foods but I noticed est meal, and dinner (or cena) is always sandwiches aren’t as common (like a a huge meal. Dinner is also much later BLT or an Italian). One random thing than I’m used to in America, we usually I miss is being in a car. My host family eat between 8:00 and 9:00. Dinner is by doesn’t have one. We take taxis almost far the most important meal of the day in every weekend, but there is something Italy, and you can even see this in the lan- about being comfortable in your famguage. They have a verb (cenare) which ily’s car that I miss. And I do miss BH. literally means in English “to dinner.” Seamus: I miss a lot of things, but Owen: Strangely enough, I haven’t the most significant out of these would noticed any huge differences. It is mainly be the things that were really easy to do the small ones that I see. These would at home that I took for granted. For exinclude it being unsightly to sit on the ample, chatting up a cashier at a store ground anywhere, people spit a ton, without having to think about it. Other you don’t say anything after someone than that, I miss my family a lot, which I
expected would happen. I also really miss Belmont Hill; I didn’t go abroad because I wanted to “get away” from anything, so I miss a lot of aspects of home, but I’m really happy here overall. What traits do you think are required to handle studying abroad? Sebastian: You definitely have to be able to not be afraid. You can’t be afraid of messing up or embarrassing yourself when you try and speak, or you’re never going to be able to learn the language. You also have to be able to try really hard and accept that it’s going to be uncomfortable at times. Especially since this is the only SYA program where you’re not expected to know the language beforehand, that makes it extra hard to be brave and outgoing in talking and learning. But even though it’s hard, I have to say I think this is the most effective way to learn a language Seamus: I think studying abroad is a really challenging thing for any high school student, but there are a few traits that can help this. The first would be the willingness to actually ask, “why not?,” and to take the leap of faith. When I was applying to SYA, I was really unsure whether or not I would actually go. However, I took a little advice from the wooden sign in Goodband Commons I had walked past every morning during my time at Belmont Hill, the one that asks, “If not now, when?” Another helpful attribute to have is the ability to laugh at yourself. Coming to a country where I speak the language at a level of a small child, I have had to stop being afraid of embarrassment and take risks. I’ve been laughed at several times, like when I accidentally told the waitress at a restaurant near Owen’s house that our other friend was physically unable to eat, but I’ve also had to laugh at myself sometimes, like when I clogged the toilet in my host home on my first morning and didn’t know how to ask for a plunger. ☐
James on a street in Spain
Novemb er 23, 2015
Belmont Hill NEWS
Annual Turkey Drive Provides Thanksgiving Meals to Families In Need This Holiday Season By Henry Wyett and Bennet Morris Staff Writers Started in 2010, the Turkey Drive has been an amazing community ser vice project helping families from all over the Massachusetts area. Mr. Trautz attended Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine. Cheverus did a similar Turkey Drive, giving students a whole day off to deliver these meals to families in need. Mrs. David endorsed the idea of a Turkey Drive at Belmont Hill, but “only if Mr. Trautz is involved with it,” and thus the Turkey Drive at Belmont Hill was
Turkey Drive Donations Piling Up
created. In 2010, the goal was approximately 50 turkeys, and that number has steadily increased at a high rate, as this year the goal is 300 meals! In order to meet that goal, fliers are sent out and put throughout the towns in order to raise awareness and get people to bring in items. Although the Turkey Drive has been successful ever y year, Mr. Trautz’s main fear is not having enough to feed the families to whom he promised food. Although quantity has never been a true issue, Mr. Trautz says, “what keeps me up at night is the fact that we have promised 300 meals, so we have to come through on 300 meals.” One improvement Mr. Trautz would like to make to the Turkey Drive is having more kids deliver the food instead of the parents. Although it may not be ideal, having kids take the day off to deliver the food would be much more meaningful and im-
pactful, teaching the kids to be grateful for what they have. Moreover, when there is an excess amount of turkeys from the Turkey Drive, Mr. Trautz says there are several places willing and able to take the turkeys. Places such as the Sisters for Mercy, which give homeless people
Thanksgiving meals, will take our turkeys and use them for a great cause. Although the goal is 300 complete meals, Belmont Hill will come through and bring in many more meals than that, so that hundreds of p e o ple will be fed. The turkeys will be delivered the Monday before Thanksgiving, providing much happiness. ☐
Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley ‘76 Discusses United States Military Threats, Importance of Veterans Day in Touching Chapel Talk Continued from front page On top of that list was Russia and its aggressive actions in Eastern Europe, specifically the annexation of Crimea, and how the US relationship with Russia has changed over the years; tensions reached a boiling point during the Cold War, although the situation relaxed after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and only recently has Russia reemerged as a global superpower. Other threats included ISIS, the civil war in Syria, North Korea, and the rising military strength of China as the focal point of the global
economy shifted towards the pacific. To close out the meeting, General Milley tied the discussion back to Veterans Day and the price of freedom, reading the names of Belmont Hill students who have been killed in wars throughout history, describing how freedom has a price, and these men have paid that price with their life to keep the rest of us safe. Overall, General Milley’s chapel talk was a phenomenal, educational experience for all boys involved; it was informative on issues of current and past geopolitical relations, and reminded all Belmont Hill students how lucky we are to be at such an amazing school, and emphasized that it was people just like us who lost their lives defending this country. ☐
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Belmont Hill and Newton Country Day School Seniors Discuss College, Sexual Assault in “New Freedoms” By Thomas Wolpow Staff Writer In e arly O c tob er, t he sixt h for m attende d t he Ne w Fre e doms D ay (NFD) at Ne wton C ount r y D ay S cho ol (NCDS). Organize d by Pe er L e aders f rom b ot h B elmont Hi l l and NCDS, NFD prov ide d an opp or tunit y for b ot h g roups of s eniors to dis c uss t he issues sur rounding s exu a l ass au lt on col lege c ampus es, as wel l as t he changes t hat e ach student w i l l face at col lege next fa l l. “I t hin k our main go a ls were to re cog nize t he resp onsibi lit ies t hat come a long w it h our ent r y into col lege next ye ar, and to appropr i ately resp ond to dif f ic u lt situ at ions,” s aid an NCDS Pe er L e ader. Up on ar r iva l, t he students broke up into sma l l dis c ussion g roups. The Pe er L e aders assig ne d to e ach g roup aske d quest ions not on ly ab out s exu a l ass au lt, but a ls o ab out t he genera l t ransit ion to college and t he cha l lenges – namely avoid ance of a lcohol and dr ug abus e, incre as e d ac ademic resp onsibi lit y, and t he maintenance of overa l l he a lt h and wel l-b eing – t hat come a long w it h it. In a ne w, coe d env ironment, it was dif f ic u lt for students to g ive st rong opinions on t hes e s ensit ive issues; numerous “ ice-bre a k ing” exercis es help e d to faci lit ate pro duc t ive dis c ussion. Next, t he g roup convene d in t he NCDS auditor ium to he ar f rom t hre e dif ferent sp e a kers. Jay Civett i, a B elmont Hi l l a lumni and t he He ad Fo otb a l l C o ach at Tuf ts Universit y, sp oke ab out t he imp or t ance of hard-work and resp e c t for ot hers dur ing t he t ransit ion to adu lt ho o d. Amand a Morej on, a s exu a l ass au lt pro c tor at Har vard Universit y, le d an exercis e w here students, w hen c a l le d on, resp onde d w it h sp e cif ic words t hat f irst comp are d common s exu a l ac ts w it h b ehav ior t hat is ass o ci ate d w it h s exu a l ass au lt. Sara h Mur ray, a communic at ions maj or at Hig h Point Universit y, covere d t he d angers of LSD and ot her ha llucinogens t hat are of ten re adi ly avai l able around col lege c ampus es. Perhaps most imp ac t f u l, howe ver, was a sk it p er for me d by students Brend an Pu lsifer and C eci li a B ar rera. A hyp ot het ic a l col lege “ho okup” s cene, t he di a logue of t he sk it hig h lig hte d t he of ten hazy b ound ar y b et we en cons ent and rap e. Underst and ably, NFD offere d no imme di ate s olut ion to a complex problem. The prog ram, howe ver, rais e d inva lu able awareness t hat w i l l help students – b ot h ma le and fema le – to ma ke infor me d, s afe de cisions come next fa l l. The sp e a kers didn’t cl aim to have abs olute aut hor it y on t he subj e c t, but t he y force d students to t hin k s er iously ab out t heir b ehav ior.☐
winsor NEWS
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Th e Pan el
Q&A with Ms. Sarah Pelmas, Winsor’s Next Head of School By Talia Ruxin Panel Staff Ms. Sarah Pelmas, who serves as the Associate Head and Head of Upper School at the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC, will succeed Ms. Stettler as Winsor’s eighth Head of School beginning in the 2016-2017 school year. Prior to her experience at the National Cathedral School, Ms. Pelmas taught English, served as Dean of Students, and as interim Athletic Director at the San Francisco University High School. She has also taught in the English departments of University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and Syracuse University. Ms. Pelmas holds a B.A in English and Creative Writing from Princeton University, an M.A in English and Creative Writing from Syracuse University, and a PhD in Rhetoric from the University of California at Berkeley. The Panel conducted an email interview with Dr. Pelmas, who prefers to be called Ms. Pelmas, to learn more about her interests and vision for Winsor. Ms. Pelmas emphasized that she does not have specific answers because she believes “schools are at their best when they change thoughtfully and organically.” She is excited to be a part of Winsor but believes change should emanate from the students and teachers. “I really wanted to sit down and talk with students more, and hear about their experiences at Winsor.”
Q: With the completion of the LubinO’Donnell Center, how do you hope to expand Winsor’s athletic programs? I am a rower, and so I think sports are really important for life. But there are at least 3 different experiences people can have, and I think they are all good ones: 1) team experience (it’s so important to be part of something larger than yourself and sometimes not to be the best at it and learn what your role is and how to support the whole group); 2) learning
how you rebound from setbacks (sports have lots of set-backs, and it’s really great to lose and then figure out what you’ll do next--I have lots of experience with losing, so I have lots to say about it, which I will do another time!); and 3) the physical and mental benefits of working out are so huge that we don’t even know how
exciting ways to go with technology! We can change the way people learn, we can introduce programming languages, we can add units in computational thinking into existing classes, we can support teachers and help them teach in new ways, we can communicate differently, and we can experience more of the world faster.
Q: I heard you rowed in Head of the Charles this year. How have you managed to commit to maintaining your rowing skills since rowing for the Princeton varsity eight in the ‘80’s? I have always loved the Head of the Charles. I first raced it in high school in 1978. When I lived in San Francisco, I was on a rowing team that would practice 4-5 mornings a week and race all year round. It was a big commitment, but we practiced before most people were awake, so it seemed manageable. I am hoping to join a rowing club in Boston, so I can get out on the Charles more often.
Pelmas pictured on the right with colleagues. big they are yet (they increase learning and cognitive capacity, they stabilize mood and energy levels, and they also make everyone else around you so much nicer....). So, I love sports, and I am excited to spend time with Winsor figuring out how the LOC is best used. It’s an absolutely beautiful building, and it’s such a gift that the community has supported it so much.
Q: This year marks the completion of the transition to Winsor’s one-to-one technology integration. What new roles would you like to see technology play in Winsor’s future? The question of technology is similar to others you’ve asked, in that it has to be organic and well-supported within the mission and structure of the school, but there are so many
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Q: Winsor’s mission is to “prepar[e] young women to pursue their aspirations and conribute to the world.” In what innovative ways do you hope to foster this “preparation”? The world desperately needs courageous, smart, thoughtful women (ideally with a sense of humor, too). Many of the world’s problems can be traced to gender iniquities--not all, of course!--and I think Winsor graduates can change the world by modeling what women can and should be doing to create change. I hope that Winsor will continue to challenge its students to develop their moral convictions and act on them with kindness and an open heart. I hope we will not be afraid to address the problems we see in our community and across the globe and feel confident as we fight
Foxnews.com
Hurricane Patricia: The Dud of the Century By Caitlin Weldon & Brigitte Schmittlein
Panel Staff
Now known as the most powerful hurricane to hit land in history, Hurricane Patricia began as a tropical cyclone forming over the eastern Pacific. However, Patricia did not last long as a cyclone; instead, the swift transition into a Category 5 hurricane struck panic throughout the world. The biggest storm in history was headed towards Mexico: what would happen? Would the damage surpass even the infamous Hurricane Katrina’s? Was it coming our way? The main sentiment other than worry surrounding Hurricane Patricia was curiosity. Nobody knew what the storm was capable of or what it would do next. Yet, Patricia hit Mexico and almost immediately began to weaken. The hurricane officially lasted from October 20, 2015 to October 24, 2015, but whom did it affect and how?
President Enrique Pena Neito stated that the storm destroyed around 3,000 to 3,500 houses and 8,650 acres of farmland. The hurricane’s impact on people living in the surrounding area was surprisingly minor as the most severe injuries reported were “cuts from falling trees and roof debris,” as Dr. Antonio Abad explained. No fatalities were reported and, in fact, two babies were born during the storm. The post-Patricia damage has been dubbed reparable by the Mexican government, and they apparently have the rebuilding or restoring process under control. The storm that appeared terrifying was far less brutal than the world assumed, but there are more serious implications in Patricia’s formation. Perhaps Patricia was just the first of the “strongest hurricanes ever recorded” and was only weakened because of where it hit. The formation of stronger storms are quickly becoming an issue that meteorologists and other specialists focus on as the climate changes and storms like Patricia get stronger.☐
Q: Can you share some fun facts about your family? My 4-year-old son Will is currently learning the trumpet even though he is too young to hold it properly. He loves it, although he does sometimes sound like a duck with a head cold. My 8-year-old son Owen is the family pet-whisperer and can calm our two cats (and even our fish) with a wave of his hand. He tells terrible jokes about why chickens and other animals do or don’t cross the road. My husband teaches high school biology and environmental science and plays squash, so he is thrilled about seeing Winsor’s team and maybe even trying out the beautiful new courts! Ms. Pelmas’s energy, thoughtfulness, experience, and approach to organic change make her an excellent fit for Winsor. It is not hard to understand why Winsor’s trustees unanimously chose her for the next Head of School! ☐
Winsor Debaters Shine at Internationals By Hailey Fuchs and Abigail Simon Panel Staff
A satellite view of Patricia.
for equity and justice for our neighbors and also for people we have never met. The more we talk about the problems the world is facing, the better chance we have to change things in our lifetime. I hope Winsor will always push students to think more deeply and ask more questions and challenge the status quo.
