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Volu m e 6 5 , Issu e 4
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
Novemb er 21, 2016
Football Team Wins ISL for the First Time in Ten Years By Henry Wyett Panel Staff
“I feel we have a much-improved team from last year,” says senior captain and quarterback Zach Geddes. “We’re looking to rebound and make Belmont Hill Football great again.” Geddes was spot on, Belmont Hill football has completely rebounded, sitting with a 6-2 record, with notable wins coming against St. Sebastian’s and Milton Academy. Perhaps the biggest victory of the season so far was the win against New Hampton. The boys were in need of a win mentally, overcoming the tough previous season and setting their minds on the season to come. The four captains, Nate Miller, Zach Geddes, Ray Hunt, and Peter Tamasi
have all done an outstanding job leading the team through a grueling pre-season and tough first practices. Constant reminders of last years season are what keeps many of the players determined and focused. Although the season has gone well so far, the team has also suffered losses due to injured players. Quarterback, Mike Piazza ‘19 was injured and
Election Results: Preview
In this issue of The Panel, Belmont Hill and Winsor take a look at the Presidential Election of 2016. The results led to mixed emotions on Wednesday, November 9, with shock, grief, and happiness spreading throughout campus. The election of Donald Trump sent a shockwave through both of our schools; we wanted to examine the students’ various pre-election expectations and hopes, as well as their post-voting reactions. To do so, we look at the election from a statistical standpoint and consider different aspects of the political spectrum in our center spread. Both schools offered courses that were directly related
to the election that led the charge in a school-wide election, graphing results, ballot initiatives, and other polls worthy of our attention. The Panel Staff also administered polls to gather a census of where students stand and where they feel the country is headed. No matter what stance you held in the election, politics plays a major role in all of our lives, and the impacts of this election will significantly influence our futures. Our country will look different now, but it is our right and duty as Americans to fight for what we believe. So to all who disagree with the president elect and all who support him, explore the possibilities and look inward to understand your peers’ opinions. A look at the initial aftermath is analyzed by both schools on pages 10 and 11.☐
Look Inside
By Sindhu Krishnamurthy Panel Staff
By the Editors Panel Staff
has been ruled out for the season. Offensive lineman Brett Willis was also sidelined for the season, as well as Anthony Marinello and Cole Nagahama. Although these players will be dearly missed, the team has played well, as the 6-2 record speaks for itself, and hopes to finish the season in high form. In the final game of the regular season, the team traveled to Governor’s to fight for the top spot in the ISL. In a tightly fought game, Belmont Hill emerged victorious in a 21-14 victory, with touchdowns from Bradley Hart, Zach Geddes, and Jake Haase. The victory was enough to lock in Belmont Hill as the ISL Champions for the first time in 10 years, a remarkable feat for the team. ☐
Technology Restrictions at Bemont Hill: Students Don’t Need Online Babysitting As you probably noticed, Belmont Hill has made serious changes regarding technology since last year. Included in this are a number of new restrictions, particularly on YouTube. While in theory this is a good way for the school to prevent students from using the internet unproductively, there are inherent flaws with this system of regulation and with the policy itself. The system often fails to serve its intended purpose. And upon further examination, it becomes clear the restrictions actually detract from the school’s mis-
sion of ingraining important skills like time management. The new, stringent system has blocked educational videos. This poses problems for students and teachers alike. Oftentimes, videos are used in class and for homework, but it is now almost impossible to access these materials. If a teacher sends out a video to watch, it is usually restricted by the school. To circumnavigate this block, a student must request that the teacher approve. This is a time-consuming process. At Belmont Hill, we are already pressed for time as it is, and approving videos can take 15 minutes. For example, during a recent Form
IV biology class, students were tasked with watching a YouTube video upon completing a quiz. However, the video was blocked. Approving it ate up much of the remaining class time. Most of us did not get to watching the video. Additionally, when doing homework during a free period, a student is oftentimes unable to watch a video, tacking on even more work a student must complete at home. Overall, the YouTube restrictions consume valuable school time, contrary to their purpose of forcing students to be more productive.
our flag, get… out, that’s what I think,” remarked Mike Dikta, a former Bears coach. NFL clarified, however, that “players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem.” Indeed, Colin Kaepernick was not the first ath-
lete to protest against the national anthem. During the 1968 Olympics, American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the national anthem to acknowledge racial inequality, and they were supported by Australian runner Peter Norman as well. There
was huge backlash against their actions, and they even received death threats. However, they succeeded in making a statement to America and inspired more athletes such as Kaepernick to eventually imitate their actions.
By Charlie Donahue & Richie Kendall Panel Staff
Continued on page 6
Students Take a Knee: Social Justice in Sports
News pg 2-5 Opinions pg 6-9 Election Center Spread pg 10 Sports pg 12-15 Arts pg 16-19 Back pg 20
On August 26, 2016, Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, kneeled while the National Anthem played at his third preseason game. He had sat for the previous two games as well, but it was at the third game that people began to notice what he was doing. He explained that he was speaking out against unfair treatment of people of color and the abuse of power within the police force. Response to Kaepernick is mixed. While most people agree that he had the right to sit for the anthem, many do not approve of his actions. “I think it’s a problem, anybody who disrespects this countr y and the flag. If they don’t like the countr y, they don’t like
Continued on page 12
Belmont Hill NEWS
Pa g e 2
Th e Pan el
Historic Parallels: The 2016 Presedential Election Ishaan prasad & William McCormack
Panel Staff
America’s 2016 election has been noted for its seemingly unprecedented rhetoric. Often hateful, unbridled criticism has been abundant over the past year and a half. While Republican nominee Donald Trump, targeting attacks and insults at virtually every influential figure in the American political sphere (and beyond), may be the main culprit, his adversary Hillary Clinton and former Republican candidates are also to blame. Under the international spotlight, candidates have been especially blunt with their mudslinging, expressing no regret or remorse after launching insults at countries, groups, and each other. Moreover, this immoral brand of political rhetoric has lowered other American politicians and the general public to the same unimpressive standard, with worried observers declaring this past election cycle to be the start of a new, lowly era in American politics. Nevertheless, while this callous, demeaning style of discourse seems unprecedented in western democracy, history proves otherwise.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS
Examining America’s founding fathers, a group often purported to be invincible and immune to misconduct, reveals that this election’s brand of verbal abuse certainly isn’t unparalleled. Instead of brightly lit debate stages, newspapers were the chosen means for mudslinging during the infant years of our nation. With individual newspapers essentially controlled by either the Federalists or Democratic-Republicans (early political parties), rhetoric was one-sided, clearly biased, unapologetic, and unrelenting. Ugliness and trickery peaked during the early 1800s. In the evenly-matched election of 1800 pitting Thomas Jefferson against John Adams, the Federalists—John Adams’s political party—published false obituaries announcing Jefferson’s death, hoping to convince voters that Jefferson’s untimely passing would leave them no choice but to vote for Adams. Adams and the Federalists continued their attack, with Adams commenting that Jefferson’s soul was “poisoned.” The Federalist nominee’s insults, like those of this past election’s candidates, influenced other northern Federalists to strike out with similarly harsh jibes. Connecticut newspaper warned that in a Jefferson presidency, “murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will be openly taught and practiced.” The Democratic-Republicans responded
the pamphlet with one, intense line delivwith vigor. James Callender, a journalist ered by Hamilton in his Broadway musi- preterition allowed them to attack their whose work was funded secretly by Jef- cal: “Sit down, John, you fat mother—!” opponents, without being held entirely acREPUBLICAN ROME ferson, described Adams as a “repulsive countable for the actions. As Michael von Donald Trump’s rise to the top Albrecht, a German classics scholar expedant” who “behaved neither like a man nor like a woman but instead possessed of the GOP ticket has consistently eluded plained in his book, Cicero’s Style, “[Preta hideous hermaphroditical character.” the predictions of political pandits and the erition is] especially useful if you want to Slander didn’t slow after the elec- American public alike: a self-proclaimed mention things you cannot prove.” They tion of 1800. In the next few years, the political “outsider,” known for his unadul- said they wouldn’t mention it, hadn’t they? terated remarks, the real-estate tycoon Masters of ecphonesis, or a form of short reality TV star has used rhetoric exclamation, this device is present both in “A Connecticut newspaper warned turned that often seems wholly different from the Cicero’s orations and in many of Trump’s that in a Jefferson presidency, familiar tactics of establishment politi- tweets. From Cicero lamenting “O tempo‘murder, robbery, rape, adultery cians. Nevertheless, while his surprisingly ra! O mores!” in his oration against Catiand incest will be openly taught successful strategies often seem unprec- line, to Trump’s occasional “Sad!” at the end edented, in truth, they harken back to the of his tweets, both men seek to influence and practiced.’” rhetoric of one of the most skilled orators the emotions of their listeners and readers. in Western history: Marcus Tullius Cicero. Repetition marked the speeches As political outsiders, or “new of both men as well. Just as Trump articupolitical rivalry between John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, both Federalists, men” (novi homines), both Cicero and lated in January when he said, “It’s wrong. reached a new extreme. Taking to the press Trump realized the importance of ora- They were wrong. The New York Times, in publicized episodes of verbal sparring, tion in winning over supporters from they’re always wrong. They were wrong,” Adams ferociously attacked Hamilton’s their political adversaries. Whether or Cicero similarly was known to use repetiimmigrant background, denouncing him not Mr. Trump or the American pub- tion to his advantage, even using the word to be a “Creole bastard” and “bastard brat lic were aware of it, the rhetoric of his nihil (nothing), in six consecutive phrases. of a Scottish peddler.” Hamilton, never one campaign was perfected by a politiNevertheless, while Trump without paper and ink by his side, wrote a cian two-thousand years his senior. shared many rhetorical similarities to fifty-page pamphlet in response to Adams. Perhaps one of the most effective devices Cicero, he is eerily similar to one of CiEntitled “Letter from Alexander Hamil- in oration, Cicero and Trump were skilled cero’s most significant political adversarton, Concerning the Public Conduct and users of preterition. Coming from the Lat- ies: Publius Clodius Pulcher. A populist Character of John Adams,” all fifty pages demagogue and infamous “ladies’ man” of the pamphlet were used by Hamilton to “Whether or not Mr. Trump or the who capitalized on the frustrations of the destroy Adams in whatever way he could. common people, Clodius was a member Lin-Manuel Miranda accurately sums up American public were aware of it, of the Roman elite who decided to run the rhetoric of his campaign was for office as the leader of the displeased perfected by a politician two-thou- Roman working classes. Using fiery rhetoric to especially stir up the unemployed, sand years earlier.” Clodius rose to power as the Tribune of the Plebs, alarming the Romans in power. in praetereo, meaning “to pass over,” this When Cicero, working on behalf of the device was a mainstay in this election sea- establishment to stop this threatening son, as well as the campaigns and orations upstart, attempted to prevent Clodius’ of Republican Rome. When attacking an rise, Clodius retaliated, writing a law that adversary Cicero exclaimed, “I pass over exiled the great orator. Sound familiar? his murders, I omit all mention of his acts of lust.” Viewers of the first presidential deWhile this election’s ill-mannered bate might remember Trump’s comments discourse has been unfortunate, it’s definitely to the media on Hillary: “I was going to not revolutionary. Instead of it being a new say something extremely rough to Hillary, disease that plagues our country’s politics, to her family, and I said to myself, ‘I just the current political rhetoric is merely an old can’t do it. It’s not nice.’” For both men, ailment rearing its ugly head once again. ☐
Striving for Another Record-Breaking Year: Turkey Drive in Full Swing Charlie Booth
Staff Writer
This month, Belmont Hill Community Service continues their outstanding work by holding the seventh annual Turkey drive. The goal of this turkey drive is for parents, students, and faculty members to work together to provide substantial Thanksgiving meals for as many people in need as possible – every year the goal has been raised thanks to the increasing number of requests we have received. Each meal comes equipped with an assortment of goods including, canned vegetables, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and last, but not least, halloween candy that was donated by the students after their successful trick or treating. Some say never to take candy from strangers – on Halloween we make an exception for those in need. The Turkey Drive, led by the Form III allows for class officers and any other individuals to take up a leadership role
