June 2019 • Estd. 1892 • Vol. 126 #10 • Published Monthly • www.ihstattler.com Ithaca High School, 1401 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 • FREE
Editorial
Editorial: Administration Monitoring Social Media By the Tattler Editorial Board
M
any members of the IHS community have seen social media posts that criticize and/or satirize members of IHS staff. But recently, the students responsible for these posts were reprimanded for the potential harm that their content could pose to the staff. This administrative crackdown was carried out by forcing students to take down their accounts and handing out referrals, leaving many in the student body to wonder whether such measures were appropriate, especially when many of the posts in question were clearly attempts at humor. Due to the fact that the content was posted on private accounts, this administrative crackdown raises questions not only about the right for students to voice their opinions on the IHS administration but also about the administration’s authority outside of the school. In other words, should school authorities have been permitted to intervene on Instagram, a social media site, especially when much of the posted content was on “private” accounts? While some of the content posted could be categorized as harassment, the boundaries which the school is free to monitor student behavior seems to have been breached; after all, there should be an outlet for students to publicly voice such opinions, preferably without intervention from the administration. This incident reflects a larger trend in which administrations of all levels—from local schools to federal governments—are forced to confront the issue of free expression in an era where social media is widely accepted as a method of communication. In the 1969 Supreme Court case Tinker vs. Des Moines, Mary Beth Tinker, a student in the Des Moines school district, protested the Vietnam War by wearing a black armband to school. When Tinker refused the district’s requests to remove the armband, she was met with a suspension, a decision that went on to be heavily contested. In their decision, the Supreme Court famously ruled that the right to freedom of speech and expression for students is not “shed at the schoolhouse gate.” However, the advent of widespread Internet communication has clearly introduced a gray area in their ruling, as schools struggle to draw the line between punishing those who make clearly hurtful comments and those who state uncomfortable opinions. The Internet’s wide reach and lack of pri2
JUNE 2019
Staff 2018 – 2019 Editor-in-Chief
Vaynu Kadiyali ’19 editor@ihstattler.com
News Editor
Julian Perry ’19 vacy play a critical role in the revival of this issue, as content that may have been intended to be kept “private” can be accessed by nearly any individual with a click of a button. Regardless of the potential confusion the Internet brings, the Tinker vs. Des Moines ruling clearly states that controversial opinions should not be suppressed simply due to the unpleasant manner in which an administration may interpret them. Thus, it is reasonable to question whether IHS has overstepped its boundaries by punishing students for their comments online. However, the adverse effects of online harassment on the real-world lives of individuals are undeniable. According to surveys conducted by Cox Communications, 68 percent of youth think that cyberbullying is a major problem among their generation, and 33 percent go even further to state that online harassment is worse than real-world bullying because online harassment often comes with fewer potential consequences to the author. Also coupled with the fact that less than half of cyberbullying incidents are said to be reported, social media content posted with malicious intent has been proven to be truly harmful. Students should aim to be careful when incorporating social media into their lives. Even though negative statements about peers or teachers can be made without harsh intentions, they can seriously affect those targeted by such statements. If offline, out-of-school conversations between friends began to be monitored for potentially damaging content, many would not tolerate administrative intervention. While private interactions on the internet are much more accessible to the public than private conversations in real life, the uncomfortable truth is that the online world is growing increasingly inseparable from our physical reality and creating the need for greater caution on social media. Although some of the viewpoints expressed by students are certain to be unpopular by the administration, the online activity of students should not be restricted. Therefore, while students should seek to create a healthy social media environment, perhaps the administration should look to uphold its values within its own boundaries, rather than attempt to monitor the online behavior of its students after the bell.
news@ihstattler.com
Opinion Editor
Isaiah Gutman ’19 opinion@ihstattler.com
Features Editor
Joseph Yoon ’19 features@ihstattler.com
Arts Editor
Chloe Moore ’20 arts@ihstattler.com
Sports Editor
Asha Duhan ’19 sports@ihstattler.com
Literary Editor
Eleanor Randl ’19 literary@ihstattler.com
Back Page Editor
Sophie Wray ’19 backpage@ihstattler.com
Center Spread Editor
Anna Westwig ’21 centerspread@ihstattler.com
Copy Editor
Justin Heitzman ’20 copy@ihstattler.com
Photography Editor
Jefferson Sheng ’20 photo@ihstattler.com
Layout Editor
Jacob Yoon ’21 layout@ihstattler.com
Business and Advertising Manager
Samuel Bazarov ’20 business@ihstattler.com
Webmaster
Tony Yang ’19 web@ihstattler.com
Distribution Manager
Fiona Botz ’19 Karuna Prasad ’20 distribution@ihstattler.com
Archivist
Aurora Wulff ’19 archivist@ihstattler.com
Faculty Advisor
Deborah Lynn advisor@ihstattler.com
Editorial
New Staff 2019 – 2020 Editor-in-Chief
Justin Heitzman ’20 editor@ihstattler.com
News Editor
Chloe Moore ’20 news@ihstattler.com
Opinion Editor
Karuna Prasad ’20 opinion@ihstattler.com
Features Editor
Katie Lin ’22
features@ihstattler.com
Arts Editor
Adowyn Ernste ’22 arts@ihstattler.com
Sports Editor
Rohit Lal ’22 sports@ihstattler.com
Literary Editor
Anna Westwig ’21 literary@ihstattler.com
Back Page Editor
Ethan Carlson ’21 backpage@ihstattler.com
Center Spread Editor
MJ Stuelke ’21
centerspread@ihstattler.com
Copy Editor
Leland Xu ’20 copy@ihstattler.com
Photography Editor
Jefferson Sheng ’20 photo@ihstattler.com
Layout Editor
Jacob Yoon ’21 layout@ihstattler.com
Graphics Editor
Heewon Ahn ’21 layout@ihstattler.com
Business and Advertising
Jinho Park ’22 business@ihstattler.com
Editorial: 2019 Capital Project By the Tattler Editorial Board
I
n district elections on Tuesday, March 21, voters approved a $120 million bond known as the 2019 Capital Project, a long-term plan to improve facilities around the district. But the question remains: what exactly is going to change around the school? One change is the keycard access systems keycard access systems that are being brought to all ICSD schools under the state’s Smart Schools Bond Act. Only teachers will be equipped with these cards. Building doors will be locked during class periods and will automatically lock from the outside. In the wake of school shootings like those in Parkland, Florida, and Santa Fe, Texas, increasing school safety is certainly important, but when implementing these new measures, district officials should be conscious of the environment that they foster and should strive to ensure that students do not feel overly restricted, as this would counteract the goal of making students feel safer. According to the proposal, other changes include moving the main office to Activities, while the current main office and adjacent areas (Building J) “will be renovated into a wellness suite with guidance, nursing, and psychologist offices, as well as a flexible classroom area." In addition, York Lecture Hall will be reconfigured to make the top half a separate, divided classroom area with a sound system that can be connected to the presentation area if needed. However, given the fact that York is mainly used for large-scale presentations or events, such as Social Justice Week, and is not used every day by large numbers of students, one wonders if it is worth reconfiguring it. It currently serves its pur-
Webmaster
Ryan Cunningham ’20 web@ihstattler.com
Distribution Manager
Raia Gutman ’22 distribution@ihstattler.com
Archivist
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:
Anthony Fine ’20
The Tattler 1401 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850
Faculty Advisor
Send submissions by June 13th to be included in the September issue. The Tattler reserves the right to edit all submissions. All articles, columns, and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of editorial staff.
archivist@ihstattler.com
Deborah Lynn advisor@ihstattler.com
To read The Tattler online, visit our website at www.ihstattler.com.
