December 2016 • Estd. 1892 • Vol.124 #4 • Published Monthly • www.ihstattler.com Ithaca High School, 1401 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 • FREE
TATTLER
AN EXPERIENCE
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HIGH SCHOOL MATTER?
Documenting Mentorship at IHS By CASEY WETHERBEE
Teachers perform a great deal of supplementary work for which they are not compensated. For example, the time that teachers spend grading homework or making suggestions on essays can translate into hours of unpaid work. One important role that teachers play is one of a mentor, or someone who can form a personal connection with students and guide them academically and otherwise. Many, if not most, teachers at IHS have formed some kind of connection with their students in this vein. Recently, the administration has been working on a way to document the mentorship that is already occurring throughout the school, in order to help coordinate efforts to personalize student-teacher relations and make students more comfortable and engaged. Crystal Sessoms, formerly a special education teacher at DeWitt, has just started her first year at IHS as Associate Principal for freshmen, and she has spearheaded this movement alongside many other administrators. “It started at the beginning of this school year with thinking about the practical things that were already in place that lend themselves to building relationships, and using relationships as a foundation to engage students,” Sessoms said, describing the new initiative to document mentorship throughout the school. Near the beginning of the school year, Principal Trumble and Mrs. Reitenbach, one of IHS’s social workers, sent out a video to the IHS staff regarding their vision for documenting mentoring. Essentially, the administration is aware of the fact that many teachers have taken the time to form relationships with their students and check in with them on a more personal level. However, there has never yet been an effort to document these relationships or share their existence with the rest of the staff. In the video, Reitenbach says that “research clearly indicates that students who feel connected to an adult at school are more successful.” This illustrates the idea behind identifying and CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
READERSHIP SURVEY
AT THE INK SHOP
It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… No, Wait, It’s Shenzhou! IMAGE PROVIDED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
HOW MUCH DOES
By RYAN CUNNINGHAM
Taikonauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong wave before the launch.
“Sān … èr… yī … diǎn huǒ!” crackles the voice of ground control as two space-bound men salute in preparation for liftoff. Their rocket then leaves the blue planet behind with a fiery roar. Whose work could this be? Is it the Americans? The Russians? No, it’s the Chinese! Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong are the latest taikonauts to go into space. What on Earth is a taikonaut? A taikonaut is one who ventures into space in the Chinese space program. On October 17, 2016, 7:30 a.m., Beijing time, taikonauts Jing and Chen hurtled into space in the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Launch Center, boosted by a Long March 2F/G Y11 rocket. Once in space, the brave men successfully docked with the Chinese-built space station, the Tiangong 2, where they spent a month conducting experiments. The taikonauts returned to Earth on the evening of November 18. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
OPINION
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
Editorial
To Censor or Not to Censor? The Tattler is no stranger to controversy. In 2005, the paper attracted local and national attention during an incident in which the administration refused to allow publication of a “sexually explicit” cartoon that depicted stick figures in suggestive poses. The editorial board, led by Editor-in-Chief Rob Ochshorn ’05, sued ICSD for restricting The Tattler’s freedom of press, resulting in a drawn-out court case that showed the editorial board’s spirit and willingness to fight for student expression. This incident has shaped exterior impressions of the paper and remains in the foreground for us, even today. We believe the initiative shown by the editors at the time to be necessary for the success of any school publication that wishes to make an impact on the community. The question of how to frame controversial material is thus integral for us to address. This year, we had until now received little feedback, and consequently, we have had limited opportunity to reflect on the matter. The strong response to one of the articles in our November Issue, however, is a compelling signal that we need to reaffirm our standards and editing procedure when handling future material that may be sensitive to the community. In general, when viewing any piece of rhetoric, nuanced phrases specifically are what catch people’s attention, far more than summaries or comprehensive overviews. Throughout the 2016 presidential election, news and media outlets over the country have quoted Donald Trump’s claim that Mexicans are “rapists,” Hillary Clinton’s comment that many Trump supporters are “a basket of deplorables,” and so on, to an extent where statements like these, rather than actual policy, defined their campaigns for voters. Instead of using legitimate comparisons, mainstream media sensationalized the campaigns, aiding in Trump’s eventual victory. We recognize that the article submissions we receive that broach controversial topics` have the capability to create similar situations in our community. Our Opinion section is by far most liable to toe the line when it comes to controversy. We do not plan to remove or alter the intent of student opinions that have the potential to incite others. As an open forum, our top priority is to facilitate sharing of information and discussion within the community, so it is all the more important that those who may disagree—even the majority—come to us to express their ideas and opinions. Only by
hearing all sides of an issue are community members able to make informed, democratic decisions. Rarely, cases of fringe opinions such as neo-Nazi propaganda will crop up for news outlets, and to protect the safety of groups who may be endangered by threatening or hateful rhetoric, censorship is exercised. The very existence of these groups makes an explanation of their views important, however, and there are cases where, after extensive editing, we could publish an article on a fringe topic—and welcome writers to rebut. These hypotheticals would obviously be considered on a selective basis, and censorship would be on the table for such extreme views. The point is that we consider cohesion among different student groups and how the discussion stemming from a Tattler article could change that at a community like IHS. Many topics can’t be subverted simply by avoiding them. For all articles, we always strive to ensure that factually accurate, well-supported, and respectful language is used while preserving as much as possible of the original submission. This manner of review is done at our discretion and is never meant to change the argument or purpose of an article. That being said, opinion pieces are naturally difficult to edit for diction because the writer’s style is so fundamental to the genre. As such, we will be instantiating a new editing procedure starting for our February Issue to address this, along with other internal concerns. The Tattler will extend its section editors’ deadlines significantly, allowing tighter writer-editor communication in which we provide feedback so writers can make changes, which fosters learning and improvement in writing ability. This also provides a longer period for discussion within the board for controversial material that we may want to handle in a certain way. To any who may have been offended or worried by content in the November Issue, we apologize. We do emphasize, nevertheless, that it is our responsibility to publish sensitive material that has relevance to IHS and the region at large. Any readers with a comment about or response to a Tattler article, whether or not it is in the Opinion section, are highly encouraged to send a letter to editor@ihstattler.com to be published in the following issue. With your input, we hope to see greater interaction and discussion come out of future issues of The Tattler.
Staff 2016 – 2017 Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Xu ’17
editor@ihstattler.com
News Editor
James Yoon ’17 news@ihstattler.com
Opinion Editor
Luca Greenspun ’17 opinion@ihstattler.com
Features Editor
James Park ’17
features@ihstattler.com
Literary Editor
Emma Karnes ’17 literary@ihstattler.com
Arts Editor
Amalia Walker ’17 arts@ihstattler.com
Sports Editor
Benjamin Salomon ’17 sports@ihstattler.com
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Abe Messing ’17 backpage@ihstattler.com
Center Spread Editor
Vaynu Kadiyali ’19 centerspread@ihstattler.com
Copy Editor
Casey Wetherbee ’17 copy@ihstattler.com
Photography Editor
Magda Kossowska ’19 photo@ihstattler.com
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Francesca Chu ’18 layout@ihstattler.com
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Tristan Engst ’17 web@ihstattler.com
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
OPINION
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Letters to the Editor To the editor:
Thank you so much for publishing James Park’s article, “Creating Healthy Relationships: a Possible New Course at IHS.” I wish to correct one error: that it was not taught for three years, but was offered for three years in the Program of Studies. Also, no contact info was given in order for students to contact me with their interest or questions as to how to further make this course a possibility. Please contact Dianea Kohl by phone or email: kohldianea@yahoo.com or (607) 280-8326. What’s love got to do with it? Everything when it comes to a happy, successful life. With appreciation, Dianea
Hello, Staff of The Tattler:
My son is a senior at Ithaca High and regularly shares issues of The Tattler with me. The paper is well done, and I’m delighted to read talented writers covering topics relevant to them. However, I am troubled by a recent Opinion column, “The Case for Trump,” in the November 2016 issue. The statement, “Islam itself fosters extremism” falsely characterizes an entire religion. Replace “Islam” with “Christianity” or “Judaism” in that sentence—religions that have a greater number of American adherents than Islam does—and it’s very clear how appalling the original statement is. There are more than a billion and a half Muslims worldwide, and they are culturally diverse. Islamic extremists are a very small minority of Muslims and are denounced by most adherents of the faith. In light of the hate-filled rhetoric and attacks aimed against Muslim Americans, particularly during the recent U.S. election, I think it’s critical that our schools nurture a culture in which opinions can be freely expressed but not create a hostile environment for Muslim students by legitimizing stereotypes or propaganda. I hope that the current Tattler advisor, editors, and writers can work out positive practices that represent all members of the IHS community and the issues that affect them accurately. When presenting an opinion, facts matter. And those facts should not be used to denigrate or defame. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Pat Longoria
The Tattler is the monthly student-run newspaper of Ithaca High School. All currently-enrolled students at Ithaca High School are welcome to submit writing and photographs. As an open forum, The Tattler invites opinion submissions and letters to the editor from all community members. Email submissions to editor@ihstattler.com or mail letters to: The Tattler 1401 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Send submissions by January 13 to be included in the February issue. The Tattler reserves the right to edit all submissions. All articles, columns, and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of editorial staff. To read The Tattler online, visit our website at www.ihstattler.com.
Submit photos, creative writing, and visual art to The Tattler’s January Literary Issue by Thursday, December 8. Prizes will be awarded to the best in each category!
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To the editor:
OPINION
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
Letters to the Editor
The recent issue of The IHS Tattler, published on November 2016/Vol. 124 #3 contained an article written by Isaiah Gutman with title of “The Case for Trump.” The statement written as “Islam itself fosters extremism as is seen all over the world in the sheer numbers of Muslims who believe in frankly insane and incredibly hostile ideas, especially surrounding women’s rights and homosexuality” is immensely incorrect, inappropriate, and misconstrues what Islam is and its beliefs. There are extremists no matter the religion, culture, society, or individual. Therefore, the above is an incorrect statement! I sincerely hope that it was not the intention of the writer to make such a statement without having the proper knowledge of teaching of Islam and beliefs of Muslims. I am hoping that even the editor oversaw this statement or failed to write this as a quote from Trump himself. If a supporter of abortion thinks it is perfectly permissible to take the life of an unborn child, whereas an Orthodox “extremist” non-supporter would find this as intolerable, does their personal preference make them “hostile” toward others? Since this article is written about Trump and his views, then why not write about where Trump stands in regards to women or homosexuality and not emphasize the believers in Islam? The statement should not solely point out that only in “Islam” it is intolerable for women not to have rights or for homosexuals to be accepted. It is a disgrace to see that our institutions are propagating that only Islam is oppressive and supports terrorism! As a parent and a well-educated, careered, devoted Muslim woman, and a member of the Ithaca community, I found this statement appalling. Therefore, I and others would also like to seek a formal written apology to the community and the readers of this article. It is imperative that our children/students learn things that are correct and that we guide with information that represents the truth! Regards, Sania Mollah
Hello Tattler staff:
As a parent of two IHS students, I am writing this letter concerning a recent Opinion column, “The Case for Trump.” Both of my sons came home, on the day the article was published, frustrated, sad, and angry. The article was apparently written by someone who does not support Trump; nonetheless, the writer was not aware of his audience. As per ICSD’s goals to promote student empowerment, this seems to do the very opposite. Since the school district has a zero tolerance for bullying, yet it promotes stereotypical views of a minority student body, I wonder how empowered the students would feel? I continue to wonder what it feels like to walk down the halls of a school where I am looked at as a Muslim “…who believe in frankly insane and incredibly hostile ideas…” How wouldn’t a Muslim student feel like they are not being judged? Is judging and alienating “Muslims” the goal of a high school newspaper? Is the goal of the staff to make students feel judged at a time where they are still figuring out who they are? It seems like my concerns are very in line with the attorney general and state education commissioner. “We will not allow hateful rhetoric and acts of discrimination to follow students into the classroom, which must remain a place for our children to learn and grow in a positive and safe environment,” Schneiderman said in a statement. I am sure the ideas of the author could have been presented in a more considerate manner. In my opinion I strongly believe that the editor or the supervising teacher could have suggested rephrasing the statement. Thank you for addressing this serious issue, and working towards creating a positive environment for ALL students at IHS. Thanks, Doa Abdel-Ghany
To all concerned:
We apologize for the controversy caused by the article “The Case For Trump” in our November Issue. The article was not deliberately aimed to portray Islam in an unflattering light. Our editorial board has discussed the issue to decide how to approach similar cases that may arise in the future. Please note that The Tattler is a student-run newspaper, and the views and opinions expressed in it do not reflect those of ICSD.
The Tattler Staff
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
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NEWS
2016 U.S. General Election Results By VAYNU KADIYALI
IMAGE PROVIDED
The momentous 2016 election had a huge number of tightly contested races for seats in state legislatures, both houses of the United States Congress, and the highest office in the land, the Presidency. Since New York’s Senate and Presidential races were in no way competitive, these elections, along with those of the New York Congressional Delegation, were largely overshadowed in advertising and in media coverage. Here are the results of the equally consequential elections that took place in our state and nation.
This is our next president.
The presidential race in New York had more drama than anticipated for two reasons: both major party candidates hailed from New York (only the third time that two presidential nominees from the same state had to compete for the presidency) and the appeal of Donald Trump in upstate New York was expected to be a large factor in the outcome of the race. Nonetheless, Hillary Clinton won the state handily, defeating Trump by 21 points and by a healthy margin of around 1.5 million votes, thus garnering all of the state’s 29 Electoral College votes. The race in Tompkins County was even more lopsided for Clinton. Voters favored Clinton in an overwhelming 68 to 26 percent rout of the Republican nominee, the biggest margin of victory for Clinton in any upstate New York county. This result was unsurprising, however, as Tompkins County has cast the majority of its votes for Democratic presidential nominees every year since 1984. Another key race in New York State was the vote to elect one of the two United States Senators. Chuck Schumer, the longtime Democratic incumbent, was expected to replace Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) as the minority leader of the Democratic Party if he won reelection. Thus, the New York Senate race was well-publicized, as Schumer was expected to win and occupy the esteemed position of the highest-ranking elected senate Democrat in the nation. Under this premise, he outspent his opposition by over 37 times, and the results were telling of his well-fought campaign. Schumer defeated Republican candidate Wendy Long 70 percent to 27 percent statewide, and by an even more substantial 73 percent to 23 percent margin in Tompkins County—also his largest margin of victory in upstate New York. Schumer laid out a unifying victory message in front of an anxious audience awaiting the hotly contested U.S. Presidential results following the projection of his
victory minutes after the first New York precincts began to report: “As New Yorkers, we’re proud that we come from every corner of the globe [...] every one of these families is trying to do what my family did for me; to provide a better life for their kids. This is what motivates me in politics and that is my beacon.” The last major nationally relevant race that Tompkins County residents voted on was for the U.S. Representative for New York’s 23rd Congressional District. Democrats have long had trouble capturing this somewhat competitive seat due to its geography. It is by far the largest congressional district in New York at over 13,000 square miles, encompassing an area all the way from the border with Pennsylvania along Lake Erie to suburbs of Binghamton. The numerous rural communities and the somewhat right-leaning population center of Greater Elmira was enough to counteract left-leaning voters in Tompkins County and western New York. Former naval submarine captain John Plumb was the Democratic nominee for this house seat, a moderate and safe pick largely positively regarded considering a series of further left Democratic Party picks in previous years. The Republicans fielded Tom Reed, the former Mayor of Corning and two-term incumbent, who incited significant national outcry for his early endorsement of Trump but was always seen as having the upper hand in the race. Indeed, the outcomes of the presidential race in all counties in the congressional district except for Tompkins favored Trump, so Reed’s decision to side by Trump despite the turmoil of the campaign is seen as having paid off. Reed won the election 58 percent to 42 percent, a somewhat surprising outcome for many who had been following the results of early precincts, which showed John Plumb with a steady five-point lead that crumbled in the final hour before the race was called. Reed spoke of what he intends to do in the fifth and sixth years of his congressional tenure in a press conference following the projections of his victory: “[My fellow members of Congress and I] are going to focus on creating a U.S. Manufacturing base here in America, and as you hear the Presidential results coming in, it’s apparent that there’s a change coming to Washington. I want to be part of that, and we’re going to bring our three cents into [this discussion] on behalf of the people of the 23rd Congressional District.” Lastly, Tompkins County voted in several significant races for state legislature and district officials, with surprising outcomes. All three State Senate regions that comprise Ithaca, the 58th, 51st and 54th districts, all overwhelmingly elected Republican nominees to represent them in New York’s legislature. This is the result of several rural districts converging in Tompkins County, and Republicans across the ballot were lifted to victory by rural Upstate New York’s majority support for Trump. The 58th district’s Senator will be Tom O’Mara (R), the 51st’s Senator will be James Seward (R), and the 54th’s Senator will be Pam Helming (R). One last interesting race fought in Ithaca was for the position of the District Attorney of Tompkins County. The District Attorney’s role is to prosecute those who commit crimes against state or local ordinances, a fairly large role due to Tompkins County’s sizable CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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NEWS
By FRANCESCA CHU
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
NEWS
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IMAGE BY PAULINA YAN
Report on the Board of Education By LISA YOO
Luciano’s energy, shown above.
