March 2015

ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO TATTLE March 2015 • Estd. 1892 • Vol. 123 #2 • Published Monthly • www.ihstattler.com Ithaca High School, 1401 N. Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850 • FREE

Mayor

By OWEN ZHANG

IMAGEs by john yoon

Speaks on CommunityPolice Relations

Two IHS Teachers Join SUNY Master Teacher Program

By JOHN YOON

“I’ve never attempted to tell this story in public before,” said Svante Myrick at the First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca on February 1. With insight from his experience of growing up in a poor African American family, the mayor of Ithaca told a story of wounded culture in Ithaca’s police department and the escalating need to mend the wound between the police and the community of color.

Last August, an Ithaca police sergeant pulled his gun on unarmed minority teens. No one was shot, but the event raised many questions on police procedures and became connected with other nationwide incidents. Poor relations between community members and police had led to elevated feelings of distrust, anger, and fear, especially in communities of color.

In response to the escalating tension, Mayor Myrick made major reforms in the Ithaca Police Department such as increasing staffing and ordering body cameras for police, in addition to establishing a Community Action Team, a new Deputy Chief position, the new Explorers’ Program, and the Citizen’s Police Academy.

But in his speech, Mayor Myrick stressed the urgency, above those tacContinued on Page 5.

From top left, clockwise: Benjamin Kirk, Deborah Lynn, Kerri Glenn-Keough, Steve Weissburg.

Math teacher Benjamin Kirk and physics teacher Deborah Lynn are IHS’s latest Master Teachers.

The two are joining math teachers Kerri Glenn-Keough and Steve Weissburg, who were accepted in the previous round of applications to the program. The program, proposed by Governor Cuomo in 2013 and operated via the State University of New York, targets New York State’s top science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers.

“Ideally, Master Teachers do three main things,” said Weissburg. “We attend and create workshops focused on STEM professional development (there is a requirement of about 50 hours per year, which is a lot), we work with STEM Continued on Page 6.

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March 2015

Opinion

Editorial

Evaluating ICSD’s Teacher Evaluations ICSD has a reputation for well-loved and effective educators. It is thus unfortunate that when an unsatisfactory teacher does arise, they can easily go undetected under our district’s current teacher review policy. There are only three factors in our district policy for teacher evaluation known as the APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review): the state test results of students, the locallydesigned state-mandated student tests, and the results of several teacher observations.

As of this year, all teachers in ICSD are observed three times annually (two times for those with tenure) by a certified evaluator within the district. Due to a shortage of certified personnel, there ends up being a lot of inter-departmental observation, which is not an accurate way to determine teacher ability—if, for instance, a history teacher were assigned to observe a math teacher (not an uncommon occurrence), who are they to judge the ability of a teacher in a foreign field? The history teacher likely doesn’t have a degree in or thorough understanding of math, and for all they know, the math teacher could be making things up.

What constitutes a teacher observation? An announced observation involves a pre-observation meeting, the observation itself, and a post-observation meeting. During the pre-observation meeting, the observer asks the teacher several questions which cannot be gathered just by watching the class (e.g., how they interact with parents). On the date of the observation, a certified evaluator shows up for one class period and watches the teacher do their job, taking notes on the teacher’s performance in several categories. The system is inherently flawed, as two of the three observations have a set date—which means that teachers are able to prepare for the day of the observation or even alter their usual style of teaching to make themselves look better or more competent. The unannounced observation is very short, lasting around ten minutes. How much information about a teacher can someone garner from watching them for not even one class period?

When such a minute observation has weight in the matter of keeping a job, there is something wrong with the system.

State testing, meanwhile, also fails to accurately describe the effectiveness of teachers. It is logical to expect dedicated students to do well on state tests regardThe Tattler is the student-run newspaper of less of their teacher, while those who do Ithaca High School. It was founded in 1892 and is published monthly. worse are the ones who need the most help from teachers. Therefore, teachers As an open forum, the Tattler tend to spend the most time working with invites opinion piece submissions poorer-performing students, the ones who and letters to the editor from all have trouble understanding concepts. No community members. Drop off matter how patient or good at explaining a submissions in E25 or email them to: teacher may be, there will be students who editor@ihsTattler.com don’t perform well as a result of unwillingness or inability to study or learn. It doesn’t Mail letters to: seem reasonable to expect even the best of The IHS Tattler teachers to maintain an exemplary class 1401 N. Cayuga St. average if they are burdened with students Ithaca, NY 14850 who are unable to follow along, while the opposite applies to mediocre teachers with The Tattler reserves the right to edit good students. Over exceptionally long all submissions. Submissions do not periods of time, perhaps teachers who are necessarily reflect the views of editorial staff. better at explaining concepts to struggling Continued on Page 9.

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Tattler Staff 2014 – 2015 Editor-in-Chief

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Opinion Editorial

March 2015

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IHS Seniors Use Civil Disobedience to Earn Back Lounge IMAGE provided

On February 4, IHS’s senior-exclusive lounge, H-Courtyard, was shut down for two days in the first announcement in a series of contradictory rulings by the administration. Students displayed maturity and responsibility, protesting calmly in H-Courtyard and eventually winning their lounge back.

Before jumping in, it is important to know what kind of place H-Courtyard— or simply “H”—is for seniors. To do that, one must understand what H is not: the space is not a frenzy of senioritis-infected slackers spreading rumors or skipping class. Rather, it is a place where seniors in every social group can come to let their guard down and have unfiltered conversations with their peers. The relaxed atmosphere does not mean that the dialogue whirling through the air is lacking in intellect or complexity; in fact, far from it. This year alone, students have debated feminism, scrutinized the circumstances of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and conducted surveys for AP Statistics, all in H-Courtyard.

The lounge sits just around the corner from the hallway lined with offices at the main entrance of the school. There are about ten soft, red chairs in the middle of the courtyard, two televisions on the wall, and multiple tables and stools around the edges. The walls were decorated by the senior class and they sport stylized phrases such as “Th15 is it” and “H15toric”.

Back to Wednesday, February 4, the second day of the second semester after a Monday snow day. Students were still learning their new schedules and had yet to discover which of their friends had the same free periods, so many flocked to H in order to connect with their crew.

The crowd during seventh period that day was not abnormally large, with multiple students estimating that around 25 people were in the courtyard, which is a square smaller than half of a basketball court. Students said they were talking at a reasonable level, but had to be louder than usual in order to be heard over the incessant buzz of their peers. Arielle No-

H-Courtyard, a place for seniors to hang out.

ren​’15 said that it’s “unrealistic to have those noise expectations when there are this many people in a room, and we’re all talking. It’s going to build up.”

The noise did indeed build up, and, midway through the period, a hall monitor came into H from another part of the building and, according to student witnesses, immediately began threatening to shut down the lounge because of the noise level. This instigated a heated confrontation between students and the hall monitor, who is in his first year at the school. Another staff member was called and tried to further clarify the rules, at which point the bell rang and students departed, leaving the issue unresolved.

Later that day, it was broadcast over the loudspeaker and also displayed on signs in front of H-Courtyard that the area would be closed for the remainder of the week—two days. No reason was given for the ban initially, but in an interview shortly thereafter, Associate Principal Ms. Killins said that H was closed “due to the noise, which has been a constant complaint. There’s a lack of awareness among a number of seniors.” Seniors, although visibly disappointed, followed the

ban and did not enter H-Courtyard.

Unexpectedly, on Friday morning, the announcements declared that the prohibition of H-Courtyard would be extended to cover the following week as well (February 9 to 13). With signs in front of the lounge still reporting that the ban was only effective through the end of the current week, seniors were confused and irritated. Leah Larsen ’15 said she “didn’t understand why they extended it for such a long time, given the somewhat trivial nature of the problem.” Students speculated that another infraction had occurred or that there had been a mistake in the reading of announcements. Yet, after subsequent, identical statements, it became clear that the ruling had indeed been lengthened by five days with no explanation.

Seniors had completely adhered to the ban until it was extended, but now, feeling cheated by the inconsistent announcements and unprovoked change, they voiced their distress on Twitter. One senior tweeted, calling for a civil, sit-in protest in H-Courtyard, and word quickly spread through retweets and text mesContinued on Page 10.

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March 2015

ICSD Department of Transportation Shortages

By JAMIE LOVETTE

The ICSD Department of Transportation faces a huge task every day. While transporting over five thousand students each year, 77 standard routes must be managed, with an additional 30 routes for transfers and late buses. There’s no doubt that the Department of Transportation is a very complex machine, which usually runs smoothly behind the scenes. However, recent suspensions within the department have revealed a rising problem.

Three district bus drivers were suspended in early February. The drivers received varying punishments, from a 30-day suspension to a six-week one without pay. Although the specific details of the three instances have not been revealed, one suspension was allegedly due to a miscommunication between a student and the driver. A young boy got off with his friend at the wrong stop, and the bus progressed to the next stop where the boy’s mother was waiting.

The suspensions raised concerns within the driver community. Some bus drivers believe the suspensions are unfair, and that the district’s “heavy-handed style of management” issues unnecessarily severe punishContinued on Page 6.

By LUCA GREENSPUN

Over February break, I had the privilege of sitting down with Associate Principal Martha Hardesty. Ms. Hardesty is often viewed as one of the stricter administrators at IHS, and it was very interesting to get to know her not as just another administrator in the hallway, but as a person with a vision and a passion for administration and a person who not only follows the rules, but enforces them.

image by martha hardesty

NEWS

Ask the Admins: Martha Hardesty

Luca Greenspun ’17: Where were you born and raised? How did this affect your desire to choose the career path you’ve chosen?

Martha Hardesty: I grew up in Ithaca, and the majority of my family are educators.

Associate Principal Martha Hardesty.

My great-great-granduncle on my mother’s side was the president of Cornell years and years and years ago, so it’s always been important in my family to get an education. My mom married someone whose education was not important to him and who really struggled to become literate.

But he really strived for that, and worked for his GED when he was in his 40s. It was an interesting combination of families, but it really made the value of education important on both sides. My family felt it was very important to help my father’s side and my father’s side of the family felt it was very important to strive for that. So that’s always been a goal for me, to be an educator and to be involved in education.

LG: How did you get your start in administration?

MH: I originally started teaching in special education, and that led to me wanting to expand my horizons in the educational field. So, I became a CSE chair (a pseudoadministrative job) when I was working in Trumansburg. I was encouraged by the principal to get my administrative degree; I went back to SUNY Brockport, got that degree, worked as a dean of students for a while in Trumansburg, and just wanted to continue being a lifelong learner.

LG: What are your long-term career goals? Do you feel that you’ve accomplished them?

MH: My long-term career goal has always been to just be in the field of education and make sure that what I’m doing has an impact on students in a positive manner.

I feel like every day I accomplish a little bit more of that, but I think that’s kind of a goal that’s ongoing. You can never really accomplish it completely.

LG: How long have you been at IHS, and how has your stance on discipline changed or evolved during this time?

MH: This is my third year, and my discipline stance has changed quite a bit since I’ve arrived here. I think you need to have some time to reflect on seeing growth in students and realize that ninth and tenth graders are different from 11th and 12th graders and also try to develop a relationship with students so that you can evolve your understanding of individuals. So something that has changed is how I see these reContinued on Page 5.

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Ask the Admins Continued from Page 4. lationships. Knowing how to have different relationships with people means the discipline process isn’t just “Who are you, you did this, this is your consequence”—it can be more of a conversation.

LG: You’re often held in regard by the student body as one of the stricter administrators. How do you feel about your reputation as a harsh disciplinarian?

MH: It’s interesting because Ms. Killins and I really think that we’re both very similar. We came to IHS when the discipline rate was extremely high, and it’s dropped over 75 percent in the three years since we’ve been here. That tells me that it’s not that we’re putting more consequences in place; it means that kids are either figuring out how to negotiate the rules of the school or figuring out what’s safe and what isn’t safe. So I look at it as we must be educating kids better as to what the rules are and what the expectations are; therefore, it’s easier for them to follow [the rules] and not have as many problems. Maybe we’re strict, but I look at it more as my job’s about safety, and we have to hold kids accountable. So, you know, if you decide to leave campus during the school day and something happens and we have to make that phone call to a parent and say, “Your son or daughter left campus and we don’t know where they are; they had an accident, and yes, they were on our watch.” From the time the kids arrive to the time they leave, we’re responsible.

So, safety is at the forefront of my mind. It sometimes comes across as strict, but I look at it as we’re in loco parentis [a legal doctrine under which an individual assumes parental rights]. Think of the fact that your parents are trusting that when you get dropped off that day, you’re going to come home in the same condition you were dropped off in. ∎

NEWS

March 2015

Mayor Speaks on Community-Police Relations Continued from Page 1. tical changes, of identifying and repairing the structural and cultural dysfunctions in society and the police department.

To prevent recurrences and heal wounds, he said, the city needs to address the larger issues of poverty and segregation, as geographic isolation of minority groups has led to isolation from opportunities and a history of poverty, economic debt, debt of services, and debt of rights for people of color.

Police have responded to problems in poor neighborhoods differently than they do in wealthy ones, Myrick said, citing drug abuses as the largest of such problems. Through the war on drugs, he said, “all we’ve created is a culture of violence, everything from the street-level on Elm Street of Ithaca to the border of the U.S. and Mexico, people protecting their livelihood.” For instance, black Americans are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana use than white Americans while both groups use the drug at the same rate.

Myrick also spoke about his upbringing in his poor family, with a father who was arrested more than a dozen times for illegal drug use. This led Myrick to experience a turbulent childhood, spending the first six months of his life in a homeless shelter and his first eight years in and out of homelessness. His father had little opportunity for self-improvement, he said.

