April 2017 Issue

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P.5

P.2 Recognizing the importance of Black History Month

Olivia Giacomo balances health and happiness

P.7 Juniors take interest in the drone phenomenon

The voice of the student body Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY 10591

April 5, 2017

hsdial.org

Hackley hosts Round Square Regional Conference

By Cole Wyman Photo by Amy Chalan English teacher Brigid Moriarty leads a sophomore English class in a discusssion about the fundamentals of short stories. The freshman, sophomore, and junior classes voted on options for the new course offerings.

English department designs new senior curriculum

By Will Goldsmith

As the world enters a new age of political, social and economic reality, the Upper School’s English Department seeks to enrich Hackley students with useful knowledge derived from literature. Members of the Upper School’s ninth, tenth and eleventh grades were recently granted the opportunity to vote for the English courses they will take during their senior year on the Hilltop.

The courses found in the survey cover a wide range of topics, from mental health to the surveillance state. While this method of polling the student body for its choice of senior English courses is not new to the English Department, the

2017 survey has revealed interesting results. “The course that we created concerning the environment, while topical, did not do well in surveys of years past. This year, however, it has not received overwhelming support, but its standing has improved greatly,” stated English Department Chair, Dr. Richard Robinson.

The courses that have been designed

by English faculty members all seek to challenge seniors in their ability to think critically. “I think that all of the courses we try to provide need to allow students the opportunity to unpack and clarify, through writing and discussion, the confusing or contradictory elements of a text. This skill will help our students throughout

the rest of their lives, whatever paths they may take,” noted Dr. Robinson Hackley students have responded enthusiastically to the English Department’s decision to allow them the responsibility of determining their senior year English courses. “I think they gave us a good amount of diversity in the choices. We all have the opportunity to study what we like and what we’re interested in,” said sophomore Rami Sumaida.

Dr. Robinson described how the courses covering topics that may appear the most relevant to our current reality often do not receive much support from the student body.

Examples include courses focusing on crossing borders and exploring nationalism. That said, however,

After several years of Hackley students going abroad to participate in Round Square Conferences, this year, middle school students from all over the world will travel to the Big Apple. Over 100 student representatives from 30 schools around the globe will attend the Conference hosted by Hackley from April 20 to 26. These students will spend touring time exploring New York City, visiting locations such as Ellis Island, Chinatown, and the United Nations, places often overlooked by New Yorkers, yet so representative of the values of the city and our nation.

students have conveyed pleasure with some of the choices’ relevance to the current state of our world, and more specifically, our country. “Given the society we have today, with our most recent election and our new President, studying relatable texts is so important,” said junior Daniel Hernandez.

The voting process clearly reflects the faculty’s respect and appreciation for the students’ input. “The survey al- “The representatives will lows [English Department members] also have the chance to to really gain an understanding of hear from many speakers, what we all are interested in as stu- including Christopher Swain, dents, instead of forcing us to study a LaChanze, and a Syrian particular text or subject,” said sophorefugee.” more Lilly Yerkes.Surely Hackley seniors will find these twelfth grade In addition, the delegates will be English courses welcoming, enrichengaged in community service and ing and pleasurable for years to come. will watch the Broadway musical “Cats.” The representatives will also have the chance to hear from many speakers, including Christopher Swain, LaChanze, and a Syrian refugee. The Middle School will be sending four different delegates to each day of the four-day conference, allowing 16 students to get involved.

Many of Hackley’s Upper School students will participate in the action as well. Twenty-two Upper School representatives will be acting as group leaders, assisting Hackley in organizing this event. These group leaders will have the opportunity to teach and assist students from all over the world about the United States, and about this year’s Round Square pillar: democracy.

Student leaders will no doubt enjoy this experience as they learn from all Photo by Benjy Renton of these international students with Forbes Lecturer Michael Bierut was responsible for designing Hillary Clinton’s campaign logo in 2016. diverse backgrounds and heritages.

Forbes Lecturer Michael Bierut has his designs on graphics and writing

By Cory Gorczycki

Graphic design may not be something that you consciously and often think about, but it impacts almost every part of your life: every sign, every logo, even the typeface in every word you read.

Last week, the Hackley community had the unique opportunity to listen to the 2016-17 Forbes Lecturer, Michael Bierut, one of the world’s most acclaimed graphic designers, as he shared his insight into how graphic design impacts ours lives in a myriad of ways.

After his lecture, The Dial had an exclusive interview discussing his career and experiences.

A graphic designer whose clients have been as varied as Disney, Shake Shack and Princeton University, Mr. Bierut first became interested in graphic design due to his love of album covers. “Chicago was my favorite [band] from the late 70’s. They made the word Chicago in the same style for every album but rendered in a different way. Once in wood. Once into a flag. Once as a chocolate bar. I liked their music but was smitten by their themes,” he said.

Mr. Bierut then described the exhibits that he enjoyed creating for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame including one for “the ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967… the high point of the hippie movement. Janis Joplin, she had an incredible car, John Lennon’s Rolls Royce, Jimi Hendrix’s guitar…I used Cooper Black typeface…a funny, blobby typeface that I never used, with Day-Glo colors in a hippie-like way.”

Reflecting how the graphic design industry has changed drastically over the years, Mr. Bierut stated, “When I went into this profession, having graduated from high school in 1975 before computers, people like me were a very specialized sort of thing.” He described the graphic design process then as “analog and somebody would hand me a

poster and they would type into an IBM typewriter and it was Carrier type … it was all physical – like making a cake and gluing stuff together. [With current technology, what] might have taken 24 hours to change then is now just minutes.”

Mr. Bierut clearly enjoys his profession: “What I came to like about graphic design is it brings you in contact with a lot of different people… in all walks of life…We did graphics with the New York Jets where I got to visit their locker room since I was going to design their hats.”

His job provides “a glimpse into a world that you would never see. If you’re a brain surgeon, you do lifesaving work, but you’re seeing the same thing every day as admirable as it is. I get to see a different set of people - like a spy.”

Learning from the experience of frustration, Mr. Bierut shared that “I get rejected a lot, as a client may talk to 6 [other firms]…When you do [a proposal], you will come up with a

great idea and will really love it and believe it and they hate it.” However, he now appreciates the benefit of rejection: “I used to try to talk them into liking it because I’m an expert and say why [they] should love it...then I realized that you don’t learn anything by talking - only listening. It took me a long time to understand.”

The author of several books, including one called “79 Short Essays,” Mr. Bierut finds the writing process harder than graphic design as “it taxes your brain and makes you do something that you aren’t comfortable with.”

Nevertheless, the outcome is that “sometimes only through writing, and putting it down on paper, and knowing a reader has to understand it means that you have to express yourself clearly.”

Mr. Bierut is excited about his current project creating the graphics for the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. For him, it is like “being behind the scenes of a movie. Very inspiring.”

Photo by Benjy Renton Delegates to this year’s Round Square Regional Conference will have the opportunity to explore the Big Apple.

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April 5, 2017

Black History Month falls by the wayside in Hackley community

By Lei Anne Rabeje

“It’s the first day of Black History Month!” announce juniors Celia Gooding and Kioni Marshall during a Chapel meeting on February 1. Their enthusiasm is greeted by scattered applause and a few cheers. February is arguably one of the rougher months for any Hackley student as teachers squeeze in the last assessments of Trimester 2, juniors stress about standardized tests, and dreaded midterm exams loom on the horizon.

Beyond the gloomy Hackley campus, teachers are hanging up posters of celebrated black actors, musicians, authors, and civil rights leaders. Elementary school students are giving presentations about famous black figures, those often overlooked by history curriculums in many schools.

Black History Month serves as a reminder of the Eurocentric history curriculum at Hackley School, where black history – or African history – is placed only in the context of slavery, the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. Granted, we do offer Modern Africa as a history elective, but how many of us know anything about African or black history beyond Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, and Booker T. Washington? How many of us can recall civil rights activists beyond Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis?

