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The voice of the student body Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY 10591
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Photo courtesy of Steve Bileca From left to right: Grant Albright, Julian Epps, Varun Krishna, and Fran Docters take in Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlatnic and Indian Oceans meet.
Photo courtesy of Adrianne Pierce Five student delegates traveled to South Africa for the 2017 Round Square Conference. The four-day conference focused on enhancing leadership skills and embracing diversity within the global community. From left to right, junior Grant Albright, senior Julian Epps, junior Varun Krishna, and senior Fran Docters enjoy the Cape of Good Hope, the point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
Hackley affirms its commitment to fostering cultural understanding at Round Square Conference By Sydney Stoller
On October 9th, a group of delegates representing Hackley returned to New York after a Round Square trip to South Africa. The group was comprised of seniors Francesca Docters and Julian Epps, juniors Varun Krishna and Grant Albright, sophomore Paola Garcia, and faculty members Dr. Adrianne Pierce and Mr. Steven Bileca. This group was sent to represent Hackley
at the annual Round Square International Conference, hosted this year in Cape Town. Each trip contains a theme and goal that the main conference is centered around, and schools from around the world send representatives to partake in the experience. The themes of the trip to South Africa were enhancing leadership skills, and learning to embrace diversity and people with different of opinions. For the first few days of their eight-day trip, the students attended the official Round
Square Conference and met each morning at the Cape Town International Convention Center. The first two conference days consisted of speakers and a baraza group activity that followed. The word baraza is Swahili for meeting place, but Round Square uses this term to describe a small discussion group comprised of people of a variety of ethnicities and groups. After experiencing some of South Africa’s most famous landmarks on Adventure Day, students immersed themselves in South Af-
rican culture during Service Day. Attendees of the conference hailed from 180 schools from 40 different countries spanning five continents. This diversity made it even more intriguing when the main activity of Service Day was to have representatives from each country perform a cultural dance for their peers. Hackley students performed a dance to Shakira’s Waka Waka (It’s Time for Africa). Continued on page 5
Hackley welcomes learning specialist Ms. Darby Golino By David Ben-Ezra
Hackley’s new learning specialist, Darby Golino, is here to help students manage their time, take advantage of their learning styles, and develop good study habits. She will also be working with teachers to give them strategies that will help them play to their students’ individual learning styles. “There are two main learning styles that students have: oral, and visual...many students’ learning styles are a combination of both,” said Ms. Golino. Ms. Golino will be working closely with Upper School psychologist Linda Sadler to help students. Although Dr. Sadler specializes in providing emotional support as opposed to educational support, Dr. Sadler said, “There is
a lot of overlap between what Ms. Golino and I do...We will work together to see who should handle each individual student.” Ms. Golino said that the most important thing for students to do in order to be successful at Hackley is “to find a healthy balance” and that “taking care of yourself should be the top priority.” She also said that it is important for students to prioritize their work and make sure they do not procrastinate. Her last tip for students to be successful at Hackley is to put things into perspective. Students should realize that one assignment will not determine their entire future and not get so stressed about every little thing. Ms. Golino attended Bucknell University for her undergraduate
years where she studied economics and swam all four years. After graduation, she got an internship with a large financial company, which she did not enjoy. It was not until she became a swim coach at a high school in Connecticut that she realized that she wanted to be a teacher. However, she said that she prefered having one on one meetings with students than teaching a large class, which is what led her to go to graduate school to become a learning specialist. Ms. Golino worked as a learning specialist at Ward High School in Connecticut for eleven years. She says that working at Hackley is very different from working at a public school because all of the students at Hackley are motivated to learn and actually show up for
Photo by David Ben-Ezra New learning specialist Darby Golino supports 5th-12th graders, like junior Mia Boemio, in their academic endeavours.
their meetings. Prior to teaching at Hackley, Ms. Golino moved to New York City. She said she enjoys living in New
York City because she likes being able to walk her dog in Central Park and being able to walk to so many restaurants.
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November 10, 2017
Dial
Community service opportunities abound Students should take advantage of the many available service opportunities on campus By The Editorial Board
Service brings people together. We all must help and assist one another. The Dial Editorial Board believes it is critical for all members of the student body to take part in community service programs. Many members of the Hackley community are extremely fortunate, but such fortune is not held by other individuals in the United States and the world. Westchester County has great need as well. Specifically, datausa. io has found that Westchester County has a poverty rate of ten percent. It is imperative for students to be made aware of the inequities of our society. Public schools, as well as other preparatory schools, have minimum service hours that students must complete. Such requirements degrade the way individuals view the act of helping others. Hackley ought not to establish requirements, but students and teachers alike
must work to increase student involvement in students to this diversity in backgrounds, and service initiatives. thereby enables this type of learning. Senior student leaders like Carolyn SantanCo-Director of the Upper School’s comgelo and Eli Hankin discussed the camaraderie munity service program, Jessica Spates stated, that community service builds. “When I “I think one of my goals for this year is [to was a sophomore, [community service] was make] students more aware of what is out a nice way to meet there, and [to put] different members of more announcements the community,” said W h e n I w a s a s o p h o m o r e , out about community co-president of Break- [community service] was a nice service opportunities, fast Run Santangelo. way to meet different members and [to publicize] Hackley will not only of the community. when things are and be enlightening its stuwhen kids can help.” dents by encouraging Carolyn Santangelo While many stustudent participation dents do participate in service programs; it in community service will also be building unity among members programs at Hackley, more can still be done. of the student body. The Dial has its fair share of service leaders, One of Hackley’s principle objectives is for and we welcome you to approach them to get its students “to learn from the varying perspec- involved in service programs. tives and backgrounds in our community Opinion Editor Will Goldsmith is founder and the world.” Community service exposes of The Hackley Afya Club, a group that works in collaboration with the Afya Foundation
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Photo by Amy Chalan Hudson Scholars huddle together for a day of discovery and adventure during the Hudson Scholars summer program.
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to send medical supplies to communities in need around the world; you can contact Will at wgoldsmith@students.hackleyschool.org. Lifestyles Editor Amy Chalan is also a community service leader. She currently serves as president of the Hudson Scholars Club, which is an organization that provides academic enrichment opportunities to students in low-income families in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown; you can contact Amy at achalan@ students.hackleyschool.org. The bulletin board outside the Upper School office includes descriptions of various service initiatives. We encourage anyone who is interested in engaging in communities in positive ways to go to the board and see what opportunities interest them. Community service serves as a dynamic platform of unity. Increased student participation in community service will increase such unity within our community and will also enable students to engage with individuals outside of the Hackley bubble.
Photo by Bridget Barsanti Seniors Carolyn Santangelo and Bridget Barsanti lead the Breakfast Run club.
Dial staff
Hackley School 293 Benedict Ave.Tarrytown, NY (914) 631-0128 November 10, 2017 Vol. 120, No. 3 hsdial.org Editors-in-Chief Online Editor Technical Editor
Lei Anne Rabeje, Olivia Weinberg Alexi Sandhu Sydney Stoller Cosima Boettner
Section Editors
News Bailey Griffen, Matt Traum Opinion Bridget Barsanti, William Goldsmith Arts Georgia Panitz, Dylan Wade Feature Pat Walker, Lauren Ahern Lifestyles Amy Chalan, Natalie Sukhman Politics Raghav Chopra, Max Rosenblum Science & Tech Cory Gorczycki, Alexa Augustine Sports LiliAnna Khosrowshahi, Cole Wyman Advisers Michael Bass, Anne Budlong
The Hudson Scholars Program travels down to the Washington Irvington School once a week to offer tutoring to middle school students.
Photo by Amy Chalan
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.
Photo by Dylan Wade Guiding Eyes meets from10 AM to 12 PM every Sunday at Guiding Eyes Shelter.
Photo by Bridget Barsanti Breakfast Run serves eggs, bagels, coffee, hot chocolate, and waffles each month.
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opinion 3
November 10, 2017
Two words on civil unrest
Should statues of Confederate leaders b e re m ov e d f r o m p u b l i c s p a c e s ? No By Paul Lapey
The following viewpoint reflects the opinion of the author
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t first glance, the issue of whether or not to take down Confederate monuments seems relatively straightforward when viewed from a 21st century perspective. Fighting a war to preserve slavery is not something that should be honored, and thus the statues and monuments that honor the Confederacy should be taken down. While this may be is true in some cases, in many cases the issue is not that simple. While it is true that as a whole, the Confederacy’s secession from the United States was primarily motivated by the desire to preserve the institution of slavery, the motives of individuals were often more complicated due to factors such as loyalty to one’s state and the aggressive tactics employed by Northern generals such as William T. Sherman. For these reasons monuments like the one in Durham, NC dedicated “In memory of the boys who wore the gray” and statues of Robert E. Lee should not be removed. The Durham monument is a prime example of a statue honoring Confederate soldiers that should not be taken down. Even in the Confederacy, over two-thirds of the population did not own slaves, and thus it would be an oversimplification to say that most of these individual soldiers were fighting to preserve slavery. In addition to fighting out of loyalty to their state, these soldiers were often fighting while their state was being invaded and in many cases were fighting to protect their property and land. Many of the battles of the Civil War were fought in southern states, and in many of these battles, towards the end of the war generals like William T. Sherman used “scorched earth” progressive. Although he did not support tactics of burning and destroying property abolition, Lee was opposed to slavery, which as they took cities. These tactics were clearly he called a “moral and political evil.” As justified as necessary steps towards winning stated previously, Lee did hold views on race the war and endthat were obviously racist, ing slavery, but but he did recognize the evils they also make Although Robert E. Lee cannot be of the institution of slavery, it hard to blame seen to be as innocent as individual which is more than can be average civilians confederate soldiers since he was a said about many people at for not sitting by general of the Confederate army, his that time. Additionally, Lee as their towns arsaid, “If Virginia stands by were destroyed. character and motvations were com- the old Union, so will I. But This is not to say plex enough to justify leaving monu- if she secedes (though I do that these soldiers ments dedicated to him standing. not believe in secession as a were entirely inPaul Lapey constitutional right, nor that nocent—they did there is sufficient cause for contribute to a revolution), then I will follow war that was fought to preserve slavery—but my native State with my sword, and, if need it is not wrong to memorialize people who be, with my life.” Clearly, Lee was more mofought and died to save their towns from be- tivated by an unwillingness to betray his state ing destroyed. Individual confederate soldiers and fight against his home than to preserve did not chose to secede from the union, and slavery, and was even against Virginia’s secesfighting when one’s state is being invaded and sion in the first place. While these factors do in many cases being attacked using scorched not completely justify Lee’s actions, they do earth tactics is very different from fighting to make his character much more complex than preserve slavery other Confederate leaders like Jefferson Davis. Although Robert E. Lee cannot be seen to be For these reasons, considering whether or as innocent as individual confederate soldiers not to take down statues of more complicated since he was a general of the Confederate figures like Robert E. Lee and “the boys who army, his character and motivations were wore the gray” is very different from the decicomplex enough to justify leaving monuments sion of whether to take down statues of other dedicated to him standing. Lee’s views on race Confederate leaders like Jefferson Davis, who would be considered backwards and racist by overtly supported slavery. There is a much modern standards, but it is easier to under- better case for taking down statues of figures stand why he held these views considering the like Davis, but monuments like the one in environment in which he was raised. Durham, NC and ones dedicated to Robert For someone who was born in 1807 and E. Lee are not worthy of being taken down raised in the 19th century South, his views because of the complex nature of the people were hardly unusual and if anything relatively that they honor.
