ItistheresponsibilityofICSDtoprovidesupportforallstudents,including neurodivergentstudentsandstudentswithdisabilities.Thedistrictprimarily doesthisthroughtheimplementationof504plans,whichcreatestructural
changestoastudent’sscheduleandroutineatschool,suchasincreasedtesttaking time However,verylittleinformationabouttheseplansisreadilyavailableto students,makingtheroutetoobtainingonedifficultformanyatIHSThiscan leavevulnerablestudentswithoutpropersupportintheirschoolexperience.
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the law “prohibits discriminationbasedondisabilitybyrecipientsoffederalfinancialassistance.”The goalistohelpallstudentsbenefitfromwhatthedocumentcallsFreeAppropriate PublicEducation(FAPE).Certainrequirementsmustbemettoobtaina504plan, whichICSDoutlinesintheir504AdministrativeRegulations Asstatedtherein: “ASection504planwillbewrittenonlyifitisdeterminedthatastudenthasan impairmentthatsubstantiallylimitsamajorlifeactivityandthestudentisfoundto requireaccommodations,modifications,programsorservicesfromtheschoolin order to receive a FAPE” Determining whether a student meets these requirementsislefttotheSection504teamforeachdistrict.
Althoughvague,theICSDAdministrativeRegulationsdooffersomespecifics onwhatconditionsqualify.Thedocumentoutlinesthatapersonwithadisability isanypersonwithaphysicalormentalconditionthatrendersthemunableto completecertainaspectsofdailylife,suchaseating,walking,communicating,or equallyasimportant learning.Theguidelinesalsoofferacomprehensivelistof bodysystems(egrespiratory,neurological)thatcouldbepotentiallyaffectedby disordersorconditions,addingthatamentaloremotionalillnessoralearning disabilitycouldbeincludedSpecificconditionsthatcouldnecessitatea504plan include chronic fatigue, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder,orhearingloss.Manystudentsdonotknowthat suchissuesfallunderthejurisdictionofSection504,preventingthemfrom exploringtheresourcefurther.
Studentswith504plansusuallyacquirethembyfollowingacertainset
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TheTattleristhemonthlystudent-runnewspaperofIthacaHighSchool.Allcurrently-enrolledstudentsatIthacaHighSchoolarewelcometosubmitwritingandphotographs. Asanopenforum,TheTattlerinvitesopinionsubmissionsandletterstotheeditorfromallcommunitymembers.Emailsubmissionstoeditor@ihstattler.comormaillettersto:
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Students Need More Information About 504 Plans Continued from page 2
procedure;ifastudentisstrugglingacademicallytheyareadvised totalktoateacherorguidancecounselor.Theymightgoonto meetwithasocialworkerortherapistemployedattheschoolfor moresupport,orarereferredtotheResponsetoInterventionteam, whichexiststoaddressacademicandbehavioralconcerns Ifa mentalorphysicaldisabilityisfoundtobethecauseoftheseissues, thena504planmaybeputinplaceforsaidstudent,allowingfor certainaccommodationstobemade.Thisrigoroussystemservesto separatestudentswithlesssevereimpairmentsfromthoserequiring a504planandpreventsanyexploitationoftheaccommodations. Unfortunately,italsoleavesmanystudentsunabletoadvocatefor themselvesandtheirneeds,especiallywhencoupledwiththelack ofinformationabouttheprocess
Moststudents,forinstance,onlyhearabout504plansfromtheir peers,insteadoftheadministrationNotonlydoesthisincreasethe riskofmisinformation,butitalsolimitstheamountofpotentially eligible students aware of these accommodations This also perpetuatesamajordividealongraciallines.Nationally,white studentsaremorethantwiceaslikelytobegranteda504than theirBlackandHispanicpeers.Similarly,a2014studybythe JournalofDisabilityPolicyStudiesfoundthatmalestudentsare considerednearlytwiceasoftenfor504servicesthanfemale students Increased information for all students could help counteractthisphenomenon
Additionally,astheprocessforacquiringa504canbequite long,oftentakingplaceovermanymonths,studentsshouldknow aboutthisresourceassoonaspossibletoreceivethesupportthey need.Ideally,ICSDmightsendanemailwiththeschool’smental healthanddisabilityresourcestoallstudentsandfamiliesatthe beginningoftheschoolyear,sothateveryoneismadeawareof whatoptionsareavailable.
Whileitistruethattherehasbeenarisein504plansacross ICSDandotherdistrictsinrecentyears,whichsomemightargue showssufficientaccessibility,thistrendparallelstheriseofsevere mental illnesses in teenagers and increasing mental illness awarenessAccordingtoastudybytheUSDepartmentofHealth andHumanServices,therehasbeena29percentincreaseinthe numberofchildren(ages317)diagnosedwithanxietyfrom2016 to2020.Notallmentalillnessesnecessitatea504planofcourse, butforstudentswhosementalillnessseverelylimitstheirabilities, 504plansareessential.Informationismoreimportantnowthan ever.
Overall,itisclearthattherearemanystudentsatIHSgrappling withdisabilitieswhocouldbehelpedbytheimplementationofa 504plan,andwhomaybeunawareoftheplansasanoptionfor supportInformationabout504plansandothersupportresources for students should be made readily available, perhaps with newslettersandemailsthatdetailstudentsupportmeasures.This wouldenableallstudents,notjustthoseprivilegedbyraceor gender,tohaveequalaccesstotheplans.Inordertoensurethe besteducationforeverystudentatIHS,itisimperativethat supportismadeaccessibletoeveryonewhoneedsit.
Withavirulentcold,theflu,andCovidcreatinga perfectstorm,classroomsareregularlyfilledwiththe familiarsoundsofcoughingandsnifflingHowever, analarmingnumberofstudentsstillinsistoncomingtoschool evenwhenthey’resick,puttingboththemselvesandothersatrisk. This behavior stems from the hyperfocused, fastpaced atmospherefosteredbyourschoolenvironmentthatisnotquick toforgivestudentswhotakeadayoff.It’safamiliardilemmafor manyIHSstudents takeasickdayandfaceheapsofcatchup assignmentswhenyoureturntoschool,orgotoschoolfeeling miserableandtryyourbesttostayontopofit Unfortunately, manystudentschoosethelatter
The Tattler firmlybelievesthatstudentsshouldalwaysprioritize health,bothphysicalandmentalIt’sanobviousconceptonpaper, butthisideaismuchmorecomplicatedinreallifeandrequires action from both students and teachers to be realistically implementedatIHS.Thisissueisnotexclusivetohighachieving studentsinrigorousclasses;italsoappliestostudentswhoare overwhelmedwithotherworkaswell,beitsports,clubs,music, jobs,orfamilycommitments
Beforediggingupasolution,itisnecessarytoaddresstheroot oftheproblem Weareallfullyawarethatcontinuingtowork whileunwellisneverbeneficial,butyearsofrigorousworkhave taughtustoprioritizeschoolabovehealthStudentswhofacethis decisionareoftenpaintedasoverachieverstakingtoomanyAP classes, but this overlooks those who are overwhelmed with additionalcommitmentsaswellasthebiggerissueathand the expectationofacademicexcellenceplaceduponstudentsatIHS. Students face staggering levels of pressure from classmates, parents,socialmedia,andthemselvestoperformexceptionally well by taking on impossible workloads while also being constantlytoldtotakeabreakandprioritizethemselves Simply tellingstudentstotakeonalighterworkloadisunrealisticand ignoresthesocietalpressuresstudentsfaceaswellasthemultitude ofother,nonacademiccommitmentsIHSstudentsmustbalance.
Onedecidingfactorforstudentsconsideringtakingasickday isiftheycanrealisticallystayontopoftheirgradesorother commitments.Forstudentstofeelcomfortableprioritizingtheir health,advancedclasses'rigidmindsetmustadaptandbecome morelenient.Teacherscancombatthisunhealthybehaviorby providingstudentswithmoresupportsystemssuchaslatework policiesthat
cansufficientlysupportstudentsandgivethemthechancetotake abreatherwhentheyneedit.Teacherswhohaveadoptedthe policyofallowinglatesubmissionsaslongastheassignmentis submittedbeforetheteacherbeginsgradingmakestheprocess morerealisticandreasonableforstudentswithnoextraburdenfor teachersThisisnottosayteachersshouldcompletelyabolishany consequencefornotkeepingupwithwork;instead,latework policiesshouldberealisticallytailoredtotheteacher’sgrading scheduleandlessonplans.Creatinglatepoliciesthatarerealistic about when the assignments will be graded builds empathy betweenstudentsandteachersandalleviatesunneededstressonthe student.Itisalsoimportantforteacherstoclearlystatetheirlate policiesatthebeginningoftheyearandkeepthatinformation easilyaccessibleoncanvas
Inadditiontomorereasonableexpectationsforlateassignments, teacherscanalsoconsiderprovidingdifferentformsofsupportto studentsoutsideofschool Small,practicalthingslikeproviding helpfulYouTubevideosorrecordedlessons,postingclassnotes, andcreatingalessonarchivewillallowabsentstudentstostayon topoftheirworkeasilywhileputtingverylittleextraworkon teachers.
Settingtheclassroomprecedentthatextensionsanddaysoff fromschoolwillnotbetheendofastudent’sprogressintheclass allowsstudentstofeelcomfortablestayinghomeiftheyaresick and/ormentallyexhausted It’suptoallofustobuildamore supportiveandhealthyenvironmentintheplacewespendnearly fortyhoursperweekin Students:makeroomforyourselves Teachers:givethemthespacetodoso.
TThis month, the Board of Education (BoE) met on October11BoEmeetingsbeginwithapubliccomment session,whereanycommunitymembercanspeak, followedbytheRepresentativestotheBoEfromIHSandLACS, andsubsequentlytheconsentagenda,whichatthismeeting, consideredacontractfortheconstructionofanewboileratBelle Sherman,amongotheritems.
Duringpubliccommentatthismeeting,retireesspoketothe BoEabouthealthinsurance.RetireeswereswitchedtoaMedicare advantageplanwithAetnafromtheirpreviousHartfordmedical insuranceplanin2021,whichitselfwasareplacementforthe BlueCrossBlueShieldplanthattheretireesoriginallyhaduntil 2018Duringtheswitch,theBoEpromisedretireesthattheirnew planwouldbe“betterorequalto”theoriginalplan,butretirees arguedthatthiswasnotthecaseThenewhealthcareadvantage planwithAetna,theystated,hadoftenforcedretireestopayout ofpocketduetoexcessivepreauthorizationsfortreatment.The retireesalsoaddedthatthisisnotjustanissuewiththeAetna advantageplan,thesameissues,includingahighrateofdenials, poorreimbursement,anddifficultappealsprograms,havebeen documentedwithadvantageplansacrossthenationInsupportof theirargument,theretireescitedasurveyofretireesinICSD, where76percentofthe250respondentsstatedthattheAetna advantageplanwasnot“betterorequalto”theoriginalBlue CrossBlueShieldplanActivedistrictstaffmembersarecurrently ontheBlueCrossBlueShieldplan.Retireeshadpreviously broughtupinsuranceissuesattheboardmeetinginSeptember.
TheBoErespondedtotheseallegationsinSeptemberbystating thatthesurveycitedabovewasnotcomprehensive,anddisputed thestatementsthattheretireesasserted.Thismonth,theBoE statedthattheirlegalcounselhadinformedthemthattheAetna advantageplanwasindeed“betterthanorequalto”theprevious plan Theyalsocitedlegalissuesinreturningretireestothe originalplan TheBoEaddedthatfornow,theywerenot planning on changing the retiree’s insurance plan, and a resolutionthatwouldofferretireessomealternativesandobtain moredatafailedina33votewithoneabstaining.
This month, your student representatives to the BoE commendedthedistrictforaddingnewdaysoffforJewish holidaysincludingRoshHashanahandYomKippur.The
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representativesalsorequestedanupdateonIHS’sbathroomissues, towhichthedistrictrespondedthatbathroomsatIHSintheGand Hbuildingswillbefullyrenovatedinthespringof2022 The representativesfurtherdiscussedaddingRFIDtagstostudentIDs similartowhatteachersatIHSalreadypossess,whichwouldallow themtoenterandexittheschoolbuildingmoreeasily,especially afterschoolhoursforclubsandotherevents.Tothis,theBoE respondedthatcurrentstudentIDshavethecapabilitiestounlock doorsatIHSifactivated,althoughfurtherconsiderationofpossible securityissuesinvolvedwithissuingstudentskeystothebuilding isnecessary.TherepresentativestotheBoEalsorequestedthat ICSDmakecleareritslanguagesurroundingmentalhealthdays andexcusedabsencesontheirwebsite,whichtheBoEwillworkto fix
BudgetandvotingmeetingsoftheBoEareopentothepublic, andthosewhowishtoattendshouldarriveattheBoardbuilding around7pm,astheBoardwilllikelybeinexecutivesessionuntil thattime.AdditionalinformationincludingtheBoE’sagenda, timesofmeetings,etc.canbefoundontheICSDhomepage.
InthemiddleoftheCommons,thereisasmallbrickbuilding withlargewoodenwindows,innocuousandcheerfullooking. Untilrecently,thesewindowswerecoveredwithbrownpaper,
asthebuildinginsidewasundergoingrenovationsaftertheclosing ofitspreviousbusiness,theMateFactor,aquaintlocalcafe.This October,however,theYellowDeliopenedinthespace,andwith itcamethestiroflocalcontroversy
Thebuilding,andbyextensionthebusinessestherein,have beenownedandoperatedbytheTwelveTribes(anextreme Christiangroup)foroveradecadeInthattime,theMateFactor occupiedthegroundfloor,whiletheupperstorieswererentedto otherbusinesses Byallaccounts,theTwelveTribesaregood ownersandhaveconsistentlyworkedtohonorthehistoricnature oftheproperty,despitethelaborabusesdescribedbelow.
Thecontroversycomesfromthegroupitself.Originallyfounded in1972byGeneandMarshaSpriggs,theTwelveTribeshas establishedcommunitiesallovertheworld.Thesocietalstructure ismeanttoemulatethefirstcenturychurchaschronicledinthe BookofActs:memberslivetogetherincommunesand childrenarelargelyhomeschooledPossessionsaresharedamong communitymembersastheyprepareforJudgmentDay,where theywillliveandreignwithYahshua(theHebrewnamefor Jesus)Additionally,membersareencouragedtocutoffallcontact withtheoutsideworld
InapamphlethandedouttovisitorstotheYellowDeli,the TwelveTribesadvertisethemselvesasabranchofthehippie movementofthe1970s,“Afew…decidedtomakethebestof the‘Peace,Love,andHappinessMovement,’startinganewway oflife.”ByleadingalifeofloveandChristianfaithagainstthe “fatalflaw”(selfishness),theTwelveTribesinsiston“[continuing] inthisbattleuntilourdyingbreath”
Despitethisfreelovingmindset,thereisasinisterundercurrent tothegroupTherehavebeenaccusationsofchildlaborandother unethical work practices among the Twelve Tribes, such as underpayingorfailingtopayemployees.Itwasforthisreason thatIthaca’sMateFactorwasclosedbytheDepartmentofLabor in2018.Racist,misogynistic,andhomophobicteachingshavealso beenmentionedbyexmembers,alongwithcorporalpunishment andchildabuse.TheTwelveTribesthemselveshaveaddressed theserumors,saying,“Tothosewhowerefearfulthatanything newmusthavesomeevilmotivebehindit,ourcauseimmediately becamesuspect Theuseoftheword‘cult’seemedtobethe perfectweapontodismantleourMovement”
WhenaskedtocommentontheroletheTwelveTribesplayin Ithaca,GaryFerguson,theExecutiveDirectoroftheDowntown IthacaAlliancesimplysaid,“Weworkwithallofourproperty ownersandbusinesses,regardlessofreligiousaffiliationorother defining characteristics. We do expect all of our properties, businesses,downtownemployees,andpatrons/visitorstouphold andadheretoacodeofconductthatisaffirmingandrespectsthe dignityandrightsofothers”TheAllianceiscurrentlyworkingto releasesuchacodetothepublic
WhileitistruethatIthacahasconsistentlysupportedand patronizedtheTwelveTribe'sbusinesses,therehavealsobeen organizedeffortstoboycottthem,duetotheaforementioned accusations.ThiswasespeciallytruefortheMateFactor.Whether that legacy will carry on to the new Yellow Deli remains uncertain.
OOnSeptember27,2022,HurricaneIanhitwestern Cuba, knocking out power all across the country, wreckingtobaccofarmscrucialtoCuba’seconomyand
killingfivepeople,althoughthefullextentofthedamageis unknown.Thisoccurredaftertensofthousandsofpeoplehad alreadybeenevacuatedandothershadfled Atthetime,itwasa Categorythreestorm,butIanworsenedtoaCategoryfourstorma daylater,whenithitFortMyers,Florida
KillingatleastonehundredpeopleintheUnitedStates,and witharecord726footstormsurgeinFortMyers,Iansweptacross theFloridapeninsulafortwodays.ThreedaysafterIanmade landfallonSeptember30nearGeorgetown,SouthCarolina,more than400,000homesandbusinesseswerestilloutofpower.
RegardingIan,PresidentBidenremarked,“It’sgoingtotakea lot alotoftime notweeksormonths;it’sgoingtotakeyearsfor everythingtogetsquaredawayinthestateofFloridatofully recoverandrebuild,”onOctober5,standinginFortMyersbeach Notonlywillittaketime,butitwillalsotaketensofbillionsof dollarsofhurricanerelief PresidentBidenhasagreedtogivethe StateofFloridaonehundredpercentfederalfundingforhurricane relief,whichincludes,forinstance,debrisremovalandemergency protectivemeasuresforthesixtydaysdirectlysucceedingthe tropicalstorm.Eventhen,individualFloridaresidentswillbe strugglingtorecoverfinanciallyaswellasemotionallyfordecades, possiblytheirentirelives.
AccordingtoNBCNews,“Onlyabout185percentofhomes inFloridacountiesthatfacedamandatoryorvoluntaryevacuation order the evening before Hurricane Ian landed had a flood insurancepolicywiththeNationalFloodInsuranceProgram” Withoutthisinsurance,manywhohavelosttheirhomesare unabletorebuildthem.Itdoesn’tlookverygoodforthosewith insuranceeither.Privateinsuredlosses(excludingfloodinsurance losses)areexpectedtoreachsixtysevenbilliondollars.Andbecause naturaldisasterssuchashurricanesarepartofapattern,insurersare pullingbackfromvulnerablemarkets.Homeinsurancewillonly
getmoreexpensiveatatimewhenmanyFloridansalreadycan’t pay.Thisexemplifieshownaturaldisasters,worsenedbyclimate change,amplifydisparitiesinwealth
Butwhatexactlydoeshumancausedclimatechangehaveto dowithit?AccordingtotheCenterforClimateChangeand EnergySolutions,therearemultiplewaysclimatechangecauses hurricanestobemoredangerous.
Warmerseasurfacetemperatures,directlycausedbythe greenhouseeffect,increasehurricanewindspeedsandcause tropicalstormstocarrymorewater,whichoftenresultsinlife threatening floods. Because warmer temperatures also melt glaciersandicesheets,andseawaterexpandswhenwarm,climate changealsoleadstorisingsealevels This,inturn,worsens coastalstorms,suchasHurricaneIan,andmakesfloodingmuch morelikely Otherrecenthurricanetrendsincludethestorms slowing down therefore lasting longer as well as peaking furthernorth Itisdisputedwhatexactlycausesthosetrends, thoughclimatechangeisalikelyculprit.
Whenitcomestoclimatechange,FloridaGovernorRon DeSantis has focused his policies on resilience. “Under his leadership,thestatehasputmorethanonebilliondollarstoward hardeninginfrastructureagainstrisingseasandmoredestructive storms,”reportedAmyGreenfromNPR Whenaskedwhat local,stateandfederalofficersshoulddodifferentlytoprevent futuredeaths,PresidentBidenresponded,“Whatthegovernor hasdoneisprettyremarkable,sofar,”beforecontinuingto describehowthenewinfrastructure,inthiscase,steeltelephone poles,survivedIan.
DeSantisiswalkingathinlinebetweenaddressingclimate changeandignoringit,carefultohandleIanasuncontroversially aspossiblewiththeentirestateandnationwatchinghim.After all,notonlydidIanmakelandfallonlyweeksbeforethemidterm elections,butDeSantisisalsoconsideredaGOPfrontrunner forthe2024PresidentialElection Whiledismissingclimate changemitigationas“leftwingstuff,”DeSantishasrealizedhis stateisintoomuchdangertodonothingatall Hepresentsa newGOP climatestrategy,onethatwillreassureFloridians thatthey’resafewhiledoingnothingtocutgreenhousegas emissions.Thequestionishowlongthisstrategycanlast.
PeoplewillbelookingbackonIanfordecades.Floridianswill begrievingtheirlovedones,theirhomesandtheirbelongings. ThelivesofNorthCarolina,VirginiaandCubaresidentswho werekilledwillbemournedaswellandtheeconomiesofCuba andFloridawillstruggletorecoverfromthisdevastatingblow Thankstoclimatechange,Ianwillnotbethelastdeadly,multi billiondollardisaster
Thiswillnotbethelasttimepoliticalenemieswork“handin glove”despite“verydifferentpoliticalphilosophies.”Thiswill notbethelasttimenaturaldisastersaffectelectionresults.This willnotbethelasttimethePresidentsays,“Ithinktheonething thishasfinallyendedisadiscussionaboutwhetherornotthere’s climatechangeandweshoulddosomethingaboutit.”
