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Volume 67, Issue 5
Non Profit Org. Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Permit U.S. Postage Permit#58555 #58555 Boston, MAMA Boston, PAIDPAID
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
December 13, 2018
ENERGIZED ENTREPRENEUR Page 3
Look Inside The Panel
News 4
Jack McNamara '09 Named "Alumnus of the Issue"
belmont hill Summary
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Inside 3 5 7
News
Alumnus of the Issue 3 One Year Out: Mr. Duarte 3 Doc Fast Writes Book 4 Dr. Davis Writes textbook 4
Sports
Athlete of the Issue 5 Football Team Comparison 5 Trying New Sports 6
Opinions
Affirmative Action 7 Varsity Managers 7 Debate of the Issue 8 Moral Dilemma 8 Good Chapels 9 Prioritizing Seniors 9
10Artist Arts of the Issue 10
Arts Participation 11 Playlist of the Issue 11
In Brief
Football Team Comparison
What Makes a Good Chapel
After a bowl-winning season for the varsity Halfway through the 2018-2019 academic football team, the Panel analyzes the similari- year, junior Jack Weldon reflects on this year’s ties and differences between the 2016 and 2018 chapels to date. Jack also elaborates on the makAlumnus of the Issue teams. While the 2016 squad was characterized ings of a quality chapel and which factors cause a After playing professional hockey overseas, by intense competition, the 2018 squad enjoyed a chapel to come up short. Jack McNamara (‘09) has found entrepreneurial more amicable atmosphere. success developing his energy drink, Tru Energy. Seniors in Varsity Tryouts Seniors Branching Out Jackson Riffe (‘20) discusses the try-out One Year Out Will LaFarge (‘19) urges Seniors to try out process for varsity teams, focusing on whether Charlie Booth (‘20) checks in with Mr. Du- new sports in their final year on the Hill instead Seniors should be offered preferential treatment arte after one year on the Hill. Already a cornerof taking the easy route in weight training. over underclassmen. stone of the Arts Department, Mr. Duarte has quickly made himself a familiar face. Affirmative Action and Harvard Artist of the Issue As Early Action decisions roll in, Julian Liam Durbin (‘19) reflects on his time in Doc Fast Writes Compendium Wambach (‘19) reflects on the current lawsuit Belmont Hill’s woodworking program. Liam disAfter 30 years of teaching English at Belmont levied against Harvard Admissions. cusses a number of his favorite projects, offers an Hill, Doc Fast has put his expertise into practice. update on his involvement, and projects where he A Shakespeare enthusiast, Doc has crafted his Sorry Managers will go from here. own Shakespeare compendium. While both managers and athletes receive Declining Participations in Arts varsity letters, Matthew Smith questions if both Andrew Lee (‘20) meets with Mr. Kaplan Dr. Davis Revamps History Course deserve commensurate recognition for their conand Brother Patterson to analyze declining parAfter playing professional hockey overseas, tributions. ticipation in Belmont Hill’s Arts Department and Jack McNamara (‘09) has found entrepreneurial what will be done moving forward. success, developing his own energy drink, Tru EnDebate of the Issue ergy. Jack has also stayed connected to Belmont As the Holidays near, Kevin O’Neill (‘19) Hill, coaching the JV Tennis team in recent years. and Josh Fairman (‘19) debate the merits of timePlaylist of the Issue “Smoot ‘n’ Goot” (Matt Smith (‘19) and Matt less classics Home Alone and Elf. Athlete of the Issue Goguen (‘19)), with help from guest contributors, Entering his fourth year on the varsity Moral Dilemma Seniors Nick Daley and Kevin O’Neill, lay out wrestling team, senior Luca Pontone anticipates Reflecting on the California wildfires, Char- their favorite tunes, featuring everything from a banner season and looks ahead to a wrestling lie Booth (‘20) comments on Pascal’s wager in this current rap songs to a 1970s hit and some Christcareer at Princeton University. issue’s moral dilemma. mas classics.
Campus Candids Photos by Abe Tolkoff ‘21
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Alumnus of the Issue: Jack McNamara ‘09 By Chetan Shukla ‘ Panel Staff Born in 1990, Jack McNamara ‘09 has led a rich and eventful life featuring professional hockey, coaching tennis, and most importantly, the founding and management of a burgeoning functional beverage brand, Tru. Jack joined Belmont Hill as a 7th grader in 2003 and graduated with 3 years of Varsity hockey under his belt in 2009. In hindsight, Jack recounts his time at Belmont Hill as one of the most profound in his life so far. Although he still claims that the Form I workload was harder than college, Jack believes that the life lessons he learned on the Hill have aided him in all his ambitions since. His time in school taught him that life rewards those who work hard and refuse shortcuts. Furthermore, Jack believes that Belmont Hill holds the greatest network of Alums in Boston. After starting his company, Jack sent numerous hand-written letters to his fellow alums and not once was he denied. Belmont Hill alumni remain a family, whether you graduated in 1970 or 2014, and this family cares for each other, with a sense of togetherness, unlike any other school. As Jack reminisces about his time on the Hill, he asserted “To this day, my best friends were made on the Hill while its business network continues to pay massive dividends.” Although Jack went on to play professional hockey across Europe, he asserts that the group of Belmont Hill guys he competed with during his sophomore year were the greatest of his career. Featuring immense camaraderie, extremely skilled individuals, and a sense of unity, this team won the ISL and made it to New England finals. According to Jack: “Some would say that it was just lucky to have a group of guys so close willing to do anything for one another; however, I know Belmont Hill breeds this mentality and that, in my opinion, is what makes it the greatest high school in America.”