pose as a large lecture hall, and as the only room of its type at IHS, it seems more reasonable to leave it as it is. More strikingly, the project plans to close the breezeway between J-building and the entrance to the main gym building, thereby completely enclosing the Quad. The goal of this change is to decrease unauthorized access to the Quad, although that does not seem to be a huge issue at the moment. What this will do, however, is make it harder for students to reach Activities and the Attendance Office, as well as widely used rooms such as the choir room and the orchestra room. In addition, it will slow down the flow of students after the school day ends, making it harder for students to reach the parking lot and bus lines. While keeping the Quad secure seems like a fine goal, there does not seem to be any particular impetus behind this change, and especially during lunch periods, when some students enjoy sitting outside in the Quad, this change seems more inconvenient than anything else. In general, improvements in infrastructure and school facilities are a positive thing, and aspects of the plan, including improving the track and field facilities, will certainly benefit students. Upgraded facilities do create a better learning environment and make the school a nicer place to be. It is admirable that the Board of Education is thinking seriously about student safety, especially as issues of gun violence in schools move into the national conversation. In addition, teachers should be trained for active shooter scenarios, beyond simply having students cram into small spaces. Issues that intersect with gun violence, such as mental health, should also be addressed by the suggested developments. However, making widely used parts of the school, such as the Quad and Activities, less accessible may serve only to limit students’ sense of freedom. Because the project has already been approved, all that remains to be seen is the way in which the ideas are implemented. The district has the opportunity to create positive infrastructure developments, but they must also ensure that students do not feel overly restricted when doing simple things like moving between classes. June 2019
3
News
New Committee Gives Students a Voice in Selecting IHS Theater Productions By J.T. STONE
A
fter casting controversy led to the cancellation of the 2018 IHS spring musical, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” ICSD has implemented theater changes in order to further its effort for 100 percent student engagement in the fine and performing arts. Daphne Shululu, ICSD’s new Director of Fine and Performing Arts, and Lorraine Tino, a theater arts educator and the director of the fall plays at IHS, said these changes are meant to make the district’s theater department more inclusive, diverse, and student-led. One of these changes has allowed students to have a say in the show-selection process. This year, students had the option of voting between two productions that Shululu believed could be color-consciously cast and directed—productions that recently-created committee of students selected. Last year, members of the student activist group, Students United Ithaca, demanded that “Hunchback” be canceled because they claimed that the role of Esmeralda, a French Romani gypsy, was whitewashed and accused the theater department of having a long history of whitewashing lead roles. To avoid future controversies, Shululu formed a casting committee made up of a Musical Production Team and school faculty members to utilize a color-conscious casting approach in order to decide which actor would be most appropriate for each role. Tino and Shululu advise the aforementioned show-selection committee, which consists of seven students from different grades, who are currently deciding on which two plays and/or musicals students will have the option to vote on this upcoming school year. Students in the casting committee agree that giving students 4
JUNE 2019
a greater influence in the show-selection process will encourage more students to join the theater. “We’re the youth of the school and for our voices to be heard . . . it brings everybody in and includes everyone. It says, ‘Hey, it’s not just theater kids that can do it, it’s everyone that can do it,’” explained Leah Slattery ‘20, a member of this year’s show-selection committee. The committee meets weekly after school for about one to three months to discuss production ideas by reading through different shows and deciding which two productions would be most appropriate for IHS, both in terms of entertainment and color-conscious casting. The committee’s criteria for choosing productions is based on whether the productions have non-traditional roles (ethnic-neutral characters that can be played by an actor of any ethnicity) and whether the show extends to different cultural experiences and marginalized people. While Tino and Shululu provide guidance in the discussions, they say the committee is supposed to be led primarily by the students. Committee members gush that being on the committee is an insightful and enjoyable experience, and they encourage other students to join the committee next year. Zoe Klausner ‘20 remarked, “I’m very happy I’m on the committee. I think we have a lot of relevant conversations about the theater department and how we can make it better, and it involves different voices and perspectives of the students who are actually going to be affected by the choice of the show.” Sankofa McLaurin ‘19, another member of the committee, added, “I think people should join next year’s committee because it's really inspiring to be part of the process where you think about what
should or should not be on stage. . . and I just think that being an active part of the community is something that’s just very rewarding and this is just a simple way to do it.” Tino believes there’s a perception among IHS students that the theater department is exclusive to white students. She believes that in order to dismantle this perception and to inspire students in marginalized communities to join the theater, the committee should select shows that tell the stories of marginalized people. “Telling the stories of everyone, including marginalized people, will always be a really important goal . . . it’s just that at a certain point we won’t have to be quite as intentional when hopefully the day arrives when everyone knows the theater program is for everyone and people will come and audition for a play. It’s ‘ethnic-neutral,’ where they’ll realize that if we do ‘The Music Man,’ even if you’re not a white guy you could have the lead. But that may not happen for a few years until people really believe that that’s true,” she stated. Students added that choosing a play that highlights the diversity of cultural experiences is important because it honors the diversity found in today’s world. “I think it’s important that we choose a diverse play because that's the reality of the world. It's hard to tell a story if you’re not telling it correctly, and the world is diverse now. There's diversity in people, ideas and experiences, and I think that it's our responsibility as the humankind to make sure that we’re true to the diversity of our days,” McLaurin ‘19 argued. If you’re interested in joining next year’s student show-selection committee, email Daphne Shululu or Lorraine Tino.
News
District Election Results and Budget Breakdown By CHLOE MOORE
O
n Tuesday, May 21, ICSD voters approved three ballot propositions and elected the new Board of Education members, who will begin their terms on July 1. The propositions approved were the 2019-20 district budget, the appropriation and expenditure of reserve funds, and the 2019 Capital Project. Two official candidates (Robert Ainslie and Eldred Harris) and one write-in candidate (Erin Croyle) were elected to the Board of Education. According to the district website, the proposition will support the 2019 Capital Project, a district-wide, long-term facilities plan designed to enhance safety and security, upgrade teaching and learning spaces, and improve infrastructure at all ICSD schools. Proposition 3, the 2019 Capital Project, was passed with 2,393 “yes” votes to 554 “no” votes. At IHS, Phase I, which will begin in 2020, includes the reconfiguring of York Lecture Hall into a multi-part learning space, and the issuing of key cards to teachers for entry into school buildings; students will not be issued these cards. The doors between buildings will be locked during class periods and will open automatically between periods. The bond will not increase local tax rates, but will instead be funded by a debt-retirement program, in which the district will only incur new debt as it pays off old debt; debt payments are already allocated in the budget.
Also included within the budget are cuts to funding for instructional salaries for teachers of grades 7 to 12. Funding for administrator salaries, however, is increasing. Specifically, there is a 6.93 percent increase in funding for the salaries of principals, directors, and other administrators, likely due to the increased number of these positions. More administrators means more money being diverted to their salaries. Meanwhile, funding for training salaries will decrease by 17.67 percent, and funding for teacher salaries for grades 7-12 will decrease 0.27 percent. Funding for non-instructional salaries for special educators, teacher librarians, and computer-assisted instructors will decrease as
well. Teachers are not going to be paid less, rather, these cuts reflect a smaller staff due to the district’s high teacher turnover rate. Employee retirement, teacher retirement, and workers’ compensation funds are also experiencing cuts. The budget does not increase tax rates, but there is an estimated 3.02 percent increase in the tax levy. Effects of this vote will begin to go into effect soon. New members will assume office on July 1, the new budget will affect the coming school year, and the physical infrastructure of IHS (and other district schools) will start to change beginning in 2020.
JUNE 2019
5
Opinion
Why I Love IHS Pep Rallies By J.T. STONE
P
ep rallies have been an annual tradition at IHS, serving as a time where all students can come together in the Big Gym to view a diverse lineup of presentations and performances that the IHS community has to offer. While some of my friends feel that our pep rallies have become cheesy and boring, I believe they are valuable experiences because they foster an inspiring sense of school spirit, let students and teachers take their minds off stressful thoughts, and give everyone the rare opportunity to see the rich diversity of school clubs and student achievements present at IHS. What stands out in my mind when I think of IHS pep rallies is the rare opportunity where I get to see, not only my whole grade, but the entire IHS community come together to celebrate school spirit. Hearing fans cheer at the top of their lungs for their favorite athletic teams, watching stu-
dents and teachers compete in entertaining games, and searching for the rare appearance of the bear mascot all make pep rallies an unforgettable experience. It’s like our school’s own Super Bowl, but without the football and field. Plus, these annual events give us a chance to enjoy free performances with friends who we may barely get to see in school, while also showing us the beauty of watching all of our closest friends together enjoying each other’s company. Pep rallies also give students the exciting chance to share their talent and accomplishments with the rest of the school community. Whether it be Code Red displaying a new invention, the spring musical ensemble performing a lead song, or K-Pop Dance Club reminding us all why we love K-pop, pep rallies never fail to represent the diversity of talent and interests that the IHS student body has to offer. But pep rallies take this effort
for diversity and inclusion one step further, as the spotlight is open to anyone willing to volunteer to inspire or entertain others. I also think we can all agree that pep rallies are a great time for students to sit back, relax, and enjoy an energetic show. On most other days of the school year, students are forced to focus on classwork while walking through the repetitive cycle of sitting and actively listening in class for 45 minutes at a time. Pep rallies are an escape from this boring cycle as they give students the chance to enjoy non-academic activities with friends, while also allowing for relaxation from the stresses of life and school. Lastly, if I haven't convinced you to love pep rallies yet, just remember that they not only reduce the duration of your classes for that day, but they give you an excuse to scream at the top of your lungs and to be yourself.
The Kids are More Than Alright By CHLOE MOORE
T
he past two years have seen possibly the largest mobilization of young people since the anti-war protests on college campuses in the 1960s and 70s. Students have organized around, campaigned for, and voted on a wide variety of issues, the most notable being gun reform and the climate crisis. Plenty of critics on both sides of the aisle have been dismissive of these movements, arguing that young people are naive and too inexperienced to organize effectively. However, the student-led March For Our Lives on Washington, D.C. drew over 200,000 supporters. Additionally, according to the Fridays For Future movement, which organizes school strikes in protest of inaction regarding the climate crisis, “During the week of March 15, there were at least 1.6 million strikers on all 7 continents, in more than 125 countries, and in well over 2000 places.” With the combination of media literacy 6
JUNE 2019
and some existential dread about both our current situation and our future, young people are able to make real change and to make it quickly. Rapid response activism networks are often led by younger people, and can involve anything from organizing rallies within two days of a college campus shooting, as the North Carolina March For Our Lives chapters did, to showing up for women’s rights. They can even involve rallying against police brutality, as students did just last week in New York City. Apart from the significant impact that these youth movements have on the daily news cycle, they are also indicative of a general trend towards more participatory democracy in the United States. According to NPR, “More than 47 percent of the voting-eligible population cast a ballot in the midterm elections” in 2018, with 31 percent of eligible voters aged 18-29 voting. While there is room for
improvement, the midterms saw the highest voter turnout in 50 years, and that was thanks in no small part to the efforts of youth organizers. More importantly, many people voted for the first time in the midterms, which suggests that they are much more likely to vote in future elections. Working on the ground through March For Our Lives Ithaca, I have seen the way youth activist networks are able to create real connections in the community, effectively use social media, and create spaces to empower and engage other young people. Obviously, older activists may have more experience, but this generation has the most to lose to climate change and is on the business end of America’s gun violence epidemic. Not everyone involved in various movements can vote yet, but we can make sure that other people vote, and we can stay fired up and organized, and that’s where the real change happens.