Thankstoclimatechangethisisonlythebeginning
I'mapartofGenZ,agenerationgrowingupintheageofthe internet,inwhichchildhoodinnocenceisimpossibleandwe aretaughtthatempowermentisgainedsimplyfromshowing
moreskin.
It’saconfusingtimetogrowup.Manyfemalepopstarsand rapperstellusthatdesirabilitytomenequatestopoweroverthem. Intentionallyornot,wearetaughtthatwhatpastgenerationsof feministswouldcalldangerous hookingupwithstrangersfor example isactuallyempowering Wearetaughtthatwehave suppressedoursexualitybecausewe’veinternalizedmisogynyWe aretaughtthisnarrativeiscalledsexpositivityandwearetaught thisisfeminism
Likemostmovements,thereiscrucialhistorybehindthecallfor sexpositivity.SinceAdamandEve,sexhasbeensynonymouswith guilt, wrongdoing and shame. This stigma has suffocated generations,especiallywomen,queerpeople,andthoseraisedin religiouscommunities.OnanythingrangingfromSTIstosexual assault,toabortion,ithasattemptedtosilencethem
Thesexpositivitymovementseekstocountertheinherent negativeconnotationsexhashadthroughouthistory,butwhatit failstorecognizeisthattheantidoteto“none”is“some,”not“all”
Like most movements, the push for sex positivity has overcompensated,substitutingastigmaaroundsexwithastigma aroundthelackthereof.Duetothis,thesexpositivityhasleft behindmanywhowouldbenefitfromit.Amongthose:me,an asexualteen.
Asexuality,asopposedtoallosexuality,isgenerallydefinedasthe lackorscarcityofsexualattractiontoanygender Moredetailed informationonasexualityinallitsformsandvariationscanbe foundonthewebsiteoftheAsexualityVisibilityandEducation Network(AVEN),butfornowletitsufficetosay:asexualityisnot anillness,aphase,noratragedyRepeatafterme:asexualityisnot atragedy.
Bydepictingsexualityasabeautiful,innatepartofeveryoneand itsemergenceasinevitable,thecurrentmainstreamsexpositivity movementineffectsuggeststhecontrary.Whatismeanttobe empoweringonlyawardstheselectfewthattrulyfindjoyin today’shookupcultureandpowerinappealingtothemalegaze.
Anyonewhodivergesfromthisexpectationisoftenregardedas boringorevenantifeminist.
Inclusiveandsustainablesexpositivitydoesn’toperateintermsof allosexuality or asexuality or anywhere inbetween The real positivitycanbefoundbystrivingtohavetherelationshipyou wanttosex,ratherthanwanttherelationshipthatyoualready have.Truesexpositivityshouldbeaboutmakingour(a)sexuality aboutus,forus.
Itcanbepowerful,revolutionaryeven,tofindjoyinour relationshiptosex.Andjoy,weshouldknowbynow,isn’tfound thesamewayforallofus.Itistimewestoppedpoliticizing individualjoyasembracingorrejectingfeminismandstarted fightingforit
Sexpositivity,asIwishittobe,givesusthepowertoquestion, explore,andfindwhat’srightforusItgivesusthepowertotalk aboutsexandthepowertoliveaccordingly,regardlessofstigma Sexpositivity,asIwishittobe,servesusall
Everyyear,proudsoldiersstandinthecafeteriaandhandout pencilsandstickerstohighschoolers,tryingtoconvince themtojointhemilitaryandpromisingfreecollegein exchangeforbecomingbothamurdererandalifelongvictim ThismilitarypropagandaisnotwelcomeonIHS’scampus;it preysonunderprivileged,poorkidswhofeeltheyhavenoother optionbuttoenlist Whenthesesoldiershandouttheshiny pamphlets and talk about serving their country, they don't mentionwhatmaybesacrificedinthisexchange.TheU.S. Department of Veteran Affairs reveals some shocking and disturbingstatisticsthatmilitaryrecruiterschoosetoomit.These recruitersdon'ttellyouthatbetweentenandthirtypercent (varyingbywheretheyserved)ofveteranshavebeendiagnosed withPTSD(posttraumaticstressdisorder),thenumbersarelikely muchhigher,butnoteveryonegetshelpTheydon'ttellyouthat aboutonefourthofwomenreportsexualassaultwhileinthe
military,andhalfreportsomeformofsexualharrasment.They don'ttellyouthatthirteenpercentofhomelesspeopleareveterans, anumberestimatedbytheU.S.DepartmentofHousingand UrbanDevelopment Theydon'ttellyouabouttherampant substanceanddomesticabuseamongveteranfamilies,forwhich thedataisimmenseanddeservesanentirearticleofitsownThey tellyouabsolutelynoneofthis,becausetheywantyoutocome workasakillingmachineforthem
AsmuchasI'dlovetocreateapetitiontobootmilitary recruitersoffcampus,UnitedStateslawpreventsthat.Section9528 ofthe2001“NoChildLeftBehind”Actrequiresthatpublichigh schoolsgivethemilitaryaccesstocampusesandstudentcontact information.Theexactwordingfortheaccesssectionofthe agreementisasfollows:districtsmustprovidemilitaryrecruiters withthe“sameaccesstosecondaryschoolstudentsasisprovided generallytopostsecondaryeducationinstitutionsorprospective employers”JustonetinydifferencebetweenaSUNYoffering affordable education to high schoolers and a row of soldiers pestering15yearoldsinthecafeteria:oneofthesecomeswithall therisksImentionedabove.Andwhileparentscanrequestthat theirkids'informationnotbeshared,thefactthatit'sthenormto automaticallysharestudentinformationwiththemilitaryispretty dystopian there’ssimplynoreasonforthis,andit’sadisturbing andinvasivepractice
TheUS hasn'tfoughtatrulydefensivewarsincetheearly 1940s Everything since has been vaguely veiled imperialism, primarilyincountriesacrossAsiaTheUSwassoterrifiedatthe thoughtofacountrybecomingcommunistthattheysentalmost threemillionAmericanstotortureandbombVietnamesecivilians. This is just one of the many countries in which the U.S. committedatrociouswarcrimessinceWorldWarTwo.However, Idigress.Thepointofthisarticleisn'ttohighlightAmerica'swar crimes, but rather to illustrate the absurdity that some claim enlistinginthemilitaryisanoblepursuit.Militaryrecruiters’ favoriteclaimisthat,byenlisting,you’refightingtoprotectyour country Butinwhatwayisthattruewhenallthesewarsare foughtoffAmericansoil,tointerveneinconflictsthattheUnited Statesshouldhaveabsolutelyzeroinvolvementin?
Militaryrecruiterscomingtohighschoolcampusesand attemptingtoconvinceteenagerstojointhearmyisinherently manipulative,andissimplyfuelingthealreadyexistingsurplusof patriotismwehaveinthiscountry.Wedon’tneedthemhere,and I think I speak for a significant percentage of the student populationwhenIsaywedon'twantthemhere.Instead,public highschoolsshouldfocusonencouragingstudentstoconsider moreaffordableeducationoptions,likecommunitycollegesand stateschools Theyshouldalsoemphasizethatstudentscangoto some sort of specialized trade school instead of taking the traditionalcollegepath,astradeschoolisgenerallymuchcheaper thananeducationfromafouryearschool.Basically,studentsdo notneedtobeinthemilitarytomaketheirfuturefinancially plausible.Weshouldn’tletmilitaryrecruitersconvinceusthata
lifetimeoftraumaforusandthosearoundusistherightdecision tomakeasa17yearold.
WithmidtermelectionstakingplaceonNovember8, controlofCongressremainsuncertain.However,with theexistenceofonlytwosuccessfulpoliticalparties, theRepublicanPartyandtheDemocraticParty,votersknowthat Congresswillbecontrolledbyoneofthesegroups.Thispresents amajorissuewithintheUnitedStates'politicalsystem.Thelack ofcapablethirdpartiesforcesAmericanstochoosebetween supportingthetwomajorparties'policies,eveniftheydonot necessarilyagreewitheitherparty Forexample,votingforthe DemocraticPartymeansvotingforclimateregulation,social justice,prochoicepolicies,andguncontrolTheotherchoiceis castingaballotinfavoroftheRepublicanParty,resultinginthe oppositionofanypolicyoftheDemocraticPartyandthesupport ofallRepublicanpolicies.Thetwopartysystemisasignificant problembecausemostpeopledon’thavethesameopiniononall issues;forexample,aprolifermayalsosupportMedicare.
Inothercountries,thelegislaturebasedsystemofgovernment increasesthepowerofthirdpartiesThesesystemsallowpolitical partiesbasedonotherissuestohaveinfluence,meaningthata prolife,Medicareforallpartycouldpushforthepoliciesthey wantwithoutfearoflosingsupport
However,asolutionmayresultinthirdpartieseffectively winningseatsandmorecloselyrepresentingthewillofthe people:rankedchoicevoting(RCV).Alsoknownaspreferential voting, RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. For example, a voter is most focused on the environmentandhaslittlecareforotherpolicies,althoughthey dislikethoseoftheRepublicanPartyTherefore,theywouldmark GreenPartyastheirfirstpreference,theDemocraticPartyastheir second preference, and the Libertarian Party as their third preference on their ballot After votes are counted in this theoreticalsituation,nopartywinsthemajority,andtheGreen Partygetstheleastvotes.Therefore,thisperson’soriginalvoteis transferred to their second preference in this case, the Democraticcandidate.Then,withtheadditionofsomesecond choicevotesfromthosewhoinitiallyvotedfortheGreenParty,
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theDemocraticcandidategainsamajorityandwinstheseat.
RankedChoiceVotingoperateswellbecausevotersdon’thave tovoteagainstacandidate meaningthat,ratherthancastingtheir ballot for the party most likely to beat their leastpreferable candidate,theycanvoteforthepartytheysupportInthecurrent system,votingfortheGreenPartycouldhelpavoter’sleast preferablecandidatewin,butwithRCV,thisdoesnothappen. SomestateshavealreadyputRCVintoplace.
Alaskausedrankedchoicevotinginitsrecentspecialelection. Thecandidatewiththemostinitialvotes(MaryPeltola)won. However,inreality,shedidn’twinagainsttheTrumpbacked Republican (Sarah Palin) with only Democratic support. She receivedsecondpreferencevotesfromthosewhosefirstchoicewas the Moderate Republican Through RCV, Moderates could supporttheirfirstchoicecandidatewithoutriskingSarahPalin’s victory Additionally,insomeelections,thecandidateofathird, oftenmoremoderate,thepartywillwintheseat,allowingthat partytovoteinCongressoncrucialissues,suchasabortion,voting rights,climatechange,theeconomy,andhealthcare.
ImplementingRCVisn’tasdifficultasitmayseem.Although thereisabillinCongresstobeginusingRCVinUSelections, RCV can be put into place more quickly using state ballot initiatives,inwhichapetitionwithenoughsignaturesispresented asapropositiononthenextballot Then,ifmostvotersinthat stateapproveit,thepropositionbecomeslawBallotinitiativesare how RCV was implemented in Maine and Alaska, and may becomepartofthevotingprocessinotherstates,likeNevada, whichhasRCVonitsballotthisyear.
Asweheadintothemidterms,wemustrecognizethatthird partiescanhelpmakeourpoliticalsystemmorestableandless divided.Whilethereareonlytwomajorparties,therearefarmore thantwopoliticalpositions.It’stimeourlegislaturereflectsthe diversityofthoughtinthiscountry,andwecanhelpthishappen withtheimplementationofRCV
ByGABIROSE
ThefirsttimeIlistenedtothepodcastSerialbackin2017,I wasimmediatelygrippedbythebothcompellingand heartbreakingstoryofthemurderofHaeMinLee.For thosenotfamiliarwiththetruecrimepodcast,orthosewhohave notyetlistenedtoitineleventhgradeEnglishclass,Ihighly encouragelisteningtoSeasonOne,whichtellsthestoryofatruly unforgettablecase It’simportanttorememberwhenengaging withanytypeoftruecrimemediathatthevictimsinthestories arerealpeople,thetragediesarerealevents,andtheunimaginable
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paintheaffectedfamiliesenduredisnotfictitious.Besensitiveand awareofthesefactswhenlearningaboutanddiscussingthiscase, asHaeMinLeeisnotjustastatistic Shewillcontinuetobe mourned
OnecoldwinterdayinBaltimore,1999,18yearoldHaeMin Leewentmissingafterschool,herbodyfoundweekslaterburied inaparkafewmilesaway.Friendsandfamilywereleftshocked, devastated,andwithoutanswers.Duetothenatureofthecrime, Baltimorepolicewereabletoconcludethattheperpetratorwas somebodyLeeknew,andturnedtoherexboyfriend,17yearold AdnanSyed,asthesuspect.Then,thecouples’rockyrelationship,a “reliable”witnesswhoclaimedtohaveseenSyedburyingthe body,andthesuspect’sownmurkymemoryoftheafternoonLee disappearedquicklyledtohisarrestSyedplednotguilty,butwas triedandconvictedin2000forHaeMinLee'smurder,and subsequentlygrantedalifesentenceinprison However,the complexitieswithintheinvestigationandtrialmakethiscasefar fromover,andhavecontributedtomybeliefthatSyedwas innocentfromthebeginning.AlthoughIcouldtalkaboutthiscase forhours,Iwillnotrevealeachandeverydetail,becauseIstrongly feelthateveryoneshouldlistentothepodcastinfull.Still,thereare criticalpiecesofinformationregardingthecasethatmustbe understoodinordertorealizehowdiscreditableSyed’sconviction was,andhowuntrustworthyourjusticesystemcontinuestobe
Firstly,the“reliable”leadwitnessfromwhichthepolicehad beengettingalmostalloftheirinformationhadbeenshiftinghis narrativeofthedayofthemurderfromthestartHewasmutual friendswithSyedandclaimedthesuspecthadconfessedtokilling HaeMinLeeandthenaskedforassistanceinburyingthebody. Eventhoughthewitness’storyfrequentlychanged,thepolice continuedtousethisleadasthebasisfortheirarrestofAdnan Syed,likelymanipulatingandfeedinghiminformationaswell.On topofthis,AsiaMcClain,aclassmatewhodidnotknowSyedvery wellandhadnoreasontolieforhim,cameforwardin1999stating thatshehadbeeninthelibrarywithhimafterschoolthatday,at thetimeHaeMinLeewouldhavebeenkilledHehadanalibi whichleadsustotheissueofSyed’sinadequaterepresentation CristinaGutierrezwashisfirstdefenseattorney,andoutofthe manymistakesshemade,themostdetrimentalwasthatshenever investigatedthisalibi,andAsiaMcClaindidnottestifyatthefirst trial.Gutierrezwasfiredandeventuallydisbarredduetolegal issueswithotherclientsaswell.
ThemostblindinglyobviousredflaginthecaseagainstAdnan Syedisthattherewasnoforensicevidencelinkinghimtothe crime:therewasnoDNA,fingerprints,norevidencetoprovehe hadbeenwithLeethatdayCellphonetowerrecordsthathadbeen usedtoplacehimnearthesceneofthecrimealsoprovedtobe unreliable.TheseinconsistenciesonlyscratchthesurfaceofSyed’s case,butthefactofthematteristhis:theprosecution’sargument againstSyedshouldnothavebeenenoughtoconvictanyoneina courtoflaw.
AdnanSyedspentatotaloftwentythreeyearsofhislifein prison,havinghisconvictionoverturnedjustthisOctoberbya
Baltimore judge. Prosecutors requested the judge drop the chargesagainstSyedduetoacoupleofshockingdiscoveries. Firstly,therehadbeenaBradyviolationintheoriginaltrial, meaningthatprosecutorshadnotdisclosedinformationtothe defensethatwouldfavorthedefendant Thedefensehadnot beeninformedthattherewasanongoinginvestigationbythe policeintotwoalternativesuspectswithpotentialinvolvement, whichwouldhavehelpedAdnan’scase.Additionally,DNA evidencewithlinkstothecrimewastested,completelyruling Syedout.
ThisOctober,asIreadtheheadlinesalloverthenews regardingAdnanSyed’sexoneration,allIthoughtaboutwasthe factthatAmerica’sjusticesystemhadfailedagainSyed’scaseand storyisonlyoneofthousandsofwrongfulconvictions,andI’ve foundthatthepillarsofoursystem principlesthataresupposed tomaintainjusticeinourcountry havebeencorruptedin almostallofthesecasesresultinginwrongfulconvictionsPolice investigationsforthesecasesareinequitableandcareless.The personalidentityandstatusoftheperson(suchastheirrace,class, orreligion)affecttheoutcomeofthecasedespiteAmerica claimingthatthelawisunbiased.Innocentblackpeopleare aboutsevenandahalftimesmorelikelytobeconvictedof murderthaninnocentwhitepeople,andblackpeoplewhoare convictedofmurderareabout80percentmorelikelytobe innocent than other convicted murderers, according to the NationalRegistryofExonerations Lastly,unjustlawstobegin with,aswellasunequalaccesstoadequaterepresentationin court,commonlycausewrongfulconvictions,andmanyofthose convictedareneverexonerated.
Icannotofferasolutiontothebiases,injustices,andsystemic flawsofoursociety,onlyacommentaryonhowapodcastand storyhasaffectedsomanypeoplewhowereabletorecognize theseflaws,yethadtowatchaninnocentmanbeputinjailfor twentythreeyearsHowcanwesitbackandallowprosecutors tosuddenlydropchargesoffirstdegreemurder,especiallyas AdnanSyedhasalreadylosttwentythreeyearsofhislife?Iurge everyonetolistentothepodcastSerialandreadaboutHaeMin LeeandAdnanSyed.Mostofall,beconsciousofthewayour justicesystemfunctions throughcorruption,lies,andprofiting fromracismandclassism.Therearethousandsofvictimsand theirfamilieswhodeservetruejustice,includingHaeMinLee, whosemurderisnowunsolved.
Theageolddebateofpencilsversuspensisafamiliarone, andacommontopicofdiscussionamongstudentsworld wide.Whetheryouaretakingnotesonanoddlyintriguing
mathclassatschoolordoingyourhomeworkthathadbeenpushed offforafewweeks,thestruggleofdeterminingwhatwriting utensiltouseremainseverpresentinstudents’minds.Fearnot(or perhapsdo);thoughwearenotrevealingwhichissuperior,there areformidableargumentsforbothsides.
Pens: a utensil to make you feel confident and pleased!
1 Pensofferabetterfeelingtothehandandaurallyappealing visuals
Thesatisfyingglideandquietstrokesofpenoverpaperarefar preferabletothescratchofapencilasitclawsitswayintoyour writingsurface.Additionally,thesleek,smoothfeelofapenis boundtofeelmorecomfortablethanholdingapencilthatcanonly offersplinters
Pencils:autensilthatwillkeepyoufeelingsecurewitha safetynet!
1.Pencilsgiveyousecondchanceswhenyoumakeamistake.
Whenyouwritewithapencilandhaveanysortoferroroccur, youcaneliminateyourmistakeswithonefellswoop.Problem solved!Muchbetterthanthosepeskypens,whereyourworkis coveredinblotsandcross-outs(unlessyougetthoseexpensive erasablepens).
2.Pencilsareacosteffectiveoptionforstudents.
Trybuyinga12packofpencils…thentrybuyingsomepenswith anidenticalamountofmoney.Doyougetthesamenumberof pens?Notexactly.Onaverage,pencilsaremoreaffordableand cost-friendly.Mechanicalpencilsarealsoagreatalternative—filler leadiswaycheaperthanpurchasinginkrefills!
2 Permanentinkinthepenscanpreserveyourworkoverlong periodsoftime
Whilepencilmarksinnotebooksmayfadeovertime,characters andlinesinpenremainmuchstrongeranddarker.Whenyouare reviewingtheAlgebraIInotesyoutooklastyearinpreparationfor yourPrecalculusfinalexam,you’llberelievedtofindthatthepen markshaveremainedstrong,abletoaidyouinyourventures
Scan to vote: Which is the better writing utensil?
→Thereareseveralotherreasonswhysomeonemaybelievethat onewritingutensilisbetterthantheother.Whatareyour thoughtsabout“TheQuintessentialCommunication Contraption”?Goto<https://bit.ly/CTNov2022>orscantheQR codeandtelluswhereyoustand!Votesarecollecteduntil November19,2022andresultswillbereleasedintheDecember 2022issueofTheTattler.
October2022VotingResults:(E-)ReadingPlatforms
Inthelastissue,wediscussedtwodifferenttypesofreading platforms:physicalanddigital.Readerswerethenaskedtovoteon thesideforwhichtheyprefer.Hereiswhat25ofthemthink!
Content Warning: this article contains discussion of antisemitism and racism
Recently,Ye(formerlyKanyeWest)hasbeeninthenews again.WhenIoriginallydecidedtowritethisarticle,he hadbeenreceivingheatforwearinga“WhiteLives
Matter”shirt,butapparentlythatwasn’tenoughforYe,andnow hehasstartedtweetingantiSemitismaswell.Oneexcerptfrom his recentlylocked Twitter account reads, “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.” Additionally, Ye has a history of selling Confederateflags,aswellasallegationsofabuse.