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Republican advocates for preserving the statues point out that the majority of Southerners did not own slaves as proof that slavery was not the focus of the war, instead suggesting it was an issue of preserving Southern autonomy and states’ rights; this is an oversimplification. Despite that one statistic, it is a general historical consensus that the Southern economy was wholly dependent on slave labor, for both tobacco and cotton. In 1861 Vice President of the Confederacy Alexander Stephens explained, “[the Confederacy]’s cornerstone lies upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man. That slavery is his natural and normal condition.” To claim that any general including Robert E. Lee was not defending slavery would be counterfactual. Robert E. Lee and his comrades all owned slaves, and were well aware of the fact that their war was one that sought to protect slavery. These generals, regardless of their personal morals, fought to preserve the short-lived Confederacy and its slave-based economy. Thus the moral narrative that these statues embody is one of revisionist history. These statues erase the history of people of color in the South. While streets are laden with statues of these generals and men who fought for a cause of oppression, their glorification and commemoration gives little mention to the 15 million slaves who died in the Slave Trade and the antebellum plantations. Regardless of the personal opinions of any of the people displayed, they did not choose to have their statues built; they were made by “Lost Causers” who specifically sought to rewrite the history of the South to Illustration by Katherine Lee ignore its atrocities and paint an elegiac light on the Confederacy. In the words of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who oversaw the removal of a statue of General Lee in May, “These statues are not just stone and metal. They are not just innocent remembrances of a benign history. By Raghav Chopra These monuments purposefully celebrate a fictional, sanitized Confederacy; ignoring The following viewpoint reflects the opinion the death, ignoring the enslavement, and the of the author terror that it actually stood for.” By existing on display as monuments in ith statues of Confederate generals the public eye, these statues demonstrate such as Robert E. Lee being relocated both approval and glorification of their from public spaces to museums and protests- narrative, which is one of whitewashing and a turned-riots breaking out in willful ignorance their wake, the question of of the suffering of keeping or relocating these [the Confederacy]’s corner- millions of African statues has come to the s t o n e l i e s u p o n t h e g r e a t Americans for forefront of today’s politit r u t h t h a t t h e n e g r o i s n o t which these men cal discourse. While these fought and on statues ought to be relo- equal to the white man. That which they relied. cated from public landmark s l a v e r y i s h i s n a t u r a l a n d Yet these statues’ sights to the contextual and normal condition. racist histories didactic environment of do not diminish Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens their historical museums, one must first understand the context of significance. As their construction. is planned for The majority of statues the Jefferson glorifying the Civil War and Confederate Davis monument formerly in Ne w generals in the American South were con- Orleans, the Confederate statues should be structed in the late 1800’s, after the end of relocated to museums, where they can be the war and Reconstruction. They were built displayed alongside the full context of the in a fervour now called “the Cult of the Lost underrepresented darker side of the Civil War Cause,” which actively sought to rewrite the and the South, and understood as pieces of narrative of American history. Its proponents ideological propaganda from the “Lost Cause” argued that the war was a heroic one for the movement. These statues are historically Confederates, that they were not rebels de- important and worthy of remembrance; fending an inhumane institution, but rather however, we should move on from the loyal soldiers and generals who sought to bygone era when public endorsement of white protect Southern ideals, people, and rights supremacy was acceptable. The Confederate from Northern oppression. statues belong in museums, not public parks.
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November 10, 2017
Up over Down Under
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Henry O’Neil feels at home as he immerses himself in Hackley culture thousands of miles from home By Tommy Larson
Henry O’Neil has traveled across the world from a pleasant town in Australia to bustling New York to learn about American culture and immerse himself in Hackley school life. He is visiting from the Armidale School in Australia, which is about 500 kilometers north of Sydney. Henry has already visited both Tarrytown with his host family and New York City. In New York, he spent time with his Aunt and saw a Yankee game as well as Central Park. In comparing the towns and cities, Henry said, “Sydney and New York differ a lot. Sydney is not nearly as busy or as large as New York, and Manhattan dwarfs the Sydney central business district. But, Sydney is a great place which I recommend visiting,” Henry said. “As for Armidale and Tarrytown, Armidale is a little bigger and it’s
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a rural based town, not so much an outer suburb of a big city like Tarrytown.” Henry’s opportunity to come on the exchange was not what one would normally expect. Another student in his grade was planning
It feels, in a way, normal as I have settled into school life here and haven’t really though about being so far away.
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Henry O’Neil
on attending Hackley for the fall semester but he unfortunately had to pull out, and the opportunity was given to Henry’s whole grade. He looked into Hackley and was interested in the school because it is co-ed, has a boarding program, and has a diverse range of subjects and
sports. Henry enjoyed the boarding program at Hackley because he had his own room, and he practiced with the Hackley Junior Varsity soccer team. Henry also elaborated on the similarities and differences between Armidale and Hackley. “We have slightly different majors but similar minors. We also have sports such as rugby, soccer, and basketball most afternoons and lots of co-curricular activities like community service and clubs which are similar in some ways to here,” Henry said. Henry feels that the Hackley community has been treating him very well during his time in the United States, and had an easy time transitioning into the Hackley routine. He has done many school related camps such as Cadet camp, where he hikes and canoes in the outdoors, and has traveled a bit. However, this is the first time that he has been away for a long period
Photo by Tommy Larson Henry practices his moves on the basketball court against sophomore Patrick Schulman.
of time without his family. “It feels, in a way, normal as I have settled into school life here and haven’t really thought about being so far away,” Henry said. Unfortunately for him, however, Henry has to continue to do his work from Australia because he has end of year exams upon his
return home in mid-October, yet he doesn’t have to worry about Hackley related work in his time in the United States. Henry looked back at his Hackley experience and said, “At Hackley, everything here has been great so I don’t think I would be able to narrow it down to one favorite event.”
Photo courtesy of Jenny Leffler Girls Varsity Field Hockey has a long history of attending Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Pictured above are several alumni from the Class of 2016 attending the walk during their senior year.
Thinking pink: Sue Harmon helps raise awareness by attending the annual “Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” By Annabel Ives
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and there are many ways to get involved around Westchester. One of the best ways is to participate in the fight against breast cancer is to attend the “Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” which was at Manhattanville College on October 15. If you couldn’t attend, make sure you still donate and go next year! There is also a Strides Against Breast Cancer locations in Ridgefield Park on Sunday October 29. Hackley has a long tradition of sending students to the walk. The field hockey team has been going for over 25 years. Ms. Leffler said, “It started back a long long time ago—probably 25 years or more when Leslie Allen, who coached the middle school team, organized her team to go and so we have been trying to continue that tradition.” Leffler also said that the walk has become personal for many athletes, like Katherine and Molly Harmon, and others have been touched personally. It has become a way for the field hockey team to come together and support people in our community. If you couldn’t attend any of those events, make sure to donate online and spread awareness around your community. One place to donate if you want to help support prevention
research is the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. This California based foundation also hosts walks on the west coast, but donations are still available on their website. Another great organization to donate to is the Young Survival Coalition, which aims to serve women diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 40. The Pink Fund Inc. is another great organization. Breast cancer treatments are expensive and many women lose their livelihood trying to stay alive. Pink Fund Inc helps breast cancer patients get out of debt from the incredibly expensive procedures and check ups they have to go through on a daily bases. The organization was started by Molly McDonald, a breast cancer survivor who aims to help other women who were in her situation. Another great way to raise awareness is to wear pink. Pink is the national color to represent breast cancer awareness. If you’re a fan of the NFL buy a pink jersey, part of the sale is donated to the national cancer association, and you get to support your team. Also at GAP 15% of selected products will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Though Breast Cancer Awareness month ends in October, action can be taken year round. All organizations are open to donations for the whole year, and it is important to spread awareness past October.
Graphic by Lei Anne Rabeje
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November 10, 2017
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It really put into perspective what we have, and that we should be grateful for our lives. It made me also realize how important it is to give back to those less fortunate. It is only when we h e l p o n e a n o t h e r, c a n w e grow as a society, whether that be on a small or large scale.
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Varun Krishna Photo courtesy of Adrianne Pierce
Clockwise from left: Fran Docters shows off her soccer skills at the Aquila private game reserve during the post conference trip. Fran spends time with several South African students from Zerilda Park Primary School. Juniors Grant and Varun, sophomore Paola, and seniors Julian and Fran had the opportunity to explore the views of South Africa after their trip. Julian, Grant, and Varun sit on a rocky ledge emracing the view of Hout Bay. The five representatives after hiking up Signal Hill.
