October 2019

ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO TATTLE. Estd. 1892 • Published Monthly • www.ihstattler.com Ithaca High School, 1401 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 • FREE

OCTOBER 2019 VOL. 127 #2

Fridays For Future: The Global Climate Strike

Page 04

EDITORIAL

Is Test Taking the New Sport?

The Written Assessments in Physical Education

By THE TATTLER EDITORIAL BOARD

I

ntegrity, tenacity, ownership, and compassion: the four core values every student at IHS knows by heart because they are principles IHS strongly believes their students should live by. Now, they’re even part of students’ Physical Education (PE) grades. With the introduction of a core value-based rubric this year, students will be assessed based on how well they exhibit these principles. Another major part of students’ PE grades is their performance on written examinations. Tests at the end of each unit, a midterm, and a final all assess students on in-depth knowledge of muscles, exercises, and rules of sports.

While these written assessments may focus students’ learning, there are possible alternatives that could test students effectively while keeping them engaged and active at the same time.

As students, schoolwork often prevents us from spending time outdoors. We cycle from one desk to another, both at school and at home, only seeing the light of day when taking a shortcut through the Quad.

As an escape from this sedentary lifestyle, PE offers an opportunity to be active, which has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. Exercise results in the production of endorphins (hormones that improve mood and decrease stress), better memory and brain function, greater energy, and reduced risk of heart diseases and other chronic illnesses. With so many health benefits, PE is a rare and crucial time of day in which students can exercise and get their blood pumping.

Unfortunately, written tests in PE have placed a greater focus on studying and memorization. The written tests leave little space for students to focus on and demonstrate their own personal growth in the 2

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sport. A student’s PE grade should be based on engagement and effort rather than their ability to remember facts.

The flaw that stands out the most in the written tests is the inconsistency among the PE teachers. Especially for midterms and final exams, some teachers require students to learn more information than others, and a large portion of the test material is not discussed enough during class. Rules are normally explained only once in detail before gameplay and are not always reinforced throughout the unit. For students unfamiliar with game rules, written tests can be difficult and take more time. Similar to taking a math test without being given notes, this system seems illogical and unfair.

That being said, as a class based on physical activity, ideally, PE time should not be spent merely learning rules and listening to lectures. Finding substitutes to written tests that let students be active could improve student engagement, while still allowing PE teachers to assess knowledge and understanding of the information.

For example, teachers could devote certain days at the end of each unit to testing students’ efforts by observing them play the sport. If students were given a few days notice prior to this test, then they would have time to prepare and ask questions about gameplay beforehand. In observing individuals during this exam, the teacher could assess students’ accurate play. The goal would still be to hold the student accountable in demonstrating their progression throughout the unit. Allowing the student to work towards improving fitness rather than memorizing facts might encourage more self-driven goals to become more physically active, which is arguably one of the primary goals of PE. This is more

fair than asking everyone to attain the standardized level of skill of someone who has been playing the sport for longer, when in fact, everyone starts somewhere different.

In music ensemble classes, students don’t necessarily have to be great. They just have to put in the effort and focus on their growth as musicians to get good grades.

Students don’t get tested on music theory, and it shouldn’t be any different for PE. The muscles identification assessment is an especially good example of a written exam that could be improved by being more interactive. Students could create and present warm-ups to share with the class and be tested on their knowledge of muscle groups used during particular exercises. In order to prepare students, teachers could frequently include muscle identification during class activities in the weeks leading up to the presentations. If the function and location of different muscle groups were constantly reiterated throughout the course of the year, students would naturally learn the muscle groups simply by paying attention. This alternative has already been adopted by some teachers but hasn’t yet been used by all of them, making the inconsistency between teachers again apparent.

Written tests have fundamentally changed PE from an active, stress-relieving period to a class in which memorization takes priority. Possible alternatives would give students the opportunity to demonstrate their own personal self-growth and understanding of the sport while still experiencing the rare time of day not spent staring at the board. Testing is the core to most classes. But PE is no average class. It deserves a system that meets the perfect balance of student engagement and accountability.

NEWS

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DeWitt Discipline Report Shows Need For Reform

By WILL THOMAS

I

CSD has recently experienced disciplinary issues, ranging from poor behavior to fights, threats towards teachers, and weapons on school grounds. It has been happening more and more—and according to some teachers, it is throwing classrooms into chaos and disorder. A leaked report authored by Ms. Elizabeth Quadrozzi, a sixth grade teacher at Dewitt Middle School, wrote that teachers are overwhelmed. A voluntary survey of teachers included in the report found that 35.2 percent of respondents believe that their school is safe and 60.2 percent feel that the district does not follow through on behavioral issues. Quadrozzi wrote the report on behalf of the teacher’s union, which is working to get the point across to Superintendent Brown and the district that these teachers are struggling.

According to the report, which was not intended for public release, teachers have been known to say that they “just stay in [their] classroom and shut the door.” The report also states that there are buildings without the proper number of Education Support Professionals (ESPs) in them. Teachers argue that the presence of more ESPs could help them to properly carry out the current district discipline system, which is a restorative justice model.

Restorative justice is a system in which typical punishments like suspensions are largely done away with. Proponents of the method argue that these punishment methods rob students of learning opportunities, disproportionately affect

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The Tattler is the monthly student-run newspaper of Ithaca High School. All currently-enrolled students at Ithaca High School are welcome to submit writing and photographs. As an open forum, The Tattler invites opinion submissions and letters to the editor from all community members. Email submissions to editor@ihstattler.com or mail letters to: The Tattler 1401 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Send submissions by December 5th to be included in the January issue. The Tattler reserves the right to edit all submissions. All articles, columns, and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of editorial staff.

To read The Tattler online, visit our website at www.ihstattler.com.

minorities, and are part of a “school-to-prison pipeline.” Instead of suspensions, restorative justice focuses on making amends with the wronged individual. “We want them to work ‘with’ students rather than doing things ‘to’ them,” says Troi Bechet, one of restorative justice’s greatest champions.

During the Obama administration, schools were issued guidelines on how many kids should be suspended. The federal government warned that if it felt that a school was unfairly targeting minorities for suspension, it would be at risk of losing state funding. Moreover, Max Eden of the Manhattan Institute believes that the lack of perceived punishments leads to “dangerous dynamics in class,” where “teachers know they cannot rely on their principals (or administrators) for support and kids know that as well.”

The DeWitt report does support the model of restorative justice, but also makes some strong recommendations on how to properly implement that model. First and foremost among these recommendations is that the administrators stand by the teachers on disciplinary issues. Also suggested is a mental health audit by an independent party, an increase in mental health and special education professionals, and the district-wide standardization of consequences, so as to limit confusion about what punishments need be applied in a given scenario. A task force consisting of Superintendent Brown, Quadrozzi, district administration officials, a special education teacher, and a principal was created to help implement these changes.

As Dr. Brown said, “We have chosen to be inclusive and restorative, and that’s messy, that’s hard.

It’s going to require us to be better each and every day versus the other way, the other way typically disenfranchises and marginalizes certain populations, we as a community have chosen not to do that.” The report demonstrates the imperfections of the current restorative justice system, but seeks to improve them and create a better learning environment.

