VOL. CX
December 13, 2016
No. 4
NEW DRESS CODE? Berkshire School’s dress code has always been a controversial subject of concern. The written code that specifies appropriate outerwear for male and female students and faculty not only concerns everyone’s daily comfort, but also represents Berkshire’s image to prospective families and alumni as well as what we believe in as a community.
The goal of the new dress code is to minimize gender inequity within the rules In the past year, many discussions have taken place regarding how the present dress code can be adjusted in accordance with the ever-changing societal progression, as conversations around sexual and gender identities grew more prominent in the Berkshire School community. In the 2015-2016 school year, various student groups such as the Student Council, GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance), and the Feminism Club have expressed
their opinions regarding potential dress code changes, with the goal of minimizing gender inequity within the rules. Different student groups hold different opinion on the way in which change should take place: whether to elevate the girls’ dress code, loosen the boys’ dress code, or to dismiss the gender specificity of dress code as a whole. The current Berkshire School dress code requires boys to wear a blazer, a shirt, and a tie, whereas girls can wear a blouse and a sweater. It is common knowledge that the boys’ dress code is strictly enforced in terms of layers, shirt tails, shoes, etc., and the girls’ dress code is not enforced as much. Jensen Hellmers ’17, AllSchool President, has drafted a new dress code proposal awaiting the review of a dress code committee consisting of five students and five faculty members. See DRESS CODE, Page 3
The Boys Varsity Ice Hockey team after the win.
© Gregory Cherin
BEARS BEAT TAFT 3-2 AT NINTH ANNUAL PINK OUT GAME By Charlotte Childs ’18 On Saturday night, the Berkshire Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey team presented an impressive win over Taft during the annual D’Arco Cup game. The stands began to fill in early as Berkshire students and family huddled into the Jack decked out in pink. The annual Lucille D’Arco Memorial Cup game is meant to recognize the mother of Berkshire assistant coach and 1999 Taft graduate, Brad D’Arco. The game itself is meant to raise money for and awareness of breast cancer.
In preparation for the game, the Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey Team worked hard the week before to ensure a solid game on Saturday. Right off the bat, in the first period, Matt Koopman ’17 scored an impressive goal. Following his lead was Jack Lloyd ’17 and Ryan Keelan ’17. At the end of the game, the Bears had won 3-2 and the victory was celebrated throughout the stands. In interviewing some of the players from the team, it was obvious that as a collective, this particular game meant a lot to them.
Goalie, Thomas Draper ’18 is an impressive new asset to the boys’ team as he made a lot of significant saves throughout the game. In asking him a few questions, it became clear how much he enjoyed sharing in the tradition. How did it feel to win your first Pink Out Game as a Berkshire student? It was great! One of the best feelings ever, See PINK, Page 5
LOVE YOUR BRAIN FOUNDER KEVIN PEARCE VISITS BERKSHIRE SCHOOL
Students talking with Kevin Pearce (third from left).
Kevin Pearce, 29, the founder of the Love Your Brain Foundation, and an inspiration to many around the world, is a former snowboarding athlete who survived a traumatic brain injury. He started the foundation three years ago, mainly to spread awareness about brain injury and help those who are suffering from it. “It is important for a place with such high level
athletics and academics like Berkshire to be aware of the importance of loving your brain,” says Pearce.
As of now, Pearce is speaking and involved in yoga programs all over the country. When asked about potential collaborations with Berkshire’s own student run clubs, like the Meditation Club, he reponded with great interest.
Regarding finals week, Pearce says, “you are at the most important time for your brain. It is important to rest, eat, and exercise so you can perform at the best of your ability and be in the best possible position. You have to love your brain and take care of your brain.” For more information, go to www.loveyourbrain.com.