Black History Month honors the contributions and successes of African-Americans throughout American history. Now a month-long celebration, it originates from “Negro History Week,” an annual celebration created by African-American historian and scholar Carter G. Woodson in 1926.

The month of February was chosen specifically to coincide with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. Fifty years after its conception, every U.S. president has recognized February as Black History Month, a tradition that has transcended the borders of the United States to Canada and the United Kingdom.

Despite its international influence, however, Black History Month fails to be celebrated within the Hackley community. Apart from the scattered announcements every cycle in Chapel meetings, black history and culture continues to be overlooked in English and history classes, with a few exceptions.

Through novels such as “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates and “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Díaz, English 11 classes discuss race and the African Diaspora this month. Students look at the history of the Dominican Republic and the fuku and zafa carried over from Africa. Finally, colonization is spoken about from the perspective of the colonized. Now, we are viewing the world through the eyes of the oppressed.

Riverdale Country Day School tackles the conversation of race and systemic oppression directly through a mandatory course for juniors called Constructing America. The unique class blends English and history into one course, allowing Riverdale students to fulfill credit for both subjects through one class.

“The second trimester of Constructing America explores 19th century slavery, its role in the Civil War, and the role of minorities in the Reconstruction Era. It leans on a more liberal interpretation

of history, and even though it’s called Constructing America, it’s actually deconstructing America and tackles the origins of -isms and -phobias we experience today,” describes current Riverdale junior Alice Chang. “It’s obviously not perfect and it views race as a binary, but it promotes conversation and really encourages open-mindedness.”

The celebration of Black History Month – or lack thereof – is not just an institutional problem; it relies on student activism and planning. Marymount School in Manhattan celebrates Black History Month through studentrun events like “Harambee” and “Bias Awareness Week,” themes which are interchanged every year. “Harambee,” meaning “togetherness or unity” in Swahili, is a one-night event that “celebrates different cultures and the stories of people of color in New York City. It is a compilation of cultural dances, singing, poetry and stories on the experiences of PoC,” explains Marymount senior Gaby Palines. “It’s not mandatory, but a lot of students attend every year and it is always received positively by the community.”

While it is easy to place blame on an institution for the lack of celebration, the responsibility falls on the students to foster change within the Hackley community. Through cyclic announcements of Black History Month in the Chapel and evolving English courses, Hackley and its community is one step closer towards intersectionality. Maybe one day we will have a “Harambee” celebration of Black History Month. Maybe one day black history will be part of the history curriculum throughout the United States.

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Graphic by Olivia Weinberg

Opinion

Trump’s travel bans are flawed: a personal perspective

By Roya Wolfe

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Hackley School 293 Benedict Ave.Tarrytown, NY (914) 631-0128 April 5, 2017 Vol. 119, No. 6 hsdial.org Editors-in-Chief Benjy Renton, Roya Wolfe Online Editors Joy Dracos, Alexi Sandhu

Cosima Boettner Section Editors

News Alex Meyer, Amy Chalan Opinion Catherine Meyer, Olivia Weinberg Politics Lei Anne Rabeje, Raghav Chopra Feature Maddy Chen, LiliAnna Khosrowshahi Arts Bridget Barsanti, William Goldsmith Lifestyles Hannah Urken, Lucy Barse Science & Tech Grace Henrich, Georgia Panitz Sports Pat Walker, Bailey Griffen Photography Christian Riegler Advisers Michael Bass, Anne Budlong Policy Opinions expressed in staff editorials reflect the majority view of The Dial Editorial Board. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the author and do not represent the views of Hackley School, its administration or its staff. The Dial invites and encourages its readers to write letters to the editor or submit contributions. Contact us at dial@hackleyschool.org. We reserve the right to edit any submission for clarity and brevity, and to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation when necessary. We refuse to publish submissions which are unsigned, libelous, or plagiarized.

Four hundred copies of each issue are distributed among the High School student body of about four hundred students and the faculty and staff.

I am the daughter of an Iranian immigrant. My family came from Iran to America knowing that this country was a country that would accept them, that immigrants were woven into the fabric of the United States.

On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated into office as President. As a liberal IranianAmerican coming from a Muslim background, I was definitely worried. According to donaldjtrump.com, on December 7, 2015, then-candidate Trump called “for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” This was frightening for my family and me. Even so, I truly did want to give him a chance. Following his inauguration, he quickly signed an Executive Order to ban travelers from seven Muslim majority countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.

There were strong challenges in Federal lawsuits by such groups as the ACLU and Washington State.

In response to such litigation, the Trump administration decided to start over and revise the Executive Order. Although, in my opinion it retains the core problem, which is in essence, a Muslim ban.

On March 6, 2017, Trump issued his second Executive Order to ban travel, labeled by many as “Muslim Ban 2.0.” According to USA Today, this new ban will take effect 10 days after ordered, on March 16, rather than immediately like the first. Although revised, this version continues to discriminate against Muslims. It bans visas, including for refugees, from six majority Muslim countries (Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) for a period of 90 days. Iraq, on the original ban list, was removed because of backlash about interpreters who had helped U.S. military on the ground and because the Iraqi government has agreed to help the U.S. government deport any Iraqis that the DHS deems a security threat.

Washington, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon all asked for a hearing with a federal judge in Seattle before the implementation of President

Illustration by Olivia Weinberg

Trump’s newly revised ban, according to CBS News. Hawaii became the first state to “mount a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban,” according to NPR. Douglas Chin, the Attorney General of Hawaii, stated, “Hawaii has a long history of immigrants.

It’s the most ethnically diverse state.

Twenty percent of its residents are foreign-born…There are memories of Japanese internment camps.

This was just the 75th anniversary of an Executive Order that came from President Roosevelt where, for national security reasons, then Japanese-Americans were placed in these camps. So to us, this is the dark path that we’re trying to avoid and I think we feel like we need to speak up against.” He also discussed the difference in language in the first Executive Order and the second: “You can try to dress up the language or call something different and in a more neutral way, but it doesn’t take away the historical comments that were made by President Trump when he was running for office and then all the way up until as recently as a month ago,” he said on an interview with NPR.

Even though there is nothing in the Executive Order that explicitly calls for a ban on Muslims, based on the many statements from Trump and his surrogates during and after the campaign, the intent is to ban muslims. Just because the language isn’t there, doesn’t mean the intent isn’t.

The first and the second Executive Orders have created an untenable situation for Iranian immigrants in the US. The Iranian government does not allow its citizens to rescind their citizenship – it never has. When an American citizen, such as my mother, enters Iran, she is considered an Iranian citizen. When she tries to leave the country, the Iranian government can choose not to acknowledge her American passport and say she doesn’t have a visa or permission to leave, thus trapping her in Iran.

Although this was true before the ban, my mother is more fearful to go to Iran. My gravely ill grandfather is currently in Tehran. He is a U.S. citizen, but he is too sick to walk or travel. Most significantly, Iran has issued a ban against U.S. citizens coming into the country in response to President Trump’s ban. My family and I had plans to go to Iran in March, but now we are unable to. I am a U.S. citizen, and I now can’t get a visa to go see my grandfather one last time. Read an extended version of this article online at hsdial.org.

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April 5, 2017

Best-selling and award-winning music and movies

By Sydney Stoller and Dylan Wade

“25” Photos by Lei Anne Rabeje and Benjy Renton Fin McCombe has been cast as the lead in several Hackley productions, from Caesar in “Caesar and Cleopatra” to Don in one of “All in the Timing’”s comedic acts.

Fin writes his own script

By Lei Anne Rabeje

From channelling Caesar to belting David Bowie, senior Fin McCombe spends most of his time at Hackley onstage under the bright lights of the Performing Arts Center.

Fin began his acting career in Turkey at eight years old, performing in a comedic play about pizza, a chef and a castle. “The last line of the play was ‘Is it off with his head?