Instead of arresting people and spending billions on improving police departments, on building prisons, and hiring correctional officers, Myrick stated that drug use must be tackled by a public health approach, like the approach used to dramatically reduce the number of cigarette users.

The mayor also spoke about the clash of cultures between the police department and the city, and the patience required in bridging the cultural gap and the centuries-old tensions and perceived racial bias of police.

Many police officers and their relatives who had been police officers were trained and indoctrinated under old political establishments. “In police culture, it was all about how active you were,” he said. For years, “good cops” were the ones who made arrests, were very active, had a zerotolerance approach, and got promoted.

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Then in the 1990s, after the Rodney King verdict in particular, many values had changed. Cities have asked for healthy community relations and begun to recruit officers from more diverse backgrounds, Myrick stated.

Police departments rewarded those doing community policing instead of simply arresting people and using deadly force, which only escalates tension between communities and the police.

But Myrick underscored that the city had not communicated this new culture to police officers effectively. Police officers failed to perceive the shifts in expectations and goal posts. Many have felt that they did not get credit for doing their jobs, leading to a buildup of resentment within the police department, which Myrick said could become “very real and damaging.”

However, Myrick said that the Ithaca administration has striven to be far more communicative with their officers about what they expect—that what they want now is not what they used to expect. “That has made all the difference,” he said. His introduction of the Community Action Team and increased staffing is designed to achieve the goal of more on-street, onsidewalk time for officers and opportunities for them to get to know members of the community outside of moments of crisis and adrenaline.

Still, Myrick said, we will likely continue to see these clashes of cultures in the police in lawsuits between officers and conflicts between police departments and political authorities.

The Mayor also stated the importance of continuing to fight through the clashes and controversies for improved relations between the police and communities of color. “We have to fix this problem not because we want to raise each instance of abuse, but because we need to raise a generation of young people who view themselves as good people,” he said.

Reflecting from his experience as a youth, he stated that young people’s dignity and sense of who they are can be swayed by how they are treated by others, by figures of authority like the police.

“We need to let little black boys and girls understand that they are good people,” Myrick said, “that they can be great citizens, that they can take care of their families and themselves.” ∎

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NEWS

March 2015 ICSD Department of Transportation Continued from Page 4.

ments. These problems were raised at the last BoE meeting on February 10.

In addition to the suspensions, a recent shortage of drivers is causing further issues. This, coupled with the suspensions, is leaving a dry area in which the department can assign tasks. An anonMaster Teachers Continued from Page 1. teachers-to-be at the college/university level. . . . and finally, we bring back the stuff we learn to our colleagues and classrooms.”

The main objective of the program (not to be confused with Jarett Powers’s Master Educator initiative within IHS) is to reverse the declining number of qualified STEM teachers by providing teachers with stronger support networks, in the process attracting more students and future teachers to STEM. “The turnover rate for new teachers is quite high,” Lynn noted. “There is a big difference between taking education classes (and even student teaching) and running a classroom in all its many aspects—it is very difficult in the beginning and new teachers do much better with support.”

“Teaching can be a very isolating profession, aside from the student contact—there are not many opportunities to collaborate with colleagues outside your building or subject area,” added Weissburg. “And it’s not like there are material rewards or incentives, like promotions or raises, for innovative work, so this program tries to address those issues.”

Indeed, in addition to access to numerous professional development workshops throughout the year and discussion/planning groups composed of other Master Teachers, participants like Lynn and Kirk will receive $15,000 in stipend money per year for up to four years.

All this is not to say that the current state of STEM professional development at IHS is severely lacking. Presently, IHS teachers participate regularly in professional learning communities (PLCs), discussion-based department meetings designed to improve the

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ymous driver was quoted as saying that “mechanics, dispatchers, and even the head of transportation are filling in for drivers.” In a recent interview conducted by WHCU 95.9 radio, Rob Ainslie, president of the Board of Education, said the problem is “being looked into.” Although it is impossible to say for sure, there may be some changes coming to the department in the future. ∎

teaching of teachers.

“We have been sharing and critiquing [in PLCs] for a long time, so that is not a change,” Weissburg said. “But now that three of us [in IHS math] are in the Master Teacher program, it opens up another source of ideas.”

Mostly positive impressions.

Because the Master Teacher program is not directly affiliated with the district, teachers must apply on their own. The application process is lengthy, and resembles college applications, complete with a personal essay, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and even test scores (teachers, too, must take standardized tests). According to its web site, the program seeks teachers who are knowledgeable about pedagogy, their subject, and the nature of their students.

Despite the lengthy application process, the program seems to have made a largely favorable impression on its participants at IHS. “There have been minor irritations in the area of statewide communication and collaboration with the SUNY campuses . . . There is also a lot of travel time since workshop and meetings are all over the place,” said Weissburg. “But the benefits certainly outweigh the negatives for me.”

Since joining the program, Weissburg said he has experimented with various ideas in his classroom, ranging from Google Classroom and Edmodo to the “flipped classroom” concept (in which students are encouraged to learn material at home and spend class working on guided practice problems).

“Many of these are things I was dabbling with already, but that’s the point,” he said. “Now I have access to a lot of very experienced teachers who are playing around with the same ideas and curriculum. That has been the best part for me: membership in a very creative and energized fellowship. I would encourage any STEM teacher to apply if they feel like they have a lot of ideas they don’t get a chance to pursue.”

What’s next for Kirk and Lynn?

So far, Kirk and Lynn have attended an orientation for newly accepted Master Teachers in Binghamton, and both said they plan to attend other training activities—among them both in-person and live-streamed lectures as well as group outings and conferences—in the near future.

“Finding good math workshops can be difficult, and the types of classes and collaborative work available through this program seemed especially interesting,” said Kirk.

“The program has some real benefits well beyond what I originally thought,” said Lynn. “I have been introduced to an amazing group of teachers from the southern tier region from across the science and math disciplines. There are so many opportunities for professional development, it’s hard to choose which to participate in.” ∎

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A Call for Inclusive Social Justice

By CHLOE WRAY

Social justice is not just a term made up to fit the liberal agenda. In a town such as Ithaca, it’s easy for many to slip into the mentality of “ten square miles surrounded by reality” and pretend that your liberal-minded view is the right view, the only view. For many, it is easy to spew out reiterations of personal ideas on any given topic, ignoring thoughts that differ from one’s own. Ithaca has a reputation for being very liberal, and with that comes the ostracization of more conservative ideals. Issues of ethics, politics, and social justice at large should not be addressed close-mindedly.

At the core of our democracy is the principle of freedom of speech. We are each entitled to our individual opinions and the ability to speak out about these opinions, so long as our doing so does not harm others. As a founding component of social justice, freedom of speech is unfortunately a privilege that not all receive. Americans often have a tendency to take freedom of speech for granted, yet it is one of our greatest tools to help those who lack such a basic right. Social justice should serve as a platform for anyone to speak Continued on Page 9.

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Why I Don’t Have My Driver’s License

By BRIDGET FETSKO Image by john yoon

opinion

March 2015

Students’ cars fill the parking lot in front of the school.

Getting your driver’s license is a very big step in life. It gives you freedom, responsibility, opportunity, and independence. Many people assume that everyone gets their permit when they turn 16 and that they take their road test as soon as they can after that. For me, at least, this was not exactly how it worked out.

I got my learner’s permit on my 16th birthday—over a year ago. I started driving the next day, and was on the actual roads within a week. At first, I was so caught up in the excitement of having my permit and being able to drive that I didn’t even stop to think if I actually wanted to drive. Driving is just what you are supposed to do, right?

It’s been more than a year, and I do not have my license. I haven’t even signed up for my road test—it’s not on my immediate horizon. I started out really confident and drove a lot. Then I stopped driving as much, and I was less comfortable with it. I found that I just didn’t enjoy driving. It wasn’t scary and I didn’t get that nervous; I just didn’t like it. Eventually, my lack of progress started getting on my parents’ nerves, so I’ve set a goal: get my license by senior year. I don’t know if that will actually happen, but it seems like a good plan to me.

People shouldn’t be put under so much pressure to take this step. Parents, friends, and stereotypes push teens to start driving as early as they can. Yes, having your license is very convenient: you can get to and from school, work, sports practices, and other places without bothering your parents for rides.

However, people who are uncomfortable with driving should not be driving. If you’re like me and you just don’t want to drive yet, you shouldn’t have to. Driving is a large responsibility, and it needs to be taken seriously. When you are driving, you become in control of your safety as well as that of anyone who is in your car or on the road. If you are not comfortable with that responsibility, you should not drive on your own until you are.

If people are getting their license the minute they are able to just because that’s what’s normal or encouraged, then there are people on the roads who really shouldn’t be there yet. Being able to drive on your own gives you independence, which is essential at some point in your life, but should not be forced upon you—and you don’t necessarily need to be 100 percent independent in high school. Being able to drive is a great skill, but people shouldn’t feel pressured to drive until they are confident, ready, and willing to. ∎

March 2015

The Writing on the Desk: Time Well Wasted

By CARVER JORDAN

opinion

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The Writing on the desk

There once was a boy . . . who watched 19 episodes of Prison Break in one day in the summer between eighth and ninth grade (and for the record, that’s a 45-minute show). This is back when Netflix Watch Instant was the company’s lesser-used service and those little white envelopes still cluttered the mail stacks. His day began with a bowl of cereal and ended much later that night when the Internet connection at his house stopped short. After over 14 hours of television in a single day, all the boy could think about was the next episode.

How is this possible? This binging is, unfortunately, the contemporary way of watching television.

While I appreciate entertainment as much as any other person, I can’t help but think back to the time when watching television was a luxury and not a way of life. It was done at night, when you didn’t have anything better to do, or on a lazy afternoon when you didn’t want to be doing anything at all. And there was a social factor: the time spent with your friends or family while enjoying television together. I’m not saying that I never used to watch TV alone, or that I never do it with others currently, but there is a clear difference between how we watch now and how we used to—now, it’s a lot more solitary.

I remember going to Hollywood Video when I was younger and picking out movies to watch that night with my sister and parents. I was forced to leave the house, and despite my reluctance to do so then, I now look back and cherish the feeling of going to a store in which there are countless physical copies of movies, ones so strangely obscure that Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime can’t provide them. It was a nuisance at times, sure, but now, I wish I could be able to experience going to a store like that with my closest friends. There was a certain sense of novelty in it. We are a spoiled generation and we know it. Soon after Netflix was launched, Hollywood Video was out of business.

The other reason that I’m getting sick of the access we now have to every season of every show ever made is how I literally feel as though I’m wasting all of my time. I have not learned a single useful thing from watching The Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother, Friends, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sons of Anarchy, and even, though I barely have the heart to say it, Seinfeld. Not one of these series has provided me with a greater knowledge of the world.

I have to be honest, though—I love television. I love the well-timed witticisms, the rush when the two characters you really want to be together finally kiss, and even the tear-jerking conclusions. The problem, however, is not the rush itself, but the fact that I’m not sure if I’m able to live without that rush anymore. My actual life is so dry of this content that I am now completely reliant on these shows. I’m addicted. I’ve watched The Office three times through, and I know exactly which episodes to look forward to—but I can’t simply watch those few episodes over and over again, because, out of context, they are ultimately meaningless. I now crave the full immersive experience, the entire roller coaster, the slow-moving clicks up to the peaks and then the exhilarating rushes down back to the bottom.

This is going to sound strange, and maybe overly dramatic, but I think that nearly all shows now are just tools to keep ourselves numb in our own lives. Regular TV is becoming like porn, not allowing us to perform in everyday life as we would normally, because nothing is new and everything, every conversation and every thought, is just a reference to a show. ∎

The BEST: Fiction Writer

By DANIEL XU

Image provided

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Witness the majestic style of Moers.

Some may vouch for the masterful characterization of Dostoyevsky, while others may prefer the storytelling of Austen; still others cling to the magical world of J.K. Rowling.

None of these authors, however, come close to the best. That’s right—the greatest of all writers, the foremost of the wordsmiths, the unrivaled king of prose—is Walter Moers. Of course, you’ve heard of him. Or maybe you haven’t, in which case I would suggest immediately purchasing his masterpiece, The 131⁄2 Lives of Captain Bluebear.

Reading Moers’s writing is akin to drinking alcohol in that the more of it you do, the harder it is to stop and the less coherent everything around you becomes.

I have read many novels, classic or otherwise, and no author I’m familiar with comes remotely close to Moers in terms of diction. From the very first words of Captain Bluebear, the first of Continued on Page 9.

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opinion

Editorial: Teacher Evaluations Continued from Page 2. students would emerge with a higher average state test score; the variance of class composition makes this exceedingly unlikely on an annual basis, however.

Our current system of teacher review is shallow, and frankly, inaccurate. Not only are the observations questionable in their effectiveness at determining a teacher’s ability, but the teachers themselves do not necessarily receive constructive feedback to improve their teaching style. There must be a better way to improve the infrastructure of educators we lean on.

A student review protocol, if implemented, would provide more detailed feedback on individual teachers. Such a protocol could potentially consist of a pair of electronic evaluations to be filled out by every student in the school—one after the first semester and one at the end of the year. The evaluations would require students to rate their teachers on several criteria and provide an honest explanation of why they feel the way they do about each of their teachers. This would help pinpoint common issues that students have with any one teacher, as well as identify teachers who are liked by students. While this would take a lot of extra work on the part of the students and staff, the students are the ones who spend the most time with their teachers, and will thus know them better than any other members of the district including the certified evaluators. The honesty of the responses may A Call for Inclusive Social Justice Continued from Page 7. up for issues that they are passionate about, fight against oppression and the injustices they witness, and in general, as cliché as it sounds, be the change they want to see in the world. Freedom of speech, however, should not equate to disrespect of people with different opinions.

