May 2019 (68, 1)

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The PANEL

Belmont Hill Volume 68, Issue 1

Schooll

May 2, 2019

A Student Publication ofthe Belmont Hill School

McHugh ’2O Elected President Juniors Choose Jack to Lead the School

Jack McHugh’2o:2ol9-20 All-School President (Photo by Jalen By

James MarkisTo Panel Staff

LOOK INSIDE News

2-3

“Congratulations to Jack McHugh on his election as theAll-School President next year!” The Form V class received this email from Mr. Courtney on April 11th, ending two days of suspense in the All School Presidential Election. Jack, who has been attending Belmont Hill since 7th grade, has been the school president for the class 0f2020 since 10thgrade. Jack explained that his “reason for running for President was that I could best serve as the leader I am in that role. I wanted to be the person that my peers can trust and look up to for any of their daily issues or

concerns. Serving two years as President, I have come to appreciate the positions that I’ve held. While the same original motives for wanting to become President are there, my aspirations have expanded with the new role as all-school President.” Since he has been on the Senate for the past two years, Jack has also had the opportunity to see the dedication of Will McCormick T 8 and Shane Rockett T9, our past two all-school Presidents. He wants to incorporate his own ideas and goals for the 2019-2020 school year in addition to building off their momentum. He writes, “I plan to

Walker '2l

reform the current attendance system as the current procedure is unsafe and impractical.

Starting right now, I will discuss with teachers and, ultimately, Mr. Schneider to figure out a solution to this outdated system. Another plan of mine is to establish a better wifi filtering system with Mr. Curran, potentially unblocking socialmedia apps as you get older’ Jack looks forward to leading our class again, and our grade fully believes that he can help our senior year be most enjoyable at Belmont Hill.

Spring Coffee House: A Rousing Success By

Jackson Riffe ‘2O Panel Staff

Sports

4-7

Opinions

8-9

Arts

Backpage

10-11

This year, during Belmont Hill’s Spring Coffee House, many musically talented students performed at the Kraft Theater. With seniors Colin Braun and Matt Goguen as MCs, the night was very memorable. Members throughout the community displayed their talents, ranging from the Middle School rock band’s resounding performance of “Life is a Highway” to faculty Mr. Sherman and Headmaster Schneider’s duet of “I Can See Clearly Now”. In total, 12 courageous and talented Upper Schoolers showcased their talents at the Coffee House. With Andrew Jinhee Lee on the mic and Andrew Jonghyun Lee on the keyboard, the Andrew Lee’s opened the show with a moving production of Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man”. Later, the same duo performed Mars’ “Grenade” and “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson. Jackson Stone energetically executed “Location” by Khalid and “Colder Weather” by the Zac Brown Band. Devon Anderson showcased an original song entitled “Heatwave”, and Antoine Deßosa delivered a stirring performance of Billie Eilish’s “idontwannabeyouanymore.”

The evening’s other amazing artists in-

Andrew Lee’ 20 and Andrew Lee ‘2O

Performing at Coffe House (Photo by

eluded Renny Gong, Julian Wambach, and the Upper School rock band. Arguably the most anticipated act of the night, Gage McWeeny delivered a moving rendition of the popular children song “Baby Shark.” With the soundtrack in the background, he sang and performed the accompanying dance.

Unlike previous Coffee Houses, this show was distinctive for the large number of debut artists; newcomers Antoine Derosa, Andrew Jinhee Lee, Andrew Jonghyun Lee, Devon Anderson, and Jackson Stone all contributed impressive performanc-

Chetan Shukla‘2o)

es. During the performance, Headmaster Schneider noted that “The night has not even ended yet, and I have already heard many new, amazing performers in

this school.” After debuting his talents as both pianist and singer, self-taught keyboardist Andrew Jonghyun Lee declared, “This evening has been really fun and I cannot wait for Coffee House next year.” Thanks to the many musically talented student (and faculty) performances and Mr. Fiori’s organization, this spring’s Coffee House was a resounding success.

BELMONT HILL NEWS

Vol. 68, Issue 1

2

The Panel Introduces their New Staff for the Upcoming Year By

Jack Weldon ‘2O Panel Staff

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Volume 68 of The Panel! With Volume 67’s editors passing the torch to our group, the new staff is incredibly excited to begin our work. Led by Editors-in-Chief Jack Weldon ‘2O and Charlie Donahue ‘2O as well as Executive Editor Chetan Shukla ‘2O, the editors of this year’s volume are prepared to make their mark on the Panel tradition. As we look ahead to the future, each team member has aspirations for where they hope to take their section of the publication.

Jack Weldon, one of the three new leaders of the paper, is excited about the prospects of online expansion and graphical innovation. “The Panel has made great strides in recent years in developing a strong web presence with The Panel Online, which this past year had a recordbreaking view day following the Varsity Football Championships. Looking ahead, I want to continue to uphold the website and find ways to make it easier to access for students and faculty alike. Graphically, The Panel has also improved significantly under the hand of editors such as Ishaan and Matt. It is important to keep advancing the newspaper towards sleek, exciting, and comprehensive graphic design.”

Chetan Shukla, who will also be leading the publication in the upcoming year, asserts: “Through contests, we may even have prizes up for grabs. Overall, in Volume 68 of the Panel, I plan to better communicate the news on campus to the Belmont Hill community and to happily incorporate suggestions from the readers.”

Charlie Donahue rounds out the trifecta of new Panel leaders: “On behalf of the three of us, I am exhilarated to begin Volume 68 of the Panel. From

Two of the new panel heads and

where we sit, the 2019-20 school year will be an exciting time for this publication. At school, Mr. Schneider will begin his first year as a returning headmaster right on the cusp of the transformation of our beloved chapel and other important long-range planning objectives. Beyond, our country is preparing for another presidential election. The opportunity to report and opine on these matters to you all is truly an honor. We endeavor to continue the excellent tradition built over almost seven decades that was so well exemplified for us by Matt Smith, Nick Daley, and Thomas McEvoy, and hope to make a mark in our own right as well.”

This year’s News section will be led by Andrew Jonghyun Lee ‘2O, with Howard Huang ‘22 serving as as-

jack

weldon '20

sistant editor. Andrew had this to say

about his plans for the year, “My goal for the Panel this year is to build on what we accomplished last year and to improve the overall quality of Panel articles and layout. Also, as a “Veteran” in the Panel, I will try and prepare my assistant, Howard, so that he is best prepared for a section head position next year.”

Jake Pappo ‘2O joins the staff as Opinions editor, with assistant editor Sreetej Digumarthi ‘2l. “The Panel should always strive to fulfill their primary role as a publication: to inform the Belmont Hill community on important news, regarding both the school and the world. For the Opinions section, I’d love to see some new faces write articles about anything for which they have a

true passion, for this is how the newspaper best reflects the intriguing individuality of Belmont Hill’s students.”

The Arts section welcomes Andrew Jinhee Lee ‘2O as section editor and Tyler Forg ‘2l as assistant. “Throughout the end of this school year and the majority of next, I wish to maximize article efficiency through improving editorand-writer communication through quick email/text responses and conversations head-to-head at school. Also, as the arts editor, I will try to incorporate all the performing arts that occur at Belmont Hill in the article assignments and many upcoming movie reviews which the audience would surely appreciate.”

Finally, Jackson Riffe ‘2O and assistant editor James Markis ‘2O will be leading the Sports section. “I have been a part ofThe Panel for 3 years now. This year, as the Head Sports Editor, I hope to keep everyone up to date on all Belmont Hill sports. I’m looking forward to a great year!”