Luci: Free Spirit, Weirdo, and Friend to All By RUTH SAMUELS
Luciano “Luci” Servetto died very unexpectedly and at a very young age in a one-vehicle car crash shortly after midnight on Thursday, October 13, 2016, in Horseheads, NY. He was born on November 3, 1996, to Viviana Sitz and the late Sergio Servetto. Luciano is survived by his younger brother, Alejandro Servetto ’16, born roughly a year after him, and his mother. Luciano graduated from LACS in 2015. Only 19 years old at the time of his death, Luciano had just begun taking classes at TC3 to get a degree in business. Luciano’s younger brother Alejandro hosted an all-are-welcome celebration of Luciano’s life at the LACS amphitheater in October, a tribute Luciano would have been deeply moved to see. Nearly 200 mourners were drawn to share in his memory and to recount the impact he made on their lives. According to his brother, Luciano would have wanted people to celebrate his life and been glad to see those who were happy just to have gotten a chance to know him. In one of the most telling showcases of the kind of person Luciano was, his brother began recalling the story of how, nine years ago at their father’s funeral, “There was one point where it was getting serious and someone just farted really, really loudly… and that really made it a lot better.” Later, Alejandro led the crowd as they collectively cupped their hands to their mouths to produce one monumental fart noise, which was followed by whoops and cheers in Luciano’s honor. Luciano was one of those people who could strike up a conversation with anyone. At once mischievous and wild, he wanted more than the trivialities of life; he wanted excitement and joy. Luciano held a sort of optimism about life and all of the beauty it could offer and could, at times, be philosophical. Remembered by friends as always unquestioningly ready to offer a big grin and a hug to brighten one’s day, Luciano still had so much more to offer. His spirit was strong, warm, and inimitable. His realness, friendliness, and rejection of the ordinary touched the lives of those who were fortunate enough to know him. Funeral services have been privately held. Donations in Luciano’s memory may be made to the Learning Web on 515 W. Seneca St or at learning-web.org.
1. Changes in the athletic program Under our new athletic director, David Hanna, we have started to see many changes to the athletic program at IHS. Traditionally, teachers and coaches have clashed over after-school practices and missing classes for games. However, Hanna emphasized both academic and athletic achievement. At a recent board meeting, Hanna described his new plans to bring about this standard of excellence in collaboration with guidance counselor and cross-country coach Rich Bernstein. He outlined a system of study halls exclusively for athletes and using “practice tickets” as passes for athletes, working with teachers after school to attend practices. 2. The Golden Carrot award Recently, ICSD was awarded a Golden Carrot award, a national award for school lunches. The school district has been recognized in its efforts to integrate wholesome, local food into students’ lunch and promote healthier eating habits.
“ELECTION RESULTS” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
population and influence. Former District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson (D-Ithaca) resigned the day after the primary announcement deadline, leading the Ithaca Democratic Party to select Matthew Van Houten over Edward Kopko in a controversial special nomination. Van Houten, the eventual Democratic nominee and Kopko, who after the nomination ran an independent campaign, faced off in a Democratic Primary debate along with Andrew Bonavia, the interim District Attorney. It was regarded as the most hotly contested and policy-scrutinizing debate in the Tompkins Democratic Party over the past few election cycles. Van Houten won the nomination, but Kopko mounted a campaign to beat him, comparing Van Houten’s selection to that of the “rigged system” that resulted in Clinton’s nomination over Bernie Sanders. Despite this obstacle, Van Houten won a safe 21,624 to 7,124 victory. This is a year that we won’t forget. The upset that Donald Trump and the GOP were able to orchestrate was both a complete shock to most observers and a decision that will prove highly influential in determining the domestic and foreign policy that our nation will adopt in the coming decade. Ithaca and Tompkins County stuck to their traditions of choosing Democrats and left-leaning candidates, and it remains to be seen what impact these selections will play in the evolving politics of our state and country.
NEWS
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
“MENTORSHIP” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“SHENZHOU” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
documenting extant relationships between students and teachers. School can be very intimidating, especially for students with difficult life situations, who may feel misunderstood by their teachers. Forming a relationship with a teacher or another staff member can be as simple as having a conversation about a topic unrelated to academics and it can lead to a deeper understanding, on the teacher’s part, of the student’s background. For example, a teacher can learn what motivates a student, what their family situation is like, or what their interests and hobbies are. Simple interactions like these can greatly improve students’ morale and motivation. A few students noted the extent to which they have relationships with IHS staff and how important they think it is. “Mr. Noyes is a teacher I like a lot, and I see him sometimes at the Farmer’s Market because he runs a stand there, I think, and I’ll stop in and say hi and ask how he’s doing,” said Daniel Deets ’20. “I don’t want my teachers to be too distant from me,” he added. Ijeyi Onah ’18 described her relationship with Mr. Asklar, whom she sees when she goes to the YMCA. “I’ve been looking at colleges, and I’m looking at one in the area that he’s actually from, so he gives me lots of advice,” she said. Sessoms acknowledged the importance of these kinds of relationships, which “build a rapport with the student beyond the academic experience.” Sessoms also stressed the importance of mentorship in the context of its benefit to the students. “We define [each student] as a whole person, with thoughts that have to be validated and affirmed, and have days where they’re not going to be at their best. When there’s a relationship there, it’s easier to break down some of those barriers.” This is where the documentation of mentoring comes into play. The administration team hopes that having a database of student-teacher relationships will allow them to address a concerned student by pulling in one or two adults connected with that student, who can vouch for the student or give insight into their background or perspective that would otherwise not be available. It is important to stress that this initiative does not change very much of the teacher’s role in the lives of students. The goal of this program is not at all to give teachers more work. In fact, in the video Mrs. Reitenbach states that “we’re not going to ask you to do anything more than you’re already doing.” It also does not change the nature of a teacher’s relationship with their students in any way. Teachers are not expected to change their behavior to become “mentors,” nor are they obligated to initiate new relationships solely on the pretense of advancing the mentorship program. The documentation process is currently in its initial phases, as teachers have received surveys in which they listed the names of students with whom they had a more personal relationship. Its effects will be subtle, as the mentorship documentation doesn’t specifically change the dynamics of teacher-student relationships at IHS. However, the effects that those connections have on the lives of individual students are significant. “It’s beyond ‘this is this teacher or IHS staff member,’” Sessoms said. “It’s about being human.”
The Shenzhou, which roughly translates to “divine vessel” in Chinese, is a capsule designed for human spaceflight. Based on the Russian Soyuz, it is composed of an orbital module, a re-entry module, and a service module. The Shenzhou is to the Long March rocket as Apollo is to the Saturn V in the U.S. moon mission, in that the Shenzhou is the manned capsule which travels into orbit whereas the Long March is the expendable boost system that carries the Shenzhou into space. Why is China choosing to go alone instead of joining the International Space Station (ISS)? China is barred from participating in the ISS and generally prohibited from assisting NASA due to various security concerns. So the Chinese space program has already planned to launch a large, modular space station into low Earth orbit sometime in the near future. On November 3, the Long March 5, China’s latest heavylift launch system, soared through the atmosphere, cheered on by Chinese citizens and the astronautical engineers who had worked diligently since 2002 for that moment. Although the mission was unmanned, the Long March 5’s successful takeoff from the Wenchang launch site on Hainan Island was a milestone in China’s space program. It was the first big launch from the new sea-side launch site, as the Long March 5 is capable of hauling up to 25 metric tons to low Earth orbit and 14 tons to geosynchronous transfer orbit (a high-altitude orbit at the speed of Earth’s rotation). This will open new horizons for China and bring its dream of establishing a fully-functional Chinese space station by 2022 closer yet. The “Long March” launch system is named in honor of the historic Long March, in which Chinese Communist revolutionaries escaped on foot to Northwestern China in an effort to flee the ruling force in China at the time, the Kuomintang. This grueling march over 5600 miles of difficult terrain was covered in roughly one year. Following the Long March, the Communists established a rural stronghold in Yenan and rested there until they could finally attack and defeat the Kuomintang government in a civil war. Ever since the Communist victory, the term “long march” has been made into a symbol representing a journey to triumph. While the Long March launch system is crucial to creating a fully functional space station (for which China has only managed to create prototypes so far), it is also an important component of a mission to the Moon or Mars. While it still lags behind in comparison to the U.S. and Russia, the Chinese space program is on target to equal or surpass its counterparts in the future, considering the ISS is set to retire by 2024. By then, China may be a space superpower. If other countries greatly cut back on space funding and cease research while China presses onward, it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that China may become the leader in space exploration. In fact, Brian Harvey, space analyst and the author of China in Space: The Great Leap Forward, believes that “the Chinese [will] quite visibly begin to match the capacity of the other spacefaring powers by 2020.” Space exploration is not easy. In fact, it can be very dangerous. However, the rewards of space exploration are plentiful and there to be reaped and shared as the advancement of science transcends national borders. When American astronauts landed on the moon, they proclaimed that they had come in peace for all mankind. Let’s hope that if China takes the lead, the exploration of space will continue in that generous spirit far into the future.
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
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OPINION What Triggered Jacob This Month
Your Anti-Trump Protests Are a Waste of Time By JACOB SILCOFF, Staff Writer After the election this November, people were understandably angry. Tears were shed, and a lot of families now have legitimate fears about deportation, discrimination, and an increase in hate crimes. Make no mistake: I, like the majority of voters, am not a fan of the president-elect. With this in mind, what I found particularly upsetting in the wake of the election was not just the results themselves—and what they indicate about many Americans living in that fabled “reality” that surrounds Ithaca—but also the response by opponents of Trump in Ithaca and the country as a whole. From the time the results came in until the time of writing, protests have been sprouting up across the country, and will probably continue for a while longer, with another wave to come at the time of Trump’s inauguration. These protests, while certainly well-intentioned, are also completely useless if not counterproductive, and reflect a fundamental failure of Trump’s opponents to internalize what this election should tell us about our country. On a local level, a protest took place on the Commons the day after the election, and some students at IHS were even planning a walk-out that has since been postponed. My question to those involved is this: who, exactly, are you trying to persuade, and what are you trying to persuade them of? Ithaca may promote cultural diversity in nearly every respect, but the same is very difficult to say for political diversity. Ithaca is one of the most liberal cities in the state, and finding a Trump supporter at IHS is not an easy task (though not impossible). More importantly, I find it incredibly difficult to believe that a group of angry liberals is going to change the mind of any Trump supporters (has a Trump rally ever persuaded any of you?), never mind the Donald himself. Protestors, in this respect, are preaching nothing to nobody. The protests, however, are more than a simple waste of time. They are a sobering testament to the inability of Americans to learn from the decisions of their fellow citizens. We find it easy to sympathize with ethnic minorities and women, who under a Trump presidency undeniably will face continued discrimination. I can also assure you that had Clinton been the victor, many Trump voters would have had reactions not so different from those of Clinton supporters today. Sometimes we forget that for those living in rural America, the fear of losing a job in the coal mine is just as real as the fear of deportation in the minds of illegal immigrants. There are parents in this country who know that without a job they can’t feed their children. These are Americans who lost everything when manufacturing jobs left our country; who went through the hardships that go along with downsizing coal in favor of renewable energy; some of them have even expe-
rienced the pain of losing a job to an illegal immigrant. We can disagree with their politics, we can disagree with their logic and reasoning, but we cannot disagree with the fact that these people have very real, very important concerns about both our country and their ability to live happy, productive lives. Many of these people feel, rightly or not, that their voices aren’t being heard, that their own political system has failed them. This belief, in part, is what made Trump so successful. He was the person who cared, for once, about their issues. It is very difficult to sympathize with others when you yourself feel oppressed under the weight of job insecurity and poverty. So when Clinton speaks about helping young college students, or stopping systematic racism, or solving global climate change, what many feel is that she is failing to address the problems, to put it bluntly, of the silent, working-class white man. Now I won’t argue that they have it worse than anyone else, but I will argue that their view, at least from the perspective of their personal experience, is not wholly unjustified, and is, as I said, indicative of real problems in our country. So when millions of anti-Trumpists go out into the streets yelling “Not My President,” they are, in effect, perpetuating the notion that the working-class white American isn’t being listened to, which is precisely the notion that got Trump elected in the first place. This is the divisiveness that gets talked about so much in the media, and condemned by almost every American, yet so many are actively choosing to make it worse. This is not to say you should be complacent with Trump’s policies. Rather, it is the duty of those who oppose him to fight against him on a logical level. One must show that he will harm the non-college-educated white American, and should by all means fight against his specific plans for change. There is a key difference between opposing what Trump stands for and opposing his actions. When we protest the man himself, we are protesting the millions of desperate people whom he represents, and there’s nothing productive about that. I would encourage all those who oppose him to donate to advocacy groups such as the ACLU, Propublica, or Planned Parenthood. You can even do so under Trump’s name if you so wish. But for the sake of our country, stop protesting Trump. You aren’t going to change anyone’s minds, you aren’t going to make things better, but you will strengthen the conviction of his supporters. The fact of the matter is, Trump may not be your president, but he is millions of other people’s president, and those people matter too. So put down your picket signs, cancel your walk-out, and start fighting productively.
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OPINION
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
What on Earth Happened? By ISAIAH GUTMAN, Staff Writer
After what has been the craziest election most of us at IHS can remember, there has been an outbreak of panic and distress. To many at our school, a Trump presidency means troubled times, and Election Day’s results seem to be weighing on the souls of the liberals who make up a majority of the student populace. The reactions I have witnessed range from disbelief to calm planning to hysterical pronunciations of intent to assassinate both the president-elect and his VP. Among all these reactions, which is the most sensible one? In my view, the best possible way to maximize the positive results of Trump’s reign will be to work with him as much as possible, and oppose him in areas where liberals cannot afford to compromise. This election cycle has been as insane as it is in large part due to the extent of our country’s polarization. The days of Democrats and Republicans working together to a common goal seem over, and a new age of total political war has been ushered in. However, instead of continuing to villainize the GOP, the Democrats must attempt to work together with the Republicans, lest the latter implement the worst of their policy proposals. Compromise seems to be a long-forgotten tool, but it is one of the best the Democrats have at their disposal. If the party can corral its members to acquiesce with the Trump administration in issues such as trade, infrastructure, and health care, it may have a better chance to block the more regressive portions of the GOP agenda such as its opposition to abortion rights and other such social causes. Additionally, if the Democrats can agree to a compromise on immigration— say, the wall or something similar is built with the proviso that current non-criminal illegal immigrants can stay permanently without citizenship—this could be huge, solving one of the most hotly contested issues of our time without giving up too much. Of course, compromise can only take a party so far. The Democrats also need to refocus on local, state, and congressional elections. In the midterms of the past decade, it has been a tradition for the Democrats to have poor turnout, usually resulting in serious gains for the Republicans. To successfully check Trump’s power, the Democrats will need a massive overhaul in message. The bland, overwhelmingly elitist message that has been forthcoming from the Democratic candidates in recent years is quickly losing favor with the American people. One of the major reasons Trump was chosen was his economically populist message, which reached out to millions of disadvantaged Americans who normally vote blue. To rectify this, Democrats must come up with better candidates than those such as Evan Bayh in Indiana, who are clearly corrupt and don’t have the best interests of their constituents in their hearts. However, this is not the whole story. Russ Feingold, a populist-leaning candidate for the Senate in Wisconsin, was narrowly defeated on November 8, even though his message certainly resonated with the Wisconsin populace, having formerly represented them in the Senate. These and similar results paint a clear picture: the Democrats need to start getting serious about the Senate. They must focus on states with close races and ignore realistically hard-to-win states such as Georgia. While it does
seem as if Trump will drive many Democrats to the polls come 2018, they must not rely on this, and instead must pour their funds into each and every winnable race. While speculation is certainly gratifying, it is also practical to get a grip on student opinions around our school, possibly reflecting more widely held beliefs. One sophomore I spoke to voiced his support for the idea that the Democrats should “work towards compromising with Republicans” as this will aid them with a “convincing moral argument” that they are the superior party. “In my opinion, the Democrats’ best choice at this point is to work across the aisle with Republicans. We have all had enough of stagnation in Congress, and I hope that despite their loss this election, the Democrats form a constructive opposition in contrast to the obstructive one of the past six years. I also hope that come the midterm elections, the Democrats move away from solely being a party of minority interests and that they embody policies more relevant to the majority of middle-class Americans, and I think that this change can make a huge difference in the outcomes of 2018 Senate and House races.”
