February 2018 • Estd. 1892 • Vol. 125 #6 • Published Monthly • www.ihstattler.com Ithaca High School, 1401 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 • FREE
IHS’S MUSICAL CASTING
CONTROVERSY Page 6
SOCIAL MEDIA: IS IT A THREAT? Page 9
WHAT 2017 LOOKED LIKE FOR WOMEN Page 20
THE BUFFALO BILLS: HIGHS AND LOWS Page 24
Editorial
THE PROBLEM WITH IHS’S PASS SYSTEM
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ost students at IHS are familiar with the assorted serving spoons, toys, and laminated cards that teachers use as designated passes to the bathroom. Then there’s the pad of paper passes for trips elsewhere. Not only is this system inconvenient for everyone involved, because teachers have to handwrite each one, it is also flawed in that its enforcement—asking certain students to display their passes—introduces bias. The distrust and suspicion from the adults can erode feelings of respect and safety among students, and must be addressed by school administration. Perceived bias and feelings of distrust were evident in the data from a school-wide survey sent to the student listserv. Out of the 321 participants, 36 percent were stopped in the hallways of IHS and asked to display a pass. A breakdown of these results by race and curriculum level revealed many worrisome trends. African American students were twice as likely as white students to get stopped and asked for a pass, and students in Regents classes were twice as likely as students in AP classes to get stopped. Some students noted this trend in the comments section of the survey. Out of the 92 people who left a comment, 10 expressed this exact sentiment: “The hall monitors will stop [a] black student but just smile at me [a non-black student], even though we were doing the same thing at the same time.” Interestingly, no black students expressed a similar impression. Overall, students seem tolerant of the system, but not totally content. Students rated the “fairness” of the system at an average of 2.8 on a scale where 1 is unfair and 5 is fair. No system will please everyone, but most students think that this system could be fairer. The feelings of unfairness are intensified by the fact that the reason for being stopped is usually not explained; students are seemingly stopped arbitrarily. The immediate question that pops into their mind is, “Why me?” One student commented, “[Being stopped] makes me feel like a criminal.” When the reason that a person is stopped is not clear, it is easy to assume that it was unjustly based. Students who got stopped rated their noise level at an average of 1.5, where 1 is silent and 5 is loud. While it is likely that students underrate their noise level, it is also possible that students are stopped because they look “suspicious.” The hall monitors may have suspected that students were skipping class, but about 90 percent of students who were stopped in the hall reported that they had not been skipping class. This arbitrary “punishment” is detrimental to creating a learning environment where students feel comfortable. Another problem is that the rules about where passes are required are impractical, inconsistent, and full of holes. For example, students may be confused why a pass is necessary between the classroom and a bathroom a few steps away. The journey between the library and cafeteria is especially fraught with conflict. The rules for going be-
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tween the two are constantly changing, although this was certainly not the intention. Originally, a pass from the lunchroom sufficed; the rules changed to require a pass and a schedule, and now, a pass from the cafeteria and a school ID. One student commented, “I would like for [the school] to make up their minds to stick with passes, IDs, or schedules.” In the survey, students shared some tactics to evade getting stopped. Some said, “You just have to look like you’re going somewhere.” Others said, “Very few administrators bother, and the ones that do don’t stick around, so you can just walk out of sight and do whatever you were doing before.” One creative student noted, “Nobody even bothers checking if I’m carrying a pass or a rectangular yellow index card.” Even when students try to follow the rules, there are times where they just slip through the cracks in this system. For example, the school allows New Visions students to carpool up to Cornell and the Cayuga Medical Center every single day without senior privileges or a pass. What would prevent a student from leaving campus and telling an administrator they were in New Visions? The problem with the current hall pass system is that it leaves lots of room for potential bias. School administrators and students should have an open dialogue about long term solutions to this problem, but an immediate fix is needed. Ideally, a system to keep kids out of the hallways would also check everyone equally, and would not cause any loss of dignity or feelings of confusion, anger, or injustice. Enforcing a much stricter policy in which all students are checked, while not offering students the degree of freedom that the current system does, would ensure that potential biases were eliminated. Additionally, the student ID should become a more important tool in ensuring attendance and hall etiquette, with stickers that note free periods becoming the main way to check attendance in the halls, and with barcode scanners in multiple locations to facilitate easy sign-in and sign-out from the building. The potential for bias and unequal enforcement of the current hall pass system is alarming, and the many loopholes and policy changes mean that students rarely adhere to rules that are designed for their protection and wellbeing. School administration must reevaluate the current system, and must listen to the opinion of students when making changes to policy and enforcement practices.
ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO TATTLE
Staff 2017 – 2018 Editor-in-Chief
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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:
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The Tattler 1401 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Send submissions by February 7 to be included in the March 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.
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WHY IHS SHOULD TEACH MORE PRACTICAL SKILLS
Editorial
“When am I going to use calculus in my daily life?” “Why do I need to know all of China’s dynasties?” “When will I ever talk about mitochondria outside of school?” Students at Ithaca High School often ask these questions out of frustration, but they raise an interesting point. Ithaca High School is a great place to learn about cellular respiration and Shakespeare. However, opportunities to learn practical life skills—like doing taxes, managing a bank account, and writing a resume—are difficult to find. A few classes at IHS take some measures to prepare students for life after high school. For example, in Participation in Government, seniors learn that voting is a civic duty, and some classes learn how to register to vote. Driver’s Ed is one of IHS’s most practical classes: students get to spend some class time practicing on the road and developing good driving skills. Additionally, in Health class, students learn about a variety of practical subjects, including basic childcare, mental health, nutrition, and contraception. However, IHS still lacks substantial course offerings in two main areas: financial skills and basic career preparation. If possible, IHS should consider offering semester-long electives in these two areas. A financial skills class would focus mostly on personal finance, with topics that include how to develop a personal budget and how to do one’s taxes. This class could also include instruction on taking out loans and deciding which credit card, bank, and insurance company to choose. Although some Economics classes at IHS already have a personal finance unit, the instruction is not as in-depth as many students would like. For example, in Honors Economics, students spend less than three weeks learning about personal finance, and many topics—including investments—remain largely unexplored. Students who are interested in learning more about personal finance would benefit greatly from a financial skills class. Another elective could focus on career preparation skills, such as writing resumes, searching for jobs, and shadowing adults in the workplace. Although students at IHS can opt into career-focused tracks through BOCES and New Visions, many students cannot make the commitment that these programs require. Additionally, these programs are often focused on a particular trade or subject, and many high school students are undecided. An elective focused on career preparation would provide students with versatile, general information that they can use in whatever field they decide to enter. Many students at IHS agree that the current course offerings do not adequately prepare them for life as adults. In fact, out of 313 respondents to a survey conducted by The Tattler, only 5.4 percent of students “strongly agreed” that IHS has adequately prepared them for the real world. In contrast, a striking 80.6 percent of students fell somewhere between “strongly disagreeing” and being neutral. Through the survey, students at IHS expressed significant interest in electives focused on practical skills. When asked if they would take a personal finance elective, 67.3 percent of respondents (out of 315 students) chose a 4 or a 5, indicating that they agreed or strongly agreed that they would take such an elective. Only 6.7 percent of students chose a 1 (indicating that they strongly disagreed that they would take such an elective). The interest for a career preparation elective was even higher. When asked if they would take a class focused on career preparation, 70.7 percent students (out of 317 students) chose a 4 or 5, and only 4.4 percent chose a 1. Clearly, there is both an interest and a need for more practical
course offerings at IHS. A common argument against implementing more practical classes is that students should learn practical skills at home, from their parents or guardians. However, many students never have the opportunity to learn these skills at home. Some students have parents who are immigrants and who are unfamiliar with American procedures for paying taxes and other skills. Some students have parents who are too busy to tutor their children in money management. Some students, even if their parents could teach them, would benefit from the structure and motivation that a course at school provides. Elective classes focused on practical skills would provide valuable ways for these students to develop skills they will definitely use as adults. Of course, this is not to say that academic classes are in any way useless or a waste of students’ time. In academic classes, students learn about subjects that can spark new interests or make them into more well-rounded individuals—and they learn how to learn. But practical skills are also important, just in a different way. Students need the additional opportunity to learn about practical skills in high school so that their high school more fully prepares them for adulthood.
