Inklings 9/18/15

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INKLINGS

September 22, 2015

INSIDE page 15

Test Optional Schools

Some colleges look for admissions alternatives to standardized tests.

89%

page 24

Nick Roehm

Roehm takes on the stage and the field with charisma.

Graphic by Max Bibicoff ’16 & Claire Dinshaw ’17

28% Greenwich

Stamford

10% Staples

Fairfield Warde

Alex Spadacenta ’17

(From left to right) Percent of minority students in Norwalk High School, Central High School, Fairfield Warde High School, Staples High School, Stamford High School and Greenwich High School, according to US News and World Report.

Staples fails to diversify its student body

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n a day-to-day basis, Elenn Dalen ’17 usually doesn’t encounter problems stemming from her race. However, when she hears racist comments, she has to remind herself of the desegregated community she lives in.

“After a while, you realize that most of the people [making racist comments] don’t realize it,” she said. “If I attended a more diverse school, I’m not sure it would disappear, but maybe it would occur less often.”

In the past, Connecticut has made efforts to desegregate and diversify public schools while also attempting to lessen the education achievement gap. In Sheff v.

O’Neill (1996) the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that it’s the state’s obligation to provide the school children of Hartford with equal opportunities in education unimpaired by racial and ethnic isolation. In recent years, this ruling has percolated into Bridgeport and New Haven.

Open Choice, a state-funded desegregation and education program, allows students in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport to enter a lottery for the chance to go to school in a more privileged district, like Westport. The program is successful in Hartford because there are many local magnet schools and the case originated in the city, so the court oversees the whole process.

Though Westport implemented an

The lockdown buttons, automatic locks and bollards outside all the main entrances are security improvements added to Staples before the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

According to assistant principal Richard Franzis, since the school shooting at Columbine in 1999, Staples has tried to stay ahead of the game in terms of the amount of security the school has.

Kroll Advisory Services is a company that “offer[s] security risk management, assessments, and planning, as well as training and response,” as described on their website.

Continued on page 3

Segregated?

Jane Levy ’16

News Opinions Features Arts Sports

School updates its security measures

65%

24% Central

Norwalk

56%

1 8 12 19 24

Open Choice program in the 1970s, state according to Open Choice Coordinator, officials pulled funding in 1980. In 1998, Mark Ribbens. two years after the Sheff v. O’Neill ruling, Natalie Chun ’17 is one of the stuOpen Choice returned to Westport. As of dents who experiences the repercussions now, the district takes 65 students from of the lack of diversity at Staples firsthand.

Bridgeport.

Throughout her high school career, Chun Westport’s community is 90.8 percent has found herself bothered by racism, and white, according to the 2010 census, which by her junior year, she has “gotten used to mirrors the student demographic at Staples it.” almost exactly. Because of this, Dalen beContinued on page 2 lieves that the majority of Staples students currently lack the ability and resources Photo by Caroline O’Kane ’17 to understand racial diversity.

“It’s not something that can be replaced by anything other than actually experiencing it.”

Dalen said.

In its most recent 2015 rating, Niche gave Westport Public Schools a C+ in the Student Culture and Diversity category. Despite this grade, the district has not made an effort to desegregate, even though the Open HOMOGENEOUS A group of predominantly caucasian students Choice program boards the bus after school on Thursday, Sept. 10. There are 65 costs nearly nothing, Open Choice students enrolled in Westport Public Schools.

New snack bar livens up cafeteria Eliza Goldberg ’17 & Julia Rosier ’18 Covered in a brick-like pattern, it’s hard to miss the newly renovated Staples snackbar, which opened Tuesday Sept. 8.

The new snackbar is primarily selfserve. However, it will only be open during the lunch waves—just like the old snack bar—according to Deborah Vancoughnett, a Chartwell’s representative.

The snackbar idea was generated by Chartwells based on the food truck concept.

“The idea of the snackbar is that it’s going to have a rotating theme each week,” Vancoughnett said. “[For example], one week the snackbar will be serving Mexican and Latin American food and the next it will be serving Greek food.”

The change in the snackbar was organized by Chartwells, and assistant principal James Farnan notes, by extension, that they hold authority over it. “It’s our space, but really Chartwells leases [it], so they have some autonomy over how they are going to decorate it.”

Hannah Bukzin ’17 is excited for the changes to the cafeteria. “I think it will be a cool addition to Staples, although I don’t know much about it,” Bukzin said.

Timmy Liles ’18 agrees with Bukzin. “I think it makes the Staples cafeteria better because it gives us more options for lunch,” Liles said.

In addition to the excitement surrounding the newly renovated snackbar, a naming contest was held complete with a free raffle for Beats headphones and a FitBit watch—according to interim principal Dr. Mark Karagus.

