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Do dress codes limit gender identity? Managing Hackley life without sleep Jasmine Bayrooti fosters her passion for robotics
p.2 p.4 p.7
The voice of the student body
Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY 10591
November 22, 2016
hsdial.org
Hackley reacts to historic presidential election
Data courtesy of The New York Times This electoral map shows Donald J. Trump winning the presidency with 290 electoral votes, and Hillary Clinton earning 228 (as of November 14, 2016).
By Raghav Chopra
How did this happen? The question went unanswered, as an already gloomy day, overcast and foggy, was aggravated by the sullen silence on campus. Seldom for a few sobs, little was to be heard on the grave morning of November 9. Now President-elect, Donald Trump, had just won an unexpected victory in the Electoral College. Even teachers found themselves unable to maintain resolve, one student describing that her own teacher “burst into tears mid-class.” Simultaneously, some at Hackley had a more optimistic outlook for the future of the school and Union, though their re-
sponse was less obvious in the community. Despite this, Hackley seemed to be suspended in a freefall of denial following the election. When anonymously asked their opinions on the outcome of the 2016 presidential election and Trump’s victory in a Dial poll, many students simply replied, “I am shocked,” or “I am saddened.” This somber outlook was commonly held, as upwards of 70% of the student body expressed support for Secretary Hillary Clinton. One student commented, “I think it’s interesting whether people at Hackley realize that they live in a bubble and shut out other opinions, that are active in social media bubble where they are told they are right
Media misled and misinformed voters By Joy Dracos
It is safe to say that this has been one of the most unusual elections in our nation’s history to date. Not only was it a very close race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, but almost every prediction for the election’s outcome was utterly wrong. For most high school students and people in today’s day and age, they get their information primarily from the Internet. Although there have been warnings about how “you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet,” unfortunately, that is exactly what most American citizens did. This made the outcome of the election more flabbergasting––even devastating to some. When asked if they were shocked by the results of the election, 82.6% of Hackley students responded “yes.” Now, more than ever, students have little faith in the government, the Internet, and those who fooled them into thinking that Clinton would be the next President-elect. Many students feel the media did a poor job at realistically covering the odds of each candidate winning, or that the predictions were biased because it appears as if much of the nation (including the majority of Donald Trump supporters) believed it was socially unacceptable to support Trump. They simply decided to go with “the safe option” and state that they were voting for Clinton.
Senior Malcolm Roesser said, “I think that [the media] silenced a lot of Trump supporters, as a lot of times if they spoke out, they would be called racists, sexists, homophobes, etc. Furthermore, there were a lot of jokes going around about Trump and his campaign, which even further silenced Republicans who supported him, lest they speak out at the expense of being ridiculed.” Because of the negative publicity that Trump received and the polling models of who a “likely voter” was were wrong, many Hackley students were unprepared for the outcome of the election.
and are supported. They never face someone with a differing view and thus can’t fathom these other opinions.” This disbelief in the capability of the nation selecting Trump, combined with the fear for minority groups that had been targeted by his campaign, fueled much of the dismal attitude that permeated the school that morning. Another student explained, “I honestly felt a little betrayed because of how people hid behind their fear of being a Trump supporter and gave false hope that Hillary was going to be President. But it also shocks me that America could vote for a racist man who said rude and crude things about people and they just look over that.” More students concurred, stating, “To be honest, I really thought Hillary would win in the end because of people’s opinions around me and especially my friends who are mostly Hillary supporters.” Another recalled, “I was so shocked about the election that I burnt my tongue drinking tea the morning I heard the results.” Students that had grown up in the sanctuary of the Hackley community awoke to a startling dose of reality on November 9. As to the future of the nation, many students expressed deep concern. One worried, “I probably cried more in the 24 hours after the election than I ever have before. I am so afraid for the lives and rights of people of color, the LGBT community, women, Muslims, immigrants. I cannot believe hate won.” Another student asserted, “In one of my classes on Wednesday, every single one of us burst into tears. Every. Single. One. The outcome has caused so much damage already, and he isn’t even President yet.” Understanding that their community is based on mutual friendship and inclusion, students and teachers alike were terrified that this prospect may
openly voice their opinions, many conservatives felt as though they could not share their beliefs for fear of being ridiculed in this past election. Senior Luisa Stalman, a more liberal student, felt comfortable standing behind Clinton’s platform. She feels that social media played a crucial role in the inaccurate coverage of both candidates. “From the spread of misinformation to the time dedicated to scandals rather than policy issues, social media and mainstream media definitely influenced the outcome of this election,” Luisa said. Furthering Luisa’s point, there is evidence that a lot of “fake” news There were a lot of jokes trended on Facebook when it reg o i n g a r o u n d a b o u t moved human editors and only used Trump and his campaign, its algorithm. Mark Zuckerberg dew h i c h e v e n f u r t h e r nies that this tilted the election, but s i l e n c e d R e p u b l i c a n s many speculate that it influenced the w h o s u p p o r t e d h i m , votes of high school students who l e s t t h e y s p e a k o u t a t get the majority of their information t h e e x p e n s e o f b e i n g from social media. Sophomore Philip Bonanno saw ridiculed. voters’ skepticism of the media as Malcolm Roesser influential to the outcome of the election. “The media could have said literally anything and it would Other people agree with Malcolm’s be immediately discredited because statement. Senior Kristen Bringsjord most of the public does not trust said, “I believe that those who voted the media,” Philip said, “Personally, for [Trump] felt the need to hide I don’t really think they took it as a their views in fear of being ‘othered’ joke. However, continuing to attack by the Hackley or social media comTrump (deservedly so) on the media munity.” While Hackley encourages helped him because it validated this an environment where people can idea of ‘us against them.’”
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have jeopardized the nation at large; one student believed that “all the progressive movements that have been made in the recent years will almost immediately be revoked by a hatred-inciting, racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, xenophobic, sexist pervert.” Some students, however, had opinions ranging from hopefully optimistic, to enthralled with the results. One expressed, “The liberal media and government never addresses the struggles of the statistically common man and thus Trump was born. People are finally beginning to realize that the promises of liberal fiscal policy does not work… America is finally making its own decisions according to their own beliefs, which right or wrong, is the foundation of this democratic republic, equal representation under the federal government. In addition, this is being made into a total race issue that is just not there. Trump’s comments on illegal immigrants and terrorists were somehow changed to encompass all Mexicans and Muslims.” Another expressed desire for change, yet did not advocate for Trump’s presidency, commenting, “We will now see the Democratic Party undergo a complete renovation towards better representation and policies and people more supportive of the middle and working class. Meanwhile, however, we will see many regressive policies be passed before the midterm elections.” Hackley’s overall response, however, was one of despondence. A community’s idealism and desire for integration were shattered by the election of a candidate they named a “demagogue” and “racist bigot.” Some students simply, “just felt broken” by the outcome. One student responded, “We’re moving into a new era of post-factual democracy, and it ain’t gonna be pretty.”
Hackley’s Mock Presidential Election Who would you vote for?
Voter Turnout by Grade
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Graphics by Benjy Renton
Poll methodology: The mock election was conducted in the Lindsay Room during the day on November 8. 312 students voted, representing approximately 80% of the student body.