After graduating in 2009, Jack traveled to Sweden, where he played in the country’s top junior league for two years. Two of his teammates ended up competing in the NHL. Back in the States, he played collegiate hockey at Colgate for two years, leaving (with just a backpack and his hockey
tasting, nutritional solutions to everyday needs. To begin the process, Jack moved to New York City where he participated in two startup accelerators, Startup52 and Food-X, and received his first investment. Jack knew starting his company would be extremely difficult, especially since
Belmont Hill Alumni Jack McNamara ‘09 promotes his beverage brand “Tru” equipment) to pursue his hockey career in 5-Hour Energy, a billion dollar company, Denmark, where he joined a professional held a monopoly over most of the market. team. While competing at the profes- However, Jack persevered: “I have always sional level, Jack found time to attend the believed that if you work smart and avoid Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship. distractions while driving towards a pasHere he began working on a beverage bot- sion, then success is the only outcome”. tle concept called Kickstick, which later After incorporating Tru Inc. in September became Tru. From 2012-14, Jack played of 2015, Jack moved into a gym where he in the top leagues of Denmark, Slovakia, built Tru with a limited budget. On May and Norway while also earning his col- 9th, 2018, Jack pitched “Tru” to a group lege degree. He had transferred to Boston of investors, including former NASCAR College, where he was able to complete driver Danica Patrick, on a show called his college education over the summers. Elevator Entrepreneur Pitch. On the exWhile playing professionally, Jack realized perience, Jack stated, “Despite getting that sugary sports drinks and unhealthy shut down by a world-famous athlete on energy shots had flooded locker-rooms. a video that got over 1M views, the pitch Grasping the magnitude of this issue, Jack is something I am extremely proud that planned to solve it: “Instead of waiting for I attempted.” In 2015, Jack initiated Tru’s the solution to come, I decided to build Kickstarter campaign, which established it myself.” Jack’s ultimate goal is to be- a genuine proof of concept for the comcome the world’s leading provider of great pany and motivated Jack to continue
driving his company towards greatness. Through mid-2018, Jack has developed Tru using a budget of only ~$120k from investment, an outstanding achievement in the industry. Across those three years, Jack refused to pay himself in an effort to aid the company, as he babysat and coached tennis to support himself. Tru’s story has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, HuffPost, Bevnet, and Entrepreneur, among other notable publications. By 2018, this product has landed in 750 stores and ~250 vending machines across the nation. Tru has ended the year closing a $567,000 seed round from 26 investors, many of them being Belmont Hill alumni. Jack brought on a Chief Operating Officer and is in the process of launching 5 new functional beverages. While Jack spent the last three years focusing on TruEnergy, he has learned the industry inside and out. These new Stock Keeping Units, or products, will be Focus, Detox, Sleep, Power, and CBD. With these 5 new products in the pipeline, Tru is at a tipping point. Jack believes, rightfully so, that once these products are released, Tru will take the industry by storm. Jack is also currently editing a ten-part documentary which reveals the process behind developing a company. Overall, Jack attributes much of his success to his grounded and motivated work ethic, which he learned at Belmont Hill. Jack genuinely believes in the phrase Carpe Diem (Seize the Day) as he aims to grasp every opportunity that comes his way. Whether it was leaving his college scholarship to pursue his dream or living in a gym to build his company, Jack’s entire essence is determined to succeed. In his closing remarks, Jack spoke on this unmatched resolve: “I do not look in the past, nor do I look in the future. I put my head down and grind so that I can go to bed and sleep easy... then I wake up and do it again.” ☐
One Year Out: Mr. Duarte, Belmont Hill’s Prized Photographer By: Charlie Booth ‘ Panel Staff It is a testament to Mr. Duarte’s influence on the Belmont Hill Community that no one can believe that he has only been at Belmont Hill for a year. For the very few that don’t know him, he is a leading figure in Belmont Hill Arts with a special gift for photography. You can almost always find him in the arts building developing film or offering his expertise to his Photography and Digital Video classes. Naturally, I asked Mr. Duarte how he felt about his first year at Belmont Hill and what were the best and worst things. He especially enjoys encouraging the boys to take risks and to “think outside the box.” Students easily forget that faculty members derive great satisfaction from engaging with students willing to stretch themselves artistically and intellectually. Mr. Duarte likes nothing better than to enjoy the “look on a boy’s face when a print emerges from the developing tray.” Like so many others, Mr. Duarte chooses to punt the question of the worst thing at Belmont Hill. I think teachers declining to answer this question should be rewarded with a fictitious answer of the Panel’s choosing. So, Mr Duarte - “What is the most surprising thing about your first year at Belmont Hill”? “The most surprising element of my experience boils down to risk. I’ve enjoyed getting to know some great boys so far and what so many of them have in common is their willingness to take a risk The risk in how they define themselves is an ef-
fort to recognize the importance of being a multifaceted individual. I’ve enjoyed watching members of my Form III hockey team act in a play, throw clay blindfolded, and capture an amazing photograph of their grandfather and the power in gifting him a print of that memory. Belmont Hill
ment and misplaced self-confidence he felt strapping on pads. Sixty minutes of hockey preceded six days of limping to class. “How did your expectations for Belmont Hill compare to reality”? “I had the privilege of knowing a former faculty member, Whitey Morange, who
“If given the opportunity what would you change about the school”? “As many of the boys on campus know I am a pretty passionate golfer. I’ve had numerous conversations with students regarding their love of the game and their willingness to put the effort forward to strengthen their skills. I’d like to see the game expanded here at school with either a middle school or JV team offered as a means of providing students with the experience of competitive golf in order to better prepare those with varsity level aspirations.” Mr Duarte is a nice guy – boys like him and it is easy to see why. I hope he stays here on the Hill for many years to come and even though Mr. Duarte compeltely absorbed in his passion for photography as he examines film (Photo by Abe Tolkoff ‘21) many describe him boys fight the urge to define themselves played a huge role in my life as a teacher as “chill”, he takes his job very seriously. in a single box and that’s simply amazing”. and as a photographer. He spoke so pas- Mr. Duarte’s teaching ability breaks down As with many one-on-one interactions sionately about his time with the boys the wall between work and play, showing with faculty, it is revealing how much fun here and I was elated that I would contin- his students and everyone at Belmont Hill they have hanging out with a bunch of ue the tradition of analog darkroom pho- that you can do both simultaneously. ☐ teenage boys. Mr. Duarte recalls with some tography at Belmont Hill. Given all of our hilarity the misguided belief that at thirty- conversations regarding the school, I am something, he would be able to hang with pleased that my expectations of the school the JV Hockey team. He recalls the excite- and its many traditions were happily met”.
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Doc Fast Writes Compendium of Materials for Teaching Shakespeare By charlie donahue ‘ Panel Staff This past summer, Belmont Hill’s Doc Fast embarked on the ambitious project of creating a compendium of materials for teaching a number of Shakespeare’s plays. This work, which marks the culmination of 47 years and counting teaching Shakespeare courses, spans over 700 pages and two volumes. This compendium reflects Doc’s impressive background in the subject; Shakespeare studies have been a journey of their own for him throughout his life. A graduate of Oberlin College, Doc took only one formal course on Shakespeare during his undergraduate years, suggesting that the majority of his extensive knowledge on the subject has been self taught. Following college, he joined the Peace Corps, which took him to Aquinas University in Legazpi City, in the Philippines. There, he taught a Shakespeare course to 55 young adults, one of whom, he recounts, was a Jesuit Priest. In the ensuing years, he completed a Masters’ Degree Program in Toronto, and, afterwards, a PhD in Stratford, England at the Shakespeare Institute. “I have always regarded the Shakespeare Institute as the ‘Mecca’ for Shakespeare studies,” Doc says. While there, he studied alongside many of the more preeminent scholars of the subject in the entire world. His supervisor, Stanley Wells, edited The Oxford Shakespeare, a number of editions of Shakespeare compiled by the Oxford University Press. Doc also struck a friendship with T.J.B. Spenser, the program’s director and the general editor of the New Penguin Shakespeare Series. Throughout his work there, Doc frequently met with these esteemed scholars who guided him in his dissertation writing process. During my sit down with him, Doc opened the cover of an edition of Henry IV and pointed to a number of editors’ names contained within. “One way or another, all these editors were connected to the Shakespeare Institute,” he said with his trademark excitement. Upon completion of his PhD, Doc traveled to California to begin his teaching career. “Upon return from England, I landed in an independent school, The Webb School, in Claremont, CA, where I started teaching a full-year honors designation Shakespeare course to seniors. Over 15 years there, I taught the course almost every year. I had the luxury of teaching what was an ‘honors level’ course and had some autonomy regarding content,” Doc remembers. “I used to take my classes every year to the Huntington Library in San Marino. There, I met a man named Alan Jutzi, a curator of rare