Features
Restaurant Review: Zocalo By KATIE LIN
R
ight next to the Subway in the Shops at Ithaca Mall sits Zocalo, a Mexican restaurant that has been quickly gaining popularity amidst a declining mall. Zocalo opened in mid-April, grabbing the attention of local mall-goers, including myself, my father, and my sister, Laura. We finally made our way to eat lunch at Zocalo on Cinco de Mayo, therefore getting the full energy of the exciting restaurant. When my family and I arrived at Zocalo, we were immediately seated, even though the restaurant was almost full. While we sat at the table, we looked at the many interesting black-and-white photographs hung around the restaurant and enjoyed listening to the Spanish music in the background. Our server was tired but nevertheless polite, handing us large menus that displayed an impressive collection of fajitas, burritos, and quesadillas. Our lunch started off with complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were warm and crispy, matching perfectly with the fresh-tasting salsa. A very addictive opener; we had to stop ourselves from eating them in order to save room for the rest of the meal. For readers older than twenty-one, my father ordered a margarita, commenting that it was excellent and that it made him want to return to Zocalo just for another. Refreshed, we ordered the Quesadilla Appetizer, the Burrito Santa Fé, the Pollo Yucatán, and the chimichanga. The wait time for the Quesadilla Appetizer did not feel long, and soon our server came with about five quesadillas filled with chicken, guajillo peppers, and soft onions, served with a creamy cheese sauce. The dish also came with sour cream, along with pico de gallo that helped to add flavor and balance to the quesadillas. We all quickly agreed that the chicken was delightfully well-cooked, with absolutely no chewiness or dryness. The cheese sauce was smooth and flavorful, demonstrating Zocalo’s high-quality food before the entrees had even arrived. However, this appetizer did fall on the heavy side and was quite filling, so I recommend that if you order the Quesadilla Appetizer you share it with others. Shortly after, our server informed us that the wait time for the entrees would be about twenty-five minutes. Luckily, the wait time did not feel long. We easily talked to each other and passed the time, as Zocalo’s music and atmosphere is loud enough to be lively, but quiet enough so you can hear the person next to you. Our servers, who had become more relaxed and friendly as other customers began to leave, brought our entrees to the table. My burrito had chicken and beef accented with cilantro to add a note of freshness, preventing the dish from feeling too heavy. Like the meat in my burrito, the shredded beef in the chimichanga was not chewy at all and was properly salted without being overwhelming. My sister was impressed with the chicken in the Pollo Yucatán for its smokey and delicious flavor. It is very easy to make under-seasoned chicken that becomes bland as you eat it, but the flavor of this chicken lasted throughout the whole bite. The entrees were also on the heavy side, but because the meat
was so well seasoned, moist, and cooked expertly, the meal was warm and comforting to eat. As a bonus, the meal was very reasonably priced, while still delivering excellent food. Throughout the whole experience, perhaps the most disconcerting thing about Zocalo was their abundant use of plastic. Plastic cups were used instead of glasses, paper napkins were used as opposed to cloth napkins, and sauces were held in plastic cups. While not environmentally friendly, it is likely Zocalo must use plastic because they are relatively new and don’t have a steady money flow. Hopefully, as time goes on and they earn more money, they can afford glasses and materials that are better for the environment. The overall environment of Zocalo was comforting and welcoming. Taking a look around, people of all ages were having a great time, laughing and enjoying the flavorful food. Zocalo is definitely family friendly and has a festive but relaxed environment that is impeccably clean. They even gifted beads to us in celebration of Cinco de Mayo and gave children decorative cactus headbands. Even though I don’t particularly favor Mexican food, Zocalo showed me what well-seasoned, flavorful Mexican food is like. This is an excellent place to relax and talk with family and friends, and I highly recommend you try something new to eat and check out Zocalo.
JUNE 2019
7
Features
From the Archives:
Excerpts from the Tattler Issues of Yesteryear Compiled by ANTHONY FINE
There is a small handful of people at IHS who know about a very small, very pink room at the very end of the E-wing. Although small and unassuming, this room is the deepest one can go into the chronicles of IHS. In that room, there are four average-looking filing cabinets that contain the annals of IHS Tattler history, dating back 126 years. Here follows a selection. Read more online at https://tattlerarchive.wordpress.com/ Note: The current Tattler does not necessarily endorse the opinions published in historical Tattlers.
June 1898 Amusements As amusements form such a considerable part of our lives, especially during our youth, perhaps a few words on the subject will not be amiss. It is an admitted fact that, for a city of its size, Ithaca has an unusual number of very fine entertainments. And yet when, as frequently happens, a fine concert or lecture has an extremely small audience while some cheap, vulgar farce draws a crowded house, it is surely time to stop and ask ourselves if we are not partly to blame for the state of affairs. The number of pupils in the High School is certainly sufficient to have some influence in matters of this sort. Do we ever stop to think that our tastes in matters of amusement are sure indications of the quality of our minds? No one would like to admit his or her inability to appreciate really fine things, and yet this is constantly being shown in a very practical way. As our knowledge and appreciation of elevating and ennobling entertainments increase, we lose our 8
JUNE 2019
taste for silly or vulgar pastimes. And even if we do feel rather wearied with our first efforts in this line, we are sure to be amply repaid later in life. But perhaps we say we will cultivate our minds by means of good literature. It is a sad but true fact that the books in our public library which are most in demand and quickest worn out are not the works of such men as Scott and Thackeray. It is the sensational trash of the hour that is most in demand, especially by the young people; and how often we hear the remarks that the works of a standard author are dull and prosy! If we but thoroughly interest ourselves in music, literature, or art, our field of enjoyment will be much widened. This article is not intended for a sermon, but is written in the hope of making at least a few of us realize how very careless we are in the form of entertainment we seek. Select the best in all things, for we must always bear in mind that what we do now is to influence all the remainder of our lives. Let us hope that our High School pupils, who have so many advantages offered them, will deserve the reputation of patronizing only the refined and elevating in all their amusements. -A.
Features
June 1935 View Points: Hot Weather With the arrival of warm weather the boys get too warm sitting around in school with neckties or sleeves down and heavy coats or sweaters on. Why cannot boys and men teachers come to school with shirts open at the neck, sleeves rolled up and still feel a bit dressed up? It is a great deal cooler studying that way, and we could keep our minds on our work. -W. R.
June 1940 The moon was high, The road was dark, A perfect place To stop and park. I gave a sigh, I gave a moan, I cursed the fates-I was alone.
June 1973 Letter to the Editor This is sort of an open letter to everyone at Ithaca High School who really gives a damn about the environment we see five or so days a week. All our pretty words about stopping pollution “over there” are very nice, but one indication of our true feelings is how we take care of the grounds at IHS. By the standard, we are all a bunch of hypocrites. I wouldn’t begrudge anyone an outdoor lunch in the Quad or a candy bar after school, but do we really have to leave the papers behind to spoil it for the next person? Perhaps it’s relaxing to have a smoke at noontime, but does everyone have to drop their butts by the sidewalk? Admittedly. IHS is no pristine Alpine meadow, but it could be a lot less littered. Next time you go dump a piece of trash, look around—I’ll bet there’s a basket nearby. By using it, you’ll be showing a little bit of compassion for this good earth. -Charles Breckheimer
June 1977 Has IHS really changed in the last 25 years? When you think of the Ithaca High School 25 years ago, what sort of images come to mind? Maybe the 50’s as they are depicted on Happy Days—bobby socks and greased back hair and all the fun gathering around the jukebox? Actually, believe it or not, high school kids had lots of work to do, about the same as we do now. And along with everyday school life, there were student discipline and studying problems, just as there are today. How have these problems changed within our school from past to present? I found out by interviewContinued on page 8 JUNE 2019
9
Features
From the Archives: Excerpts from the Tattler Issues of Yesteryear Continued from page 7 ing four teachers, all who have been teaching for many years: Mrs. Ryan (in the English department), Mr. Johnson (in chemistry), Dr. Zien (in physics), and Mr. Pfaff (in history). They have been teaching at IHS 16, 17, 25, and 28 years respectively. My first question was: Overall, how has the student discipline problem changed in your classroom since you began teaching at IHS? All the answers were the same—it hasn’t. This surprised me, so I asked them about discipline in the hallways. According to the teachers, students in the hall are more open—they are either more friendly or more unpleasant than they were 15 years ago. The teachers I talked to also felt, in general, that there has been an increase in cyclical or apathetic attitudes over the years. Doc Zien explained that teachers simply don’t know who many of the students are today, so they cannot report them. With an increase in the ratio between teacher and students, the relationship—especially in the halls—is more impersonal. Neither student nor teacher can identify each other. “Kids know this,” Doc Zien said. “They work things up, then stand back and laugh.” Mr Pfaff agreed. “Everyone of the teachers 25 years ago was conscious of every student, even if not his or her own,” he said. “But then there were only about 1,000 students at IHS.” Study Habits What about student’s study habits and motivation to seek extra help? Here the teachers I talked to had plenty to say. I wrote down the choicest comments, knowing well that I was blushing when I heard them. Mr. Pfaff said, studying is something new to students. They have poorer skills than before. “There is less reading and more T.V.” Mrs. Ryan observed, “This is an oral generation, and writing is not emphasized. Students have more difficulty learning the classics, and come in more for extra help as a result.” Mr. Johnson feels that the number of students who come in has always been a “slim majority.” Doc Zien said (and I was especially embarrassed during this interview), “Kids’ study habits have gotten worse; they don’t know how to study. They say ‘Why should we work? It’s a waste of time.’ I need to curve grades more now.” “There are other things to occupy students now,” Doc Zien went on. “They are more knowledgeable about current events, but they don’t use their heads. They come in for extra help because they don’t study right.” The teachers offered other reasons for changes in students’ study habits. Mrs. Ryan noted that in addition to more outside activities, a student today has more freedom from the family. “Less time spent at home usually means less time spent on 10