The top six choices for a name were Wrecker Snack Bar, McDodig’s, Bricks Cafe, Staples Snack Shack, Wreckers Half Time Replenish Station and Snack Attack. Students voted for their favorite name. On Sept. 11, it was announced that McDodig’s is the new name to Staples’ most recent project.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES

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News | September 22, 2015

School struggles to diversify Continued from page 1 “A lot of people with ignorance ask me, ‘Are you North Korean?’ or “How did you escape?’, she said, “I’ve been called a ‘Chinese monkey’ and a yellow bitch,’” Chun said. “ People always assume I have to be smart ‘because I’m Asian.’ People also make fun of my eyes. ‘Do you see in widescreen?

When you squint, are your eyes shut?’ I’ve also heard, ‘Have you ever eaten a dog?’ Nobody likes when others point out how they’re different.”

Leah Patterson ’16 has had similar experiences tasChun at Staples regarding her race.

“I always feel excluded,” she said. “People at school believe that I can’t have an intellectual conversation or that they are better than me.

Just because I’m black, does not mean I get all the rap references or listen to rap. It does not mean that I’m an angry black woman and it does not mean that when I do get upset, I’m acting ‘ghetto.’ A ghetto is a place, not a personality. Just because I am a black girl, does not mean I cannot speak properly or act like a young woman.”

Patterson and her friends often imagine, “if we flipped the script and kids in Staples went to a high school more diverse, like Bridgeport, where they would be the minori-

“Just because I’m black does not mean I get all the rap references or listen to rap. It does not mean that I’m an angry black woman and it does not mean that when I do get upset, I’m acting ‘ghetto.’”

-Leah Patterson ’16 ty,” she said, “how would they feel?”

In contrast, as a caucasian student at Staples, Kelsey McGinley ’18 said she doesn’t feel the effects of or see a clear difference in races in the classrooms. Outside of the classrooms, however, is a different story.

“In the halls, in the cafeteria and in social settings, students are less exposed to other cultures,” she said. “Racial education is lacking due to the lack of diversity because students are unaware of how other races may live or their opinions on topics we commonly discuss.”

Matthew Elliott ’16 has been in the Westport Public School system since elementary school, and after being in a more diverse kindergarten class and living in a more diverse community, he sees beyond Staples and Westport.

“A lot of students are not in tune with people who are operating outside of the Westport bubble,” he said. “The more people you

meet that are diverse and come from diverse places, the greater understanding you get of how the world works.”

As of now, Superintendent Elliott Landon supports Open Choice and is satisfied with the 65 spots the district makes available to Bridgeport residents.

“Open Choice students are provided the same full array of programs and courses that are available for all students who attend our schools,” he wrote in an email. He also wrote, “I believe our students would be better served in many ways if our student population were more diverse.”

However, even with the current 65 spots, Chun sees a problem with diversity in Westport and doesn’t think that expanding Open Choice will solve it.

“In other schools with similar programs, the [minorities] that come to their schools don’t really assimilate into the largely Caucasian majority, but keep more to themselves,”

she said. “Having many people of different races doesn’t necessarily help if the groups aren’t mixing.”

Although Dalen also finds fault in the failure of the school system to desegregate, she believes that for now, expanding Open Choice is the best option.

“The importance of understanding others or looking past stereotypes is valuable,” she said. “I’m assuming that most students here will attend a college that’s more diverse than Staples and work with people from different backgrounds. If students don’t experience how to look past stereotypes, they’ll miss out on a opportunity of adding depth to their learning, and run a higher risk of offending someone.”

In the Staples community, Dalen believes racism and stereotypes are an, “unspoken topic, especially around here.” However, she said, “the only way to [desegregate] is by making sure the youth understand that skin color isn’t another personality trait.”

Dalen hopes to see strides towards Staples’ desegregation within the next few years: “People need to begin talking about race openly. Bringing diversity to an area like Westport will take time, and forcing it won’t solve the problem either. If we take steady steps towards diversity, it’ll prove to be beneficial for everyone.”

Your silence hurts.

Westport grapples with sexual assault, an issue of national significance Photos by Claire Dinshaw ’17

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Kalia Finn ’16

hile colleges around the nation confront issues of sexual harassment and assault, the Staples community has developed mixed views about whether the school is sufficiently addressing the topic.

A recently polled Staples health class of 32 freshmen was asked four questions about sexual assault and harassment at Staples. Thirty-seven point five percent voted they knew how to report a friend’s sexual assault or harassment; 12.5 percent voted they didn’t know the difference between sexual assault and harassment; 56.25 percent voted that Staples should have more dialogue about sexual harassment and assault; and zero percent voted they would report a sexual assault or harassment incident to the administration instead of a guidance counselor.

Staples’ efforts to educate students on sexual assault and harassment include a freshman health class unit with presentations by The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education, a ju-

nior health class sexual assault unit, and protocol outlined on page 72 of the student handbook.