books. He’d show us around for a few hours and Jutzi would explain everything. They had a special binary to repair old texts. That library has the largest collection of Cortoeditions of Shakespeare on the planet. This guy Huntington had made money on real estate in the early [19]20s and sent his man in England to buy up private libraries from lords who were strapped for cash. They got a lot of really rare books from that,” Doc says. After 15 years at the Webb School, Doc moved East to begin a new job as the
cation in Shakespeare as well, twice attending the University of Cambridge’s Summer Shakespeare School in 1996 and 1998, as well as studying at Exeter College, Oxford. In the past, Doc has designed a number of courses, including the “Faulkner and the Southern Tradition” course for juniors, and “The Search for Faith” for seniors, and for each he has created compendiums. Therefore, the decision to do the same for the Shakespeare course was a natural one. Ever since the introduction
The Cover of Doc Fast’s Compendium, Entitled Shakespeare Backstory (Abe Tolkoff ‘21) English Department Chair at Belmont Hill. of computers at the school, Doc had been Here, he started his Shakespeare course compiling documents and files for teachagain, this time teaching a semester-long ing and reading each specific play. Every elective for seniors. Throughout his 31 years year, when teaching, he undoubtedly would teaching here, Doc has reworked the course come across something new and interesta number of times. The material has evolved ing he wanted to address in the following to meet the specific needs and interests of each class, as have some of the major points “By the time we get there, the of focus. Doc explained, “Over the years things change. I kept building my reper- guys have the resources. They toire of things to do and plays to address and know how to think, and how to approach the play.” ideas about how to teach the course. That has changed a lot. In the last 10 or 15 years I’ve changed the way in which I’ve taught the year, and he dutifully added them to a table course, specifically the order of address. I de- in his computer. Over the years, the table cided that I liked so many bits and pieces and expanded tremendously. “This past sumdidn’t want to give up any plays. My solution: mer I was on what’s called a summer sabI culled the ‘juicy bits’ out of many different batical, during which you are expected to plays and used those to start the course each do something related to the courses you new semester. Regarding these bits, I used teach. I spoke to Dr. Melvoin last spring each as an example of a different device, tool, and proposed the idea of doing something or element. With each one it’s like putting with Shakespeare, but I had no idea what,” yet another tool in our toolbox, and after Doc explained. “When I finally sat down to we finish three or four weeks looking at ‘bit work on it this summer, I just started writpieces’, we enter our first full length examina- ing. I culled from my ever-expanding table tion of a play. By the time we get there, the and poked around through thousands and guys have the resources. They know how to thousands of folders and files. Some days think, and how to approach the play.” Over I worked for 10 hours straight, because I the years, Doc has continued his own edu- wanted to keep the information organized
in my head and make sure I didn’t forget to address or add anything, or do something I had already done a previous day,” he said. At this point, the compendium was 744 pages and was broken into two volumes. Doc’s passion for reading, studying, and teaching Shakespeare have been apparent throughout the time I have spent with him. His excitement for the material compelled Doc to labor for upwards of 10 hours each day for about a month, and throughout the process, Doc inserted some of his own areas of interest into the compendium. “There is a great cohesiveness in a play like Macbeth that I find fascinating. In the beginning, the witches say, ‘fair is foul and foul is fair,’ and then later on Macbeth himself comes and says, ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen.’ He did not hear the witches say that, they are his own thoughts, yet the language is cohesive with regard to the description which is by design on Shakespeare’s part. Allusions and reality are always blurred, too, in Shakespeare, which is fun to discuss. Also, there are fun questions I always ask the guys. For example, I have often asked ‘is Lady MacBeth an alcoholic?’ I don’t think she is, but the language may suggests it, for example when she says to Macbeth, ‘Hie thee hither that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valor of my tongue.’ It always gets a fun reaction,” Doc explained. Upon completion of the current version of the compendium, Doc turned it into a PDF file and shared it with his colleagues in the English department. So far he has gotten positive feedback from them as well as others. Doc’s friend Charles Mosley, who he met at the Cambridge Summer School and who twice came to Belmont Hill as a visiting lecturer for a week, suggested Doc attempt to get his amazing work published. Ever the perfectionist, Doc explained that this is his ultimate goal, however he thinks it needs more revising before he reaches that stage. “Even this semester I keep thinking of things I want to add or amend as I’m teaching,” he said. “Somehow or other I’d like to get it published, and things with Shakespeare’s name on the cover tend to get published and do well, but I’m not sure when I’m going to be able to sit down and work for extended periods of time again. Maybe next summer, but I’m not sure,” he said. Whatever he ends up doing, his compendium is a magnificent achievement, which will undoubtedly help students and teachers alike to better understand and enjoy the complex world of Shakespeare’s works. We thank Doc for his dedication, passion, and tireless work on behalf of his students and the subject he loves. ☐
Dr. Davis Takes Lead in the Revamping of History I Course By Charlie donahue ‘ Panel Staff Here at Belmont Hill, we are extraordinarily blessed with passionate teachers and a rigorous curriculum. In that spirit, our own Dr. Davis took the lead this summer in writing a new text for History 1, a class he has taught for a few years now. A talented classicist and historian, he realized that the text that has been used for many years did not address some of the broader needs of the class and the history department. Additionally, some criticisms were born out of the school’s NEASC, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, review three years ago. For these reasons, he began to supplement the class-text with some handouts and materials of his own last year. Building from that, he zealously wrote a new text this summer, (around 100 pages thus far in length) which he is beta testing with his class this year. The text shores up many of the holes of the old book and encourages students to think more broadly about historical con-
cepts. “It’s very History I skill-based,” he explained, “and I highlighted a number of important themes such as military science, for exDr. T. Davis ample, in parts of the chapters I called ‘Spotlights’.” Additionally, he designed the curriculum in such a way that it can serve, “as an interdisciplinary nexus point between different departments: Latin obviously, art to some degree, and the Eng- The cover of Dr. Davis’ textbook
lish department which emphasizes mythology in the seventh grade.” He is quick to point out, however, that this is not a solo project. “It is my hope that this will serve as a draft to which my colleagues who teach the class can add commentar y and edit as they see fit. It is not finished yet; it’s what I’d call a well-polished draft, however, I fully expect this to be a joint effort that will
become a more permanent text specific to Belmont Hill and the desired class. I also do not want it to become part of my own ‘cultof-personality’ so to speak, therefore I want it to be a text from which anyone can teach, and perhaps I won’t even be involved with the class as a teacher looking further down the road.” He also underscores that his goal is not to publish this work, but to continue to tailor it in conjunction with the department for Belmont Hill’s students. “In addition to promoting an appreciation for the origins of Western Civilization, my intent is to promote the study of history generally and to create a set of useful history skills that later teachers can use and build upon,” he said. Overall, we congratulate Dr. Davis and the entire history department on this endeavor, and appreciate the faculty at-large as they constantly strive for excellence on our behalf as students. ☐
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Athlete of The Issue: Luca Pontone ‘19 By Thomas McEvoy ‘ Panel Staff A vital contributor to Belmont Hill’s varsity team since the Third Form, Luca Pontone ‘19 developed a passion for wrestling at an early age. In fact, Luca first began wrestling in kindergarten at the age of five, and he credits his father with his initial introduction to the sport: “My dad was a wrestler at Plymouth State and Reading High School, so he got me into it originally, and then I just really loved it, so I decided to keep doing it.” Indeed, Luca stuck with wrestling for the next thir-
es on my wrestling career. The Harvard coach has also done a great amount for me. He is very knowledgeable and has taught me much.” While coaching and adult leadership have proven invaluable to Luca’s development, his teammates have served as an equally significant resource. One Belmont Hill teammate made a particularly positive impact on Luca: “DJ Demetri was
Within the context of the sport itself, Luca knows not every aspect of wrestling is equally exciting, and he identified drilling and cutting weight as particularly difficult: “The thing I enjoy least about wrestling is drilling moves. It can be tedious but it is really necessary. Cutting weight is also never fun. There have been some hungry weeks.”
