December 2017

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Staples High School

December 21, 2017

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Volume 86, Issue 4 inklingsnews.com

A NEW KIND OF CASH Grade level assistant Andrew Carroll (left) and Jack Sharkey ’18 (right) check the current value of their investments in bitcoin and other crypto-assets. The exchange rate for cryptocurrency is constantly fluctuating.

Photos by Daniel Harizman ’19

Bitcoin offers revolutionary alternative to global trade

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Alexander Massoud ’20 & Adam Wenkoff ’18

itcoin, a cryptocurrency and global electronic payment system, has received worldwide attention for its upward trend in value, reaching a market capitalization of nearly $280 billion on Dec. 14.

The intangible digital currency, released in January of 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, an unknown individual who has been credited with the creation of Bitcoin, significantly altered the basis of global trade.

Individuals using Bitcoin can reference an electronic ledger, which tracks all transactions made between parties, through the blockchain technology the currency offers.

“Bitcoin is benefiting greatly right now from all the press it’s getting,” Jack Sharkey ’18 says. “As the cryptocurrency market continues to grow, more and more people hear about it. And the first thing anyone knows or hears about cryptocurrency is Bitcoin.”

The main appeal of Bitcoin is that it is completely decentralized from any government or bank. Bitcoin’s value is not affected by the volatility of the world’s economies, and as a result, has become an item in which many wish to invest their assets.

However, Rohan Goswami ’18 be- currency was valued at $120 per coin. They lieves that this complete dependency now own over $1 billion worth of Bitcoin. on consumer demand is going to neg“If Bitcoin is a better gold or seen as a atively impact Bitcoin in the long-run. type of gold-like asset, then it could be “The reality is that Bitcoin is a remark- in the trillions on a market cap. [Camably volatile commodity that ultimately eron and I] do feel those are very real depends on how much people want it,” possibilities,” Tyler told CNN Money.

Goswami said. “Ultimately what you’re Math teacher Robert Papp agrees going to see in the next three to four with this notion that the Bitcoin indusyears is a sharp depreciation in Bitcoin’s try could see a tremendous increase in value as the market comes value in the future. to the understanding that “I definitely think “As the cryptocurrency it’s remarkably overvalued.” [the market capimarket continues to grow, Financial experts are strugmore and more people hear talization] could go gling to figure out how to valinto the trillions,” about it. And the first thing Papp said. “Currenue a Bitcoin. In 2009, the value anyone knows or hears of one Bitcoin was just under cies serve two main one cent. As of Dec. 14, 2017 purposes: a meabout cryptocurrency is the value hovered around dium of exchange Bitcoin.” $17 thousand, fluctuating by and store of value.”

-Jack Sharkey ’18 as much as 5 percent daily.

Papp also comNevertheless, there are those who mented on gold being the “traditional store have already profited greatly from of value” behind currencies. According to investing in the cryptocurrency. Papp, the remarkable difference in marCameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winkle- ket capitalization, that is approximately voss, sons of Saugatuck Rowing Club own- $6.25 trillion, is no reason Bitcoin can’t “rier Howard Winklevoss, became the world’s val gold, and even become the next gold.” first official Bitcoin billionaires on Dec. 4.

However, there are people like GoswaWhen they invested $11 million of their mi who are hesitant to invest in Bitcoin. $65 million Facebook payout in Bitcoin, the “My father works for an investment

bank in Zurich, and has always told me to be wary of bubbles and trendy investments.

Bitcoin is both of those,” Goswami said.

Stephen Roach, Yale University senior fellow and former Morgan Stanley Chief Economist, is also skeptical about Bitcoin, citing how Bitcoin’s success is likely to bust.

“This is a dangerous speculative bubble by any shadow or stretch of the imagination,” Roach told CNBC. “I’ve never seen a chart of a security where the price really has a vertical pattern to it.

And Bitcoin is the most vertical of any pattern I’ve ever seen in my career.”

Regardless of these doubts about longevity and volatile nature of Bitcoin, its prolific growth in recent years has been unprecedented. Bitcoin is the most valuable cryptocurrency ever. Millions of people today are investing their money into Bitcoin, and Sharkey believes that it is blazing the trail for other cryptocurrencies to take off, too.

“There are other coins (altcoins) that are younger and in the earlier development stage that have better technology,” Sharkey said. “They learned from Bitcoin’s past mistakes and have the potential to outperform them in the next three to 10 years. However, Bitcoin is currently the front-runner by a mile and won’t lose its lead for a long time.”

Survivors, advocates protest sexual assault Lili Romann ’19 Seven female students congregated in the Staples lobby during Communication Time on Friday, Dec. 1 to protest sexual assault and harassment with, what they referred to as a “walk” down the Staples halls.

“We want there to be more awareness at Staples and in Westport about the re-

sources that the school has and show that [sexual assault] really does happen here and it is a real thing that we need to address,” Monique Østbye ’18, a participant of the walk, said. “By pushing it under the rug, we are only creating a bigger problem.”

Students who were unable to attend or were unaware of its existence had some Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18

*Continued on page 2

INSIDE THE ISSUE

page 12 An open letter to Louis C.K.

page 15 Celebrity home buyers

A former fan addresses the comedian Famous figures such as Anne accused of sexual assault.

Hathaway live in Westport.

70 North Ave., Westport, Connecticut, 06880

page 23 Guide to sentimental gifts

Last-minute gifts don’t need to lack sentimental value.

page 25 Co-ed cheerleading

The cheerleading team discredits a common gender sterotype.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

2 News

Inklings

December 21, 2017

Survivors, advocates protest sexual assault *Continued from page 1

Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18

positive feedback regarding the courage that the girls displayed by participating in a protest during school hours. Theo Kosokoff ’18 said that he recognizes American rape culture as both an emotional problem and a systematic one as it “hinders equality on a grand scale.”

“I found that the fact the protest was in school, a clear message was sent to the administration, which has unfortunately failed far too many girls who have GUIDING been forced DISCUSSION Social studies teacher Cathy to walk the Schager (above) same hallmoderated the sexual ways as their misconduct panel in a s s a u l t e r ,” the library.

Kosokoff said.

Pr incipal James D’Amico’s approval was necessary to execute this process, and, according to D’Amico, he did so without reluctance. “Their goal is to spread awareness,” D’Amico said. “I know that there are definitely students who feel like the administration or school doesn’t do anything, which is absolutely untrue, but our priority is confidentiality, so we can’t tell students what we’re doing all the time, even when we want to. What we can do is let students know what their resources are.”

Following the protest, the girls came to D’Amico disappointed about what they called the low participant turn-out at the walk. D’Amico said the students felt that others may have perceived their messages as one motivated by “anger” and “negativity” rather than of advocacy. D’Amico recalled that the confusion over their purpose occurred as a result of a proposal to write either the initials of their attacker or the word “no” on their forearm.

Kelly Shamas, health teacher, attended the walk on Friday afternoon and additionally led a panel a couple of years ago regarding sexual violence. She decided to join the seven girls in progressing this nationwide movement within the Staples community. “I think if [students] are passionate about something, and they can do it in a respectful, meaningful way, then they should absolutely do it,” Shamas said.

With the intent of promoting their message and encouraging students to speak out, two more events have been held in the month of December.

First a panel on Dec. 12 was held during all three lunch waves, which included Shamas; Gr. 12 Assistant Principal and Title IX Compliance Officer Richard Franzis; Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at Yale New Haven Hospital Mary Ann Franzis; prevention educator from the Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education Rosie Enyart; Westport Police Detective Serenity Dobson; and English teacher Sam Goldberg.

Additionally, an “awareness assembly” was held during Communication Time on Dec. 15 in which all members modeled the color teal, as the teal ribbon universal-

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Administrative initiatives attempt to combat widespread student stress Zach Horowitz ’19 & Melanie Lust ’19 *Names have been changed to protect anonymity

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hen *Emma walks into the school cafeteria at 7:16 a.m, anxious thoughts are crippling her emotionally and physically. She can feel the anxiety tightening her chest. As she walks through the hallway, a person’s glance in her direction sends her mind racing. She keeps her head down, plugs in her headphones and attempts to just walk.

Emma is among the 84 percent of Staples students who described their general anxiety levels during the school year as being either somewhat anxious, very anxious or constantly anxious in a poll conducted by Inklings at the beginning of this month. Additionally, 19 percent of students reported having been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Measures such as the homework-free break initiative, implemented by Principal James D’Amico before Thanksgiving break, have attempted to reduce student stress.

“High school students are balancing so many things, and homework is an important part of their academic success,” D’Amico said. “However, I think that we are all so connected all the time that a school break should truly be a break from school to the greatest extent possible.”

Some students, such as *Brandon, be-

lieve the homework-free break is a necessary and useful plan that will help reduce the level of anxiety throughout the school.

“I actually think it is the best thing that the Staples administration has ever done to combat or even address the anxiety that many students face at Staples,” Brandon said.

However, there are other students who view the homework free break as an agreeable proposal but simply not a cure.

“I think that, hypothetically, it can help,” Ella Jarvis ’18, who reported sufferings from daily anxiety, said.

“But teachers still assign tests and work a day before break, or two days after students get back from break.”

William Plunkett, Director of Guidance, deals first-hand with the effects of a large population of anxious students.

“So often we see students who fall out or are having difficulty getting through the school day and may end up in the nurse’s office, or may come here for support,” Plunkett said. “We see students who avoid school altogether, which is really concerning for us. Any time students start to develop pat-

terns around their attendance that are concerning, we definitely want to intervene.”

Emma said that the Staples environment triggers her anxiety, which she copes with by skipping class.

“My mind goes on a whole spiral of thoughts and rushes with negative thoughts such as grades, friends, and everything just hits hard and I shut down,” Emma said.

According to school counselor Thomas Brown, in addition to causing emotional symptoms, anxiety can be responsible for psychosomatic symptoms such as headaches and feeling nauseous.

Brown also said that anxiety can result in homework incompletion if a student feels overwhelmed or feels that their work is too inadequate to turn in.

In the previously-referenced Inklings survey, 94 percent of students cited “schoolwork” as a factor that contributed to anxiety. Additionally, 66 percent of students listed “college” as the factor that contributed most to their anxiety. Other reported sources for student anxiety include extracurricular activities, family pressure, friendships and personal issues.

Brandon, who is diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, says that school is the main source for his anxiety.

“I don’t think there’s one particular thing that would actually contribute [to my anxiety] more or even nearly as much as the school environment,” Brandon said. “But I don’t mean just the work.

I mean the entire Staples environment.”

Brandon described many teachers’ misunderstanding of mental illness, social categorization and comprehending academic content as prominent components of Staples’ competitive climate that worsen his anxiety. “[Anxiety isn’t] something that can be cured; it’s something that [students] experience for the rest of their lives,” Plunkett said. “So finding ways to cope and develop resilience and skills to be able to manage their anxiety is what we’re hoping for.”

to encourage as many students as possible, and I’m going to help them do that during a Communication Time, to gather [...] in support of raising awareness.”

A Westport therapist who asked to remain anonymous finds the matter of sexual assault to be “sickening” and finds

hosting the events to be courageous.

“When I see some passion being displayed by anybody in the student body, especially within the student body, I am very much in favor of it,” the therapist said. “I think it’s a problem that’s far more reaching than people want to admit.”