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November 22, 2016
Dial
Let’s talk about dress: reforming Hackley’s dress code By the Editorial Board
In today’s culture, there is a growing consciousness that gender is no longer a binary; it is a collection. Male and female are no longer the only prominent gender identities. With the shifting stance on gender, clothes that were once assigned to a certain sex have intermixed and been adopted by those whom identify as the opposite gender, no gender, or somewhere in between. The Dial’s Editorial Board believes that Hackley’s dress code, as it stands now, does not reflect the progressive views and values we hold as a community, and that change should be enacted within the dress code to reflect those views and values. The Board believes that these rules should retain a level of tradition and professionalism that the dress codes currently maintains. The topic of gender neutrality has been on the rise in the past few years. It has been acknowledged by celebrities like Jaden Smith, who was recently featured in Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer ad campaign, donning a skirt and leather jacket. Jaden has also created a gender-neutral clothing line, MSFTS. “It’s pronounced ‘misfits.’ I took the ‘I’ out of ‘misfits’ because we’re a team and there is no ‘I’ in team. It’s a place for the lost kids and everyone to go, and something for them to have,” he said in an interview for Teen Vogue. Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire has adopted a gender neutral dress code. Rather than having girls and boys sections, there is just one set of parameters. Students are allowed to wear dress shirts, sweaters, turtlenecks, and dresses and students’ clothes should be in good repair. Their outline of rules is simple and fair. The same sense of neatness and respect is expected of all students, and makes it less
Photo courtesy of Hackley Archives Hackley’s dress code in 1972 did not require students to wear jackets and ties, a change from prior years.
complicated for teachers and administration to enforce it. When Hackley first started out as an all-boys prep school in 1899, the original uniform was a collared shirt, blazer, tie, and slacks. As the school moved through different periods of time, rules were added and taken out of the dress code in order to adjust to the times, while maintaining the same degree of respect for the community, its original intent. When girls arrived on the Hilltop in 1970, their dress was restricted to skirts, dresses, tailored slacks or pantsuits. By 1971, boys were no longer required to wear jackets and ties, as long as they wore a button down shirt or turtleneck. Blue denim, athletic wear, sandals, and facial hair were not allowed; boys’ hair had to be above their collars. The following year, boys were allowed to
Male students benefit from “not being distracted” while female students experience consequences such as detention, stress, and sometimes (when called out by a teacher in front of the whole class, which is very real) humiliation just for the convenience of a male student’s education. The Dial Poll Respondent the
Dial staff
Hackley School 293 Benedict Ave.Tarrytown, NY (914) 631-0128 November 22, 2016 Vol. 119, No. 3 hsdial.org
wear their hair to their shoulders, and by 1979, boys’ hair merely had to be of “appropriate length.” The 1986-1987 parent student handbook added to their list of restrictions: military style clothing, “advertising slogans,” shorts, tee shirts, tank tops, bare midriffs, and “startling or inappropriate pictures.” The handbook also stated that, “earrings and similar jewelry of that type are not to be worn by male students.” The tradition of showing respect for the community through a dress code should not go neglected, however; this can be done in a number of ways that do not have to replicate a dress code of 1970’s vintage. Some might argue that the dress code stresses a sense of professionalism that Hackley students need to follow, because after all, we are a college preparatory school. However, the pieces that
Hackley’s dress code, as it stands now, does not reflect the progressive views and values we hold as a community, and that change should be enacted to reflect those views and values.
would comprise a gender-neutral dress code are not necessarily unprofessional. Take, for example, the issue of hair length. A man with well-kept long hair might look just as professional as a man with short hair. In fact, the man with well-kept long hair might even look more professional than the man with short hair, if the man’s short hair was messy. Then, this might bring into question the whole notion of deciding whose long hair is well-kept and whose is not. But if we, as a school, are taking this much time to debate the ‘kept-ness’ of a man’s long hair, then why aren’t we looking at the kept-ness of a man’s short hair? And if this goes, then why aren’t we regulating the kept-ness of girls’ hair? Should we really be regulating every single person’s hair or can we assume that everyone is taking some measures to make sure their hair looks ‘kept’? If this is the case, then couldn’t the handbook simply state that girls’ and boys’ hair have to be well-kept? To a similar extent, a boy wearing a skirt, dress or earrings is just the same as a girl wearing a skirt, dress or earrings. In 1899, this wasn’t the norm for boys and was even looked down upon, but this isn’t 1899. Cultivating an open and accepting community should be reflected in our expectations for students and faculty, and in our dress code as well. The World Health Organization also says, “Gender norms, roles and relations influence people’s susceptibility to different health conditions and diseases and affect their enjoyment of good mental, physical health and well-being.” Not only is a gender-neutral dress code necessary out of principle, but the stress potentially created without it can negatively affect an individual’s health.
Hackley’s archaic standard of “professional” dress no longer applies to the majority of the workforce, and has no measurable benefits to academic achievement … Instead, it unnecessarily limits student expression and comfort. Boys are expected to be professional, while girls are expected to be appropriate. The Dial Poll Respondent
The Dial Editorial Board
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.
Letter to the Editor
Difficulty of MobyDick is no reason to remove it from the curriculum Moby Dick is contradictory, convoluted, and, at times, mind-numbingly boring. Each night that I sat down to read my thirty pages, I felt another part of my brain go numb - every whale fact I learned evaporated another ounce of my motivation. Yet, Herman Melville’s literary behemoth should return to the curriculum, for Moby Dick represents one of the most important books in the American canon, and its difficulty is not a compelling reason to remove it. In the 11th Grade, all Hackley juniors take an American Literature class, designed to give students an overview of our country’s literary history. Deciding which books to include is a complicated and subjective task for any class, particularly in one with such a broad topic area. But Moby Dick’s contribution to the American literary landscape is arguably second to none, with many considering it the first true American novel. Indeed, the article published in last month’s edition of The Dial does not challenge Moby Dick’s importance. Moby Dick should, in
fact, play an essential role in any high school English syllabus. In fact, the article’s main argument seemingly stems from the workload associated with Moby Dick, a very fair position considering that the book’s 625 pages takes almost a trimester to read, analyze, and write about. However, in no other subject are such significant and groundbreaking materials eliminated because of their length; calculus students spend most of a trimester learning derivatives, and chemistry students spend a trimester on stoichiometry. The raw amount of time spent learning a topic should not be the sole factor to determine whether that topic is taught, for the lessons taught during that time are foundational to future topics. If Moby Dick is thought to be one of the most influential pieces of literature in American history as the article suggests, then time spent should not matter. The second part of the push back against Moby Dick seems to come from its complexity and difficulty. Again, however, complexity is not a
convincing rationale to take something out of the curriculum. I never fully understood combinatorics in pre-calculus or kinetics in chemistry but I do not expect those to be yanked from their curricula. Moreover, a first reading of a book as challenging and long as Moby Dick does not have to be a complete, doctoral level thesis to make reading the novel worth the time and effort; taking a stab at interpreting a handful of chapters, a narrow theme, or a specific symbol can yield fantastic results. All Hackley students ought to graduate reading as many foundational works of literature as possible, for a high school class is a perfect time and place for one to get a taste of the seemingly infinite number of pieces of literature in the American canon. To ignore a work considered as historic as Moby Dick on the basis of its length or complexity deprives Hackley students of an opportunity to read one of America’s most influential books and a chance to learn a little more about whale anatomy. Matthew Bonanno ‘17
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arts 3
November 22, 2016
New house band gears up for Coffeehouse By Natalie Sukhman
Coffeehouse, one of Hackley’s most popular student events, features both group and individual arts performances. The evening, held three times every school year additonally, showcases Hackley’s talented student body in singing, music, and other types of performances. In addition to showing off the talents of Hackley’s skilled performing arts students, it creates a safe space for students to express themselves and let go. Sophomore Mikhaila Archer, currently in the Upper School’s Girls’ Chorus, has yet to perform at a Coffeehouse, but sang at last year’s Frosh Fest. This freshmanonly musical event is designed to bring the freshman class together and gives students a chance to showcase their creativity in a comfortable and friendly setting. Mikhaila was inspired and encouraged to perform at this fall’s Coffeehouse by Hackley’s strong sense of community and the supportive environment she observed at past Coffeehouses. “I love Coffeehouse and am very excited to perform for the first time because it has shown me a lot of the talent that I don’t think I would’ve seen otherwise. It gives people an opportunity to see their friends perform, which I don’t think we get to do very often at school. I love the atmosphere of Coffeehouse as well, and I love that so many people come to support the performers,” said Mikhaila. Coffeehouse is an opportunity to expose the often overlooked talents of the creative and per-
The Hackley House Band accompanies junior Tyler LaRoche in the 2016 Winter Coffeehouse.