“It’s an experience unlike any other,” Melissa Yamada ’17 remarked about her time competing at the International Independent Schools Public Speaking Competition. This year, Melissa, along with senior Lilla Gabrieli ’16 and sophomore Elaine Wang ’18, represented Winsor at this prestigious annual tournament held in Toronto. Over the course of the five day event, the team competed in both prepared and impromptu speaking events, including debate, interpretive reading, and persuasive speaking or after-dinner speaking. With competitors from China to Australia to India, the girls were not only struck by the level of competition but also by the diverse range of cultural backgrounds. As Melissa reflected, “It was amazing to be able to compete and interact with so many talented, hard-working people.” In preparation for the competition, the trio had been training together since June when their coach, Ms. Berg, first made her selections for the team. While many of us were sitting back and enjoying our summers, the girls were hard at work, memorizing persuasive speeches and working with Mr. Tupper and Mr. Johnson on their interpretative reading pieces. This was not, however, the trio’s first time at Internationals. Just last year Melissa, Lilla, and Talia Gifford ’17 flew across the Pacific Ocean to compete in Hong Kong.
Whi le many of us were sitt ing b ack and enj oy ing our summers, t he g irls were hard at work, memor izing p ersu asive sp e e ches and work ing w it h Mr. Tupp er and Mr. Johns on on t heir inter pret at ive re ading pie ces. This was not, howe ver, t he t r io’s f irst t ime at Inter nat iona ls. Just l ast ye ar Meliss a, L i l l a, and Ta li a Gif ford ’17 f le w across t he Pacif ic O ce an to comp ete in Hong Kong . In t he end, t he te am’s hard work p aid of f. B ot h L i l l a and Meliss a made it to t he f ina ls in t wo of t heir t hre e comp et it ion e vents, L i l l a in Persu asive Sp e a k ing and Impromptu and Meliss a in Persu asive Sp e a k ing and Inter pret ive R e ading . E l aine, t he youngest on t he te am, shine d p ar t ic u l arly in her l aude d Dramat ic Inter pret at ion. Meliss a was amaze d “ by how much [E l aine] g re w as a deb ater and sp e a ker” and L i l l a remarke d t hat “E l aine is force to b e re ckone d w it h!” Whi le Meliss a a ls o qu a lif ie d for t he up coming World Indiv idua l D eb at ing and Public Sp e a k ing C hampionship to b e held l ater t his spr ing in Pittsburg h, L i l l a f inishe d four t h among a l l comp et itors internat iona l ly and broug ht home t he John Aimers t rophy for Top Amer ic an Sp e a ker. Howe ver, none of t his wou ld b e p ossible, L i l l a s aid, “w it hout t he unfai ling and t ireless supp or t of [t heir] co ach, Ms. B erg .” The Panel wou ld li ke to cong ratu l ate t he deb ate te am on t heir success, and we w ish Meliss a t he b est of luck in Pittsburg h, Pennsy lvani a t his spr ing!☐
Novemb er 23, 2015
winsor NEWS
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Interview with Katherine Lempres ’17 Abroad in Italy a member of the family and a house guest.
By Kiran Butte Panel Staff
What is it like being in a co-ed school environment, coming from Winsor? Coed school is really not as different as one might think. At first, I was a bit intimidated by all the boys (they exist all. the. time.), but after a while they just become your classmates and friends. That part of this experience hasn’t been difficult at all.
While most Winsor girls have settled into their school routines here in Boston, one of our classmates has created a new life halfway across the world. Katherine Lempres ’17 is one of those students- she’s currently spending her junior year in Viterbo, Italy though the School Year Abroad program. Here are some reflections from Katherine on her experiences thus far:
What’s it like living in a new country? Was the language adjustment hard? Living in a new country is extremely hard at first, but it gets a lot easier. Little things like not being able to drink the tap water or the lack of peanut butter really get to you at first, but after a while you just get used to new people, places, and things. The language adjustment is still hard! Since I came in with only a summer class’s worth of Italian, I didn’t know much at the start. You make a lot of mistakes, but you learn from them too. For example, in the first week I tried to ask my host dad to “move the chair,” but instead I asked him to “marry the chair”! But you learn a lot more quickly than you realize.
What do you miss about Winsor the most? I miss Winsor a lot! I miss the completely welcoming community, as cliched as it sounds. I heard you all had a fabulous time at UTL with the new building, and I’m a bit jealous to be honest. I also miss seeing my friends, though we FaceTime, Whatsapp, and Snapchat a lot Facebook.com (probably a bit more than we should).
Katherine at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City entire day. It was really rewarding.
What has been your favorite part of SYA? I really love learning a new language and actually practicing it. This weekend, three friends and I went to Florence by ourselves on independent travel. We decided to talk only in Italian for as long as possible, so we didn’t speak English for the
What has been the biggest challenge? The biggest challenge so far has been living with a host family (in a good way, of course). Having to get used to both entirely new cultural norms as well as familial ones is a bit difficult. It’s kind of strange being both
Do you have message you’d like to say to W’17 and all your friends at Winsor? I MISS YOU ALL SO MUCH!! I have so much faith in you guys and I know that y’all are doing great this year. You are all amazing, beautiful young women, and I can’t wait to get back and hear about all you’ve accomplished.☐
Getting to Know Winsor’s New Faculty we moved back to Massachusetts, and I taught Upper School Latin at the Rising Tide Charter School in Plymouth. Our November issue of The Ms. Haley Brown: I was the Project Panel introduces more of our 20 new Coordinator for an organization called faculty, staff, and administrators at Win- the Handel and Haydn Society, which sor! Read on to gain insight into those is a period instrument orchestra and who have joined our diverse community. chorus, which means that I was in Note: Other teachers and staff volved with event planning and concert that are new to Winsor this year but production. are not mentioned in The Panels’ new Ms. Tiffany Rice: I used to teach at the teacher interviews in the October and Ashley Hall in Charleston, SC, and I November issues are Ms. Keely Brinworked there for 10 years. chman, Ms. Anny Guerra, Ms. Janelle Homes-Green, Ms. Kyle Salkin, Ms. Nira 3. How do you like the Winsor commuShain, and Ms. Meghan Tracey. nity so far? Ms. Baoying Qiu: I enjoy being here at 1. What is your role at Winsor? Winsor a lot. Ms. Baoying Qiu: I am a Chinese Ms. Meredith Ruhl: I love it! The library teacher. is a wonderful place to be. Ms. Meredith Ruhl: Pre-Professional Ms. Sally Hatcher: I like it so much that Librarian I came back! Ms. Sally Hatcher: I teach Latin in both Ms. Haley Brown: I love it! It feels the Lower and Upper Schools. very warm and welcoming. I love how Ms. Haley Brown: I am the Assistant to friendly our students are and how they the Division Heads. are so willing to say hello to a new face. Ms. Tiffany Rice: I am the Co-Director Ms. Tiffany Rice: I absolutely love the of Performing Arts. Winsor community, and I am so happy to be a part of such a wonderful school! 2. Where did you come from previously (school, state, etc.)? 4. What are some new Winsor tradiMs. Baoying Qiu: I have taught at UMass tions that you are excited to experience Amherst, Northeastern University, New- and learn about? ton Public Schools, and Boston Public Ms. Baoying Qiu: I really like the Sprit Schools. Week. I will definitely prepare better for Ms. Meredith Ruhl: I worked in the next year. Children’s Room at the Marlborough Ms. Meredith Ruhl: Death by ChocoPublic Library. late! Ms. Sally Hatcher: I taught at Winsor Ms. Sally Hatcher: I am getting ready for 18 years before moving to Florida for Pie Day! for my husband’s job. After a year there, Ms. Haley Brown: I want to learn the By Emily Chen Panel Staff
Ms. Baoying Qiu: I read a lot of novels, usually in Chinese. I don’t have a favorite one, I like them all. Ms. Meredith Ruhl: I have lots of favorite books, but one current favorite is Coraline by Neil Gaiman (especially the audiobook, read by the author). Ms. Sally Hatcher: The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. Ms. Haley Brown: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. That’s my go-to 5. What is your favorite food? Ms. Baoying Qiu: I am not a picky eater, answer. I also really love the Weetzie Bat book series, Dangerous Angels, which is so I like all kinds of food. But [since actually a YA series! I’m] Chinese, I eat Chinese food more Ms. Tiffany Rice: Catcher in the Rye often. Ms. Meredith Ruhl: Apple pie with 8. What are your hobbies? cheddar cheese. Ms. Baoying Qiu: I like to read, listen to Ms. Sally Hatcher: Authentic Italian food (which I will get to eat lots of dur- music, sing, and collect postage stamps, interesting rocks, and foreign currening the Italy trip in March). Ms. Haley Brown: My favorite food is a cies. tie between Cape Cod potato chips and Ms. Meredith Ruhl: Knitting, reading, running, hiking, and cooking. french fries. Actually, scratch that. My Ms. Sally Hatcher: I love to travel, cheer favorite food is potato in any form. Ms. Tiffany Rice: I have a serious sweet for the Patriots, and spend time with my tooth, so anything delicious and sweet. two sons, James (6) and William (4). Ms. Haley Brown: I love seeing live mu:) sic, reading, and finding funky things to 6. What is your nickname (if you have decorate my apartment with. one)? Ms. Tiffany Rice: I love playing music. Ms. Baoying Qiu: Students call me “Qiu lash.” 9. If you had to summarize Winsor in Ms. Meredith Ruhl: Mer one word, what would that word be? Ms. Sally Hatcher: Before I got married, Ms. Baoying Qiu: Passionate! my email was smurphy, so that was a Ms. Meredith Ruhl: Spirited common nickname. Ms. Sally Hatcher: Enthusiastic Ms. Haley Brown: No nicknames yet, Ms. Haley Brown: Forward-thinking. but I’m open to suggestions. Our students, faculty, and administraMs. Tiffany Rice: n/a tors are always thinking about how they can make the future better. It’s amazing. 7. What is your favorite book? Ms. Tiffany Rice: Fabulous! ☐ cheers! I wasn’t able to hear the words during the Opening of School ceremony, which was a bummer because I love synchronized yelling. :) Ms. Tiffany Rice: I’m really looking forward to the Class I Play and the Shakespeare Production. These events are so meaningful to the students, and they leave lasting memories for them.
Pa g e 6
BELMONT HILL OPINION
Th e Pan el
The Rise of the Student Activist and the Trampling of Dissent Continued from front page Hundreds of students rose in uproar, calling for the resignation of both Christakis and her husband, the Master of Silliman, in a campaign of public shaming and offensive epithets. The couple has been patient and respectful, hosting a brunch in their home and inviting furious students to converse. In one video clip, Mr. Christakis is confronted on campus and encircled by students. The clip beings with a student saying “Walk away. He doesn’t deserve to be listened to.” One student confronts Christakis, cuts him off, and asks “Why the f--- did you accept the position?! Who the f--- hired you?!” She finally concludes, screaming “You should not sleep at night! You are disgusting!” Nodding and listening all the while, Christakis later warned viewers not to judge the woman in the video on the basis of one incident. The hypocrisy on display at Yale is unfortunate. Students who live by a creed of tolerance and sensitivity have shown neither to two thoughtful faculty members on campus. This is more than the absence of tolerance, however. Incredibly,studentsinanopenletterhave irresponsibly signed on to inaccurate representations of Christakis’s text. Her opinion has been twisted so that she is now a bigot, and students are off to the races in a parody of social activism that is no longer grounded in reality. This itself is illiberal and anti-intellectual. But the lessons of Yale do not end at freedom of expression. What has become clear as well is that students feel they have a right not to be offended. This is the second, related result of a flawed application of political correctness. Keep in mind that these are students at Yale University. An education at Yale (like Belmont Hill and Winsor) is an enormous privilege. While the school should help distressed students who report losing sleep, skipping meals, and having breakdowns, we should ask if that’s a totally healthy response to a courteous email. Especially from students who are as fortunate as those at Yale, an institution whose endowment
is greater than the GDP of most African nations. The students’ vicious rejection of the space around them seems at least a little unaware and ungrateful. As I said, the context surrounding this event is critical. It helps us understand the reaction as a culmination rather than an isolated incident. On college campuses throughout the country there are recent examples of racism, systemic, explicit, and implicit. Harassment and hate speech, as on display recently at Missouri, should not be tolerated.
