December 2016 Issue

the

Dial

Does MBS Direct Overcharge Students?

Ways to Have a (Snow)ball over Winter Break Google Phone Incorporates New Pixel Technology

p.2 p.5 p.7

The voice of the student body

Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY 10591

December 16, 2016

hsdial.org

Community Service Projects

Hackley’s Hudson Scholars program continues to strengthen relationships

By Amy Chalan

Hackley students continue to foster a relationship with 16 Hudson Scholars from Sleepy Hollow Middle School. The Hudson Scholars club, led by sophomore Amy Chalan, senior Roya Wolfe, and senior dean David Sykes, hosted the students on campus for an activity-packed day on Veterans Day. The new and Photo by Roya Wolfe returning volunteers reconnected Hackley hosts Hudson Scholars for a with the sixth graders and even fun-filled and educational day. participated in a team building activity. Each team had to stack as many red plastic cups as they could without using their hands. Afterwards, they had lunch while watching videos from the summer enrichment program and then played soccer on Akin Common with Hackley students. The day concluded with a goal planning activity to give the scholars a path to achieving their academic goals. The club plans to host a Christmas party for the scholars and send volunteers to Sleepy Hollow Middle School for homework help.

P.S. 81 annual Toy Drive helps to spread holiday cheer

SDLC prompts students to evaluate diversity at Hackley

By Lei Anne Rabeje

By Samantha Rosenstein and Yingshyan Ku

The excitement of the holiday season brings out Hackley students’ ongoing desire to give back. The seniors especially cherish the relationships they have built with elementary school students at P.S. 81 in Brooklyn since their freshman year.

Each year, the seniors enjoy their student-specific toy drive. This allows them to send gifts to the individual child whose name is written on a card, instead of arbitrarily distributing gifts to unknown people.

“The best part of it all is the look on the kids’ faces when we deliver

Photo courtesy of Lei Anne Rabeje Students who attended the conference hope to increase the dialogue about issues pertaining to experiences of oppression.

the toys,” said senior dean David Sykes. The P.S. 81 Toy Drive is unique for its personal element and real-life connections, which generate an incredibly powerful dynamic.

Photo by Benjy Renton Hackley students donated over 110 gifts to P.S. 81 last year.

Construction on Campus

Health and Wellness Center construction progresses swiftly

By Alex Meyer

On the subject of construction on campus, Peter McAndrew, Director of Finance, commented, “The objective is to get everything enclosed and then the interior would start. It’s important to get all of the foundations around all of the five buildings done now, because when it gets really cold, it’s very difficult because the soil is frozen, and the concrete doesn’t bind properly.”

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he birthplace of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and home to the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta, Georgia housed students from independent schools across the United States — from California to New Hampshire — on December 8-11. The turmoil from presidentelect Trump’s recent election fostered new energy for change at this year’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Senior Ivie Uzamere and juniors Alex Hayward, Kioni Marshall, Lei Anne Rabeje, and Hallie Robin with congregated with over 1600 students in the historically rich city to speak about their struggles as minorities at their schools, offer guidance and counsel to the marginalized, and listen to other people’s experiences.

Bryan Stevenson, an acclaimed public interest lawyer dedicated to helping the poor and the incarcerated, kicked off SDLC 2016 by prompting students to get close

to the problems and embrace discomfort. Stevenson stirred over 5000 SDLC and People of Color Conference attendees with compelling recounts of previous clients on death row. Stories of clients suffering from mental disabilities and schizophrenia, poverty, and depression who faced the death penalty due to unjust convictions made people shift in discomfort.

Many had tears in their eyes as he recounted a tale of the 11-year-old boy raped and physically abused in an adult prison after shooting his mother’s abusive boyfriend clouded by anger and distress. His agonizing stories fostered discomfort and anger amongst the students.

Hailing from over 250 schools, many students in attendance identified themselves as the minority within their schools. Most felt underrepresented within their communities, whether from the lack of conversation about mental health to the eurocentric history curricula in

their schools. All wanted to generate change, discussing various ways to create conversation within their communities about the eight social identifiers — ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.

Within family groups (groups of 70 students) named after social justice figures, people spoke about stereotypes and explored their histories, discussed gender jargon, and examined the roots of inequality. Through spectrum activities, students challenged each other’s perspectives on controversial topics, like pro-choice versus pro-life, blue lives matter versus black lives matter, and death penalty versus life sentencing.

Senior Ivie Uzamere, who attended SDLC ‘14 at Indianapolis, Indiana and SDLC ‘16 at Atlanta, Georgia, expressed the importance of difference and the pride many gain from the conference for their culture and identity. “Being the only black girl continued on page 4

Casten Travel Program prepares to explore Cuba and Denmark Photo by Christian Riegler The Health and Wellness Center is projected to be finished by December 2017.

Clubs and Student Activities

Hackley Model UN delegates excel at UNIS Conference

By Lei Anne Rabeje

Hackley’s Model UN Club, led by juniors Connor Larson, Christina Wang, and Alex Wenstrup, attended UNIS MUNC III on December 4, along with five other delegates. The delegates debated, wrote working papers, and passed resolutions within their committees varying from the UN Security Council to the Berlin Conference of Africa. After 10 hours of forming blocs and passing amendments, Hackley’s eight delegates successfully passed resolutions and ended the conference with sopho-

Photo courtesy of Peter Ruocco Sophomore Raghav Chopra won best delegate of his committee.

more Raghav Chopra winning Best Delegate for the UNSC Committee. Future conferences will be held at Cornell University and Pelham Memorial High School.

By Olivia Weinberg

H

avana, Cuba — It’s spring break. Hackley students wander the streets, admiring brightly-colored buildings and storefronts. High arching churches with ornately carved exteriors dot the cityscape. The group embarks on an adventure.

Every year since 2000, students have had the opportunity to travel abroad under the Casten Travel Program, generously founded by the Casten family.

Past trips have included Thailand and Cambodia, Iceland, and most recently, Morocco last spring. Since the first trip to Cuba, Hackley has arranged nearly 30 trips abroad.

Casten trips began with the idea that students would be exposed to unique experiences and gain fresh perspectives on the world. Students who travel on a Casten trip encoun-

Photo courtesy of Hackley Archives Hackley’s first student delegation traveled to Cuba in 2000.

ter new friendships, cultures, religions, and ways of life. Junior Lucia Yannuzzi, a student on the 2016 Morocco trip, said, “I went knowing that the purpose of [the Casten trip] was to expand my cultural exposure and widen my knowledge of the world…I believe that going to and traveling around Morocco accomplished this perfectly.”

Senior Lila Wolfe, who traveled on a Casten trip in 2015 said, “The trip to Thailand and Cambodia was the best experience traveling to a foreign country I’ve ever had. I’ve never been immersed in such beautiful cultures, food, and Continued on Page 4

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December 16, 2016

MBS Direct textbooks put unnecessary financial strain on students By the Editorial Board

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t the commencement of each new school year, Hackley students are tasked with purchasing their grossly overpriced textbooks from MBS Direct. These purchases can exceed $500 and can be economic burdens for some students and their families. The Dial Editorial Board believes that the Hackley Upper School ought to create a system in which the school distributes books to its students annually with minimal costs incurred.

Hackley parents have expressed frustration with the high prices of their children’s textbooks. “Hackley is supposed to be a meritocracy where students can achieve and shine based on their abilities. These textbooks place an additional financial burden on an already expensive education,” said a Hackley parent who wished to remain anonymous.