Hackley affirms its commitment to globalism at South Africa Round Square Conference Continued from page 1 The conference ended the following day, with Hackley representative Paola helping the former King of Greece in the symbolic tree planting ceremony. Following the conference, the delegates spent two more days exploring Cape Town and immersed themselves even more deeply into South African history. Aside from participating in a safari in nearby Akila, and a visit to the Botanical Gardens, the students and teacher explored Cape Town’s history that was tainted by apartheid, a movement in South Africa that existed from 1948 to 1994 during which the government passed laws discriminating against people of color. The students on the trip spent most of their time in Cape Town in an area called District 6, where the remnants of apartheid are evident. “There would just be these big beautiful houses but then behind them would be shack where people actually live and how we see the poverty. We visited houses that are not even as big as a classroom,” said Paola. One of the most powerful moments from students’ voyage to South Africa was their visit
to a LEAP school in Cape Town. Langa Education Assistance Program, also known as LEAP, is an organization across South Africa that has funded six free secondary education schools. These schools are targeted to gifted students spanning three major provinces. Junior Varun Krishna explained that he had many incredible experiences throughout this trip, but the highlight was visiting one of these schools. Krishna stated that “It really put into perspective what we have, and that we should be grateful for our lives. It made me also realize how important it is to give back to those less fortunate. It is only when we help one another, can we grow as a society, whether that be on a small or large scale.” It is because of amazing experiences like those had by the five students that went to South Africa that Round Square is such an important part of the Hackley community. The trips are immensely rewarding and offer rare experiences that provide insight into foreign cultures that cannot be achieved any other way. Next year’s Round Square International Conference will be held in Canada, so delegates will have the same incredible experience, minus the jet lag.
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November 10, 2017
Clubs struggle to attract diverse membership
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Club discussions and debate are limited with little diversity in club attendance By Lei Anne Rabeje
sions. For the past few years, Dux The first Upper School club period Femina Facti has been attended on Thursday, Sept 28 highlighted mostly by girls and has created a a gender divide as girls dominate space for girls to air their frustrasocial justice clubs- like UNITY, All tions and raise concerns about Genders and Sexualities Alliance, certain issues. Most of the issues and Dux Femina Facti- while other raised were met with a general conclubs, like the Evolution of Hip sensus as most attendees agree with Hop and Pirate Club, are attended one another. Madi believes a more diversified attendance will allow for mainly by boys. With debate and foslittle diversity, social ter productivity F r i e n d g r o u p s a r e justice clubs face a risk of becoming a u s u a l l y s e g r e g a t e d within the club. bubble with limited to a certain extent by “ I t h i n k w e viewpoints present g e n d e r, a n d t h e f e w would get more questions raised in discussions and i n t e r e s t s h e l d w i t h and answered, as debates. S e n i o r M a d i i n t h o s e s e g r e g a t e d opposed to havSchwartz, co-Presi- f r i e n d g r o u p s s e e m ing a room full of dent of Dux Femi- to move specific gen- girls snapping in na Facti, raised her ders towards certain agreement about i s s u e s ,” M a d i concerns about the clubs. commented. “I gender gap following think there would the club fair and inEli Hankin be more discustroductory meeting. sion and debate, “It’s still definitely pretty uneven. which is really cool.” There’s still an overwhelming numJunior Zaya Gooding, who has ber of girls than guys,” Madi said. been AGSA’s Publicist for the past While the club garnered over 120 sign-ups for the year, only 20 boys two years, expressed similar sentiare on the list. Despite the small ments. While AGSA traditionally number, Madi remains hopeful of a holds monthly meetings from 6 to 8 brighter future for the club and ac- PM, the club recently began hosting knowledged that it is a slow process. club meetings during Community “It’s a gradual process. Numbers Time to make it more accessible to are kind of rising each year. It’s a students. Nonetheless, this initiative process making the numbers grow has not seen a change in the gender and making it clear what the club is gap of the club’s attendees. Like Madi, Zaya worries about the about. We’re just here to chat about impact of the absence of boys’ perequality and why that’s necessary.” spectives during club discussions, Madi said her main concern is the especially when speaking about effect of club attendance in discusgender expression.
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Graphic by Lei Anne Rabeje
“We wanted to have a discussion about masculinity and it’s important to have an equal number of people. But we didn’t get that. It was pretty much the same turnout,”
Zaya recalled. “When we’re having discussions about the queer community, it’s even more important because [queer] guys are treated... a lot more differently than queer girls.
I think that voice that we need isn’t really heard.” Senior Eli Hankin, a regular attendee of UNITY in the past few years, worries that the gender gap in social justice and political clubs have created a bubble within the groups. With little push back from opposing viewpoints, Eli believes individuals are less willing to participate in discourse and listen to one another. “I didn’t hear any push back from UNITY leaders. There were no devil’s advocates to any points brought up, no matter how extreme they were. To be honest I’ve heard some pretty threatening and aggressive viewpoints at UNITY meetings” Eli commented. “This formation of a bubble within the group itself seems counterintuitive because the group is trying to promote social change and justice, but it’s seems to lock itself in and in turn causes little change outside of the UNITY community.” Eli sees the gender gap as a product of social politics: “Friend groups are usually segregated to a certain extent by gender, and the few interests held within those segregated friend groups seem to move specific genders towards certain clubs.” He noted that this extends beyond social justice and political clubs, but also to clubs like Evolution of Hip Hop and Pirate Club. “That discourages people from joining. Once there’s a dominant gender in a club, that creates a stigma around the club that few people are willing to break.”
Students look forward to opening of the new Tappan Zee Bridge and a shorter commute By Yingshyan Ku
Horns blare and tires screech as cars jostle for positions across the jammed 369 meter bridge in the early morning hours. The ongoing construction of the New Tappan Zee Bridge has led to the unintended sideeffect of increased traffic, especially during rush hours. For some students at Hackley, this means a longer commute both to and from school. The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, also known as the New NY Bridge or the New Tappan Zee Bridge, is being built over the Hudson River as a replacement for the current one. Construction on the dual-span twin bridge began in
2013 and is on track for completion in June 15, 2018. The project was initiated in 2007 due to concerns over the Tappan Zee Bridge’s structural integrity after the collapse of the Mississippi River Bridge. The Tappan Zee was built on a
low budget of $81 million immediately following the Korean War in 1952, and was only meant to last for 50 years. By comparison, the projected cost of the new bridge is $3.98 billion, and is intended to last for at least 100 years. Senior Spencer Diaz, who commutes across the Tappan Zee everyday, said, “time has definitely increased since construction.” However, these construction delays are only temporary, and the completion of the New Tappan Zee Bridge should
reduce traffic congestion from before construction began. “I hope the new bridge will make [the commute] shorter, but for now [construction] has only created more traffic,” said Diaz. Since the official opening of the north span to westbound traffic on August 26, 2017 at 1:36 AM, and the transfer of eastbound traffic onto the same span on October 6, 2017, many have noticed a reduction in commute times. Junior Frances Schaeffler said, “I’ve noticed a relatively shorter commute since the opening of the bridge; I used to arrive at school late, usually 8:00 AM onwards, but now I arrive around 7:50 AM everyday. I also think the bridge is for sure a lot more visually appealing than the Tappan Zee, and has a far more scenic view driving over because it’s at a higher elevation.”
Illustration by Lei Anne Rabeje
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lifestyles 7
November 10, 2017
Ask the Dial By the Dial Team
How can I do well in school, play on a sports team, take five majors, and get enough sleep? You can do all these things by managing your time wisely and reaching out for help when you need it. A lot of Hackley students have to balance varsity sports and challenging classes. To be able to juggle all of these things, you should manage your time during the school day and use your free time on the weekends wisely. If you know you have a game at Poly Prep coming up, do your homework for that night a couple days ahead of time. Also, utilize the time on the bus to study for any upcoming tests or quizzes. In addition, being organized and keeping track of upcoming tests and homework will help you get enough sleep every night. If you ever find that you have too much homework to get enough sleep one night, you can always email your teachers and explain your situation.
What should I do if I’m not organized? How can I get help? If you are struggling with organization you can reach out to a teacher, friend, or advisor for help. Ms. Darby Golino, the new learning specialist, can help you organize your materials so you can do better in class. Also, you can use tools such as Trello, an online planner, or the calendar app on your phone, iPad, or computer to manage your time and keep track of your homework assignments and extracurricular activities.
Where is the best place to study on campus? The best locations to study on campus are the admissions hallway, the bottom floor of the science wing, or an empty classroom. There are also many study rooms in the library available for up to four students at one time throughout the day.
Little B’s is located on the Main Street in Tarrytown. The easygoing restaurant-bar features build-your-own burgers and craft brews.
Look no farther than Tarrytown for the best burger restaurants By Julia Thomson, Sofia Graziano, and Jordan Miller
Little B’s:
Rivermarket:
Tarry Tavern:
Little B’s is a smaller, casual family-friendly restaurant with a customizable burger menu. It has a homey and comfortable ambience, with outside seating. The waitress was approachable and kind, giving us insight on the most popular orders and best toppings to try. We ordered an Angus beef burger on a brioche bun with cheddar cheese, honey sriracha bacon, caramelized onions lettuce and tomato. Little’s B’s is known for their truffle fries and special sauces, namely the Little b’s BBQ, Chipotle Mayo and Chipotle Ketchup. The meat was very juicy, the sauces were great and the flavor was phenomenal. The hand cut fries were exceptional, and the truffle fries were even better.
Rivermarket is a more upscale dining experience, better for a birthday dinner than before a game or coffeehouse. They are known for their brunch, high quality food, and fresh produce. It has a beautiful location overlooking the Hudson River, with a lot of seating both outside and inside, and modern decor. In addition, there is a small market and bakery located by the entrance of the restaurant. We ordered their classic Hemlock Hill burger, with grass fed beef, mountain smokehouse bacon, house-made pickles, aioli, and cheddar on an Eli’s brioche bun. The bread served at the beginning was a great introduction to the meal, and was still warm from the oven. Overall, the service was very fast, and our food arrived quickly.