“Coach Leo has done a tremendous amount of teaching. He has definitely been one of the greatest inf luences on my wrestling career. The Harvard coach has also done a great amount for me. He is very knowledgeable and has taught me much.” teen years and is now poised to continue his career at Princeton University next winter. In addition to early help from his father, Luca has benefited from the guidance of a number of other mentors: “Coach Leo has done a tremendous amount of teaching. He has definitely been one of the greatest influenc-
Luca Pontone takes down Roxbury Latin wrestler. a great influence on me. He showed me quite a bit about school and team spirit. He taught me a lot about how to be a leader as well. I can credit so much of my captaining abilities to him.”
Even so, perseverance through tougher stretches has prepared Luca for tremendous success. When asked about his favorite element of wrestling, his eyes lit up, declaring
“My dad was a wrestler at Plymouth State and Reading High School, so he got me into it originally, and then I just really loved it, so I decided to keep doing it.”
“Competing has been what I most enjoy about wrestling. I get to wrestle and inflict my will.” Reflecting on his wrestling career to date, Luca understands that he has endured his share of adversity: “In sophomore year, it was tough when I got a concussion and tore up my shoulder. That was definitely a real low.” Nevertheless, he’s also achieved a number of highlights, earning All-American honors in his junior year, placing third in the nation at 170 pounds. Equally impressive, Luca represented Belmont Hill at the Junior National Freestyle Tournament, the largest high school tournament in the world, finishing an impressive eighth. As he begins his final season on the Hill and sets his sights on his upcoming Princeton career, Luca strives to balance future goals with a focus on the present, saying, “I’m trying to focus on this year, but to get All-American at some point in my collegiate career would be a goal of mine. It is something all kids aspire to,” and concluding, “To be a Division I All-American would be perhaps the crowning jewel on my wrestling career,” a feat Mr. Leonardis accomplished during his collegiate career. ☐
How This Year’s Football Team Stacks up against the 2016 Team By Yazeed Dahleh ‘ & Tyler Forg ‘ cause of their competitiveness, the Belmont Hill team hit harder than their oppoPanel Staff nents and came out on top in close battles. Where do you start when compar- Standout players such as Jake Bobo ‘18 ing two dominant Bowl-winning foot- and Justin O’Neil-Riley ‘19 distinguished ball teams that contrast immensely from the team from previous years. But the each other in terms of culture and ros- 2016 team lacked this year’s squad’s depth ter? What made those two teams great? on offense and, as a result, they could not The 2016 team came into the season match the types of packages run this year. as underdogs after losing seven games the The 2018 team expected themselves previous year. Shane Rockett ‘19 described to win the ISL and capture a New Engthe tense, harsh mentality the team had ad- land Championship. They knew that their opted, “it was rigid. If you screwed up you team was more well rounded on all sides were yelled at. Everybody held each other of the ball; as Shane explained, “we had 22 accountable.” The team, at times, was too solid players who could play.” Jaylen Baiintense: during a late-season practice, the ley agreed, saying, “the team was so strong coaches decided to end early at Belmont because the guys on the bench could come High School because they were afraid the in and play as well as the starters.” This kids would end up killing each other. Be- year the philosophy was a lot different than
The football team celebrates its second bowl game win in the last three years.
2016; the environment was inclusive, happy, and enjoyable. It was the first year where it looked like everyone wanted to be on the team. Owen Chicos, a sophomore, said, “the captains were great this year, which is what made the season a lot of fun.” Similarly to the 2016 season, the practices were both intense and extremely productive. According to Mr. Butler, “both teams competed well Monday through Friday.” During these practices, they got to enjoy music, which they had not done in years past. The captains had a motto: “football is all about having fun, but
you gotta win to have fun.” Well, the football team definitely had a lot of fun this season. When Belmont Hill returns next year, they will boast an experienced roster with many returning junior and sophomore players, led by future captains Isaiah Gomes ‘20, Jack McHugh ‘20 and Max Peterson ‘20. As to the skills of these returning athletes? Shane declared “Their technique is borderline perfect.” With a roster of veterans and hard working coaches, the team is well poised to repeat the ISL championship and go on to a bowl game. ☐
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In Case You Missed It... Nov. 10, 2018
Belmont Hill’s Model UN Club traveled to an overnight conference at Brown University
Nov. 13, 2018
Mr. Sherman conducted another edition of the Math Contest, where two first formers, Lawrence Tang and Kevin Jiang, extended their streak of perfect scores to two
Nov. 30, 2018
Belmont Hill’s Coffee House included a number of excellent performances by students and even Mr. Schneider
Dec. 1, 2018
A group of experienced skiers from the Nordic Ski team traveled north to Dublin School in New Hampshire for their first on-snow workout
Dec. 1, 2018
Dec. 4, 2018
The wrestling team traveled to Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania to compete in the Germantown Invitational
Alumnus Chet Homer ‘69 and his family donated a new Zamboni to Belmont Hill’s hockey rink
Dec. 3, 2018
Dec. 7, 2018
Mr. Sam Kennedy, President of the Boston Red Sox, brought the four world series trophies to Belmont Hill for a special school meeting
Belmont Hill’s annual Winter Concert was a rousing success, with performances from the B-Flats, the Jazz Band, and the Orchestra
The Case for Seniors Trying New Sports
By Will LaFarge ‘ Panel Staff At Belmont Hill, athletes are often reluctant to stray from their “main sports,” which they have usually played since they were knee-high to a grasshopper. There are plenty of Belmont Hill kids who end up playing the same sports every year, regardless of whether or not they enjoy or excel at it. Just as often, athletes will dump one sport in favor for weight training, which they assume will help them with their best sport, although for some powerlifters it is the art of crossing off your name that is the true feat of strength. The one option that few consider is trying a new sport. In each season, there are multiple sports that require no previous experience: cross country and JVB soccer in the fall, Nordic skiing and wrestling in the winter, and track and crew in the spring. Despite the breadth of choices, Belmont Hill athletes seldom take advantage of their chances to play a new sport. All Belmont Hill athletes should think about doing a new sport, but senior year is the perfect time to take that leap. Firstly, seniors, with the exception of the fall season, generally have more free time and carry less stress. Additionally, if a senior does not end up liking his new sport, he will not be forced to go back to his old sport a year later having
Will LaFarge waxes his skis with care. (Photo by Abe Tolkoff ‘21) missed out on a year of improvement; taking a new sport senior year is entirely riskfree. In addition, senior year is, in many instances, the last time you will be able to play a new sport competitively on a team. After high school, it will be harder to learn new sports and find teams that welcome newcomers while still competing at a high level against other teams. If you are adding a new sport to your former off-season, the new
sport may even be good for your health and your success at other sports. Studies show that playing multiple sports reduces the chances of serious injury and many who go on to become professional athletes play more than one sport in high school, including 90% of the 2017 NFL draft class. Belmont Hill athletes who pick up a new sport typically have positive things to say about their experience. I am doing
Nordic skiing this winter, with no prior experience. So far I’m confident that I made a good choice; the workouts are getting me in great shape for tennis in the spring and learning how to ski has been a joyful experience. Nordic skiing has also put me outside of my comfort zone, since I’ve never skied before, and I believe that it’s valuable to be exposed to new things before heading off to college. Senior Nick Daley also decided to do cross country skiing this year instead of managing or weight training. So far, Nick is happy with his choice to join Nordic skiing: “It’s a lot more fun to experience the camaraderie of a team than to go into the weight room and get chirped for struggling through a pushup. You can always work out, but there aren’t many opportunities to learn to ski,” he said. “It’s really fun to be a novice and see yourself improve every day.” Nick also encourages other athletes to give a new sport a chance, noting that “a lot of people come into Belmont Hill thinking they will be good at one sport, but they end up finding something they are good at and love by trying something else.” I hope that every Belmont Hill athlete will think about trying a new sport, at least for one season. ☐
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Belmont Hill Opinions