Or should we knight him instead?’ and I remember just loving that line. They ended up knighting him because he was the best chef ever,” said Fin, who played the chef.

“While playing the protagonist was enjoyable, I didn’t get into acting until I was cast as the mayor in “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” at my school in England. I was disappointed because I was gunning for the Pied Piper himself, but it turns out it was way more fun to play the bad guy than the good guy.”

Since then, Fin’s passion for acting led him to play significant parts in Hackley’s fall and winter productions. From Leontes in Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” to Caesar in “Caesar and Cleopatra,” Fin has played leading roles in his past productions and remains core to the acting community.

The pressures of being an actor are not limited to his individual performance on stage. As a senior, Fin has become responsible for the younger cast members, acting both as a peer and a role model to the underclassmen. “It’s more stressful this year because the senior cast members are leading. When we were doing “Caesar and Cleopatra,” it was trying to strike that balance between being a friend, but also being someone others look up to and being a support system. Back when it was “The Winter’s Tale” and “The Katrina Project,” I didn’t have that pressure,” Fin said.

Despite his dedication to the theater program in the past two years, Fin did not become a member of the acting community until his junior year. When he first arrived at Hackley as a sophomore, he initially partook in football and winter track, influenced mostly by pop culture movies and shows. “Before you come to America, you watch the films and the coolest guys are always the football players. So I thought to myself, Well, I reckon I can play football,” recalled Fin. So I tried.

And I could play it, but it wasn’t really for me. I had a much better time with art than I did with sport.”

A true performer, Fin’s talents extend beyond acting and into song-

Photo by Alexi Sandhu “Hacktors” Jack Clark, Grace Henrich and Kioni Marshall rehearse for the winter production, “All in the Timing.”

Photo by Benjy Renton The cast of “All in the Timing” takes a final bow at its Saturday performance.

Illustrations by Bridget Barsanti

Adele’s album “25” became the top-selling album in the U.S. the very first week it was released, and her voice continues to enchant listeners.

With 1.71 million CDs and 1.64 million digital copies sold in the first week, the British vocalist is proof of the power of music. Songs such as “Hello,” “Send My Love (To Your New Lover),” “Water Under the Bridge,” and “When We Were Young” rose to the top spots of the Billboard Hot 100 soon after the album was released. During the recent Grammy Awards, Adele stunned the audience with her performance of “Hello” and later won the much-deserved 2017 Album of the Year.

writing and music. A self-taught guitarist, Fin accompanies his music with songs inspired by his environment. “I’ve been playing the guitar for three years, and writing music for two-and-a-half. The first song I ever wrote was called ‘Breakfast,’” described Fin. “It was a protest song against this bad food that we were getting served at the boarding school I was at. It was ridiculous and I don’t play it anymore.”

While momentous events like the poor quality of breakfast food have become trivial to his life, Fin continues to write songs inspired by his family and friends. While he plays some to only close friends and family, Fin has performed several original pieces in past Coffeehouse events, all of which have received high praise.

“When I write a song, I feel like I’m sharing the most honest version of myself to world. When it comes to acting, you play these characters and sure, they’re not you, but so much of who they are is based around you,” comments Fin. “You choose to create the character. You choose how they act. So it almost becomes an extension of yourself. It’s something you’ve created. And I think that to create is one of the most beautiful things life has to offer.”

“Lemonade”

By Georgia Panitz

school” to trick people into giving him money. Another humorous scene shows a man who falls in love with his washing machine.

The Hackley actors, also known as the “Hacktors,” put a tremendous amount of time and energy rehearsing and producing the play.

In addition to the actors, many people work behind the scenes on the tech crew. During tech week, the week leading up to the show, the acting crew report to the PAC after school and stay as late as 7:30 p.m. rehearsing. Junior Hannah Goodwin-Pierce, who has participated in eight Hackley productions since her freshman year, is one of the dedicated Hacktors. Regarding having more classmates at performances, Hannah said, “Having an audience really does make all the difference at show time. You really want others to see all the time and effort you have put into something, and to share something with a crowd, especially of peers, that means a lot to you and is valuable, is such an important, inspiring feeling.”

Beyonce shocked the world yet again when she released her newest album, “Lemonade.” With all twelve tracks debuting on the Billboard Hot 100, she continues her reign as “Queen Bey.” The digital album empowers black youth everywhere, as she shared her personal and relatable journey. Some of her top hits include: “Sorry,” “Formation,” “Hold Up,” and “6 Inch.” “Lemonade” became Beyonce’s sixth album to make an appearance on the Billboard 200 and all her fans hope she continues to create inspiring music for years to come.

“La La Land”

Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” is a whimsical musical romance that pays homage to the classic films of the ’50s. It follows aspiring actress named Mia (Emma Stone) as she attempts to “make it” as a star in Los Angeles. She then meets a musician named Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) whose love for jazz piano has made him feel as if he was born fifty years too late. “La La Land” provides a much needed escape into an incredible enclave filled with impromptu dance numbers and couples falling in love as the sun sets on Los Angeles.

This film also received a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations this year. Its wins include: Best Actress, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Song, and Best Production Design. “La La Land” did not, however, come away with the coveted Best Picture award, although it was originally presented to the movie, as a result of a card mix-up behind the scenes.

“Hidden Figures”

“Hidden Figures” exposes the untold story of the roles of African-American women in NASA during the Space Race. Based on the book of the same name written by Margot Lee Shetterly, the film follows the lives of Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) and Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), brilliant African-American women employed

by NASA during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. These unsung heroes played major parts in many of the most important space missions, such as the launches of the Friendship 7 and Freedom 7. This inspiring story finally gives Johnson, Jackson, and Vaughan the credit that they deserve.

These amazing women have proven to the world that nothing is impossible.

A casting call for larger audiences upper school performances Imagine walking on to a stage for your performance, the spotlight shining brightly on you, and when you look out into the audience, you see a crowd full of your peers. You deliver your monologue that you have been practicing for weeks, and once you finish, the audience erupts in applause. Unfortunately for Hackley’s actors, when they step on to the stage for their plays, they usually see a small number of family members and only a handful of classmates in the audience.

The most recent Upper School winter production, “All in the Timing,” premiered on Thursday, March 9, with additional performances on Friday and Saturday nights. In an effort to attract a larger audience, the three show dates were moved to after exams. The play was a collection of various comedic stories and vignettes with different storylines.

One of the scenes was about a madeup language called “Unamunda,” in which a man uses the language along with his “universal language

Having Upper School students attend the theater productions not only makes the actors feel that their hard work is being recognized, but also betters the performances: “Having a large crowd allows for the actors to let loose, hold themselves to higher expectations, raise the stakes, and when success does arrive, it is both more validating and more helpful in strengthening our own skills. We want to establish a relationship with the audience more than anything, and it creates a vital intimacy and better dramatic experience, and to do that, and to make sure our work is valued, large crowds are so important,” said Hannah.

Hackley’s Upper School Community Council has made efforts to help increase attendance at theater productions. Council created posters to publicize the shows and encourage students to attend, and its members are required to attend at least one performance to support the actors.

Council also provided popcorn at one of the performances, which definitely and deliciously enhanced the theater-going experience.

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April 5, 2017

Dial

Victor Barreto reflects on 19 years at Hackley

By Amy Chalan

“Take off your cleats!” One might know Victor Barreto as the voice jokingly scolding soccer players for wearing their cleats in the gym or as the man working late nights keeping classrooms pristine for students.

Mr. Barreto has worked at Hackley since 1996: initially on FLIK staff for ten years, then at the Zetkov Athletic Center for eight years, and on to the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. Describing his current responsibilities maintaining our campus, he said, “In the night, we focus on cleaning. In the day, the workers do gardening, landscaping, painting, fixes, but we work on cleaning carpets and floors.”