SomepeopleclaimthatYeissimply“reclaiming”thesesymbols of hate, but they’re mistaken in believing that. He isn’t “reclaiming”them,becausetheyhavealwaysbelongedtothesame group:racistsTheAntiDefamationLeaguedescribesWhiteLives Matteras“awhitesupremacistphrasethatoriginatedinearly2015 asaracistresponsetotheBlackLivesMattermovement”When Yeworetheshirtthatsportedthe“WhiteLivesMatter”slogan,he wasnotreclaimingthewords,butratherenforcingthebeliefsand ideologybehindthewordsanddisplayinghisacceptance.
ItseemsthatKanyemightjustlovepaintinghimselfina negativelight,becauseontopofalloftheseoffenses,hehasalso insinuatedthatGeorgeFloyddiedofaFentanyloverdose.Thisis entirely untrue of course; George Floyd was murdered by disgracedpoliceofficerDerekChauvin Again,whenYe,avery influentialfigure,supportstheseideas,hegivesthepeoplewho excusepolicebrutalityaplatformandsenseoflegitimacy
Thesesymbolsandidealsaredangerous,andYe’ssupportshows thattheyareacceptable.ItencouragesneoNazistoprotestinhis nameswithsignswithphraseslike“KanyeisrightabouttheJews.” Kanyeisaninfluentialfigure,sowhenhesupportspeoplewho have these racist and antiSemitic ideas, justification for the horriblethingssaidiseasier.
WhetherKanyeisjustdoingallofthisforattention,being influencedbypeoplearoundhim,ortrulybelievesthestuffhe’s spoutingdoesn’thavesignificance,it’smoredangerousthanit seemsYehasaninfluenceonpeople,especiallyyoungpeople,and whenhetellsthemthatracismandantiSemitismarewhathe
believesin,thosepeoplemayjuststarttothinksimilarly.Healso giveslegitimacytothosewhoalreadyholdsuchbeliefs,likeneo Nazis,theKKK,andtheProudBoysIfKanyecontinueswhathe is doing, it will have a dangerous effect on not only his reputation,butthepeoplewholistentoandareinfluencedby him
Collegesanduniversitiesarealwaysonthelookoutfornew waystoattractprospectivestudentsandincentivizethem tocommittofouryearsattheirinstitutionAlthoughthe wellinformedstudentlooksatmorethanacollege’sstatistical rankings, they nonetheless remain an important part of the applicationprocessForapproximatelyfortyyears,the US News CollegeRankingshaveprovidedstudentswitheasilyaccessible informationaboutschools.Thoselistedhigherareviewedasmore prestigious and thus attract more applicants from the upper echelonofhighschoolstudents.Forthisreasoneverytoptier institutionhopestoriseintherankingsandbeperceivedas providingabettereducationandmoreresourcesItisimportantto recognizethatalmostallhighlyratedinstitutionsareverysimilar intermsofservicesandeducationprovidedRankingsoftendoa poorjobofassessingacollege’sprograminaspecificfieldofstudy orlearningenvironmentpreferredbythestudent Formany applicants,aschoolrankedafewspotslowermayprovideabetter college experience, depending on their interest areas. Unfortunately,therankings,howevernonpreciseandpoorly donetheymaybe,arehighlycovetedbystudentsandschools alike.Thiscreatesanenvironmentwhereinstitutionswilldo almostanythingtorisejustafewspotsevenifnosignificant changeisactuallymadetotheprogramorqualityofstudentlife
Oneofthemostmeteoricrisesinthe US News College RankingshasbeenthatofColumbiaUniversityoverthelast thirtyfiveyears In1988theywerelistedastheeighteenthbest schoolinAmerica.Afteryearsofsteadygrowththeyeventually rosetobeingtiedforsecondinthe2021 U.S. News edition. AlthoughheishappyaboutColumbia’sincreaseinprestige, faculty math professor Michael Thaddeus discovered some suspiciousinformationthatledhimtobelieveColumbiahadbeen cheatingtherankingsiteforyears.Hepublishedhisfindingsin Februaryofthisyearinaneightsectionarticle,outliningvarious waysColumbiahasreportedmisleadingorfalsedatato US News
Someofhisspecificpointssurroundedthereportedgraduation rate and funds reportedly spent for instructional purposes AccordingtoThaddeus,abouttwentypercentofthe US News rankingsarebasedontheopinionofaninstitutionbyitspeers,
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buteightypercentisderivedfromstatisticssubmittedbythe university.Someofthemostheavilyweightedattributesofa universityarewhatarecalled“outcomemeasurements”Theseare meanttoshowtherelativesuccessofgraduatesofvariousschools Thistakesintoaccountavarietyoffactorsbutanespeciallykey oneisgraduationrateColumbiaUniversityreportedagraduation rateofninetysixpercentwithinsixyearsofenrollmentforthe 2021rankings.Thisfigureiscorrectbutonlyifnotincluding thosestudentswhotransferredtotheuniversity.Inthefallof2020, Columbiastatedthatthirtypercentofitsincomingstudentswere transfers anumbermuchhigherthanthatofitspeerschoolssuch asHarvardorPrinceton.Whenincludingtransferstudents(who haveagraduationrateofapproximatelyeightyfivepercentat Columbia), the touted ninetysix percent graduation rate is severelyoverblown
AseconddiscrepancyThaddeusfoundinColumbia’sstatistics wastheamountofmoneytheyreportedlyspentoninstruction Fortheyearof201920Columbiareportedinstructionspending amounting to 3.1 billion dollars. This figure is somewhat unbelievableconsideringthefactthatitismuchhigherthanthe numbersreportedbyHarvard,Princeton,orYale,allofwhich have higher endowments and thus generally more funds. Thaddeus’sshockingdiscoverywasthat12outofthat31billion wasforpatientcareattheschoolhospitalwhichcanhardlybe consideredinstructionalfunding Thesediscoveriesalongwith severalothers,forcedtheuniversitytoadmittowrongdoing althoughtheywouldnotsaythatitwaspurposeful Thaddeus himselfdidnotinitiallythinktheerrorsweremadewithbadintent butthemorehelookedintoitthemorelikelyitseemedthatthese werepurposefulattemptsatcheating.Ashesaid“Ifinditvery difficulttobelievetheerrorswerehonestandinadvertentatthis point.”
AsaresultofThaddeus’spaper, US News droppedColumbia backdowntoeighteenthplaceforthe2022rankings,ahugeblow forauniversityworkingtowardsaprestigiousimagefordecades Unfortunately,Columbiaisn'ttheonlyuniversitytocheatMany schoolsuseambiguityandmisleadinginformation,whichresultsin ariseintherankings.OthernotableexamplesincludeUniversity ofOklahomasubmittingmisleadingdataforyears,Claremont McKenna lying to Forbes rankings about key statistics, and TempleUniversityforavarietyofrankingrelatedmisdeeds.The sadthingisthatnotallcheatersgetcaughtandevenwhenthey are,punishmentisoftenverylightIn2019UCBerkeleyadmitted to misreporting data to US News since 2014 and the only punishmenttheyreceivedwasasuspensionfromthelistforone year
Severalstepsneedtobetakentoensureafairersystemfor students who want an honest representation of a school’s capabilities.Thefirststepshouldbeforstudentstonotputso muchstockinrankings anyoftheschoolslistednearthetopof thelistareinstitutionsofgreatcaliber.Theexactpositionisnot thatimportantandtherankingsaremoreofaguidethanastrict
hierarchyofschools.Additionally,moretangiblelegal punishmentsshouldbeputinplaceforschoolswhoreport misleadingdatainapossibleattempttogamethesystemand appearmorefavorabletoapplicants.Thereneedstobeaconsistent andcodifiedsystemforpunishingsaidinfractions;otherwisethere isnoreasonforcollegestonotcontinuecheating.Allinall, nothingwrittenhereistosaythatColumbiaoranyothertop-tier schoolparticipatingincheatingtherankingsisnotanelite institution.Theexactrankdoesnotmattersomuchastheculture oftheinstitution.Thenotionthatsixteenplacesmakesa substantialdifferenceismisguided.Schoolsshouldn’tcheatandwe shouldn’tletthem,butColumbiaisstillagreatplacetolearnand willcontinuetobesofortheforeseeablefuture.Thekeyisforus torecognizetheprowessofacollegeholisticallyratherthanbasing ourjudgmentsonasinglenumber.Then,notonlywouldwebe betterabletodecidewheretoapply,butcollegeswouldalsohave lessreasontocheatbecauserisingorfallingafewplaceswouldnot meansomuchfortheirpublicimage.
ByADDIEHITZ
Somethingshavestrangerbeginningsthanothers.Overtime I have delved into the strange stories behind everyday objects,butindoingmyresearch,theoriginofbubblewrap
isdefinitelyoneoftheweirderstoriesIhaveencountered.Thisall beganinaskingaroundforthingswhoseoriginspeoplewouldlike touncoverInitiallyIdidn’tbelievethepersonwhobroughtthisto myattentionButthroughmyresearchIhavefoundonethingto betrue:checkyoursourceMaybeit’sjustme,butwhenevermy parentsgotthingsshippedtotheminthemail,theyalwaysgave methebubblewrapiftherewasany.Ilikedthesoundandtexture (andfranklytheyprobablyneededsomethingtokeepmebusy). Butdidyouknowthatbubblewrapwasinitiallyanewfangled ideaforwallpaper?
In1957,twoinventorsinNewJerseybecameboredofthe wallpaperintheirrecentlybuilthomes.Intryingtoappealtoa boredgenerationofpostwareracitizens,AlfredFieldingand MarcChavanneswantedtofindawaytomakeeverydayobjects funFieldingcameupwiththeideaofslick,filmywallpaper,and Chavannesimmediatelytooktoit Thetwofirstprototypedthe wallpaperbyattachingtwoshowercurtainstogetherwithaheat sealingmachine,onlytobeseverelydisappointedbytheeffects: bubblesformingbetweenthetwosheets.Thetwodidnottotally dismissthemistake,andfiledapatentfortheideain1958.They startedthinkingofdifferentuses.Theycameupwithfourhundred waystousethisidea,withonlyafewmakingitoffthedrawing board and into production One of these was insulation for greenhouses,whichsadlyprovedineffective
In1960,ChavannesandFieldingcreatedthecompany“Sealed AirCorp”However,itwasn’tuntilthecomputerindustrytookoff thatChavannesandFieldingsawawaytousetheirbubbled invention. In 1961, International Business and Machines Corporation(IBM)introducedthe1401unit.Thisearlycomputer wasusedtoprocessdatafasterthanunitrecordequipment,butwas stillrelativelylargeforadelicatedevice.SealedAirCorpjumpedat thischance,andrealizedthatpackagingthe1401unitinbubble wrapwasawaytosafelygetthecomputerfrompointAtopointB withlessriskfordamage“ItwastheanswertoIBM’sproblems,” statedChadStephens,theVicePresidentofDevelopmentatSealed Air
Asbubblewrappackagingpickedup,newstylesandsizes becameavailable.However,thecompanystillwasn’tturninga profit, due to the face that Chavannes and Fielding had no experiencerunningabusiness.Then,in1971,T.J.Dunphywas broughtontotheteam,andhelpedtobringannualsalesfromfive milliondollarstothreebillionbyexpandingtothepoolindustryin theformofpoolcovers
Today,bubblewrapisusedaroundtheworldasapackaging materialandasastressrelieverButwhowouldhavethoughtthat thisstrangefilmstartedasanewfangledwallpaper?Itjustgoesto showthatevenifsomethingdoesn’tworkhowyouwanteditto,it canstillbeusefulinthelongrun.
Ichiyanagi’s score of “Music for the Electric Metronome,” courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art
ToshiIchiyanagidiedonOctober7,2022,agedeighty nine years in Tokyo, Japan Ichiyanagi was an experimentalcomposerknownforcombiningJapanese and American musical styles and instruments, blending discordancyandrandomnessintostrangeharmony “Japanhasa longhistoryofadaptingthepracticesofWesterncultureand assembling [them] into their own,” he explained In total, Ichiyanagi wrote more than two hundred works, including operas,stringandwindcompositions,percussive,interplay,and pianosolos.Heisrememberedforhisinfluenceintheavantgarde movementandhisworkfortheKanagawaArtsFoundation, whereheservedasartisticdirector.
Ichiyanagiwasbornin1933inKobe,Japan,andraisedin Tokyobytwomusicalparents.HeplayedpianoatanAmerican militarybaseafterJapansurrenderedinWorldWarII,wherehe wasintroducedtoAmericanjazzandthestylisticfreedomsit affordedTheimpactofthewarisclearinhiswork,especiallyin his ninth symphony which one critic called “ a wrenchingly meditative commemoration of the third anniversary of the Fukushimanuclearplantdisasterandthe70thofHiroshima.”
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Later,IchiyanagistudiedattheJuilliardSchoolinManhattan and was influenced by the New York Fluxus Movement, particularlybyavantgardecomposerJohnCage.Whenstudying atJulliardhemetYokoOno,withwhomheelopedin1956and stayedwithuntil1962.OnowentontomarryfilmproducerTony Cox and subsequently John Lennon of The Beatles, while Ichinayagineverremarried
Themaincharacteristicsofhismusicarerandomness,discordant sounds,andtechniquesthatusetensiontoconveyintenseand complexemotionsHeisnotableforhisseeminglyrandommusical progressions,reminiscentofdadaismandotherformsofabstract art.Forinstance,inhispiece“MusicforPianoNo.4”writtenin 1968,heusedsqueakingsoundsthatonereviewercomparedto turkeycalls.In“Anotherwork,Distance”(1961),herequired musicianstoplaytheirinstrumentsfromatleastthreemetersaway, using rods or other tools One of the wildest examples of Ichiyanagi’s experimentalism was his composition “From the Works of Tadanori Yokoo” which flows between several seeminglyunrelatedelements:aJapanesefolksong,asimplepiano melody,anelectricdrone,afascistmarchsong,sexualmoans, croakingfrogs,Bachexcerpts,andchurchbells.
Hisworksalsopushedtechnicalboundaries.Manyofhispieces seemedtolackbothatimesignatureandakey,suchasthepiano solo“PianoPoem”(2003)and“MusicforElectricMetronome” (1960),inwhichmusicianswereaskedtocompletelyimprovisean endingtothepieceNomiEpstein,aprofessoratBerkleeCollege ofMusic,wrotethatIchiyanagirequiredperformerstodo“much morethaninterpretascore,butrathermakedecisionsabout structure,pitch,density,color,andsonicactivity”Ichiyanagialso oftendecoratedhissheetmusic(nowheldinNewYork’sMuseum of Modern Art) with geometric patterns, swirls, and creative instructionsformusicians.
AlthoughIchiyanagihasaverysmallfollowinginWestern musicalspheres,hewasanincrediblyinfluentialandimportant figure in Japanese composition. His famous work, "Sapporo" (1963),allowsthefluidscoretobefreelyinterpretedbyperformers inanywaytheywish.AQRcodetothesongisincludedbelow,in thehopesthatmorepeoplecanexperiencehiscreativityand uniqueexpression
YouTube link to Ichiyanagi's "Sapporo"
The following two pieces were written by US History students in the classes of Ms. Kautz and Mr. Heiland, as part of a project on Indigenous land practices and food sovereignty Some students also wrote letters to policymakers (school or broader community) with ideas on how to better recognize Indigenous excellence Some students, however, like those that produced these pieces, chose to inform their peers about these issues If you drop by the library, you will see many of these projects everything from pamphlets, to posters, to board games!
ThemonthofNovemberisknownasIndigenousPeoples Month.Thus,itseemsasaptatimeasanytolearnabout IndigenoushistoryandcultureTakingthetimetolearn aboutIndigenouspeopleisastepinthedirectionofallyship,andis respectfultowardsthepeoplewholivedonthislandlongbefore wedid.
ThroughoutIndigenoushistory,NativePeopleshavedeveloped sacred and effective land practices, collectively known as stewardship Unfortunately,thesepracticeshavegoneuncredited bythemajorityofpeopleintheUS,including
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ecologists, conservationists, and the government itself, leaving Indigenous peoples unrecognized for their incredible land preservationpracticesandlandbeliefsSomeofthesepracticeshave beencompletelyignored,whileothershavebeenappropriated Although Native Americans have been and still are unappreciatedfortheirhardwork,wecanstarttochangeby creditingtheirpracticesandculture,bylearning,growing,and evenparticipatingintheselandpracticeswithappreciation.
Forthisarticletohavethewidestreach,thereareafewwords thatneedtobedefined:Appropriationisthepracticeoftakingan ideafromadifferentculture,withoutcreditingitortakingthe timetolearnabouttheothercultureandthecontextinwhichthe practiceiscreated Appreciationistheopposite thepracticeof takingtimetolearnabouttheculturesurroundingapractice,and creditingthepracticetothatculture. Stewardshipisthepracticeoftakingcareoftheland,usingvarious methodsthatbenefittheecosystemsspecifictoanarea;itisaway ofhumaninteractionwiththelandthatkeepshumansasapartof theecosystem,ratherthanconsideringhumanitytobeseparateor abovetherestofnature Stewardshipcameaboutasawayof survival, a mutual respect with the land that led to greater resources
Oneexampleofanappropriatedpracticeisprescribedburning Prescribedburningisthepracticeofintentionallysettingsmall fires.Inforests,thesefiresstayintheundergrowth,burningold leaf litter and invasive species. The fires diminish insect populations,andreducetheamountofundergrowth,allowing nativespeciesandnewseedlingsabetterchanceatgettingspace andnutrientstogrow.Prescribedburningwasprimarilyapplied byIndigenouspeopleontheWestCoastandtheGreatPlainsIn someplaces,suchfiresevencreatedentirenewecosystems,suchas theheadlandprairiescreatedandmaintainedbytheNechensein theirsalmonbeaconceremonies ceremonieswherefireswereset intheheadlandsnearriverstocallsalmonin,welcomingthemto theriversnearbywheretheywerealoudtorunwithoutbeing harvestedforseveraldaysbeforefishingbegan.Unfortunately,the particularsalmonbeaconsthatcreatedtheseheadlandsareno longerlit,astheNechenseweredecimatedbysmallpoxand measlesinthe1830s.
Thefiresdofarmorethanjusteliminateharmfulundergrowth theyareimportanttotheecosystem,manypartsofwhicharefire reliant Thesalmon,forwhomthebeaconswereset,areinfact drawnuptherivers,asthesmokecanreducesunlightenoughto cooltheriverafewdegrees,makingithospitabletosalmoninthe heatofsummertime.Therearetreesthathaveevolvedsothattheir conesdon’topenandreleaseseedsunlesstheyareburnt.The burningprovidesnutrientsandspaceforseedlings,andallofthe treesandplantsintheseecosystemsareevolvedtocopewithfire, meaningthatthefirekillsinvasiveswhilebenefitingtherestofthe ecosystem
Notonlydoesburningcontinuesuchprocesses,itmakesnatural resourcesavailableByburningleaflitterandoldacorns,the
Karuk,whohavelongusedprescribedburningandcontinuetodo sotoday,makefreshacornsfareasiertoharvest Thefirescause basketrymaterialstogrowstrongerandthusmoreusableIthelps providefortheland,whichinturnprovidesforthepeople
Thefiredoesoneotherimportantthing:itpreventslargerforest firesfromhappeningbyremovingfuel.Itisbecomingknown todayasafirefightingmethod awaytostopthebigfiresthat havebeenragingmoreandmorefrequently.However,thereare manyissueswiththisoutlook.Itdoesn'tviewthefireasafriend thewaytheKarukdo,butratherassomethingtofear,something tobefought IfwecanfollowtheKarukandotherIndigenous peoplesthatusefirethisway,creditingthemwiththeirincredible knowledge,andlearntorespectandlovefire,itbecomespossible toonceagainuseitasapracticeofstewardshipandrespectforthe land,ratherthanadesperatemeasuretostopthefiresthatrage fromalackoftheverysamething fire.
Therearesomepracticesthathaven’tbeenappropriated,let aloneappreciatedbythoseotherthanIndigenouspeoples.These practicescouldhaveanincredibleimpactontheland,including theideaoftheHonorableHarvest.TheHonorableHarvestisa blanket name for the various teachings that govern how Indigenouspeopletakeresourcesfromtheland Itvariesfrom group to group as the ecosystem alters, but there are many conceptsthatremainsimilar RobinWallKimerer,aPotawatomi womanandbotanist,wrotethesedowninherbookBraiding Sweetgrass:
Know the ways of the ones who take care of you, so that you may take care of them Introduce yourself Be accountable as the one who comes asking for life
Continued from page 16
Ask permission before taking Abide by the answer
Never take the first Never take the last Take only what you need Take only that which is given Never take more than half Leave some for others Harvest in a way that minimizes harm. Use it respectfully. Never waste what you have taken. Share. Give thanks for what you have been given Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken Sustain the ones who sustain you, and the earth will last forever
TheHonorableHarvestprovidesawaytotakelife,ashumans mustdotosurvive,whiledoingtheleastharmpossibleInmany cases,harvestingbenefitstheecosystemandpopulationofthe being that is harvested. Unfortunately, when Europeans saw Indigenous people harvesting, they didn't understand; they thoughtthattheIndigenouswerewastingavailableresourcesby leavingthemunharvested,notasparticipatinginrespectand conservationoftheland.