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Affirmative Action, Harvard, and Asian-Americans. It’s Complicated. By Julian Wambach ‘ Staff Writer
slowly even the name itself has taken on a new identity. Originally built to compensate for prejudice, opponents of Affirmative Action have attacked it as welfare state policies that confer “unearned advantage.” And yet, if two people live very different lives, then it is reasonable to assume that they cannot be accurately judged by the same metrics, just as you can’t compare the times of two runners finishing a race when one has run a sprint and the other a marathon. If, for example, a child from a high-income family may enjoy access to extracurriculars, tutoring, and a strong support system, and is more likely to come from a family that is more likely to take for granted what is often an inevitability in higher education. A student from a low income family may instead be burdened with significant responsibilities for sibling
care, household chores or even wage earning. Is it reasonable to conclude that those with higher scores due to intense tutoring and a robust support system are more deserving of higher education than a student who has lacked a support system and carried a heavier burden of responsibilities? Does Affirmative Action serve as a tool to offset these inequalities? If the tool is proven not to function to perfection, is the solution to destroy the tool or to adjust it? The Harvard Case is unique in that the lawsuit takes a new approach to challenge race-based admissions policies. Rather than arguing that Harvard is disadvantaging whites through minority admission, the lawsuit instead claims that the school is benefitting whites and minority groups while punishing Asian-American applicants with unfairly low “personality”
For the purposes of this article, reference to Asian Americans includes those of primarily East Asian and Southeast Asian descent. What is Affirmative Action? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is the “active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women.” Historically, minority groups have often been deprived of what is viewed as the rights of the majority. Many elders in the United States grew up in a time where everything from where you were born to where you could be buried was determined by your skin color, including where you could legally walk, eat, work, and learn. Minorities, and in particular blacks, were systematically deprived of opportunities to improve their socio-economic status. Affirmative Action was meant to change that, ensuring equal hiring opportunities based on merit and qualifications, and creating systems that would provide historically disadvantaged groups with equal access to education as well. So why bother with a law that has created so much conflict, so much struggle, and so much disagreement? Simply put, because the goal of equal opportunity remains far from realized. Hiring discrimination has persisted into the twenty-first century, racial wealth gaps have failed to close, and black students still have the lowest college attendance rates among non-native ethnic groups. Half a century of legal challenges have placed many restrictions on Affirmative Action’s implementation, and Harvard admissions is the subject of the latest lawsuit targeting affirmative action
scores. It accuses Harvard of maintaining a max quota of Asian-American acceptance, and also of holding them to a higher standard than applicants of other races. AsianAmericans are divided over the issue, with some believing that they are victims of racially profiled admission practices, and many others, including myself, feeling that Asian-Americans are being unfairly used “in a brazen attempt to abolish affirmative action” by “Students for Fair Admissions,” an organization run by Edward Blum the same man behind the Fisher v. University of Texas case in 2016. Prudence Carter, a sociologist at Berkeley, told The New Yorker: “I feel that the Asian-American student population and community is being used as a pawn in a chess game.” Ultimately, I think that Affirmative Action, no matter the results of this case, should stand. It provides a pathway for underprivileged and long-disadvantaged communities to be admitted to college and the workforce. Without Affirmative Action, it is likely that many of those who are handicapped by factors beyond their control, whether race, ethnicity, religion or socioeconomic status, will have fewer opportunities to achieve their dreams. Affirmative Action helps combat inequality and promotes opportunity for those who may not otherwise have access to pathways for upward mobility. The Harvard lawsuit is serving to raise awareness of ethnic bias and racial profiling and provides evidence that “race issues” still exist. Affirmative Action remains a contentious topic, one that necessitates discussion and dialog if it is to one day fulfill its mission of ending and correcting the effects of discrimination. ☐
Sorry Managers: Varsity Letters Need To Be More Selective By Matthew Smith ‘ Panel Staff Sports are one of the cornerstones of Belmont Hill. They help determine how students spend their time, who their friends are, and which teachers become their mentors. They provide a source of pride and communal bonding, both in victory and defeat. And, most importantly, they instill discipline, hard work, and sportsmanship, shaping boys into young men of character. But, for every student, the way in which they engage with sports and the resulting impact it has on their life can vary widely. Some play three seasons of varsity sports
“Belmont Hill shouldn’t be in the business of praising everyone for everything.” throughout the upper school; others choose to play JVB soccer and weight train. Some dive at the international level year round; others opt to join the play. Some serve as managers for a varsity team. And that’s okay. Not everyone is going to be great at sports or enjoy them. But we have sports requirements so that, at some point in their BH career, every student must at least give sports a try. Even though the sports requirements are flexible (at least for upper schoolers), Belmont Hill still values the student-athlete model for all the reasons mentioned above. So how do we encourage students to join teams if we can’t strictly enforce it? For the most part, we can’t. People come to the school with predispositions towards or against sports which will drive whether they will play them in the future. But what we do determine is how we incentivize dedica-
tion to sports. Whether intentionally or not, we currently achieve this through our triannual sports awards chapels. After every season, the entire Belmont Hill community comes together to celebrate (and thus endorse) nearly every aspect of sports; athletes receive awards for improvement (most improved trophies), contribution (MVP trophies), achievement (All-League, All-New England, and All-American honors), sportsmanship (Henry B. Sawyer sportsmanship award), and, most commonly, ability and hard work in the form of varsity letters. As it stands, however, varsity letters, the main means of incentivization, are flawed. Along with varsity athletes, managers and JV athletes on joint teams, such as wrestling, often earn letters. This indiscriminate and careless awarding of varsity letters diminishes their importance and power of incentivization. On top of that, we also induct managers into the Red and Blue Key Society at Prize Day. More awards for less work. That’s ridiculous. In what world should managers be more decorated than actual varsity athletes? To correct our skewed incentivization system, we need to look more closely at who should receive varsity letters. For sports with separate varsity and JV teams, like basketball, only the athletes who made the varsity should receive letters; managers and JV athletes should not. For ladder sports, like squash, athletes should be required to compete on the varsity team a minimum number of times to receive a letter, but managers should still not be letter-eligible. For combined teams, where the lines between varsity and JV blur, like football, a more subjective criteria should be applied, which takes into account
hard work and ability, so that individuals not taking the sport seriously aren’t rewarded. And, as in the latter two cases, managers shouldn’t receive letters. Some might argue that the system which I am proposing fails to recognize the contributions of managers, but I would like to remind them that managers still receive keychains for their induction into the Red and Blue Key Society. And if you’re still complaining that those keychains don’t matter, I might suggest that we make them matter by only awarding them to managers who actually do their job and help their team. Belmont Hill shouldn’t be in the
Illustration by Elias Hyde ‘20
business of praising everyone for everything. Belmont Hill should expect excellence and effort from its students. That’s what Belmont Hill advertises in admissions. That’s how I viewed Belmont Hill when I first arrived. But I guess making that a reality is a lot harder than blissful ignorance. If we really care about the ideals which we are promoting in our students, we should start to show it by tightening up who gets a varsity letter. I know it may seem insignificant, but it sends a meaningful message that could have positive implications for the future of Belmont Hill boys and Belmont Hill athletics. ☐
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Debate of the Issue: Elf or Home Alone?
