The Green and Gray, November 9, 2018

VOL. CXII, No. 1

Sheffield, Massachusetts

November 9, 2018

Photo | Berkshire School

ALL SCHOOL READ AUTHOR VISITS BERKSHIRE SCHOOL

Above: Maddie Devost '19 and Harley Frechette '19 interview Emily St. John Mandel at All School Meeting. This conversation format differs from the traditional lecturestyle presentations done in the previous three years by All School Read authors.

Elias Sienkiewicz ‘19 Continuing a tradition of five-plus years, Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven, visited campus to spend a day with the Bears. Station Eleven is the 2018 All School Read, a postapocalyptic novel which follows a traveling theatre company around the shores of Lake Huron in a world whose population has been annihilated by a lethal pandemic. As per usual with ASR

NEW FACULTY PROFILE:

GEORGIA TUTTLE Photo | Berkshire School

William Warlick ‘20 Georgia Tuttle is a first-year Berkshire math teacher, focusing on teaching Geometry and Algebra II. In conjunction with her work in the classroom, she is a part of the Cross Country program. Before arriving at Berkshire, she majored in Applied Mathematics at Columbia University, where she competed for their D1 Cross Country and Track teams. This fall, she has implemented a new cornerstone for her runners: Threshold Thursday.

This weekly event serves as a gauge of students’ running ability, allowing all

to the Crawford Lecture Hall to speak with assembled English classes. “I found it both inspirational and informative to have Ms. Mandel visit us at Berkshire” said A.J. Kohlhepp, a sixth form English teacher and Director of the Writing Center on campus, emphasizing his gratitude for the “insights into her writing process and challenges.” During lunch, Mandel joined a mixed group of students and faculty in DeWindt Dining hall, where

authors, Mandel began her day in front of the assembled community in Allen theatre, breaking the speech format in favor of a talk-show style interview led

by Maddie Devost ‘19 and Harley Frechette ‘19. The conversation ranged from ballet to her three editors before breaking out into the audience for questions.

After All School Meeting, Mandel signed books for students and faculty who stayed behind, before heading off

Above: Georgia Tuttle, Columbia University '16.

runners to watch their growth throughout the season. She hopes for the same great runners to participate in Track in the spring, where she can implement even more powerful coaching techniques she has learned in her time as a collegiate athlete. Beyond her improvements and aspirations for the Berkshire running programs, Tuttle has spent her first two months focusing on being an exceptional teacher. She meets regularly with her students, often opening up her nighttime duty in Stanley dormitory to create an extra opportunity for her students seeking extra help. Tuttle’s

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she went into more personal detail about her experiences writing Station Eleven. Mandel left after a quick tour of the Geier Library’s own “Museum of Civilization”, a display inspired by her novel, leaving many students impressed by her personable nature and surprised by how well they got to know the renowned author of their All School Read.

love of math and helping others understand math developed from a young age. Growing up in Rochester, NY with three younger siblings, she was always helping her siblings with their math homework. In her other home life, she, along with her family, displayed some of their cultural history and rare talents through Irish Dancing.

Through Irish dancing, Ms. Tuttle gained an ability to push her body to the limits, an ability she uses in running to this day. In between her graduation from college and starting at Berkshire, she briefly worked as an analyst for an insurance company, but found teaching to be more fulfilling.

For now, Mr. Tuttle is unsure of the future but is happy to focus for a few years on teaching.

VOL. CXII, No. 1

Green and Gray

November 9, 2018

SENIOR SHAKESPEARE TRADITION CONTINUES Photos | Berkshire School Tyler Swirbul ‘19 On Sunday, October 14, this year’s Sixth Form gathered for Hamlet Night, with each class performing their own adaptation of a scene from Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. The night opened with Ms. Bogardus’ A period performing the first scene of Hamlet with a Berkshire twist. Each character was rewritten to be a member of the Berkshire faculty, and rather than unfolding in Elsinore, the story took place under the mountain. This creative and well executed opening to Hamlet Night was followed with many similarly strong performances, including scenes adapted to Soundcloud

rappers, Jersey Shore, Shrek, and The Avengers. The night was concluded with Dr. Kohlhepp’s D period performing the bloody conclusion of Hamlet with an apt Hunger Games motif. Hamlet Night is a well established Berkshire tradition that is fondly looked upon as a rite of passage for many seniors. The project is a great way for students to expand their understanding of Shakespeare’s legendary tragedy while simultaneously forming strong and lasting bonds with their classmates. With a memorable Hamlet Night concluded, the class of 2019 looks forward to the rest of a great year.

Clockwise from top right: Peyton Presutti '19 and Elsie Harrington '19 perform a "Berkshire Faculty" adaptation of Hamlet, Mrs. McGovern's English class performs a "Jersey Shore" adaptation of Hamlet, and A.J. Kohlhepp's D Period AP English Literature class performs a "Hunger Games" adaptation of Hamlet.

