The Pulse October 2021

Harvey All Over the World

October 2021 Issue 1

Featured in this issue: l

OP-ED

l

Harvey News

l

Reports

l

Sports News

l

Reviews

By Halima Konteh

Each year, The Harvey School hosts international students on campus. Diversity is very important to the Harvey community, and The Pulse was honored to interview Alex Lindquist, Director of International Programs, in the hopes of delivering insight to our readers.

Ms. Lindquist also emphasized the effort made to celebrate holidays that international students observe back at home. For the Mid-Autumn Festival, mainly celebrated in Asian countries, international students were given mooncakes and participated in special activities to honor the holiday.

Although we have many new international students, it is also important to recognize the returning dormers who were online for the 2020-2021 school year. Oscar Lo is a returning international student from Taiwan who came back to America in August. Oscar is extremely excited to be back!

Ms. Lindquist’s involvement in the program started back in 2013, when she decided to host an international student from Harvey for the first time.

This student, Danni Qu, from China, lived with the Lindquist family for three years. Danni graduated from Imperial College London, and she is still in contact with the Lindquist family.

One of the many new international students this year includes Ricardo Paris from Spain. Attending high school at Harvey is Ricardo’s first experience studying abroad, and so far, he is off to a great start. When asked about his experiences studying abroad, Ricardo states that he enjoys “meeting so many different people from different countries,” and that Harvey in particular has exposed him to many new friends.

When asked about how it feels to be on campus, Oscar states that Harvey feels like a “stronger community because people appreciate being around each other more after quarantining and online school.” Oscar noted that during his quarantine, he missed his peers a great deal, and he feels happy to be back in the Harvey dorms. Oscar stated, “It is always great being able to make memories with the dorm students,” including eating dinner together and taking trips outside of campus.

According to Ms. Lindquist, hosting Danni was an amazing experience that showed her and her family “how beneficial international relationships are,” and it pushed Ms. Lindquist to join Harvey’s international program.

The process for admitting international students at Harvey is very similar to that of the domestic students, except international students also undergo interviews via video call and must complete an English proficiency test.

According to Ms. Lindquist, Harvey has enrolled 22 international students this year, two of them middle schoolers. The countries the students come from include China, Taiwan, Lithuania, Brazil, Germany, Spain, and Russia.

Ms. Lindquist believes that the larger enrollment of international students this year is most likely due to the pandemic, and that “being stuck home online made a push for more applications” to travel abroad. When international students are accepted to Harvey, they are provided with transportation to bring them to school on their arrival date.

It is very important to the international team that these students are comfortable and settled into their new environment, so Harvey hosts an orientation for new international students to meet their dorm mates, teachers, and host families. Ms. Lindquist stated that during these orientations, the students are exposed to local attractions and interact in “get-to-know-you games” in the hopes of connecting with their peers.

The Harvey School 260 Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536

Ms. Lindquist and her team also plan many fun events for international students to enjoy. For their first trip of the year, international students went to Boundless Adventures in Purchase, New York, and they participated in activities such as rock climbing.

There are many other trips that will take place in the future, one being a trip to New York City for a Broadway show.

Ricardo describes the students at Harvey as kind and approachable.

As far as the academic components of Harvey, Ricardo points out many differences between his school in Spain and in America, one in particular being the teachers. Ricardo emphasizes his love for the faculty at Harvey, stating that the teachers are “very friendly and make connections with students.”

As a This year’s Harvey international students pose for a photo on The Harvey School student who campus. Photo courtesy of Harvey School Communications. enjoys fine arts, Ricardo also mentioned that

Oscar also mentioned that he he appreciates the many art classes and noticed the high amount of newly enopportunities that are offered at Harvey. rolled students at Harvey this year, and These courses include studio art, digital he likes meeting his new peers. Oscar photography, painting, and so much appreciates the inclusion of international more. As far as his experience in New students from many more countries, York goes, Paris states that he “really because he loves “learning about differenjoys” the environment that New York ent cultures,” hence his proactiveness to offers, including the people, the food, study abroad. He has made many new and the entertainment. friends from across the world, including R.C. Ciunys from Lithuania and Ricardo

Despite the many cultural difParis from Spain. ferences between New York and Spain, Ricardo believes that he is getting ac As the school year progresses, customed to his new surroundings. He Ms. Lindquist and the international team hopes to continue studying in America hopes that domestic Harvey students for the future. will aim to reach out to international students, as it is an opportunity to “learn

from others.” Ms. Lindquist also encourages those who would like to become host families for future international students to ask for more information, as hosting can impact both the student and host family in many positive ways.

OP/ED

Page 2

A Salary Cap Would Be a Home Run for the MLB The Pulse Staff Editor-in-Chief/Layout Amanda Mohamad Junior Editor Emma Galgano

R.C. Ciunys Lily Dalrymple Spencer Elkind Dan Gasch Halima Konteh

Faculty Advisor Virginia Holmes

Fall 2021 Pulse Staff

Dear Editor,

As a Major League Baseball (MLB) fan, I believe that there should be a salary cap in baseball. For far too long, star athletes have agreed to play for a team in exchange for a high salary that not every team can match. Shouldn’t the playing field be fair?

Imagine this scenario: It’s mid-July, right after the All-Star break, the race to the postseason is on, and all you want to do is create a fantasy baseball lineup to try to earn some cash. You need 10 players for the team, including a pitcher, catcher, infielders, outfielders, and a designated hitter. You start with $50 thousand and need to use it wisely on each player.

You decide to spring for a good starting pitcher, maybe Jacob deGrom or Gerrit Cole or Clayton Kershaw. Then, you want some of your favorite players on the field, maybe Fernando Tatis Jr., Freddie Freeman, Mike Trout, and Juan Soto.

But suddenly, you realize you’ve run out of money and can’t afford players for the rest of your team.

You start reworking your lineup with some more affordable players who don’t have as much stardom. Your team performs well, and you make a little money, but you can’t help but imagine if you had all the stars on your team, and how you could’ve swept all the other competitors. Now, let’s apply this idea to Major League Baseball.

As many fans know, the MLB is an organization that favors wealthier teams. Instead of having a salary cap, there is a luxury tax. The luxury tax creates an unfair advantage for big-market teams, because some teams can put as much money as they want into their rosters, while others can’t.

As of now, there is no salary cap in baseball and no limits on how much money a team can spend on a player, meaning, players can work the system based on how skilled they are and how much a team wants them. A free agent player, depending on their skill level, could have offers coming from three different teams all trying to win the capitalist war of who can pay the player the most.

If one team offered $10 million and another offered $15 million, any logical person would go with team two. Or, in this exact same scenario, a player could tell team one that team two has offered more money, and this action could provoke team one to offer $20 million.

If there was a salary cap, team one and team two could offer the highest price possible to a player, and the player could choose which team he’d rather go to depending on other factors like location, teammates, management, etc. One possible factor could be incentives in the contract, such as paying the player an extra $5 thousand for every RBI or home run.

These skill-based features would allow baseball players to raise their salary by working hard and playing hard.