In this issue of The Panel, we continue our featured debate series between two students with opposing beliefs. This debate revolves around a question affecting the holiday season. Is Elf or Home Alone the better holiday-themed movie? The following articles choose a side on this debate and argue their case. Kevin O’ Neill ‘19 and Joshua Fairman ‘19 will serve as regular writers for “The Debate of the Issue.”
Pro-Elf By Kevin O’ Neill ‘ Staff Writer
Whether it’s a simple quote from Buddy like “Good news! I saw a dog today!” or his reaction to when he hears Santa is coming to the mall, his lovable goofiness never fail to amuse. If comedy based on pain is your thing, then by all means, Home Alone is the movie for you. However, if you desire a film that has all the humor of Kevin McCallister’s experience supplemented with a love story, a new-found family, and a tale of redemption, Elf is definitely the right choice. ☐
Not only is Elf better at incorporating the topic of Christmas into the movie, but it also has a less repetitive storyline and well-thought-out humor that is more layered than the simple slapstick comedy found in Home Alone. To start, the premise of the story is entirely unique and unlike any other Christmas movie. Home Alone just happens to occur at Christmas time when Kevin is accidentally left at home - the story could just as easily take place over summer vacation or at some other time. The simple fact that the story is occurring during Christmas provides no substance to the story other than a few holiday-themed jokes and an excuse for the main problem of the story. If you take the whole Christmas theme out, you can tweak a few details and still end up with the same story, which cannot be said about Elf. Will Ferrell, a much more loved and respected figure than Macaulay Culkin, portrays an abnormally large elf who finds himself leaving the North Pole for the first time in search of his birth family. Buddy, Ferrell’s character, has one main problem, however: society is full of people, places, and things he does not quite understand. We see Buddy’s struggle with the escalator, an iconic scene that has been recreated numerous times, his lack of culinary skills (save the four main food groups: candy, candy cane, candy corn, and syrup and, of course, spaghetti), and his misunderstanding of personal boundaries and the meaning of “for that special someone.” His childish demeanor and passion for family ultimately create a lovable and entertaining character with many different dynamics, while Kevin and the two robbers have seemingly one-dimensional personalities. Elf simply incorporates love and joy into the storyline associated with the spirit of Christmas, Illustration by Elias Hyde something Home Alone does not address.
Pro-Home Alone
By Joshua Fairman ‘ Panel Staff Google “best Christmas movie”. No, I’m serious, do it. I’ll wait… What you are currently seeing is Home Alone ranked #1 and Elf ranked #8. I would have to agree with Google’s billion-dollar algorithm, considering the classic that is Home Alone. Everyone can sympathize with being a child and wanting to be free of their parents’ tyrannical rule. This movie toys
with the prospect of a boy being left alone for a week and some incredible scenes come out of it. From Kevin eating popcorn while jumping on his bed to combing his hair and spraying on cologne, we are able to witness the range of activities that Kevin elects to do while his parents are away. This movie is also just a great family movie for the Christmas holidays because of its Christmas themes of love and family. At the beginning of the movie, Kevin has a temper tantrum and wishes for his family to disappear. After he is left alone, however, he realizes that the Christmas
Google “best Christmas movie. No, I’m serious, do it. I’ll wait...I would have to agree with Google’s billion-dollar algorithm :there is a reason Home Alone is ranked #1 on Google; it is a classic movie with comedy for all age groups that perfectly meshes with any family’s Christmas festivities. holiday wouldn’t be the same without his loving, although sometimes annoying, family. Contrary to what my Elf-loving counterpart suggests, Home Alone would be a completely different movie without the holiday setting because Christmas provides the perfect backdrop for the main lesson in the movie: loving those around us and appreciating what we have. There is a reason Home Alone is ranked #1 on Google; it is a classic movie with comedy for all age groups that perfectly meshes with any family’s Christmas festivities. ☐
Moral Dilemma: How Pascal’s Wager Impacts the Community By Charlie Booth‘ Panel Staff
We have all seen the horrific scenes from the California fires and wondered what could have been done to avoid the loss of approximately 100 lives, 2 million acres of land, and property damage of 3.5 billion dollars. We perhaps think that governments should do more – that the primar y role of government is to keep
Pascal’s Wager has illuminated game and decision theory but not apparently the empty heads of our fearless leaders, who appear to be waiting on the sidelines for the climate to demonstrate beyond doubt that the end of civilization is imminent. its people safe from just such events. A little research quickly reveals the basic conundrum facing us all, not just governments, when dealing with uncertainty. Should we only act on definitive information? Should we act in a partial, probability-weighted manner? It is debated that climate change or something else -- construction near high-risk zones, for-
est management, etc.-- are considered mostly to blame for the fires. If you lived in California, you might be forgiven for thinking “I don’t care which it is, why can’t we behave as if it is all of the above instead of behaving as if it is none of the above”? And yet government routinely chooses to do nothing as if over whelmed by fear of being proved wrong. A seventeenth-centur y French philosopher named Blaise Pascal discussed the uncertainty of the existence of god arguing that you should live your life as though you believed in god because if you turn out to be wrong, the cost is fairly small. The cost of believing in God is perhaps the loss of hedonistic pleasures. Al- Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
ternatively, to live your life not believing in God, only to discover that He or She exists may expose you to eternal damnation – a heavy price to pay! “Pascal’s Wager,” as it became known in the 17th centur y, has illuminated game and decision theor y but not apparently the empty heads of our fearless leaders, who appear to be waiting on the sidelines for the climate to demonstrate beyond doubt that the end of civilization is imminent. T h e costs of climate change are undeniably high. If climate change scientists are correct and the world warms by 4°C, it will cause widespread famine, property damage, social unrest, and possibly the eradication of the human race.