SPURR DORMITORY RENOVATION Spurr Dormitory in past years has been known as the dingy old infirmary that was converted into a dorm. This past summer, however, the dorm received a huge facelift, and the Spurr girls love it. With the beautiful renovation, the dorm changed from a relatively small capacity to being able to house 12 additional girls than previous years. Being able to accommodate more students, Spurr will compete on it’s own in Dorm Wars during our Winter Carnival, where in the past it has teamed up with another dorm.

All the girls who have previously lived in Spurr say they love how the place has significantly brightened up, that there is a controlled heating and cooling system, and that students have another washer and dryer. Though Spurr has only recently seen these incredible updates, the old charm

Compiled by Darran Shen ‘20

sticks. The quaint brick dorm is surrounded by flourishing plants, lowers, and trees, which line the steps leading into the dorm itself. Other girls from CGR and MacMillan are jealous, and Spurr dorm is moving up on the preferred housing charts.

Photo | Berkshire School

Madeline McDonough ‘19

UPCOMING EVENTS

Above: Spurr dormitory in the midst of renovations. The brick of the original building contrasted with the siding of the new addition.

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November 9– Fall Dance Concert November 10 – Last Day of Fall Sports November 11 – Veterans Day November 11 - History Movie Screening: V Form November 13 – First Day of Winter Sports November 17 – Thanksgiving Recess Begins November 26 – Last Day of Thanksgiving Recess November 29 - US History Lecture Series December 1 – SAT Testing December 2 – BIMP: Berkshire Improv Performance December 6 - Expo Night December 7 – End of Quarter 2 December 7 - Winter Concert December 8 – Closed Weekend, Reading Day December 9-13 – Midterms December 13 – Winter Break Begins

VOL. CXII, No. 1

Green and Gray

November 9, 2018

A NEW BUILDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Clockwise from bottom left: The redesigned and renovated interior of the Chevalier Senior Lodge featuring previous Winter RKMP boat building projects, the new exterior, and the rededication in memory of Stephanie Chevalier '77. an accident. She was a beloved member of the Berkshire community, and 1977 was a hard year for the students under the mountain. The next year, the school and Stephanie's family worked together to build this lodge dedicated to the Seniors. There was a rededication ceremony that included members of Stephanie’s family, her classmates and members from the current Berkshire community. They told stories of her as a student and as a sister. She is truly missed.

Over 40 years later, space had fallen into disrepair and was no longer being used by the community. Caitlin Ward, a science teacher for the past five years, wished to make the space into a tech-free environment for the students.

She has successfully implemented this within her Advanced Environmental Science Research program, the first of its kind at Berkshire. This class is an immersive experience with the environment and is similar to the other prestigious programs already

Photos | Berkshire School Jeffrey McKee ‘19 For the first time in Berkshire School history, there is a new space that is 100% tech-free. This space is the Chevalier Senior lodge between

Berkshire Hall and the Soffer Athletic Center. The structure that stands on the clearing was built after a tragedy hit Berkshire School. In the spring of 1977, a member of the senior class was driving on Route 41 and was killed in

MIDTERM ELECTIONS OVERVIEW Tyler Swirbul ‘19 On November 6, the United States held midterm elections. A third of the Senate, all of the House of Representatives, thirty-six governorships, a multitude of referenda, and various other positions were decided on by a remarkable turnout of American voters. These elections were crucial to the determination of future legislation, the position of the Trump administration, and the nation as a whole. At the end of the night, the Democratic Party won control over the House, winning key elections in crucial swing states such as Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Democrats also won crucial governorships; however, there are still multiple controversial elections that have not yet been decided. For example, the race for the governor of Georgia between Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams remains heated. This particular race has been noteworthy be as the Republican candidate, Kemp, has been running the election; he is the Secretary of State in Georgia. He has been accused of voter suppression and

corruption. The race is currently within 70,000 votes and is being considered for a recount. This election will set an important precedent for voter rights across the nation.

In the Senate, Republicans held their majority and gained seats despite the overall rise in Democratic support.

This is largely due to the higher number of Democratic Senate seats up for reelection relative to the number of contested Republican seats. One of the most notable contests unfolded in Texas between Republican Senate incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke. Although the election was in a solid "red state", the outcome was uncertain, and the race was watched nationally. O’Rourke ran on a progressive platform while Ted Cruz touted conservative Texan values. Cruz won the election by a remarkably slim margin, hinting towards a rise in progressive sentiments in the traditionally conservative state. These midterms saw high success for women, minority, and LGBTQ candidates. Progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who rose to fame after her shocking defeat of the

Democratic incumbent in the primaries and ran on a grassroots social democratic platform, proved that progressive candidates could succeed despite a lack of support from their Democratic Party. Overall, Republicans managed to do better than had been projected, but they still saw some significant losses.

The next two years will heavily reflect the outcome of these elections.