Tarry Tavern is an American style restaurant inspired by a traditional farmhouse with a family atmosphere. We ordered the TT Wagyu Burger which consisted of a beef patty with bacon-onion jam, pickles, lettuce, tomato and onion. This classic burger would be a safe choice, however, it did not stand out as anything special. The jam paired nicely with the cheddar cheese, but their fries were not as crunchy, fresh or flavorful as the other restaurants, although for the price, the meal was adequate. The burger arrived in a timely manner, fresh off the grill. Located in the center of Main Street, Tarry Tavern is very convenient and includes some outdoor seating for a casual and authentic American dinner or lunch.
Overall: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
Students show off campus style with newly created Instagram destination
How would you suggest connecting with more upperclassmen? A couple great ways to get connected to upperclassmen is to join a sports team or a school club. Being on a team provides the opportunity for relationships between peers in different grades to form, and continue to flourish for as the year continues. Being in a club is a great way to meet new people and befriend upperclassmen.
I’ve had zero time to do my homework. I’ve been missing all of my after school activities just to do work. Help? If you have limited free periods and have been missing your afterschool activities just to do your work, you should speak to your advisor about finding a way to manage your time. If you’re struggling with homework in a particular subject, talk to your teacher and figure out a strategy for finishing your work within a specific amount of time. Special thanks to the freshman class for these questions.
Photo by Sofia Graziano
Threads showcases the style that can account and it offers a sort of “yin come out of that.” and yang” to the people who we Almost instantly the account decide to feature.” grew traction. Within a day they Through this account, Delia and had gained over 100 followers, as Elon hope to bring a new aspect to much as an entire school grade. the community on campus. Though it came surprisingly fast, the Elon explained, “The comments popularity wasn’t expected. on the posts are so positive and “When we had the idea we really uplifting, it really makes me so did think that it would become happy that people are so excited a big deal. But even after the fact about it.” that it has become Delia continued, a part of the buzz “We think that the a t H a c k l e y w e ...we want to open art arts can sometimes still find ourselves u p to e v e r y b o d y, a s be something that surprised when we something as simple as is underplayed at ask people for a Hackley. But with picture and they what you wear to school Hilltop Threads, get really excited to can be a statement and we want to open be on it. We didn’t your own personal piece art up to everybody, even think that as something as of artwork. people would even simple as what you have the account wear to school can Delia Tager be a statement and on their radar,” Elon explained. your own personal Running a piece of artwork.” fashion account is not all fun and Elon and Delia hope Hilltop games, however. Delia explained, Threads will “make art and self “It’s difficult when deciding which expression more tangible for people, outfits to post for that day, the last and help to expand the creative thing that we want to do is hurt boundaries of the student body, anyones feelings. Elon and I decided helping individual people to branch that we both need to ‘OK’ an outfit out of their comfort zones in turn for it to be posted, and sometimes helping to turn the community into we disagree. I think that we both a more accepting, supportive and bring our individual style to the creative environment.”
“
Photo by Raghav Chopra Delia and Elon came up with their idea for Hilltop Threads by taking fashion inspiration from their friends’ outfits. The Instagram account is now well known throughout the community.
By Raghav Chopra
With more than 220 followers, Hilltop Threads has become the new epitome of fashion at Hackley. Started by seniors Delia Tager and Elon Middleton, the Instagram account features “fits,” creative outfits worn by their fellow students. Despite its growing popularity, it has been subject to both controversy and support regarding its influence on the community. When the school dress code was altered over
the summer, loosening many of the restrictions present for both genders, Elon and Delia found a new space to express themselves and engage the community. Delia explained, “there are so many people with such great style at Hackley, and sometimes it goes severely underrated. One of the things that we love about it is that even with the whole controversy and difficulty with dressing ‘within the lines’ of the dress code, Hilltop
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8 lifestyles
These treats are perfect to serve at a Halloween party or as a festive snack.
Photo by Katherine Robertson
Quick and easy autumn themed recipies By Natalie Sukhman and Katherine Robertson
Chocolate Pretzels:
Instructions:
Ingredients:
This autumn treat is perfect for an after school snack or to whip up with friends. To make it you only need 4 ingredients: pretzels, white chocolate, orange food coloring, and green icing. Start by melting the white chocolate in the microwave for
•Pretzels •White chocolate •Orange food coloring •Green icing
1 minute. Make sure to watch it closely as chocolate tends to burn easily. Then, add orange food dye to the melted white chocolate. Dip the pretzels into the chocolate and put them on a tray lined with parchment paper. Let the chocolate cool then take your green icing and add a stem to your pretzel pumpkin.
Brownie Ghosts:
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Spooky movies to watch this month By Roya Arjamond
“Happy Death Day” (2017)
“Happy Death Day” is a horror movie that puts a spin on the classic Groundhog Day movie that we are all so familiar with. Theresa Gelbman, a college student, repetitively relives the day of her murder. This torturous loop will only end when she discovers her killer’s identity. When asked about the movie, junior Zaya Gooding said, “The trailer looks interesting but I feel like the whole movie is in the trailer.” The move is given 6.6/10 stars by IMDb, rated 65% Rotten Tomatoes, and rated Common Sense Media.
“Cult of Chucky” (2017)
In “Cult of Chucky,” a doll is possessed by the spirit of a dead serial killer. He terrorizes Nica, a woman who is wrongfully being held in an asylum for crimes Chucky himself committed. With the help of his dead wife, he is on a mission to kill everyone close to Nica and whomever he finds to be one of his enemies. Freshman Sam Albright saw the movie and stated, “It was terrifying and my grandma had a lot of porcelain dolls at her house and because of the movie, I couldn’t go back there.” It was rated 5.3/10 by IMDb, and 86% liked it on Rotten Tomatoes.
“IT” (2017)
Ingredients:
“IT” is a horror movie about the story of seven high schoolers that find themselves determined to fight an evil they do not know. The monster hides in the sewers of their town and every 27 years the children in the town become its prey. Each of the children must face and overcome their worst fears in order to battle the murderous creature better known as Pennywise the clown. Junior Zoe Naughton said, “I would categorize as it as more of a good movie than a scary movie.” IT was rated 7.8/10 stars on IMDb and 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
•Brownies •White chocolate •Marshmallows •Black icing, sprinkles or edible decorations
Instructions: Boo! Be prepared to be terrified by how delicious these Halloween brownies are. To start off, make a batch of brownies using your favorite brownie mix or recipe. After baking the brownies, cut them into squares and wait for them to cool. After they have cooled off, add a marshmallow on top of the brownie and secure it with a toothpick.
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November 10, 2017
“Halloweentown” (1998)
Photo by Katherine Robertson This treat will satisfy your sweet tooth. Also, you can customize these brownie ghosts by adding more candies onto the frosting,
Then, melt white chocolate in the microwave, and pour the melted chocolate on top of the marshmallow. Let it drip down
onto the brownie. The last step is to add eyes to your ghost; for this step you can use sprinkles, icing, or food markers.
“Halloweentown” is a Disney halloween movie released in 1998. Aggie, Marnie’s grandmother, wants her granddaughter to begin her witch training. An evil begins to surface in Aggie’s home of Halloweentown and their entire family must work together in an effort to defeat it. Sophomore Sophia Masotti said, “It is a thrilling Disney movie that I loved in my childhood and carry with me today.” Halloweentown was rated 6.8/10 stars by IMDb and 72% liked it on Rotten Tomatoes.
Halloween on the Hilltop By Amy Chalan and Natalie Sukhman
Photo by Olivia Weinberg Lower School student joins teachers and students at the Halloween parade as an avocado.
Photo by Olivia Weinberg Upper School teachers, Jon Gruenberg, Wil Lobko, Peter Wright, Willie Teacher and a lower school student dressed up as Ghostbusters.
Photo by Olivia Weinberg Junior Belle Thomas dressed up as a cheerleader from the movie” Bring It On” with two of her friends.
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November 10, 2017
Gummy Bears inspire Ariana Swei’s Portfolio By Alexa Augustine
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Ariana is creating a series of twelve pieces with each piece depicting a new scene and use of gummy bears.
Gummy bears are small and cute little snacks people eat on the go, but senior Ariana Swei’s depiction of them in her AP Art concentration makes them seem like something out of a nightmare. Ariana is creating a series of 12 pieces, three of which are currently displayed outside of Mr. Cice’s room. She found her inspiration for her concentration while she was eating gummy bears. Although she admittedly does not particularly like gummy bears, she said, “I just wanted to do something weird, to be honest.” According to Ariana, the ideas for her pieces sometimes come at random times. “I have had to come up with my own ideas, but it takes a while sometimes to come up with a new piece,” she said. “In most of my pieces I’m trying to integrate people, or just anything [that’s] not a gummy bear, just to make it more interesting. I’m still trying to do a story thing…. So that one was the Creation of the Gummy Bear, but I also don’t want to be too tied to the story. But I’m trying to make it all make sense.” Ariana described her artistic process, and how her original idea ends up transforming and looking different in the end. “I’m usually not sure about what the final product will be,” she said, “I have some sort of idea of what I want in my head, then I usually try to take the picture of the person I’m drawing... Then, because I know that the rest of my source
material will probably have to come from the Internet, pictures of gummy bears, or my imagination... I end up just fully drawing and coloring the person because that is what I’m most comfortable with. Then, with the rest of the space, I add in all of the stuff I need to.” “Sometimes I have difficulty finding good source material from the internet and I sort of have to change my idea, which can [complicate] the process, as I have already drawn part of the picture which needs to interact with specific things... it usually turns out differently than I imagine it.” Ariana decided to use colored pencils as her medium because she feels that “they are convenient and you get good control with them.” She found that the only downside is that, “they require a lot of time. I would love to paint, but it’s so much harder to get all of the supplies and to learn how to do it.” Her inspiration comes from other artists that surround her. She said, “I don’t have a particular artist, but honestly a lot of the past AP artists inspire me. Their work is just so good and imaginative and I always strive to do the same sort of thing.” As far as her future as an artist is concerned, Ariana said, “I don’t really see myself becoming a professional artist, but I would love to stay involved in art in some way.”
Photos by Lei Anne Rabeje Ariana Swei is working with colored pencils to showcase her unique perpective on objects often viewed as ordinary. Her eye-catching art utilizes dynamic images and vivid color to draw in viewers.