provide a home away from home-a safe space-and that the email contradicted that. However, they claim that the Christakis’s have condoned offensive costumes and refused support for student minorities, neither of which is true. We should take a step back and ask ourselves if this email truly made anyone unsafe. The idea that it (or an offensive costume) might invalidate someone’s existence, as students claim, is as disempowering as it is inaccurate. There are many acceptable and positive ways to voice dissent with the email,
incident and others should, if anything, inspire us to further conversation, not to dismiss what others have to say. My opinion has been very fluid as I’ve done research for this, and that’s the point. Opinions should change and dissent should be tolerated, even encouraged. The email controversy was about education, exposure, and discomfort - three things that belong, to varying degrees, on college campuses. Which brings us to the third flaw in the systemic political correctness sometimes imposed at college. Some
Protests erupt in Columbia, MO, New Haven, CT, and Ithaca, NY. And at Yale specifically, a Columbia student has made allegations of a “white girls only” fraternity party. Though centered around one man and based on the account of one woman, other students of color have spoken out against racism in Greek life, and such a widely held opinion is grounds for careful examination and action. Some students feel that minorities are not sufficiently represented in the faculty- another legitimate claim and conversation. Students at Yale have pointed out in fairness that the role of masters in the college system is to
but what students have done is not an example of these. While the reaction makes more sense in the context of real injustices perpetrated on students at Yale, it remains unfair and intolerant. I acknowledge that I’m speaking from a position of power, as a white male from an upper middle class background. But I’m still allowed an opinion. The likelihood that a reader of this article will accuse me of “mansplaining” or “whitesplaining” indicates hypocrisy in a worldview that claims to espouse tolerance and fairness, especially in dialogue. This
students at Yale apparently cling to a belief that if something makes them uncomfortable then they shouldn’t have to face it. This has been seen elsewhere. The proliferation of trigger warnings, for example, seems to indicate that we should consider avoiding things that make us uncomfortable. Can we not face ideas that are potentially threatening or contentious? How fragile are we? Earlier this year, students at Columbia protested against reading Ovid’s masterpiece, Metamorphoses. In their view, they deserved the right not to read the work because “like so many
texts in the Western canon, it contains triggering and offensive material that marginalizes student identities in the classroom. These texts... can be difficult to read as a survivor, a person of color, or a student from a low-income background.” These students are trying to lose an essential part of their education. To weigh uncomfortable, threatening ideas makes us better thinkers. We should seek out texts that make us uncomfortable or defensive. Rather than protesting Metamorphoses, students at Columbia should have called for greater discussion of the offensive and challenging nature of the work. Aristotle, foundational to the much-maligned Western canon, is right when he tells us that “it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” The trigger warning - an advisory that lets us filter what we are exposed to before understanding it - closes our minds and narrows our experience. Education consists of facing that which makes us uncomfortable. There’s a famous anecdote about Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose wife, Ellen, died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty. A year later, a still distraught Emerson wrote that he visited her tomb and opened her coffin to look at her. In an odd way, this is what education is about. It’s about confronting what makes us uneasy, or even what causes us pain, so that we can understand it and learn from it. I’m not advocating the exhumation of dead relatives. Rather, I’m submitting that sometimes discomfort is how we grow, as learners, as citizens, as human beings. Political correctness is a positive and even necessary system, but clear problems have arisen in its execution. I believe this to be the most egregious: it deprives us of the opportunity to grow. It narrows our worldview until we only see what makes us comfortable, until we live in a world where everything is sanitized and inoffensive. That world, no matter how carefully constructed on college campuses, is not our world. Juan Carlos can be reached ☐ at castilloju@belmonthill.org.
Urban Improv Engages with Students to Teach Lessons About Sexual Assault By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff Imagine this: a boy and a girl meet at a party. They laugh, they dance, they drink a little too much, and then they go upstairs. When presented with facts, the story seems unequivocal. Yet when the performers from Urban Improv finished enacting this scene for Belmont Hill students, opinions were vastly different, and the spirited discourse that followed was exactly what the actors were hoping for. Urban Improv is a theatre troupe that has toured around the Northeast for over twenty years in the hopes of teaching thousands of students how to prevent social crises, resolve uncomfortable situations, and make tough decisions. Actors in the program create controversial and improvisational scenes to mimic real-life scenarios. While they are equipped to touch upon a panoply of issues such as bullying, racism, and peer pressure, the group fo-
cused on the increasingly-significant issue of rape for their two performances this October. Naturally, after the St. Paul’s scandal hit close to home, Belmont Hill has taken necessary steps to bring awareness to campus rape. Students have confronted this contentious subject many times this fall already - the Peer Leaders arranged a Form VI New Freedoms program with girls from Newton Country Day School and Brian Cullen, J.D., spoke in Chapel about many laws instituted against sexual assault. Mr. Cullen mentioned a powerful video, “The Consent of Tea” in his speech to the school, in which the narrator compares consent for having sex to consent for drinking tea. The issue of rape is extremely provocative and delicate, and consequently, some students disagreed with how Urban Improv constructed a few of their scenes. The central point of one episode, in which a boy takes a girl “upstairs,” was misinterpreted by many in the audience because of the age dif-
ference between the two characters. After the skit, I heard from one classmate, “Okay, so I just won’t have sex with a girl who’s underage.” The boy’s mistake wasn’t just having relations with a minor. Regardless of age, it is wrong to coerce a judgment-impaired individual into having sex, and perhaps if the two players were the same age, that message could have resonated more clearly. Throughout all of the scenes, there was a common theme - in any meaningful and healthy relationship between a boy and a girl, platonic or romantic, there needs to be open communication and mutual respect. If the boy actor had shown respect for the girl actor and talked with her about having sex when she was sober, none of the following events would have played out so horrifically. We, however, can learn from this actor’s mistakes - that’s why the Urban Improv performers had us voice our opinions about the situations, think actively about the most significant aspects of
sexual assault, and determine how they would and should react in a similar situation. For their strong performance, the actors received a standing ovation. We are living in a society in which one of every five women in college claims to be victims of sexual assault; thus, it is imperative that Belmont Hill educate its students on how to treat women with the utmost respect and how to avoid these
From “The Consent of Tea”
situations. Virtually every boy now on Belmont Hill’s campus will be on a college campus within six years and will have to face issues of drinking and sex. In addition to the Senior’s New Freedoms program and Mr. Cullen’s Chapel speech, Urban Improv significantly furthered the discussion about rape and caused students to think more closely about their responsibilities as young men. ☐
BELMONT HILL OPINION
Novemb er 23, 2015
Pa g e 7
Student Debate: Chocolate Candy vs. Sugar Candy In this issue of The Panel, we are continuing our feature debate between Form VI students Jay O’Brien and Gabe Schmittlein. After The Panel is released, a poll will be sent out to assess the student body’s views on the topic at hand. These results will be published in the subsequent issue along with a brand new talking debate. So without further ado, we present the eighth debate—Chocolate candy vs. Sweet candy.
Team Sugar Candy
Team Chocolate Candy By Jay O’Brien Panel staff I first must concede that, within this debate, both sides offer some stellar choices to appease one’s sweet tooth, and this might be the toughest debate that Gabe and I have had the privilege to discuss. That being said, the large variety of tasty chocolate candies are simply too important to adults and children ever ywhere, and thus, it is unwise for someone to select another type of candy instead. First,allow me to list off my starting five for Team Chocolate Candy : Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; Snickers; 3 Musketeers; Kit Kats; and Twix. That
Dream T e a m alone can go toeto-toe
w it h any candy assemblance that Team Sweet Candy has to offer. While chocolate is obviously a common ingredient among each big name in the starting rotation, each candy has a unique flavor, ranging from peanut butter to crisp wafers to caramel that provides an incredibly exquisite taste. Team Chocolate additionally has some absolute superstars coming off of the bench, including the
Chocolate offers an indulgence that immediately improves your level of happiness and state of mind (scientifically proven). all-too-underrated Charleston Chew, the boring yet revolutionar y Hershey Bar, plus Milky Way, M&M’s, and CRUNCH. The list just keeps going on and on, including some crazy-talented contenders like 100 Grand, Butterfinger, and Baby Ruth, all of which could make the case for being selected to this worldclass chocolatey super-squad. Meanwhile, sweet candies have several big names that I won’t mention out of self-interest, but they also own a plethora of bottom-ofthe-barrel options like Peeps, those weird strawberr y hard candies that always seem to appear in strange places, and worst of all, candy corn. Candy corn is an absolute fraud
candy that somehow snuck its way into the conversation come Halloween, when in reality, the “candy” has no real redeeming qualities. For the purpose of investigative research, I decided to discover the ingredients of candy corn, and the list mentions just five things: sugar; corn syrup; food coloring; binders; and something called carnauba wax (yikes). Not only is candy corn boring, tasteless, and containing a questionable carnauba wax, but this one candy alone is a huge knock on Team Sweet Candy as a whole, as it substantially brings down the overall quality of this branch of candies. Be better, candy corn. As I wrap up my argument in favor of chocolate candies, I just a s k that you tr y to return to your days as a young, innocent child and picture a Halloween without Reese’s Cups, 3 Musketeers, Twix, Snickers, or any other chocolatey treat. Not only would it ruin your holiday, but in all honesty, you would be a completely different person upon reaching adulthood. Chocolate offers an indulgence that immediately improves your level of happiness and state of mind (scientifically proven). In addition, chocolate is known to reduce the risk of heart attack, decrease blood pressure, and even help in weight loss according to one (false) study. That all sounds pretty good to me. That being said, chocolate’s taste and potential health benefits are all appetizing, emotional, and scientifically-proven beneficial reasons to side with Team Chocolate Candies come voting time. Make the right decision and choose Team Chocolate Candies. ☐
Results from Last Debate Salsa - 119 48%
Guacamole - 129 52%
By Gabe Schmittlein Panel staff How about we start off with the agreement that all candy is good candy. There have been some debates where I haven’t respected Jay’s opinion but this is not one of them.
“When you boil it down, the main difference between sweet candy and chocolate candy is that one is sugary and the other is bitter.” I respect chocolate candy, I just like sweet candy more. Let me explain why… When you boil it down, the main difference between sweet candy and chocolate candy is that one is sugar y and the other is bitter. Adults will say that as your taste buds mature (they put extra emphasis on that word as if to insinuate that you’re still a child), you’ll appreciate bitterness more, but I don’t buy it. If they think that I’m going to turn 21 and suddenly find a new passion for artic h o k e s and asparagus, they’re sorely mistaken. In fact, I rarely even eat dark chocolate because I find it too bitter, and milk chocolate is a half-hearted attempt to subdue that bitterness. On the other hand, how could anybody dislike sugar?? I’m going to list off a bunch of sweet candies, candies that are loaded
with sugar, and I dare you to e ven t r y conv incing me t hat t he y’re not Ha l l Of Fame c andies -- Nerds, Swe dish Fish, Pop R o cks (explosions of sugar!!!), Jol ly R anchers, L af f y Taf f y, To otsie Pops, R ing Pops (t he O G cl assic), Mi ke and Ike’s, Smar t ies, Airhe ads, Pixie St ix (litera l ly just sugar), St arbursts, B ott le C aps, S our Patch Kids (water melon are my p ers ona l favor ite), Sk itt les, Gummy B e ars, Tw izzlers, Fun Dip, and e ven Fr uit R ol l Ups and Gushers, b ot h of w hich I’ve b e en ad amant ly infor me d are inde e d c andies. A l l of t hos e are sugar y and a l l of t hos e are legends of t he c andy game. If I had to pick a top t hre e I’d probably go w it h To otsie Pops, Water melon S our Patch Kids, and R ing Pops
(p ar t ly b ec aus e t he y’re just g re at fashion), but I re a l ly didn’t enj oy ma k ing t hat list b e c aus e it fe els li ke I’m b eing force d to pick my favor ite 2004 Phi l adelphi a E ag les pl ayer --
t here are just s o many g re at opt ions and cho osing a top t hre e fe els re a l ly limit ing .
If I had to pick a top three I’d probably go with Tootsie Pops, Watermelon Sour Patch Kids, and Ring Pops (partly because they’re just great fashion), but I really didn’t enjoy making that list because it feels like I’m being forced to pick my favorite 2004 Philadelphia Eagles player -- there are just so many great options and choosing a top three feels really limiting. In an honest moment of reflection against my argument, the only negative I can see with sweet candies is that candy corn is technically a sweet candy and it’s probably the worst candy ever made. I m e a n , d e e p down it’s really just a bunch of sugar, but the sugar seems to be attempting to disguiseitself as candle wax, which is probably not a great strategy. Let’s forget about candy corn, though, because it’s just an outlier, and tr y to understand that in terms of pure taste, sweet candy is just better than chocolate candy. It’s just science, Jay. Can’t argue with science, can you? ☐
Wendi Hiebert
Winsor Opinion
Pa g e 8
Th e Pan el
21st Century Forum’s New Upper School Census Understanding the growing and ever-changing Winsor community from socioeconomic status to mental health. By Chae Chun, Daria Crawford, Britta It plans to send out another census this year Purcell, and Karina Singhal to both students and faculty (in 2014, facHeads of 21st Century Forum ulty was not surveyed) that addresses addiLast Spring, 21st Century Forum tional facets o f hosted an Identity Week for Winsor’s Upper identity. The School, during which students and faculty participated in affinity club workshops and a “stand-up, sit-down” assembly. The mission of the week was to inspire discussions about core identifiers, such as age, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, race, ethnicity, political stance, and religion, and to allow a designated time for students and faculty to explore their and their peers’ identities. The week stimulated valuable discussions about the intersectionality of identity and how the implications of core misidentifiers manifest themselves in our soci- sion of this ceneties and daily lives. This year, 21st Century sus is to allow students and faculty to unForum hopes to continue these discussions. derstand the Winsor community better and In 2014, the club sent out a census to to help foster an environment in which all the Upper School with several questions re- feel comfortable in discussing the associated garding students’ aspects of identity, ranging topics. In the last census, students highlight-
ed that at times it is difficult to represent one’s identity simply through a series of multiple choice questions, as some felt that their ethnicity or sexual orientation did not identify to the provided options. Expressing
www.notia.it one’s identity can be complex and students and faculty should not feel that they are “outliers” for not conforming to general societal trends. Having recognized this feedback, 21st Century Forum aims to ensure that the census allows
participants to address that complexity with their responses and has adjusted the format of the census accordingly. It will include a choice stating “other” for every question and a textbox space for participants to elaborate on responses when needed, along with a free response at the end for participants to discuss any important aspects of their identity that they feel were not covered in the census. 21st Century Forum believes it is essential to survey the school once again in order for all to see the development of the Winsor community since the last census. The club heads hope that this census sparks discussions about not only the various identities of the school community but also those of the wider population. The club plans to host a forum to discuss results and how to synthesize the information that the census provides. Results will also be made available through Panel. 21st Century Forum encourages students and faculty to attend its meetings on Day 5 in Room 202 for further discussion.☐
a.abcnews.go.com
abastomedia.com
Trump Mania: America’s Affinity for Affluence?