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NEWS

Fridays For Future: The Global Climate Strike

By LOUISA MILLER-OUT Image by Miles Marteal ’21

“It’s getting hot in here” Ithaca students and residents joined the Global Climate Strike on Friday, September 20.

F

riday, September 20, marked the beginning of one of the largest environmental protests in history. Led by passionate young people like 16-yearold Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg, the movement is still growing and is open to anyone willing to join. Thousands of people of all ages walked out of their schools, workplaces, and homes to join demonstrations in the streets, demanding legal action in order to mitigate the effects of climate change before they become irreversible.

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Large-scale demonstrations and protests continued for an entire week, and the general movement will continue. The strikers implored countries to ramp up their efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change that have already manifested, such as an increase in average global temperatures, rising sea levels, a heightened frequency of forest fires, and melting polar ice caps.

The recent global push for climate justice has been largely driven by young peo-

ple, likely because they have the most to lose out of any generation if current climate trends continue. However, all denizens of Earth were encouraged to strike on September 20 and subsequent days to fight for the planet’s future, regardless of age.

Students and working adults have voiced concerns about having to forgo academic or professional obligations in order to join the protests. Within ICSD, “Students who [did] not attend on this day for the purposes of participation in the Global Climate

NEWS Strike [were] marked for an unexcused absence but [did] not receive discipline referrals,” wrote Assistant Principal Martha Hardesty in an email to IHS staff. Significant numbers of students and staff alike gathered on the Bernie Milton Pavilion of the Commons on Friday at noon.

Beginning at 3 P.M. on the day of the strike there was a rally at Stewart Park which was hosted by local scientific experts, and advocates from groups such as Mothers Out Front. Although the rally was targeted more towards adults, there was an active student presence. Ithaca High School Economics teacher, Sofi Gluck, was in attendance at the later rally. She said of the student action, “It’s exciting to see students out here . . . I think it’s great that a lot of young people have taken ownership of themselves to be here, and a lot of young people are speaking, which is really exciting. There’s a sort of a general energy level around organizing and getting involved that I haven’t really seen before.”

Image by Chloe Moore ’20

Ithaca Climate Action Rally at Stewart Park

Image by Miles Marteal ’21

Image by Miles Marteal ’21

Ithaca Global Climate Strike

Image by Miles Marteal ’21

The crowd attending the Ithaca Global Climate Strike at the Commons

Image by Miles Marteal ’21

Local organizers take on the stage OCTOBER 2019

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NEWS

A Recap of the Third Democratic Debate

By FRANCES KLEMM

S

eptember 12 was the third installment in the Democratic primary debate cycle. The night started off with opening statements in order to announce what each candidate hoped to accomplish during the debate. Former Texas Congressman, Beto O’Rourke, received the most attention with his emotional reflection on the mass shooting that left twenty-two dead in his hometown of El Paso, using this to segue into his fight for tougher gun regulations. Next to him was Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), with a glimpse into her past as a teacher, which finished strong with a segment about student debt and the cost to raise a family. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) didn’t immediately distinguish herself, but instead used her time to send a message to Trump. Other candidates, namely Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, were more adamant about keeping the party together than talking about their own policies.

The first issue that was brought up was healthcare. Senators Warren and Sanders (D-VT) were by far the most left on this issue, insisting on implementing Medicare for All and eliminating private insurance.

With so many common policies between them, many experts assumed these two would try to distinguish themselves from each other more, but they have yet to criticize one another. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Harris, and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg all made statements on trusting the American public with a choice of public or private insurance, which launched into the first big difference we saw between candidates. One common thread, however, was that several candidates took special care to thank former President Obama for paving the way with the Affordable Care Act. Senator Warren, who had been accused in previous debates of trying to tear down Obama’s leg6

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acy, spent a good thirty seconds trying to rewrite the former narrative.

From there the moderators moved on to immigration. The candidates shared the same goals of shutting down border camps and finding a path to citizenship for DREAMers, the 700,000 undocumented youth protected from deportation, and the eleven million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. After President Trump said family separation was justified because those families crossed the border illegally, candidates like Castro, Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg and Harris aim to decriminalize crossing the border and create an easy path towards citizenship. More moderate candidates like Biden believe that crossing the border illegally should still be a crime and deportation should still occur.

When gun violence came up, underdog O’Rourke answered with a passionate statement: “Hell yes, we are going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.” Some experts argue that his line feeds into the fear many gun-owning Americans have. Warren also had a point she wanted to make, using her time to shine light on the thousands of shootings in the U.S. that happen daily and that don’t get all the headlines, including homicides, suicides, and domestic violence. Warren also started the conversation on filibusters, saying, “Fifty-four senators said, let’s do background checks, let’s get rid of assault weapons, and with fifty-four senators it failed because of the filibuster.”

The conversation went back and forth as the candidates questioned how easily they could win Republicans over on tougher gun regulations.

With criminal justice reform, all the Democrats mainly agreed on the racial bias taking place in America as well as the amount of work that needs to be done on American prisons. The moment that made this topic worth mentioning was when a moderator asked Harris a tough question,

listing several of her former, unpopular positions from her history as a prosecutor, including on the legalization of marijuana and outside investigations of police shootings. Her reply was that she “made a decision that if [I] was going to have the ability to reform the system, I would try to reform it from the inside.” She went on to voice several of her policies, most shared with other candidates, proclaiming, “we de-incarcerate women and children . . . end solitary confinement and . . . work on keeping families intact.” The criminal justice debate was wrapped up, as there were few distinguishing policies for candidates in this segment.

On issues of climate policy, education, and foreign policy, candidates differed little, as most shared similar ideals about reducing carbon emissions, making education more accessible, and reducing overseas wars. All candidates shared the goal of making the United States a leader on the world stage.

The third debate largely featured the three current frontrunners, Sanders, Warren and Biden. Warren played it safe; she was careful to use facts and level-headed tones that made her policies shine bright.

Sanders was more aggressive in his tone and presentation, although many of his policies were similar to Warren’s. Biden was repeatedly attacked by Castro for his age and for some inconsistencies in his ideas. The candidates repeatedly assured their supporters that everyone in the party is standing together and that the main goal is beating Donald Trump. Overall, the moderators seemed to focus more on figuring out the candidates’ exact policies on different issues. They seemed more interested in asking the tough questions directly to the candidates than asking questions that would cause heated debates between candidates, as has happened in previous debates.

NEWS

9/24 Board of Education Meeting

By ALICE HU, SEOJIN LEE, OLESKA VATAMANIUK, ALEXANDER YOO

H

ey IHS! This year, as your student reps to the board, we’ll try our best to bring you information on Board of Education decisions. Let’s have a great year.

The September 24 meeting started off with an opportunity for community members to bring up issues and concerns. One woman noticed a drop in ELA and Math scores at Enfield, even with updates to the school and curriculum. She proposed the integration of other sources for education, like the Math books series and Singapore Math, and brought up the importance of inclusion in the scores of the children. A few of the board members responded, but no clear solution was presented. Eldred Harris, one of the members, said he had recently talked with math professionals about a low floor, high-ceiling curriculum. He also mentioned that the math curriculum has

been detracked and is now in a confusing situation. However, he largely agreed with her stance, bringing up the point that the ELA and Math tests aren’t the be-all, endall regarding a student’s progress, but that progress has to be tracked somehow. The curriculum committee is currently focused on the middle school math curriculum so that everybody would be ready for Algebra I by eighth grade; this was one of the reasons cited for potential math curriculum neglect at the elementary schools.