forming arts at Hackley. She further remarked, “The arts are a huge part of my life and while it’s known that sports sometimes receive more attention, I think Coffeehouse is a huge exception. It’s so great that it has such a big turnout for all three seasons.” The House Band is one of Coffee House’s hidden treasures. This group of talented artists are key to the success of many musical acts, accompanying such performers in the background, but not necessarily getting the recognition they deserve. This year’s House Band consists of sophomores Ben Monroe and Richie Nuzum, and seniors Aurora Straus, Connor Wilke, Jackson Corrigan, and Jamie Leonard. The band members change from year to
year, but its impact on the event remains the same. The band creates a base for many singers and other performers to build upon and be supported by, while letting the performers’ individual talents shine. Senior Jackson Corrigan, who plays keyboard and piano in the House Band, loves being a part of Coffeehouse. “There is always responsibility and accountability; that’s what makes it both challenging and fun. You can sometimes rely on the band to back you up, but you always know that the band is relying on you, too. It’s like we are having a musical conversation on stage, except most of the time everyone is just talking at each other at the same time,” said Jackson. He further reflected on his favorite part
Photo by Benjy Renton
of the Coffeehouse experience, “I get to perform songs from various genres; that is rarer than it seems.” Junior Ben Moskow sang with the House Band at one of last year’s Coffeehouse performances. Being a newcomer to the group, he felt the strong bond they had developed working and playing together, as well as their ability to welcome new performers. “I think they are all really close to each other; they’ve been playing with each other for a while, so they really have a feel for each other. They are able to incorporate all types of singers very easily and there’s a strong sense of camaraderie on stage. It’s a really good place.” This unique event embodies and reflects Hackley’s value of communi-
ty. Sophomore Isla Parton, who has performed in many Coffeehouses during her high school career so far, reflects on how it has affected her as both a performer and a student: “In any of the arts at Hackley there’s a smaller community that is so supportive of your ideas no matter what you are aiming to do. Particularly at Coffeehouse, anyone is willing to help or encourage you if you are on the fence and may be nervous about performing. I think that that amount of support has shaped me as a student and as a performer to feel more confident and accepted into the Coffeehouse community as well as the high school as a whole. I think Coffeehouse is one of the most attended events at Hackley. It is so important to us [members of the Musical Arts community] and showcases our community values,” Isla said. Coffeehouse is particularly special when compared to other performing arts events at Hackley such as the band and chorus concerts, as performers do not need to be involved with any specific classes. Open to anyone who wants to perform, Coffeehouse is destined to highlight the inclusive nature of Hackley and its community.
“ There
is always responsibility and accountability; that’s what makes it both challenging and fun… It’s like we are having a musical conversation on stage. ” Jackson Corrigan
New York City Cory Weinreb: all hands on deck brings fun and festive holiday spirit By Bridget Barsanti
Photo by Benjy Renton The Temple of Dendur is just one of the Met’s many intriguing exhibits.
By Lauren Ahern
If you are searching for new and culturally exciting activities to do with your friends and family this winter, there is no need to look any further than New York City. The city is jam-packed with events and adventures sure to keep you busy all season. NYC is world-renowned for its holiday festivities. You can go to the Bryant Park Winter Village for some holiday food, crafts, and ice skating. Shop ’til you drop at the city’s hundreds of stores. While you are at it, you can enjoy the Fifth Avenue holidaythemed shop windows in the famous department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor. Visit some unique exhibitions like the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show. Watch model trains chug through small scale famous landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and winter scenes. It’s truly a sight to see. Go to the Museum of Natural History and check out their Annual
Butterfly Conservatory, or head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Max Beckmann in New York exhibit. Go see one of the spectacular famous Broadway plays like Matilda, Something Rotten, Kinky Boots, and Waitress. The Nutcracker is a holiday staple and the New York City Ballet puts on a stunning performance every year, but why not go see the United Palace of Cultural Art’s hip hop version of The Nutcracker? There are always musical concerts and festivals going on throughout the city including the 2017 Winter Jazzfest. The festival is from January 5-10 with over 500 musicians and groups. You’ll definitely be able jam out with your inner Louis Armstrong. Instead of staying cooped up inside this winter, go out and explore. Dare to try something new this winter season. You will be glad you did. Editor’s Note: The Dial would like to recognize Lauren as one of many freshman writers in the issues to come.
Senior Cory Weinreb has grown up drawing pictures of whatever comes to mind. He has been drawing for as long as he can remember. Cartoons, such as SpongeBob, were his first inspirations, because to him, copying cartoons was an easy task. He thought he was a talented artist because he found this so easy, when in actuality, the cartoons were easy to replicate in the first place. The cartoons, which he once perceived as simple, were just the beginning of his art career. Cory took art more seriously his freshman year, when he was introduced to the technique of shading with graphite. “That was the first big step into actually taking art seriously because it was a challenge that I had to learn myself through trial and error. The challenge of creating something realistic through shading is probably what got me hooked into wanting to pursue it further,” Cory said. This medium has since become his favorite, but because it
is time-consuming, he usually sticks to charcoal. Freshman year was also when Cory first realized his passion for art, after art teacher Mark Green pointed out that the different shadows on a figure can be thought of like shapes. Cory opened his eyes and saw the different elements of a photo as shapes, rather than just lines and curves. This changed the way he saw photos because he could break down the various sections of the picture to draw more accurately. His passion for art stems from the freedom to be creative and ability to create whatever he wants through a picture. “Thinking in reality definitely gets boring after a while, so I think doing something that allows me to imagine something new is a good way to not be so bored all the time,” Cory said. He is grateful for the release that art provides. He appreciates the fact that he has time set aside from his academic work, while still being productive. “It also helps me take the focus off of anything stressful during the day, and I
Photo by Madison Chen Cory developed his artistic talent by copying cartoons.
can relax and just draw,” Cory said. Cory considers his favorite piece a still life from last year, after investing a lot of time and effort into it. After completing it, he said he had a feeling of indescribable accomplishment. Cory has been inspired by three people, none of whom are artists who draw. The first is his friend Tai, who encourages him to always be creative, and to be a different person with distinguishable ideas. Another is Hiroki Nakamura, the designer of Visvim. Cory considers Nakamura’s handmade shoes a form of art because he creates something from nothing through his own ideas. His last influence is Kanye West, whose songs often inspire Cory. Lately, Cory has been interested in drawing hands in different poses. While he has not yet chosen a concentration, Cory wants to draw people in a way that allows him to be creative. He would like to pursue art in college, either at a major or minor level.