Despite losses, the Republicans maintained majorities in many sectors of the government. How far will the Democrats be willing to pressure the Trump administration with only their slight majority in the House? Will the Republicans align with Trump’s agenda or moderate themselves in an attempt to abate midterm losses? How will the divide between progressive and moderate Democrats develop in the years leading up to the presidential primaries? With all of these unknowns, one thing is certain: the 2018 midterms will have a long and profound impact on the state of our nation.

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offered at Berkshire, such as Advanced Math and Science Research. Students must learn how to conduct research and navigate this process without the pressure of our high tech society.

Chevalier is a great space for students to foster their education at Berkshire in a stress-free and techfree environment.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITY FOCUS:

RKMP Jeffrey McKee ‘19 The Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program (RKMP) is an afternoon activity at the Berkshire School that is dedicated to teaching students and faculty about the nature that surrounds our community.

This Program takes place in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. It is considered a varsity sport at Berkshire. As all varsity sports at Berkshire must do, RKMP participates in service for the school, yet the community service for RKMP is a little different than the other teams’.

In keeping with the mission of RKMP, the group does community service on the trails that surround Berkshire.

Many don’t know, but the Appalachian Trail cuts through the state forest that is right behind the school. Not that RKMP students are not allowed to do work on it, because it is federal property, but students have access to many trails that lead to the AT from campus. These include the Telephone, Elbow, West Run, and Dave Chapin trails. The group takes saws and loppers to clear the path so that hikers and students are able to use the trails.

In addition to trail work, the group has helped the Nature Conservancy with conservation projects. They helped maintain a path to a bog where there are an endangered species that cannot be disclosed because it is so rare. The group goal for community service is to preserve the integrity of the local environment.

VOL. CXII, No. 1

Green and Gray

November 9, 2018

ARTS UNVEILING NOVEMBER’S ART GALLERY EXHIBIT William Onubogu ‘22 Working in a style of contemporary realism, Jeffrey Neumann's oil and watercolor paintings focus on the 20th c. American commercial landscape.

What can we expect at the gallery this Friday on November 2nd?

He is a local artist from Hillsdale, NY. His wife is actually a Berkshire alumna.

He calls his work contemporary realism, and likes to capture small town scenes. Most of his paintings take place at night, and a lot of it is stuff from years ago. All of his paintings are done very carefully. Personally, I hope students will respond to and enjoy it.

How special are gallery receptions to you?

We only hold a few gallery receptions each year. They are an opportunity to

"As the corporate homogenization of our commercial landscape continues relentlessly, vernacular roadside places are fast becoming an endangered species.

These paintings help to preserve an important part of our American cultural history."

-Jeffrey Neumann

celebrate art, and help students experience a model of real-life receptions and how to behave in them.

Hopefully, it’s a good learning experience. Naturally, at each reception we have refreshments. Often, I’ll ask students to pick their favorite pieces from the gallery, it helps me see what students are interested in.

What about Chance Perekslis’ (‘19) art on the 2nd floor of Berkshire Hall? Why choose his collection?

Chance… I do a lot of work with him in art option, he’s a very gifted photographer. I wanted to show photography that illustrates things, pictures that show different things, hence the rotating exhibits. I wanted to celebrate a photography student who has thematic photos, and Chance seemed an excellent choice.

Editor’s Note: Paul Banevicius is the head of the Art Department at Berkshire. He teaches photography, and in the afternoon instructs Art Option, an activity students can choose in lieu of a sport. Monthly, Banevicius chooses a new artist’s work to display in the Warren Family Gallery, bringing art from local artists as inspiration for the students in his department. The Jeffrey Neumann: Paintings exhibit was unveiled on November 2nd, and will inhabit the gallery until the next inspirational artist is chosen.

Paintings | Jeffrey L. Neumann

Above: The paintings above are a selection from Neumann's "Southwest" gallery, a series he described as helping to preserve an important part of our American cultural history. As the corporate homogenization of our commercial landscape continues relentlessly, vernacular roadside oases are becoming an endangered species. These paintings display his efforts to commemorate them.

PERFORMING ARTS THIS FALL Emily Liu ‘20 The fall season is always an exciting one for Berkshire’s Performing Arts program as we welcome new students into our dynamic community. On the Allen Theatre stage, we have already seen many new and returning musicians pull together a wonderful Fall Concert in a short span of just four weeks. The musical selection in the concert continued to embrace Berkshire’s core value of diversity through a wide repertoire, which included jazz numbers, folk music, pop covers, and original digital music pieces among the more classical concert tunes.

New faces were also seen in The Process, Berkshire Theatre’s original fall production. Students generated the play through “devised theatre”, a mixture of structured improv and thematic exploration.

Creating a play from scratch is both a nerve-wracking challenge and an incredible opportunity, one usually reserved for theatre majors in college.

However, the faith and persistence of the cast, along with the guidance of the directors, resulted in an extraordinary production that, in the words of Gigi Brown ‘20, “has our fingerprints all over it”.