Exploring Donald Trump and the 2016 Presidential Election By Elizabeth Kim Panel Staff What is Donald Trump’s appeal? At a time when relatability to the working class American plays an important role in winning the presidential election, how is it that a flamboyant
multibillionaire businessman — who has constructed several 68-story skyscrapers in his name — is able to garner so much support from Americans? Furthermore, how can a presidential candidate who makes questionable comments about minorities continue to maintain his popularity? So far in his presidential candidacy, Trump has challenged Senator John McCain’s longstanding status as a hero of the Vietnam War, made sexist comments about various women, and infamously branded illegal Mexican
immigrants as drug dealers and rapists. His remarks about women and Hispanics in particular caused many Americans to reject him completely. However, according to Fox News, Trump is the leading candidate for the Republican nomination, holding the support of a solid 26 percent of Republican primary voters as of November 5. Each controversial comment ready2print.com only increases his ratings; a fact that Trump acknowledged himself. T h e answer is this: in an era where many politicians seem stifled by their fear of losing political support, Trump’s brash and fearless honesty — however unpleasant it may be — is refreshing to voters. As comedian Bill Burr said on a recent Conan appearance, “at least he says what he’s thinking”. For the many Americans who feel that politicians prioritize their poll numbers and political support over staying true to their own values, Trump’s refusal to apologize for his opinions presents a welcome change.
Even to his fiercest critics, Trump’s honesty and unyielding stubbornness to stand by his claims is undeniable. Other elements of Trump’s persona also play key roles in his appeal. In a recent interview with NPR, prominent media strategist Mark McKinnon cited Trump’s image as the “strongest guy on stage who exudes… confidence, strength and power” as a crucial part of the way voters perceive him. Former President Bill Clinton shared similar sentiments, crediting Trump’s “macho appeal” as a significant element of his
popularity. Also, Trump’s identity as a newcomer to Washington with zero political experience could appeal to those who are repulsed by America’s modern day politics and would rather vote for a political outsider. Trump’s hosting Saturday Night Live in mid-November further increased his appeal to voters. When America remains a year from the presidential elections, it is difficult to tell how far Trump’s unconventional way of appealing to voters will take him. For now, however, Trump has made it clear that he is here to stay.☐
realpolitics.com
Novemb er 23, 2015
Winsor Opinion
Pa g e 9
cnn.com
America’s Choice of Life or Liberty
modvive.com
October shootings fuel the ongoing gun control debate with the logistics of the gun debate, I will elaborate. The argument, like many other modern controversies – such as whether freedom of religion permits people discriminate against the LGBTQ community or not, stems from different interpretations of the second amendment to the Constitution. The amendment reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Anti-gun activists interpret the Constitution loosely, claiming the amendment was only intended to maintain an organized militia, which is no longer necessary since America has incredibly secure national security, a stable government, and no imminent threat of invasion. Like other liberals, a Winsor sophomore (who wishes to remain anonymous) reasons that “in modern society there is not much need for people to own guns.” They also emphasize that writers of the amendment never could have imagined the powerful semi-automatic weapons that exist today. On the other hand, those in favor of unrestricted gun access interpret the Constitution more strictly. They insist that if the Bill of Rights grants Americans the right to bear arms, then Americans have the right to bear arms regardless of the weapon, and this “fundamental” right cannot be revoked. Luke Scott, a Florida
republican and baseball player, explains that, “Gun control means control. It means control for the government and the government starts controlling people.” He and other conservative implore Americans to prevent the federal government from becoming too great a power. Furthermore, a different Winsor student, Class VI, simply states that, “people should be able to protect themselves,” using vulnerability as another argument in favor of gun possession. I believe that the issue at hand is much more abstract than whether or not the possession of guns should be legal. I would argue that the dispute over gun laws is more the result of a long lasting rivalry between Democrats and Republicans, and that the debate has more to do with the friction and the lack of cooperation between the two parties in many aspects of society, such as gay rights and abortion, than it does with gun control itself. General tension between Democrats and Republicans has existed since the birth of the nation; however, the matter at hand does not simply challenge taxation or trade regulation, it disputes the importance of human lives. Liberals and conservatives may quarrel over issues like fiscal policies and Obamacare, but they need to be willing to compromise in order to protect American citizens. Conservatives refuse to give way on this issue out of pride, even
if it’s not in the best interest of the people. Guns are not in the best interest of Americans because they are designed to kill. Guns are a dangerous, lethal liberty, and the least the government can do is to make sure they don’t fall into the hands of those who are liable to use them. As Juliet Isselbacher ’18 aptly put it, “the firearm is both a symbol and instrument of murder.” The NRA has repeatedly issued the same statement: “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people,” but if guns facilitate murder, just as weapons of mass destruction, which are illegal, do, how can access to them be permitted? Pro-gun activists believe that less violence will occur if more people have guns to protect themselves, but as the number of accidents in the home increases when children find their parents’ guns, the argument becomes void. After the 2-year-old shot his grandmother on October 13th, comedian Colin Jost joked that “this obviously would have been prevented if the grandma had had a gun.” If the best way to minimize violence is clearly not by arming more people but by restricting gun access, America must consider what is more important: the liberty to carry a weapon or the safety of its people. Democrats and Republicans need to put their issues aside in order to address this crisis. Parties must not value their pride over the general welfare of the community. ☐
By Fiona Dunn, Charlotte Fries, Priya and Upper School. Unlike Januzewicz, KeShukla, and Arielle Blacklow mourjian believes that Upper School MeetPanel Staff ing does bring the Upper School together and “allows us to get our voices heard.” This year, as part of our new schedCollect Head Maslen Ward ’16 obule, we gained a new block: Community serves that she does not yet feel closer to Time. During this time each day, we have the other Performing Arts Block, All-School As- c l a s s e s , sembly, Upper School Meeting, clubs and but she affinity groups, or flex time. Flex time var- b e l i e v e s ies from one rotation to the next, but it that “Upis often a homeroom or advisory period. per School One of the goals of community time is to M e e t help strengthen the relationships between ing does all of the grades. On Day One in the Up- have the per School, we have Upper School Meet- potential ing. This meeting time is meant to help to bring the Upper School communicate, bond, the Upper and sometimes even showcase our talents. S c h o o l Antonia Januszewicz ’19 shares that closer to“although [community time] does some- gether and times bring our class together because of help make homeroom and advisory, it doesn’t actu- all the Upally bring us together as an Upper School.” per School classes a tightly knit community.” In Upper School Meeting, she maintains, As one positive aspect, she notes that “we we sit and listen while the people who are always have a structured time in which the “in charge” speak, rather than participating whole Upper School is free.” She enjoys comin activities in which the Upper Schoolers munity time, especially enjoying the chance interact with one another. Both Janusze- to participate in more performing arts. wicz and Anya Keomurjian ’16 would like Performing Arts blocks meets on days to see more interaction between the Lower two and five and gives girls the opportunity
to participate in either dance, orchestra, or chorale. Ms. McKinley teaches the new dance program that takes advantage of the dance studio and allows girls to express themselves and be active during the school day. The group has explored body movement, interconne c te d motion, and other forms of personal expression. On the other hand, the orchestra group dons instruments ranging from cellos to tubas. These stuArielle Blacklow dents work together to perfect their pieces and have even performed at assemblies. Finally, chorale, directed Ms. Taillacq, has performed songs varying from pop to Celtic music at the Winsor Fall Concert. This group provides a great outlet for girls who may want to sing but do not want to commit to Small Chorus. Overall, performing arts block has provided girls with
a space to explore budding artistic interests. Not only has Community Time given space for artistic endeavors but also allows girls to connect with members of the Winsor community through affinity groups. There are currently three affinity groups: SOMOS, SISTERS, and AsIAm. These groups are typically very student-run and promote open discussions between girls about their experiences or concerns about their ethnicity. Priya Shukla ’17. a member of AsIAm comments, “AsIAm provides a great place for me to not only get to connect with girls of my own ethnicity but also to learn about other cultures within Asia.” Clubs that meet on day four are also able to use the fifty minute period block to be productive. Susy Liu ’17, head of MUSE club, “enjoys having more time than a traditional lunch period to go through normal logistics and also get to practice with chamber groups.” She further notices that “people are more focussed during this time because they are not multitasking with lunch and club concerns.” Ultimately, Community Time has proved beneficial to expanding the impact of both affinity groups and certain clubs. Although people are still getting used to Community Time, it has been and will continue to be an advantageous part of the school day. ☐
By Isabel Isselbacher Panel Staff Any Winsor student who has taken History of Modern Europe will have heard of John Locke’s paradox – sometimes we must give up some liberties in order to protect other rights, like security. Who would have thought this historic philosopher’s thinking would be so applicable to the modern day era? It underlies the gun control debate; will giving up the right to bear arms ensure our right to life, to safety? America may have exceeded expectations in terms of equality and economics, but recent events have demonstrated that it is not the haven of personal safety that its forefathers envisioned. Due to the troubling number of mass shootings and reports of children firing their parents’ guns, the debate on gun control has exploded this year. On October 1st, ten students were killed and many injured after a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College, on October 5th, an 11-year-old fatally shot his 8-year-old neighbor when she refused to let him pet her dog, and on October 13th, a 2-year-old boy shot his grandmother in the back. All of these calamities occurred in a single month. For those of you who are unfamiliar
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REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS OF NOVEMBER 13TH By Lilla Gabrieli & Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff On November 13 th , thousands of onlookers, including French President François Hollande, packed the Stade de France in Paris, hoping to watch the highly awaited French and German friendly soccer match. At 9:20p.m, the first of three incredibly loud booms sounded throughout the stadium. It wasn’t until much later, when the game ended, that the spectators and players learned the true cause of the disturbances: three bombs had exploded, killing three innocent civilians and sparking what would later be recognized as the beginning of the Paris terrorist attacks. Twenty minutes later, at an Eagles of Death Metal concert across the city, armed gunmen stormed into the crowded arena, held hundreds hostage for several hours, and ultimately opened fire on the crowd with automatic rifles, killing dozens. These atrocities were only two of the six coordinated attacks, for which the militant terrorist group Islamic State has subsequently claimed responsibility. In total, at least 129 innocent civilians lost their lives and hundreds more were critically injured in the Paris attacks. And this comes less than one year after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, when armed gunmen belonging to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda forced their way into the offices of the French satirical newspaper in Paris. In the wake of such a tragedy, most media outlets have fixated on Paris alone, but Beirut and Baghdad are also reeling after similar ISIS attacks in their respective nations. In Beirut, 293 casualties resulted from a suicide bombing. In Baghdad, 18 lost their lives in an explosion and
roughly 50 more were wounded. The question thus arises: why has such little attention been given to these equally horrific tragedies? In response to this question, Caitlin Weldon ’16 remarked, “Because Paris is in many ways a symbol of the Western world. We all have romanticized ideals associated with The City of Lights, but that does not in any way excuse the lack of attention given to these other tragedies.” Alex Afeyan ’16 commented, “If you look at the entire region (i.e. the region of Beirut and Baghdad), the baseline of
cize the violence. In France, President Hollande blamed ISIS for this “act of war,” eliciting comparisons between his comment and Bush’s reaction after the 9/11, closed France’s borders, and declared the nation to be in state of emergency. Even the Pope chimed in, asserting that the massacre is part of a “piecemeal Third World War.” Among the United States’ presidential candidates, Republican Donald Trump was criticized for his comment on the day of the attacks that France’s tough gun control laws contributed to
violence and tragedy is so high that, despite the severity of the recent events there, they are not quite as jarring as the horrific attack on Paris. In addition, the range of ISIS capabilities to spread terror was shown so powerfully by the attacks on Friday that the attacks on relatively closer places like Beirut and Baghdad seem less terrifying and immediate to Western observers.” Politicians around the globe have been quick to point fingers and politi-
the tragedy. At the Democratic Debate on November 14, frontrunner Hillary Clinton stood firm in her belief that “[containing ISIS] cannot be an American fight” and called on Turkey and the Gulf states to do more. The effects of the November 13 th attacks are being felt across the world, even an ocean away in the Boston community. With parallels being drawn between the Paris attacks and the Boston Marathon Bombings, one
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cannot help but reflect on the tragedy of these senseless deaths. Even within Winsor and Belmont Hill, students who spent a year abroad in France, who have family members in Beirut, Baghdad, or Paris, and even those who do not have any tangible connections to these cities, have all been hit hard by the terrorist attacks. Didier Lucceus ’16, a Belmont Hill student who studied abroad in France last year along with Winsor’s Iona Forrester ’16, commented “I lived in France for nine months, and even though I didn’t live in Paris, the news was definitely shocking. It was scary because just a few months before, France was the place I called home.” On Facebook, Madeline Batt ’15 wrote about the potential backlash that many Muslims may receive because of the Islamic State’s attacks, saying, “My thoughts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence: victims, their loved ones, Muslims who experience unfair backlash because of events they played no role in, and especially those who are still waiting to hear news of their friends and family members. Remembering, too, the victims of violence around the world, especially those whose deaths won’t be covered by the press or memorialized by a Facebook profile picture filter.” Standing in solidarity with those affected by these tragedies, the Panel has decided to focus our center spread to the terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris, Baghdad, and Beirut in November. We hope that this sheds light on the tragic nature of these events and sparks further conversation within our communities.☐