Other notable additions to the staff include Jaylen Walker ‘2l as Photo Editor, Charlie Booth ‘2O as Copy Editor and Renny Gong ‘2O as assistant Copy Editor, and Luke Hogan ‘22 and Ryan Griffin ‘22 as staff writers. Elias Hyde ‘2O returns to the team as Graphics Editor and cartoon aficionado, while Charlie Mullaney ‘2O and Liam Peterson ‘2O continue to hold down the fort in the Backpage.

The prospects for this year’s volume are auspicious, and the staff cannot wait to get started. Please enjoy this first issue, and make sure to be vocal about what you like and your suggestions to any members of the staff. Above all, we wish to serve Belmont Hill with accurate information and high-quality content, and by working together with each other as well as with the student body and faculty, we hope to do just that.

Welcome to Volume 68! □

THE PANEL CROSSWORD

Fill out the following crossword with information gathered from the issue's articles.

(

ACROSS

IRap artist whose song Brian Wilkins performed 5 Belmont Hill's golf rival 6 New Opinions Editor 7 Belmont Hill Alumnus and General 8 Belmont Hill's rowing rival 9 "Endgame" Directors

DOWN 2 Performing opportunity for students 3 Track Captain 4 John High is committed there 5 Mr. Khan's sport of choice 7 Led investigations of the president

BELMONT HILL NEWS

3

May 2, 2019

25th Annual Poetry Fest: Yet Another Successful Year experienced chapel reciter such as Daniel proclaimed that he was “nervous for the first few lines but after that, more calm and relaxed.” “The Man with the Hoe” by Edwin Markham is “a poem written to protest unjust labor earlier in America’s history.”

Renny Gong, a Fifth Form student performed a lyrical interpretation of a song by Chance the Rapper and even incorporated vocals into his lively performance. When

Howard Huang ‘22 and Luke Hogan ‘22 Panel Staff

By

Poetry Fest kicked off this year with English teachers helping their students pick poems. After everyone presented their poems in-class, finalists were either voted by the students or chosen by the teacher to present their poems to Dr. Tift in the semifinal rounds. At the semis, Dr. Tift and Mr. Conway listened to each class’s finalists and narrowed 42 entries into 12 finalists. Then, in a long chapel, these 12 finalists presented their poems in front of the entire school.

This year’s recipients of the Distinctive Recitation Award were Daniel Bittner (III) reciting “The Man with the Hope” by Edward Markham, Renny Gong (V) reciting “First World Problems” by Chance the Rapper, and Brian Wilkins (V) reciting “i” by Kendrick Lamar. Their names will be forever inscribed on plaques.

Poetry Fest 2019 is Daniel Bittner’s (Third Former) third time being recognized for Distinctive Recitation in three years. This feat is extraordinarily uncommon, and, when he was asked whether he will attempt to get the recognition for six Dr. years, he responded, “we’ll see.” Even an

Tift with the 2019 Poetry Fest

asked if he was nervous before his vibrant performance, Renny responded, “I don’t think I was nervous at all, I had the poem down cold.” Also, when asked about his decision to include singing, he said, “I thought it’d be really cool to incorporate singing because I love to sing and just think that it would be so cool to do it as part of a poem”.

According to Renny, “First World Problems”

by Chance the Rapper is “like an indignant

winners andfinalists

poem, he feels like he’s in the light with God.” We are sure that Renny’s recitation will be an opener to students who wish to try something different with their poems leading to even more exciting chapels in the future.

Brian Wilkins performed a rap song Kendrick Lamar that made it into the by Hot 100. The song goes into reclaiming the N-word by referring to “N-E-G-U-S definition: royalty; King royalty”. With a passionate delivery, Brian engaged the attention of the entire audience and recited his rendition of the song with perfect enunciation.

Aspiring Poetry Fest finalists may also ask how past finalists memorize a ridiculously long poem and not mess up on stage. When asked about this challenge, Daniel Bittner replied, “I did it over a long period of time so it wasn’t that bad” and “memorized a little bit each night.” Renny Gong says that “as long as you work hard on the memorization, you should be fine.”

Poem selection is also a very important part of Poetry Fest. Some students will spend hours on websites like www.poetryfoundation.org and www.poemhunter. com looking for the perfect poem to recite.

Equally important is being able to embody the meaning of the poem through gestures, vocal inflections, and mood nuances. □

Party With A Purpose 2019, and a Look into the Future By

Charlie Wells ‘2l Panel Staff

For the past three years, Party with a Purpose or “PWAP” has been one of the biggest events at Belmont Hill, eclipsing the Junior-Senior Prom in terms of attendees for at least the past two. This year, PWAP had its largest number yet, boasting 1250 attendees and 19 companies donating various goods and services, while raising more money than ever before (although the exact amount has not been revealed yet).

The impact that PWAP has on the school, the people who run it, and most of

Belmont Hill

all, the kids, is tremendous. Students around campus seem to really buy into the event, with many, if not most, purchasing a PWAP hoodie or some of the other merchandise.

The money from that merch is going to a great cause. When I asked Colin Vallis, one of the head planners of PWAP, how he felt about his experience, he responded, “PWAP is a lot of work, there is no doubt about that.

But seeing the smiles on the faces of our miracle children on event night makes it all worth it. No words could truly discern how grateful I am for the support from our executive team and the entire community as a whole. The guys on our executive team put in

enjoys a fun night at the 2019 Party with a Purpose

hours of work behind the scene that made this year our most successful year yet. There is no greater feeling than standing on stage and seeing all of our dancers on the floor, all fighting for the next generation. PWAP has taught me just how powerful you can be when an individual believes in the power of themselves. When we work together, we can set about changing anything we believe in.”

The future of PWAP is also important to maintain in order to help the cause ofresearch into childhood illnesses. Quite a few of the current planners are leaving with the class of 2019, but, despite this, Colin believes that PWAP can come back next year

stronger than ever: “I am very confident in the future of PWAP. The executive team will have three returners (Bobby Manion, Emmett Greenwood, and Jack McHugh) along with the addition of Matt and Zach Travaglini, Archie Perry, and Doug Conigliaro.

Ultimately, we all are hoping and working towards the day where PWAP is no longer needed, when no child has to walk through the doors of a hospital. Until then, I hope the event continues to grow every year in both terms of money raised, the number of miracle children attending, and dancers. I cannot wait to come back next year and see all that our guys accomplished.” □

The Party With a Purpose Team, celebrating their CBS donation for this year

Belmont Hill Faculty Visits Quarters 1 in Recent DC Trip athletes, whom they had coached or taught. now a member of the Marine Reserves At the beginning of the second hour, Doc Fast, a well-respected English teacher and a litigation attorney, as well as many the guests gathered in the dining room Panel Staff and coach at Belmont Hill, reconnected with other former English students of his and of General Milley’s household, where Mr. On Tuesday, April 9th, Headmaster his former student. Chase lohnson. who is former members of the JV lacrosse team. Schneider delivered a short and decisive Schneider and 15 other members of the Belspeech. Afterward, General Milley fielded mont Hill faculty attended a gathering at questions to which he gave insightful reGeneral Mark Milley’s (Class of 1976) resisponses. Including comments about the dence in Quarters 1, the renowned home of current nature of war which is changing the Chief ofStaffof the Army, located in Fort due to the lack of a super-state to enforce 1 has housed the Chief the law and new technology, many of the Myer. Quarters Army ofStaff since 1910 and overlooks many landresponses the General provided resonated marks, such as the Jefferson Memorial, in with Doc Fast. Other comments addressed D.C. alumni also attendthe ethics and morality of war, the cost of Washington Many it, the value of honesty and respect, and ed the two-hour event. The gathering started with a fifteen-minute tour given by General the need to avoid a war between the great in which he talked about the Milley, many powers. Just months before the event occurred, General Milley was nominated by artifacts and paintings placed throughout his home. Following the tour, there was an President Donald Trump to head the Joints Chief of Staff, which, if he is confirmed by hour-long meet-and-greet session in which some of the faculty members had the opporCongress, would make him the highestMembers theBelmont visited General at Hill 1 catch with former students Faculty Milky ranking military advisor to the President. □ Quarters to or tunity up of

‘2l

.