The key to social justice should be respect—respect for basic rights and respect for differing views.

When we learn to absorb and try to understand another group’s thinking, our own arguments will develop, because what is a thesis without a counterargument? When Democrats look at Republicans as the enemy, how can change occur? We all share the same playing field. Once opposing groups can openly share their opinions, debates will become healthier and less hostile. In America specifically, so many issues pertaining to social justice become a battlefield between political parties (fracking, wealth disparity, health

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prove to be an issue, as high-school students are known for holding vendettas against specific teachers or even lying for the sake of lying; however, the sample size and mandatory explanations should guard against false information. Assuredly, teachers can teach in ways that are not obviously objectionable and still be disliked by their students; in these cases, reasoning and common sense will help. If a student thinks carefully about why they dislike a certain teacher, their responses will be less instinctual.

Students would also be asked to submit suggestions for improving or changing some of a teacher’s methods, which if done during the “midterm” could be gradually implemented over the course of the second semester. Those with particularly strong feelings towards a certain teacher would be encouraged to approach the teacher with any suggestions that they may have. In this way, students who genuinely want to learn can actively contribute to helping their teachers be more engaging.

With the sample size of the combined classes of any given teacher, student reviews are easily more informative and useful than triannual teacher observations and state test results alone. None of this is to say that our district is abuzz with incompetent teachers who are raising student concerns, but such situations do exist here, as in any district. Both in and out of those cases, a student review protocol will not only supplement our current policy of teacher evaluation, but aim to make students more vocal about their concerns. ∎

care, to name a few). In conversation, it is easy to shut down the position opposite one’s own, but when the two largest parties in our country fail to work cohesively, how can resolutions be expected to come about?

Social justice should provide the power to speak up, share thoughts, and start an argument that ultimately benefits both sides by expanding their viewpoints or encouraging them to come to a mutual solution. One mission of Social Justice Week at IHS is to create a stronger community.

If certain groups feel oppressed or unable to speak their minds, what is the point of Social Justice Week? It seems hypocritical. Social Justice Week should inspire students to share their thoughts, not smother them in the face of the popular view, and all views should be welcomed. ∎

The BEST: Fiction Writer Continued from Page 8. his forays into fantasy, Moers crafts the world of Zamonia through a series of astonishing vignettes that have no clear plot but are enthralling nonetheless. As soon as one chapter ends, another begins with even more vigor. Highlights of Captain Bluebear include a 15-page description of a city, a chapter in which our blue protagonist falls into the 4365th dimension (home to the gelatinous prince Qwerty Uiop), and an intellectual duel between a professor and a sapient rock.

Moers’s other novels about Zamonia are equally, if not more, compelling (having read Captain Bluebear, I guarantee you will come to expect quality out of Moers novels). Whether it be the slightly darker fare of Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures or even the fantastic mystery of The City of Dreaming Books (the critically acclaimed best book about books ever), Moers never disappoints with his overpowered diction that always makes you laugh, cringe, and become lost in thought at the same time. ∎

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sages. Sure enough, between third and fourth period, about 30 students crowded around the entrance of the lounge, waiting for the opening bell to ring. Once the bell signaled the beginning of fourth period, about a dozen students entered the forbidden H-Courtyard and sat down quietly as a larger number of students stood outside of the lounge and watched.

Social media continued to play a large role, as bystanders took Snapchat videos and captioned them with the hashtag “#FreeH”.

In addition to hall monitors, both Mr. Slattery and Mr. Mellander—teachers with offices adjacent to H—came out of their rooms and began to speak with students. Largely expecting that their act of civil disobedience would be met with hostility or criticism from staff, students were surprised when both teachers seemed more curious and understanding than condemnatory. Ten minutes into the sit-in, Mr. Trumble was alerted to the situation and joined the seniors in H, where a conversation began.

Seniors articulated their request for the administration to improve their consistency and transparency, and after a 30-minute discussion, a meeting among seniors, faculty, and administration was scheduled for the next week. In exchange, students agreed to follow Mr. Trumble’s request that they stay out of H-Courtyard until the meeting.

On Wednesday, February 11, senior class representatives David Landsman, Leah Larsen, Melissa Oliver, and Nick Bogel-Burroughs joined Mr. Trumble, Mr. Slattery, and Mr. Mellander in a small conference room neighboring H. During the 45-minute discussion, both sides worked vigorously to define and update rules for seniors in H-Courtyard. Many students had come to the senior representatives to voice their concerns, and a popular complaint was that people who were not at fault for the lounge’s closing were being punished along with the few who were responsible. As Finn Rosenfeld ‘15 put it, “[the administration] should punish the people who are directly involved. It’s unfair to have eighth period be closed because of actions in fourth period.”

opinion Editorial: H-Courtyard Continued from Page 3.

Senior representatives worked with Mr. Mellander to devise a plan where each period receives one clear warning about noise level, and if they are excessively loud again, the courtyard is shut down for the rest of that period. Subsequent infractions may result in a longer ban, but only for the insubordinate period(s). Largely, the two sides agreed, and, at the end of the talks, Mr. Trumble yielded to the seniors’ request that H be reopened as soon as possible with the updated rules in effect. Landsman felt that the faculty and Mr. Trumble “treated students with the respect that many other administrators and teachers have failed to give us.”

Sure enough, H-Courtyard was open on Thursday morning with new, mutually created standards.

Yet, while the meeting was largely positive, seniors were not entirely comforted by aspects of the conference. “I believe the students handled the situation better than the administration,” said one senior. The mystery as to why the ban had been extended was still unsolved. During the meeting, Mr. Trumble said that the closing had been lengthened because students had been wrestling and playing rough in H, but the Tattler spoke to more than ten students who were present at the courtyard’s closing (including an editor at the paper), and all vehemently denied this claim. Oliver was adamant, saying, “Not at all! No horseplay at all; everyone was just sitting and talking.” Hall monitors did not mention any such infraction at the time.

One senior added that the school seemed to handle the entire circumstance shakily at best, saying, “None of [the administrators] were on the same page with this situation. I think they need to communicate more.” Mr. Trumble was out for medical reasons at the time of the closing, as well as for the extension, and did not arrive back at school until shortly before the sit-in began on Friday.

Also in the meeting, Mr. Trumble claimed that one motive for the extension of the ban was to start a conversation between staff and students about expectations in the lounge, but seniors say the administration is taking credit for a

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conversation that students began.

Landsman argued that, without the sit-in, “H would have remained closed and probably been shut down again based off of the previous rules.” Oliver agreed, saying, “If it wasn’t for our sit-in, we wouldn’t have answers. We started the communication.”

All students at the meeting were happy to have influenced policy in a positive way, but they didn’t like the feeling that guidelines were being modified behind closed doors. Larsen said that she was “grateful to have had the chance to work things out, but the administration was reluctant to provide the students with much information about the incident itself.”

Ithaca is a city where democracy is real and works. While schools undoubtedly need to retain more power than a city as they are enforcing their rules over young adults, altering a ban that had already been announced and in place is simply unjust and unwarranted. The lack of any real clarification is even more problematic, but using student input to create new standards is absolutely a step in the right direction.

Not surprisingly, when IHS implements rules based on advice from those they affect, students respect and honor these directions. H-Courtyard is tidier than ever, and seniors are respecting the space much more than they had in the past. One senior remarked that “recently we have actually received compliments on how good we have been.” The volume has been monitored by staff, and not so much as a warning has been given during two weeks of updated rules.

Even with a largely positive outcome, students feel drained by the whole back-and-forth process. Asked about the new rules, Dash Lynch ’15 responded, “They’ll do. We’re only here for four more months.” Oliver added, “We don’t want to go through that again. I doubt the administration wants to, either.” ∎

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IHS Traditions

By CONOR COUTTS

features Student Feature: Malama Sokoni

By KALIL HENDEL

KH: What historical figure would you want to challenge in a no-holds-barred fistfight, and how would it go down?

MS: [Long, contemplative pause] Actually, I have thought about this quite a lot. I would like to fight Ernest Hemingway, and this is how it would happen: I saunter into a saloon where Hemingway is waiting patiently for his maker, sipping whiskey and eating a bowl of nails without any milk.

He stands at the sight of me, cracking his knuckles and threatening me in short, concise phrases. Then I lunge at him, and the two of us tussle for three straight days, destroying anyone who tries to break up the fight. Finally, on Continued on Page 22.

Chili and Beards

By CORINNE HILL-JAMES

When I stop and think about Ithaca, I realize how much I take for granted. Where else can you find over 30 different chili variations to sample at your leisure, test your hot pepper tolerance against fellow hardcore pepper eaters, and see all the mustaches and beards you could ever desire, all in the slushy streets of the neverending construction that is our downtown? Now, I haven’t looked into other cities that host similar festivals, but I know for sure that nowhere else does anything with as much enthusiasm and creativity as Ithaca does. Nowhere else Chilly, chili, and beards. would I find not a single unhappy face in a cold, gray, wet crowd.

Every year, Ithaca hosts a lineup of unique festivals celebrating various things that Ithacans love. These festivals include the Ithaca Festival, Apple Harvest Festival, Chowder Cook-off, Ice Carving, Oktoberfest, Ithaca Celtic Festival, and the nearby Grassroots, just to name a few.

The Chili Cook-off, organized by the Ithaca Downtown Alliance, is one that is often undeservedly forgotten or passed on by many IHS students. On Continued on Page 21.

image by karen seifert

Kalil Hendel ’15: You were recently voted “Most Likely to Win an Oscar” by the senior class. Do you have anything you’d like to say to your fans?

Malama Sokoni ’15: I’d like to say that getting that senior superlative was a true honor, and to all who voted for me, I say from the bottom of my heart, thank you. It was the one I wanted most, and the one I have hoped to win ever since I found out it was a thing (I was probably around eight or nine). I hope I’ll do you guys proud in the future.

Throughout its 140-year existence, IHS has had many traditions. There may very well have been traditions in the first decades of the school’s establishment, when it was still a private prep school; however, records from these times are rare, as a fire destroyed the first building one hundred years ago. But when the current high school—the aesthetically brilliant 1960 “California campus”—debuted, traditions, depending on the time period and what the administration would allow, were rampant.

There was a lot of school spirit largely centered around sports and the then–school mascot, a skunk named Pepper, from which came forth the popular slogan “Skunk ’em, Red!” During the mid-1970s and ’80s, athletically oriented traditions were popular. “Powderpuff football”, wherein senior girls would play flag football and the boys (often football players) would be the cheerleaders, became a tradition for some 20 years. The games, although mostly intended as humor, saw large turnouts, and matches were even played against other schools. As one ’82 alumna noted on the slapstick humor of the games, “I dropped her ankles and walked off the field, where my coaches all gave me some slaps on the back. Those were the days.” It was also around that era that a large group of athletes would Continued on Page 20.

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features

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A Lil’ Red in the Morning: No Little Job

By OWEN ZHANG

“You just have to work really, really hard.”

The five-minute length of the videos belies the amount of production work they require. In fact, a whole for-credit class— English–Digital Media—is dedicated to scripting and filming the clips.

“It’s not an easy class,” says sports broadcaster Salko Camo ’15. “There is this huge workload, and you have to get your projects in on time, you have to be in class on time, you can’t miss a lot of class—you just have to work really really hard.”

Producing each clip has become a streamlined process complete with division of labor and specialization. With the exception of school announcements,

which are received from Ms. Linton in Activities, each section broadcaster must write his own script. These scripts are transferred to the teleprompter, from which the broadcasters will be able to read while looking at the camera. Google spreadsheets indicate the image backdrops required, which the graphics engineer then sources from the Internet. Playlists are prepared and preloaded by the sound engineer.

are typically filmed in one continuous shot, with minimal splicing and postproduction editing: in the control room, the switching of music and image backgrounds is timed manually by the graphics and sound engineers while the cameras are rolling, as is the scrolling of the teleprompter reel by the teleprompter operator.

Each take is thus an exercise in careful coordination.

image by owen zhang

Walking into IHS’s television studio is like walking into some high-tech mission control center. Soundboards and switchboards line the desk, large flat-screen monitors display an assortment of camera views and image backdrops, and monitor speakers hanging from the ceiling relay sound from within the green-walled studio.

It’s halfway through sixth period, and the atmosphere is one of intense productivity.

Good morning IHS. My name is Danny, and this is A Lil’ Red in the Morning, begins Danny Stagliano ’15 on the other side of the glass.

The action has begun. Students are busy tweaking the imposingly professional-looking video cameras, scrolling the teleprompter feed, balancing the input levels of the broadcasters’ lapel microphones.

“Music on clip one,” calls someone back in the control room.

“Oh crap, I hit the wrong one!”

“Cut—we’re restarting!”

So goes the process of filming IHS’s A Lil’ Red in the Morning morning announcement videos. The daily videos, designed to complement the intercom announcements with news, weather, and sports reports, have steadily increased in popularity. A television now displays the videos in the cafeteria, and many teachers have begun showing the videos at the start of their morning classes.

“We had the equipment; why not use it?”

IHS has been offering technology classes in its studio for two years now. The concept of the half-million-dollar studio was proposed in 2012 and enthusiastically received by the BoE and tech-savvy superintendent Luvelle Brown. The district received funds from the state, and assembly of the studio was completed two summers ago.

This year, IHS digital media classes are producing a variety of programs, from A Lil’ Red in the Morning to full-length programs broadcasted on local television (Time Warner Cable 16 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.—past broadcasts can be viewed on IHS WRED’s YouTube channel.)

One figure at the center of all this is Steve Cass, a man with a passion for technology.

“It was my idea to do the morning announcements [on video], because we had the equipment; why not use it?” he says.