The Process, underneath its dystopian setting, was a story about individuals coming together across differences. Our upcoming winter musical, High School Musical, will also focus on the theme of unity. Any and all students are encouraged to audition and come see what makes Berkshire Theatre such an unforgettable experience.

STUDENTS SUBMIT ORIGINAL PIECES TO WRITING CENTER CONTEST In a Halloween-themed All School Meeting on Wednesday of last week, Sydney Wray ‘19 was recognized for winning the “Titanic Triumph of Terror-Filled Tales” award. “TTT-FT” is the most prestigious award in the Writing Center’s annual Scary Stories Contest, as judged by the student leaders of the Berkshire’s Writing

Center. Her victory came as a surprise to no one, as Sydney is the defending champion of the first place prize in this contest, winning for her third (or fourth) time in four years. A.J. Kohlhepp, Director of the Writing Center and founder of the Scary Stories contest, said he “cannot remember Sydney not winning the contest in her time here” and that it is “likely she has won it each of her four years.” A four year senior and top

ranking Girls Varsity Tennis player, Wray confirmed this statement, but had this to say about her repeated literary success: “I don’t know what to say. I can’t say it was expected, I was most surprised the second time I won because I didn’t think they would pick the same writer twice in a row.” As for her secret, Wray believes that “cliffhangers are crucial,” because “we fear what we don’t understand.” Below is an excerpt from her winning story:

The sun was just beginning to rise; the orange-yellow glow peeked over the horizon and was just beginning to illuminate the beautiful Massachusetts campus.

“Pretty, right?” I jumped, a gasp strangling my throat as I reared toward the small voice. My eyes settled on a little girl, whose dress resembled something of a child clothed from the 17th century. She had shiny raven-colored hair that reached her belly button, and her equally as dark eyes blinked curiously at me. A slight tingling sensation ran up my spine, but I wasn’t sure if it was from the sudden gust of wind or the eerie-looking ten year old standing in front of me. Or was she eleven?

A small smile played on her lips, which she parted and asked, “Do you want to play a game?”

Editor’s Note: The excerpt seen here has not been edited, and remains in its original form. However, it has been shortened, and as such crucial elements needed to build the suspense of the story were lost. To view this and other submissions to the annual Scary Stories Contest in full, please email writingcenter@berkshireschool.org.

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Photos | Berkshire School

Elias Sienkiewicz ‘19

Top: Andrew Sperl '19 berates Sylvie Smith (played by Remy Bond '22) Middle: Nuweira Ahmed '22 as Layla Jones Bottom: Berkshire Theater veterans Logan Renneker '20 and Gigi Brown '20 as James & Beatrice

VOL. CXII, No. 1

Green and Gray

November 9, 2018

SPORTS FEATURED STUDENT ATHLETES:

JACOB SHAFFELBURG Jacob is a four year senior who has made an undeniable impact in the Berkshire School athletic program. He has participated in Varsity Soccer, Varsity Squash, and Varsity Track and Field. Jacob’s primary sport is soccer.

Last season for the Bears he scored 16 goals and had 12 assists. This past June he was named 2017-2018 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

When did you first realize your love for the game?

Since I can remember I have always loved the game of soccer, although I have had my ups and downs, I have always loved soccer with a passion.

How has soccer allowed for you to grow as a person?

Without soccer I would not be here.

Since being at Berkshire, I have grown so much as a person and that would not have been possible if I didn't play

soccer. Soccer has allowed me to meet so many amazing people, and by doing that it has really helped me grow as a person.

Photo | Berkshire School

Peggy Stansbery ‘20

What’s your favourite Berkshire athletic moment?

My favourite moment as a Berkshire athlete was winning the New England Class A final for soccer during my sophomore year. It was my favourite moment because the team my sophomore year was the closest team I had ever been a part of, and getting to win the championship with them was an amazing feeling.

Above: Jacob Shaffelburg '19 leads the Bears down the wing at a home game last fall. This year, he captained Varsity Soccer to a 15-0-0 record, and will face Salisbury in the last game of the season tomorrow (9/10/18).

FALL HOMECOMING AT BERKSHIRE

What are your hopes for you future in soccer?

My hopes for my future in soccer is to become a successful professional athlete.

Editor’s Note: Last Saturday, with Jacob leading from the front, the Bears took down South Kent (#2) to hold their #1 spot in New England and the Nation.

Elias Sienkiewicz ‘ 19 Last Saturday, alumni, students, faculty, and staff were all seen at various times in the James C. Kellogg ’33 Alumni Center for hot cider, donuts and ice cream sundaes. The Alumni Center stands at the end of the football field, and while some were inside grabbing a snack or a drink, other members of the community packed the stands beside the field, cheering on the Bears (then 5-1-0) as they battled the St. Paul’s School football team (then 5-00). As people flowed in and out of the welcoming warmth of the Kellogg Center, the game stayed close, breaking for halftime at 0-0. Early in the third quarter, Berkshire’s Micah “Bubby” Morris ’19 made a five yard rushing TD to give the bears the lead, but they missed the conversion, keeping the score 6-0. On the Pelicans’ next offensive drive, St. Paul’s carried

ALEXIS MORAGNE Victoria Gagas ‘20 Alexis Moragne, a current point guard on the Girls Varsity Basketball team, is committed to Delaware State University. Moragne has played on the Varsity team for the past four years and has also been a proponent of diversity and inclusion on campus.