“Finding ways to cope and develop resilience and skills to be able to manage their anxiety is what we’re hoping for.”

-William Plunkett, Director of Guidance

Infographic by Sophie Driscoll ’19

ly represents sexual violence prevention.

Both events received D’Amico’s approval.

“For me, the worst possible outcome is that somebody feels hurt by that conversation happening, or it brings up some emotion that they’re not prepared to deal with,” D’Amico said. “We’re going

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Photo by Charlie Colasurdo ’18

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Cate Casparius ’19

Dec. 23, 2017- Jan. 1, 2018

Dec. 31, 2017

December Recess

First Night of Westport

Students and teachers will be dismissed from school for the holiday break from Dec. 23 until Jan. 1. There will be a full day of school on Friday, Dec. 22. Chistmas will take place on Dec. 25, and Kwanzaa will occur from Dec. 26, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018.

Westport will celebrate the new year on Friday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, in the downtown area. There will be family activities and performances including bounce houses, balloon twisters, comedy, magic, drama and music. People of all ages are welcome at the event, which has taken place for 23 years.

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Jan. 4, 2018

Jan. 11, 2018

College Kickoff Night

Graham-Felsen at Westport Public Library

Staples High School invites juniors and their families to an informational session on the college application process on Jan. 4 in the auditorium where they will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding the college process to Staples alumni. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and last an hour.

American journalist and author Sam Graham-Felsen will discuss his debut novel, “Green,” at the Westport Public Library on Jan. 11, 2018. Graham-Felsen was the blog director of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. “Green” was inspired

by Graham-Felsen’s middle school experiences growing up in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Inklings

December 21, 2017

Bailey Blaikie ’19

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94-unit apartment complex is currently under construction at 1177 Post Road East for which 30 percent of the apartments will be deemed affordable housing under the 8-30g affordable housing statue. The proposal was approved by Westport’s Planning & Zoning Commission in September 2016. Real estate developers Phil Craft, Arthur Hersh, Steve Lawrence and Scott Lawrence, all partners from 1177 PRE Associates, LLC, hope to have it completed by June 1, 2018.

“I think this is an important addition to our town, and I hope that the pursuit to make Westport more accessible is continued,” Peri Kessler ’18 said.

The building is set to have 38 one-bedroom apartments and the rest will be studio apartments.

Twenty-nine of the 94 units are set aside to be affordable housing. The project involves renovating the 42,000 square foot building and a four-story addition over the parking lot.

“The initiative that is being put into creating more affordable housing in Westport is very important,” Luke Welch ’19 said.

The partners are hoping to build this affordable housing for people like firemen, teachers, policemen and other town staff and employees. “[Westport] needs more afford-

able housing options for the people that make Westport work,” Craft said.

The requirements for the affordable housing units will be according to the income of the prospective resident.

The rest of the apartments will be sold at market rate. Hersh believes the remainder of the apartments will be desireable to empty nesters, millennials and divorcees looking to stay in Westport.

“I can’t believe how many people have wanted to put their name on a list [for the affordable housing],” Hersh said. “The excitement is unbelieveable in the community.”

The motivation to include affordable housing in this development came from the idea that the developers wanted to “address a need of the community that has never been met,” according to Hersh.

In addition to the apartments, the building will also consist of a gym, a game room with pool tables and card tables and meeting areas for members of the community.

The partners are also aiming to build the apartments to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified (LEED). LEED is a rating system to evaluate the environmental performance of a building. However, the certification is still in the works for this project. “[Affordable housing] will not only benefit those who will live in the affordable housing, but also benefit the community as a whole,” Kessler said.

“I think this is an important addition to our town, and I hope that the pursuit to make Westport more accessible is continued.”

UNDER CONSTRUCTION Of the 94-unit apartment complex, 30 percent will be deemed affordable housing.

Photos by Amelia Brown ’18

Apartment complex creates more affordable Westport

Digital Rendering Contributed by Westport News

-Peri Kessler ’18

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE This digital rendering displays what the apartment complex at 1177 Post Road East will look like. The project is projected to be completed

by June 1, 2018.

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Inklings

December 21, 2017

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University of Michigan SAFE organization enforces Israeli business divestment Zach Feinstein ’18

previously failing to divest ten times since 2002, the legislation was passed. In fact, 23 members of the student governhe University of Michigan’s student ment voted in favor of the anti-BDS leggovernment passed the Boycott, islation and 17 voted against the motion.

Divestment and Sanctions law “I think this decision is less sig(BDS) on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The University nificant because the faculty is not of Michigan Students Allied for Freedom going to act on it,” Genser said. and Equality (SAFE) organization “But it definitely shows the aninformed the student government that ti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentithree Israeli companies, involved in ment on campus which is rebusiness with the school, could possibly be ally upsetting as someone in violation of Palestinian human rights. who has always thought of The student government advocated Michigan in a positive light.” for an investigation into the compaSAFE claimed that comnies and proposed legislation calling panies like Hewlett-Packfor a suspension of all goods and ard, United Technologies and services coming into Michigan from Boeing, who have ties with Israel. The proposed initiative has Israel, allegedly contributfrustrated many active members of ed to attacks on Palestinians. the Jewish community at Staples.

The BDS vote has affected “I absolutely disagree with some Staples alumni who are the initiative,” Abigail Genser currently attending the Uni’18, president of the Israeli Culversity of Michigan. Even stuture Club, said. “BDS is set on dents who are not Jewish are delegitimizing the existence of taking notice of the changes.

Israel, and the advancement of “It is obviously upsetting that their agenda is a threat to Jews.”

Photos by Daniel Harizman ’19 and Charlie Colasurdo ’18 the student leaders felt such a way However, some students, such to have our school divest from any as Theo Koskoff ’18, believe that Theo Koskoff ’18 Avery Smith ’19 business with Israel,” Caroline Cothe BDS movement is “the best bet “It is my job, as a Jewish American, “Students need to feel comfortable hen ’16, a current student at the to end the occupation and apartUniversity of Michigan, said. “A heid regime in Israel and Palestine.” to step up and boycott companies at their school. I think this will lead lot of my friends are members of “The movement is completely that help to fund and entrench Jews to reconsider going to the the Jewish community and they nonviolent, and it utilizes economic these human rights abuses.”

University [of Michigan].” were clearly upset by this vote.” methods (Boycott, Divestment, and

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Sanctions) to pressure companies and nations away from doing business with Israel in illegally occupied territories,” Koskoff said.

Uri Cattan ’18, co-president of the Israeli Culture Club, believes that the legislation is extremely important due to the large population of Jewish students at the university.

“I think that the student government let [the Jewish population] down,” he said.

“BDS is anti-semitic in nature and the fact that it was legitimized by this vote is scary.”

Despite public opinion and

Net neutrality deregulation disheartens consumers Amelia Brown ’18

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Trump-appointed-chairman Ajit Pai, voted 3-2 on Dec. 14 in favor of rolling back the Obama administration’s classification of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as “commercial mobile services,” which had established harsher regulations to maintain an open internet.

Open internet, or net neutrality, is the idea that the internet is a level playing field: all content has to be given to users at the same streaming rate and price. The FCC announced in May 2017 that they would be reevaluating the rules about net neutrality to lighten regulations.

“When we’re used to a culture of going online and having freedom to do things without payment, that’s going to be a scene change for a lot of people,” Robert Shamberg, A.P. Government teacher, said.

Net neutrality has come up in the past as an issue the FCC would be voting on, but there has never been such a big change in favor of big companies over individual citizens.

“People feel betrayed. They feel like they shouldn’t be charged more than they originally were,” Matt Rowan ’19 said.

According to Pai, undoing the “heavy-handed, utility-style regulations” that were put in place

in 2015 would not be a threat to the way the internet functions right now, but instead would allow the ISPs to expand more rapidly.

AT&T’s Public Policy blog posted support of open internet, but also insists that the 2015 regulations “creates an environment of market uncertainty that does little to advance internet openness.”

Yet many are skeptical about ISPs commitment to truly not change the way the internet currently works.

The non-profit, Fight For the Future, is concerned that big companies will prevent

smaller businesses from having an equivalent online presence. “If some companies can pay ISPs to have their content load faster,” Fight for the Future states on its website, “startups and small businesses that can’t pay those fees won’t be able to compete.”

Fight For the Future, as well as Twitter hashtags, Facebook posts and talk show segments have drawn massive attention to the proposed legislation. The case file on the FCC website has received nearly 900,000 comments, almost all urging the committee to not lighten restrictions.

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Despite this, the vote still came through, making some feel that their voices are being ignored.

“It is really disheartening because it shows the power of corporations,” A. P. Economics teacher Drew Coyne said.

Rowan agreed, but admitted he also feels the situation is hopeless. “I don’t really know anything to stop it,” Rowan said.

But Shamberg sees potential in a more fundamental governmental argument stemming from the debate.

“I foresee large companies continuing to say it’s their right to spend, it’s their right to lobby Congress people in order to protect their interests,” he said.

“And smaller companies have a very compelling argument that if they’re not on equal footing, that’s not equal speech.”

While there were many concerns about the new rule turnover, the FCC is adamant that open internet is still protected.

“We conclude,” the FCC Fact Sheet on Restoring Internet Freedom read, “that the lighttouch approach that we adopt today, in combination with existing antitrust and consumer protection laws, more than adequately addresses concerns about Internet openness.”

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December 21, 2017

Inklings

Parks and Recreation approves Compo Beach renovations

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Elle Fair ’19

estport Parks and Recreation approved plans for renovations at Compo Beach including the installation of sidewalks, bathrooms, more tables and grills, a pickleball court and some new parking spaces. Although they were approved by Parks and Recreation on Nov. 15, the plans still need approval from the Conservation Commission, Flood and Erosion Control Board and Planning and Zoning Commission in order to reach the town’s funding committee.

The renovations are aimed at improving

the overall flow of the South Beach, and they will not exceed more than $850 thousand. Jacob Lubell ’18 visits the beach regularly and thinks highly of the upcoming renovations.

“I think the improvements will make it an even better place to spend time especially with the new courts, which I am super excited for,” Lubell said.

According to Representative Town Meeting member Matthew Mandell, the addition of bathrooms to south beach was the most common request made by residents.

“The Parks and Recreation commission held numerous meetings about what should be done at the beach,” Mandell said.

“Residents filled out surveys and gave a huge amount of input. I believe they ordered their concerns in terms of priority.”

The restroom facilities will be built to match the exterior of other buildings located on the beach. The facility will include three unisex bathrooms, water fountains for filling bottles and a new outdoor shower.

The proposed renovations include safe sidewalks which are similar to the one currently located at the East Beach. This will allow citizens to safely walk along the beach instead of behind the parked vehicles, and in the middle of the road.

In addition to the walkways, there

will be “picnic pads” installed. These will serve as handicapped accessible picnic tables, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These new renovations are also aimed at reducing crowds and traffic at the beach. Izzy Cardello ’19, Parks and Recreation staff member, understands how crowded the beach scene gets.

“The new renovations to the beach will attract more people,” Cardello said, “because they will be able to park easily, use the restroom without waiting in long lines, and the sidewalks will let residents walk along the beach easily.”