When you look at teams that have recently made the playoffs, most of them have large amounts of money put into their organization. According to Statista, the top seven richest teams in baseball right now are (7) St. Louis Cardinals, (6) New York Mets, (5) San Francisco Giants, (4) Chicago Cubs, (3) Boston Red Sox, (2) Los Angeles Dodgers, and (1) New York Yankees. Out of all these teams, five of them have made it to the postseason wild card game or playoffs. And it’s not a coincidence.

As reported by Forbes, the Miami Marlins are the only team to never get to a billion dollars in support. Not very coincidentally, the Marlins haven’t been in the playoffs since 2003. While the richest team, the Yankees, have made the playoffs in 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, and made it to the wild card game in 2021.

Focusing more on players, let’s go over the outrageous contracts that have given MLB stars the most money. The top five richest contracts, according to the official MLB site, are (5) Giancarlo Stanton with $325 million, (4) Fernando Tatis Jr. with $340 million, (3) Francisco Lindor with $341 million, (2) Mike Trout with $360 million, and (1) Mookie Betts with $365 million. In all these contracts, each player has signed with a team for 10 years and moreover.

The average amount of money made by an MLB player is $4.38 million, although with all these huge outliers of multimillion dollar contracts, it is hard to assume the average of what a player would receive. But imagine if the max contract in MLB were $10 million. What would the positives of having a salary cap be?

Well, first, training and upbringing of players would be greatly influenced. If there was a salary cap, teams would want to create their own stars because there is no guarantee that they would acquire star players. The minor leagues would become more competitive with players having more opportunity to make it to the majors.

Another benefit to the salary cap would be that players wouldn’t sign such long contracts with teams. A lot of multimillion dollar contracts last longer than eight years, which takes a lot of players into the last years of their career. With a salary cap, players could move around teams more often because they’d make the same amount of money anywhere.

Finally, there would be equal opportunity in baseball. A team like the Oakland A’s could have the same chance as the Boston Red Sox to gain a star player and in turn make the playoffs.

Andrew Dawson, a writer for The State Times, says, “Baseball isn’t about winning on the field anymore. It’s about winning in the front office. If the MLB wants to keep baseball as America’s favorite pastime, then they must replace their luxury tax with a salary cap.”

Sincerely, Lily Dalrymple

Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers player, who has one of the highest salaries in baseball right now, making $27 million per year. Photo Courtesy of Harry How/Getty Images, reported by Boston.com

Harvey News

Page 3

Five-Star Fundraising: Introducing Ms. Correa

By Amanda Mohamad

On Friday, Oct. 8, The Pulse interviewed Ms. Isabelle Correa, The Harvey School’s new Director of the Annual Fund. Harvey welcomes Ms. Correa to the roster of 13 new faculty and staff members for the 2021-2022 school year.

ence of living in different countries and working in different types of schools into my work. But, overall, I want to learn from Harvey, and I am already learning a lot in the short time I have been here.”

As the Director of the Annual Fund, Ms. Correa works with the Alumni and Development team, which includes Ms. Susie Danziger, Ms. Karen Grazia, Ms. Effie Afendtoulides, and Mr. Greg Janos. Ms. Correa is in charge of the Annual Fund for Harvey that goes toward school improvements, teacher salaries, student aid, and more. She also manages and strategizes Harvey’s Annual Giving Program by working with Annual Fund Ambassadors, many of whom are current and former Harvey parents.

Before coming to Harvey, Ms. Correa worked at the French-American School of New York in Mamaroneck, where she fundraised for the international independent school. “Fundraising was very new to me when I moved from Paris, but I loved working in a school, and I gradually moved my way up to where I am now,” Ms. Correa says. Now Ms. Correa is interested in seeing how fundraising and academic culture works in an American independent school.

When asked what she enjoys about Harvey thus far, Ms. Correa says, “I enjoy the sense of unity, kindness, and positive energy. I am impressed by how much everyone wants to support the school, and it makes me want to work harder and be more involved in the community.”

The Pulse thanks Ms. Correa for her time and is excited for all she has to bring to our community. We wish her the best of luck for her first year at Harvey!

Ms. Correa tells The Pulse, “In my role, it is crucial that I build a relationship with ourcommunity; that can be parents, students, alumni, and faculty and staff. The people I work with are dynamic and wonderful, and I’m so happy to have them on our team. My goal this year is not just running the Annual Fund, but also to build connections and create relationships in our community.”

Outside of work, Ms. Correa loves to travel, and she has gone backpacking multipletimes. She enjoys learning new languages and is quadrilingual, as she speaks English, French, French Creole, Tamil, and she is also currently learning Spanish. Creole is a language spoken in Reunion Island (Overseas Frtench Department), and Tamil is spoken in South India in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Ms. Correa was born in India, where she lived until the age of 12, before moving to France.

Her father is of Indian descent, and her mother is French.

Ms. Correa also enjoys dancing, and she learns a new cultural dance in every country she travels to. “Learning dances in different countries is a great way to get to know the culture, as there is so much history behind the movement,” she says. Who knows, maybe someday she’ll work with Ms. Gambino!

Ms. Correa graduated from Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris, France with a Bachelor Transport et Logistique, which is the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in Transportation and Logistics Management in the United States. She came to the United States 14 years ago.

With her international background, Ms. Correa brings a unique perspective to the Harvey table, and she expressed interest in becoming involved with the diversity programs at Harvey. She tells The Pulse, “I want to incorporate my experi-

Ms. Correa currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her two daughters, ages 13 and 10. She loves visiting her family in France, and she often travels with her daughters.

Ms. Isabelle Correa, Harvey’s Director of the Annual Fund.

Photo Courtesy of Harvey School Communications.

Harvey Spotlight: Our Four-Legged Family

By Spencer Elkind

Harvey, both as a school and as a community, is not just students and teachers, or even humans in general. Many of our teachers have amazing and adorable pets that bring more life to the Harvey community than anything else. The Pulse tracked down a few of the pet owners to give us their opinions on the experience.

If you’ve been at Harvey for a few years, you remember Roxy and Riley, the pair of black and white dogs that nearly every student would see during their day. The Pulse spoke with their owner, Mr. Wahlers, to ask him about his dogs.

As he brought them to school every day up until COVID, it’s no doubt these dogs were a huge part of our community here at Harvey.

Mr. Wahlers chronicled his dogs, who were both rescued from the Paw Safe Animal Rescue shelter in Patterson, New York, as “the first ones to meet you and the last ones to see you go. They’re the bright spot of your day.”

When asked more about Roxy and Riley, Mr. Wahlers described them as “amusing, as they do all kinds of crazy things and are always so enthusiastic.” He also threw his hat in the ring to get pets back at Harvey, stating that he doesn’t like leaving his dogs at home for hours at a time.

The Pulse also tracked down Ms. Holmes to ask her about her cat Zelda. Anyone who’s ever had her or Mr. Seymour as a teacher knows about Zelda, as she’s one of the most famous Harvey

pets. In her interview, Ms. Holmes described Zelda as “my best friend, and a true animal companion,” and Ms. Holmes also detailed how she chanced upon her cat.