What made you start playing basketball?

The boys in my neighborhood played basketball and since I’m really competitive, I wanted to play against them.

How has being an athlete helped you with dealing with the “real world”?

Not only playing basketball, but being at Berkshire has taught me to be resilient. I have experienced a lot of difficult times and they were really rough, but I overcame them. Those lessons will really help me later in life.

What made you decide on playing basketball in Delaware State University?

The relationship I developed with the Delaware State coach really helped me to choose this college, and also playing basketball in college is really awesome.

The team also really cared about me and I think the actual college is perfect for me; the size, the choices for majors... and honestly it’s just a good school.

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOINS BERKSHIRE SQUASH LEADERSHIP

Editor’s Note: Winter sports don’t start until Monday, but Alexis has been practicing in her free throughout the fall season. The Bears look to the start of another great season with their opener against Kent on December 1st.

in the coming years. He will make periodic visits to Berkshire throughout the squash season to work hands-on Former World No. 1 squash player with both teams on developing their Nick Matthew has recently become skills. He will also work with students Berkshire School’s ambassador to squash. During the past squash season, interested in being recruited for collegiate level squash.

Matthew joined the bears under the “It is fantastic news that we have mountain and worked on improving the extended our relationship with Nick,” physical and mental game of both the said A.J. Kohlhepp, the Girls Varsity boys and girls varsity teams. Last squash coach.

“Our squash program summer, a few lucky Berkshire has been moving in an exciting students, as well as a few young squash direction for the past couple of years, players from around the country, had and the connection with Nick will the privilege to attend a three week contribute to that trend, given his long squash camp taught by Matthew many connections in the squash world.” himself right here on the Berkshire Students and faculty alike look courts. More recently, Matthew signed forward to working with Nick Matthew a three year contract with Berkshire for the next few years, and they can’t School which will allow him to work wait for the squash season to start. very closely with the squash program Tad Koenigsbauer ‘20

Photos | Berkshire School

Who inspires you/What motivates you now?

My mom definitely inspires me. She is my number one fan; she has actually

never missed a game. Even at my old school, she showed up for every single match. My mom supports me with everything I do, and I’m definitely thankful for that. When I was younger, I just played because my friends were playing, but over the years, that has changed. I will be playing in college, and I worked hard to be where I am today.

it into the endzone to bring it back level, and made the conversion to take the lead 7-6. Despite valiant efforts from both sides to change the coreline, the game remained there, Bears down by one, until a timeoutwith 59 seconds to go. After play was resumed, the St. Paul’s quarterback took a knee for the remaining downs, draining the last minute off the clock to secure their win. The Bears and Pelicans shook hands after the game, the slow pace of the last minute allowing the high tensions built up during the game to give way to respectful sportsmanship.

St. Paul’s Athletics recognized the merits of “a tough Berkshire team” after the game, and even those disappointed by the loss acknowledged that it was an exceptional contest between two strong teams. The football team will finish their season at Albany Academy on Saturday.

Above from left to right: Nick Matthew with Berkshire's Headmaster Pieter Mulder, and instructing the Girls Varsity Squash Team.

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VOL. CXII, No. 1

Green and Gray

November 9, 2018

OPINION THINGS WE’VE NEVER SEEN WILL SEEM FAMILIAR THE CONTINUED PREVALENCE OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD Tyler Swirbul '19 The red-and-blue lightning skull, dubbed the Steal Your Face, of jam band the Grateful Dead is not an uncommon sight on campus. It can be seen adorning shirts, hats, stickers, and other assorted memorabilia. The catchy blues of Truckin’ and the emotional melody of Box of Rain have been a pervasive presence in my dorm.

The band is prevalent among students despite the Dead’s final concert having concluded in 1995, years before any student here was born. How has the Grateful Dead maintained its relevance among a younger generation that was too late to see them in concert?

To understand the present, we must first look at the past. The Dead have always stood for more than just music.

They were forged in the cultural upheaval of the sixties, a time where the younger generation rejected the discipline and formality that had come to be expected by society. From the acid tests, to Woodstock, and beyond, the band rejected authority and hierarchy, instead embracing camaraderie and community. Every fan who went to a show ceased to be simply a fan and became a part of the group. As the Dead sang in Scarlet Begonias, “everybody’s playing in the heart of gold band.” There was no inherent hierarchy, no inherent structure, no inherent expectation; at its core it was simply a group of people —a community—with the same ideals, the same love for music, and the same goal of enjoying life. The Dead allowed for people to escape from the

structured, disciplined demands of everyday life and experience something new, free, communal, laid back, and simply fun.