WHAT’S INSIDE? NEWS................................Page 1,2
OPINION..Page 3 CAMPUS NEWS...Page 4,5
ARTS ...........Page 6,7 SPORTS.................Page 8 CONTACT US:
-New Dress Code -Pink Out Game -Kevin Pearce Visits Campus -The Role of Swiss Cheese in Politics -What Happened to Donald Trump? -Cubs Win World Series
-Dog Walkers Club -Election 2016 -Dress Code (con’t) -Bears Being Kind -MoBears -Romeo and Juliet -Online Bookstore
-Winter Concert -Jules Oberg: All-American We appreciate your suggestions, questions or comments -December Birthdays -Squash Courts Open -Romeo and Juliet (con’t) Email us at: -Book Review thegreenandgray@berkshireschool.org -Scary Story Online at: berkshireschoolarchives.org
1
NEWS WORLD
VOL. CX
STAFF LIST FACULTY ADVISORS Mr. Perkins Ms. Woodworth EDITOR IN CHIEF Maggie Zhu ’17 NEWS EDITOR Jackson Brex ’18 FEATURE EDITOR Charlotte Childs ’18 ARTS EDITOR Lydia McBride ’18 ATHELTICS EDITOR Ahria Simons ’18 VISUAL DESIGNER Kathryn Driscoll ’18 Tucker Donelan ’18 Katie Hargrave ’18 Morgan Heilshorn ’18 Caroline Lakryc ’18 Victor Li ’18 Sophia McCarthy ’18 Roman Panibratyuk ’17 Darran Shen ’20 Luke Streett ’17
December 13, 2016
What Happened with Donald Trump? On Tuesday night, November 8th, history was made, putting an end to a historical election that tore through the very fabric of America. Despite the controversy following him, Donald Trump pulled a spectacular upset victory over Hillary Clinton, making his mark in history as the first ever political outsider to win a presidential election.
Now, we must take matters into our own hands. For this, it is crucial that we look to the unsung heroes of absolute authority; those with the expertise that seems to be un-
On November 8th, however, things played out a little differently. Early on, Trump proved to be surprisingly competitive in many battleground states. He was even doing well in traditionally blue states. By the end of Tuesday, Trump had won Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio, just a few of the many
battleground states he had surged in, putting him firmly in the lead. In just a few short hours, the scales tipped, and the Clinton campaign became desperate. By midnight, Trump emerged as the clear victor, as many news sites had predicted. By morning, it had become clear as to who the victor was, with a
total of 306 electoral votes: Donald Trump. Over the course of more than a year, Trump, once castigated by critics, and shunned by traditional Republicans, became a symbol for many others who felt lost and that some change was needed in Washington. -- Darran Shen ’20
The days before election day were perceived as good ones for the Clinton Campaign. Clinton had dispatched many high-profile surrogates including political figures and celebrities. On the night before the election, all polls showed Clinton ahead, with a clear and simple path to victory.
The Role of Swiss Cheese In an Increasingly Hostile Global Climate It is often said that one of the most harmful plagues to the human condition and well-being is the lack of well balanced sandwiches in both the global workforce and in the context of our own student body. However, in the age of self-made sandwiches and cold panini makers, Swiss cheese has been ostracized. The once delectable item is no longer on the menus of many, as it fails to melt under the blazing iron of the panini maker. This fear of a sandwich with cold cheese has become increasingly evident in our country and in our secluded commune of education, leading the populations to cast Swiss cheese away.
No. 4
achievable. Swiss cheese must be our local leader. Swiss cheese perseveres through the systematic oppression of the panini maker. When the iron is hot and the mayonnaise has been spread, it seems that all components of the existential sandwich are addressed and rightfully treated except for Swiss cheese.
Albert Einstein once said that those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act. It is time that we as a community, with all of our technology, power, and resources, seek out ways to make the lives of every individual slice of Swiss cheese better. Increase the temperature of the panini maker; do whatever it takes to keep Swiss cheese alive. Such is our duty.