By Streetej Digumarthi

BELMONT HILL SPORTS

4

Faculty Hall of Fame By

Charlie donahue ‘2O Panel Staff

Throughout Volume 68, we will be adding five athletes per issue to our Faculty Athletic Hall of Fame. These are our picks

for Issue #l.

As a student at Belmont Hill, Mr. Wood in varsity football, hockey, and crew. While he enjoyed football and hockey, rowing was where he shined as an athlete. For two ofhis three years on the varsity team, he stroked the first boat and went on to co-captain the team his senior year. In 1971, he and the team won New Englands and set a course record that stood for many years. After that, the crews traveled to Canadian Nationals, and won there as well. Following Belmont Hill, it was off to Yale, where Coach Wood spent three years sitting in the Varsity 8. In his senior year, he captained the team. Before graduation, Mr. Wood and his twin brother Ned

tried out for the Jr. National team in the Men’s Pair event, where they lost by just 2/10 ofa second in trials. One ofhis favorite rowing memories was competing in the Festival ofthe Pharaohs in Egypt against crews from Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge. In his young adulthood, he rowed for a club in California alongside athletes training for the Olympics. There he met the women’s gold medalist in the single and often trained with her. He then qualified to represent the western United States against other regions at the National Sports Festival in Syracuse, NY. Additionally, he once had the opportunity to row with an outstanding varsity crew from Cal in a regatta when one oftheir

In high school at Roxbury Latin, Mr. Greer lettered all three seasons in football, basketball, and baseball respectively. As a pitcher, he twice faced off against Mr. Martin who was on the hill for Belmont Hill; each won once. After RL, it was off to the University of Virginia where Coach Greer tried to transition from pitching to being an everyday player, specifically a third baseman. In those days, freshman were not eligible for the varsity, and so he tried out for the freshman team. However, the only recruit in that class played third base, so Mr. Greer made the decision to try to continue pitching at the collegiate level. He made the

team, and later pitched for three stellar years on the varsity. To this day, he fondly remembers the bonds he made with his teammates at Virginia, and talks about the influence of the team on his life in college and beyond. □

competed

In high school at Phillips Academy, Dr. Buckley played soccer and captained the girls’ tennis team. As a soccer recruit at Brown, she injured her meniscus which led her to the boathouse to exercise during rehab. There, she fell in love with rowing and never looked back. She rowed in the Varsity 8 her freshman and sophomore years, and after another knee injury junioryear she reentered the fold as a senior, again rowing in the first boat. Later, she briefly rowed on a club team as a graduate student at Stanford.

Upon the conclusion ofher rowing career, Dr. Buckley took up other water-related activities such as a river guide in Coloradoand an avid whitewater kayaker and rafter. □

At Roxbury Latin, Mr. O’Leary competed in football, basketball and baseball. In football, he was a receiver, defensive end, and occasional punter. During his years on the team RL was all-New England. In baseball, Mr. O’Leary was a star and was first team all-league. He continued as a two sport athlete at Tufts, playing football and baseball. He consistently was in the top 3 among NESCAC hitters and in 2006 he was ranked third nationally for On-Base-Percentage. After college he trained briefly with the San Diego Padres. He also notes that in high school, he could do a reverse dunk! □

The Panel

oarsman fell ill. Upon the conclusion of his rowing career, Mr. Wood ran seriously, competing in lOks and marathons. His best time for the 10k was an impressive 33:30.

He has also broken the 3 hour barrier running the marathon. Lastly, while attending graduate school and coaching freshman crew at the University ofSouthern California, Coach Wood played club hockey. □

A stellar lifelong soccer player and enthusiast, Mr. Khan spent his high school years at Lawrence Academy where he twice won the ISL Championships and earned allleague distinction. He also ran the 100 and 200 m for the track team and won silver in the 200 New Englands. After Lawrence, he played four years ofvarsity soccer at Amherst where he captained the team and won a national championship. Additionally, he won the league title and spent his summers training with a semi-pro soccer team, the Reds of Providence, RI. In the spring, he ran for the Amherst track team.

After this year, he is departing Belmont Hill to go abroad to pursue soccer at the professional level. We wish him thebest ofluck! □

m

m

BELMONT HILL SPORTS

May 2, 2019

5

In a League of Their Own: Belmont Hill Baseball By

James Markis ‘2O Panel Staff

The Varsity Baseball team, led by capSleight, Jake McOsker, and Jaylen Bailey, has started off the season with a 4-2 record, including notable victories against Thayer Academy and Governors Academy.

The team has lost two games so far, including a 5-0 league loss to Roxbury Latin and a 3-1 loss vs Phillips Academy. The team looks to rebound with a pivotal May 1 game at home vs. St. Sebastian’s, the team that stole the ISL championship from Belmont Hill last year with a Fenway Park victory. Sleight emphasizes tains Evan

the team’s hard work and focus on achieving specific goals. He says, “Our team has worked extremely hard on being the best we can be, and in the ISL, a very competitive league, we need to continue to do so, in order to bring home a championship.”

The Belmont Hill team looks to win their first ISL championship since 2014, and the fourth title under Coach Grant. Most recently, the varsity baseball team emerged victorius after facing the previously unbeated St. Sebatians’ team in a thrilling encounter. They have finished second the past four years and are looking to finally capture the elusive first-place finish this season. □

Jake McOsker ‘l9 winding up on

the mound

Keeping Up With Belmont Hill Varsity Track By

Liam Peterson ‘2O Panel Staff

Belmont Hill’s varsity track team is off to a hot start this season. With stellar victories over BB&N, Nobles, Roxbury Latin, and St. George’s early in the season, the team is one of the ISL favorites thus far. Captain Matt Goguen is quite confident in his teammates: “The team is very solid this year. While we lost a lot of talent with the 2018 graduating class, our guys are working hard and we have expectations to win it all.” Captains Isaiah Gomes and Matt Goguen, Senior Justin O’Neill-Riley, and Junior Greg Desrosiers are all expected to perform exceptionally in their respective events.

However, while the track team indeed has its fair share of individual

stars, they really thrive due to the amount of depth in the program. As track veteran Izzy Porro phrased so

eloquently: “The depth of the program really allows for every individual to shine and reach their fullest potential. There is never a shortage of guys willing to step up to the challenge and leave their mark on the meet records.”