The amount of usage each individual textbook receives further calls into question the amount of money students pay for them. In some cases, courses that require the purchase of certain books only end up being used for a mere week of the entire school year. “I haven’t been required to use my biology textbook this year, which is irritating because the textbook itself cost in excess of $200,” said junior Chad Lasseter.

For Hackley families with multiple children attending the school, purchasing children’s textbooks is a tremendous concern. Junior Bobby

Hite, who has a younger sibling at fundraising similar to the funds Hackley, remarked, “I alone paid raised for the new Johnson Center $800 for my textbooks this year. I for Health and Wellness. The books think that is way too much money, students learn and grow from are especially for those who have siblings some of the school’s greatest assets at Hackley like I do. My family pays due to the varying perspectives and over $1,600 a year for textbooks, experiences they showcase. Those which is ridiculous.” who lose or vandalize their textbooks Feeling the prices of textbooks to will be billed for them, providbe excessively high, ing Hackley with the many students have funds to replace the begun to buy textbooks for the next books from other stuacademic year. dents at low prices.

In support of this “I buy my textbooks plan, sophomore Tatifrom older students ana Monteleone said, or others who have al“Books should simply ready taken the course be passed down after I currently am studyeach school year. That ing in. I got a really way, we all don’t need great deal on a Calto spend money on culus textbook from new books.” Many my friend Amin; I students are adamant only paid ten dollars,” that a book distribusaid senior William tion system ought to Cotter. be implemented with The Dial Editorial Hackley responsible Board calls for the for its financing. “I establishment of a systhink Hackley should tem where textbooks pay for textbooks are passed down from without increasing our one class to the next. tuition,” said sophoIllustration by Olivia Weinberg With this program, more Max Mallett.

Hackley would distribute textbooks But does Hackley have the ability to its students, and at the conclusion to provide its students textbooks of the academic year, they would without an increase in tuition? The return their textbooks back to the Dial Editorial Board proposes that school. Students in the succeeding the school charge students textbook class will be given the same books rental fees for a given year to help that the previous class received, offset the cost of this system. Conand the cycle would continue. The tributions from Hackley’s generous money for Hackley’s purchases of donors will certainly ease the finansuch books will be secured from cial strain, especially in conjunction

with the rental fees the school would charge students for their books.

Administrators pointed out that an “in-house” Hackley bookstore, similar to the system that The Dial Editorial Board is proposing be created, has indeed existed at Hackley in the past. Logistical issues pertaining to the inventory of the books, as well as the complex and rather tedious day on which the books were distributed, were problems present in the old system. Concerns with regard to which parents felt used books to be sufficient for their children and those that preferred new copies also underpinned Hackley’s prior bookstore. “We did not know how many parents would be satisfied with a used book. The challenge rested with how many books were going to be needed to be bought each year to match the parents’ purchasing habits,” said Hackley’s Director of Finance, Peter McAndrew. While The Dial does recognize the validity of these issues, a more organized and efficient system can surely be created to prevent such problems from resurfacing.

The financial burden of purchasing new textbooks every year inhibits the learning experience of Hackley students already paying a steep price for their education. Eliminating or decreasing this financial burden is a necessary next step to improve Hackley’s curriculum. While the first step may be to merely shorten the list of required textbooks for next year and remove those that are hardly used, The Dial sees a need to ultimately revamp the system.

Illustration by Olivia Weinberg

the

Dial staff

Hackley School 293 Benedict Ave.Tarrytown, NY (914) 631-0128 December 16, 2016 Vol. 119, No. 4 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 Madison 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.

Op-Ed

We need to promote the peaceful transition of power

By Max Rosenblum ‘20

M

any people, including me, are displeased with the result of the 2016 presidential election.

Liberals and anti-Trump voters have taken to the streets of New York City and other cities across the nation to protest this outcome they see so threatening. I believe that it’s time for activists to put an end to protests in response to the election result. Let me make something clear. I’m not saying to stop protesting period; in fact, I strongly encourage protests against hate. However, it’s time to face the unfortunate reality of Donald Trump as our next president in order to preserve a civil democracy.

Americans protesting Donald Trump’s win, not his history of hate, should consider two important ideas: the concept of the peaceful transition of power, and the fact that Trump has a tiny chance of getting booted from his appointment as president-elect.

It is crucial that Americans accept and abide by the aforementioned peaceful transfer of power. If we do not accept a new president and fail to support him or her, our country will not move forward. Even politicians on the left side of the political spectrum have voiced their support for this ideal. Speaking about the election outcome, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said, “We have a responsibility to come together and find common ground.

Only by recognizing and respecting the important contributions that all Americans make to our country’s success can we build an inclusive and stronger future for America.”

During his greatly anticipated postelection speech, President Barack Obama stated, “We are now all rooting for his [Donald Trump’s] success in uniting and leading the country.”

I wholeheartedly agree with these two politicians. Now that Mr. Trump is the president-elect, we need to support him in creating positive change.

Sure, Trump has a significant history of sexist and racist comments, but that doesn’t mean we can deny his presidency. We are all Americans.

To come together, we must be supportive.

It’s true that while many Hillary Clinton supporters have vowed to give Trump a chance, their openmindedness has dissipated because of his Tweets surrounding ideas like the consequences of flag burning. While this is quite valid, some have suggested these Tweets come in response to flag burning protests in response to the election result at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. Thus, it would make sense that if people were less hostile towards the election outcome, contentious proposals like this could be avoided with a positive outlook on the future.

Additionally, there is virtually no chance that Donald Trump’s elected position will be revoked. One critic

of the election result, Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, has called for a recount of votes in Michigan and Wisconsin, and has revoked her call for a recount in Pennsylvania. The chances of this recount actually having any effect on the election’s result are slim. While it may alter the popular vote, it will “almost certainly not” change the outcome of the election, as phrased by CNN Politics. Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes, while Hillary Clinton won 232. The only way to change this substantial margin is if there was some kind of extraordinary failure with voting machines in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Let’s say the votes are recounted and Wisconsin and Michigan somehow turn blue. Together, these two states make up 26 of the electoral votes.

After doing the math and hypothetically giving these electoral votes to Clinton, Donald Trump would still be left at 280 votes and Clinton at 258, still not allowing her to reach the necessary 270 to win.

My hope is that people who have protested the result will understand why a peaceful transfer of power is so important, and why we should be supportive of our president-elect. I say that if every anti-Trump American modifies their result protesting, we will conserve order in our democracy and positive change may come in the following years. Yes, this man is hateful, but he is still our next president.

Dial

Letter to the Editor

Years later, Moby Dick sticks Editor’s Note: This is an excerpted version of a letter The Dial received from an alumnus in response to the Moby Dick editorial published in our October issue. The complete text is available online at hsdial.org. …My study of Moby Dick impressed upon me several pieces of profound wisdom that have stayed with me over all the years since that fateful recitation of AP English 12.

Most importantly to me, Moby Dick teaches the lesson of the multivalence of truth. Melville is trying to tell us that Ahab’s quest after the white whale is folly. Truth cannot be got at in so direct a manner; one cannot attempt to stare God in the face and expect enlightenment to follow. If not by sailing her down in the Pequod and ensnaring her in harpoon lines, how then should we try to approach the quest for truth, for knowledge? Melville, by oscillating through different characters’ narrative points of view (Ishmael, Ahab, Starbuck), by oscillating through different rhetorical styles (romanticism, realism, technicalism), and even by oscillating through various narrative forms (first-person narration, third person narration, Shakespearean soliloquy, dramatic dialogue), is telling us that it is wisest to attempt to approach truth not in a headstrong, monomaniacal rush, but by a careful study of complementary frames-of-reference and differing points of view.