-- Kuraji Okada
Cubs Wins World Series After 108 Years For many people around the world, Wednesday, November 2nd, was a day they will never forget. It was the day that, thanks to an amazing comeback, ended the Chicago Cubs’ World Series drought and brought them their first championship in 108 years, the last one coming in 1908. After two incredible series victories over the Giants and Dodgers, the Cubs faced off against the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, their first appearance since 1945. The seven game series did not start off well, the dominant pitching of Andrew Miller, Corey Kluber, and others overpowered the bats of the Chicago Cubs. Down three games to one, the Cubs went on to win the next two games to tie the series and send it to a winner-take-all game seven in Cleveland. In game seven, when the Cubs took a two run lead into the eighth inning,
2
Cubs fans started to feel the World Series win coming closer and closer, a feeling that no Cubs fan has ever experienced. However, with two outs in the eighth inning, a game-tying home run from Rajai Davis of the Indians made Cub fans once again begin to feel what they have felt for their entire lives: cursed. The game went into extra innings, and RBI’s from Ben Zobrist and Miguel Montero gave the Cubs a two run lead once again. To close out it, the Cubs brought in a less trusted reliever by the name of Mike Montgomery to close out the World Series. Montgomery stepped up to the mound with no fear, and heroically got a ground ball to close out the game and close out the series, his first ever save in an MLB uniform. The celebration ensued on the field in Cleveland, but the celebration the team was having was nothing
compared to the celebration back home. In Chicago, Cub fans ran rampant through the streets, celebrating something they never thought would happen in their lifetime. The curse was ended, and the party was capped off with the World Series parade in Grant Park, where five million Cubs fans gathered to congratulate their team. This parade of five million, which included fans doing trust falls into the crowd from the tops of traffic lights, was the seventh largest crowd gathering in human history. This incredible mass of people is seventh on the list and only trails religious gatherings such as the Hajj. To put this in perspective, the city of Chicago has a population of 2.7 million, meaning the parade was twice the population of the city. This was truly an unforgettable moment for Cubs fans everywhere. -- Luke Streett ’17
VOL. CX
OPINION December 13, 2016
No. 4
ELECTION 2016 THE BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY RESPONDS As Berkshire School’s student-run newspaper, it is important to record the 2016 election in an objective, factual way, meanwhile capturing the community’s response accurately and without bias. The History Department hosted election viewing in Crawford Lecture Hall on Tuesday night, as did dorm parents in every dorm’s common room. Wednesday morning gave way to an air of mourning under the mountain. People had stayed up late last night waiting for the results of the election, and in the morning, Trump had won, Clinton had lost. Many of the faculty, in shock, raised questions as to how to communicate with students regarding the result. Being in a boarding school in Massachusetts, one of the deep blue states, we may only represent a fraction of this nation that wishes to uphold abortion rights, gay rights, women’s rights,
New Dress Code Continued from page 1
Then, a draft of the dress code would be presented to the administration for further review and potential approval. “My suggestion would be to pilot it in the spring, however, it does raise questions about how seniors will react given the tradition of senior dress code in the spring,” says Ms. Maher, Assistant Head of School. Dress code change does not require board approval,
and protect our planet. Many of us may feel as “disappointed” as Clinton does. Nevertheless, we have to acknowledge the diversity around us and faithfully respect all opinions. One such opinion about the election comes from a member of the Young Republican’s Club, “I think freedom and democracy had a huge win over oppressive big government. The way Trump responded to the election result was also very mature and respectful. He’s just a patriot who wants to fix a broken country. The fact that he was willing to reach out to those who didn’t support him and ask for their guidance is a testament to his character.” Given the poll results taken at lunch on Tuesday, out of 322 people who voted, 73 percent supported Hillary Clinton, 18 percent supported Donald Trump, 7 percent supported Gary Johnson, and 2 percent supported Jill Stein. It is no surprise that the majority of the however, the administration does need to consider its impact on admissions, alumni, and all other aspects of school before decisions are made. In the 2011-2012 school year, girls at Berkshire had to wear a button-down shirt with blazer and pants. The female head prefect at the time felt it unfair to ask girls to dress up like men, and therefore proposed a second layer dress code for girls, which is the one we have now.“ Conversation at
community responded with sadness, anguish, and disappointment regarding the unexpected surprise of Clinton losing the election. When asked, Dr. Kohlkepp, English teacher responded, “I am very, very sad on this day.”
“Going into election day, I felt optimistic looking at the predictions and especially after the excitement of Pantsuit Nation. I thought Hillary had it, but unfortunately was shocked and disappointed in my own optimism.” --Ms. Plante The Afro-Latino Society protested openly on Wednesday morning against election results on the steps of Berkshire Hall. Many students and faculty were overcome with emotion, and conversations in classes revolved around the election. “Scared and numb is how I would describe it,” said Ms. Greats, Dean of Diversity and Inclusion. “We need open and honest conversations around the things that have us divided, to listen and honor other people’s feelthe time [2011] was less about gender equality but more about practicality and comfort.” says Ms. Maher, “when the [then] new dress code was piloted in the spring of 2012, the girls stayed strictly within the way it was written.” Times have changed since 2012 as well as fashion and social norms. How can our dress code be modified for 2017 trends as well as the future? Should the girls’ dress code be elevated back to what it was before? These questions are nearly 3
ings instead of dismissing them. We should be concerned about the impact versus intent of our public or private conversations. Hopefully one day we will trust each other, and have more honest dialogues.” Given the current political atmosphere in school, some Trump supporters feel it is difficult to be open about their support without receiving a negative reaction. As an educational institution, we have to uphold our core
values above the political differences that divide our nation. We are only a truly diverse community that celebrates people of all different cultures and backgrounds if we respect each other and show empathy towards all opinions. This is an important moment in history to bring the community together and prove ourselves to be accepting and strong, demonstrating the characteristics of a true Berkshire Bear.