Celia Gooding to star in the musical “Jagged Little Pill” By Kylie Morrison
Watching her mother win the 2006 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical, radiating happiness and beauty, senior Celia Gooding immediately realized she wanted to follow in her footsteps. Celia has recently gotten a role in the musical “Jagged Little Pill”, starring as a black girl adopted into a white family. The musical will premiere in May 2018 at Harvard’s American Repertory Theatre, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Celia will play a girl named Frankie who is infatuated with current social justice movements, including the Black Lives Matter movement and ideas about intersectional feminism. Celia enjoys this role because she can relate to her character as a “black girl in a very pushy white neighbourhood… surrounded by eurocentric standards while still trying to love [her] blackness.” Celia will be starring alongside several accomplished artists, including Idina Menzel from
Wicked, Michael Park from Dear Evan Hansen, famous musical director Tom Kitt, and writer Diablo Cody. Celia credits her mother, LaChanze, for her success and is grateful for her mother’s impact on her life. LaChanze, has previously starred in many theatrical productions including “The Color Purple” and “If/ Then” both of which premiered on Broadway. “Everything my mother does I hold at the utmost standard of beauty and excellence,” said Celia. She thanks her mother for giving her the opportunity to meet people and make relationships: “I get to meet directors, agents, and casting directors. They get to see my face and they know I’m related to this pillar of excellence.” Balancing both acting and academics is never easy, but Celia is able to with the help of Hackley faculty. From October 30th to November 17th, Celia
will be missing school in order to prepare for her role in May. “Honestly, the highest praise goes to Mr. Wirtz, Mr. King, Ms. Leffler, Doc Rob, and Ms. Hall for making this the easiest transition into work that I’ve ever had to be a part of,” said Celia. In March, Celia will begin rehearsing and in April, she will move to Cambridge, Massachusetts for over four months. Celia is aware of her blessings and is willing to sacrifice typical teenage activities, in order to please those supporting her. “I am so lucky. I’m a really lucky kid and I can’t let it go to waste… The support that I get from everyone keeps me going,” she explained. Working and “making some waves” describes Celia’s pursuits right after high school. “I’m about to turn this theatre world on its head… I’m gonna make some noise,” she said. Celia plans to go to college and shock the world with her talents.
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Celia will work alongside Broadway stars Idina Menzel, who will play the role of her mother, and Michael Park, who will take on the role of her father.
Much of Celia’s interests revolve around the arts, but she is also passionate about helping others. “I put all of my energy towards theatre,” she said, before explaining that becoming a psychologist is her secondary goal.
Celia would like to help children learn to be comfortable wih expressing themselves, and to act as a support system for their various decisions. Celia said,“The moment we find ourselves to feel isolated and alone is the most dangerous,”
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Hackley Theater Fall Feature
Actors practice their lines in preparation for the fall play premiering Friday, November 3rd at 7pm in the PAC. The play also has show dates on November 4th, 10th, and 11th
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje
“Comedy of Errors” promises humor and camaraderie By Lei Anne Rabeje
Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors takes an ironic turn on the stage in the Upper School’s fall play featuring seniors Kioni Marshall and Hannah Goodwin-Pierce. Both actors will be playing a set of male twins. While Shakespeare’s Globe cast men for its female roles, Drama teacher and Director Willie Teacher is using his six strong female actors to bring a Shakespeare classic to life at the Performing Arts Center on November 3rd at 7 PM. Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare’s earlier plays and tells the story of two sets of twins, Antipholus of Syracuse, Dromio of Syracuse, Antipholus of Ephesus, and Dromio of Ephesus, all of whom were separated at birth. The play begins when the two sets encounter each other after years of separation,
which leads to mistaken identities, confusion, and a whole lot of laughter. Kioni takes on her major role as Antipholus in her final year on stage. While she is excited to play a lead role, she also acknowledges the responsibility and work that comes with it. “It’s going to be difficult. We can’t come in unprepared. We have to be on all the time,” Kioni said. “We have to choose a different accent or style of speaking for each character we play so the audience will be able to be a part of it with you.” After last year’s graduation, the cast lost four male Hacktors, who had previously played the leading characters in many fall plays. In turn, freshmen Eki Uzamere and Thomas Bosco have joined the fall cast. While the new group has managed in assuming new roles on stage, Hannah feels a change in the cast dynamics.
“The dynamic has definitely changed a lot, but the family we’re building is still very strong,” Hannah commented. “We’re trying to instill a good relationship between the two freshmen and the seniors, which has been an interesting process so far.” According to Hannah, people’s common interest in theatre is an important foundation to their relationship. “The process of going through the script and blocking has already brought us together and has definitely bonded the grades together since we started,” Hannah said. “We all spend a lot of time together and we all have the common interest of theatre that makes us come together which is really important.” Like varsity sports teams, play rehearsals take place every day from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM. The long hours allow the cast to practice lines and work on blocking in the lead up to the
opening night. While many hours are spent practicing for the play, Mr. Teacher and the cast still allow for a few breaks for people to cool off and spend time with one another during rehearsals. Kioni sees these times as equally essential in team bonding. “It’s basically the in-between time that we have. When we’re reading in the play and Teach needs to stop and take time to read quotes, we’ll tell jokes,” Kioni said. “It’s basically the jokes that help us bond.” While fall productions traditionally feature classic plays, the winter productions are more contemporary and modern. Senior Beatrice McColl anticipates that the winter production will be a better fit for the characters in the cast. “The winter production will definitely be a lot easier with a more contemporary play, but men were more important back in the day,” Beatrice said.
Acting 4 plays a new part: Giving back to the community By Amanda Mooney
This year, something new is accompanying the Acting 4 curriculum: a community service aspect of performing. The students will be going to the Lower School and other elementary schools in the area to talk to children about acting and to put on a short performance for them. Their goal is to inspire young students to try acting and participate in the arts even if they have never done something like it before. The Acting 4 class has traditionally focused on preparing shows to perform outside of the Upper School productions. The Hacktors strive to make performances they are proud of both in and out of class. The Acting 4 students this year include Celia Gooding, Hannah Goodwin-Pierce, Tyler LaRoche, Kioni Marshall, Bea McColl, Nicole Mondrus, Hallie Robin, Alexi Sandhu, and Angel Torres. By exposing different career opportunities in the arts to children at a young age, students may find something they are interested in or passionate about. Senior Kioni Marshall, who is currently enrolled in Acting 4, believes that different students “might not even know that
they’re interested in [acting] until you show them.” The class hopes to teach kids that careers in the acting world are attainable. They also want to bring more attention to the arts which is an area of high school extracurriculars that tend to be under appreciated. Senior and Acting 4 student, Bea McColl, said that the class is “trying to go to other schools and raise awareness for [acting] in places other than just our little bubble community.”
“
We are trying to go to other schools, and raise awareness for (acting) in places other than just our little bubble community.
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Bea McColl
The work that the students plan to do will not only better the communities they visit, but will further develop their skills as actors. Performing for different groups will allow the actors to gain more experience, especially being able to act for people they have never met before. While the Acting 4 students are experienced in performing for the Upper School, many still see
performing for children as a big challenge. Bea argues that it is more difficult to perform for children because they do not grasp concepts as easily as teenagers and adults. She said that if the actors “can get a message across to a younger kid, [they] can potentially get it across to older people as well, whether or not they realize it.” The students will be performing play versions of various children’s myths and fables, and they hope to portray them in a way that is easy for kids to understand. In a class consisting of only seniors, all are focused on the college application process. However, they still feel that they will be able to handle the preparation for their numerous performances. They look forward to performing with one another during their last year on the Hilltop. Currently, the actors are working to strengthen the camaraderie of their team. They are also working on the logistical factors of their community service initiative, such as memorizing their lines, deciding what props they need for performances, and working to gather different costume pieces. The students in Acting 4 are also participating in the Upper School fall play, Comedy of Errors, which opens on November 3.
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Kioni Marshall (left) and Hannah Goodwin-Pierce (right) will be among senior actors performing in their final fall play this November.
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Willie Teacher is teaching several acting classes, including Acting 4, and he will also be directing the fall play “Comedy of Errors”.
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Teachers disagree on whether iPads are distractions or essential to learning By Samantha Rosenstein
Beginning in the fall of 2014, the Upper School has made large strides towards integrating technology into the classroom, receiving mixed support from teachers and students. With the iPad initiative, all freshmen received an iPad, whose capabilities include note-taking, drawing, creating graphs, and much more. The teachers were given suggestions to limit paper usage, and find new and creative ways to make learning more interactive and up-to-date. Some teachers immediately embraced the initiative, and transformed the way they taught, creating an entirely new and almost paperless curriculum. Physics teacher and iPad enthusiast Bill McLay explains the integration process. “It completely changed the way I approach my class, and I prefer it,” said Mr. McLay Mr. McLay used the iPads to “flip” his classroom where students do problems on their iPads in class and watch lectures at home. When students do problems in class they don’t waste time erasing mistakes or copying down problems. He praised the iPad’s ability to assist during class, stating, “It allowed me to get a closer, more individualized look at each student’s work as they were doing it.” He also highlighted the iPad’s portability, which allows students to be more organized. Even as Hackley approaches the five-year mark from the start of the iPad initiative, many teachers have yet to fully integrate the iPad into their curriculum. Many find that their way of teaching has been successful thus far, and large changes that grant room for the use of technology are unnecessary. Mr. McLay commented on the view of many other Hackley teachers, saying, “Others want to do things they way they’ve been doing them, and that’s fine, it’s difficult for them to see how a new technology can be integrated, so they just don’t.” However, the iPads did not transition seamlessly into every classroom and curriculum. Some teachers find the technology more distracting than
helpful, as they tempt students with online games, social media, and instant messaging. A study referenced in an NPR article by Pam A. Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel M. Oppenheimer of the University of California discussing handwriting versus typing notes said that besides causing distractions, handwriting forces students to focus on key points during class. Additionally, taking notes by hand impresses the information into students’ muscle memories. Upper School history teacher Steele Sternberg only allows his students to take notes by hand as he believes the many functions of computers that aren’t school related can function as distractions. Alternatively, many students argue for having technology in all their classrooms and hope for a consensus among teachers in the future over the policy on technology. Junior Lilly Yerkes commented, “Some of my teachers surround their entire classroom in technology, while others only allow it for big assignments like papers. It’s somewhat confusing what the expectations are for students in terms of how work should be getting done.” Many students have abandoned the iPads altogether and switched over to computers. Students find that it is more convenient, as they already use their computers in their daily lives. Computers also allow for more to be done at once with their ability to have multiple applications open at once. English teacher Sean Francis has a “whatever works” policy towards iPads, computers, or any other device. He believes that the students should find a device that allows them to work productively in class and doesn’t find the mix of devices to be a hindrance. The Upper School is still in the process of finding which devices are best for the community, and teachers and students have varying opinions on what the next step should be. Thus far, the success of integrating technologies in the classrooms has had mixed reviews, but it has been an important step in evaluating the many options available to students and faculty.