JUNE 2019
homework,” she said. Doc Zien pointed out that more students work now, resulting in reduced homework time. Mr. Johnson feels IHS is developing a “big city atmosphere,” which makes it more impersonal than most High Schools. This impersonal nature (growing with many students) is disturbing to students, and is probably, he feels, a cause for the increase in discipline problems and for the decrease in desire to work. Mr. Pfaff explained the change as something linked directly to the students’ feelings. “They have less respect for themselves, and therefore are less tolerant of others,” he said. He also related the change to a reduction in the closeness of school-family relationships. Have you thought of some theories yourself? If so apply them to IHS 15 to 25 years from now and make a guess what the average student will be like. But keep in mind Doc Zien’s quote on the younger generation: “Kids will always be kids.” -Toni Wasmuth
Features
June Holidays By MJ STUELKE
T
here are many things that we students like about June. It’s the month when the weather warms up, we’re let out of school, and we finally get to have some fun. There are also some things that you might not know about June: for example, did you know that aside from Pride Month, June is also Adopt a Cat Month? Or that the first week of June is National Gardening Week? While there are many more fascinating holidays and events in this intriguing month, I’ve chosen to focus on three: D-Day, Juneteenth, and the Summer Solstice. Most of you know about D-Day. On June 6, 1944, American, British, and Canadian forces led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower went across the English Channel onto the beaches of Northern France, beginning the month-long battle of Normandy. The battle was a major victory for the Allies and has been called the beginning of the end to World War II. The celebration of D-Day in America is meant to honor the many soldiers who lost their lives during the invasion and to commemorate the living for their bravery. D-Day is observed by American citizens but is not a federal holiday, so neither federal workers nor workers in the private sector are given this day off. Ways to celebrate this day include visiting WWII memorials and museums, or by watching one of the many movies dedicated to the topic, including The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers. Juneteenth, the 19th of June, is a lesser-known holiday, which is relatively shocking, considering how significant it is in American history; it is the anniversary of when the Union Army enforced the abolition of slavery in Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation, the executive order freeing all slaves in rebel territories, was issued on January 1, 1863, it took some states a while to comply. Texas was the last, doing so almost two and a half years later. Reasons that could explain for the delay include that the messenger carrying the proclamation of freedom was murdered or that Texans deliberately continued to enslave men, women, and children even after the proclamation. Other names for this commemorative day include Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Independence Day. Observed by Americans, this holiday is strongly focused on education and self-improvement; common ways to celebrate this holiday include rodeos, baseball games, fishing, and large community barbecues. The Summer Solstice, which is on June 21, is older than both of the aforementioned holidays; it was celebrated by ancient cultures as the longest day of the year, starting with the Neolithic humans to mark when the harvest began. The holiday has been associated with the feast of St. John and Midsummer, which are both on June 21, ever since the early Catholics co-opted the Summer Solstice to try and convert their pagan neighbors. It is a celebration, not only of the power of life but of remembering the darkness that has yet to come. During the day, it was popular to meditate in the sunlight and to have a noontime celebration when the sun was at its peak. Bonfires were often lit after sundown as a reminder to keep warm over the coming months. While some people enjoy the holiday here in the Americas, people in Sweden really go all out; their enthusiastic celebrations include dancing, large amounts of food, and flower crowns.
It is said that on Midsummer, the powers of nature are at a peak, so wreaths of flowers are created to harness magic. These three important dates have very different backgrounds, levels of observance, and importance. D-Day is a solemn day of remembrance, Juneteenth is the celebration of a dark chapter in history ending, and the Summer Solstice is the beginning of a new phase of the year. June 6 is a time to remember the people who have died for our country and to contemplate the horrors of war. June 19 is a day to spend with family, to learn about the impact of the Civil War and of slavery, and to be thankful for and celebrate diversity. June 21 is a day for celebrating the Sun, the goodness of the Earth and the beauty all around us. However you choose to participate in these, or if you choose not to, hopefully you know something now that you didn’t before.
WHAT HAPPENED IN GUATEMALA IN 1954 THAT PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCED ITS HISTORY AND TODAY’S IMMIGRATION? If you knew the answer, you get an A+. If you got the answer by a Google search or some other way, you get an A. If you aren’t going to get the answer, you need to recognize that today’s students will be tomorrow’s leaders and ask yourself how tomorrow’s leaders can make wise decisions without some knowledge of history.
WITH SOME KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY, WE CAN AVOID ACTIONS WE HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR LATER
OnPointFacts.org Our Mission: To deliver accurate information about issues important to people, democracy, and the environment.
JUNE 2019
11
Features
Our Spring Trip to Morocco By SANKOFA MCLAURIN
O
n the Friday marking the beginning of Spring Break, twenty-four IHS students and five chaperones began their trip across the Atlantic; our destination was Morocco, a country in North Africa that borders the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The plane landed in Casablanca, a port city in western Morocco, where we visited the Hassan II Mosque. Since Morocco is a majority-Muslim country, seeing mosques and hearing the call of prayer quickly became a familiarity. The Hassan II Mosque, in particular, showcases wonders of Moroccan architecture that reflect a Moorish influence. Visiting the largest mosque in Africa and being able to enjoy some sun and a clear sky was a great way to start off an eventful week. Our first stop was Rabat, the capital, where we were to meet a group of students from Beni-Mellal, a city located in the interior of Morocco. Before the trip, we had already spent an afternoon Skyping with the students, sharing personal interests and aspects of our respective cultures. Because of this, we felt as if it was not our first time meeting. From the moment we met in person until the moment we said goodbye, we chatted about everything from opera to pol-
View from hotel in Chefchaouen 12
JUNE 2019
itics. While exploring the Kasbah of the Udayas and local souq—or marketplace—I was happy to find that mosaics, floors made of stone/marble, and sculpted plaster moldings were not exclusive to mosques and could be found all over Morocco. The dinner we shared on the first night introduced us to staples of Moroccan food: tajine, slowcooked stew served with bread, and couscous, which never fails to disappoint. At the end of our time with our friends from Beni-Mellal, we shared our thoughts about the past two days together. The most memorable comment came from a Moroccan, who said he was pleased to find that we were civil people because “most of the Americans on television are bullies.” There’s no question that mainstream media contributes to people’s preconceived notions of those from other cultures. One of the reasons I found this trip to be so important was that it allowed us to challenge cultural and societal misconceptions. I went to Morocco without any assumptions of West African and, more specifically, Muslim culture, and I came to the realization that our two cultures are not all that different. The city of Meknes was our next stop, where we met another student group that
some of us had been speaking with on Edmodo. A majority of our time there was spent in schools; presentations on fashion, home, and high school life, as well as a game of charades, acted as ice breakers for us all while visiting the local high school. Meknes was the only time while in Morocco All images by Sanfoka Mclaurin
Mosaic at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Rabat skyline
Features
Decorative door in the blue city
Tajine
Community oven in Meknes
Top of Volubilis
Inass, a new friend, sporting Tommy Hilfiger
Hotel in Meknes
that we had the opportunity to participate in homestays. Seventeen of us spent our nights with Moroccan families while the remaining seven stayed at a beautiful hotel in the middle of the city. Our next activity was at the Arab-American Language Institute. There we learned the basics of writing in Arabic and how to prepare ghriba, a coconut shortbread cookie baked in a community oven. Although there was a noticeable language barrier between us and the Arabic professor, we were able to connect and even converse in German. The ghriba was paired with tea and a conversation regarding higher education in both America and Morocco. We learned that many Moroccans move to France for college because there are better educational
opportunities there. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we attended a lecture at the local university. The professor began by asking what being open and open-minded meant to the audience. Most everyone described being open as staying honest and true to yourself while being open-minded meant being able to accept the differences of others. The questions started an open discussion covering religious freedom, race, mental health, and stereotypes. Both Moroccans and Americans voiced their opinions, making for an inspiring end to our time in Meknes. On the way to our final destination, we stopped at the Roman ruins of Volubilis— thinking about being in a place founded in the 3rd century BC was just as exhilarat-
ing as the view. But the view from our final destination, Chefchaouen, was absolutely breathtaking. The “blue city” sits 1,850 feet above the Rif mountains, which in addition with the azure hues of Chefchaouen’s buildings, makes Chefchaouen the most beautiful city I have ever seen. Most of our money was spent in the Souq, where we could buy anything from soap to jewelry, rugs, and clothes. (As a result, many of us have become experts in bartering.) The farewell dinner in Rabat consisted of lots of music, dance, and food. I could think of no way more fitting to end the trip and I am so grateful for the opportunity to experience the sheer amount of beauty and hospitality Morocco has to offer. JUNE 2019
13
Ways to Help Native Pollinators By MJ Stuelke
Butterflies 1. Provide Host Plants Host plants are essential to the butterfly population, as they are where butterflies reside. There are many kinds of host plants that attract a variety of butterflies: one of the most well-known plants is milkweed, which specifically attracts monarch butterflies. Some other easy-to-grow host plants that attract multiple butterflies include clover, hollyhock, and sunflowers. Keep in mind that the host plants will show some damage on the leaves because caterpillars will be eating them. Houses for adult butterflies include a bundle of sticks and open areas of stone or dirt where they can bask in the sun.