Years later, as the counterculture generation grew up, they moved on, adopted the status quo, and abandoned their social momentum, but the Dead remained counter; they kept to their core ideals of freedom of spirit and community. Consequently, as the bands of the counterculture movement died out or converted, and the Dead persisted, they came to embody the counterculture movement as a whole, including the concepts that it stood for —antiestablishmentarianism, informality, non-hierarchical society, and community—they continued to represent these ideas long after the band itself survived not just due to its

musical talent, flexibility, and distinct style, but also because of its spiritual philosophy, its unique community, and its representation of a greater cause.

Dead followers came for the music and stayed for the culture.

Even today, years after lead singer Jerry Garcia’s passing, the Grateful Dead continue to represent the values that they were founded upon. Each note carries with it the timeless ideals of freedom, equity, and community, making the same music that moved so many people fifty years ago relatable to our generation, and generations to come. The Grateful Dead’s music is far from dead, and its message even less so.

Over fifty years after the band’s founding, it seems that the Dead will just keep truckin’ on.

THREE DECADES OF THE PARADIGM AMERICAN FAMILY IDENTITY

Photo | FOX Broadcasting Company

In 1989, the first episode of The Simpsons graced the eyes of American people for the first time. The creator, Matt Groening, based the Simpsons, an American working-class family, off of his own family. Homer and Marge are the names of Matt’s real life parents, Lisa is his sister, and Bart is himself.

Let’s dig into how the sitcom has impacted family identity in America.

In The Simpsons opening sequence, Maggie Simpson is scanned at the checkout counter of a grocery store. If you look closely, you can see the price reading is $847.63. This refers to the daunting estimated cost of raising a baby for one month in 1989. Since 1989, men have had their first child at

an average of 3 years later in life, while women have had theirs at an average of 2.5 years later in life. The Simpsons has affected the mindset of American couples’ attitudes towards planned parenthood by shedding light on financial instability. The show also showcases how family members serve as vital emotional support systems for each other. Particularly in men, emotional suppression is characteristically common, and they can resort to unhealthy vices. We see this with Homer Simpson, who says “here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems”.

Homer, like other working class patriarchs in America, is vulnerable to jeopardizing his kids’ education because of his expected base monthly

Photo | FOX Broadcasting Company

Above: The original rendering of the Simpsons Family, by creator Matt Groening.

The Simpsons first aired on December 17th, 1989.

Photo | FOX Broadcasting Company

Harrison Chapin ‘20

The Simpsons family today are rendered for modern HD televisions, but retain the same American working-class family characteristics. Above: Their modern family photo. salary. Having this dependable yet finite income is dangerous because Homer can repeatedly fund his drinking habit.

Over time, this habit develops into a dependency, impacting Homer’s ability to be present for his wife and kids.

Oftentimes, domesticated household pets provide invaluable emotional support to those struggling with the absence of loving family members. We see this in The Simpsons with the role of Santa’s Little Helper, the Simpson family’s adopted pet greyhound. During Christmas, American family members show their appreciation of each other through the tradition of giving presents. After realizing that he has no money to buy his family Christmas presents, Homer Simpson gifts his family Santa’s Little Helper, who has been abandoned by his previous owner for finishing last in a dog race. When The Simpsons first aired, approximately 56% of U.S. households owned a pet.

Today, ownership has risen to 68%. The impact of pets like Santa’s Little Helper has affected American culture without

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us realizing it. Take for example the fact that 71% of owners now let their pets frequently sleep in bed with them.

This is not meant to suggest that the Simpsons have anthropomorphized their dog, but rather that they have given him human privileges, which American families have since imitated.

The Simpsons have given us so much to enjoy. We have laughed at Mayor Quimby’s tyrannical antics with his shady siphoning of town funding. We have smirked at Grampa Simpson’s aptitude for staying alive. TV shows have come and gone, but after 640 episodes, The Simpsons keeps coming.

Just as families will settle down on their living room couch to catch the 30th season, the Simpson family will continue to return to their spots in front of the TV from their hectic lives, whether it be from writing lines on the chalkboard during detention, fumbling with radioactive material at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, or dancing out the doors of band practice while playing the saxophone.

VOL. CXII, No. 1

Green and Gray

November 9, 2018

SEASONAL THE NEW STUDENT EXPERIENCE MUSIC SELECTION For most music enthusiasts, it important to balance how much you listen to songs so as not to wear them out. I've learned that it also helps to organize playlists by genre or mood.

However, this list pulls together songs in the seasonal theme of fall. The following fourteen songs share the setting or mood of fall in a patchwork of alternative, indie, and pop.

Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood This may be considered the quintessential fall song because of its popularity and lyrics. It is set in the chilly ‘sweater weather’ months. It captures the transition between beach season and autumn.

Landslide - Oh Wonder A mellow but beautiful piece of music with refreshing fall lyrics: “everything is falling to the wind… you’ll find another life to live.”