App of the Month:
Khan Academy By Dylan Wade and Jordan Miller
Khan Academy is famous for their website, but their app makes it easy to study offline and on the go. The app can be used to review in-class material. Students can watch thousands of videos which thoroughly explain topics ranging from Chemistry and Calculus to Economics and American History. For each topic, there are corresponding practice problems and questions which can be a great tool to review before a quiz or test. With a free account, students can track progress, gain badges as they master skills, and study new topics. Additionally, account users can utilize the bookmark feature which allows students to continue studying while offline. Khan Academy also has SAT prep and videos describing the college application process all the way from extracurriculars to how to write an application essay. Khan Academy is constantly adding new videos and topics for all different grade levels. Best of all, Khan Academy is totally free and gives students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of topics that students don’t understand in class. lllustration by Dylan Wade
HPA and Student Council help with Hurricane Relief By Lauren Ahern
After hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused damage to the south, communities from across the nation are doing what they can to help, but what has Hackley done to help? The answer is, Hackley has done quite a lot. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma were the first category 4 hurricanes to hit American shores in the same year. The hurricanes took precious belongings, cars, homes, and friends and family from it’s victims. The cost of damages combined for both hurricanes total from $115 billion to $290 billion. The Fall Sting accomplished the most profitable relief efforts through the Upper School bake sale, and other activities such as
Rainfall in inches per day as predicted on August 24
games. Hackley Parent Association Director Lisa Torell said the Sting was a “good venue for the school’s Hurricane Relief Efforts because it drew a huge K-12 crowd of students, athletes, parents, and faculty.” Students and parents donated food for the Upper School bake sale, which attracted a huge crowd raising $3095 in total. The HPA also hosted activities and games catered towards lower schoolers where donations were made towards Hurricane Relief. The Athletic Committee donated a portion of the money made from concessions at the Sting, and donated all the money raised from selling snow cones. In total, the Athletic Committee raised approximately $1,000 for hurricane relief. Outside of the Fall Sting, Community Service Director Jessica Spates said they started off their Hurricane
Relief efforts on First Friday, with a group of students creating toiletry kits for the victims. In total, the group made 700 adult toiletry kits filled with toothbrushes, tissues, shampoo, and other necessities, and 100 kits for kids filled with fun activities. The students worked with Teen-Works, an organization founded by three Hackley Alumni, Harry, Charlotte, and Annie Wechsler, who provided all the supplies that went into the kits. Teen-Works is a group of middle school and high school students who take on various community service projects including working with those in need and emergency relief.
Additionally, Community Council decided to help out and held a bake sale in the Grille Room, which raised over $500 for hurricane relief. The money raised by the Upper School and Community Council bake sales will be donated to Direct Relief and Global Giving, after the students involved decided through a vote. Each organization will help victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, as well as other places recently affected by natural disasters, including Puerto Rico and Mexico. Illustration by Olivia Weinberg
12 politics
November 10, 2017
American Youth v. Free Speech
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Consequences of a more restrictive generation by
Raghav Chopra
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estern philosophy of the ideals of liberty and freedom permeate the foundations of American government and society. Yet these core principles and their interpretation has come to the forefront of domestic politics. While some argue that the likes of white supremacist Richard Spencer and author Andrew Breitbart promote hate speech against minorities and should not be given a voice, others argue that the culture of political correctness bars us from free speech and debate. This ideological rift is primarily age based, and forces usto consider the consequences of our generation’s perspective on our fundamental rights. While their opinions on other social issues such as sexuality and gender equality are significantly more progressive than their predecessors, younger adults were
surprisingly less keen on full protection of free speech. A Pew Research Center survey found that 40% of those younger than 34 believe that the government should be able to control those who speak out against minorities, as opposed to 24% for previous generations. The implications of this shift in opinion are widespread. The trend explains the numerous protests against right wing speakers such as Milo Yiannopoulos and Richard Spencer on college campuses. While older adults may call these acts restrictive of free speech and, “PC,” suggesting younger adults feel entitled to a “right to not be offended,” these protests continue to occur, another cropping up in the University of Florida. However, some of the more extreme protestors caimed otherwise. ANTIFA, an anti fascist protest group that became prominent in these protests for its use of anonymity and causing damages and violence calls out authoritarian control “by any means necessary.” However, a restrictive opinion of free speech from its largest base, young people, may force the group to change its platform. In regard to free speech and the NFL national anthem protests, while reports suggest that younger viewers
sympathise more closely with the protesters’ right to kneel during the anthem than their critics, the shift away from free speech complicates our understanding of that. The selective choice of restricting free speech, barring white supremacists yet advocating for anti police brutality, may in fact support the fearful claims of older people that PC culture is treading on free speech. If the new generation believes it has a right to selectively bar free speech as suits its political views, their original intent of protecting minorities from violent hate speech may become clouded by a more sinister culture of silencing dissenting opinion.Their opinion is mostly expressed through protests against hate speech and bigotry, and is protected under the first amendment. However, as more young adults move from high school and into the voter electorate, that protest may translate into actual policy. If the sanctity of free speech in our nation is to be protected, we must reconsider our evaluation of it and placing restrictions on it.
I may not agree with what you have to say, but I am willing to defend to the death your right to say it
-Evelyn Beatrice Hall onVoltaire’s defense of free speech
Illustration by Lei Anne Rabeje
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November 10, 2017
Dreamers Keep on Dreaming: Community considers the fight for DACA By Amy Chalan
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magine your nation’s leader informs you that you are going to be deported from the country you’ve always called home, because you are considered an “illegal immigrant” by law. 800,000 individuals in the United States, called Dreamers, will soon face this situation owing to President Trump’s planned repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, commonly referred to as DACA. Although the repeal may appear to be of little relevance to students in the Hackley community, the issue is of paramount importance to the residents of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. Currently, an estimated 35,000 residents of the Hudson Valley are protected by the rulings of DACA. The immigration policy made it possible for individuals who illegally entered the US as minors to get a work permit and protection from deportation. If the US Congress does not take the opportunity to create a plan for current Dreamers, all current Dreamers without a recent 2 year renewal will be immediately eligible for deportation on March 5, 2018. Due to its large hispanic population, Tarrytown and Westchester have been buzzing with political advocacy for DACA. Former Hackley teacher, Rebecca Garfield, founded the Community for All program which advocates for the local immigrant population by “seek[ing] to collect funds for both emergency legal aid and for community organizing and empowerment”.
The organization encourages students to join the movement and try to encourage Congress to take action before March 2018, through discussion workshops and fundraising efforts. One of Mrs. Garfield’s inspirations for the program stemmed from her experience with her husband, who assists the Hackley soccer and track team. “The hoops we had to jump through to process that paperwork– the copies of love letters, the plane ticket stubs, the photographs from our seven year courtship...– opened my eyes to just how difficult it is to come to this country via legal channels,” she said. Although her husband was able to obtain a green card, there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who must wait decades to obtain legal residency in the US. This is why DACA was a significant opportunity for young immigrants, since it offered a legal way to work and live in the US, despite citizenship status. Fo r m e r H a c k l e y s t u d e n t Domenique Meneses (‘16) is a Dreamer, and was able to attend
Vanderbilt University through her DACA status. DACA has offered Domenique the
opportunity to work, apply for university, and travel. She was afraid of being open about her status due to fear of being judged or perceived differently rather than security reasons, but has developed courage in face of the current political situation. Although her status came with many opportunities, when applying
The Rohingya: the world’s most persecuted minority
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Rohingya Muslims face increasignly unpleasant conditions in refugee camps after escaping persecution in their native Myanmar.
By Max Rosenblum
As students and teachers enjoy Hackley’s safe environment, at the other end of the globe, Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims face a remarkably different reality. In examining the crisis from an international standpoint, History teacher Vladimir Klimenko offered insight on the relevance of the alleged “ethnic cleansing.” Often called the “world’s most persecuted minority,” the Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group in Buddhist majority Myanmar, living mostly in the western Rakhine State. Claiming the Rohingya have been living in Myanmar illegally for decades, the Burmese government has denied the Rohingya citizenship leaving them in essence “stateless.” Consequently, extremist Buddhists in the Rakhine state have long supported a horrific military campaign of systematic violence against the Rohingya Muslims’ existence. Conflicts escalated on August 25th when a group of Rohingya
militants attacked police ranks, killing 12. In response, the Burmese government launched attacks on the Rohingya for alleged terrorism. The military opposition against the Rohingya Muslims has caused
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We should care for several reasons. The first and more obvious one is a humanitarian one. And a second and perhaps less obvious one is, that, the world needs to be serious about maintaining international standards.