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents News p. 5
Centerspread p. 16
Opinion p. 8
Sports p. 24
RO
M
UN
SP
LA SH
Literary p. 28
IM AG E
SF
Penultimate p. 30
Back Page p. 32 4
News
New Roots Charter School, located at the Clinton House, has proposed to expand to include a middle school. IMAGE FROM THE ITHACA VOICE
MIXED COMMUNITY REACTIONS TO PROPOSED NEW ROOTS MIDDLE SCHOOL By Julian Perry
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ew Roots Charter School, since its opening in 2009, has been a source of controversy within the Ithaca community. In December, the school announced a proposal to expand to include a middle school for grades 6 through 8 starting in the 2018–2019 school year, and at the first public hearing on the proposal, the debate continued. The hearing, hosted by the ICSD Board of Education (BoE), took place on Wednesday January 17, with some of the most vocal critics and advocates for the charter school present. A diverse group was in attendance, comprised of students, parents, teachers, and other community members, in addition to some members of the BoE. Board President Robert Ainslie began by emphasizing that this was not a normal board meeting, and that it was by law that ICSD, the home district of New Roots, had to host the hearing. Although much of the funding for the school is derived from ICSD, where most of its student body comes from, New Roots is not under the authority of the BoE, but is instead under the administrative control of the SUNY Charter School Institute, based in Albany. Most speakers—especially the many current New Roots students in attendance—spoke in favor of New Roots, and indicated support for the proposed expansion. “New Roots saved my life,” boldly claimed one student, a senior at the school, who went on to say that he would not be on track to go to college without New Roots. Another student, also a senior, declared that she would not have stayed in school if she were stuck with IHS. Two of the speakers were participants in New Roots’ LEAP Program, a one-year high school preparatory program offered by the school to students ages 12 to 15, and both students spoke favorably of their time in the program in comparison to previous schools which they had attended. Also speaking was New Roots Principal Tina Nilsen-Hodges, who discussed what she saw as a need for a Montessori-style public middle school. Nilsen-Hodges also claimed that having students start New Roots earlier would lead to higher graduation rates, citing the fact that at the moment,
those who start at New Roots in their freshman year graduate at a higher rate than those who do not start until later in high school. While not constituting a majority of those speaking, those critical of New Roots and the proposed expansion were able to make their case and express their skepticism of the school. One community member listed her many grievances with the school in its current form, and expressed disapproval with the idea of adding a middle school. She accused the school of exaggerating demand for expansion, and was critical of New Roots’ academic value, citing its graduation rate and proficiency rates in math and English, all of which are lower than in ICSD (New Roots had a 70 percent graduation rate in 2016). Once all of the speakers finished, BoE members expressed their views, almost entirely in opposition to the addition of a middle school. Board member Eldred Harris said that when a student leaves ICSD for New Roots, ICSD is forced to give up some funding even though operational costs at IHS remain the same, resulting in New Roots having a negative effect on ICSD students. Harris went on to indicate that while he recognized some of the value of choice in high schools, the same choice is unnecessary in middle school. At the end, board members addressed Nilsen-Hodges directly, asking questions about the proposed middle school. They also asked about the current LEAP program, which they had never heard about before, and for which no similar public hearing had ever been held. Board member Patricia Wasyliw inquired as to what LEAP’s fate would be if there ended up being a middle school, to which Nilsen-Hodges responded with uncertainty, only saying that the program’s continued existence would be dependent on if there continued to be demand. New Roots has announced that the school is looking at locations within a block of its current site at the Clinton House as sites for the proposed middle school, and that it aspires to enroll a total of sixty students. The final decision about the creation of a New Roots Middle School will be made by the SUNY Charter Institute. 5
News
STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS VOICE OPINIONS TO BOARD ON CONTROVERSIAL MUSICAL CASTING By Julian Perry
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n Tuesday, January 23, attendance at the Board of Education’s routine meeting far surpassed the usual amount. Every chair was filled, people sat on the floor and stood by the wall, and once all of that space was used up, people stood in the hallway outside the door where they could hear and get a glimpse of the speakers. Every single member of the diverse crowd who went up to speak was there as a response to the same issue—the casting of this year’s musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. On January 8, two letters were sent to the editor of Tompkins Weekly, both expressing dissatisfaction with musical theater in ICSD. One titled “Conscious Casting,” signed by 26 IHS students, criticized the decision to cast a white girl as Esmeralda, the lead female character in the musical who is a member of the oppressed Romani people. The letter concluded by demanding either the staging of a different show, or redoing auditions for The Hunchback of Notre Dame but with greater effort to recruit a more diverse cast. The other letter, titled “God Help the Outcasts” and written by Prachi Ruina ’19, detailed her experiences as a woman of color in theater in ICSD from seventh grade to her disappointment in the casting decisions made this year. She requested that adults at IHS do more to be inclusive of all students. In the following weeks, more letters were written on the issue, and those in support of trying to address this issue of casting encouraged people to join them at the board meeting on January 23. At the board meeting, over thirty people spoke in intervals up to (and often exceeding) the full three minutes they were allotted. The first speaker, Christian Henry ’17, a former participant in ICSD theater and current Ithaca College student, offered a defense of theater 6
director Robert Winans, and thanked Winans for providing him and other people of color with support. However, in the following hours, the tone drifted away from being in support of the adults with authority over musical theater in ICSD. Ruina spoke about her decision to write her original letter, as well as her dissatisfaction with the administration’s response. She along with several other students criticized responses from adults in the district, characterized as threats and acts of intimidation. She reiterated demands to stop the musical. Maddi Carroll ’18 spoke about instances in which she had faced racism in ICSD, going back to her experience playing the fairy godmother in Cinderella as an eighth grader. “Once we started rehearsals, I was constantly told to act like Queen Latifah, to act sassy, to mimic a black stereotype,” Carroll told the room, before declaring, “I am nothing like Queen Latifah. I am not a black stereotype.” She emphasized that Joey Steinhagen, director of Running to Places Theatre Company, had expressed willingness to direct a new musical. Carroll concluded by singing, “We Shall Overcome,” with the crowd eventually joining in. Throughout the evening, parents, students, and community members spoke, discussing themes of institutional racism and white privilege. One parent described the status quo as, “‘All lives matter’ casting,” which she suggested in practice meant favoring white children, and many joined in in criticizing the “colorblind casting.” Emma Ellis ’19, who was cast as Esmeralda, eventually got up to speak, criticizing the choice of musical for having insufficient female parts in addition to the issues already mentioned. She discussed the challenges of being
forced to balance school and theater, as well as having this new controversy piled on, which she joined others in saying should have been dealt with a long time ago. When given their chance to respond, the Board of Education lacked a clearly agreed upon response or a firm stance on what the fate of the musical should be. Finally, Luvelle Brown spoke, addressing institutional challenges faced by the district. “Y’all know how vulnerable it is for a person in this role to stand up in front of everyone in the community and say, ‘I lead an institutionally racist and sexist organization,’ as the superintendent of the year?” he asked, “Because of my deep understanding of what that means, I’m able to say that.” Brown then pointed out the need to change policy, and expressed a need for people to show up to meetings on policy, not just on performing arts. On the issue of the musical, Brown said, “There will be some action. I promise you. Hold me accountable for that,” but other than saying a statement would be released, he did not explicitly say what action would be taken, or take a stance on what the outcome should be. Since the board meeting, the musical has been canceled. However, the demands of the students do not stop there. The students want Winans removed from his role as director of the Boynton Middle School and Ithaca High School musicals. The students proposed Joey Steinhagen of Running to Places Theatre Company as a replacement. However, the BOE has said, in a statement found on the front page of the ICSD website under “District News,” that the issue is “not about any particular faculty member or ICSD employee.” Instead of the musical, a “collaborative project” is being planned.
News
IMAGE FROM PIXABAY
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION’S RESPONSE TO VACCINATION CONTROVERSY By Meera Bai Singh and Asha Duhan
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amilies with unvaccinated children received letters of notice from ICSD stating that they had thirty days to provide adequate explanations of vaccination exemption, and that otherwise, their child would not be allowed to go to school. As part of the New York State exemption policy for vaccinations, families must provide either medical proof that receiving a vaccination would be detrimental to their child’s well-being, or an explanation of why their religious beliefs do not allow for vaccinations. At recent Board of Education (BoE) meetings, some parents have brought up the issue of students not being allowed to go to school due to the fact that they have not received NYS-mandated vaccinations. So far, four families have spoken at the board meetings, advocating for religious exemptions. Of the four families that spoke out about their struggles with this issue, all of their religious exemptions have been denied. Most of them also applied for an acquittal, but were once again denied. All the families stated that they feel as though their religious beliefs are not being respected or viewed as legitimate; they specifically addressed the Board, asking, “What right does a school principal have to question our religious beliefs?” Families also questioned the process of religious exemption, noting that slow procedural processes sometimes can take up
to eight months. The children, who are not allowed to go to school, are not given private home tutors but are still expected to keep up with their academics. These absences are also counted as unexcused, which has led to parents being contacted by Child Protective Services for children with twenty or more unexcused absences. Parents also maintained that children are often excluded socially as well as educationally because of their religious beliefs. In response to these claims, the BoE has upheld the value of vaccines. The board members say that the well-being of the entire ICSD population is more important than allowing for a few children to not be vaccinated. Moreover, multiple parents of ICSD students have contacted the board and other district officials to express their concern over their children attending school with children who are not protected from harmful illnesses. When individuals do not receive vaccinations, they threaten the lives of younger children who do not have well-developed immune systems, and they pose a threat to all students by exposing them to possibly stronger strains of vaccination-prevented illnesses. As a whole, the board has asserted their belief in respecting religious beliefs, but not at the cost of endangering the lives of children in ICSD. 7
Opinion
THE BEST
PIECE OF ADVICE By Fiona Botz
Having something to look forward to provides you with the motivation and desire to get through the more difficult times.
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mong everything I’ve ever learned from my parents, I will never forget the day that what seemed to be just another “pearl of wisdom” from my mother finally clicked with me. A few months prior to my epiphany, my mom and I were conversing at the dinner table. She kept bringing up how important it is to create and plan events to look forward to after times of stress and high workload, but I was preoccupied trying to not burn my tongue on the hot sweet potato chunk that I was attempting to eat. She was talking about the importance of planning dates that you can pinpoint on the calendar, and then counting down to these dates. My mom went on to describe the benefits, but at this point I was too busy thinking about something funny that had happened the night before. I went on through the night, and through the next few months, not really thinking about my mom’s words. It was almost as if she had never said anything at all! It all changed one night when I yelled up the stairs to my mom: “Dinner!” I then sat down at the same island in the kitchen we always eat at, and we began talking. Except this time, I was actually listening to what she was saying. All of a sudden, I heard her mumble something about how valuable it is to plan things to look forward to. I thought to myself for a second: “Plan things to look forward to…”, and it clicked. Reflecting on the weeks leading up to this discussion, I realized I had been doing what my mom was telling me about before; I was planning something at the end of every week! Something that I look forward to is spending time with 8
my family or friends. I realized that although I had not planned the family skiing vacation, it still counted as something that I had looked forward to. I then realized that for the last couple of weeks, I had been making plans with friends every weekend to do something fun and new, like going for a hike we had never been on before, or doing something relaxing, like ordering in and then hopping in the jacuzzi. The day my mom subtly reiterated what she had once told me, directly, was the day it clicked. I discovered that I was taking her advice all along; her words, at the time, seemed to go in one ear and out the other, but my actions said otherwise. Now, why is this advice so amazing? Because having something to look forward to provides you with the motivation and desire to get through the more difficult times. Knowing that in twenty days you will be lying on a beautiful, sunny beach in Florida on vacation can aid you in finding the will to do those last three math problems in class. If you are going through a challenging situation, having that date on the calendar is a little reminder that the struggle is temporary. In addition, you can be assured that when you get to that “something” that you were looking forward to, and you’ve put in the work to get there, it will feel incredible because you earned it. For me at least, I enjoy going out with friends for dinner or unwinding in the jacuzzi a million times more if I feel like I put in the work to get to that place. Simply put, playing hard feels better if you’ve been working hard. So next time you’re feeling down or don’t see an end-goal in sight, I say get out that calendar and start marking it up!