The handbook uses the state and federal laws’ definition of sexual harassment to define sexual harassment as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”

Staples’ protocol for faculty who witness or hear about sexual assault and harassment requires them “phoning home in addition to writing a letter. If the behavior continues then the police or the CFF (County Coalition for Families) will get involved and in that case, administration has to back off because it will be considered an official investigation,” Karyn Morgan, the vice principal for the class of 2016, said.

Morgan’s experiences with reporting and protecting students against sexual assault usually begin with a student saying that he or she was uncomfortable with the behaviors of a teacher or student. Then Morgan asks the student to “unpack the word uncomfortable. What

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

is the definition of uncomfortable? What specifically did that person do to make you feel that way?”

Despite the education Staples students receive on sexual assault and harassment, there are mixed viewpoints about whether Staples advocates enough on the topic. Hallie Lavin ’17 studied sexual assault on college campuses for her research paper, and argues,“a lot of people don’t actually know what sexual assault entails.”

Another Staples community member, English teacher Heather Colletti-Houde, said, “It should be part of our common discourse. Students may encounter it at a job or at college. You need a baseline for what’s acceptable and what’s not[...]where else are you going to get educated about it?”

Staples health teacher, Jennifer Mitteness, agrees with Colletti-Houde and Lavin, and believes, “there could be more school advocacy for it and more presentations.”

However, Mitteness also acknowledged and complimented Staples for

having a plan of action against sexual assault. Every adult in the building is a “mandated reporter” and are told about the sexual assault and harassment policy on page 72 in the student handbook. “For new teacher training, they explain to you that all staff are...required to report sexual harassment or assault,” Mitteness said.

When asked whether this training was sufficient, Mitteness paused for several seconds and carefully responded. “Most teachers are prepared through their college training to spot sexual harassment. In your college courses, you probably talk about Total Crisis Intervention and being a mandated reporter.” Then she added, “As a health and PE teacher, I am a little more prepared to deal with crisis.”

Ultimately Mitteness believes while the teacher training is strong, there could be more done. Mitteness said the school could start by “putting up posters and talking about sexual assault and harassment at assemblies” especially since, “it is a huge issue that a lot of times goes unreported.”

News | September 22, 2015 Graphic by Phillip Han-Lemus ’16

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District implements new safety measures Continued from page 1 Kroll assessed Staples security and implemented the recent security changes.

“After the whole thing at Sandy Hook, schools really started to get serious about security,” assistant principal Richard Franzis explained.

A large portion of the money Staples received from the Board of Education went towards buying this security. Michael Gordon, the Chair of the BOE, feels that this spending is very important for the safety of our schools.

“Enhancing our already-good school security has been a priority for the

district for the past three years,” Gordon said. “During that period the Board of Finance and the RTM were consistently very supportive of our expenditure requests on behalf of students.”

As a part of the Kroll plan, Staples has taken many measures to secure the students and faculty, such as placing bollards outside the parent drop off, the field house and the main entrance of the school. The bollards are orchestrated in a crescent moon shape, which acts as a barrier for any vehicles that could try to drive into the school.

For the first time, there are also specific lockdown buttons wired into the

What do you think about the upcoming NEASC evaluation?

walls in the principal’s office, the assistant principals office, the field house and the nurse’s office. These buttons release the magnetic doors in the hallways, so if anyone is in the school, he or she will be trapped in the corridor. “That’s how we have to think now, unfortunately,” Franzis said with a frown.

Franzis also said that some of the administrators, including himself, are not exactly sure how these buttons work yet, but all staff will soon be trained on this safer technology.

Westport Public Schools are also buying better, higher quality walkie talkies so that, in case of emergency, the

staff in the school will be able to talk directly to first responders. These walkie talkies will be going to all the administrators, department heads, nurses and custodians in all eight schools.

Security guards Nelson Alicea and David DuBois said, without a doubt, that it gave them more confidence as to the safety of the students and themselves. “[Everything] helps,” Alicea said.

“Even if[the security] gives you a few minutes [or a] few seconds.”

Zia Sansted ’17 agrees with Alicea and DuBois, stating,“It especially makes parents feel safe knowing their child will be protected in a case of emergency.”

NEASC

evaluation explained Jackson Livingstone ’16 & Grant Sirlin ’16

“I’ve never heard about this.”

-Daniel Reid ’17

“I know that in our orchestra we are arranging a quartet for them.”

-Lauren Silverstein ’16

“I think it lasts three or five days.”

-Alejandro Hervella ’16

The 2015-2016 school year marks a new decade for Staples education as NEASC surveyors will come to Staples this October. Every 10 years, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) visits Staples to gauge the quality of education being provided to its students.