On June 13, 2019, New York State passed legislation that removed non-medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements for children. Prior to this legislation, New York State had several communities with unacceptably low vaccination rates because of this exemption.

Now that it has been removed, however, students who have not met the immuni-

zation requirements are allowed to be excluded from school. As a result, thirty-seven ICSD students are currently unable to attend school. Homeschooled students with needs for special education services are also suffering, because the special education services are currently only offered within schools. There seemed to be conflict on the right path forward in terms of offering these kids services, but no specific plan was put into action at this meeting.

The meeting wrapped up with a presentation by an employee from Tetra Tech regarding Phase 1 of the Capital Project. He discussed plans to renovate the track, baseball field, pool, and bleachers. Additionally, internal improvement plans for IHS were reviewed.

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FEATURES

From the Archives: Excerpts From the Tattler Issues of Yesteryear

By ANTHONY FINE

There are a small handful of people at IHS who know about a very small, very pink room at the very end of the E-wing. Although small and unassuming, this room is the deepest one can go into the chronicles of IHS. In that room, there are four average-looking filing cabinets that contain annals of IHS Tattler history, dating back 125 years.

Here follows a selection.

Read more online at https://tattlerarchive.wordpress.com/ Note: The current Tattler does not necessarily endorse the opinions published in historical Tattlers.

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October, 1919 Ginger Jar Nutt- “I like Miss Kelley in Shakespeare. She brings things home to you that you never saw before.”

Mutt- “Huh ! I’ve got a Chinese laundry man as good as that!”

Medium- “The spirit of your wife is here now; do you wish to speak to her through me?’

Widower- “Ask her where the dickens she put my winter underwear!”

Soph- “Where are you from?”

Frosh- “Providence.”

Soph- “Oh, are you?”

Frosh- “No, R.I.” Mr. L. (in Physics)- “In how many states does matter exist?”

1920- “In all, forty eight.”

“Now, Johnny, tell us about the manners and customs of the Philipinos,” said the teacher.

“Please, ma’am” answered Johnny, “they ain’t got no manners and they don’t wear no costumes.”

TOO TRUE She- When you married me, you didn’t marry a cook, I want you to understand.

HEARD IN LATIN CLASS Miss A.- “Mr. Cook, give the dative for donum.”

Louie- “Dunno.”

Miss A.- “Correct.”

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FEATURES

October, 1916 Worries of the Frosh Little drops of ink, Thumbprints now and then, Makes the stupid little Frosh Wish that such he’d never been.

A little word like “Basket.”

When he’s dull and glum, Makes him wish he’d left to home That little quid of gum.

Tiny little pointers, Alas! He has no ears; And then betimes on month’s reports A bigger one appears.

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Fondly doth he slumber, Saintly is his smile.

“I don’t know,” he answers, Then again he dreams awhile.

His pile of books grows bigger, He surely ought to know, That just pretense of study Makes zeroes rounder grow.

“It’s just one careless round of grind, I always toil in vein.

When will I come upon the end.

Is no-one here humane?”

Take my advice, “Keep toiling on,” And as you toil I’ll say, “It won’t be here in your Freshman year.

But there’ll be a reward some day.”

October, 1934 More For Your Money “Ticket to the game” carols a ticket-to-the-gameseller.

“Tattler subscription” comes from another nearby person.

“Text book card, locker fee, and so on, ad infinitum.”

October, 1973 Tattler After Hours Reclining in our comfortable-but-chic easy chair, wearing our blue velvet smoking jacket with silver watch fob, tailored to show precisely one half-inch of impeccable shirt cuff punctuated by finely crafted silver cufflinks, we pondered the question of what to write for the Tattler.

The decision was a weighty one, even for an urbane, upbeat chap like us, so we poured ourself a few golden drops of Marquis de Caussade V.S.O.P. before continuing.

Settled in our recliner again, we began to muse.

What sort of a man reads the Tattler, we wondered?

A man unafraid to try the untested, to explore the as-yet unknown. A bold man, in short, innovative and inventive.

Adjusting our Indian madras four-in-hand, we paused to consider the problem: what to write for

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No wonder the student body is unable to support any of the organizations properly when he has to pay 4.50$ for just four activities. And who has 4.50$ to spend? Might we not have a school membership card costing only 4.00$ a year, allowing for one year’s Tattler subscription, football tickets for the season, one year’s locker fee, and one textbook card. The activities would have more support and the students would get more for their money than they now do.

such a man? Surely, many interests must color his sophisticated, free-swinging life style, but which ones? We must confess, we were at a loss until We paused again to sample the ambrosiac fumes of a very superior Old Pale. We started in delight: the seeds of inspiration had germinated in our all-tofertile mind. We had hit upon the one subject which every man is, shall we say, intimately concerned?

This theme, we modestly decided, was nothing less than perfect: not only would it appeal to our masculine readers, but it would also have an element of interest for our fairer follower.

This column, then, we concluded, would here-after be devoted to that fascinating subject with which much of our readership is becoming agreeably acquainted.

Having come to a decision, we breathed a sigh of relief. Downing the last of the Armagnac, we headed for a shave and a brush-up before our date with the Most-Photogenic-Girl-of-the-month. We were glad we had a ready topic of conversation.

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FEATURES

Microsoft’s Office: A Trip to Redmond Campus

By RYAN CUNNINGHAM

I

n a suburb of Seattle, Washington, lies a city within a town. Its name? Microsoft Headquarters, Redmond (called “the campus” by employees). This summer, I had the opportunity to visit the fascinating corporate enclave. While there, I was able to check out certain parts of the campus and get in touch with a Microsoft employee, who provided interesting insight on the Microsoft lifestyle, campus fun facts, and company dynamics.

The Redmond campus, the primary headquarters of Microsoft, is sprawling to say the least. With a total of 25,000 employees split between more than one hundred separate buildings, the headquarters represents the power and might of Microsoft. Judging from how many people work there, the Microsoft headquarters could nearly be considered a small city. For reference, the population of Ithaca is 31,000 (as recorded by the United States Census Bureau). Imagine if nearly everybody in Ithaca only worked for one employer—it would be quite a sight to behold!

Given how large the campus was, one might have expected it to look like an excessively optimized machine crammed with uptight and uncomfortable employees. Such an assumption would be wrong.

In fact, as an outsider, Microsoft’s campus looked surprisingly cozy and laid-back.

It wasn’t uncommon to see employees relaxed, chatting with each other outside about topics both technical and nontechnical, nor was it rare to see coworkers catch up with each other in one of the many cafés that could be found on the campus. Though the scale of the campus was certainly impressive, I found it spread out enough that the environment was never truly overwhelming. But one clue gave away the massive span of the campus: the building numbers.