Ms. Holmes said, “I found Zelda after work on a street corner when I used to live in Queens, and after I reached down to pet Zelda, she followed me all the way around the block. I was told by someone who lived in the neighborhood that her owner had died, and the building manager put her outside when no family claimed her, so I took her home.”

Since then, Zelda has become both a part of the Holmes-Seymour family and Harvey, and whoever’s had a course with Ms. Holmes knows Zelda is included in many classes. And it seems like, for the time being, that won’t change.

When asked further questions, Ms. Tantillo talked about how, hilariously, she “once got home late and caught Carl climbing on the top of a plant. It’s also like I caught him committing a crime.” Unfortunately, since Carl has never been to Harvey, Ms. Tantillo doesn’t consider him part of the Harvey community just yet. However, she would love to get another lizard, as she really enjoys the experience.

These wonderful pets are some of the true gems of Harvey. Even though at school we can’t see them, they continue to make their presence known through class and beyond. Not only that, but they also enrich the lives of their owners and anyone they interact with, making everything so much happier and more entertaining. This is why the Harvey community is proud to have all its members, be they human or animal.

Finally, The Pulse located Ms. Tantillo to talk about her lizard Carl. Carl is the only Harvey pet who’s been in two school newspapers, and anyone who was once in the Soundview community will surely recognize him.

Ms. Tantillo, who got Carl after requests from her students at the former Soundview Preparatory School, stated that she “likes having to take care of Carl, but she wishes that she didn’t have to clean up after him.”

Roxy and Riley. Photo Courtesy of Mr. Wahlers.

Harvey News

Page 4

Nothing But Nokes: Harvey’s Newest Addition to Fine Arts

By Amanda Mohamad

On Monday, Sep. 20, The Pulse interviewed Harvey’s newest fine arts teacher Ms. Alison Nokes.

The Pulse learned all about the talents Ms. Nokes has to offer Harvey Upper School students.

Ms. Nokes was born in Hartford, Connecticut and was raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, where she graduated from one of the city’s public high schools, William Hall High School. After graduating high school, Ms. Nokes attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts and Art History. She later earned a master’s degree in Art Education and an MFA in Painting from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Before Harvey, Ms. Nokes taught at a variety of schools, both public and private, from preschool to college sophomores. At one point, when teaching at a very small private school in Texas, Ms. Nokes tacked on teaching geography, English, and physical education. She also keeps a part-time job on-and-off at Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) selling outdoor equipment.

When asked what inspired her to become an art teacher, Ms. Nokes says, “Art class was my favorite class in school growing up, so it felt like a natural direction to go in.

Once I was toward the end of college and was considering what to do with my bachelor’s degree, I decided

to use my skills to teach others as I got my art career going.”

After living in Austin, Texas for the past four years, Ms. Nokes knew she wanted to come back to her roots in the Northeast. She looked for a full-time art position at a private school in the area, and thus she was led to The Harvey School.

In her home studio, Ms. Nokes creates many abstract paintings inspired by significant moments of her life. She also enjoys making collages, and she has found joy in working on projects in collaboration with her students.

Ms. Nokes continued, “I enjoy doing the projects I assign my students along with them. Now that I teach Photoshop and Digital Photography, I’m getting out of my comfort zone from what I do at home as I dabble in my students’ work.”

For the Fall Term, Ms. Nokes is teaching Photoshop and Digital Photography for upperclassmen and Art Lab for first-year students. During the Winter Term, Ms. Nokes is planning to add Painting and Graphic Design to her schedule and 3D Design for the Spring Term.

Ms. Nokes feels that the community at Harvey is “very welcoming.” She said, “When I first stepped onto campus, already I felt I was part of the family and community.”

After the academic school day, Ms. Nokes coaches Harvey’s cross country team during the Fall Term with Coach Christian Coscio and Coach Megan Taylor. Ms. Nokes ran track and cross country in high school, was on her college’s track team, and enjoys going on runs in her spare time. Ms. Nokes will offer an after-school art program later this year.

Aside from art and running, Ms. Nokes enjoys spending time with her family and relaxing by reading a book on her Kindle. She reads practically anything recommended to her on Prime Reading, but she especially loves realistic fiction novels.

Ms. Nokes now resides in Stamford, Connecticut, with her husband of three-and-a-half years and her 5-year-old Siamese cat.

Most of Ms. Nokes’s family resides near Hartford, Connecticut, and she considers herself the “cool aunt” for her niece and nephew. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was an architect, so arguably Ms. Nokes was born to be a fine arts teacher, as she observed her parents’ work.

Harvey Fine Arts teacher, Ms. Alison Nokes.

Photo Courtesy of Amanda Mohamad.

Ms. Nokes says if she “isn’t doing something with her art, it feels like a piece of herself is missing.”

The Pulse welcomes Ms. Nokes to The Harvey School with open arms and hopes that students will take advantage of all the classes she has to offer.

The Pulse Recommends...

Favorite Halloween/Horror Movie: Halima: “Monster House” Spencer: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Amanda: “The Orphan”

Favorite Fall Scent:

Lily: Toasted pumpkin seeds Dan: Apple cider Emma: Pumpkin chai

Current Favorite Song/Artist/Album:

Ms. Holmes: “The Golden Casket” (Album) by Modest Mouse Amanda: “Salad Days” (Album) by Mac DeMarco R.C.: Lil Tjay

Photo Courtesy of topdogtips.com

Reports

Page 5

13 Heroes

By Emma Galgano

13 U.S. service members were killed in Afghanistan in a suicide bombing attack near Kabul’s international airport less than a week before the U.S. was set to complete its military pullout Aug. 31. The Pulse would like to honor the 13 men and women who died while risking their lives for The United States.

According to the BBC, the Taliban emerged in the 1990s in northern Pakistan following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. By 1998, the Taliban captured the Afghan capital, Kabul, overthrowing the regime of President Burhanuddin Rabbani and controlling almost 90% of Afghanistan. In 2001, the U.S.-led forces removed the Taliban from power.

According to Whitehouse. gov, on Aug. 30, 2020, President Joe Biden ended 20 years of war in Afghanistan-- the longest war in American history. It was part of an effort started by former President Donald Trump and finished by President Biden. The United States evacuated about 120,000 people, which is more than experts thought was possible.

On Aug. 26, 2021, 13 American service members were killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. The average age of the fallen was 20 years old, and one was over 30. According to NPR, President Biden called these 13 soldiers “heroes who made the ultimate

sacrifice in service of our highest American ideals and while saving the lives of others.”

According to AP NEWS, two suicide bombers and shooters attacked the crowds that were trying to escape the Taliban takeover by going to Kabul’s international airport.

The scene quickly changed from a moment of hope to something people would see in a horror movie.

The first soldier lost in the Marine Corps was Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, and he was 20 years old when he died. Espinoza’s mother said he was “a great guy, a great guy, very proud of him.” Espinoza joined the military after high school, and he continuously demonstrated selfless acts of service.

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee was 23 years old when killed in Afghanistan, and she was married to fellow Marine Jarod Gee. Just days before her death, she posted a photo of a baby in Afghanistan with the caption “I love my job.” She was a graduate of Oakmont High School, and the school stated that Gee was their “hometown hero.”