2. Provide Nutrients Like bees, butterflies also rely on sources other than flowers to get their nutrients. They enjoy drinking water from bee baths, but it is also important to provide some rotten and slightly overripe fruit for them, preferably in a basket in a small deciduous tree.
Birds 1. Provide Nesting Spots Hummingbirds also like to nest in small deciduous trees or shrubs, such as Japanese maples or lilac bushes.
2. Provide Nutrients Hummingbirds drink nectar from long, tube-shaped flowers, such as trumpet honeysuckle, bee balm, and hummingbird sage, along with flowering bushes and trees. Aside from nectar, hummingbirds also eat small insects for protein. The hanging basket of fruit put out for the butterflies will also attractfruit flies that hummingbirds can eat. 14
JUNE 2019
Flowers 1. Bigger = Better When it comes to pollinators, they love big, showy flowers. Some examples include scarlet beebalm, sunflowers, wisteria, and fuchsia. The colors that pollinators see best are blue, purple, white, and
2. Arrangement Matters The best way to plant flowers is to plant the same type of flowers in the same spot. This helps boost foraging efficiency, so pollinators don’t have to learn how to get into the same type of flower over
3. Know Who You’re Planting For Different kinds of pollinators like different kinds of flowers. Bees are pretty much okay with anything, however butterflies like platform-like flowers, like sunflowers. Hummingbirds need long flowers that will accommodate their long beak.
Bees 1. Provide Homes
There are many ways to do this. For solitary bees, you can buy a premade bee box from your local hardware store, or you can make your own by drilling holes of varying widths and lengths into a piece of scrap wood. For ground-nesting bees, leave a patch of ground uncovered. You can also leave decaying plant matter for solitary bees or an overturned pot with holes in it for bumblebees.
2. Provide Nutrients
A common misconception is that bees only need nectar to live; however, they also need a couple of other things to be healthy. For one, they need water. You can create a bee bath by taking a shallow saucer, like the ones put under flower pots, and placing rocks in it. You want it to be arranged so that when you fill the bath with water, some rocks are still left dry. To add another level of vital nutrients, put some soil in a corner so that the soil’s nutrients leak out into the water that the bees drink.
3. Refrain from Pesticides All pesticides and herbicides are extremely harmful to all pollinators. If you must use them, please only use them in small amounts. A natural alternative to pesticides is by introducing praying mantises and ladybugs into your environment; they will eat the pests and leave your pollinators alone, for the most part. JUNE 2019
15
Arts
Summer 2019 Playlist By FRITS MAROHN
“Countdown” by John Coltrane Legendary saxophonist John Coltrane released his first album, Giant Steps, in 1959; the album is to jazz saxophonists what the Rosetta Stone is to linguists. Coltrane single-handedly created a new standard for jazz saxophone, characterized by complex and pattern-based “sheets of sound,” as well as effervescent self-expression. Some jazz cognoscenti use the term “post-Coltrane” as a nod to the playing style introduced in Giant Steps. “Man in the Green Shirt” by Weather Report Born in Austria in 1932, Josef “Joe” Zawinul went from studying at the Vienna 16
JUNE 2019
Conservatory at the age of seven to playing as a house keyboardist with Miles Davis in the late 1960s. With Wayne Shorter, he created the band Weather Report. Originally gravitating towards avant-garde jazz in their early years, Weather Report found a home with jazz fusion, borrowing from styles such as rock, funk, and bossa nova. “Windows” by Chick Corea After abandoning both Columbia University and Juilliard as a music education major, finding both schools “disappointing,” Corea quickly became a popular sideman among jazz musicians. He replaced Herbie Hancock in the Miles Davis Band and released his debut album, Now He Sings,
Now He Sobs, as a leader in 1968. In 1973, Corea released a compilation album titled Inner Space, in which he reworked many of his originals, including “Windows.” “Miss Ann” by Eric Dolphy Multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy recorded the album Far Cry with Booker Little in 1962. Throughout the album, Dolphy is heard playing bass clarinet, flute, and alto saxophone, using a playing style borrowed heavily from classical composers such as Bela Bartok and Igor Stravinsky. Despite the fact that Little’s name is on the album, Little only appears in the track “Miss Ann,” a song that served as a musical portrait of a girl Dolphy knew at
Arts
the time. “The Duke” by Miles Davis & Gil Evans While touring with Duke Ellington in 1954, jazz pianist Dave Brubeck received note that Time Magazine had featured him on the cover of an issue. Brubeck stated, “It should have been [Ellington on the cover]” to express his disappointment with the decision, believing that his race had influenced Time’s choice. Brubeck wrote the tune “The Duke” in response to serve as a commendation for Ellington’s achievements; in 1957, pianist Gil Evans and Miles Davis created the album Miles Ahead, featuring the song. “Your Gold Teeth II” by Herbie Hancock Jazz saw a dwindling in the late 1960s as a result of the dominance of rock and roll, and many jazz artists saw the future of jazz with a degree of uncertainty. However, ‘70s rock group Steely Dan, often collaborated with jazz musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, and Michael Brecker. Pianist Herbie Hancock included the Steely Dan song, “Your Gold Teeth II,” as a bonus track in his 1996 album, The New Standard, which covered popular songs from previous decades. “Every Summer Night” by Pat Metheny Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny hit the ground running in his career after studying at the University of Miami; he was offered a scholarship after the dean of the school heard him play at a jazz club in Kansas City. After attending the university for less than a week, Metheny received an offer to teach at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In the span of his forty-year career, Metheny has won Grammys in ten categories; he stated in an interview that his album, Letter From Home, which won a Grammy in 1990, represented an “ideal melodic durability.” “Round Midnight” by Miles Davis Quintet Sometimes incorrectly referred to as “Round About Midnight,” this seminal Thelonious Monk tune quickly cemented itself as a jazz standard immediately af-
ter its composition around 1940. On the 1955 Miles Davis album, Round About Midnight, Davis’ version borrows heavily from Dizzy Gillespie's arrangement of the piece; “Round Midnight” remains the most recorded jazz tune to date.
gigs after three years of studying on the saxophone. Both musicians teamed up in 2010 in Germany's JazzBaltica festival to record the John Coltrane jazz standard, “Moment’s Notice,” from Coltrane’s 1958 album, Blue Train.
“Speak No Evil” by Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter's album, Speak No Evil, remains a staple in the hard bop genre. Hard bop spawned in the wake of jazz musicians becoming primarily influenced by rhythm and blues and gospel music. Stylistically, hard bop involves more relaxed tempos and a rhythmically blues-like style of improvisation. Speak No Evil went somewhat unnoticed during its original release, but later many jazz critics spoke highly of the music’s freshness and originality.
“Along Came Betty” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers If any figure attains sole responsibility for the kindling of new jazz musicians, it would unequivocally be the avuncular jazz drummer, Art Blakey. From Wayne Shorter to Wynton Marsalis, Blakey frequently employed up-and-coming jazz artists in The Jazz Messengers, defining the hard bop sound for many years to come. Art Blakey recorded the tune “Along Came Betty,” written by saxophonist Benny Golson.
“Manteca” by Dizzy Gillespie While Latin influence in jazz was in its infant stages in the 1940s, Dizzy Gillespie's tune, “Manteca,” established itself as a staple of the Afro-Cuban jazz style. “Manteca” utilized the clave, a key feature in many Latin rhythms, for the first time in a jazz format. The tune also marked a rise in the career of Cuban jazz percussionist Chanzo Pozo, with whom Gillespie collaborated on many live recordings. “I Mean You” by McCoy Tyner & Michael Breaker Although pianist McCoy Tyner gained fame for his participation in the famous John Coltrane Quartet in the 1960s, his solo career as a leader proved equally auspicious. Along with jazz giant Michael Brecker, Tyner recorded a collection of originals and covers, among them the classic hard bop tune “I Mean You.” “Moment’s Notice” by Matt Wilson with Chris Potter New York City drummer Matt Wilson remains in demand today both as a sideman and educator. Notably, Wilson performed at the 2011 White House State Dinner hosted by former President Barack Obama. Another key figure in jazz today, Chris Potter came to prominence in the early ’90s, though he first gathered attention at the age of 13 when he acquired
“On the Sunny Side of the Street” by Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong, also known as Satchmo or Pops, is considered a revered figure among all jazz-lovers. While he rose to popularity for his innovative soloing technique, he ultimately altered the role of jazz improvisation from a collective to a soloistic role. Beyond his notable singing and trumpet playing, Armstrong became one of the most popular black performers in the public eye whose race was deemed unimportant compared to his music. While he played many jazz standards throughout his career, “On the Sunny Side of the Street” remains his most notable and popular. “Tell Me a Bedtime Story” by Herbie Hancock In 1969, NBC approached a jazz pianist to compose a musical score for the animated Primetime special, "Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert". Herbie Hancock later took some of the material for his album, Fat Album Rotunda, where his style was altered dramatically from jazz-based to soul-based. However, he kept the horn arrangement of flugelhorn, bass trombone, and alto flute from his earlier album, Speak Like a Child. “Tell Me a Bedtime Story” appeared on the 1978 Quincy Jones album Sounds . . . And Stuff Like That. JUNE 2019
17
Arts
V 1.6
Wow, what a year. It’s hard to believe that in just a few more weeks, it will all be over.