Pitchfork kids - AJR This is a spooky Halloween song. AJR made it, along with the rest of the album, in their living room before breaking out into the public view.

Previously, they street performed in Central Park, NY. Their incredible artistry seeps into everything they record.

Photo | Eleanor Ahn '22

Jackson Chapin '20

Above: Eleanor at Mass MOCA on an Art field trip.

Eleanor Ahn ‘22 Being the new kid is a difficult thing.

Having to fend for yourself while navigating the social waters of high school is, without a doubt, one of the

most challenging life experiences out there. Part of what makes it so hard is the fact that it’s usually done alone— without friends, without familiarity, and without a sense of home. Throwing a hundred kids in the exact same position creates a really interesting social dynamic. As a freshman who has played the part of the new kid before, reprising my role has been refreshing —especially when the rest of the grade has their own take on it. This is my personal experience as a new bear, nine weeks into the school year.

My first realization upon arriving at Berkshire was that I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t know what to wear or what to say to my roommate. I didn’t know how to lock my door or find my way back to my dorm. I didn’t know how to make friends when all I wanted were my old ones. I didn’t know how to cope with being nine thousand miles away from home. I felt abandoned. I felt clueless. I felt lost.

And so did everyone else. My roommate and I skipped our first dinner and breakfast so we didn’t have

to meet new people. Several people stopped me on my first day to ask me for directions. The first few days were full of compliments on each other’s outfits and room decor, and packages of metallic booty shorts for the space dance flooded our dorm. We all looked up to each other, because we forgot how to be ourselves. We were desperate to fit in, but we didn’t exactly know what to fit in with.

It’s been over two months since that time, and we’ve got our lives a little bit more under control. I have a schedule, I know where I have to be, and I’m beginning to understand who I want to be while I’m at Berkshire. Everyone else seems to be on a similar track.

Some of us are on bumpier roads, while some of us are driving by – but you can never predict what will cross your road. With a school full of people coming from a variety of backgrounds, our futures remain uncertain.

Hopefully, as the years go by, they’ll become clearer. Right now, you would consider the class of 2022 as cubs—but soon, we’ll be full fledged grizzlies.

HARRISON CHAPIN’S FANTASY FOOTBALL COP OR DROP Harrison Chapin ’20 scours the fantasy football waiver wire for you, so you don’t have to.

“Because dominating your fantasy league is as essential to your wellbeing as Doritos commercials are to the Super Bowl.”

Intro - Kygo This song is all instrumental, but highlighted by its piano. As it progresses, the keys are increasingly saturated with passion. I like to think of it as an accumulating pile of red leaves.

Ungrateful Eyes - Jon Bellion This song is about appreciating things that humans have become unfazed by. A perfect choice for Thanksgiving time.

“All we wanna know is where the stars came from, but do we ever stop to watch them shine? Are we staring with ungrateful eyes?”

Rounding out the playlist are: The Mountain - Ed Prosek, Let It Go - James Bay, Colors - Michael Blume, The Lost Boy - Lostboycrow, River - Bishop Briggs, Out Of My System - Youngr, Spent My Life - Kindred, Skeleton Stefan Alexander, Madness - Muse, September Song - JP Cooper

David Moore (WR) 15.4 average points 2.7 % own Amidst an offense that just can’t make up their minds on a reception breadwinner, Moore is an emerging reliable option.

He has scored a total of 51.7 points in the last 3 games, and yet he remains remarkably unwanted by fantasy managers.

Tyrell Williams (WR) 12.6 average points 25.8 % own Since my week 4 waiver wire acquisition of Tyler Boyd, I have been trying to strike gold a second time. Currently, Williams is the crowned jewel among the debris that is the rest of the undrafted players list. He has earned 48.7 points in his last 2 games.

Mason Crosby (K) 10.3 average points 35.9 % own After I unrostered the Steelers out of form Chris Boswell, I picked up Crosby. Although he does not break the 10 point barrier every week, he has been doing so every other game. I rank him in the top 6 at his position.

Editor’s Note: The “Berkshire Fall Jams” playlist can be found on Spotify. Song numbers 5, 9, and 11 contain explicit lyrics, and may not be suitable for all audiences.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR) 6 average points 31.4 % own

Coming off of a good 2017-18 campaign, Henry has fallen into the realm of redundancy. Dion Lewis has taken over the Titans starting RB role. It is sad to see Henry’s poor statistics because they are not indicative of poor form, rather, his playing style does not fit the doctrines of offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.

Above: The playlist cover photo

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There is nothing pretty about any of the Bills players this season, let alone Benjamin. His chemistry with QB Josh Allen is dreadful. If he’s still in the deep, dark abyss of your bench, its time you move past denial.

Marquise Goodwin (WR) 7.2 average points 61.2 % own A player flagged to have a breakout season, Goodwin has floundered since the injury of 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

Teammate TE George Kittle is the new sensation. I wouldn’t count him out for the entirety of the season, but for now, I remain unconvinced.