Photos by Charlie Colasurdo ’18

SOUTH BEACH The proposed renovations are

concentrated on the South Beach. One of the most popular proposals is the addition of parking spots as the area experienced heavy traffic congestion near the end of the summer.

Uber-Volvo collaboration strives to introduce self-driving cars Nicole Dienst ’18 Uber Technologies Inc. announced its plan to partner with Volvo to purchase and program self-driving cars for Uber’s use.

Volvo is hoping to supply Uber with roughly 24,000 cars in their loose partnership from 2019-2021. Uber announced its intentions to partner with Volvo on Nov. 20, 2017, following a $3.5 billion investment from Saudi Arabia, to promote and publicize their plans for international expansion and improvement of Uber vehicles.

The self-driving technological programming for Uber, a ride-providing company, has not yet been built.

The advanced program is currently under development by Uber’s technology department.

“I think self driving cars are the future of transportation,” Neal Soni ’18, programming app developer for MYSHS, said. “They have been proven to be more reliable — getting into less accidents per million miles than human drivers.”

If Uber eventually purchases these

24,000 cars from Volvo, it would be the first ride-providing company to have autonomous and commercial vehicles as its sole mode of transportation. The plan is that Volvo will create and manufacture these self-driving cars, while Uber creates similar technology to that of the current Uber

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Graphic by Cameron Lynch ’19

application, programming these self-driving cars to respond to ride and directions requests from users.

These self-driving cars would also serve as a major technological shift for Uber, as currently, all Uber drivers are required to provide their own bought or leased car, and all cars have drivers. “Self driving

Uber cars would be effective and cheaper for Uber to maintain, but it would remove an entire demographic, Uber drivers, from the economy,” Peter Clanton ’18 said.

Uber has not yet commented on specifics for the app, and riders have expressed concerns about having an autonomous car rather than a real person driving them.

“Computers will always be prone to errors, especially when the task at hand becomes more complicated,” Bradley Stakoff ’20 said. “When it’s a physical driver, you can give them directions, but self driving cars just follow their own programming. I would not get into a self driving Uber car.”

The new and upcoming autonomous car industry is expected to be a multi-million dollar business. Uber and Volvo have recently been testing out prototypes of their cars in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Lucy Mather ’18 expressed her concern with the safety of these autonomous vehicles.

“I think there needs to be more safety testing,” Mather said.

“Self driving Uber cars cannot only put the passenger at risk, but also others on the road.”

Inklings

December 21, 2017

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Main Street construction proposal riles nearby residents Lili Romann ’19

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eighbors of the Weston/Easton Rd. intersection have expressed concern regarding traffic congestion and potential fatalities that result from development at 500 Main St., the former site of DayBreak Nursery.

Able Construction Incorporated has proposed to develop 12 living units at the site, near the Merritt Parkway’s exit 42.

Among opponents of the construction is Kristina Ludel ’19. “[The area] is just going to get jammed up and create more traffic,” she said.

Karen Sherman, a Westport resident who lives near the intersection, supports the development overall, but has similar concerns about traffic. “Before construction begins, I would like to see the town and the state formulate and provide funding for an acceptable plan to solve the traffic problem at this intersection that will inevitably result,” Sherman said.

Mary Ellen Gallagher, a realtor from Coldwell Banker Real Estate, was among the attendees of the recent Westport Planning and Zoning Committee (P&Z) hearings and does not believe the 12 additional units will “adversely impact” the pre existing traffic.

Peter Greenberg, owner of Able Construction, also does not think the traffic will be increased significantly. “During rush hour, approximately 300 cars go through that intersection, and we are talking about adding a couple of cars into that mix which is very, very minor,” Greenberg said.

Greenberg said two hired traffic consultants, financed by Able Construc-

tion, determined that, on average, 24 vehicles would leave the site each day.

He initially proposed construction of four mansions to the P&Z, following their purchase of the two and a quarter acre space roughly three and a half years ago. However, P&Z requested more, smaller units, particularly with a senior requirement or financial accommodation.

Gallagher also defended the development because she said 60 percent of the condos will be restricted to residents 55 years and older.

“The town is in really desperate need of decent condo housing for, in particular, seniors, who want and who need to stay in town but don’t have a place to downsize to,” Gallagher said. “The town and the state have to go in and really rework the entire area.”

CONSTITUENTS RAISING THEIR VOICES Westport

residents (top-right) attended a Planning and Zoning Commitee hearing regarding the future of the former site of DayBreak Nursery (top-left, bottom).

Top-left photo and bottom photo by Charlie Colasurdo ’18, top-right photo by Dave Matlow/WestportNow.com

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OPINIONS

December 21, 2017 Editors-in-Chief Amelia Brown & Anay Simunovic

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Protesting takes courage; respect those who do

Managing Editors

Max Appell & Ian Bernstein

Web Managing Editors

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e have an administration that allows students to express Business Director their opinions; they organize Brett Franklin assemblies and panels when students Creative Director feel passionate about issues such as Melanie Lust sexual assault. We are lucky to have their for it’s not found among other Breaking News Managing Editors support, schools in the country. Yet why is it that Emma Greenberg & Julia Rosier whenever there’s a murmur of a protest Associate Managing Editors fizzles out before anything has even taken Izzy Blansfield & Alex Reiner place? It isn’t the administration’s fault; Assistant Public Relations Manager it’s our own.

Megan Doyle & Tori Lubin

Inklings

Cate Casparius

Assistant Creative Directors Charlie Colasurdo & Ellie Kravetz

Broadcast Directors

EDITORIAL

Jack Caldwell & Jonathan Kaner

Outreach Managers

Hannah Bolandian & Bri Zeiberg

Assistant Business Manager Zach Feinstein

It’s not that students don’t care about

Subscription Managers important issues. We flood Facebook with

Join the discussion.

Have an opinion about an Inklings article? Write a letter to the editor at inklingsnews@westportps.org

Our editorial board voted 27-2 in favor of this editoiral. Use the QR code to read the editorial dissent on Inklingsnews.com.

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Clay Crouch & Ben Klau bullying prevention posts and forward petitions concerning the school Advertising Managers online budget. This form of activism proves Caroline Donahue & Emily Stone that we are an informed community News Editors that does want to make positive change.

Jack Beck & Zach Horowitz We are then left to wonder, what is Sophie Driscoll & Dan Harizman stopping us from taking that next step Opinions Editors and actually standing up for what we Izzy Connors & Alexandra Sprouls believe in through physical protest?

Maybe our failure to protest is due to a Kaya Leitner & Layla Wofsy fear of being judged. High school is notoFeatures Editors rious for being a fundamental point in our Bailey Blaikie & Lili Romann social lives. It is a time when peers’ opinions Audrey Bernstein & Liv Ronca and judgments often mean more to us than Arts Editors supporting a worthy cause. We’re not asking Allie D’Angelo & Olivia Foster that teenagers suddenly become immune Nicky Brown & Anna Rhoads to others’ opinions of them; that would be Sports Editors impossible. But protesters should not be Kaela Dockray & Erin Lynch receiving judgmental stares or viewed as Jackson Daignault & Amanda Kaplowitz weird. The stigma surrounding protests is partially why they so rarely happen.

Web News Editors Or maybe our inability to take action Nicole Dienst & Adam Wenkoff is due to a fear of failure. No one wants Web Opinions Editors to make him or herself vulnerable by Arin Garland & Siri Kanter standing up for something and having Web Features Editors no guarantee that others will rally as well.

But our failure to act on our beChelsea Fox & Sasha Narang liefs through protest is more likeWeb Arts Editors ly due to a compilation of reasons.

Molly Mahoney & Maddie Phelps So, here’s the bottom line: We care

about issues, but we don’t care enough to prioritize these issues over our grades, extracurriculars or social life.

We have grown accustomed to a society in which breaking a perfect attendance record is too great a consequence to protest for issues we believe in.

Still, there are the select few who use their voice to instigate change within our local and national community. Kudos to those who turn a blind eye to the perceived consequences, and moreso focus on the possibility of achieving success.

Those are the students throughout history who have changed our society. They have spoken out against segregation, protected free speech and condemned an international war.

And while we can’t tell someone what they should or shouldn’t care about, we, as a community, need to support our peers who do overcome the fear of judgement, the fear of failure and take the initiative to organize protests or participate in them.

Web Sports Editors

Elliot Kaufman & Ben Pearl

Advisers

Matthew Bohn, Joseph DelGobbo, & Mary Elizabeth Fulco Gold Medal for Columbia Scholastic Crown Finalist for Columbia Scholastic

Hybrid News from Press Association 2017 Inklingsnews.com from Press Association 2015

[INKLINATIONS]

Silver Crown Award for Newspaper from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2014 Pacemaker from National Scholastic Press Association 2013 All the opinions, news and features in this paper are those of Staples High School students. Inklings, a curricular and extracurricular publication, has a circulation of 1,800 and is uncensored.

All letters to the editor must be signed. The editorial board reserves the right not to publish letters and to edit all submissions as it sees fit. The editorial board determines all editorial opinions, which are authored faithfully by the Editors-in-Chief.

Inklings reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health. The paper is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center.

70 North Ave. Westport, CT 06880 Phone: (203) 341-1994 Inklingsweb@gmail.com Decisions of Inklings and Westport Public Schools are made without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other discriminating basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.

Deniz Elden ’20 “I went to the Women’s March because I thought it was important to take a stand.”

A CAUSE?

PROTESTED FOR

Brian Katz ’18

Victoria Cao ’19

“I have never protested anything because the opportunity has never arisen.”

“I haven't, not because I don't support the causes, but they're often very distant and occur when I'm busy."

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

10 Opinions

December 21, 2017

Inklings

The Artichoke *Inklings Satire

*

It's not stealing if it's re-gifted Ellie Kravetz ’18

N

othing wa r ms my heart during the holiday season like getting the perfect gifts for my loved ones. But still, it can be very stressful. When shopping for those you love, there can be a lot of pressure. “What would they like?”

“Will this shirt fit?” “What if they already have this?” All of these questions can be daunting and lead to a common case of “gift-giver discouragement.”

Instead of aimlessly wandering around department stores this year, I have come up with an unmatched method to providing the perfect present: re-gift one of their own favorite things back to them. Let me explain with an example.

I first tried this method of regifting other people’s possessions last Christmas.

My grandmother was the guinea pig of this operation. Way back in October, I snatched her cheetah glasses. Her frustration of not being able to see for the next few months was palpable. After watching her bang into multiple pieces of furniture, I was tempted to give her my regift of her own glasses before Christmas.

Each additional bruise she acquired made

it all the more difficult for me to keep the secret. But I dug deep and waited.

Sure, she was confused to find her glasses when she opened the bag on Christmas morning. Was it a Christmas miracle? She asked everyone in the room, “Are these mine? Where have they been? How long has it been?” When I told her that I had taken them, she chided me, but I could tell from the glint of tears in her eyes that she was really grateful. She’s always been a grumpy old broad who had trouble expressing her true feelings, bless her.

The process of re-gifting stolen goods can be a tedious one, but it’s very rewarding when complete. Just make sure that you are the first person in your family to take up this sentimental tradition.

The praise is lessened when everyone is in the know, for it ruins the surprise!