SOCIAL MEDIA IS IT A THREAT? Opinion
By Alexander Yoo
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ocial media started off as a few small websites with small user bases. It has since grown and grown into the the staple of life it is today, with over 1 billion people connected online on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Social media has transformed into one of the most profitable markets in the advertising industry, and constantly provides new ways to communicate around the world. Given all of its capabilities to reach large populations, can social media be a threat? Social media has created a whole new realm of danger, whether it be cyberbullying, propaganda, or fake news. One example of dangerous uses of social media has been ISIS’ social media recruitment efforts. Building off of the international connections of social media, ISIS has garnered a following that has resulted in terror attacks on cities thousands of miles away from the physical reach it would otherwise have. The terrorist group uses social media as a way to build its reputation of cruelty and brutality, publishing videos of executions, and boasting about their genocides of minority groups in their territory. According to a report made by the Quilliam Foundation in 2015, ISIS releases 38 new items a day. Obviously, these posts will reach a wide audience, and may even inspire some to carry out the agenda of ISIS. This may account for recent sporadic, unpredictable terrorist attacks. Of course, the vast majority of people exposed to the ideology will not follow it, but with a wider audience, more people will be influenced to accept similar ideologies. Hackers and scammers also have a clear shot at a larger audience, and have started to implant viruses into ads and links. You may click a link to a “free gift” and next see that your card was just charged $400. With billions of Internet users looming in front of them as targets, many scammers have created convincing, malicious ads. But not just hackers use ads; in a recent outcry, social media sites have been forced to remove harmful political ads that contain misinformation. These ads feed people falsehoods to try and change popular opinions in elections and national decisions, and were present during the 2016 presidential campaign in the United States, as well as in several other prominent national elections and referendums worldwide. Predictably, the anonymity that the internet provides has also empowered bullies to expand their reach. A wider audience now can express their views
to each other, and through social media, a new way to express racism and discrimination has arisen. Negative views towards others based on superficial traits and falsehoods have become pervasive. Although moderators, users, and authorities try to remedy this, the problem still persists. Connectivity allows for a facilitated transport of opinions, both good and bad. On the other hand, lots of good has come of social media as well. According to the Blackbaud Institute’s 2016 charitable giving report, online donations constituted 7.2 percent of all US-based fundraising. More and more, social media is also being used to help those that need it, ranging from as small as a club at school, to as big as entire nations struck by natural disasters. This connectivity gives us a chance to help not just locals, but anyone from anywhere in the world. It helps us help reach the goals we are passionate about such as literacy or clean water for places like Flint, still plagued by the toxicity caused by lead in its pipes and water. . Social media can overcome geographical barriers and political barriers that prevent us from participating in helping a person or cause. Social media, especially in the past couple of years, has also sparked social change. Just a few short months ago, the MeToo hashtag started building a movement to combat sexual harassment. As people came out with their traumatic experiences, more and more famous figures who perpetrated sexual assault fell. Social media movements have dethroned seemingly untouchable perpetrators through bringing outreach and awareness. With supporters from all over the world, these movements are growing in number and in prominence as a way to spread our opinions and beliefs. Overall, social media, at its bare minimum, is merely a tool for people to use. Rather than the tool being the threat, it’s the wielder. Social media can be used for both good and bad, but in reality, it’s a representation of people: some are good, some are bad, and some fall into a gray area. We hear of horrible threats and words from people, but we also hear words of kindness and inspiration. Social media is still a neutral battleground, and like the Internet itself, has unthinkable potential; it’s up to the users to define it, whether it be a conduit of destruction, a carrier of compassion, or simply an open forum for discussion. 9
Opinion
The Mary Durham Boutique is located in a white house with green trim, which may confuse the average passerby. IMAGE PROVIDED
THE BEST
THRIFT STORE By Thea Clarkberg
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nly got $20 in your pocket? There are many great places to spend that money on high-quality used clothing in Ithaca. Whether you are in need of cheap clothing or you just want something non-mainstream, Ithaca is the place to shop. Although all of the Ithaca thrift stores deserve a visit, the best place to buy women’s clothing, in my opinion, is the Mary Durham Boutique on West Court Street. The other thrift stores are much more well-known. There’s Salvation Army, of course. “Salvo’s” is good for closet basics, especially t-shirts, due to the low price and high volume of clothes. A t-shirt there might cost $35. Thrifty Shopper also has cheap basics, but there is a smaller selection. Of course, you may also find more interesting, high-quality items at these stores, but it might take a while. Salvation Army is infamous for its “rainbow” organization system; clothes are sorted by color, not size. In the mid-range we have Trader-K’s and Plato’s Closet. Trader-K’s is notable for its convenient downtown location and large selection of shoes. Plato’s Closet is the most “mainstream” of the stores, with matching hangers and an extensive advertising campaign geared toward teens and what’s “on trend.” It’s easy to dump off clothes at Salvo’s or Thrifty Shopper, but not so much at Plato’s or Trader K’s. They may pay for the clothes you give them, but they are picky, especially Plato’s. Many a clothes item has been rejected for not being a “current style.” At the more expensive end of the spectrum, there is Petrune. In addition to a selection of new clothes, Petrune sells vintage items that usually cost more than $100. If you are looking for something to highlight your wardrobe and really stand out, Petrune is the place to go. Local antique 10
stores are also a good place to look for vintage clothing, such as Found on Cherry Street, or The Vintage Industry, a small shop right next to the State Theatre on the Commons. All of my favorite dresses come from antique stores. I thought I had seen all the thrifting Ithaca has to offer, but then I found the Mary Durham Boutique. The Boutique is located in a white house with green trim, which may confuse the average passerby. However, step inside and you will discover a high-quality selection that falls into the mid-price range. The Boutique is geared towards professional women, so I was unsure if I would find much worthy for the halls of IHS. However, I have found that the collections of pants and shirts there offer much more than any other thrift store in Ithaca. I am always on the lookout for unique pants—something other than black leggings or skinny jeans. At the Boutique, I found a pair of jeans that had subtle but elegant pearls sewn along the seams. My new favorite jeans add a touch of sophistication to any outfit. I also found a pair of red pants that are the perfect shade to add color without drowning out the rest of the outfit. The shirts I have found there are above average, with a variety of colors, cuts, and textures. In general, the Boutique is clean and doesn’t smell like a thrift store. The best part about shopping at the Boutique is that it is run by the Women’s Opportunity Center and is a non-profit. Next time you stop by Trader K’s and Petrune, walk the couple extra blocks and check out the Mary Durham Boutique too. You won’t regret it. Go forth and thrift, my friends!
Features
BATHROOMS AT IHS By Alexandra Gibbons and Zion Taber
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he state of the IHS bathrooms is a frequent topic of discussion. Although they have a very poor reputation, not all of them are so bad. We decided to rank every bathroom from 1 to 10 (10 being the best) on four criteria: smell, infrastructure, stock, and cleanliness, all of which are defined below. Please note that because two people with different standards reviewed the girls’ and boys’ bathrooms, the scores across genders may not be comparable (Alex seemed to be a harsher grader). A score of 5 is considered as average; hence, a total score of 20 would be an average bathroom. In addition, the café and K bathrooms got two extra points for size.
RANKED Smell: How good did the bathroom smell? 1 is the worst smell, and 10 is the best. Infrastructure: Were there doors on the stalls, and did the doors have functional locks? Did the sinks work? Stock: Was there an adequate supply of soap, toilet paper, and paper towels? Cleanliness: Was there trash all over the floor? Did the toilet seats look clean?