All in all, Belmont Hill’s track team is on track to perform quite well this year, The path they’ve laid out for themselves, with Mr. Harder at the helm, makes achieving such a goal extremely attainable. □

Isaiah Gomes ‘2O throwingshotput

Teeing Off With Varsity Golf By

Jackson riffe ‘2O Panel Staff

With a current record of 5-1, Belmont Hill’s Varsity golf team has made a strong start to the season. Thus far, the team has defeated Phillips Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall, BB&N, Nobles, and St. George’s. In the match against Choate Rosemary Hall, Connor Willett ‘2l was the medalist, the player with the lowest overall score. The only loss so far was against rival St. Sebastian’s, but the team hopes to defeat them in their upcoming rematch. With many matches remaining, notably against Thayer, Milton, Brooks, and Dexter, the golf team looks to finish the season strong. Hopefully, the team plays well at the ISL tournament on May 20th! □

Henry Harrison ‘l9 hits a shot down thefairway

Charlie Donahue ‘2O Teeing Off

BELMONT HILL SPORTS

6

The Panel

Athlete of the Issue: John High ‘l9 cross country and track runner, as well Charlie as an aspiring hockey player, in the fall Panel Staff of 2016. Before his first spring season, Like almost every BH rower, he found the allure of Belmont Hill crew irresistible and ditched his track spikes John High began his Belmont Hill ca- for an oar. Watching John’s progresreer having never stepped into a shell sion as an oarsman has been special for before. He entered school as a star donahue ‘2O

By

me because he and I rowed together son,

John

and his crew took home the

in the completely novice 5v4 together only gold medals of the day for Belin 2017, our first year. While we were mont Hill at NEIRAS, and his teamnot a particularly technical crew, we mates elected him captain. This year rowed a few gutsy races and even took as a senior, he is a fundamental part of on the 4v4 in an almost successful at- the team’s top boat, a solid contender tempt one afternoon at Middlesex. for Also,

Before his first spring season, he found the allure of Belmont Hill crew irresistible and ditched his track spikes for an oar.” “

While he was not naturally adept, John possessed all the fundamental characteristics that make someone great at crew; most of all, grit. Coach Richards noted, “You can teach technique to anyone, but what you cannot teach is how to pull hard, that is innate, and every time John High’s blade entered the water, he pulled as hard as he possibly could.” After a solid first year, John returned for his junior spring where he became an overnight phenomenon.

His erg scores were solid, and once his technique came along, he bounded from the fourth boat to the second boat quickly. At the conclusion of the sea-

a New England championship. he is hard on the heels of entering Belmont Hill’s most exclusive erg club, the 23.00+ weight adjusted watts category. Only eleven guys in the history of Belmont Hill rowing have cracked this barrier, and John is now one of them.

Coach Richards had this to say about it, “I once coached with a guy who described a rower in one of his crews as ‘so tough he would bite the #ss off of a bear’. This is how I think of John. He is super-tough, super-motivated, supermodest, and super-devoted to his team and teammates. He has made incredible progress since he started rowing just over two years ago.” Next year, John is off to Princeton University where he will row for the Tigers on the men’s lightweight team. For now, he and the Belmont Hill team have unfinished business on the Charles and on Lake Quinsigamond at the end of May! □

The Winning Way: Belmont Hill Crew Starts the Season Strong By

Jack Weldon ‘2O Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill Varsity crew team has taken off at blistering speed at the onset of the 2019 season. Led

by captains Jackson Stone ‘l9, Teddy Danziger ‘l9, and John High ‘l9, the group spent the March portion of their season on the ergometers before flying down to Deland, Florida for a weeklong training trip. Hosted by Stetson University and rowing out of the barely christened Aquatic Center, the team spent a productive week training on alligator-filled Lake Beresford. Despite hard training, including tens of thousands of meters on the water and a scrimmage with Tufts’ rowing team, good weather, a beach trip, and plenty of camaraderie kept morale high as the team wrapped up their time in Florida.

For the second year in a row, the team has spent the second halfof spring break training in the Sunshine State, and the

new tradition seems to be paying off.

Back in Massachusetts, the team wasted no time in braving the still-chilly waters of the Charles. After scrimmages with Brookline High and CRI, the team faced their final scrimmage in an important early season match-up with Deerfield, their rival program. Racing in eights, Belmont made a strong statement with a dominant performance over the green-clad oarsmen, and although nothing is set in stone, such results encouraged the oarsmen and affirmed that their training had been paying off. At this point in the official season, the crew has defeated BC High, St. John’s Prep, and Duxbury, and so far not a single crew has lost a race.

In the upcoming weeks, notable events include the Founders’ Day Regatta and NEIRAs, in which Belmont will again face Deerfield and test their mettle. With the best average ergometer scores of all past Belmont

A History of Excellence: Belmont Hill Lacrosse By

Charlie Mullaney ‘2O Panel Staff

The Belmont Hill Lacrosse season is off to a great start and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down soon. With a talented lineup, loaded with seniors, juniors, sophomores, and even freshmen, the team has started off strong. Although narrowly escaping multiple games with one point victories, including a 9-8 win over the highly-skilled Avon Farms to start the season, the team has proved itself early on. The team’s principal success thus far comes from its offensive unit, which is more than capable of driving down the field and putting the ball in the back of the net. In a recent game against Milton Academy, Cam Rubin ‘2O and Joe Goguen ‘l9 led this efficient scoring machine to a 12 point victory. In addition to boasting a tal-

ented offense, the team’s defensive unit is a force to be reckoned with. Leading the way in the defense, starting goalie Quinn Richards ‘2O has been able to hold many of the opponent’s shots at bay. While the St. Sebastian’s game last Wednesday was an unfortunate loss, the support for the lacrosse team is still overwhelming. Once again, the lacrosse team has started off hot, and we can’t wait to see how the rest of their season plays out. □

crews for the top sixteen rowers, Coaches Richards, George, Stone,

Plaut, Parejo, Ford, and their team are excited for the season ahead. □

Varisty Crew Rowing on Lake Beresford at Stetson University

A Smashing Success: Belmont Hill Tennis By

Chetan Shukla ‘2O Panel Staff

largely unchanged ing lost only one

by

two fresh additions, the team rounds With a few weeks of practice out to an even ten. After bouncing

and many games already under their belt, the Varsity Tennis team has hit the ground running. With a new coach at the helm, Nick Cary ‘l2, the team has needed to make adjustments as the new season took shape. The squad, led by captains Tommy Smith ‘l9 and Andrew Jonghyun Lee ‘2O, has remained

back from a tough loss against Roxbury Latin, the tennis team has maintained a stellar record thus far, with almost half of the season already completed.

With a recent rousing victory against Milton Academy, as any bystanders would attest, and a clinical demolition of St. Sebastian’s, the momentum is wholeheartedly in the team’s favor. □

The i rfLVrfe Members of The Team Celebrate A Goal

since last year, havsenior. Bolstered

h

7

The Panel

w

BELMONT HILL OPINIONS

8

The Panel

Collusion Delusion: A Review on the Mueller Report By

James Markis ‘2O Panel Staff

After nearly 2 years, 2,800 subpoe500 search warrants, Robert Mueller concluded that there was absolutely no Trump-Russia collusion during his campaign and he left Obstruction of Justice to be determined by both Attorney General Bill Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Mueller was appointed by Rosenstein in May of 2017 after President Trump fired FBI director James Comey. The background for the start of the investigation goes all the wayback to the summer of2016, when Christopher Steele, a British Spy, nas,

“Robert Mueller concluded that there was absolutely no Trump-Russia collusion during his campaign, and he left Obstruction of Justice to be determined by both Attorney General Bill Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.” wrote “The Dossier,” a document which exties to Russia and included

plained Trump’s

material on Trump’s campaign coordinating with the Russians to get “dirt” on then-candidate Hillary Clinton. President Trump has tweeted “NO COLLUSION”, “WITCH HUNT”, “FAKE DOSSIER”, “DEEP STATE COUP”, and “RUSSIAN HOAX” for nearly