Moreover,theHonorableHarvesthasatendencytobenefitthe populationbeingharvestedmorethansimplybeingleftalone would; the harvest makes sure the population continues for generationstocomeTheMenomineeareaverygoodexampleof this:theyarepeopleoftheforest,choosingtomakemoney throughthelumberindustry.Ratherthanusingthedestructive techniques of conventional modern forestry, they follow the HonorableHarvest.Theyonlytaketheold,sick,dyingtrees,and movethroughtheforest,spreadingthisharvestoveralargearea tominimizedamage.Bydoingso,theyreducethespreadof disease, open space for new trees, and maintain a diverse ecosystemThetreesaremorethanlumber theyprovidehomes formanyspecies,sequestercarbon,cleantheairandwater, preventerosion,andareavaluableecosystem Asaresultofthe Harvest,theforestontheMenomineereservationissomuch morevibrantthatthebordersofthereservationarevisibleona satelliteimage.
HereinIthaca,therearemanypatchesofwildleeksthatare dwindlingawaybecausepeoplearesoexcitedtofindthemthat theydon’tfollowtheHonorableHarvest.Theseplantswould continuetothriveifpeoplelookedtoseeifthey’dalreadybeen harvested,askedpermissiontotake,lookedforanysignthatthe patchwasunabletosupportaharvest,anddidn'ttakemorethan halfAbidingbyevenafewrulesoftheHonorableHarvestmakes suchadifference
Anotherpracticethatoughttobeappreciatedandimplemented ispolycropping.Polycroppingisthepracticeofgrowingtwoor morefoodplantstogetherinthesameplaceatthesametime. Theseplantsworktogethertogrow.Polycroppingmaintains biodiversitybyavoidingmassiveswathsofthesameplant and thusalsoreducesthespreadofdisease,makingithardertoloseall ofyourcropItallowsforgreaterspatialefficiency,andmakesit possibletogrowmoretypesoffood (Thiscanmeangrowing
completelydifferentplantsnexttoeachother,orplantingmany speciesofthesamefoodplant.)Often,Indigenouspeopledidboth ofthesethings.
AfairlywellknownexampleofpolycroppingistheThreeSisters beans,corn,andsquashTheywereandarecommonfoodstaples formanypeople,primarilyinCentralandNorthAmerica,inpart duetothegreatvarietyinspeciesfromhumancultivationofthe ThreeSistersinmanydifferentclimates Somevarietiescanbe plantedsixinchesdeep,andsproutwithnoissueatall,survivingon onlyafewinchesofrainperyear.TheThreeSistersaregrown togetherformanyreasons.Corn,beans,andsquash,betweenthem, haveallofthenecessarynutrientsforabalanceddiet,makingthem theidealcombinationoffoodstogrow.Additionally,theybenefit eachotherintheirendeavortogrowCorngrowstallandsteady, sproutingfirstandprovidingbeanswithatrellisBeans,inturn,fix nitrogen avitalelementpresentinmanyfertilizers inthesoil, preventingitfrombecomingdepletedBeanleavesfillinthegaps betweenthecornleaves,usingspaceeffectivelywithoutdisrupting theotherplant.Squashsprawlsacrosstheground,fillinginthe availablespacethere.Itsbigleavescovertheground,suppressing weedsandkeepingwaterfromevaporatingfromthesoil.
AnotherexampleofpolycroppingistheHawaiianconceptof foodforests.IndigenousHawaiianpeopleusedtoliveoffofwhat theycalltreefood foodfromtheforests,anincrediblydiverseand abundantdietThisdietincludedmanytypesoffruittrees,suchas breadfruitandbananas,aswellasgroundgrownplantseatenfor theirrootsandtubers,suchasyams,taro,andturmeric
TheHawaiianislandswereinvadedbytheUnitedStates, destroying Indigeous sovereignty. In 1878, Indigenous land practiceswerebannedbyChristianmissionaries.Notonlydidthis stopthepeopleofHawaiifrompracticingtheircultureandwhat themissionariesperceivedasreligion,italsoopenedagatefor ecosystem destruction. No longer were the diverse, abundant forestsmaintainedastheprimarysourceoffood Thetreesofthe highlandswerecutdowntomakeaplaceforcolonizerstograze cattle Monocropping of plants, many of which were poorly adaptedfortheclimate,tookoverSinglespeciesofsugarcaneand pineappleweregrownenmasse,andthecoffeeindustrydestroyed thebreadfruitbelt,abandofclimateinwhichthetreethrived.On theirown,allofthesecropswereincrediblysusceptiblenotjustto disease,butalsotostormsanddrought.Bycontrast,thefoodforests maintainedbyIndigenousHawaiianswerediverseinbothtypesof plantsandspecificspecies.Theforeststrappedmoisture,causinga lowerimpactontheenvironmentthancurrentdaycrops,andwere farmoreresistanttostormsTheymadefoodavailableyearround, withdifferentcropsripeningatdifferenttimes
Today,agroupofIndigenouspeopleinHawaiiisworkingon makingfoodforestsavailableagain,mostlyonasmallerscale: backyards.Thegroupworkswithinzoninglimits,tryingtoregain foodsovereignty,andprovidefoodsecurityinthecaseofadisaster thatmakesfoodunavailablethroughthecommonmodernmeans. ThereisalsoanEthnobotanicalGarden,wherethesameconcepts areupheld.Afterall,thepracticeofpolycroppinghasbenefited
Indigenouspeoplesformillenia Now,polycroppingcanstillbe usedtoimproveproduceandproduction,strengthenbiodiversity, decreasefertilizeruse,andstopdiseasefromdecimatingcrop populations.
TheseareonlyafewexamplesoflandpracticesofIndigenous Peoples. There are many more, and several of them remain incrediblyapplicabletoday.Afterall,IndigenousAmericanPeoples havelivedfarclosertothislandthanmostcurrentdayAmericans do,andthusknowhowtocareforitSomeoftheirideasareused insomecapacity,butmostofthemgounrecognized,ifusedatall Now,asmanyofustrytofixthedamagegenerationsofpeople havedonetotheland,itislongoverdueforustoturnto Indigenouspeoplefortheirknowledge.Itisimportantthatthese peoplearerecognisedfortheiringenuity.Therearenumerous waystodothis:takemoretimetolearn,spreadinformationin yourcommunity,writetopolicymakers,orwritetoIndigenous organizationslookingtomakechange.Therearemanyformsof mediamadebyIndigenousPeoplethemselveswhereonecanlearn muchmoreItisvitalthatwetaketimetolearnaboutIndigenous practices, and credit the people who have so long gone unrecognized
Inthepicture,asymbolandvariousvegetablesaredrawnThe symbolrepresentsthetribesandthevegetablesrepresentthe ThreeSisters corn,squash,andbeans.Thisimageissupposed tocombinethemandtotellthestoryoftheHaudenosauneeThe coloralsohasmeaning purple,forexample,representslossand grief
TheHaudenosauneebelievedthatthecorn,beans,andsquash weregiftsfromtheGreatSpirit.Researchershavetracedthis agricultural method to about five thousand years ago. Each individualplantprotectsandsupportstheothers.Theyareusually growntogetherandareagoodsourceoffoodfortheNative people.Intercroppingstrategieshavebeenamuchbetterwaythan thestandardmonoculturefields Thethreeplantshaveaperfect dietandfoodbalancefornutrition Cornprovidescarbohydrates andbeansarerichinprotein Squashishighinvitaminsand mineralsThecornprovidestallstalksforbeanstoclimbsothey arenotcompetingwithsquashvines.Thelargeleavesofthe squashprovideshadethatretainssoilmoistureandpreventsweeds. Intercroppingisinsurancetotheyield,forifonefailsonestillhas twosufficientcrops.Allthreecanbeusedasdryfoodstorageto lastthroughthecoldermonths.
TheHiawathaWampumBeltwasapurpleandwhitebelt whichwasthefirstWampumBeltevertobecreatedThsbeltwas usedtocreatepeaceandunitybetweenthefivenations(nowsix Nations)ThenationsatthetimearenowknownastheMohawk, Seneca,Onondaga,Cayuga,andOneidaHiawathawasoncethe chief of the Onondaga tribe and helped create the Iroquois Confederacy. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Confederacy,thusformingtheSixNations.Between1570and 1600, Dekanawidah who was a Huron persuaded Hiawatha intopeaceandanewconfederation.WampumBeltwasusedto createpeaceandunitywhenthestoriesaretold.Wampumbeads aremadeoutofquahogclamsandareusuallyhandcrafted But wampumbeadsaresometimesmadeofplasticduetothelackof production People sometimes think wampum is a type of currency,butitisnot;wampumwasanitemtobetradedamong Indigenouspeople
I’vebeenalongtimeenjoyerofhistory,andworkinginthe archivesletsmeseeanewthestoriedhallsofIHSstraightfrom thestudentswhohavecomebeforeus Theyallowusto
experiencetheworldastheydid,throughtheirmindsandideas thatsurvivelongaftertheyhavegraduated.Please,aboveallelse, enjoy!
November 1919
ROOM201
DearBoys:
Wepresumebynowthatyouhaveheardall(?)thedetailsofour famous“baby”party.Still,wehavedecidedtotellyouaboutit straight.Itwassurelyyourmisfortunethatyouwerenotthereto see“Kay”Fisher.Wealljoininsendingyouoursympathyexcept “Kay,” who is bashful and doesn’t want her name in print Nevertheless,shewasthereinfullregaliaandasightforthegods “Happy”HeardalsoaddedtothegeneraleffectButwe’regetting awayfromthepoint
Howyouwouldhaveenjoyedourprogram!HelenCovell
charmedus,asusual,byherwonderfulperformanceonthepiano Wehadalotoflong,difficultpiecesspoken,tooWealldidact reallygrownup,but reallygrownup,but ssh!we’regoingto tellonthechaperonsTheyrefusedtodoanythingexcepteat“all daysuckers”andtheywouldn’tevenstoplongenoughtohave theirpicturestaken.However,youcanseeusallinit,dollsand dolls’carriages,too.
Weregrettosaythatwemissedacertainyounggentlemanwho declaredhewascomingasthephotographer’sassistant.Perhapshe forgotthepasswordHardluck,Norm!
OH!Wemusthurry Thewk Editorofthiswk Paperwill censorourtouchingfarewellifwedon’tNextwe’regoingtolet yousufferwhilewetellyouallabouttheeatsWehadtwogreat bigmarketbasketsofthebestsandwicheseverandmoresalad mightygoodpickles,too.AskMarionB.howshelikedthepickled peaches.Wemightaddthattheseweretheonlypickled“peaches” present.Andoh!yes.Therewasangelfoodcake.Bartiecutitand wesuspectthatonlyabouthalfeverfounditswaytothegym.But nevermind.Wepromisednottotellonher.
Therewereonehundredsuckerstobeginwithbutthechaperons atehalfandtheotherfiftydisappearedearlierinthedayasthe committeeoftwowereseenfrequentlytoslinkintoThe Tattler
From the Archives: Excerpts from The Tattler Issues of Yesteryear Continued from page 20
officeandemergewithaguiltylookandtheirhandsbehindthem. Thecommitteehadalsohiddenfivepoundsofchocolatesinthe deskanditwassurprisinghowmanytimesitwasnecessarytogo inandseeifyouboyshadfoundthem Well!Well!Theafore mentionedEdhascutusshort
Goo’bye,boys, THEGIRLS
bystudentsgraduatingfromhighschool.Itisoftenhardforboys andgirlswhoexpecttoentercollegetodecideuponwhichcourse theyexpecttopursuethroughlife.Nevertheless,itisnaturalfor themtoatlengthchooseacertainprofession
June 1896
Towedornottowed,thatisthequestion Whether‘tisnoblerasoldmaidstosuffer Thepangsandheartachesofoursinglefortune Ortotakearmsagainstaseaoftroubles, Andbyproposingendthem?
Tocry tosleep tosnore
Andinoursleeptodreamwemend Thetrousersandthesoiled,manlysocks Thatfleshwilltearthrough ’tisanoccupation Devoutly(?)tobewished.Todust tosweep, Towash,perchancetoscrub,ayethere’stherub, Forindomesticlifewhatscrapsmaycome WhenwemayscuffletillStJacob’sOil MusthealourwoundsHere’stherespect Thatmakescalamityofspinsterhood, Forwhowouldbearthewrinkleandgrayhairsoftime Thematron’sscorn,thebachelor’scontumely, Thepangsofdespisedlove,themen’sdelay, Theinsolenceofmaidens,thespurns
Thatpatientspinstersfromtheunworthybear; Whensheherself,mighthereapartnertake ByaLeapYearpopWhowouldburdensbear Tomournandpineunderasinglelife Butforthedeadofsomethingaftermarriage Theundiscoveredcountryfromwhosebourne Nospinstere’erreturns, puzzlesthewill Andmakesusratherbearthoseillswehave Thanflytoothersthatweknownotof. Thuscautiondothmakecowardsofusall Andthusourlastresourceformatrimony, Shallvanishwithourleapyearprivilege, Andpropositionsofgreatpithandmoment Inviewofthisareleftfore’erunsaid Andlosethenameofaction
Thequestion,“WhatshallIdowithmylife?”isfrequentlyasked
ThechangingtimeshavebroughtanewfeatureintotheUnited States The twentieth century has been named “The Age of Professionalism”Therearemanyprofessionalistswhofeelthat theirparticularvocationistheonlyworthwhileone Itismost absurdtohavesuchanopinion.Theresultofthisopinionisthat theyareunabletoconverseintelligentlyuponanyothersubject than their own particular profession, be it current events or otherwise.Thus,thereisagreatpossibilityofbecomingnarrow minded.Iamsurethereisnothingmoreunpleasantthananarrow mindedperson
YouwillrecallinthereadingofSirRogerdeCoverlythatthe peopleoftheearlyeighteenthcenturytopicswerediscussedThis wasindeedagreathelpinbroadeningmen’smindfortheycould seetheirmistakesclearlyafterthediscussionended Weshould havesomethingsimilartothisinourmodernday.
However,thepointisthatweshouldstudytobesomethingin life,buthaveaninterestinallarounddevelopment.Wehaveall heardthestatement,“Togetherwestand,dividedwefall.”Arewe goingtoworktogetherorshallwechoosetofall?
ThestudyofFrenchisanawfulpuzzle Itdoesitsbest,ourbrainstobefuzzle NowtherearesomethingsI’vewantedtoask, I’mgladthatI’vegottenagoodchanceatlast.
Ifthefeminineof“beau”is“belle,” Whyisn’tafemininehata“chopelle”? We’retoldatfirst,that“dans”means“in,” Buttosay“dansPans”isconsideredasin
“Vevirde”and“depuisquard,” AretwothingsIsimplycannotunderstand Ihaveanawfultimewithsubjunctiveconjugation Andtheteacherhashysterics,fromoriginaltranslation.
AtaccentsI’manawfulshot. Whentheyarethere,Iputthemnot. IfIloadmypaperupwiththem, Theteachermarksthemoffagain
Mostverbstake“avoir,”sometake“ete” Vevir,aller,mourir,andraitre Idiomsjustdrivemewild Besidesthem,vocabulary’smild;
Thankgoodnessdeclensionhasnotcomeyet Butthatsomethingworsewill,isaprettysafebet.
Continued from page 21
IfIshouldevergotoFrance, Believeme,I’dtakeanawfulchance, ForthewayIspeaktheirlanguagefair, They’dneverrecognizeitthere
American Beauty,abrillianttaleofpassion,loneliness,andyouth regained,is,inmyopinion,thebestfilmoftheyear.Thoughit recognizestheabsurdityandemptinessofourcontemporarylives, thisfilmisstillabletoconfrontourstandardsofhappiness,love, andsuccessStirringupawiderangeofemotions,itisoftenvery funny,andyetdesperatelysadatthesametime KevinSpaceymasterfullyportraysLesterBurnham,asuburban fatherwhoisdisgustedwithhisthanklessjobandtrappedina lovelessmarriagetoCarolyn(AnnetteBenning),astatusseeking real estate agent. Jane (Thora Birch), their moody teenage daughter,despisesthemboth.Lester,realizingthathehaslosthis fire,decidesitisnevertoolatetoregainit.Hisfantasiesabout Jane’sbestfriend,Angela,theblondseductressplayedbyMena Suvari,spurshimtotrytorecapturehisyouth Hequitshisjob, pumpsup,getshigh,listenstorockandroll,andbluntlytells everyonewhathethinks
KevinSpaceyhasalreadybeenmentionedasanOscarcontender, buteventheminorrolesarefascinatingandwellacted.Thereis intensityanddepthinallofthecharacters:inLesterandhisfamily, inAngela,whoismuchmorethanmeetstheeye,inRickyFitts (WesBentley),theeccentric‘boynextdoor,’inRicky’sexmarine father,andhisbroken,beatendownmother.
American Beauty ispowerful,touching,andinspirationalItdoesn’t recycletheplotsfrompastfilmsandleavestheaudiencetruly satisfied
Being John Malkovich
Whenwatchingmovies,acommongripeIhaveisunoriginality: “Yeah,thatwasagoodmovie,”I’llsay,“butIcouldhavethought ofthat.”OnefilmthatdidnotmakemesaythiswasSpikeJonze’s surrealepicmeditationonescapism,puppetry,andtrulybizarre lovetriangles, Being John Malkovich.
AcompletelyunrecognizableJohnCusackstarsasCraig,anout ofworkpuppeteerCraigliveswithhiswife,Lotte,playedbyan equallyunglamorousCameronDiaz,ananimalobsessedpetstore employee Asthemoviebuilds,Craigappliesfor,andgets,ajob filingpapersonthe71/2thfloorofanoldbuilding,designedfor the“small”wifeofthemillionairewhoconstructedit.Soonafter, hefallsforacoworkernamedMaxine,whodoesnotfallforhim. Ataroundthispoint,themovietakesaturnfromthesomewhat strangetothedownrightbizarre.Craig,movingafilingcabinet,
finds a secret passageway. He does what any redblooded Americanpuppeteerwoulddo,andentersthepassageway.Itleads insidetheconsciousnessofJohnMalkovich,starofstageandscreen andallaroundcreepyguyAfterfifteenminutesofMalkovichness, CraigisdepositedoutsidetheNewJerseyturnpike Thingsget muchweirderfromhere,butIwon’ttellyoutoomuchotherthan thatthereisaclimacticchasescenethroughMr.Malkovich’s subconscious.Andthatamonkey’schildhoodtraumaplaysakey roleintheplot.Yougettheidea.
IncaseIhavenotmadethisclear,BeingJohnMalkovichisa verystrangefilm.Whilethereisamessageaboutthehumandesire tobesomeoneelse,andthedangeroussituationsitcancause,this aspectseemsalmosttackedonYougetthefeelingdirectorJonze, knownpreviouslyfororiginalmusicvideoslikeWeezer’s“Buddy Holly,”ismoreinterestedinplayingwithhisscript’sconceptsand characters than actually saying anything meaningful, or even tellingacoherentstorySpeakingofwhich,itmustbementioned thatthejumbledending,inwhichthefilmattemptstomakequasi logicalsenseoutofeverythingthathashappened,leavessomething tobedesired.Despitethis,thefilmgetsbyonthesheerweirdness oftheseconcepts.CusackandDiazareconvincinglyquirky,and JohnMalkovichdoesanexcellentjobportrayinghimself.This movie’soriginalityimpressedmeinwaysthatfarbettermovies have been failing to lately I was amused, provoked, and entertainedbyBeingJohnMalkovich,butI’llbewaitingforSpike Jonzetocomeoutwithamoviethatheputshisheartinto JonahGold'00
ThefirstruleofFightClubisyoudonottalkaboutFightClub. ThesecondruleofFightClubisthatyoudoNOTTALKabout FightClub.Thentherearerulesthreethrougheight,butwho reallycaresaboutthoseStarringEdwardNorton,oneofthebest actorsinHollywood,andBradPitt,oneoftheworstactorsin Hollywood,FightClubisamentalmindscrewthatwillleaveyou stuckinyourseat Whenyoufinallydogetup,youwillfeel drunk,andwanttothrowupAfteryouthrowupyouwilleither say,“byGod,thatwasthebestmovieIeversaw,”or“holycrap, thatshouldbebannedfromtheatres.”Personally,Ithinkthat’sa markofafinemovie.
Icannotbegintopraisethismovieenough.Firstoff,Edward Nortonisseriouslyoneofthebestactorsinthebusiness.Heshould havewonbestactorforAmericanHistoryX,butthatlittleItalian clownstoleitFightClubisanuttertourdeforceforNorton,and solidifieshimintheamazingcatagorywithDenzelWashington andJohnnyDeppAsforBradPitt,Iwasamazedatthequalityof hisperformanceHehasfoundhiscalling,andit’stoplaypsychos Let’slookathiscareer:in12Monkeysheruled,inLegendsofthe Fall,hesucked,inInterviewwithaVampireheruled,inSeven YearsinTibethesucked.Doweseeapattern?Whenhe’sa psycho,he’sgood,whenhe’snot,hesucks.Luckilyheplaysa
Continued from page 22
psychoinFightClub.