Marine Corps Staff Sgt., Darin T. Hoover, was from Salt Lake City, Utah. Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that Hoover died while helping U.S citizens and Afghans evacuate. Hoover’s father Tweeted, “I love you, son!!! You’re my hero...

Please check in on us once in a while. I’ll try to make you proud!”

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss was 23 years old when he died, and he joined the Army in 2016. Ryan was happily married to Alena Knauss, and she stated, “For him, it’s the ultimate honor he could give back to his country” She continued, “To help those people and to know he was helping people, he would not be sorry, and he would not regret it.”

Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez bravely died at 22 years old. Lopez planned on following in his parents’ footsteps by joining the police department as a deputy when he got home from his deployment.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum sadly died at 20 years old. McCollum died while helping the evacuation and guarding a checkpoint when the attack at the airport happened. McCollum’s father said his son was expecting his first child, and that he was “a beautiful soul.”

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola was 20 years old when he selflessly died. Merola graduated from Los Osos High School, and all the students decided to wear red, white, and blue to honor him.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui sorrowfully died at 20 years old while helping the families of Afghans who had aided the U.S. government. The city of Norco plans to put Nikoui’s name on the George A. Ingalls Veterans Memorial Plaza, which honors residents “who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation.”

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo was only 25 years old when he died. She was a member of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Naval Support activity. Her family said she was a role model to all young girls of Dominican origin.

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez was 22 years old when he fearlessly died in Afghanistan. His hometown said he was a promising athlete, academic, and devoted art student. Sanchez’s family stated that everyone should follow in Sanchez’s footsteps by “continuing the ripple effect of making a positive change in our world.”

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz was 20 years old when he heroically died. Schmitz was on his first deployment, having been sent from Jordan to help with evacuation efforts.

13 Heroes cont. on pg. 6

How to Become a Cyborg: Zimmer Biomet’s Smart Knee

By Lily Dalrymple

One of the newest upcoming medical advances is predicted to hit the market by the end of this year.

The Zimmer Biomet Smart Knee, created by Zimmer Biomet and Canary Medical, is a technological implant set to greatly advance knee replacement surgery, and it helps patients have more positive outcomes and recoveries.

Orthopedic surgery deals with a human’s bones, and in this case, the Smart Knee will help with replacing a whole knee. Medical Design and Outsourcing reported that another company interested in smart implants known as Stryker said, “Smart devices and implants will play an important role in the future of orthopedics...”

The Zimmer Biomet site defines itself as a global medical technology leader with a comprehensive portfolio designed to maximize mobility and improve health. It has partnered with Canary Medical, a medical data company created by a team of surgeons, medical device developers, and IoT experts, to create the Smart Knee.

Zimmer Biomet and Canary Medical recently gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration, allowing the company to move forward with its innovations of smart

implants, and it hopes to put the Smart Knee on the market by the end of the year.

Now, what is the Smart Knee? Known as Persona IQ, the Smart Knee is a combination of Zimmer Biomet Persona knee implant, designed to be meticulously customized to each patient’s anatomy, and Canary Medical’s implantable canturio te tibial extension sensor technology.

According to Zimmer Biomet, the knee itself can be adjusted in one or two-millimeter increments to fit into a patient’s original bone structure. Canary Medical’s sensors are made out of the same material and technology found in cardiac devices such as pacemakers, and in addition, it can measure and determine range of motion, step count, walking speed, and other gait metrics.

Persona IQ records and wirelessly transmits the data to a patient’s personal base station at home, which could be a patient’s iPhone, Apple Watch, or other places that contain ZBEdge Connected Intelligence Suite, a product designed

by Zimmer Biomet for remote care management. According to Canary Medical CEO William L. Hunter, M.D., “Persona IQ reflects our

shared belief that automatic, reliable and accurate data collection and analysis represents the future of orthopedic care.”

“Historically, surgeons relied on patient-reported metrics during intermittent post-op follow up visits to assess the quality and pace of recovery from knee replacement surgery. Now, with physiological tools to support remote monitoring technologies like mymobility, and smart implants like Persona IQ, we can actively monitor patient recovery and rely on real-world, objective data to supplement patient care,” said Peter Sculco, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

the shift to smart products. Reported

by Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry, Hanson said, “Following a recent expansion of our partnership with Canary Medical, we now expect that Persona IQ will be the first in a broader portfolio of smart implant technologies in various orthopedic surgery applications.”

These other implants in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement could include hip, traume, and extremities. So, keep an eye out for new smart implants that could impact your health.

Sculco continued, “In addition, providing patients with access to their own mobility data will allow them the opportunity to be engaged in their recovery.” This new way of collecting data to monitor a patient’s postoperative progress has revolutionized post-op care, by bettering patient confidence in regaining and maintaining their mobility.

Bryan Hanson, chairman, president, and CEO of Zimmer Biomet, told analysts that more than 70% of the company’s innovation money is now invested in the areas of data informatics and robotics in

The Smart Knee- The physical implant connecting from the femur to the tibia.

Photo Courtesy to Zimmer Biomet.

Page 6

Reports

“Gimme More” Freedom: Britney Spears’s Conservatorship Journey

By Emma Galgano

Britney Spears, singer and songwriter, had been under conservatorship for 13 years. Her primary conservator, her father Jamie Spears, controlled her spending, communication, and personal decisions. On June 22, Spears’s management team announced that she hoped to be released from conservatorship because she has created four albums, headlined a global tour that grossed $130 million, and performed for four years in a hit Las Vegas residency.

Spears’ private life has been on display ever since she came out with the 90s hit “Baby One More Time.” According to Harvard Politics, Britney Spears was on the top charts for 32 weeks and remains today as one of the most popular singles ever sold.

In 2007, Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline accused her Spears of being an unfit mother, even questioning her mental health. A few days later, Spears was seen shaving her head and using an umbrella to shatter the car windows of paparazzi.

According to the BBC, Spears was placed under conservatorship (a court case where a judge appoints a responsible person or organization) after a public breakdown in 2008, resulting in hospitalization and rehab at the UCLA facility. After Spears was released, she was placed under permanent conservatorship, giving her father and another coconservator power over her finances and medical decisions.

Confidential court records obtained by The New York Times showed that the conservatorship restricted aspects of her life, ranging from her dating life to the color of her kitchen cabinets.

In 2020, Jamie Spears had conservatorship over his daughter for more than a decade. According to The New Yorker, Britney Spears paid him a monthly salary, and since 2008, Jamie Spears has received at

least $5 million before taxes. Jamie Spears also received a percentage of his daughter’s tours and endeavors.

According to Bazaar, Jamie Spears petitioned the courts for “temporary” conservatorship, but the conservatory was extended indefinitely.

Britney Spears’ fans have continued to voice their opinion with the #Free Britney campaign.

The #FreeBritney campaign has been around since 2009. Still, because of Britney’s recent testimony, an anonymous lawyer who was formerly part of the firm that oversaw Britney’s conservatorship expressed significant concerns over Jamie Spears running his daughter’s life.