2 years, and after Robert Mueller released his findings, the President seems to have been proven right. Though the whole report has not been released to the public, Attorney General Barr released a four-page summary in which he quoted Mueller, writing, “The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.” The no collusion report, even after the arrests ofPaul Manafort, Michael Cohen, and Roger Stone, provided a huge victory for the President. The President has been called a Russian spy and agent by Adam Schiff (D--CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA), yet neither man has apologized to the President, nor has the mainstream liberal media. MSNBC and CNN have screamed "collusion" and "impeachment" for 2 years and promised the American people that they had evidence for these claims, but they have lost nearly all credibility and trust. They pushed this story based on a phony dossier, which stated that Michael Cohen went to Prague and that Putin had incriminating videos of Trump with prostitutes in 2013. On the topic of Obstruction of Justice, Robert Mueller left the decision up to both the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General. People have complained that Barr is protecting Trump by declaring no Obstruction, yet Rosenstein also had to agree on that decision. In his four-page summary, Barr wrote, “Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and I have concluded that the evidence developed during the Special Counsel’s investigation is not sufficient to establish that the Presi-

dent committed an obstruction-of-justice offense.” Both men declared there was not enough evidence to charge the President, though the full report will make the evidence on both sides more clear. President Trump has been totally vindicated by the

POTUS wanted to be informed about everything. Obviously, POTUS was former President Obama, and it would be deeply troubling if these orders of spying came

“Trump has been totally vindicated by the Mueller Report and will certainly use it as a 2020 campaign strategy.”

MUELLER REPORT

Mueller Report and will certainly use it as a 2020 campaign strategy. On that note, AG Barr testified in frontofCongress that he believes spying occurred during 2016 election and that he will be looking into unelected bureaucrats staging a coup. Andy McCabe, who was acting FBI director after the firing of Comey and was fired after lying to investigators, has said that he talked about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the President from office. This statement should deeply alarm every American, regardless of political affiliation, since an unelected man attempted to stage a coup to remove a duly elected President from office solely because he did not like that he fired his boss. Comey even admitted that Trump had the complete right to fire him in Congressional testimony in 2017. AG Barr has vowed to investigate this as well as the spying on Carter Page, a Trump campaign member. It is also worth noting that former-AG Loretta Lynch’s involvement with Peter Strozk and Lisa Page and how their text messages reveal that

THE

THE FINAL REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COUNSEL INTO DONALD TRUMP, RUSSIA, AND COLLUSION WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

ALAN DERSHOWITZ

AS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF

JUSTICE

Mueller Report Coverfrom Amazon from him. A current President, spying on a candidate that he does not support, clearly violates the 4th Amendment and the protection ofAmerican citizens. The Mueller Report has answered the main questions about President Trump but has now revealed more questions about the Dossier, the FISA Courts, Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and President Obama’s conduct, all of which need to be investigated for actual crimes.

□

College Admissions Scandal: A Wake-Up Call for Hard-Working Students

By Renny Gong ‘2O

Panel Staff

Fifty individuals, including CEOs and Hollywood stars, have been accused of involvement with a recent college admissions bribery scandal. As disclosed by United States federal prosecutors in Boston, those accused paid more than 25 million dollars to the mastermind behind the scheme, William Rick Singer, who used that money, in part, to facilitate cheating on standardized tests and funnel bribes to athletic coaches. In one case, Mr. Rudy Meredith, head coach of the Yale women’s soccer team for 24 years, solicited a $450,000 bribe from the parent of a prospective college student in exchange for reserving a Yale soccer recruitment spot for his daughter. In another case, VandemoJohn Stanford er, University’s sailing coach was with charged an certifying who applicant

before as a sailing team recruit in exchange for a payment of SIIO,OOO. Mossimo Giannulli, fashion designer, and Lori Loughlin, an actress famous for portraying “Aunt Becky” on Full House, have also been charged for paying $15,000 to William Singer, who arranged for someone to secretly correct their daughter’s responses to the SAT. Yale, Stanford, USC, and other prestigious universities involved in the scandal are scrambling to contain the fall-

out, firing athletic coaches and promising to redirect the money received as bribery to fund scholarships for underprivileged

students.

These revelations have been met with outrage and disappointment across the nation, especially on college campuses. “When the rich, famous and influential game a system already susceptible to corruption, it perpetuates who remains in power,” said Jessica Wolfram, a graduate student at Georgetown. In another example of on-campus exasperation, two Stanford students brought a class-action complaint in a California federal court, accusing eight colleges of negligence. For those who have followed the rules of admissions, the path to college is defined by endless hours of studying, years and years of effort, and participation in a myriad of extracurricular activities not unfamiliar to the community here at Belmont Hill.

For these honest applicants, the admissions scandal feels deeply unfair; however, elite college institutions have never been wholly meritocratic. Legal corruption and favoritism that have long polluted the admissions process, leeching merit from the equation. In a particularly public case, Charles Kushner, father of the Senior Advisor to the President, Jared Kushner, pledged $2.5 million to Harvard just as his son was applying to the class of 2003.

Kushner was admitted, despite having the GPA and test scores well below those usually needed to gain admission. Furthermore, “legacy” students have always extracted from the pool of deserving applicants. These are students that have at least one parent who attended the institution. The admission rate for legacies at Harvard has continuously hovered around 30 percent. By contrast, the rate for the -

Illustration by Elias Hyde '2O

Class of 2022 as a whole was under 5 percent, a clear representation of the unfair advantage held by legacy students. These are just a few examples of economic disparities that have and will continue to plague access to higher education. This college scandal, compounded with other recent stories like the qualified Asian-American students rejected by Harvard, have opened Americans’ eyes to the flaws in the system. Elite American universities are often cast as the envy of the world and the pinnacle of education, but these cases have shown

“This college scandal, compounded with other recent stories like the qualified Asian-American students rejected by Harvard, have opened Americans’ eyes to the flaws in the system.” the admissions system as it truly is: ex-

ploitable, arbitrary, and broken. In light of the brazen and elaborate lengths these parents have taken to secure a spot at an elite college, we must re-evaluate the importance placed on such colleges. We also need to stop lying to ourselves that the college admissions process is solely based on merit. Instead of this mad scramble to get into a name-brand top college, let’s stop and focus on aspects of college that will have infinitely more bearing on our sense offulfillment and purpose. □

BELMONT HILL OPINIONS

May 2, 2019

9

Debate of the Issue: TV Shows v. Movies Everyone has enjoyed movies and television shows alike, yet the peaceful coexistence of both as indispensable facets of entertainment has rendered choosing one over the other meaningless. However, here at The Panel, we do not choose debates solely because oftheir practical application to people’s lives, but, instead, because of the explosive sparks that fly during the clash of two opposing sides.

Pro Shows By

Jake Pappo ‘2O Panel Staff

s

Historically, movies have earned more prestige in the entertainment industry, yet TV shows have been making significant gains in recent years. The 2000 ushered in a golden age of television, with shows such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad. These beautiful pieces of art caused people to reassess the role of shows in mass culture.

Over were the days of superficial sitcoms, which indeed achieved their goal ofmaking viewers laugh, yet lacked in bringing something raw and profound to the table; a rival to movies had arisen.

The dramas of the 2000 s relate less to the shows of the ‘9os than to theirfilmic predecessors, while offering an improved, revolutionary experience to the viewer.