Photo by Madison Chen Cory’s current project focuses on the human hand.
4 lifestyles
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November 22, 2016
Dial
SLEEP-DEPRIVED HACKLEY STUDENTS Too much work? What should you do?
Illustration by Hannah Urken
Ways to stay sharp when sleep deprived By LiliAnna Khosrowshahi
By Hannah Urken and Lucy Barse
Early Bird For those who go to bed early and wake up early when they have too much work, there are clear advantages to their routine. Students who go to bed late and then try to maximize the amount of sleep in the morning often miss the most important meal of the day. However, waking up early will ensure that there is time for breakfast, essential for good health and academic performance. Early birds have more time in the morning to plan out their day and get organized. With their early morning motivation that continues throughout the school day, early birds also benefit from increased productivity. It is essential for students to go to school without feeling stressed or overwhelmed before the day even begins. Although not for everyone, it is definitely worth it for a student to do a trial and wake up early to see if their day is more effective as an early bird. Because after all, “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man (and woman!) healthy, wealthy and wise.”
Illustration by Lucy Barse
Night Owl Not everyone is a morning person. For many, waking up for school is a huge challenge despite what time they went to bed the night before. If this is the case, waking up as late as possible makes mornings much easier. When homework is heavy, it makes sense to finish it that night as opposed to putting it off for the next day. If a student relies on finishing their work the next day, they are not accounting for the possibility of something going wrong, such as accidentally oversleeping or not having enough time to complete an assignment before school. This leaves students with unfinished work and a stressful morning. Whether a student decides to finish their homework that night and sacrifice their bedtime, or go to sleep at a reasonable hour and wake up an hour or two earlier, they still receive the same amount of sleep. Whichever method one chooses is completely personal and depends on their preference.
There are many ways to cope with sleep deprivation, one of which is avoiding sugar. One common misconception is whether or not coffee is beneficial when running on little or no sleep. Studies have shown that coffee does more harm than good when trying to stay focused due to its effect on your brain and body. The caffeine will stay in your system for a long time and can cause anxiousness and irritability. Often, humans are reliant on caffeine to keep them powering through their work, when in reality, there are many other healthier and efficient alternatives. Ditch the coffee and drink lots of water. In order to perform to the best of your ability when running on no sleep, it is important to stay hydrated. If you feel yourself dozing off when you need to finish your work, drink cold water and eat nutritious foods such as eggs, beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Senior Malcolm Roesser said, “When it’s late and I need to stay awake and focus on my work, I eat an orange as a nice refreshing snack.” It is also critical to avoid sugar because like coffee, it gives you a temporary burst of energy causing you to crash shortly after, certainly not the best way to get your work done.
How much time do you spend on the following subjects?
What time do you go to bed on school nights? 9th Grade
11th Grade
It’s time for time management By Cory Gorczycki
Everybody, even the most successful people, procrastinates from time to time. It is human nature. But the importance of time management is a critical component of our success at Hackley. Who, if given two weeks to complete an assignment, would complete it immediately in light of the many other alternative tasks that need to be done and/or you simply want to do? Junior Edwin Garcia said, “If there is an assignment that is due in a week, then I will start it the day it is assigned, but if I don’t want to do it, then I have to complete the assignment on the weekend a day or two before it is due.” According to Dr. Joseph Ferrari, professor of psychology at DePaul University, “20 percent of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators.” A study on Verywell.com said that a whopping “80 to 95 percent of college students procrastinated on a regular basis, particularly when it came to completing assignments and coursework.” The study pointed out that “students tend to overestimate how much time they have left to perform tasks, overestimate how motivated that they will be in the future, underestimate how long certain activities will take to complete and mistakenly
Along with hydration and health, a suitable working environment is key to remaining alert. Senior Jack Weyndling said, “I do my best work when I’m at my desk sitting upright in a chair with a nice sharp pencil.” Avoid working on a couch or a bed and find a desk or table at which to work. Also, try to stay away from dim lighting while working. This may be obvious to some but in order to keep sharp, the best thing to do is to eliminate any and all distractions. Turn off your devices and tune out any additional disturbances — anything to make your study environment quiet and manageable will help. Another study tip is to take advantage of your free periods. Junior Ellie Grueskin said, “For me, it depends if I have frees the next morning. If I have first or third free, I’ll just wait and do it then, otherwise I’ll just wait and plow through it and rush it.” If you know it is going to be a long night and you still have a lot of work left to do, the best way to handle this situation is to give your body a break. Take a short nap (20-30 minutes) and start up when you are ready and sharp.
assume that they need to be in the right frame of mind to work on a project.” Procrastination can sometimes have significant costs. A recent study by Psychology Today showed that “over the course of a single academic term, procrastinating college students had health problems such as compromised immune systems with more colds and flu and gastrointestinal problems.” When Hackley students were asked about procrastinating, they almost universally stated that social media, such as Snapchat and watching videos on Netflix or YouTube, were the main causes of procrastination. Sophomore Rahat Mahbub said, “I tend to procrastinate by going on my phone too often and using my iPad for games instead of doing homework on my iPad.” Sophomore Anthony Johnson added, “I watch a lot of YouTube, and like to play video games.” Junior Ben Ostfield further echoed these sentiments saying that he spends time texting and Snapchatting people and watching YouTube. Sophomore Daamiya Mir chimed in by saying, “I tend to procrastinate by watching Netflix and checking my social media.”
10th Grade
9-10 p.m. 10-11 p.m. 11 p.m.-12 a.m. After 12 a.m.
12th Grade
Poll methodology: Polls were distributed electronically through Upper School student emails. 246 students responded, representing approximately 62% of the student body. This poll has a margin of error of ±3.8%.
Methods to stop procrastinating include: 1. Create a to-do list and set a time frame to complete each item on the list. 2. Break larger assignments into smaller, more manageable parts. 3. Do one task at a time as multi-tasking is usually not time efficient. 4. Reward yourself with a break after you complete a few items on your list. 5. Remove distractions that tempt you to procrastinate. This last strategy seems to be the overwhelming favorite among students like Anthony who said, “I leave my phone and iPad outside my room…and work on paper or my computer.” Rahat agrees with Anthony, saying, “I stopped using my iPad and use my computer instead.” Ben discussed how he leaves his phone in another room, and Daamiya uses a similar approach. “One way I stop procrastinating is when I give my phone to my sister and she makes sure I don’t go on it again.” Victor Kiam, the renowned entrepreneur, said, “Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin.” Let’s not let it get us. How? Maybe Nike simply says it best: “Just do it.”