In 2019-2020, Jamie Spears stepped away as her conservator temporarily due to his poor health. Soon after, lawyers stated that Britney Spears is “afraid of her father” and will not return to the stage as long as he retains control.

On June 23, 2021, Britney Spears virtually addressed the court regarding her conservatorship. In her 20-minute speech, she called the arrangement “abusive” and criticized her family and others involved in managing her day-to-day affairs and medical care.

Britney Spears stated, “I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized,” she said during a hearing that was live-streamed to the media by the court. “I just want my life back.”

She then continued to say, “Ma’am, my dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a huge role in punishing me — ma’am, they should be in jail.”

According to the BBC, Britney Spears’ team also said that she was drugged, forced to perform against her will, and prevented from having more children.

The #FreeBritney movement has been turned into numerous documentaries. CNN, BBC, Hulu, and now Netflix have all released films regarding the Britney Spears conservatorship.

Britney Spears’ fiancé, Sam Asghari, said that several recent documentaries about the singer have left a lousy aftertaste. Asghari noted on Instagram that he does not blame these networks for making documentaries, and he hopes that the then-upcoming Netflix documentary “will be respectful.”

free from her father. She said she was “On cloud 9 right now!” Asghari posted on his Instagram stories, “Free Britney!” he wrote via his Instagram Story Wednesday, Sept.

29. He continued, “Congratulations!”

Independent states that the Netflix documentary was “irresponsible, boring and a waste of everyone’s time.”

Independent rates the documentary one star out of five.

Spears, as of Sept.

29, has yet to comment on it.

According to CBS, on Sept. 29, 2021, a Los Angeles judge suspended Britney Spears’ father from the conservatorship. Judge Brenda Perry agreed with a petition from Britney’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, and appointed John Zabel, a certified public accountant, to serve as a temporary manager of her finances. The judge said her father’s suspension was in Britney’s best interest and said the ruling could not be appealed.

Britney Spears added to a few of the numer-

ous protestors for the #FreeBritney cam paign. Image Courtesy of TheRiotRoom.

Britney stated that she is grateful for all the support her fans have given her, and she hopes that the media will respect her privacy.

Spears posted on her Instagram account that she was flying a prop plane as her first excursion

13 Heroes cont. from pg. 5

Schmitz’s father emotionally stated, “I’ll never see him do anything — provide me grandkids — anything. It’s all gone now. It didn’t need to happen, and it shouldn’t have happened. But love our military, support these guys. All of them.”

Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton Soviak was 22 years old when he chivalrously died. Soviak’s family stated that Soviak loved his job and was very proud of his country. His family also said, “We are struggling to come to grips with this personal tragedy and prefer to grieve with close friends and family.”

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan Page was 23 years old when he courageously died. Page was a Boy Scout who played hockey and was also a diehard Chicago Blackhawks fan. Page’s family stated he had a “tough outer shell and giant heart,” and he also had the words “Death Before Dishonor” tattooed on his chest.

According to NBC, President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and other high-ranking officials attended a “dignified transfer.” The 13 soldiers were slowly carried in American flag-draped caskets off a C-17 military transport plane. Families of the 13 soldiers observed from a private area on the tarmac, where sobs could be heard. These young men and women risked and lost their lives to help provide safety and peace. The Pulse thanks them for their bravery and courage. Rest in Peace.

A few days after the bombing of Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, a note and U.S. flag are shown placed at the main gate to U.S. Marine Base Camp Pendleton. Photo Courtesy of Thomson Reuters.

Sports News

Page 7

Rock and Roll, Rosenthal!

By Halima Konteh

This year at The Harvey School, the senior class officially has its first verbally committed Division I athlete, Phoebe Rosenthal, to Elon University. From the age of four, Pheobe started playing on a soccer team, her first one ever being coached by her father.

According to Phoebe, her father was the first person to “encourage her to play” the sport, and she eventually went on to join a soccer travel team, solidifying her love for the game.

Eventually, during her fifthgrade year, Phoebe joined the New York Soccer Club (NYSC), playing full time and traveling all across the country for tournaments with her teammates.

Phoebe states that the team feels like a “family” to her, as she has belonged to the club for almost a decade. Joining the club was Pheobe’s biggest step in making soccer a huge part of her life, as she and her teammates have about two hours of practice each day and about two games every weekend.

In Phoebe’s first year of high school, she took a season off from NYSC to play for the Harvey varsity soccer team. She joined the Harvey team in hopes of connecting with her peers at her new school, and she won many awards, includ-

ing MVP, HVAL All-League, and WNEPSSA All-Star.

Phoebe’s journey to signing to attend Elon University started in January 2020. She traveled to Elon in North Carolina for an ID camp, a program that many Division I colleges offer aspiring college athletes.

After COVID-19 hit hard in March 2020, Phoebe’s club team was not allowed to play in person for a period of time, but many college coaches still had their eyes on her from previous tournaments and scouting events. Unexpecedly, Phoebe received a call from Neil Payne, Elon University’s head women’s soccer coach, in June 2020, and she eventually decided that the Division I university was the best fit for her, as she enjoyed the people, the environment, and athletic programs.

Phoebe described her emotions after verbally committing to Elon University as “extremely happy.” According to the website College Factual, Elon women’s soccer is currently ranked No. 89 out of the 306 Division I women’s soccer teams in the country. The women’s soccer team at Elon has also had 19 winning seasons.

Phoebe hopes to contribute to raising the team’s national rankings, and she is excited to meet her new teammates. She also plans to

major in physical education. She will officially sign to Elon University in November.

When asked about her soccer role model, Phoebe stated that Alex Morgan, a 32-year-old player for the U.S. women’s national soccer team, is one of the “strongest American offensive women’s soccer players of all time.”

Phoebe grew up reading many books about Morgan, and she has even been invited to the same U.S. Soccer National Team Training Centers that Morgan was invited to when she was younger, a total of 17 times. It is at these National Training Centers where the best soccer players are chosen to make the U.S. National Team. Phoebe’s dream would be to play for Morgan’s current team after college, but if not, she also has many local soccer teams in mind if she pursues the sport as a career.

Although soccer is a big part of her life, Phoebe has many other interests and hobbies as well.

She plays many other sports, including skiing and swimming, and outside of athletic hobbies, she enjoys spending time with her friends.

Phoebe Rosenthal (middle) playing against EF Academy. Photo Courtesy of Harvey School Communications.

Phoebe has many opportunities waiting for her in the future, and who knows, maybe she’ll even be the first Harvey alumni to join the U.S. women’s national soccer team!

The Life and Accomplishments of Jacob Wheeler

By Dan Gasch

Most people consider bass fishing a hobby, but it is also a competitive sport! Jacob Wheeler is one angler who has conquered bass fishing. Wheeler is a nine-time Major League Fishing (M.L.F.) champion, and he has revolutionized the sport with his use of electronics to find fish. He has most recently won the Bass Pro Tour M.L.F Angler of the Year award.

According to Bassmaster, as a child, Wheeler and his two sisters, Amber and Kaitlin, were home-schooled. They were raised in a neighborhood 5 miles from Indianapolis, and his parents feared that their children would fall under peer pressure and get into trouble. Lynn, Wheeler’s mother, home-schooled the children until they reached high school.