and make a meaningful impact on those that aren’t as fortunate as them. The drive began in 2010 after being suggested by Belmont Hill’s one-and-only Mr. Trautz. Mr. Trautz attended the Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine that held a similar event. When Mrs. David was pitched this idea she instantly fell in love with it: but she was only willing to do it “if he was involved, too” and so the Turkey drive was founded. Back in 2010 the goal was only 50 turkeys but as the years went by the popularity has steadily increased – this year we have received a new record of 425 requests. In order to reach this lofty goal the third form has been hard at work, making announcements, posting fliers, and raising awareness in Belmont and neighboring towns. Last year the goal was 300 meals and we achieved 415 so hopefully once again this year we can exceed expectations and provide a turkey for even more people. Hundreds of people on Thanksgiving will now be able to enjoy a delicious meal
with those they care about most. The men and women that we help may not remember the exact meal they had on Thanksgiving 2016 but they will remember the happiness they felt when they we able to enjoy a turkey amongst good company. All Belmont Hill students are given a magnificent opportunity when coming to this school so
it is important to take these events seriously and understand the importance of helping. As we look towards another unprecedented year for the turkey drive, we would also like to thank the greater Belmont Hill community: the drive is the ultimate embodiment of Belmont Hill’s commitment to serving other and working together. ☐
Belmont Hill NEWS
Nove b er 21, 2016
Pa g e 3
Dr. Rachel Levine ‘75 Returns to Belmont Hill for Inspiring Chapel Talk Jason Fischman
Panel Staff
D r. R a c h e l L e v i n e , a B e l mont Hill alumni, returned to give a chapel talk in a long school meeting about her journey as a transgender woman. In her s p e e c h , t it l e d “ T h e Ey e of t h e Hu rr i c a n e ,” D r. L e v i n e d i s c u s s e d h e r time at B elmont Hill, her successful career as Physician General of Pennsy lvani a, and her t ransit ion. Fu l l o f hu m o r o u s a s i d e s about the B etter Buy sale and the u p c o m i n g AC Ts , D r. L e v i n e’s s p e e c h p r ov i d e d a r e m a r k a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r B e l m o nt Hi l l s t u d e nt s t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t L G B T i s s u e s ; h e r s t at u s a s a n a l u m n i a l l ow e d h e r t o b e t t e r c o n n e c t w i t h c u r r e nt s t u d e nt s , a n d e v e r y o n e l e f t t h e c h ap e l t h at d ay more informed and understanding. Ta l k i n g s p e c i f i c a l l y a b o u t her experiences at B elmont Hill a s a s t u d e n t a n d f o o t b a l l p l a y e r, Levine also related her journey
t o Ha r v a r d a n d e v e n t u a l l y t o b e c o m i n g a d o c t o r a t Pe n n S t a t e . S h e e x p l a i n e d h o w, h e r e n t i r e l i f e , s h e felt like something was off her with g e n d e r, b u t s h e c o m p a r t m e n t a l ized those feelings until her early forties. At t h a t p o i n t , D r. L e v i n e b e gan the transitioning process, living life completely as a woman just a f e w y e a r s l a t e r. D r. Levine also touched
o n t h e i s s u e o f t r a n s g e n d e rism at an all-boys school, where m a ny i n t h e c o m m u n i t y a r e a l ready questioning how the school
g e t i c s t a n d i n g ov at i o n , a t e s t a m e nt b o t h t o t h e q u a l i t y o f h e r speech, and the open mindedn e s s o f t h e c o m mu n i t y a s a w h o l e . After wards, she met with As t h e s p e e ch c am e t o an a s m a l l e r g r o u p o f t e a c h e r s a n d e n d , t h e st u d e nt s g av e an s t u d e nt s i n Mc P h e r s o n t o a n s w e r e about e n e r g e t i c stan ding ov at i o n , a qL uGeBsTt i oins ssu easn dat Bt aellkm omnto rHi ll, the te stam e nt b ot h to t h e qu alit y t r a n s i t i o n i n g p r o c e s s , a n d h e r j o b of h e r s p e e ch , an d t h e o p e n a s t h e P hy s i c i a n G e n e r a l . O v e rmin d e dn e s s of t h e c ommu - a l l , D r. L e v i n e’s c h ap e l t a l k w a s a n i nt e r e s t i n g a n d i n f o r m at i v e nit y a s a w h o l e . s p e e c h t h at s h e d l i g ht o n a v e r y i mp o r t a nt i s s u e i n o u r s o c i e t y, would react to a transgender stu- and certainly helped encourage d e nt . As t h e s p e e c h c a m e t o a n s t u d e nt s t o k e e p a n o p e n m i n d e n d , t h e s t u d e nt s g av e a n e n e r- w h e n c o n s i d e r i n g s u c h i d e a s . ☐
The Belmont Hill Debate Team after the Exeter Debate
Hunter Present ‘17 to Represent BH at Debate World Championships Armin Thomas Panel Staff More news came; details of what transpired at the Exeter Debate Tournament were filtering back into the bus as it raced southward back towards Belmont. Initially, there were just rumors about Belmont Hill’s performance, but then it became clear that Sunday’s debate was revolutionar y for Belmont Hill. Sixth Former Hunter Present ‘17, a veteran advanced debater, won first place at the
Present is the first debater from Belmont Hill to make it to the world stage in a quarter-century. Exeter tournament and, as a result, earned a spot on the US debate team
at the prestigious 2017 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Sydney, Australia. “I have no words. Just no words,” the notoriously articulate Present said to his fellow master debaters in the bus. Even though previous Belmont Hill debaters have come close to winning Worlds-
qualifying tournaments (notably Alex Czarnecki ‘17), Present is the first debater from Belmont Hill to actually make it to the world stage in a quarter-centur y. He earned this spot by receiving an extraordinar y and outstanding score of 94 out of a possible 100 points in his first round of debating, a pur-
suit in which scores of 80-85 are considered average. His final tally for the day was 269 out of a possible 300 points, the highest from Belmont Hill and the highest from all schools. Initially fellow debaters on the bus were incredulous as pranks about debaters making Worlds have been a common feature of Belmont Hill postdebate activity. As more and more reports came in from Alex Czarnecki, who stayed behind in the northern climes of Exeter to collect scores, the unthinkable became real and celebration erupted inside the bus. Hunter Present has made histor y for Belmont Hill, and he has put officially Belmont Hill debate on the map. Between now and April, Hunter will be practicing his debating skills to show the world the virtues of Belmont Hill. We wish him success as he travels down under to Sydney to take home the big gavel. ☐
winsor NEWS
Pa g e 4
Th e Pan el
Interview with Izzy Thorndike on Gender Identity By Juliet Isselbacher Panel Staff
t h e r a b oy or a g i r l ) . I u s e t h e y / t h e m pron ou n s t o d e s c r i b e my s e l f i n s t e a d of s h e / h e r, b e c au s e t h e y / T h e re c e nt i n it i at i v e of Sp e c - t h e m pron ou n s h av e a c om f or t t r u m - - Wi n s or’s c lu b f or L G BT Q + a b l e s e n s e of g e n d e r a mbi g u it y. s tu d e nt s a n d a l l i e s - - t o l a b e l a l l Wh at are s ome m i s c onc e p b at h ro om s a s g e n d e r n e ut r a l h a s t i ons ab out you r ge nd e r i d e nt it y ? d r aw n att e nt i on f rom s tu d e nt s A c om m on m i s c on c e pt i on a n d f a c u lt y a l i k e . In l i g ht of t h i s a b out a n on bi n a r y g e n d e r i d e nt it y s c h o o l - w i d e d i s c u s s i on re g a rd - i s t h at it d o e s n ' t e x i s t . A lt h ou g h i n g g e n d e r i d e nt it y, Iz z y T h or n - t h e re i s a n i n c re a s i n g aw a re n e s s of d i k e ’ 1 9 a g re e d t o s h a re t h e i r t r a n s g e n d e r p e op l e , it i s s t i l l c om p e r s p e c t i v e a s a p e r s on w h o m on l y b e l i e v e d t h at t h e y c a n on l y i d e nt i f i e s a s g e n d e r n onbi n a r y. t r a n s it i on w it h i n t h e bi n a r y ( i . e . f rom m a l e t o f e m a l e or f rom f e m a l e How wou l d you d e - t o m a l e ) . How e v e r, g e n d e r i s a c tu a l s c r ib e you r ge nd e r i d e nt it y ? l y m ore of a s p e c t r u m t h a n a bi n a r y. I i d e nt i f y as n onbi n a r y, How do you re c onc i l e m e a n i n g t h at my g e n d e r d o e s n ot f it w it h i n t h e g e n d e r bi n a - you r i d e nt it y w it h Wi ns or’s d e f i r y ( t h e i d e a t h at e v e r y on e i s e i - n it i on a s an “a l l - g i rl s s cho ol ? ”
T h i s qu e s t i on i s s om e t h i n g I ' v e t h ou g ht a b out a l ot a c t u a l l y. Since I was raised as a girl, sociali z e d a s a g i r l , a n d a m s t i l l , f or t h e most part, seen as a girl, I am still a f f e c t e d by s e x i s m , m i s o g y ny, a n d a l l t h e re s t r i c t i on s t h at t h e w or l d t e n d s t o f orc e on w om e n . For t h at re a s on , I f i n d " a l l g i r l s " s p a c e s t o b e pre tt y e mp ow e r i n g , a s I f e e l t h at t h e y ' re p l a c e s w h e re g i r l s a n d w om e n a re t au g ht t o b e c on f i d e nt a n d i n d e p e n d e nt . I a m , of c ou r s e , a hu g e f e m i n i s t , a n d I l ov e , s up p or t , a n d b e n e f it f rom t h e t e a c h i n g of t h o s e v a lu e s t o g i r l s of a l l a g e s . How e v e r, it ' s of t e n v e r y d i f f i c u lt t o f e e l t h at I ' m p a r t of a c om mu n it y w h e re my i d e nt it y i s n ot re c o g n i z e d or i s c on s t a nt l y i g n ore d . T h e re i s a T O N of g e n d e re d l a n g u a g e t h at f l o at s a l l ov e r Wi n s or, a n d t h e f a c t t h at t h e l a r g e m aj orit y of s tu d e nt s h e re D O i d e nt i f y a s f e m a l e m a k e s it pre tt y e a s y t o f or g e t t h at n ot EV E RYO N E d o e s .
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opi n i on , Wi ns or ?
T h i s i s a d i f f i c u lt qu e s t i on , s e e i n g a s I c a n ' t s p e a k f or a l l trans/genderqueer/nonbinar y/etc. p e op l e w h o m i g ht att e n d Wi n s or. I c a n re a l l y s p e a k on l y f or my s e l f . I t h i n k t h at a ny on e w h o f e e l s t h e y b e l on g h e re h a s a r i g ht t o d o s o, a n d I t h i n k t h e s c h o o l s h ou l d b e op e n t o a c c e pt i n g s tu d e nt s of g e n d e r i d e nt it i e s a l l a c ro s s t h e s p e c t r u m . I ' m pre tt y s u re I b e l on g - - at l e a s t m o s t of t h e t i m e .
As s ome one w ho s e e s ge n d e r a s a sp e c t r u m , d o you b el i e ve t h at t he c onc e pt of a s i ng l e - s e x s cho ol i s i n he re nt ly probl e m at i c ?
Gender neutral bathroom sign
Onwardstate.com
No. L i k e I s a i d b e f ore , I t h i n k t h at a l l - f e m a l e s p a c e s c a n b e s up e r e mp ow e r i n g a n d d o aw e s om e t h i n g s f or w om e n . B ut t h i s i s a c omp l e x qu e s t i on b e c au s e I a l s o t h i n k t h at h av i n g a ny s or t of qu a l i f i c at i on b a s e d on g e n it a l i a i s pre t t y r i d i c u l ou s . S o y e a h , I t h i n k s i n g l e - g e n d e re d s p a c e s c a n b e pre tt y g re at ; h ow e v e r, I t h i n k i n a t i m e w h e re
t h e w or l d d o e s n ' t re a l l y k n ow t h at g e n d e rqu e e r / n onbi n a r y p e op l e e v e n e x i s t , a ny s or t of i n s t itut i on t h at k n ow s a b out t h e my t h of t h e g e n d e r bi n a r y s h ou l d t a k e a n a c t i v e p a r t i n d e s t roy i n g t h at a n d prov i d i n g t h e s a m e k i n d s of a d v a nt a g e s of s i n g l e - g e n d e re d s c h o o l s f or k i d s w h o a re g e n d e rqu e e r / n onbi n a r y.
Wh at , i f any t h i ng , d o e s Wi ns or ne e d to ch ange ab out t he w ay it d i s c u ss e s and u n d e rst and s ge nd e r i d e nt it y ?
It w ou l d b e aw e s om e i f g e n d e r i d e nt it i e s b e s i d e s ju s t t h e bi n a r y on e s ( m a l e a n d f e m a l e ) w e re a d d re s s e d i n c l a s s d i s c u s s i on s a b out g e n d e r. G e n d e r i s c omp l i c at e d , a n d t h e re i s c u r re nt l y s t i g m a a rou n d t h e i d e a of b e i n g n onbi n a r y, s o it w ou l d b e re a l l y c o o l i f p e op l e w e re ju s t m ore op e n - m i n d e d t o t h e i d e a of i d e nt it i e s t h e y ' v e n e v e r h e a rd of . B ut m o s t i mp or t a nt l y, g e n d e re d l a n g u a g e i s n ' t v e r y f u n t o h e a r. Te a c h e r s of t e n u s e t h e t e r m " t h e av e r a g e Wi n s or g i r l " a n d a l s o a d d re s s t h e i r c l a s s e s a s " g i r l s " a n d " l a d i e s .” T h i s l a n g u a g e w e a r s d ow n on my s e l f c on f i d e n c e a n d pr i d e i n my i d e nt it y w h e n I h e a r it e v e r y f i v e m i nut e s .
How c an non - ge nd e rqu e e r Wi ns or stu d e nt s b e tte r supp or t you ?
It w ou l d b e re a l l y aw e s om e i f p e op l e s t a r t e d u s i n g my c or re c t pron ou n s ! It w ou l d m e a n a l ot t o m e , e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e it’s a c h a n g e t h at’s n ot t o o d i f f i c u lt t o w or k i nt o y ou r v o c a bu l a r y. It m a k e s m e f e e l re s p e c t e d , l ov e d , a n d s up p or t e d w h e n p e op l e u s e my c or re c t pron ou n s , but w h e n p e op l e c a l l m e " s h e , " it c a n f e e l d i s c ou r a g i n g a n d d e f l at i n g . Ev e n i f y ou t h i n k it m i g ht b e h a rd t o re m e mb e r a l l t h e t i m e , at l e a s t m a k i n g a n e f f or t t o u s e t h e m w ou l d b e s o appre c i at e d . Ta l k i n g a b out m e , y ou m i g ht s ay, “ T h e y w e nt t o t h e p a r k . T h e y brou g ht t h e i r f r i s b e e t o t h e p a r k w it h t h e m . T h e y p l ay e d f r i s b e e w it h t h e m s e l f .” T h a n k y ou i n a d v a n c e ! A n d s t ay tu n e d f or Sp e c t r u m’s Va l e nt i n e’s D ay D a n c e i n Fe br u a r y ! ☐
Reflections on Community Curriculum Day By Abigail Weyer and Betsy Kim Panel Staff
Every four years coinciding with the presidential race, Winsor holds its Community Curriculum Day - an entire day dedicated to discussing the 2016 election. This year’s chaotic and, at times, nailbiting election promised interesting and provocative discussion. Students could pick two workshops to attend throughout the day, some led by Winsor alums and outside speakers, and others were led by Winsor students. In one workshop, titled “Finding a Voice Through Cartooning,” Winsor alum Sage Stossel ’89 spoke about her experience covering the election through political cartoons. In another, titled “Ms. Tyler Goes to Beacon Hill,” State Representative Chyna Tyler and Campaign Manager Frank Farrow shared their insights into the process of organizing a campaign on the local level. Amanda Lu ’17 praised the variety of workshops this year, commenting that she was “really impressed with all the different angles from which we’re examining the election.”
portunity to learn about their own areas of interest within the election, Community Curriculum Day also allowed some juniors and seniors to lead workshops and educate their peers about potentially unfamiliar topics. Erin Simshauser ’17, who taught the workshop “Gender and the Election” along with Maggie Hart ’17 and Betsy Kim ’17, explained, “Gender is obviously a very controversial matter in this election… [Maggie, Betsy, and I] felt like we could use this workshop as an opportunity to provide a different spin on a topic that is so widely discussed but only in a one-sided manner.” Maggie Hart ’17 agreed, saying, “the student-run nature of Community Curriculum Day gave us a opportunity to discuss aspects of gender that we wouldn’t have been able to discuss in a normal classroom setting.”