They depicted the relatable and interesting lives of their characters while masterfully implementing dark comedy, which did not take away from the overall theme and could still evoke fits of laughter without the background giggles of some trivial unseen audience, as seen in Friends and Seinfield. One cannot help but smile as Paulie of The Sopranos tries to help his mother acclimate to the daunting social climate of a nursing home, yet this smile quickly fades as he strangles a defenseless old woman in her room for not accepting his idiosyncratic mother.

Not only have shows risen to the level of movies through their content, but they even surpass them in some aspects, including their ability to utilize the length and segmentation of their stories. A viewer of a movie witnesses the entire work in one sitting, which may often feel rushed and incomplete, while a viewer of a show generally spends tens of hours of their time watching the thought-out series un-

Pro Movies

fold. Assuming they keep up with the show as it airs, viewers must also wait a week for the next episode, or even a year for the next season (if binging, though, they must at least get a good night’s rest). This allows the creators to install shock-inducing cliffhangers that completely flip the plotline on its head, consequently leading to the show’s fans deeply thinking and theorizing about the uncertain future of their characters- characters with whom they have developed close

personal connections much deeper than that of any cinematic

character.

The much longer run time opens more room for charac-

thermore, although I recognize that certain shows, such as Game of Thrones, provide respectable CGI, movies, in general, have far better CGI because they invest more There is nothing better than settling funding, time, and effort. The average time in with some popcorn and an ice-cold allocated to creating a film is around two drink for that upcoming movie you have been anticipating for over two weeks now.

“When is the last time you You are happy, the movie has begun, and used your TV to watch a life is good. Now, let’s be real for one second: who show? cable By

Andrew Jonghyun Lee ‘2O Panel Staff

actually prefers shows over movOfies? fering a variety of genres which satisfies any possible interests for viewers of all ages, movies

have more

funding, better CGI, and, often, a more accom-

ter development, which

greatly expands upon

plished

the

thorough world of the show.

Whereas

The experiIllustration by Elias Hyde '2O of -ence movie transcends the experia watching movies must sacrifice this attention to detail ence of watching a show. Almost every in order to fulfill their burdensome tempowatches movies on a consistent person ral limitations, shows kindle an intense rebasis, but let me ask you: When is the last latability between the viewer and the chartime you used your TV to watch a show? acters by familiarizing the former with the Truthfully, cable television is becoming latter for hours on end, thus giving a raw obsolete, and people have become disinperspective on their lives, one unmatched terested in simple generic TV shows. Furin any other form of entertainment. □ cast.

Truthfully, television is becoming

obsolete, and people have become disinterested in simple generic TV shows.” and a half years while, in comparison, the average time in creating one season of a show is around 10 months. Understandably, the editing, acting, and overall quality of movies simply outrank that of shows.

Additionally, if you observe the plots of movies and shows, you will recognize that shows are often monotonous as they repeat the same ideas or overuse the same character dynamics. Honestly, you can only watch so many episodes of the same reoccurring storyline. Movies, however, offer so much more. Enthralling viewers from start to finish, a movie provides fulfillment to its storyline. Unlike the plot of shows, whose episodes often disappoint by offering meager cliffhangers throughout the season, movies provide a sense of satisfaction that simply cannot be replaced. To conclude, recognize the value of movies in your life: how could you honestly object to the fact that movies are utterly superior to shows? □

Moral Dilemma: Saving Lives at the Cost of Others By

Charlie Booth ‘2O Panel Staff

What do we owe each other? This question is at the heart of all moral dilemmas and makes up the foundation of our legal system, so it is unsurprising that the question has been raised in courtrooms for centuries. One such example occurred in 1841 when Alexander Holmes was tried for manslaughter in Philadelphia. Holmes was a crew member on a cargo and passenger ship from Liverpool in the United Kingdom to Pennsylvania. The ship pulled a Titanic and struck an iceberg, leaving the crew and passengers in two lifeboats. The larger of the two contained 3 crew members, including Holmes, the first mate named Rhodes, and 34 passengers. After a day at sea, the lifeboat began to sink as it was overcrowded. Rhodes ordered Holmes and the other crew member to throw 16 of the passengers overboard, which allowed the rest of the people on the boat to survive. As soon as the lifeboat was rescued, Holmes was tried for manslaughter. So was he guilty? He did

kill those innocent people, but in doing so saved himself and many others, including those he killed, from dying themselves.

To put this moral dilemma into a context more applicable to Belmont Hill, imagine that your teacher says that your next test will be in groups. You can form a group of any size, from the 5 kids who get As on everything to a group which includes the whole class. Everyone in the group gets the same grade, and if you get above a 90 you set an A and below a 90

slaughter and sentenced to six months in prison. Self-preservation, in the eyes of the US legal system, is not enough to justify the action, but it did lower the sentence relative to what it would have been for a full-fledged murder. The jury

was obviously conflicted and their low sentence reflected this dilemma. Do you believe this a just result or should he have been convicted for committing 16 coldblooded murders? □

“Rhodes ordered Holmes and the other crew member to throw 16 of the passengers overboard, which allowed the rest of the people on the boat to survive. ”

an F. You are in charge of making the groups. Do you give yourself a group of everyone, which may fail due to disorder, or do you abandon your fellow classmates to certain doom and take the smartest kids for your own group, ensuring your own success?

Holmes was found guilty of man-

Image from NewScientist

BELMONT HILL ARTS

10

The Panel

Playlist of the Issue: May 2019 Get the full playlist on Spotify

r v

Since its first appearance in The Panel almost three years ago, "The Playlist of the Issue" has become a customary article for the print publication. Not only does it provide a great opportunity for Panel staffers to write about their favorite songs, but it also exposes Belmont Hill students to new music genres. For those reading The Panel for the first time, "The Playlist of the Issue" features two authors who each pick five songs which they feel deserve recognition and write about them.

For Volume 68 of The Panel, Andrew Lee '2O and Renny Gong '2O will be taking over from Matt Goguen 'l9 and Matt Smith 'l9 as curators of "The Playlist of the Issue."

su

A

RENNY

ANDREW SEEB BASTILLE

GRIP

“Grip"

-

"i love you"

Bastille, Marshmello

If you enjoyed Marshmello and Bastille's earlier hit single. Happier, you are sure to love this song. Personally, I have to come to love the melodic chemistry between Marshmello and Bastille, and, quite honestly. Grip is my favorite EDM song now. A deserving follow-up to their past success, Grip infuses Marshmello's electric beats with Bastille's distinguished vocals to create a textbook-written EDM single. Although the song is overall structured rather simply, the melody is catchy, and the beat drop hits hard. If you are ever in the need for some energy. Grip is sure to get your blood pumping.

'Freshman List"

-

9

-

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish redefines pop music with her debut album "WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?" On "i love you," the second to last song on the album, Billie's voice rings powerful yet breathy, employing her signature ability to sing high, big notes like she's whispering it. The ascending line of the chorus feels transcendent and potent, holding the listener entranced to her voice. I have not stopped listening to Billie's new album

since its debut.

“Ultralight Beam"

NAV

-

Kanye West

Often lost within NAV's more "popular" songs. Freshman List is everything you like in a typical NAV song. Offering a catchy beat and a subtle yet appreciable harmony, the song is sure to earn a place on your playlist. In the song, NAV sings of his disdain toward the XXL Freshman List, a list notable for including the top up-and-comers in today's rap game. After refusing to appear on the XXL Freshman List, NAV asserts in his lyrics that he is still the "rookie of the year".