Girls’ Bathrooms
Boys’ Bathrooms
1st place: Kulp Smell: 5/10 Infrastructure: 8/10 Stock: 9/10 Cleanliness: 8/10 Total: 30/40
1st place (tie): Kulp Smell: 9/10 Infrastructure: 10/10 Stock: 10/10 Cleanliness: 10/10 Total: 39/40
5th place: Upstairs H Smell: 9/10 Infrastructure: 8/10 Stock: 3/10 Cleanliness: 5/10 Total: 25/40
1st place (tie): K Smell: 10/10 Infrastructure: 8/10 Stock: 9/10 Cleanliness: 9/10 +2 size bonus points Total: 39/40
6th place: E Smell: 3/10 Infrastructure: 6/10 Stock: 5/10 Cleanliness: 5/10 Total: 19/40
2nd place (tie): Upstairs-H Smell: 5/10 Infrastructure: 4/10 Stock: 6/10 Cleanliness: 6/10 Total: 21/40 2nd place (tie): Upstairs-G Smell: 7/10 Infrastructure: 4/10 Stock: 6/10 Cleanliness: 4/10 Total: 21/40 4th place: Downstairs-H Smell: 5/10 Infrastructure: 4/10 Stock: 7/10 Cleanliness: 4/10 Total: 20/40
5th place: K Smell: 5/10 Infrastructure: 4/10 Stock: 4/10 Cleanliness: 4/10 +2 size bonus points Total: 19/40 6th place: Café Smell: 3/10 Infrastructure: 4/10 Stock: 5/10 Cleanliness: 4/10 +2 size bonus points Total: 18/40 Last place (tie): Downstairs-G Smell: 5/10 Infrastructure: 3/10 Stock: 6/10 Cleanliness: 3/10 Total: 17/40 Last place (tie): E Smell: 3/10 Infrastructure: 5/10 Stock: 5/10 Cleanliness: 4/10 Total: 17/40
3rd place: Upstairs G Smell: 7/10 Infrastructure: 9/10 Stock: 9/10 Cleanliness: 7/10 Total: 32/40 4th place: Cafe Smell: 2/10 Infrastructure: 8/10 Stock: 4/10 Cleanliness: 10/10 +2 size bonus points Total: 26/40
7th place: Downstairs H Smell: 3/10 Infrastructure: 3/10 Stock: 7/10 Cleanliness: 3/10 Total: 16/40 Last place: Downstairs G Smell: 1/10 Infrastructure: 4/10 Stock: 5/10 Cleanliness: 3/10 Total: 13/40
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Features
RESEARCHERS DISCOVER NEW WAY TO FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS By Ann Wang Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease of the lungs that claims 1.5 million lives every year. For over a century, researchers have been dedicated to finding a way to fight off Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacteria that causes TB, but have failed to develop a reliable vaccine. The most prominently used, the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, has been shown to be hardly effective in hindering the epidemic, and the antibiotic treatments for tuberculosis tend to be toxic and lead to TB-resistant strains. According to Dr. Maziar Divangahi, who does research on developing a better cure, “The antibiotics era is approaching its end; we are in serious trouble with this bug if we don’t investigate an alternative approach.” The first step to understanding the nature of a possible cure is to understand how the body reacts to TB. The body’s natural first line of defense for fighting off the disease is mobilizing macrophages to kill invasive pathogens. A major weapon of the macrophages are enzymes used to bring down pH levels and cripple bacteria. What makes Mtb able to resist this system is the way that it disarms the macrophages’ ability to kill by releasing substances that counteract these enzymes. Mtb also uses the protein Cpnt to aid the release of a tuberculosis necrotizing toxin (TNT), inducing necrosis, or cell death. An immunity factor (IFT) which binds TNT and inhibits its activity is produced as well, preventing self-poisoning. Previous efforts to improve the vaccine for tuberculosis have generally been focused on T-cells, one of the primary cells involved in the body’s immune response. Unfortunately, this produced disappointing results in pre-clinical and clinical trials. The research teams led by Dr. Divangahi and geneticist Luis Barreiro of the Université de Montréal used a broader perspective to look into finding a different way to trigger an enhanced innate immune response to attack TB. Recently, Divangahi’s team at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre discovered that when the BCG vaccine is given to mice and has access to the bone marrow, it can reprogram the stem cells in the bone marrow to multiply and generate TB-killing macrophages. Barreiro’s team added to the significance of this finding by pinpointing the activated genetic defensive programs of stems cells and demonstrating how they imprint onto macrophages. The battle isn’t over yet, and the researchers admit that further research is “clearly required to fully harness the power of stem cells in immunity against infectious diseases.” However, the implications of this study are substantial. According to Dr. Barreiro, who is optimistic about the study’s findings, “It’s really about finding different ways to develop better vaccines, ones that will harness the power of macrophages and finally put the body’s innate immune memory to use.” 12
THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY By Shivani Patel February is finally here, which means that Valentine’s Day is approaching. It is the perfect time to celebrate with your significant other, or with anyone you love, and to show others how much they mean to you. Valentine’s Day dates back to 240 A.D., but it wasn’t always all about love and happiness. In fact, the history of Valentine’s Day was cruel. It all started when a Roman ruler by the name of Claudius the Cruel was in power. He wanted to obtain a powerful army and grew worried that his soldiers were growing soft because they were wanting to marry. He ultimately decided to make a law that prohibited marriage for the soldiers to solve this problem. However, Saint Valentine, a local priest, allowed these soldiers to get married in secret in his church because he believed in love. The secret marriages continued for some time, but when the word spread that Saint Valentine was doing something illegal, Claudius arrested him and eventually sentenced him to death. When Valentine was held in prison, he fell in love with the jailer’s blind daughter who always brought him food and company. One night, folklore has it that Valentine touched her eyelids and she was magically able to see. On February 14, the day of his execution, he sent her a love letter and signed it with “your valentine.” Ever since, lovers across the world have been sending each other letters, and in modern times have sent flowers and chocolate to celebrate their love.
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LOVE ON THE BRAIN
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By Chloe Moore
W
ith Valentine’s Day approaching, one might wonder what causes the phenomenon that we celebrate: love. Interestingly, love is not a totally abstract feeling or concept; it is a chemical change in the brain that is caused by attraction, which is linked to genetic attraction based on natural selection. Leading biochemical researcher Helen Fisher of Rutgers University has divided the process of falling in love into three distinct stages. The first is lust, which is caused by testosterone (in both men and women) and estrogen in women. These hormones play a major role, specifically in female sex drives. The second stage of “the love process” is attraction. This is called the “love-struck” phase, because it is during this stage that people can lose sleep and their appetites. The main hormones released are monoamines, including dopamine, which is the same compound released by cocaine and nicotine; serotonin, which may actually make us temporarily insane; and adrenaline, which is responsible for physiological changes commonly associated with falling in love, such as an increased heart rate and sweating. The third and final stage of love is attachment. In a lasting relationship, this takes over from attraction. One of the main hormones released during this stage is oxytocin, which is linked to both sex and childbirth, and is thought to deepen a couple’s bond. The other main hormone is vasopressin, which is a kidney controller that ensures that the relationship lasts. It was actually discovered in prairie voles (notoriously “frisky” animals), via an experiment in which male voles were given vasopressin suppressors. The bonds these voles had with their mates, sexual and otherwise, decreased significantly. However, none of these processes can occur without choosing a partner. Scientists are investigating evolutionary theories to better understand how we
choose partners. It is widely thought that we are subconsciously assessing individual traits that we would like to pass onto children for the purpose of survival. Other scientists suggest that our ideals for a partner are created as early as age six, and are directly influenced by the people we see around us as we grow up, because much of neural development occurs during this stage. Attractive traits based on family are not solely visible. Studies done by University of Chicago researcher Dr. Martha McClintock have shown that women prefer scents similar to those of their fathers. These scents are created partially by pheromones, which are determined by the makeup of the immune system and are discernible by most adult humans with their vomeronasal organs. Women most likely prefer these familiar scents because the pheromones subconsciously inform them that the immune systems of the men that smell like their fathers are similar and they are therefore reliably healthy. Research from 1995 by Claus Wedekind of the University of Bern in Switzerland included the first “sweaty T-shirt test,” and found that women in that test preferred the scents of men with immune systems different from their own. Dr. McClintock’s research supports Wedekind’s idea that women internally prioritize the best traits to pass on to children, including immunity to a wider range of diseases. All in all, love is a complicated, multifaceted, chemical and physical concept. Scientists are continuing to discover how we form crucial romantic and sexual bonds within our own species. They are using everything from lab rats (because rodents excrete pheromones similarly to humans!) to sweaty T-shirts to find out what it is about people that make other people “tick.” So this Valentine’s Day, feel free to send your special someone a card like the one pictured below.
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Features
IMAGE FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS GREEN SEA TURTLES
Because of climate change, an overwhelming majority of green turtles are being born female, and their numbers are only increasing.
By Ann Wang
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limate change is a serious issue that results in visible environmental problems including arctic ice loss, rising sea levels, changes in vegetation patterns, and habitat loss. However, recent surging extremities in global temperatures have caused a never-seen-before effect on our ecosystem that the public didn’t expect—an overwhelming majority of green turtles are being born female, and their numbers are only increasing. The primary cause of this phenomenon can be attributed to the basic genetic composition of the species. Green sea turtles exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination, largely due to the synthesis of an enzyme called aromatase. This protein aids the conversion of sex steroids from male sex hormones to female sex hormones during development. During the thermosensitive period, variations of temperature increase the activity of aromatase, further stimulating the development of the turtles into females. With rising atmospheric and sea temperatures, a greater number of females than males was expected, but not to the extent of what was discovered. A study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that California State University and Worldwide Fund for Nature Australia published on January 8, 2018 observed sex ratios of the largest sea 14
turtle populations in the world. Findings showed that more than 99 percent of the turtles hatched in the northern Great Barrier Reef were female, with 1 male for at least every 116 females. Although sea turtle populations are fully capable of surviving with fewer males than females, the severe results and discussion of the study suggest that the complete feminization of this population is very possible in the near future. Changes in hatching locations in the near future are unlikely as the turtles’ instinct is to nest in the same spot at which they were born. Extreme temperatures are leading to catastrophic rises in incubation temperatures that are also posing a great threat to the survival of the population. The disappearance of this population of turtles, like the extinction of any species, has environmental consequences as well; any disruption of the food web creates the risk of a domino-like effect within its ecosystem. Habitats with less biodiversity are at the highest risk for mass extinction as any loss could be devastating. Although coral reefs are diversely populated, the loss of a single species could still have extreme adverse effects. The disappearance and unusual sex ratio of the green turtle shows the importance of active concern for the environment, and appreciation and support for individuals working toward a collectively healthier planet.
Features
Taughannock Falls State Park is only one of Ithaca’s wonderful hiking locations in winter. IMAGE PROVIDED
HIKING IN ITHACA By Marty Alani
Y
ou might think that the winter is a lousy time to go hiking, maybe because of the snow, the cold, or all the winter clothing. However, hiking in the winter can still be enjoyable. Even though many trails are closed in the winter, there are still a number of places to hike in the Ithaca area that are open year-round. Here are some of my favorites:
there are small waterfalls which freeze into cascading icicles, and the creek itself usually only partially freezes, creating interesting patterns shaped by the flow of the water. The end of the trail becomes a bit treacherous as it narrows and becomes bordered by a metal pipe, but the view of water flowing over Second Dam is beautiful.
The Cayuga Trail Network
Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve
Including about 8.5 miles of trail, the Cayuga Trail Network begins at the Stewart Avenue bridge, passes along the side of Fall Creek Gorge, then on to the Cornell Botanical Gardens. It ends up in Monkey Run, all without hitting any major roads. This means that the trail offers huge variations in landscape, from cliffs to forests to hills, making for an exciting exploratory experience. The sections that run near the Cornell Arboretum are incredibly beautiful and have little foot traffic, perfect if you want to explore nature alone.