For those who have not experienced a Community Curriculum Day before, November 4th was a new experience. Though some may find it questionable to halt classes for an entire day, Community Curriculum Day was a incredibly insightful and informative experience that Aside from giving students the op- reminded students of the relevance of
Political cartoon by Winsor alum Sage Stossel ’89 discussion outside standard academic curricula. Priya Shukla ’17, who came to Winsor freshman year, commented, “Though I was unsure about how the day would turn out, it was a really unique opportunity that
Sagestossel.com
I am grateful to have experienced before I left Winsor.” On behalf of the Panel, we would like to thank Mr. Braxton and student workshop leaders for putting Community Curriculum Day together. ☐
winsor NEWS
Novemb er 21, 2016
Pa g e 5
New Wellesley College President Committed to Women’s Health and Education By Alison Poussaint Panel Staff On September 30, 2016, Wellesley College held an inauguration ceremony for President Paula Johnson. The ceremony began with a colorful parade: faculty members wearing the robes of their alma maters, students representing sports teams, and alumnae wearing their class colors. After the processional of faculty, students, and alumnae, President Johnson entered the ceremony and was met with loud cheers and chants of “PJ! PJ!”, a nickname given to her by the Wellesley College students. Wellesley students were excited about the appointment of President Paula A. Johnson as the fourteenth president of Wellesley College, which is a prominent liberal arts school in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She has held impressive leadership positions at world-renowned institutions such as the chief of the Division of Women’s Health at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and as a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her presidency is historic: she is both the first African-American and the first physician president of the school. The inauguration program began with speeches by many distinguished women. In her speech, the Senator of Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren described President Johnson “as a woman of great vision who pursues excellence with sharp intelligence and unwavering determina-
President Johnson addresses Wellesley students tion” who will “lead a university of some of the smartest, toughest, most passionate women on earth.” Using her kind and powerful words, Senator Warren ultimately conveyed the great benefit of having such a strong female leader and pioneer leading Wellesley College for the years to come. “I am here today because of a 30year career in women’s health, and my deep commitment to women’s education. I stand before you on the shoulders and hard-won wisdom of so many women who laid the groundwork and pointed the way,” President
Students snap a selfie with Paula Johnson and Elizabeth Warren
America’s very first clown sighting occurred three decades ago, right here in Massachusetts; in 1981, Brookline children reported that a clown attempted to lure them into his van with candy. The subsequent wave of purported sightings died down within a month, only to be revived in 1985, 1991, and, now, in 2016. Some type of comic entertainer can be identified in almost every culture. Take, for example, the jester YuSze who amused Imperial Chinese emperors, or the fool stupidus who delighted Ancient Roman rulers. Yet the first true antecedent of our modern clown was Joseph Grimaldi, who diverted the masses in nineteenth century London. Grimaldi, who suffered from depression, alcoholism, and constant bodily
Johnson remarked in her speech at the latter part of the program. “In these women, I see the power of education to change women’s lives and create a better world. I see the power of shared experience, shared ideas, shared commitments, across time and space, across cultures and identities. I give gratitude to them and for them,” she continued. She declared that in order to move forward and grow even stronger united, women must look to spirited and motivated women past for both answers and courage. Although she sees great hope for women, President
Bostonglobe.com
Creepy Clown Sightings Sweep across the Country By Juliet Isselbacher Panel Staff
Bostonglobe.com
Johnson is very aware of the fact that, in the perspectives of her students, “women face distinctive challenges” such as “unequal pay for work” and “vast underrepresentation at the highest levels across professions and industries.” She reflects that these setbacks are minor, and that women, especially Wellesley women, know that “the world is far better off with women at the table.” Arielle Mitropoulos, a Winsor alumnae from the Class of 2015 and current Wellesley College student, reflected on her experience having a new Wellesley College President: “Everyone has been very excited to welcome President Johnson to Wellesley. With the coming of a new President, a new era is ushered, bringing new and fresh ideas, and perhaps different ways of leading the school. President Johnson has been very visible about making an effort to meet as many students as possible. She is a dynamic, and successful woman in her field, and is a great role model for all women.” Though President Johnson has only begun her direction at Wellesley College, she has been a strong female role model at Wellesley and shown exceptional leadership in her previous fields. Her example can inspire Winsor girls as well. They are independent and passionate girls who will one day drive the movement for the representation of women in various fields, become the role models that all young women and girls will strive to be, and be the most hardworking and inspiring women in their fields. ☐
pain, would tell his audiences, “I am grim all day, but I make you laugh at night.” Charles Dickens took on the project of Grimaldi’s memoir, in which he examined the dissonance between the man’s internal suffering and external humor. This “straddling of opposites” --which Sigmunc Freud would define as “unheimlich” or uncanny-- triggers, in most people, powerful feelings of unease and discomfort. Dickens thus introduced a degree of creepiness into the public’s conception of clowns. But clowns only began to invite real suspicion in the 1990s, when John Wayne Gacy, who often donned the persona of Pogo the Clown, was convicted of sexually assaulting and killing dozens of young men. Before his arrest, Gacy remarked to police, “You know… clowns can get away with murder.” “The Great Clown Scare of 2016” be-
Creepy clown gan in August, when children in South Carolina reported that clowns had attempted to lure them into the woods with flashing green lights. Sightings soon swept across most American states, nine Canadian provinces, and eighteen other countries, including Australia, Mexico, and Germany. Many chalk this clown scare up to mass hysteria. Yet perhaps these sightings should not be dismissed entirely as harmless hoaxes: some have forced school closings and resulted in arrests, while others have been linked to robberies, assaults, and the fatal stabbing of a sixteen year old boy. The Clown Scare has even prompted a comment from White House press secretary John Earnest, who assured reporters, “Obviously, this is a situation that local law enforcement authorities take quite seriously. And they should carefully and thoroughly review perceived threats to the safety of the com-
Thenypost.com munity, and they should do so prudently.” Predicting that pranksters would dress as clowns on Halloween, some Americans resolved to arm themselves before trick-or-treating. “I’ll be carrying for sure,” reported one Florida resident. “I’m terrified of clowns already and if one messes with me or my kids it’ll be to the hospital or morgue they go.” Halloween indeed proved scary for many: Margaret Michalowski ’17 shared, “On Halloween, I was chased by a clown with a chainsaw. It was pretty terrifying, since it’s impossible to tell the difference between a kid trying to scare people and a real threat.” That’s why, in fact, police across the country warned people against dressing as clowns on the holiday, even with the threat of criminal prosecution and civil liability. “Only in America,” sighed the President of the World Clown Association. ☐
BELMONT HILL OPINION
Pa g e 6
Th e Pan el
The STEM Imperative: A Spotlight on New Learning at BH
By Arnav Prasad Panel staff The advocacy for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiatives at Belmont Hill—whether through engineering robots in the iLab, writing code for the newly established AP Computer Science class, or attending the Sherman Lecture series in the Chapel—has emerged as a principal focus of the school curriculum. Supported by faculty, parents, and alumni alike, increasing access to cutting-edge facilities has empowered students to indulge in their creative instincts and passions. Around campus, students of all grades have demonstrated the appeal of a newly popular academic model: experiential learning.
Experiential learning is engaging; it empowers students with an education that is both practical and innovative. The learning model not only requires a keen understanding of material, but also gauges problem-solving skills. Beyond Belmont Hill, local institutions such as Harvard University have reevaluated the principles behind modern education, emphasizing the importance of experiential learning in STEM fields. At the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University (SEAS), experiential learning has become a core component of approximately one-third of engineering courses. According to former dean of SEAS at Harvard University Cherry Murray, experiential learning enables students to have “the confidence to address problems and not be afraid that you don’t have the background.” When applied to STEM, Murray stresses the value of experiential learning
Technology Restrictions
students had more internet freedom and, therefore, more responsibility. They could choose to be unproductive with their time, sacrificing leisure time and sleep. Speaking from personal experience, students learn to be productive quickly. In life beyond Belmont Hill, there will be distractions, but there won’t be someone to hold our hands. In its attempt to improve productivBy Richie Kendall and ity among students, the school is setting Charlie Donahue us up for a rude awakening in college and Panel Staff beyond. While this article may slightly overstate the long-term consequences of this singular policy, the core principle holds Continued from the front page true. The cumulative effect of such policies In addition to taking precious time hampers preparation for life beyond Belout of the school day, this new policy is mont Hill. In thirty years, most of us won’t contradictory to what Belmont Hill should remember chemical properties or quotes aim to teach boys. One of the greatest from The Scarlet Letter. Skills like time skills that can be acquired through a prep management, however, will be utilized on a school education is time management. daily basis. Like the majority of other life skills, this is Therefore, we urge Belmont Hill to something that must be learned on one’s scrap these ineffectual restrictions and help own, through careful practice and repeated students learn what will serve them best. ☐ decision making. Under the old system,
LastWeekTonight, a satirical news show on HBO presented by John Oliver, is completely blocked on YouTube, despite its being assigned as homework for numerous classes, most notably for Global Economics
as a mode of innovation, remarking, “Engineers never have a rote situation that’s really trivial and just involves applying an equation.” Belmont Hill’s commitment to experiential learning in STEM has come to fruition in the development of several programs and facilities. In addition to this, Advanced Science Research (ASR) has propelled a select group of Juniors and Seniors to the frontiers of science and technology research. Paired with local laboratories at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Medical School, MIT, and Massachusetts General Hospital, ASR students explore their scientific research interest, adopting independent projects to present at Regeneron Student Talent Search (previously known as the Intel Student Talent Search) by senior year. As the only two-year course at the school, Juniors accepted to the program learn to juggle their responsibilities as both students and research assistants in local laboratories. After being accepted into the ASR program as a sophomore, Massimo Aufiero ‘18 has dedicated himself to biomedical research in the laboratory of Dr. Xandra O. Breakefield at Mass. General Hospital. As a highly accomplished student, Massimo risen to the top of his class in the math and sciences; he was awarded a New England Mathematics League Award at 2016’s Prize Day as the cumulative top scorer in the Upper School math competition. Despite his love for physics, Massimo realized his aptitude for biology in his sophomore year during his AP Biology course: “I have always been interested in physics, but I really never knew that I had a passion for biology until last year.” Following David Yellen ‘16, who worked at Dr. Breakefield’s laboratory as a student during his ASR course, Massimo seized the opportunity to explore a research area which challenged and gauged his newfound interest in biomedicine.
Using CRISPR, a novel gene-editing technique, to address dystonia, a neurological disease with a genetic basis, Massimo has concentrated on understanding the intricacies of the research topics and learning laboratory techniques while working under the guidance of laboratory postdocs. In addition to conducting cutting-edge research that can translate into meaningful therapeutics, Massimo commented that “building relationships” with leaders in scientific research is an opportunity that is wholly unique to ASR. “I look forward to going to the laboratory more often during winter break and through the summer. After researching at such a high level, I already feel that this is a career path I want to pursue,” noted Massimo. The success of ASR students serves as a testament to value of experiential learning in Belmont Hill. As a complement to a conventional AP curriculum, an experiential model of learning empowers Belmont Hill students to apply the knowledge learnt in the classroom while developing novel skills in problemsolving and communication. Nonetheless, as other programs begin to immerse students in experiential learning at the school, Belmont Hill’s renewed enthusiasm around STEM and innovation reflects both the student body and the faculty’s dedication to addressing real-world issues, a commitment key to a Belmont Hill education. ☐
A Letter to Progressives
By Philip Bailey Founder of Young Progressives To all my Progressives out there,
be the new DNC chair. The first Muslim elected to congress, he is a strong progresIt is not an easy time for us. We sive who endorsed Bernie in the primaries. haven’t had this little representation since at Surprisingly, Harry Reid, the departing least 1928. Hopefully, 2017 does not turn senate democratic leader, and Chuck out like 1929. Regardless, we could lose Schumer, the likely incoming leader, have a lot over the next four years. But we are also endorsed Keith. The establishment is progressives - we just don’t know how to finally coming around, and they are ready remain anything but hopeful. Don’t give to let us into the fold. up-there does appear to be a silver lining When we are proud of our beliefs, in this election. The Democratic party when we stand tall for the middle class, appears to be finally realizing that it must that’s when we win. During the primaries, fully embrace the progressive wing of the we were tired of being told we were too party. Hillary lost because the Rust Belt progressive. We were tired of being told was not going to be sold on a corporate we were unelectable. Unfortunately, now politician yet again. States like Wisconsin we have Trump in the White House. His and Michigan needed a president who recent college debt plan adds fuel to the would not continue to allow manufacturing idea that he is a progressive in disguise. But jobs to be shipped away. But that president we cannot bank on that. The Democratic wasn’t Trump: it was Bernie. Establishment is ready for us, & we are not The primaries were biased against going to hold a grudge (even though we Bernie. The chair of the DNC, Debbie Was- would be justified to do so). We are ready serman Schultz was the chair of Hillary’s to fight for a future to believe in. campaign in 2008. When she finally resigned, she was replaced by Donna Brazile, With boundless optimism for the promise who leaked a debate question to Hillary. of America, But after the election, Bernie & Elizabeth Philip Bailey Warren quickly endorsed Keith Ellison to
BELMONT HILL OPINION
Novemb er 21, 2016
Pa g e 7
Opposites Attract: Climate Change In this issue of the Panel, we are continuing a tradition of good-hearted debate between two Belmont Hill VI Formers, Phil Bailey and Robbie Warming. In it, they will satirically argue views completely contrary to their true beliefs. We are proud to present: “Opposites Attract.”
Team Bleeding Heart Liberal
Team Libertarian (What is Aleppo?) By Philip Bailey Panel staff
By Robbie Warming Panel staff Climate change is happening, and politicians have to recognize it. No, this isn’t a Chinese conspiracy. No, the Sun will not engulf the Earth before sea levels rise. This is real. Ninety-nine percent of scientists recognize that human-driven climate change is happening. But you don’t need to have a PhD to understand that. In fact, you don’t even need to be in AP Environmental Science (or AP Daycare) to grasp the concept of climate change. It’s all in the numbers. From 1980 to 2012, the average temperature rose 1 degree Celsius. Though that doesn’t seem like much, on average, such a rise in temperature can be catastrophic. If we keep heading in the direction we’re going, humanity will pay the price. Around 2.96 billion people, or about forty percent of the world’s population, live within 62 miles of the ocean. When the polar ice melts and sea levels rise, as they already have been doing, millions of lives and billions of dollars in property would be in danger. Boston would be at particular risk. If the ocean were to rise just five feet, parts of both Cambridge and South Boston would flood. At twelve feet, the Back Bay would flood, and Boston
would become an island. The Muddy River would go from a boring ditch to the Muddy Ocean. At 25 feet, Beacon Hill would be the only point of land remaining of the “city upon a hill”. That’s a pun. Boston would literally consist of only a hill. I’d be surprised if there were a city still on top of it. So what do I do about it? I make a difference. I make political posts on Facebook. I drive a Prius. It has 58 miles to the gallon and is very green. I also don’t shower in order to save water. I make an enormous difference with my personal sacrifices for Mother Earth, and I’m going to let you know every single chance I get. This past election, I voted for the only candidate who will shut all the coal mines down. Yeah, that’s right. I’m with her and not with coal. In order to dig out the cancer that is air pollution, you need to kill it at its source. Will nearly one million American blue collar workers lose their jobs? Sure. Would this destroy the economies of some of the poorest parts of the country? Okay, yeah. Would Appalachia become even more impoverished than it is today? I mean… Will people starve? Okay, maybe a lil… But the environment matters more than all that. Screw American workers, all they’ve done is elect a President Trump. Slash and burn coal jobs… Right? ☐
Alright, let’s get this out of the way. Of course climate change is real. 99% of scientists are in agreement. My Republican friends like to tell me that number is inflated and only 97% of scientists agree. No difference, really. Climate change is going to be extremely harmful to all of humanity. If climate change continues to be left unheeded, our current global world order will, in time, be uprooted by political change. The world’s poorest countries will be decimated by the effects of climate change that they barely contributed to. Their people will flee in massive numbers and overwhelm Western governments to the point of collapse. Now, that may sound bad to many people. But quite frankly, I call that the Libertarian Platform. And besides, even if the clenching fist of pollution that will eventually strangle our children into death’s cold hands is unappealing to you, take solace in the fact that the sun will, in a few billion years, grow to encompass the Earth. When I was a child, I asked my father how he deals with
A Letter to Conservatives
party, the party left me. Since 2012, the GOP had been making strides to better itself and the country. They conducted a post-Romney autopsy and finally started to reach out to minorities and women. They adopted a more socially tolerant platform, and instead focused their efforts on shrinking a bloated federal government. Things were looking good. But then Donald Trump came along. With Donald Trump’s highjacking of the GOP, Republicans abandoned their core values of patriotism and responsible government. Their platform was replaced by Trump’s hateful rhetoric and reckless By Robbie Warming government spending. How ironic that the President of the Belmont Hill face of the Party of Lincoln was attacking Johnson/Weld Youth Chapter the Black Lives Matter movement, alienating swathes of young black voters… For the presidential election, I had My fellow Conservatives, nowhere to turn but to Gary Johnson, a former Republican governor who was fiscally Last spring, I proudly registered to vote as a Republican. Two months later, conservative and socially tolerant. I thought I became an independent. I didn’t leave the that, after Trump was walloped by Hillary
Clinton, a strong Libertarian run would pressure Republicans to get back on course. Boy, was I wrong… Now that we have President-Elect Trump, we have to fight tooth and nail to ensure American Conservatism survives. Donald Trump’s racist, sexist, and big government rhetoric cannot take over our movement. In fact, he has already proposed a student loan plan that is more left than President Obama’s current plan. In these next four years, we as Conservatives must remain vigilant. We must fight for the Constitutional, God-given rights of our neighbors. We must ensure that freedom of speech survives. We must ensure that our government, now completely in Republican control, conducts itself in the most streamlined fashion as possible. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what Trump will be like. However, I do know that Congress is filled with principled Conservatives uneasy with the idea of a Trump presidency. They will feel pressured to fol-
the knowledge that he will die. He told me everything is fine because a piece of him lives on through his children and grandchildren. That might sound like a good argument to save the Earth for our own descendents. But none of that will matter when the entirety of human history is thrown into a massive furnace never to be discovered again. It would be kind of nice if our descendants could live a good life. But earth is just a tiny speck in the universe. And our universe is likely just one universe in whatever unit is larger than the universe. So who cares about our grandchildren? Who really cares about anything? I assume that logic is why no one cares about me. It must be cause they are too consumed with the meaningless of life to care about me, right? That’s why I became a Libertarian. If we are all going to die eventually, who cares about dying a bit sooner from climate change? Sure, government intervention could prevent climate change, but government is lame. I should give a Woodbury speech about this. Oh wait, nevermind, those speeches are just for personal stories. In fact, if we are all going to die anyway, and I have no one who cares about me, why don’t I just end it now? ☐
low Trump’s plan, and we must make sure that that does not happen. We must stay involved: contact our congressmen, rally Conservative voters, and support groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. In two years, we must elect a Conservative congress to buffer the bombastic Donald. And in 2020, let’s get another nominee. American Conservatism is in danger, but it’s not dead yet. Its survival is now on us. In Liberty, Robbie Warming
Winsor Opinion
Pa g e 8
Th e Pan el
Where in the World are the Winsor Girls?