Mr. Barreto was raised and attended college in Peru, immigrating to the United States in 1994.

“There was a change of government and they started to close jobs. They all went bankrupt and the people were left unemployed.” Mr. Barreto explained his decision to leave Peru as necessary for his family’s survival. “My wife stayed in Peru with the kids [his daughter and son were aged two and six at the time] and I worked here and sent money. In my country, family came first. Separating from my family was the most difficult thing and was also a test of my resistance and how far I could go for my kids.”

At Hackley for 19 years, Mr. Barreto still enjoys every day on campus. He works at a

nursing home during the day and then with the B&G staff cleaning the Upper School at night. As he spends time with two sides of the spectrum, both elderly people and teenagers coming of age, he describes his daily experience as “the irony of life.” He added, “My life is ironic. I see it like a mirror. [When I go to the nursing home,] I tell myself, ‘That is the ending I will have,’ and when I come to Hackley I say, ‘That’s what I have done, what I lived through.’”

As Mr. Barreto watches students grow up, he recalls his own years in high school. He reminisces about his experiences with girls when he sees a student flirting with another and joking around in the gym. “Since I walk around the building, I see many things and laugh because I’ve done those things. It’s beautiful. When you’re at this school for many years, you discover things that you miss. One can say they never want to go back to high school but when you finish it, you remember your friends and classmates.”

Mr. Barreto also enjoys giving students advice for the future. “Life is like that, you have to confront it. Sometimes we give up.

In life we always have to be fighting and trying to get what we want. Youth is the best thing one person can have. You’re forming your character and you’ll achieve what you want if you fight for it,” he commented.

He has seen many students complete high school, graduate from college, and return

Photo by Amy Chalan Victor Barreto reminisced to The Dial about Hackley and reflects on his own past. He has very fond memories of students growing and graduating.

to the Hilltop as professionals. Mr. Barreto said, “It makes me happy to see them and have them remember me.” He also attends graduation each year to say goodbye to each class. “I have all the yearbooks since I came here at my house. When I leave, I’ll look at them and remember them,” he said.

As Mr. Barreto approaches retirement, he comments on his life plan after Hackley. He mused, “Life is a cycle. You finish one cycle and you’re onto the next. I think that mine is about to end. When I finish [working], I’ll go back to my country and wait until my time comes.”

The Dial Blast from the Past

By Benjy Renton

Photo by Benjy Renton Hackley faculty and staff enjoy a delicious meal and delectable desserts provided by the Hackley Parents’ Association.

HPA supports the community

By Amy Chalan

Hackley faculty, staff, and administrators all work to provide a stellar education and support system for students from Kindergarten to twelfth grade, and even beyond. The Hackley Parents’ Association, currently led by Priya Krishna, is a volunteer organization committed to enhancing the Hackley experience through academic and social programs and activities. A rich calendar of events brings students, faculty, parents and alumni together, all in the spirit of partnership and community.

2016-2017 HPA President Krishna, a mother of two Hackley students, explained that the HPA is comprised of a president and nine board members who oversee 20 committees dedicated to various aspects of student life, across the three divisions: Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. Parents volunteer their time by organizing programs, events and fundraisers, including: Athletics (featuring Fall, Winter and Spring Stings), the Hilltop Series, the Tuck Shop, Coffeehouses, Parent Socials, Book Fair, Hornets’ Nest and Holiday Boutique. In addition to sponsoring and hosting programs and events, the HPA also supports Hackley financially. Mrs. Krishna said, “The HPA gives financial grants where faculty can ask us to purchase special things for their classrooms such as underwater cameras.”

As president, she enjoys overseeing the entire organization and the responsibility that comes

with the job. She commented, “You get to see the school as a whole. You get to hear a lot of concerns from parents and to interact

Photo by Benjy Renton HPA offers sweet thanks and appreciation.

with administrators and faculty.”

One of the most recent activities organized by HPA members was the Hackley Appreciation Day Luncheon, an annual event which gives parents the opportunity to show their respect, admiration and gratitude to our faculty and staff. The luncheon committee created an extravagant menu and decorated Allen Memorial Hall on February 16 to look and feel like a restaurant. Parent volunteers even served the Hackley faculty and FLIK staff their delicious meals.

The highlight of the luncheon was the beautiful dessert buffet featuring a wide variety of homemade and donated desserts. Mrs. Krishna noted, “I know parents who blocked the day in their work calendars

months ago because they want to come back to thank the faculty.”

Another opportunity for parents to volunteer is the Tuck Shop. Debra Schwartz, co-chair for the past three years, said, “My favorite aspect would be when I do get a great fit of parents together for each shift that work well together.” While providing a hang out space and snack bar for students, the Tuck also brings parents of all grades together during shifts. Mrs. Krishna described this as one of her goals as president: “We have parent socials by division levels so parents can get to know each other. Especially in the Lower School because parents will be together for the next 10 or 12 years.”

According to Mrs. Krishna, the HPA is also trying to “make the Tuck Shop a healthier yet, more welcoming place for kids [by offering more health-conscious choices on the menu]. We are slowly trying to make changes, which hopefully will last. Little changes like these help foster a sense that the parents are in a partnership with the Hackley community.”

The HPA also aims to address concerns from parents about the Hackley community, serving as an advocate for the parents. Mrs. Krishna describes the organization as “a pathway between faculty and parents.” Passionate for the intense seven-day-a-week job, she added, “My favorite part is now I have so many friends on campus from parents, faculty, and administrators. I’ve met so many wonderful people here. I love solving people’s problems.”

In conjunction with the recent Casten Trips to Cuba and Denmark, this issue’s Blast from the Past is from the April 1972 edition of The Dial. Walter Schneller, then Head of the History Department, was The Dial’s first foreign correspondent, sending a letter to the paper’s staff from his travels in India.

Dear Dial, I am now in New Delhi, but this was written before leaving Bombay on March 18, [1972].

It is easy to write about India and Bombay from the Sea Lounge of the imposing Taj Mahal Hotel which provides one a splendid view of The Apollo Bunder and the Gateway of India Memorial, one of the many great symbols of British rule. From this vantage point the complexities and contradictions of the Indian scene are vividly presented. One is able to gaze into the lobby area and see wealthy Indians strutting about enjoying a very good life indeed, and yet within seconds from the hotel, one may view the most deplorable and extreme poverty imaginable.

A few feet from the hotel you may be assaulted by aggressive beggars and sundry people desperately trying to make a living; but this is India, where all aspects of the human situation are vividly thrust at the traveler. Bombay itself is an enormous city (six million population), it is crowded, congested, and has possibly every urban problem imaginable. I cannot imagine what Calcutta must be like. Bombay’s the

financial center of India as well as being a major textile manufacturing city; it is also an important port.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the first week in India is the renewed self-confidence and the rather vehement anti-Nixon feeling following the India-Pakistan war, the Anderson disclosures, the Nixon State of the World speech, and his recent press conference. President Nixon is the most unpopular man in India. Everyday in all the newspapers there are innumerable articles and editorials analyzing international relations; much of the writing is quite sophisticated, and I am impressed with the scope of coverage of foreign affairs as well as the interest on the part of the literate Indian public in international affairs.

Now the big stories have to do with the various nation’s recognition of Bangladesh, the coming Kennedy visit, the Nixon trip to China and its meaning to India and the world. Everywhere you have the opportunity to talk to Indians; the big questions are: what is Nixon up to? Will he be re-elected in the fall?

Finally there is a growing determination that India must become more self-reliant in all matters.

So that is the picture from Bombay, India. The next report will come from New Delhi. I have also been down to the Communist state of Kerala and Cape Cornorin which is on the very southern tip of the Indian sub-continent.