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When I exited my Uber ride at Microsoft HQ, I was looking for Building 115. Oneone-five—an unbelievable number and one that I thought to be arbitrary at first.

Braving the biting winds, I sat down at a small table outside and only then began to contemplate how large the campus really was. It’s almost deceptive. Looking around, I noticed the low-rise buildings, many similar in appearance, that were around me. Meanwhile, a conversation unfolded a couple yards away between two employees decked out in button-down shirts. At least they weren’t just wearing a T-shirt like I was!

Before long, I was directed towards a building across from me that functioned as the visitor center. Inside was a modern, minimalistic lobby complete with cozy chairs for guests and employees alike. Just as I was making myself comfortable in one of the plush seats, I was told to go to the check-in counter on the other side of the room. There, I was greeted by a friendly man whose style was undoubtedly hipster.

I was asked for some specifics about why I was at the office, and before long, a machine at the desk fabricated a visitor ID card for me. After a couple of minutes of hanging around, I left the building and was herded into one of Microsoft’s campus cafés, Bold Expresso Station (also called Ctrl + B, a pun on a common computer shortcut for bolding characters). The café was relatively small, but it served the only two things hardcore engineers need: coffee and pastries. Immediately noticeable beside the cafe was a spacious seating area with a view of countless vibrant evergreens. I was very happy with what Microsoft was able to do with its campus cafe, though I was mildly irritated by the lack of easy access to a visitor WiFi network. Though I wished I could curl up in the café for the rest of the day,

I soon realized I had a meeting to catch.

Springing up from the cushioned chair I was sitting on, I dashed for the door and made my way to Building 115, the final destination of my odyssey.

At long last, there it was, Building 115.

Its external facade was nothing out of the ordinary, but when I saw the name embossed on the building, I knew I had come to the right place. Once there, I was led upstairs to the building’s cubicle space by the assistant who was helping me throughout my visit. The workspace stood out to me as homey, friendly, and unlike a stereotypical office. I met with Microsoft employee Ben Rudolph in the lounge adjacent to the office space, which featured a series of booths complemented by a kitchen space sporting a refrigerator, fruit-infused water, and, believe it or not, a cooler full of all sorts of refreshments, including free Vita Coco coconut water, diet soda, and seltzer.

A smooth and cordial man whose sartorial tastes reflected the theme of relaxed yet distinguished common throughout Microsoft’s campus (he was dressed in a striking combination of everyday clothes and what appeared to be the iconic Rolex Submariner), Rudolph started off by describing his role in Microsoft. He talked about his position and what being a senior member of Microsoft’s journalism department entails. In short, Microsoft has a news program (aptly named Microsoft News) that features intelligently computer-curated news. Its goal is to deliver relevant and high-quality articles compiled from a variety of leading publications. After introducing his field, Rudolph covered some of the technological nuts and bolts that make Microsoft News effective, in addition to some experimental technologies they were testing out to make the user experience even better.

Toward the end of our conversation, we

FEATURES

talked about some neat features of Microsoft’s Redmond campus.

As it turns out, Microsoft headquarters is home to the record-holding quietest room in the world. Though I sadly did not get the opportunity to test it out, I heard from Rudolph that the room is eerily quiet—so much so that your body’s senses get thrown off and you start to feel nauseous if you stand in there with the lights off for even half a minute.

Alas, not all fun experiences last forever. As the evening drew closer, I had to head back. Saying thanks to Ben Rudolph, I left

Building 115 after grabbing a handful of Microsoft swag and pulled out my phone to hail a ride. Hopping into another Uber, I waved goodbye to Microsoft campus and began the journey back to my accommodation. With the help of Ben Rudolph and his Microsoft News team, I was able to get a glimpse of what the Microsoft lifestyle is like. Though there were some experiences I missed out on (I was particularly bummed to not be able to experience the silent room), I suppose that only leaves more for when I revisit Redmond. Until next time, Microsoft!

Space Age

By ANNA WESTWIG

T

oday, space exploration is hurtling forward at maybe a little less than light-speed. A dozen men have been on the moon. There exists space probes beyond our solar system and dozens of rovers on other planets. There are asteroid samples on their way back to Earth. High-power telescopes are analyzing thousands of planets for habitability and there are plans for landing on Mars in just a few decades.

The vast horizons laid out in front of humanity are both exhilarating and terrifying.

Everything is to be considered: ethics, technicalities, and timelines, but only a sliver of history ago, it wasn’t even a possibility.

The atmosphere used to be the limit. Gravity had humans penned on Earth like a paddock of advanced sheep. But on October 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the world’s first satellite, Sputnik I, into space.

It was, arguably, a greater leap for humankind than landing a man on the moon and an unforgettable historical milestone. But it was a century earlier that the dreams of space first began and the idea of Sputnik I began to emerge.

A common view of Sputnik I is that it was a deliberate political move by the Soviet government to one-up America. While Sputnik I certainly did succeed in the tense political climate and the world of the Cold War, its development and roots were en-

trenched in much less cynical desires than scientific superiority. Culturally, Russia is a country steeped in cosmism, which focused and enthused on space and space exploration. Amateur spaceflight groups had long thrived and been in passionate correspondence with each other.

In the mid-1800s, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a Russian school teacher, was the first to prove the mathematical possibility of spaceflight. In the 1920s, anarchist-biocosmists believed that space had to be explored so that when the dead rose back to life, they would have somewhere to live. It was then that Friedrich Zander founded and headed the Group for the Study of Reactive Motion (GIRD), which would eventually design Sputnik. GIRD, despite the government’s retroactive attempts to claim it, was so far removed from the Soviet eye that the men involved had to scavenge for desperately-needed silver from thimbles and crucifixes.

Later, the infamous Purges sent progress to a halt, as Sergei Korolev, lead Soviet rocket engineer and spacecraft designer, was placed in a Siberian Gulag. There were also internal rifts over what kind of fuel to use and other petty disagreements, but the space program was revived after World War II and the new advancements made in rocketry, specifically inspired by the design

of the German V-2 rocket. After World War II, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were high. In order to receive funding, Soviet engineers argued that launching Sputnik I would be politically influential and necessary to beat the Americans in the “Space Race.” They succeeded.

The government sponsored the development and Sputnik I was launched.

Still, Nikita Khruschev, who was party leader at the time, had no idea of the implications of Sputnik I’s launch. He was completely baffled by the media’s following uproar and the global response to this feat.

Not even the media could know the true influence of Sputnik I. Today, there are 2,271 satellites orbiting Earth. Without them, a lot of facets of modern-day life would come screeching to a halt. All of them are descendants of Sputnik I, our first fellow traveler.

Sputnik I was our first companion, hovering above us like a benevolent protector or a dark omen of Soviet superiority. As technology grows ever more powerful, satellites can become more helpful or dangerous.

Sputnik I was Earth’s first foray out of its bounds and a hallmark of a new age; an age in which we were not confined to the atmosphere. We have always looked up, but in October of 1957, we began to step out.