Expressing some animosity in his typically soft beats, NAV's Freshman List is a gem that should not be overlooked.

In light of Kanye's recent journey to perform gospel versions of his released music as well as new music at what is being called "Sunday Service," I have been yearning for the release of Kanye's next album "Yandhi." In an effort to satisfy recent cravings for Kanye's gospel-sounding music, I have turned again and again to the revolutionary "Ultralight Beam." Its smooth, overflowing bass and powerful soulful melodies beg to be played with a really good speaker. The outro of the song, with the choir harmonizing, "Faith, more, safe, war!" guarantees chills with every listen.

"Higher Love"

"3 Nights"

-

Steve Winwood

"Guiding Light"

-

Mumford

&

Sons

"STAR"

-

Migos, Mustard

Okay, this is my one real "mainstream" song of the list, but Pure Water deserves some credit. An unusual collab with Migos and Mustard, the duo works magic on their trending hit single. The beat is catchy, and the melodic riff is quite electrifying. Although the verses can be rather repetitive like all other rap songs, if you're in the mood. Pure Water will serve to get you hyped.

Dominic Fike

-

BROCKHAMPTON

Not only is the beat and flow on STAR absolutely fire, the lyrics are varied and full of allusions, making the song engaging and a treat to listen to. In fact the first line of the song gets right into it, "I might go Interstellar // I feel like Matthew McConaughey," referencing McConaughey's lead role in Interstellar. In fact, in just the first verse, the song name-drops characters such as Jason Bourne, Jason Statham, Liam Neeson, Gunnar Hansen, Bruce Campbell, Tobin Bell, Anthony Hopkins, Molly Shannon, Seabiscuit, John Wick, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Robert Horry, and Obama. A rap-centered, gay "boy-band", BROCKHAMPTON is truly one of its kind, and deserving of attention.

This song's for all the Mumford b Sons fans out there. Although Mumford b Sons have had a noticeable drop in popularity over the last few years, their new song. Guiding Light, will most definitely reinvigorate theirlost fans. Utilizing their unique selection of instruments, Mumford b Sons balance their notorious alternative style with a more modern pop presence to produce a vibrant melody. Regardless of how you feel about Mumford b Sons, give Guiding Light a chance, and don't sleep on Mumford b Sons.

"Pure Water"

-

Dominic Fike half-raps, half-sings about staying out late and seizing the moment on this feel-good song. When it comes up in my playlists, I always feel an inexplicable urge to get up and dance. Probably my most played song this week, it is pure joy.

I recently re-heard the song in the fan favorite movie. Bumblebee, and let me say: it's a banger. The chart-topping 1986 single cultivates a pleasant almost disco-like atmosphere. With a mixture of vibrant instruments, such as the 1980s-famous synthesizer, the song's melody issure to get you into groovy feel. Perfect for car drives in the summer, if older songs are your thing, give Higher Love a listen.

m

(abhpanel

-

"A Cappella" Daniel Caesar -

*

*•

"A Cappella", like it's name suggests, is done completely A Cappella. Daniel Caesar elegantly layers his beautiful, mellow voice on the song to create a transformative, almost religious, experience. At just 1 minute 28 seconds, the song is considerably shorter than most songs and leaves the listener longing for more. He sings about God, and emphasizes the importance of staying strong in one's faith: "If we lift our voices high // Evil forces pass us by // And our cause will never die."

This genuinely divine song was my first introduction to Daniel Caesar, and since then, he's been one of my favorite artists. If you listen to just one song on this playlist, make sure it is this one.

Movie Review: Avengers Endgame 2019 By

Jack Weldon ‘2O Panel Staff

“Infinity Saga”. After “the snap”, those re- on which they meet unexpected friends, maining attempt to find a way to reverse family, and enemies along the way.

Thanos’ actions and to remedy the chaotic The final hour takes the action from universe. The actors are better than ever, Infinity War and multiplies it to a massive with especially strong performances from scale. Those hoping for an incredible fiRobert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Scar- nal battle against Thanos will surely not lett Johansson. The first two hours are lit- leave disappointed; each Avenger has a tered with callbacks and nods to lifelong moment in the fight, and those moments fans of the series, interspersed with lev- can be downright awe-inspiring. The fiity and drama in a masterful mix. Unlike nal moments of the film are filled equally the nonstop action of Infinity War, the with exciting scenes and emotional enfirst two hours or so of Endgame are rela- counters, and the ending wraps up chartively light on fights, although there are acters’ journeys in a satisfying and cona few here and there. Instead of massive clusive yet promising and auspicious way. Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame Poster set pieces, the first 2A of the film serves as Overall, Endgame is a perfect conclusion

As the culmination of eleven years and twenty-two films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame has a high standard to meet. Already shattering domestic and international box office records, Endgame is undeniably one of the grandest cinematic events of all time. So how does it measure up?

Directed by Infinity War directors Anthony and Joe Russo, the finale film flies as high as one would hope and delivers a celebratory end to the franchise’s an emotional journey for many characters to eleven years of the Marvel universe.

May 2, 2019

BELMONT HILL ARTS

Artist of the Issue: Antoine Deßosa By

Jackson Riffe ‘2O and Andrew Jinhee Lee ‘2O Panel Staff

From poetry bard to songwriter, Antoine Deßosa ‘l9, has contributed much to the arts community as a whole.

Antoine started writing poetry in Dr. Tift’s English class during his ninth grade year when he was assigned to write three original poetry pieces. After producing and performing his piece in front of the class and receiving immense support from his peers, Antoine started to write poetry more frequently. Although taking a break from this art for a few months, he began again composing poetry from the tenth grade and on inspired by the encouragement he received in Dr. Tift’s creative writing class for his outstanding voice in his poetry. Since then, Antoine has been writing poetry very often both for himself and for his class audiences.

Antoine has experienced many situations that sparked his interest in poetry. However, the experiences that stuck closest to him are his experience on the school trip to Germany and interactions with his two close friends Jordan and Mitchell. In Germany, Antoine explored Germany’s vibrant pre-war Jewish community and its annihilation during the Nazi era. These experiences triggered strong emotions within him.

After imagining these horrors, he start-

ed to write in a notebook the emotions manifest inside him, thus creating many of his favorite pieces. Antoine’s two close friends Jordan and Mitchell, both people outside of school, offered him constructive criticism concerning his work, often encouraging his many forms of poetry. Antoine also credits Dr. Tift saying, “She has supported me since the beginning of my writing career and

11 ‘

being derivative of other poets’ styles.

Coming as a very pleasant surprise

19

to many students within the Belmont

has guided me in the correct direction.”

Antoine creates poetry to express his feelings on paper, using it as a means of personal therapy, noting “Sometimes, I need to get my thoughts off my chest and put it on paper.” Antoine specifically writes about friends and relationships with people. He does not like to be influenced by well-known artists and wants to be “maverick” in terms of his written pieces, without

Photograph from Antoine Deßosa’s Performance at Coffee House ‘l9

Hill community, Antoine has also expressed his love for singing at the spring coffee house, performing an amazing cover of Billie Eilish’s “idontwannabeyouanymore”. Crediting his family’s love for singing, Antoine remarks, “Art is in our blood, whether it be music or writing. I know that both sides of my family love to sing, especially my mother, who sings at the choir at my church.” From singing gospels at his local church to singing covers of pop songs in his own room, Antoine enjoys expressing his love of music both in public and in private.

Antoine reflects on his decision to join the coffee house, “For many years, I wanted to share my style of writing. And recently, I took the chance, because it was my senior year, to perform in the coffee house and share what I have to offer.”