Really,it’sacourseinPhilosophy.Ifyou’relookingforit,you canseeahellofalotofCamus,asmatteringofKant,andeven someKierkgaard,nottomentionawholebaseofDescartes But whywouldyoubelooking?Youreyesaregoingtobetoodazed to take notice A complete sensory overload, Fight Club is AmericanBeautyampedupandshoveddownyourthroat.Notfor thelighthearted,itmakesitspointthroughshock,andpurepower ofemotion.Insteadofleadingthroughitbythehand,ittosses twistsaknifeinyourstomachuntilyou’recryingforittostop.But that’sthepoint.That’swhatmakesitsogood.Notforwhatyou see,butforwhatyoufeel.Bythetimeyourealizedthatyouwere beingscrewedwith,it’stoolate
IhaveyettotellyouwhathismovieisaboutI’mnotgoingto either It’snotimportant No,it’snotaboutboxing Yes,itis violentNo,thepointisnotthatweshouldallbeatthetaroutof eachotherAndyes,itisviolentThat’sallyouhavetoknowThis isrequiredwatchingforallthinkingmen.
JimmyMoody'00
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate Indigenous cultures and traditions, while simultaneously acknowledging the painful history of violence they have experienced and the contemporary challenges they face. Here are some ways to honor Indigenous heritage this month and every month.
1.
Recognize the land you are on: Ithaca is located on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary land of the Gayogohó:nǫˀ People (also called the Cayuga Nation), one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. In order to recognize this land, you might take the time to research and discuss local Indigenous history or simply share a land acknowledgment before a meal.
2. Learn about and involve yourself with local Indigenous activism: The Cayuga Nation has been fighting for years to remove Clint Halftown, the current tribal representative, from his position of federal power after a series of armed raids, seized homes, and destruction of ceremonial sites. Halftown’s removal would move the Gayogohó:nǫˀ closer to a formal recognition of sovereignty by New York State. A QR code for the Gayogohó:nǫˀ website is provided below, where an online fundraiser to support their sovereignty can be found. Additionally, there is a station set up in the IHS Library where students can write letters to government officials in favor of Gayogohó:nǫˀ goals, such as Halftown’s removal.
3. Attend events focused on Native American stories: There are many events taking place in and around Ithaca during November in honor of Native American Heritage Month. One of these is an Autumn Dance Celebration at Queens Farm on November 13, hosted by the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers. The event will feature a variety of Indigenous dances, as well as a Native American Craft and Food Market (more information can be found by scanning the second QR code included below).
4. Engage with Native American authors: The IHS Library has an extensive collection of Indigenous authors, such as Louise Erdrich, Tommy Orange, and Joy Harjo. Reading their works is a great way to learn about Indigenous culture and history!
OnOctober21,worldwidepopsensationTaylorSwift released her much awaited album, Midnights She explainedhowshewrotethesesongsonthirteensleepless nights,andfromlisteningtothem,it’snothardtobelievethatAll IcansayisthatTaylorSwiftneedstogetsomesleep!
Withrisingartistsstealingthespotlightbyhavingmusic breakthroughs especiallyinpop it’snotasurprisethatTaylor Swiftmighthavefelttheneedtostepuphergameforthefans Thismeansshemayhavetaken Midnights asanopportunitytotry somethingnew.
Unlikeherpastcolorfulpopandcatchycountrymusic, Midnights hasalower,moreelectronicsoundwithatempothat will always keep you guessing. The lyrics are surprisingly depressinganddull;it’snotintendedtobeblastedfullvolumeona sunnydaywhenthingsaregoingright
Oftentimes,theartindustrywillpressurethemostfamous celebritiesintocomingupwithanotherbigideabecauseitmakes thestudiogoodmoneyAtfirst,futurestarslikeTaylorSwiftaren’t pushedintocontinuingtomakenewalbumsatlightningspeed, andthat’swhatmadethemsogood.Swift’ssongshavealwaysbeen deeplypersonalandcarefullymade,havingrelatablelyricsthatcan beupliftingorheartwrenching eitherway,hermusicalways createsaneffectoneveryoneintheroomwhenit’sturnedon.
Butnow withTaylorSwiftbeingeasilyinthetopsingersofall time shecan’taffordtostopmakingsongswhenshewantstoTo me, Midnights justdoesn’tsoundgenuineorwilling Itsounds morelikeTaylorSwift had toputsomethingtogetherbecauseshe’s notallowedtosimplydisappearfromthespotlight
Ithinkthatthemostcrucialreasonwhy Midnights justdoesn't liveuptoexpectationsisbecausethemusicisn’tasgoodas previous songs by Swift for example, “Love Story”, “Blank Space”,and“IKnewYouWereTrouble”haveallsmashedrecords becauseoftheamazingsongwritingandmusic.Butsongslike “Glitch”and“Labyrinth”donthavemuchofasound,andwhen thereisone,thetempoisallovertheplace Ididn’tfindanyof thesesongsremotelycatchy
Asforthetwomusicvideos “AntiHero”and“Bejeweled” theywerewelldone For“AntiHero”,itwasinterestingtosee threedifferentversionsofTaylorhelpingeachotherout;itlooked liketheyrepresenteddifferentsidesofher.ThefirstTayloris strugglingwithwhatlookstobestressandconfusion.Thesecond Taylorknocksonherdoorandismorecareless,enthusiastic.She doesn’tmindsayingthetruth,whichisthatshe’stheproblem. Theybecomefriends,andthesecondTaylorteachesthefirstone tohavefun Then,there’sthethirdTaylor,whoisgiantand representsthelyrics:“AndI'mamonsteronthehill Toobigto hang out, slowly lurching toward your favorite city Pierced throughtheheart,butneverkilled”Shemayfeelleftoutand alone
Asfor“Bejeweled”;theentirevideowasstunning Fromthe classicplotofCinderellainthebeginningtothebeautifuljeweled gowns,thevideodefinitelypulledmeinItwasrefreshingtosee notjustamusicvideo,butonethattoldtheviewersaclearstory
Manydifferentreviewswerepostedonlineregarding Midnights. SomecallTaylorSwifta“mastermind”andotherscallhera“hot mess.”Theimportantthingtorealizeisthatthiswidelyacclaimed popstarhassetthebar very high,andneedstokeepitthere.Maybe Midnights wasn’tbadlydone,butitalsowasn’tdonewellenough tosurpassherpreviousalbums,whichwasthewholepurpose
Luckily,TaylorSwifthasspentyearsbuildingupherreputation (sheevenhasanalbumcalled Reputation),andIbelievethather recentalbumwillsucceedbecauseofthis(it’salreadybroken Spotifyrecords)Shewon’tlosetheadmirationoftheworldAllI cansayisthatTaylorSwifthasdoneanamazingjobwithher songwritingcareer,andhopefullyshecancontinuetodosointhe future,evenwiththepressuretoconstantlybereleasingnewand excitingthings.
Trigger warnings: Mentions of cannibalism, serial killers, racism, and homophobia.
Themorbidityoftruecrimehasanundeniableallure,as evidentinthecountlesspodcasts,youtubechannels,books, anddocumentariesdevotedtothesubjectoverthelastfew decadesThoughthepopularizationofthetitle‘truecrime’isfairly recent,ourfascinationwithitisfarfromnew.Unthinkablecrimes havealwayscaptivatedpeopletheideathatapersoncouldcommit such terrifying violence as Jeffery Dahmer did is practically incomprehensible.Audienceshistoricallyandpresentlyfindserial killersanespeciallyintriguingsubject.TaketheLondonkiller knownasJacktheRipper,whomadeheadlinesinthe1880s and stilldoes,morethanacenturylater
Nowthisinteresthasaname:truecrime Truecrimehas explodedinpopularity,andalargecommunity,whichhungered fornewcontent,formedaroundtheirsharedinterestinthesecases Netflixsawanopportunityhere,andalongcamethelandslideof ‘dramatized’truecrimeshows.Dahmer Monster:TheJeffrey DahmerStoryisthemostrecentintheseeminglyneverending avalancheofdocumentaries,movies,andshowsaboutthecannibal.
Whilethereismuchtobesaidaboutthecontentofthemovie itself,thereasonDahmer Monster:TheJeffreyDahmerStoryhas beenreceivingnegativeattentionistheblatantdisregardithasfor thefamiliesofvictims ShirleyHughes(whosesonTonyHughes wasmurderedbyDahmer)aswellasRitaIsbell(whosebrother, ErrolLindsaywasalsomurderedbyDahmerin1991)haveboth beenvocalwiththeirdiscomfortabouttheshow.Ritahasexpressed herdistastefortheshow,tellingtheInsiderthat“IfeellikeNetflix should’veaskedifwemindorhowwefeltaboutmakingit.They didn’taskmeanything.Theyjustdidit…ButI’mnotmoney hungry,andthat’swhatthisshowisabout,Netflixtryingtoget paid.”Theshowfeelslikeashamelesscashgrab.Andseeingas Netflixdidn’treachouttoanyofthevictims’families(asfaraswe know) despitehavingmorethanenoughresourcestodoso I believeit’ssafetosaythattheshowwasnotmadewiththevictims’ bestinterestsatheartNetflixmightarguethatshowrunnerRyan Murphyexpresslyattemptedtopresenttheeventsfromthevictims’ perspective.WhilethismightdifferentiateitfromotherDahmer films,ifthepurposewastoshinealightonandrespectthevictims, the families would have been consulted. Additionally, Netflix mighthavedonatedtothecauseRyanMurphyclaimedtheycared sostronglyabout.
ThoughMonster:TheJeffreyDahmerStorydoeshighlighthow homophobiaandracismallowedDahmertogetawaywithas muchashedid,andIdoappreciatethetimeitspendsonthe victims,it,likemanyoftheotherpiecesoftruecrimemedia,was madeforentertainmentandmonetaryreasonsThoughI’vemostly highlightednegativethingssofar,Idon’tthinkalltruecrime
showsanddocumentariesarebad.Suchshowscanhelpeducate potentialvictims,andspreadinformationaboutmethodskillers mayuse.Additionally,caseshavebeenreopenedduetooutrageon theinternet,andpeoplewhomayhavebeenfalselyaccusedare gettingasecondchance It’sobvious,however,thatthisisn’tthe purposeoftheshow EricPerry,thecousinofDahmer’sfirst victim,wrotethattheshowwas“retraumatizingoverandover again,” continuing to say, “How many documentaries/movies/ showsdoweneed?”Enjoyingtruecrimedoesnotmakeyouabad person.Creatingtruecrimecontentdoesnotmakeyouabad personeither.ThetalentedactorsonDahmer Monster:The JeffreyDahmerStoryarenotbadpeople.ButIthinkit’simportant tounderstandtheimpactoftruecrimemediaandtheeffectsit mighthaveonthefamilies
Ichallengeanyofyouwhowatchorlistentotruecrimeto rememberthenamesofthevictimsIfyoucanrememberaname lke Jeffery Dahmer, you can remember the names of Curtis Straughter, Steven Mark Hicks, Richard Guerrero, Jeremy Weinberger,JamieDoxtator,RickyBeeks,OliverLacy,Errol Lindsey,KonerakSinthasomphone,ErnestMiller
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AnthonyHughes,JosephBradehoft,MattTurner,AnthonySear, DavidC Thomas,andEdwardW Smith Victims’namesare oftenoverlooked,lumpedtogether,orforgottenIfyouchooseto consumetruecrimecontent,considerfactcheckingshowsand youtubevideos.Trytofindinterviewswithfamilymembers.Most importantly, make sure you remember that the victims were people.BeforeyousympathizewithkillerslikeJefferyDahmer (likesometruecrimefansdidaftertheNetflixshowcameout) sympathizewiththevictims,andtheirfamilies,whodeserveour respectforwhattheywentthrough.Iwillnottellyouwhatto enjoy,andIdoubtIcouldstopanyonefromwatchingtheshowif theyreallywanted,butIdohopeyou’llconsiderthereallife impacttruecrimehas,ashighlightedinthisarticle
SomeRelatedresourcestocheckout/donateto: MissingandMurderedIndigenousWomen&Girls(MMIWG): https://airc.ucsc.edu/resources/mmiwg.html
Investigatingcoldcases:https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/applying moderninvestigationmethodssolvecoldcases
ByCOCOHAMILTON
Trigger warnings: mentions of sexual assault, miscarraige, forced abortion, and child abuse
WhenyousearchMarilynMonroeontheinternet,the firstresultsyou’llgetdescribeherasa‘bombshell’ora "sexsymbol."Thesedescriptionsmightnotbewrong; shewasaprecusorofthesexualrevolutionofthe20thCentury, afterall,butshewasalsoanaccomplishedactor,anintelligent womanwhohadherownpersonallibrary,andaphilanthropist who, during her life, donated to a multitude of children’s charities Withherhorribledeathatsuchayoungage,Monroe becameasortofbeautifultragedy;thinkEvelynMcHalePeople wereand still are enraptured by her tragic tale Andrew Dominik,directorofthemovie Blonde,isoneofthem
ThemoviefollowsMonroethroughherentirelife,fromher foggychildhoodupuntilherdeath Andit’sprobablythemost misleading,miserable,andexploitativefilmI’veseeninmyentire life Asidefromtheblatant,undisguisedsexualizationofMarilyn Monroe andtherespectiveactorplayingher,AnaDeArmas themoviealsocontainsmany,many,gratuitousscenesofsexual assault.Someshotsinthemoviemademehavetopauseitandstep awaybecauseofhowgraphicanddisgustingtheywere,for absolutelynoreason.OneexampleofthiswaszoominginonAna DeArmas’bodyparts,andhavingherrefertoallofherromantic interestsas‘daddy’ Asfarasweknow,theseassaultsdidnot happeninreallife,sotheycertainlyweren’tincludedtomakethe filmrealisticMostoftherelationshipsandmanyofthetraumatic eventswerecompletelymadeupHowever,nowhereinthefilm doesitmakethatclear IfIdidn’tknowasmuchasIdoabout MarilynMonroe,Imighthavebelievedtheseeventsactually happened to her. The director, Andrew Dominik, is clearly indulginghimselfwithnoregardorrespectforMonroe’smemory. It’savulgarmisrepresentationofherthroughthemalegaze.
Muchofthefilmislikethis focusingonMarilyn’srelationship withmen,ratherthanMarilynherself.Themoviegivesgreat attentiontoherfictitiouspolyamourousrelationshipwithtwo fellowactorsCharlieChaplinJr.andEddyG.RobinsonJr.,her relationship with JFK, and with various directors The only relationship of any impact she has with a woman is in the beginningofthemovie,withhermother,whosheisabusedbyIn aninterview,AndrewDominikmadehisstanceonMonroevery clear,stating“IthinkMarilynwasaguy’sgirl Shewasaperson whowasextraordinarilyselfdestructive.”Themoviethatresultsis analmostthreehourlongfantasyofsexualizedvictimhoodwritten byamanwhoblamesMonroeherselfforhowpeopletreatedher.
Inaddition,thefilmalsoincludesanotsosubtlethemeofanti abortion.Inreallife,Marilynreallydidhavestruggleswith
miscarriagesandcouldn’tgivebirthinherlifeThefilmshowsher havinganabortionsoshecouldstarinamovieItthengoesonto showthedeadfetusspeakingtoherindreams,sayingthingssuch as“Youwon’tkillmeagain,willyou?”Thisscene,as misrepresentativeasitseems,isconsistentwithDominik’svictim blamingattitudeexpressedinhisinterviews.Later,Dominikshows Marilyn’smiscarriage,seeminglyblamingthisonheroverworking. Itinsinuatesthatsheistoblameforthis,whichisespecially offensiveanddisrespectfulbecauseMarilynsufferedfrom miscarriagesinreallife.Herlastpregnancyinthemovieisalsothe mostdisturbingShebecomespregnantafteranassault,andis forcedtogetanextrememlygraphic,forcedabortionInthefirst andlasttwoscenes,MarilynhasaflatstomachHowever,the moviewillzoominonherstomachandshowafullyformedfetus, andIthinkitisimportanttoclarifythatfetusesinearly developmentdonotlooklikethat.Nomatteryouropinionson abortion,falseinformationlikethatshouldnotbespread.
Thefactthatthismoviewasevengreenlitshocksme.Ihaven’t seenasinglepositivereviewofit.Idon’tknowifAndrew Dominikwastryingtobeedgy,orincludedtriggeringscenesfor shockeffect,butIwouldn’trecommendthemovietoanyoneIt amazesmethatHollywoodisstillabletoobjectifyandabuse MarilynsixtyyearsafterherdeathThismovieonlyhelpstothin thelinesbetweenMarilynherselfandthecharacterthatMarilyn playsShewasaperson,notapieceofmeatShewasintelligent andcaring,andhermemoryshouldbenothingbutrespected,not mockedlikeitisin Blonde.
It’snosecretthatcelebritieshavetransfixedthemindsofthe mediaandfansfordecades,butitisalsoknownthatmany publicationsandpeoplehavetakentheirloveforacelebrity toofar.Celebrities,becauseoftheirprofession,areusedtosharing morepersonalaspectsoftheirliveswithfansandonsocialmedia platforms.Unfortunately,thathasalsoinherentlycausedmanyof theirfollowerstofeelentitledtothecelebrities’personallives.Even internetcelebrities(suchasYouTubeandTikTokcreators)are subjugatedbytheparasocialrelationshipsthattheybuildwiththeir followers
TaylorSwiftisahugeexampleofafamouspersonbeing criticizedandspeculatedbyherfollowersThroughoutherentire career,everypublicrelationshipSwifthashadhasbeenpicked apart and watched closely by the media Many people also condemntheamountofromanticrelationshipsthesingerhasbeen inandevengoasfarastosaythattheonlysongs
sheeverwritesareaboutthosepastpartners.
LookingpastSwift’sformerrelationships,themediaandherfans have been speculating on her sexuality for a few years, and questioningwhethersheisorisn’talesbianorbisexualwoman WiththeannouncementofTaylorSwift’snewalbum,Midnights, manyofherfanshaveampeduptheirspeculationsonSwift’s sexuality.Manyofthesefansrefertothemselvesas“Gaylors.” TaylorSwiftisknownforherexpertiseinsongwritingandmany peopleenjoyhermusicbecauseofhercapacitytowritevery emotionallyricsthattheycanrelateto.Itisthissamewaythat manyofherqueerfanssearchwithinherlyricstofindindications ofherqueeridentity,regardlessofifsheactuallyispartofthe LGBTQIA+community Thoughthereisnothingwrongwith relatingtoamusician'slyrics,relatingtothemandforcingan identityonsaidmusician(thattheymaynothaveorbereadyto share publicly) are two very different things These sorts of speculationscanbeveryharmfultoaperson’sselfesteemand confidence,especiallyifthepersoninquestionisactuallyapartof thequeercommunityandnotreadytocomeout.
WhetherornotTaylorSwiftisapartoftheLGBTQIA+ communityisnotsomethingthatanyoneshouldbepublicly hypothesizingabout.Itcanbeverydamagingtospeculateonthese highlypersonalthings,regardlessofiftheyarefamousornotIn thiscase,it’salmostasifspeculatorsareforcingSwifttocomeout, whichisawrongthingtodoinofitself
ThoughTaylorSwiftisaverypopulardemonstrationofthe mediadisparagingacelebrity,sheissadlynottheonlymusicianto have their personal life and relationships be criticized and scrutinizedbythemedia.Anotherveryfamoussinger,Ariana Grande,facedsignificantbacklashaftertheverytragicpassingof MacMiller.GrandeandMillerhaddatedfromAugust2016to Mayof2018beforetheyannouncedtheirsplit.Atthetime,it wasn’tseenasthatbigofadeal outsideofthefactthatmanyof theirfansenjoyedtheirrelationship untillateMayof2018,when GranderevealedtotheworldthatsheandcomedianPeteDavidson hadbegundating
Shortlyafterthis,ArianaGrandereleasedthetracklistforher newalbumSweetener,withoneofsaidtracksbeingnamedafter PeteDavidson.ThiswaswhentherumorsthatGrandehadcheated onMillerreallystartedtobuildupsteam.Manyofherownfans wereaccusingherofcheating,butthesingershutdownthese rumorsbyreplyingtofans,“Ididn’tbutgooff.”
Fromwhatthepublicwasseeing,everythingseemedtobe goingfineinGrande’srelationshipandlife;herandDavidsonhad evengottenengagedinmidJuneThen,thedevastatingnewsof MacMiller’sdeathfromdrugoverdosebrokeonSeptember7, 2018 Theinternet,consumedbytheirgriefoflosingsucha talentedanddearlylovedyoungmusician,startedtoblameAriana GrandeforMiller'sdeath.CommentsonallformsofGrande’s socialmediacamefloodingin,sayingthatshewastoblamefor Miller’sdeathbecauseshewastheonethatendedtheirrelationship (supposedly because of Miller’s struggle with addiction). The commentsandtweetsgotsobadthatGrandefeltshehadtodisable
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commentsonherInstagramManypeoplethoughtthatitwas heartlessofhertoleaveMillerandthengoanddatePete Davidsonsosoonafter,butitisalsokeytorememberthatnone ofthesespectators(orsupposedfans)actuallypersonallyknewany ofthepeopleinvolvedinthissituation.JustbecauseGrande allegedlybrokethingsoffwithMillerandthenmovedonand begandatingsomeoneelse,doesn’tmeanthatsheistoblamefor Miller’sdeath.Hewasgrievingandtheworldjumpedonherand accusedherofbeingthereasonapersonshecaredfordeeplyhad died.