This type of frame-shifting approach to the quest for truth is exactly embodied in Hackley’s traditional course of liberal arts education. Abraham Lincoln’s speeches can tell you something deep and true about the world, as can the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich, as can the axioms of Euclid, as can Black-Sholes econometric regressions, as can the dialogues of Plato and the treatises of Aristotle. These were all things that I was exposed to at Hackley, and my understanding only grew as I engaged more deeply with them in college, and in law school, and in my private studies and reading.

Melville knew that a varied course of liberal learning is the surest path to true understanding; why else would he so generously salt his novel with references to, inter alia, Sodom and Gomorrah, The Thirty Years War, the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, “the tempestuous wind called Euroclydion,” and a good deal of amateur cetology? Melville was (perhaps wittingly, perhaps unwittingly) one of the great advocates of liberal education in the American canon, the very sort of education Hackley has a proud tradition of instilling in her students… …To those with the power to make such a decision, I implore you: to excise Moby Dick from the curriculum would be error. I did not think that I was up to the challenge of a book so complex when I began.

But the otherworldly power of that book is that it elevates and ennobles its readers by the very difficulty of the challenge it poses. It shaped the contours of who I was as a young scholar, and continues to shape my values years later, when the Hilltop seems sometimes no more than a distant memory. The gift Hackley gave me was Moby Dick; do not deprive your students of a reading so challenging, a contest so emboldening, and prize so very valuable.

Andrew B. F. Carnabuci ‘02

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arts 3

December 16, 2016

A look through Robert and Kendall’s innovative lenses

By Bridget Barsanti

In our social media-obsessed society, many view photography as simply a device for people connect with others through social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Despite this superficial label photography has, extraordinary talents are recognized and praised, as seen in the works of two Hackley students.

Hackley offers several photography courses for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Sophomores Robert Patterson and Kendall Wieland are two gifted photographers who are currently enrolled in the Foundations of Photography class.

Robert was exposed to photography at a young age, with his father constantly capturing moments of his sister and him through a lens. He was Robert’s first inspiration. “I think that seeing him with a camera in his hands so often made photography seem really cool in my mind,” he said. After being mesmerized by the architecture on a trip to France in third grade, Robert took hundreds of pictures, and has been taking photographs ever since then.

Robert’s fascination involves every element of photography; he considers his photographs ‘stolen’ moments. “I love how with a camera I can take away a moment or a scene. If I see a tasty looking pretzel being sold next to the subway, I can steal it…through my lens. If I see a couple of children playing on the beach, I can ‘abduct’ them…by snapping a picture. I can be the world’s most normal and law-abiding kleptomaniac with my camera and I love that. I love that taking a picture that makes me happy is difficult, and getting one that I hate is easy. I love that in order to be unique, photography forces me to look at the world in ways that I most certainly would not have if I were walking

Photos courtesy of Robert Patterson and Kendall Wieland Clockwise from left: Robert captures a man in deep thought. Kendall’s photos show varying perspectives and provide new meaning and beauty to simple motions.

around without a camera. I love that I can keep all of this to myself or share it with the world,” Robert commented.

Robert believes that photography allows him to express a different truth to words; by this, he means lying. Robert’s favorite objective is to constantly find new ways to lie to whomever may be viewing his photos. “This means I like shooting everything, as long as I can lie about it in a creative way,” he said. “All photography is inherently deceitful, since it takes a three-dimensional space with sounds, smells, tastes, temperatures and feelings, and turns it into a flat image. All photography is lying and all photographers lie in different ways,” Robert added. Some people

use photoshop to manipulate images, while he personally likes to play with colors to change the feeling of an image.

Over the summer, Robert attended the School of Creative and Performing Arts (SOCAPA) for two weeks in Brooklyn and took classes on digital photography. “It was an amazing experience where I met people from around the world and spent a lot of time getting to know my teachers on a personal level, which made their instruction more interesting to hear,” he added.

Kendall first started to experiment with photography after receiving a Kodak video camera for Christmas at age six.

She enjoys the various perspectives photog-

raphy offers, as well as enhancing the beauty in simple things. “Once I had this assignment at a summer program where I had was given a Dunkin’ Donuts napkin and told to make it interesting. I know nothing sounds interesting about a napkin, but once I got started with the project, I realized how something so plain could be interpreted as beautiful or given some meaning even though in the end, it was still just a Dunkin’ Donuts napkin,” Kendall explained.

While she originally started photographing sceneries like beaches and sunsets, Kendall has recently been interested in portrait and street photography.

Last summer Kendall attended a three-week photography program at the New York Film Academy, where she learned about compositions, different lightings, and how choosing to make the background blurry or leaving the exposure on longer could change how people see and interpret the photo. “I got to meet so many great people from all over the world who were in my classes and had the same interests as me,” she said.

Both artists have used social media as a platform to present their talents to their friends.

“Social media has been a great place for my photography,” Robert said, “It has given some validation to the work I’ve been doing, plus, nice comments are always good to hear.” Kendall received this same approval.“Social media has affected my photography because it’s made me more confident in my work. I generally get very nervous when it comes to sharing anything I’ve created, even if it’s just sharing a homework assignment in English class,” Kendall said. “I kind of forced myself to start posting my photos on social media to help me take some pride in my photos and be proud to share them with the world.”

Experience the “Swinging Sixties” at MoMA

By Georgia Panitz

Jackson is a member of the House Band, in addition to performing gigs outside of Hackley.

Photo by Benjy Renton

Jackson Corrigan: Hackley’s Piano Man

By Catherine Meyer

The CDC cites beginning to sort shapes and colors as a developmental milestone at 2 years old; at that age, Hackley senior Jackson Corrigan was already playing the organ.

Two years later, he began playing the piano. An avid pianist, his passion began with a focus on classical music with his first instructor. Now, he continues studying and playing piano, but his focus has shifted. “I don’t play classical much anymore; I play lots of jazz mostly and a lot of modern music, like fusion,” he said.

Jackson plays for Hackley’s House Band at Coffeehouse, and his favorite gig was last year at the Hudson Room, a fusion restaurant in Peekskill, NY. “It was cool because I had a residency there, so for six weeks every Friday, I would play from 9 p.m. until midnight,” he said. “It was definitely tough to balance sports, work, and then playing until midnight every Friday, but it was a lot of fun. A lot of friends came out and supported, and a few teachers, actually. [History teacher Vladimir] Klimenko showed up, which was

super cool,” Jackson continued.

He finds his gigs through Lagond, the music school he attends, where a lot of the teachers are working professional musicians. One of his first paid gigs was Hackley’s AP Art Show during his sophomore year; before paid gigs, Jackson competed in various classical competitions.

In addition to practicing piano and taking lessons on the Hammond organ, he also trained his pitch recognition for several years with voice lessons. Besides his musical endeavors, Jackson was a captain of the Varsity Soccer team this past fall, and is currently a captain of the Varsity Swimming team as well.

With his diligent work ethic and impressive dexterity (he can stretch his hand the length of an eleventh (from notes C to F)), it is easy to understand how Jackson seems so effortless on stage during his performances.

Jackson achieves his success by playing for about 2 hours every day, listening to recorded pianists, and doing written work. He said, “A really good [way to improve] is to

listen to a recording and try to write down in musical notation what you’ve heard. It’s much easier for me to listen to something and play it right back, but [it’s much more difficult] to hear something and to write it down in musical notation.”

To other aspiring pianists, Jackson suggests, “Listen as much as you can, and play as many gigs as you possibly can. Once, I went to a gig at an okay venue and was only half into it, but someone at the venue heard me play and contacted me… so that’s something that can happen more often than you probably think,” he said.