Catching up with a few of Winsor’s students studying away this year Alison Poussaint Panel Staff At some point during this semester, you may have noticed a lack of Class VII students on your sports team, at lunch, or in class and might have wondered, where are they? Many Class VII students are attending Semester Away programs or School Year Abroad (SYA) programs around or out of the country during the school year. Every year representatives from each program visit Class VI students to inform them about the programs offered during their Class VII year. The students who take interest in the Semester Away programs or SYA programs apply to the programs a few weeks after the information sessions. The programs run during either the fall or spring semester or over the course of the whole year. Eight Class VII students are currently attending Semester Away or SYA programs. The programs that these students are attending include The School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington D.C., The Mountain School (TMS) in Vershire, Vermont, and CITYterm at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York for the Semester-Away programs during the fall semester. The School Year Abroad programs that students are attending this year are School Year Abroad: China and School Year Abroad: Spain. An informative survey, sent out to this year’s participants, documented the experiences of three students, whose responses give enriching insight into the events and experiences of the programs.
Please give a 1-2 line description of the program you are in and where it is located: Meera Narayanan-Pandit: I am currently at The Mountain School, which is located in Vershire, Vermont. Mikako Murphy: I am at CITYterm which is an experience based semester away program in New York that takes learning in classrooms and transfers it to learning opportunities in the city. Lena Venkatraman: I am attending School Year Abroad in Beijing, China.
Which classes are you taking? MNP: I am taking Honors English, Honors Environmental Science, Honors Physics, Honors Pre-Calculus, and Honors Spanish. MM: Chinese 1, English, Honors Precalculus, Environmental Science, and Chinese History.
What are some of the activities/ classes that you are able to take at the program that are not offered at Winsor? MNP: Environmental Science as an aca-
demic class. We also have a block each day called “Work Program.” We are divided into multiple groups that change every day so that I am always working with new people and doing different jobs. I’ve worked in the gardens, in the forest chopping wood, in the kitchen helping prepare meals, or even learning how to orienteer a compass and learn the land of Vershire. MM: We have Urban Core classes and lots of different projects like making a small magazine about an activist movement, event, or activist, expressing the Brooklyn Bridge in the form of art, reading buildings, giving a tour on a building in the Lower East Side, and many, many more. LV: Environmental Science and Chinese traditional arts (calligraphy, dance, martial arts).
What is the most rewarding or favorite part of your experience so far? MNP: Probably that everything we do directly affects the school and the people here. I get to see a direct impact of my actions and the role I play in the community. MM: I think the most rewarding part of my experience so Susy Liu far is meeting the people that I have met and having the learning experi- Susy Liu ‘17 and Genna Brusie ‘17 with her CITYterm classmattes in New York ences that I have had whether that is in the dorm community, within my friend fear is to give yourself no choice to turn back. activities we do. My day is packed full and by the group, or on the greater scale of New York. end of the day I can’t believe how much I did. LV: My Chinese host famiMM: No. What do you enjoy the most ly. They’re incredible. LV: I am taking part in Chinese traabout being in a different state/ ditional dance, taijiquan, abastomedia.com and martial arts.
What has the program taught you that you would not have learned otherwise?
MNP: I have really learned how to live in the moment. Being without my phone, wifi, and human interaction outside of TMS, I have learned how to enjoy where I am and who I’m with. I hang out with anyone who I run into on campus and we are creative in ways to have fun even with not being in a city or large town. I’m really glad I can just be without worry or stress and just enjoy what is in front of me. MM: At the core of the program, CITYterm is really about discovering who you are as a learner and who you are in many other settings as well. From the first half of the program, I have picked up on my strengths as a learner and have been able to tap into them when needed while also improving my “weaknesses” in a space that applauses and appreciates failure. LV: I can do so much more than I ever thought I could. The key to overcoming
country and why? Are there any challenges?
MNP: At first I had trouble adapting to the rural aspect of Vershire since I’ve always lived in the city. However, I’ve really grown into loving being away from my normal life and just taking a break from my same life for 16 years. MM: I love how busy and intricate New York City is. In Boston, I found myself going to the same places with the same 2 or 3 people and trapping ourselves in the places that we make a habit of going to. However, in New York, there are thousands of activities every weekend and just so many new places and new experiences that have yet to be discovered. For me the biggest challenge of being away from Winsor and away from home is the aspect of missing out on certain school traditions or just missing out on things that happen within your class, friend group, advisory, etc. I think that by having this challenge I have learned that I would have never been able to go through this experience without missing something and to come to terms with that. LV: I enjoy doing new things every single day. That is both a benefit and a challenge. I didn’t go through culture shock coming here, but I do face challenges in day-to-day communication. However,Idon’tregretmydecisiontotakethisstep.
Are you playing any sports or doing any after-school activities? If so, what are they?
Katherine Lempres ‘17 visiting Park Guell in Barcelona.
MNP: With Work Program every day it almost feels like a sport and after-school activity combined into one! I’m always reaching that 10,000 step goal on my FitBit! Hiking, chopping wood, harvesting plants, making cider, cutting down trees, learning how to read a topographical map and use it: these are just a few of the many
What is one thing that your program has that you think Winsor should have (e.g. food, an activity or an event)? MNP: I think that Winsor should have a “Winsor Olympics” event. The teams should be intermixed between all the classes. One event could be going to lunch and choosing the most nutritious meal possible. Another event could be going to each science room (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and doing a small thing related to each subject in that room. This could be such a fun, hands-on, and Winsor-esque event! MM: First of all, the dining options here are endless and there’s basically 5 meals per meal that you have the option of eating. Second of all, there’s this whole other world of exploratory writing in which you take subject matter, themes, ideas etc and relate them to yourself to find a way in which what you are writing affects you directly. I think that bringing this whole up in the air talk about themes and motifs in a piece of writing can be brought down onto a personal level. LV: Opportunities for group travel or field trips. The experiences in the classroom, with new activities, in a different state or country, and with new peers at the SYA or Semester Away programs described by students demonstrate their enthusiasm and excitement towards the programs. The SYA and Semester-Away programs strive to give Class VII students a way of enriching and deepening their knowledge of the world around them in a new setting and very much allow students to build on the knowledge they have acquired at Winsor. These students have proven that going away for either a semester or a full year proves tobe a very rewarding, remarkable and unforgettable experience. ☐
Winsor Opinion
Novemb er 21,2016
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Pilgrims to Pies: the Evolution of Thanksgiving
A few little known facts about Thanksgiving’s history and present Isabel Griffith-Gorgati Panel Staff
was the founder of American Ladies Magazine, the editor of Godey’s Lady Book, and an outspoken proponent of women’s education-- she even played a large role in the founding of Vassar College, originally an all-women’s institution. For decades she also advocated for the institution of the Thanksgiving tradition as a national holiday, writing articles on the subject and appealing to government officials on the regional and national level; Linc o l n made h i s
We all learned in elementary school about the “first Thanksgiving,” when European settlers in Plymouth shared a feast with Wampanoag Native Americans as a gesture of thanks for helping them achieve a fruitful first harvest. What we aren’t often taught is that it took hundreds of years for Thanksgiving to be instituted as an official national holiday. In October of 1863, Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation that Thanksgiving would be celebrated each November was meant to “heal the wounds of the naom clipartkid.c tion” in the midst of the procCivil War, which was tearlamation only days ing the country apart. after receiving a letI think it’s also worth nott e r from her on the topic. ing that the creation of the national While the original inholiday was largely thanks to a feminist tention of Thanksgiving was to bring activist named Sarah Josepha Hale. She Americans together and unify a divided
country, it has generally become a holiday more specifically about bringing together friends and family (as well as eating good food!). Christina Bulkeley ’17 reflected that T h an k s g iv ing is a special holiday wordpress.com because “the entire point is just to eat with family a n d friends—there are no religious duties or anything we have to celebrate except each other.” Siri Kazilionis ’19 said that Thanksgiving for her is a rare “time to get together with extended family. We don’t ever get together besides that one day. I love the food – my cousin makes three types of Brussels sprouts and my great uncle always brings a jello mold. There are new traditions every year.” One American tradition related to Thanksgiving that is comparatively new is Black Friday; this name first became popular in the 1950s to describe the difficult task for Philadelphia police of dealing with the influx of shoppers on the day before an important annual football game. Stores across the
country eventually managed to turn Black Friday into a (supposedly) fun national shopping tradition. Thanksgiving and Black Friday have since become linked by proximity, although the histories of the two traditions are unrelated. Nonetheless, w i t h Thanksgiving ironically followed each year by this modern-day tradition of rampant consumerism, it’s important to remember that the Thanksgiving spirit of simplicity, community, and gratitude should extend beyond the official holiday. According to Joanna Grill ’17, “Thanksgiving acts as a wakeup call for me to remember everything in my life that I should be thankful for – not just on Thanksgiving, but on every day of the year. The world would be kinder and more loving if we merely told the people we care about and value how thankful we are for them.” Although the context (and the menu) of the Thanksgiving tradition has changed over the centuries, the fundamental idea of building connections through gratitude has stuck around. ☐
So Many Choices! So Many (Early) Decisions!
A look into the pros and cons of early decision applications Abby Weyer Panel Staff As Winsor seniors are all too aware of, the deadlines for most early college applications have just passed. There are several options to apply to college early: including “early decision,”, “early action,” and “restrictive early action” . All these options give high school seniors a chance to submit their application early fall and receive an admissions decision right before the holidays. Applying “regular decision” would land you a acceptance/denial letter much later in the spring. Probably the more well-known deadline, however, is “early decision” or “ED”. For ED applicants, instead of applying to multiple colleges at once, you dedicate your application to one school and, if you get in, are obligated to go there. Other than the chance to be done with the stress surrounding college applications earlier in the year, early decision poses other benefits. The heavy load of submission
fees is greatly lessened if you are able to attend your early college and do not have to submit to more schools. In addition, it is an easy way to tell your college of choice that you are very interested and will definitely attend if you get in. However, early decision has also reflected the growing competition in college admissions within the past decade. As most things related to the college process, ED is a victim of colleges’ attempts to raise their appeal. Most colleges will advertise to apply early if you are “ready” to do so by mid-fall and are sure you want to go to their school. Even better, most schools boast higher acceptance rates for those who apply early decision compared to those who apply regular. As Lee Stetson, Dean of Admissions for University of Pennsylvania put it, “Everybody likes to be loved, and we’re no exception. Everybody likes to see a sign of commitment, and it helps in the selection process.” The statistics reflect Stetson’s words: for U Penn’s Class of 2020, only 9% of applicants were
Comparison of acceptance rates for early vs regular decision.
admitted regular while 23.2% were admitted early. When you dedicate your application to one school, col-
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leges are impressed to see “commitment” and it is a greater incentive to accept. But are the other motivations at hand? One can easily deduce that if a college accepts most of its class early, since these people who are obligated to attend, their matriculation rates will be quite impressive. Instead of, let’s say, 50% of the admitted class deciding to enroll in the college, 80% of the admitted class enrolls because 30% had to under early decision. In addition, if a college accepts many people early, it can reject more people in the regular applicant pool, forcing down their “regular acceptance rate.” These strategies are at work: for the Class of 2015, schools like Lehigh, Hamilton, and Colby admitted close to 50% of their class early decision. Elizabeth Kim ’17 comments, “it is discouraging to think that those who apply regular for whatever reason are put to a disadvantage because of college’s incentives to admit a huge number of early cancollegeraptor.com didates.” The sad reality is
that, in an age in which college prestige is often based off an acceptance rate, better statistics help colleges succeed in a competitive college climate. For so many, numbers are all that seem to matter within the college process, and this unfortunate idea drives
schools ulterior motives when advertising options like early decision. Some people may be asking, “why don’t people just apply early to get the advantage?” Although the deadline is only two months before regular deadline, many high school students are not ready by the early November deadline. Being ready assumes that you have completed and are satisfied with an SAT or ACT score before the fall. Additionally, lots of high schools do not communicate to their students to begin the application process until senior year starts in September, leaving only two months to get everything together. At Winsor, we are lucky to have a college counseling program that informs us and prepares us well during junior year so as to get a headstart on the college application process. Therefore, we are exempt from a lot of disadvantages other high school students face. However, there are still existing pressures of deciding to commit to a school so early within the year and being academically prepared for the application process by midterms. After all, the early decision got its name because it is early. Colleges seem to assume that early deadlines have become the new “regular.” For other students who do not get the same advantages we do, the concept of early decision could be bringing more harm than good. ☐
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The 2016 Presidential Election: An Exclusive Look By The Panel Executive Staff Belmont Hill and Winsor The mood on Belmont Hill’s campus Wednesday morning was one of shock and disbelief. While some students were visibly distraught, and others could barely hide their massive smiles whenever talk of the election came up, the majority of the community was more stunned by the results than anything else. In class discussion, the same trend continued; some students ranted about the misinformed American voter and how the country would descend into darkness, but most were simply baffled. However, Belmont Hill as a school did
tant factor to look at. As one poll responder pointed out: “I believe that many kids are more biased against Hillary. I don’t understand why but maybe it’s because some of us boys can’t fathom the idea of a woman being president.” Compared to the poll results at Winsor, and all girls school, Hillary Clinton received far less support, and one has to wonder how much role her gender played in that. Third party voters also performed very well, earning a combined 17% of the vote, with 14% for Gary Johnson and 3% for Jill Stein. Gary Johnson’s large support group likely comes from the large amounts of fiscal conservatives at Belmont Hill who feel left out of the Republican party on social issues or dislike Trump’s rhetoric. This large third party support is a testament to the far-reaching dislike for both Trump and Clinton within the
tive, for example, Donald Trump’s name was brought up while discussing trade policy, as his proposals were directly opposed to the basic principles of economics being taught. The matter of appropriateness is an essential characteristic in discussion. In most cases, it can be determined by class. History classes have, and should have, the liberty of talking about the candidates in an unbiased perspective. On the other hand, most students feel that other classes should not unless it is directly correlates to the topic at hand. Many courses this year are tailored to the discussion of politics, such as senior year history electives, economics and world reli-
gions. If political discussion is something a student desires, they should seek it by attending clubs or signing up for classes, but the idea of teachers influencing political opinions is not one of the pillars of the teacher-student relationships that Belmont Hill promotes. Additionally, Donald Trump is a very different candidate in comparison to the typical politician. In the appropriate environment, teachers have the right to comment on the nature of his campaign as a political strategy. The reason Hillary is not quite as critiqued is not solely due to bias on teachers’ political views, but also her campaign being more typical of the political process.
“Trump’s administration...could hurt social progress indirectly. His rhetoric tapped into the fear and anger of many Americans and directed it towards immigrants, people of color, and Muslims. His administration will likely become a vessel of hatred for Americans who cling tightly to these views, emboldening them and protecting them as the sea of progression churns around them.”
little to react to the campaign results. There was no emergency chapel, no cancellation of classes, and, aside from casual discussion with faculty members in specific classes, life at Belmont Hill continued on as normal. By Thursday, talk of the campaign was dwindling, and, while certain clubs and students tried to keep the conversation going, most of the school community was already back to focusing on whatever their next assessment was. Hillary Clinton performed some-
Belmont Hill community, a mindset further proved by the 66% of students who said the two party system was not beneficial to our country. Discussion of this campaign has been pervasive at Belmont Hill since the primaries kicked off last year, but most Belmont Hill students said that they believe there was the right amount of discussion. However, many felt there was an inherent bias in this discussion, and, although there were accusations of bias towards both sides, but the consensus was, as
Belmont Hill: Is the two-party system beneficial to the country?