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TERRORIST ATTACKS IN PARIS, BERUIT, BAHGDAD I think that this terrorist attack, as with any terrorist attack, incited a variety of emotions. When people are angry, they feel the need to point fingers and blame someone. Lately, I’ve noticed that social media has caused many people to misidentify the source or spread ignorant rumors. This attack was no exception. I don’t think any of these charged responses were intentionally malicious. People often just don’t know how to control their anger. -Anonymous
Over the past few decades, terrorists have carried out horrific and brutal acts designed to disrupt civil society and foment fear among populations. Be it in Kenya, Turkey, Lebanon, Spain, the Middle East, Boston––a terrorist attack causes us to assess our security and safety, and how we are going to live our lives moving forward. Certainly as we plan our Belmont Hill trips, we take into account current political, health, safety, and security issues for our destinations, and if there are major concerns, we may choose to cancel a trip or alter an itinerary. - Mr. Harder
I honestly did not know what to feel. I was just shocked at first. I couldn’t really fathom that just hours after the Beirut bombs had gone off there was another attack in Paris. To me, Paris seems almost detached from these kinds of politics. I never really think of a place donned ‘the City of Love’ as being a target for terrorist attacks. It terrified me. - Anonymous I don’t have a problem with the profile picture filters on Facebook in response to the Nov 13th attacks except that there were no profile picture filters made in response on the attacks in Beirut or Baghdad, which happened Nov 12th and Nov 13th respectively. In fact, there was little media coverage if any on these attacks compared to the Paris attacks. The extent to which we have normalized violence in the Middle East is embarrassing especially in such stark contrast with the outrage and importance the media and public have given to the Paris attacks. I’m not saying the Paris attacks did not deserve the outraged reaction they received, simply that all terrorism and violence deserves the same response. - Anonymous
This event will fundamentally change the approach Europe and America take in accepting Syrian refugees. Despite the fact that most Syrian refugees come as peaceful worshipers of Allah, their God whose customs resemble closely with the Judeo-Christian God, the reaction of Europe will most likely be to void the Schengen Agreement and stop the free flow of immigrants. France’s boarders have closed, and Sweeden and Slovenia now require passports and paper to enter, both countries which have accepted large amount of immirants thus far. - Alex Afeyan Paris under attack - what happens next? Not even a year after the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris where 12 people lost their lives, Paris has once again had their city turned upside down by terrorists. What are the differences? Among other things, this time, there were multiple attacks in a matter of minutes with over ten times the number of victims. And this time, the general public was targeted, not just the journalists exercising their freedom of speech. To quote a French colleague who works at SYA in Rennes and whose daughter studies in Paris: We are listening to the news and preparing ourselves for the next step, because there will be a next step. War has entered Paris and our lives. - Mrs. Montanaro
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Nico Valette, BH ‘16, Shares His Personal Connection, Reaction to the Paris Attacks By Nico Valette Staff Writer I spoke with my grandparents and cousin on Friday regarding the attacks. My grandfather, an extremely fearful man, boasted that he had predicted this catastrophe, and that it would surely spell the end of both America and France. When I asked him if my cousin, who lives 1 arrondissement away from the attacks, was okay, he mocked me for being afraid. My grandmother however was much more nurturing. She is certainly the more realistic of the two, so answered our questions with care, reassuring my sisters and I that our extended family was okay. Next, I talked to my cousin who, with his newly married wife and twomonth old baby, lives a four minute walk away from one of the attacks. He, unexpectedly calmly, said that he and his family were safe, yet when I asked what he remembered, he broke down. Five minutes before I called, he had learned that one of our other cousin’s best friend was killed in the attacks. Although I had never met this person, she had clearly had a tremendous impact on my cousin. Likely because I talked to my family so soon after the attacks, the predominant
reactions were fear and disbelief. Now, on one of our family email chains, the mood seems to be shifting towards anger. Anger at France for its involvement in Syria, anger at Hollande for not attacking Syria with enough firepower, anger at the IS for their actions, and anger at the world that seems increasingly divided. When I first read about the attacks, I assumed I was reading about newly uncovered information regarding the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January. When I started to get panicked texts from my sisters, I realized what had happened and immediately felt urge to vomit. After this initial reaction, I began to fear. Fear the life of my cousin, his wife, and newborn child living in Paris. Fear for my friends from middle school, some I knew lived in the very same arrondissement as one of the attacks. And fear for the world as I heard Hollande’s claim that, “We will fight and we will be ruthless.” This sort of assertion is understandable, yet will not lead to peace, will not bring back the ones who lost their lives, and will almost certainly breed more violence. As a country and as a world we should be focused not on reciprocating, but on helping the underprivileged. In a world where resources are becoming increasingly scarce, and diplomatic relationships are becoming further
strained, the answer does not lie in further attacks, yet lies in promoting equality and better standards of life throughout the world. The most direct reaction I have seen in America is through social media. People are changing their profile pictures, making status updates, and posting Instagram pictures in order to pledge support for France. Initially, I thought these were superficial and meaningless, yet in talking to two of my friends that are currently in Paris, I have found that they are deeply significant. My friend Victor said that seeing the thousands of profile pictures superimposed with the French flag inexplicably lifted a weight off his shoulders. This social media movement made him feel supported and contributed immensely to ridding his deep feelings of isolation. Another response I have seen from Lebanese friends of mine is disbelief at the difference in people’s reactions towards Beirut and Paris. I believe the disproportionate response shows a deeper inequality within modern day America in which we sympathize and support with people who are similar to us, and ignore and estrange those who are different. Many Americans do not know it but there is incredible racism in France from people of French heritage towards Muslims.
I fear that these attacks will exacerbate this problem that has largely been kept out of American media since France banned the hijab from being worn in public schools in 2004. As for Syrian refugees, this potential increased racism will certainly not help their dire predicament. I also fear for increased racism in America. After the attacks Friday, I heard a Belmont Hill student say that they would never be able to truly trust a Muslim again. When I asked why this was, the person stated that their religion was inherently “bad” as it prompted attacks like these. How can this still be happening? I believe the only way to cure such uniformed racism is through education. Belmont Hill can lead the charge by teaching about Islam. Showing students the truth behind the religion they so blindly fear is the only way to bring about acceptance. As my Lebanese friends pointed out, the media’s coverage almost entirely neglected the immense attack at Beirut. In not covering such a tremendous attack, the media is conveying their believes that French lives matter more than those of others abroad. This lack of coverage is despicable and perpetuates underlying racism throughout our country. At a time when the world needs to stand together, the media has hopelessly torn it apart. ☐
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B-Flats and Roxbury Latin Glee Clubs Perform Together at Fall Concert By Alex Afeyan Panel Staff On November 8, 2015, Belmont Hill and Roxbury Latin singers, parents and communities gathered together in the Chapel for an afternoon of music from the B-Flats and the Roxbury Latin Glee Club. As the “away team”, Roxbury Latin started the concert, packing their huge group onto our (relatively) small stage, and sang several beautiful, although less known, songs called “Beati Mortui”, which translates to “blessed are the dead,” “Lowlands American,” and “Dinga Ding-a Dong.” The main group then left the stage, leaving the select “Latonics” on the stage to sing their a cappella repertoire. They started with a somber but nice piece called “Ave Verum Corpus”, which translates to “Hail the True Body,” written by William Byrd. They then sang an American Spiritual called “Been in the Storm.” After this song, they changed course to a much more modern repertoire, singing their arrangement of “Change in My Life” based on Rockapella’s version with a very talented soloist named Ian Kelly. The Latonics ended their performance with a Weezer song called “(If You’re
Wondering if I Want You To) I Want You To.” Despite the relatively unknown song choice, they excelled and performed very engagingly. Finally, the Glee Club returned to the stage to finish their performance with two more songs. After Roxbury Latin’s army of singers left the stage, the B-Flats had their chance to sing. They started with a comical song called “Manly Men,” which poked fun at the traditional men’s choir style of music, sampling such classics as “La Donna E Mobile” and “Habanera”. The B-Flats then followed this song with a beautiful rendition of a Hebrew wedding song called “Kala Kalla.” Continuing the performance with another song in a foreign language, they sang a French madrigal from the 16th century called “Il Est Bel et Bon”, translating to “He is Handsome and Good”. They sang the song with a Renaissance-style and executed it well, despite it being a conversation between women about the goodness of their husbands. Then, the group moved to a more modern song, with Stevie Wonder’s “As,” in which Alessandro Zenati, Henry Vettel, Peter Knowlton, Maahin Gulati, and Harrison Rohrer all soloed very well. Following this song, most of the group left the stage, leaving the 13-member Senior A Cappella Group,
called the Acafellas. This group sang a mash up arranged by Brendan Pulsifer of “Price Tag” by Jessie J, “No One” by Alicia Keys, and “My Girl” by the Temptations. The arrangement and singing were a high point in the concert, as were the solos by Alessandro Zenati, DJ Demetri, Christian Dolan, Chip Daley and Alex Afeyan. After this energetic performance, another sub-group of the B-Flats, the
Troubadours, took the stage with their rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.” The B-Flats ended their performance with a song in Latin called “O Magnum Mysterium” (“O Great Mystery) and a rousing performance of a gospel song called “Jesus is a Rock”. Finally, to cap off a wonderful day of music, the B-Flats and Roxbury Latin Glee Club joined together to sing the “Parting Blessing.” ☐ Bill Mahoney
The B-Flats start the show with “Manly Men.”
The Upper School Fall Play: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest By Brendan Pulsifer Panel Staff Last fall, the Belmont Hill and Winsor Upper School actors took on one of the most difficult tragedies ever written: Macbeth. This year will be no different. Director Ms. Robison and fourteen actors and actresses are set to perform One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, one of the most intense and dramatic pieces from the Western canon. Cuckoo’s Nest was originally a controversial novel, written by Ken Kesey just as the civil rights movement was taking shape in America. It rose to Hollywood fame a decade later when it was adapted into a critically acclaimed movie starring Jack Nicholson in 1975. Both the book and film are now considered to be American classics for their vibrant characters and powerful writing, which is why English teachers at Belmont Hill often assign the book for their classes. Taking place in a psychiatric ward, the play revolves around a group of mentally ill patients at the mercy of an icy warden, Nurse Ratched, whose treatment methods resemble more psychological torture than therapeutics. But, after the arrival of R. P. McMurphy, a convicted felon who feigned insanity to escape jail, the patients begin to rebel against Nurse Ratched, starting a cold war over power in the ward which only one party can win. Cuckoo’s Nest serves to show society’s mistreatment of those deemed “insane” in the 1960s. Though some characters are men-
tally ill, experience hallucinations, or want to bomb buildings, others on the ward have different psychological issues for which institutionalization is not warranted, such as homosexuality or neurosis. “Billy suffers from anxiety caused by his overprotective and controlling mother,” says Christian Dolan, who plays Billy Bibbitt, a stuttering patient. “It’s amazing to me that he’s placed in the same ward as much crazier characters, because he’s not insane; he’s just anxious.” Perhaps the most memorable character from the show is R. P. McMurphy, the archetype of a Western hero and the catalyst for change on the ward. “It’s been really fun playing McMurphy because he’s so active on stage and so different from Actors Christian Dolan, Owen Pickett, Henry Vettel, Phillip Bailey and Erin Simshauser who I am in real life,” says William Galligan, who plays McMurphy. “He’s vulgar, he’s impulsive, he doesn’t have a filter, and that makes you want him to win.” (Because of the profane, yet necessary, language throughout the play, Dr. Melvoin has given the play a “PG-13” rating.) Ms. Robison found Cuckoo’s Nest one of the toughest yet most rewarding pieces Editors-in-Chief she has directed. “A great challenge has been Jake DeCaprio Executive Editors Copy Editors guiding the actors who play psychiatric paLilla Gabrieli Hailey Fuchs John Markis tients into the inner worlds of these lovable, Jay O’Brien Brendan Pulsifer Ishaan Prasad unique, and emotionally damaged charAbigail Simon Talia Ruxin acters,” she says. “These actors must bring their issues to the surface so the audience Online Editors News Editors Arts Editors can empathize and root for them to make it.” Joanna Chen Jason Fischman Alex Afeyan Cuckoo’s Nest will be performed on Arnav Prasad Betsy Kim Helen Sayegh November 20th and 21st at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. ☐ Sports Editors Matt Reppucci Brigitte Schmittlein Photo Editors Arielle Blacklow John Gosselin
Assistant Editors Kiran Butte Augustus Lamb Susy Liu Evan Ricci Jack Richards Bennett Rush Priya Shukla Abby Weyer Backpage Editors Emiliy Litz Gabe Schmittlein
At the start of Act II in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the actors play a mock basketball game, featuring Phillip Bailey as the basket, Steven Devellis as an offensive player, Brendan Pulsifer showing off his defensive skills, Peter Knowlton as an onlooker, Henry Vettel cheering on his team, and William Galligan as referee of the match.