Itissituationslikethesethatdemonstratehowsomanypeople thinkthat,justbecausetheyfolloworenjoycertaincelebrities' work,theyaresomehowpersonallyconnectedtothemandknow whatgoesonintheirpersonallives,behindcloseddoors Someonebeingfamousdoesn’tmakethemanylessofahuman, thatisentitledtohavetheirpersonallifekeptoutofthemedia. Manythingsgooninrelationshipsthatpeopledon’twanttohave exposedtothepublic.Relationshipsareprivate,andnoonewants tohavemillionsofstrangersgivingtheiropinionsonmattersthat don’tconcernthem.
ThesheeramountofartclassesofferedatIHSisastounding, rangingfromvisualartclassestomusicandtotheaterThese classesaren’tjustwaysofearningthecredityouneedto graduate;theycanalsobeawaytoimproveoracquireskills,have anhourtoyourselfeverydaytodosomethingyouactuallyenjoy, releasestress,andmeetlikemindedindividuals Youmayhave neverevenheardofsomeoftheseclasses,soI'mheretoprovide youwithasmallpreviewofjustfiveofthedozenofuniqueart classesavailabletotakenextyear.SomeoftheseareclassesImyself havetaken,whileotherswerespokenhighlyoftomebyotherIHS students.Ourschoolalsooffersmanymusicandtheaterclasses, whichwehopetoexplorein The Tattler’sArtSectioninfuture issues
Studio in Digital Photography 1&2:
Thesearebothonesemesterclasses,soyoucangetbothdonein justoneyear.ItooktheseduringmyfreshmanyearwithMrs. Cacioppo,andDigitalPhotography2wasunfortunatelycutshort byCOVIDshutdowns.However,theseweresomeofthemost usefulclassesItookthroughoutallofhighschool,andprovi
dedmewiththeopportunitytogetthepositionof Tattler Photo Editorinmysophomoreandjunioryear,aswellasgavemethe skillsneededtopickupsomeextracashhereandthereasan upperclassmanStudioinDigitalPhotography1istheperfectintro class;itfocusesonthemechanicsofthecamera,aswellasabasic introductiontostyle,shadows,color,lighting,andmore There’s alsosometimededicatedtolearninghowtouseAdobeLightroom andPhotoshop,whichmaybeprogramsyouusemanytimes throughouttherestofyourlife.Yougettoborrowgoodcameras andlearnhowtousethembothinandoutofclass,whilealso havingalotoffun.IrememberthatwhenIwasinthisclass,Itook photosofabsolutelyeverythingIsaw;startingphotographyis alwayssoexcitingandenjoyable
Digitalphotography2shiftsfromtechniquetodevelopingyour own,unique,artisticstyleYouhaveprojectswithalotoffreedom tophotographwhatyouenjoy,andthereareunitsonphotography asatoolforpoliticalmessagingand/orexpression Forme,more than half of this class was online which was definitely disappointing butIstillgotalotfromit.Icanonlyimaginehow amazingthisclasscanbewhenyougetthefullexperience.Ithink anyonewithtimeintheirscheduleshouldtakethesetwoclasses; they’reuseful,they’reinteresting,andtheycanawakenapassion forphotographyyoudidn’tevenknowyouhad
WhenIaskedIHSstudentsabouttheirfavoriteartclassesatIHS, FlossieMartellGlennon‘24saidCeramicswasthebestelectiveshe hadtaken,andOwenRhudy‘23saiditwas“easilythebestclassin theschool.”Thefollowinginformationiscompiledfromthe thingsthesetwostudentssaid,sinceIhavenotpersonallytaken thisclass.
EveryoneIspoketohadgreatthingstosayaboutMs.Hilsdorf, theceramicsteacherThisclassallowsforalotofcreativefreedom, andteachesanartformthatmostpeoplehavehadlittleexposureto goingintotheclass Workingwithclayisextremelytherapeutic andfun,andallowsyoutoactuallymakeusefulthingslikebowls andmugsOnadayfullofmathformulasandassignedreadings, sittingdowninfrontofaspinningwheelandsculptingartmaybe justwhatyouneedtopreserveyoursanity.
InDraw,Paint,Print,(asthenameimplies)yougetthechance toworkwithmanydifferentmediumsofart,suchaspencils, charcoal,acrylics,oils,andfabric Thisisalsoasemesterlong course, which you can take during Spring or Fall Sylvan Greenfield‘24toldmeabouthisexperiencewiththeclasslastyear, andhowheenjoyedthevarietyandroomforpersonalizationthat wasavailable.Attheendoftheyear,there’seventhepossibilityof screenprintingclothes.Ihadpersonallyneverheardofthisclass before,butitsoundsperfectforsomeoneinterestedinartbutnot yetsurewhattypeofarttheyenjoymost!
PortraitofMarinaAbramovic,April2015,courtesyofLudovic Carème/AgenceVu/Redux
Arguablyoneofthemostmisunderstoodartformsisthatof performance art Performance art is usually a live performanceorexhibitiondonebyanartisttomakea statementonsomethingthey’repassionateabout Sometimes,the artcaneveninvolveaudienceparticipationManypeopletakethe approachofeithersearchingfortoomuchmeaning,orsayingthat othersareblindlyassigningmeaningtoastrangeevent.However, whenexecutedcorrectly,performanceartcanbepowerful,and canmakeimpactfulstatementsontheworldaroundus.
SerbianartistMarinaAbramovićwasbornin1946inBelgrade (whichwas,atthetimestillapartofYugoslavia).Abramović wouldgoontoberaisedbyhergrandparents whoweredeeply religious and her mother who was problematic at best Abramovićgrewupsurroundedbyabusefromhermother,andby strictexpectationsfromhergrandparents Earlyonshetookan interestinart,despitethefactthatshewasneverallowedtotake
professionalclasses.
From1965to1970,AbramovićstudiedattheAcademyof FineArtsinBelgrade,completingherpostgraduatestudiesin Croatiain1972andthenreturningtoteachinSerbiauntil 1975,whenshelaunchedherfirstperformance
Abramović’sfirstsoloperformanceswerealltitled“Rhythm (insertnumber)” Herbiggestpiecesofthetimeweretitled “Rhythm10”(1973),“Rhythm5”(1974),“Rhythm2”(1974), “Rhythm4”(1974),and“Rhythm0”(1974).Inallofthese, Abramovićtriedtopushthelimitsofbothherownbodyand thosearoundher.Arguablyhermostfamouspiece,“Rhythm 0,”requiredheraudiencetopickanobjectfromoneof seventytwoplacedonatableinfrontofher.Abramovićtook apassiverole,holdingasignwhichstatedthattheaudience wasfreetomanipulateherbodyinanywaytheychoseforsix hoursusingtheobjectstheychoseAmongthoseobjectswere thingsthatwereintendedtobringpleasure suchashoney, roses,orafeather butalsoincludedobjectsthatcouldharm her scissorsandagunholdingasinglebullet.Whilethe exhibitstartedrelativelycalm,withpeoplemovingherarms upordown,orplacingrosesontopofherhead,afterthe audiencerealizedthattheartisttrulywasgoingtoremain passivethingstookadarkerturn.InaninterviewwithThe Guardianin2017,Abramovićstated"WhatIlearnedwasthat ifyouleaveituptotheaudience,theycankillyou Ifelt reallyviolated:theycutupmyclothes onepersonaimed thegunatmyhead,andanothertookitaway Itcreatedan aggressiveatmosphere Afterexactly6hours,asplanned,I stoodupandstartedwalkingtowardtheaudience.Everyone ran away, to escape an actual confrontation.” This piece gainedmassiveamountsofattentionfromthemedia,andset thestagefortherestofAbramović’scareer.
In1976,AbramovićmetWestGermanperformanceartist UweLaysiepen,aftermovingtoAmsterdamLaterthatyear, theybegantocollaborate,exploringartisticegoandidentity inexhibitssuchas“BreathingIn/BreathingOut”(1977)and “RestEnergy”(1980) Thetwoartistsdevelopedaveryclose relationshipaftersometenoddyearsofintenseworktogether, butin1988,aftertensionsbetweenthembegantobuild,they decidedtosplit.Beforedoingso,theycreatedafinalpiece, whichtheytitled“Lovers.”Here,theybothstartedatopposite endsoftheGreatWallofChina,walkingaround2,500m
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untiltheymetinthemiddleandsaidgoodbye Thiseventwas meanttorepresentthetimethatittakestosaygoodbyetoaloved one;eveniftherelationshiphasturnedsour,itcanstillbean extremelydifficultthingtodo
Abramovićwouldgoontocreatemanypiecesofliveartin manyworldrenownedmuseums,suchastheGuggenhiemand TheMuseumofModernArt(MoMA)inNewYorkCity.Her mostrecentlargescalepiecewasfromMarchtoMayof2010at theMoMAtitled“TheArtistisPresent.”Inthispiece,Abramović satatatableinasilentroom,invitingpatronstositacrossfrom her Thispiecewastomakeastatementabouthowinsteadof seeingartinamuseumwithoutformingaconnectionwiththe audience,Abramovićwouldbetheresothattheaudiencecouldsee hercommitmenttotheartOntheopeningnightoftheexhibit, UweLaysiepencameandsatacrossfromAbramovićThetwohad not seen each other since “Lovers” (1988) and even though Abramovićhadsattherecompletelyemotionlessformostofthe exhibit,whenLaysiepensatdownshebegantocryandextended herhandtohimacrossthetable.Videosofthisexchangewent viral,andmanypeoplepushedforthetwoartiststobeginworking togetheragainHowever,theydidnot,andAbramovićcontinued onwiththeexhibitafterLaysiepen’stenminutesofsittingwithher wereover
AlthoughAbramovićcontinuestoworkaroundtheworld,she hasallowedherarttotakethebackburnerfornowtofocusonher organization,theMarinaAbramovićInstitute(MAI),anonprofit foundationforperformanceart.Abramović’smostrecentworkwas settoopeninSeptemberof2020,butduetotheCOVID19 pandemic,waspushedbacktothefallof2021.Accordingtothe RoyalAcademyofFineArts(wheretheexhibitwassettotake place)“theexhibitionwillbringtogetherworksspanningher50 yearcareer,alongwithnewworksconceivedespeciallyforthese galleries AsAbramovićapproacheshermid70s,hernewwork reflectsonchangestotheartist'sbody,andexploresherperception ofthetransitionbetweenlifeanddeath”Theexhibitisherfirstof thisnatureandissettoendinDecemberof2023,andincludes videosofherworks,recreationsofsomeofhermostfamous pieces,andlivetalkswithherself.MarinaAbramovićhasbeen pushingheraudiencetorethinkandrediscovertheiremotions forfiftyyears,andalthoughitseemsasifhercareermaybe drawingtoarelativeclose,Ifirmlybelievethatperformanceart wouldnotexistasitistodaywithoutherartisticcontributions
Spoilers for the movie NOPE Obviously
NOPE,filmmakerJordanPeele’sthirdfilm,isapretty damngoodmovie ThefilmstarsDanielKaluyaaand KekePalmerassiblingswhosefamilydescendsfromthe firstevermoviestar(anAfricanAmericanjockeyridingahorse). AlsostarringareStevenYeunasatraumatizedchildstarturned amusementparkowner, Michael Wincott as an oldfashioned director,andBrandonPereaasatechstoreemployee
Perhapsthemostunsettlingpartofthemovietakesplaceduring theopeningscene Aseeminglyvacantsitcomstudioisquickly revealedtobethesiteofanattackGordie,thechimpanzeefrom the inuniverse sitcom Gordie’s Home, massacres his human costars.Withnomusicorothersound,andmostoftheactionjust offscreen,thesceneistrulyunnerving.Whilesomemightviewthe scenesofGordie whichareperiodicallyinterwoventhroughout themovie asunrelatedtothedrivingplotofthemovie,theyare directlytiedtothefilm’smessageaboutspectacleandattemptsto domesticateandcontrolanimals Jupe,whosurvivestherampage whenthechimpisshotwhilegoingforarehearsedfistbumpwith him,ismadetothinkthathesurvivedduetoaspecialrelationship withtheanimal
Thathubrislaterleadstohisdeath,withthemovie’sprimary antagonist,JeanJacket,slowlydigestinghim,hisfamily,and everyoneheinvitedtohisshow.JeanJacket,agiantalienwho takestheformofaflyingsaucerformuchofthefilm(NOPE,Not ofPlanetEarth,getit?),embodiestheotherprimarythemeofthe movie: human inability to “control” animals The Haywoods (KaluyaaandPalmer’scharacters)maketheirlivingcontrolling horsesinmovies Kaluyaa’sOJ,inparticular,practicesdeference andrespecttothehorses,ensuringtheyaren’tsurprisedorstartled It’sthisdeferencethatallowsOJtosurviveencounterswithJean Jacket,refusingtolookherintheeyesandslowlybutsteadily retreating.
ThemainthrustoftheplotdevelopsastheHaywoodsattempt tosucceedwhereJupefails,tryingtocatcha“moneyshot”ofthe alienwhohasarrivedintheirbackyard.Theirmassiveranch becomesthesettingforanexhilaratingchasescene Interestingly forahorrormovie,theclimaxisshotduringthedayThischoice demonstratesthequalityofthemovie,maintainingthesuspense, fear, and engagement of the audience without poorlylit jumpscaresIfyou’vereadthisfar,you’veprobablyseenthefilm
andhowitendsOntheoffchancethatyouhaven’t,I’llleavethe finaleunspoiledBecertain,though,thatitholdsuptotherestof themovieintermsofquality
Onecouldperhapsfault NOPE foritsdeparturefromwhat oftenworksforhorrormovies.Thereductioninjumpscaresand relianceonsuspensedoesn’tworkforeveryone.Nordothe interspersedcutstoanotherstorythatfitswiththethemesbutis onlytangentiallyrelatedtotheplot. NOPE,however,isanother entryinJordanPeele’ssetofhorrormoviesprovidingabreathof freshairtoagenremiredintropesandjumpscares.Ittellsastory thatreflectsonhumannatureandbehavioraswellasour relationshipwiththecreaturesintheworldaroundus,anditdoes soinawaythatunsettlesandscares NOPE isahorrormovie you’llremember,notastringofknifewieldingmaskedmen jumpingoutfrombehindcornersWatchit
ByABBIETSUI
Taylor Swift, an eleven time Grammy award winner, releasedhernewalbum,MidnightsonOctober21,2022. Swift’struefanshavebeenwaitingforthisdaytocomefor manymonths.Thesongsrevealedareamixofherpastindie albumslike Folklore and Evermore,aswellasherpopalbums 1989 and Lover Swifthasalwaysbeenaverydivisivefemaleartist,ever sinceshewasaboutsixteen;someloveherandsomehateher Personally,I’vebeenafansinceIwassevenSomethingabouther musicisjustsosoothingtohear Youcertainlycannotplease everyonethough,that'sunfortunatelyjustthewaytheworld works.
Ifyouhearherwithoutautotune,youwouldundoubtedlybe impressed;hervoiceisorganicandreal.It’scommonnowadaysto useplentyofautotune,andmostartistsuseittoadjusttheirpitch and make it sound a particular way, taking away from the uniqueness Swift uses it to give her music dimension and character,nottochangeanythingaboutherself Hervoiceis confidentanddoesn’tevenremotelyneedautotune Somehow naturaltalentissomethingpeoplecondemn,acommonoccurrence forfemaleartists.Mostmusicianswriteabouttheirlife which naturallywillincluderomance butsheistheonetogetcriticized forit.Coulditperhapshavetodowithherbeingawoman?The hatepeopleextendtowardsTaylorSwift,averysuccessfulfemale artist,isoutofpuresexiststandardsthatneedtobeabolished.
Manypeoplethinkhersongsareallaboutboysandbreakups Yes,she’shadherfairshareofguysinherlife,butthatshouldn’t defineherAperson’srelationshipsdon’tdeterminetheirworthas ahumanWhydowejudgeherfortellingherstory?Herstories andexperiencesgivehercharacterandmakeherdifferentfrom otherartists.Theveryfactthatshechoosestoinvolveherfansin herlifeandwriteaboutsomethingsorelatableiscompelling. Breakupsareemotionalandthefeelingssheshowsinhersongsare surreal.Thelyricsallowhertoconnectwithherfansonadeep level,creditinghertalentandcapabilityasasongwriter.
Shebeganhercareerextremelyyoungandwillinglychosetobe someonethateveryonecouldlookuptoThat’sabravechoiceto makeconsideringtheharshjudgmentandcriticismshereceives, andweshouldallrespectherforthatSomuchhatederivesfrom peopleinourworld,it’satoxicatmosphere Beinginthemusic industryisn’teasyatall,giventhatthereissomuchpressurefrom theworldtolookoractacertainway.Swift’ssuccesswasdoubted varioustimesbyotherartists,suchasDamonAlbarn,whopublicly questionedheraboutwhethershewritesherownsongsornot. Butthatdidn’tstopher shepersisted.Swiftisextremelytalented andhasadvancedhercareerinsomanywaysthroughouttheyears despite
Inrecentyears,everyoneinthepubliceyehasbeenunder scrutinyfortheiractionsandresponsessurroundingBlackLives Matter(BLM)andotherantiracistmovementsAbigimpact onthevaryinglevelsofwillingnesstospeakupispeople'sfeelings ofsafetyandsecurityintheirworkplaceThisarticlewillconsider twodifferentprofessionalsportsleagueswithverydifferentlevelsof diversityandcomparehowtheyhavecreated,aided,andprotected asafecommunityfortheirplayersandstaff.Thisisatopicthat most people have seen in the news and will likely have preconceived notions about how these two institutions might compare.
To start, it is important to consider the different racial demographicsandrepresentationofthesetwoinstitutions.The most recent percentages for the NBA (National Basketball Association)weretakenatthebeginningoflastseasonandthey identified168percentoftheleagueaswhite Thisisanextreme contrasttotheNHL(NationalHockeyLeague)whichlistsninety threepercentofplayersaswhiteasofthisyear.Thisstarkdifference in representation may help to explain the extremely different approachestointeractingwithantiracistmovements.
Thereareafewdifferentwaystoexaminethedifferencesin playerandteamactionsacrossthetwoleagues.Youcanlookat howspecificplayersprotest,howteamspulltogethertoadvocate, orhowtheleagueasawholeportraysitself Tostartwecan compareplayers OneNBAplayer,JaylenBrown,drovefifteen hoursfromBostontoAtlantatoleadandhelporganizeapeaceful
others’judgment Sheissuchapowerfulfemalerolemodelfor youngpeople,andhasnodoubtprovedherselfinnumerousways Everyone could learn a little from her sweet and sincere personality
Continued from page 34
protestagainstpolicebrutalityAstarplayerfortheNewOrleans’ NBAteam,JrueHolidaydonatedaportionofhisannualleague salarytohelpbuildanewsocialfundsupportingblackowned businessesinmajorcitiesinAmericaThisendedupbeingaround 5.3milliondollarsandthatwasonlyhisfirstpledgeofmoney. NowIcouldmentionanNHLplayerwhohasattendedprotestsor postedsomethingontheirsocialmediaaboutBLM,butIdon’t thinkthatwouldtellthewholestory.InsteadIwanttobring attentiontoNazemKadri,aplayerwhoisofLebanesedescent. Lastyear,whilehelpingtoleadhisteamtotheStanleyCup,he receiveddeaththreatsfromopposingfans Thesethreatsforced locallawenforcementandsecuritytotakeaction,andKadriis reportedashavingfeltunsafeTheleaguedidnotdomuchtohelp protectKadriInaninterview,Kadri’sheadcoachbrushedoffthe deaththreatssaying“Naz'sfocused,he'sabigboy,he'satough guy, and he's a resilient guy”. He does go on to say, “it's unfortunatehehastodealwithitandheknowsthatwe'reallwith him”.WhilethecoachdidalignhimselfwithKadri,hisstatement seemedtobedownplayingthissituationasnotabigdeal.Thereis alsothetonethatthisisjustsomethingthathappensandrequires perseverance
Itisalsoimportanttolookatdifferencesinactionsatboththe teamlevelandtheleaguelevel InthefirstNBAgameafterthe leaguereturnedfromthepauseforCovid,thetwoteamsplaying woreshirtssayingBlackLivesMatterandcoachesworepins statingthesame.Allplayers,staff,coaches,andrefereesproceeded tokneelduringtheantheminastandagainstrecentracistevents. More specifically the players were protesting the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, and other horribleresultsofpolicebrutality.