“Then we got the students on board, and they seem to be enjoying it too.”

Cass, a technology education major, co-teaches English–Digital Media with Michael Reiff, an English and film studies teacher. Cass also teaches Digital Media 1 and 2, courses that explore the studio’s equipment as well as filming and editing techniques. Thanks to Cass, students taking Digital Media at IHS can earn ten broadcast journalism and video production credits at Cayuga Community College.

On the whole, television production is no stranger to Cass.

Continued on Page 16.

Digital media students hard at work.

Some jobs are challenging for psychological reasons.

“Not messing up people’s names would be the biggest [challenge] for me,” says James Slusar ’15. “Just getting over your nerves.” Last semester, Slusar worked behind the scenes as a camera operator. This semester, he is on the other side, broadcasting news to the entire student body.

Other jobs are challenging because of the technical expertise they require.

“I get all the camera shots ready—make sure there’s enough room and space for graphics on the side, make sure it’s focused, white-balanced, locked in so it doesn’t slide up and down or sideways,” says Zachary Rice ’15, who succeeded Slusar as camera operator.

Due to time constraints, the videos

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features

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Teacher Feature: William Sauve

By SOPHIA SHI image by john yoon

Mr. Sauve is a technology education teacher who also is involved with myriad clubs at IHS. He teaches a number of Project Lead the Way and manufacturing courses, and advises Remote Control Car Club, the Technology Student Association (TSA), and Code Red Robotics. Having known him for four years, I decided to interview him so others could get to know him as well.

Sophia Shi ’15: Where did you grow up? What is your family like?

William Sauve: I grew up in Camillus, New York, which is a suburb of Syracuse. My mom and my dad are both from the Syracuse area, and my brother, Chris, is two years younger than me. I’m pretty close with my family.

SS: Describe your high-school experience.

WS: I guess it was a typical highschool experience. I didn’t really know what I was going to do when I got out of high school. There was a big push for college back when I was in school, so I thought that I had to go to college. I wanted to be a professional baseball player; I thought I could be a fighter pilot—these were pretty high aspirations for me. Ultimately, I pursued baseball in college and wound up in education, wildly enough.

SS: Why did you decide to become a tech ed teacher?

WS: When I took my classes at Onondaga Community College straight out of high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to major in. I was told that it was a good option to try the general studies classes and get a bachelor’s degree. When the time came to transfer, SUNY Oswego was a school that I’d been looking at because I knew I was strong in technology. I wanted to do something that I loved to do, and I knew that I had always wanted to build things and tinker

Mr. Sauve showing off one of his suave creations.

with things, so I figured that a technology-related career would be a good way to go. When I was looking at the course studies, technology education popped out. To be honest, the biggest contributing factor for me to get into tech ed was my high-school baseball coach. He was a role model for me all through school. He was also my tech teacher. I guess I identified with him, and we shared a lot of the same interests, so I figured that I’d give it a shot.

Once I got through student teaching, I realized that I like working with kids, so that’s what I followed up with.

SS: What are some of your goals as a teacher?

WS: The one thing I want my kids to be able to do in a classroom is to be comfortable with me as their instructor. I want them to be able to trust me—to know that I’m there and I’m trying to do my best so they get the material—and hopefully have a good time while doing it. A demonstration of mutual respect between me and the students—that’s what I really shoot for.

SS: What’s your favorite class to teach?

WS: Digital Electronics is one of my favorite classes to teach. It’s funny, because it’s one of the harder classes to teach in terms of the prep and the maContinued on Page 14.

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terial, but it’s a really good mix of applied math and hands-on stuff. I think most of the kids who take it enjoy it too.

SS: Why should people take a tech ed class?

WS: It’s cliché, but we’re kind of like a best-kept secret. The deal is, if you think that on any level, you want to pursue a career in technology, technology education, or related fields, you want to get a good head start. A lot of what I’ve heard from students coming back from college is that our classes have prepared them very well for classes and courses, even outside of college.

SS: What’s the hardest part about teaching tech ed?

WS: You can never really get comfortable with anything. Everything is constantly changing. One day, you could be 100 percent comfortable with teaching a class or software, and then a whole new version comes out and you’ve got to reacquaint yourself with it. And you have to be prepared to not only answer your own questions, but to anticipate the questions of 110 students every day.

SS: What’s your favorite part of the high school?

WS: One thing that I really enjoy every year is the holiday craft fair. I feel like it gets kids together working with faculty—it’s a really fun and laid-back atmosphere. I’ve also enjoyed some of the sports-themed events. I played in the handball tournament one year with some faculty, which was a really good time. I’d like to see more of that, definitely.

SS: How do students today compare to students when you were in high school?

WS: I feel like students today in high school and college have a lot more opportunities than I ever had at this point in the game. For example, I know that when I was in high school, there were very few opportunities for

features Teacher Feature Continued from Page 13. dual college credit. I never really had the chance to take classes for free or reduced college credit. So that’s one small example of how things have changed. This is a tough subject, but I hope that the preconceived notion that you have to go to college to be successful isn’t something that’s still around. I remember when I was in high school, you went to college and that was it. We’d like kids to know that you can go to a trade-specific school or do something that’s skill based. It’s not that college is bad, but it doesn’t have to be forced.

SS: What do you like to do outside of school?

WS: I like to fish, which is super relaxing. In the summer, on Sundays, I pitch for the Syracuse MSBL Chiefs, which is a fun way to spend the summer and keeps me in shape and on my toes.

When I’m not fishing or on the mound with the Chiefs, you can find me under the hood of my Lancer Evolution trying to find something to fix.

SS: If you were a student at IHS, which extracurriculars would you be in?

WS: I would probably be in TSA and Code Red Robotics because I find things in each of the organizations that I really love. TSA offers the opportunity to do pretty much any technology-related event you want, and we still work as a team within the organization. Code Red has a very similar setup, although they work on one event throughout the course of the year with a much larger crew. Out of both clubs, you get the math-sciencetechnology–hands-on approach, and I think both are super beneficial.

SS: What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you?

WS: One day in college, I was working out in the weight room. At the time, I was pitching for the OCC Lasers. I had a freak weightlifting acci-

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dent with a 45-pound dumbbell and I severed the tip of my middle finger.

I thought I’d never throw a baseball again. I thought my finger was gone.

But I recovered from it, and I was able to play not only at OCC, but at Oswego State in another two years.

SS: What’s one thing that your students have taught you?

WS: It’s okay to fail—and it’s okay to fail often—as long as you learn from your mistakes.

SS: What is one piece of advice you want to give to IHS students?

WS: Don’t ever stray from your dreams, but at the same time, maintain a balance of reality. Don’t let people discourage you from following what you really want in life.

Favorite high school subjects: Physics Favorite invention/innovation: Jet engine (I’m currently building one in my garage) Biggest pet peeve: Bad drivers Favorite piece of mechanical equipment: Laser cutter Desert island necessity: Duct tape ∎

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Anyone is welcome to write for the Tattler!

Email editor@ihstattler.com

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March 2015

The Hall Monitor Interviews and Photographs by JESSIE LIU

What would you put in a time capsule?

Molly Swartwout ’16 “Tie-dye bell bottoms to confuse anyone who opens the capsule. Also, a note describing how popular they are.”

Nathan Subramaniam ’18 “An iPod with the Gangnam Style music video—viral trends must be remembered.”

Max Fink ’17 “A watch, a note, and my favorite tie.”

Rachel Behrmann-Fowler ’16 “A newspaper and an analog clock, because they’ll no longer exist in the future.”

Michael Sloan ’16 “Myself.”

Hannah Widercrantz ’15 “Running shoes.”

Rishi Verma ’15 “A bottle of wine.”

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features

Ithaca Is Gorgers

By JESSIE LIU

When I show up at 116 West State Street on Valentine’s Day, it’s not one of those charming, snowy nights where besotted lovers catch snowflakes under streetlamps. Instead, it’s one of those romantic nights where your face becomes frozen into a painfully cracked, gremlin-esque squint and you write obituaries for each of the 20 appendages you have lost. When I finally swing open the door to Gorgers, I feel nothing but relief as I’m greeted with friendly chatter and the smell of good fries. The local art on the walls adds a cool punch to the otherwise casual atmosphere; there are a few tables of varying sizes and some kids running around.

Gorgers is first and foremost a sub shop, but it also serves soup, salads, homemade chips, and fries. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to take a look at the menu before you come to avoid the inevitable—trying to order one thing but wanting to get everything.

Subs range from the classic (BLT, Cuban, pulled pork) to the almost exotic (coconut shrimp, chimichurri, red wine reduction). My date for the night, Olivia Salomon ’15, advises that we split a half-sandwich, as “their halfsandwiches are the size of whole sandwiches.”

We get the Bahn Mi, fries, and the soup of the day: a Cajun seafood chowder. The Bahn Mi consists of pulled pork, sliced cucumbers, shaved and pickled carrots, cilantro, and onions topped with hoisin, Sriracha, and mayo all in a house-made sub roll. In short, it’s absolutely delicious. The hoisin sauce makes it sweet, while the pickled carrots and cucumbers give it a lightly briny crunch. A real highlight is the bread, which is crusty and soft and fresh. The Cajun seafood chowder is like its New England cousin: creamy, comforting, and filled with bits of potato and seafood. The addition of Cajun spices gives the soup a spicy kick that’s perfect for the frigid weather. As I eat the soup, however, I find myself wishing for more pieces of seafood or more chunks of potato.

Luckily, we’d gotten an order of fries, which come on a massive parchment sheet. They are deeply golden, covered in salt and pepper, and strike the delicate balance between crispy and meaty. They are what my fry dreams are made of. Maybe it’s the unforgiving winds outside, maybe it’s the smell of fries and my now salty fingertips, maybe it’s the Valentine’s Day spirit—but Gorgers, I think I’ve fallen in love.

Gorgers Subs 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Saturday; 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sunday (607) 319-5046 116 West State St, Ithaca, NY 14850 www.gorgerssubs.com ∎

A Lil’ Red in the Morning Continued from Page 12.

“I started doing television production in my own high school, but I’m mostly self-taught, and I’ve taken college classes for it,” he says. “The training is just reading up on the equipment itself or bringing in trainers to train you on the new equipment, but mostly, it’s just training yourself how to use it.”

Cass’s Digital Media students learn in a similar way, with emphasis on both collaborative learning and independent exploration.

“I actually learned the cameras from James [news broadcaster and former camera operator] because he did it last semester,” says Rice, the camera operator. “So he taught me most of the things.”

Another student in a new role is Owen Hartman ’15, last semester’s beloved news anchor (whose tenure was marked by vigilant updates on Kanye and Kim as well as talking pumpkins, among other things). This semester, Hartman is exploring the technical side of production as sound engineer.

“I came in last week during my free periods to fiddle with [the soundboard],” he says. “I watched a YouTube video; there’s a tutorial for this thing, but the only good one was in German, so I had to listen to it in German. I speak some German, but it’s pretty bad so I had to watch it a couple of times. And now I’m actually pretty good at German—I figured out a bunch of stuff!”

“Being in the same class two periods every day with the same people, you grow like a family.”

“The biggest thing is being able to work with each other,” Cass says, when asked what he hopes his students will learn from his classes, “but also realizing they can use the equipment that the professionals are using and that they can have those skills to translate over to the real world.”

Indeed, the digital media students, above all, seem to truly enjoy working with each other and the equipment.

“It’s a really good class—I think it’s been a lot more fun than a standard English class,” says graphics engineer Rowan Box ’15.

“We learn skills that we may or may not use in the future, but they’re good to have.”

Even while production is in progress, the atmosphere in the class is fun and lively; students somehow manage to strike a balance between focusing on production and finding time to chuckle at their mistakes and poke fun at each other. During offtimes, pop music blares through the monitor speakers and students banter and crack jokes like old friends.

“Being in the same class two periods every day with the same people, you grow like a family,” says Stagliano. “Even the kids who I had no clue who they were when I first joined the class, I love now and all—give them a nice little bro hug in the hallway.” ∎

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March 2015

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“Smart Glasses” and Virtual Reality: How Will This New Technology Affect Our Lives?

By JAMES PARK

It’s been nearly two years since Google Glass first broke into the scene, shocking the world with a concept that had never been truly considered: the idea of wearable technology. No more taking out your phone every five seconds; all you needed was a swipe of a finger and an “Okay, Glass” to check your texts, take an image, get directions, and more. But despite the effort Google poured into this revolutionary product, it never truly seemed to take off. The awkwardly high price and numerous privacy and safety concerns caused more than a few people to question whether the product was really worth it. Perhaps the Glass, as one of the gargantuan company’s few major failures, was destined to fade out of the public’s mind as an interesting endeavor but nothing more.

Or maybe it was destined to be the beginning, the start of a new era of technology where our devices aren’t just portable, but become part of us.

The second Google Glass was proudly announced with great fanfare. Competitors started scrambling to get their own versions of wearable headgear out to the public. Even before Glass, Oculus Rift, a product able to generate a virtual reality through its head-mounted display, was already well known among gamers.

Sony has plans to release a virtual reality system of its own, nicknamed Project Morpheus. Then, Microsoft announced the development of its own product on January 21—the HoloLens. As a computer built into glasses with the power to create a virtual interface around the user, the HoloLens contains the best of two worlds. With a high-end processor embedded within it, the HoloLens can not only take phone calls, but even handle 3-D modeling and various games (including one very similar to Minecraft) all controlled by nothing but your own gestures and commands.

But how will this impact our society?

Our world, in the past few decades, has

been caught up in a snowball of technological advancements that has yet to show any signs of slowing. Whether that’s good or bad is, to say the least, debatable. It’s true that these devices give us the potential to accomplish so much more. For example, ten years ago, the concept of video calls was something almost unthought of by the general public, but today, it’s difficult to imagine life without it; we now use video calls in everything from friendly chats to official conferences.