Photo Courtesy of A. J. Kohlkepp, Ph.D.
November 9, 2016 came with drizzling cold rain.
Members of the Afro-Latino Society on the steps of Berkshire Hall
unanswerable because there are too many aspects involved. “No new change makes everyone happy,” says Mrs. Maher. Peter Bahr ’16, last year’s All-School President, worked with the Student Council to create a dress code that addressed the inequity between the boys’ and girls’ codes. The proposal was presented and discussed with Ms. Greats, Mr. Mulder, Ms. Maher, the Student Council, GSA, and the Feminism Club. However, no decision was reached.
In the fall, Berkshire School experienced one day of “scarf and tie swap day,” which was just to “mix it up and see what happens since we talk about change so much.” - Ms. Satchell Ms. Maher noted, “Many girls said they felt physically incredibly uncomfortable having to wear a tie all day.” The Green and Gray will continue to report on the decision making process in the upcoming issues. -- Maggie Zhu ’17
NEWS CAMPUS
VOL. CX December 13, 2016 No. 4
Dog Walkers’ Club is Walking Dogs This year, Berkshire School has introduced a large variety of new and original clubs, one of which is the very popular Dog Walkers’ Club, founded by Roman Panibratyuk ’17, Kelly Maurer ’18, and Sam Bannett ’17. The Dog Walkers’ Club is open to anyone in the Berkshire School community, and you can email the founders of the club at any time if you want to join. In the Dog Walkers’ Club, each member gets assigned a dog or two
from a faculty member, and they walk the faculty member’s dog(s) for as long as needed. The dog walker will then say when they are mostly available, and when they receive texts or emails to walk someone’s dog, they go walk the dog, simple as that. Most of the time, students walk faculty dogs before study hall or right after school if they have time before their afternoon activity. It is a great form of exercise for both the student and dog, and being with a dog is a fun
way to spend a bit of your day. Kelly saaid that she and the other founders decided to create this club because there are so many dogs on this campus that need walks while the faculty can be very busy being on duty, and there are so many students always looking for opportunities to hang out with dogs. Walking dogs is great way to take some time out of your day to do something you really enjoy and to have a break from everything else; plus the dogs are really cute. The Dog
Bears Being Kind
The B kind Foundation was brought to Berkshire by sisters Sydney ’18 and Annie ’19 McGill. Annie and Sydney McGill, along with Morgan Heilshorn ’18, Izzy Maher ’18, Jules Oberg ’17, and Ahria Simons ’18 make up the B kind Committee, which works hard everyday to spread kindness throughout the Berkshire community. To expose the school to the origins of B kind and to get a better sense of where it all started, the McGill sisters decided to invite some of the leaders of the program. Now to the school’s knowledge, we know that B kind was originally
started by Virginia and JoJo Mahoney in memory of their father, Bill Mahoney, who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in 2013. Bill Mahoney was one of the kindest men, which was emphasized as he appeared as the best man in nine weddings. Those who knew Bill Mahoney would state that he would always have a smile on his face. To the committee members surprise, once the school community heard about the Club, the interest in it rose immensely. It truly pays dividends to the care and how important it is to
Berkshire School’s students to spread kindness throughout the school. B kind has carried out numerous actions thus far to continue to spread the world of kindness here at Berkshire School. Just before Thanksgiving Break, the members of B kind went around school posting sticky notes with charming and kind messages with the goal to be able to make someone’s day a bit better. The Club looks forward to spreading kindness with more random acts throughout the rest of the school year. --Morgan Heilshorn ’18
4
Kelly Maurer ’18 with Remy.