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Dial
politics 5
November 22, 2016
For Dial’s politics editor, Trump’s victory has ominous echoes of a right-wing populist in her home country By Lei Anne Rabeje
“Bad day for the world, huh? It’s like the Philippines all over again…” I received this text from my aunt. It was mid-afternoon in the Philippines and 3 a.m. for me, but we both watched with agony and disappointment as Donald Trump delivered his victory speech. The United States had joined the bandwagon to the past, accompanied by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and Brexit. Dubbed as the “Trump of Asia,” the controversial President Duterte immediately showed his support for President-elect Donald Trump, saying, “I would like to congratulate President Trump! Long live!” His support of Trump follows a caustic remark denouncing Philippine-U.S. relations and calling Obama a “son of a b****.” Often criticized for his tendency to speak his mind and make contradictory statements, President Duterte’s most contentious comment on a case of an Australian woman’s gang rape surpasses Trump’s vulgarity. “I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing,” he said. “But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.” From the provocative statements about women to the unexpected tide of support and victory, the parallels
Illustration by Lei Anne Rabeje
between the recent U.S. and Filipino presidential elections are uncanny. Both promoting themselves as “outsiders” with radical solutions to problems facing the common man, President Duterte and President-elect Trump are symbolic of the rise of right-wing thought and idealism. Their promises seem hopeful and revolutionary: Give power to the people! Strengthen the military! Crackdown on drugs! But these promises are tainted with sexism, racism, and xenophobia. For President Duterte, it holds
the weight of the deaths of thousands of Filipinos suspected of drug use. It means the disintegration of a proper judicial system and the fading significance of human life. In the United States, it means the deaths of innocent black lives and a continued protection of a corrupt police system. It means the devaluation of a woman’s body and an end to her reproductive rights. It means the wave of hatred towards immigrants. Illegal immigration continues to dominate Trump’s prospective policies. Days after his election, Trump
reiterated his pledge to “build a wall” and deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States. But these promises instigate hate and contempt towards the millions of immigrants across the country. Trump’s conviction reflects the growing xenophobia surrounding Europe’s refugee crisis. The conflict in Syria, ongoing violence in Afghanistan, and poverty in Kosovo created a surge in the number of migrants seeking asylum in Hungary, Germany, and UK, amongst the many European countries. Accord-
ing to BBC News, those who seek asylum in Hungary have reportedly been treated “like animals” — being placed in pens and concentration camps. The discontent with migrants reached its climax on June 24, 2016 in Great Britain when 51.9% of the electorate voted in favor of leaving the European Union. The referenda to leave the EU was first proposed in 1994 and has been rejected for almost 20 years, with the Referendum Party failing to gain seats in Parliament until this year. Though economic and political factors contributed to Brexit, many “Leave” voters admit to immigration as the determining factor of their vote. As waves of migrants enter Great Britain from the Middle East, manifestations of cultural and job anxieties governed the minds of many voters. With the growing distrust in the government and a change in job quality and security, many “Leave” voters feared the migrants would potentially “steal” their jobs, a sentiment reflective of today’s America. With Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, Brexit, and Duterte’s war on drugs dominating politics, the world sees a shift to right-wing ideologies of nationalism, conservatism, and Christian Democrats. Will Trump really build a wall? And what will his wall mean for immigration around the world?
What happened to the election? Freshmen Council By Matt Traum
Whether thrilled or disappointed with the election results, Donald J. Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. Much controversy exists because Hillary Clinton received over one million more votes than Donald Trump. And although this is not the first time the popular vote winner lost the election, what made this election especially stunning was that Trump won the Electoral College by a significant margin — 290-232 (according to the New York Times). In 2000, George W. Bush also lost the popular vote but won the election. However, he only received 271 electoral votes, slightly over the necessary amount needed to win the Presidency. Trump’s win was particularly surprising because nearly all of the polls predicted his loss. Some of the battleground states Trump won were Utah, Arizona, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Georgia. He also won perhaps the most significant state, Florida, the swing state with the most electoral votes. Floridians have voted for the overall winning candidate nine of the past ten elections, with the one exception being in 1992. A key reason Trump won was his success in the area known as the Rust Belt. The Rust Belt contains the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. Trump won all of these Rust Belt
Hillary Clinton
232
officers bring new energy and ideas
Popular Vote
By Yingshyan Ku
states, with the exception of Illinois. It is almost impossible for a Republican to win Illinois as it contains the very large and Democratic city of Chicago. The Rust Belt states that Trump won accounted for 54 of his electoral votes. In the mid-20th century the Rust Belt was known as the Manufacturing Belt, Factory Belt or Steel Belt. That area of the country had many manufacturing jobs. Because of free trade agreements such as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), there has been a significant decrease in the amount of industry in the region. A lot of factories have closed and thus the Steel Belt rusted into the Rust Belt.
Data courtesy of The New York Times
A large part of Trump’s message has been about bringing back industry. He has been consistently vocal about negotiating better trade deals. He has spoken strongly against NAFTA and has indicated that it was signed by former president Bill Clinton. Trump has stated that he would institute tax cuts and simplify the tax code in order to bring back industry. If Hillary Clinton had won Pennsylvania and Michigan, as the polls predicted, she would have won the race and become our 45th President. But with the overwhelming support of the Rust Belt, it is Trump who will spend the next four years in the Oval Office.
Attentive students filled the Chapel, listening intently to the speaker’s podium. On September 22, freshmen running for positions on Community Council delivered their speeches in front of the entire 9th Grade. Among those who ran, Taylor Robin, Alex Evangelidis, Sofia Graziano, and Ben Marra were the ones elected. Each had slightly varying goals in mind for the 2016-2017 school year. Freshman class president Taylor Robin wants to put her energy into making sure her classmates will enjoy events that Council hosts. Taylor’s long-term aim is to create a more cohesive environment by planning activities and events which appeal to the entire school community. “When this year is over, I hope to foster a stronger community within our class,” said Taylor. “I hope to make freshman year the best year for the freshman class.” Alex Evangelidis’, a class representative, primary goal for the school year is to raise awareness about the conditions of the freshman hallway. She has a secondary goal of helping to organize school-wide events. Alex wants to initiate various changes to improve overall conditions, such as repainting the walls or installing
benches with cushions. She plans to write specific proposals and present them to a few students in the freshman class for approval. Sofia Graziano, another class representative, is aiming to provide more Hive gear for the student community to wear at games. In addition, she plans to arrange exciting events that will not only bring each grade together, but engage the student community for suggestions and feedback, whether they be from social media or on Hackley campus itself. For Ben Marra, freshman class agent, his first priority is to understand how Hackley’s student government operates to maximum benefit. Although Ben had experience serving on the Middle School’s Community Council, he was surprised by the differences in the Upper School.“One long-term goal of mine is to make sure that my class knows that their input is really valued, and that the four of us will do our best to make sure their suggestions are brought to Council,” said Ben. “I want them to realize that it truly is a Community Council, and the four of us are just a representation of the larger community of the freshmen class.”
Donald J. Trump
290
Data courtesy of The New York Times
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje From left to right: Freshmen Taylor Robin, Ben Marra, Sofia Graziano and Alex Evangelidis attend their first Community Council meeting.