By adowyn ernste
So much has happened…
…We cried…. …We ate cafeteria food…
We laughed…
CK!
CRA
Just a few other necessities, including these calming smiley erasers.
(There was a lot of crying)
…we fought bravely against the forces of evil…
…We danced… (And won) 18
JUNE 2019
Arts
Look
at th
at pe
rfec
t, blu
e sky
….
Heya, tin can.
Let’s go home, okay?
JUNE 2019
19
Arts
Interview with Luke Monoghan By FRITS MAROHN
L
uke Monoghan, a senior at IHS, recently received a scholarship from Oberlin Conservatory to study jazz trumpet performance. As a musician, he participates in Wind Ensemble, Running to Places pit orchestras, and Jazz Band. Recently, I spoke with Luke about his aspirations and what he thinks of the state of jazz music today. Frits Marohn '19: Let's start with a broad question. Thus far, how has music impacted your life? Luke Monoghan '19: Music has given me a way to express myself in ways I normally wouldn’t find otherwise. In broader terms, it gives me a direction to vent my energy and purpose. Where other people choose sports, I choose music. FM: Adding on, I know you play trumpet as well as piano. Do you see a difference in how you can express yourself on those particular instruments? LM: With trumpet, I simply have more technical skill; I’ve been playing since I was around eight or nine years old or so. In terms of technical ability, I can express myself more thoroughly on the trumpet because I know how to, but I still find piano to be very expressive, just less so technically. FM: What originally attracted you to the trumpet? LM: Initially, I wanted to play saxophone, but they had too many saxophone players where I went to elementary school, so I picked up trumpet. From there I fell in love with the instrument. FM: With the fact that you’re going into jazz performance, jazz music has charted very low in terms of popularity in the United States. I’m not going to make the argument that jazz is dead, but you don’t hear it a lot on the radio. What do you think is causing the lack of popularity in jazz? LM: I think there are a lot of newer music genres moving in that are fundamentally a 20 JUNE 2019
lot less complex. FM: Are you making the argument that complexity turns people off from jazz? LM: I’m just making the argument that some people don’t have the capability to understand the complexities in jazz. They might prefer something simpler like pop or rap music, where it repeats the same thing over and over again. FM: Well, I think part of it is also an accessibility issue. Especially when you’re forming your music tastes as a young person listening to the radio, you’re listening to a lot of pop music from the ’70s and beyond on the Top 40. Do you think the popularity of jazz would change if we were exposed to it at a much younger age? LM: I definitely think so. I think part of the reason for jazz falling in popularity now can be viewed through trends from way earlier. If you look at big hip hop and rap artists like Tupac and Snoop Dogg, much of their music refers back to a lot of jazz and funk musicians. You can hear Tupac talk about Grover Washington Jr. or Snoop Dogg reference Parliament. That’s the music they experienced growing up and it has [influenced] their music. Now, musicians are doing the same with Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dogg, and other rappers. Although they might be referencing that, I think that rap becoming a popular medium in their time makes it so that jazz is less popular in our time. FM: What advice do you give to people, particularly incoming freshmen, seeking to make music a greater part of their schedule? LM: For any musical field, it’s all about playing in a way that makes you feel like you can express yourself, but really, the best step I took to help my self-expression was that for a summer, I abandoned technicals and listened to a lot of music that I liked to listen to and play. It got me thinking about what I wanted to play and what I wanted
to sound like as a musician, allowing me to formulate my own sound and style. FM: In the present day, how often do you listen to music? LM: All the time. If I am driving, I’m listening to music. If I’m walking to class, I’m listening to music. When I wake up and before I go to bed, I listen to music. FM: What extent is listening to music focused on the idea that “I’m going to study this?” LM: Not much at all. I do have those moments when I listen to songs in Jazz Band to study the music and play along with it. FM: Do you learn more by ear? LM: By ear, for certain. FM: I know that for freshmen there are so many ensembles, which can be intimidating. How do you balance your time? How do you think people should budget their time in that regard? LM: For me, I budget my time by focusing on noticeable parts in my music. The first part I practice is the part where I am a noticeable member. If I am in Wind Ensemble, I’ll practice my most exposed parts first. If I’m doing pit orchestra and I have a week to rehearse, that’s all I’m doing that week. If I have a solo in Jazz Band, I’m going to practice that first. It comes down to how exposed I am. FM: How do you make certain things like that a priority with so much to do? LM: I have to put a lot on the backburner. As someone who loves music and will be going to college for it, sometimes everything else has to take a break. When I participate in Running to Places Theater Company I have to schedule out of work. Normally I work four days a week, and I would have to take all of those off. All of my concerts and ensemble practices take first priority.
Arts
Tenth Annual Spring Writes Literary Festival By RAIA GUTMAN, ADOWYN ERNSTE
F
or the past ten years, Ithaca has hosted the Spring Writes Literary Arts Festival, featuring local and regional writers and artists who give a variety of presentations on themselves and their work. This year, the festival was held from May 2 to May 5. Out of the forty-three presentations, we were lucky enough to attend six of them, ranging from workshops to readings to panels. By the end of the weekend, we both agreed that it was a worthwhile event. All of the presentations were unique, interesting, and packed full of information and inspiring words from successful authors. Saturday mid-afternoon brought us to the first event of Spring Writes, a panel discussion on dialogue in literature. Panelists Jackie Swift, Gigi Vernon, E.C. Barrett, and Summer Keown delved into perhaps the most elusive element of any piece of writing. Dialogue may seem like a simple component, but it can often make or break a story. According to the panelists, every line of dialogue in a novel or short story must fulfill three requirements: it must advance the plot, be realistic, and entertain or engage the reader. The authors also discussed the importance of a mix between narrative and dialogue in writing, stressing that attributions or taglines are best kept simple. The workshop closed with a few tips from the panelists on how to write interesting dialogue in specific situations, including eavesdropping on public conversations, writing a scene in which two characters who hate each other are stuck in an elevator, and interviewing a friend. Thirty minutes later, we attended a reading workshop led by Michael Barakiva. Intrigued by the workshop’s subject matter, we wondered how Barakiva would approach this taboo subject: sex in Young Adult fiction. According to Barakiva, many YA books are guilty of one of the following: ignoring, shaming, or hypersexualizing teenage sex. Looking at the statistics, he said, it is unrealistic to write a book in which none of the teenage characters are sexually active, similar to how unrealistic it is to tell a story without any gay or bisexual characters. Once he got this across to the audience, he pulled out a laptop and began to read an excerpt of a sex scene from his book Hold My Hand; the scene was
not pornographic, unrealistic, nor derogatory. After the reading, Michael reiterated the importance of emotional development in sex scenes and expanded upon his strategies and habits as a writer. One of our favorite events was a workshop called “The Art of Popular Fiction,” which was led by Jeanne Mackin, Nancy Holzner, and Nancy Ohlin. During the presentation, the three authors read and discussed brief examples of their own work, all based on the same writing prompt. Each author took the prompt in different directions based on their own preferred genre, and the end results ranged from wildly entertaining to thought-provoking. Jeanne Mackin wrote a historical fiction piece about a mother living in France during the Second World War. Nancy Holzner crafted a fairytale about an old woman who revives a frozen bird to hear its song, spinning a harrowing story made effective with imagery and connotation. Nancy Ohlin’s main character wakes up in a world similar to ours, complete with Billie Eilish songs and text messages between best friends. While listening about these authors’ writing processes was a valuable experience in itself, the discussion afterwards was full of tips and tricks helpful for anyone writing in the presented genres. Jeanne Mackin advised anyone writing historical fiction not to overdo the initial research. The challenge of the genre is fitting together the original story with proper nouns and missed details to make the story come alive. Mackin also emphasized that even potentially disturbing historical events should still be written about. This way, readers can come to terms with history and understand that there is some “evil” in the world. At the same time, Mackin likes to resolve the situations present in her books with satisfying endings, strong women, and a little bit of romance. When it comes to writing fantasy and horror, Nancy Holzner offered a few key words of advice: don’t over-explain, no matter how tempting it may be. Instead, submerge the reader into the atmosphere as quickly as possible and let them figure things out along the way. If the main character is engaging and relatable, then the reader will accept whatever unexplained magic accompanies them.