Sincerely, Walter Schneller

Photo courtesy of Hackley Archives Tears were shed at the departure of Mr. Schneller upon his trip to India.

the

Dial

Fighting climate change: Protect the environment

By Matt Traum

Most of us know the environment is one of the biggest threats our generation faces. We know that it is important not to use plastic water bottles, but do not know what else to do to help the environment. There are some easy, and some less easy changes that we can do to impact the environment.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; these words are the foundation of sustainable living. A more environmentallyfriendly world can be created by embracing these words and taking them to heart. So many things are made from recycled materials. Buy clothing from places that use recycled materials. Patagonia uses recycled materials from items, including old soda bottles to create recycled polyester. Environmentally-friendly choices exist for everything from pencils to pillows.

Climate change is the most pressing issue the planet faces. Trees help resist the effects of rising CO₂ levels through the process of photosynthesis. Students at Hackley should continue by using an iPad or laptop when possible to take notes. If you chose to use paper, use both sides of the page. Do work on the back of handouts and strive to use as little paper as possible.

Another way to reduce paper is to stop receiving direct or junk mail.

Not only is junk mail irritating, it is a horrible use of paper. Sources vary but, the average American

lifestyles 5

April 5, 2017

household receives between 40-90 pounds of junk mail annually which takes around 100 million trees to produce. Some studies indicate junk mail production adds as much greenhouse gases as 3-4 million cars.

You can get rid of most junk mail by spending ten minutes and going to sites directmail.com and DMAchoice.org. These sites ask its users to fill out surveys on what products they are interested in. Another way to decrease carbon emissions is to reduce gasoline usage. A suggestion would be to carpool with others to get to school.While carpooling is not the most popular mode of transportation in the Hackley community, it benefits the economy and makes the ride more pleasant.

Instead of focusing on the road, passengers can relax, use their phone, do some work or have an interesting conversation. Saving fuel can also be achieved by eating local food.

Most of the food we eat comes from over 1,000 miles away. Eating local food is healthier, often tastes better and supports the environment.

However, the biggest change that can positively impact the earth is the reduction of meat consumption. Eating meat is inefficient because animals use most of the calories they eat themselves. In the U.S., 80% of arable land is used to feed animals. The EPA found that 9% of carbon emissions is from agriculture – a majority of that is from the production of meat.

Hackley goes green

By Natalie Sukhman

Graphics by Olivia Weinberg

In the recent Wendt and Szabo Lecture that focused on climate control, Drew Jones and Cynthia Scharf presented the faculty and student body with strong simulations and significant information about the state of our planet.

The assembly sparked conversation and led students to brainstorm ideas about ways we can be more aware of our planet, motivating the Hackley community to do its best to be as eco-friendly as possible.

When asked about what she and her family do to help the environment, sophomore Isla Parton said, “We have a rooftop garden in our house on Cortes Island in British Columbia, Canada. It controls stormwater runoff and is super energy efficient. At home in Rye Brook, we compost and recycle. I think composting is an easy yet meaningful way for families to be more eco-friendly at home. We are also planning on getting solar power.”

Many Hackley upperclassmen who drive to school are also aware of managing time spent idling on campus, which greatly contributes to burning of fossil fuels and air pollution.

Some small ways one can make a difference are remembering to turn off lights before leaving your house, not running the water while brushing teeth, and minimizing shower times. Another act that makes a huge difference is for athletes to bring their own reusable and eco-friendly water bottles to practices and games. Hackley has stopped providing wasteful paper cups at water stations near the tennis courts in order to encourage

Olivia Giacomo balances health, fitness, and beauty

By Bridget Barsanti

An avid yogi routine combined with a balanced diet creates the ultimate healthy lifestyle for senior Olivia Giacomo. This is especially challenging, given the numerous extracurricular activities that fill her busy schedule.

Olivia began to attend yoga classes at seven years old. Her mom wanted her and her sister to be exposed to yoga early on. “She believed that even if we didn’t do all of the poses, we would still benefit from the energy of the class,” Olivia said.

Her mom founded a company called “gROw with Robin.” She teaches private yoga and life coaching out of her yoga room in their house, which is filled with books, yoga supplies, her desk, and her altar. She also teaches her gROw yoga group class every Friday morning at the Larchmont Avenue Church.

Olivia’s early exposure to yoga has helped her throughout many aspects of her life. When she first started, her mom’s friend taught the class, and she would be allowed to read books. Today, she practices with her mom; her mom

teaches her or they will attend class together. “I consider yoga to be beneficial because it allows me to face discomfort, whether it be physical or emotional,” Olivia said. “Holding poses allows me to center myself when I feel overwhelmed and enrich my feelings when I am joyful.”

Not only a “yogi,” Olivia plays tennis and lacrosse at Hackley, as well as running on her own. She applies her yoga skills to the mental side of sports. “For me, yoga is more than the poses; it is also a way of training my mind. When I feel nervous on the field or make a mistake, I forgive myself and try to focus on the bigger picture,” Olivia added.

Yoga has not only helped Olivia in sports, but also in life. She noted, “Yoga is about union, and, for me, that means extending empathy and kindness to others. That is the biggest skill I am working on right now.”

This exercise allows Olivia to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If she is not feeling well or eats a lot of “junk,” exercising allows her to reset and balance her mind.

Olivia’s healthy lifestyle is not solely based on yoga and activities, but also

Photo courtesy of Olivia Giacomo Olivia enjoys doing yoga with her mom, a certified yoga instructor.

having a healthy diet. She used to be a vegetarian, but now eats meat in minimal quantities. “I aim to include protein in most of my meals, as it allows me to feel full and reduces cravings for unhealthy food. I like to eat based on what my body is telling me,” Olivia commented.

Olivia does not only know how to balance her mind, but also her many commitments. She works at Brandy Melville in Greenwich, volunteers at the Humane Society of Westchester, teaches Sunday School at her church and also models.

Her first modeling experience happened when she was a freshman. “I participated in an initiative created by Michael Gordon called ‘Hairstory’,” Olivia said. Her hair was cut and styled in New York City, and then his team took pictures and did a quick interview. Around a year ago, she signed with TRUE Model Management and Ohlsson Model and Talent.

“I love going into the city and meeting new photographers for shoots. It is fun to be surrounded by passionate artists. I also appreciate how modeling has allowed me to see a different side of myself in terms of my confidence,” Olivia stated.

Photo courtesy of Olivia Giacomo Olivia participates in many modeling shoots throughout the year.

students to bring their own bottles from home and refill them during the day at the many water fountains located throughout the school.

Peter Wright, the faculty advistor to HEAL (Hackley Earth Action League), along with the club’s student leaders, are planning a few initiatives to increase environmental friendliness at Hackley. “Currently we are working on a water fountain and recycling station audit. We have a few tri-stations in the hallways that are helping us do a better job recycling as a school, sorting paper and waste and plastics. Places that we’ve sort of focused on is actually outside Akin Common, where students often come out of the Tuck with bottles and cans, and don’t have a place where they can easily recycle, so we’re targeting that as a place where we would like to put in a tri-station,” Mr. Wright commented.

The club is also aiming for longterm projects to be implemented into the Hackley community. “We hope to transition to using mostly the water bottle filling stations, so that we can possibly get a reusable water bottle into the hands of every Hackley student, in order to minimize plastic bottle usage with a global initiative,” said Mr. Wright.

Sophomore Mia Boemio also emphasized the ways in which Hackley students can be eco-friendly during the school day. “When I’m in the lunchroom, I always make sure to throw my food away into the correct bins. It honestly makes a huge difference. I also try to actively recycle my papers and not just throw them away. I encourage my friends to do the same thing.”

Olivia’s Daily Diet

Photos courtesy of Olivia Giacomo Eating healthy is important to Olivia. She says she likes to eat based on what her body tells her.