Givenpastfanreactionstoplayerskneelingduringthenational anthem,thisactwasincrediblypowerful,takingcourageand commitmenttomakeacollectivestanceIntheNHL,themajority ofplayersoptednottokneelduringtheanthems Thosethatdid wentagainstthecommissioner’sandotherhighrankingofficials’ wishes.Thenonstatementfrommostplayerscreatedquiteastir with some fans and lead to a social media trend called #kneel4hockey. Under this hashtag, fans posted pictures of themselveskneelingathomewiththeintentofshowingtheir supportforBLManddisappointmentthatplayersintheNHL werenotshowingsimilarsupportorconcern
Finally,therearealsodifferencesinhoweachleagueasawhole tookastanceonantiracismissues InthewakeoftheGeorge Floyd’smurderandotherincidentsofracismthatreceivednational attention,theNBAandNBAplayersunionannouncedathree hundredmilliondollarfoundationwiththegoaloffightingracism and investing in black communities across both the US and Canada.Specifically,themoneywassetasidetocreatepartnerships withhistoricallyblackcollegesanduniversitiesandtohelpenhance careerpathsforblackyouthsbysupportinginternships,career placement,andjobopportunitiesAroundthissametime,theNHL showedtheircommitmenttodiversitythroughtheslogan“hockey isforeveryone”withtheintentofattractingmorediverseplayers,
coaches,andstafftotheleague.Therewasalsotheideathatall currentemployeesoftheleaguewouldgothroughanimmersive learningexperiencetoeducateonunconsciousbiasandhave uncomfortableconversationsaroundrace Aftertwofullseasons, manyfansandnewsplatformshavenotedthatnotmuchhas changedintermsofthepercentageofminorityplayers,staff,or coachesintheNHL.Theleaguehassignedonstaffwhohavebeen openlyracist,usingslurs,andotherracistcommentsbothonsocial mediaandinperson.Forexample,aminorteamsignedthegoal tendingcoachDustyImoowhohaslikedandfollowedwhite supremacist,transphobic,andantiblackaccountsonsocialmedia platforms.
ThegoalofthisarticleisnottosuggestthattheNBAhasbeen perfectinhowithashandledissuesofracism,butinsteadtoshow howrepresentationmatters.Itisaloteasiertostandupandspeak withmanyofyourfriendsorteammatesthantostandaloneand hopeotherssupportyou.Inaddition,thehighpercentageofblack coachesintheleaguemayalsohelpNBAplayersfeelsaferin speakingupagainstracism Whentherearefewblackcoaches, playersmaybeworriedthatiftheyspeakoutandtheircoaches don’tagreewiththem,thentheymaybetreateddifferentlyor evenplayedlessIfaplayerhasacoachthattheylookuptoand lookslikethem,thentheyarelikelytohavetheconfidenceand opportunitytobegivenasafespacetospeakup.
Onerecentexampleofplayersfeelingsafeandempoweredto speakuphappenedwhenitwasrevealedthattheownerofthe NBA Phoenix Suns had been accused of using racist and misogynisticlanguage.Hehasreportedlysaidthenwordmultiple timesandmademultiplefemaleemployeesfeeluncomfortable Whenalloftheallegationscametolightafteryearsofpower abuse,theoriginalsuggestedpunishmentfromtheNBALeague officewasjusttosuspendhimforoneyear Notonlydidthis outragefansbutitalsoenragedplayerswhoquicklyspokeoutin theirpostgameinterviews,online,andwithanyotherreporters thataskedquestions.Thisisincrediblypowerfulasitsuggeststhat theseemployeesfeltliketheyhaveenoughrespectandjobsecurity tospeakagainsttheownerofateam.
Thisisnottosaythatthedifferentactionsandoutcomesinthe NHLrelativetotheNBAmeansthattheNHLisracistor
Anti Racism in Sports: NBA vs NHL
Continued from page 35
hasracistintentions Instead,theintentwastoprovidesome evidencethattheenvironmentinwhichpeopleworkmayhavea significantimpactontheextenttowhichemployeesmayspeakup aboutracismItseemsthatthelevelofrepresentationandsupport oftheleaguehascreatedasituationwhereNBAplayersmayfeel saferandmoreconfidenttospeakuprelativetoplayersinthe NHL.
Thisisanidealthatcanbebroughttootherindustries.Itis important to have a company environment and culture that inspirestrustandconfidenceinhavingthosetoughconversations. Wheneveryonefeelscomfortablespeakingupyoucreateaplace whereeveryonefeelssafeandcandotheirbestwork
TheCascadillaBoatClub(CBC)Varsityrowingteammade a *splash*attheHeadoftheGeneseeRegattainRochester earlierthisfall,earninggoldandbronzemedalsinmultiple events.Atthetimeofthiswriting,ourteamislookingforwardto the Head of the Fish Regatta in Saratoga, one of the most competitive rowing races in the state In this article, I will interviewourVarsityTeamCaptainstotakeacloserlookatour behindthescenesteamhereinIthacathatisproducingimpressive athletesandmedallingathighlevelcompetitionsThe20222023 TeamCaptainsareSaraBellman’24,ElleDecatur’23,Graem ChiutenBlack’23,BoazNg’23,andJacobMerrill’23.
Termstoknowbeforereading:
“Erg”standsforergometer,arowingmachinethatrowerstrainon. A“piece”isaworkoutofaspecificdistanceortime,inaboatoron anerg
“U17”and“U19”mean“underage17”and“underage19”
“PRing”meanstoachieveapersonalrecord Inthisarticle,arower’s“split”referstotheaveragetimeittakes themtorow500meters.
A“single”isatypeofboatwithonlyoneperson,rowingwithtwo oars.
Ruby Zawel:What’syourfavoritethingaboutbeingontheteam?
Sara Bellman:Myfavoritethingaboutbeingontheteamis hangingoutatCaptain’sPracticeintheafternoonswithmy teammates
Elle Decatur:Ilovetheteamsomuchandoursillytraditionseven more.Specifically,ourclothingswapspiritbetweenthegirls’and boys’teamsandthelonglastingtraditionof“sisters”Eachseason everyoneonthegirls’teamisrandomlyassigneda“sister,”and beforeeachrace,wewriteanoteofencouragementtoher Our traditionsreflectthesenseoffamilywehaveattheboathouse Graem Chiuten Black:Definitelythepeople.There'savery goodrowingcommunity.Everyonefeelsliketheyhaveaplace. Boaz Ng: Seeing my improvement and spending time with teammates.
Jacob Merrill:Ireallylikethecommunity,andthesenseof progressionyougetbyimproving,alsothesunrisesonthewaterin themorning
RZ:Whatrowingaccomplishmentareyoumostproudof?
SB:WinningfirstplaceintheWomen’sVarsityDoubleatthe PittsfordRegatta.
ED:Iammostproudofmyshowingatthe2021HeadofThe CharlesRegatta.Iplaced4thinU17and11thoverallinU19.
GCB:ProbablyourWomen’sVarsity4secondplacefinishatthe PittsfordRegatta.Itfeltlikeitallcametogetherattheendandall ofourhardworkovertheseasonfinallypaidoff,becausewe actuallyfeltgoodaboutourrace
BN:It'satossupbetweenwinningintheMen’sVarsityDouble raceatthePittsfordRegattaandplacing7thatNewYorkState Championships
JM:PRingmy5kby12splitsinaseason.*
*ThismeansthatMerrill’s5,000meterergtimeimprovedbytwo minutes.
RZ:Howdoyouplanoncontinuingwithcrewafterhighschool?
SB:Ihopetorowincollege,ifIgetfastenoughI’dprobablyrow inDivision3
ED:IhavecommittedtorowingatUMassAmherstnextyear
GCB: I'm looking into a Division 3 school I've already interviewed with their coach and I’ve gone to one of their practices,sothat'sexciting.
BN:I’llcontinuemyrowingjourneyonthecouchasIwatchmy teammates win at the Head of the Charles Regatta and the Olympics.
JM:Idon’tthinkI’mgoingtocontinuewithrowinginthefuture, butIwillalwayslookbackpositivelyatmymemoriesofthis boathouse
RZ:Whatdoyoufindtobethehardestthingaboutcrew?
SB:Mentallykeepingyourselfmotivatedduringworkoutsand races,andwakingupat5:00A.M.inthemorning,tellingyourself, “Yeah,Ilikerowing,”not“Iwannagobacktobed.”
ED:Rowingisademandingsportthatrequiresintensivetraining
Continued from page 36
andphysicalexertionThatsaid,Ibelievetheemotionalaspectsare thehardest Everyoneontheteamsacrificessomuchtotrainfor races,andwhenattimeswedon'twin,itcanbediscouragingIt takesacertainkindofdeterminationtocomebackfromaloss stronger.
GCB:Definitelythementalaspect.Stayingmotivatedwhenyou’re ontheergandyoucan'tseeyoursurroundingspassby.Sometimes onthewaterit'shardtostaymotivatedwhenyoucan’tseeyour competition.
BN:Stayingmotivatedwhenyou’rebyyourselfinaboat.
JM:Keepingyourmentalondayswhenyoudon’twanttogo
RZ:Howdoyoustaymotivatedwhenyoufacechallengeswithin thesport?
SB:UsuallyIjustyellatmyself,orifIdon'tfeelmotivated,the nextdayI'llfeelfine.IknowIhavetodowellonaworkoutsoI can get fast and win my next race. Also knowing that my teammatesarerelyingonme.
ED:Asitgetscolderlaterintheseason,gettingupat5:00A.M.six daysaweekbecomesincreasinglychallenging EverymorningI getoutofbedformyteam Whentrainingontopofschool becomesoverwhelming,Ileanonmyteamforinspiration They arethefoundationofmysuccess
GCB:WhenI'minaboatwithotherpeopleIcanremindmyself thatI'mnotjustdoingthisforme,thatthereareotherpeoplein theboatthatarerelyingonme.Ontheergit'smorechallenging, butmostofthetime,tellingmyselfI'mnotgonnadieifIworka littleharder.
BN:Ihavetwoanswerstothat:Ithinkthere'samicroanda macro Forexample,duringapiece,Ipersonallyliketolookat numbersandhowmuchdistanceIhaveleft,butingeneralIfeel motivatedbyeveryonearoundme,whoisalsopushingthemselves todobetter
JM:Ifit'sachallengeduringthepiece,thenI'llcomeupwith somethingtotakemymindoffofit.I'lleitherfocusonform,or breakupthepieceintomicrosegments.OutsidetheergItryto staypositiveandrememberthatprogresstakestime.
RZ:Whatisonepieceofadviceyouwouldgivetoyoungathletes, andspecificallyrowers,lookingtogetbetterattheirsport?
SB:Ifyouwanttogetbetter,youhavetoshowupeverydayand puteffortintowhatyoudoIfyouputintheeffort,itmighttakea while,butyou'lleventuallyseetheresults
ED:It’simportanttobepatientwithyourtrainingandtohave fun.Takeiteasyonyourselfmentally;youhavetimetogainmore experienceandspeed.Overworkingcanbecounterproductive.Just staydisciplinedandconsistent.Progresswillcomewithhardwork, Ipromise:).
GCB:It'shard,butit'simportanttostaymotivated,toshowupto eachpractice,toputinasmucheffortasyou'vegoteachdayAnd it'simportanttorememberthatnumbersdon'tdefineyouasa
personandyou'llstillhaveaplaceonyourteam.
BN:Careaboutthesport,erg,andspendtimeinasingle.Grow taller
JM:Rememberthathowyougetbetteristhroughhardworkand dedication,andit'snotgonnacomeonedaymagically,you're gonnahavetoworkforit
WiththeFallSeasoncomingtoanend,ourteamislooking forwardtoWinterTrainingandPreseasonConditioningbefore theonsetofthehighintensitySpringSeason.Youngstudentsin theareaareencouragedtotryoutthisfunandchallengingsportby joiningtheModifiedandNoviceteamsinthespringandattending LearnToRowprogramsoverthesummer!
Ifyougooglethefastestmantoeverlive,chancesareyou’llsee ahundredphotosandarticlesaboutUsainBolt’saweinspiring 958secondonehundredmeterdashfromthe2009IAAF (International Amateur Athletic Foundation) World Championships Boltisundoubtedlythegreatestsprinterofhis generation,holdingboththeonehundredmeterandtwohundred meterworldrecords Attheheightofhiscareerhecouldmake worldclassathleteslookslowEveninhismidthirtiesandretired fromsprintingheunofficiallytiedthenflcombinefortyyarddash record.ButdespiteallofBolt’sathleticgiftsandworldrecords,is hereallythefastesthumantoeverwalktheplanetearth?Although manyarticles,newsclippings,andlaypeoplewouldanswerinthe affirmative,theanswerisnotsoclearlydiscernible.Itisimpossible toarguethatinallofmodernhistorytherehaveneverbeenfaster timesthanthoserunbyBolt Butwhilenumbersdon’tlie,they don’t always tell the full story For sake of simplicity any comparisonsmadebetweenBoltandanyotherrunnersthroughout historywillbedoneonthebasisoftheonehundredmeterdash, arguablythemostwellknowneventinsprinting.
Youdon’thavetogobackfartofindanothermanwhowasthe fastestofhistime.JesseOwenswastheUnitedState’sracingking throughoutthe1930’s.Hecementedhislegacybywinningfour goldmedalsduringthe1936Olympics.Thistimingwassignificant becausetheOlympicGamestookplaceinBerlinunderthecontrol ofAdolphHitler HitlerandtheNazipartyhadjustrecently declaredblackathletestobelesscapablethanAryans Thismyth wascompletelybusted,inlargepartduetoOwens’performance Butthemostconfusingthingabouthisraceswasthathedidn’trun veryfastatall.Hisgoldmedalperformanceintheonehundred meterdashwasachievedwithatimeof10.3seconds.Thatwould
nothavebeenfastenoughtoevenqualifyforthe2020summer olympics Ifsomeoneweretostopatthenumberstheywould comeawaywiththeimpressionthatrunnershaveimprovedso muchthatthechampionsacenturyagowouldlosetoeventhelast placefinisherintheOlympicstoday.Butthenumbersdon’ttell thewholestory.
Someofthebiggestinfluencesonasprinter’stimesarethe surfaceonwhichtheyarerunningandthestartingblocks,which allowforquickaccelerationtotopspeed.UsainBoltranhisrecord breakingraceonasoftandbouncymoderndaytrackwhichwas specificallydesignedtolimittheenergyabsorbedbytheground andthusallowhimtorunfasterButin1936,thetrackwasmade outofcinders(ashesfromburnedwood)whicharenowherenear asefficientatmaximizingspeed Additionally,therewereno startingblockswhileOwenswasracing.Hehadtodigholesinthe trackintowhichhecouldplacehistoes.
AccordingtosportswriterDavidEpstein,abiochemicalanalysis ofJesseOwens’sjointshasshownthathewouldhavebeenwithin astrideofUsainBoltifusingamoderntrackandequipment.But thisdoesn’taccountforthehugeadvancementsinnutritionaland athleticsciencethathaveoccurredoverthelastcenturyandallow sprinterslikeBolttoachievetheirhighestpotentialOwenslived inatimewherehewasdiscriminatedagainstateveryturn,having toworkwhiletrainingfortheOlympicsduetobeingrefuseda collegescholarshiponaccountofhisrace.IfOwenshadbeen givenBolt’senvironment,coaches,equipment,andmostofall opportunities,whoknowshowfasthecouldhavebeen.Allofthis istosaythatthephrasenumbersdon’tlieistrue,buttheycertainly canmisleadandnowhereisthismoreclearthanwhenlooking backthroughtheathletesofhistory
Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of an emotionally abusive relationship and alcoholism.
Author’s Note: If you need to talk about intimate partner and/or sexual violence, call the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at 800 942 6906 To all the survivors I see you, I stand with you, and I love you
It’sgottentothepointwhereyouknowyoumustleave.
Thefightsareconstant.Herdrinkingisexcessive.Thereare moreshardsofglassonthefloorthantherearewoodpanelsDishes pileupinthesinkandareleftdirtyforweeks Youhavelocked yourselfinthemasterbedroomandweptintothepillowuntilit criedbackatyou
“Genevieve,openthedoor”Hannabangsonthebedroomdoor, distressed.“Ijustwanttotalk.IpromiseIcanmakeitright.”
Youcoveryourmouth.Hanna’ssofttouchcouldmeltawayall yourworriesjustasithaddonebefore,couldn’tit?Atthesame time,theemptybackpackacrosstheroomcallsforyou.
WhenyoufirstmetHanna,youimmediatelynoticedher temperShewasquicktogetangryatwaitresseswhogaveherthe wrongchangeordrunkswhospatruderemarksTempertantrums wereneveragoodsign,butbecauseyouweresotimidyoufound ithardtonotbeimpressedbythisincrediblyconfidentwoman “Letmebe,Hanna,”youwhimper“I’msotiredofyourshit”
YoupictureHanna’sface,herballedfistsandflushedcheeks. “Givemeonemorechance,Genevieve,”sheimplored,hervoice raspyandlow.“Iwillgetsober.Iwillbeagoodgirlfriend.Allyou havetodoistrustme.”Yousobbecausethisiswhatyouwant,too. YouwanttogiveHannaonemorechancetobeachangedperson. Thisisn’trealistic,youknow,butindulgingthefantasiesisso mucheasierthanauthenticity
Itwasn’tallbad,youknowHannacouldbealovelygirldeep down Shehadapassionforengineeringandshewasreadyto makealifeforherselfShebroughtyouflowersonyouropening nightsandleftyoustickynotesonthebathroommirrorwhenshe wenttoworkearly.
Itwasn’tallgood,either.WhenHannagotmad,sheshutdown. Youapproachedhertimidly,babysteppingyourwaytowardsa conversation,butassoonasyoupushedheralittletoofaritwas overShemadebeerhertherapist,whiskeyhermedicineAlcohol, itseemed,washerdemon,andinturn,shebecameyours
Sheneverhityou,thoughThatwaswhatgaveyouhopeNever hadsheforcedherselfuponyouorleftafingernailscratchonyour skin,nomatterhowenragedshebecame Shewasnotthelarge, overpoweringvillainyouhadseeninthemedia;shewasjust troubled,andsheneedssomehelp.Thiswasnothing,youusedto besure,thatyoucouldn’tfixyourself.
Hittingyouwouldn’thavemademuchofadifference,though. Shestillleftbruises,justnottangibleones.Hannabackedyouinto cornersandwouldn’tletyouleaveuntilyousuccumbedtoher demands Manipulative Thewordrollsaroundonyourtongueand extractsalltheoxygenfromyourbody
Whenshefinallystopsbangingonthedoorandretreatstothe sofabed,itiswellintothenight.Youcurluplikeachild,hugging yourkneesandpressingthemintoyourchest.Afterlettingout yoursobs,yourshakyhandreachesforyourcellphone,planning tocallforhelp.
Thegravityofthesituationbeginstodawnonyou,butyouslap itdownimmediately,shockedwithyourselfYou’reoverreacting Everythingwillbefineinthemorning,justasitalwayswasThere isnosenseinworryingsomeoneaboutissueswhentheyareyour fault
Butthenagain,areyoumeanttotaketheblame?
Youfightwithyourself,yourconscienceagazelletrappedinthe ruthlessclawsofacrazedlion.Isn’tthiswhatyou’vealways wanted?Love?Youhavesomeoneherewholovesyou,whoreally cares.Sheisimperfect,sheisadrunkandaliar,butshewillget better.Isitselfishtowantmore?Isitidiotictosettleforless?
Afterhoursofrestlessinternalbattles,youknowwhatyoumust doWhenyourmompicksupthecall,yourstorycomesspilling out,afloodthatcannotbecontainedanylonger
Iwasn’tsupposedtoreadthatnoteleftonmydoorstep
Now,thisisn’tyourtypical“movie”momentthatdramatically leadsthemaincharacteronalifechanging,unexpectedadventure I,myfriend,amjustyourtypicalstressedout,sleepdeprivedhigh schoolstudentwhoshouldprobablybedoinghomeworkright now.Letmeaskyousomething.Whydidyouchoosethisstory?
Outofallthevaryingtopicstoreadinthismagazine,thebrain puzzlestofillin,orthepicturestogazeat,you’vesomehow stumbledacrossthisstory.Maybeyouthoughtit’dbeinteresting, oryou’rejusttryingtopasstime.ButIbetIcanguesswhatyou wantoutofitYouwanttoknowaboutthenotethatIwasnot supposedtoread,andwhatitsaid
IfItellyouthatnow,thatwouldbeeasieronbothofusIcould tellyou,andwe’dgoonwithourdaysIwouldtellyounow,but thatwouldmakethisstoryprettyblandMyjobistowritethisto keepyouentertained,andyou’resupposedtoreadthiswhole thing,whichindirectlymakesusateam.Andinmyshareofitall,I needtoleadyouonsothisfitsthecriteriaforapieceofwriting thesedays.Ofcourse,eitherofuscouldstopwithourjobsatany time,butlet’smakeadeal:fromheretotherestofthisstory,I’m goingtokeepdoingmyjob,andyou’regoingtokeepdoing yours,andyoumightjustenjoywherethisshort,paperjourney
Whyshouldyoulistentome,youask?That’sagoodquestion Youjustwanttoknowwhatthisrandomnoteonmydoorstep said,andhereIamleadingyouonacompletelydifferentpathBut likeIsaid,thisisapieceofwriting,sothisisalljustpartofmy plan.