On the subject of over-explaining, Nancy Ohlin’s advice to young adult writers overlapped with Holzner’s suggestions. Specifically, when writing complex or controversial topics with an intended moral, Ohlin suggested that it is best to let the reader figure out what’s right or wrong instead of simply stating it outright. Otherwise, the reader will most likely dismiss the story and gain nothing from it. Ohlin’s writing style combines humor with a twinge of cynicism in order to create an accurate representation of the life of a teen. But because Ohlin writes from the perspective of an adult, she often asks others to read over her writing to ensure that her references and speech patterns conform to what a real teenager would say and do. Although Ohlin has written many books, she explained that she still finds this a valuable step in the writing process, helping her catch many errors and inaccuracies. On Sunday afternoon, we attended a workshop led by Brenna Fitzgerald that focused on “writing from the body.” As we walked into the surprisingly crowded room, we weren’t entirely certain what “writing from the body” meant. But by the end of the workshop, we had analyzed the experience of eating a strawberry, listened to examples of famous sensory writing, and written using all the senses and details from a particular moment. These exercises, meant to connect us to our senses, were also a meditation on memory and detail. As a writer, it’s important to be aware of the sights and smells around us to make the writing more vivid. As writing becomes more realistic and detailed, the reader is able to picture the scene and characters to relate to them better. After listening to presentations on writing techniques and tips, Fitzgerald’s presentation was a welcome reminder that the basis of good descriptive writing comes from details, memories, and senses. Just like a store-bought strawberry, the slight bitterness or imperfections of reality are what makes the story come to life. The most valuable aspect of the festival was that no matter how long we sat and listened, we were just as eager to explore the next event as before. Each workshop, panel, and reading brought a new perspective to storytelling as authors shared their techniques and strategies. We heard some incredible pieces that were shared by presenters, including If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love by Rachel Swirsky, Hold My Hand by Michael Barakiva, and Breakage by Mary Oliver. For writers of any experience level, Spring Writes makes for a vibrant weekend plan, and attending almost any event within the festival will leave you with tips from successful authors as well as inspiration for your own work. JUNE 2019
21
Sports
Tottenham Hotspur: The Improbable By JINHO PARK
A
t the highest level of soccer, it is rare that a team consistently defies expectations; the investments, tactical thought, and difficult training that create the best clubs ensure that most matches go as expected. However, Tottenham Hotspur has risen to the top of the Champions League when they were expected to lose thrice before, beating Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester City, the latter of which is regarded as the strongest team in Europe. Their success is an example of when luck, practice, and mental fortitude
combine to create one of the most remarkable runs in Champions League history. In the past couple of years, Tottenham has spent very little money on new players. Instead, they’ve focused on improving their current players and bringing up younger players through their academy system. Their star player, Harry Kane, was injured for many of the team’s critical matches. Nothing pointed towards the success of Tottenham, yet against all odds, they have seen victory. As a fan of the sport, I find myself lost
in these improbable runs. “Fairy-tale runs,” such as Leicester’s Premier League run, Croatia’s World Cup run, and Tottenham’s attempt at the Champions League, always leave me speechless. But instead of wondering how it happens, I find myself glad that soccer has not succumbed to rhythmic predictability. When the strongest teams lose to the weakest, I am reminded that soccer is where the most spectacular miracles happen; I am reminded of my love for the sport.
The Genius of Lionel Messi By JINHO PARK
T
his past decade, fans of soccer have been blessed. We have been witness to one of the greatest sports miracles of all time, Lionel Messi. The man is a genius; his exceptional dribbling, fantastic bursts of pace, and quick improvisation are all a testament to the claim that he is the greatest soccer player of all time. Both the statistics and expert opinion support it as well. This season, he has been incredible, leading both the La Liga (Spanish Domestic League) and the Champions League in goals scored. It is Barcelona tradition that their “first captain” gives a speech at the beginning of their season. This year, for the first time, the tradition fell on Messi; most viewers were expecting the usual formalities from the speech. Maybe he would wish the team luck for the following campaign, maybe he would congratulate a particular player, or maybe he would thank the manager for his hard work. Even then, he defied all expectations. He vowed to bring the Champions League home to Camp Nou after three disappointing away leg defeats in the last three years. He swore to bring the elusive trophy home, the one that had stumped Barcelona for the past four years. 22
JUNE 2019
Fast forward ten months to the Liverpool-Manchester match. After an early Suarez goal, the game had clearly shifted into Liverpool’s favor. But Messi extended Barcelona’s lead to 2-0; minutes later, he scored one of the most perfectly placed goals of the season, right when Barcelona needed him most. But in the dying embers of the game, when Messi found Dembélé in the box, Dembélé promptly wasted the shot. Perhaps this moment of the campaign defined Messi’s predicament: Messi can be inhuman, but his teammates are painfully mortal, letting him down when he needs them most. Nowhere else is this better exemplified than during the second leg of the match, when Liverpool battered them to the ground. Barcelona threw away a 3-0 lead going into the second leg and lost 4-0. Anguished, Messi walked into the dressing room, wondering what went wrong. What could he have done better? The answer? Nothing. It is this painful divide between Messi and his lackluster teammates that frustrates all of us fans: Messi does so much for them, so why don’t they reciprocate the favor? His teammates, Suarez, Coutinho, Dembélé, Rakitic, Pique, are individual
stars in their own right, but in the second leg against Liverpool, all were absolute disappointments. Instead of hunting for their chances, they depended on and waited for Messi “magic,” which never materialized. What hurts most is that this season for Messi will go down as a failure, despite all of the goals and assists he produced. Messi, just like everybody else, is judged almost entirely on the major trophies he wins, not on the number of goals he scores. His failure to win a World Cup in 2014 will go down in history as a personal and professional failure for him, even though his teammates had many chances to win the game. It is in the grandest moments that Messi feels most confined; his teammates are unable to produce the magic when he falls short. At the end of every calendar year, the Ballon d'Or is awarded to the best player of the calendar year. This year, when voters decide on their winner, it is my sincere hope that they do not factor in the countless failures of Messi’s teammates, but remember Messi’s sheer brilliance that even allowed his team to advance thus far. The individual accolade is the least he deserves.
Sports
Premier League: The "Title Race For the Ages" By ETHAN CARLSON
Vincent Kompany lifting the Premier League Trophy after Manchester City’s 2018-19 season victory
T
he Premier League of 2018-19 has been celebrated by many fans as one of the most intense title races in recent soccer history. This is in no small part because previous seasons have always had a clear winner several games prior to the last match of the year, such as Chelsea’s title win two games before the end of the 201617 season, or Manchester City’s 2017-18 title win, which was achieved with six games left in the season. However, this year, the title race came down to the last match, with Manchester City and Liverpool in contention for the lead. Only when Manchester City beat Brighton 4-1, gaining 98 points to Liverpool’s 97, did the team secure their title. The ‘18-19 season was not just a close battle statistically; it was historic in terms of outstanding performances, brilliant managers, and remarkable players. At the start of the season, Manchester City was the favorite contender for winning the 2018-19 season because of their dominance during the previous year under coach Pep Guardiola. Last season, they grabbed a whopping 100 points, while their closest rival, Manchester United, only had 81. Yet despite starting off the first third of the season undefeated, the typical grind of the winter season, a humiliating penalty miss by Rehab Marez in a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, and Chelsea’s 2-0 win over them at Stamford Bridge proved costly
to Manchester City’s standing in the league between December and January. Then they lost to Crystal Palace 3-2 at home, Leicester City 2-1 away, and fell as low as third place in the Premier League, below Tottenham Hotspur. Liverpool, on the other hand, was incredibly successful and consistent for the first half of their season. Under their coach, Jurgen Klopp, they never lost a game and were led by the outstanding defending of their backline, which was commanded by Virgil van Dijk. It seemed that Liverpool was unbeatable, and they were winning under the most bizarre circumstances. For example, during the Merseyside Derby match against Everton, an errant shot took a double crossbar bounce onto the head of Liverpool’s Divock Origi and into the goal to give Liverpool a last-second 1-0 victory. But Liverpool ultimately failed to do what they needed most to secure their title: beat their rivals, Manchester City, on the pitch. On January 3, Manchester City went up against Liverpool once more at home. The beginning of the match was shaky for Manchester City, despite being at home, evident by a clumsy clearance: Manchester City’s John Stones bounced off of their goalkeeper, Ederson Moraes, towards the goal, only to be cleared off the line by Stones once more just millimeters before going in Manchester City’s goal. Yet Manchester City was
not bothered by this near mishap, as their renowned striker, Sergio Aguero, shot at Liverpool’s goal from an improbable angle in the fortieth minute. Liverpool, though, fired back, scoring a masterpiece of a goal in the sixty-third minute off a header from Roberto Firmino via a magnificent cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold to Andrew Robertson and back to the front of the goal. But Manchester City asserted their dominance with a stunning shot to the lower crossbar by Leroy Sane in the seventy-first minute to make the score 2-1. The game was by far the most influential game all season, giving Manchester City the hope of regaining first place and diminishing the hopes of Liverpool’s first title in twenty-nine years. Although Liverpool never lost another game for the remainder of the season, they tied with many teams, giving Manchester City the opportunity to surge into first. That was exactly what played out on match week twenty-nine. Liverpool tied for the seventh time that season, ironically against Everton at home, while Manchester City beat Bournemouth 1-0 away, finally giving Manchester City first place one point ahead of Liverpool. It stayed that way for the remainder of the season, entitling Manchester City to the Premier League title once more. The 2018-19 Premier League season was one filled with joy, heartbreak, and suspense. Manchester City, winning their second Premier League title in a row, gave respect to the relentless efforts of Liverpool. Manchester City’s captain Vincent Kompany said, “It was the hardest and most satisfying Premier League ever . . . Liverpool was exceptional this year . . . We played against such a good team all season.” Despite Liverpool’s failure, their coach was far more proud of how much was achieved, stating that it is not the result that they should be judged by, but the memories that they created. As he asked in the Men In Blazers podcast, “What matters in life is did you improve the place you have been in? The house you lived in? Did you improve the mood? Did you bring love?” JUNE 2019
23
Literary
The poems on pages 24-25 are a selection from the Active Minds Poetry Reading in May. Active Minds is an IHS club that promotes mental health awareness.
Untitled By Zoe Gras The shadows creep along my eyes and I see you standing there. Whispers cry and hurt my ears but you are still standing there Standing there and I listen to the fears of my heart but they don't know where to start so I stand here seeing you. Seeing memories whip inside my head and leave my heart feeling dread and I would give anything to be yours. But you forced me to exist for you and you only. You held my heart in your hands until it burnt from your touch You said you loved me and I believed you, and I still believe you. But I also believe love to you is forcing someone to be what you want them to be, and I want to be myself.