Once you’re ready to begin, start by being observant of your family and friends’ daily habits. This may include following them around and carrying a notepad recording the items they value most.

Then, when you have decided which items to take, find a time when they are not in use and slyly snatch them.

Take the items and store them under your bed. If they mention to you that they’re missing their possessions, act horrified and console them. In the back of your mind you can smirk in anticipation of their glee when you finally return their stolen items for the holiday season.

This year I have gone above and beyond. The underskirt of my bed houses my stash of contraband. My sister has been complaining about misplacing her favorite earrings. Little does she know they’ll be adorned with a bow on the 25th!

From basketball sneakers to our family microwave, I feel as if everybody will be pleasantly surprised. The confusion over how they could have possibly misplaced their Patagonia fleeces will be replaced with relief when they unwrap their missing belongings and are reunited with their “gifts.”

I am most looking forward to seeing my best friend Stacey’s face when she learns that her car was not stolen by the neighborhood youths, but rath-

er by her considerate and loving BFF! Overall I think that I nailed this holiday season. Stacey will be back on the roads, and my father will finally have his toolbox to fix the sink that has been flooding the basement for the past few weeks. My brother will no longer have to wear sandals in the snow, which I’m sure will increase his mood noticeably.

Despite the fact that none of them will say thank you, I know I’ll feel a strong appreciation from all of them. Who else would have taken such good care of their favorite things? Their daily essentials now have a rejuvenated value, all because of my creativity. After all, nobody knows how good something is until it is gone!

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Adjust your New Year's resolutions to be achievable Elle Fair ’19

because society basically tells me I have to.

This year I will However, I am not alone in my failure.

According to Forbes, only 8 percent of people eat healthy, go to the actually improve or maintain these goals. gym everyday and Which leads me to ask, why is it so difficult learn how to bake for people to maintain their resolutions? exceptional brownies. These are just a few of many goals that I commit to at the beginning of every New Year that I never seem to accomplish.

I am a part of the large population of people who make New Year’s resolutions that are too lofty and never quite seem to accomplish them. “A new year, a new me” is the common New Year’s slogan. Yet, it never really is a “new me.”

No matter how many times I have failed to accompl i sh my New Y e a r ’ s resolution, I continue to create them. I feel Grap hic b compelled to set a y Po resolution for myself ppy L iving because everyone else does. stone ’21 A part of me feels guilty if I don’t try

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Perhaps it is because we often set resolutions achieve year after year, and instead be that are too high for ourselves to achieve. creative and think of something new One year, I told myself that I would that you might enjoy or alter it to be only eat sweets once or twice a month. more achievable. For instance, every That goal was set too high for me since year I tell myself I will read a book for I am an avid ice cream eater. If I ate a pleasure every night before bed. Yet, sweet treat more than once in a month, every year I am too “busy” to do so.

I got angry and it made me want Instead, I have decided to set aside 15 to give up. In order to achieve minutes every week for this new year. your New Year’s resolution you Instead of beating yourself up need to be honest with yourself. if you don’t achieve the goal, take According to nutrition and it easy and take pride in whatever fitness expert Erin Palinski, small improvements you did achieve. setting goals that you are Giving yourself small rewards actually capable of achieving each day for little successes helps the in a realistic time frame helps process feel less like a chore and rather to improve your success. something that is positive and fun. So The key to being a this year, I have decided to make a fun part of the 8 percent of New Year’s resolution. I never set time people who for myself achieve their Instead of beating to watch New Year’s classic and yourself up if you resolutions old movies. is to not T h i s don’t achieve the overdramatize N e w t he go a l , goal, take it easy Y e a r , I but rather w a n t t o and take pride in be realistic, watch a be creative whatever small im- c l a s s i c and don’t o v i e be too hard provements you did m e v e r y on you r s e l f . achieve.

Instead of setting a Su nday goal to lose 50 pounds, be more night as a realistic and set a goal of eating relaxing a salad once a day. Avoid setting start to the week. So what will the same goal that you have failed to your New Year’s resolution be?

Inklings

December 21, 2017

Opinions

Letters to the Editor

11

Submit a letter to Inklings at inklingsnews@westportps.org

I

n the words of famous feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on the education of girls, “Teach her to stand up for what is hers. If another child takes her toy without her permission, ask her to take it back, because her consent is important. Tell her that if anything ever makes her uncomfortable, to speak up, to say it, to shout.”

Although Adichie brings up the concept of teaching sons and daughters about asking permission, the aspect of consent has been overlooked when raising children to know what is right and wrong. Many young people do not know what consent is, or they have misinterpreted its meaning. Results from a university survey report that "18% of college students think someone has consented as long as they don’t say ‘no.’" This lack of knowledge on consent is the foundation for sexual assault and harassment.

Having people find ways to avoid sexual assault is an ineffective method when other factors are taken into account (i.e. the victim is unconscious), and it is allowing perpetrators to continue actions they think are acceptable. Instead, we should start at the root of the problem and educate about what consent is at an early age, while having school administrations provide abundant resources for this information.

Sexual assault is more prevalent than people think. In fact, “44% of reported sexual assaults happen before the victim is 18.”

We fear that without proper education on consent, this trend will continue or even increase. Mr. Franzis, Title IX compliance officer at our school, told us that last year, there were two reported sexual assaults or harassment cases, but this year, five cases (three more than last year) have already been reported. Although there has been an increase in reported assaults, there is still the possibility of many assaults going unreported because students don’t know who to refer to, or don’t know what the outcome will be. This is problematic since students will have no outlets to help to deal with their trauma, which could likely lead to long term problems such as depression.

It is imperative that young children better comprehend their rights and others, while also learning to be able to tell others and come forward if their rights are violated. A University of California student-run sexual assault information

page states that “teaching consent in the classroom could help students identify and have the courage to come forward about issues such as molestation and sexual assault.” If students are supplied with the correct information about consent in elementary and middle school, they would feel more comfortable dealing with and speaking out about the issue, and the rates of sexual assault would not be as high.

It is especially important that consent lessons are first introduced at an early age, such as middle school or elementary school, so children are ingrained with what is accepted and what is not in whether a situation relates to sexual harassment or even just understanding the word "no." Clearly, young children should not be taught consent in explicit sexual terms. There are alternative approaches, however, such as the tea consent video. This cartoon clip outlines consent in terms when and when not to make someone a cup of tea. These simple consent lessons can be later applied in sexual terms during middle school and high school.

The notion of sexual consent should not be brought up once in a student’s entire educational career. In fact, these ideas should be frequently reinforced throughout our middle and high school health classes. As students become more sexually active, it is important that the school provides us with the information necessary to ensure students’ safety and comfort. In addition to learning about consent in classes, flyers or small cards with sexual harassment information should be available through the school or posted on walls. Such information could include the sexual assault hotline number and the Title IX compliance officer at Staples. This information could help victims of sexual harassment feel comfortable speaking out and getting help.

By discussing consent and sexual harassment at Staples and at younger ages such as elementary and middle school, one can hope that more parents should be able to reinforce these educational initiatives at home like Adichie has advocated for. In the words of advocates from The Good Men website, bringing up the notion of consent at a young age ensures that “we don’t have to re-educate them later and break bad habits, perhaps after somebody’s been hurt.”

The topic of sexual assault has become

Protest is not easy. It comes with consequences: sometimes mild, like a feeling of fear or discomfort, and sometimes extreme, like firehoses and police dogs and tear gas. But those consequences are a significant part of what makes protest powerful.

I have participated in several protest actions between my first, as an eleventh grader, and my most recent, at age 42. I know what it is to feel those fears of consequences — from others’ judgments to the possibility of physical harm.

I can remember so clearly the dark early morning of January 21, 2017. I sat on a cold, packed bus, scrawling my husband’s phone number, my social security number and my name onto my forearm with a wide-tipped black Sharpie. Should something happen on that frozen January day in DC — an arrest, tear-gassing, an accident — someone needed to be able to get me to help. It was scary to think of those possibilities. Writing this information on my arm was a real, physical prompt reminding me of how risky protest action is. But my belief in what I was marching for overrode all those fears. My beliefs in the dignity of women, in our potential, in our fight, in our place in our country, were the fuel that kept me going and got me beyond those fears.

Here’s the thing about being a girl, about being a woman: we live with a degree of fear, unease, caution. Many women live in fear of those who have hurt them and those who might. And they should not. Those hurts are sometimes mild (judgment, wolfish eyes, assessing remarks) and sometimes extreme (assault, harassment, violent abuse, rape). I think that the women of

Staples who intended to protest the belittlement and worse that they sometimes experience in our school let the fear get the best of them. And they should not.

At Staples on December 1, when these young women ducked out of their planned protest, the patriarchy won again. Fears trumped belief, trumped passion, trumped intent. Young women had a plan, but in their ears were the insidious whispers of judgment, and they could not quiet those voices. There is a victory here, though. Because these young women — yes, even the ones who “chickened out” — learned something. Protest is scary. It’s hard. It has real weight. It is not passive, or easy. It’s a risk.

I think they will be more ready next time.

And so I am asking you to re-group.

When the women of Staples stand together, they are an immense and potent force. I want you to know that the risk is worth it.

Think of that day in January, that day when half a million women and allied men took to the streets of the capital — FIVE MILLION worldwide — and bravely, proudly said, “Listen to us. LISTEN TO US”. And think too of the girls at Coleytown and Bedford who are the next wave of women in this building. What is the community you want for them? For your little sisters? When you raise your voices here, you speak for them too. And lastly, know that you have allies in the faculty. Your voices are important. Your actions have meaning.

Protest is not easy; it is scary. Its power lies partly in what it means when a mass of people overcome their fears to stand together and feel strong. You already have power within you. Exercise it. Now is no time for silence. Now is no time to stand down.

extremely prevalent this year ranging from widely broadcasted issues in film and media, to efforts of silent protests in our Staples community. Whether it is “he said- she said” or if there is liable evidence, sexual assault crimes start with consent. In order to reduce the prevalence of this issue, it is extremely important that students know the resources that they can turn to if ever faced with this problem. We want there to be education on consent for younger stu-

dents and informational cards available for students at Staples. Everyone should feel secure wherever they are, and with education and outlets, we believe this is possible. Integrating these topics into education will fortify respect not only in the school community, but in the way we treat one another in real world situations.

Meghan Scheck SHS English Dept.

Rebecca Duncan '19 Leigha Dear '19

You can say so much by just standing up Emma Rojas ’18

Bystander— noun—a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.

From the beginning of our school career, we are taught to not be a bystander. Yet so many of us fear that if we stand up for ourselves, for a cause we believe in or even for someone else, it will hinder our reputation and injure our pride.

The problem is, people care more about the superficiality of their personal reputations than they do about their personal morals.

This ambivalence, this lack of initiative, was demonstrated two weeks ago when a fellow classmate sent out a call for support.

She asked her fellow classmates in an anonymous Facebook group to rally and raise awareness for sexual assault and sexual harassment by participating in a peaceful walkout. There were 63 members in the group who digitally pledged their support, but on the day of the protest only a handful of people, seven in fact, actually followed through and met in the lobby.

I never understood how people can show support when they are behind a

computer screen but then, when faced with reality, they become unforthcoming. People see sexual assault and sexual harassment on full display in the news due to media attention but for some reason don’t feel the need to say anything about its prevalence here at Staples.