This trail is located about seven miles outside of Ithaca on Ellis Hollow Creek Road, and is one of the preserves protected by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. The two-mile trail loop network begins near a natural gas compressor station, but quickly enters a mixed-tree forest, depending on the loop trail you take. The large, well-groomed trails slope upwards for half of the hike (but of course come back down as you loop back), making the terrain interesting for cross-country skiing. A small stream runs through the west side of the preserve, and freezes, allowing you to cross it without getting wet.
Taughannock Falls State Park The Taughannock Gorge Trail is one of the busiest trails in Ithaca because of its relatively short length and flat terrain. The trail goes through a gorge, giving you a view of a sloping rock face on one side and a forest on the other. The falls at the end of the hike are what makes it truly worth the walk. The mist from the water falling 215 feet from a stony shelf hits the surrounding gorge and freezes, covering the whole area in a white, craggy sheet of ice. Taughannock has a wide walking surface that rarely gets icy or muddy thanks to lots of trail maintenance, so it is ideal for a relaxing walk or for hanging out with friends. The falls are located about nine miles north of Ithaca on Route 89.
Roy H. Park Preserve
Six Mile Creek Natural Area
This 240-acre nature preserve is located in the Town of Dryden, and has two trails which cut through it. One, the north trail, crosses over a wetland and through an evergreen forest, eventually ending at Hammond Hill State Forest. The other trail, the southern one, is longer and much more varied. Just after leaving the parking area, you enter a meadow that surrounds an evergreen forest. The trail then leads you downwards into a mature forest. A small wooden pavilion marks the end of the trail, but if you venture just beyond it, you can find the headwaters of Six Mile Creek, which snakes through a small riverbed. The preserve is located off of Irish Settlement Road near Midline Road, and is worth the ten-mile trip from Ithaca.
Nestled just outside of downtown Ithaca off of Giles Road, this trail runs along a segment of Six Mile Creek. This trail is amazing because even though you’re only a mile or two outside of the city, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. I visited on a late Sunday afternoon, and was the only person on the trail. On the other side of the creek from the trail,
These are really just a few of the many amazing trails that exist around Ithaca, and a quick google search could help you find hundreds more. If you are interested, visit the Ithaca Trails, the Cornell Natural Areas, and the Finger Lakes Land Trust websites (and http://gofingerlakes.org/) to find trails near you. 15
Advocates for Social Reform at IHS: The People Behind Social Justice Week By Joseph Yoon
Madeline Turner My name is Madeline Turner, and I am the coordinator for Social Justice Week 2018 at IHS. The ultimate goal of Social Justice Week is to foster a sense of community throughout the school as we come together to identify the role we can play in the issues that surround us. This mission inspires me, because the purpose of the week is to encourage discussion and introduce students to issues that affect us at local, national, and international levels. For every presentation, I hope there is someone participating who needs to hear what is being said. This year, we built up an entirely new planning committee, as a result of all previous members graduating. We have come together as a team to plan an event which covers multiple disciplines of social justice, from environmentalism to ableism. During my sophomore year, Chloe Wray ’17 approached me about joining the Social Justice Week Planning Committee. I was in the process of exploring new clubs and shaping my interests, so I thought, “Sure!” I ended up learning about networking, communication, organization, and email etiquette. My experiences with other student-run groups have also shaped my interest in social justice, and I have been especially concerned with issues of gender, sexuality, and workers’ rights. My personal interest lies in allowing others to determine their own opinions on issues of social justice. I thrive on communication and discussion, and I always try to have perspective when dealing with the world. Considering this philosophy, my goal and role as facilitator is to bring perspectives to other students. The power of the week lies in its mission: students are encouraged to develop their own opinions on the issues presented, and question the type of world they want to live in. The Ithaca community as a whole provides the opportunity for us to explore issues of social justice with great depth. I hope the tradition of the week continues and that the committee itself diversifies. The personal development I went through as a member helped me with everything from job and college applications to articulating my own ideas, and I want to support this skill-building opportunity for as many people as possible. I strongly believe that if we support diversity, we will live in a less polarized society of greater understanding. We need to continue to open our minds to new topics, and have thoughtful, extended discussions. Social Justice Week 2018 will be Tuesday through Thursday, March 13 through 16. Come with your friends, classmates, and teachers. Learn and develop your own opinions about what issues are facing our society today.
Leo Brisson When I heard about Social Justice Week, I was immediately intrigued as I was looking for an engaging activity after school. When I went to the first club meeting, I knew that I would like it. I find it wonderful to have such opportunities, like being part of such an important week, and bringing important ideas and speakers to IHS. Personally, I am interested in social justice topics like fake news and effective protest, and I also find the relationship between local music and social justice topics and ideas compelling.
Abigail Glickman I first heard about the Social Justice Week Committee when, one Monday after school in SWIS Club, Maddie Turner, the head of the committee, announced that meetings would begin shortly. She said that the committee would meet to discuss possible themes and presentations for this year’s Social Justice Week in March. Immediately, my head filled with ideas and I knew that I wanted to participate in the committee’s process of deliberation and outreach. When I listened to Maddie’s announcement in SWIS, thoughts about mass incarceration, race, poverty, and feminism abounded. My family had recently had dinner with a couple of my parents’ colleagues, one of whom is affiliated with the Cornell Prison Education Program. We discussed some of her research concerning mass incarceration and the injustices faced by prisoners in the United States. This information opened my eyes to a series of issues that I had found to be under-discussed in my experience at school. Although I was aware of intersectionality (the way in which categorizations such as race, economic status, and gender are connected and the way in which these categorizations create systems of bigotry and disadvantage that overlap), discussing social issues and reaching out to experts on these issues prompted me to think about intersectionality in Ithaca and even in IHS.
J.T. Stone After walking through Social Justice Week in my freshman year, I was more inspired than ever to put myself out there by spreading awareness for social justice issues. Looking at the state of the United States today, with divisive subjects ranging from religion, abortion, and sexuality and gender identity, and political issues such as immigration, gun control, and the environment, it’s easy to think that there are simply too many problems and injustices to keep track of. This being said, I decided to participate in the Social Justice Committee this year because I wish to help educate my fellow peers about ways they can get involved with the issues they feel passionately about. Being the head of a small news feed outlet, Fun Fact of the Day, and having the privilege to present national news to IHS on a weekly basis, I personally looked for presenters who could teach us about not only the effects of “fake news,” but how to recognize it—a topic which I have always invested myself in. No matter what your political views are, liberal or conservative, it is a fact that social justice issues are present around the world, and must be discussed and understood. I hope that each and every student attempts to see as many presentations as possible, and that you’ll find it a truly amazing week.
Hasnaa Fardoussi My name is Hasnaa Fardoussi. I decided to participate in the Social Justice Week Committee because I want to raise awareness on what is happening around us. Social justice issues are important global issues that many of us may not be aware of. These issues could be very impactful to us and to others in many different ways. Social justice discussions really bring out the issues that a lot of people try to avoid, and these issues could influence others’ decisions. An example of this would be the spread of fake news about the election, which led to others misunderstanding and voting for candidates based on inaccurate information. I want everyone to be able to spread awareness of what is happening around us.
Features
THE HALL MONITOR♥
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By David Sheng
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“Yes, because you just know.” — Andrei Tumbar ’19
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♥ “No, because humans are attracted to a lot of people in this world and we’d have to get to know them to get to know their true personality.” — Anthony Saggese ’18
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♥ “I don’t, nah.” — Cyrus Browning ’20
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♥ Do you be
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lieve in lo♥ v e at first sight?
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“Yes, if you’re good looking. Solo mira a Ted Cruz.” — Leo Song ’18
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“I don’t think people can connect on a deep emotional level, like love, that would actually work out.” — Maria Yunis ’21
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“No. If you just see someone, it’s lust, not love.” — Elinor Kops ’21
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“No, if you’re looking from a distance you can’t really tell what the person really looks like.” — Menelik Weatherspoon ’19
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Features
YEAR IN REVIEW
WHAT 2017 LOOKED LIKE FOR WOMEN By Chloe Moore
JAN Donald Trump becomes the 45th 20 President of the United States.
This January 20 marked the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s presidency, and January 21 marked the one-year anniversary of the Women’s March, which included over five million women in 168 marches in 81 countries. The year for women didn’t end there. Here’s a summary of what 2017 looked like for women in the United States.
Around the world, five million women march to protest inequality.
JAN 21
Democrat Stephanie Hansen wins a special election in the Delaware Senate.
FEB 25
FEB 10
Planned Parenthood supporters march in Chicago, Illinois.
MAR The “Day Without Women,” organized to celebrate International Women’s Day. 8
March for Science, with an intersectional tone that
APR acknowledges climate change as an issue that harms 22 the already disadvantaged. MAY Mother’s Day. 14
Wonder Woman comes out, featuring DC’s first female superhero.
JUN 2 JUN Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigns amid allegations 20 of sexual misconduct and gender discrimination.
Jodie Whittaker is announced to be the first woman to take the lead role of the BBC’s long-running science fiction television series, Doctor Who.
JUL 16 AUG A woman in Durham, NC pulls down a Confederate statue in solidarity with the counter-protestors 14 of the Charlottesville, VA white supremacist rally.
Google is sued for inequality in male and female salaries.
SEP 14
The New York Times publishes an exposé on Harvey Weinstein, detailing the sexual misconduct allegations against him from thirteen women.
OCT 5
CBS fires Charlie Rose after accusations of sexual assault from eight women.
NOV 21
NBC fires host Matt Lauer after a sexual assault allegation arises.
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SEP 12
Hillary Clinton publishes What Happened, her account of the 2016 presidential election. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray resigns amid accusations that he sexually abused teens in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
NOV Danica Roem triumphs over Robert Marshall in Virginia, becoming the first openly transgender 7 state legislator. NOV 27
Doug Jones wins the Alabama senatorial election
DEC with large female support against alleged perpetra12 tor of sexual misconduct with minors, Republican Roy Moore.