OCTOBER 2019

11

Halloween Costume Ideas

By MJ Stuelke and Raia Gutman

Channel your inner sass and grab your closest friends—this Mean Girls costume is a great project for you and your group to do together. Anything pink in your closet would fit the part, or you could dress as Cady Heron for the day and rock a red shirt and jeans. As far as props go, you could even decorate a school notebook to resemble the infamous Burn Book. This costume is a fun opportunity to make some iconic memories with your friends.

If you have a “slip” or simple dress in your closet, consider using it for a “Freudian Slip” costume!

All you have to do is write or print the names of Freudian concepts and tape them to the slip. It’s a witty and creative costume, but also very simple.

Your “Freudian Slip” costume might earn you an appreciative chuckle and some free candy.

For our readers more inclined towards the dark side of this holiday, here is a quite macabre voodoo doll makeup look. While the cultural origins of the voodoo doll are unknown, they came to prominence in the slave quarters of Haiti and Louisiana. Voodoo is a superstition-based religion that believes in connecting the material world to the spirit world, hence the power of the voodoo doll. The voodoo doll was mainly used for personal gain, where as a similar object, the Nkisi doll, was used to maintain social order. This is a fun costume for anyone who has skill with makeup!

While we all enjoy Halloween, many of us might not know its origins. The holiday we enjoy today started out as a pagan celebration called “Samhain,� but during the 9th century, the Christians co-opted it, renaming it All Saint’s Day (November 1). Samhain was a Celtic celebration that represented the end of the summer, and the beginning of the darker half of the year. It was celebrated from October 31 to November 1, roughly midway between the autumn equinox and the summer solstice. There are multiple legends of Samhain that involve the fae, or fair folk, so we decided that this costume would be appropriate. This one still relies heavily on makeup but seems to use a less nuanced technique.

Whatever you do for Samhain, this is a fun way to honor the original traditions!

FEATURES

The People Who Make the School Run: The Chefs of IHS

By FRANCES KLEMM

E

very morning at 6:30 A.M., the IHS chefs come in, unlock their equipment, prep their stations, and begin the work of cooking for 1,500 high schoolers. Behind the cafeteria line, the salad bar, and the hot food is the true behind-the-scenes look that few get to experience.

The kitchen is around a fourth of the size of the indoor cafeteria and features large tables for food preparation. Working in front of them are the incredibly talented chefs Dottie,

Linda, Nicole, and Sue. The room is like our small, home kitchens, if you were to triple the size of the ovens, tables, and even mixers. Dottie tells the story of a giant four-foot tall mixer stationed in the corner of the main room being turned up a bit too high: “Flour, everything went all over,” she recounts, “which covered the whole side of the floor and myself.”

Dottie and at least three other chefs arrive to school early to prep everything for the day, cooking fresh food in between lunch peri-

Left to right: Dottie, Linda, Sue, Nicole

ods so everything we eat is guaranteed to be straight from the oven. But their lives aren’t always at work.

Sitting down with Dottie, Linda, Sue, and Nicole, I questioned them about their own personal interests, favorite music, and hobbies, to which Sue replied “golfing, gardening, and swimming.” Linda laughed, yelling, “I love everything!” Dottie shared her love of dance, country, and rock music, while Nicole loves her kids, a sentiment shared by all of the IHS chefs. “That’s really what I focus on when I get to spend all my time with them,” says Nicole on her kids.

Next time you go through the lunch line, make sure to thank the servers and chefs of IHS who make your lunch every day. A few tips for getting on well with the staff: know how the system works, always look at the menu beforehand, and never get caught wearing your headphones in line. Take a bit of effort to make their jobs easier and remember to always appreciate them for their work, because we’re so lucky to have such talented people feeding us every day.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

By GRACE LIM

F

alling leaves and shorter days remind us that winter is quickly approaching. If you’ve been depressed because of the coming winter, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This type of depression is related to the changing of seasons and is typically experienced during the winter months, when people are exposed less to sunlight.

Seasonal changes in sunlight can affect your natural circadian rhythm, the internal clock inside your body that regulates your physical, mental, and behavioral changes. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can significantly mess up your mood.

SAD affects around 4 to 6 percent of the population, while a more mild form of the disorder known as the “winter blues,” affects 10 to 20 percent of the population. SAD is most commonly found in people who live at least thirty degrees above or below the Equator, which includes Ithaca. Winters in Ithaca can influence dark and gloomy moods and an overall bleak outlook on life in its inhabitants.

Sharing many common symptoms of depression, SAD can induce anxiety, feelings of self-hate, and stress. Some may also have issues with frequent oversleeping, overeating, heaviness in arms and legs, consistent low mood, or restless activity/pacing. These symptoms 14

OCTOBER 2019

often come into effect and resolve at approximately the same time of year. But if you suffer from SAD, there are numerous treatment options you can do to be more positive.

The first treatment available is sunlight. Try to go outside often to get as much natural sunlight as possible, because it can boost your mood. You can also try light therapy, which simulates natural sunlight by exposing you to bright lights. Studies have shown that light therapy is 85 percent effective in SAD cases. A lightbox delivers bright, white light that is ten times more intense than household light bulbs. All you have to do is sit in front of the mirror-shaped light for fifteen to thirty minutes a day, and you may notice changes and improvements to your mood and everyday life during the winter. The third treatment option is self-care. Eating right, exercising regularly, dealing with stress, and reaching out towards family and friends can alleviate symptoms.

The chilly and dreary weather may be or become the cause of your sadness, fatigue, and lack of energy due to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Keep in mind that there are treatment options and methods to help you stay positive throughout the school year and the changing seasons.

FEATURES

Hall Monitor

By LOUISA MILLER-OUT

“If you could transform into anything for a day, what would it be?”

Sammy Deol ’22: “A pet rock, so someone will finally love me.”

Dax Lyon ’23: “A woman.”

Grace Gerbracht ’20: “An earthworm.”

Raia Gutman ’22: “A Renaissance man, so I could have a brief romance with Leonardo Da Vinci.”

Eli McKenzie ’22: “A time machine.”

OCTOBER 2019

15

FEATURES

Recipe Review: Apple Cider Cupcakes by Tasty

By MJ STUELKE

Image from Tasty.co Yields 12 cupcakes

Ingredients: Cupcakes: ⅔ cups brown sugar, packed ⅓ cup granulated sugar ½ tsp. kosher salt ½ cup butter, melted 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1 tsp. baking soda 1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ¾ cups apple cider

2. In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, butter, and vanilla.

3. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated.

4. Add baking soda, cinnamon, half the flour, and half the cider.

Whisk to combine.

5. Add remaining flour and cider, whisk until combined.

6. Line a 12 cup muffin tin, and pour in batter until cups are ⅔ full.

7. Bake for 20 min, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool.

8. Make the frosting: In a large bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese together with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

9. Add the powdered sugar in 3 or 4 additions, mixing in between each one until incorporated.

10. Add the cinnamon, apple cider, and vanilla. Mix to combine.

11. Transfer to a piping bag with a round tip or a Ziploc bag.

12. Pipe frosting onto the cupcakes and sprinkle with cinnamon.

13. Put in the fridge for the frosting to set. Enjoy in an hour or more!

Directions:

Going into this recipe, I was already super stoked. I love fall, cupcakes, and apple cider, so when I saw a recipe that combines all three elements, I had to make it immediately.