As a school, we should be willing to support one another. We should be willing to encourage one another. And we should be willing to take a small hit to our pride and social status in order to deal with the repercussions of doing something we know is right.

Instead, we have become accustomed to tuning things out that we don’t deem appropriate to talk about. We sweep things under the rug rather than deal with our emotions, and we don’t talk about things like sexual assault or bullying because we may feel awkward or uncomfortable. We might even be friends with a perpetrator or bully and yet we still feel pressure to not cause problems.

I know it can be hard to stand up—I’ve done it — but it’s easier than thinking of “what if.”

Ultimately, many years from now, we won’t remember who dated the Quarterback or who sat at the popular table or who threw the most parties. What we will remember are the people who stood up when it mattered, the people who spoke out when everyone else was silent and the people who didn’t care about the consequences for a good and righteous act.

We need to be upstanders, not bystanders.

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

12 Opinions

December 21, 2017

Inklings

An open letter to Louis C.K. Zach Horowitz ’19

D

e a r Louie,

I was 14 years old when my brothers and I huddled around one computer to watch your stand up. “This guy is so funny,” one of my older brothers said as he surfed YouTube. A few minutes later, I was cackling at your 2015 skit at The Comedy Store.

I was an immature teenager, laughing at vulgar jokes about which my parents would not have approved.

As time went on, and as I matured into a young adult, the jokes I was once laughing at as an immature teenager had a different yet still humorous effect on me. I was beginning to grasp a deeper meaning. Whether you were discussing the scary topics of death in your TV show “Louie,” or the subjects of alcoholism and prescription drug addiction in the mournful, sophisticated, yet humorous, TV show, “Horace and Pete,” you tackled complex issues with humor and insight.

The complexity of your work resonated with me. I

understood the power of your comedy, and I admired it. It is no secret that your work as a comedian, and filmmaker is sexually inappropriate. However, your comedy forced people to distinguish between right and wrong, encouraged people to reflect on their own morals.

In all that time, I never once doubted that you were a respectful, decent and good person. That is until now.

Looking back, I suppose I should not have been surprised when I learned that you were accused of sexual misconduct.

All the signs pointed to it. How could I be surprised by the masturbation accusations. Mast u r b at i o n has been

Graphic by Katie Howard ’19

at the foreground of many of your jokes. you, that you taught me to see in othAccording to your TV show, “Louie,” ers, I am standing behind the victims during Season 2 Episode 8, your char- of your actions, not you. I praise the acter, (yourself) was featured on Fox extremely brave women who spoke out News discussing masturbation while be- against you. You deserve to lose the reing referred to as a “prolific masturba- spect of people from around the country. tor.” You said, “And I’m proud of it[…]

Adding insult to injury, your apolAnd later, I’m going to masturbate and ogy on social media was disingenuthink about you [the talk show host]. ous. It was neither deep nor thought And there’s nothing you can do about it.” provoking. Frankly, it was shallow.

Once again, in this scene from “Louie,” You should have more freely and you were vulgar, and that was fine by me. publicly taken responsibility for your However, the last line, “and there’s noth- actions; hiding behind a typed message ing you can do about it,” now shakes me on social media was cowardly and inup. It was a tasteless statement to make. sufficient. Instead, you should speak People might say that on live television or radio about your your actions may have issues, and most importantly apolobeen influenced by the gize to the women you took advantage entertainment indus- of. Let everyone hear that apology. tries culture that proI believe Pamela Newton, a teacher motes and turns a blind and writer for the Huffington Post, put eye to men shaming and it best in her open letter to you. Newton harassing women. Just proposed that you write an op-ed in the look at all Times, or talk about the men it in your next comeI praise the holding dy show. She made a extremely power in great point by saying the enteryou should appear brave women tainment on Colbert. “You who spoke out can give viewers a industry who are window into what against you. now acmakes men like you cused of do the things they some sort of sexual mis- do,” Newton wrote. Now, it is possible conduct. Of course, you that I could be wrong. Maybe you are were not alone. And like Weinstein, Bill O’Reilly, Matt Lauyet, this is no excuse, er or President Donald Trump, for that and I do not excuse you. matter. Maybe you are just as bad as While I believe your them. I guess I will have to wait and see. offenses are different But if you don’t step up and prove to me from those committed that I should respect you, you will lose

by Harvey Weinstein, my support along with any others who and while I do still see might still have a little faith in you. If a glimmer of the de- that’s the case, then the next letter I write corum, the decency in will be asking for all of the laughs back.

Librarians enforce overbearing and frustrating policies Ava Simunovic ’20

A single pretzel. Just one. To quell the agonizing hunger pains. I steal a look to my left a n d then to the right.

The coast is clear. Gradually, I reach my hand into the bag and slide the pretzel into my mouth.

The loud crunch makes me cringe, but the bit of food has saved me from devouring the pencil in front of me. A sigh of relief floods over my body, until I hear the ominous sound of dress shoes coming from behind me. “Hand them over, or get out,” the librarian says.

While I understand the need for order within the library, my frustration stems from the arbitrary policies that have been implemented and the manner in which the librarians execute these rules.

No matter how discreet, there is no escaping the librarians.

They stalk every perimeter of the library managing to contrive a new policy to interrupt one’s studying or conversation. The li-

brary’s standards of what is work and what is not is too specific and strict. I was recently reading a fascinating article in the New Yorker with two of my friends, until we were abruptly disturbed by a librarian claiming that work was not being done if more than one person was using a single computer. The librarian also claimed

Photos by Ellie Kravitz ’18 & Melanie Lust '19

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

we must be taking “extensive” notes for it to be considered work. Now I know what you’re thinking: put in your headphones, turn on “Game of Thrones” and no one will ever suspect you are not doing work.

However, through personal experience, I feel obliged to tell you that your attempts will be futile. They lurk around waiting

for students to succumb to their desire to finish the latest episode of “Riverdale,” or like me, sneak a bite of food. Everytime I sit down at a table I feel their breath on my back and their piercing eyes on my work.

They say an easy solution to these problems is to work in the “chat zone.” Unfortunately, it is constantly overcrowded and filled with obnoxiously loud students, obstructing my ability to share a civil conversation with a group of friends. The truth of the matter is that if students are seeking more of a social environment during frees or spare time, they should really take advantage of the cafeteria. However, within the borders of the library the policies are implemented in an aggressive and unequivocal way. Violations should be handled with more courtesy and less strictness.

I really do appreciate and recognize all the work that the librarians do for this school, but if I am told to leave my table because four girls chose to reside at a three chaired table, I might lose it. If students are not disturbing anyone STRICT RULES (clockwise) The library has many different zones where students can study or chat with around them, and if they are not acting inapprotheir friends. The quiet section allows students to priately, I find it in their complete their work in silence. The other zones allow right to not be disturbed. minimum talking, but no food is permited anywhere in the library.

Inklings

December 21, 2017

Opinions

13

Graphic by Tabby Burke ’19

Greek life fosters community and connection

Bri Zeiberg ’19

Zach Strober ’19

F

useful not only in college life, but also in the future. Banning Greek life would be stripping students of all of these opportunities, life lessons and skills, which is as unjust as stripping them of their education.

-New Jersey Institute of Technology

’19

Greek members nationally

rd Howa

9 million

tie

by Ka

Over

Many college freshman exercise their newfound independence by joining Greek life, which is known for its endless social events, in an effort to build life-long friendships. What they don’t anticipate, however, is the possibility of sexual abuse, hazing, binge drinking and even death.

As a junior, I am starting to look at a va-

ic Graph

or most people, going off to college for the first time can be overwhelming.

Being on your own can be very intimidating, especially if you don’t really know anyone going into your freshman year. The option to join fraternities and sororities can make this transition easier as students start their college careers.

In many ways, Greek life in college allows students to establish a second family, a home-awayfrom-home. It creates brothers and sisters over the course of their college careers and often these friendships last a lifetime. This allows members to bond, study, laugh, cry, compete, live and grow with a group of people other than their families.

Greek life also allows students to make school feel less intimidating, as it gives them the ability to build communities within the community. By attracting similar kids to one another, whether it be by interest or by style, fraternity and sorority membership generally has like-minded members.

Through community services that the fraternities and sororities organize, the brothers and sisters learn how to give back to the community as well as those who are less fortunate than them. For instance, the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta donated $424,525 to the USO and Red Cross last year. This form of activity teaches empathy and together forms another level of bonding with the groups’ membership.

Even after graduating, Greek life also proves beneficial for those who choose to join. The alumni network with which fraternities and sororities provide their member has proven to be a tremendous value with jobs, internships and connections for future endeavors.

Although there have been many unfortunate occurrences within Greek life, the advantages greatly outweigh the disadvantages.

The connections that Greek life provides its members with are invaluable and

Greek life encourages fatal and risky behavior

Graphic by Tabby Burke ’19

4 out of 5

fraternity and sorority members are binge drinkers -The Addition Center

riety of colleges. One of the main factors would’ve been to attend a university that offers Greek life, but as incidents of hazing and sexual assault have become a constant topic in the news, I am now unsure.

The current state of Greek life is something I have no desire to be a part of due to the escalation of flaws within the system.

For example, Timothy Piazza of Penn State University, who died this past February, is just one of the many victims of pledging fraternities. Piazza’s fraternity brothers forced him to chug a toxic amount of alcohol and then proceeded to wait to call 911 until the next day.

The hazing incident led eighteen brothers of Piazza’s fraternity to be charged with 850 criminal charges, including involuntary manslaughter. How many more must die before the culture found in Greek life changes?

But binge drinking is only one of the many failures with the current Greek system. Sexual assault has also been noted as a common problem. In a study conducted by the Bureau of Justice in 2009, 779 undergraduate college women and approximately 436 sorority members were selected to discuss their experience with sexual assault.

Of the surveyed women, 20.5 percent said that they experienced rape while in college, compared to the 33 percent of sorority women who reported having experienced rape.

This eye-opening report left me fearful for what my college experience may hold. I shouldn’t have to feel victimized as a woman throughout my college experience if I were to choose to become a part of Greek culture.

As incidents within Greek life have been on the rise, colleges such as Florida State University, Penn State University, Indiana University and Louisiana State University have suspended all Greek activities. Colleges should take this halt on Greek life as a time to re-evaluate the morals and goals of the Greek life system.

They might consider following Penn State University’s example, as the university has already agreed on a new code of conduct that includes a zero tolerance alcohol policy.

I understand that asking to ban all Greek life in its entirety may be an extreme, but creating rules to regulate the behavior of fraternities and sororities is crucial to the future of all Greek life.

I am asking for universities to reform, not abolish, the unacceptable behaviors to which the Greek lifestyle has become accustomed. If colleges agree to pause all Greek activity, efforts can be made to redefine the rules for all fraternities and sororities. If successful, numerous amount of lives will be saved.

Greek life members graduation rate is

20% higher

than non-greek members -Business Insider

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

Inkli

FEATU

December 21, 2017

O

Julia Rosier ’18

nce a week, Amanda Neckritz ’18 and Jamie Spector ’18 go to lunch to participate in activities with their 89-year old “girlfriend,” Shirley Mellor.