“I think a lot of people voted for him...because they didn’t want another four years of stagnation. He is our president, he got elected by the American people, and he will Make America Great Again.” what well at Belmont Hill, winning just over half the vote. Considering that Belmont Hill was split relatively evenly between Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and that Mitt Romney won the school election in 2012, Clinton’s performance is somewhat out of the ordinary for Belmont Hill, but it is understandable considering the divisiveness of
put by one responder, “the administrative staff speaks more favorably about Clinton whereas the student body is more supportive of Trump.” While looking at the results from the mock election, Hillary Clinton received all but four votes from the faculty, two of which went to Donald Trump and the other two to Gary Johnson. Among students, however, the vote
Belmont Hill: Who do you support for president?
“A lot of people at Belmont Hill don’t realize that people who aren’t straight white men are fearing for their livelihood. It doesn’t matter that he held up an LGBT flag at one of his rallies, what he’s said he will do to that community is a major setback for America and the progress we’ve made.” Donald Trump’s campaign. In fact, many students were shocked that Donald Trump even received 30% of the vote, as they felt that, while technically a Republican, Trump’s rhetoric was far too harsh and students should be willing to cross party lines to vote for Clinton. In the election, Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton 53% to 41% with males, and Clinton beat Trump 54% to 41% among women. At an all boys school, the gender impact is an impor-
was much more split, and, although Hillary Clinton still won, Donald Trump certainly received support. Another student responded that: “Teachers should not talk about politics. On a number of times teachers roast Donald Trump and only say great things about Hillary Clinton. Totally biased.” However, while teachers do certainly point out negatives about Donald Trump in class, one must wonder how much of that is justified. In the senior economics elec-
Belmont Hill: With which party do you identify?
There are strengths and shortcomings in both the Winsor and Belmont Hill communities. Winsor had a more cohesive reaction to the election’s startling result. Its impromptu school meeting was an important recognition of the election’s far reaching impacts, and encouraging political discussion in such a tumultuous election will only further students’ understanding and involvement in politics. Because Winsor provided a platform for students to express their thoughts to the community, Winsor students have the advantage of processing the results of the election together. However, data showed that Belmont Hill has a more politically diverse student body, so its students have the advantage of exposure to different political beliefs.
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Behind the Political Scenes of Belmont Hill and Winsor On the day following the election, a somber mood fell over Winsor. In hallways and classrooms alike, many students were seen crying or comforting each other. Students who walked into the senior homeroom to greet their peers or visit their lockers were met with a dead silence - many seniors simply sat on the couches without speaking, as if in shock. The school even called an impromptu Upper School meeting to provide an opportunity for students to express their feelings to the school community. Some students expressed hope, calling on the community to continue fighting for what
we believe in the coming years, instead of simply regarding this election as a defeat. Others shared genuine worries for what is to come and their personal stories about how this election has impacted themselves and their families. This meeting was intended to be a safe space for students to share their reactions to the election. Our Head of School Ms. Pelmas emphasized the importance of respecting everyone’s viewpoints, however, it’s worth noting that not one student who spoke up indicated support for Trump or expressed happiness with the result. Was this really a safe
space, if it did not serve the same purpose for someone who felt satisfied with president elect and wanted to share their sentiments with the community? Is this indicative of a larger community bias that Winsor holds? The Panel hopes that the poll we sent out a few days before the election, to which over 330 students and faculty members total responded, provides for some useful reflection upon these questions. Given the understanding that Winsor (and Massachusetts in general) is predominantly liberal, much of the data received from the pre-election poll was unsurprising: 56.6% of the 332 respondents identified as Democrats, while only 6% were Republicans. Yet, support for
and Clinton. This phenomenon is reflected in Winsor’s evident dissatisfaction with the two-party system: nearly half of the respondents were against it. But perhaps the most revealing parts of our data came from the free response sections of the poll, in which it became clear that our community does not hold one, all-inclusive stance on what happened in this election. One response succinctly described the election as “not our country’s brightest moment.” Another answer expressed disappointment in Winsor students’ treatment of Trump supporters, arguing; “We need to stop writing Trump fans off. Their support for a candidate that
“I believe that people have let blind passion and often anger cloud their ideas and ability to think about the election and the future of our nation.”
Winsor: Is the two-party system beneficial to the country?
Donald Trump was half of the latter figure, hitting just below 3%. Thus, despite party affiliations, it appears that many Winsor Republicans did not back Trump, perhaps mirroring what we are seeing on the national stage: a split within the Republican party. On the other hand, Clinton evidently picked up votes outside party lines—74.1% of respondents supported her for president. It seems that she pulled from the pool of Winsor’s independents,
so many of us find disgusting… reflects a real disaffection from lower/middle class Americans… not trying to understand their concerns is close-minded.” When prompted to describe discussion surrounding the election at Winsor, many students indicated that they felt that political discourse at school was rather one-sided. While one person responded that discussion was “heated, but all in agreement” because “everyone sup-
“Winsor is seen by the student body as a very democratic/liberal school, just because the more conservative students are, quite frankly, scared to voice their opinions for fear of being alienated/hurt by their peers.”
Winsor: Who do you support for president?
who constituted 30.4% of respondents. However, some who voted for Clinton do not wholeheartedly support her: in a free response section of the poll, many remarked that their votes for Clinton were, as one person put it, “really a ‘lesser of two evils’ vote.” The widespread dislike of both candidates perhaps contributed to the 13.6% of voters who remained undecided. Though most decided voters supported major party candidates, nearly
ports [Hillary]”, another vented that conversations were “incredibly liberal, even to the point where people turn their backs on Trump supporters rather than trying to learn about why they sympathize with such parties”. Comments on the frequency of political discourse occurred over a large range. A couple of students commented that there was “minimal discussion” in the Lower School during election; indeed, though there was a Lower School
“My home environment was celebrating the win of Donald Trump, but my classmates were mourning Hillary’s loss. My initial positivity about the outcome of the election was immediately overshadowed by the grief my classmates felt. In this moment, I didn’t know how to feel.”
Winsor: With which party do you identify?
10% of respondents went in a different direction. 1.2% chose Stein, 2.7% chose Johnson, and around 6% selected the option “Other” (presumably a write-in candidate). Like Clinton, Stein and Johnson received votes from people who did not identify with their parties: only 0.3% of respondents supported the Green Party and 1.2% supported the Libertarian Party. Either way, it seems that some Winsor voters found themselves looking for other options outside of Trump
version of the Upper School forum in which students were allowed to ask Ms. Pelmas questions, the floor was not open to student commentary. Even before these meetings occurred, one student felt restricted from discussing the election at school: “I have had teachers say ‘we’re not even going to discuss it’ and shut it down which doesn’t give us a chance to talk about with peers… School is supposed to be a place we can openly discuss the world but many times we’re told not to.”
Whether liberal or conservative, it is important that the youth stays in tune with political happenings. This election was one for the history books, and many students had their first opportunity to vote. It is essential to the future of our country that we do not shy away from controversial political discussion, but rather embrace it. Though this election may be intimidating, faith must be restored in the American political process, and this generation must play a role in doing so. As Americans who seek to benefit our communities and country, we should strive to understand all aspects of the political spectrum. If, as schools, we choose to respect all aspects of the political spectrum, we can be leaders in healing our country’s divide.
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Fall Sports Wrap-Ups Soccer Record: 3-9-2 Captains: Olivia Chapman ’17 and Alexa Green ’17 Favorite memory: “Beating LCA during our UTL rematch and our team trip to haunted farm with WVFH!” - Olivia Chapman ’17 Team motto: “Fake it ‘til you make it.” Favorite rival: LCA
Cross Country Kristie Rae Gillooly
Record: Undefeated, EIL champions Captains: Katie Cronin ’17 and Fiona Duckworth ’17 Favorite memory: “Doing the team dance after every race” Katie Cronin ’17 Team motto: “Put your pants on.” Favorite rival: Thayer!
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Crew
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Record: N/A Captains: Isabelle Bastian ’17, Ruby Eisenbud ’17, and Sophie Stone ’17 Favorite memory: The Double Ewe Regatta: Halloween regatta involving costumes where rowers cox and coxswains row. Team motto: “Pain is good, extreme pain is extremely good!” Favorite rival: The wind
Field Hockey Record: 6-6-1 Captains: Hannah Green ’17 and Helen Sayegh ’17 Favorite memory: The first time Coach Cal dabbed. Team motto: “Don’t get injured,” Favorite rival: NCDS
Kristie Rae Gillooly
Volleyball Kristie Rae Gillooly
Record: 1-0 Captains: Alexandra Belluck ’17, Emma Bernstein ’17, Susy Liu ’17, and Emma Pan ’17 Favorite memory: Beating Dana Hall at home as the underdog! Favorite rival: Dana Hall Kristie Rae Gillooly
Kristie Rae Gillooly
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Kaylee Chang
KristieRae Rae Gillooly Kristie Gillooly
Novemb er 21, 2016
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What Even Is Curling? By Kiran Butte and Sophie Stone panel staff Curling at Winsor seems to be shrouded in mystery and confusion. What does a curler do? Does one curl, or do curling? What could possibly be the appeal of throwing a stone across ice and furiously sweeping the space in front of it? Despite its prevalence as a winter sport, Winsor girls are still confused about what this sport is all about. The sport of curling is simple in theory. Players slide stones (forty pound circles of polished granite) across a sheet of ice towards a target area comprised of four concentric circles. The teams are made up of four players. Each team has a head, called the skip, and there are two people that sweep. Each team has eight stones that they will “throw” in an attempt to gain the most amount of points. In one game of curling, a team plays a certain number of smaller games which are called “ends.” In one end, only one of the teams can score points. A team scores when a stone lands on the target which is called “the house.”
But only one team gets the points, so whichever team has the closest stones to the middle of the house gets the points. So each team’s stone that is closer to the middle of the target than the nearest stone of the opposing team gets 1 point. Whichever team has the most points at the end of the game, wins. When asked the one thing she wanted Winsor to know about curling, Lena Fulkerson ’17 wanted to clear up the basics. She responded simply, “We are a real team. We have fun and we win.” She had decided to try curling because she thought it would be “fun,” but part of the appeal was that “people made fun of it,” playfully acknowledging the oddity of the sport and its general perception. But her favorite moment thus far? “When me and my team won the Curling League Championships.”☐
Curling FAQ: When do they practice? Tuesdays and Thursdays Where do they practice? Brookline Country Club Who do they play against? Curling League of 5 private schools, including British School, Brimmer and May School, Dexter Southfield, and Brookline High School
Lena Fulkerson ’17
World Series Curses By sam goldenson Staff Writer The Major League Baseball season has finally come to close with a nail-biting World Series Win by the Chicago Cubs. Going into the 2016 World Series, the Indians and the Cubs had not seen World Series victories for their teams in several decades. The Cleveland Indians had not made an appearance in the World Series since 1997, and have not won the series since 1948. Their losing streak seemed somewhat insignificant to that of the Chicago Cubs, who had not won a title since 1908. Over the years, baseball fans have developed theories as to why their favorite team wasn’t winning; Red Sox fans may be familiar with “The Curse of the Bambino,” a superstition that was developed in 1919 when Babe Ruth was traded and cursed the Red Sox. Superstitions surrounding the long-standing unlucky stretches for the Cubs and Indians have also arisen, however this year’s World Series win by the Cubs has made fans wonder: has the curse been reversed? The Curse of the Billy Goat is a long standing superstition that was seemingly placed upon the Chicago Cubs in 1945. Tavern owner William Sianis was asked to leave Wrigley Field because of the odor of his pet goat, Murphy, for whom he had bought a ticket. Outraged, Sianis exclaimed that “them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more,” which has been interpreted as either the Cubs will never win another National League Pennant or World Series title. In an attempt to get rid of the curse, the Cubs invited descendants of both Sianis and Murphy to Wrigley, where Sianis’ nephew announced that “the curse is lifted.” When that proved unsuccessful, the 2008 Cubs invited a priest to spread holy water across the home dugout. However, The Curse of the Billy Goat finally came
to an end in 2016 when, ironically, on the 46th anniversary of Sianis’ death, the Cubs won the National League Pennant and advanced to the World Series and eventually ended up winning the World Series. The Indians still have their own curse to deal with. The curse of Rocky Colavito was started before the Indians’ 1960 season when slugger Rocky Colavito was traded to the Detroit Tigers. This trade was shocking because Colavito was popular amongst fans and had hit 42 home runs
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Featured Athlete: Madison Lehan ’18 By Hammond Hearle panel staff Madison Lehan ’18 has been an enthusiastic and talented member of the soccer, hockey and lacrosse teams at Winsor for the past 4 years, and she has just completed her third season on Winsor Varsity Soccer. She is currently beginning her first season as one of the captains for Winsor Varsity Hockey and scored over 50 goals for the Winsor Varsity Lacrosse team in the 2016 season. Her positive attitude and constant encouragement as well as her natural skill have made her a valuable member of each team she has been a part of and a leader on and off the field. The Panel asked Madison a few questions about her experience as a Winsor Athlete:
Kristie Rae Gillooly
P: What is your favorite part of being on a Winsor sports team? ML: “My favorite part is getting to be friends with so many girls who aren’t in my class. I love knowing people from every grade.” P: When did you start playing your sports? ML: “I’ve played sports my whole life. I started soccer when I was in kindergarten, lacrosse in third grade, and hockey in fifth grade.” P: What is your favorite sport out of soccer, hockey, and lacrosse? ML: “I can’t pick a favorite, but there is nothing like the speed of play in hockey.” P: Do you think being an athlete at Winsor is more challenging because of the intense work load? ML: “It usually helps me because playing sports makes me less stressed. Sometimes it can be hard coming home late from hockey practice or from a game.” P: What do you think is the most important aspect of Winsor athletics? ML: “The most important part is the girls that make up the teams. Every team that I have been on at Winsor is full of funny, kind, and thoughtful girls. I’m so lucky to be a part of it.” ☐
Students Take a Knee By Sindhu Krishnamurthy Staff Writer
Continued from Front Page... Kaepernick has also influenced others to stand up against oppression. More and more athletes have been kneeling during the national anthem ever since August, including Kaepernick’s teammate Eric Reid, Jeremy Lane of the Seattle Seahawks, and Megan Rapinoe, a gay player for Seattle Reign FC. Even a few students and faculty at Winsor sat during the National Anthem at UTL. “While a sea of bodies have stood up, I will be sitting at the bottom of their feet,” explained a student who kneeled. “I believe sportsmockery.com that this is a physical representation of what in the previous season. Unfortunately, the some people must face every single day. BeIndians went from 89-65 in 1959 to 76-78 cause I believe when you are physically and in 1960. The curse was given its name in 1994 when author Terry Pluto wrote the book, “The Curse of Rocky Colavito: A Loving Look at a Thirty-Year Slump” about the Indians’ decline. Of course, the Indians’ place in the World Series was earned when they won the Pennant; players and fans alike assumed the curse was broken. Hammond Hearle ’18 comments, “I feel like these two teams have been a little bit of a joke in baseball because of their respective curses, but this World Series definitely validates the fans for both teams, even though technically only the Cubs won.” The Cubs’ win earlier this November has many celebrating the end of the Curse of the Billy Goat. As for those in Cleveland, only time will tell if another World Series appearance is enough to break the curse.☐
socially below someone, you live your life in fear. You do not have a voice, much less the same opportunities and rights that everyone else may have. I kneel in solitude to this feeling.” Another student who considered kneeling adds, “The National Anthem is a tribute to America, particularly the equality it has always upheld, and it seems logical that any American citizen would refuse to honor that in these times of racial chaos and injustice.” In the past, sports has maintained a relatively unbiased perspective on social issues, and is traditionally an escape from political tension. However, Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling has highlighted sports’ growing involvement in the discussion of social issues. Even Winsor students have taken notice and been inspired by his actions. ☐
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Cross Country Captures Fourth ISL Championship By Mack Perry panel staff Led by captains Andrew Kaneb ‘17 and John Pappo ‘18, the cross country team raced to their first league title since 2010, defeating league powers Nobles and St. Mark’s to earn sixtynine points in the championship race at Groton on November 5. Quinn McGaugh ‘18 (4), John Pappo (7), and Charlie Donahue ‘19 (12) placed within the Top 15 overall in the Varsity race. Eric Whitehead ‘18 (5) and Bennett Morris ‘18 (9) placed within the Top 15 in JV with Andrew Berg ‘18 winning the race with a 5K time of 17:54. The secret to the team’s championship fall was the depth and parity in the thirty-man roster. Often met with setbacks of injuries, runners filled the gaps in the Varsity and top JV spots. Jack Daley ‘17, Andrew Berg, Bennett Morris, John High ‘19, and Nick Daley