Typical Menu: Breakfast - 1 or 2 eggs scrambled with olive oil, peas, Himalayan sea salt and pepper on top Lunch - slice of whole wheat bread with sun butter and granola sprinkled on top, bowl of fruit Snack - green apple, Kombucha or a small bowl of goji berries and mulberries Dinner - grilled tofu (thinly sliced, then cubed) with broccoli, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and cilantro

Photos courtesy of Olivia Giacomo Olivia’s favorite daily smoothie includes bananas and berries.

6 politics

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April 5, 2017

Dial

Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy alters U.S. influence abroad

How to communicate with members of Congress

By Raghav Chopra

By Matt Traum

Even with an ever-changing leadership, the United States usually maintains stable relationships with its friends and allies.

However, in a departure from decades of historical precedence, President Trump refused to extend the positions of ambassadors and envoys beyond Inauguration Day, choosing to replace all of Obama’s choices with his own. Touting an “America First” policy that leans toward isolationism and away from the U.S.’ long-standing history of involvement in the global community and the formation of alliances and agreements, Trump’s presidency has already seen major shifts in the our diplomatic relations with other nations. While amity with some nations has grown stronger, many countries feel left out, offended and threatened by Trump’s foreign policy. The repercussions of America losing its position as the dominant force of democracy and in the West in the international community may very well affect the balance of power between nations.

Even before his election, Trump cast doubt on some of America’s strongest diplomatic ties. In an interview, he described the NATO Alliance as “obsolete, because it was, you know, designed many, many years ago,” and that “the countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to pay.” This view has been criticized as threatening to the autonomy of Europe, which has long seen NATO and America’s unwavering support as indispensable to preventing Russian aggression and annexation, such as the invasion of Crimea. Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, responded to Trump’s comments, asserting, “All allies have made a solemn commitment to defend each other. This is something absolutely unconditioned.” He remains firm that uncondi-

Contact your Senator Call the United States Capitol switchboard and you will be connected directly with the Senate office you request.

(202) 224-3121 New York Senators Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and President Donald Trump shake hands on February 10, 2017.

tional support for NATO is necessary for the protection of democratic representation in Europe. Though no official comment was made as to whether triggered by White House statements, NATO has placed as many as 300,000 troops on “high alert” in preparation for confrontation with Russia.

With regard to the Pacific region, Trump has expressed unconventional and unprecedented opinions on the treatment of South Korea and Japan. He claimed that South Korea was not paying enough to help keep 28,500 American troops in the country.

Despite this, upon taking office, President Trump reasserted the U.S.’ “ironclad” commitment to defend South Korea, agreeing to strengthen joint defense capabilities against North Korea. In a personal meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, Trump explained, “It is important that both Japan and the United States continue to invest very heavily in the alliance to build up our defense and our defensive capabilities, which, under our mutual leadership, will become stronger and stronger.” He expressed a desire to use these measures

to prevent China’s encroachment of other nations in the Pacific and South China Sea. However, the issue of Chinese influence in the Pacific is a more complex, economically focused one. Chinese President Xi Jinping explained, “Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean that you cannot escape from.” As China looks towards globalization and gaining soft power over the economies and governments of other Pacific nations, the Trump administration has taken a far different position. Recently withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a multilateral trade deal involving several Pacific nations, Trump has demonstrated intentions to value American employment and business over maintaining amicable relations with Pacific nations, per his “America First” policy. Some are concerned that this half-hearted attempt at maintaining political power in the East by only arming strong allies, while disenfranchising less amiable nations, will jeopardize American dominance in the region, and allow China to gain the upper hand.

Chuck Schumer (D)

Senate Minority Leader

Kirsten Gillibrand (D)

Photos courtesy of the United States Senate

Contact your Representative Tarrytown, and much of Westchester, fall in New York’s 17th Congressional District, represented by Democrat Nita Lowey.

She can be reached at (202) 225-6506.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. House of Representatives

For those outside of this district, go to http:// www.house.gov/representatives/find and enter your ZIP code to find your Representative.

DeVos’ appointment casts Inside the American legal system: students doubt on leveling gap on in U.S. Government educational opportunities class attend Mock Trial

By Catherine Meyer

By LiliAnna Khosrowshahi

Court case films and TV shows grip our attention and leave us on the edge of our seats. Mock Trial lets Hackley’s students simulate this riveting experience. On Thursday, March 2nd and Thursday, March 9th Hackley attended a mock trial at the Westchester County Court. A mock reflects its real counterpart with two teams of three student lawyers and six student witnesses (each from the 2 schools participating in the trial).

Seniors Seth Tilliss, Owen Friesen, and Matt Bonanno represented Hackley as the student lawyers against Scarsdale High School. The first mock trial fell immediately after exams which seemed to affect the students’ performances. “The biggest challenge was our lack of preparation due to exams, and none of us were feeling confident going into it,” said senior Matt Bonanno.

Illustration by Roya Wolfe

Aside from the poor timing (in this case), there are a couple additional challenges that come with mock trial. “The judges objected to a lot of questions and you need to be able to think on your feet, which is actually a really hard thing to do in the moment. Also, the time constraints really got to us at the end which was not ideal,” said senior Seth Tilliss.

In the end, their lack of preparation was the leading factor to their less than ideal results.

On the other hand, the second mock trial that Hackley attended went extremely well leading them to advance to the next round. Seniors Alex Meyer, Will Cotter, and Owen Friesen represented Hackley against North Salem High School. Owen Friesen was the only lawyer to attend both trials. “I think we just had a better idea of what to expect going into it since it was the second time, which helped given our previous lack of experience, and our judge was more open to our arguments.” said Owen.

Will Cotter has been participating in the mock trial for 2 years. “Although the first trial went pretty poorly for Hackley, in the second trial we really put up a great case and won fairly easily. I think the lawyers and witnesses were much better prepared this time,” Will commented.

“There’s a lot of intricacies involved in our legal system that you don’t really get to see from the outside that a lot people don’t understand until they study law in college,” said Matt Bonanno “Anyone who wants to learn a little more about our legal system should consider participating in Mock Trial.”

After a tight 50-50 tie in the Senate, on January 30, Betsy DeVos was finally confirmed as the United States Secretary of Education with an unprecedented need for Vice President Mike Pence’s tie-breaking vote. While DeVos has never worked for the government, she has been politically active as an advocate for different policies for more than 35 years (according to her website) primarily in her home state of Michigan. These successes seem to paint a picture of a thriving businesswoman, but many ridiculed her for her promotion of charter schools and vouchers and her lack of experience with the public education sector.

DeVos’ propositions about school choice – the ability to choose between using government-funded vouchers to attend private school, attend a charter school, or attend a local public school – aims to level the gap in educational opportunities between low-income and high-income families.

Advocates of school choice point to the link between lower income areas and poorer performing public schools as a problem that school choice could combat.

Giving the option for families to send their children to different schools could allow them to dodge failing public schools and ideally provide improved educations.

School choice offers the ability to attend charter schools. Opposition to charter schools stem from its failure to offer adequate education and are shut down, so pupils have received inadequate education for the duration of their attendance. Failing public schools, they argue, have less accountability and are continually funded,

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference.

so pupils could continually receive inadequate education without any retribution.

Supporters for school vouchers, which would be akin to government-sponsored “coupons” that can be put towards a private school tuition, point to their potential to provide access to elite private education that is inaccessible to those in lower income brackets.

These policies have been in place in cities in DeVos’ home state of Michigan, which predict what may become of the American education system if implemented on a large scale. According to The Washington Post, many of Michigan’s charter schools have below average test scores, but the ineffective system for shutting down these unsuccessful charter schools makes it so appealing to many.

DeVos’ policies will play out. The unintended consequences of these policies have rendered them more detrimental than beneficial as the public school system in Detroit shows; thus, DeVos’ confirmation has put many Americans on edge. Only time will tell how DeVos’ policies will play out on a national scale.

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April 5, 2017

science & technology 7

The 5G network will satisfy future internet users’ need for speed

By Cory Gorczycki

For as long as anyone can remember, consumers have been obsessed with speed. Faster downloads, faster transmission, more capacity.