Overall, the cupcakes were good! The cake was a bit dry, but that was an easy fix. One can add a bit more butter or some apple chunks to give it a boost in texture. Because of the additional liquids, the frosting was incredibly soft. To fix this, use more cream cheese instead of butter. Another problem with the frosting was the amount of sugar. Usually, when I make cream cheese frosting, I do one part sugar to every four parts cream cheese. For this recipe, I used half a cup of sugar instead of two cups, and it was still sweet.

The first time you make this, I would recommend adding it in half a cup at a time and tasting after each addition. In both the cake and frosting, the flavor was too subtle, which can be remedied by doubling the cinnamon content, and/or using store-bought apple cider instead of homemade.

All in all, I would give this recipe a solid 8/10. While I love the idea, the flavor and texture did need improvement. With some work, I definitely think that the recipe could become a family favorite.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).

https://tasty.co/recipe/apple-cider-cupcakes

Frosting: ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted ½ tsp. cinnamon, plus more for topping 2 tbsp. apple cider 2 tsp. vanilla extract

16

OCTOBER 2019

ARTS

2.1

The science fair …………… part 1

BY ADOWYN ERNSTE ow! ka-p

BAM

!

thwack!

ATTENtion Humans!

Listen to your mighty conqueror, Leonard Ego, and heed my warning: any who dares to oppose me in the science fair this year shall lose most spectacularly. after all, I have triumphed three years in a row!

3 years in a row?! I don’t stand a chance! So much for my future career as a renowned scientist. seymour Shmoop discovers the cure for cancer, saving the lives of billions….

POP!

OR MAYBe…

Shmoop takes first place

*

zle*

**fiz

**

sp

ut

te

wow, that Shmoop is so awesome and smart!

Behold, Simple peasants, as I restitch the fabric of our universe and win first prize once again, as well as a scholarship to the ivy league School of my choice!

Nothing stands in his way! except…

Oh. It. Is. On.

r*

*

The science fair part 2

OCTOBER 2019

17

ARTS

Autumn Playlist

By RAIA GUTMAN

T

he autumn months evoke great memories and strong associations for some people. Whether your favorite part of fall is warm drinks, colorful leaves, turtlenecks, or any other niche, this playlist is for you.

“The Woods” by Service Dog Sometimes schoolwork, extracurriculars, and other pressures weigh on us so much that it feels like we can’t do anything about it. In these moods, I like to play a good song and listen attentively to the background instrumentals to distract me. “The Woods” is a perfect song for this purpose.

Fun fact: This song has only 2,500 streams on Spotify, so check it out! “we fell in love in october” by girl in red Maybe the teacher sat you next to an attractive classmate or your lab partner has a cute laugh. Either way, you’re falling as hard as autumn leaves. This song is rooted in the familiar feeling of what some refer to as “cuffing season” but what I insist is “pining season.”

Fun fact: girl in red is a Norweigan musician whose real name is Marie Ulven.

“Noviembre” by Ellas Although non-Spanish speakers may want to translate the lyrics, this song is for everyone to enjoy, regardless of language. It’s probably the most upbeat song on this playlist and is perfect to listen to while biking around town at night or having a dance party in your bedroom.

Fun fact: “Noviembre” is from Ellas’ first album, Ellas Son Ellas.

“Cherry Wine” by Overcoats A sweet acoustic cover of Hozier’s song with lovely harmonies. I firmly believe that this song belongs on every fall-themed playlist in existence, although the creator of this playlist definitely does not condone underage drinking. Cherry cola, maybe?

Fun fact: Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell, members of Overcoats, met at Wesleyan University.

“Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood In my opinion, sweaters are the best article of clothing, and autumn is characterized by its dropping temperatures that warrant their use, which this song perfectly exemplifies. “Sweater Weather” was released in 2013 and may be nostalgic for students who listened to it in middle school.

Fun fact: The band uses the British spelling of “neighborhood” because the American spelling was already taken.

“Visions of Gideon” by Sufjan Stevens 18

OCTOBER 2019

As the leaves descend and abandon bare branches and the earth begins to freeze over, it may feel like everything is cycling toward an end. This song is perfect for your melancholic, contemplative moods. But remember, a playlist of only sad songs does no one any good.

Fun fact: “Visions of Gideon” is featured in Luca Guadanigo’s 2017 film, Call Me By Your Name.

“Back to Autumn” by Tall Heights Reminiscent of burning wood and maroon and yellow-tinted memories, “Back to Autumn” is the perfect low-key song to listen to while doing homework or walking to school. Put it on your playlist, listen again in spring, and let Tall Heights bring you back to autumn.

Fun fact: Paul Wright and Tim Harrington of the band started playing together in high school.

“Monday” by Matt Corby Make your Monday much, much better by listening to Matt Corby’s soulful vocals. “Monday” has an earthy sound that brings to mind sidewalks littered with fallen red and orange leaves.

Fun fact: Matt Corby is from Australia and enjoys surfing and reading.

“Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene” by Hozier The first time I heard “Take Me to Church,” Hozier’s second single, it was covered by an a cappella group with whom my friend sang.

The rest of Hozier’s music does not disappoint. His vocals, lyrics, and composition are all stunning.

Fun fact: Hozier’s album covers are painted by his mother.

ARTS | SPORTS

Inktober: A Marathon for Artists!

By LOUISA MILLER-OUT

E

very October, thousands of artists embark on a journey, armed with only a pen and a blank sheet of paper. Their task: to go wherever their creativity leads them. Using a set of one-word prompts as inspiration, participants of the Inktober challenge create an ink drawing every day for the entire month of October.

After creating the art, challengers often share their work online so other artists can see the differences in their interpretation of the prompt, or just simply admire the work of a fellow artist. Created in 2009 by Jake Parker, this challenge allows artists to develop their skills, build positive drawing habits, and explore the limitless possibilities within a sheet of paper and a black pen.

Artists are free to follow as many or as few of the prompts as they like, but they are encouraged to be consistent in order to improve their drawing habits. The order of the prompts is not rigid either, and can be rearranged or manipulated to tell whatever story the artist dreams up. However, it is certainly fascinating to compare one’s own creations

with the work of others following the same prompt, and to see how many different interpretations can exist with just one word.

Inktober is not limited to traditional drawing; it can encompass writing and digital art as well. Participants can use any tools they wish, but the premise of the challenge is simplifying one’s options as an artist and discovering different ways to express one’s creative ideas using only the bare essentials.

Most importantly, the Inktober challenge is a chance for artists to have fun creating art they can take pride in and sharing it with anyone they want. In the words of Jake Parker, “Anyone can do Inktober. Just pick up a pen and start drawing!”