Currently, Antoine writes and sings for fun with no specified purpose other than to express his internal thoughts. He has performed various Woodbury’s for school, his proudest achievement in terms of demonstrating his writing, Coffee House, and the recent Poetry Slam. Although he does not know where his art is headed for in the near future, Antoine says that this talent is a very personal extracurricular.

This almost-daily activity has molded him into the artist that he is today. □

Spring Concert Finishes Another Year of BH Music By

Howard Huang ‘22 Panel Staff

Belmont Hill had its annual Spring Concert on April 26th in the Hamilton Chapel. Beginning at 7 pm, the Orchestra played a beautiful arrangement of Overture from The Magic Flute, an opera by W. A. Mozart. Mr. Fiori conducted the light, brisk piece while Assistant Conductor, Meghan Carye played the cello. The Orchestra’s second song was “I’m Shipping Up To Boston”

by A. Barr, K. Casey, W. Guthrie & M. Kelly which incorporated a fast rhythm in sets of three. This was conducted by Meghan Carye while Mr. Fiori played the drums to provide a steady beat.

The Middle School Jazz Ensemble quickly changed the mood with an arrangement of “Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan. David Carter, Daniel Bittner, and Thomas Cannistraro all were soloists, and two of them are leaving next year to (possibly) pursue a musical career in the Upper School Jazz Ensemble. The intensity of the playing leaves no question that the future of Belmont Hill’s jazz program is bright.

The B-Flats sang eight songs lead

Song” by Earth, Wind & Fire; “I smile”

by Kirk Franklin; “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi; “Ride the Chariot” by Acappella with Aidan Donnelly, Aidan McGaugh, John McHugh, and Rishi Banerjee as soloists, “Seasons ofLove” by

Jonathan Larson

with Rowan Bradlee and Kevin O’Neill as soloists, “Glorious” by Stephanie Mabey, “Meant to Be” by Bebe Rexha, and “The Best is Yet to Come” by Donald Lawrence.

The B-Flats are looking forward to new blood next year to supplement their loss of five members to graduation.

The Upper School Jazz Ensemble performed four songs to end the Friday night on a high note. These were “Milestones” by Miles Davis with Tim Brown and Rush Lincoln as soloists, “Blue In Green” by Miles Davis & Bill Evans with Artemy Ivanov as a soloist, “So What” by Miles Davis with Charles Stevenson and Tim Brown as soloists, and “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing”

by Stevie Wonder with Devon Anderson as a soloist. Shortly after the concert, the audience tried not to get too wet in the rain when heading to the PrenattMusic Center for the reception.

The concert also marked the last

the Hamilton Chapel. In his introduction before the concert, Mr. Fiori said, “this is a bittersweet moment.” In the orchestra, only Kerby-Louis Roberson, an accomplished violinist, will be leaving next year. The B-Flats are going to have to say goodbye to Rishi Banerjee, Julian Wambach, Kevin O’Neill, Michael Glauninger, and Luca Pontone. The Upper School Jazz ensemble will lose Devon Anderson, guitar and Andrew Herrera, baritone saxophone. Though nobody will be graduating in the Middle School Jazz Ensemble, they will be losing many third formers as they transition into the Upper School

WTheOa Belmont Hill

Executive Editor Chetan Shukla ‘2O Arts Editor Andrew Jin Lee ‘2O

j

to continue their careers at Belmont Hill.

This will also be the last time all of the performers will get to play in the chapel as they know it, with the stage supplements and cramped stage. The Hamilton Chapel is undergoing a major renovation that will increase seating and stage size.

Many performers and audience members alike can agree that this has been an eventful year of music at Belmont Hill, and everyone is looking forward to the fall concert next year. With many senior musicians leaving, many of Belmont Hill’s Music Ensembles will never be the same. □

vrci 1

Editors-in-Chief Jack We l don <2 O Charlie Donahue ‘2O

k ' t 3r Charles Booth ‘2O

Photo Editor

Jalen Walker ‘2l

Assistant Editors James Markis ‘2O

Tyler Forg‘2l Sreetej Di u Howard

Back Page Editors Charlie Mullaney‘2o Liam Peterson ‘2O

David Hegarty Juliette Zener

‘

Sports Editor

Jackson Riffe ‘2O

Faculty Advisors

thi < 2l

Huang 22 RennyGong 20 Charlie Wells 21

News Ldltor Editor Andrew Jo Lee ‘2O Opinion Editor Jake Pappo ‘2O rJ

.

Abe Tolkoff 21

Graphics Editor Elias Hyde‘2o

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 ofLetters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and content. Copyright 2013 The Panel. All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication maybe reproduced in any form withoutprior written permission of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.

Artemy Ivanov ‘2O and Andrew Herrera ‘l9 perform at the Spring Concert (Mr. Mahoney)

*

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+•

3>prcH

£

mr. Bradiei Roses ore red

Violets are blue If I catch you Juuling, I’ll [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] right up your [REDACTED]

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fWM' Sfcun/ &Wdm/ Rejected selections from this year's poetry slam have made their way into the hungry hands of the the Backpage Editors. Please enjoy.:)

Where am I?

conn Braun

Brendan Losan 200 down

Trees are kinda cute If you don’t like them you’re dull

In quarter four I can make it back If I just bet some more

sooooous

mr. Richards

I know a guy who knows a guy You think you know a guy?

I might wack you stoopid, guy

You should row this spring You will love it, I promise Fun funfun erg fun

Forgetaboutit, guy

Biaumnser

Try littering on campus And I’ll split your skull

Luca

waichani^o I row in boat

Water go by fast Wooo o s h Ceiling fans ouchie my head

BACKPAGE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW At the backpage, we like to revisit some of those teachers that really have made the school shine. In this issue.

[REDACTED] spared us some time out of his busy schedule for a brief interview about his life since rolling out of the hill.

“So Mr. [REDACTED], what's been going on since you left BH?” “God I hate khakis so much” “Interesting, so you believe our transition to an industrial society will doom our species and planet?”

“They are clearly inferior to denim suspenders, a durable material that can survive even the harshest of desert

conditions and various athletic dance choreographic movements.”

“You’re saying that the current international administration must be abolished via nuclear insurrection?” “[growls] KHAAAAKKKKKIIIIISSSSS”

ou Mog forme

/fo r

p av js

Agents of the Backpage! We have a mission for you! If you can cut out and collect all THREE BH trading cards, you can trade them around the school! AND, if you turn them in to a certain science teacher whose name starts with B and ends with -utler, you'll get 5 extra points on your report card! Be careful though, as when you do, he'll respond with the code phrase “What? I don't want these.” To pass Mr. B’s inspection, just give him a hearty wink and leave them on his desk, he can take care of the rest. Okay, ready? GO!

x-

As he scurried out of the Starbucks on all fours he left his Turbo Mocha Mango Mashup Bangin' Blast behind; we had to bid our favorite #teachercoachmentor one last tearful goodbye.

Brady "Chittahbug" Chitkara

ATTENTION!!

•in

Bobby Manion t

f

l

'S

PH

-Can go feral in .03 seconds -Raised by raccoons, asymptomatic carrier

of rabies -Constantly stores enough raw energy to level a city block -Only one on library watchlist

-Has one strand of hair for every Peruvian pirate

he's spared -Can break you -Will break you -Has broken greater -Avid gardener

-Susceptible to minor

distractions while driving -We think he likes golf?

men

for lesser offenses

-Arizona