Butinallhonesty,Idon’treallyhaveaplan.Iamascluelessas youarerightnow.Therewasnonoteleftonmydoorstepforme toread.Thatfirstsentencewassupposedtobeadecoy,togetyou pulledintothisstory.Andifyou’rereadingtothispoint,thenI guessitworked
Soreader,sorryifyoudidn’tgettheresultyouexpectedIknow youmight’vefoundreadingthisawasteofyourtimeandyou’re going to walk away not getting the answer you may have expected Butifthere’sanythingIcouldadd,Ithankyoufor keepingthatdealwemadeearlier.Becauseofadealyoumade witharandomperson,youletmecompletemyjob,evenifit burdenedyours.
Maybeit’snotalwaysaboutthedesireddestination,butthe journeyyoutaketogetthere.Theremightnotalwaysbeareal answertoaquestion,butthatdoesn’tmeanit’sworthfrettingover Neitherofusknowwhatthatnotesaid,butwebothgottofinish our“jobs”andcompletethatdealintheendNow,whilemyjobis abouttoendhere,continuetodoyourpartinthishugearrayof stories Enjoytheadventureofeach,anddon'tjudgeanybythe startortheendingofit.Goonthejourneyswithcontent,andan openmind,nomatterthedestinationitleadsyouto.
Disclaimer:Allthecontentbelowispurelyfictional,andifit wasn’talreadyclear,isalsosatirical
It’ssixthperiod,andI’vefinishedallmyworkI’msittingonone ofthecomfyredchairsatthefrontofthelibrary Myphoneis dead,andIhaven’tpickedupabookintwoweeks.Theonething reallylefttodoisPeopleWatching.Unfortunately,thepeople whovisitthelibraryarenotasexcitingasonemayexpect.There arenomysteriousdarkhairedboysreadingAnnaKarenina,and theconversationsarenoteavesdropworthy.Almosteveryoneis
either scrolling away on their phone, sleeping, or doing homework.
MaybetheseboringpeoplehavemoretothemthanwhatIcan see Likethegirlhunchedoverherphoneafewseatsaway I decidethathernameisClara,andshe’sactuallyanagentfor Russia’sFSB She’scometoourwonderfulhighschooltorecruit me,givenmymanytalentsandall.Thephoneisjustaguise;she’s actuallywatchingme.Clarasecretlymissesthegoodolddaysof theSovietUnion,whichshewassomehowaliveforeventhough shelookslikeshecan’tbeolderthanseventeen.Besides,theKGB paidherbetterthantheFSB.
Whataboutthescrawnytheaterkidsittingatoneofthetables? Onthesurface,hemayjustbeafaroverusedcliche,butdeep down,there’smuchmoretohimHisnamewillbeGradyStupid name,IknowButthatwasmyfirstboyfriend(firstgrade),sothe name often comes to mind Grady is actually a very deep individual,withthoughtsmuchmoreprofoundthan“Iwonderif I’llgettobeOlafinFrozen?”He’ssecretlyRemyfromRatatouille, andisdoinghisbesttonotgetdiscoveredbyIHSstudents.He doesn’tevenliketosing he’sprettybadatit,too.Gradywanted tojoinCulinaryClubbutwasafraidthatwouldimmediatelyblow hiscover.WhenGradygottoIHSfromhisratholeinFrance,he wasdisgustedbyhowdirtyeverythingwas “Thesehumanslive messierlivesthanFrenchratsdo,”hethinkscondescendingly, shakinghispointyhead Helooksbackdownathisphone,and plugsinhisheadphonestolistentoNewsies
Atthebackofthelibraryaretwojocks,discussingworkingout andsuch.Theytreatthegirlstheydatewithutterdisrespectand listentoKanyeWest.TheyfollowedAndrewTateonInstagram beforehisaccountgotremoved.Theirhairhasfartoomuchgelin it,whichtheythinkmakesthemextremelyattractive.(Girlsdon’t want football players, they want Harry Styles and Timothee Chalamet!!) They’reexactlywhatyouwouldexpectfromtwo highschooljocksThesearenoordinaryjocks,thoughTheycan trytoacttough,butIknowthey’rereallydiehardSwifties Isee youtwolisteningtoEvermore,TylerandJosh Nojudgment though;it’sagreatalbum I’mactuallylisteningtoTaylorright now as well. Who would have thought two misogynists on steroidswouldhavesomethingincommonwithme?Tylerand JoshwanttoseeSwiftlive,andtheirdreammayfinallycometrue sinceshe’ssupposedlyplanningatourrightnow.MaybeI’llsee youthere,guys,ifClarahasn’talreadyrecruitedmeandtakenme backtomyhomeland TylerandJoshalsohateJohnMayer,for howhorriblehetreatedtheiridol Mayermayneedtohideafter thereleaseofMidnightsThejocksarecomingforhim
ItakeanintermissionfromPeopleWatchingtoglancedownat agraymousesprintthroughthelibraryandunderabookshelf Grady’searsperkupandhenervouslylooksaroundtheroom rodentscansenseeachother,Isuppose.Don’tworry,Grady,no onesuspectsyou.Besidesme,ofcourse.
Somenamelessadministratorwalksintoaskthelibrariana question,butIcan’tthinkupabackstoryforthisone.He’sjust anotheroverpaidandcorruptICSDemployeePerhapshegoes
hometohiskidsandfeelsremorseforalltheteachersstrugglingto affordrentwhilehebuysasecondpool.Maybehedoesn’tfeel remorseatallthough Thebellrings,soIguessthisisallfornowUntilnexttime
Sincerely, PeopleWatcher
“Hello?”Endiasked,“Whereareyou?”Heshonehisphone’s
saytosomeoneyoudroveawayfouryearsago?
TheGhostEndihadonceknownwasreducedtoashadowof himselfandEndicouldn’thelpbutwonderwhetherGhostthought thesameofhim It’slikely,Endithought Fouryearsofhigh schoolwilldothattoyou
Ghosthidbehindababyblanket,andEnditookadeepbreath Heletitout,andGhostbrokeintotears.“Please,Ghost,don’tcry,” heentreated.“Please,Ineedyoutostop.”YetwhenGhostatlast satstillandwipedawayhistears,itdidn’tseemlikeavictory.Itfelt toEndilikeadefeat.Sorry,Endiwantedtosay,buthewasn’tone forapologies.Eighteenyearoldsdon’tapologizetotheghostsin theirclosets.Theydon’ttalktotheghostsintheirclosetseither.
IntheyearsEndihadknownGhost,heneveronce,herealized, hadtrulyconsideredhisfriend’sfeelingsWhyshouldhestartnow, after four years of a silence he’d never intended to break? Changinghiswaysnowwouldrequireadmittingthathisoldones werewrong Instead,hecontemplatedshuttingthedoorand pretendinghe’dneverheardathing.Hecontemplatedleavingfor college with a ghost in his closet back home. Then he contemplatedhowanotherlonelyfouryearswouldaffectGhost andheknewhecouldn’t.
Ghostpeeredovertheblanket’shem,watchingEndithrough wide,hauntingeyes Whenhesighed,somethinginEndi’ssoul wasundone Untilthen,theboyhadn’trealizedhowmuchhe’d missedGhost
“Inthebeginning,Iwasyourbestfriend,”Ghostsaid,hisvoice hesitantandraspyatfirst “Wewereliketwins;wewereone, really.Iwasyou,andwell,youwereme.Youwereelevenwhen everythingchanged.”
Eleven,Endiwondered.He’d met Ghostwhenhewaseleven.
“Forthefirsttime,youwereyou,andIwas…this.Aghost.A past.Your our past.Nolongerwastherea‘we,’only‘you’and ‘me’Yourinsecuritiestoreusapart”Ghosttookadeepbreath, andEndislammedthedoorbehindhimNo,hewasn’tdoingthis He’dhadenoughofGhost’snostalgicrambling
“You’vechanged,”Endisaid,butwhathemeantwas“youlook awful.”Ghostnodded,agreeingonboththesaidandtheunsaid.“I thoughtyouweregone,”Endisaidthen,becausewhatelsedoyou
“Whenyouwentoutwithyoursocalledfriends,youneglected andeventuallyabandonedsomanypartsofyou,”Ghostcontinued, hisvoicepenetratingthroughthedoorandsendingashiverdown Endi’sspine.“Youleftmeandwithme,youleftallthepartsofyou thatmakeyouyou:yourimagination,yoursingingvoice,your curiosity,yourfanfiction,yoursenseofstyle,andyourdreams. Youleftitallwithme,onlykeepingthepartsthatfitintothe narrativeyouletyoursocalledfriendsspinMostcruciallythough, youleftyourlove;yourloveforyourparents,foryourbestfriend, foryourlittlesister,andaboveallforme,withmeYoureplacedit withhate,forallofus,forme,forthepartsofyouthatmadeyou you”
I am me,Endithought. I’m not the ghost in my closet. Eighteen year olds are not the ghosts in their closets. He wanted to hit something,someoneinparticular,buthowdoyousmitetheghost inyourcloset?Howdoyouforceittoquitgnawingatyou?How doyouignoreitwhenitdoes?
“Onelaststory,”Ghostsaid,“thenI’llleaveyoualoneifthat’s whatyou’dlike,butyouhavetohearmeout”Hewasn’tonefor hearingpeopleout,Enditoldhimself
Eighteenyearoldsdon’theartheghostsintheirclosetsout,he toldhimself.
“Initially,youentertainedtheideaofafriendshipwithme,as longasitwashidden.Buttwoyearsofhidingwillteachyouwhat you’rehidingiswrong.”Endigulped,leaningagainstthecloset door,headinhands.Hewantedittostop.Heneededittostop. “Whenyouwerefourteen,youscreamedatme.Youshovedme, toldmeIwasadork,afreak,anerdDon’tyoudarecry,youtold meNoonecaresaboutyourfeelings,youtoldmeShutup,you’re acrybaby,youtoldme
“Comeon,now,”Ghostcoaxed,“tellmetoshutupTellmeto crouchinthecornerofyourclosetuntilwedieTwowordsand I’llbesilentforever.See,I’malreadycalmingdown.Look,Iwon’t sayaword.”Endiwaitedandwaited,butGhostdidn’tspeak.Endi waitedlonger,tooscaredtofacewhatGhosthadtosay.Hiswords, hisimagination,hissingingvoice,hiscuriosity,hisfanfiction,his senseofstyle,hislostdreams,hislove,allthepartsthatmadehim him theypetrifiedhim
“Don’t,”hefinallysaid,hisvoicebreaking “Don’tshutup” Eighteenyearoldsweren’tonesforpleasesandthankyous,but Endi was “Please,” he said, choking up Scaredycat, he rememberedhimcallinghimselfthelasttimehe’dcriedlikethis, Coward.He’dshovedhimself,heremembered,intothecornerof hisclosetreservedfortraditionandcobwebs.He,nevertheghost, hadbeenthecowardallalong.
Diamondringsandemeraldpearls, Asilverlinethatpushesourworld Thetrustfundsandwills, Thedrillswhilesocietykills. Fortoolongwe’vewept, Withfeedingtroughshardlykept. Thestarvingwillcryandthehomelesswilldie, Butthetowerneverfalls. Whatmustbedonetobreakthewall? Howonearthmaythemightyfall? Abattleofmight, Withaknifewellinsight, Willbendtothestabber’sdemand. Thegamblingwithlivesendswithadie, Agoldensideofatormentedlife.
Whatthewatchersees, Canhardlyplease. Buttorocktheboatwefreeze Toswipethedietakeskeys Thetowermustfall, Butonewondershowit’spossibleatall Forhistoryrepeats, Eachgenerationthedevil’smeat. Wetoilourlives. Oursteelycolddemise, Lieswaitingsixfeetunderground. Wehavenotyetbroken, Acyclewherewearemeretokens Ihopethatyoucansee, Theimperativeneedforawheeze Acoughtobringupphlegm, Couldfinallybringitsend Ourasymptoticprocession, Wouldalwaysleadtorecession. Butinlifeafternow, Whenbeastsareshotdown, Akingdomoflight, Agildedslight, Thetowerwillfinallyfall
Iliftandrockgivesway, Steelsingsagainststone, Cursesbrokenandmended, Thefinalwordsofafather
Iliftandtheywatchfrombelow, Captivatedbythelegend, Eyesdisbelieving, Evenasthebladeseemsmadeformyhand
IwantedtosayIdidn'tknow, WhatitmeantwhenIsteppedtothestone, Thattheyweremeremyths, Thattherewasnocursebindingbladetoearth
Iknewitanyway, Hearditinthestoriesofmyyouth, Thatthedeadkingcasthisswordaway, Burieditdeepinaboulder, Aprizeforthemostworthy, Fortheonewhosharedhisblood
Miracle of the Ages
Continued from page 42
Takemeup,thebladesings, Takemeupandfindyourhome, Takemeupandknowyourname, Takemeupandseek,wanderer, Seekallyouwishtoknow
Writingsnakesalongtheflatoftheblade, SooldIcan’treadit, ButIknowwhatitmeansallthesame: Takemeup,justasthebladewhispers, Andontheotherside Castmeaway
Castmeawayandfollowyourheart, Castmeawayandforgetallsorrows, Castmeawayandbefree
Idonotlisten, Idonotweep, Idonotlookdown
Thereareshoutsaroundme, Whispers,too, Theycanonlylookatmeandstare, I,theonewhopulledswordfromstone, Bladefromearth, Andprophecyfromruin
Hail,theycry, Hailtothekingthatwaspromised! Hailtothekingthatshaltbe! Hail,hail,hail!
Aboy’sarmsmacksintomyface,Igivehimalookandmutter “Watchout,”thoughtheinjurydoesn’thurt Hedoesn’teven notice nooneeverdoesIkeepmyheaddownandI’mquiet,and it’slikeIturninvisible
Dismissingthis,Iheadtohistoryandseethere’sasubstitute. That’sfine,thoughMr.NicholsonandIarereallyclose.IlikeMr. Walkerwellenough,thoughhe’skindofoblivious.Hedoesn’tsee AmeliaslipintomyseatnexttoKylie,herbestfriend,whichforces meintothebackawayfrommybest(and,ifI’mhonest,only) friend,Alexander.
Justbeforethebellrings,Alexandergetscalledoutofclassbya guidancecounselor,whichsurprisesme.Hedidn’ttellmeabout anyreasonthathe’dbecalledoutIdoubthecouldbeintroubleI growworried;we’redoingworkingroupsHisextroverted,social naturealwayssmoothsthingsoutformeandfindsusagroupwith twootherpeople,butwithouthim,I’llbeforcedtoawkwardly workmywayintoagroupwiththreepeopleIdon’treallyknow.
Afterthebellrings,Mr.Walkerclearshisthroat.Theclass quicklyfallssilentduetotheunusuallysolemnlookonhisface.
“Idon’tknowifyouknowwhyIwillbehereforanextended periodoftime,”hebegins.
“Yeah,Iknowwhy,”Kylie,whohasawellestablishedbut questionablyreputablenetworkofinformationthroughoutthe school,says “TherewasanaccidentonthehighwayandMr Nicholsongothurt,sohe’sgoingtobeoutforawhile”
That’sthefirstI’mhearingaboutit,andtheclassquickly dissolvesintohushedmurmursandwhispers
“Isheokay?”Iaskanxiously,raisingmyvoicetobeheardabove thewhispers,butIguessMr.Walkerdoesn’thear.Hecontinuesas ifIhaven’tsaidanythingatall
“No,Kylie,”Mr.Walkeranswers,lookingdeeplytroubled.“Mr. Nicholsonisfine…physicallyspeaking.He hewasn’ttheonein theaccidentHe’stakinganextendedleaveduetothelosscausing himgreatemotionaldistress,however”
Allthepiecesfallintoplace,andmyheartsinks Alexander’s parentsandmyownparentsarereallyclosetoMr Nicholson they’veknownhimforyearsThat’swhyAlexandergotpulledout ofclassbyacounselor.Oneofhisparentsgotinanaccident.Oh myGod,isheokay?Aretheyokay?Ishouldbeouttherewithhim
“Theypassedawayinthehospitalearlierthismorning,”Mr. Walkercontinues,soundinglikehe’shavingdifficultyspeakingthe words
Alexanderjustlostoneofhisparents?Oh,dearGod “Thalia’sparentssurvived,but unfortunately shedidnot,” hecontinues,chokingthewordsout “I’mverysorrytoinform youallaboutthis”
I’mfrozentomyseatinutterconfusion.Thaliadied?Thatcan’t beright.Thaliacan’tbedead.
Inseconds,mostoftheclasshasburstintotearsandisopenly sobbing,whileafewkidslooknumbwithshock.EvenKylieand Ameliaarecrying,andEllielamentsoverthefactthatshenever gottoknowThaliathatwell,butshestillmissesherKiraissaying howsweetshealwayswasandhowmuchshelikedThaliabeingin thisclass
Still,Iremaininmyseat,thoroughlyconfused peoplekeep talkingabouther,andshewasobviouslyinthisclassButwhois that?IthoughtIkneweveryoneinthisclass,andIkeepjumping topayattentionwheneveryonesayshername.
Finally,afterseveralmomentsofthought,IconcludeImustnotbe theonlyThaliainthisclass.
Nov.8 Nov11 Nov15 Nov.23 Nov24 Nov.25 Nov.29 Nov30
3:45pm The Tattler Writers’Meeting@HCourtyard
VeteransDay/NoSchool
3:45pm The Tattler Writers’Workshop@HCourtyard 6pmBoardofEducationVotingMeeting(comeat7pmfor publicsession)
Thanksgiving/NoSchool
Thanksgiving/NoSchool
Thanksgiving/NoSchool
6pmBoardofEducationVotingMeeting(comeat7pmfor publicsession)
5:30pmBoysJuniorVarsityWrestlingvCorningPainted Post@IHSQGym
6:30pmBoysVarsityWrestlingv.CorningPaintedPost@ IHSQGym
O n M o n d a y , e x p e c t l i g h t s h o w e r s . W i l l t h e s t o r m s b e r a i n f a l l o r s o m e t h i n g m o r e s i n i s t e r ? T h e r e i s n o w a y t o t e l l .
T h e s k i e s w i l l t u r n a d e e p p u r p l e o n T u e s d a y f r o m 1 2 p m3 : 3 0 p m . D i s r e g a r d t h i s c h a n g e i n h u e . O r e l s e . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , W e d n e s d a y i s i n n e e d o f i t s a n n u a l m a i n t e n a n c e c h e c k u p , a s p e r c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o r d i n a n c e s . T h u r s d a y w i l l b e t o t a l l y a n d p e r f e c t l y n o r m a l . N o t h i n g o u t o f t h e o r d i n a r y . A b s o l u t e l y , 1 0 0 % , e x t r e m e l y , o r d i n a r y . F r i d a y i s s e t t o b e c o l d a n d y e t h o t , c l o u d y y e t c l e a r , r a i n y a n d y e t o p p r e s s i v e l y d r y . F r i d a y i s n o t o r i o u s l y i n d e c i s i v e . T h e s u n w o n ’ t r i s e o n S a t u r d a y . I n s t e a d , t h e e n d l e s s v o i d a b o v e o u r h e a d s w i l l b e i l l u m i n a t e d w i t h b e a u t i f u l a n d b e n i g n f l y i n g l i g h t s . O n S u n d a y , p r e p a r e f o r t h e e n d o f t h e w o r l d .
Hannah Shapiro
Word: Hranter
Definition: The feeling one gets when someone does something that they think is absolutely appalling and should never, ever, happen ever again.
Example: When someone leaves a pot on a stove like this:
NAME: Nole Sozeb Snork
OCCUPATION: Business Tycoon BIOGRAPHY: Nole is Albert’s oldest daughter. She was her father’s favorite and received a lot of his tutelage. Fortunately, Nole is more level-headed than her father and has not repeated his mistakes. She was born in 1975 and graduated high school at age 15. She was accepted into Stanford University with a full scholarship while starting her own tech repair business on the side. She graduated with honors and started her Ph.D. in artificial intelligence. In her second year of graduate school, she invented a new autopilot system for planes. Because of her success, she dropped out of school and started her own company, FlySafe. She has since perfected her technology and is eliminating plane accidents worldwide. Currently, she lives in a New York City penthouse 50 stories into the sky with a net worth of $250 million.
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19): Be extra cautious about your health this month. Your constant agitation could lead to an unwelcome physical response.
Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18): An old friend will make a reappearance in your life. Perhaps this is an opportunity for the closure you’re seeking.
Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20): Now is an ideal time for you to relax. An opportunity to take time off and take care of yourself will benefit you greatly, so take advantage of it!
Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19): An unexpected separation or departure will startle you. Even if this change does not directly impact you, be prepared to feel a sense of loss.
Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20): This month, an invitation will alter your life. Whether it be social or academic, this invite will create a fresh start for you.
Gemini (May 21 - June 20): When something or someone you hoped to hold onto begins to withdraw from you, you will realize that your life isn’t going the way you planned for it to go.
Cancer (June 21 - Jul 22): Although you’re putting in the effort for a project, you will soon be disappointed with your progress. Focus your attention on the next step, not the faults of before.
Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22): Expect a productive November. You’ll work diligently and carefully, which will boost your confidence.
Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22): You may be feeling burnt out and embarrassed to ask for extensions or assistance. Time will not always work in your favor, so be ready to act quickly.
Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22): This month will be filled with social interaction. Quality time with others will help improve your mood and friendships.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21): You will have to make a decision about what (or who) needs to leave your life. Confusion is normal, but don’t worry,–your clever nature will guide you through.