Here are the Inktober prompts for 2019: 1. Ring 2. Mindless 3. Bait 4. Freeze 5. Build 6. Husky 7. Enchanted

8. Frail 9. Swing 10. Pattern 11. Snow 12. Dragon 13. Ash 14. Overgrown 15. Legend 16. Wild 17. Ornament 18. Misfit 19. Sling 20. Tread 21. Treasure 22. Ghost 23. Ancient 24. Dizzy 25. Tasty 26. Dark 27. Coat 28. Ride 29. Injured 30. Catch 31. Ripe

CC Sabathia’s Retirement

By ANDREW HAN

O

ctober is here, and the 2019 Major League Baseball regular season has reached its conclusion. Divisional rivalries and MVP races are making for a thrilling finish. The Mets, Cubs, and Brewers fought for a playoff spot, and Cody Bellinger and Alex Bregman attempted to win their first MVP awards. Though the Major Leagues are witnessing some historic feats, nothing may be more significant than the upcoming retirement of Cy Young Award winner, World Series champion, and Hall of Fame worthy pitcher, CC Sabathia.

For over eighteen years, the left-hander has established himself as an all-time great, pitching with an overall 3.74 ERA, getting 251 wins, and striking out 3,091 batters. He debuted in 2001 with the Cleveland Indians,

and has also played for the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Yankees, his current team. In 2007, he won the Cy Young Award for the best pitcher in the American League and in 2009, along with other greats Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, helped the Yankees win the World Series.

Sabathia didn’t just have an enormous impact on the field. He had an impact off the field as his presence lifted the team through their highs and their lows. Especially in his older years, he has been an important leader and mentor for his teammates. He reflected on his role in an interview, stating, “It feels good to be able to be in that [mentoring] role now. It’s something that as a young player I definitely noticed the guys that helped me, and you want to be that guy to help another

player, for sure.”

Sabathia made his likely last start in the Major Leagues on September 18 and exited during the 3rd inning to a standing ovation.

A postgame ceremony was held at Yankee Stadium on the 22nd to honor him, while his family was there to read tributes to him in an emotional moment.

Sabathia will likely not make another start, but may be used as a reliever during the postseason. Regardless of what happens, without Sabathia, the Yankees wouldn’t have reached 102 wins this year or been the team that they have been for the past seasons, and the same goes for the Brewers and the Indians. As Sabathia nears retirement and also in the future, he will always be remembered as an extraordinary pitcher, teammate, and companion.

OCTOBER 2019

19

SPORTS | LITERARY

A Mini Biography of Draymond Green

By ROHIT LAL

M

any know Draymond Green today as the effort starter who played a key role in the three championships in the last five NBA seasons for the Golden State Warriors; a man who truly stands for the phrase “you have to fight for every rebound and every loose ball.” He is known for being the heart and soul of any team he is on, never afraid to be physical or extra aggressive. Many also know him as one of the hardest working and therefore, highest-paid basketball players in history. This is the side of Draymond Green that is shown to the public today. However, Draymond Green has a rich personal history that sheds light into why he is the player that he is today in the NBA. Draymond Green was born and brought up in Saginaw, Michigan. Green grew up in a very low-income household in a poor neighborhood, with days where he wasn’t be able to eat; he had no silver spoons in his mouth as a child. He struggled and helped to sustain his family with jobs in car washes and local diners. Green had no time to do anything outside of work, not even basketball. It wasn’t until high school when the future superstar was recruited by Coach Lou Dawkins, who saw that Green had a knack for the game. He pressured Green to play, but was met with immediate negative feedback from older teammates. Green was often picked up and stuffed into trash cans or picked up and put at the top of the basketball hoop. It’s said that this is how Draymond Green became so physical in basketball as he responded to the bullying by acting more physical on the court. Despite these adversities, Green continued to play

Percy and Jay: Chapter One

T

By RAIA GUTMAN

hey met at a housewarming party on Terrace Road, a housewarming party in a large white house with a barn behind it.

The boy on the couch was named Jay, and he was the only one on the couch, just as he was the only one wearing a red sweater with a white collared shirt beneath it. He believed the latter fact was the reason for the former, but the reason for this reasoning was that he was twelve years old and perpetually uncomfortable with everything ranging from the crookedness of his pointer finger to the wrinkles in his white collared shirt, which was fortunately concealed under his red sweater. Jay was staring at the ceiling, determined to pick out something among its speckled expanse worth looking at, when Percy approached him.

“That’s an interesting book, you know, the one your mother gave us.”

20 OCTOBER 2019

the sport of basketball and worked for countless hours to improve every aspect of his game so that he could become the best player he could be. He also received tremendous support from his mother, Mary Babers, who encouraged him to work for what he was passionate about. He started to shift from diners and car washes to basketball courts. He created a work ethic that pushed him to become the number one player on his school basketball team in his senior year, leading his team to a #4 national ranking. He averaged an almost inhuman twenty points per game and thirteen rebounds per game.

He was then drafted to multiple high school and college first teams, such as the Detroit Free-Press All-State Dream Team, and eventually was recruited by the Michigan State Spartans. He was drafted in 2012 and became what we know today as DrayMagic and one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, helping in carrying the Golden State Warriors to three titles in five years. Draymond Green is also known for giving back to his community to help those who are in the same situation as he was and his alma mater of Michigan State.

Draymond Green is one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the sport, and his personal history has greatly shaped the player that he is today. He is the perfect example of a rags-to-riches story, but he also gives back to the public. Draymond Green indefinitely continues to impress on the court, but people don’t know how remarkable it was for him to have gotten to where he is today.

And now Jay was not the only one on the couch, but he was still the only one wearing a red sweater with a white collared shirt beneath it. Beside him on the couch, her legs dangling inches from the carpet, sat Percy Bleecker, feet marked with scattered spots of dirt, which was typical of nine-year-olds.

“You’ve read it?”

Jay himself had not yet read The Grapes of Wrath, having been told it would be assigned in high school. High school—this was a concept he swore he would not dwell on until it snapped at his feet or at least until his eighth-grade graduation.

“Almost twice. I understand why she chose it, our arrival in Oklahoma and all, but it isn’t my favorite novel, not even my favorite Steinbeck novel.”

Jay was quite perplexed. Reading Steinbeck was not typical of nine-year-olds.

His mother came over and patted his head and said, “Jay, honey, aren’t you a little warm? Do you want to take that sweater off?”

Jay, being twelve years old and perpetually uncomfortable, particularly with his choice of clothes, felt his ears flush crimson.

“Jay,” Percy said, her feet now connecting with carpet as she stood up, “would you like to look at the barn?”

Jay turned away from his mother and nodded and left with Percy out the back door, and they were friends.

LITERARY

Bloodlust H

By MJ Stuelke

iss . . . Bang! Thump, thump, thump . . . The girl groaned and rolled over, stuffing her pillow around her ears. She did not like these noises. In the city, there were the comforting noises of people always awake, ten stories below you. She could be lulled asleep easily to the rushing of cars down Broadway, but there was no way in Heaven or Hell, or anywhere in between for that matter, that she would be able to fall asleep to the infernal clanking and hissing of the old boiler.

She removed her head from under her pillow. She had decided that the hard floor would just leave a red mark on her cheek, and the pillow would more likely suffocate her than block out the noise.

She rolled over again, this time a bit too far, and fell off the camp bed. She wasn’t badly hurt, seeing as the sorry excuse for a camp bed was just a one-inch thick layer of foam padding for soundproofing on the floor.