Opinion Editors McAlister Perry Caitlin Weldon Faculty Advisors Meghan Hazard David Hegarty Sarah Wolf Juliette Zener
The Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill and Winsor schools. The Panel is the voice of the student body. We publish articles that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views expressed in The Panel belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarily represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages responsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2015 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
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Panel of The Panel By Arnav Prasad Panel Staff The year 1943 brought devastation, depression, and darkness to Europe as World War Two raged throughout the continent, gnawing at the spirit of American troops and families as it progressed. At the beginning of the year, British and American forces had agreed that they could conclude the war only with a total surrender from Germany, an objective they knew would be costly to achieve for all sides. As a young school with a mere twenty years under its belt focused on the development of their community, Belmont Hill endured each and every punch the war had thrown at the school and its families. In Spring of 1943, Mr. Hans W. Wanders graduated from Belmont Hill, having left behind his own panel of an American eagle swooping down carrying a bomb, now displayed in the MacPherson room. As many have be-
fore me, I found myself enthralled with this image of sheer patriotism, important then in a time where the country and the community needed it most, important now as a memento of our history as a school. Depicting not only the role of the United States and the harsh reality overseas, Mr. Wanders’ carving reminds current day students that there is a world beyond the school, a world that may not always be so kind and forgiving to its members as Belmont Hill is to the school’s extended family. ☐
Artist of the Issue: Scott Jackson By Augustus Lamb Panel Staff
This issue’s Artist of the Issue is Scott Jackson of the Fifth Form. Since Scott arrived at Belmont Hill as a sophomore, he has made his presence known on campus as not only one of the friendliest and most genuine kids you will meet, but as the school’s premiere drummer in the jazz and rock bands. “When I first began taking lessons in sixth grade, my parents got me this really bad drum set because they thought it wasn’t going anywhere and that I was only going to play for a year or so,” he said. However, five years later, Scott is playing the drums more than ever in Belmont Hill’s Upper School Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Rock Band, while also helping out with the Middle School Jazz Band and the Orchestra. While most people associate drummers with solely playing rock music, Scott considers himself a jazz drummer. Over the years, jazz is the style of drumming he has enjoyed the most and worked the hardest at playing. Scott stat-
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Hound of Baskervilles Enjoys Praise By Ranjit Thomas Staff Writer On November 6th and 7th, the Belmont Hill and Winsor Middle School theater programs kicked off their seasons with performances of the much-anticipated “The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Comic Thriller Starring Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson”. Mr. DiResta and Ms. Zener helmed the project, using their expertise and experience in directing to bring one of the most popuar and famous Sherlock Holmes stories to light. Though they chose to retain many of the literary elements that make the piece a traditional Holmesesque narrative, this theatrical adaptation puts a comedic spin on the renowned thriller. The setting? Late nineteenth-century London, as Sherlock and and his faithful sidekick Dr. John Watson depart on a tour of Europe, leaving their nieces, Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson, to manage their practice in London. With their uncles away, Shirley and Jennie are tasked with investigating the mysterious legend of the Hound of the Baskervilles, a supernatural bloodhound that allegedly haunts the English town of Devonshire, when Sir Henry Baskerville and his associate, Dr.
Maxine Mortimer, approach them to request their aid. As the investigation unfurls, Sir Henry finds himself as the target of a serious threat when he arrives from America to collect the inheritance his uncle Sir Charles left him after mysteriously passing away. Winsor students Margaret Eng and Alex Gorham played the Shirley and Jennie, respectively, each being excited and nervous to play a lead role. Other Winsor cast members included Isabel Sibble as Mrs. Stapleton, Dora Friedman as Mrs. Barrymore, Caroline Nolan as Mrs. Lestrade, and Lucy Binder as Dr. Maxine Mortimer. Belmont Hill boys in the production included Julian Wambach as Sir Henry Baskerville, Jack Henehan as Charles Baskerville, and Josh Fairman as Mr. Stapleton. The show was full of laughs, shocks, and plot twists. The audience constantly sat at the edge of their seats, not knowing what would come next in a performance imbued with sparkle and flash. The production fulfilled its ambition as a play rife with comedy and thrill, all the while providing a unique opportunity for girls to have a presence in such a renowned but originally male-oriented work of drama.The actors thank everyone who supported the production! ☐
ed, “When I first started, I didn’t really know what I was doing, so I just played to a lot of the songs that I liked, which were rock songs at the time.” Then during his freshman year, he joined the jazz band at Andover High School “as an experimental sort of thing” and decided that he loved jazz and jazz music, and from there on decided to pursue it. Scott loves to play all different subgenres of jazz, such as acid jazz, smooth jazz, modal jazz, bebop, and “basically everything that falls under the umbrella of jazz music.” His favorite part about playing jazz drums is that it’s very different from rock because it “has this component to it called syncopation, Mr. Zamore which makes it not as direct and concrete as some other styles of drumming, and I love the complexity of it.” Fitting in extraBy Alex Afeyan curriculars can be very Adele’s new album, Panel Staff difficult at Belmont 25 was released on NoHill due to the workvember 20th, 2015. Beload and other comfore the release of her third mitments of school; album, her single, Hello ,shattered online music rehowever, Scott’s pascords, including reaching sion for music is worth one million downloads in any free time lost. a single week, and reachWhen asked by Fifth Former Ryan ing Number One in 33 Williams if he received multiple extra countries. Who knew peopoints added to his grades because of his ple still download music? various involvements in the arts, Scott simply replied, “just one,” perfectly exemwww.etonline.com plifying how he plays the drums for the The newest installation of the James Bond selove of jamming out, making great music, enjoying himself, and getting to work on ries, Spectre, hit theaters on October 26th, 2015. one of his passions each day at school. ☐ Daniel Craig reprised his role as the title character. The movie recieved mixed reviews, with a genDonald Trump hosted SNL on No- eral consensus that the movie did not meet the high vember 7th, 2015. Although the episode expectations set by the last movie, Skyfall, which was seemed at some points strained not to was the seventh highest grossing film of all time. insult Trump’s campaign, as the show usually would, there were several funny skits. The one that has gained the most notoriety and fame in the weeks following the episode is SNL’s spoof of Drake’s music video for “Hotline Bling”. The original video features Drake, dad-dancing it up for about three minutes, a ridiculous image that SNL perfectly captured. Another funny moment happened during his opening monologue, when two SNL actors famous for playing Trump in political skits joined him on Following up his chart topping song What Do You Mean?, Bieber’s first numstage (pictured to the left). The episode ber one hit, he achieved another new song, Sorry, a tropical house song that, if Adele’s was the most watched SNL episode since Hello had not just released, would be the number one song on the charts. This song 2012, when Charles Barkley hosted. ☐ continues Bieber’s attempts to reform his image after several years of miscreancy.
This Fall in Pop Culture: From Music to Movies to Millionaires
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The Winsor Drama Department Presents: The Heidi Chronicles By Caroline Nahill Staff Writer On Friday the 13th, the cast of The Heidi Chronicles performed the first fall play in the new Winsor theatre. Wendy Wasserstein’s Pulitzer Prize winning play follows art historian Heidi Holland (Rebecca Koppel) as she navigates 1960s idealism, 1970s radical feminism and 1980s materialism. Heidi’s growth is largely influenced by the people she encounters over the 25 year span of the play. Heidi’s feminism is continuously challenged by her desperate friend Susan Johnston (Caroline Nahill), her cynical soulmate Peter Patrone (Penny Mack), and her arrogant and condescending lover Scoop Rosenbaum (Genevieve Brusie). The play chronicles Heidi Holland’s experience with the second wave of feminism from 1965 to 1987. She meets a wide variety of feminists, from the militant lesbian Fran (Ariela Rosenzweig) to her career-obsessed best friend Susan Johnston
(Caroline Nahill). Because the show covers three historic decades for Women’s and LGBTQ rights, the actresses in the show examined the tenants of feminism. Penny Mack ’18 stated, “I would call myself an intersectional feminist, meaning I believe that the rights of people of color, LGBTQ+ rights, etc., are as important as women’s rights, and that all of these movements rely on each other to move forward. I believe all women, no matter their race, sexuality, or gender orientation should be included in the feminist movement.” Winsor students presented The Heidi Chronicles on Friday and Saturday, November 13-14 in The Winsor Theater at the Lubin-O’Donnell Center. The cast and crew included Rebecca Koppel ’16 and Caroline Nahill ’16, Genna Brusie ’17, Gloria Ho ’18, Megan Kaye ’18, Eujin Kim ’18 and Penny Mack ’18, Sophia Blyth ’19, Caroline Bonnevie ’19, Victoria Cadostin ’19, Jada Eisenbud ’19, Abby Golden ’19, Lia Kristie Rae Gilooly Kornmehl ’19, Teresa Lawlor ’19, Ariela Rosenzweig ’19 and Emma Specht ’19. ☐ A scene from the The Heidi Chronicles was performed during the Gala.
Recipes for Thanksgiving By Grace Eysenbach Staff Writer The leaves are turning color, the air is getting colder, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Surprise your family with these tasty treats and add some fall flavor to your dinner table! I. Apple Pie Makes: 1 apple pie Ingredients: • Two 9 inch pie crusts • ½ cup unsalted butter • 3 tbs all-purpose flour • ¼ cup water • ½ cup white sugar • ½ cup brown sugar • 8 Granny Smith apples Directions: 1. Peel and core the apples, then cut them into 1/8 inch thin slices 2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F 3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour to thicken. Add water, white sugar, and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce the temperature, and let it simmer. 4. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the apples. Pour slowly so that it does not run off. 5. Cover with the second pie crust and secure around the edges. Cut five slits in the center of the top pie crust. 6. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. 8. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F. Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft. Source: http://allrecipes.com II. Apple Squares Makes: 16 Squares
Apple pie
allrecipes.com
Ingredients: 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ cup butter, melted ½ cup packed brown sugar ½ cup white sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ cup chopped apple (For Topping) 2 tablespoons white sugar and 2 tsps ground cinnamon
• • • • • • • • • • •
Apple squares Tricia Winterle Jaegar Directions: 1. reheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9 inch pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon; set aside. 2. In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of white sugar with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla. 3. Blend in the flour mixture until just combined, then stir in the apples. Then, spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. 4. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the remaining cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over the top of the bars. 5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in preheated oven; finished bars should spring back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan, and cut into squares. Source: http://allrecipes.com III. Dinner Rolls Makes: 16 rolls Ingredients: • ½ cup warm water (110 degrees F) • ½ cup warm milk • 1 egg • 1/3 cup butter, softened • 1/3 cup white sugar • 1 tsp salt • 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 package active dry yeast • ¼ cup butter, softened
blended. 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the Directions: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nut1. Mix together the warm water and milk meg, cloves and ginger. and microwave for 75 seconds in the micro- 4. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpwave. kin mixture until just blended. Pour into Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Then stir in the prepared pans. the yeast. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes 5. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preor until it gets foamy. heated oven. Loaves are done when tooth2. Mix in the salt, 1/3 cup butter, and egg. pick inserted in center comes out clean. Then start adding in flour one cup at a time. Source: http://allrecipes.com/ Knead the dough to integrate the flour, about 8 minutes. V. Mashed Potatoes 3. Let mixture rise for 45 minutes in the Makes: 12 Servings oiled bowl and then punch it down. Ingredients: 4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface • 2 sticks butter, softened and spread ¼ cup of softened butter over • 5 pounds russet or Yukon gold potathe entire round. toes 5. Cut the dough into 16 wedges and roll • One 8oz package cream cheese, softeach from the wide end to form crescents. ened 6. Place the crescents on an ungreased • 1 cup heavy cream cookie sheet, cover with a clean kitchen • ½-1 tsp salt towel and put in a warm place to rise for 1 • 1 tsp black pepper hour. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 7. Bake in oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Source: http://allrecipes.com IV. Pumpkin Bread Makes: 3 loaves Ingredients: • 1 (15oz) can of pumpkin puree • 4 eggs • 1 cup vegetable oil • 2/3 cup water • 3 cups white sugar • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsps baking soda • 1 ½ tsps salt • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 tsp ground nutmeg • ½ tsp ground cloves • ¼ tsp ground ginger Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans. 2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well
Pumpkin bread
allrecipes.com
Mashed potatoes
Ree Drummond
Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F 2. Butter a 4-quart baking dish 3. Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 to 25 minutes (until tender). 4. Drain the potatoes in a large colander. Put them back into the dry pot and place the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape before adding in all the other ingredients. 5. Turn off the heat, and add 1 ½ sticks of butter, the cream cheese, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Mash to combine. 6. Spread the potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Throw pieces of the remaining butter over the top of the potatoes and bake until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through (for 20 to 30 minutes). Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com Happy eating! ☐
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The Winsor Gala: Celebrating a Major Milestone By Susy Liu & Claudia Meyer Panel Staff
(continued from page 1) Winsor’s Small Chorus opened the event with “Fight Song,” featuring Anna Morrow ’16 and Natalia Lindsey ’16 as soloists. In the background, audience members enjoyed a brilliant light show put on by Mr. Tupper, featuring the impressive technology with which the new theater is equipped. Percussion II played “KuhThunk!” by Chris Crockarell, and the performance was complete with glow-in-thedark drumsticks and glowing letters spelling “WINSOR” displayed on the drums. The performance was followed by Audrey Wu’s ’20 reading of an original poem composed in
honor of the Winsor Promise event. After an official welcome from Ms. Stettler and the showing of a Winsor Promise video, Ms. McKinley and guest artists Bonnie Duncan and Martha Mason performed a series of dances on behalf of the new dance program at Winsor. Ms. McKinley and Martha Mason performed “Limning Twilight” while Bonnie Duncan got down on her hands to perform the dance “Pants”. Afterwards, an interview was held with Mr. Richard Lubin and Mr. Joseph J. O’Donnell, generous donors to Winsor and a huge help in the creation of the new Lubin-O’Donnell building. Following this interview, Small Chorus returned to the stage once more to sing “Set Me as a Seal” and then “El Vito”, which featured soloist Sarah Quraishi. Dur-
For Winsor, Roxbury Latin, and Belmont Hill Upper School Sctudents. Any guest who attends from another school must be invited and accompanied by a Winsor student.