Both Neckritz and Spector are members of the Girlfriends club at Staples High School and meet with Shirley once a week in order to form close bonds.

The Girlfriends club is a club of six members who pair up with a partner and meet with an elderly woman, a “girlfriend.” The girls of the club go out to lunch or to the girlfriends’ houses and spend time talking or participating in activities.

Infographic by Liv Ronca ’18

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

“My sister was a part of [Girlfriends] for a while and she had Shirley before me and was saying how good of an experience it was to be able to connect with someone much older than you on a different level,” Neckritz, club president, said.

The club was started by parent Carolyn Malkin in 2013. As awareness about the club grew, more students and “girlfriends” joined.

Howev“[The most r er, according to Neckritz, there are part is] the e a limited number Shirley gets of girlfriends who choose to parsee her.” ticipate because some are either - Amanda N uncomfortable or do not know about the club.

Neckritz and Spector’s girlfriend, Mellor, is in her second year of Girlfriends and she really loved the idea of interacting with students. “[My favorite part is] seeing the girlfriends [students] and talking to them and doing entertaining things and going to lunch,” Mellor said.

During their weekly meetings, the students and women participate in

GIRLFRIENDS GET TOGETHER (Left to right) Jamie Spector ’18, Shirley Mellor and Amanda Neckritz ’18 gather each week, either at each other’s homes or at a restaurant for lunch. They use the time to catch up on their daily lives. According to Neckritz, each time they meet, Mellor is filled with excitement.

Photos by Ellie Kravetz ’18

14

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activities. “[Mellor] is an artist so she owned ‘Maxes’ the art store before it closed and one time she bought Jamie and I paint and we painted pumpkins,” Neckritz said laughing. “She showed us how to do it, which was really cool because I’m not an artist.”

Spector has been a member of the Girlfriends club for a year and is partnered with Neckritz. “Shirley and I met around four months ago but rewarding we get along and so much fun excitement have together,” Spector when you said. “We both get something out of Girlfriends, which Neckritz ’18 is really special.”

Spector, Neckritz and Mellor get together each week.

“Amanda and I take her out to lunch and she loves it […] we laugh and have such a great time,” Spector said.

Helena Knoll ’18 and Charlotte Revelli ’18 both joined the club this year and meet with a woman named Rita Adams every Sunday at her house.

“We talk with her about her life and she shares pictures

December 21, 2017

15

with us, which is super cool,” Knoll said.

Knoll stated that Adams showed pictures of her travels in the Ringling Brothers Circus riding elephants and horses.

Revelli agrees that spending time with Adams is very special, and they feel their service is appreciated. Knoll said that she and Revelli were personally thanked by their girlfriend for visiting with her. “[The most rewarding part is] the excitement Shirley gets when you see her,” Neckritz said, “or you do something with her that she doesn’t have the opportunity to do.”

CHATTER AND LAUGHTER (Left to right) Amanda Neckritz ’18, Shirley Mellor and Jamie Spector ’18 often enjoy activities such as engaging in arts and crafts.

FELINE FRIENDS Jamie Spector ’18 often enjoys playing with girlfriend Shirley Mellor’s cat.

Graphics by Ali Green ’20

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

16 Features

December 21, 2017

A hidden talent:

Inklings

Malowitz welds with future in mind Anay Simunovic ’18

A

s a cool December breeze wafts into the garage studio, Benji Malowitz ’18 sets off an electric explosion. Sparks quickly illuminate the room, melting pieces of scrap metal together to create a corkscrew shaped windmill.

In the seventh grade, Malowitz decided he wanted to build his own gokart. With the support of his family and the purchase of a welding machine by his grandfather, he accomplished this goal.

Ever since then, Malowitz has been making metal pieces from the inside of his garage.

Many of his friends, however, are unaware of his passion for welding. “I had no idea he was into the craft,” Jacob Lubell ’18, longtime childhood friend of Malowitz, said.

Malowitz acknowledges that he never went out of his way to tell people about his welding abilities. “I’ve just never really been an art kid so I’ve kind of just kept this side of myself to myself,” he said.

Malowitz has been teaching himself the craft for years. “I took classes but my continuation of increased knowledge [...] has all just been selftaught through practice,” Malowitz said. “It’s a lot of trial and error.”

As a self identified “non-art

kid,” Malowitz relies on his sense of personal creativity in the studio instead of finding inspiration for his pieces through sketching. “When I’m standing there in my garage with the metal, it kind of just comes together,” Malowitz said. “Nothing’s really preplanned.”

In past years, Malowitz has been unable to find much of a connection between academics and welding.

However, in his senior year, he has chosen to do an independent study on welding.

In the independent study, Malowitz continues to weld on his own while being required to keep a detailed journal of his activities to acquire a year’s worth of credit for the course. He is working towards a final project where he will be able to showcase his pieces to the public.

Although Malowitz does not see himself working as a professional welder in the future, he does plan on studying engineering in college with a minor in studio art. “I really like the art aspect of welding [...] and welding is a hands-on application of these manufacturing tools and connected to the physics of balance,” Malowitz said.

Even though his grandfather has not worked directly with him in the studio, Malowitz continues to pay tribute to him for inciting his passion for welding, having been the one to first encourage him. According to Malowitz, “He’s definitely been the inspiration of learning the skill of metal work.”

Photo by Charlie Colasurdo ’18

Hannah Bolandian ’19

You better watch out, and you better not cry because Santa Claus is coming to town early. Except this time, the man in the red suit’s identity is a secret.

Secret Santa, or Secret Snowflake, is a tradition celebrated among a variety of friend groups at Staples.

The experience involves groups of friends gathering together and either picking names out of a hat or generating matches online to determine for whom they will secretly get a gift.

“I love the tradition of Secret Santa because it is a fun way to give presents to your friends and surprise them,” Charlotte Revelli ’18 said.

However, not everyone shares Revelli’s passion for this tradition.

Some believe it is too expensive or a waste of money. “Since Secret Santa

Photo contributed by Benji Malowitz ’18

WELDER AT WORK Malowitz (left) works to create his latest piece (above) displayed in his yard, a corkscrew shaped windmill.

Malowitz has been passionate about welding since seventh grade and enjoys the handson activity.

limits are sometimes pretty high, they Gonzalez ’20 said. She said that Secret can get expensive, so I like to only do Santa is yet another experience the girls get one or two,” Emily Putman ’19 said. to have even though their season is over.

Price limits are usually set so the This year, Jack Moses ’19 and his spending doesn’t get out of hand and group of friends are also participating the holiday tradition doesn’t become all in a gift exchange. “I am doing a Secret about money. “The Secret Santa group Santa with girls and guys in my group of I am in friends. I think it’s pretty has a limit “Secret Santa should fun and I’ll want to do it of $20, again next year,” Moses said. be about giving a so I don’t The English department believe it is doing their own Secret friend something small Santa gift swap as well. Each is a waste of money,” for one week everyone or making something,” day Lindsay participating will bring their Dry ’19 - Lindsay Dry ’19 matches a gift for around Photo by Nicole Caiati ’20 s a i d . $5.00. “It’s really fun to “Secret Santa should be about watch the person you have get excited about PRESENT EXCHANGE Shea Curran ’20 (left) giving a friend something small or their gifts without knowing they are from and Victoria Caiati ’20 (right) come together to making something, not the money.” you,” Jamie Pacuk, English teacher, said. trade gifts and uphold the Secret Santa tradition.

The girls’ soccer team is doing a Whether Secret Santa brings a Also known as Secret Snowflake, a number of Secret Santa gift exchange to maintain handwritten note or a pair of pajamas, students choose to participate in this holiday close bonds. “I do think [Secret Santa] gifts from every price range will celebration. brings the team closer together,” Mia be unwrapped this holiday season.

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Inklings

December 21, 2017

Features

17

Holiday season brightened by gift-giving in Delmhorst’s math class Olivia Foster ’18

F

or the second year in a row, holiday spirit and kindness have been spread with the help of one teacher and her many students. After receiving a positive response last year, Math teacher Stacey Delmhorst has ‘adopted’ seven children through the Connecticut Education Association (CEA). Delmhorst and her students then collect gifts for these children whose parents may not be able to.

“Whatever we do is probably all these kids get for the holiday,” Delmhorst said.

“It’s powerful to see what everyone can do when they work together.”

B e fo r e Delmhorst drops off the gifts, she holds a gift wrapping party in each of her classes. “We’re taking a day off to do good,” Delmhorst said. “We’re learning so much today without necessarily picking up a piece of paper and a pencil.”

This year, Delmhorst adopted seven children: one for each of her five classes and two for her and her family. All of the children were from a school in Bridgeport, but the CEA also works with children from various parts of Connecticut, including New Haven and Waterbury.

She only knows the first name, age and grade of the child receiving the gifts, so she never finds out what happens once the gifts are donated. She still feels the experience is beneficial to Staples students.

Ben Roland ’19 was surprised at the gifts one of the children asked

for. “I found myself in awe, looking at the list he created,” Roland said. “It consisted of coats, jackets, clothes and school supplies. Those are things we take for granted.”

Many of Delmhorst’s students feel that this opportunity is a great way to give back during the holiday season. “It was really nice being able to help a kid in need during the holiday time,” Kristin Butler ’18 said. “I felt really good about getting this child presents because it is simply things that they ask for that many of us in Westport have without even asking.”

Students in Delmhorst’s class started preparing about a month in advance for the gift wrapping party that took place on Nov. 30.

“I think it is a great experience,” Ben Stein ’18 said, “and giving presents to an underprivileged child is heart warming.”

Students also liked the personal connection they felt by getting gifts for specific children. “It’s not like you’re donating just a few canned goods,” Kate Lewis ’18 said. “You’re actually getting gifts for a specific child that you know the name of, so the whole idea of giving back becomes more personal.”

Ultimately, students who partake in Delmhorst’s gift-giving activity receive no grade or bonus points.

“There is no reward other than knowing that you’ve made some little kid’s year,” Delmhorst said. “That’s the reward. The reward is knowing that you did something good for somebody else without getting anything in return.”

Graphic by Poppy Livingstone ’21 Photos by Olivia Foster ’18

“It’s powerful to see what everyone can do when they work together.”

- Stacey Delmhorst

GIFT WRAPPING Delmhorst’s students (clockwise from top left) Axel Hazzan ’21, Benji Clachko ’21, Zoe Macris ’20, Dominik Kulis ’21, Eli Herman ’21 and (center) Stacey Delmhorst and (left to right) Max Trell ’21, Tucker Lawrence ’21, Kulis and Eli Herman ’21 wrap presents for the class’ “adopted” child recipients.

Westport attracts celebrity home buyers Ella Bloomingdale ’20 & Maya Brodows ’20 It’s a Sunday morning, and Blake Lively is seen at Balducci’s hanging out by the sushi counter. Head down Post Road to town, and Phil Lewis is posing for pictures with students. Enjoying the sunset at Compo Beach is singer Michael Bolton, who chats with actress Melissa Joan Hart and talk show host Mike Greenberg.

With more celebrities moving to Westport, it’s becoming increasingly common for students to run into them.

Tabby Burke ’19 remembers a run-in she had with Blake Lively.

While she was waiting tables at NEAT coffee shop, actress Blake Lively and husband/actor Ryan Reynolds walked in.