‘19 made a heavy impact in their rookie seasons; J. Daley and High anchored the
Top 5 while Berg, Morris, and N. Daley all stepped up to compete with Varsity. “Early in the season, I realized that we could win the league if we stayed healthy and pushed ourselves,” said Andrew. “Everybody worked his tail off, and we had some really gutsy runs at ISL’s that let us take home the championship. I’m incredibly proud of what we have accomplished as a team.” The team’s combination of longdistance runs, tempo pieces, and track workouts pushed them to be the fittest in the league. September gave runners a heavy dose of mileage to build a solid foundation for the season; workouts transitioned into shorter, faster pieces for the last month of the season to prime conditioning for the ISL championship. Coaches Trautz, Vailas, Harder, and Rice emphasized “team-running” and grit, stressing the importance of pack running, team support, and mental toughness in practice and races. “You can do anything for twenty minutes,” Coach Trautz often reminded the team. The squad finished their regular season at 12-4, with losses to Nobles, St. Mark’s, St. Paul’s and ISL newcomer Tabor. “I am extremely proud of this team,” remarked Coach Trautz. “They set a goal early in the season to win an ISL Championship.” Last Saturday, the team posted its best finish ever at the NEPSTA Division 1 Championships at Phillips Exeter, finishing 4th overall in the Varsity race and 6th in the JV race. Quinn McGaugh ‘18 placed fifteenth in the Varsity race with a blistering time of 16:54. With a strong lineup of John Pappo, Quinn McGaugh, Charlie Donahue ‘19, John High ‘19, Eric Whitehead ‘18, Bennett Morris, Andrew Berg, Jackson Stone ‘19, Nick Daley, and John Markis ‘18, the team has already set its sights on repeating as champions next fall. ☐
Soccer Team Heads to NEPSAC Playoffs For Second Straight Year V. Picon
By Matt Bracken panel staff The Belmont Hill Soccer team finished the regular season with a 123-2 record overall. Belmont Hill started off the season with impressive wins over A schools Bridgton and Exeter, before starting the ISL season. There was no shortage of drama in the ISL opener against rival school BB&N under the lights, as a last minute goal from freshman Matthew Goncalves rescued a 2-2 tie after being down for most of the second half. Belmont Hill soon returned to their winning ways, however, ripping off a five-game winning streak, which included a come from behind win against Rivers, as well as a crucial 2-1 win against Nobles. The winning streak came to a halt on October 15th, where Belmont Hill lost a devastating 1-0 game to St. Sebastian’s at the Arrows’ homecoming. Needing to bounce back, Belmont Hill managed to defeat Middlesex 3-2, with two goals from senior midfielder Cam Gordon, and another last-minute goal from Matthew Goncalves to give Belmont Hill the victory. Next came a clash with undefeated ISL leaders Brooks, where Belmont Hill lost 1-0 in a closely-contested matchup. Belmont Hill was able to hold Brooks’s high-scoring offense to only one goal, but was unable to break down Brooks’ defense and was handed another dis-
Belmont Hill’s Top Ten Faculty Athletes By John markis panel staff Belmont Hill students dominate the playing fields. This aspect of the school attracts a variety of young teachers, many of whom competed and excelled at a serious level. The criteria used to evaluate faculty members consist of the following: difficulty of sport (i.e., popularity in U.S./competition pool), success attained, and continued athletic prowess. Honorable Mention: Mr. Kirby (Holy Cross Baseball) People say he was less than a god but more than a man.”- Benny “The Jet” RodriguezAfter pitching at BC High and Holy Cross with incredible skill, Kirby came to the Hill prepared to coach one of his favorite sports; however, there were no coaching availabilities, so he opted for track. He revived the program, leading the team to over 300 wins. Kirby’s feats as an athlete, though, seem to grow with every passing year. He hit a ball over the dorm. He could bench all of the weights in the old gymnasium (thanks to Darren Sullivan ‘87 for those tidbits). Kirby remains perhaps the best faculty athlete in the School’s history. 10: Mr. Glor (Georgetown Football) Glor played four years of wide receiver for the Hoyas after turning down the option of playing both basketball and football at Williams. Teaming up with Kyle Nolan, now an NFL practice squad player, Glor solidified his position as a starting WR during his lt two years, cultivating in the best game of his career: nine catches, a touchdown, and over 100 receiving yards in a loss to ranked Fordham.
9: Mrs. O’Connor (Williams Cross Country/Track) As an All-American in both cross country and the 1500m in her sophomore year, O’Connor led the Ephs to the NCAA Championship in both sports. With a blistering sub-17 5k, O’Connor could have earned even more accolades without an injury during her junior year; however, she returned in her senior year and ran her best-ever 1500mandresumedherstatusasanAll-American. 8: Dr. Davis (Harvard Wrestling) After walking onto the team, Davis had to beat out five recruited wrestlers at perhaps the toughest weight class, 132, to break the starting line-up. With an unbelievable work ethic, examples of which include waking up at dawn to run and then attending classes, Davis earned his spot in the truest sense of the word. His teammates rewarded him with the captainship in his senior year, and he responded by pinning wrestlers from all other Ivy League teams. 7: Ms. Vailas (Dartmouth CrossCountry/Track) As the Gatorade Track Athlete of The Year from the Granite State, Vailas joined the Dartmouth running teams as the owner of the New Hampshire mile record holder. After watching her perform admirably various relays, Vailas’ coaches designated her as the youngest captain in Big Green history. She ran a 2:08 800m and 4:24 1500m, both of which merited all-league. Ultimately, she and Olympian Abbey D’Agostino led the track team to the Heps championship, one of the first in the team’s history. 6: Sr. Montoya (Boston College Soccer) Montoya played four years for the Eagles,
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making All-Big East in his junior year and being elected captain in his senior year. As a professional, he joined the Boston Bolts, the precursor to the Revolution, where he earned team MVP honors and led his squad to the finals. Montoya competed against and defeated a plethora of top-notch strikers, including World Cup champions Osvaldo Ardiles and Rudi Voller. 5: Mr. Martin (Bowdoin Hockey) As a starting center for the Polar Bears, Martin held many of the scoring records when he graduated; had he been permitted to play in his freshman season (this rule was changed in 1968), many of his records would have stood to this day. Still, Martin became the first player in Bowdoin history to record over 1,000 points, and he was elected captain his senior year. Martin tried out for the Buffalo Sabres, playing alongside future Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault and performed well; however, he decided that the NHL life did not agree with him. Mr. Martin coached the BH varsity team for thirty-nine years and retired with an astounding 707 wins, making him the winningest high school coach in the state. 4: Mr. Leonardis (UNC-Chapel Hill Wrestling) After winning the Most Outstanding Wrestler award, given to the best prep school wrestler in the nation, twice, Leonardis took his talents to Chapel Hill. A four-year starter, he won 110 matches, beating thirteen All-Americans in the process. As an ACC champion, Leonardis qualified for the NCAA’s multiple times, nearly winning the whole tournament. 3: Mr. Cofield (William and Mary Basketball)
appointing loss. Now with two losses on the season, Belmont Hill needed to finish the season perfectly to have a fighting chance at the NEPSAC Class A tournament at the end of the year. A midweek 5-0 win over Thayer got Belmont Hill back on track before their contest with ISL and NEPSAC defending champions Milton Academy. With both teams on the bubble, a win was critical for Belmont Hill if they were to make it two straight postseason appearances. The game was played at the Belmont Hill homecoming on October 29th, and Belmont Hill capitalized on the home-field advantage by jumping out to an early 1-0 lead through a header from senior midfielder Robbie Cronin. Belmont Hill proceeded to shut out Milton through the rest of the game, handing Milton their first ISL League loss since September 2013. A period spanning 51 consecutive games without a loss. With the win against Milton, Belmont Hill is in position to make the NEPSAC playoffs, sitting 7th out of all Class A teams, with the top 8 making the tournament. However, following a disappointing loss to St. Mark’s, the team earned the 8th seed in the NEPSAC tournament. With this record, Belmont Hill is slated to play Worcester Academy on November 16th in a bid to take the New England Class A title. ☐
Even though William and Mary has never reached the NCAAs known as March Madness, Cofield dominated his conference, becoming somewhat of a paradox in the process: an RL student good at sports. As the Rookie of the Year in the CAA, Cofield played against Ray Felton, Rajon Rondo, and a whole host of other NBA players during his four years. Cofield earned all-conference in all four years. 2: Mr. McCarthy (Harvard Hockey) After an outstanding career at Belmont Hill, McCarthy brought his skills to a small liberal arts college in Cambridge, MA. At Harvard, he lined up as both a defenseman and center, and his teammates rewarded both his versatility and dedication to the team with the captainship. After graduating, McCarthy travelled abroad, lacing up in Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, and the AHL. 1: Mr. Brownell (Williams Soccer, Hockey, Baseball) On his soccer team, Brownell lined up at midfield; in hockey, he skated as a center; he played first base for the Ephs. On each of his teams, Brownell participated fully, dominating the pitch, the rink, and the diamond. His peers, recognizing his elite talent, named him the best athlete at Williams. Brownell led his hockey team to the ECAC championship multiple times, attracting coaches from both the States and abroad. As an adult, Brownell picked up squash as a casual activity; he proceeded to become the best squash player for his age group on Earth. Simply put, even some current professional athletes’ accolades pale in comparison to Brownell’s athletic career, and he stands alone as the best faculty athlete at Belmont Hill. ☐
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Belmont Hill Varsity Scoreboard TEAM
RECORD
Football
6-2
Cross Country
12-4
Soccer
12-3-2
NOTABLE RESULTS ISL Champions W 29-19 vs. St. Seb’s
For all crews involved, the 52nd annual Head of the Charles was one to remember. On the first day of racing, the skies released a torrent of rain upon competitors. With reduced visibility and slipper y oar handles, the Saturday crews p u s h e d down the course regardless. Sunday was much drier, but crews were instead battered by a westsouthwest wind. B ecause of the winding nature of the course, the wind changed from a headwind to a tailwind in just minutes. Saturday morning saw many of the masters events race down the course. B elmont Hill’s own Mr. Richards finished second in the Men’s Senior Master Fours, just four seconds behind first place. Gregg Stone, a B elmont Hill rowing coach and the father of Winsor Olympian Gevvie Stone, finished second in the Veteran I Singles. B oth raced with the sky-blue oars of Cambridge B oat Club. The youth sweep crews descended on the course on Sunday. B elmont Hill and Winsor each entered a four and eight. Crowds crammed onto a sinking dock to scream the
Ray Hunt Zach Geddes Nate Miller Peter Tamasi
ISL Champions W 27-28 vs. St. George’s
Quin McGaugh Cam Hall
W 1-0 vs. Milton W 2-1 vs. Nobles
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Head Of the Charles Recap: BH and Winsor Crews Thrive By Robbie Warming Panel Staff
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boathouse crews around the final turn. The B elmont Hill and Winsor fours both finished 10th in their respective events. The young B elmont Hill eight claimed 63rd and the Winsor eight got 67th. B elmont Hill captain B obby Jahrling (VI) said, “We
Recent alumni from B elmont Hill and Winsor also charged down the course in Championship events. Tommy Ruggles (BH ‘16) took 4th with Georgetown’s Lightweight Four. Elizabeth Roe (W ‘16) took 11th in Har vard-R adcliffe’s
wanted to do a little better in the four, but considering our lack of practice time, I think we’re happy with the result. I think the entire team had a great showing.” B ecause of ISL rules, the B elmont Hill eight could only practice once a week. The four could only practice twice a week. The four practiced with the rest of the team on Sundays and then rose early ever y Thursday morning for a second weekly practice. Mr. Richards and Mr. George would lead most of the Sunday practices while C oaches Greer Dent, Jacob Sobstyl, and B elmont Hill alumnus Henr y Ogilby took the helm on Thursdays. The Head of the Charles marked the final hurrah of Winsor’s fall rowing season, where they raced in the Head of the Housatonic and Textile River Regatta.
Champ Four. Giovanna De Vito (W ‘16) raced in the Champ Eight with the Naval Academy. C oxswain C ole Durbin (BH’14) and Alexander Richards (BH ‘14) took 3rd in the Champ Eight with Har vard. Robbie Danziger (BH ‘13) raced in Georgetown’s Champ Eight. And Gevvie Stone (W’03) made rowing headlines when she tied a Head of the Charles Women’s Championship Single record by winning the event for the seventh time. She also won the Championship Eight with her world sculling peers in the “Great Eight.” The Head of the Charles is much more than a rowing race. The regatta is rowing’s Mecca, bringing rowers from all over the world to the frigid shores of the Charles. This year was no exception.☐
Athlete of the Issue: Raymond Hunt All that can be heard is the uproar from The L o o p. R a y Hu n t ‘ 1 7 h a s just broken a tackle and f lown into the end zone. This has been a ver y common occurrence on Saturday afternoons this
s t u d e n t , o r t e a c h e r, t h a t spends time with him. Last season, when the football team did not have t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l y e a r, R ay still showed up to ever y practice with a smile on his face and ready to improve. His reliability as a sprinter and running back makes him a serious
f a l l . A s R a y, t h e s c h o o l president, explained in his speech to the school, his talents were not always as outstanding as t h e y a r e t o d a y. A f t e r b e ing put on the defensive l i n e a s a s e v e n t h g r a d e r, R a y ’s a m b i t i o n t o b e a running back pushed him t o b e b e t t e r. S i x y e a r s a n d c o u n t l e s s s p r i n t s l a t e r, R ay is now the captain of both football and track. No t o n l y c a n t h e s e f e a t s be attributed to his skills, but also his natural leade r s h i p a b i l i t y. R a y ’s p a s sion for athletics and B elm o n t H i l l r u b o f f o n a ny
t h r e a t t o o t h e r t e a m s . No t only is R ay able to gain yards in times of need, b u t a l s o p r o t e c t t h e q u a rterback on passing plays. His experience on offense and defense make him an excellent mentor to all the younger players o n v a r s i t y f o o t b a l l . R a y ’s determination to improve makes him an excellent role model for all athletes at B elmont Hill. B eing a two-sport varsity captain, school president, member o f t h e C u m L a u d e S o c i e t y, and violinist in the school orchestra, R ay truly is a “r a y - n a i s s a n c e m a n”. ☐
By Lawson Morris Staff Writer
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The Marginalized Take Center Stage in She Kills Monsters By Teresa Lawlor Contributing Writer Never before has Winsor seen a production more fantastical, intense, or daring than She Kills Monsters , which was performed on November 11th and 12th at Winsor. After finding an old Dungeons and Dragons notebook, Agnes (Saphia Suarez ’17) sets out on a wild adventure that spans both reality and a fantasy world with the goal of finally understanding her dead sister Tilly (Ariela Rosenzweig ’19), with whom she had a complicated and distant relationship. Along the
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way, Agnes befriends a miscellany of magical, other worldly creatures who push her out of her comfort zone. The show featured eleven combat sequences that were choreographed by professional fight director Dr. Danielle Rosvally, and the actors were armed with live steel weapons. “I’ve never worked on a show in either a professional or educational setting that has incorporated this much stage combat!” says Mr. Johnson, the director of the show. This level of complexity certainly presented some challenges; for many of the actors, stage combat is a completely new skill. “You have to really focus and know what you’re doing to make sure no one gets hurt,” says Asrah Rizvi ’20, who plays the role of Steve. However, the challenge was also rewarding. Rehearsing a sequence to perfection and “knowing how realistic it will look to the audience is a great feeling,” says Lia Kornmehl ’19 (Vera). This year, the Winsor fall play experienced a surprisingly high turn-out for auditions; twenty-five girls auditioned for fifteen parts. But a rising interest in the arts is not just due to this play – over the last few years, the Winsor theater program has been growing in size and creating new opportunities. “Our new space has also allowed us to really start owning our place in the community…I’ve been able to build a sense of respect and trust with my actors so that our work continues to get richer and stronger with each
Seniors in She Kills Monsters pose for a picture production,” says Mr. Johnson. According to the cast of this particular production, he has succeeded. “ The Winsor drama department is a wonderful, thriving group of talented people, and I love each and ever y one of them” says Ariela Rosenzweig ’19. The other part of this growth is due to the shows that Mr. Johnson and the Performing Arts Department have chosen for the students. “It’s been really fascinating to explore what it means to be a woman in the world by selecting plays from different places, time periods, and writers,” says Mr. Johnson. “I loved that She Kills Monsters had so many complex, well written female roles and really dug into the relationship between sisters.” The
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script highlights powerful, independent female characters and tells the stories of several queer teenagers, as well as celebrating “geeker y” typically viewed as untrendy – all topics that are rarely together onstage. One of the central themes of She Kills Monsters is self-discover y, as seen in Agnes’s journey from an “average” high school teacher to a monster-slaying warrior, but the show also advocates for looking past someone’s outward appearance to understand and appreciate who the person truly is. The play deals with these issues within the context of a teenage girl’s life and invites its audience to fight their own dragons through the lense of adventure, magic, and fantasy. ☐
Thanksgiving Recipes You Should Try This Year
Ingredients • 5 sweet potatoes (sliced) • 1/4 cup of orange juice • 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup of white sugar • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon • 1 pinch of salt • 1/2 cup of butter • 1 1/2 cups of miniature marshmallows
By Blair Englert and Greta Goldberg Contributing Writers What’s better than a no homework weekend and a holiday dedicated entirely to food? Literally nothing. Thankfully, Thanksgiving break is approaching at a rapid speed, and since the holiday is just around the corner, here are some recipes you may consider as you get out your cookbooks. We can’t wait to stock our kitchens with ingredients and food for this spirited holiday!