McKinsey & Company, a highly respected consulting firm, offers a Pascal-type wager, proposing that if we spend just 1-2% of GDP on renewables like solar farms and wind turbines we can curb climate change. If, alternatively, it turns out that the planet cools naturally -- that global warming was just part of a 1,000-year c ycle -- we will have inf licted a certain amount of financial hardship to
We can only hope that there is still time for our generation to apply Pascal’s work to matters as significant as climate change and forestry management, for the cost of being wrong and inactive is growing. ward off a nonexistent catastrophe . We can only hope that there is still time for our generation to apply Pascal’s work to matters as significant as climate change and forestr y management, for the cost of being wrong and inactive is growing. ☐
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Belmont Hill Opinions
What Makes a “Good Chapel”?
By jack Weldon ‘ Panel Staff For Belmont Hill students wandering into study hall or advisory in the early hours of the morning, one of the most common questions asked between peers is the simple “do we have chapel this morning?” Depending on the day, a “yes” or a “no” might be more favorable to any given student. Perhaps they were hoping to do some last minute review for that math test during A-Block, or would rather not make the trek across campus only to return fifteen minutes later. Thus, a chapel speaker faces an inherent challenge. On its own, taking hold of an audience and driving home a message is a daunting task for a public speaker; an audience of tired and distractible young boys increases the trial tenfold. For a chapel to be effective, it has to achieve two basic principles. Firstly, the speaker/speakers have to recognize who their audience is, in this case, a crowd of sleepy middle and high school boys, and what topic will interest them and allow for the engagement required to speak effectively for an extended period. Secondly, the speaker has to find a way to resonate and engage with the students, either through well-executed humor or emotional vulnerability. This year’s Veterans’ Day Chapel embodied the pinnacle of what constitutes a great chapel. To honor the national
holiday, speaker Mark Dube ‘07, a G3 Air Officer in the Army, currently Pilot-inCommand and Air Mission Commander, focused on the effect Belmont Hill had on his path to West Point and service in the military. As a Belmont Hill alum, Mr. Dube offered a viewpoint in which any student in the audience could easily place themselves, and his speech about choosing a military path took hold of the crowd of young boys who will soon make similar choices about their paths in life. Mr. Dube’s speech, supported by relatable humor and concluding with an emotional thank you to his family, received an unprecedented resounding mid-speech standing ovation. Mr. Kenney then took the podium and spoke of his son, the late Charlie Kenney ‘06, and how his life was shaped by a passion for service and his love of military history. Speaking about the establishment of the Charles F. Kenney memorial trip, Mr. Kenney not only recognized his audience’s interest in the life of an honored alum but also in the trip to Europe and its impact on the boys who had experienced it. With subtle humor, a solemn remembrance of his son, and a professionally produced video to conclude his speech, Mr. Kenney rounded out the impactful morning and like Mr. Dube, accomplished both principles that make up a successful chapel. This is just one example of several excellent chapels that have taken place so far this year. Mr. Schneider’s talk on humility in late August and Ms. O’Connor’s
recent Thanksgiving talk of gratitude both accomplished the two requirements of a “good chapel” by lacing a pertinent topic with humor and emotional vulnerability while providing thoughtful introspective looks at two of Belmont Hill’s faculty members. Other chapels this year have stumbled where some have succeeded; For example, Dr. Hartman’s speech on juuling and vaping, while focusing on an important topic of discussion, may not have resonated with the audience as well as was hoped. After a promising opening, the chapel ultimately mostly failed due to
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a miscalculation approach to the audience, such as using humor designed for a younger age group (see: Darth Vapor), and a utilization of basic scare-tactics. While a speaker needs to achieve both hallmarks of a great chapel to succeed, only one fatal flaw, whether it be forced humor, lack of emotion, or a dry topic, is needed to leave a bad taste in the audience’s mouth. As a result, whether or not the speaker demonstrated both basic principles will govern school opinion on whether or not that morning had a “good chapel”. ☐
Following the Kenney Chapel, Mr. and Mrs. Kenney pose with last year’s travellers along with Mr. Schneider (Photo by Abe Tolkoff ‘21)
Should Varsity Coaches Prioritize Seniors when Constructing Their Rosters? By jackson Riffe ‘ Panel Staff Nearly every student at Belmont Hill has aspirations to play a varsity sport. Whether you are a seventh grader who dreams of playing in front of the Loop, or a senior looking to finish off your athletic career with your peers, everyone desires to play on a varsity team. Therefore, varsity tryouts are often highly competitive, filled with numerous talented boys vying for limited roster spots. After evaluating all the boys who are trying out, varsity coaches are left with many difficult decisions. A common predicament relates to seniors who are trying out for the team. Should varsity coaches prioritize seniors over other qualified athletes? Should coaches prioritize the needs of their teams or fulfill some students’ lifelong dream of playing a varsity sport? Af-
ter consideration, varsity coaches should strike a balance between prioritizing seniors and building their team for success. If seniors have developed their skills by diligently practicing both on their own and on JV teams, their hard work should be rewarded with a spot on a varsity team. Often, seniors and younger classmen are competing for one of the last spots on the team. In numerous sports, the last man on the team has a very small contribution during games. However, if a senior is willing to work hard and fill a role for the team, they should be on the varsity team; even if they aren’t going to score the most points or net the most goals, seniors can bring a maturity and leadership whose benefits can’t be quantified. Younger classmen should be given the opportunity to improve their skills and competitively play against others on a JV team. Rather than being a practice player for varsity, younger athletes
gain valuable experience leading a team. Conversely, a varsity coach needs to prepare their team for future success. If a young athlete shows extreme promise during tryouts, they should play on the varsity team. When a younger student excels at a certain sport, they should be
team can help a younger boy become more accustomed to expectations and roles on the team, thus preparing the team for success in the future. If a young student can be immediately valuable to the success of the varsity program, they should be given the opportunity to play. Should varsity coaches priori. However, if a senior is willing tize seniors? Coaches need to remember to work hard and fill a role for to build their teams for success, but also reward hard-working seniors. Seniors the team, they should be on the to should not get a free pass; if a freshman or varsity team; even if they aren’t sophomore is an emerging star, they should going to score the most points be playing varsity. But if the decision is or net the most goals, seniors close, a dedicated senior should be priorican bring a maturity and lead- tized. Seniors have given countless hours their specific sport and deserve the opership whose benefits can’t be to portunity to experience the comradery of quantified. a varsity team. Playing varsity sports during your senior year in high school is an playing at the highest level to better their invaluable opportunity that as many stuskills. Additionally, playing on a varsity dents as possible deserve to experience. ☐
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Artist of the Issue: Liam Durbin ‘19