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Vladmir Klimenko 500,000 to flee their homes in Myanmar with hopes of survival in Bangladesh. Refugees have recounted stories of arson, fires, pillaging, mass murder, and gang rape in their abandoned villages, surmounting to what the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights called “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” T h e m i g r a n t s’ j o u r n e y t o Bangladesh has been anything but easy. Buddhist extremists have planted landmines along the path to safety, leaving many wounded, weak, or even dead once arriving in Bangladesh. Refugee camps are extremely overpopulated, medical care and food are in high demand, and disease is beginning to spread. Myanmar’s head of state Aung San Suu Kyi has yet to condemn the military violence consuming her nation. For this failure, she has received constant ridicule from leaders around the world. Mr. Klimenko offered insight on the relevance of the Rohingya crisis to the Hackley campus. “We should care for several reasons. The first and more obvious one is a humanitarian one. And a second and perhaps less obvious one is, that, the world needs to be serious about maintaining international standards,” Mr. Klimenko explained. “In the absence of those, and in the absence of their enforcement, this type of violence will occur more often and more viciously.” Nodding to what members of our community can do to help out with the crisis, he acknowledged that the most feasible course of action for most members of the Hackley community is simply to donate money or advocate. Because it is sometimes difficult to gage the atrocities ensuing thousands of miles away, it is important to understand how and why events like this take place and to advocate in preventing them from happening in the future.
to college, Domenique was considered an international student since she has DACA status. “It made it difficult for me to gain financial aid and, with many colleges, reduced my chances of acceptance,” she said, since American students are granted preference Like many other Dreamers, Domenique found herself frustrated with the government’s boundaries on the definition of an American. “I was American in every way except my legal status, and that had been something I had zero control over. I kept being denied acceptance and the chance to live the American dream and contribute to the country I called home,” she said. She hopes the Trump administration will create a path towards citizenship for undocumented immigrants in place of DACA. Mrs. Garfield points out the impact of young students like Domenique. “The current political climate is creating huge amounts of fear for local families and students. How well could you concentrate on physics or Faulkner if you had so much uncertainty weighing on your heart and mind?” There are still four months left in the movement to protect undocumented immigrants at Hackley and in the local community, and many ways to get involved. Mrs. Garfield suggested, “Find a way to give back. Undocumented immigrants contribute in so many ways to the running of our communities-- and yes, they pay taxes. Find an organization that supports immigrants and get involved.” Illustration by Amy Chalan
Why should you care about climate change? By Raghav Chopra
Tropical storms run rampant across the Carribean and Southern US, recurrent erratic weather, and rising temperatures: the consequences of climate change become increasingly more apparent. While hurricanes may make infrastructural and economic catastrophes seem profound, their scope is broader. If the US continues to procrastinate in acting against climate change, the prospects for Americans’ health, prosperity, and wellbeing may be dire. However, rapid action to halt US waste and emissions may be able to reverse these effects.
of rain drenched Houston 7 days after Hurricane Harvey (compared to the average yearly rainfall of 49.77 inches)
Rise in average global temperature by 2100 (compared to a 1.7 degree rise since 1880)
Decrease in mean household income in the US by 2100 as a direct result of climate change
Increase in insect borne diseases like lyme in North America in the past year owing to warming temperatures Graphic courtesy of PiktoCharts
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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Many of Colin Kaepernick’s former teammates on the San Francisco 49ers continue to kneel during the national anthem to protest what they see as systemic racism. Recently tensions have risen as a result of comments made by President Trump criticizing team owners for allowing players to protest.
Politics and sports merge as athletes exercise their 1st Amendment Rights By Cole Wyman
Throughout the past 14 months, sports and politics have come together as one, much to the disdain of both sports fans, who watch sports as a break from politics, and politic enthusiasts, who see sports as insignificant. On August 14th, 2016, during a preseason game, Colin Kaepernick, backup quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, decided to remain seated during the national anthem. At first his actions went relatively unnoticed, but since the footage of him sitting went viral last year, American citizens, including the Hackley community, have been torn regarding how to react to these protests and/or if they cross a line. Kaepernick explained his decision not to stand by saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Liberals tend to support Kaepernick in his protest against police brutality. Conservatives often believe that the national anthem is not the time to protest America and see Kaepernick’s refusal to stand as a direct insult to the United States armed forces. Kaepernick initially received heat from all directions because this had not been seen in a while. However, soon after, a few more players began
protesting during the anthem as well. Each player took action and used their platform to advocate for political change. The national Anthem protests evolved when Philadelphia Eagle’s safety, Malcolm Jenkins, held his fist up during the anthem as a way to protest racism without disrespecting the country and its armed forces. Since Kaepernick started the issue, over the past year there has been a dramatic increase in sports casters and sports television discussing political issues and talking about their personal views. Hackley students have also weighed in on the issue. Junior
and football fan Matthew Braver said that he does not care what the players do and he believes that the players can do whatever they want. Freshman Samson Benett’s belief on the protests is a little different, saying, “I think that [the protests] are disrespectful, however, I do believe players should be able to express their opinions about our country in other ways that don’t disrespect our military.” Although the issue has been under constant fire and debate since its beginning, including involvement in other major sports, recent events have made this into an even bigger deal.
Photo courtesy of Ty Wyman Seattle Seahawk’s defensive end Michael Bennett said that he will continue to protest no matter the repercussions
A few weeks ago at a rally in Alabama, President Donald Trump spoke about NFL players kneeling for the anthem. He voiced his disapproval of the player’s protests, claiming that they “should be fired.” In fact, he went as far to say “get the son-of-a-bitch [kneeling player] off the team,” angering a number of NFL players, who felt that Trump was using his presidency to infringe on their rights guaranteed by the first amendment. In week three of the NFL season (the Sunday after the President’s comments went viral), more than 200 players took action against Trump while the Anthem sounded. And additionally, three NFL teams (the Steelers, the Titans, and the Raiders) did not even report to the field after the anthem. With players kneeling during the Anthem for slightly different reasons, it is becoming increasingly difficult to pinpoint the motives for such protests. The movement started by Kaepernick focused specifically on police brutality and the “blind eye” that Americans consistently have towards unnecessary violence and systematic racism. Now players are kneeling for various reasons, some, for example, reflect their dissatisfaction with the United States government, specifically the man in charge. In addition to those who kneeled, in week three of the
NFL season, many more players and some full teams linked arms to show unity against Trump’s remarks and systematic racism. Pittsburg Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had his team stay in the locker room for the anthem. His reasoning was not a bash on Trump or a show of political resilience, but, he saw the protests as a simple distraction that could divide the team and derail the straightforward task of winning a football game. Although the number of fans in support of these protests is not quantifiable, we do know that many NFL fans do not appreciate the athletes kneeling for the anthem, and as a result the NFL is seeing significant rating dips. Now, after the week three drama, while players continue to kneel, the league management has tried to sort out the issue and find a balance between allowing the players to voice their own opinions and preventing further dips in ratings and unnecessary disagreements. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has formally asked players to stand, and the NFL has held meetings with players and representatives of the NFLPA, (the union of players), to try to fix this issue. As of now, there is no definite answer, as commisioner Goodell has not yet made a final decision.
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November 10, 2017
Olivia Curran finishes sixth in the Triathlon World Championship By Emmy Wenstrup
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ri-varsity athlete junior Olivia Curran recently competed in the World Championships in the Netherlands, where she placed sixth out of fifty women in her age group and received All-American status for her performance. While most high school students spend their summers going to camps and relaxing, Olivia trains for highly competitive international triathlons. “Training for them is kind of tough … and I only train for them during the summer but it’s not just like you’re training for one sport, there’s always a lot to do.” Olivia started thinking about triathlons from a very young age. Her father and brother, a Hackley alumnus, both compete in them, and she started competing in local races at
age five. This summer, she trained two hours a day every day, each day focusing on two out of the three triathlon sports: running, swimming, and biking. Before the World Championships, she competed in three local races for practice, where she placed first in two and second in the other. Of her experience at the World Championships, she said that “besides the extreme stress, [her] experience was very educational because [she] learned the culture of another country, how to handle myself at this level race, and how to be confident in [her]self.” Her family has greatly affected her triathlon career. “When it comes to triathlon, even though both of us are competitive in it, we have our different strengths and weaknesses so there’s never too much comparing.”
Photo courtesy of Olivia Curran Olivia hopes to run in college, and is spending her junior year working to improve her mile times and become a better runner.
Bouncing Back:
Boys Varsity Basketball team preps for the upcoming season in hopes for a strong comeback By James Sexton-Holtmeier
his junior season. One of the most effective ways After a disappointing winter season to prepare for the winter season last year, the Boys Varsity Basketball team is back to work this fall, led by is to take part in the available fall coach Drew Klein. The team prac- activities. Coach Drew Klein said, “The tices twice a week, and plays games at fall league is a great way for players the Theodore D. Young Community Center in White Plains on Sundays. to get in shape for the season well Sophomore Patrick Schulman, a in advance, and to play together in real game situathree-year Fall league tions. I can attest to veteran, said, “We’re a that myself, having scrappy team, we put We’re a scrappy played consistently in our best effort, and team, we put in our in both fall and sumwhen the results don’t come, we’re ready to b e s t e f f o r t , a n d mer leagues in high face the next day.” w h e n t h e r e s u l t s school year-round. Although the boys don’t come, we’re I felt it gave us an may not be the most ready to face the advantage over teams who didn’t particitalented team in the next day. pate. And finally, it’s league, they always great for underclassoutwork their oppoPatrick Schulman men to get experience nents. playing against varAfter losing five sesity competition.” Alniors, the team now looks to junior Matthew Jean to lead them. Mat- though the team is young, they do not thew said, “We may be working view this season as a rebuilding year. Winter season coaches Antoine Johntwice a week, but I want more than son and Shedrick Wilson know that that. I want a big season out of the the sky is the limit for this team. The Boys Varsity team this year, and the only way to do that is to put in the returning players were given a sumwork outside of school.” Matthew’s mer workout schedule, and all players sophomore season was unfortunately followed it religiously. With their hard riddled with injuries, but he expects work and dedication, the potential for to be back, and better than ever for these young men is unbounded.