1/2 teaspoon of salt 1 unbaked pie crust (9 inch)* *we recommend Pillsbury
• •
To put this delicious dish together, first preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Then whisk the pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl. Next, pour the mixture into the pie crust and put in the oven for 15 minutes. After 15 mins, turn the oven down to 350 degrees F and bake for another 35-40 Pumpkin Pie thedoctorstv.com mins. To check if the pie is done, insert a knife in the pie about 1 inch in from the Pumpkin Pie: crust, and if it comes out clean it is done! What’s a Thanksgiving meal withLet the pie cool and top it as you wish; out a pumpkin pie? Here is our favor- we recommend lots of whipped cream! ite recipe that fills the whole house with an amazing aroma. Grab your siblings or friends and get ready to cook! Ingredients • 1 can of puréed pumpkin (15 oz) • 1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz) • 2 large eggs • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger Cranberry Sauce • 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
To make these delicious sweet potheodysseyonline.com tatoes, first preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then put the sliced potatoes in Cranberry Sauce: a pot of boiling water on the stove. AfAnother classic dish for Thanks- ter 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are giving is your festive cranberry sauce! soft, remove them from the water, drain Many people buy it right from the the potatoes and mash them up. Then can, but you can make even bet- distribute them on a shallow baking pan ter sauce yourself. Here’s how: (10x6 inch) and pour the orange juice over the potatoes. Separately, in a small Ingredients: bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon, • 12 ounces of fresh cranberries and salt together and then add the but• 1 cup orange juice ter. Sprinkle this mixture over the sweet • 1 cup of white sugar potatoes and bake for 30 minutes in the oven. After the time is up, put marshmalTo make this yummy sauce, lows on the potatoes and broil the pan unfirst place a medium pan on the stove til the marshmallows are golden brown. at medium heat. Then put the orange juice in the pan and pour in the sugar until it is dissolved. Next mix in the cranberries and cook until the skins break (approximately ten minutes). Finally, take the pan off the stove and pour the sauce into a bowl. As the pan’s temperature drops, the cranberry sauce will cool until it has a thick consistency. Sweet Potatoes:
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Sweet Potatoes
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This last recipe is a combination of sweet and savory. Here is how All of these recipes came from allto make this mouth-watering dish. recipes.com. Happy Thanksgiving! ☐
Novemb er 21, 2016
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Hamilton: Still Great Despite New Cast Members Julia Mastandrea Contributing Writer Who lives, who who tells your story? This is the question at the center of Hamilton, the cultural phenomenon that you’ve probably heard of even if you aren’t a fan. Last month, I was lucky enough to be in the room where it happens (I apologize in advance for my terrible puns) and let me tell you, the show did not disappoint. Although the three original leads Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, and Leslie Odom Jr. are no longer in the show, original cast members Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/ Phillip Hamilton), Chris Jackson (George Washington), and Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds) were on for that performance. The new cast members are all amazing, but Brandon Victor Dixon’s performance as Aaron Burr really stood out. He portrayed Burr’s character arc from Hamilton’s friend to his enemy in such a nuanced way, while also making Burr actually likeable – well, at least until he shoots Hamilton. After the show, I went to the stage door to get my Playbill signed and to meet any cast members who came out. dies,
Brandon Victor Dixon, Seth Stewart, Chris Jackson, and Javier Muñoz all came to chat with the crowd of fans. They took selfies, chatted with people, and signed autographs. After listening to the cast album obsessively for a year (y’all, I literally bought my ticket in November of last year), my favorite part of finally seeing the show was watching the songs I knew by heart come to life onstage. There are so many little moments and details that you can’t know by only listening to the music. For example, there are lines in some of the songs that are said to specific characters, which you can’t tell from the cast recording. In addition, the balcony that goes around the perimeter of the stage adds another dimension to the show. There is often action happening in the balcony in addition to on the main stage, such as foreshadowing the next scene or hinting at past scenes. Lastly, the dancing in Hamilton is so intricate. Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography blew my mind, especially in “The Room Where it Happens.” In addition, just as there are musical motifs that run throughout the songs, there are choreographic motifs that reappear (often when a lyric or idea is repeated in multiple songs) that tie together
Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hamilton the musical and visual aspects of the show. Getting to see Hamilton was honestly one of the best moments of my life (no joke). One of the main reasons that Hamilton received so much initial attention was because of its diverse, non-traditional cast. I knew that virtually no one in the cast (except Rory O’Malley) was white, but seeing these incredible black, Latino, and Asian actors portraying our Found-
broadway.com ing Fathers (who were all white and owned slaves) made such a huge impact on me. This show is so important because a cast who looks like America today (i.e., many different races) is telling the story of America at a time when pretty much everyone in the country, except slaves, was white. Hamilton is the most incredible show I’ve ever seen, and if you ever manage to get tickets, don’t throw away your shot! ☐
Netflix Original: “Haters Back Off!” The Illusion to Premier this Week Isabel Isselbacher Staff Writer “Grey’s Anatomy?” Tragic. “Orange is the New Black”? Intense. “American Horror Story”? Terrifying. “Haters Back Off !”? It’s...different. “Haters Back Off !,” Netflix’s newest original TV series, started streaming on October 14th. The series stars Colleen Ballinger, who is a popular comedian with over 7 million subscribers on Youtube. She gained fame through her portrayal of Miranda Sings, a singer/character of her own invention, whom Wikipedia accurately describes as “comically talentless, egotistical, and quirky.” Ballinger stays in character as Miranda Sings in “Haters
Colleen Ballinger in “Haters Back Off!” Back Off !,” which documents the aspiring celebrities bumbling journey to stardom. Miranda’s odd, eccentric mannerisms are what make “Haters Back Off !” so weird and hilarious. As the New York Times put it, “Netflix helped popularize the binge-watch. “Haters Back Off !” introduces the cringe-watch.” In episode one of the eight part series, Miranda throws a temper tantrum when her mother awards her an A+ instead of an A+++. In another scene, she croons “Defying Gravity” for a painful two minutes. This kind of comedy is definitely an acquired taste, and “Haters Back Off !” has some “haters” within the Winsor community. Isabella Sibble ’20 admitted that,
despite having been a fan of the Youtube personality, she was disappointed by the show. “It was that awkward, forced kind of humor that makes you cringe more than laugh...I used to be a crazy fan but now I find the newer version of Miranda not as funny as she was in 20122014.” Olivia Brasher ’18 agreed that “as I watched the first half of the episode – I couldn’t make it through the whole thing – I felt equal parts confusion, amusement, and disgust.” According to Madeleine Montagner ’18, the series “is only funny if you are really tired or otherwise.” That being said, different isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’ve had your fill of Shonda Rhimes, and you like loud comedy (make that very loud comedy), the show might be a good fit for you.
youtube.com Besides, “Haters Back Off !” is particularly relevant in today’s digital age. With so many celebrities gaining their fame through Youtube and Vine, the series provides insight into the chaotic relationship between fame and social media. CNN conceded that “the show’s critique of a fame-obsessed culture certainly has merit,” adding that “‘Haters Back Off !’” is just the latest transplant to demonstrate the lingering if narrowing gap between YouTube and more traditional platforms.” Given the mixed reviews of the series, I recommend you give the first episode of “Haters Back Off !” a shot before passing judgment. If you like it, great! If you hate it, Miranda encourages you to “back off.” ☐
Katie Tsai Staff Writer Mystique. Love. Jealousy. Betrayal. Roxbury Latin’s fall production of The Illusion by Tony Kushner, which is adapted from Pierre Corneille’s 17th century comedic play L’Illusion Comique , will captivate audience members with its humorous, intriguing and poignant plot. The play begins when Pridamant, an elderly man, visits the cave of a magician in search of his son, Clindor, whom he has not seen for 15 years. The magician shows Pridamant three increasingly complicated visions, each depicting Clindor’s interactions with a new love interest, the love interest’s scheming maid, and Clindor’s rivals. The play will feature three Winsor students: Lydia Forti ’19, Maddie Latimore ’17, and Katie Tsai ’19, as well as ten RL boys in grades 10-12 and two girls from neighboring schools. The performances will be held on Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert P. and Salua J.A. Smith Center at RL. The actors have been working hard to connect with each other and to create a cohesive, believable story. When rehearsals began, the majority of the cast did not know one another well, but because many of the characters in the play have close relationships – the maids and their mistresses and the maidens and their love
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interests, for example, the cast has bonded over time. Additionally, most of the actors have dramatic moments as part of their roles, so they have been trying to play them accurately and with enough emotion. Truthfully, one of the hardest parts of rehearsing has been trying to stifle laughter after hearing someone’s bizarre lines or while watching other cast members’ funny characterizations. Maddie and Lydia shared their thoughts on why they believe audience members will enjoy the play. Referring to its puzzling plot, Maddie stated, “At first [they] will be confused, but they will be drawn in because they want to figure out what is happening.” Furthermore, they “should look forward to all the fight scenes because they will be awesome!” Lydia added, “So many of the characters are sneaky and like to play around with their fellow friends, and it’s very entertaining. I would pinpoint one scene that is hilarious, but quite honestly there are too many great scenes to pick just one.” If you would like to see the show, tickets may be purchased at the box office in the Smith pinterest.com Center before each performance. ☐
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The Hamilton Mixtape: Raps, Rhymes, and Remixes
By William McCormack Panel Staff
On August 6, 2015, Hamilton: The Musical first debuted at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. Its premiere was an evening full of budding optimism, joy, and accomplishment. Celebrating after the premiere, the show’s core of creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, orchestrator Alex Lacamoire, director Thomas Kail, and producer Jeffrey Seller maintained elevated, but realistic expectations, hoping their unique play could impact Broadway for at least a few seasons. However, in merely a few weeks, their short-sighted expectations had been long forgotten. Today, after 15 months on Broadway, it is clear Hamilton has traversed uncharted territory with its journey from a small offBroadway production at the Public Theater to an artistic masterpiece of this century. Creator, writer, composer, and lead actor Lin-Manuel Miranda’s remarkable rise has paralleled that of his successful show’s. Now a recognized genius, Miranda’s mastery of language, lyric, and music has become a highly sought-after talent. Miranda, having stepped away from his role as Alexander Hamilton this past July, has continued to share his brilliance with the
world. Hosting Saturday Night Live, leading a relentless campaign to increase voter participation in the 2016 election, and writing music for the Disney film Moana have been a few of the activities in which he has been recently involved. Most importantly, Lin-Manuel Miranda has spent the past few months finalizing “The Hamilton Mixtape,” set to be released on December 2nd and available for pre-order as of November 4th. First announced on Twitter just four days after the original cast album was released in September 2015, “The Hamilton Mixtape” will be a collection of covers, remixes, and originally deleted songs from the original 46-song cast album. The new album’s lineup that LinManuel has managed to recruit would astonish even DJ Khaled, known for his collaborations with big-name artists. A testament to how Hamilton has redefined the boundaries
of Broadway music, “The Hamilton Mixtape” features some of the biggest names in today’s hip-hop, rap, pop, and R&B landscape. The star-studded roster includes Questlove, Tariq Trotter (Black Thought), Busta Rhymes, Jimmy Fallon, Ben Folds, Regina Spektor, Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, Common, Sia, Usher, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Miguel, Andra Day, Nas, Aloe Blacc, Wiz Khalifa, Chance the Rapper, and more… Simply wow. Questlove, Tariq Trotter, and the Roots, Jimmy Fallon’s music group on the Tonight show, have helped Lin direct the project. There are simply too many exciting combinations to preview in one article. Busta Rhymes will rap on “My Shot,” Jimmy Fallon and the Roots will perform “You’ll Be Back,” John Legend will sing “History Has its Eyes on You,” Alicia Keys will cover “That Would Be Enough,” and Usher will sing “Wait For It,” an interesting and equally-talented replacement for Leslie Odom Jr. (actor for Aaron Burr in the actual show). Expanding
about his work in progress, he gave me great insight on the project, and what the process of writing music means to him:
By Benjamin London Panel Staff
on Cabinet Battles #1 and #2 in the original cast album, Miranda also plans on including a rap battle about the American institution of slavery and its legacy. Hamilton apparently raps, “This is the stain on our soul/ and democracy/ A land of the free? No, it’s not, it’s hypocrisy/ To subjugate, dehumanize a race, call ‘em property/ And say that we are powerless to stop it, can you not foresee?” In a recent interview with Complex Magazine, Lin-Manuel revealed he was especially excited about Chance the Rapper’s contribution on the song “Dear Theodosia.” Intertwining the brand name of wellestablished billboard stars with American history and Broadway theater should prove to be an exciting affair. With the original cast album already having made an impressive Billboard debut last fall, after a year of positive press and hype, it’s probable that come December 2nd, songs from “The Hamilton Mixtape” will begin a lengthy reign on top charts, hit playlists, and radio stations. In addition to standard audio format, Tariq Trotter teased last month that fans could expect “The Hamilton Mixtape” to be performed live at least once. A ticket to this epic show with Lin-Manuel, hit rappers, and original cast members would be the only ticket in the world more difficult to get than a ticket to the actual Broadway play itself. ☐
Artist of the Issue: Sebastian Themelis Landau Gallery: Studio Art Review By Augustus Lamb Panel Staff
What defines a Belmont Hill boy? Is it winning an ISL championship? Is it being good at math and science? Is it being on the debate team? In my opinion, any of those things and more are applicable, given you are being true to yourself. But the thing is, it can be hard to be true to yourself at Belmont Hill. It can be hard to do your own thing. But, you know who is true to himself? Sebastian Themelis. Sebastian Themelis is one of the most down-to-earth and stylish kids in the greater Boston area. He is back at Belmont Hill for one last hurrah(!) after having spent his junior year at SYA Italy. Although returning to the US after a year filled with personal growth and adventure is difficult, Sebastian’s passion for music has not wavered. “What makes me happy is to sing and play piano. The largest part of my identity, I think, is that I am a musician,” Sebastian says. Because he has grown up with music, being a longstanding member of the Boston Children’s Chorus and a singer in B-Flats throughout high school, it is fair to say Sebastian values music over most natural resources. He meets with his chorus twice a week, and he spends those afternoons combining music with social justice work, as the group discusses social issues and practices songs, some of which are related to their discussions. Sebastian also enjoys chorus because he has the opportunity to perform music with many kids that you would not meet an overwhelming amount of at Belmont Hill, as the group is partially composed of students from lower-income families and students of color. In addition to the BCC, Sebastian takes part in the BFlats, Belmont Hill’s premiere Glee Club that meets during B Block every day and performs several times throughout the year. While Sebastian has great musical experience in and outside of school, he plans to leave his musical mark on his high school years through something of his own creation. At the moment, he is working on an EP, short for Extended Play, which is a smallscale album that contains a few piano tracks featuring yours truly on the drums. Sebastian hopes to release the EP in the spring as his senior project. When I asked Sebastian
“I’m a little embarrassed because it’s only three songs, but it’s personal stuff. Part of being a musician is you have to be able to be openly vulnerable. Because that’s what music is, you’re being openly vulnerable about stuff that’s hurt you. And, that’s hard to do. I get embarrassed when I play the songs for people, but you have to be able to open yourself up and show the world who you are. Sometimes when I’m writing music and writing lyrics, I realize things about myself that I wouldn’t have realized had I not been writing music. And I admit things to myself that I wouldn’t have admitted. So, I learn about myself through writing music, and then showing that to the world is a hard thing to do, but it’s something I’m very excited to do. It’s a very personal passion project.”