6 feature
the
November 22, 2016
Dial
Round Square conference shapes new perspectives for Hackley students
Delegates obtain valuable experiences and ideas from Switzerland By Will Goldsmith
After concluding their cultural journey into the heart of the Swiss Alps, Hackley’s delegation to the 2016 Round Square Conference returned back home on October 14. The conference was held at Aiglon College in Chesières-Villars, Switzerland and lasted for five days. Hackley sent a total of seven delegates to the conference, including five students and two faculty members. Attending a conference at a school located at the foot of a mountain was indeed very adventurous for Hackley’s delegation. Students and teachers alike were able to learn from the cultures of the diverse group of individuals present at the conference; at the same time, Hackley students were given the opportunity to ponder what it means to be an American in this day and age. Hackley students engaged in activities that immersed them into the many different international cultures. “On the cultural evening, held at the tail end of the conference, there were a lot of performers from India, South America, and various other places around the world. There was dancing, there was singing, there was even some poetry. It was really interesting to see that [cultural diversity] and to think about what we have to offer culturally in this country,” said Classics Department chair Adrianne Pierce, an attendee at this year’s conference. The meaningful experiences and events in which members of Hackley’s delega-
Photo courtesy of Steve Bileca Marienplatz, the city square, was a highlight of the students' day trip around Munich.
tion partook offered students the chance to confront evils of the past as well as the problems we continue to face in our world today. “Our visit to Dachau, which was the first concentration camp that the Nazis created, was a very challenging, but a very important, part of the trip,” said Assistant Headmaster Steve Bileca, who chaperoned the delegation to the conference.
The Dial Blast from the Past
By Benjy Renton
In the aftermath of the election, The Dial reviewed the archives and was most surprised to learn that a young Harvard Law School student was Hackley’s Forbes Lecturer in March 1991. As the first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review, he addressed the Hackley community on social change and idealism. The Dial reprints an excerpt from the article covering his visit to Hackley. We thank President Barack Obama for his leadership and service to the country over the past eight years.
Advice For the World’s Cure: Barack Obama urges dedicated idealism By Alysha Yagoda ‘92
Drawing from his experiences as an organizer and as a student at Harvard, Mr. Obama suggested to his audience a plan to follow in the forthcoming years for facing the economic and social problems challenging the country. He said the nineties generation should foster idealism, but should at the same time remember to bring responsibility to their fine aspirations, to back up words with deeds, to substitute “style” for “substance.” To help his listeners understand the need for a new commitment to, and a new direction for, social change, Mr.
Obama began his speech with a history of social movement in the sixties. He explained that the goals of that generation were focused upon eliminating the social, political, and economic problems of America and the world (i.e. poverty, prejudice). He then explained that there were some successes, such as the Head Start program and the Peace Corps. He made the point, however, that the flower children did not realize the difficulty of eradicating society’s ills. They expected the change to a better world to happen overnight. Mr. Obama felt that this mentality might have been the reason that the idealism and affirmative action of the sixties degenerated into a seventies full of the style of the sixties, but lacking the substance: a self-indulging decade. Throughout his speech, Mr. Obama emphasized the fact that change is possible. He even outlined plans he had formulated that could be used in defeating the poverty and crime of inner-city slums, and offered other ideas about resolving racial tensions. Mr. Obama felt that as the nation grows out of the conservative, money-hungry and cynical atmosphere of the eighties, it needs the idealism of a socially conscious generation, coupled with actions to fulfill idealistic goals, in order to succeed where the sixties did not.
Photo courtesy of Hackley Archives Then-third-year law student Barack Obama was the speaker for Hackley’s 1991 Forbes Lecture.
Members of Hackley’s Round Square delegation were also struck by the diversity present at this year’s conference. “After attending this conference with a fantastic group of Hackley delegates, I was able to grasp a much wider spectrum of diversity,” said conference attendee Matthew Jean. Hackley’s delegates began to appreciate the significance of diversity existing in communities, whether they be schools or
otherwise. Matthew further asserted, “After becoming friends with all of the people that attended the conference and learning about their cultures, my perspective changed on just how important diversity is.” The adventure-based curriculum of Aiglon College gave Hackley’s delegates the chance to explore how the aesthetics of Hackley’s campus can be utilized to enhance the quality of its academic offerings. “Hopefully, we can discuss how we can use nature on our Hilltop to advance our curriculum here at Hackley,” said Dr. Pierce. Hackley’s representatives at previous Round Square conferences also noted the importance of nature in the curricula of different participating schools. Mathematics teacher Karen Casper, a member of Hackley’s delegation to the 2015 Round Square Conference in Singapore remarked, “The majority of the schools with whom we interacted had Outdoor Education as a significant component in their curriculum. Perhaps easier to manage because they are boarding schools, I still see great value in having Hackley also require that outdoor programming. It should be incorporated into our current system, and eventually become a regular part of school life.” Surely the insights of Hackley’s Round Square delegations of the past, as well as the future, can help to make the Hackley community a more green, and appreciative community.
Ellen Coote shares her Round Square experience
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Round Square exchange student Ellen Coote is surrounded by Hackley’s acting community.
By Lei Anne Rabeje
From a vast 650-acre farm and hopping kangaroos to towering skyscrapers and yellow taxicabs, Hackley’s most recent Round Square exchange student traveled halfway around the world to immerse herself in the American culture. Sophomore Ellen Coote, a native of Moree, Australia, arrived early October to begin her stay at Hackley. Ellen is currently taking upperclassmen classes at Hackley, including Economics, Statistics and Probability, and Advanced Forest Ecology Research. “It was really challenging. I didn’t know anyone in the sophomore
year because I was in such a range of classes,” said Ellen. “The juniorsenior classes I’m taking are really fun though. On my first day of Advanced Forest Ecology, we went out and caught salamanders!” Being an exchange student at a foreign country may be a daunting task, but Ellen has found her place in the performing arts. A dedicated actor at The Armidale School, Ellen now spends her time at the PAC rehearsing for Hackley’s fall production, Caesar and Cleopatra. “I’m sort of helping out at the moment. But it’s honestly such an amazing experience,” said Ellen. “I automatically connected with the Hacktors. I think that made me feel so much better about coming here and made me feel included. I’ve always been a big drama geek, so joining the play was very comforting and fun.” Like many exchange students before her, Ellen has also been a part of Hackley’s boarding community. Upon her arrival at Hackley on the night of Columbus Day, Ellen was greeted by music blasting
in the halls and laughter ringing throughout Girls’ Boarding. “I think it’s cool how secretive boarding is,” exclaimed Ellen. “People that I meet comment on how they have never seen the boarding area, and it adds a whole new dimension to Hackley life. I’ve been to three boarding schools now, including Hackley, and it’s cool to see how it compares to my past schools.” With its emphasis on academics, Hackley sharply contrasts with The Armidale School, an all-boys Australian school until this past year. “In my world, homework is optional,” describes Ellen. “Basically, they give you homework and if you want to better yourself in the future, you do it, but if you don’t, then you just don’t do it.” Besides the drastic difference in academics, Ellen is astounded by the stress placed on college admissions. “Not everyone goes to college in Australia,” said Ellen. “I don’t have to go to be able to have a career. It’s interesting how here, there is so much emphasis on doing well in school and going to college.” As she navigates the halls during her final weeks at Hackley, Ellen looks forward to meeting more people and seizing the most from the opportunities presented to her. Approaching her departure, she is both excited and nostalgic about leaving her independence behind, but awaiting her arrival to Australia is the lead role in her school musical, Government Inspector, and a week-long cadet training.