SENECA ARMY DEPOT
Features
By Marty Alani
Have you ever driven north along route 96A towards the New York Thruway, looked out your window, and seen a ghostly white apparition of a deer? Sightings like this aren’t uncommon along this highway, which runs parallel to the western border of the former Seneca Army Depot. The vacated arms storage facility covers more than 10,000 acres of land between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. The depot closed in 2000, and a 3000-acre section named Deer Haven Park was opened for touring last November. My family, some friends, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to explore the area and to get a view of the famous white deer up close. The depot was built in 1941 in preparation for the US entering WWII, one of three similar bases built in the four corners of the country. The spot between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes was chosen because of its distance from population centers, and because of its proximity to railroads, both necessary for large military bases at the time. The depot’s construction required almost 9,000 workers to complete the project in less than a year, and in fact, the construction set records for the most concrete igloos poured in a week (78). During WWII, the depot was known to have stored radioactive materials related to the Manhattan Project in 62 of its igloos, in a separated area known as the Q area. The depot remained active until 1995 and supplied weapons throughout the Korean, Vietnam, and Desert Storm Wars. It was constantly under guard during the Cold War, possibly due to the presence of nuclear weapons. The depot actually supplied almost all of the ammunition used in the 1991 Desert Storm War—close to 35,000 tons. We went on our tour of the depot in early December, only about a month after the depot was opened to visitors. The welcome center was rather bare, but was filled with tourists viewing informational posters about the deer and the Army Depot. A small museum store displayed deer-themed merchandise, including sweatshirts, hats, deer-poop candy, and granola. In a few minutes, we boarded a small tour bus and entered the fenced-in park. Only a short distance into the park, our bus passed the area where the soldiers in the depot disposed of faulty munitions, as well as the grenade and shooting ranges. Then, further into the park, we encountered our first storage igloo, 1 out of the 519 contained in the base. There were small plots of corn and apple trees planted throughout the park which the tour guides said were to help feed the deer, but seemed sort of out of place in the former military installation. We exited the bus on two occasions: once to enter a small bomb shelter, and another time to enter one of the igloos. The igloo was gigantic and had a curved, vaulted ceiling made entirely of concrete. The roof of the building was covered in soil in order to protect the base from possible enemy attack. The majority of the igloos had trees and plants growing out of their roofs. It was difficult to spot the main attraction—the white deer—during our tour. We only caught a few glimpses of them during the hour and a
IMAGE FROM THE ITHACA JOURNAL
You can see unusual white deer like this one at the former site of the Seneca Army Depot.
half that we spent in the park, and only through the thick brush that lined the roads our bus drove on. It was not until after the tour that I was able to get a good look. When I was standing in the parking lot, I saw two deer in an open field through the fence staring right back at me. The white deer themselves are not fully albino versions of the normal white-tailed deer, but have only albino fur, caused by a recessive gene. In the wild, white deer are more likely to be killed by predators than brown deer, which makes them uncommon. However, the combination of the isolated deer population within the depot’s fence and the army’s protection of the white deer has allowed the population of the deer to grow. Currently, there are about 300 to 400 normal deer and 75 to 100 white deer living within the depot. The Seneca White Deer Inc. (SWD) is a non-for-profit organization, and has existed for close to twenty years. It has worked to protect the depot and the deer from development, and finally got its chance in 2016 when Seneca County deemed the area clean enough to be sold. Seven thousand acres of the former Depot were sold to Earl Martin, the president of Seneca Iron Works, who has worked closely with SWD. Three thousand of those acres were turned into Deer Haven Park, where tours are given every weekend, from Friday to Sunday. For those who are interested in military history, or are just curious about the deer, this tour is interesting. If you would like to learn more about the white deer, SWD, or the Army Depot, visit www.senecawhitedeer.org. 21
Features
CLIMATE SCIENCE By Chloe Moore
T
he current goal of the world’s climate scientists and researchers is to make sure that the Earth’s overall temperature does not increase by more than two degrees Celsius. The Climate Science Special Report has reported a number of key findings in their 2017 publication, including that “if greenhouse gas concentrations were stabilized at their current level, existing concentrations would commit the world to at least an additional 1.1°F (0.6°C) of warming over this century relative to the last few decades.” The report goes on to state that the “global mean atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has now passed 400 parts per million (ppm), a level that last occurred about 3 million years ago, when global average temperature and sea level were significantly higher than today.” Additionally it reports that “continued growth in CO2 emissions over this century and beyond would lead to an atmospheric concentration not experienced in tens of millions of years.” Unfortunately, the views of the current federal administration of the United States on climate change are terrifyingly indifferent, despite the fact that the latest National Climate Assessment (November 3, 2017) stated with 90 to 100 percent certainty that global warming is human-caused, specifically because of the burning of fossil fuels. Before that, however, on March 28 of last year, President Trump signed the Energy Independence Executive Order, which repealed Obama-era climate-oriented policies and boosted coal and fossil fuel productions. On June 1, Trump announced his plans to back out of the Paris Accords, an international climate agreement meant to lower the negative impact that countries have on the environment. These attempts have been exemplified by France. Despite the fact that France depends largely on nuclear energy, President Macron has set many plans in motion meant to lessen the country’s carbon emissions, as well as inviting U.S. climate scientists to research in France, where their work would be recognized. Among other things, Macron has refused to give out any more licenses for oil drilling exploration. He also 22
UPDATE
aims to reduce carbon emission by 20 percent by 2040, use 20 percent more renewable energy, and switch to electric cars across the country by the same year. France is also collaborating with China on an oceanography satellite that will measure ocean waves and how they change in proportion to temperatures change (specifically when they rise), and how that relates to water-borne storms. In light of recent devastating storms like Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, being able to better predict these catastrophic storms would save many lives. Better development plans that do not place homes in fire zones and dangerous flooding zones would also decrease the effects of these natural disasters. Another world leader working to lessen climate change is Katrin Jakobsdottir, the new Prime Minister of Iceland. Apart from being trusted by her people, her primary goal is to create an eco-friendly tourism industry in her country. This example is proof that being climate-friendly is not anti-government, and is in fact economically beneficial, especially in terms of long-term effects. Meanwhile, in the United States, December 4, 2017 saw an 85 percent cut to Bears Ears National Monument , as well as a 50 percent cut to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, both in Utah. These cuts are likely unconstitutional (the president has the power to protect land, but whether or not “unprotection” is an option is ambiguous) and would give more room to developments that would only increase carbon footprints. Then, on December 18, Trump announced that climate change would be dropped from the list of national security threats. Amid this senseless disinterest, weather is becoming more extreme, with record lows across the country and around the world, as well as many ongoing natural disasters, including the worst fires on record in California. However, people are not simply standing by as the world prepares to burn. One of the latest plans to stop climate change involves taking CO2 directly out of the air. A Switzerland-based company called Climeworks, found-
ed by Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher, was the first company to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and safely sell it to buyers, in this case for the purpose of helping grow crops. The CO2 is removed from the air and separated at temperatures above 100°C, then sent underground to help with agriculture. Those against this technology argue that it is not cost-effective, and while Climeworks has funding from the European Union and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Howard Herzog of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates that commercial use of this technology could cost up to $1,000 per ton of CO2, which is ten times what it would cost to remove carbon at fossil fuel plants. Indeed, some argue that it would make more sense to take this approach, as the carbon in early states of fossil fuel production is less diffused and would also never go into the atmosphere in the first place. Climeworks currently plans to remove 900 tons of CO2 per plant per year, which is equivalent to the emissions from 200 cars. They admit that it would take 250,000 commercial plants in order to capture 1 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Although this technology is not perfect, the idea of using CO2 for agriculture and creating negative-emissions plants is certainly appealing, and more research may lead to more efficient technologies. Overall, the situation of the planet is certainly grim, but not yet hopeless. The window for reversing the effects of climate change is closing quickly, but scientists around the world are working to develop technologies to combat climate change, as well as providing alternatives to existing technologies and energy sources, including the promotion of electric cars and solar, wind, and water energy. Despite the Trump administration’s lack of concern about the worsening state of affairs, international leaders are working hard to combat global warming and climate change. It is a struggle that affects all of humanity, and a struggle that must be won for the inhabitants of the planet to survive.
Arts
Adults and children alike can enjoy Paddington 2, which has been widely praised by critics. IMAGE PROVIDED
MOVIE REVIEW
PADDINGTON 2 By Sveta Reddy
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n January 12, director Paul King struck again with the film sequel Paddington 2. The movie stands on its own; I actually had never seen the original Paddington movie but the plot was easy to understand and follow regardless. Paul King intended to direct this movie since the start of production of the first movie, once saying, “We always hoped there would be a sequel. There’s lots of Paddington stories and loads of source material. We wanted him to be a recurring character rather than a sort of one-off.” After Paddington received immense positive ratings and feedback, King thought it was the right move to create another. Both films have earned scores of higher than 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, leading critics to believe that we can expect a third or even fourth movie. Paddington 2 immediately received high praise, and is the fourth film to hold a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes with over 100 reviews. Here’s a quick summary of the movie (I’ll try my best to avoid spoilers). Paddington 2 is about a small brown bear who was saved by a bear couple in a whirlpool. He grows up with the bear parents and they soon become his aunt and uncle. After some time, he is sent to London where he is adopted by a human family. He is treated like another kid in the family and is loved by everyone in the neighborhood. Paddington’s aunt’s birthday soon comes around, and he goes searching for the best gift. Upon finding the perfect one, a pop-up book, Paddington starts saving up money to purchase it by picking up odd jobs, such as haircutting and window washing. However, the day before he finally can buy the book—it goes missing. From this point onwards, the movie takes a funny, sad, and ad-
venturous turn. The beginning of the movie was captivating, but quite cliché. A small cub drowning and struggling to breathe under a strong current is a scene that is common throughout multiple cartoon films. When the movie starts, Paddington spews out a quick biography of each human family member. I understand that this information is crucial to understanding the movie later on, but the rapid words were overwhelming. In fact, they went in one ear and out the other. The plot of Paddington 2 is very engaging, but predictable. I saw the movie with my friend, and every prediction that we whispered to each other throughout the film proved to be correct. Additionally, there are many unrealistic aspects of the movie that are just too good to be true. That being said, the film is a cartoon movie meant for a younger audience. This fact renders all the previous criticisms obsolete, as the plotline had to be constructed so that kids could understand and walk away happy. Overall, I loved the film. I thought it covered a wide range of emotions; there were parts that had me tearing up from sadness and from laughter. Although the movie is classified as a family film and one for younger kids, my friend and I both loved it. If I could use one word to describe the movie, it would be cute. The bear was adorable and I found all the other characters to be very charismatic, even the villain. The plot was both easy to follow and creative, and the ending wrapped up the film in a satisfying and nice way. My final rating of Paddington 2 would be 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it! 23
Sports
THE BUFFALO BILLS H
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By Ewan Todt-Tutchener
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atching the Buffalo Bills this season was like watching a deer get hit by a car. The season was full of lows for the Bills, with the highs being overshadowed by the team’s disappointments and failures. Some fans reading this will say, “But what about ending the seventeen-year playoff drought? That’s got to prove something, right?” You’re right; it does prove something—how incredibly lucky the Bills were this season. It first took a weak AFC and, on top of that, an Andy Dalton miracle in Baltimore for the Bills to make it into the postseason. As the Bills General Manager Brandon Beane succinctly put it after their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Round One of the playoffs, “[They] have a long way to go.”