A different student I asked said that the Democrats always have the option of protesting, but gave an explanation as to why this is futile. “Not everything Donald Trump said he wants to do is going to happen since it has to be approved by the rest of the government. Not all of Trump’s policies are going to get passed, especially extremely conservative ones that will not be good for the country, as the rest of the government has to agree with and approve of his ideas.”
This is a good point, as of course there were many anti-Trump Republicans to go along with the myriad Democrats in opposition. Another student was more optimistic, saying that Trump “can’t be that bad.” He said, “They should give him a chance and hope his advisors will give him enough guidance that he won’t self-destruct our nation.” I can only hope that this becomes the attitude among the Democrats. It would be nice to see something get done in this country for once. However, Trump’s predicted picks for his cabinet do not seem conducive to this. Sarah Palin, Ben Carson, Jeff Sessions, and Newt Gingrich, among others, do not seem like rational and grounding advisors who will keep us afloat for four years. Add to that the big business CEOs that Trump seems poised to appoint to Treasury Secretary and to head the EPA, and Trump’s presidency does not seem like a cakewalk for liberals. When all the possible outcomes are weighed, a Trump presidency certainly seems likely to damage America, not make it great. However, there is still a chance. If Democrats are able to work with their old foes and stand strong where it matters most, they can salvage the country from very possible ruin.
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
OPINION
PAGE 11
A Conversation for Community
A Reiteration of Why Bob Dylan is a Deserving Nobel Laureate
By CHLOE WRAY, Staff Writer
By ASHA DUHAN
Academically, IHS’s reputation is strong. Socially, there is no apparent strife or conflict. On the surface, the school is cohesive and unsuspecting. In reality, IHS is a fractured community. Events hosted by clubs rarely receive wide attendance, the stigma that they will be lame perpetuated by low turnout time and time again. School spirit is lacking to say the least, and students fail to support each other in their endeavors. This attitude could just be a symptom of teenage apathy, but the way I see it, there is another, larger cause at the problem’s core. As the gap between socioeconomic classes continues to be ever-widening, cliques are just as evident as they were in movies like Clueless. Our political parties create distinct separations between the rich, the poor, and the middle class. The tracking of honors and Regents classes has created a system in which after eighth grade, you may never see some kids again until graduation. “Wait; they still go here?” will echo in your mind after each name. The school promotes diversity, but its practices and the practices of the country at large have, perhaps inadvertently, increased homogeneity and exclusion. Scientifically, a group that is homogeneous is not a thriving community. To be productive, a community must be abundant in species at all levels of the ecosystem. When students are tracked, they are placed in classes that likely are full of other students who come from relatively similar financial situations and backgrounds. As a result, the students’ exposure to different experiences is limited, as is their ability to empathize with those from a background that varies from their own. Rather than distributing attention evenly across grades, the school has diverted students into strata, altering the natural interactions and conversation between high school students. The solution to many of America’s problems, politically and otherwise, must be a conversation. Conversations between socioeconomic groups are halted by tracking in high school, and this continues into adulthood. High schools are responsible not for producing ignorant adults, but for producing adults who are ignorant of the reasons for the beliefs of those around them. If high school, and in turn society, were to promote a conversation between political parties, there would be a lot more empathy in the world. No political problem is liable to be solved if there is not a give and take of sorts: a bargain or compromise. Arguments will only get a cause so far, but an attempt to understand, or at the very least respect, the opposing view is what brings about change. When I woke up Wednesday morning after the election, what I needed most was a community. When I arrived at school that morning, I did not find what I was looking for. I had a teacher tell me that “today is not the day to have opinions,” encouraging the lack of conversation between students. I looked around and saw classmates who completely dismissed the legitimacy of Trump supporters. I saw Trump supporters who either flaunted their victory or were hesitant to even express their opinion. I can only imagine what the reaction would have been had Hillary won, and how marginalized Trump supporters would have become at IHS. I look around and see people who express the same dismay as I do, and while some acknowledge the legitimacy of the opposing side, I still see hate flooding from those who claim to preach peace. This election brought out the worst in some people, as they upheld what they viewed as “right,” but now it is time to start having conversations about the future, about how to make those who have been marginalized within both parties start to gain the rights they deserve. At IHS, maybe the problem of school spirit runs a little deeper. In these tumultuous times we must ask ourselves: how can we play our part to help mend not only a fractured community, but a fractured country too?
On October 13, 2016, Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition,” according to the Swedish Academy. Dylan was the first musician ever to win the Literature Nobel, and his victory stirred up a great deal of controversy within the literary community. By awarding Dylan the Nobel Prize, the Nobel committee redefined the boundaries of literature, stretching them out to encompass not only novels and poems, but also lyrics and songs with poetic elements. It has been speculated that in ancient times, literature such as the work of Homer and Sophocles was performed orally by song. Such works are now classified as poetry and are still studied today. In accordance with this thinking, Dylan’s work should also be categorized as literature. While many reputable authors argued against Dylan winning the prize because of other deserving authors who were nominated, Dylan was deserving of the Nobel Prize in Literature due to the sheer impact his work had on the public, as well as the message contained within his lyrics. Bob Dylan has been a constant musical presence for over five decades, writing over 300 songs. Due to the American musician’s popularity as an artist during the mid-1900s, his work reached many different types of people throughout the world, uniting them under a love for music. Dylan’s music stood out not only for his musical interpretations of the lyrics, but for the meaning behind the lyrics themselves. The musician has been recognized for his work numerous times, most notably when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2012. One of Dylan’s most notable pieces, “Blowin’ In the Wind,” was a protest in the form of a song that became extremely influential during the civil rights movement. The lyrics of the piece questioned the actions of authority figures and served as a call to action, and due to its form as a song, it was easily spread and understood. In another one of his famous songs, “With God on Our Side,” Dylan champions the anti-war movement, challenging the Vietnam War and the rationale for participating in it. In the song, Dylan sings “In the 1960s came the Vietnam War / Can somebody tell me what we’re fightin’ for? / So many young men died / So many mothers cried / Now I ask the question / Was God on our side?” Dylan’s music spoke to many through his unwavering ability to confront the actions of authority. Through his music, he acted as a social reformer and conveyed his messages to the general public. In his music, he was able to express his ideas in just a few eloquently placed words. For these reasons, Bob Dylan deserves his Nobel Prize.
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OPINION
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
High School: How Much Does it Really Matter? By MATT MACKENZIE, Staff Writer
Every time I hear a frenzied freshman freaking out because they’re going to get a B in Honors Geometry or listen to a stressedout student who joined one club or committee too many, I cannot help but cringe. High-schoolers today are prioritizing quantity over quality, prioritizing survival over emotional growth, and prioritizing academic success over mental health, all for the sake of getting ahead in high school, which in turn will lead to admission to a better college and a better job in the future, and on and on and on. Many high-school students follow this path, taking impossible numbers of AP classes, powering through sleep deprivation and even depression. They earn straight A’s, play three varsity sports, and appear to be the typical overachieving honors student destined for success. Then, they head to college and inevitably burn out, ending up in the campus counseling center instead of the classroom. Where is it all going wrong? The daily and weekly routines of a typical high-school student suggest that they derail by prioritizing quantity over quality, success over mental health, and survival over emotional growth. Each problem has its own unique causes and effects, but they all share one characteristic: they are detrimental to one’s physical and mental health and undermine the learning process. In today’s high-stress high-school environment, students are pressured by admissions officers, guidance counselors, and even parents to “take the most difficult course load you can handle,” take an active role in the community, show leadership, and commit to multiple extracurricular activities, including varsity sports. This is under the assumption that the best colleges and universities want more than just a good student; they want their applicants to be well-rounded, showing not just an interest, but a commitment to multiple different pursuits. It may seem like an admirable goal to seek only the very best and brightest, but when that goal makes a high-school student juggle five AP classes, soccer practice, trumpet lessons, club meetings, and community service, it has gone too far. There is no time to do quality work or develop a true interest in any one pursuit. We are creating a world full of people content to skim the surface of every course or activity, rather than actually diving deep to learn more. This is all for the ultimate prize: admission to the top-tier Ivy League schools. Of course, merely signing up for a boatload of obligations is not enough—if you truly want the best outlook for your future, you have to be the best. Students stay up all hours of the night studying for tests and completing homework assignments, sometimes sleeping as little as four hours per night in a futile attempt to squeeze everything into their day while still never scoring below a 90 on any quiz, test, or progress report. We are paying the price. College mental health centers across the country are reporting increasingly high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking among incoming freshmen, and it is widely accepted that pressure on high-school students to get into “elite” universities is behind this problem. Palo Alto, California, home to Stanford University, recently had a cluster of sui-
cides at Palo Alto High School, an alarming indictment of the college admissions mania. Students are driven to extremes of sleep deprivation, stimulant addiction, and cheating just in order to get ahead of their peers. Something is going terribly wrong when high-school kids just like us are concluding that life is meaningless and throwing themselves in front of oncoming trains. Finally, the pressure-packed high-school environment encourages students to adopt the mindset of “just getting it done.” The most important things about high school—becoming a better learner, developing real-world skills, and developing your views about who you really want to be—these things all get swept under the rug. How are we supposed to become better learners if the workload makes us stay up all hours of the night wading through the day’s problem sets? How are we supposed to develop real-world skills when our jam-packed schedules leave us no time to eat, let alone breathe, as our parents shuttle us from activity to activity to activity? Most importantly, how are we supposed to know what we really want to be, if we keep getting the message that our best is never good enough? High school has the potential to be a meaningful experience for everyone, but it has deteriorated into one unending final exam: a competition to see who can do the best in the hardest AP classes, who can make the biggest impact in the most clubs, and who can get into the topmost pinnacle of the elite schools. When we focus only on results like college placement, the learning process gets swallowed up in the constant anxiety about whether we should try to boost our SAT scores another notch by taking it just one more time. The value of what we are learning is lost when we let end results with very little meaning determine our future. High school has lost something important in the race to get to college: it has become more of a means to an end rather than a true journey of exploration and intrigue. We won’t get this back until we can find a way to stop this college pressure from causing emotional and mental damage. Only then can we experience the intellectual and personal growth that high school is supposed to be all about. High-school students should push themselves in the classroom and find a pursuit that sincerely interests them outside of school. They should not be trying to balance four AP classes with varsity sports, music lessons, and school clubs just in order to get ahead in the line for Harvard or Princeton. Let’s all set down our college applications for a moment and ask ourselves where we’re really going. Can we stop making high school nothing more than a frantic competition to get into the best college? Can we stop trying to outdo each other with our 4.3 GPAs and our 4.3 hours of sleep per night? Can we start paying attention to what we are really learning, instead of racing around the hamster wheel of extracurricular activities to fatten up our college portfolios? Until we can do this, we are effectively getting all dressed up with nowhere to go.
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
OPINION
PAGE 13
High School Is Important Unimportant By JACOB SILCOFF, Staff Writer
After reading Matt Mackenzie ’17’s article, I decided there was no way I could persuade IHS that high school was important. With arguments that strong, my task is essentially a lost cause. However, I still had an article to write, so I decided to just add on some points that were not included Mackenzie’s article. One of the many unimportant things high school does is help you become economically stable. High-school dropouts are ineligible for 90 percent of jobs (DoSomething.org), which is great, because people hate having jobs. In fact, 70 percent of Americans report hating their jobs (Medical Daily). That means high school is giving students skills that are totally useless. Worse, graduating high school means you make substantially more money than if you don’t (partly because of the whole job thing). In fact, 38 percent of high-school dropouts live below the poverty line, compared to 18 percent of the general population (Edu Week). Now, “poverty” might have a negative connotation, but that’s only before you realize how hard it is to have money. People with money have to pay taxes, which is apparently very annoying. Having less money also means you don’t have to worry about learning to cook, because you can only afford prepackaged food, and you don’t have to clean nearly as much, because the only housing you can afford is ridiculously small cozy. This saves you a ton of time. Thankfully, that expression about time being money isn’t true (if it were, you’d be rich, and we all know how bad that is). Another reason high school is unimportant is that it’s supposed to make people better citizens, which leads to boring politics. When students go to high school and learn about history and government, they will be more likely to support responsible, but boring politicians. Nearly everyone would agree that when voters decide instead to choose candidates who are complete outsiders, politics becomes more exciting. This year’s presidential debates were the most watched in history for good reason, and having a well-educated populace would ruin all of our harmless fun. Finally, high school has the annoying side effect of making people live longer. In fact, a white high-school dropout is three times as likely to die young as his more educated counterpart (The Washington Post). Living to be elderly carries with it the burdens of disease, senility, and watching all of your friends die. Is that what we want for our children? Of course not. Given that high school serves only to make our students more employable, more wealthy, more informed, and more healthy, it is clear that the entire thing is a complete waste of time.
The BEST Festival in Ithaca:
AppleFest
By VEDA CHICKERMANE and MOLLY SPACKMAN
There are numerous festivals held in Ithaca throughout the year, each celebrating our community’s food, music, crafts and seasons. Although the Ithaca Festival held after Memorial Day weekend is the most famous, several others such as the Ice Festival, the Brunch Festival, and the Rutabaga Olympics are equally fun for all ages. By far our personal favorite is the Apple Harvest Festival, or AppleFest, held in the season when the various hills surrounding the valley that Ithaca inhabits begin to glow with gold and red leaves. There’s no better way to celebrate the wonderful season of fall than with a hot cup of apple cider while walking down the Ithaca Commons at AppleFest. AppleFest is an annual event located in downtown Ithaca during the last weekend in September, where Ithacans gather to celebrate the coming of fall with food, music, and games. AppleFest is the perfect way of accepting that Ithaca’s picture-perfect summer is over, and a reminder that we can commiserate by binging on fried foods and maple cotton candy. Small businesses and restaurants all over Ithaca set up stalls on the streets, setting up a variety of cuisine for all to enjoy. Although this is similar to the setup of Ithaca
Festival in June, AppleFest lives up to its name with many foods incorporating apples, pumpkins, and other produce harvested at that time of the year. In fact, it’s actually a festival rule that as a vendor you must have an apple-related good on your menu. There’s apple cider, pie, butter, cake, and many other delectable items, you name it—even apple pizza. The festival is unique in this sense; no other local festival revolves around a certain theme and truly celebrates the season in the fashion that AppleFest does. Not only is it a great opportunity to eat delicious food, but all purchases help to support local businesses around the Finger Lakes, including eateries, farms, and artisans. The start of fall marks the point when the days get shorter and the weather starts to get cooler and more comfortable. AppleFest is an occasion for which one can be outside for hours wandering through all the vendor stalls without a jacket and not be too hot or too cold, unlike during Ithaca Festival, when the summer heat and crowds do not mix well. So next year when you hear AppleFest is around the corner, don’t forget to bring your friends and eat, laugh, and have a good time.