He intends to continue playing piano in college in jazz ensembles or band combos. “I plan on being a big part of the performing community,” he said. Jackson aspires to major in music at a liberal arts college and take courses that require essay writing about the history of music and certain artists.

Jackson is a very impressive pianist, and based on his accomplishments so far, his collegiate future seems very bright.

While time travel is not possible, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City has come pretty close. Its latest exhibit, “From the Collection 1960-1969,” enables visitors to experience the 1960s. Unearthing pieces from various curatorial departments and the museum’s archives, the exhibit contains a large spectrum of pieces. The exhibit’s galleries are arranged chronologically to enable the viewer to experience the artistic and cultural development of the decade.

In the first gallery, a gleaming Photo by Georgia Panitz 1961 Jaguar dominates the room, The 1967 gallery contains a spectrum surrounded by pieces of artwork of pieces, from furniture to paintings. including a sizable sculpture made of soiled canvas from a conveyor announcements and another wall belt. displaying a large video of swirlOne of the most dynamic gal- ing abstract patterns and bright leries is 1964, a room featuring a colors. The gallery also includes a brightly-colored mural covering large array of abstract and colorful three walls and depicting abstract furniture from the year, as well as and realistic imagery. real vinyl covers by The Beatles The 1967 gallery is also par- and The Rolling Stones. The ticularly engaging; it features a 1960-1969 exhibit is currently whole wall of fluorescent concert running until March 12, 2017.

Photo by Georgia Panitz “From the Collection 1960-1969” is arranged in chronological order so that visitors can experience the cultural development of the decade.

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December 16, 2016

Dial

Mr. Lobko’s enthusiasm Roving shines through the classroom Reporter:

What are your plans for winter break?

By Roya Wolfe

The feeling of excitement for learning is palpable in his classroom. An eccentric and passionate English and creative writing instructor, Upper School teacher Wil Lobko is not one to take for granted.

Mr. Lobko didn’t begin his high school career like most. A self-described “misfit,” he moved around a lot when he was a child.

When he moved to Syracuse, he accelerated into advanced English and Spanish courses, spending half of his eighth grade school day in his middle school and half in the high school.

“I was hanging around with the next grade up a lot,” he said, “which was cool, but also made me a little different.”

Mr. Lobko always loved his English class.

Now he adores teaching both English and creative writing. “I think that English and creative writing really require and reward scrutiny,” he stated. “You’re able, within the boundaries of a given course or even certain novels, to consider the biggest questions of morality, science, ethics and justice.” He credits his greatest teachers for encouraging him to teach. “The best teacher I’ve ever had though was Professor Epstein, a teacher of Religion and Hebrew Studies at Vassar,” he said. “I was really inspired by how inspired he was.”

With clear and passionate goals for his students, Mr. Lobko wants them “to feel that their ideas matter and that their ideas are always changing, and they should change, that the open mind is much to be desired. I want them to feel that they can pick up any text, and they can hack into it and make sense of it and they can do something with it, be it respond creatively, be it respond with an argument of their own,” he added. Discussion and the way people have conversations in his classroom

By Madison Chen

Mr. Lobko captivates his English students with passion and inspiration.

are important to him. He said, “I also have a goal of actively fostering rigorous but respectful discourse. I think we do that really well at Hackley.”

He not only teaches his students, but his students teach him. Mr. Lobko remembers one particular instance when a student made a solid point and another greatly applauded such student’s comment. “The praise and the sincere appreciation that inhered in that sentiment! I was floored all over again,” he stated.

Along with teaching, he helps run and connect senior projects with twelfth graders. “I got involved because I love it here. So much. I want to give as much as I can to Hackley. I work with mostly seniors, so it made sense to make that an additional role I play,” he said.

Photo by Madison Chen

There are a multitude of fun facts which define Mr. Lobko, including how he loves to run barefoot which he did frequently in high school. “It was really fun to do it in Manhattan when I would run from school across Central Park and then up through Spanish Harlem to Washington Heights and see how people would react when they saw me.”

Mr. Lobko also enjoys poetry. He said, “Poems really help me record and remember and process things.” He enjoys making and listening to music; his favorite bands are My Bloody Valentine and Neutral Milk Hotel. His favorite movie is The Royal Tenenbaums.

Overall, Mr. Lobko has thoroughly appreciated his experience at Hackley, and commented, “I feel Hackley is, in my experience, the absolutely best place to learn and work. Bar none.”

Casten trips travel to Cuba and Denmark

Photo courtesy of Richie Nuzum Richie has been snowboarding for most of his life.

“I am going to Canada to snowboard. I’ve gone to so many different places; this is by far my favorite.”

Richie Nuzum

Photo courtesy of Kit Greenberg Kit’s commitment to diving brings her to many different training camps.

“I am going out to Indiana for the Rip Fest Diving Camp. We wake up early, go to dry land, work out, dive for two hours, then sleep.”

Kit Greenberg

Continued from Page 1 people. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids and chaperones; we immediately got along really well.”

This year, two Casten trips are scheduled to run. Students will have the opportunity to return to Cuba, home of the very first Casten trip in 2000. They will explore the vibrant art, history and culture of the country, which has only recently opened its doors to leisure travel. Students will be able to engage with Cuban natives and speak with them in English and Spanish (optional). They will be stationed mainly in Havana, with smaller day trips to regions such as Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and Las Terrazas. Drama teacher Willie Teacher, history teacher Vladimir Klimenko, and Spanish teacher Angela Alonso will be leading the trip.

Students can also travel to Denmark, where they will focus on the country’s rich history, art, and architecture, as well as its national and global policies, sustainability, healthcare, and wellness. An additional component of the trip will include studying the iconic design styles native to Denmark, with an emphasis on the Bauhaus movement. They will also study Denmark as a world leader in sustainability, the wellness of its people, and how the nation is dealing with immigration. The leaders for this trip will be art teacher Sarah Coble, Director of Auxiliary Programs Peter Sawkins, and science teacher Katherine Hannon.

Photo byLei Anne Rabeje Hackley’s SDLC delegates visited the Human and Civil Rights Center to commemorate Human Rights Day on December 10.

Photo courtesy of Jackeline Delia For Jacqueline, the holdiday season is a time to spend time with her family.

SDLC inspires Hackley delegates

“I am staying home and getting ready for Christmas with my family.”

continued from page 1 in Hackley’s senior class, it was great to be surrounded by individuals who look like me,” said Ivie. “I do not think attending SDLC changed the way I viewed the Hackley community, but instead emphasized the problems that I have seen within our community. I truly believe that students and teachers are very much sheltered. They are not aware of the issues that the oppressed experience, in regards to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and/or ability. It is important to start a dialogue around certain issues and not shy away from uncomfortable conversations.”

Bryan Stevenson’s stress on the significance of uncomfortable conversations is the root of the Hackley delegates’ plan to foster dialogue within the community. “I would like to bring back the activities that we did at SDLC,” said Ivie. “Activities such as the privilege walk, silent movement and spectrum activity would be very beneficial to our community because it would start conversation and allow individuals to recognize and use their privilege as a way to fight the systematic oppression that exists today.”

The success of these activities will rely on the community’s willingness to embrace discomfort and the unknown. While many recognize the “Hackley bubble,” few are willing to challenge their perspectives and listen to opposing views. “I think that that one of the challenges I expect to to face is dealing with people who are afraid to step out of their comfort zones,” continued Ivie. “I think that many people will be in denial of how messed up our country really is because they have been constantly put in a bubble at Hackley.”