The Highs of the Season Without any question, the best part of this season’s team was LeSean McCoy. The running back carried the Bills to the playoffs with 1,138 yards rushing, and he led the team in receptions with a total of 59 during the regular season. What’s scary is that this season was not even that good by McCoy’s standards. His average carry fell from 5.4 yards in 2016 to just 4 yards this season. He also dropped from thirteen touchdowns in 2016 to only six this year, and this season was only his fifth highest total yards in his career. Without McCoy, the Bills offense would have been completely terrible, even worse than it already was. Other teams should watch McCoy next year, for when his performance has dipped in seasons past, he has always bounced back the following season. Also, on the offensive side, praise should go to tight end Charles Clay who led the team in receiving yards with 558 yards. Having said this, it is indicative of a huge problem that the leading receiver for the team was a tight end and not a wide receiver. Defensively, the only thing the Bills had going for them was their secondary team. Safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde 24
were great free agent pickups and rookie Tre’Davious White was amazing to watch as he covered receivers. With four interceptions and eighteen broken up passes, White probably should have made the Pro Bowl in his first season. The game of the year for the Bills was their Week 8 game against the Oakland Raiders. Scoring a season high 34 points, everything except the passing game seemed to be working for the Bills. McCoy was putting in work and the defense caused four turnovers against the Raiders. At this point, the season looked promising for the Bills after they beat what some considered to be a good Raiders team. Unfortunately, the Raiders turned out to be an overhyped team, and the Bills failed to replicate such a performance after Week 8. The only other game that remotely came close in strength was their Week 14 win against the Colts, but they only managed to win that because of the terrible snow on the field.
The Lows of the Season Where do I start? I guess I will begin with the quarterbacks. Both Tyrod Taylor and his backup, Nathan Peterman, were absolutely awful this season. Taylor and Buffalo’s pass offense finished a disappointing thirty-first out of thirty-two teams this season. This isn’t to say that everything Taylor did was bad. He only had four interceptions and he was masterful at running. The problem was, however, that he misfired too many passes, and that he failed to see open receivers too many times. Taylor just isn’t good enough for today’s NFL, and the Bills should have realized this a long time ago. The Bills had some inkling about this last season, but kept Taylor this year for financial reasons. However, in Buffalo’s game against the Chargers they tried to switch to backup quarterback Nathan Peterman. He played only half of the game, but it was amazing to watch because of how truly terrible his performance was. With
five interceptions, Peterman tied the record for most picks thrown in a career start, and he resoundingly demonstrated that he was not the answer to the Buffalo’s quarterback problem. Additionally, the Bills’ wide receivers barely showed up this season. While that might be due to Taylor’s inability to throw, the right side of the offensive line was a catastrophe. John Miller really struggled at right guard most of the season. The right tackle position may be even worse—Jordan Mills was awful this season, and there just doesn’t seem to be an answer there regardless of who plays. One of reasons Rex Ryan was fired as head coach of the Bills in 2016 was because his defense was terrible both years he was there. However statically speaking, this season’s defense was worse than either one of the two previous defenses. Sure, statistics do not say everything—a large part of why the Bills were horrible statistically was their three-game losing streak against the Jets (21-34), Saints (10-47), and Chargers (24-52). If you take those games out, the Bills end up with an overall defensive rank of 20. Not bad, but certainly not playoff-worthy.
Getting to the Playoffs There is no doubt that overall this season the AFC was weaker than the NFC. Both conferences had great teams but the NFC just had more competitive teams. A weak AFC should have left the door wide open for a not-so-terrible team to walk into the playoffs. Instead it became a four way showdown between four teams that at the start of week 17 had 8 to 7 records. The week started to shape up with the Titans securing their wildcard spot with a win over the Jaguars and the Chargers winning their game against the Raiders but missing the playoffs because of the Bills’ win at Miami. It came down to the Ravens game against a Bengals team that was dead last in the NFL for total offensive yards. A Ravens win would have sent the
Sports
IMAGE FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Bills home, but with the Ravens leading 27 to 24 with 52 seconds left in the game, the Bengals’ Andy Dalton performed one of the miracles he’s known for. On fourth and twelve, Dalton threw a bullet to Tyler Boyd; a 49-yard reception for the game winning touchdown. To put it simply, the Ravens choked, and they were the only reason that the Bills advanced.
The Playoffs This Round One playoff game was awful for both teams involved. After somehow slipping into the playoffs, the Buffalo Bills faced a Jacksonville Jaguars team that was struggling. The Jaguars had come off of two mistake-ridden losses, to the 49ers (33-44) and Titans (10-15). In reality, the Jaguars were absolutely begging to be upset at home against the Bills. The defense even managed to do its job, holding the Jags to just 230 yards and only ten points. It was Tyrod Taylor and the offense that stumbled once again. Scoring just three points, Taylor had his worst performance as a Bill. He went 17 of 37 for only 134 yards. He was impatient with his receivers, often giving up on them before they got open, and he just flat out missed receivers when he did give them a chance. He also disastrously used the pass option on first and goal at the one-yard line costing them a potential touchdown. Watching this game was like watching a highlight film of Taylor’s career as a Bill—great on his feet, managing to keep the Bills competitive, but unable to pass consistently and score points when it mattered.
The Future What’s next for the Bills? How do Head Coach Sean McDermott and
“The season was full of lows for the Bills, with the highs being overshadowed by the team’s disappointments and failures.”
General Manager Brandon Beane build off of a playoff season? First, Buffalo needs a new quarterback. There are two routes the Bills could go: either they pick one up in the draft, or they sign an experienced quarterback. Kirk Cousins, of the Washington Redskins, is a potential free agent with experience the Bills could use, but it would cost the team $34 million to franchise tag him. There are rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to drop Alex Smith. Smith kind of makes sense, but given that he has two, maybe three years left in his career, I doubt that the Bills can build a franchise with him. That leaves the 2018 draft. However, the Bills will face fierce competition from the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and New York Jets all possibly looking to pick up a quarterback and all having draft picks before the Bills. Sam Darnold (USC), Josh Rosen (UCLA), Josh Allen (University of Wyoming), Baker Mayfield (University of Oklahoma), Lamar Jackson (Louisville), and Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State) are all potential choices for the Bills if other teams don’t pick them up first. Out of these options, Josh Allen would be the best fit, as he is strong, athletic, and can play in Buffalo’s often dismal outdoor conditions. Having said this, acquiring any of these quarterbacks would be great for the Bills. So, can the Bills make it to the playoffs next year? Maybe. If the AFC remains as weak as it was this year or if the Bills gain a new quarterback and replace their offensive line, they have a chance. The future of the franchise remains unknown with McDermott and company, but one thing I do know is that Bills fans are extremely loyal and will stick with their team no matter what, even through a whiteout blizzard or another seventeen-year playoff drought. 25
Sports
SPENCER DINWIDDIE THE BEST NBA PLAYER YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF By Isaiah Gutman IMAGE PROVIDED
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ince D’Angelo Russell’s injury, Spencer Dinwiddie has stepped into his role as starting point guard of the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets haven’t shown any crazy improvement, but their grit has increased tremendously. Dinwiddie has led the charge for the team, inspiring them in spirit and talent. Dinwiddie’s 2017–18 overall stats don’t exactly jump off the screen. With 13 points and 6.5 assists per game, he is nowhere near the leaderboards in any major category. When he starts, the Nets aren’t even appreciably better, with a 12 to 22 record when he’s on the court for the jump. However, Dinwiddie’s impact cannot be accurately measured by standard statistics. When the advanced stats are delved into, it is obvious that he is not only one of the more valuable point guards in the Association, but one of the more valuable players, period. The foremost statistic in which Dinwiddie excels is the Assist to Turnover ratio. This is one of the more important stats in the league, as ball protection and distribution are two of the best skills for a point guard to have. Dinwiddie is currently averaging more than 4.5 assists per each turnover he commits—he leads the NBA in this respect. In comparison, noted passing maestros Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo each average just over 3.6 assists for each turnover, and LeBron James gets only 2 assists per turnover. Dinwiddie’s excellence with the ball helps all his teammates, as he is able to effortlessly create for every player on the court. His lack of turnovers consistently keeps the Nets in the game, which fuels his next great stat: on-off plus/minus. This statistic measures the Nets’ point differential when he is on the court against when he is off. When he is on the court, the Nets are nothing special, but they are respectable—they manage to outscore their opponents by about half a point per 100 possessions. However, they are outscored by more than 8 points per 100 when Dinwiddie sits, which may admittedly be more of an indictment of the rest of the Nets’ poor talent. Nonetheless, this is indicative of Dinwiddie’s impact at the very least, which is backed up by yet more statistics. However, the stat that Dinwiddie really shines in is Real 26
Plus Minus, or RPM. This stat, calculated by ESPN, is meant to measure the true net contribution by each player to his team. It is generally regarded as a good general metric for how much a player adds or subtracts from his team given that many others factor in team wins, meaning that poor talent surrounding good players detracts from their overall value. Dinwiddie, while not astonishing in the box score, ranks an impressive eighteenth in RPM out of over 450 listed players. This is above such stars as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Paul George. Now, I would not claim that Dinwiddie is better than Durant and Irving, and he is likely not better than George either, but his impact on the game cannot be ignored. He has improved his game significantly from his release from the Bulls to today, and it shows. As Russell begins to return to a major role on the Nets and the trade deadline approaches, Dinwiddie is a potential target for many teams because of his performance, something that would never have been thought by even him just months ago. He has a polished and complete game, and has been a high-quality point guard option that has kept the Brooklyn Nets afloat despite their many injuries. As his NBA career progresses, keep an eye on Spencer Dinwiddie. He is already a special player, and is only getting better.