Walkers’ Club brings the community closer together as faculty members put their trust in students they might not personally know, and
then the students and faculty members get to know each other better. -- Sophia McCarthy ’18
MOBEARS 2016
Over 130 Bears, including faculty members and students, came together and participated in Movember. The purpose of growing a mustache during the month of November was to raise money and awareness for men’s health. With the help of the team captain, Mr. Anselmi, the student leaders Ryan Keelan ’17, Matt Koopman ’17, Kyle Koopman ’17, Drew Pitcher ’17 and Holley Riva ’19 helped the community become more aware of men’s health and the importance of donating money to the Movember Foundation. The MOBears created a profile on the Movember Foundation website
where they could receive donations from family members or anyone who was interested in helping. Movember has been active at Berkshire since 2012 and this was the year when the community had the most participants and was able to raise the largest amount of money. At the end of the month, Berkshire managed to raise $10,309 and ended up in 112th place in the national rank. Now that November is over, we look forward to raising even more money and awareness next year and to keep changing the face of men’s health at Berkshire and beyond. -- Caroline Lakryc ’18
NEWS December 13, 2016
No. 4
PINK OUT GAME
Continued from Page 1
especially winning at home with everyone there.
In what ways was this game different from other games you’ve played in the past? I’ve never played in a game with so much hype and with a crowd that was that big and supportive. You played a really great game! Were you nervous and if so, how did that change once you got on the ice and started playing? I was very nervous going into the game but that’s the same as every game. Once I hit the ice, the nerves kind of went away and doing my part and having fun was all that was on my mind. Defenseman Kevin Hurley ’18 is another significant player who has contributed to the team in the past, starting sophomore year. His feelings about
the game were similar to those of his teammates. How was this game different from other games you have played in the past? The Pink Out game is different compared to other games because of the whole atmosphere around the game. The whole week leading up to it everyone is excited and then during the game the energy from the crowd is fantastic. On top of that, the boys get to play for a chance to win the D’Arco Cup. Were you nervous and if so, how did that change once you got on the ice and started playing? Yeah, I think it’s normal to be a little nervous for the game. I like to think to myself that it’s just like any other game and tell myself to just have fun out there. Once I get out there for warmups, the ten minutes helps me get focused and ready for the game.
Online Bookstore
Have you ever walked into the bookstore trying to pick up some snacks, your team jersey, or simply a quick souvenir for your friends and family? Well, starting in January
of next year, Daniel Tian and Eli Mathieu, along with Mr. Hayes, will be revolutionizing your bookstore shopping experience by introducing the Online Berkshire Store.
© Gregory Cherin
VOL. CX
CAMPUS
How did the energy from the fans benefit the team as a whole throughout the game? The energy from the fans is always great. It helps us to never let our feet off the gas pedal and keep pushing. Traditions such as the D’Arco Cup are a perfect reminder of the kind of spirit that is encompassed throughout Berkshire’s campus. It is also an event that helps to ease the stress of the upcoming weeks. It is evident that the team worked hard in order to have an impressive win and the atmosphere at the end of the game was astounding. When students at Berkshire look back at their high school careers, it is traditions such as the D’Arco Cup that they will continue to remember long after they leave. Such traditions remind us of how lucky we are to have the sort of community we do here at Berkshire. The Online Berkshire Store will be working with the bookstore staff to bring you all of the latest, most loved items from the bookstore and more! In addition, the Online Berkshire Store will offer you an even wider range of flexibilitity and service – you could now order fully customizable clothing designs, back ordering items that are not yet available at the bookstore, as well as send gifts directly to your buddies back home. The website will be expecting its first public launch in January of 2017. For more information, feel free to contact Daniel Tian at dtian19@berkshireschool.org. Stay tuned for more! -- Daniel Tian ’19 5
Katherine Graham ’19 as Juliet and Ana Tolvo ’17 as Romeo.