The SDLC Closing Conference held at noon on Saturday, December 10 honored Civil Rights Leaders Christine King Farris, Henry Louis (Hank) Aaron, and Congressman John Lewis. The three speakers encouraged the students to generate uncomfortable conversations within their communities, while recounting their previous works for social justice- from continuing her brother, Martin Luther King Jr.’s, advocacy for non-violent protest to create change to utilizing his passion and fame from baseball to spark racial conversations on field and in schools.

Jacqueline Delia

Photo courtesy of Connor Thomson Connor goes to South Africa every year to visit his family.

“I’m going to go visit my family in South Africa. It’s always been fun.”

Connor Thomson

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lifestyles 5

December 16, 2016

Cozy cafés offer warm 10 things to do winter treats and drinks on a snow day

By Natalie Sukhman

By Natalie Sukhman and Amy Chalan

Winter is here and there is no better way to warm up than with a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Luckily, Tarrytown is rich with options that appeal to the chocolate lover looking to kill the chill.

Coffee Labs Roasters, located on Main Street, is a popular coffee shop, especially with Hackley students. Famous for its awardwinning espresso and coffee drinks, its hot chocolate is a hidden treasure worth trying.

Crafted from Mast Brothers chocolate and combined with steamed milk, this classic hot chocolate is simple yet delightful, and kid-friendly too. If plain hot chocolate is not your taste, there are a variety of flavored syrups that can be added to enhance the flavor.

Another cozy café worth visiting is Mint Premium Foods, located west of Coffee Labs on Main Street. This family-run grocery store and café serves exotic cheeses, sandwiches, and an exquisite hot cocoa. Server Daniel Fry told The Dial, “essentially all it is, is melted dark chocolate, half-and-half, and steam using an espresso machine.” Mint’s hot chocolate has a thin layer of milk foam on top covering a dark chocolate drink with a hint of cinnamon. It is not overly sweet or thick, and sophomore Mikhaila Archer commented that it was “a way better version of Swiss Miss.” Like its hot choco-

The time of year for snow days has finally arrived, and while you are probably excited to skip a day of school, you may wonder what to do while stuck at home. Here are a few suggestions:

Photo by Natalie Sukhman Located in Tarrytown, Mint Premium Foods serves a delectable hot chocolate.

late, Mint’s customer service is different; the waiter brought extra hot cocoa in mini teacups to the table.

Muddy Water Coffee and Café, a small, homey joint near the end of Main Street, serves a soothing, and extra creamy cup of hot chocolate. Although it does not have the richest chocolate flavor, its silky texture and hints of vanilla will surely satisfy any sweet tooth. Linton Suttner, the owner, informed The Dial that the cafe uses chocolate syrup and steamed milk to create a scrumptious blend that is easily customizable.

Topped with marshmallows, whipped cream and cocoa powder, this sweet treat is the ideal winter drink.

If you are willing to venture down into Manhattan for a

tasty bite to eat, you may want to stop by Toloache on the Upper East Side for a must-have hot chocolate with a Mexican kick. This authentic Mexican restaurant adds cinnamon into the chocolate and steamed milk mixture to create a complex flavor that leaves you wanting more. It pairs very well with Toloache’s mini churros or any other of their delicious desserts. Sophomore Katy Robertson described the beverage as “comforting, exotic and especially delicious because of the hint of spice in it. It really brings out the chocolate flavor.”

Whether you want a super rich and creamy beverage, or a lighter and sweeter cup of hot chocolate, Tarrytown and New York City have the coolest places for you.

1

Go sledding

2

Start a television series

3

Play a game

4

Watch a movie

5

Bake something

6

Make s’mores

7

Photo by Natalie Sukhman Coffee Labs' hot chocolate is a must-try.

Photo by Benjy Renton Snow days keep you off the Hilltop, but creatively entertained inside and outdoors.

Put on your snow boots, gather some friends and head out to the closest hill (usually found at a nearby golf course or even here at Hackley). Sledding is a great way to stay active and take advantage of the cold weather.

If you are in the mood to watch TV, look no further than Netflix.

Some of our favorite comedy series are The Office and Friends. Other entertaining shows to check out are Breaking Bad and Stranger Things.

Games are a super fun way to pass time with friends or family. A few enjoyable options are Scrabble, Cards Against Humanity, or a puzzle.

If you are tired and want to stay in bed, watching a movie is entertaining and comfortable. Many terrific movies can be found on Netflix, HBO, or On Demand. The Dial recommends Home Alone, Clueless, Love Story, Elf, and Up.

On a cold day, desserts such as a nutella mug cake and ginger molasses cookies are delicious winter treats that are simple, yet rich.

If you have a fireplace, roast marshmallows on long sticks with chocolate and graham crackers. Grab a blanket, sit back and relax in front of the fire.

Create an igloo

Follow these easy steps for your very own backyard igloo: cut blocks of hard-packed, icy snow and arrange in a circular pattern. Then begin building up the walls, and gradually slope upwards and inwards to create a dome top. Remember to block out an entrance!

8

Read a good book

9

Start an art project

10

Decorate for the holidays

Get ahead on your school reading or read a novel of your choice.

Some favorites are The Catcher in the Rye, The Maze Runner and the Harry Potter series. iBooks are an excellent way to preview and buy books without even having to leave the house.

A snow day is the perfect time to start an arts and crafts project.

Take a sketchbook, some watercolors, or just a pen and pencil and let your creativity do the rest.

Spice up your environment with a little holiday cheer! Decorate a Christmas tree, hang twinkle lights on windows, make paper snowflakes, or put scented candles around a room.

Tips to make your New Year’s resolution stick

By Hannah Urken and Lucy Barse

1 Create a

2 Write it down 3 Plan it with a

4 Be specific and 5 Make

Making a plan will help you s e e w h a t y o u n e e d t o d o, but has no use if you cannot remember it. Research from the Dominican University of California shows that when people write down their g o a l o n a p i e c e o f p a p e r, they are significantly more likely to fulfill it. You must then put it somewhere you will see daily, as a constant reminder to stay focused on your resolution.

While you may have a whole list of New Year ’s resolutions for 2017, start with choosing one. Having one specific goal for the New Year is more realistic and easier to achieve.

Put all of your energy into one goal because you may spread yourself too thinly by t r y i n g to a c co m p l i s h m o re than one. After reaching that first goal, then go for another!

2017

detailed plan

You may know your overall goal for the new year, but understanding exactly how you will accomplish it is extremely helpful. A New Year ’s resolution cannot be achieved in one day. Think about how you can work on your resolution each day and decide on the steps needed to get closer to realizing that goal. While every step may seem minor, each one is critical to reaching the end game.

where you can see it

friend

Share your goals with a friend or family member. This helps t o m o t i va t e y o u a n d p u s h you towards the finish line.

Having someone to share your struggles and triumphs with makes the journey more enjoyable and encouraging. It is also easy to forget about your goal; having a partner to continuously inspire you can be a great strategy.

choose only one

resolutions reasonable

In order to reach your New Year ’s resolutions, they must be attainable within one year. When you think about your resolutions, you should consider how important each one is and exactly how you will be able to complete it.

If you use the previous steps to help plan, you will likely accomplish your goals.

6 politics

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December 16, 2016

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Hackley students respond to widespread protests against President-elect Donald Trump

By Lei Anne Rabeje

“Dump Trump! This pussy grabs back!,” screamed one woman inciting cheers from fellow protesters. Her outrage and frustration are reflected in the thousands of people surrounding her, carrying signs and shouting irate remarks at Trump Tower, located at Fifth Avenue and 56th Street in Manhattan.

On November 12, thousands of protesters in search of comfort marched from 14th Street in Union Square uptown to Donald Trump’s home. Their angry slogans and distressed screams echoed throughout the busy streets eliciting cheers and anxiety from passersby.