3G implied “third generation” and was supposed to be state-of-theart/futuristic. But only a few short years later and we are now in the midst of 4G where superfast mobile data service and almost instant downloads are the gold standard.

Is 4G that much faster than 3G? And now there is talk of 5G? What’s all of the hype about and is it going to be a game changer?

5G will run on a “high-spectrum band,” which uses higher frequency signals than 4G. Since this band is less congested than what is currently being used, the aim is for the band’s signals to be seamless.

5G will enable manufacturers to provide ridiculously fast broadband speeds, and more importantly, almost limitless capacity without impacting either the speed or connection. So it isn’t so much the speed that will be a “difference maker,” it is the latency (response back from the network). In other words, if you are a multiplayer gamer, with 5G you will have real-time response from the remote server when you hit a button. Or if you are at a sporting event, you will be able to access an alternate angle of the game that you’re watching without any time delay. Speeds as high as 10 GBPS (gigabits per second) will make this possible, and will even

A pp of the M onth :

Guides

By Grace Henrich

Graphic by Georgia Panitz

allow video conferencing on mobile devices to work at a high standard.

While these nuances could be important to a gamer or a spectator at a live sporting event, does everybody really need 5G? Well, yes, eventually. By the year 2020, it is predicted that there will be 50 billion connected devices worldwide. Without 5G, the overload on the current system would cause a capacity issue with connections and downloads being impacted. So think of 5G as the new Tappan Zee Bridge currently under construction. The old one still works fine,

but eventually it’s going to break down sometime from overuse.

With 5G, the system will understand and recognize how to allocate bandwidth efficiently without putting unnecessary strain on individual connection points.

Algorithms will even be used to determine how fast a device is travelling so it can adapt to its connection point. And here’s a huge plus for world travelers: it will all be coordinated globally through the World Radiocommunications Conference agreement, so your 5G phone in the US or UK will work

Photo courtesy of Connor Larson Connor Larson uses his drone for incredible aerial photography of his former school Ridgefield Academy, and Michael Castro-Blanco uses his to complete obstacle courses.

in Asia or Australia. So when can you expect 5G? Since devices on 5G will require a clearer line of sight to the access point than devices on 4G, that is going to take a little bit of time to coordinate – though 5G is already in pilot mode now.

Qualcomm, a world leader in nextgeneration mobile technologies, is releasing a 5G modem chipset for use in 2018, so business applications for the technology are around the corner. Until then, we will have to cope with 4G; it is still incredible technology that is not your parents’ dial-up service!

Spring break is a great time to explore new places, and the Guides app by Lonely Planet helps you do just that. Guides offers guidebooks to over 100 different cities around the world, featuring top tourist sites and landmarks, as well as recommending lodging, food and entertainment.

A short summary of the city gives you a sense of its ambience and vibe.

For cities in non-English-speaking countries, Guides has phrasebooks with basic vocabulary, and more complex sentences, for a small fee.

Even if you are staying at home over break, Guides can help you plan a fun day trip into New York City. While you may know most of the tourist trap areas, Guides also highlights smaller museums and offers many different eating options, from hole-in-the-wall pizza places to five-star restaurants. Guides is free on Google Play and the App Store.

Graphic by Grace Henrich

Photo courtesy of Connor Larson Connor Larson builds his own drones with parts he orders from around the world. He builds them by himself because it reminds him of the model airplanes that his grandfather used to build.

Drone advancements expand their applications

By Olivia Weinberg

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a drone! Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been making more of an appearance within the last few years, affecting the development of new safety-ensuring technology, mail delivery, and the way we view the world. Both private and federal organizations have begun to investigate the potential use of drones, and discussions involving their use and the regulations surrounding them have increasingly appeared on various online forums.

The Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle has picked up on the trend, working with a tech company to experiment with ways to deliver their meals. Project Wing, a Google parent company, began an initiative to determine if drones could be

capable of carrying supplies to “isolated areas after natural disasters.”

Google also sees drone delivery as a way to help the climate, and noted that in 2014, 3.1 billion gallons of fuel were wasted in traffic congestion in the United States,” says Matt McFarland, a reporter for CNNTech.

Currently taking place exclusively on the campus of Virginia Tech, the food is prepared on a Chipotle truck and then flown to the person who ordered it at a designated drop-off site. Google said it chose food as its cargo because of the challenge it presents in being delivered, as it wants to work on developing technology to ensure the safe delivery of a delicate packages.

An interest in drones has made its way onto the Hackley campus as well. Since drones have been integrated into popular culture as a means for product delivery and a

military tool, they have made an appearance in discussion on campus.

Junior Connor Larson’s interest in drones dates back around five years ago, before drone technology was at its peak in the U.S. Inspired by his grandfather’s passion for building model aircrafts, Connor set out to build his own drone. He had to order parts from around the world, from places as far as Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“The drone remained a work in progress for a while. Things went far from smoothly (the first few months involved a lot of problems and crashes), so I had to keep repairing, tuning, and improving it,” Connor said.

Connor uses the drone to take photos and videos, including the yearbook cover photo for his previous school.

“I think that drones can and will have many interesting uses

in the future (i.e.: package delivery, agriculture, data collection, aerial mapping, military, academic research, etc.), but in order to promote innovation while still maintaining safety, the government will certainly need to revise the regulations that currently govern drones,” Connor commented.

Junior Michael Castro-Blanco also has developed an interest in drones after receiving his first one as a present just over two years ago. He is also looking to build one, but in the meantime, uses the drones that he has to take photographs of the Hudson River and to complete obstacle courses.

Michael commented on the safety regulations of drones flown in public, but added that the Federal Aviation Administration has recently added new regulations to ensure that drones do not become a hazard to

public safety. Despite this, Michael said that drones are “an awesome way for kids to get into engineering.”

Drones allow kids an opportunity to work with machines that are engaging and simple enough to use. They can be utilized for a variety of activities including obstacle courses – by using already standing objects, like trees, or by setting up your own using hula hoops or sticks – as well as aerial photography.

Now drones are incredibly accessible. Inexpensive ones are available at places like Target, priced at around $26. Another route to take would be to build your own, which might require ordering parts from a variety of online sellers. Either way, drones are not only a fun new toy, but a gateway into engineering, photography, and hopefully in the future, a way to order from Chipotle without leaving your house.

8 sports

Football team begins season prep

By Pat Walker

A MIFL League Championship and a 7-0 undefeated season.

What more could a football team ask for? Under the leadership of new head coach Simon Berk and captains Winston Britton, Will Cotter, Jordan Patrick, and Michael Hoffman, the Hornets finished last year’s season with exactly what they hoped to achieve. A dominant force against in and out-of-league schools, the team knows what type of off-season work it is going to take to beat out the competition in the 2017 season. With new captains in place for next year, the team is under high expectations from a great group of upperclassmen.

Now with spring on its way, the team has already started training for what next year has to hold. In the midst of winter and fall sports, certain football players have to make the necessary sacrifices and balance their time accordingly in order to make time for football. Although uncommon for a small private school to practice so far from the start of the season, football players have brought it upon themselves to do so after such a successful finish.

“We have definitely ramped up our off-season preparation from last year, as we have been holding weekly team lifts on Fridays, as well as team skill practices on Monday mornings,” said current junior captain Chad Lasseter. These lifts and prac-

Photo by Benjy Renton The football team has already begun training for the 2017 season, practicing a new offense.

tices are more recommended than mandatory, but a good portion of the team still manages to make time for football. By starting practice in the middle of the winter, the team is

eager to enter into a new season and continue to challenge its opponents.

Moreover, despite losing a strong group of seniors, most to collegiate play, the group is highly confident

with the wide range of talent they still have ready to hit on the roster.