Romeo and Juliet: This is Just Normal Life
I walked into Allen Theater on the Sunday afternoon following the closing night of Romeo and Juliet. The extra hour of sleep from daylight savings seemed to have prolonged the day, and the cast and crew had already taken down the enormous set that had once been the homes of the Capulets and Montagues. This day is called “strike” in theater terms, where everything gets taken down and cleaned up, and the process officially ends. Everyone seemed busy with their tasks, dissembling the set, sweeping up sawdust, restoring Allen Theater to have it ready for the dance concert the upcoming week. Having watched the show just the previous night, I was hoping to do a little interview on some of the interesting things. I found Mr. Howard, the Director of the Theater Program, busy undoing screws with a drill behind a skeleton of wood planks. I picked up a drill and decided to be helpful since everyone was busy. After a while, the noise made by the drills quieted down as the stage returned to its old familiar shape, ready for the next adventure. Now seemed
like a good time to talk, so I started, “I liked the Q&A last night, when Chuck [cast as policeman/ Mr. Paris] said how the goal of the show was to normalize but not to sensationalize,” knowing this would open up a whole conversation with the man famous for talking. “Yeah, we could have played up the fact that they are a same-sex couple a lot more, but we chose not to, because we are depicting a universe where this is normal. In fact, an audience member told me that her 11-year-old son said that it seemed like a bigger deal that Romeo and Juliet were from rival families than the fact that they were both girls.” “I thought the show would have been much more about the gay couple, but somehow it almost didn’t get as much attention as expected,” I said. “Well, we made a conscious choice, and the point was to depict life where there is love and hate and passion and everything else that makes us human. It’s nice for people to see a story that depicts a gay couple, but is not necessarily only about them being gay.” See ROMEO, Page 6
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VOL. CX December 13, 2016 No. 4
Winter Concert: Friday Night 7:30
Gigi Brown ’20, Charlotte MacKenzie ’18, and Kenny Sperl ’17 fencing in Romeo and Juliet.
© Gregory Cherin
Romeo and Juliet Continued from page 5
December Birthdays! Dec. 4th- Berit R. (VI), Qianxi (Marjorie) B.(IV) Dec. 5th - Alexander (Xander) T. (V), Paige C. (III) Dec. 9th - Manqing (Maggie) Z. (VI) Dec. 10th - Anne Marie B. (IV) Dec. 11th - Henry G. (V), Sinclair J. (IV) Dec 12th - Lydia M. (V) Dec. 14th - Alexander (Alex) B. (V) Dec 16th - Dalia B. (VI) Dec. 17th- Eui Jin (Eric) H. (VI), George M. (V) Dec. 20th - Sydney M. (V) Dec. 21st - Mary (Molly) O. (VI) Dec. 22nd - Samuel (Sam) T. (V), Neeka D. (VI) Dec. 28th - Samuel (Sam) B. (IV) Ana T. (VI)
“Can we talk about the kissing scenes?” I was curious as to how such a seemingly bold decision was made. “Just like any other play, we had the characters kiss when the scenes called for kissing. There were like four spots where Romeo and Juliet kiss; we study the scenes, and determine where it would be appropriate for them to kiss. The scenes called for it, and the actors performed so naturally that it would have been awkward if they didn’t kiss.” The theater was almost entirely cleaned up, and we paused the conversation as Mr. Howard gave final tasks to the cast and crew. I sat down in the back, trying to organize my thoughts as everyone else busied themselves again. We resumed speaking a few moments later. “Do you think we could have done this, say, five years ago?” Mr. Howard thought for a moment, 6
“yes, maybe,” he said, “ but it would have been a bigger deal. The world is much different now than then, and I think we have done it at the right time. The youth of today really understand this issue is not that big of a deal, but it’s we adults who are trying to understand it. It is not the first time that we have had a same-sex couple on stage. In my first year here, we had two girls play a couple in Almost Maine.” “Were you concerned about the reactions,” I asked. “I don’t think we wasted a ton of time worrying about what people would say. We just wanted to be true to characters and text and leave it to the audience to find whatever they wanted to find. We did not want to steer their reaction, but simply represent something authentic.” “Can you comment on the violence in the show?” “Personally, I have a strong anti-violence stance. The play reminds us why violence is not
the answer but the end. Every piece of violence in the play led to greater violence, and ultimately the end of conversation. It had a tragic ending because the conversation couldn’t get going. Before all the fighting when a death occurred, there was a moment, a pause where Romeo tried to make peace with Tybalt, and that’s when you have a choice. Conversation is the best peacemaker in the world, and art as a form of conversation is a major wager of peace. Violence in art can start a conversation.” It is always a great conversation with Mr. Howard, but this time especially, I had a lot to take in. “I’m not sure how to go about this article without making the play seem sensational,” I admitted. “You can just sensationalize the fact that it’s normal. Theater depicts life, and this is just normal life,” Mr. Howard said. -- Maggie Zhu ’17
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VOL. CX December 13, 2016 No. 4
Book Review:
Long Day’s Journey into Night
By Victor Li ’18
Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night is a play about degradation: the degradation that proceeds painfully from day into night, from past glory into present destitution, from health into sickliness and addiction, and eventually from dream into reality. A very depressing and pessimistic play. It takes place in the summer home of the ferociously resentful Tyrones. The crumbling family contains, with effort: James Tyrone, the patriarch, an actor and a miser, proudly Irish, stuck between the fear of God and the fear of poverty; Mary Tyrone, the mother, a dope fiend who once had been a pious girl, and dreamed of becoming a nun; Jamie Tyrone, the brutally cynical firstborn, obsessed with whisky and prostitution; and Edmund Tyrone, the other son, a poet afflicted with tuberculosis. The three male characters are alcoholics almost as a matter of family tradition, and Mary has, as the audience discovers in Act II, not given up the morphine addiction that she developed after giving birth to Edmund. The family’s finances are in a mess. James, in spite of his effort to salvage every dime he is losing, has made the mistake of trusting one Mr. McGuire, his real estate agent, and buying lots of worthless properties. And on top of this adds the problems of Mary’s resurgent drug abuse and Edmund’s deteriorating cough. The play depicts a day in the lives of the Tyrones, how they repeatedly and desperately try to rebuild a normal family life, and how they fail. The central question posed by the
play, as well as by each character in the play, is this: How has life become what it is? Or to rephrase it: Why is life this and not that? The Tyrones are failing at life miserably, but their failure of them to lead the life they aspire to would not have been so frighteningly dismal, had there not been shining examples of people who have attained their socalled success. Each of the Tyrones stares up at his/ her light source of self-realization, feels its radiance, but only to watch it drift farther and farther away. They still strive to believe in the light and the life it represents, unwitting of the mire that has already begun to form underneath their feet. (Compared to The Great Gatsby, juniors ?) In a sense, O’Neill has composed a metonymy of Shakespeare’s King Lear and Othello, to whom he alluded in several spots. The pains and pitfalls of the Tyrones trace their ancestry not to those of Edgar, but those of Edmund. In O’Neill’s pessimistic worldview, people, as much as they try to pretend otherwise, possess no inherent claim to their aspirations, and the sight of other people’s success turns them into cynical monsters, like Iago, or Jason Compson (right Mr. Miller?). Jamie, when he quotes Dante Gabriel Rossetti in Act III, sums the O’Neill’s pessimism up quite well for us: “Look in my face. My name is Might-HaveBeen; I am also called No More, Too Late, Farewell.” Jamie may as well conclude, in a Shakespearean spirit: “Therefore, put money in thy purse.” Which isn’t really a great philosophy to abide by. Let’s stick with positive self-talk.
Scary Story: The Scheme
By Sydney Wray ’19
“Cici?!” I screamed, spinning in the darkness of the woods. The eerie moonlight cast faint shadows over the ground, but it wasn’t enough to illuminate the darkness. I suddenly felt claustrophobic, sensing the overhang of the trees closer than they actually were. It was like their branches were slim fingers, waving in the wind and stretching to snatch an unsuspecting wanderer. The very thought sent a chill through my spine. “Cici!” It had been thirty minutes of screaming, my throat growing hoarse. She had to be joking, pulling one of her many pranks. Cici didn’t simply disappear in a harmless game of Manhunt..especially when her target wasn’t affected in any way. She couldn’t have. It was impossible. ~6 hours earlier~ I climbed into the yellow school bus, the smell of
used leather and sweat filling my nostrils. I scanned the seats, my searching gaze settling on Cici—my best friend who was the hostess of the annual sleepover that night. Making my way down the aisle, I plopped down beside her and sighed. Cici raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Tiring day?” “You have no idea,” I rolled my eyes, “Two tests and a quiz.” She cringed. “Harsh.” I nodded, dropping my bag with a thud. “Who’s coming again tonight?” “Me.” Tracy’s head popped from behind the seat in front of us. “And Elena. And Rosy.” ~ See, it was all Cici’s idea. Of course, her ignorant band of loyal followers would eagerly agree for anything she suggested, but I knew better. Cici had a knack for making
a fool out of people, and it was mostly to her own enjoyment. To say the least, she was a stone cold bitch. The only explicable reason for why she had “minions,” was probably because besides the fact she wasn’t a very nice girl, she was undeniably popular. Everyone wanted to be Cici’s friend, and if you became one, you were almost immediately boosted to the top of the high school food chain. The game was meant to be innocent, but now it was more than that. Three rules. Rule number one: never snitch anyone’s hiding space to the designated hunter. Rule number two: always become hunter if you are tagged. Rule number three? Don’t leave the woods until everyone is found. “Rosy,” she said across the circle, her eyes darkening as she blinked, “You’re it.” ---To be continued in the next issue.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE GREEN AND GRAY STAFF!!