Senior Bujana Mulosmani was one of the thousands of protesters gathered before Trump Tower that day. Though at first concerned about her safety, her worries faded with the overwhelming support of the crowd. “It was peaceful the entire way through; people brought their kids and family. It was not violent. We were loud, sure, but definitely peaceful,” said Bujana. “Everyone was so empowered by other people. ‘Her body, her choice’ was by far my favorite chant. Men and women alike chanted this and you felt a sense of affirmation and community.”

Knowing that the protests will not change the election results, Bujana sees them as necessary for the emotional and mental states of the citizens. “After the election, so many people were devastated, especially on the liberal side. Protests serve as a great outlet for a lot of these emotions that people were overwhelmed with,” said Bujana. “This pro-

Photo courtesy of Bujana Mulosmani Thousands of protesters stood outside Trump Tower in NYC on November 12.

test was a great way to express our emotions with a lot of people who agreed with them and were just as passionate,” she added.

Junior Sachin Shah understands the dramatic response to Trump’s victory, but disagrees with some actions taken by the protestors. “I think that it is an abomination to the United States of America that

liberals who are upset by the results of the election are burning flags, killing people, and violently abusing those who voted for Trump,” said Sachin. “At the same time, the anger is understandable because the election results were not favorable to the majority of Americans,” he continued.

From the Boston Tea Party to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to Standing Rock, the United States is rich with history of protests. In bringing discomfort and starting conversation, these protests foster changes throughout American history, yet many criticize violent protest as a proper means of generating change. Senior Tucker van Eck expressed his respect for peaceful protesters, but feels that violent protesters disrupt communities. “They did that to say that they don’t stand with [Trump] but you don’t have to stand with his ideas,” said Tucker, “but the ideas that they think he stands for will not be able to enforce misogyny or sexual assault. Some of his policies may incite outrage, which is understandable. I felt like [violent protesters were] immature, childish, and unproductive. If anything it didn’t help their cause.”

More than a month later, protests continue on college campuses and in various cities across the United States and the world. Trump’s victory has reportedly elicited negative response internationally, with protests being held in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Israel, and the Philippines.

In response, House Speaker Paul Ryan attempted to ease people’s fears and discontent. “People should really put their minds at ease,” he said on CNN’s State of the Union. “We’re pluralistic, we’re inclusive. That’s the country we are and that’s the country we’ll continue to have.”

The Electoral College: Trump’s Cabinet Appointees an outdated system

W

By Raghav Chopra

hen the Constitution was written and ratified in the 18th century, the election of the office of President of the United States was intentionally removed from the will of the people, so as to protect the interests of the elite. However, following the presidency of Andrew Jackson, the American people have grown to understand that ours is a more democratic and representative government, whose leader ought to gain power by the will of the people.

The Electoral College has retained the method of choosing the executive office every four years, but not many are well-acquainted with this system. It includes 538 electors, who are selected by each state’s legislature and equal to that state’s combined number of representatives and senators. By convention, they have typically followed the will of their state in their choice, but are not bound to such by any federal law. Whichever candidate gains the ballot of at least 270 of these electors, more than half, wins the presidency. This system, riddled with many flaws, has the ultimate effect of denying true representation.

The Electoral College inherently gives certain states, particularly those with smaller populations, more votes per person than those with larger populations. This results in a situation where a vote from a citizen of the populous state of California is worth far less than that of the less populated state of Montana. A dynamic is thereby created where votes are distributed unevenly, with some people’s voices seen to count more than others. This directly contradicts the ideals of equality and liberty upon which America was founded.

Furthermore, almost all states utilize a winner-take-all system, in which whichever candidate wins

more than 50% of the vote gains all that state’s electoral vote. This could swing an election in favor of a candidate who does not win a majority, as they could win several states by a small margin and gain its entire population’s effective support. These two effects allow for elections to be so unfair, that hypothetically a candidate could win the presidency with as little as 22% of the popular vote, winning in states where voters are worth more, and by margins barely above 50% in each state. A government that claims to be of, for, and by the people cannot hold up such a claim if its ultimate authority can be decided by less than a quarter of its people.

Defenders of the Electoral College will argue that this inequity of electors is by design and in the interest of the nation, as it gives smaller states a larger voice, so they are not ignored. However, history shows no indication of this to be the case. On the campaign trail, presidential candidates do not spend time or money on smaller states.

In fact, most of the candidates in the past 50 years have spent upwards of 57% of their time and

money campaigning in four states: Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, all of which have considerably large populations, and do not benefit from the electoral college’s voter inequity. This is owing to the aforementioned winner-takeall system, which, in the view of a candidate, renders a win in a state by 10,000 votes no more valuable than a win by ten votes. Thus, candidates spend far less time in states where they expect to have a large margin for victory, instead focusing on swing states, where either candidate may clinch a small majority.

Candidates are incentivised to ignore other state’s issues, both small and large for the sake of battleground states, harming the nation as a whole. If the Electoral College was designed to protect the interests of smaller states and prevent the oppression of larger ones, it is failing drastically. The Electoral College is neither representative, nor in the interests of a federal system such as the U.S. All its flaws are easily rectifiable, simply by choosing our commander-in-chief by popular vote.

By Lei Anne Rabeje

Graphic courtesy of CNN Politics

Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury

Steven Mnuchin, a former partner of Goldman Sachs, financier within Wall Street and in Hollywood, and the national finance chairman for Trump’s campaign, was appointed as the Secretary of the Treasury.

Although Donald Trump previously regarded Mnuchin as “[robbing] our middle class,” his recent appointment could mean economic policy changes that closely reflect Trump’s promises. According to The New York Times, Mnuchin’s economic policy changes could include “enactment of a large package of tax cuts, sweeping changes to foreign trade agreements and the fulfillment of a huge new infrastructure spending program.”

James Mattis, Secretary of Defense

James “Mad Dog” Mattis is regarded as one of the most influential generals of his generation. Prior to his appointment, Mattis served in the Marine Corps for more than four decades, as chief of U.S. Central Command, and a consultant to the Hoover Institution, a Stanford University-based think tank.

According to The Washington Post, rumours about his early retirement in 2013 from chief of U.S. Central Command surfaced, as some claimed that “he was forced out after clashing with some in the Obama administration on Iran policy.” His recent appointment could signal stronger American presence in the Middle East, with more soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tom Price, Secretary of Human & Health Services

Graphic by Benjy Renton By winning 51% of the shaded states, a candidate can still gain the Electoral College majority with only 22% of the popular vote.

Tom Price, a physician and Republican representing Georgia’s 6th congressional district, has previously served as a chairman of the Republican Study Committee and the Republican Policy Committee. In 2011, Price voted to end funding of the National Public Radio, dissolve the Emergency Mortgage Relief Program, and increase funding for the Department of Defense. Like the president-elect, Price wants to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a new program that will “systematically weaken, if not demolish, the nation’s health care safety net,” according to The New York Times. He is against a woman’s right to choose and hopes to end federal funding of Planned Parenthood.

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To Pixel or not to Pixel?

Google’s newest phone offers innovative features with a hefty price tag

By Cory Gorczycki

The new Google Pixel makes many dazzling claims: the fastest processor in any phone, a built-in Virtual Reality feature, the highest rated smartphone camera ever, unlimited photo and video storage, and the quickest charging phone on the market. These benefits, and a sleek design element, might make the Pixel the best smartphone ever produced. But is it a good value?