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
FEATURES
BTI: My Experience and Your Options IMAGE PROVIDED
By LUC WETHERBEE, Staff Writer
Can you find the IHS students in the image?
If they are not out already, pretty soon you will be seeing flyers for BTI around the school and in your science teachers’ rooms. You may just ignore it, but hopefully you’ll ask yourself, “What is BTI? Should I apply?” BTI, or the Boyce Thompson Institute, is a plant research facility founded in 1920 in Yonkers, NY, that moved to Cornell’s campus in the 1970s. It is devoted to using plant science to improve agriculture, human health, and the environment. Every summer, BTI does a summer internship program for high-schoolers age 16 or older in the local area and undergraduates from all around the country. Current seniors who did this internship last summer include myself, Lisa Yoo ’17, and Cameron Mitchell ’17. Interns work in one of two settings: the lab environment and bioinformatics. The lab, as you would expect, involves working hands-on with plants and other lab tools that you might have heard about in your biology courses, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis. My work in the lab was centered around Arabidopsis, which is a small flowering plant that serves as a great model for genetic research due to its large amount of seeds and short life cycle. My mentor and I did a genetic screen for a potential enhancer gene that affects the cell cycle of the plant. That essentially meant that I had to uproot plants that did not show the phenotype, or traits, that I desired—namely, smaller size and earlier flowering—and collect seeds from the plants whose traits did look desirable. The work was repetitive, but with some good music it eventually became a therapeutic process. Of course, the experiments will vary greatly from year to year, and if you apply for a spot in a lab, you could be doing anything from examining leaves under a microscope to going outside to examine corn fields. Bioinformatics is a new and rapidly growing field of study. It mainly involves the use of computers and the little bit of programming knowledge to extract “big data” from publications all over the world. With the latest technology, we have the ability to publish entire genomes, proteomes, and other “omes” for the rest of the world to see; with a particular set of tech-savviness your lab group can use that information to further the progress of their own studies. Bioinformatics training is much more interdisciplin-
ary than lab work in that the information you will collect is from more than than one experiment in a single field. The work is actually super fun, and the pay is pretty good too! Now that you’re sold and want nothing more than to do BTI, you have to decide on whether or not you should do it as a highschool student or an undergrad. There are lots of reasons to do either, so my recommendation for you depends on your situation. A high-schooler would do it if they are interested in science but do not know what field of study they want to pursue. For instance, I am primarily interested in chemistry, but I decided to do this internship to see what the bio lab experience was like. Now that I know what I like and do not like about biology labs, I feel more comfortable in my decision to pursue chemistry. If you have decided that you want to study plants later on in your career, you may want to consider waiting until college. Furthermore, there are other internship opportunities in college that may catch your eye, so BTI may be worth doing now instead of saving for later. Last but not least, this internship is a pretty heavy hitter on college apps! That being said, there are reasons to think about doing BTI as an undergrad. For one thing, the experience is way different than being a high-schooler. Undergrads live on the Cornell campus and develop a much more intimate connection with each other. They are more involved in BTI-oriented activities on campus, and they spend a lot of time traveling around Ithaca with their new friends. Their work is also more in-depth, since they typically already have a considerable background in biology and plant science. The lab experience that one gets as an undergrad, especially in state-ofthe-art facilities like those in BTI and Cornell, is both valuable for their career as a future scientist and as a competitor for graduate school. Although I am certain that you will gain a lot in any case by working at BTI, you should weigh your options carefully. There are many more details about this internship that I cannot cover in one article! If you have any other questions about the logistics or the experience, visit BTI’s website or feel free to send your questions to my school email, luc.wetherbee@icsd.k12.ny.us.
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
FEATURES
PAGE 15
Restaurant Review: Ciao! IMAGE PROVIDED
By LELAND XU
Chow down on wood-fired pizza at Ciao!
“They dim the lights so you can’t see the grease on their food,” and “if the food is overpriced, they’re trying to hide the fact that [the food] has no flavor to begin with,” were merely two of the sarcastic quips given to Dylan Myler ’20, Eric Rosenblum ’20, Justin Heitzman ’20 and myself by Jefferson Sheng ’20, specifically responding to my earnest desire to write a restaurant review about our dinner experience at 2 Hickory Hollow Lane’s Ciao! But some background information first. The vicinity of Ciao! to my house makes it an easy restaurant to get to, and it’s a common place for me to hang out and eat dinner with some old friends before watching a movie or something due to its satisfying incredibly professional atmosphere and mediocre “authentic” Italian food. Yet as I walked through the doors of the acclaimed local restaurant, I knew that all past experiences and preconceived opinions were to be thrown away in order to truly get an honest opinion and review of what the Ithaca Voice once called “one of Ithaca’s best Italian restaurants.” There was a waiting line at first; the restaurant was always packed on weekend nights, leaving us occupied at the front of the restaurant with its complementary wrapped mints, toothpicks, and business cards. It wasn’t long until we were rushed into our booth and free to order from the simplistic but neat menu, which was one page long. Rosenblum had a Sprite, Heitzman and I Cokes, and Myler and Sheng waters as beverages. For food, Rosenblum ordered a pepperoni pizza with no basil, Heitzman a Turkey Bravo Panini with French fries, I a well-done Caprese Burger, also with fries, Myler a Pesto Rigatoni, and finally Sheng a Pizza Bianco. While waiting, we talked about America’s political landscape, school, Ciao!, memes, Michelin-star winning masterchef Gordon Ramsay, and depressing poetry, until six minutes and five seconds after we ordered, when fresh complimentary bread with olive oil came to us. I abstained from consuming. Heitzman described the bread as average, while the highlight was the extremely flavorful garlic-roasted olive oil. Meaningless conversation continued until 23 minutes after ordering, when our food was at last delivered.
I wrote down in my notebook the thoughts and critiques of us hungry patrons, which were surprisingly mixed for such an esteemed eating establishment. Rosenblum was outraged that his pizza contained basil even though specifically asked for none, and when the waitress administered parmesan cheese to his pizza, she clumped all the powdered cheese into one area. Myler was unexpectedly happy with his pasta. My burger was dreadfully underseasoned, slightly soggy on the bottom bun, and messy with arugula leaves all over my plate when I picked it up to eat. Heitzman, however, enjoyed his panini, and was impressed with the aioli that was a condiment for both the panini and his French fries. Sheng appreciated his fresh tomato slices and spinach as toppings, in addition to the very delicious and gooey layer of cheese, but despised the fact that the pizza was extremely greasy. When asked individually what they would rate their food out of five stars, Myler concluded a reasonable 3.8 stars on his meal, Rosenblum 3.7 stars, Sheng 2.5 stars, and Heitzman 4.5 stars, while I personally decided that the food was a decent 3 stars. This came to an average of 3.5 stars for the experience, based on our dinner quality (we concluded that service was fine and didn’t need a review). We paid for dinner, stole some more mints, and left for the mall.
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
Living On Mars Is In Our Future By FIONA BOTZ, Staff Writer
When we were little, all of us had our own unique dreams and aspirations. Some of us wished to save the world from a fearful crisis, while others wanted the ability to venture up into outer space. The latter of the two is what Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, was yearning for since he was young. Even today, Musk’s passion is evident, with his promise to allow travel to Mars as early as 2021 and other planets eventually. Founded in March 2012, SpaceX possesses myriad ambitious goals. Their most fascinating, and frankly quite shocking, mission is to make humans a multiplanetary species. But what does that mean, and how is it even feasible? With an open mind and enough insightfully curious questions, anyone can fully understand SpaceX’s seemingly unimaginable plans and exactly how they are going to achieve them. First of all, one may wonder why SpaceX is choosing Mars as their desired destination, of all the planets to choose from. According to Musk in his presentation “Making Humans A Multiplanetary Species,” Venus is a “super high-pressure hot acid bath. So that would be a tricky one. Mercury is also way too close to the sun. We could go potentially out on one of the moons of Jupiter but those are much farther out. It really only leaves us with one option if we want to become a multi-planet civilization—and that’s Mars. We could simply go to the Moon, but it’s much smaller than any actual planet. It doesn’t have any atmosphere… and in general Mars is far better suited to ultimately scale up to be a self-sustaining civilization.” Musk discussed the benefit of decent sunlight on Mars as well as the possibility of growing plants in the future. The next question that arises when one considers how they could get to Mars is the price of the trip. Currently, the richest person in the world couldn’t get to Mars. The technology simply hasn’t been created yet, let alone tested for safety. Musk and the SpaceX team want to change this, but the predicted price of a voyage to Mars in the next decade would be roughly ten billion dollars per person if traditional methods, such as an Apollo-style approach, are used. Musk claims what we need is a price around the median cost of a house in the United States. This means decreasing the cost of the trip by five million percent. Luckily, SpaceX could achieve this goal of an immense price reduction through full reusability of a rocket and orbital refuelling. Airplanes are good examples of full reusability; Musk talk-
ed about how a ticket for a $90 million aircraft would be half a million dollars if it was single-use (the plane stopped working after just one flight). However, because planes can be flown thousands of times, the price is significantly lower. Essentially, if rockets could be used time and time again, just like airplanes today, the price of the ticket would drop by about a factor of a hundred. Regarding refueling in orbit, spreading the required lift capacity across multiple launches would greatly reduce development costs. These elements are vital if SpaceX is to have a successful future trip to the Red Planet. The system architecture and process are designed to not be too complicated. The spaceship will have three main parts: the actual ship, a tanker, and a booster. After the ship launches, there will be a stage separation between the booster and the main spaceship once the ship leaves Earth’s atmosphere. The booster returns to Earth while the actual spaceship will head to its “parking orbit” until it is refueled by the booster, whose main job is to accelerate the rate at which the spaceship travels. After the booster lands back on Earth, a propellant tanker is loaded onto it. The booster takes back off once the tank is attached and will reach and refuel the spaceship in its parking-position orbit. From there, the tanker will return to Earth and the spaceship will depart for Mars. Pricing among the three parts of the whole architecture differs, as the booster’s fabrication cost is about $230 million, the tanker’s about $130 million, and the preeminent ship’s cost around $200 million. One might wonder where this money is coming from. SpaceX expects that it will receive a vast net cash flow from large corporations to fund development of the spaceship and all of its components once people realize that a trip to Mars really is attainable. NASA may also play a large part, as SpaceX has assisted them in multiple launches in the past. In addition, SpaceX presupposes to be funded by individuals who are interested in developing a base on Mars within the private sector. Ultimately, Musk believes this will be a “huge public-private partnership.” Beyond Mars, Musk wants to eventually apply the same methods of transportation to other vehicles that could bring civilization to even more planets in our solar system, such as Jupiter and its moons, like Enceladus or Europa. Musk boldly claimed this system gives anyone freedom to go anywhere they want in the greater solar system. So maybe, if we are lucky, you truly can fulfill your childhood dream of living on Mars.
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
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Hall Monitor By DAVID SHENG
What does death mean to you? Jason Wang ’17: “I have transcended death, dude.”
Andrey Shakhzadyan ’17: “Metal.”
Jacob Silcoff ’17: “The end of AP Chemistry.”
Arthur Santelli ’20: “To die, and it’s irrelevant at this Alex Whitehead ’20: “It’s the end and most depressing point to think about.” part of life.”
Imri Leshed ’18: “Never having to deal with people’s bullshit ever!”
Woocheol Hyun ’17: “Death means someone dies.”
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Improving the Inclusivity of Your Political Discourse
Morocco: The Land of Mint Tea and Couscous
By ABBY KATZ, Staff Writer
By JASON WANG
That Sounds Like a You Problem
Q: Hi Abby. Recently, I was trying to explain to some of my guy friends why catcalling is offensive. One of them interrupted me, arguing that “not all men” do things like that. Clearly, I’m not getting through to them. What can I do to make these conversations more productive? Signed, Puzzling My Way Through the Patriarchy
A: Great question, Puzzling! Before we start, I want to applaud you for making the effort to start these important conversations. It’s crucial that we address these kinds of social issues, especially given the tense state of our current political climate. That being said, I think that you’re approaching the whole “gender equality” debate in a completely incorrect way. Let me help point you in the right direction. Your friend raised an important point when he abruptly cut you off to remind you that not all men are rude to women. He’s right; I know plenty (or at least a handful) of guys who would never catcall someone on the street. Clearly, men respect women. Even if some men don’t, it’s totally unfair to make sweeping generalizations about an entire gender of people. That’s petty and biased and, frankly, the kind of snarky comment that only a woman would make. It’s easy to see why so many men feel disenfranchised in today’s world. The privileges that are given to them on the basis of gender come at a cost. Men aren’t given any kind of special rights like us gals, and when a man runs for president it isn’t even treated like a big deal. Men deserve recognition too, y’all. To make things worse, where are the MASCULINE hygiene products? And why can’t we have a group of Strong MEN Impacting Society at IHS? There are no logical explanations for any of these things. Men also have to struggle with the cultural appropriation of gender-specific words such as “bro” and “dude” by women, a behavior which is truly appalling and makes issues like the wage gap and a woman’s right to choose seem superficial in comparison. Putting these issues aside, another concern that so-called feminists raise is the issue of male entitlement. I often hear women complain that men feel like they have the right to talk over them, or explain things that they already understand. Well, a little-known fact about the male brain is that men have an incredibly high capacity for empathy and are remarkably intuitive. This means that they often know not only what you’re going to say before you say it, but are also able to deduce what it was that you really meant to say and are able to correct you before you even open your mouth to speak. That’s why mid-sentence interruption and “mansplaining” are such common practices—the gentlemen in our lives are actually doing us a favor. So be grateful, ladies. Embracing diversity in our lives opens all kinds of doors for us, so whoever said that chivalry is dead might need to expand their worldview a bit. If you want to have more productive political and cultural discussions, stop silencing and trivializing the men in your life. They have it a lot harder than you might think. If you weren’t able to understand any of the ideas presented in this column, ask a man you know to help explain it to you. You’re welcome. —Abby
ALRIGHT GUYS I DID IT. I promised that my next article would have nothing to do with boxing, so here I am delivering on that promise (you can write me a check or just thank me with cash). As some of you may know, and as many of you will soon know after reading this article, IHS is planning a trip to the fabulous nation of Morocco. More specifically, ultra-Xtreme superstar IHS teachers Todd Noyes, Steve Weissburg, and Elizabeth Campbell are arranging for a group of 24 students to travel to Morocco during February break, experience Moroccan culture, and work with a Moroccan school to see how education systems vary around the world. We’ll be driving to New York City, boarding a plane to Casablanca, and then boarding a bus to Rabat, the capital, after landing. For the first few days, we’ll be seeing important historical landmarks such as the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of Udayas. After that, we’ll be returning to Casablanca, where ICSD students will meet up with their host families and attend a few cultural workshops. We’ll spend the rest of the week working with schools there, and we will return to the U.S. on Saturday, February 25. Apart from the obvious excitement of traveling to an exotic locale, there’s another reason that we believe this trip is so important. In today’s society, especially in the United States, Islamophobia and anti-Middle Eastern sentiment has become quite prevalent, and many do indeed have very negative opinions of Middle Eastern and North African people and their culture. The development of conflict in Syria, rise of ISIS, and numerous terrorist attacks in the U.S. and Europe over the years have only made these negative opinions worse in the West. In response to the tragic Orlando shooting in June of this year, Donald Trump called for a ban on Muslims entering the nation, saying, “I called for a ban [on Muslims entering the country] after San Bernardino and was met with great scorn and anger. But now… many are saying that I was right to do so. And although the pause is temporary, we must find out what is going on. We have to do it.” Believe me, Donald Trump is most definitely not the only American that feels that way. Just ask a few of his most radical supporters. But rather than throwing our hands up in the air and making some joke about having our first orange president or about Trump’s uncomfortable comments about his daughter, it would be far better to truly educate ourselves so that we can educate others. By immersing ourselves in a predominantly Muslim culture, we will be able to improve our own understanding of what Islam truly is, and hopefulCONTINUED ON PAGE 19
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PAGE 19 IMAGE BY DEBORAH LYNN
Club Feature: Physics Club By DANIEL XU
Top row (left to right): Jacob Silcoff ’17, Freya Ryd ’17, James Park ’17, Aidan Peck ’17. Bottom row (left to right): Lisa Yoo ’17, Daniel Xu ’17, Luc Wetherbee ’17.