Images | NFL Network

Photo | Spotify

Derrick Henry (RB) 6.4 average points 57.1 % own

VOL. CXII, No. 1

Green and Gray

November 9, 2018

EDITORIAL SPECIAL EDITION: SATIRE BERKSHIRE SCHOOL BEGINS RENOVATIONS AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE 2019 FALL PARENTS WEEKEND Giang Le '20 Berkshire School, an elite boarding and day school in Sheffield, Massachusetts, has already begun renovations for their Fall Parents Weekend in the 2019 - 2020 school year. The plan consists of adding a back patio behind Benson Commons, enlarging Shawn’s Place for a “Parents’ Lounge”, and building a brand new Olympic-size swimming pool on the top of the Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center, replete with a retractable glass roof and a complex solar heating system in order to maintain sustainability. Costs of the renovations will be covered by the Annual Fund and One Day for Berkshire. “This is a very exciting project!”, exclaimed the Head of School, Pieter Mulder, “We can’t wait for parents to see these major advancements!” Other minor additions include a minimum of three flower pots in each classroom, four golf carts for each dormitory, and an artificial rainbow over the lush green Buck Valley. Along with renovations, the school’s dining service, Flik, has also pre-booked multiple Michelin star chefs from around the world, a year in advance, to serve the Berkshire community in this special occasion.

GREEN AND GRAY CROSSWORD

TURTLENECKS: FOR THE PEOPLE James Welch '20

Created by Darran Shen '20

The legacy of the notorious turtleneck, the warmth providing, neck-covering garment, will forever be remembered in the hearts of the student body. The turtleneck traditionally was the go to fashion statement at Berkshire School from 1907 to 2017, however, some ill minded individuals decided to make an impactful decision that caused a disturbance in the the national economy. Since the abolishment of turtlenecks in the Berkshire School community, the stock of LL-Bean, JCrew and other outfitters has plummeted. Leon Leonwood Bean, C.E.O and founder of LL-Bean, stated: “since this atrocity in the year of 2017, the capital gained by my company has been exponentially less. It is time for the Berkshire School executives to make the right decision for the greater good.” With the loss of jobs for company employees, this detrimental action is at the hands of few corrupt minded administrators. Listening to the cries of both the turtleneck distributors and the student body, the dire need for change is apparent. A simple resolution of reenactment will boost overall moral and the success of the great nation of America. The people of the Berkshire School community will fight until the turtleneck is restored, banding together for a common cause.

GREEN AND GRAY COMIC

Across 3. Stanley Dormitory namesake 4. Number of students in AP Chemistry 7. Number of Berkshire students in the year 1907 9. Mr. Meade's favorite comic strip 11. Jack Harrison's jersey number 12. Mr. Kearney's dog 14. Berkshire faculty member who lived in Algeria 15. Off-campus loop 17. Sport with most New England titles 18. Number of stripes on the US flag hanging in BH 103 19. River that runs through Sheffield Down 1. Shadow is her dog 2. Family squash court 4. 2013 ASR author 5. Number of Last Bear Standing Champions in 2017 6. Highest rank in The Process 8. Alumna on ballot in Pennsylvania 10. Approximate kilometers to Bistro Box 13. Southernmost city to be visited for Pro Vita 2019 16. Squash ambassador

Answers Across: Clarence Stanley, Twenty, Seven, Calvin and Hobbes, Eleven, Peter, Hetraf, Giberson, Alpine Skiing, Fifteen, Housatonic | Down: DelGuercio, Koenigsbauer, Tracy Kidder, Seventeen, Amber, Lauren Lareau, Eight, Lima, Nick Matthew

Author | Harrison Chapin '20

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elias Sienkiewicz '19 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Emily Liu '20 CHIEF LAYOUT EDITOR Aimi Sekiguchi '20 FACULTY ADVISORS Peter Giordano and Sarah PitcherHoffman STAFF WRITERS Eleanor Ahn '22, Harrison Chapin '20, Jackson Chapin '20, Victoria Gagas '20,

Illustrator | Ivanna Lagur '21

Editor's Note: After a Boys Varsity Soccer game this fall, one of the Bear's heads belonging to Student Activities went missing. For roughly six consecutive all school meetings, Sam Maher '12 (Student Activites Director) made announcements asking for its return. This comic was made in response to this trend. (As of the publication of this paper, it has been returned.)

Tad Koenigsbauer '20, Mads McDonough '19, Jeffrey McKee '19, Will Onubogu '22, Peggy Stansbery '20, Tyler Swirbul '19 and William Warlick '20 STAFF CARTOONIST Ivanna Lagur '21 School Population: Students, 400; Faculty, 103. Distribution: 200 papers are printed. Free papers are distributed around campus, and can be found in most academic buildings as well as the Student Center, Mail Room, and Admissions Office.

245 North Undermountain Road, Sheffield, MA, 01257

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