In the same way, products such as the HoloLens could be integrated into everyday use; not immediately, but gradually, as more and more people come to recognize their capabilities.

The HoloLens really does seem to promise a way to help humans accomplish more. 3-D modeling for engineering, as stated earlier, could be vastly improved, and fields such as medicine could be refined, as the device could provide information during operations or facilitate communication between doctors. Like the phone or the Internet, “smart glasses” could one day be taken for granted—taken for granted, yet continuously evolve to fit our needs as every invention before it has.

And yet, the very fundamentals of our society have been shifted. Data has become everything, essential to us as much as food or water is—it is for a good reason that the time we live in is called the “age of information”. We have gotten so used to accessing what we want whenever we want that when the opposite happens, life becomes frustratingly difficult for us to handle. The HoloLens and similar devices, unfortunately, do little to solve this problem.

Exploring a 3-D simulation of the surface of Mars through a pair of glasses may be impressive, but the moment we take such gadgets for granted could end up as the moment we lose our independence to technology. The development of products like the HoloLens is, at its

roots, merely for our convenience and the company’s profit. If all we use the HoloLens for is taking funny videos or letting children play games, what has this “groundbreaking” device really accomplished other than giving corporations money?

A wise man once said, “Technology gives us power, but it does not and cannot tell us how to use that power.”

We have the technology; it is the people who take and expand from it who will truly propel our communities into achieving the goal of a more prosperous future. Perhaps one day, the HoloLens will allow us to accomplish what may currently be considered impossible, from planning out entire layouts of cities to simulating entire surgeries with a few quick gestures. For better or worse, our future depends on the devices that surround us and the way we choose to utilize them in our lives. ∎

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ce Social Justice in the United States

Awareness of gender discrimination and inequality has increased in recent years, especially in the workplace. Programs throughout the nation that encourage women to pursue high-paying jobs, specifically in the STEM fields, are in effect and have contributed to that awareness. Several pieces of legislation (including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009) have also made business leaders accountable for pay discrimination. Changes to our cultural approaches with regard to gender are also under way, with massive media campaigns empowering women to pursue what they want.

Social Injustice in the United States

Almost one hundred years after the ratification of the 19th amendment, women in America still suffer from inequality in society. In the year 2013, women who worked full time only made 78 percent of what their male counterparts made. Women made up just 6 percent of the highest-earning positions and 2014 sex-related discrimination charges made up 30 percent of all charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Social Justice in Tompkins County

In a budget climate such as ours, communication is key. Communicating with our state representatives about how the opportunity of future generations is in jeopardy because of mere politics could be quite valuable—particularly from a student perspective. Whenever a law, either proposed or already enacted, might affect your way of life, communication and education about the law are key. Holding these principles in mind, you can make a difference.

Social Injustice in Tompkins County

In Tompkins County, the GAP elimination adjustment imposed by the state that withholds state aid to schools has had devastating effects. Over six years, ICSD has missed out on 20 million dollars in state aid, and other surrounding districts in the county are struggling even more with cuts. The monetary losses Albany imposes on our school is a matter of social justice as it threatens the educational opportunities of students. The possibility of larger class sizes and more cuts to Pre-K are detrimental to the growth and development of students in the community.

International Social Justice

There are a considerable number of both government and non-government programs dedicated to eradicating world hunger. One particularly successful governmental organization is the World Food Program, which has assisted over 15 million starving people since its founding. Such organizations are helping malnourished people worldwide by planting forests, rehabilitating natural areas, and creating sources of clean water, among other works. Successes, not only by organizations but by legislation, and heightened awareness are important steps to the eradication of world hunger.

International Social Injustice

Across the globe, many people are malnourished due to a lack of resources. Internationally, hunger kills more people annually than AIDS and malaria combined. One in nine people across the globe experiences an insufficient amount of food in his or her diet. Most of these people come from developing countries. Specifically, children are dramatically affected by this—3.5 million children worldwide die annually from malnutrition according to statistics compiled by the World Food Program.

What is Social Justice?

By EMMA KARNES

According to the Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice: “Social justice embodies the vision of a society that is equitable and in which all members are physically and psychologically safe.”

According to Appalachian State University: “. . . promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity.”

And according to Dictionary.com: “The distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a society.”

The concept of social justice is one that each of us encounters every day: being treated fairly or unfairly by our families and peers, our society, or our government. The notion that the world we live in has made considerable advancements in terms of social justice is not unfounded, and triumphs of civil

rights over the past 50 years should be championed and kept continually relevant through discussion and teaching.

The question we now face as members of the younger generations of the world is whether we are finished with social justice. Such a question may be answered most easily by considering the above definitions of social justice.

Are all women physically and psychologically safe in their homes? Are all criminal suspects treated equally by the justice system? Are biracial and same-sex marriages universally accepted?

The truth is that we still live in a world where complete social justice is a point far ahead in the distance.

Across the globe and even in our own backyards, the rights and equality that characterize social justice are being

denied. As citizens, it is as much our responsibility to advocate for social justice as it is the responsibility of politicians. Social justice is a societal goal that requires the full understanding and support of the people in order to come to fruition.

Social Justice Week at IHS is the week of March 9. This year, the event will feature guest speakers and presenters, classroom activities, and discussion groups set up for any student to participate in. The purpose of Social Justice Week is to immerse the school and its students in the ideas and realities of social justice and to strengthen our community’s awareness of it. By coming together in activism, we can brighten the future for ourselves, our country, and our world. ∎

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IHS Traditions Continued from Page 11. sit together during lunch and pride themselves on eating. Any leftovers that other students did not want would simply be left in front of this group and they would be eaten, sometimes in a competitive manner.

In the early 1990s, traditions aimed at uniting the school and promoting fun emerged, especially under the principalship of George Kiley (’91–’93).

During this time, “Jello wrestling” emerged as a uniting activity: in the event, students and staff would wrestle while standing in a thick coating of Jello, making for a slippery and messy ordeal. It was also in the 1990s that “Airband”, a lip-syncing variety show intended as a fund-raiser for the senior class, kicked off. Held in Kulp Auditorium, students and staff would get on stage and exaggeratedly lipsync songs of the time period, usually while dressed in flamboyant costumes. It became a tradition for the teachers to do a large group performance that took weeks to choreograph and begot such performances as Frankie Avalon’s “Beauty School Dropout” and Billy Ray Cyrus’s “Achy Breaky Heart”. For about ten consecutive years, Airband drew a sizable crowd.

Starting in the late 1990s, Class Color Day was intended as a pleasant competition over who could best represent their class with the most decorative attire, and came into play consistently for a decade.

These days would occasionally lead to rowdiness, but nothing compared to the 2009 behavior that one administrator described as “riotous”: seniors painted the walls and encouraged violence, and freshmen took over H-Courtyard. This recklessness drew safety concerns, and Class Color Day was banned in 2009.

Since the opening of the current campus, a “senior prank” in some form or another has been pulled annually, and is still in practice to this day.

The level of planning involved and the amount of controversy the prank has caused has varied from year to year. Some memorable pranks in the recent past include the cutting down of the “senior tree” in the quad, which caused great disciplinary action; spray-painting in the mid-1990s, which caused the then–security staff to be stationed on night watch against trespassers; and the prank in the 1980s where a car was put on the roof of the gym.

Although varying in degree and intention, traditions at IHS throughout the years have attempted to unite students and make the school a fun place; however, the idea of how much fun should be had has varied and has lead to the banning of certain traditions by the administration. Nonetheless, creative and successful traditions have continued to emerge, and will continue to for years to come. ∎

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Lexical Laboratory: Winter Woes Edition

By JOHN WESTWIG

Anorak (n.): a hooded pull-over jacket long enough to cover your hips Magdalene did not enjoy winter. She peered out at the frozen world from behind the hood of her anorak, glancing up only briefly to watch her breath rise into the gray sky in sad spirals.

Balaclava (n.): a warm hat that covers the neck and most of the face Esteban slipped on his balaclava, narrowly avoiding defenestration as he inched back down the fire escape onto the ice-encrusted sidewalk below. As his boots crunched against the ground, a nervous-looking woman stared, her face hidden behind a furry hood. “Magdalene?!” he gasped, slipping off the black face-covering.

Apricity (n.): the warmth of sunlight in winter As Magdalene ran to embrace her long-lost lover, a brief ray of sunlight shone through the dull blanket, warming their faces with a burst of apricity. But soon, sirens erupted, and the two fugitives fled, heading to the lake.

Stiricide (n.): the killing of icicles They ran and ran and ran. Underneath the city eaves they sprinted, Esteban shielding Magdalene against the ominous icicles, watery menaces threatening auto-stiricide.

Curglaff (n.): the shock felt upon diving into very cold water The lovers glanced behind them, watching the police cars grow bigger. They were trapped, certain death awaiting them at either end. “Mag, we’re trapped. There’s no way out. I can’t let them take me.” And so, hands firmly clenched together, Mag and Esteban plunged into the icy depths of Cayuga Lake, the last remnant of sentience an ephemeral curglaff before water filled their straining lungs. ∎

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March 2015

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Chili Cookoff Continued from Page 11. off for another award to add to their impressive list, other restaurants had a great opportunity to attract new customers. Istanbul, a new restaurant on Third Street, served a chili based off of a traditional Turkish recipe. For them, their first time at the cook-off helped get their name out. I wondered if they felt intimidated by all the other chili, but the servers definitely seemed to be having a good time, and I thought their Josh Ferguson, first place winner for the best beard. chili was definitely worthy of the line it attracted. beard either. I asked if he thought he Their booth was also the most stylish, had a chance at winning and he quickly and reminded me of Disney’s Aladdin: answered no. “I’m going to ham it up it looked like a cozy Middle Eastern in an effort to give sort of the pretense market booth flown on a magic carpet that I have a chance, but there’s some to be dropped here in the snowy streets pretty serious beards here, so I doubt of Upstate New York. I’m certainly plan- mine is going to be the winner.” He said ning to check out the restaurant. he’d had his beard since mid-SeptemAside from the chili, my favorite part ber, and would have been more confiof the festivities was the mustache and dent with a few more months’ notice. beard competition. It was hosted by the I had never seen so much facial hair at Ithaca Beard and Mustache Club, and once, so I don’t blame him for feeling this year’s proceeds went to the Ameri- overwhelmed. While the connection to can Lung Association. I had no idea chili might be lacking, I applaud whohow much facial hair Ithaca has. What ever came up with the idea to have the does a nice ’stache have to do with chili? ’stache and beard competitions.

I couldn’t really come up with a good If you didn’t make it to the Chili answer.

Cook-off this time, there’s always next One of the competitors, Josh Fergu- year. Come, brave the weather, and son, said that having a beard really gets make your vote count towards Ithaca’s in the way of eating chili. He had a pret- best chili. Don’t forget to enter your ty awesome beard (see image) that he’d ’stache in the competition. It doesn’t had for almost five years, but he seemed even need to be homegrown; you can a little intimidated by all the other compete with your creativity in the beards. As it turned out, he snagged first Crafty All Ages Chili ’Stache Competiplace for the best full beard. tion. Start growing now, and get your Another guy (see image) I talked spoon ready. ∎ to didn’t seem all that confident in his

image by karen seifert

Saturday, February 7, 30 local restaurants served their carefully perfected chili recipes to the public, hoping to win the title of Best Chili in Ithaca. In addition to eating chili, you could sample cupcakes from Felicia’s Atomic Lounge, chocolates from Life’s So Sweet, and wine and ale from competing wineries and breweries. You could also compete in the Chili Idol Karaoke competition, the Hot Pepper Showdown, the Crafty All Ages Chili ’Stache Competition, the Homegrown Chili ’Stache Competition, and the first annual Best Full or Partial Chili Beard Competitions. Clearly, if you didn’t make it to the cook-off this year, you missed out, because when Ithaca decides to celebrate, we don’t leave anything out.

This year’s first place Chili Cup Champion went to Just a Taste (as did my vote), with second place going to Cayuga Medical Center and third place to Taverna Banfi. The first place Best Veggie Chili Award went to Smash Truck, followed by Coltivare in second place and Moosewood Restaurant in third.

The People’s Choice Best Chili Award went to Agava, and the Best Presentation People’s Choice Award to Greenstar (Chili over pasta? Who would’ve thought.).

I was not only very impressed with the presentation of all the chili I tried; I was amazed at how different every restaurant’s chili was—they got very creative in making their chili unique. Cayuga Medical Center, bringing hospital food to a whole new level, has not only won the first place award for Best Chili in past years, but has been in the top three many times. They won the Bean Crazy Award, and won People’s Choice twice. This year’s recipe, winning second place, was topped with potato chips. I was a fan. When I got my chili sample, I asked if they thought they had a chance at winning again. After listing off all the awards their chili had won in previous years, the executive chef, seemingly shocked that I’d asked, answered, “I know we do.” Their recipe, different every year, “just comes naturally.”

While Cayuga Medical Center, a wellseasoned chili artist, was at the cook-

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KH: You’re making a film that should be screening by the end of the school year. What can you tell us about it?

MS: My upcoming film, which is called Sean Johnson Gets the Girl, is very close to my heart. It’s an exploration of modern relationships and our own personal views on love. We all sort of see ourselves as the heroes of our own little stories. But in this day and age, by our standards, is it still cool to be that heroic, romantic lead who pines over a person they barely even know? That’s something I think we forget about the classic romance stories of Greek, French, and Italian literature. Most of those stories are tragedies. My film is a comedy in many ways, though, so don’t worry. It should be a fun time.