“Coach Berk is all for it. He loves to win and compete, and his enthusiasm has really rubbed off on everyone else. He is definitely a big part of these workouts,” Chad continued. With Berk’s new expectation of early off-season preparation, Hackley Football’s legacy holds an even brighter future. However, it is less Berk’s demands and more the players’ desires to get more confident and comfortable as one team. “I think that our main goal is to repeat as league champs, and hopefully keep Coach Berk’s record spotless. Beyond that, I think that we seniors are looking to cement the program’s new direction, and make sure that we leave it in a place to be successful in the future,” said Chad. Along with off-season preparation led by captains, the team will also have a mini-camp in June and several 7-on-7 tournaments to showcase their talents against other public and private schools this summer. With so much opportunity for improvement in the off-season, football is ready to accomplish big goals for the second consecutive year. Rising seniors have been given the chance to push for another special season and keep the program alive for the near future. The school cannot wait to see what Hackley Football has in store for its performance next fall.

Athletes turn to mindfulness Athletics embrace mindfulness and nutrition as a supplement to long hours in the g ym

By Bailey Griffen

Many people expect athletes to hit the gym to build strength and enhance their athletic performance, and run drills specific to their sport.

Recently, however, a number of professional athletes have started to move towards alternative training methods, those not historically perceived as vital to one’s results on the field, in the pool, or on the court. This new focus relies heavily on adapting a more nutritious diet, increasing one’s mindfulness with such exercises as yoga and meditation, and developing strength and stretching routines.

These trends have been most recently spotlighted following Tom Brady’s fourth Super Bowl win, despite the fact that he is almost 40, the age that many professional football players retire. He attributes his impressive feats into his late thirties to the strict routines he has adopted which emphasizes nutrition. His diet includes 80% vegetables, whole grains, and avoids dairy and foods that increase inflammation such as tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and eggplants, according to Forbes.

Additionally, in the football industry, mindfulness has been employed by teams like the Seattle Seahawks, who according to The Boston Globe have “moved to the forefront…in terms of embracing mental conditioning as a means of allowing their players to thrive [by] celebrating the uniqueness of their individual players, finding ways to tap into the strengths of each players and create roles, gameplans, and more broadly an environment to permit them to do just that.” Backed by results from professional sports teams and scientific findings, nutrition, strengthening, and mindfulness are clearly key to building a well-rounded athlete.

According to Director of Community Wellbeing Charles Colten,

the

April 5, 2017

“The athletic program at Hackley has begun to embrace this trend, though it has been slower to take root in the athletic programs than in the academic setting. Every great athlete, artist and scientist knows what it feels like to be in ‘the zone’ or what researchers call being in a ‘flow state.’”

This zone is defined as a state in which a person is fully engaged and absorbed in the activity they are performing.

According to the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, this state of awareness is more easily achieved through a positive mental attitude.

Mr. Colten suggests regular meditation as a key to developing a better sense of awareness: “The cool thing is that we can strengthen our ability to attain this [flow] state through exercise and everyone can improve through practice. It’s important to mention again that mindfulness is simply showing up and paying attention. It does not have to look like the stereotypic image of someone meditating. There are an infinite number of ways to show up completely.” While physical activity is key to attaining the flow state, practicing meditation may help athletes to become more aware, something which in turn pays off. As the South African Journal of Science reports, higher self-awareness correlates to higher mental-toughness, important for focusing during highpressure or intense situations such as a big championship game or meet, or what compels an endurance athlete to push through pain and finish their lap in a pool or on a cross country course.

Eleventh grade dean and field hockey and lacrosse coach Jenny Leffler knows the importance of how embracing a mindful attitude pays off on the playing field. “I think we have started thinking about mindfulness in athletics – and perhaps that has even been going on for longer, as we often stop and reflect on what has

Nutrition

Sleep and Recharge

Team Building

Strengthening

Mindfulness

Skills Training

Stretching

Graphic by Benjy Renton According to Director of Community Wellbeing Charles Colten, an athlete can use these seven principles and rank how well he or she promotes them, with one on the outside of the circle and 10 in the center. By connecting the dots, he or she can figure out where energy is needed to be a well-rounded athlete.

happened on the field and have spent time setting goals that are not necessarily driven by result but by what is achieved along the way,” she said.

She believes this awareness is integral to establishing a positive team dynamic. “I…spend a lot of time thinking about team building both in really obvious and explicit ways, but I feel like my job as a coach is not only to think about the strategy and skills of the game, but to foster trust and support and a real love of each other as well as of the sport in order to be successful. We have several things that we do to foster this, from pre-game rituals to challenges presented on the field to reflection and “shout outs” after a game.” She sees the benefits that can come when people become aware of their actions and how they influence those around them, from “picturing yourself doing something on the field, encouraging athletes and teams to think about the qualities that they possess and how those qualities might play out on a team,” Ms. Leffler said.

While mindfulness seems to be more ingrained in an academic setting, mindfulness is something that professional athletes attribute to their successes. “The classroom can be so

much more individual, but a team cannot be individuals and be successful. It is really important to stop and reflect, both when things are going as you hope and when they are not...So a lot of the stopping and reflecting that we are starting to do in the classroom is an integral part of athletics and being successful on the field,” Ms. Leffler said on the importance of awareness and reflection on the playing field.

Luckily, this awareness and sense of team dynamic can be fortified through challenging strength routines and core workouts, another pillar of reaching peak athletic performance, that bring the team together. The field hockey and lacrosse teams typically do strength exercises 2-3 times a week and “doing any sort of challenging fitness, for example, builds team unity as the players are struggling together to do something hard. It fosters support and helps to build trust and also the mentality that together you can do anything,” Ms. Leffler commented.

As the Health and Wellness program at Hackley continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how mindfullness is adopted, and how it pays off in the athletic realm.

Dial

Hackley athletics end winter season on high note Compiled by Cosima Boettner, Amy Chalan, Maddy Chen, Bailey Griffen, Lei Anne Rabeje and Pat Walker

Boys’ Basketball • Finished the season with an 8-11 record (4-1 record in outof-league games) • Beat Rye Country Day School in overtime after Andrew Chung threw a 3-pointer to tie up the game

Boys’ Squash • Placed 15th in the nation at High School Squash Nationals • Won the Ivy League Championship Meet for the 2nd year in a row • Finished the season undefeated with an 18-0 record

Fencing • Épée - Boys and Girls placed 3rd in league; Josh Zhang won Boys gold, Tyler LaRoche placed 2nd for Girls • Foil - Boys ranked 3rd and Girls ranked 2nd in league; Camille Butterfield and Ella Boodell tied for 3rd in individual championships • Sabre - Girls placed 1st in league led by 1st place win by captain Hanna Mark; Boys’ captain Raghav Chopra placed 3rd

Girls’ Basketball • 4-4 season record • They won the Dan DiVirgilio Tournament • Beat Fieldston at the Winter Sting

Girls’ Squash • Placed 21st in the country at High School Squash Nationals, placing 5th in Division II • Won 12 out of 16 games during the season

Swimming • Boys 200 Medley Relay (1:39.31) and 400 Freestyle Relay (3:16.23) broke school records. Boys set new Ivy League rocord in 400 Freestyle Relay • Boys won the Ivy League Championship, capping a successful undefeated season • Girls took 3rd in Ivy League Championship

Winter Track • Boys and Girls teams placed 3rd in Ivy Championship • Broke eight school records Boys 300m, 400m, and 600m (Onye Ohia-Enyia), Boys 4x200 relay, Girls 600m (Luisa Stalman), Girls shot put and weight throw (Ivie Uzamere), Girls 4x400 relay • Onye and Ivie made it to New Balance Indoor Nationals

Wrestling • Finished season with a 3-8 record • Placed 6th in Ivy Championship Jack Bosco placed 2nd while Jack Kneisley, Gio Crispi and Dewaun Burns placed 3rd • Jimmy Jones placed 2nd in NYSAIS Championships; Jack and Dewaun placed 3rd