Sports Silas Derfel ’18 recently won the New York State Class A Cross Country State Championship.
STUDENT ATHLETE FEATURE
SILAS DERFEL By Vaynu Kadiyali
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ilas Derfel ’18, a member of the Ithaca Boys Cross Country team, recently won the New York State Class A Cross Country State Championship. I talked with him about the season that he just had, and about his recent commitment to run at Syracuse University next year. Vaynu Kadiyali ’19: How did the cross country season go this year, for you personally and for your team? Silas Derfel: I’d say the season started off really well, especially for the team. At our second meet of the season, we were six or eight points away from beating the top team in the state at that time, and we got ranked twenty-fifth in the nation because of that effort—that was really rewarding. Individually, I started off with two wins, but I didn’t do as well at the third race. I did manage to get sixth, which was okay considering that there was competition from as far away as Canada. The postseason went pretty well for me. I didn’t manage to do all that I would have liked, and our team didn’t do as well as I was hoping. However, I think I learned a lot from that experience as a leader, and I think the other members of the team will be better prepared for the future as the result of it. VK: What were some highlights of the season for you? SD: Winning a state championship was the highlight of my season. It really became my goal to win a state championship after last year, and competing at that level was something I had wanted since freshman year. I had seen Dan Dracup ‘15 get fifth at States a few years ago, and being the top return from last year, I wanted to make sure that I did well. Besides that, I won the McQuaid Invitational with the twelfth best time there ever, and the fastest Ithaca time ever. Actually, we had a time trial at Ithaca College over summer, and I got the course record there too, though I didn’t find out until November. VK: What are the prospects for the cross country team going forward without the current seniors? SD: We’re losing some good guys, including myself and Noah Mattice ’18, who has been our third guy and a leader for us all season. However, we have some really good young guys, including Ben Supron ’21, Cade Eells ’21, and Alec Simpson ’20. As long as they take care of their stuff, focus, and have fun, they will be really good in a couple of years. VK: As a student athlete, how do you stay on top of your schoolwork during the cross country season? SD: That’s an interesting question. I have realized that success is self-feed-
IMAGE FROM STAR GAZETTE
ing; when I am really working hard on my homework, I don’t have time to worry about running, and I end up racing better because I can focus on the task at hand. At the same time, when I return from hard workouts and runs, I often want to sit down and watch TV or sleep. It’s tough, but if I manage to sit down and do homework, I find that my running excels. It works the other way too—when I have a really good race and I’m able to do my homework, I find that I’m also able to better in school. VK: Not many people understand the recruitment process. What was your experience like, and what were some observations you had going through it? SD: I had the chance to see Dan Dracup, a great runner, get recruited by Columbia, and I also saw my good friend Jake Avery’s ’17 recruitment process at Cornell. I think that the reason why I was able to get better offers was that I made bigger jumps year to year. As juniors, both Jake and Dan had similar times, but mine were 10 or 15 seconds faster. That made a huge difference because while they were getting Ivy League offers including Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth and Princeton, I was getting recruited by teams like Syracuse, Stanford, and Wisconsin that were contending for podium finishes at the NCAA tournament. I think that was because of my slightly higher finishes at races. I found that I was attracted to coaches who were more invested in me, and I narrowed down my choices to Syracuse, Columbia, and Cornell, programs in which I had great relationships with coaches before I even made my official visits. VK: What made you ultimately select Syracuse, and what academic and athletic goals do you have for your time there? SD: Syracuse excited me the most. I had the opportunity to go to an Ivy League school, or to be a part of a top-tier program. I realized that I wanted to try running at the highest level, and after talking to team members, I realized that they were super excited about the opportunity to run with me. A good friend of mine who won the Class B race at States, Nathan Lawler ’18, texted me to announce that he was going to commit to Syracuse, and that really pushed me out the door. I thought, “Why aren’t I doing this too?”, and once I announced my decision, my future teammates and coaches all reached out to me about our potential going forward. Academically, I went into my visits not really expecting a whole lot. I’m interested in studying physiology and exercise science. However, I was surprised to find that they had state of the art equipment that I didn’t see at either Cornell or Columbia, and they exceeded my expectations and gave me the opportunity to study what I really wanted. 27
Literary
Graduation Day! By Sveta Reddy Awaited by many, The moment when we walk across the stage, Hold our diploma in our hand— A roll of paper that symbolizes years Years of hardship, Years of suffering, Years of perseverance— Graduation Day! The moment we shake the principal’s hand, And look across into the crowd, Meeting our parents’ eyes, And see that they are proud of us. Graduation Day! The time we feel freedom. We are now released. Like a bird flying out of its cage, For the first time. The feeling is irreplaceable. Graduation Day! What joy you bring to many. Thank you for being you.
IMAGE BY GENEVA MORELAND
A Satire By Dorothy Braun No electronics! But please, take out your Chromebooks. Ironic, isn’t it? IMAGE BY GENEVA MORELAND
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Give Up
Literary
By Thea Clarkberg Street lights bleed Road so smooth I’m floating, Slipping. Cold cars never touch and if they do It’s the touch of death Crunch and noise and color. Give in to the the inevitable: You will hit the ground. Looking through the windshield I already feel the noise and I already give up. Reactivity runs out, you know. But like breath, involuntary, I pull away. Get angry. Fight back. Wake up. I shake my head and blink. No. Think.
IMAGE BY GENEVA MORELAND
Soft so soft you want to put your lips against her warm white fur.
Her chest and nose stretch forward Eyes ahead, attentive. Searching. Does she see what I see? To that stone, does she calculate the jump as I do? She sits back and looks back and gives slack Gives up. I watch and call my kitten again And wait. She looks, calculates and jumps quietly over clear cold water. Her white fur gets wet, and she licks at it.
He recalls By Isabel Rubin There she is on the hill, he recalls her pale thighs in that skirt he loved. The one covered in blue and pink hearts She picked a daisy, breathing in Imagining lilies blooming and the butterflies waving waving around The grass blades tickled their necks pointing out shapes in the clouds. She always had had a better imagination than him. Her laugh sings in his ears. He recalls, now with tears in his voice. 29
Penultimate
A CROSSWORD FOR THE DEAD OF WINTER By Sophie Wray
A Crossword for the Dead of Winter 1
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2. daydreaming about this warm season all winter long, especially now
1. you had to bring one of these for EVERYONE in the class in elementary school on Feb. 14
4. you walk outside in the middle of January and it’s 50 degrees out, it feels like it’s this season but really it’s still Winter
3. in about 2 short _____ it’ll be springtime and some warmth will return to Ithaca
SURREALIO
4. ice _____ on a frozen lake sounds like the most fun
7. a week full of these tests, studying till you cry
5. the shortest month of the year, duh
8. you'll for sure break this within the first month of the new year but that's okay
6. each year we wait to see if this animal will see its shadow to predict another six weeks of winter
10. 1st semester is over! We're _____ through the school year whoop whoop
9. getting the day off of school because it’s so dang _____ outside you can’t even leave the house
11. stepping over slush and ice so you don't fall cause the school parking lot is _____ and frozen solid
By Ethan Carlson
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Across 2. Daydreaming about this warm season all winter long 4. You walk outside and it’s 50 degrees outside. It feels like _____ 7. A week full of these tests. Study till you cry 8. You might forget this within the first month of the new year 10. First semester is over! We’re _____ through the school year 11. Stepping over slush and ice so you don’t fall, because the school parking lot is _____ and frozen solid Down 1. You had to bring one of these for everyone in class in elementary school on February 14 3. In about two short _____ it’ll be springtime and some warmth will return to Ithaca 4. Ice _____ on a frozen lake sounds like the most fun 5. The shortest month of the year 6. Each year we wait to see if this animal will see its shadow to predict another six weeks of winter 9. Getting the day off from school because it’s so dang _____ outside you can’t leave the house
Penultimate
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Back Page
The Coolness Spectrum THE SIGNS AND THEIR DOABLE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
COOL
By Sophie Wray
February break
Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Get outside more! Go on more walks; take a hike, even if it’s cold. Bundle up and get out there—it’ll make you feel so alive.
Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)
Drink more water. It’s very important to hydrate. >>(((°>
Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)
Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22)
Downsize a little bit. Give away clothes you don’t wear, declutter your room, and get rid of things you don’t need or love.
Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)
Get more sleep! Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Sleep cures almost everything.
Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22)
Become more involved with feeling good about yourself and less involved with what others think of you.
Quality over quantity. Keep this in mind in many different aspects of your life. It’s the quality of something or someone that is most important.
Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)
Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Learn to play an instrument. Guitar, piano, harmonica, Chapman Stick . . . there are so many! Why stop at just one?
Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20)
Exercise? Maybe? Just a thought. Go on a jog or a walk once a week/month/year.
Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22)
If you bite your nails, stop. If you don’t bite your nails, start just so that you can stop.
Rely less on social media. Real life interactions and conversations are more important than the way people perceive the online you.
Days you don’t have midterms Candy sales after Valentine’s Day Winter formal Year halfway done Still half a year left Winter formal pics Parking lot flooding Midterms
Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Learn a new skill. Knitting, crocheting, whittling; anything really would be cool.
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
Be really, really nice to everyone you meet. You can make someone’s day by being sweet or giving compliments. The niceness you give off might come back your way.
UNCOOL