Odds are that you didn’t know IHS had a Physics Club, and in fact, it didn’t until this November. The concept is not a new or novel one—math and science clubs are the bread and butter of high-school extracurriculars, and the IHS Math Club, Chem Club, and Science Olympiad are all well-established in the area. Given that, Physics Club has been a long time coming. What’s the point of having a physics club? Many IHS students become involved in physics very late in their high-school education, if at all. Ninth-grade science teachers recommend Honors Chemistry as the sophomore science course, which naturally leads to AP Chemistry in junior year; this means that Honors Physics is rarely taken, few move on to AP Physics I, and even fewer take AP Physics C, which gives priority to seniors. This short span of time to cultivate interest means that physics education doesn’t reach the audience it should. You may be familiar with the American Mathematics Competition (AMC), the tenth- and twelfth-grade levels of which honors math classes take every year. Physics has an equivalent competition: the F=ma, which physics students at IHS have historically taken, but has not been administered in two years due to lack of interest. The problem here is twofold. Along with the general lack of physics exposure at IHS, students have an erroneous impression of physics competitions as being extremely
difficult when in reality only a basic understanding of mechanics is required for F=ma (past competition problems and solutions are available at https://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2016/exams. cfm). The goal of Physics Club is to ameliorate this situation and encourage early exploration of physics. As such, the club is structured to facilitate communal learning of physics concepts. Physics Club has just started, so it’s still experimenting with directions to go in, but underclassmen are highly encouraged to join even if they have no knowledge of physics. The whole point is to learn and explore. Physics C students and alumni are on hand to teach new members fundamentals; once members have knowledge of Newton’s Laws, rotational dynamics, and conservation, they can move on to learning competition problems and preparing for the F = ma in late January 2017. Physics Club encourages student demonstrations and plans to regularly attend talks at Cornell and invite guest lecturers from the physics department. If you’re interested in the structure of the universe or how things work in everyday life, or you just want to study for Physics C in advance, be sure to stop by and chat with us. Physics Club meets Tuesdays in E25. Meeting dates will be broadcast over the morning announcements in advance.
“MOROCCO” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
ly spread that understanding throughout the community and to all people around us. Obviously, traveling to Morocco won’t be free. In fact, the price per student is roughly $1800. That’s, like, an entire pair of Yeezys. So in order to make this trip as affordable as possible, we have put a lot of time and effort into fundraising. We have a few fundraising projects in progress right now, including crowdfunding through a GoFundMe page, selling food at the craft fair, hosting a badminton tournament, and doing yard work for community members in exchange for donations. We hope to raise enough money to bring down the price per student by as much as possible. That way, we can ensure that as many students as possible can have this wonderful opportunity to visit a place as great as Morocco. So, if your parents have been getting on your case to rake some leaves or shovel the driveway, and you’d simply rather finish Season 10 of Grey’s Anatomy, play League of Legends, or watch the Cleveland Browns fail spectacularly at football, let Ms. Campbell know and we’ll take care of it for you so that you can get back to enjoying Netflix in your cozy Snuggie. You could also help us out by sharing our GoFundMe campaign on your Facebook page, by trying some delicious mint tea at the Craft Fair on Friday, December 9, or by participating in our ballin’ (er, birdieing…?) badminton tournament coming soon.
What is poverty?
Poverty, the state of being poor, is the complex societal issue that people’s needs for clothing, nutrition, or shelter are not being met due to a lack of monetary assets. Around the world, it manifests itself in two main ways. There is absolute poverty, the condition of being severely deprived of basic human needs, which is defined worldwide as making less than $1 per day. There is also relative poverty, the condition where one earns less than the minimum amount needed to sustain a normal standard of living in their country. In the United States, the poverty line is $11,000 per year.
Causes of Poverty
There are generally two major causes of poverty in the United States. First, there are the detrimental effects of the Great Recession, which are still present even though the recession itself has ended. Many companies were forced to cut jobs or reduce benefits, and as a result, erosion in job quality accelerated. In our community, there is a surprising amount of relative poverty. Right now, those without college degrees Ithaca and Tompkins County are truly juxtapositions of affluence and are often forced to work minimum-wage a declining working class; there are many multimillionaires tied to jobs with few benefits such as health care, paid academia and local businesses, and these individuals coexist leave, or opportunities for advancement. Income with residents who are homeless, unemployed, veterans of inequality is a real concern in the United States, and foreign wars, or struggling single mothers. Here is the economic degradation further perpetuates it; when a look at poverty in our community and what we the disadvantaged are unable to gain career opportunities, it creates an even greater rift between the quality of life can do to improve the lives of those enjoyed by Americans. This is a problem that can only be solved through struggling financially. legislation regarding wages and health care or through a massive increase in economic output. The second major cause of relative poverty in the United States is a relative disparity between the qualifications of different workers. Most employment opportunities for which there is room to grow wages and benefits now require education beyond college degrees, whether it be post-high school technical or vocational training or attending graduate school. Employment opportunities for those with only a high-school diploma in 2008 paid only around $28,000 annually, conclusively showing that a gap between education levels is a primary cause of poverty.
Poverty in Tompkins County
It seems that those living in Ithaca have largely grown used to the notion that our community is a microcosm of affluence and economic growth in the otherwise struggling Southern Tier. However, the reality is somewhat different: even though our county’s poverty rate (excluding students) is significantly lower than the national average, the poverty rate in Ithaca is a surprising and alarming 8 percent above both the state and national averages. When these statistics are inspected with more detail, it’s evident that another segment of the population is disproportionately inflicted with poverty: children. In Tompkins County, 16 percent of families with children under five years old are impoverished, a poor figure considering that many aid resources such as reduced/ free school lunches are not accessible to those who are not enrolled in pre-schools. Many organizations, such as the Learning Web, work with the intent that these children should enjoy the same opportunities as those not in poverty. Additionally, all aid organizations included in the right half of this centerspread work with the intent that none of these children should go hungry or be unable to see a medical professional. Within ICSD, a little over 25 percent of students in 2014 qualified for free or reduced lunches, a major difference compared to the 49 percent state average in the same year. While this is a good statistic, it doesn’t excuse the fact that there is an evident problem with children in poverty in Ithaca and Tompkins County. Poverty in Tompkins County is unique in that, compared to rates nationally—which show similar poverty rates amongst certain ethnicities and groups—local poverty is concentrated in a few minority communities. Forty-eight percent of single mothers in Ithaca live in poverty, a rate slightly higher than the already disturbing 45 percent national rate. This accounts for a large amount of child poverty within Tompkins County. Two other unnerving figures are poverty rates in two underrepresented minority communities here: 53 percent of African Americans and 37 percent of Hispanics are living below the poverty line. These are disappointing figures when compared to the national rates of 24 percent for African Americans and 21 percent for Hispanics, as shown in a 2016 U.S. Census Bureau assessment. Poverty is evidently a concern in Tompkins County; although overall rates aren’t particularly troubling, the high prevalence of poverty among children, single mothers and minorities is far from acceptable. There are, however, some redeeming qualities of the socioeconomic status of our community. Firstly, Tompkins County is the only county outside of New York City where over 50 percent of the adult population has a bachelor's degree or higher, making our community among the state and even the nation’s most educated counties. Additionally, two other factors indicate positive changes for the poor in our county. In 2014, Tompkins County enjoyed a superb 3.1 percent unemployment rate, a figure less than half that of the 6.6 percent national rate at the time of the survey. Lastly, measures to enact a “living wage” in Tompkins County have proven beneficial, as Tompkins County enjoys a relatively good median wage of $37,000 for members of households, meaning that residents of Greater Ithaca are amongst the best-paid residents of upstate New York. It is apparent that our community is not as affluent and well-off as we may like to imagine, even if certain statistics show otherwise. The best way to combat this is to be mindful and accepting, as well as to help in as many ways as possible to aid those struggling with poverty.
Poverty in Ithaca By VAYNU KADIYALI
Local Organizations
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
This holiday season, one the best ways that we can work to fight poverty is to donate to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier (FBST). The FBST is an organization that for 35 years has been distributing food, grocery products, and personal hygiene products to impoverished families throughout the region. According to its 2015 Year End Statistics Report, it distributed an astounding 10 million pounds of food with a market value of over $17 million, fulfilling over one million meal requests. Perhaps the FBST’s most significant outreach effort is its BackPack Program, which in 2015 provided children at risk of hunger in 41 school districts with weekly packs of food and snacks to ensure that they were fed during weekends and school breaks. The FBST is always looking for donations and volunteers to maintain its vital operations in our surrounding community. Volunteers contributed over 40,000 hours to its efforts in 2015, and distribution and outreach are conducted mostly by those who donate their time. You can also provide financial donations at foodbankst.org or donate during the IHS Can Drive. IMAGE BY JOSEPH YOON
Ithaca Health Alliance
Families and individuals struggling with poverty often are unable to afford health insurance or medical treatments due to high health premiums in America’s health care system. This often results in higher rates of child mortality and lower life expectancies in low-income communities. However, in Ithaca, a volunteer health-care organization called the Ithaca Health Alliance has been working tirelessly to provide medical care and occupational therapy for the uninsured. The Ithaca Health Alliance offers two key services to uninsured residents of Ithaca and Tompkins County. Firstly, it created the Ithaca Free Clinic (IFC) to provide medical attention to those without health insurance, and its operation relies solely on volunteer health professionals trained in both conventional medicine and holistic techniques such as homeopathy and acupuncture. The IFC offers walk-in appointments twice a week, and is distinct in being one of few free and medically integrated clinics in the United States. The Ithaca Health Alliance additionally manages the Ithaca Health Fund, a grant program that gives emergency medical assistance to members of our community through grassroots fundraising, ensuring correct use of funds through a quick grant application process. This fund allows the Health Alliance to purchase medicine and equipment, as well as provide high-level care to those who cannot be treated at the IFC. The Ithaca Health Alliance relies on donations and volunteer efforts to keep up its efforts. You can visit its website, ithacahealth.org, to search a list of volunteer opportunities and to donate using its online PayPal donation system. The Health Alliance’s free clinic is located at 521 West Seneca St., and its weekly hours are shown online.
Loaves and Fishes
No Ithaca charity is as recognizable and endeared by the local community as Loaves and Fishes, an Episcopalian Church–affiliated soup kitchen for all in need regardless of faith, background or situation. Loaves and Fishes serves a free hot meal every weekday,h and does so with the intent that nobody in Tompkins County should go hungry. The extent of its operation is striking; in 2014, it served over 30,000 meals and relied on over 15,000 hours of volunteer services. In addition to its food operations, Loaves and Fishes has evolved during its 35 years, transforming from solely a soup kitchen into a center for advocacy for the poor in many key respects. It has a nurse available for health screenings once a week, offers referrals for employment through several volunteers in contact with local employers, and provides advocacy and references for housing, medical attention, and much more. To aid Loaves and Fishes in its work, you can volunteer in many different ways. It relies on small financial donations of all sizes, and also accepts food donations in the form of unopened packages. It also rely on volunteers to cook meals and staff during serving hours and is able to accommodate volunteer requirements for students. You can find information regarding how you can help this organization at loaves.org, or by visiting during open hours at 210 North Cayuga St.
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Tattler Readership Survey By THE TATTLER EDITORIAL BOARD and JACOB SILCOFF, Staff Writer
The results are in! After sending out a survey to every student at IHS a few weeks ago, the Tattler Editorial Board has worked tirelessly to read through the data and internalize all of your suggestions—including those to try to “be cool” and to start “roast[ing] the football team.” We were also told to have a completely uncensored version, which unfortunately will not be possible because o;jdlfija;sdfojpunvdsafioas;dfjasldfkjasdlfksjdflajksd;fasdlasndlfij , not to mention as;fjodasdasdiofja;sdf;lkajsdf;ifa;lsjkdf;a, which The Tattler is in no way responsible for. First, let’s look at the hard numbers. In total, we received 256 responses from 1351 surveys we sent out, which represents a response rate of 19 percent. Keep in mind the people who responded were probably more likely to have read The Tattler than those who did not. We’ll start off by looking at readership rates.
We can see from the first graph that the vast majority of our respondents do read The Tattler. Students seem to be split between “yes” and “occasionally” (those who only read specific articles of interest or don’t have much time to read). Our third graph helps break down how often students picked issues up last year. Meanwhile, around two-thirds of respondents read the September Issue. That’s no small amount, but it’s clear that we could be reaching out to an even larger portion of the school. We also received a few comments claiming that it was difficult to find issues. Look for them in front of classroom entrances around the start of each month, preferably before others can take the entire pile. We’ve confirmed that people know what The Tattler actually is, so let’s examine how well The Tattler is doing at letting people know about us.
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Thankfully, most of you were aware that anyone can write for The Tattler. For those of you who didn’t know, if you want to contribute, just come to any of the Writers’ Meetings, which are open to all students at IHS. You can also email editor@ihstattler.com to get updates on when meetings will happen and to sign up to write articles digitally. Speaking of digital communication, The Tattler is in fact available online! Our website is www.ihstattler.com, and we highly recommend it. Not only is it very well designed graphically speaking, but it also has a comment section for each article and a search feature that lets you find all of your favorite articles and authors. However, we know we don’t have to sell you on the idea: more than half of our respondents would be moderately or very interested in reading The Tattler online. The website is mobile-friendly, too.
Finally, let’s examine the opinions of respondents with respect to The Tattler and student journalism in general.
It is concerning that the vast majority of those who don’t read The Tattler simply find it unimportant. Out of the three possible choices, this is the hardest to remedy.
We also found that the lack of awareness is leading to a pool of untapped talent; nearly half of the people who didn’t know they could contribute would be willing to do so. If one of those people is you, start writing; we’ll accept your submissions with open arms.
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As a still-growing section, Literary was left out for this question. Opinion, perhaps unsurprisingly, takes the lead in popularity, while Features, Back Page, and News lag behind by just a bit. Arts section falls by little bit more, but it’s the Sports section that takes last place. Some respondents did point out the lack of IHS sports in the paper. We’ll be making an effort to improve that in the future.
We also asked students what they thought about various aspects of The Tattler on a scale of one to five. Students generally agreed that The Tattler is high-quality and in-depth, and that it covers a wide scope of topics that students find both interesting and engaging. Student authors were found to be well-informed and clear (each of these had an average rating of four out of five). Students also generally agreed that articles were not out of date (rating on average only two out of five for The Tattler being out of date), and that the paper was well-designed and easy to find—the responses to these had a median value of four and five respectively. However, many respondents felt The Tattler should be more objective, with more than half of all respondents giving three out of five or higher in agreement with the statement “The Tattler does a poor job of remaining objective and covering both sides
of an issue.” Finally, we received a plethora of comments to read through. Some were short and to the point, others long and thoughtful. To conclude our analysis, though, here’s a compilation of some of our favorite extraneous comments in response to what The Tattler should do to improve: • • • • • • • • •
“Get rid of it” “Control Jacob Silcoff” “Less Jacob Silcoff PLEASE!!!!!!” “get rid of that wierd [sic] guy” “less of Jacob Silcoff being up in arms about stuff (it’s getting a stale)” “Removing James Park from staff.” (Features Editor’s note: I know who you are.) “Racist” (just the word “Racist”) “Memes” “Not sending out surveys with questions that are basically the same”
We love you too, IHS.
Brown Butter Cranberry Muffin Recipe
IMAGE BY FRANCESCA CHU
By FRANCESCA CHU 1 teaspoon lemon juice 7 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ⅓ cup whole milk 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Zest of ½ lemon Try baking these muffins for your family over the holiday break.