THE BERKSHIRE SCHOOL WRITING CENTER Come visit us in room 212 in Berkshire Hall! 7
VOL. CX
December 13, 2016
No. 4
Jules Oberg ’17 Featured In All-American Game
Jules Oberg, Class of 2017, recently received the honor of “All-American” in late October. Congratulations, Jules! The title “All-American” was bestowed upon Jules as well as 17 other individuals from the East Coast for excellent achievement in soccer. In addition, there are 18 other players from the West Coast Conference.
The new viewing platform.
© Gregory Cherin
Squash Courts Finally Opened
As part of the recently renovated Soffer Athletic Center, the newly formed squash center is set to finally open. After a long wait, many squash players among Berkshire School’s community have rekindled their love for the sport. The new squash facilities have gone through a major upgrade since last year when only four squash courts were available to play on. Set to open soon, there will be ten squash courts. Each court will house electronic scoreboards and the platform in which spectators will be able to watch multiple courts without moving much. Previously, for spectators to watch the games, they would have to walk up and down the
narrow walkway outside the courts, which often caused a distraction for the squash players and other spectators. Varsity Boys’ Squash coach, Mr. Turner, described the new renovations to the squash facilities as, “Thrilling, the new squash facility is one of the top in New England. In addition, it will be great to have multiple practices simultaneously so players can watch others and develop quicker.” The Boys’ Varsity team is set for a promising season. With seven out of the nine players on Varsity last year returning, the team looks to improve. Hussien El Desouky ’19 is set to steer up the top of the ladder on Varsity. Previously, in Egypt, Hussein was one of the top youth squash players in his age group. Along with this, the girls’ team is also looking to improve on their season over last year.
Last year the girls’ team competed in New Englands and walked away victorious in Class “C”. Their only challenge in New Englands came late in the finals, against Canterbury. Coach DK noted, “It is deeply humbling to consider the generosity of the many families who contributed to the effort. I hope that we, as members of the Berkshire community, can prove ourselves worthy of such an amazing facility.” The new squash facilities are an awesome addition to the school. Already, it has been used for more than just squash. The school took part in the mannequin challenge in the squash area and people have been drawn to the squash facilities to excercise on the spin cycles. Already, the squash facilities look to be a campus favorite.
8
The All-American Game itself is for high school seniors, many of whom have committed to colleges, to showcase their talent in their designated sport. In the case of an uncommitted athlete, the program always scouts to see the most talented players in the area, and recruits them to play in college. Last season, Mutaya Mwape ’16 and Ifunanyachi Achara ’16 received
this honor, and two years ago, Jack Harrison ’15 and Justin Donawa ’15 were also All-Americans for soccer. Jack Harrison ’15, has since gone on to receive honors at the collegiate level and now is playing professionally in the MLS. Justin Donawa ’15 played for his Bermudian team and is now a two sport Division 1 athlete at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Needless to say, Jules Oberg ’17 was the fifth person in the last three years to play in the All-American Game in Raleigh, North Carolina, as a representative of the East. Jules, along with other students athletes from schools Berkshire competes against, spearheaded the East team’s roster which tied the West 4-4 in a very competitive game. -- Morgan Heilshorn ’18
Jules Oberg ’17 and Coach Mohammed
SCORES
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Millbrook W 67-61 Williston L 58-62 Salisbury W 40-33
Girls’ Varsity Basketball Kent W 49-20 Hotchkiss W 59-16 Salisbury W 63-50 KUA L 33-39
Boys’ Varsity Hockey Albany Acad. T 4-4 Taft W 3-2 Canterbury W 3-2 Gunnery L 2-3 NMH W 3-0
Girls’ Varsity Hockey Kent L 1-2 (OT) Hotchkiss W 1-0 Taft W 1-0 Lawrenceville W 3-1
Boys’ Varsity Squash Hotchkiss L 0-7 Westminster W 4-3
Girls’ Varsity Squash Canterbury W 7-0 Greenwich L 2-5