For Wheeler’s seventh birthday, his uncle Morry took him fishing. This uncle was also an accomplished angler who twice qualified for the Indiana State Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) This experience led to Wheeler’s love for the sport, and he looked forward to fishing with his uncle every year.

On an appearance on Realtree’s YouTube channel, Wheeler spoke about his experience as a child fishing with his father. “I remember my dad always telling me to be patient, let that bait fall, slow down.”

Often younger anglers want to reel in their lure as fast as possible, but over time, they learn the benefits of slowing down. Wheeler discovered the same lessons all young fishermen must learn.

When Wheeler was 10 years old, he found a newsletter from a B.A.S.S. affiliated club stating that they were looking for younger anglers to participate in youth fishing tournaments. When Wheeler began fishing tournaments, he did not have any fancy equipment or an expensive boat, but he still learned many of the skills that have made him a champion. After finishing high school, Wheeler chose to pass up on college for a chance at being a professional angler.

Wheeler stunningly won $100,000 by winning the Bass Fishing League All-American award when he was only 20 years old. This win boosted his wallet and attracted sponsors from outdoor companies all over the country. Over the past 11 years, Wheeler has accumulated nine wins and 36 top 10 finishes fishing

for M.L.F., solidifying himself as one of the best anglers in bass fishing.

According to the YouTube channel “Intuitive Angling with Randy Blaukat,” one of the reasons for Wheeler’s success in the sport is his ability to use new techniques to his advantage.

Groundbreaking new sonar graphs called live scopes are a new technology in bass fishing that can be used to find fish deep in lakes that have been impossible to catch in the past. Wheeler has become very efficient using the live scope, and it has helped him in many tournaments.

In recent years, Wheeler has collaborated with the Googan Squad, a group of YouTube fishermen who have been the subject of much talk in the bass fishing community. The Googans have used their platform on YouTube to create a line of fishing tackle that has exploded in popularity over the past few years.

Although many bass anglers love the Googan Squad and their baits, some professional anglers have ill feelings toward the Googan Squad because their wealth has not come from wins; they did not

achieve the success and wealth that comes with it in a tournament.

Despite what some other anglers feel about the Googans, Wheeler has become a huge fan.

When the group announced new baits at I.C.A.S.T., a fishing convention where companies show off new products, Wheeler supported the Googan products.

According to Ebiographypost, not only has Wheeler accomplished an incredible amount of success on the water, but he has also settled down with a beautiful family at home. Jacob married his wife Alicia in October 2017.

Jacob Wheeler holding the 2021 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year trophy. Photo Courtesy of Christopher Lenney Jacob Wheeler cont. on pg. 8

Sports News

Page 8

NBA Vaccinations: No Vaccine, No Basketball?

By R.C. Ciunys

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has seen a rise in vaccination rates in recent weeks, especially when factoring in the players who have received at least one of the necessary shots.

According to the official NBA website, on a rough count of nearly 600 players in the league right now for training camps, 95% of players are vaccinated. This figure was expected to be closer to 500 when the regular season began Oct. 19 and rosters were trimmed.

COVID-19 affected sports, studying, and businesses. The world found a possible solution, but not everyone is using the opportunity to become vaccinated, stay healthy, and remain safe.

NBA basketball players have various opinions about COVID-19 vaccines. One of them is Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins. According to BasketNews. com, Wiggins says that he doesn’t want to get vaccinated because he does not believe in vaccines. No one in his family is vaccinated from COVID-19.

Wiggins does not use any type of medicine, because he believes that the body needs to recover naturally. Wiggins also said that he had COVID-19, and he thinks that it was not “that bad.” He is scared to be vaccinated, because he believes that it could even cause cancer.

The NBA is trying everything, though, to get every player vaccinated. According to ESPN, if a player misses a game, he is not going to earn money for the game. If Wiggins is not going to be vaccinated, he is going to miss home games because in order to play in his home arena, he must be vaccinated. Wiggins has a $31.6 million contract, so every missed game costs approximately $350 thousand.

Another famous basketball player who does not want to get vaccinated is Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving. According to the ESPN website, Kyrie Irving attended all of the Nets’ practices, but practices are not the games. Irving says, “I’m always focused hundred percent in the game, but there is nothing I can do, I don’t want to be vaccinated and no one is creating opportunities for me to play.”

The NBA holds the same rule for Irving: “Missing the game because of the vaccination, no money.” Irving, without vaccination, is not going to be able to play in the NBA. If he misses a game, he loses $380 thousand every time.

However, in the NBA right now, 95% percent of players are indeed vaccinated, and those athletes have their own opinions about COVID-19 and vaccines.

One of them is Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns has a particularly tragic experience with COVID-19.

According to Bleacher Report, He says, “I lost seven family members from COVID, including my mom.”

After this tragedy, Towns is trying to inspire people to become vaccinated. According to CNN, Towns said, “It never matters to people until it happens to them.” The Timberwolves star also said, “I hope no one has to deal with what I’ve had to and still continue to deal with.”

Towns contracted the virus and was one of the first players to get COVID-19 in the NBA. Towns is vaccinated and says that right now, he feels safe.

According to CNN, LeBron Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns with his James, Los Angeles late mother, who passed away from COVID-19.

Lakers star, said, Image Courtesy of ClutchPoints.

“Vaccine... it’s not a big deal.” LeBron says that he is not going to inspire anyone. He also stated, “Everyone has their own choice to do what they feel is right for themselves and their family and things of that nature.” LeBron was vaccinated Sept. 28, 2021.

Reviews

Jacob Wheeler cont. from pg. 7

The two are parents to daughter Olivia Wheeler, born Jan. 22, 2019, and they plan on having another child soon.

Recently Wheeler won the bass pro tour M.L.F. Angler of the Year award, an accomplishment considered to be one of the most prestigious a bass fisherman could receive. Wheeler stated, “At this moment, my lifelong dream became real. Angler of the year is a title that has always been at the top of my list as one of the biggest titles you could achieve in this sport.”

Jacob Wheeler has built a legacy that will go down in the history of professional bass fishing, and he believes that this is just the beginning.

According to Harvey student and avid fisherman Hayden Smelser, “What Jacob Wheeler has done in bass fishing is incredible.”

Basketball players have their own opinions, and some of them agree with vaccines while some of them do not. Some players are getting vaccines because they want to protect themselves and their families, but some of them do not believe that is the best course of action for them. By preventing unvaccinated players from participating in games, and in turn making money, the NBA is taking a clear stance in the hopes that players will become vaccinated.

Tales of the Multiverse A Review By Spencer Elkind

Ever since 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has provided the masses with new content and fresh entertainment on an almost quarterly basis. Now, 13 years later, the MCU is finally branching out into animation with its new anthology series “What If...?”

Set after the branching of the multiverse shown in “Loki” earlier this year, “What If...?” has Uatu the Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) taking us on a journey through the MCU and showing us how events would have proceeded under a different set of circumstances. What makes this show even more interesting is that many stars from the live-action MCU return to voice their characters (those who do not are portrayed by accomplished voice actors).