Over the past month, the work of local artist Richard Hill has been on display in the gallery in the Robsham building. The pieces on display are a set of paintings from Hill’s show, Not Just Another Pretty Face, which is made up of what he has described as “Group Iconographies”. Each piece is made up of a variety of different, iconic portraits that are taken from an assortment of places; some are from movies, pop culture, comics, coins, sculptures, and others. However, all the portraits revolve around a singular, often humorous theme and are typically juxtaposed to the surrounding portraits. The most interesting aspect of the paintings is the theme itself, which is not made expressly clear. Rather, the artist leaves hints
perience his show before it is too late. ☐
Executive Editors Kiran Butte Elizabeth Kim Mack Perry
Editors-in-Chief Bennett Rush Jason Fischman Helen Sayegh
Copy Editors John Markis JP Champa Emily Chen
Arts Editors Augustus Lamb Susy Liu Isabel Isselbacher
Online Editors Emma Pan Arnav Prasad
News Editors Ishaan Prasad Juliet Isselbacher
Assistant Editors Sophie Stone Armin Thomas Hammond Hearle Matt Bracken William McCormack Phillip Bailey Jordan Sclar
Opinion Editors Robbie Warming Priya Shukla
Sports Editors Evan Ricci Abby Weyer
Sebastian believes the EP might be the only music he will ever officially put out. But if you ask me, I don’t think this spring will be the last time we hear his exquisite fingering of the piano keys and mellifluous pitch sounding fervently through our eardrums. But just in case, I think you should stop by the music building during X block or 2:15, as there is a nice chance you will see Sebastian sitting at the piano, playing his heart out, and expanding the definition of a Belmont Hill boy. ☐
to the theme in the title of the piece and the portraits themselves. The beauty in this is that each viewer is tasked with discovering the theme on their own. Hill states that his intention was to create a puzzle of sorts, that each person would solve individually, and that there isn’t just one correct interpretation of his paintings. While some paintings are easier to “solve” than others, all promote a different type of thinking than we often find in the arts. Not only do the paintings easily engage the viewer, but they also make it very accessible to find a deeper meaning behind each piece and truly appreciate it. Mr. Hill’s Iconographies are certainly a wonderful and thought-provoking addition to the gallery. His paintings will only be on display until November 18, and I highly recommend you stop by to ex-
Photo Editors Arielle Blacklow Duncan Grant Graphics Editor Lawson Morris Bennett Morris
Backpage Editors Seamus Clair Matt O’Leary
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.
Belmont Hill Arts
...Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night! By Gavin Colbert Panel Staff
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Armin and Gus’s Playlist of the Month By Augustus Lamb and Armin Thomas Panel Staff
Here are some of the Arts Editors’s Kicker - Alex G favorite songs at the moment that we hope Although Kicker is a great song, for a while, I did not know what it was about. Alex G’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) has en- seamlessly, the two hilariously imperson- you take into consideration. lyrics can be very vague, and I assumed the tered its 42nd season this fall on NBC ated the presidential candidates, playing song was about a complex relationship of with simply hilarious material. SNL has off of their odd idiosyncrasies. With some Gus: his. That being said, when I went to Alex illuminated TV screens at 11:30pm on edgy humor, SNL generates laughs based iT’s YoU ZAYN G’s show this summer, I went looking for Saturday nights for three decades. With on campaigns that in reality have generIt is the best song from Zayn’s debut solo an answer. Half-way through the band’s set, live skits, celebrity hosts, musical guests, ated quite the opposite reactions. Baldwin album, Mind of Mine, and this current Alex announced that the next song they and a cast of genius comedians, SNL has has brought levity through his portrayal year, in my opinion. Zayn’s old band, One were going to play was about his favorite accomplished what many TV shows have of Donald Trump while McKinnon nails Direction, undoubtedly has many lovely Philly cheesesteak. A few seconds later, and often failed to do: staying alive. Led by the awkwardness and scripted feel of Hillsongs; however, iT’s YoU is beautiful in its the simple yet mesmerizing chord progresproducer Lorne Michaels, SNL has be- ary Clinton. The mock debates were three own way in that it strays away from the sion of Kicker was blasting throughout the come a cultural staple of American enter- ridiculously funny, must-watch videos sound of 1D and allows Zayn to showcase a small venue. I don’t know why, but I was tainment. Filming live on Saturday nights that will make you laugh until you realize piece that is utterly ethereal. I love this song pleased with his answer. (hence the name), it brings an original much of the content was directly from the so much. The way in which Zayn sings the air to entertainment, capturing all the real debates. With other SNL skits ranging mistakes, genuine laughs, and breaks in from a Family Feud parody to a faux-local two-word chorus is so delicate and sooth- Armin: Revolution 9 - The Beatles character. It has helped mold comedic news report, returning cast members Leslie ing and makes me feel like I can hit any note I like if I just turn the volume up loud This song is an avant-garde piece done icons such as Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Jones, Kenan Thompson, and Beck Bennett enough. by the Beatles and it is one of their lesserJimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy always lead the way with their outstanding known songs. Initially starting off with a Poehler, Chris Farley, and so many more. performances, while newcomers like Merepetitive piano motif of John Lennon utSNL has a unique ability to transcend the lissa Villaseñor look to leave their mark on tering “number 9”, it descends from relative limits of a pixelated screen to appear as if this venerable show. Also, so far this seatranquility to the chaos and indeterminacy the cast son, musiof Revolution. Too subversive to be the is percal guests anthem of the revolution, it serves as a forming the Weeknd confession of ideals for my revolution. Also, the skit and Bruno there are a lot of conspiracy theories around right in Mars have playing it backwards too, so there’s that. f ront performed of you, their new Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson and rough s o n g s 2CELLOS around Starboy I love MJ. I love cellos. What’s better than the edgand 24K this? Croatian cellists Luka Sulic and es, nothMagic reMandy Barry Manilow Stjepan Hauser dueling it out on electric ing held spectively, My mom has been a Fanilow for as long as cello in a big hall is pure awesomeness. back, contributshe can remember, and this is her favorite Nothing more to say here, this cover is pure just like comedy should be. When Lin- ing to the fresh content of this 36 song. When I hear it, I think of car rides to gold. 2CELLOS has other great covers, and Manuel Miranda hosted the show, he time Emmy Award winning show. my grandmothers in Connecticut, when they’re actually really good at putting them told of the many Saturday nights he Even if your social life or lack of sleep my mom and I have just gotten back on the together (check out 2CELLOS Thunderspent around the TV, laughing with his lead you away from the TV on Saturday highway after a detour to Dairy Queen, the struck). whole family, dreaming of one day be- nights, SNL has a YouTube page where you rain is pouring, Barry is doing his thing, ing on this seemingly magical show. can check out the skits. If you have not seen Due to its live filming, SNL is SNL before, I recommend you at least try and my mom and I reminisce about this able to keep up with pop culture, espe- it out, and if you watch it regularly, well ambiguous woman named Mandy whom cially politics. This 42nd season has cen- keep enjoying the most unique, longest we can both find a place for in our personal tered around raucous imitations of the running live show on television. Comedy lives somewhat intertwined. three 2016 presidential debates featur- has a unique ability to unite, to cheer up, to ing Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton, distract, and to enthrall; SNL does all this Second Chances - Gregory Alan Isakov and Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump. and more. Tune in on Saturday nights. ☐ Gregory Alan Isakov is the only folk artist on my list this month. His song Second While following the events of the debates Chances preaches that if it were not for second chances, we would all be alone. I try my best to agree with Gregory, but I The Room Where it Happens - Leslie Odom do feel as though he sometimes gives me Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, false hope. Nonetheless, the song has great Okieriete Onaodowan, Hamilton Original By Duncan Grant acoustics and intention, as does the remain- Broadway Cast Panel Staff der of his 2013 album, The Weatherman. Easily in the top five songs in the whole show. Detailing about the Compromise of From start to finish, director 1790 where Hamilton conceded the US Alejandro G. Inarritu and his strong cast of Keaton’s performance strays from the likes capitol to Southern politicians (Washington of his usual characters, such as Batman in actors dazzle in Birdman or (The UnexDC) in exchange for his ability to establish pected Virtue of Ignorance). In the movie, Tim Burton’s Batman, and the personable a national bank. Lin’s suave brushing off of Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, an leader of the justice-seeking team in SpotLeslie coupled with Leslie’s audible desire light. As Thomson, Keaton increases his actor once famous for starring in several to be in the room where decisions are made range and adds newfound emotion to his movies as the superhero Birdman. In an www.etonline.com make this song. The language and music most complicated character yet. Interestattempt to revitalize his fading career, in this number are on point, and Leslie’s Thomson mounts an ambitious Broadway ingly enough, one could consider Thomson control of his voice is impeccable. as a reflection of Keaton: both are actors production that he writes, directs, and stars in. As opening night comes closer, a past their prime and both played superheSymphony No. 9 in d minor, Op. 125 - Ludroes, Birdman and Batman, respectively. I castmate suffers from injury, and Thomwig van Beethoven son is forced to find a replacement for the just hope that Keaton does not continue to Beethoven. Symphony. A chorus. Nothing supporting role and hires Mike Shiner (Ed- follow the storyline of Thomson. more to be said. The best. While many of the actors put ward Norton), a passionate and renowned She’s Out of Her Mind - blink-182 on their best showing, it is Inarritu who performer who challenges Thomson’s Off of blink-182’s new album, California, Nessun dorma from Turandot - Giacomo deserves the majority of the credit. The authority and credibility. Thomson is constantly overwhelmed with the stresses film is set up as one, continuous shot that which was released this past summer, She’s Puccini feat. Luciano Pavarotti Out of Her Mind is a really nice and sweet Pavarotti owned this song when he made it spans the days leading up to opening of running a performance, his broken headbanger that you can play air-drums famous to the world in 1994 at the World relationship with his ex-wife (Amy Ryan), night. This technique accurately portrays Cup in Italy. That final line of his, all’alba his drug-addicted daughter (Emma Stone), the non-stop turmoil of the show business, to while being undisrupted by fond, yet distracting thoughts of all the people you vincerò (at dawn I will win), is one of the and also of a life spinning rapidly out of and the host of critics and surrounding know who are utterly crazy, but love for most spine-tingling lines in all of music. control. Accompanied by the single take characters who doubt and question him Not only is he expressing hope of victory, is the background percussion that adds to some weird, unavoidable, yet comforting throughout. Yet, as Thomson fights to reason. he does it jumping to a treacherously high stay relevant to the rest world, his biggest the chaos and New York flavor. This feat B natural and holding it defying all expecobstacle is himself in the form of Birdman, of cinematography magnifies an already tations. One of the more famous pieces of spectacular film, and the result is one of a pessimistic alter-ego who fills Riggan’s operatic work, for sure. At the metaphorical the greatest movies of the past few years, if head with thoughts that drive him to the dawn, the revolution will win. ☐ edge. not the decade. ☐
Movie Review: Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
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Th e Pan el
A Back Page Exclusive In his brief time so far at Belmont Hill, Mr. Schneider has become well-known for his nicknames. A sparki bot from the physics room recently revealed to the editors a few nicknames that just didn’t make the cut: 1. Rhunt of the Litter (Ray Hunt) 2. Granite Boulevard (Will Stonestreet) 3. Mario Bad Guy* (Drew Bowser) 4. The Zakon Bridge (Daniel Zakon) 5. David Confifty (David Conforti) 6. Cameron Corridor (Cam Hall) 7. Metz.gif (Gifford Metz) 8. New Orleans Melicans (Jimmy Melican) 9. Hunter Past (Hunter Present) 10. Justin Fischman* (Jason Fischman) *Editor’s Note: Our apologies, these ended up passing. Thank you to Sparkileaks for disclosing this information.
LOOK ALIKES
THE WINSOR PROMISE Few thought it would happen. Indeed, the student body was among the most skeptical of critics. But now, after a multi-year fundraising campaign, The Winsor Promise has surpassed its fundraising goal of 80 million dollars. The school community (everyone but students, obviously, because students never get Winsor emails) received an exciting announcement complete with a real live gif of fireworks to commemorate the 81.4 million dollar accomplishment. At this time, it is only right to reflect on how we, the students, have observed and experienced this revamping of the our beloved Winsor School over the past few crucial fundraising years. One senior notes, “I can’t believe how nice Winsor swag has gotten. When I came in Class II, I’d be hard pressed to snag an extra gym shirt. Now, every sports team gets Winsor sports bags and warm ups. And they’re nice bags! Like, a pad for the shoulder and everything.” A notable improvement in the school has been its human advertising. It is positively commendable that Winsor managed to get the cost of their “Winsor Superfan” t-shirts down to only $5. Truly, brava. Winsor has also updated its mascot, ditching its clearly outdated, normal-looking animal costume for a sumptuous red-velvety hued wildcat. When asked to rate their level of comfort with the new mascot, 72% of the student body chose “little to no comfort” to describe their sentiments towards the unnaturally colored cat. From the silk-screened Winsor sweat towels at the groundbreaking ceremony in 2013 all the way to the notable presentday increase in school events serving crab cakes and alcohol (again, students are obviously excluded from these gatherings), this school has been spruced to the nines. I mean, this is some Belmont Hill level luxury. Am I the only one who’s noticed not only the reappearance of brand name Oreos in the cafeteria, but also the new presence of those sweet, sweet blue capsules of Skippy peanut butter? Word on the street can be confirmed by students, parents, and alumnae alike, The Winsor School for girls is well on its way to becoming the shining star of the Longwood Medical Area and the Eastern Independent League (#sportsschool #nonarps #nowandforever). I think we can all agree that the campaign said it best. This is what promise looks like.
Barron Trump
Lawson Morris
John Goodman
Seamus Clair
John Francis Daley
Young Pat Shea