If you want future updates, I’ll be posting stuff to my Facebook wall and to my YouTube channel (llamasoxjr) which you should totally check periodically. I will also tweet things, so follow me or whatever (@MyLlama97).

Is this a shameless plug, or a shameful plug? [Laughs self-consciously] I don’t know; tweet at me about it.

KH: You’ve recently taken on the role of a Scottish woman in R2P’s upcoming production of Daisy Pulls It Off.

image by owen zhang

Student Feature: Malama Sokoni Continued from Page 11. the third day, we both deliver our final blows simultaneously, and the two of us fall to the ground with fatal injuries and a mutual respect for one another.

Malama Sokoni, a man with a vision.

image by owen zhang

What it’s been like to play her?

MS: Playing a 20th century Scottish woman has been quite a challenge. I’m a member of SWIS and a firm supporter of gender equality and equality across the board.

But despite all that, playing this role has opened my eyes to a new issue we need to bring attention to: heels. Whatever sadist invented these Satanic sandals should be tried in a court of law. Heels are a lot like regular shoes, if you took away all of the practicality of regular shoes. I plan to start offering free foot massages to all of the women I know who have been subjected to this, and I invite my fellow men to do the same.

KH: You have a platform right now to speak to hundreds of students and community members. Say something outrageous.

MS: Hi, I’m Malama, film buff and morning announcements personality. When I’m not curing the common cold and saving puppies from burning buildings, I like to write, make videos, act in things, and do impressions. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that if you are planning on spending your money to watch the film that is Fifty Shades of Grey, please, for the love of all that is well written, don’t do it. I beg of you. That is all. Peace.

[Drops mic, apologizes, puts mic back] ∎

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A Most Violent Year: A Review

By JESSIE LIU

The experience of watching J.C. Chandor’s latest film, A Most Violent Year, is akin to watching water on the brink of boiling.

It’s like seeing a glass teeter near the edge of a table, or like watching a kid play with a loaded gun. The film follows Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), a Colombian immigrant who heads a large heating oil distribution business in New York City. The year is 1981 and it’s a time of mass corruption and violence, a time when the streets are lined with scrap metal and grime, and a time when business deals are conducted in barber shops. Abel is interested in expanding his business to a loading dock and storage area owned by a couple of Orthodox Jews just across from his current property. They strike a deal, and Abel has 30 days to come up with $1.5 million before he loses the property along with his down payment. Meanwhile, his company’s truck drivers are assaulted and have their trucks hijacked, armed robbers show up at his new industrial-grey behemoth of a house, and he and his company are facing an impending 14-count indictment for rigging scales and tax evasion. It’s a lot to deal with at once, but Abel’s a natural, and he wants to do it the right way. In the film, Abel is perfectly coiffed, clean shaven, and incredibly Continued on Page 27.

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Fifty Shades of Grey: Romanticization of an Abusive Relationship

By PEARSE ANDERSON image provided

arts

March 2015

The real question is why you would ever want two of this book.

For better or worse, I’ve read a lot of articles about Fifty Shades of Grey.

It’s the book (and recently, movie) the world is talking about right now.

Many are claiming that this BDSM erotica written by the British female author E.L. James is helping people openly talk about sexual fantasies and wellness. On the other side of the spectrum, some people believe that Fifty Shades is an unsafe and abusive representation of BDSM and relationships in general, and romanticizing these will only lead to unrealistic views on sex and safety. However, both of these arguments fail to provide literary evidence from the erotica itself. To find the truth, I plunged headfirst into Fifty Shades of Grey, taking quote from the sex-filled text as I went. What I found was a disgusting book promoting rape, abuse, poor life decisions, materialism, and stark gender roles.

Let’s start with the writing because it’s the easiest and most fun to attack. You know how the Romans hated Carthage so much that after they conquered them in battle, they salted the earth so the land would forever be ruined? That’s what E.L. James does with adverbs and adjectives. This, combined with the overuse of description, makes the novel incredibly hard to read. Fifty Shades of Grey treats everyone—both readers and characters—like idiots. Do you want to be reminded what happened ten pages ago every scene? No? Too bad—E.L. James doesn’t trust you to remember big details like that. The protagonist, Anastasia “Ana” Steele, has three unexplained voices rattling around in her head: her subconscious, her real voice, and something called her “inner goddess”. Such sentences as “My inner goddess jumps up and down with cheerleading pom-poms shouting yes at me” (chapter 14) are both cringeworthy and common throughout the book.

Ana is a terrible protagonist and poor example for women everywhere.

She pulls pranks on her lover, Christian Grey (who is immediately shown to be a controlling, short-sighted stalker), for no reason except for curiosity’s sake. That’s not standing up for yourself; that’s playing with fire. This, combined with her three head-voices and general stupidity throughout Continued on Page 28.

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Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance

By KALIL HENDEL

The Era of Taylor Swift

By DOROTA KOSSOWSKA image provided

image provided

Peacetime Want to Dance, which wears a stark white cover that breaks a decadeslong streak of style and drives the music with synth in place of toy pianos. There exist a few vintage B&S tunes within the record, particularly “The Cat with the Cream” and “Allie”, but those are heavily de-emphasised and distract from the album’s primary aesthetic.

Belle and Sebastian is music for cuddling and watching the rain, alphabetizBelle and Sabastian’s latest album is quite a contrast to their previous works. ing your bookshelf, I first heard Belle and Sebastian on or maybe watching WICB driving back into town from a a sports game spitefully from a distance. road trip. In the time it took to arrive back Girls in Peacetime is music to which you at my house, I heard all of “The Stars of get really weird and almost dance, but end Track and Field” off If You’re Feeling Sin- up standing in the corner bobbing your ister, the group’s magnum opus. Sinister is head like a dodo. That was the theme for an album that feels like Freaks and Geeks, me: from upbeat discotheque number Calvin and Hobbes, and Skins bundled “Enter Sylvia Plath” to the bouncy “Perinto a twinkling, emotional soundscape. fect Couples” to the straight danceable I downloaded Sinister nearly as soon as single “The Party Line”, it’s almost there.

I got home, and now count it among my Just almost. Not quite. The album lacks all-time favorite albums. coherence, with some standout tracks That was my first introduction to Belle among half-baked ones, and a few highand Sebastian, a multi-piece indie pop concept tunes (“The Everlasting Muse”) outfit from Scotland. Their most recent that fail to distinguish themselves with effort is Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, complex songwriting or emotional pull. which is a departure from their sound, At the band’s inception, Belle and Seone made obvious even by a glance at the bastian settled almost immediately into album art. Since the massive acclaim of If their now-classic sound, but their new You’re Feeling Sinister in 1996, Belle and look needs more time to settle and grow.

Sebastian have succeeded in recapturing The lyrical themes of Girls in Peacetime their sound, but they’ve hardly tried any- Want to Dance are scattered, and the thing outside their wheelhouse. Delicate, quality is intermittent. When it shines, it kitschy character studies set on a back- shines, and there are some true B&S masdrop of school houses and small towns terpieces on the album, but for a coherent have been the bread and butter of nearly experience, stick to the band’s more vinevery B&S record so far. Enter Girls in tage albums. ∎

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Making dreams come true since 1989.

Taylor Swift is having a moment. With the release of her most recent album, 1989, she became the biggest artist in the music industry. 1989 just spent its 11th week at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart, which takes into account album sales, song downloads, and online streaming. 1989 moved 1.287 million albums in its first week of release, the biggest sales week since 2002. This made Swift the first artist to have three consecutive albums sell over one million copies in their first week of release. 1989 has now surpassed over four million sales, and is the biggest-selling album of 2014, beating out the Frozen soundtrack. In addition, the album’s two singles, “Shake It Off ” and “Blank Space”, made history, as Swift became the first woman to have one song of hers (“Blank Space”) succeed another (“Shake it Off ”) at the number one spot on the charts. Swift brought hope to the music industry this year, as sales of physical albums had been dropping. By the numbers, Taylor Swift is killing it.

Continued on Page 29.

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Jupiter Ascending: An Attempt at Entertainment

By MALAMA SOKONI

image provided

There was a time when the Wachowskis were Hollywood’s up-and-comers.

The relatively unknown duo were ready to rock the world with their innovation and knack for wellframed fight sequences.

With the entirety of the planet still returning their jaws to the upright position after experiencing the awesome power of The Matrix (their second film), the Wachowskis were shaping up to be the Coen brothers of science fiction. Then, the rest of their career happened, and now, here we are.

I’ll start off with the plot. The story of Jupiter Ascending centers on Jupiter (Mila Kunis), a custodian and dreamer, who is whisked away on a grand space adventure by Channing Tatum’s character, a half-wolf, halfhuman warrior with a mysterious past. All the while, heirs to a galactic empire fight over the loyalty and life of Jupiter, who is apparently the reincarnation of their mother. When it comes to the script, this film falls uncomfortably short, with inspired pieces of dialogue few and far between. With plot points seemingly borrowed from far superior ventures such as Dune (I don’t even like Dune, but it’s a better movie), this film clearly illustrates how dangerously close the Wachowskis are to being considered one-hit wonders. But the most disturbing of the recycled material I found populating this film’s story was easily the various plot points taken directly from The Matrix itself. See if this sounds familiar: a nobody is saved by a skilled and mysterious fighter from agents who are capable of changing their appearance, and is shown that the world she knows is only the easily manipulated veil over her race’s eyes. She finds out that she is in fact a reincarnation of a “chosen one” who has the power to bring down the corrupt system that governs her people, who by the way are being grown in a farm-like environment and harvested for resources that the bad guys need. Yeah, I know. Ridiculous.

The dialogue is laughable, to put it nicely. The character of Jupiter is given very little depth, and utters some lines that are nonsensical by Tommy Wiseau standards.

Her biggest flaw is her dependence on Channing Tatum’s

Even the guy in the movie is bored.

character and her constant submission to the men in her life. Now, you may think that that is the point of the film, and that after finding out she is actually a space queen, she learns to value herself and finds the courage and independence to actually do things on her own. And I would have given the film props for doing that, had that actually been done. Unfortunately, no such story arc is present in the film. Jupiter’s biggest achievement is telling off Eddie Redmayne, who by the way should be in a place at this point in his career where he can afford to turn down garbage like this.

The film has three main positive aspects, all of which warrant distinction. The visuals are, at times, breathtaking. Though I had numerous problems with how the fight scenes were framed and edited, I did appreciate the sweeping establishing shots of spaceships and palaces. In addition, Sean Bean’s performance was a welcome surprise, and one of the only entertaining aspects of the film itself. This brings me to my last positive: Channing Tatum. Tatum, of late, has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with, and brings a depth and gravitas to his character that would be lacking had any other actor been cast. Not only was his performance a great one, but his character’s backstory was surprisingly well done and very intriguing. I’m convinced that his character’s origin would have made a better movie.

This brings me to my final point on the film, and one of the things I found most annoying. Coming from the Wachowskis, I expected excellent fight choreography and Continued on Page 30.

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Taken 3: A Review

By BRENNAN HENDERSON image provided

That guy’s gun is about to be taken by Liam Neeson.

In Taken 3, a fast-paced action thriller, ex-government operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is getting back in touch with his former wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), when she is suddenly murdered in his apartment. Bryan is blamed by the police, lead by persistent detective Franck Dotzler (Forest Whitaker), and must flee from them while attempting to find whoever is responsible for her death. Framed for murder and hunted, Bryan needs to move against the clock and keep his only daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) safe from those who want to hurt her.

In both prior Taken movies, someone is kidnapped and a well-trained Liam Neeson needs to go in and rescue them from their captors. This worked well for those two films, but to cap off the movie trilogy, the creators tried something new in Taken 3.

Because this premise varied so much from the expectations of core fans, Taken 3 did not please everyone.

However, I applaud the director’s decision to give us this little twist on the original premise. Accepted as a stand-alone movie, Taken 3 is a well-

made film with a decent amount of combat on the streets of Los Angeles.

I believe the actors played their parts perfectly—it is always exciting to see Liam Neeson cleverly fight his way through waves of enemy minions in payback mode. According to IMDb, Taken 3 has earned a gross of over $85 million in North America and a worldwide gross of $267 million.

Movies like Taken 3 are still making a lot of money because fans love the action sequences in tandem with a simple story they can easily comprehend—like a government-trained operative getting into a load of fistfights and gun battles.

Taken 3 was a great action-packed thriller. It is easy for the final film in any trilogy to feel strained and repetitive, but this film manages to hold your interest by moving slightly out of its predecessors’ comfort zone to deliver something fresh and enjoyable. I was only somewhat satisfied with the end of the movie along with how they concluded the trilogy—by using a standoff with a lot of gunfire between Neeson and the perpetrator of the film. Overall, I would have

preferred waiting until the movie was out on an on-demand streaming company like Netflix instead of paying for the movie ticket at Regal Cinemas. However, if you have not seen any of the Taken trilogy and you like easy-to-follow combat movies, I would strongly recommend watching Taken 3. ∎

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A Most Violent Year: A Review Continued from Page 23. image provided

This film will keep you on the edge of your seat.

composed. Occasional furrows in his brow give away troubled thoughts, but otherwise, Oscar Isaac’s blank, brooding stares remain, well, blank and brooding.

A Most Violent Year is luxurious without ever being classy.

Abel’s wife Anna (Jessica Chastain) sports a platinum bob, wears slinky dresses, and boasts a truly enviable collection of Armani coats while also speaking like a Brooklyn gangster. Abel drives his sleek Mercedes to the sooty, chain-link-enclosed parking lot at his business headquarters. In terms of the cinematography, the film is the same—scenes are introduced with wide, sprawling shots that encompass the city skyline, but this isn’t the glittery, hopeful New York we often see. Hues of yellow and green scattered throughout the film create an ominous, gritty mood that is only accentuated by low lighting and dense smoke. The most common shot in the film is a medium shot of two profiles in conversation, which in this film amounts to something more like an interrogation.