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Unlike the rest of her family, her mom “has no idea what sports are pretty much, so she’s always just a good balance for when [Olivia is not] not feeling too motivated to do [her] workouts, because you don’t want to have too many intense people around you or else it just gets a little too much.” During training, she usually works with other people so she can talk to them. However, she said that when biking this summer she listened to a lot of throwback music and a lot of Khalid to motivate her during rigorous training sessions. Much of her focus during these sessions were on running and biking because she can get out of shape in those areas easily. Unlike the other two sports, Olivia doesn’t participate in a biking team, making it one of her biggest challenges. “On the bike, that’s probably where the most technical parts of the race are, and I’m just not used to it because I don’t have a team like the other girls do, so I’m not really used to riding with other girls, so when I’m on the bike I’m always just worried about how I’m doing and the next technical turn that’s about to come up” Olivia said, “so usually when I’m on the bike I’m just waiting for the bike to be over.” Although triathlon has recently been classified as a women’s sport for colleges, Olivia is not interested in recruitment for triathlon. She’d like to run in college, but the recruitment process for running is different from other sports in that coaches can’t contact a potential athlete until the summer of senior year. Therefore, Olivia is most focused this year on reaching certain times. “I think the biggest year is junior year and just trying to get your times down… You’re not really in contact with the colleges,” Olivia
Photo courtesy of Olivia Curran Junior Olivia Curran spent the summer training for the World Championship Triathlon, and participated in regional competitions as preparation.
commented. “Until then you’re really focusing on which ones you want and the time standards you need to get down to.” As Olivia comes off an incredible summer of triathlon, and winning the NYSAIS championship last track season, Coach Karpinski notes that “this season, already having won the Somers invitational, ... Olivia is again hoping for a NYSAIS repeat.”
Although field hocky is played by men worldwide, there are not many opportunities for men to play in US schools. Colin Ives is able to pursue his passion for the sport as a member of the Hackley Middle School field hockey team. Photo courtesy of Colin Ives
Middle School Field Hockey welcomes their first male player, Colin Ives By Sofia Graziano
Colin Ives, the first male field hockey player at Hackley, is making history on the hilltop. Colin Ives, an eighth grader, has had a stick in his hand for most of his childhood. After many years of watching his mom, Jenny Leffler, coach of Hackley’s varsity Field Hockey, Girls Varsity Lacrosse team and Senior dean, he has fallen in love with the sport, and his desire to play grew as he got older. He continued to practice his skills and decided to play field hockey at Hackley. Currently, Colin plays center midfield and forward on Hackley’s eighth grade team and has aspirations of playing on the varsity team for his mom in the future. Coach Leffler has supported Colin in his field hockey endeavors and is excited to have him play, “This summer, he told me he wanted to play field hockey at Hackley. At first, I was a little hesitant. But he went to a camp
and he is a really strong player,” Leffler explained. Coach Leffler was proud of Colin for taking the initiative and pursuing something he really loves. Colin has really enjoyed playing field hockey so far, and has become a vital player for the 8th grade team, as he scored two goals in the team’s first game. He adds, “It feels pretty good to be the first boy playing field hockey just because no one else has ever done it before.” Colin also has a desire to help players that have less experience than him giving his teammates some direction and advice to strive. Coaches Maryann Maguire, Hackley’s registrar, and Cyndy Jean, Middle School Director are eager to have Colin be part of the team, “Colin is an outstanding field hockey player - both in attitude and in skill. He brings a lot of positive energy to the team, and always goes out on the field ready and eager to play (and to win),” Coach Jean said. Colin is a powerful force on the field and
brings a combination of determination and enthusiasm to the field. “Colin makes the game a lot of fun, brings tremendous skill to the team, and keeps us all positive,” Jean explained. In terms of the field hockey program, Coach Leffler is hopeful that this will impact the program for the better. “In terms of what it means to have a boy playing on a traditionally girls’ team, I think it is really important.” She explained, “Just like the girls we have had playing on the boys’ teams (football, wrestling)—it is about time! Mostly, though, I love that he is playing a sport that he loves. I hope that it only affects it in a positive way and I hope that as he gets older he continues both to want to play and to be able to play. Having players who love the sport and work hard only makes the program stronger.” Colin is ecstatic to start his field hockey career at Hackley, and hopes to become a powerful force for Hackley’s program.
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Students and teachers alike indulge in the newest craze and build cameraderie along the way By Jimmy Hefter, Tyler O’brien, Jared Tillis
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n the Hackley hilltop, students and teachers alike can be found glued to their phones or computers, captivated by the Fantasy Football phenomenon. Prompting million dollar pools and humiliating punishments, fantasy leagues are swiftly turning into a universal sensation. In the 1950’s, Bill Winkenbach, a shareholder in the Oakland Raiders, first invented fantasy golf and baseball with his friends in a California hotel room. This ultimately paved the way for the creation of fantasy football in 1962. Since then, the Fantasy Football wave has been transformed by online platforms, with CBS, ESPN and Yahoo leading the way. Based on his model, current Fantasy players first create a league, usually with family or friends, and appoint a Commissioner. Two to three weeks before the NFL season begins, each owner drafts a team consisting of 15 athletes from the various NFL teams. Of these 15 players, a typical fantasy team features a starting lineup of one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one flex (an extra running back, wide receiver or tight end), one kicker, and one defense. Fantasy football calculates point totals for an owner’s team corresponding to how their NFL players perform in their real games, For example, for every ten receiving yards, an owner receives 1 point; a touchdown earns 6 points, etc. Team owners can also trade their players with other owners and pick up players not currently on anyone’s fantasy team. Fantasy players compete against another owner every week for the entire duration of the NFL season. Whichever team’s players
score the most points (their players do the best) will win that week’s matchup. After 13 weeks, the fantasy playoffs begin, in which the top teams face off to attempt to reach the championship. Eventually, the winning team is crowned, often with a large monetary prize. Fantasy Football now has 75 million players and continues to grow exponentially. Other fantasy sports including basketball and baseball are played, but football accounts for about 36% of the fantasy games that people play every year; that’s twice the share of any other sport. Not surprisingly, new research reports that fantasy football can be blamed for a nearly $17 billion productivity drain for American companies, due to its growing popularity and fans’ tendencies to devote workday time to prepping their lineups. Of the millions of people around the world playing Fantasy Football, there are twelve teachers at Hackley who have a league of their own. Hackley’s faculty has a head-to-head standard league run by Mr Gruenberg. League members include: Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Leffler, Mr. Gruenberg, Mr. Sykes, Mr. McElroy, Dr. Ying, Mr. McLay, Mr. Karpinski, Mr. Teacher, Mr. Flanagan, Mr. King, and Mr. Wright. The league is currently in its third year, Mr. Karpinski said, “if anything, we’re a little closer as a function of fantasy football.” Although the league is mostly about building bonds between teachers, there is a competitive side that comes out, and rivalries emerge. “I love beating McLay and Ying, especially Ying because he gets so mad,” Mr. Karpinski said. He continued by stating that everyone loves to beat Mr. Gruenberg because he thinks about fantasy nonstop. Mr. Karpinski believes that fantasy football is a great way to
strengthen bonds between people and recommends that students at Hackley try it, as he “still has a league with my friends growing up and it’s a good way to stay in touch.” Jon Gruenberg, a math teacher at Hackley, is an enthusiastic player of Fantasy Football. He said, “It’s a great way for us to talk about stuff and keep the mood light and fantasy football is a way for us colleagues, to interact on a social level without everything being about work all the time.” Gruenberg stated that there are many rivalries within the league, which creates some conversation at the lunch-room table. While Mr. Gruenberg is the commissioner of the teachers league, he feels he is more of a community oriented commissioner. He said, “Any time you become the commissioner, you become the target at some level,” as he is subject to the complaints of all the league members. M r. Gr u e n b e r g f i n d s t h e mathematical aspect of the game intriguing and said, “If you’re interested in learning about how football works and interested in learning about numbers and statistics, it’s really fascinating. It has made fans way more knowledgeable about the sport that they’re watching.” He claimed that people are more interested in watching NFL games now because they have their fantasy players in it. He said, “You have to learn what skills the players have; some real life skills and fantasy skills don’t translate.” Mr. Gruenberg believes if you want to learn about football, Fantasy Football is an interesting way to do so. He thinks that statistical analysis has changed throughout the years due to technology and fantasy sports. “It’s a great way to interact with your friends and peers if they have an interest in that regard.”
Illustrations by LiliAnna Khosrowshahi
Illustrations by Sofia Graziano
Varsity teams raise awareness for cancer By Bailey Griffen
On Saturday, October 21 at 2:30 PM the field hockey team hosted its annual Think Pink game, Play4theCure against The Masters School. This marks a longstanding tradition to show support for the community during Breast Cancer Awareness month, a custom other members of Hackley’s athletic community have also begun to adopt. In addition to the excitement around typical Alumni Weekend festivities, this game is special as it is for a cause. To highlight this, the field hockey team donned pink uniforms, decorated the sidelines, and hosted a bake sale, which has historically been a philanthropic success. All the proceeds from the sale go towards breast cancer research, and a portion will benefit the Dave Allison fund. “The focus on breast cancer awareness goes back over 20 years but we feel it is important because we have had members of our teams over the year dealing with this in their families and we know that it is something
that has touched so many members of our community over the years,” exclaimed senior dean and field hockey coach Jenny Leffler. Of the renewed sense of importance this gives the game she said, “It is also important for us to feel like we are playing for something bigger than ourselves. It helps us to keep things in perspective and also to keep other people in our minds all the time. We often talk about playing for someone who inspires you and that can be for a whole bunch of different reasons!” Senior captain of the team, Nicole Heyward, believes that the energy that everyone devotes to the Think Pink game displays many of the team’s values and allows them to put their enthusiasm to a good cause. “Overall, I really like playing field hockey in October because everyone becomes really spirited and it’s a great way to raise awareness,” she said. Similarly, the soccer teams have long been admired for their support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. This comes to light at the annual Dave Allison soccer game which
Photo by Lei Anne Rabeje Varsity Field Hockey hosted a Think Pink bake sale and successfully raised $600, which will be donated towards breast cancer research.
kicked off Alumni Weekend on Friday, October 20th. As the field hockey team donates much of their proceeds to Team Sue Harmon, the soccer team is loyal to the Dave Allison Fund, commemorating the beloved soccer coach who sadly succumbed to cancer in 2004. A newer member of the tradition, The girls cross country, has been working to participate
in promoting cancer awareness. For the past two years, the team has worn gold and black ribbons in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness in September, and pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness in October. In recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Hackley athletic community hopes to put forward the same passion they bring to each competition towards a good cause.