Likewise, I’ve always had fun entering my tration of setbacks: “My greatest lows are projects into competitions and winning a whenever I make a mistake that sets me few prizes here and there.” The highlights back a couple weeks or a couple days. Not long after entering Belmont Hill however, seldom come without hardships, One missed cut or flawed chisel stroke in the first form, senior Liam Durbin be- and Liam is all too familiar with the frus- here or there and you’re set back a little gan to experiment with woodworking and, after developing an early passion for the craft, has pursued it ever since. Liam cites his family as one reason he grew interested in the field but also notes that over time, his own interest in the field helped him remain deeply invested in woodworking. “I got into woodworking because my brother, Cole, who graduated in 2014, was very interested in woodworking,” he elaborated, “I was inspired by him, and then I also just developed my own general interest in the craft.” Besides his brother, Liam cites Mr. Kaplan as a mentor of sorts, appreciating his “consistent support for woodworking.” Much like any other craft, woodworking has its ups and downs. To Liam, the sense of satisfaction he achieves after finishing a difficult project is among the most rewarding parts of woodworking: “Some of my favorite moments come just after finishing a lengthy project. It’s always Liam Durbin ‘19 sitting upon his newly-created bed frame (Photo by Abe Tolkoff ‘21) nice to enjoy that feeling of fulfillment. By Thomas McEvoy ‘ Panel Staff
while. That can be tough to deal with, but it builds character.” On a project to project basis, furthermore, Liam finds the most joy in “working with the actual wood itself,” and he least enjoys “the design process and figuring out what to begin working on.” Most recently, Liam has worked on a number of longer-term projects, including a boat, a shed, and a box, but notes that the length of any piece of work “just depends on the difficulty of the project that you take on and the complexity of whatever it is you’re building.” Liam’s bed project, for example, “took over a year and required work multiple times each week.” He elaborated: “Over the course of the past year and into this year, I’ve been building and completing my bed that I’ve been working on. This year, I’ll be doing an independent study again, and I’ll be building a bedside table for my bed, as a matching set.” After six years of woodworking success in Belmont Hill’s Arts Department, Liam still insists that “the biggest goal is to always be getting better and to hone the craft,” and he anticipates many rewarding projects yet to come. ☐
Declining Participation in the Arts and Music Departments By Andrew Jonghyun Lee ‘ Panel Staff
an extra point. In terms of scheduling, there are certain areas of flexibility. What if a theater production or musical program could substitute the seasonal sports requirements? Also, Brother Patterson has been exploring ways to improve scheduling within the school day, which would allow for interested students, with previously obstructed schedules, to join the B-Flats. Similarly, Mr. Kaplan and the Art Department have been discussing ideas to “give students an easier path in their interested subjects,” through fixing scheduling problems, whether it be woodworking or pottery. “The Arts department is currently reviewing and hopefully presenting some changes that can increase participation in the future.” Mr. Kaplan also suggested the possibility of new courses that would introduce artistic or musical elements into the classroom. Although there has been a decline in previous years, with promising changes, the school will again be able to flourish in its art and music community. ☐
A variety of different art and music programs are offered at Belmont Hill. Art and music programs vary from vocal and musical groups, such as the Orchestra, B-Flats or Jazz Band, to theatrical opportunities, often produced jointly with sister schools. In addition to music and theater, students can choose from Art classes, such as Music Appreciation and Advanced Woodworking. The options for art and music programs are plentiful yet, due to the small number of students at Belmont Hill, always consist of seemingly underwhelming attendance. From art classes to performing An empty Kraft Theater (Photo by Abe Tolkoff ‘21) arts, there has been a noticeable decline Middle School. In comparison to the Up- been offered an extra point towards their in participation over the last few years at per School, the Middle School is far more overall GPA in the B-Flats program to active in the art community, mainly due help compensate for their lost free block. “Brother Patterson further empha- to certain arts requirements and more One option could be to expand this idea sized that the vigorous academic manageable school schedules. Notably, of an extra point to all other extracurricuthe glee club and art classes consist of an lars, namely the theater program, thereschedule was hindering participa- abundant number of students from the fore, allowing all art and music students tion, ‘scheduling and hurdles need to First Form to the Third Form. As Mr. to balance their lost academic time with be addressed towards some resolu- Kaplan described, participation fluctuates depending on the year as the senior class tions’” departs and a new First Form enters. Evidently, the departure of the famed class of Belmont Hill. The theater department, in 2018 remains a huge loss for all art and particular, has suffered from a severe drop music departments. Of the 2018 class, key Executive Editor Editors-in-Chief in interest. Unable to compensate for the participants, many of whom participated Faculty Advisors Thomas McEvoy ‘19 Nicholas Daley ‘19 loss of key participants in previous years, in the theater program, had sustained David Hegarty Matthew Smith‘19 the theater department has struggled to many art and music programs at Belmont Arts Editor Juliette Zener find inspired actors. Overall, as evidenced Andrew Jonghyun Lee ‘20 “When asked of the reasons for News Editor by the dwindling participation in many Copy Editor Sports Editor Charlie Booth ‘20 art and music programs, Belmont Hill has declining participation, Mr. KaMatt Goguen ‘19 John Gaudian ‘19 been struggled to replace the praised mu- plan immediately responded that Opinion Editor Assistant Editors Photo Editor sicians and artists of the graduated classes; Chetan Shukla ‘20 time is to blame. Time is killer.” William LaFarge ‘19 Abe Tolkoff ‘21 nevertheless, not all departments have exTyler Forg ‘21 perienced a heavy loss in numbers. For - Mr. Kaplan Back Page Editors Online Editor Streetej Digumarthi ‘21 example, the B-Flats, Belmont Hill’s vocal Lawson Morris ‘19 Jack Weldon ‘20 Henry Moses ‘21 singing group, have an impressive total of Hill. With their departure, there has been Leighton Dolan ‘19 Jackson Riffe ‘20 17 members. Moreover, independent art a gaping hole in the art and music comGraphics Editor Layout Editor Renny Gong ‘20 courses, such as Advanced Woodworking munity, which the student body has so Elias Hyde ‘20 Charlie Donahue ‘20 Yazeed Dahleh ‘21 and Ceramics, have sustained a relatively far failed to replace. Brother Patterson, Jalen Walker ‘21 consistent number of participants. Al- the head of the B-Flats, further emphathough participation varies depending on sized that the vigorous academic schedThe Panel, founded in 1953, is the official school newspaper of the Belmont Hill the activity, involvement has generally di- ule was hindering participation. Both minished among art and music programs. Mr. Kaplan and Brother Patterson elabo- and Winsor schools. The Panel is the voice of the student body. We publish articles When asked of the reasons for de- rated on why art and music participation that are of consequence to the students, as well as the school communities. The views clining participation, Mr. Kaplan, Head of fluctuates yearly and hope that changes expressed in The Panel belong solely to the authors and editors and do not necessarithe Arts Department immediately respond- can come to prevent such inconstancy. ly represent the student body, faculty or administration of either school. Any comment Looking towards the future, one about the content should be addressed directly to the editors. The Panel encourages reed that time is to blame. He explained how student’s interests in the arts are often ob- topic to be considered is how art and sponsible opinion in the form of Letters to the Editor. We reserve the right to edit all structed by their vigorous school sched- music programs can be incentivized. A submissions for length and content. Copyright 2013 The Panel. All rights reserved. No ules. The time restraint becomes evident few hypothetical ideas are already being part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permiswhen comparing the Upper School and the considered. For example, students have sion of the Editor-in-Chief. Published by the Belmont Printing Co., Belmont, MA 02478.
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Belmont Hill Arts
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October 19, 2018, 8:42 AM
Belmont Hill paid Lester Hartman - $20.57 October 19, 2018, 8:41 AM
Thanks, crisis averted Dr. Michael Thompson and William Slotnick liked this.