Each year, fresh cranberries start to pop up in grocery stores around Thanksgiving, but they can be used for more than just cranberry sauce. In fact, cranberries are the perfect fruit for these muffins because they offer bursts of bright tartness against the tender, citrus-scented cake and the sweet, crunchy crumb topping. These muffins also contain brown butter, which is butter
that has been heated enough that the milk solids become brown and toasty. When these muffins bake, they spread a toasty, buttery aroma through the house, and the cranberries add some winter cheer. These muffins are a fun and festive choice for a small baking project on Christmas morning. Ingredients For the muffins 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries
For the crumb topping 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ½ cup all-purpose flour 3 ½ tablespoons sugar
Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Gently toss cranberries with lemon juice and 1 tablespoon sugar. Set aside. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter foams and dark golden bits appear in the pan. Carefully scrape the sides of the pan and transfer
butter to a bowl to cool. Whisk together flour, ¾ cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Whisk in brown butter. Add milk and butter mixture to flour mixture, stirring gently to combine. Gently fold in cranberries. Divide muffin batter evenly among prepared cups. Make the crumb topping. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and rub together with your fingertips until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter in muffin cups. Bake for approximately 18–20 minutes until muffins are golden brown and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let muffins cool for 10 minutes in pan, and serve warm or at room temperature.
This recipe was adapted from the blog Joy the Baker.
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Doctor Strange: A Review By ISAIAH GUTMAN, Staff Writer
main foe falls flat, with the Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) receiving nearly no backstory except that he is similar to Strange in temperament and attitude and is confused often, as shown by his ready acceptance of Dormammu and his “Mister Doctor” episode. Speaking of Dormammu, he was represented in the film to an extent that would be confusing to those who hadn’t read the comics. It seemed that Disney had in mind an audience of people familiar with the comics, but this was an unlikely assumption. Luckily, I have read my fair share of Doctor Strange, and I knew what was in store, and I must say the scene with Dormammu was handled quite creatively. That said, I cannot imagine the average viewer having the faintest idea of what was going on. Maybe next time, rather than publishing prequel comics that no one reads, Marvel will find a better way to prepare the audience for their film. Hopefully, at least some of these problems can be rectified in the inevitable sequel. Despite these issues, I did enjoy Doctor Strange. I don’t know how much of it was the comic reader in me, but I was engrossed by the admittedly wild and thin plot, waiting on the edge of my seat for more. I even thought the film had some good philosophical advice in the realm of selfishness and the like, even as it mocked materialism and, to a lesser extent, science. So all in all, I would recommend seeing Doctor Strange, especially in 3D or even IMAX if you can, but if you fancy yourself a critic of a sort, you may want to save your money. IMAGE PROVIDED
In the past year, there has been recurring debate over which comic book/film company is superior: DC or Marvel. While this debate may seem mundane, there are billions staked in the future of these franchises. Batman v Superman alone may have cost Warner Bros. over half a billion dollars to make and promote, and had disappointing returns both commercially and critically. Marvel Studios, however, is thriving, with both of their releases this year garnering fresh ratings of around 90 percent on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. The second of these releases, Doctor Strange, is getting significant buzz for purportedly being a more risky venture. I have seen Doctor Strange twice, and I can safely say that it takes few risks, relying on state-of-the-art visuals and an incredible cast, while coming up short in the areas of plot, villain, and audience engagement. Seeing Doctor Strange was an overall satisfying experience. The visuals really stand out, especially in IMAX 3D. While not vastly different from anything that has come before, new developments in film production technology allowed director Scott Derrickson to create mind-blowing visages. The film is reminiscent of such classics as Inception, which is high praise that I never expected to direct towards a Marvel film. Another area in which Doctor Strange excels is acting. For starters, the picture boasts an impressive cast; leading among them, of course, is Benedict Cumberbatch. While perhaps not as enthralling as usual, Cumberbatch lends important humanity to a character who is so far out, and certainly makes Strange a compelling man, even when he is vilified in the beginning as somewhat of a materialist. As always, it is interesting to hear the efforts of Brits to take on an American accent, and Cumberbatch does not fail to entertain. I found myself wondering at various junctures whether he had prepared for the role using clips of Adam West. That being said, his accent was far superior to others attempted by his countrymen. While Cumberbatch is the star, Tilda Swinton truly shines in her role as the Ancient One. The Academy Award winner commands attention every time she sets foot on screen, and has a compelling arc as well. Altogether, the film boasts an accomplished cast, with four members being nominated for an Academy Award, and Swinton winning one. However, Doctor Strange falters when it comes to plot and comedy. While the odder sequences shone, it seemed the writers had trouble coming up with scenes to fill in the time in between. Many scenes seemed completely extraneous; even the staple comedy from Marvel seemed useless and boring. For example, while the valet Wong had his moments, it seemed they played up his character’s lack of comedic recognition, without a great payoff. Additionally, Rachel McAdams did not contribute much to the film, with her character being barely more than a tease for Strange. The comedy falls flat: most of the attempted humor comes from Strange’s witty comments and his cloak’s antics. This grows old quickly, and when the cloak strangles enemy after enemy, I found myself wanting to fast-forward the film to the next, more interesting scene. Another major problem with the film seems to be one that is discussed after every Marvel movie—the villain. Here again, the
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the titular character in Doctor Strange.
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
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Judy Barringer demonstrates mezzotint techniques using a roulette, which creates a pebble effect.
A Transcendent Experience at The Ink Shop taglio printing; linoleum, wood, plastic, or lead for relief printing; and stone for planographic printing. Intaglio is a family of printing techniques. The desired image is incised into a surface using metal tools so that the ink seeps into the grooves and not on smooth surfaces. The ink is wiped away and is transferred to a sheet of paper. I found one particular style of intaglio printing, mezzotint, most fascinating. The process involves achieving tonality by roughening and smoothing a metal plate to different degrees. The tiny grooves the artist makes in the plate uses stainless steel tools to hold the ink. So the rougher the plate, the darker the print; the smoother the plate, the lighter the print. Barringer explained to me the process that went into making her own mezzotint prints: “What I’ve done is rock this rocker on this plate a hundred thousand times, in every direction. Then I went in with a burnishing tool to smooth away areas I want in a lighter shade.” One piece in the shop, although not part of the exhibition, caught my eye. It was one done by Peter Jogo called “Walk,” a mezzotint print. It uses four colors (therefore four plates) and depicts a shoe token set atop a Monopoly board. Due to the amount of detail and the meticulous shading, the print was incredibly photorealistic. With mezzotint being such a labor-intensive process, “Walk” truly captured Jogo’s unreal work ethic and jaw-dropping precision.
The thing is, I thought I was impressed until I learned that the print was one out of 80. Mind-blowing. IMAGE PROVIDED
When I stepped in The Ink Shop Printmaking Center, located on the second story of the Community School of Music and Arts building, I was welcomed by the smiling face of Judy Barringer, President of the Board of Directors. The Ink Shop, a volunteer-run non-profit founded in 1999, is an open-source printmaking facility and fine arts gallery. The shop was once based in the old airplane-manufacturing facility, but after a devastating fire and the consequential water and soot damage to art and equipment, it relocated to its current site. The organization offers about six exhibitions each year, artist presentations, and workshops. It has also exhibited worldwide, from Osaka to Berlin. The current exhibition, the 19th MiniPrint International Exhibition, opened in early November and is expected to conclude in January 2017. Artists from around the globe have submitted 4” by 4” (or smaller) prints. “This show is biennial and has been going for about 30 years. It was passed on to us by Beverly Darling McLean, the founder of the exhibit who died this past May,” Barringer said. I was generously given a tour of the shop and a lesson in printmaking. Printmaking is an artform usually performed by transferring ink from a matrix to a sheet of paper or other material. The matrix can be many different things, depending on the style of printing. Common matrices and their typical uses include metal plates, usually copper or zinc, for in-
By JAMES YOON
“Walk” by Peter Jogo: 2005, 4” x 5”; 24 out of 80.
The first-place winner of the exhibition was a mezzotint done by Cleo Wilkinson called “Murmur II.” It is a close-up of the face of an androgynous individual. The eyes of the subject are pointed downwards and the lips are slightly parted, as if the person wanted to utter something. The face is expressionless, which gives the print a somber and contemplative feel. The piece was printed with black ink, which allowed Wilkinson to simulate the person sitting in a dark room with a soft light pointed at the face from above. The highlights were subtly accented using smooth tone gradients, demonstrating full mastery of the art of mezzotint. The black overlay broken CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
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by tiny dots of light gave me a sense of emptiness, which left me wondering what was left unsaid by the subject. The print left my curiosity unfulfilled, yet also put me in a place of content.
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IMAGE BY JAMES YOON
a set of prints, the block is no longer usable, as it is destroyed in the process. Lastly, planographic printing is a family of printing processes that utilizes the natural tendency of oils to repel water. No grooves are cut or etched into the surface of the plate. An image is instead drawn on a smooth, wet surface using greasy substances. The oil-based ink is then applied and only sticks to the areas not covered in water. Because the grease is typically applied using a grease pencil, one can achieve a great amount of detail. My favorite exhibit was “You Cannot Pray to Your God” by Lara Azzurra Vaienti, an artist from Montana. It was created using intaglio, specifically etching. A metal plate was first covered in an acid-resistant wax. Vaienti then carved away the wax and then dipped the plate in acid. The areas of the plate not covered by wax were exposed to the acid. The image was printed on a beige-colored paper square using two colors, gray and red. It depicts a man in a polo shirt with his eyes closed and his hands in prayer position. In the foreground are grid-like patterns in gray and red. There are also two small, red circles in the bottom right of the print, which look like drops of blood. The fuzzy, washed-out image of the man adds a sense of depersonalization and grief. In addition, the grid-like patterns look like metal wire fences, which made me feel trapped. This haunting piece gives a harsh portrayal of religious suppression and lack of freedom.
”Murmur II” by Cleo Wilkinson
IMAGE BY JAMES YOON
Relief is another family of printmaking processes, in which the ink goes on raised surfaces on the face of a matrix after the artist cuts away uninked areas. The matrix is typically made of linoleum, wood, plastic, or lead. Many elementary students learn relief printing on rubber matrices and sliced vegetables. Barringer showed me a colorful, elaborate relief print. The print, not part of the exhibition, was done by Jenny Pope, an Ithacan artist, who depicted a peaceful scene of goldfinches playing in a field of dandelions. The splashes of yellow, orange, and green give off a playful yet nostalgic vibe. All of the finches are positioned in different ways and honey bees are next to them, collecting pollen from the dandelions. This creates a sense of controlled hysteria. Because the print uses over five different colors, I had assumed that Pope painted on individual protrusions of the matrix. However, I learned that she used a technique called “color reduction” or “lost block,” in which a wooden block is inked, printed, carved further, inked again, etc. for each color. So after completing “You Cannot Pray to Your God” by Lara Azzurra Vaienti
Judy opens a drawer, revealing a relief print created by Jenny Pope.
Looking around The Ink Shop from wall to wall, I was inspired by the variety of the techniques used in the prints. Not only were they pleasing to look at, the fact that they were once solid blocks of stone, wood, and metal added another dimension to the artistic experience. I urge you to experience this exhibition yourself or even attend the workshops held there, as you will find a deeper appreciation for the remarkable artisanship and processes of printmaking. The Ink Shop: http://www.ink-shop.org/
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
Remembering Miss Sharon Jones By AMALIA WALKER
IMAGE PROVIDED
On November 18, legendary soul-funk singer Sharon Jones passed away after battling pancreatic cancer with her head held high. For a woman with such spunk, a voice so incredibly bold, and a born-for-the-stage personality, she kicked off her career fairly late: her first album was recorded in the mid-90s, when she was 40 years old. Her vocal career began with singing gospel in church, a background that tends to bode well for a singer’s future. She was born too late for the soul wave of Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and Etta James, from whom she clearly drew influence. Jones not only preserved the deep female vocal soul sound, but picked up on more underlying, less-clear aspects of the genre. For example, Jones’ “Money” clearly has a blues-waltz beat parallel to that in Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind.” She carried that generation’s legacy well, keeping the genre alive. She’s also been known as the female James Brown for her role as a leader in soul-funk, and, of course, her stage personality, always proving ownership of her music in her dancing. She combined this old-school soul with James Brown’s funk, and then added some Tina Turner–like notes of pop, creating an undeniably original sound. Last year, a documentary entitled Miss Sharon Jones! premiered, beautifully illustrating her confrontation of her pancreatic cancer, from which over 90 percent of patients die within five years of diagnosis. The documentary didn’t ignore Jones’ human reactions to her condition, but overwhelmingly it showed a wom-
an of great strength, high spirits, and compassion—a lover of life. In the documentary, Jones describes her breakthrough, how she had been shut down time and again by the industry; a producer explicitly told her she was “too fat, too black, too short, and too old,” which briefly deterred her, but shortly thereafter she rose as a star, bringing back a sound that the nation needed. It’s heartbreaking that Jones was so ignored for so long, only to be taken by cancer after a few short decades of stardom. But even in her illness, the stage was her safe place. The documentary includes footage of Jones performing at the Beacon Theater in New York during a short period of relative health in the midst of chemotherapy treatment. With not a hair on her head, she looks as sharp as ever in a sequined gold dress. It was as if she were free from illness, dancing like never before, joking with the audience, owning the stage. Miss Sharon Jones was a gem. She was persistent, she was selfless. She had a gift, and she gifted it upon us all. Sharon Jones 4 May 1956 – 18 November 2016
For the upcoming holiday season, check out Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ 2015 album It’s a Holiday Soul Party, and for every day of the year, their cover of “This Land is Your Land.”
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
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Movies at the Mack: Mr. Reiff’s Film Series in Auburn By FRANCESCA CHU
IMAGE BY FRANCESCA CHU
One Wednesday evening in October, I took a scenic 50-minute ride to Auburn. By the time I got there, it was dark and I stumbled around the Cayuga Museum to a small, barn-like building in the back with a sign reading “Theater Mack.” The theater looked surprisingly modern inside, and as I was admiring my surroundings I was greeted by IHS English teacher Mr. Reiff. Several people were already sitting down, facing the movie screen, where Doctor Strangelove was cued up and waiting to play. Mr. Reiff seemed to be in his element, talking about films he had seen recently, upcoming movies, and his plans for the class that evening. At 7:00, we settled down to watch the movie. Mr. Reiff briefly shared some of his extensive knowledge of different aspects of the film, ranging from the unique typeface used in the opening credits to the set choices and other decisions of the director. As I watched, I appreciated that Mr. Reiff had addressed specific noteworthy elements. The movie, which was very complex, became a lot easier to understand when I thought about what he had said. I really was able to see it as a work of art. Every other Wednesday, Mr. Reiff holds these classes/showings in Auburn through Cayuga Community College (CCC), through its Continuing Education program. Any adult may enroll in his class or drop by to be a guest for a night. If you’re his student at IHS, Reiff pays your guest ticket; otherwise, tickets cost just a few dollars. Overall, coming to one of these classes is a fun and valuable experience, one that is definitely worth it if you have a few free hours on a Wednesday evening. I interviewed Mr. Reiff to learn a bit more about his enticing program.
Mr. Reiff sits at his desk.