While the Pixel seems to be the most comprehensive phone currently on the market, consumers still wonder if all of these features are worth the starting price of $649. And if consumers want to buy the larger phone with more storage, the price tops out at almost $1,000 without a phone plan.

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December 16, 2016

The chip inside the phone, coupled with the 4GB of RAM (random access memory) that it offers, makes the Pixel one of the fastest phones on the market.

The 3.5mm headphone jack that comes with the Pixel may not seem like a compelling component, but it is a relief to many consumers who were worried that they would succumb to removing the headphone jack, as Apple did.

The Pixel, the first phone entirely made by Google, stands out from other phones in several ways. Google claims that the Pixel can give an abundant 7 hours of charge in 15 minutes, a characteristic not seen in any other phone.

The only downsides of the battery are that it is not removable, and that there are no wireless charging capabilities.

Photo by Cory Gorczycki Google Assistant is just one of the many benefits of the new Pixel.

The Pixel has also been built to host the new Daydream VR (Virtual Reality) for the phone, an innovation not available in other phones.

Even though these qualities are exceptional, the most appealing aspect of the phone may be the camera. Google has claimed that the Pixel has the highest rated smartphone camera ever made.

It has a 12.3 megapixel camera, and the pixels on the camera are large so that camera is more tolerant of different lighting. The aperture is f/2.0, which allows for well-balanced and vibrant photos. Junior Connor Larson describes his experience with the Pixel, saying that “the camera on this phone is great; it takes good photos in all conditions, which is a lot better than my old phone.”

Although some prospective buyers might have a concern that these photos and 4K videos will take up a lot of storage, there is unlimited storage for photos and videos. Google also seems to be following the same route that it was pursuing with the Nexus phones, with the fingerprint sensor located on the back of the phone. Connor commented that he has “been satisfied with the fingerprint sensor,” and that “it works all the time and it’s on the back of the phone so you can put your finger on it when you take it out of your pocket; it’s very convenient.”

While not for every budget, the Pixel’s many convenient and helpful features make it worth the investment, depending what a phone consumer is seeking.

If consumers buy the Pixel, they can be sure that they are purchasing one of the most innovative smartphones on the market to date. This assumes, however, that the consumer has an unlimited budget.

App of the Month: Duolingo

By Grace Henrich

Working to improve your grades in a language class? Travelling abroad and want to learn some of the native language? Or maybe you just want to pick up a new language for fun? If so, Duolingo is the app you have been waiting for.

The app has two paths: one for beginners and one for experienced linguists. If you have never spoken the language before, Duolingo starts out with the basics, such as simple, common vocabulary and verbs. If you have spoken the language before, the app asks you to take a quick placement test that determines how many of the beginning levels you can skip.

Each lesson is a combination of translating, writing, and speaking, ensuring full understanding of the language. Interactive chats with a computer are also unlocked once you reach more advanced levels, helping language learners practice speaking spontaneously.

Duolingo’s success stems from its short lessons — daily sessions that last 5-20 minutes — and its game-

Graphic by Grace Henrich

like approach. App users lose hearts each time they make a mistake and cannot continue forward until they earn it back by practicing earlier lessons or by using gems that you earn as you complete levels. Those gems can also be utilized to buy additional fun lessons, like learning proverbs or how to flirt. Duolingo also tells its users their percent of fluency in a given language, in order to track their progress.

Duolingo is free in the App Store, Windows Store, Google Play, and on its website www.duolingo.com.

Give the gift of technology this season

By Matthew Traum

How to win the fight against the flu and the common cold

By Cole Wyman

Snowmen, hot chocolate, snow days, the cold, and the flu. The Dial is here to save you from being stuck sick at home with those headaches and dizziness.

According to WebMD Medical Reference, the flu can affect up to 20% of the population each year, and although the effects are not nearly as severe, that pestering cold we all have endured is commonly estimated to afflict Americans one billion times per year. This means that each person, on average, gets the cold more than once a year.

The common cold is a minor viral infectious disease to the upper respiratory system (nose

and throat). Many viruses can cause symptoms that are classified as the “common cold.” These diseases include rhinovirus, sinusitis, and laryngitis. The flu is a more severe virus of the entire respiratory system contracted in two ways: through contact with bacteria containing the virus or through airborne droplets from a cough or a sneeze of one already infected with the virus.

How can we keep these two illnesses off Hackley’s campus?

A school-wide effort to prevent students from contracting a cold or flu, and thus missing days of school, should include the following four steps: 1) Wash your hands on a regular basis; 2) If you do contract the virus, do not

make an effort to go to school, as you increase the likelihood that others will get sick; 3) Eat right and stay healthy, and 4) Carry disinfectant wipes and wipe down commonly touched areas.

Despite common misconceptions, being out in the cold, along with the flu vaccine, are not ways of contracting the flu virus.

However, higher stress levels can increase your chances of acquiring the flu from other people.

By following these guidelines, our community can keep the cold and the flu outside of the Hackley campus leading to a much more joyous winter for everyone with less sick days and more snowmen.

Portable Charger

Know someone whose phone battery is always low? A perfect gift for them is a portable charger. Carry one around and you will never run out of charge. Available on Amazon, a charger that can recharge an iPhone around 4 times is only $25. When buying, look for the amount of mAh, the more the better. Around 2500mAh (milliampere hours) is needed per phone charge. This gift is so useful, you might even want to gift it to yourself.

Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard is the cheapest way to gift the experience of virtual reality. Made of cardboard, this product fits any budget, with the cheapest version at only $10.

Google Cardboard works by placing a compatible smartphone inside the cardboard box. With the size of cell phones constantly increasing, it is important to make sure the phone will physically fit in the Google Cardboard before purchasing.

Phone Polaroid Printer Tile Bluetooth Tracker

Illustration by Georgia Panitz

The Polaroid Zip Mobile Photo printer, available on Urban Outfitter’s website, allows you to print Polaroid photos using the Polaroid Zip app on your smartphone. The app allows you to add text, drawings, or even emojis in addition to your photos. This gift is perfect for photography lovers or even for printing a collection of pictures for a photo album to give to a friend.

If you know people who often lose their winter coats, wallets, keys, or other valuables, the Tile is ideal for them. Tile is a Bluetooth tracker that can be placed on personal belongings. When an item is missing, the free Tile app plays a sound to find it.

The object’s current location is also displayed on a map in the app. For example, you can use the app to find your backpack in the Grille Room.

Illustrations by Georgia Panitz and Olivia Weinberg

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December 16, 2016

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Skiing takes the East Coast by storm

By Bailey Griffen

While most people took advantage of the holiday weekend and slept off Thanksgiving dinners, on November 26 and 27, 16,000 spectators and many enthusiastic skiers congregated at Killington Mountain in Vermont for one of the stops on the Alpine World Cup Tour. Hosted by the International Ski Federation (FIS), this event has been one of the most prestigious ski competitions since its launch in 1967.

Usually, this event entails a series of races in different disciplines across the globe, usually in Europe and occasionally on the West Coast. This year’s Vermont venue was particularly special as it marked the first time that a mountain on the United States’ East Coast was selected to host the competition since 1991.

The Slalom and Giant Slalom races at Killington showcased many of the country’s top skiers, including a first place win in the Slalom for American favorite, Mikaela Shiffrin. This added to her 21 other World Cup titles. French skier Tessa Worley scored a victory in the Giant Slalom.

Despite the ultimate success of the event’s Killington location, it was initially considered a gamble due to the erratic weather of the East Coast. While this international competition clearly put the mountain on a world stage, the race director said that one of their main motivations for hosting was to bring competitive ski racing back to the East Coast and inspire those who live on this side of the country to join the sport.