The first episode displays what would have happened if Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) had become Captain America instead of Steve Rogers (Josh Keaton). This episode brings to light the classic struggle women underwent in the early 20th century, which is further explored as Peggy is more efficient and effective as Captain America than Steve Rogers ever was.

The second episode shows what happens if T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) became the legendary outlaw Star-Lord. This episode was bittersweet, as it was the final performance of Chadwick Boseman following his death last year. It’s amazing how much better T’Challa was able to make the universe, even convincing Thanos (Josh Brolin) to abandon his genocidal campaign for destruction in favor of helping the innocent.

Heroes from different universes stand together.

Image Courtesy of IDMB.com

The deaths of the Avengers are investigated in episode three. This one borrowed heavily on the murder mystery genre as Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) watches his team fall apart. The episode has you constantly asking who the killer could be and makes it all the more shocking when they are revealed. Notably, this is the first episode to end on a cliffhanger, with Fury assembling new Avengers to stop Loki (Tom Hiddleston) from taking power.

Multiverse cont. on pg. 10

Reviews

Page 9

Nike Air Force 1: Worth the In a “Galaxy’s Edge” Far, Far Away…

Purchase?

A Review By Dan Gasch

A Review By R.C. Ciunys

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a day in the Star Wars universe? The new Star Wars theme park in Hollywood Studios at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, offers guests an opportunity to experience Star Wars in real life!

Kobe Bryant playing on the court with the AF1.

Photo Courtesy by Solecollector.

Whether you are playing basketball or just walking around the Harvey campus, many teenagers want to know: What is the best sneaker? After research and personal use, The Pulse highly recommends the Nike Air Force 1 as the top choice.

The Nike Air Force 1 made its world debut in 1982 and was the first basketball shoe to use Nike Air technology. According to the website SneakerFiles, they were designed by Bruce Kilgore, and Nike ceased production one year later. The brand would revamp the Air Force 1 in 1986, when it was available in high, low, and mid top.

Years have passed, and Nike continues to release the Air Force 1, also known as the AF1 in different colors, materials, and even collaborations with other influencers. Also stated by SneakerFiles, Nike celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Air Force 1 with a huge campaign and a bunch of releases.

You can buy the shoes mostly in every online shop, including Amazon, Nike, eBay, SportsDirect, and Footlocker.

Also, you can buy them in physical stores such as Nike or NBA stores.

The cost is one of the most important components, but almost every shop has almost the same price. The Air Force 1 can be found on Nike.com, where it costs $90. Amazon and eBay have higher prices, and if you want to save $10, you should find your size and get it on the Nike website.

The choice, and especially the price, are pluses. The shoes are unisex, meaning everyone can wear them. This pair of kicks has different designs, and they differ from other pair of shoes.

The shoes were made for everyday ordinary walking, but after studying the whole shoe, you can also use them for some sports, as they are very comfortable for walking, jumping, and running.

Shoes can also be used for easy exercises or stretching. You can wear them for a long time, and it’s guaranteed that your feet are not going to get tired.

The entrance to Galaxy’s Edge looks like a New York highway tunnel lined with subway tile on the inside, and then it transitions to a familiar environment for Star Wars fans.

This shoe has almost every color in its arsenal. White fits the best, because white is the best color on clothes and looks good. It does not matter what type of clothes you are wearing. Also, the Nike website has an option to design your own shoes’ color, and you can pick any color and put that on different spots. This opportunity is free, but not every shoe has this ability. This is a great feature, because it’s possible to create your own shoe with designed colors.

No one has ever created perfect shoes, so of course, AF1 has a couple minuses. One of them is -- intense sport. You cannot play basketball, soccer, and football with this sneaker. The main shoe base does not cover the Achilles and ankle. One wrong movement can cost you a serious injury. So, it’s not recommended to play hard sports with AF1.

One of the worst things is that the front of the shoe creases easily. It instantly messes up the shoes, and that is impossible to avoid. This problem happens to everyone who buys the shoes, because they are made from leather, and every step they are creasing more and more.

My own opinion is that the shoe is truly worth the price.

This is a great material for your style and fashion. Of course, you need to try saving the shoe. Meaning that because it’s white, it’s easy to get them dirty, and then it loses its good looks. Creasing also ruins the look of the AF1.

Overall, though, I recommend this shoe, because nowadays you cannot find a good-looking and comfortable pair of shoes for such a good price. This shoe is 9/10, and as I stated, the only minus is creasing, and the shoes lose their form.

Great basketball players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook also have worn AIR FORCE 1 to improve their style.

So, AIR FORCE 1 is a very interesting pair of shoes, as it is stylish, comfortable, and sells for a good price. Everything the shoe has is worth the price.

Guests are greeted by an A-wing starfighter and a soda vendor selling Cokes and Sprites in bottles shaped as thermal detonators.

Throughout the theme park, many unique snacks can be found. One of these is the iconic blue milk that appears in mmany Star Wars movies, including when Luke drinks it in “Episode IV: A New Hope,” and Anakin also drinks it in “Episode II: Attack of the Clones.” Despite its appearance, the drink is just a fruity slushy that has a little too much sugar.

Another dining and beverage option for theme park goers is Oga’s Cantina. The Cantina is modeled after the iconic Mos Eisley Cantina in “A New Hope” and “The Mandalorian.” Cast members working at Oga’s Cantina remain in character while serving guests drinks with Star Wars modeled names like Jabba Juice or Blue Bantha. Guests can also pick up multicolored kettle popcorn at Kat Saka’s Kettle.

The most talked-about attraction at Galaxy’s Edge is by far the Rise of the Resistance ride.

The attention to detail that was put into making this ride is incredible.

When guests are on the line for the ride, they feel like they are inside of a first-order Star Destroyer, and there are spectacular animatronics and screens used to portray Star Wars characters while on the ride.

Although you are just in a room in front of a screen, Smuggler’s Run makes riders feel like they control the Millennium Falcon.

Possibly the most talked about attraction at Galaxy’s Edge is Savi’s Workshop, where park goers have the opportunity to build a lightsaber. The lightsaber costs $200, which many critics believe is too high for something that is considered a toy.

Although $200 is very expensive, it is well worth it, because not only do you receive an incredible replica lightsaber, but the experience of constructing one is also breathtaking. In addition, replica lightsabers from other companies are often well over $200.

First, guests choose their kyber crystal, which decides the color of their lightsaber. After they pick the crystal, builders begin to create the lightsaber’s hilt using pieces from one of four different themes that they choose beforehand.

Once builders are satisfied with the appearance of their lightsaber hilt, a gatherer (Disney cast member) screws it onto the blade, which at that point is covered by a fogged-out piece of glass. The gatherer then tells everyone to ignite their lightsaber, and the glass moves, revealing the lit-up blade of the lightsaber in a moment that will give every Star Wars fan goosebumps.

Even though Galaxy’s Edge is just a tiny corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it truly does feel like you have been transported into a galaxy far, far away.

Although Rise of the Resistance is technologically advanced, the ride is solely themed on the newest Star Wars trilogy.