She sat up, her head banging against the underside of the desk, which her father put there to protect her head from chunks of the ceiling that might have fallen on her while she was sleeping. Honestly, she didn’t see the point of being a millionaire if you didn’t bother to get nice things, as she had told her parents on multiple occasions. She felt around for her phone, yanking on the cord and disconnecting it from the wall. She scrolled through her texts.

Nothing new. The little digital clock at the top of the screen read 3:24 A.M. Great. The first night in her new “house” was going to be a sleepless one.

“Meow?” A tiny, fur-covered body pushed its way under her chin. She laughed softly.

“Snowflake,” she whispered, amused. “What are you doing?”

The kitten flopped onto his back in response. The girl smiled and twirled her fingers in Snowflake’s long fur. He “murped” indignantly and dug his tiny claws into her hand, bringing her fingers up to his little mouth and gnawing on them with sharp teeth. The girl quickly withdrew her hand.

“What was that for? I thought you wanted to be pet!” She whisper-shouted. Snowflake twisted over onto his stomach and regarded her with sparkling blue-green eyes. They seemed to say, “Never make assumptions, Rose.”

“Do you want to eat?” She inquired. “Is that it? C’mon, let’s get you some food.” At the word “food,” Snowflake sprang up. He trotted out of her room with his head high and tail skyward, kinked to the left slightly in that funny way that only Snowflake did. Standing up cautiously, the girl made her way out of her room, watching the floor for rusty nails. She wrapped her arms around herself, freezing in her athletic shorts and spaghetti strap top. Reaching the sorry excuse for a kitchen, she opened the cooler that was serving as her family’s temporary refrigerator and took out a can of cat food. She popped it open and Snowflake mewed loudly.

“Shh!” She chided. “We don’t want to be caught awake!” She set the food down on the floor and left Snowflake alone to eat. Instead of going straight back to her room, she went to the living area. Standing in front of the glass door, she looked up at the stars.

So many stars . . . she had never seen so many in her life. Her father

told her stories about the stars they had seen when they went out to Colorado for a camping trip, but she had been too young at the time to remember them for herself. In Manhattan, all the air and light pollution made it impossible to see the night sky.

Something flickered at the edge of her vision. She looked down towards the ground and squinted. Surely she was seeing things.

That couldn’t be right. There was no way. And yet there they were.

Two lumpy shapes in the center of the yard. One long and flat, lying on the ground, and another taller one that appeared to be bending over the first. It didn’t make sense. Just six and a half hours ago, right before the sun set, there were no rocks, no giant masses in the middle of the lawn. She hadn’t heard any loud noises, except a screech that she had attributed to animals having a fight. They were surrounded by woods, so surely animal fights were heard all the time. But where had the movement come from? Anyone with even the tiniest shred of common sense knows that rocks don’t move.

Maybe it was just a squirrel. They can’t be uncommon around here.

Just as she was about to turn away, she saw it again. A tiny bit of movement from the taller shape. She squinted harder. What was it? Movement again, and she saw two pinpoints of red light from where the taller shape was. She moved closer to the door, her breathing fogging up the glass. All of a sudden, the taller shape disappeared. She moved her face forward unconsciously until her nose was pressed up to the glass. Something red slammed into the glass from the other side. She stumbled back and stifled a scream.

Two hands, pressed against the glass, fingers spread and drenched in a thick, dark red substance. Blood. Her pulse raced as the salty red liquid ran in streaks down the glass pane.

She slowly lifted her eyes from the hands and saw the red pinpoints she saw earlier but now much closer. A thing stood there grinning, half of its face torn away, the muscle and bone exposed.

The flesh was red and infected in some places and black and rotting in others. She could smell the stench from inside the house, like meat left out in the sun to go bad. The sickly sweet smell rooted her to the floor.

The other side of its face was black shadow, a swirling mass of dark fog. As she met its scarlet, glowing eyes, it grinned. Pointy teeth, hundreds jammed into that small space, stained red with gleaming blood, bits of flesh, ripped and bloody, caught in between them. She felt a wave of revulsion so strong she almost vomited.

It slowly turned its head sideways, moonlight flashing on the wet flesh of its exposed face.

“Rose . . .” She could hear it hiss, although the mouth stayed fixed in that sickening grin, filled with malice. “We’ve been waiting a long time for you.” A long black tongue slid out between the teeth, licking the glass, leaving a trail of blood and foamy saliva.

Then, as quickly as it had come, it disappeared. The girl breathed a sigh of relief, only to quickly suck it back in again. Words were painting themselves across the glass in the blood that the thing’s hands had left behind.

“We’re coming for you.”

OCTOBER 2019

21

LITERARY

To Autumn Blackout Poetry autumn limbo

By Lindsay Wang Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease For summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find Thee sitting careless on a granary floor, Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind; Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep, Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers: And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep Steady thy laden head across a brook; Or by a cyder-press, with patient look, Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,— While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn Among the river sallows, borne aloft Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn; Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft; And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

Untitled

By Raia Gutman Autumn’s musings greet me as a weathered friend She escorts me through dying sunlight’s gaze She kisses me and with it draws red blood, Which on the trees she paints 22

OCTOBER 2019

By Chloe Moore

i said i wanted to start over and it seems the world agreed, painting over with aspen gold, like some kind of midas touch and maple red that smells like oncoming winter. bluebird sky, and i thought about the wind; what she brought, and what she took away autumn moves in limbo, a perpetual transition from this life to the next, and back again.

Caption Contest Each month, the Tattler provides a cartoon in need of a caption.

If you would like to submit a caption, check your school email for the October 2019 Caption Contest Google survey. The winning caption will appear in the November issue.

PENULTIMATE

Surrealio

By Ethan Carlson

October Sudoku 8 6 1

7

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9 7

5

2 2 3 5

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7 4

6 3

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7 5

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2 9

September Solution 5

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OCTOBER 2019

23

The Coolness Spectrum Kirk Weiler

How Do You Sleep During the School Year? Perhaps This Horoscope Will Know!

Cool Sweater weather

Not having to change for PE

By Ethan Carlson

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22):

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19):

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21):

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20):

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21):

Gemini (May 21 - June 20):

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19):

Cancer (June 21 - Jul 22):

Around eight hours: Because you are a normal person who does normal things.

Eight hours EXACTLY: You’re the type of person who does this because you’ve heard your parents say it to you way too many times.

You say you sleep for eight hours: But you only sleep six.

Nine hours: You’re the type of person who thinks the extra hour of sleep will improve your test score the next day, but it won’t.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18):

Four hours: You’re the type of person who brings a thermos of coffee to school.

Six hours: You’re the type of person who could get eight hours of sleep if only you didn’t keep LOOKING AT YOUR PHONE WHILE IN BED.

Three hours: Delete TikTok. It’s for your own good.

Seven hours: You’re the type of person who frequently forgets that one homework assignment.

No bugs

The uncomfortable fluctuating temperatures in Upper G-wing

Homework on Halloween night

Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22):

Five hours: Only on a bad day (which is every day).

Eleven hours: You are inexperienced with sleeping pills and you constantly wake up late for school.

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20):

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22):

Ten hours: How do you do it? Because I would really like to know.

Crisp air

You NEVER sleep: You’re not anyone because you’re probably dead.

Climate change

Uncool