Francesca Chu ’18: Can you give me your own description of your film program? Michael Reiff: The idea behind it is to expose a number of folks, as many as possible, to classic films on the big screen. And I want people to be able to experience these things in their proper con-
text. At IHS here, I teach Film Studies, and I have to teach it on the Eno board, chopped up into four to five bits. But there’s something special about seeing classic films on the big screen. So in the fall, we did a unit on Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick the director, and right now, we’re in the midst of the international unit, so French films, Japanese films, Swedish [films]. And then, in the spring, we’ll be doing four films by classic actresses and then we will be doing four films by Hitchcock, as always. So this is sort of how I approach it. I’ve been doing this now for four years. The first year it was through grants; it was not a course, but a private sort of startup, and then for the past three years, it’s been through the college, which has been great because we have a wider educational mandate. It [also] has a slightly different feel, and I can concentrate more on the educational aspect than the fundraising aspect. FC: So, how did you get affiliated with the community college? MR: It’s interesting. A couple different ways. I served on the board of a media creation channel in Auburn, called ARMA, Auburn Regional Media Access, and that is a station, a channel, a workshop that hopefully empowers people in Cayuga County. Anyone from the community or the county can come in, grab a camera, make some things happen. I was starting that up about three years ago, and I had some meetings with a professor at CCC, Steve Keeler, who’s the chief chair of the media department and the school of the media arts, and I talked to him about a film series at the time. Funding was getting a bit harder to find, and he brought this idea to my attention—of making a Continuing Education program. Previous to this, I had been the manager, curator, of a film series called Making Movies, which was through the Schweinfurth Art Gallery in Auburn, and I brought in filmmakers who were up from around the state, who made short films—or long films—and that had been a film series for about ten years in Auburn. But just that year that I took over the program, Governor Cuomo cut funding to a lot of grants. Institutions at that time could only apply for two grants, the Schweinfurth needed two to just run the show, and so they couldn’t fund this. So I was kind of casting about for different film programming, and actually this worked out better, because I am much more [interested] now in theory and analysis, and so this course that I wanted to teach all along sort of grew out of that. But I’ve been trying to bring film and film content to Auburn for a long time. It’s where I live, but it’s also where sound film was invented, at the Case Laboratories, so I want to make sure we have a classic film presence in this city at all times. FC: When and how did you get interested in film? MR: You know, my mom… had this vast VHS collection, and I would just be popping in VHS’s and I’d just watch them, growing up. Star Wars, Star Trek, were always the favorites, but these black and white films—what are these things? I see these actors in the black and white hats, and there’ll be a Hitchcock film, but I wouldn’t really know what was going on, and that was always sort of in the background. But it was really only maybe junior year in high school that I started watching films that really grabbed my attention like CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
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The Crown Season 1: A Review
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FC: What’s your favorite movie? MR: Well, someone asked me this on a recent Model UN trip, and I’ll say it’s fairly subjective, in terms of my favorite favorite. I’d say the best technical film I can sort of point at would be Children of Men, which is a film that I actually do teach in Film Studies; it just has exquisite technique. Every shot is composed perfectly for the purpose of what’s supposed to be happening in the film—just technically flawless, superb. And if you want to know why, you should take Film Studies. Favorite films, though… it depends on the time of day, it depends on what’s happening in the news, what’s happening in my life at the time. Some that I do return to, over and over again, would be Terrence Malick’s The New World, Mad Max: Fury Road (that just came out), District 9, City of God, anything by Guillermo del Toro— primarily his more artistic works like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Devil’s Backbone, but even his more commercial stuff like Mimic and the Hellboy movies. Also, Chanwook Park’s films, especially Oldboy and Thirst. I tend to really get into the modern stuff, Wong Kar-wai films like 2046 and In the Mood for Love. Korean directors and Hong Kong directors really have it going on right now, so Snowpiercer by Bong Joon-ho is pretty remarkable. FC: How do you pick films for your class in Auburn? MR: You may want to take it and find out, but I do have it boiled down to three major criteria I discuss on day one. The film has to have something going on that is new for its time period, it needs to be readily explainable so that we can read it as a piece of literature. And then hopefully it’s a good story. I try to find films that do those first two criteria, but oftentimes, the truly cutting-edge experimental films are kind of head-scratcher. I’m not a big fan of head-scratchers myself, and I know students wouldn’t be either, so I make sure that maybe I have to move just a little bit ahead in the timeline and find films that also have a good story. FC: Do you have anything else you want to say about your course in Auburn? MR: Hopefully, it’ll continue, and continue to grow. I think it’s a great opportunity to be part of an audience that is dependably geared towards thinking and viewing and appreciating.
By JULIAN PERRY
As Netflix continues to produce more and more original series, it has been impressive in its high production quality, and The Crown is no exception. While watching The Crown, one is truly immersed in the life of Queen Elizabeth II, a chaotic time in the history of the British royal family. Netflix obviously had very high hopes for the show, having allotted it the highest budget of any of their TV shows so far and beginning production of the second season before the release of first. However, it lacks the action and suspense that make a show worthy of binge-watching, which reduces its appeal for a lot of people. The Crown seems to be Netflix’s first attempt to create a television drama in the vein of Downton Abbey, and while it seems like it was Claire Foy plays Queen Elizabeth successful in that regard, the show isn’t II in The Crown. exactly fast-paced or exciting, which may be enough to make it an unattractive option for many Netflix subscribers. The story of the first season is centered around England’s struggle to maintain stability following the death of King George VI. At the center of this struggle lies Queen Elizabeth II, whose burden is to manage the difficulty of dealing with the rest of the royal family, deal with Parliament, and maintain her family’s image. The show starts out slow, and I must admit that I was losing interest over the course of the first few episodes, but as Elizabeth’s life became more complicated and more difficult over the course of the season, the show becomes more engaging and I started to sympathize with the struggles of various characters. While at points the plot was not appealing, at no point in the series was I doubtful of the excellence of the acting or the set design and production quality. The show is comprised of scenes in beautiful landscapes as well as extravagant indoor settings that serve as eye candy to compensate for a slow plot. While its slow pace and lack of action certainly make it less exciting, they also make The Crown stand out among Netflix’s selection of original works. While a show like Stranger Things or Orange is the New Black is made with the intent of getting the viewer to binge-watch a season in a short period of time, The Crown seems to have been made with the expectation that the viewer takes breaks between episodes, as strange as that may seem in the era of streaming television. As I watched the show I found myself immersed in each episode, yet I never felt the compulsive need to immediately start the next episode. While that factor doesn’t necessarily add a whole lot to the viewing experience, it does make watching the show compatible with getting homework done on time and not losing too much sleep. If what you are looking for is a show to watch in one weekend, The Crown is not the thriller or feel-good drama you want. Still, to call The Crown boring would be incorrect. The phenomenal overall quality of the show makes it worthy of praise, and it left me looking forward to the second season. The Crown is expected to have six seasons that tell the story of Queen Elizabeth II’s long, illustrious life, and given that so far my impression of the show has improved as I watched more episodes, I see a lot of potential for it to get even better in coming seasons.
IMAGE PROVIDED
Seven, Fight Club, and the stuff that was popular in the late-90s, edgy—but I still didn’t really see it as literature [until] probably around senior year in college when I started taking film courses at SUNY Geneseo, because they had some great programming there. So I took a bunch that last year, and that was great. And then I took my master’s program at UB in media and literature, with a concentration sort of in film analysis. Most of it, though, has sort of been by practice. I started at Niagara Falls High School, taught a film unit there. So partly, it’s been my own interest, but partly it’s just been sort of spreading film outwards, using it as a teaching tool, and now it’s become sort of one of the focuses, not just as literature, but as cinema itself in my film studies course.
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
Bringing it All Back Home: A Bob Dylan Playlist By LELAND XU and JEFFERSON SHENG
Imagine the 1960s in the United States of America. The backdrop of the Vietnam War creates a breeding ground for young, enraged activists, who fight the draft and the war itself. The Civil Rights Movement is at its peak, captivating the nation, and the National Organization for Women is fighting for equality for all genders. The Stonewall Riots demonstrate the beginning of the modern battle for LGBT rights. It’s an age of rebellion and reform. In this madness exists a man who not only creates songs that so embody poetry, in which the music itself plays second fiddle, but a singer who doesn’t merely sing about lost loves like some of his contemporaries; one who writes songs that have political relevance and shows that music can be more than just catchy guitar chords. Throughout his 50-year (and counting) career, Bob Dylan has inspired and befriended such icons as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, The Byrds, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley, Simon and Garfunkel, and Neil Young. His musical interpretations of American folk, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country, pop, gospel, jazz, and rockabilly have contributed significantly to the creation of folk rock and country rock. His harmonica, keyboard, and unforgettable voice are the loyal instruments of his crusade: the crucial elements that have made Bob Dylan Bob Dylan. Dylan’s revolutionary and original lyrics have not been left unnoticed, and neither has his immense cultural impact on American society and music. He’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Song-
writers Hall of Fame. He’s won the GMA Dove Award, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, more than ten Grammy Awards, the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, and many other accolades from different countries and for different reasons. Today, despite his age, Dylan’s Never Ending Tour is still in full swing, and he continues to release songs and albums with no end in sight. We hope you enjoy this playlist of some of Bob Dylan’s greatest songs. “The Times They Are a-Changin’” (The Times They Are a-Changin’, 1964) Leland Xu: This song is one of general protest under which various counterculture groups united as Dylan begged for senators and congressmen to “heed the call” of unspecified change, or risk being “drenched to the bone.” Inspired by Irish and Scottish ballads, this anthem is one of Dylan’s greatest hits; it defined him then and continues to define him today as a rebel, unafraid to defy the powerful authorities of his time in the name of social justice. “Like a Rolling Stone” (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965) Jefferson Sheng: After Dylan wrapped up his 1965 European tour, he found himself at one of the most desperate times in his career. He was at one of his lowest creative ebbs but found himself in high demand. So Dylan walked into Columbia Records’ studio in New York and recorded his most successful song, “Like a Rolling Stone,” a revolutionary combination of different styles of music and the distinctive anger and cynicism of Dylan’s voice. The lyrCONTINUED ON PAGE 32
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ics were interpreted as expressions of animosity rather than love towards its subject, “Miss Lonely,” a character who once “...threw the bums a dime in her prime,” but whose life became difficult, as it appeared that she had no meaningful experiences to define her character. Originally beginning as ten pages of “vomit writing,” as Dylan himself described it, the song turned into a triumphant and freshly reinvigorated set of lyrics that transformed the folk singer into a rock star.
“Mr. Tambourine Man” (Bringing it All Back Home, 1965) JS: Known for its bright, expansive melody and lively, clever use of words, “Mr. Tambourine Man” was originally composed in early 1964, playing a vital role in the initiation of the musical subgenre of folk rock. The song had its roots in the works of French poet Arthur Rimbaud and the movie La Strada by Federico Fellini. It was inspirational to many later artists, including those who performed and recorded variations of this particular song from the Bringing it All Back Home album. “Mr. Tambourine Man” had a heavy influence on the subgenre of folk rock since its first release by Columbia Records. A product of its prestige was The Byrds’ version, recorded later in the same year, which was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998, four years before Bob Dylan’s original version was honored with the same award. “Maggie’s Farm” (Bringing it All Back Home, 1965) LX: “Maggie’s Farm” was one of the first songs performed after Dylan’s controversial switch from acoustic guitar to electric guitar. Though his fan base initially booed him at the performance of “Maggie’s Farm” in concert, Dylan continued to be successful after his switch. This blues protest song features an aggressive Dylan complaining about the abusive conditions at “Maggie’s farm,” interpreted as a personification of racism, capitalism or oppression. Other interpretations view the song as an allegory for the folk music industry and their treatment of Dylan. Or perhaps it’s merely a remake of The Bently Boys’ “Down On Penny’s Farm.” Whatever the true meaning, no one jeers at Dylan or his song today; even Barack Obama admits to be a fan of the song.
“Subterranean Homesick Blues” (Bringing it All Back Home, 1965) JS: Packed with political and counterculture references, “Subterranean Homesick Blues” kicks off Dylan’s fifth studio album, Bringing it All Back Home. This song is noted for its unique video-like film excerpt from the documentary Dont Look Back, a film by D.A. Pennebaker that captures Dylan’s 1965 tour in England. The evocative “music video” shows Bob Dylan flipping through cue cards that match the song’s lyrics, on occasion with intentional misspellings for purposes of exaggeration. Like many other songs on the album, it ties itself with the struggles within the U.S. during the Cold War era. The lyrics reference the civil rights movement, specifically the 1963 Birmingham campaign (“Better stay away from those/That carry around a fire hose”), the LSD culture of the 1960s, and other American phenomena of the day.
“All Along the Watchtower” (John Wesley Harding, 1967) LX: Chances are, if you have ever heard of this song, it’s because of rock-and-roll legend Jimi Hendrix. His cover version of this folk ballad became the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s highest-selling single, reaching #20 in the U.S. charts and #5 in the U.K. Dylan’s original was eclipsed completely. No one can blame people for liking and recognizing Hendrix’s version more quickly than Bob Dylan’s; even Dylan himself said that the recording “overwhelmed [him].”
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
So why even bother listening to Dylan’s version? In Hendrix’s version, the focus is more on the music; by contrast, Dylan’s version had the lyrics as priority, and the song lyrics are some of his best. The song is surrealist, painting incredibly abstract images in the listener’s mind; its tale of a joker, a thief, princes, and a watchtower leaves the meaning up for interpretation. Yes, Hendrix made the song popular, but what shouldn’t be neglected is that Dylan made his song artistically impact the music.
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, 1973) JS: If you’ve ever watched the 1973 film Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, you’ll hear this iconic, flawless accompaniment playing as Billy the Kid shoots one of the deputy sheriffs, who is groaning in pain, slowly fading away, “knockin’ on heaven’s door.” The melancholic masterpiece is the most well-known track on the album and soundtrack of the film. It soon became one of Dylan’s most popular compositions because of its simplicity of chord structure blended with the repetitive, haunting lyrics. Dylan recorded this song several times throughout his career.
“Must Be Santa” (Christmas in the Heart, 2009) Because Christmas is right around the corner, in the spirit of the holidays and Bob Dylan, we recommend you listen to Dylan’s cover of Mitch Miller’s “Must Be Santa” as you sit by the fireplace alone with your hot chocolate. This song is unique for its unusual German polka-style rendition (in which the only instruments are accordions and drums), though Dylan preserves the traditionalist call-and-response format of the original, it’s perhaps Dylan’s strangest work of the new millennium, and perhaps the strangest work in the history of Christmas music. Its music video is just as silly and contradictory, for as Dylan and the crowd sing the song of the innocent Saint Nick, the setting is a violent adult party. Dylan also takes a stab at some U.S. presidents, mixing their names in with those of Santa’s reindeer.
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
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SPORTS
Sporty Seniors IMAGE BY BENJAMIN SALOMON
By BENJAMIN SALOMON
Jimin Lee ’17 Q: What sport do you play? A: I run track.
Q: Do you have a favorite professional athlete? A: Usain Bolt.
IMAGE BY BENJAMIN SALOMON
Q: Do Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have a stable relationship? A: Yes.
Joseph Damian ’17 Q: What sport do you play? A: eSports.
Q: Do you have a favorite professional athlete? A: Seagull.
Q: Do Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have a stable relationship? A: Yes, absolutely.
SPORTS
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
IHS Has an Indoor Track Team for the First Time in History
NBA Playoff Predictions
By AURORA WULFF
By VAYNU KADIYALI and ISAIAH GUTMAN, Staff Writer
The question that many students have asked over the years—when we will have an indoor track team—has finally been answered. It’s surprising that a school the size of IHS is one of the last double-A schools in our region to have an indoor team. The main reason we have not had a team in the past is budget issues. The passing of the budget by the Board of Education with the support of new Athletic Director David Hanna was needed to start the team. This year, with Hanna’s help, an indoor track team was established for the first time in IHS history. This is great news for the outdoor track coaches because now they have an extra four months of training to prepare athletes for the outdoor season. Coach Weishar and Coach Baker have expressed that it is hard to prepare athletes with only three months to train, making it difficult to compete with other schools. Schools that have an indoor team have the extra time during the winter to train, giving them an advantage. The coaches have high expectations for the first season of indoor track, and are hoping for a large number of committed athletes to join. Whether one is part of outdoor track, cross country, or is simply looking to try something new, as Coach Weishar said, “[indoor track] is a great way to get fit and strong for other sports. I would challenge all those other athletes that aren’t doing anything in the winter to come out for the season.” You may be wondering what an indoor track season would look like. It’s different from outdoor track in three significant ways. Indoor track offers the additional events of the 55 m, 300 m, 600 m, 1000 m, and 55 m hurdles. IHS does not have indoor track facilities, so students should be prepared to practice outside during the winter, up and down hallways, in the multi-purpose room, or in the weight room. Although indoor coaches are hoping to be granted access to Ithaca College’s brand new indoor track, this presents additional problems because practices would have to be held later and transportation could very well be an issue for many student athletes. Indoor track practices will be held Mondays through Fridays, with only one meet over the weekend rather than dual meets like in outdoor track. Overall, one should expect a season with a strong foundation in strength training, such as weightlifting and plyometrics, as well as a more individual focus, as there are a smaller number of athletes than in outdoor track. The first meet will be held on December 3 in Cortland and the last meet, States, will be held March 4 in Staten Island. The indoor coaches look to the outdoor season with high anticipation. When Coach Weishar was asked about his goals for the season, he said, “Our goals are high. We’ve always focused on being a post-championship team, and now we’ve got seven months to build into the championship season now that we have indoor track.”