Any Star Wars fan can enjoy Rise of the Resistance, but you must be a fan of the new trilogy to appreciate the ride.

In my opinion, Smugler’s Run is the better ride.

On Smuggler’s Run, guests have the opportunity to be the pilot for the Millennium Falcon, which is a lifelong dream for Star Wars fans. Riders walk into a room that directly resembles the inside of the Millennium Falcon and then are separated into groups and taken to the cockpit.

Inside, there are three different roles for guests to choose from: pilot, gunner, and engineer.

Each role is a blast no matter what you take. One of the most exciting and nostalgic parts of the ride is when the pilot on the right side pulls down on the hyperdrive lever, and the ship blasts off into lightspeed.

The Gasch family in front of Smuggler’s Run. Photo courtesy of Jessica Gasch.

Reviews

Page 10

The Return of the Ball: A Review on The Governor’s Ball 2021

By Amanda Mohamad

The 10th annual Governor’s Ball (Gov Ball) was held Sept.

24-26, 2021 at Citi Field in Queens, New York. The Pulse attended the music festival Saturday, Sept. 25, and has the rundown on all the details one should know should they attend the festival in future years.

For this year’s festival, the usual location of Randall’s Island in New York City was changed to Citi Field due to COVID-19 precautions.

This made transportation relatively simple, as most attendees were from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and were able to go via car.

Many attendees opted to take a train into Grand Central Station and then a subway directly to Citi Field.

This event took place in the surrounding area of the Citi Field stadium. Thus, it was entirely outdoors, so mask-wearing was not very prevalent. However, Gov Ball did take precautions to ensure the spread of COVID-19 during the festival would not be a major issue. To check in, every attendee had to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before the day they attended, along with presenting a matching ID.

Gov Ball was a ticketed event, but instead of paper or digital tickets, each attendee was sent a wristband two-to-four weeks before the event. Attendees were able to activate the wristband and add their credit or debit card information to use the wristband to pay for food, drinks, etc. This decreased the risk of losing credit or debit cards on the property and saved time by not having to carry around cash.

In terms of identification, each attendee was asked to state their age range when activating their wristband. However, since age can easily be forged, each attendee 21 or older was given an orange wristband after their ID was checked to signify that they are legal to purchase and drink alcohol.

After check-in, guests were immediately released into the festivities. Photographers walked with digital and Polaroid cameras, taking photos of guests at the many photoops set up on the property.

No guest was left hungry or thirsty. Gov Ball offered more than 40 food vendors in stands and trucks, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. The variety of food ranged from German Schwenk Grill, to Flaming Wok, to Walter’s Hot Dogs and everything in between. Gov Ball collaborated with water company MiO to set up “hydration stations” around the festival for guests to refill their water bottles with cold water throughout the day.

When I attended Day Two of Gov Ball, sunny weather was in store. However, sunlight against cell phones tends to cause the battery percentage to decrease. Luckily, Gov Ball sold portable chargers and had charging stations around the festival grounds.

Gov Ball consisted of four main stages: BACARDI Stage, Honda Stage, Grubhub Stage, and GOVBALLNYC Stage (presented by Verizon). Typically, two of these four stages were in use at once, until the end of the night, when headliners A$AP Rocky and J Balvin performed. The stages were distanced from each other far enough that only one performance could be heard at a time, but close enough that walking from one stage to another was not much trouble.

While all the stages included large screens zoomed into the performer on the stage, there were several times that I, standing at a whopping 5 feet tall with flat shoes, had trouble seeing the stage.

Because there were no designated seats, getting closest to the stage was first-come, first-serve, and extreme crowds began to form. There truly was no way to be socially distanced in any way from other guests. For those who don’t do well in crowds or require special accommodations, Gov Ball had specific, platformed areas for viewing the shows.

Personally, I attended three major performances, starting with King Princess. King Princess’s relaxing tone with songs like “1950” was a perfect start to my festivities, and it was a nice precursor for the overwhelming performances to come.

King Princess: consider me a fan!

The second performance attended was by Megan Thee Stallion.

Megan has made quite a name for herself over the past few years as a Black female rapper who is constantly on the charts with singles like “Savage,” “Body,” and “Cry Baby.”

Megan’s explicit lyrics and dancing was definitely not fit for a 5:30 p.m. performance in broad daylight, and nothing about this performance was family-friendly.

Multiverse cont. from pg. 8

The fourth episode is a tragedy in every sense of the word. In it, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) consumes himself in evil while attempting to save Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) from her inevitable death. This episode has Strange’s flaws of arrogance and raw determination on full display, as he is willing to destroy the universe for his own selfish gain.

Fans of “The Walking Dead” will love episode five. This episode is unique in that it utilizes minor characters like Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) alongside classic characters. The darkest episode yet, this episode shows us that hope never dies, even when a zombie Thanos comes for blood.

A return to form is explored in episode six, as we see a universe where Iron Man was never born. A more traditional episode compared to the darkness of the previous two, this one showcases Erik Killmonger (Micheal B. Jordan) and his skills at manipulation, as well as his intelligence.

The party never stops in episode seven. The funniest episode yet, this is a world where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) grew up without his adopted brother Loki and is now the Norse god equivalent of a partying teenager. The difference in Thor’s character from the main universe is the highlight, as well as the ending, which heavily sets up the finale of the season.

The end begins in the eighth episode where Ultron (Ross Marquand) wiped out all life in his universe and beyond. The only survivors, Black Widow and Hawkeye, face impossible odds against a villain strong enough to attack The Watcher himself. While this episode tells a great story with the two characters, it was mainly meant to establish Ultron as a villain so strong he forces the Watcher to break his oath.

And lastly, we have the finale. To battle Infinity Ultron, The Watcher recruits an elite team of Multiverse Guardians, consisting of Captain Carter, Star-Lord T’Challa, Doctor Strange Supreme, Party Thor, Apocalypse Widow, King Killmonger, and Titanslayer Gamora. Though this episode was great in my opinion, as it’s the finale, I’ll let you form your own.

Telling an amazing group of stories across nine episodes, “What If...?” accomplishes what we don’t often see in Marvel content. In an almost Avengers-like way, it harkens back to the first movies by introducing each character and preparing them for a team-up, while also taking time for solo storytelling. All in all, this is a thrilling series that I would recommend to any Marvel fan.

The final performance of the night was A$AP Rocky on the largest main stage: the GOVBALLNYC Stage. While the performance did not start until around 9 p.m., my friends and I waited by the stage for almost two hours to ensure a good spot to see him, and it was worth it.

A$AP Rocky performed some of his most notable songs, including “Praise The Lord (Da Shine),” “PICK IT UP,” and “L$D.” The digital and physical special effects (including flashing lights and smoke) made for an exciting performance, full of singing, dancing, and mosh pits. The mosh pits consisted of a lot of shoving and falling to one side and can put guests in danger if they are not cautious of their surroundings.

While the number of COVID-19 precautions and familyfriendliness could have been increased, Gov Ball was an unforgettable experience. The Pulse hopes to return to the next one in June 2022!

A$AP Rocky performing at Day Two of The Governor’s Ball 2021. Photo Courtesy of Aesthetic Magazine.