Although I admired the visual aspects and cinematography of the film, I found Oscar Isaac’s portrayal of Abel Morales disap-

pointingly dull. He did a lot of bleary-eyed staring, and in some situations, I thought his strong jawline was giving a better performance than he was. On the other hand, his Lady Macbeth– meets–mob wives wife Anna was incredible. Jessica Chastain managed to turn clichéd lines into strong retorts. Her menacing sass injected much needed life into the film. At one point, Anna warns Abel, “You’re not gonna like what’ll happen when I get involved.” Actually, please get involved, because the movie gets so much more interesting when you do.

A Most Violent Year is definitely a film that focuses more on characters than on plot. It’s a gangster movie that thinks about morals—an examination of trials and consequences punctuated with moments of violence. Theater-goers looking for a fast-paced action movie will likely be disappointed. However, for a film where relatively few things happen, it’s remarkably suspenseful.

Despite Abel’s dead-looking stares, A Most Violent Year will keep you on the edge of your seat. ∎

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March 2015

Fifty Shades of Gray Continued from Page 23. the book, makes me think that she was accidentally written as a schizophrenic. I do not connect with her in any way. She describes Christian predominantly by how “freaking hot” (used three times) he is, putting up with his abuse for his hot bod.

Throughout almost all of the book, she’s convinced about sleeping with him more than anything else. It’s not just Ana who’s a weak character.

The entire cast, especially Christian, seems not only flat, but robotic, with character intentions and motivations written as they were needed and discarded when not. The female characters are strangely sexist, with the only women who aren’t secretaries or mothers being sex- or shoppingcrazed. The men are overly masculine and authoritative.

Just because I don’t care about anyone involved in Fifty Shades does not mean I didn’t care about them during many of the painful scenes. Not painful as in BDSM pain, but painful as in it was painful for me to read them as my brain slowly processed that they were rape scenes clothed as consensual sex scenes.

The first rape scene is shown as the beautiful deflowering of Ana in Christian’s overly described mansion. Christian had previously promised not to touch Ana until they had the proper paperwork signed. This sounds bureaucratic and controlling, but the paperwork is made to ensure the safety, boundaries, and rules of their relationship. Details like this are important in a BDSM relationship, where pain and control are more involved than in a standard relationship. However, directly after this promise, he kisses her, violating the rules put in place to ensure both partners’ well-being. “Oh, f— the paperwork,” he growls (31). Christian Grey makes and immediately breaks a promise to steal a kiss from the dumb, impressionable college girl, Ana. And if this is just for a kiss, how can we trust him in any scenario?

Would he break a promise for the sexual contact he lustfully craves?

arts Would he rape her?

Yes, as shown in the aforementioned mansion scene. Ana stupidly signs a nondisclosure agreement without reading it (what kind of idiot would do that?) and enjoys wine and cheese with Christian. “I need to know your limits, and you need to know mine. This is consensual, Anastasia,” (41) Christian tells her. Great!

Consent! Christian talks about hard limits for about a page until Ana reveals that she’s a virgin. He starts yelling at her and doesn’t apologize.

He then uses the topic of virginity to coax her into bed.

“Ana, I’m going to make love to you, now.”

“I thought you didn’t make love. I thought you f—ed hard.”

“I can make an exception, or maybe combine the two; we’ll see. I really want to make love to you.”

“But I haven’t done all the things you require from your list of rules.”

“Forget about the rules. Forget about all those details for tonight. I want you. I’ve wanted you since you fell into my office, and I know you want me. You wouldn’t be sitting here calmly discussing punishment and hard limits if you didn’t. . . . Please Ana, let me make love to you.”

“Yes.” (44) This is the second time Christian breaks a promise for sexual contact, the first being the kiss. This stalker avoided entire conversations about safety, preferences, limitations, and countless other questions about sex.

Would Ana have been okay with his dominant style in bed? Were they going to use protection? When would they continue their discussions? On another note, he’s demanding that she wants him. That sounds unhealthy.

He could ask her and trust what she says, but instead, he’s envisioning what he wants to happen to her and telling her his vision is the truth. A final thing to matter is the distinction between “making love” and “f—ing hard”. These are different things in both characters’ eyes (especially for Christian, a strong, controlling man in bed); it was previously discussed and reinforced in this scene.

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Then, two pages into foreplay, this paragraph appears: “Pull your knees up,” he orders softly, and I’m quick to obey. “I’m going to f— you now, Miss Steele,” he murmurs as he positions the head of his erection at the entrance of my sex.

“Hard,” he whispers, and he slams into me (46).

She did not consent to this. What she consented to was being made love to. Since then, he abandoned their promise without telling her, declaring a new sudden switch for his own benefit. Many of you might be thinking, “Well, what if she liked it as well; what if it was mutually beneficial?” That doesn’t make it okay. Yes, Ana did like the sex, but she never consented to it. I’m reminded of a Louie C.K. quote from Chewed Up: “That’s rape. Of course I’m not going to do that. Who rapes someone on the off chance that they’d like it?”

Christian Grey, apparently. This is not experimentation. This is the rape of the protagonist—a virgin. The entire scene is played off like a night of romance and beauty. Ana confronts the sex for a moment the next morning, but ignores it under the basis that she’s falling for a man who’s “beyond beautiful, richer than Croesus, and has a Red Room of Pain waiting for me” (50). Please be a developed female protagonist, Ana. Please don’t be this shallow.

“Did you get me tipsy on purpose?”

“Yes.” “Why?” “Because you over-think everything, and you’re reticent like your stepdad. A drop of wine in you and you starting talking, and I need you to communicate honestly with me.

Otherwise you clam up, and I have no idea what you’re thinking. In vino veritas, Anastasia” (102).

Fifty pages later, and they are still talking about the contract—the last of the paperwork to be signed. Which is perfectly fine—Christian is leading Ana into a new world of sexuality and he should give her as much time as she needs to talk about it (with Continued on Page 30.

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Taylor Swift Continued from Page 24. image provided

1989 is the album that announced Swift’s arrival to the pop scene. Her songs have always leaned a bit to the pop side, and with her fourth album, Red, it was clear that Swift was transitioning from country to pop. It is her first official pop album, which is something she’s never done before, but it sounds exactly like Taylor Swift. The lyrics are as personal and detailed as ever: “Remember when you hit the brakes too soon / Twenty stitches in a hospital room” (“Out of the Woods”) and the songwriting still contains the same narrative feature that Swift is so well known for. Although some songs sound familiar, most noticeably “Wildest Dream”, which could easily be found on a Lana Del Rey album, Swift manages to make it her own and perfect it. You know when a song comes on the radio and there’s just something missing? Swift is able to find that missing piece, and that’s what makes all 13 tracks on 1989 so strong. Even though Swift is successful enough to release mediocre songs and still do well commercially, she remains passionate and dedicated to her craft.

This attitude allows Swift to have both immense commercial and critical success, and is the reason that she was nominated for two Grammys this year and is the reason it’s possible for 1989 to be up for Album of the Year in 2016.

Taylor Swift is able to sell millions of copies and break records left and right because of her massive, extremely dedicated fanbase. Swift has always been aware and appreciative of her fans’ support, and this year, she really took the time and effort to thank them for it. Leading up to the release of 1989, Swift held a series of “Secret Sessions”, in which she invited fans to listen to the album for the first time with her before its official release. The fans that went weren’t just any fans—Swift hand-picked them by what she now calls “taylurking”, which is basically stalking fans’ social media to see who’s a true fan. It sounds creepy at first, but if

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Taylor Swift is currently on the 1989 World Tour.

it ends up with you listening to 1989 with Taylor Swift herself, who cares?

In addition to the Secret Sessions, Swift got in the holiday spirit with “Swiftmas”—buying her fans gifts and writing long letters of thanks.

Even though I didn’t receive a gift of my own, watching people’s reaction videos honestly brought tears to my eyes. Swift is not only an amazing artist, but one of the kindest people out there. Swift’s fans know she cares for them, and that’s why they continue to look up to her and support her.

The 1989 era has also shown a new side of Swift, a strong, independent woman who is sure of herself.

Swift has declared herself a feminist, which is important because not enough people in the public eye are willing to define themselves as such.

Swift has also spoken out about the public image the media has created for her. When asked to talk about critics who say she only writes about romantic relationships, Swift responded, ”Frankly, I think it’s a very sexist angle to take. No one says that about Ed Sheeran. No one says that about Bruno Mars. They’re all writing songs about their exes, their current girlfriends, their love life, and no one raises a red flag there.” Yet another reason to love Taylor Swift: she tells it like it is. Swift gained popularity for her love songs with

their diary entry lyrics, with such personal details that make it easy to guess which ex she’s singing about.

That doesn’t mean Swift is a crazy women who dates men in order to break up with them and pen her next hit. It isn’t fair to assume this when every other popular artist sings about heartbreak or being in love.

Swift isn’t doing anything new; she just does it in such a way that makes her lyrics personal and relatable to people from around the world. And that’s why Swift continues to sell millions of records. As for the alleged number of boyfriends Swift has had, there are people who have had more, and no one has raised an eyebrow, so why should it matter with Swift?

She is so much more than the men she’s dated. She is an extremely talented artist and a strong women who is confident and happy with herself, and that’s what truly matters.

So even if you’re not a Swiftie yet, borrow someone’s copy of 1989 (you can even take mine), and even if you don’t become a fan of the sick beats like I and so many others am, you can at least appreciate her epic talent. And if you adore it as much as I do, you can catch Swift on her 1989 world tour, where she’ll further prove why she’s the biggest thing in pop. ∎

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Fifty Shades of Gray Continued from Page 28. only Christian, because she signed that non-disclosure agreement without reading it). The healthy thing for Christian to do would be to respect Ana and not sleep with her until they sort out their problems.

“I’m waiting,” he says. “I’m not a patient man” (103).

This is one of the worst things he could do in this scenario.

Think about the last passage, too—he’s drugging her to force her into a sex negotiation. Oh, and they’ve been “f—ing hard” for the last 50 pages. During such scenes, he’s commanding Ana to perform various sexual acts on him and herself. Later in this drugged sex negotiation scene, they have sex. It’s Ana’s idea, but Christian got her drunk on purpose to loosen her up. This is the second account of rape in Fifty Shades of Grey. Just reread that last paragraph if you still think their relationship is not abusive.

Fifty Shades of Grey could have been an amazing step in the right direction. The erotic novel, and now film, could have portrayed BDSM in a healthy and thought-provoking way. Instead, people are using Ana and Christian’s relationship as a blueprint for theirs. According to Consumer Product Safety Commission data, the number of people in the U.S. admitted to the emergency room with sex-toyrelated accidents has doubled since 2007. This is just a sliver of the mess, not taking into account the abusive relationships and poor role models the book promises are good. The counter to this would be how Fifty Shades ends with Ana abandoning Christian, and that this shows readers that they have a poor relationship. This point is invalidated by the two later books in the trilogy, when Ana marries the stalker-rapist Christian Grey and they start a family together.

Yes, in a way, Fifty Shades does begin an open discussion about sex and sexuality—just the wrong one. I’ve heard people at IHS talking about repeating the same mistakes the book made. Don’t. Be safe.

If you want to read about BDSM, that’s fine, but read something healthier and of higher quality. The Maggie Gyllenhaal movie Secretary or the free online comic book Sunstone are better places to start. I’m not into this stuff—I just want people to be safe.

E.L. James has created a monster with this book. Don’t even read it because it’s so bad it’s funny. It isn’t worth it.

Final rating: 0/50. ∎

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Jupiter Ascending Continued from Page 25. filming, if nothing else. Not to harp, but one of my favorite martial arts movies of all time is The Matrix, and the fact that I even consider that film a martial arts film is a testament to how well executed the fight scenes were. But in Jupiter Ascending, the fights were uninspired, loud, and flashy, with dozens of unnecessary cuts and close-ups that made each individual hit impossible to discern. Some of these sequences were so difficult to watch, I actually closed my eyes for a few seconds at a time to compose myself.

I applaud the Wachowskis for resisting the urge to overuse shaky cam, a trend that I see spreading like wildfire from director to director. But despite that, I can’t excuse the careless handling of this movie’s fights.

I truly had hope for this film. In fact, I defended it when others told me how terrible they expected it would be. But I was disappointed, completely and utterly, by this honest mess of a movie. With so many unnecessary arcs that the film feels an hour longer than it is and dialogue bad enough to induce vomiting, Jupiter Ascending has convinced me that the Wachowskis are more than likely never going to catch the same lightning bolt in a bottle as they did with The Matrix. I give this film a 3/10, and I strongly recommend that you see literally anything else instead— as long as it’s not Fifty Shades of Grey (see article by Pearse Anderson). What did you think of Jupiter Ascending? In fact, what do you think of movies in general? Tweet @ MyLlama97 and talk about it. I’d love to hear what you have to say. ∎

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Sports Op-Ed: Is Gym Class Too Easy?

By TRISTAN ENGST

With a plethora of different units, gym class seems to be devoted towards helping students find a sport they enjoy, be it badminton, soccer, or attempting to become the Incredible Hulk with the aid of the fitness room. Other notable gym activities include researching various workouts that could be done—in theory—with a physioball and leisurely walking around the track. Examine the contrast: some of gym’s activities seem like they contribute to physical fitness, the essence of the physical education objectives in the IHS Program of Studies; some are more questionable, and others are simply sedate. Gym class, however, should be more intense in order to help students accrue more of exercise’s benefits.