Performers take a final bow at the Winsor Gala. ing “El Vito” the audience was treated to a performance by Isabella Uccelli ’16, who brought her flamenco dancing skills to the stage and spiced up the choral performance of a traditional Spanish folk song. Finally, Winsor’s string ensemble performed the Bach Double Concerto, which featured soloists Jessica Wu, a guest artist and alumna ’13, Betsy Kim ’17, Emily Chen ’17, and Susanna Monroe ’17. The ensemble began with the concerto’s second movement and ended on an energetic note with the livelier first movement of the piece. The gala was a success, as both the audience and the performers and faculty thoroughly enjoyed being a part of celebrating the historic completion of the LOC. Ms. Stettler said, “I heard much excitement and appreciation from all constituencies throughout these events. As for the reaction to the student performances, I heard the word “magical” invoked many
Kristie Rae Gilooly
times!” Audience members could not stop complimenting the performance. The performing arts faculty were also very happy with the showcase. Ms. Taillacq said, “It was really a joy to hear the balance of things, and it felt warmer and more connected than the old Assembly, especially with an audience filling the room.” Ms. Rice, the new Performing Arts Director felt that it was “a privilege to play [in the LOC’s new theater].” She and the other performing arts faculty enjoyed seeing everything come together--hard work transformed into success for each group that performed. Winsor students also enjoyed performing for the Winsor family in the new space. Susanna Monroe ‘17 said, “Playing on the stage reminded me of how lucky we all are to have access to the LOC’s facilities.” ☐
As I Dance Through Life By Katie Tsai Staff Writer It is Opening Night. Surprisingly, I am not nervous, only excited. My costume, an unadorned, tan Colonial dress, was fitted last week, but my bonnet is too big and sags over my large cocoa-brown eyes. Although I cannot see perfectly, my smile is broad. Backstage, we family members wait while Clara and Fritz dance on stage. All of a sudden, the magnificent barn doors open and the magic begins. My love of dance began when my mother brought me to Mommy and Me classes at the Andover School of Ballet (ASB) when I was two. While leaping and walking like a princess was entertaining, it was not true ballet, which I began taking at the age of three. Over the past 12 years, I have taken ballet, jazz, tap, modern and lyrical classes. I currently dance in and outside of school at ASB about five times per week, and I plan to continue dancing through high school and in college. At ASB, I also have danced in the town of Andover’s annual Santa Parade. This parade, which ASB is a part of each year, gives everyone from young children to older teenagers the chance to play a character from The Nutcracker as we dance along the street. The youngest children are mice, two years above them are soldiers, then come candy canes, snowflakes, Russian dancers and finally as juniors and seniors in high school, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Snow Queen and Clara. Being in this parade for the first time inspired me to audition for my very first production of, of course, The Nutcracker. I performed as a party child in various productions outside of the ASB community at ages seven, eight, and eleven. As part of the new Performing Arts block at Winsor, I have been enjoying doing modern and improv dance in the beautiful state-of-the-art studio. It is interesting to create duets and larger group pieces on the
spot. I also value that the class is open to beginner students because I like helping my peers understand the combinations better. Having the class in the middle of the day, allows me to have a break from academic rigor. I am excited about future opportunities to dance, choreograph and perform here. In addition to class, Ms. McKinley, my friends, and I are working to start up a dance group after school. We plan to perform throughout the year, and I hope that this dance group will become a part of the Winsor community for years to come. Dance not only energizes me by helping me forget about schoolwork and other stresses, but also provides me with social and artistic outlets. Stretching helps to ease daily tensions and the music enlivens me. Before and after class I can talk with friends about school or other activities, while in class we dance together, almost like teammates. Performing and choreographing routines gives me a way to express myself creatively. For me, dance is not just a pastime; it is my passion. ☐
Ms. Vantine practices her trapeze skills.
Talented Teacher: Vaulting
What were some fun parts of taking the classes? Landing in the net was a fun part of my If you go to the circus, you might see experience because it is so child-like. I acrobats flying through the air, swinging from enjoyed challenging myself to do somecables and somersaulting across the stage. thing that I would not think to do. The skills performed on these apparatuses are made to look flawless and effortless; however, What tricks did you learn? these performers have been perfecting their I learned the pennyroll, which is where skills over a long period of time. you hang upside down from your knees The people in Winsor’s community and then sit as if you are swinging. are very diverse in their performing arts both in and out of school. Ms. Vantine, the CoorHow has your appreciation for circus dinator of Academic Support here at Winsor, artists changed? spends her time outside of school doing flying I have always appreciated circus artists, trapeze, and we asked her a couple questions but I am much more aware that it has about her experience. become more popular and that there are By Alison Poussaint & Dagny Read Staff Writer
How did you get into trapeze? I was inspired by a show of doctors, lawyers, and people of other professions, who do trapeze for sport, and if they could do it, I realized I could do it too.
Katie in her Colonial costume.
Katelyn Tsai ‘19
Laura Vantine
more opportunities for people with physical constraints to take part in trapeze.
What personal significance does trapeze hold for you? The chance to try something I’ve never done before and succeeding was a powerWhat did you do for trapeze? ful experience...flying trapeze began as I took two intensive flying workshops over the an opportunity to test my beliefs about course of ten weeks, and each were two hours. myself. ☐
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Cross Country Fights Through Injuries By John Markis Panel Staff The cross country team enjoyed a successful season, finishing the season 9-6 before placing sixth at the ISL championship. Each day of the week, the team would train hard during practice, with speed focus on Mondays, long distance practice on Tuesdays, hill work on Wednesdays, and course loops on Thursdays, before doing a shake-out run and yoga on Fridays. Early in the season, the team had the look of a title-contender, barely losing to Middlesex and Groton; however, the team suffered many injuries, hurting their title hopes. Indeed, with Quin McGaugh running on an injured foot, Rohan Dhir struggling through a pulled hamstring, and Matt Armstrong, Harrison Rohrer, Sean Rayment, and Cam Hall just not feeling their best, it is amazing that the team was still able to compete with the top of the league, showing the depth of the group. At the top of the ladder, John Pappo was the team’s rock throughout the season; he had a great year, setting a few course records and ultimately finishing fourth at the ISL championship, earning all-league honors. Quin McGaugh, Rohan Dhir, Cam Hall,
Will Weiter, Matt Armstrong, and Juan Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo formed the next tier and placed in the top twenty of nearly every race. After that, Matt Smith, Sean Rayment, Harrison Rohrer, Ethan McIlhenny, Jake DeCaprio, and Henry Swain ran in both varsity races and JV races. With that many strong runners, it is no surprise that the team did not crumble when faced with the adversity of so many injuries. Whereas other schools really had no outstanding runners after their top seven, Swain, who was the top JV runner at the ISL championship, would have been on the varsity team for eleven out of fifteen other teams and would have been the #1 runner at Lawrence Academy, based off the times for that race. If the team had not been afflicted by so many injuries, there is little doubt that Belmont Hill would have contended for first in the ISL championship. Moreover, with so many experienced runners returning next year and the addition of middler schooler Charlie Donahue to the fold, the Hill will be a tough team to beat. The seniors on this year’s team supplied outstanding leadership for the team through their example and their talent, and they will be sorely missed; the team will win the championship next year in your honor!☐
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Soccer Team Heads to the Playoffs
V. Picon
By Chad Meyers Staff Writer With a three-nil victor y against Governor’s, the varsity soccer team finished up one of their most impressive seasons in recent years. Standing second in the ISL only to an undefeated Milton squad, the boys fought their way to an overall record of 14 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties (12-2-1 in ISL). A sting y back line led by senior captain Chip Daley and junior goalkeeper Chris Kingston held opponents at bay while the midfield and striker corps led by senior Alessandro Zenati (8 assists) and juniors Robbie Cronin (7 goals) and Evan Ricci (10 goals) conducted the offensive assaults. The team was undefeated through their first 13 games, recording only one ISL tie
to a formidable Nobles team. After going down a goal midway through the first half, the boys found new life in the second half, largely due to the football team’s rowdy support, and were able to net the tying goal off the foot of sophomore Brian Antonelli in the closing minutes of the game. Continuing on to lose only two games and win the rest for the remainder of the regular season, the soccer team was able to secure a spot in the NEPSAC Class A New England Tournament, with a rematch against the number one seeded Milton Academy on the Mustangs’ home pitch. Retaining 15 members of this year’s accomplished group and looking to gain talent from the undefeated JV soccer team, next year’s squad should show similar promise, and will surely be the team to beat in 2016.☐
Bill Mahoney
Bill Mahoney
Varsity Football Looks Forward to Next Year After Injury-Plagued Season By DJ Demetri Staff Writer The saying that all good things must come to an end rings true this fall with the conclusion of the Varsity Football Team’s season on November 14. Unfortunately, the team lost its last game to G o v e r n o r ’s Academy 28-14 in a four quarter brawl, but the team as a whole knows that this season was not defined by the nu mb e r s written on paper after each Saturday. With 21 of 22 starters graduating last year, ever yone understood going into the season the football team would face significant challenges. Yes, the record was far from
admirable, but it does not bear any representation of the young men on that team. Despite the tough losses of games and players, this season saw some of the greatest, toughest kids in the school take the field, and it will be remembered for many years to come. It is easy to say that, this year, B elmont Hill had a horrible team. It is even easier to look at a team’s record and schedule and give up hope. But neither of these aspects apply to the 2015 f o o t b a l l team. It was an amazing squad filled with love and compassion for one another and players who never quit. Anyone can assess an opponent, utter the casual, “you guys are going to get smoked,” and then say I told you so after the fact.
It takes true character, however, to meet this enemy and stand toe to toe with the fear of defeat for four quarters and 48 minutes of football. Anyone can talk because talk is cheap. Few have what it takes to come back week after week and risk physical harm, sweat, and hours of their time to play the game of football. Some do not even want to risk future seasons for other sports, yet this year’s team demonstrated the true meaning of having heart, braver y, and brotherhood. Above all, the underclassmen did an excellent job of playing with their senior class, a handful of kids who would finally retire from the game once and for all.
The Captains of the football team and other Seniors would like to personally thank the Coaches (Mr. Butler, Curran, T. & P. Sullivan, Collins, B obo, & Anam), Cage Staff (Mr. Negron & Mr. Wade), Athletic Department (Mr. Tahan & Mr. Murphy), Juniors, Sophomores, and a lone Freshman for an unforgettable season and end to their B elmont Hill Football careers. To the senior players, you will forever be a family with a bond from this team like no other. To the rest of the team, it has been an honor and privilege to call you my brothers and share the field with you this fall. Cherish ever y memor y and good luck next year.☐
Novemb er 23, 2015
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Belmont Hill Varsity Scoreboard Team
Record
Football
1-7
Cross Country
9-6
W 26-30 vs. St. Seb’s W 27-30 vs. RL
John Pappo Quin McGaugh Will Weiter
14-2-2
W 1-0 vs. BB&N W 2-1 vs. Lawrence
Chip Daley Chris Kingston Al Zenati
Soccer
Notable Results W 28-21 vs. Thayer
BH and Winsor Recap Head Of the Charles Melbourne. The Aussies, being one of the dominant crews from down under, made the long journey for their very first Head of the Charles. Their trip, however, was fairly last minute. When Eton College, the crew Belmont Hill usually hosts, decided not to come, a spot was left open for a new international scholastic team to experience the regatta. The scrambling, however, was worth it, as their eight finished in
gold in the Women’s Championship Singles event for the sixth time at the Head. Bob Mannino, who is one of the Winsor novice crew coaches, also raced a single in the Men’s Senior Masters Singles event. Continued from Page 19 Even more impressively, Mr. Mannino was Due to ISL rules, the Belmont Hill the co-Race Director for the entire recrews could only practice once a week, togatta, and ensured that the weekend ran taling to only five rows together before the smoothly. Finally, Winsor’s future head Head. However, despite racing in a highly of the school, Dr. Sarah Pelmas, placed competitive and impresfield that, sive second largely, has in the Masbeen rowing ter Women’s all fall, both Eight with the boats turned Marin Rowing out strong Ass o ci at ion. finishes. The A four came in number of at an impresBelmont Hill sive 13th out faculty memof 85 and the bers also eight narp ar t i c ip at e d rowly missed in the race top half, geton Saturday. ting 48th out Mr. Richards of 85. Tommy rowed in the Ruggles ‘16, Men’s Senior a captain and Left to right: Henry Vettle, Jack Richards, Robbie Warming, Tommy Ruggles, Alex Afeyan, Parker Hall, Henry Thomas, Marshall Knight, Will Weiter Master Fours six seat of the for Cambridge eight, said of the results, “Even though fifth, an impressive feat considering their Boat Club and placed 2nd out of 53 boats. we only rowed together a couple of times starting position in the back of the field. Mr. George raced once again for his alma before racing, I was very impressed by the In addition to the youth races, mater, Brown University, to claim 2nd team’s performance.” Both Belmont Hill both Winsor and Belmont Hill faculty out of 57 in the Men’s Alumni Eights. Mr. boats this year George, who made solid h a d n ’ t improverowed in the ments upon Head of the last year’s Charles in a results. In while, said the previous that the forHead of the mation of the Charles, the boat came affour finished ter last year’s 24th out of “renewed in85 while the terest in the eight got 63rd period that out of 85. I rowed in, Such a quick because we’d tur naround, been comwith minimal ing up on practice time the 20th anwas extremeniversary” ly impresof that parsive. The four Left to right: Chris Wilkins, Jack Pare, Bobby Jahrling, Jens Odegard ticular team. jumped from All in the 72nd to the 85th percentile and the eight members and alumni raced in the regatta, all, the Head of the Charles was a tremenblew out of the 26th percentile to the 44th. which only added to the spirit of the week- dous community experience. This year’s This year, Belmont Hill also host- end. Gevvie Stone, Winsor class of 2003 race will certainly be one to remember ed nine athletes from Scotch College, in and 2012 Olympic competitor, secured the for all the rowers and fans involved.☐ By Arielle Blacklow and Robbie Warming Staff Writers
MVPs
Ray Hunt Frank McField David Perdoni
Athlete of the Issue: Alessandro Zenati By Chip Daley Staff Writer This fall season’s Athlete of the Issue goes to one of the captains of the Varsity Soccer team, Alessandro Zenati. Al first showed his impressive potential in the sport as a ninth grader, making the varsity team over other upper school students. Since his time as a freshman, he has become a stronger and more important member of the team, developing as a player with every practice. When I asked Al what he thought about the team this year, he simply responded, “not one of the four years I have been on the team [has] been as special as the run we have had so far this year. I couldn’t be more proud of our team thus far as we take on our ultimate goal of a New England championship.” His consistent display of hard work and enthusiasm not only help his team win games, but also inspire his teammates to meet the same level of intensity he shows every game. “I hope that putting the most effort I can forth will help encourage others to do the same, especially when games get tough. I have seen it so far in many games this year. We are an extremely resilient team, and we continue to build character with every match,” says Al. Though he has just two goals on the season, he does have eight assists, which clearly exemplify the kind of playmaking talent Al brings to the table. “He can shift the momentum towards our team at any moment,” commented teammate and back-up goalie, Parker Hall. “He is strong on the ball and really gets the bench mob fired up.” Al has proven his athleticism, character, and leadership abilities in every game of the season so far, and continues to motivate the team towards a championship run. ☐
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Fall Sports Wrap-Ups Field Hockey Season Record: 9-4-1 Game Summary: This year’s game against Dana Hall at Dana Hall was a standout for the field hockey team. Although the end result was in a tie, all the girls fought aggressively for every ball and the game was an even match in the midfield for a large portion of play time. Goalie Hailey Yetman ’16 had several saves and coordinated well with the defensive line consisting of Erica Hootstein ’16, Maslen Ward ’16, and Sarah Figler ’18. The game remained at 0-0 and went into overtime, a ten-minute 7 v 7 play time. Winsor was able to secure a corner play during the overtime, but the overtime ended in a tie, 0-0. Overall, the game was one of the team’s strongest across the defense, midfield, and offense with high energy and skilled play taking place the entire time. Words to Describe Season: Intensity/team chemistry “I will miss world Cup and competition days” - Lilla Gabrieli ’16 “Team chemistry and support” - Helen Sayegh ’17 “I will miss playing with everyone every day!” - Erica Hootstein ’16 Kristie Rae Gillooly
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Cross Country Record: 11-0 dual meets and EIL champions Meet summary: Winning the EIL championship meet at Winsor’s home course at Franklin Park was a standout performance for the team. Although cross country had raced well against league competition in the regular season, every runner strived to push herself more and run to the best of her abilities at the championship meet. Almost every runner ran a course personal record, and the team finished 56 points ahead of the second-place Dana Hall team. All five Winsor scorers, Talia Ruxin ’16, Katie Cronin ’17, Chloe Duval ’19, Alex Bardon ’18, and Winnie Wang ’20, finished in the top 15 out of 141 runners with many Winsor runners following close behind. Word/phrase to Describe Season: “High on PMA!”