Carolyn Gaven, a gym teacher at Hackley, attended the race. She thought it was a great success and a source of hope for the future of Eastern skiing, as “sometimes people are under the assumption that to become a ski racer you have to live out West.” She believes that the East serves as an ideal place to host, given the mountains’ close proximities to major cities, and hopes to see more races in the future. “I think it was an awesome opportunity for people on the East Coast to show how big skiing is here,” she said.

Sophomore and former ski racer Connor Thomson added that while the East Coast is often underrated as a venue for ski racing, it has been the training ground for several successful skiers including Shiffrin.

While the lack of proximity to large ski mountains can pose a challenge to hopeful ski racers, the Hackley community has found ways around

“

My favorite thing about ski racing is the pure adrenaline rush you get when you are skiing a down course. It feels like the world stops around you.

Wes Gilbert

”

this from gym offerings to ski clubs.

Unknown to many, Hackley offered ski racing as a weekly option in lieu of the typical gym activities several years ago.

“There was a ski program at Hackley for a few years. It was very student-driven; a group of students from the class of 2011 approached

Staying in shape over winter break

By LiliAnna Khosrowshahi

1

Push-ups

2

Lunges

3

Crunches

The classic push-up is one of the b e st ways to h e l p yo u stay i n shape. This strengthens your chest, shoulders, triceps, and of course your core.

When performed correctly, with knee bent at a 90° angle, upper body upright, and a horizontally aligned pelvis, you can’t go wrong with this bodyweight exercise. This works your glutes, hamstrings, abdominal, and back muscles while improving your balance.

The ordinary crunch is a great way to stay in shape over the holidays and truly define and strengthen those abdominal muscles.

4

Plank

5

Hip raise

Taking it a step further, the plank works to tighten the deeper core muscles. Set a time goal and really push yourself to reach it.

Sounds easy, right? It is important to squeeze your glutes and raise your hips as close to a straight line as possible.

Illustrations by Lei Anne Rabeje

Illustration by Lei Anne Rabeje Killington hosted the first World Cup race in the Eastern United States since 1991.

[art teacher Greg] Cice and asked if he would help them start a ski team,” said Ms. Gaven. She added, “Ms. White was willing to try it as a winter P.E. option. She got us a great opportunity to ski at Tuxedo Ridge and their race team coach taught the students how to race and Mr. Cice and I helped. It was a lot of fun.”

While participation faltered after the initial group of students graduated and ski racing is no longer a gym option, Ms. Gaven says that this could potentially change if there was a group who was interested. “One thing that is great about Hackley is that if you are passionate about something and share that passion with your classmates, you can really make anything happen. I would love to see some sort of ski program happen again at Hackley, but there has to be interest to make it work,” she said.

Although there is currently no competitive ski team, students, like

sophomore Cory Gorczycki, have found other ways to share their passion for skiing with their peers. Last year, Cory, an avid skier, founded a ski club that is comprised of students from all different grades with a range of levels and experience.

Cory’s aspirations for the club are to “have several fun days of skiing [each year] in which some of the skiers may meet fellow Hackley students that they may not have already known - to forge new friendships.” This year he hopes to have at least three outings with the group.

Outside of school, Cory has also found ways to share his love for skiing through the founding of a non-profit organization, Ski4All, this year. This group strives to give economically disadvantaged kids the opportunity to experience the mental and physical health benefits of skiing with a free day on Campgaw Mountain or Mount Peter.

While Cory enjoys skiing recreationally, he believes that a competitive ski team could be a great

addition to the Hackley athletics program. “While it might be challenging to create a Hackley ski team given that the school is not in close enough proximity to any mountains for daily practice on the mountain itself, I could envision a program that is focused on the conditioning that is required to get ready for the rigors of ski season since you use very specific muscles...when skiing. Perhaps on some weekends, the team could go skiing somewhere,” he said.

Similarly, fellow sophomore Wes Gilbert also feels that despite the school’s considerable distance from most ski mountains, skiing would be a welcome addition at Hackley.

“It is such a great time and what makes skiing more fun is, like anything, doing it with your friends,” he said.

Wes is a seasoned skier and has found ways to be involved with the ski community, from participating on a competitive team at Windham Mountain to coaching the younger racers every weekend. “My favorite thing about ski racing is the pure adrenaline rush you get when you are skiing a down course. It feels like the world stops around you,” he said.

Wes was excited that one of the World Cup races was hosted at Killington Mountain, as it pays tribute to the often overlooked skiing on the East Coast. “I[t] was really cool to have all of these amazing skiers ski so close to home, when on TV, you usually only see them skiing at places in Europe or out West,” he added.

Hackley’s former athletic stars: where are they now?

By Pat Walker

With Hackley’s constant demands of academic rigor, people oftentimes forget about the Hilltop’s impressive collection of studentathletes. Hackley is a consistently dominant force against other Ivy League schools and intends to maintain this intensity. Over the past three years, for example, roughly 15% of the graduating classes have gone on to compete at Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 levels. This list includes recruits and walk-ons and is a testament to the wide-ranging capabilities of Hackley students.

43 student athletes have graduated from Hackley to compete at these competitive levels of play from 2014-2016. During this time, lacrosse and cross country/ track and field have been the two most heavily recruited. This pool of students includes fourteen lacrosse and nine cross country/track and field recruits and walk-ons. Sammy Mueller, one of these lacrosse recruits from the Class of 2016, is currently pursuing her career as a Division 1 athlete for the University of Virginia. “Playing D1 lacrosse is way more time-consuming than three sports at Hackley, but it is definitely manageable and Hackley prepares you really well in terms of time management,” she said.

Sammy was arguably an MVP in each of her three sports at Hackley, and is now competing with some of the best female athletes in her age group. “My biggest piece of advice for anyone trying to play

a sport in college is don’t specialize in one sport. Playing multiple sports will make you a more wellrounded athlete.” Honored for her dominance and dedication to soccer, basketball, and lacrosse at Hackley, she continues her athletic performance at this high level.

Along with the emergence of D1 and D3 Hackley prospects, a wide range of graduates also partake in

Photo courtesy of Chris Taggart 15% of Hackley graduates go on to play varsity sports at the collegiate level.

club and intramural sports. These organizations obviously require much less commitment, but entail the type of competitiveness that student-athletes thrive to conquer.

In college squash, for example, D1 and club teams compete with one another just like normal matches and tournaments. “It really depends on the sport and school you play at, but personally I think club is less time-consuming than high school squash. We have less matches in general and only two practices per week,” said Kento Sasada, a graduate of the Class of

2015, and an elite squash player for Washington University in St. Louis’ club team. The sophomore captain played #4 in the starting lineup for Hackley and now starts at both #1 or #2 for the Bears. “I would definitely recommend playing on any sports team at college, club or Varsity. Not only did I meet other people at school that I had similar interests with but also got to continue my passions while competing for my school against others, which I loved so much at Hackley,” he said.

After a whopping 15 Hackley 2016 graduates went on to play D1, D2, and D3 collegiate sports, the Class of 2017 has a lot to live up to. However, this current senior class enjoys similar athletic and academic pursuits, while being a very friendly and culturally aware group of students. Akash Samad, a member of the Class of 2017, is also comparable to 2016 highly-recruited athletes. He is a very strong long-distance runner for Hackley’s cross country team, right now in pursuit of a D2 acceptance. “I have improved over a matter of three years which had not been expected and I have been approaching times for a possible shot at D2 running.

Improving and getting faster has always been the long-standing goal. I want to see how far I can push my limits before I break,” he commented. Akash is among many special athletes in this class and will continue to surpass previous limits in the off-season, no matter where he attends next fall.