Eastern Conference 1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Even this early into the NBA season, it’s evident that the Cleveland Cavaliers are overwhelming favorites to be the East’s number-one seed and to advance to the NBA Finals. Their Big Three is finally emerging into what NBA fans expected. Kyrie Irving has become a top outside scorer and isolation player, Kevin Love is finally dominating in the post as well as from three-point range, and LeBron James is having the league’s most well-rounded season with a near triple-double average in points, rebounds, and assists. 2. Toronto Raptors: The Toronto Raptors are truly an elite NBA organization. DeMar Derozan has emerged as a scarily good midrange and post scorer, while Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas seem to both be hitting their primes this season. Expect them to be good for three reasons: they have a Cleveland-esque diversified Big Three, they have several young and emerging talents like Jakob Poeltl and Patrick Patterson, and they also have key trade pieces to acquire talents who will soon be on the trade block, such as Nerlens Noel. 3. Charlotte Hornets: The Hornets have probably been the most surprising story of this NBA season. The return of defensive whiz Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has led them to be the East’s best defensive team, and with their slow but steady offense led by emerging superstar Kemba Walker and supported by solid three-point shooters at all five positions, Charlotte will likely make an unexpected leap from their solid standing last season. 4. Atlanta Hawks: Atlanta has had the fortune of having an NBA franchise that is consistently above average, and they have been rightfully equated to being a Spurs-like organization with perennial playoff appearances and many well-rounded role players. Under coach Mike Budenholzer, the Hawks—despite having no superstars—have played solidly on both sides of the floor, and Atlanta has had by far the most consistent spacing in the Eastern Conference for the past five seasons. For this reason, despite losing key talents Jeff Teague and Al Horford in free-agency, the Hawks’ slightly worse lineup will nonetheless be a strong Eastern conference playoff team. 5. Boston Celtics: Following the 2013 NBA Season, the Boston Celtics made a fateful decision to rebuild their aging franchise to eventually become a young, top-tier Eastern Conference team. It appears that this ascension is becoming a reality, and that the pieces that will compose a title-contending Celtics lineup have been acquired. Nonetheless, the Celtics still have a ways to go; they run a very unimpressive offense, relying instead on a strong defense to win games. The Celtics also started the season with a surprising lack of overall effort, and their playoff seed will depend on their consistency in the coming months. 6. Chicago Bulls: It would be an understatement to say that the Bulls were a wild card to make the playoffs this season. Despite having three talented starters in Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler, and Rajon CONTINUED ON PAGE 35
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
SPORTS
“NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34
Rondo, many doubted their ability to shoot the perimeter and run a well-spaced offense. This perception has been turned upside-down as Wade and Rondo have developed respectable three-point shots, which will likely push the otherwise strong Bulls over the cusp of being a successful NBA team. 7. Indiana Pacers: It’s true that the Pacers have been looking quite shaky this season; the recently acquired Jeff Teague began with his field-goal percentage hovering around a horrendous 20 percent and Monta Ellis’s constant problem of over-dribbling and taking bad shots is still a major issue for Indiana as he turns over and ignores passing to an open shooter on a consistent basis. However, look to see the more consistent shooting guard CJ Miles inserted into the starting lineup to rectify this problem, and for the combined and always improving force of Paul George and Myles Turner to push the Pacers to a respectable playoff seed. 8. New York Knicks: The Knicks are by far the most volatile NBA franchise this season. It is unclear whether they have good offensive spacing or defensive prowess, but they have been chosen to be included in this list for their raw talent. If the offensive juggernauts in Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis continue their strong performances, and if Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah learn to better space the floor and defend on switches, the offensively gifted Knicks could become favorites for the East’s eighth seed.
Western Conference 1. Golden State Warriors: The NBA’s best team only got better in the offseason by picking up Kevin Durant. Even after a comparatively sluggish start, the Warriors will get back on track and easily take first in the more competitive conference. With three of the best players in the association in one starting lineup, this squad may be as historic as last year’s. KD is already tearing it up, and with Steph Curry finally getting back on track, along with Draymond Green being the rock he usually is, the Warriors have no real competition in the West. 2. Los Angeles Clippers: The Clips have been very good for a while now, with what is most likely the best big-man combo in the association, combined with a top-three point guard in Chris Paul. This year, everything is coming together, with DeAndre Jordan evolving into one of the best centers and Blake Griffin being the second-best power forward. Add to that the league’s best sixth man in Jamal Crawford, and the Clippers are built for success. If none of their core succumbs to injury, they could give the Warriors a run for their money in the standings, if not the in playoffs themselves. 3. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs are coming off of a great final year for Tim Duncan, in which they still could not reach the Conference Finals. However, with Durant now on the Warriors, they have a shot at returning to their former levels of greatness. With the younger Pau Gasol at center and Aldridge free to produce, the Spurs have the best frontcourt in the league when you factor in Kawhi Leonard, who has become one of the NBA’s best players. If the Spurs can get production out of aging veterans like Parker and Ginobili and continue to receive support from their bench, they will perform handsomely. 4. Oklahoma City Thunder: While the Thunder comes off great finishes in the past couple of years, they are a very changed team. With the crushing loss of Durant, they must rely much more heavily on Russell Westbrook, and so far Oladipo has taken too many shots without living up to expectations in the
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least. If the Thunder is to live up to their position on this list, they cannot afford any injury, and both Kanter and Adams must perform better than they are now. Utah Jazz: The Jazz are an oft overlooked organization in a top-heavy West, with a frontcourt to rival the Spurs. Favors, Hayward, and Gobert are all near–All Stars who make up the core of a team that could easily challenge the Thunder for the fourth seed in the conference, but could also find themselves mired in a competition for the seven spot. Expect them to win around 50 games and make a solid playoff run, revenge for last season during which the Jazz missed out on the playoffs only because of a loss to Kobe Bryant in his last NBA game. Houston Rockets: Playing James Harden as a point guard may have been the best decision of this year, as he is, at the time of writing, averaging around 13 assists per game to go along with his usual 30 points-per-game (ppg). However, the Rockets’ depth is basically nonexistent, with Patrick Beverley being the only contributing bench player. Additionally, they have only two players averaging above one per game in steals or blocks. With contributions from a solid frontcourt of Capela and Anderson, the Rockets will be a contender for sure, but their defense does need shoring up, as always. Portland Trail Blazers: After the loss of Aldridge, the Blazers have never really been the same. Even as Lillard has outgrown the shadow of his former teammate, his squad has become very mediocre, with the awful defender CJ McCollum as his best alternative. Although the Blazers are almost guaranteed a playoff seed, the only way the Blazers can climb higher on this list is if they pull off a blockbuster trade for DeMarcus Cousins or one of the Sixers’ big men. Otherwise, their lack of frontcourt prowess will prove problematic, both in securing a high playoff seed and in making a playoff run that doesn’t end in the first round. Minnesota Timberwolves: One of the youngest organizations in the NBA, the Wolves’ patience has paid off big time with current and future stars Towns, Wiggins, and Dunn. Wiggins especially has turned a corner, with 27 ppg at the time of writing. Karl-Anthony Towns, of course, was named Rookie of the Year. If their core can stick through the tough grind of an NBA season intact, they have a good shot at beating out a Swaggy-P-led Lakers team for the eighth seed in the West.
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
LITERARY
Broken Brick Wall By TESS
It is just my siblings and I The Second has told me to take the paper that a child has dropped I look out from behind the Broken Brick Wall I see the page on the sidewalk The First says not to get it, I listen to the Second
As fast as I can, I run outside and get the page When I return The First gives me a feeling: Pain The Second takes the pain away and watches out the cracks once more I now sit farther back Showing The Fourth and The Fifth the page The Second calls it Math I call it fun The First calls it dangerous The Fourth and Fifth call it what we all have heard The First say Learning I show The Fourth and Fifth how to do Math Then The Fifth asks me what I am I say I am no one The Fourth says I lie Then when The First leaves I say I am the one that will find them The Second looks at me Smiles and speaks I know you will free us from this wall The First comes back and rips the page with one thing to say They do not want us To me, The Third, I say I do not believe you He makes me feel pain again The Second should be The First
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
LITERARY
PAGE 37
College Apocalypse By STERLING WILLIAMS-CECI, Staff Writer
College apps are due Seniors mad stressed all the time The world is ending!
Human Beaten Up and Eaten by Laptop, Suspect Still Running Loose By TRISTAN ENGST
The following story was compiled using CCTV camera and audio recording devices. It is written from the perspectives of its characters.
Aaron tries to use the computer again, but the new Dell laptop does not like being touched. In fact, when Aaron touches it, it jumps and snaps its lid shut on his hands. As Aaron stares at it, it slowly advances again, snapping its lid angrily. Maybe it’ll be okay if I try again, he thinks. So Aaron tries to touch its keyboard again, gently, as though he were petting a cat. But again, it bites him, making a dent in his fingernails. It occurs to Aaron that he probably should’ve taken the IT guy’s advice and bought the Mac. Throwing caution to the winds, he shouts “I’ll shut you off!” and grabs the keyboard and screen sides of the laptop to hold it open. He wrestles with it as its truncated voice spouts “F--k. You. I. Will. Destroy. You.” And then it whirls off the table, catching him on the forehead. He falls over as the computer does another flip, driving its hard corner into his groin. Aaron doubles over in pain as the world darkens. His last sensation before he blacks out is that something has latched onto his head and is slowly chewing on his face. That’s when Aaron’s friend Lelian Hollymuffin, having heard the muffled gurgling and a too-loud whir of a computer fan, opens the door to see what was going on. She promptly begins screaming because she sees a laptop latched onto what remains of her friend’s head, swollen with what doesn’t remain of her friend’s head, like a rectangular boa constrictor that just swallowed some large animal. The laptop is leaking blood from its keyboard and charging port onto the floor. Lelian slowly backs away, then turns and runs out of the room. She slams the door and sprints away down the hall, shrieking as she dials 911. When police arrived at the scene, the computer was nowhere to be found. The Ithaca Police Department asks that anyone with a tip on the location of the computer contact them.
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LITERARY
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
Why. By GUS KUCKES
is By ANONYMOUS is this my life now? now, more than before, i ask myself how. how it all ended up like this: this world, these people, it all feels amiss. amiss, with everything that i do do nothing, and life still happens to you. you always tell me that everything will be alright, “alright,” i tell you, but my worries still keep me up at night. night, a darkness that quickly ends ends the misery, or so i think, but i just can’t make amends. amends for the wrongs that people say i’ve committed committed to nothing, but i say that it’d it’d be okay if just once i didn’t study for that quiz, quiz that should help me learn, but who can know what life really is.
I once seduced a princess from a foreign land, carried her back, across the shifting sands, necked in the moonlight on top of the world, but then was I—from Heaven hurled, for these are the days of reflections on steel, of glass shards that damage, the soul, I feel. They want everything that’s you, except who you are, that which is a number, not immortal not like the stars. All endings made painful, all pain makes an end. The dead, silenced, will not accept their amends.
So I call for my quiver and I call for my sword, I call for the greatest dragon, that hath ever roared. We’ll fight them on the beaches, yes we’ll fight on the sands, For truth-beauty-and-justice, together we’ll stand. So if ever walking through a hallway, you spy a soft glimmer, faint purple-green in a dewdrop on the window, know that I’m with you, and know that I’m there, you’re free, forever, you can escape from this snare. The beauty of life is not something they’ll teach you; dream, believe in magic, have hope, I beseech you.
is this my life now? now, more than before, i ask myself how. how is one question, though; a better one is why? “why?” is best answered with an exasperated sigh. sigh, because if you think too much, all you’ll do is cry, cry tears that flow down your mountain of fears fears that could follow you throughout all of your years. years of your life that you will never get back, back to tracking all of your progress, but you’ll never receive that shiny plaque. plaques can only be won by a whiz whiz who is appreciated, who can actually climb that lepidobotrys lepidobotrys staudtii— perhaps a tall, unclimbable tree is what this life really is. is this my life now? now, more than before, i ask myself how. how? why? the more i ask, the more i cry.
THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
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Meanwhile in 2020
IMAGE BY NOEL BENTLEY
PENULTIMATE
By FREDERIK MAROHN
IMAGE BY NOEL BENTLEY
People buy and sell Harry Potter–themed merchandise during Wizarding Weekend on October 29, 2016.
Students play Quidditch during Wizarding Weekend.
Tristan’s Angst
IHS to Increase Homework Load with New Policy and Technology In a recent announcement, district spokesperson Billy Bozawkowitz announced that students could expect “only five times as much” homework during the 2017–18 school year. Since students already spend very little time sleeping, the extra time for homework would have to come from other important activities. “We’ve tried to find the ideal balance of time spent in school, homework, sleep, and other things, and we discovered that homework would ideally replace the others,” said Bozawkowitz, who was also speaking on behalf of the Department of Unilateral Mindless Bureaucracy (DUMB). Under the new policy, the school day would end at noon to allow students to go home and start their homework earlier, shortening classes to slightly less than 23 minutes, with a one-minute break between periods. Bus drivers would be required to drive at least 20 mph over the speed limit to get students home faster. “Look, we get that this will be a big issue for student safety, but since we’ve been depriving them of sleep for so long, how bad are a few broken bones? And let’s face it, it’s totally worth getting home sooner to get a better education!” Bozawkowitz said. However, these changes wouldn’t allow students to do the optimal 21 hours per day of homework. To further allow students to study, the district will spend $150,000—equivalent to about three teachers’ salaries—on ACME finger-shocking keyboards. “We realized the human body tries to fall asleep,” said Bozawkowitz, “so we needed to give students something to help them stay awake. These devices use a student’s Chromebook camera to tell when they’re falling asleep, and then give them an electric shock to wake them up.” Bozawkowitz also admitted that there were occasional problems with students getting randomly electrocuted if they paused while typing for too long. Still, he was very positive about the new technology and policy: “We have full faith that this will increase student performance and graduation rate,” Bozawkowitz said. “We have really high hopes for next year! #TechnologyInEducation” Superintendent Luvelle Brown tweeted.
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THE TATTLER • DECEMBER 2016 • ihstattler.com
BACK PAGE
Horoscopes By ABE MESSING
Aries (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): Reach for the stars, but be prepared to settle for the moon.
Taurus (Apr. 20–May 20): Don’t hate yourself for what you never knew. Things aren’t always as they seem. Try your best to taste the sweetness in the jam rather than the bitterness in the seeds. Gemini (May 21–June 20): Not being able to appreciate what you have until it’s gone will always be your undoing. Tread lightly, for yourself and for others.
Cancer (June 21–July 22): Be brave; your earth mother will be on your side this weekend. If you’re dealt the right cards and you play them right, you’ll flush out the competition.
The COOLNESS SPECTRUM
COOL The Horses
Leo (July 23–Aug. 22): The squeaky wheel gets the grease, but no one can save you from your rusting core.
Rogue One
Libra (Sep. 23–Oct. 22): The harder you work, the more you’ll find that chance is on your side. Keep plugging along!
Kindergarten lunchboxes
Virgo (Aug. 23–Sep. 22): Don’t be such a pushover. Stand tall and carry a big stick.
Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Words cut deeper than the blade. The pen is mightier than the sword. Watch what you say.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): No one around you can be you. Bask in your individuality, relish in your idiosyncrasy.
Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19): Seasons change, but you stay the same. Try taking a chance at something new. Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): A thousand twigs are stronger than a single log. Make bonds with those who matter, and prune those who do not. Pisces (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): Open your third eye to the parallel universe. I think you will like what you find.
Countdown to winter break
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UNCOOL