Kristie Rae Gillooly
“I’m going to miss my teammates. We always have such fun times, whether it be watching Olivia roar or eating Popsicles after a workout.” - Annie Kaplan ’19 “I’m so proud of these girls and I’m going to miss celebrating all the victories big or small - with them. And Clare’s pineapple hat.” - Katie Cronin ’17 “I’ll miss how supportive everyone is of each other, from 30 seconds before a race starts to practice in the rain.” - Indi Aufranc ’20 “I’m going to miss how everyone is there for each other, through the good and the bad, whether we’re comforting someone after a bad race or celebrating a championship win.” - Emily Belina ’18
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Soccer
Record: 3-2-2 Game summary: This year’s UTL game was a standout for Winsor varsity soccer. Winsor came out strong; the midfield was winning possession of almost every loose ball, and the defense was rock solid. Winsor’s first goal came from Julia Contini ’16, followed by Abigail Simon ’16; Julia scored Winsor’s third, fourth, fifth and sixth goals as well (we’re all convinced it was because she was the only player who visited the chocolate fountain beforehand). The final score was Winsor 6, LCA 1; this was the first time in 11 years that Winsor Varsity soccer has won against LCA at UTL! Word to Describe Season: Family/fun! “I will miss senior soirees / the people” - Sophie Khorasani ’16 “Having somewhere to go after school when you’re feeling stressed” - Julia Lester ’16 “Practicing at night under the lights” - Eliza Beebe ’16 Kristie Rae Gillooly
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Crew
Record: N/A Race Summary: Winsor really shined in the Head of the Charles Regatta this year. Everyone on the team trained for hours after school, and even on Saturdays to give themselves the best possible race on October 18. Winsor raced a 4 and an 8 in Head of the Charles, with boats placing 9th and 57th respectively. Of the fourteen rowers and two coxswains participating, everyone can agree that each girl gave it everything she had from start to finish. Head of the Charles gave every girl a chance to show how strong she was against international competition, and everyone rose to the occasion. However, every race this season was unique and taught the girls valuable things about rowing and racing. Overall, Winsor Crew had a successful season and looks forward to the spring! Word to describe Season: Improvement/Enjoyment
Kristie Rae Gillooly
“I will miss getting to hang out with the team!” - Taylor Wright ’16 “Being in a boat with teammates that you love and pulling as hard as you can are amazing experiences, and I can’t wait for spring!” - Sophie Stone ’17 “I will definitely miss going out on the water every day, but I love that the camaraderie among the team lasts throughout the whole year.” - Erin Lyons ’17
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Novemb er 23, 2015
Winsor Sp orts
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Royals Triumph over Mets in 2015 World Series By Alina Brennan and Caroline Hearle Staff Writers
of $228,835,490, the chance at a World Series title is particularly special for the Royals and Mets, who have payrolls of $81,491,725 and $73,396,649 respectively. Sports Illustrated experts predicted that the series would come down to the wire. Four out of six of the expert staff predicted that the Mets’ distinct advantage in their starting pitchers will lead them to a title, but the other two experts
Any Red Sox fan would tell you that Fenway Park is the best place on Earth. The popcorn, the peanuts, and the endless red and green all add to the thrill of the game. Fans, including Kaylee Chang ’19 who says, “It’s nice when your team is in [the World Series,” would also tell you that there’s nothing better than having your team come home with a World Series title. Two years ago, Boston Red Soxs fans were privileged to have their city’s team win their third World Series in less than a decade and in 2004 reversed a 86 year old curse. A community that had been crippled by the marathon bombings earlier in the year rediscovered hope and unity as they plastered the slogan “Fear the Beard” across the city. This year, the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals competed for the priceless glory. Both founded in the 1960s, the Royals, who have a single title from 1985 and the Mets, who won their most recent title in 1986, built their respective franchises over comparable time periods. Often left out of the limelight by teams like the New Royals Celebrate their World Series Win. York Yankees who carry an annual payroll
anticipated that the Royal’s powerful hitting will overpower the Mets’ pitching staff. The high stakes made for a particularly eventful series. The Royals’ Alcides Escobar’s in park homerun was the first during the World Series since 1929 and the first to lead off the World Series, and pitcher Chris Young unexpectedly struck out four batters to tie the extra inning strikeout record. The Royals
http://www.tripwire.com
came out on top with a final record of 4-1, but the first and last of the games featured tense extra innings. The first game was the longest in World Series history, setting the stage for two incredibly even teams to battle it out throughout the World Series. However, the Mets’ defense, which committed errors, including a significant error by Cespedes’, which caused the in-park homerun, were outmatched by the force and consistency of the Royals’ offense. Eventually, the depth among Royals’ hitters overpowered the Mets’ pitching staff, and the Royals clinched the final game of the year. Winsor student Meera Pandit ’17 explains, “I thought it was amazing how the Royals were in the World Series last year but then they lost, then this year they came back and won it.” Did the disappointment of last year fuel the determination and aggression that the Royals’ needed to ensure that another World Series Champion title did not escape them? 2015 seemed to be the year of team revivals, as Madison Lehan ’18 astutely notices, “The Cubs didn’t make it to the series, but they came closer than they have in so long,” and the Royals and Mets had not won a World Series in 30 and 29 years. As a Red Sox fan who can remember when Bambino’s curse was broken in 2004, it is easy to imagine the celebration and excitement in Kansas City after a three decade drought of defeat. ☐
Winsor and Belmont Hill Recap this Year’s HOCR By Arielle Blacklow and Robbie Warming Staff Writers
The oars viciously churned the muddy water of the Charles. A hoard of spectators crowded to the dock’s edge, nearly sinking it, as boats broke into the last stretch. The 51st Head of the Charles Regatta was certainly an exciting weekend, and the chilly weather only added to an electric atmosphere. While onlookers enjoyed the color of the changing fall leaves and chatting with friends between races, the rowers were intent to make their mark at this pinnacle of the season. Four boats, a Winsor eight, a Winsor four, a Belmont Hill eight, and a Belmont Hill four represented their schools in the international regatta. Winsor’s four, with rowers Isabelle Bastian ’17, Elizabeth Roe ’16,
Giovanna De Vito ’16, Taylor Wright ’16 and coxswain Arielle Blacklow ’17, raced to claim the ninth spot out of 85. Taylor exclaimed after the race, “I’m really satisfied because I know that we gave it our all,” alluding to the hard work the boat put into place in the top ten. Winsor’s eight (consisting of rowers Sophie Stone ’17, Daphnee Piou ’16, Aoibheann Holland ’16, Audrey Bloom ’17, Unique Hodge ’16, Alessandra De Vito ’16, Lilias Ketterson ’17, Clementine Perry ’16 and coxswain Priya Shukla ’16) rowed a fantastic race, placing 57th out of 85. Reflecting on her race, Priya Shukla ’17 commented, “It was a really great culmination of the season, and I’m really proud of how we were able to use everything we worked on over the course of the season to have some of our best strokes yet!” Overall, the Winsor boats were proud of their races and the work they put in during the fall season. Continued on Page 17
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Fall Team Playlists: Songs that Made the Season! Check out and Listen to the Complete Fall Playlists on Spotify by Scanning the Q and R Code:
https://i1.sndcdn.com
https://upload.wikimedia.org
https://upload.wikimedia.org
http://katyperry.wikia.com uhaweb.hartford.edu
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How did Fetty Wap ACTUALLY lose his eye? The Panel speculates... - Tennis incident? - Cooking pies with his baby? (Yaaaah) - Congenital glaucoma? - Accidentally dropped his mixtape on his own face? (fire flames) - Fallout with Remy Boyz
Th e Pan el
Unreciprocated hallway smile 1. Where Are U Now -- Skrillex, Diplo, Justin Bieber 2. I Need Your Love -- Calvin Harris 3. Should’ve Been Us -- Tori Kelly 4. Heartless -- Kanye West 5. Hello -- Adele Walking on the sidewalk and you’re about to walk into someone so you move to one side but they move to that same side and then you both try to go to the other side 1. Watcha Say -- Jason Derulo 2. The Other Side -- Jason Derulo 3. Outside -- Calvin Harris 4. Step In The Name of Love -- R. Kelly 5. Hello -- Adele Collision with a crush 1. Bump N Grind -- R. Kelly 2. Feel So Close -- Calvin Harris 3. You Can Do It -- Ice Cube 4. Hey Ma -- Cam’Ron 5. Hello -- Adele Running into someone you recognize but whose name you forget 1. Forgot About Dre -- Dr. Dre 2. How You Remind Me -- Nickleback 3. Do You Remember -- Jay Sean, Sean Paul, Lil Jon 4. What’s My Name -- Rihanna, Drake 5. Hello -- Adele Forgetting to study for a test but still doing well 1. Hallelujah -- Leonard Cohen 2. Beautiful Day -- U2 3. Earned It -- The Weeknd 4. Boss A** B***h -- PTAF 5. Hello -- Adele When your crush texts first 1. Kiss Me Thru The Phone -- Soulja Boy Tell 2. Fallin -- Alicia Keys 3. Is This Love -- Bob Marley 4. Dear Future Husband -- Meghan Trainor 5. Hello -- Adele Feeling fly individually 1. So Fresh, So Clean -- Outkast 2. Rockstar -- Nickleback 3. Ignition (Remix) -- R. Kelly 4. Pretty Boy Swag -- Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em 5. Hello -- Adele The crew all shows up at the same time looking fly 1. We Takin’ Over -- DJ Khaled, Akon, T.I., etc. 2. Clique -- Kanye West, Jay Z, Big Sean 3. Bring ‘Em Out -- T.I. 4. Run This Town -- Jay Z, Kanye West, Rihanna 5. Hello -- Adele Going in for the handshake but they want to dap up and you end up awkwardly locking hands 1. I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight -- Cutting Crew 2. I Want To Hold Your Hand -- Beatles 3. Flicka Da Wrist -- Chedda Da Connect 4. Sorry -- Justin Bieber 5. Hello -- Adele Citations: (I stink at these)
1. Urban Dictionary Tidbits -- www.urbandictionary.com/ 2. Fetty Wap Image -- www.revolt.tv 3. Kanye Happy/Sad -- http://www.ryanseacrest.com/wp-content/ uploads/2015/06/Kanye-West.jpg
4. Stock photo of a CD (why am I citing this?) -- ibphcat. carnegielibrary.org 5. Stock photo of a Cassette -- www.dreamstime.com 6. Stock photo of Kanye/Kim -- kanyehead.tumblr.com 7. Nick Cage in a Banana -- http://images.amcnetworks. com/ifc.com