“I was super tired and literally didn’t even react until they had left,” Burke said, “but I’m happy I didn’t realize because it’s important a s

a worker not to fangirl when they’re just trying to live their life.”

While some students make attempts to not be starstruck around the super famous, others don’t need to put in the effort.

Izzy Cardello ’19 lives near Anne Hathaway and her husband Adam Shulman, who recently purchased a 2.8 million dollar house days before Thanksgiving.

“I wouldn’t say it has really affected me,” Cardello said. “I never actually see her, but if I ever did, I would want to respect her privacy so I probably wouldn’t say anything.”

Isabella Ullman ’17 also lives near Hathaway and shares Cardello’s

sentiments. “I rarely see [Hathaway] and when I do, she’s wearing glasses and a hat,” she said. “I met her husband though; he was really nice.”

Director Harvey Weinstein, whose ties to sexual harassment have been making headlines, is another figure who has been spotted around Westport.

Eddie Kiev ’20 ran into Weinstein once at his sister’s horse show. “After hearing everything he’s done, I’m horrified that I ran into him and shook his hand,” Kiev said. “It’s mortifying to think that I came into contact with a man who was convicted of rape after reading

first-hand accounts of his victims.”

Whether or not Westport kids mind the local celebrities, they will be sharing their town with them.

“I think people just need to remember that celebrities are just like us,” Cardello said. “Living next to one may be cool and all, but I’m no better off because of it,” she said. “They’re just people, and I think having the chance to live next to one has made me really see this.”

Graphic by Jordi Katz ’20

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

18 Features

December 21, 2017

Inklings

Westport’s young piano man finds his voice hen he was six years old, Ethan Walmark ’24 became a YouTube sensation.

His first video, featuring him performing “Piano Man”

by Billy Joel, has generated 1.2 million views and 1,324 comments.

According to his mother, after seeing the video, Joel was impressed.

“I think I like his intro to ‘Piano Man’ better than mine. Maybe he could teach me a few things,” Joel said.

Since the 2012 video, sixth grader Ethan Walmark has been an honored performer at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, named a worldwide child prodigy and become the youngest recipient of the McCarron Foundation’s “Genius of Autism” award twice.

Walmark, now a student at Coleytown Middle School, is a musical prodigy on the autism spectrum. He began to play the piano by ear when he was 15 months old and Walmark’s early passion for piano grew into a love for all music.

Within the hallways of Coleytown, Walmark is viewed as a celebrity. “Kids are always nice to me,” Walmark said, “but sometimes they treat me extra special after I do something cool.”

Coleytown gives Walmark the opportunity to bring his musical abilities into the school through its music programs. Three years ago, Walmark began playing the upright bass at Kings Highway Elementary School. Walmark continues to play the instrument as part of the middle school’s band. Additionally, Walmark was accepted into Coleytown’s cammarata choir, a selective singing group.

“When I play music everything else goes away,” he said. “I just focus on what I’m playing and what I want to play. When I can play a new song,

it makes me feel proud and happy.”

His parents claim that before he was born, Walmark had an innate love for music. Each night, his parents sang The BeatlesWW “Here Comes the Sun,” but changed the lyrics to “Here comes our son.”

At an early age, Walmark could sing entire songs before he was able to speak complete sentences.

Since then, music has become an important outlet for Walmark. “When I used to play music in elementary school,” Walmark said, “people would come around my keyboard and help me sing, which made me happy because it used to be very hard for me to talk to people.”

One in 68 people have autism spectrum disorder, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Walmark defines autism as a spectrum disorder because each person who has it faces a different set of challenges and strengths. “Every person in the world has something to deal with, and my thing is autism,” Walmark said.

Learning the music of a myriad of artists seems to be one way that Walmark has dealt with his disorder.

When challenged to play a random song, Walmark responds like a human jukebox.

He has an encyclopedic knowledge of everything from “Hamilton” to Neil Young to Fats Domino, and he has the ability to play them.

His road to musical success was not always an obvious one. When Walmark was younger and just beginning to immerse himself in music, some people advised his parents not to let him become too involved because it might isolate him from the world. His parents saw how much music meant to him and could do for him, so they supported his passion.

“Music has made me more selfconfident and more outgoing,” Walmark said, “and I can talk to anyone about music.”

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

RISING STAR At just six years old, Westport resident Ethan Walmark ’24 became a YouTube sensation with his piano skills. Since then, Walmark has been recognized as an honored performer at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts and became the youngest recipient of the McCarron Foundation’s “Genius of Autism” award, not once but twice.

Photos by Ella Bayazit ’20

W

Siri Kanter ’20

Inklings

December 21, 2017

Features

19

Vape culture rises throughout community Emma Rojas ’18

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n innocent freshman girl walks into a second f loor bathroom, hoping to get a moment to herself. However, in the stall next to her, she overhears a conversation among four senior girls.

“It’s not ripping.”

“Ugh, I don’t have a head rush yet; I can’t go back.”

“Do you have any pods?”

Suddenly, vapor rises out of the stall and seeps into hers.

Not knowing what to do, she runs out hoping to avoid trouble.

A JUUL is a vaping device that contains nicotine.

JUULs have become increasingly popular among students in high school and college since their creation in 2015.

The JUUL website refers to their product as “a satisfying alternative to cigarettes.” Although it is advistertized for adults, a number of teenagers under 18 own one throughout Westport and surrounding towns. They are prohibited by the school code of conduct, which bans all forms of smoking and tobacco-related products.

Principal James D’Amico outlined the consequences of smoking noted in the Code of Conduct. “The first offense is one day of in-school suspension and a $10 fine,” D’Amico said. “On the second offense, two days of ISS and a $20 fine. After that, there are five days of ISS and a $30 fine.”

Teachers have noticed that vape culture is on the rise and agree with the policy about not using this substance on

campus. “You cannot smoke a cigarette on I don’t want to intervene,” Ella Moskovitz ’21 school grounds no matter who you are or said. “It is kind of scary because it isn’t how old you are because it is a substance,” something people should be doing in Rebecca Marsick, a literacy coach for school and it makes me uncomfortable.”

English and social studies, said. “It is the However, another anonymous junior same thing with JUULing, and I think kids girl noted a different reason for ignoring forget that there is nicotine in them and it’s it. “Going to the bathroom and you see a substance. There’s an age when you can someone JUULing, you’re not going to do have it and places where you can have it. anything about it, you’re not going to talk You aren’t allowed to have them in schools.” to them about it because it is basically the However, one junior girl who wished same as seeing someone fixing their hair to remain anonymous said that the Code in the mirror; just as common,” she said. of Conduct does very little to dissuade While JUULing continues to affect students from JUULing. “People aren’t the Westport community and Staples High going to stop,” the girl said. “They will just School, the administration will continue be more careful.” to enforce the “It is basically the same In late October, policies.

“We rumors circulated as seeing someone fixing have enforced the that vapor their hair in the mirror; just policy according detectors would be to the Code of as common.” installed in all the Conduct and will bathrooms due to - Anonymous junior girl continue to do the increased use so,” D’Amico said of JUULs on campus. D’Amico cleared The second anonymous junior the air about the rumors.“There have not, admitted that the administration has been and there are not any plans at the moment following through with penalizing those to install vaping detectors,” he said. who use JUULs. She admitted to being Although Staples has not installed caught multiple times for JUULing on detectors, New York schools are testing campus and shared her overall stance on a technology called Fly Sense. It detects the issue. “I’ve JUULed in the bathroom gas and moisture in the air, sending a before with a few of my friends and it is kind signal to school officials. The device of stupid because you’re risking having a can also pick up high sound levels to suspension and having this on your record detect bullying or fighting. According for a head rush. It isn’t worth it,” she said. to the digital Fly software developer, According to D’Amico, the school will Billy Schweigert, “If someone is inside continue to educate students on the effects the bathroom and they vape, it will that JUUL and vape have on the body and contaminate the air, our sensor will pick it the consequences they entail. “We are up and it will alert somebody in real time.” working to raise community awareness In the meantime, many students who about vaping,” D’Amico said. “Not just do not JUUL say that they just ignore the school consequences, but also health students who use. “I try to ignore it because issues, social pressure and other concerns.”

Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18 Photo dramatization by Melanie Lust ’19

Cafeteria staff reveals personal, family traditions Izzy Connors ’18 They’re the people students see everyday. They often go unnoticed, as students get their food, type in their IDs and say a quick “thank you” before returning to their friends. While they are often busy running the lunch period, the cafeteria staff also looks forward to the time spent outside of it.

Anna Conte works at the school cafeteria and is one of the familiar faces at the cash register. Conte is originally from Italy and enjoys talking

SERVING SMILES Anna Conte (left) and Colleen Migliarese (right) work behind the counters and cash registers together. Both enjoy celebrating the holidays with their families. Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18

someone brings a dessert and we also help her cook,” she said. “Mom always feels like there’s never enough, but there’s always too much! She especially loves to make cookies - in our house it’s not the holidays unless there’s Christmas cookies.”

Unlike Conte, Migliarese was born and raised in Westport. “I do like Westport, but there just isn’t much to do here,” she said.

She chose to join The Eagles Club due to a lack of restaurants and stores within town.

The Eagles Club is an event-planning community organization. “We set up for all different things, parties, get-togethers, things for kids, bake sales, tag sales [...] it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “My favorite part is the DJ we have. I love music.”

The club is the ideal outlet for Miglarese’s love of music, singing and dancing. “One of my favorite things we’ve done at the club is that we all had to dress up between the 50s and the 80s,” she said. “My favorite decade is the 80s [...] I love disco,

so I dressed up in all these disco clothes. It’s a lot of fun. We always have a good time.”

Although you only see them in the context of the school cafeteria, Miglarese, Conte and the rest of the cafeteria staff have exciting lives and interests outside of Staples. Next time you see them, maybe ask Conte about her cruise or Miglarese about her favorite music.

IN THE KITCHEN The cafeteria staff prepares the salad bar along with various other choices for students each day. Amber, who prefers her last name not to be published, enjoys chatting with students while they pick up their lunch.

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

Photo by Alex Reiner ’18

to students in Italian. “Italy is my favorite place in the world to go to. I try to go back every two years,” she said.

“I took my 16-year-old granddaughter with me, she wants to go back.”

Conte also fell in love with Argentina after going there on a weeklong cruise in 1995. “My husband surprises me all of the time, but the best present I’ve ever received was the cruise. It was amazing,” she recalled, smiling.

Many students await the start of December break and the cafeteria staff does so as well. Conte said she loves the holidays, especially seeing family and attending Christmas parties.

Although she doesn’t usually travel back to her homeland for the break, she manages to bring Italian culture to her home. “For Christmas I cook lasagna. There’s never turkey in my house for Christmas dinner.”

Similarly, fellow cafeteria worker Colleen Migliarese chooses to abide by her own food preferences during the holidays. “My favorite Christmas food is seafood. We always have buffalo salad and shrimp on Christmas Eve,” she said.

Migliarese also has big plans with her family for the holiday break. “My mom likes to have everyone over at her house.