Gym class has good reason to include relatively active units. Articles espousing the benefits of exercise and physical fitness abound, and list very real benefits such as reductions in the risk of cancers and osteoporosis and improvements in mental health and cognitive ability. Although many of these benefits do become more important in old age, there is no reason not Continued on Page 34.

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Team Feature: Stoneybrook Equestrian Team

By ALEX TRUE image provided

sports

March 2015

The Stoneybrook Equestrian Team.

Five students, Alex True ’15, Liz Rosen ’16, Hannah Findling ’16, Maddie Wissoker ’16, and Liana Flecker ’18, are members of the Stoneybrook Equestrian Team, which competes with other teams from central New York and has six additional members from other schools in the area. They compete in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), a national organization designed to give middle-school and high-school kids who do not own horses a chance to show.

Riders must randomly choose a horse and then ride that horse in an actual show where they are judged based on their equitation, which is a fancy term for how safe and fluid the rider looks on the horse’s back. Each rider competes in both a jumping round—a class where the rider takes a set number of jumps in a certain order—and a class where the riders perform different gaits while going around in a circle. Each class is made up of between six and 11 riders. Ribbons are given out individually, and at the end of the show, team rankings are announced depending on how well the riders of each team did.

There is a lot of work that goes into being a member of an equestrian team.

Most riders will ride two times a week, making sure to ride different horses in order to practice for the spontaneity of the competitions. In addition, the Friday before a show, the team has an hour-long practice where last-minute adjustments to position are done. The team travels to four shows during the regular season (from September to February) and will host one show at Stoneybrook Farm in Newfield. Hosting a show requires a lot of commitment because all of the horses at the farm must be prepared for riders, a process that involves bathing, brushing, and cleaning all of their equipment. At every show, there are about one hundred riders competing as part of about 12 teams.

On February 8, the team finished up their last show in the regular season at Alfred University. Among many ribbons, some highlights include a first place for Findling, a second place for Flecker, and a third place for Wissoker, all for the jumping round. The team came in fourth out of about ten other teams. Riders will move on to the post-season shows depending on the number of ribbons they earned; Findling and Flecker will be moving on to the next level, and will compete in Rochester on March 1. ∎

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March 2015

sports

Staying Fit During an Ithaca Winter

By PEARSE ANDERSON

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By QUINTINA KNIGHT image from The annual

image by john yoon

Girls’ Varsity Basketball Season Concludes

Note: we do not endorse wearing slippers when running in the winter.

These past few months have been tough on us all as the cold has spread from the north into our lives and our bones. For people with Seasonal Affect Disorder, those not taking Vitamin D supplements, and those wanting to exercise, winter seems like a terrible time. There are still ways you can break a sweat and keep yourself healthy in these months, though.

When the snow is thick, it’s perfect for sledding, snowboarding, or skiing. Greek Peak is expensive, yes, but prices drop between Sunday and Thursday to $30 after 4 p.m. That means that if you don’t have ski or snowboarding equipment, you can still get out on the snow for six hours for $60. You can sled anywhere, but the best places are usually parking lots or hills left completely unplowed or plowed with snow placed in one area. A-Lot, for example, gathers all its snow in one area, morphing a corner into a massive man-made mountain.

The Atlantic recently published an article suggesting that obesity is linked to humans living in constant comfortable temperatures. Being in the cold, simply put, burns massive amounts of calories and helps limit metabolic diseases like diabetes. So even if you hate going out in the terrible weather to get the mail, know that it’s doing your body worlds of good. Maybe set up a drivewayshoveling business in your neighborhood; you’d be earning good money and getting tons of exercise.

February break was dominated with a cold snap—the worst winter had to offer Ithaca. Snow wasn’t even the problem; it was the chilling cold. In single-digit temperatures, the streets of Ithaca are abandoned, and you should never be the one to take the chance in the outside frostbite-miasma. In such extremes, you shouldn’t Continued on Page 34.

The girls’ varsity basketball team.

The IHS girls’ varsity basketball season came to an end on Friday, February 13. Although the team lost to Corning 46–49, the girls worked hard during the game—and all season. Beating Union-Endicott in double overtime and Maine-Endwell for the first time in years are two examples of the outstanding accomplishments the girls and coaches made during the season, despite numerous obstacles.

“At the beginning of the season, we had to integrate back together [after some of the girls began playing on different AAU teams] and also open up to new members of the team,” Coach Valletta said. “During the season, we struggled with injuries, illnesses, and general inconsistencies.”

Despite these bumps along the road, Valletta said she was impressed with the character of the team. Especially notable was the team bonding that occurred during the season. The girls learned to play together, and many began replacing “me” with “we” on and off the court.

“I was very impressed with the way the girls battled all season, in games and in practice,” the coach said.

“This is a very special group of young women. We worked hard this year on becoming a family—I consider these girls my family.”

The three captains, Tatiana Minnick ’16, Siarra Hicks ’15, and Jocelin Wright ’16, echoed this sentiContinued on Page 34.

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All-Star Break Leaves the Knicks Lost in Their Own City

By THEO COWETT

image provided

As Carmelo Anthony hosts the 2015 All-Star weekend in his home town of NYC, the topic of his persistent knee problems and the possibility that they will shut him down for the rest of the season linger on.

Anthony was voted in as a starter in the All-Star Game, and is averaging 24.2 points and nearly seven rebounds per game despite his injury-plagued season. The former Syracuse student-athlete has stated that he is very excited for this AllStar break because it is in his city and presents an opportunity to lure some of the many NBA stars to join the Knicks come summer.

Although Anthony may be a starter in the All-Star Game, he stated on ESPN that he will “very likely” be shut down for the remainder of the season following the All-Star break. When asked, Anthony stated that continuing to play would not help heal his injury, but according to doctors, his injury will not become worse either. With the Knicks’ record where it is, it makes all the sense in the world for Anthony to take the rest of the season off, have surgery, and then rehabilitate in an effort to be in great shape for next season’s training. In hopes of getting the first overall pick in the 2015 draft and revamping the team roster with a big-name free agent, the Knicks need Anthony to be at his best and healthiest to prevent another abysmal season. With the Knicks a full 26 games behind their Atlantic Conference rivals, the Raptors, and holding the worst record in the NBA, their season is all but over–although many fans wish it were.

The Knicks president and GM stated that everyone besides Anthony is on the trade block and could be moved at a moment’s notice. For instance, Amare Stoudemire is on the last year of his contract, and hav-

Carmelo Anthony, a crucial player for the success of the New York Knicks.

ing battled injuries and remained a financial burden for the Knicks, has been traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Another player who is rumored to be leaving the Knicks is Andrea Bargnani, who appeared in his third game of the entire season last week. With his large salary and injuries limiting his productivity, it seems as though the Knicks will do anything to rid themselves of Bargnani. In fact, it’s been rumored that if they cannot find a trade destination for the seven-footer, he will likely be cut or bought out. The Knicks want to clear as much cap space as possible, so

don’t be too surprised if other players such as Jose Calderon or Pablo Prigioni are traded as well.

With the Knicks holding All-Star weekend in their home town, they must prepare to face 37 games without their star player in the second half of the season. All-Star break was supposed to be a break for the Knicks players and fans to get their mind off having the worst record in the NBA, but instead we must imagine their horrific season without Carmelo Anthony. ∎

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Staying Fit During Winter Continued from Page 32.

Is Gym Class Too Easy?

Continued from Page 31.

even test your luck with shoveling. This is the best time to take Ithaca’s inside exercise programs into your hands. There are three layers to this infrastructure, each closer towards your daily regimen than the last.

First, Ithaca hosts several fantastic indoor gyms around the city. Whether it’s the Finger Lakes Fitness Center, Island Fitness, or the YMCA, gyms are open for you and offer a variety of classes. Unfortunately, driving to and from these locations can be problematic for some people, and most require a paid subscription.

Second, IHS offers a new strength and fitness room for all to use before, during, and after school. You can also take gym classes not for a grade, but just for fun and exercise during your free or lunch periods. I know this idea seems radical, but hear me out. It’s your free period, and you can play as hard as you want and quit when you want. After school, you just have to sign a form and have access to run, lift, and use any of the machines until the cows come home or, more realistically, the late buses leave.

Third, there is always your own home.

You don’t have to go anywhere to exercise there, but you need to talk to your family members beforehand so you don’t step on any toes in the process. There’s always something to do at home in the time between responsibilities. Some people call this time “break”, but I think that’s a misuse of the term. It’s more a “loss”. Instead of exercising yourself or your body, you’re decaying into your blankets and checking your Instagram. Try walking on a treadmill while checking your phone. Reward yourself for doing your homework with TV, but do curl-ups during the commercial breaks.

The famous Matthew Lin ’15 once said, “You can do many things in high school.

You can do well in school, do well in an extracurricular, do well in a sport or at staying healthy, do well in your social life, or sleep. Pick two.” Implementing methods like those I’ve described can potentially get you three. All of this requires work and time, but it’s better than the alternative: letting a small part of you die in the cushions and warmth of laziness. ∎

to teach exercise in high school. After all, a study at Purdue University showed a direct correlation between frequency of gym visits and academic success. Any educational institution ought to include gym classes to help its students in their studies.

Less physically demanding activities are often not as valuable as more physically demanding ones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that as a general rule, vigorous exercise accumulates health benefits roughly twice as quickly as moderate exercise does. Let’s face it: researching workouts without performing them isn’t vigorous—or even moderate—exercise; it’s barely better than being a couch potato. And leisurely walking the track? Maybe it’s moderate exercise, and maybe it’s fun, but there is no reason more strenuous exercise can’t be fun too.

Strenuous exercise should be the goal in gym. Moderate exercise should only be an option for students who are injured or too weak to participate in more strenuous activities or when the weather’s preponderance of heat forbids anything above an amble. Perhaps IHS’s already impressive graduation rates can be improved by changing gym class— with no additional homework. ∎ Girls’ Varsity Basketball Continued from Page 32. ment.

“We’re in shape, we are happier, and we support each other,” said Hicks.

During the season, Valletta also placed great emphasis on the importance of being a well-rounded student-athlete.

“The girls worked hard in the gym, but even harder in the classroom,” she said. Indeed, before many of the games, team members would either sit on the bleachers or in the team room completing homework and helping each other with difficult questions.

The end of the season is always a bittersweet moment, especially for the seniors on the team. Although there were many tears shed during the girls’ Senior Night, many said that they would continue to keep in contact with one another and remain a family after graduation.

“It’s always sad to say ‘see you later’ to seniors, but I am very excited about how we set ourselves up for years to come,” Valletta said.

“We don’t feel like our record reflects the true us: I am looking forward to spending the spring, summer, and fall preparing to come out and shock some people next year.”

The three captains shared their favorite moments with the team: “When Quinn wore her spandex to practice! Also, playing with the scooters during one of the practices.”

—Tatiana Minnick “Playing scooter basketball, beating Union-Endicott, and Senior Night.”

—Siarra Hicks “Sierrah Comfort trying to spell ‘Ithaca’, when Quinn wore her ‘shorts’ to practice, and beating Maine-Endwell.”

—Jocelin Wright ∎

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March 2015

Crossword by JOHN WESTWIG

Across 1. Cuddly TV alien of the 80's 4. Boxing result, for short 7. Irritates 14. Sharing the marquee 18. Acting like a numbskull 19. Toy weapon 20. Storm seen in the Wizard of Oz 21. Desire 22. Life's ____ Chocolates (Ithacan locale) 24. Button on many devices 25. Play subpart 27. People often look down on them?

29. ____ d'art 33. Pepper spray 34. Entrance feature, often 37. Circuit component 38. Seventh letter of the Greek alphabet 39. Comic Carvey 40. One of the Coens 41. Adders, e.g.

43. Things discussed in tabloids 44. Certain hospital landing site 45. Coin 49. Dessert preceder 50. Not reliable, slangily 55. Lightbulb measure 57. Joy 58. Real jerk 59. ____ Ride for Life 60. Happen 61. ___ - tac - toe 62. Required payment 63. Irritate 64. Roswell subject 65. ____ -fly 66. Title of respect 67. Group of half a dozen 70. Clove crusher 78. Hot, soothing beverage

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80. "Do the Right Thing" star 81. ____ Rocky (rapper) 82. Top of the jungle 83. Famous Long Island town 84. Snafu 85. "Mad Men" pool members 86. Creature in "Lord of the Rings" Down 1. Puzzled, slangily 2. ___-di-dah 3. Winter worry A number of chickadees 4. Boobs 5. Had cold 6. Shrek, for one 7. Be perfectly tailored 8. Former capital of Japan 9. "Yes, ____!"

10. Color wheel choices 11. Numbers on an airport board 12. Rollercoaster, e.g.

13. Macbeth, for one 14. PC component 15. Preposition for a poet 16. Droop 17. Winnie the Pooh character 23. Catch, spider-style 26. Team depicted in this grid, visually 28. Name of 26-Across's challenge solution for this year 30. Author of this puzzle 31. Age, en Puerto Rico 32. Mathematical column 34. Estate 35. Cavern, in poetry 36. Umami, for one 39. HUD, e.g.

42. Beer measure 43. Prong 45. Bit of paper 46. Mischief-maker 47. Chopin piece 48. Taxis 51. ____-economics

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52. Ancient Andean settler 53. Gulf War weapon 54. Shriveled 55. 1960's dance craze 56. "Not that it matters!"

63. "Excuse me..."

65. Telegram features 67. Like many ads that are too good to be true 68. Quietude 69. Yule, in ads 70. Controversially patented item 71. Lots 72. Seized auto, for short 73. Ruffles rival 74. "Just leave the ____ to me" 75. Type of pipe joint 76. Sneaky, devilish 77. Jaden Smith, to Will Smith 79. NYT rival

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