And I see you standing there and laughing. And a knife is in my chest. For I am still here hurting from what you did to me, and you think it was my fault? It was my fault that you pushed me up against the wall day after day? It was my fault that you pressured me for months on end? It was my fault that my boobs are too small and I dress the way I want and I did everything you asked and you controlled me and embarrassed me and terrorize me to this day? It is not my fault, it was never my fault. I will not force myself to hurt anymore, I will not punish myself over and over again for something I did not do, but what was done to me. And when that voice comes into my head
And tells me I deserve to die It quotes you. It tells me I shouldn't let external factors control my mental health. It tells me there is a difference between being confident and being cocky. And there is a difference between being confident and being cocky. But I am confident. I will not tell myself I do not deserve to live anymore because I do. I do. So I will stand here and not be invisible when you look right through me. Because I am here and I deserve to be heard, I deserve to be happy. I may have lost you and everyone else trying to be myself, but I can still be happy.
Untitled By Zoe Gras Yesterday I brought the blade to my skin and felt the coldness melt into my soul Yesterday I brought the razor to my thigh and split the emotions in half letting them flood out Yesterday I sliced open my skin to let the ghosts escape my head and the butterflies fly out of my stomach But I still feel their memory Yesterday I tried to let my demons escape because even they shouldn’t have to feel what I feel Yesterday for a second I remembered what it was like to be in control Yesterday I remembered what it was like to live Yesterday I asked my body to forgive me Yesterday I asked my mind to stop fighting the inevitable Yesterday I wrote a note telling my family to climb all the mountains I couldn’t Yesterday I told everyone I loved them Yesterday I climbed a tower because my mind told me heaven was at the top of it Yesterday I wanted to see the beauty of the world from above it 24
JUNE 2019
Yesterday I felt like climbing the rickety ladder in a graffiti covered brick tower was my only chance at happiness. Today I took my suicide note and buried it in the ground Today I planted a flower on top of the paper that told my parents not to grieve Today I allowed tears to flow down my face instead of blood down my thighs Today I decided to fight back Today I decided I was strong Today I decided to take it one step at a time Today I decided to make a difference Today I made sure to smile at everyone because you never know who is needing it Today I watched a pebble drop in the water Today I watched the butterflies fly Today I decided to live.
Literary
A Human BEING By Wren Kingsley When I look in a mirror all my thoughts tell me: my hair is too frizzy, my skin is too red, my smile is crooked, my arms are too fat, my nose is too big. But why should that matter? They are just my thoughts, words that float through nothingness and mean nothing. They exist to no one but myself. What if instead of relating to the reflection in the mirror as me I choose to create myself. The loving smile of my mother Is me. The warm hug from my friend Is me. My ability to do the things I love Is me. My curiosity and excitement to learn Is me. The smile of the stranger I hold the door for Is me. The gratitude I receive and give to others Is me
In these moments, I am living. That girl in the mirror, means nothing. Because I am a sea of love and talent, I am an ocean of possibility and strength. I am beautiful for my impact on others I am beautiful for what I am capable of creating. That is what really matters. So next time that girl in the mirror tries to put me down, I will choose to create myself as a human BEING. Being generous. Being strong. Being encouraging. Being joy. Being fun. Being adventurous. Anything is possible, all I have to do is choose.
I Am By Airakah Clanton I am stubborn and realistic I wonder about death and the after-life I hear the Devil’s laughter I see Hell’s gates I want to understand everything I am stubborn and realistic I pretend to be okay I feel Hellfire I touch Heaven’s clouds
I worry for the future I cry for the past I am stubborn and realistic I understand I had to write this poem I say everybody dies but not everybody lives I dream about death I try to be a normal being I hope to be okay one day I am stubborn and realistic JUNE 2019
25
Literary
Teddy and Coconut: The Chow Chows Epitaph By J.T. Stone
By Anna Westwig
I’ve always loved animals. Chinchillas, bunnies, and small, furry dachshunds galore. But never have I stumbled upon such a being, A delicate, confident, fluff ball, blanketed in soft brown fur With a smile capable of lighting up any heart on a cold winter day. Teddy the Chow Chow has never failed to lift my mood. To help me see value and beauty in a world of ugly and evil. Known to thousands on Instagram, the bundle of fluff reminds us how to live and laugh. If you’ve been fortunate enough to see his smile, I hope his presence stays with you for a while.
All words were found from the Wikipedia article on epitaphs.
Teddy doesn’t work alone. Alongside is Coconut, his naughty sister of silky white fur. Though she can be “wild” at times, Coconut never fails to see Teddy’s brotherly love. They always love to run and play They never bark, never delay Teddy and Coconut always smile with a perfect shine If only I could call them mine. Teddy and Coconut can be followed on Instagram @teddy.chow.chow.
Surrealio By Ethan Carlson
26
JUNE 2019
An epitaph, strictly speaking, is name, year, date of birth, and date of death. Warn Father/Mother/Son/Daughter of their own mortality, The deceased exceed common expression; beloved, prior to their death. Written in prose, above the coffin. impossible by definition. Brief tomb of the unknown soldier, virtues of past politicians nearly 180 lines Lengthy family origins. From Greek, in Latin: pompous Western culture. In a figurative sense, it is a funeral oration. Whole earth is hot, obedient but unvanquished. Woolf: homo sum. Let Horace blush: homo sum. Compose their own: homo sum. Writ in water: homo sum Citation needed: homo sum. Notably, homō sum.
Penultimate
Excerpt By Charlotte Hoekenga “Here it is,” Sierra says, dropping the theatrics. She carefully pulls the box from the earth and sets it down. It’s just as Alexis described. A small wooden box that looks so innocent in the dark. “There are fragments here,” she murmurs, more to herself than to me. “Ghosts. Surrounding us and the box. Can’t count how many. They’re all screaming.” “Think we should open it?” “Is this what I think it is?”
Sierra takes another step back, and I follow. I flick my staff to full extension. It’s cold in my hand, but it reflects the little bit of light that gets through the trees; good thing I put some energy into it before I left. Above us, I hear the cry of what might be a crow. Do they have crows in Germany? Do they have crows in evil forests? Then it appears. Black mist, streaming up from the box and rolling over it. I reach out to feel its signature and recoil. The only things I can name are rotten meat and sugar. Sickly, acid, sweetness. Fun Dip, I think wildly, and nearly laugh. I take another step back, pushing Sierra further behind me. She’s whispering something that sounds like Latin, but from the tone, I bet she’s swearing.
“Yeah.” “Think it’ll unleash a plague or something?”
“Hi,” I say, to the terrifying hell cloud. “What are you?”
“Only one way to find out.” “Fair,” she says and steps back as I kick the top of the box. The lid opens.
June Sudoku 8
7
4 4
6
2
3 2
3
2
9
6
8
1
4
5
8
6
4
7
5
2
2
3
4
9
7
7
8
8
1
9
9
2 1
5
3
7
4 2
6
May Solution 4
5
8
3
7
9
2
1
6
3
1
6
8
2
5
4
7
9
2
7
9
1
6
4
3
8
5
7
8
1
2
9
3
5
6
4
5
6
3
7
4
1
8
9
2
9
4
2
5
8
6
1
3
7
6
2
4
9
1
8
7
5
3
1
3
7
6
5
2
9
4
8
8
9
5
4
3
7
6
2
1 JUNE 2019
27
My Last Hoorahscopes By SOPHIE WRAY
Gemini (May 21 - June 20):
From the April 2018 Issue: “The Signs as April Fool’s Day Pranks” Toothpaste in Oreos, baby, toothpaste in Oreos.
Cancer (June 21 - Jul 22):
From the February 2019 Issue: “The Signs as Haikus I Wrote on Scrap Paper Throughout the School Week” Nothing like going Up the lake to think about Oh you know the lake
Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22):
From the November 2018 Issue: “The Signs as Paintings of Dogs”
Gets Cold” Tearfully tuck your flax clothing in the back of the closet, saying goodbye until spring.
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19):
From the December 2018 issue: “The Signs as the Twelve Days of Christmas” Two Turtle Doves
Cool Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18):
From the December 2017 issue: “The Signs as the Things You Wear in Winter” Handschuhe? What’s that? The German word for gloves, pronounced almost exactly like “handshoe.” Shoes for your hands!
Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20):
Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22):
From the September 2017 Issue: “Your School Year’s Fortune Telling” Just because you think you understand it doesn’t mean you really do.
Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22):
From the October 2018 Issue: “The Signs as Halloween Costumes That Surely No One Else Will Be” A bookshelf with every encyclopedia volume except for “O.”
Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21): From the November 2018 Issue: “The Signs as Paintings of Dogs”
The Coolness Spectrum
From the June 2018 Issue: “The Signs as Inescapable Summer Ailments” Swimming, swimming, swimming and then all of a sudden, something touches your foot, and you’re immediately sent into a whirlwind spiral of fear and confusion until you realize it was just some seaweed.
School ending
Seniors graduating (good luck!)
Diversity in Democratic presidential candidates
5G
Having nothing to do for summer
Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19):
From the October 2018 Issue: “The Signs as Halloween Costumes That Surely No One Else Will Be.” The kitchen sink. With food scraps stuck in the drain.
Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20):
From the February 2018 Issue: “The Signs as Haikus I Wrote on Scrap Paper Throughout the School Week” Yeah he’s got a brain Does he know how to use it? What about his heart?
That one teacher who keeps assigning work until the end of the year
Final exams
The incoming freshman class
IT'S HOT
Uncool Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21):
From the November 2017 issue: “The Signs as Things Ithacans Start Doing as It 28
JUNE 2019