We all bring something, someone brings a side dish,

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December 21, 2017

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SPORTS

25 Cheerleading team surpasses gender stereotype December 21, 2017

Julia Lombardo ’20

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t many high schools, cheerleading consists solely of teenage girls, dressed up in short skirts with pom poms and bows. While this may be a common stereotype, this season, the Staples cheerleading team defied this frequent misperception. Having two boys, Louis Pinto ’19 and Odin Bartie ’19, join the team, the Wreckers have begun to prove that not only are males allowed to participate in the sport, but can also have a major impact on the team’s success.

“I decided to join the cheer team because I wanted to do it my freshman year

and I never got to,” Pinto said. “A lot of the guys said things like ‘that’s gay’ and made many other immature remarks.”

While Bartie chose not to comment on the subject, Pinto expressed his feelings on joining. He explained that since freshman year, he had a passion for cheerleading yet didn’t have the courage to pursue it due to the insults made by others. Finally, in his junior year, Pinto decided to ignore the negative opinions and comments and try out. “Once I got to junior year I was like, ‘you know what, screw everyone else’s opinion,’” Pinto said. “It’s my life let me do what I want.”

While this decision was extremely hard for Pinto, he enjoys every minute of stunting and tumbling with his fellow

cheerleaders. “It’s so much work and honestly, before I joined, I always kind of thought it’s just dancing and throwing tucks,” he said. “Being on the team is a new realization and real appreciation for the sport.”

Through all of the challenges Pinto had to face, his teammates support him and enjoy having him on the team. “Having the boys on the team is great; they are hard working and get along with everyone,” captain Jenna Doran ’18 said. “Since they are stronger than most of the girls on the team, they really help make our stunts more stable and easier to do.”

While the boys and girls both had to adjust to this change, they see a lot of hope in the future. “I think they are a great addition to the team because it puts us into a new division,” cheerleader Emily Putman ’19 said. “Being in this division should better our chances of winning.”

As the competition season grows closer by the day, Pinto cannot wait for the new experiences ahead. He explained that joining the team was more than just for the love of the sport, but to also show pride in himself.

“Having the courage to join the team has brought a new realization into my life that I’m going to do what I want. I want to have fun and I’m going to do cheer,” Pinto explained. “If anyone has any opinions on it, it’s theirs, I have my own opinion on it.”

BREAKING BARRIERS (left) Louis Pinto ’19 does a straddle jump. (bottom left)

Pinto does a backbend with the assistance of a coach before practice. (bottom right) Pinto, Odin Bartie ’19 and Daniella Gat ’20 stretch during warm-ups. (middle) Bartie and Paige Lundquist ’20 stunt Gat into the air. The team’s first competition is Jan. 13 at Danbury High School.

Photos by Ellie Kravetz ’18

Basketball players choose playing rec over Wreckers Teddy Dienst ’20

Staples boys’ recreational basketball tips off on Jan. 2, and some of the Staples basketball players have quit in order to play.

Six students who played for last year’s freshman team attended tryouts for this season, while the rest decided to play recreational basketball (rec).

One player who opted to play rec was Adam Petro ’20. “I did enjoy playing for the Staples team, however, rec seemed to have a high level of intensity and competitive- basketball player who has played rec since elementary school. ness while including “It gives kids who “Rec is compelling the aspect of havto play because of the ing fun,” Petro said. usually don’t play in fun it brings to the basPetro is not the that many basketball ketball court,” Feinonly Staples basketstein said. “You aren’t ball player to quit for games the opportuto do anyrec. “It was hard to nity to compete and pressured thing, it simply allows play for the Staples win.” players to be players.” team while already Another experiplaying sports in -Brett Levy ’20 enced basketball playthe fall and spring,” er, Brett Levy ’20, is Lars Djuve ’20 said.

“It is way easier to get school work done excited for the season to start and has when you are only playing once a week.” also been playing rec for multiple years.

“Since rec consists of experienced and Brett Feinstein ’19 is an experienced

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Photo dramatization by Ellie Kravetz ’18

not so experienced players, it makes the atmosphere of the league way more enjoyable,” Levy said. “It gives kids who usually don’t play in that many basketball games the opportunity to compete and win.”

Players are looking forward to seeing how the 2017-2018 rec season goes and which top teams could potentially win the championship.

Former commissioner Russell Lev recognized the enthusiasm students hold for rec basketball. “Throughout the years that I have been the commissioner,” he said, “the players always look forward to the season and bring the same level of competitiveness every year.”

26 Sports

December 21, 2017

Inklings

Morning basketball league brings staff, students face-to-face Shane Rabacs ’18

E

very Friday, several students wake up at the wee hours of the morning.

They get to school at 6:15 a.m. Are they here to make up a test? Meet with a teacher? No, they’re here to play basketball against their teachers.

Faculty and students play five-on-five basketball against each other. Games are to 21 and they play two to three games per session.

“Students play because it’s a great opportunity to win and have a good time with your teachers,” Ben Van Der Merwe ’18 said. “After going once or twice, it’s be-

come something we all look forward to.”

Friday morning basketball used to be for just teachers, but they couldn’t always find enough people to play.

The teachers decided to take matters into their own hands and recruit some students.

“Mr. Giolitto had mentioned the morning hoops to one of his Sports Lit classes last year that had a couple of junior basketball players in it,” Andrew Carroll, ninth grade level assistant, said. “We then invited the students to come play on Friday mornings.”

Everyone participates for different reasons. “In general, most like to stay in shape and work out before school,” Jonathan Shepro, social studies teacher, said.

“I’d say we all like the competition as well.”

The players who participate change from week to week.

“There are several teachers and students that participate; it’s never the same group,” Shepro said. “There are some teachers that have come once or twice while others come every time we play.”

And while it is just for fun, games do get intense.

“I’d say the purpose isn’t for us to keep a running tally of who won which game on which day with whom on their team,” Carroll said.

“Is the level of play competitive? Yeah, I’d say we have our moments. Do we have fun when we play? Yeah, I’d say so, and I’d hope everyone else feels that way.”

EARLY MORNING HOOPS Staples students and faculty face off in early morning basketball games.

The group gets together Friday mornings at 6:15 a.m. The games are usually 5 vs. 5, with the teams mixed between students and teachers. Pictured below (left to right) substitute teacher Jake Sullivan, Jack Phelps ’19, grade level assistant Andrew Carroll, English teacher Brendan Giolitto, Harris Levi ’18 and Evan Zinn ’18.

Photos by Ellie Kravetz ’18

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Inklings

December 21, 2017

Sports

27

Spending a day in his shoes

LaMelo Ball’s signature shoe is revolutionary had the media’s magnifying glass on them.

Then his other brother, LiAngelo, was just in jail for stealing in China. His father, Lavar Ball, the creator of Big Baller Brand, has added to the negativity due to his fiery exchange with President Donald Trump that overaMelo Ball is a typical teenager in shadowed the achievements of his sons.

With all of this negative attention foAmerica, except, of course, for the fact that he has his own basketball cussed on the Ball family, LaMelo’s story has been put on the backburner, and that shoe line produced by Big Baller Brand.

Ball, being the first high school student should not be the case. If LaMelo had anto have his own signature shoe has not gar- other last name, say Smith or Jones, his nered the recognition he deserves. Ball is story would be lauded in all newspapers and media outlets. averaging about 27 The media needs points per game and to look past the is ranked in the top actions of his fam10 for all basketball ily and see that recruits in his gradLaMelo is his own uation year. He is on person, indepena straight path to the dent from the disNBA, but taking his tractions that his own way to get there. family may cause.

This is what LaMelo Ball is the media is not doing something talking about when truly revolutionary. mentioning LaMeHe is keeping his lo Ball. His story services in his conshould be an uplift- Photo by Charlie Colasurdo ’18 trol by rolling out ing one about a boy making his dream come true on his own his own shoe brand. He is blazing his own terms, but his last name, Ball, is keeping path by becoming the first high school bashim from getting that positive attention. ketball player to have his own shoe. He is a Ever since his older brother, Lonzo role model for future high school athletes Ball, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, to follow. Although the media may portray burst onto the scene at the University of his family in a negative light, that doesn’t California, Los Angeles, the Ball family has make his story any less inspirational.

Jarod Ferguson ’18

L

BIG BALLER: (above) A computerized rendering of the Melo Ball 1. (right) Jarod

Ferguson ’18 poses in the Melo Ball 1. The LaMelo Ball signature shoe is listed on Bigballerbrand.com for $395. LaMelo and his older brother LiAngelo both recently signed with Lithuanian basketball team, Vytautas Prienai.

Photo and graphic by Charlie Colasurdo ’18

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

28

Inklings

December 21, 2017

Sports

2017 DI and DIII athletic commits Wreckers take their sports to collegiate level

A

s another senior class enters the recruiting process, there are many Wreckers who will be playing sports in different school colors next year. Here are five that have committed to playing college sports.

Alex Reiner ’18

Nicholas Ortega ’18 was a highly recruited swimmer over the summer as he ranked third in Connecticut for the class of 2018, according to College Swimming. He swam for the Wreckers, as well as various club teams these past four years and on Oct. 1 he decided to continue his passion at Brown University. “I chose Brown for it’s amazing academics, its awesome swim team and coaching staff.” Ortega said. “The Open Curriculum grants me the freedom to really study whatever I want, which is very exciting. [The coaches] and the team [are] amazing people and I can’t wait to spend the next four years with them.”

Trinity College Christine Taylor ’18 has had tremendous success on the field for the Wreckers. She is a two sport varsity athlete for field hockey and lacrosse. In July, Taylor announced that she will continue both field hockey and lacrosse at the Division III collegiate level for Trinity College.

“Trinity allows me to focus on high academics while still playing at a competitive athletic level and have a college experience all at the same time, which is definitely rare to find,” Taylor said.

Eden Schumer

Division III

Griffin Lundquist

Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18

Division III

Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18

Brown University

Photo contributed by Eden Schumer ’18

Christine Taylor

Division I

Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18

Nicholas Ortega

Dickinson College On fall Friday nights, Staples Superfans packed the stadium bleachers to watch tight end and defensive end, Griffin Lundquist ’18. Now, Dickinson College fans will be able to cheer on Lundquist. “I chose Dickinson because of the good education it offers, the coaches and players were extremely friendly and the fact that I will have the ability to start off the bat,” Lundquist said. Lundquist will play defensive end for the Red Devils.

Ben Seiple

Duke University For a rowing team, the most important member may not necessarily be the biggest and strongest rower, but rather the coxswain, as they are responsible for steering the boat and coordinating the rhythm of the rowers. Eden Schumer ’18 has been a coxswain at Saugatuck Rowing Club for four years and earlier this year she committed to Duke University. “Duke really fits both my academic and athletic goals,” Schumer said. “I’m really lucky to be part of such a hard-working, driven, close team now, so when I saw those same elements at Duke, I knew it was the right choice.”

Graphics by Melanie Lust ’19

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Year-round since his freshman year, Ben Seiple ’18 has represented Staples track and cross country. Earlier this year, he decided to continue his athletics at Villanova University. “I chose Villanova because I think that it is the place where I can be most successful both as a student and athlete,” Seiple said. For the Wildcats, Seiple will be doing distance running, specifically all races between the one mile and 10k. He will be joined at Villanova by lacrosse commit Alexa Moro ’18 and soccer commit Dylan Middlebrook ’18.

Division I

Division I

Villanova University

Photo by Ellie Kravetz ’18