Illustrations by Bridget Barsanti
the
Dial
November 22, 2016
science & technology 7
The science of sleep deprivation and technology’s influence How harmful sleep cycles are formed and ways they can be broken
New phone settings can help you sleep better
By Alexi Sandhu
If you could reduce your risk of heart disease, certain cancers, weight gain, Alzheimer’s, and more would you? Well, that seemingly magical button exists. It’s free. It’s Apple’s Night Shift mode. Night Shift mode is a feature introduced in iOS 9.3 that moves the color temperature of the display towards the warmer end of the spectrum. This gives the screen a yellower appearance, reduces the amount of blue light that is emitted. Blue light is a lower wavelength of light, while reds are higher. Night Shift mode decreases the amount of low wavelength(blue) frequencies of light.This lower frequency light is associated with a decrease in the production of melatonin, disrupting the circadian rhythm and decreasing the amount of sleep. Decreased sleep is associated with increased risk of heart disease, certain cancers, weight gain, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Getting more sleep also improves your mood and ability to learn. Simply by using Night Shift mode, one can potentially get more sleep and gain the many health benefits associated with sleep. F.lux is an alternative Night Shift mode that reduces blue light. Unlike Night Shift mode, F.lux has three settings that adjust the color of the screen over time to mimic the rise and set of the sun. It has daytime mode, which has no blue light reduction, and a bedtime mode, which has significant blue light reduction. Between those two modes is sunset mode. It is a subtler reduction of blue light for when the sun has set, but the lights are still on, and the user is not quite ready to go to sleep. F.lux is downloadable software for most computers, including Apple as well as Android phones.
By Matt Traum
Unfortunately, due to overloaded schedules and immense homework, students often fall into a self-harming sleep cycle that can be very difficult to break. It only takes one late night to disrupt one’s sleep pattern. Several late nights throughout the week are harmful and can lead to excessive sleep on the weekends, which can further disrupt one’s sleep cycle. Poorly planned naps, too late in the day or too long, combined with the effects of technology’s blue light before bed can also affect one’s biological clock. Luckily, there are many ways to get one’s sleep schedule back on track. Bedtime should be roughly 7-8 hours before your morning alarm. To help reset your biological clock make sure you have a healthy sleep environment, keep a consistent sleep schedule, and avoid eating food or consuming caffeine 2-3 hours before sleep. A bedtime routine such as taking a shower or reading a book can calm your body in preparation for sleep. Naps are a good way to boost your energy, and should be limited to about 20-30 minutes. Napping for more than 30 minutes can interfere with nighttime sleep. While it may appear that naps result in increased fatigue, this grogginess lasts no more than a half hour. Unhealthy sleep schedules result in anything from drowsiness and inability to focus and retain information, to long term effects such as insomnia and weight gain.
Graphic by Georgia Panitz
Jasmine Bayrooti finds her roots in STEM programs By Georgia Panitz
What began as an interest in robotics and a way to spend time with friends, has evolved into a passion for junior Jasmine Bayrooti and led her around the world to places like Qatar and Russia. Since 2009, Jasmine has competed in several robotics leagues with many teams, and is now the captain of the United States’ World Robot Olympiad (W.R.O.) team. Jasmine began competing in robotics competitions with her team in the First Lego League (F.L.L.), which hosts competitions for Grades 4-8. In these competitions, teams are challenged with researching real world problems and creating a solution, as well as building and programming a robot. Every F.L.L. competition contains four criteria that each team must meet. The robot each team creates must perform a set of tasks in 2.5 minutes, the team
must complete a ten-minute interview providing details on their robot and creation process, create a research process which relates to the competition’s specific theme, and work well together. Jasmine and her team, The Rockin’ Robots, won the Hudson Valley Championships and attended international competitions each of the five years they participated. After aging out of the F.L.L., Jasmine has been the team captain of the U.S.’s World Robot Olympiad team, and has attended competitions with the team in 2014 and 2015. At her first W.R.O. competition in Sochi, Russia, Jasmine and her team were challenged with building both an offensive and defensive robot to play soccer without need for human intervention. They utilized infrared detectors and other types of sensors so that the robots
Photo courtesy of Jasmine Bayrooti Jasmine (pictured second from the left) works with robots to ensure they are able to play offensive and defensive positions independently in a simulated soccer match.
would be able to navigate around the field, as well as score and defend their own goals. In 2015, Jasmine attended the Olympiad competition in Doha, Qatar, in which her team finished in the top 16 out of 72 teams. This September, Jasmine qualified at the American championships in Chicago and will attend her third World Robot Olympiad with the United States, to take place later this month in New Delhi, India. In addition to her W.R.O. team, Jasmine is also the captain of a Robocup Jr. team. In this league, teams are charged with programming and creating two robots which operate autonomously, but unlike the W.R.O. competitions, they are able to choose their own materials as long as they meet the league’s requirements. Jasmine and her team plan to use an Arduino system this year, which provides a variety of micro-control-based kits that operate with a range of sensors and motors. While Jasmine enjoys programming and building robots, she said, “My favorite part of robotics is the relationships I’ve built over the years and the skills I’ve learned as part of a team working towards common goals.” In international competitions, Jasmine has also had the opportunity to meet many different people and learn about obstacles they face in STEM subjects. “I’ve learned about the educational system and lack of opportunity in Iran from the personal story of a member of an all-girl Iranian team that I met while competing in China...I find competitions to be so exciting and they have become some of the highlights of the year for me,” she said. In regard to Hackley’s STEM programs, Jasmine said, “I think that Hackley has a very good STEM program and an outstanding curriculum in science and math…What I think would be a great addition for Hackley is an Introduction to Engineering course that might introduce students to computer-assisted design, fabrication, and printable circuit boards...I think that a number of Hackley students would enjoy this kind of course.”
App of the month:
Wo l f r a m Alpha By Grace Henrich
This app probably looks familiar as WolframAlpha is one of the apps downloaded on all Hackley iPads. Despite this, it is highly underutilized and unknown. This database has the answers to millions of questions in over thirty different domains. WolframAlpha is especially helpful for math and science classes as it has extensive information in algebra, calculus, physics, chemistry, and more.
Graphic by Grace Henrich
However, WolframAlpha does not just have to be used for homework. The app has a randomize feature and hundreds of sample searches, so you can learn things you never knew you wanted to know. Want to find out the stretched, contracted, and weight-bearing muscles in a yoga pose? WolframAlpha has that. What about the amino acid sequence of DNA and its location on different chromosomes? WolframAlpha can tell you that too. WolframAlpha can be purchased in the Apple Store and Google Play for $2.99, or used for free on its website: www.wolframalpha.com.
8 sports
the
November 22, 2016
Dial
A day in the active lives of Preventing winter Hackley student athletes sports injuries By Pat Walker
By Amy Chalan
A student athlete’s daily routine has been found to be highly essential to overall successes in practices and games. With the goal of excelling in their respective sports, student athletes must sufficiently balance the amount of sleep, academic efficiency, and practice remedies that can help one achieve this goal. As academic, family, social, religious, and athletic commitments become more demanding for a wide variety of kids, Hackley students continue to rise above these challenges and try their best to excel in each sport. However, for a normal Hackley student, balancing all of these at once can cause prolonged stress and aggravation. A clear example of this type of athlete is junior Liam Bogart, a competitive swimmer for Empire Swim Club and a diligent student at Hackley. On average, he swims for about 2.5 hours each day, consisting of 10,000 yards, the equivalent of about 5.7 miles. Liam stated, “As we get closer to bigger meets, however, the yardage will decrease in order to keep us rested and in shape. Practice times will also decrease and go from the regular 2.5 hours to 1.5-2 hours.” Liam practices this taxing sport six times a week along with team junior members Ryan Schaum, Bryce Chu, Garrett Towne, and Georgia Panitz.
As the temperature drops, the risk of injuries caused by sports and physical activity rises. Due to the colder weather, muscles become tighter and have less range of motion, which can cause injuries. One of the most important tools to prevent injury is to dress warmly if you are exercising outdoors. Cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track coach Seth Karpinski says, “I make sure all the runners are wearing clothes that will keep them warm without restricting their range of motion.” The Dial recommends wearing compression leggings and a sweatwicking tight long sleeve along with a fleece and gloves. When you are running, wearing a neck warmer or scarf is optimal to prevent burning lungs. For winter athletes, it is important to warm up with a brisk jog before dynamic stretching. Some helpful stretches are: arm circles, high knees, lunges, and frankensteins. These exercises can be performed by moving the arms, bringing each knee as high as your hips, and kicking each leg up to chest level. Dynamic stretches are more effective than static ones in terms of preparing for a workout in cold weather because they promote blood flow, as well as stretch muscles and prepare them for a workout. Stretching
Photo courtesy of Liam Bogart Liam practices with the Empire Swim Club. He swims for 2.5 hours each day.
Chris O’Sullivan, also a talented athlete, practices on a year-round travel baseball team for approximately two hours each day. “Practices for my travel baseball team consist of agility, throwing, hitting, fielding, and base running. These are all aimed to prepare us for year-round competition and help keep us mentally and physically prepared for high school and collegiate play.” Athletes like Liam and Chris must make social sacrifices leach and every day to excel at this sport, ultimately ensuring dominance in athletics and ideally a spot at the collegiate level. Liam and Chris are among many Hackley athletes completely de-
voted to their sport and zoned in on their individual and team success. Adjustments to academic efficiency and sleep are vital to swim at his highest level at meets. “The day of the big meet, I won’t do a single thing in order to keep my body rested and my mind mentally prepared. I will just eat and sleep in order to ready myself for the meet.” Similarly, Chris said, “Before every game I try to take a nap to mentally refresh myself for opportunities to pitch and field the ball.” These students’ athletic focus for the future should be a testament to other student athletes trying to excel.
your muscles after a workout is just as important to help lower your heart rate slowly. Mr. Karpinski recommends “wrapping up with a sequence of static stretches in a warm place once you’ve finished.” Even during breaks or on the sidelines in a game, it is crucial to stay moving. You can stay warm by jogging in place or performing moving lunges. For athletes who do not participate in a winter sport at Hackley, it is still beneficial to get a workout into your schedule to stay in shape. Mr. Karpinski has a training program for his winter track athletes who compete in cross country and outdoor track that could be used for athletes who do not participate in winter track. He recommends focusing on strength training, and said, “We will be lifting and doing a significant amount of plyometric and core work.” Athletes can focus on strength by doing core workouts and running. Some gym options that Hackley offers that can achieve this are yoga, which promotes core strength, or zumba. In the winter season, when it is easiest to get injuries due to tight and cold muscles, it is best to warm up, dress appropriately, and focus on increasing core strength, as going outside can prove a challenge given the harsh winter weather. Illustrations by Lei Anne Rabeje
Hackley’s winter athletes: players to watch By Bailey Griffen, Pat Walker and Cole Wyman
Winter Track - Onye Ohia-Enyia
Fencing - Josh Zhang
Girls’ Squash - Riya and Nina Mital
Swimming - Yugo Tsukikawa
Photo courtesy of Akash Samad Onye runs the 200 meter dash at the Somers Invitational.
Photo courtesy of Josh Zhang This year, Josh hopes to compete internationally.
Photo courtesy of Riya Mital Riya and Nina compete in the U.S. Junior Open.
Photo courtesy of Yugo Tsukikawa Yugo competes in the Individual Medley.
As a first-year winter track runner, Onye is looking forward to improving upon his numerous running accolades from his freshman and sophomore spring seasons. While his favorite event is the 200 meter dash, he is most proud of his achievements in the 400 meter dash, as he holds the school record in this event with a time of 48.66 seconds. Given his motivation and hard work, Onye is excited to work towards his impressive goals.
Sophomore Josh Zhang stands out as an apt épéeist among a group of talented Hackley fencers. He fences both on the Hackley team and outside of school, and credits his success to his work ethic and the support of his team. Josh considers his greatest accomplishment a 19th-place finish in the U.S. Championships. As a captain, Josh hopes the team will place at least third in the league, and that he can improve upon his second place finish in last year’s League Championship meet.
Sisters Riya and Nina Mital are two powerhouse squash players for the Girls’ Varsity team. Riya, a senior, has had a GU17 U.S. ranking of #3 and is currently ranked #17 while Nina, an 8th grader, has a current ranking of #7 of her GU15 age group. Riya is committed to Yale University and Nina plans to play at the collegiate level. With their help, HGVS could potentially place in Division 2 this year at Nationals.
Yugo Tsukikawa is a ninth grader and second-year swimmer on the Varsity Swimming team. As a crucial team member, he mainly specializes in middle-distance freestyle and the IM (Individual Medley). His father’s past commitment to the sport drove him to start swimming competitively at the age of 8. His favorite stroke is freestyle and Yugo cannot wait to use his skill in the pool to compete in Ivy Championships toward the end of the season.
Girls’ Basketball - Jordan Wade
Wrestling - Demetra Yancopoulos
Boys’ Basketball - Enzi Teacher
Boys’ Squash - Ryan Chen
Photo courtesy of Jordan Wade Jordan prepares to score a point.
Photo courtesy of Demetra Yancopoulos Demetra wrestles in the 2015 U.S. Championship.
Photo courtesy of Enzi Teacher Freshman Enzi is a rising star.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Chen Ryan practices for 10-12 hours each week.
Jordan is only a sophomore, but she is already considered a veteran, with two seasons with the Hackley Girls’ Varsity Basketball team under her belt. Heading into the winter season, it looks as if she will step up into a lead role on the team after the departure of top scorer Sammy Mueller. Jordan is a special talent who has won numerous championships and will bring these winning ways to a team in search for a new superstar.
A former soccer and Judo player, Demetra has proved herself a key member of the Hackley Wrestling team. Despite a devastating ACL tear last year, Demetra made it to the freestyle nationals in North Dakota and completed her season an AllAmerican. This year, she hopes to qualify for the Boys’ High School Prep Nationals. As a dedicated athlete practicing at both Hackley and GPS Wrestling, she is excited for the season to come.
En z i h a s b e e n t i re l e s s l y t r a i n i n g inside Zetkov for the past month in preparation for his rookie season with the Varsity team. His incredible talent is undisputable, and especially as a freshman. In the next three years, Enzi will continue to excel and impress coaches, players and spectators as he competes against seniors. His bright future hints that a plaque bearing his name is not a far-fetched reality.
Ryan is an amazing athlete. Ranked tenth in his age group, he participates in tournaments on a regular basis to better his ranking. It is likely that Ryan will play number 5 on the Varsity Squash team this winter. This year’s Hackley Squash team is going to be one to remember, boasting all of its starting top seven inside the U.S. Squash top 250 rankings for each of their respective age groups. Ryan looks like he will be a 5-year varsity starter.