“We do not take this lightly,” new principal Dr. Mark Karagus said. “It’s an important achievement for our status as an academically-driven school.”

Quality of education is often a defining aspect for many towns. Westport is known for its high level of public schooling, which is a main propellent for young couples and families to move to the area.

“I think that Westport’s reputation for high quality education is a big reason why it’s such a desirable and expensive place,” Ben Popkin ’16 said.

NEASC encompasses a wide variety of standards that assess the core components of a quality education.

Some of the areas up for examination include instruction, leadership,

resources and curriculum. For example, instruction is examined through classroom visits in many departments throughout the school.

Students also play an active role in the accreditation process and can be called upon by the NEASC surveyors to do random interviews.

“They can see a kid in the hall and ask them about their experience at Staples or even something like, ‘What is the Staples mission statement?,’” assistant principal Richard Franzis said.

Beyond its impact on the school itself, accreditation is also important for the individual students.

“If your school isn’t accredited, colleges will look at kids coming from your school in a different light,” Franzis said.

While achieving accreditation is essential for the school and its students, Karagus believes “it’s not just necessary for Staples High School, it’s necessary for the entire town of Westport.”

Staples faculty is confident in the school’s chances. No Connecticut school has failed to achieve accreditation since 2003, and Staples has never lost accreditation throughout its history.

“We do not take this lightly. It’s an important achievement for our status as an academically-driven school.”

-Dr. Mark Karagus inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

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News | September 22, 2015

Westport 2016 Presidential election reacts to death Candidates tackle education reform penalty ruling Lulu Stracher ’17 Chase Emilio ’16 & Zach McCarthy ’16

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n Staples High School, the death penalty is rarely heard of outside of a few social studies classes or a chance Socratic seminar. Yet the August abolishment of execution under governor Malloy has brought the issue to both the forefront and the minds of many a Staples student. The death penalty was formally nullified on Tuesday Aug. 14, 2015 by the State Supreme Court and governor Malloy following a 2012 decision by the former that capital punishment was against Connecticut’s constitution.

After the 2012 law that banned capital punishment in Connecticut, 11 men still remained on death row. However, because these criminals were sentenced to death prior to the abolishment of the death penalty, their executions were still scheduled to be carried out. With the recent court decision, though, the Supreme Court members ruled against executing the remaining criminals on death row. Therefore, these men have now been pardoned and will spend the rest of their lives in correctional facilities. Their fate, along with the death penalty’s, has polarized the public and rests heavily on everyone’s conscience.

“My initial opinion is that the death penalty is barbaric,” assistant principal Karyn Morgan said. “It makes me feel nauseous.”

Morgan believes the “eye for an eye” policy is not how the government should quell strict matters of justice. However, supporters of the death penalty maintain just the opposite.

“Some crimes are so abhorrent that they warrant the ultimate punishment,” Will Andrews ’16 said, “and if criminals see that their crimes can be punished by death, maybe they’ll be deterred from breaking the law in such despicable ways.”

Opponents still disparage the death penalty’s sheer cruelty and readily call it out on its murky morality.

“Regardless of whether or not the death penalty deters people from committing serious crimes, I subscribe to the incapacitation and rehabilitation theories of criminal punishment,” Hugh Foley ’16 said. “It’s immoral for the government to decide who dies and who lives.”

Despite all debate, lethal injection does not appear to be disappearing any time soon. The death penalty still remains in 31 states, the vast majority of the nation.

Throughout the 2016 presidential race, candidates have discussed many important issues facing the nation. One such significant topic under debate is education reform. Here are what five of some of the most popular presidential candidates are saying about their plans regarding education reform.

Donald Trump Donald Trump, the Republican businessman who announced his campaign for presidency in June, has stated, “The American dream is dead,” in response to there being 25 countries ranked above the U.S. in education. As president, Trump proposes cutting the Department of Education “way, way, way down” and eliminating Common Core education standards. Trump has some experience in education. In 2005, he started Trump University, an online college to teach students how to make deals, however it has since been the victim of multiple lawsuits and malpractices.

Hillary Clinton The Democratic Party has held divided views on education reform, between those who want to invest in public schools versus those who believe a revamp of employment policies and training are necessary. Hillary Clinton plans to unite Democrats by emphasizing Common Core standards and putting tax money into higher teacher pay, smaller classes and improved curriculum.

Earlier this month, Clinton announced her $350 billion, 10-year college affordability plan, which would tackle the rising cost of higher education. As president, Clinton would continue President Obama’s free two years of community college plan.

Ben Carson Ben Carson, the retired Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon, believes education can be a fundamental principle on the road to success.

As president, Carson plans on eliminating Common Core standards and has stated that the education system must be run by “engaged teachers and principals,” and that “any attempt by faceless federal bureaucrats to take over our local schools must be defeated.”

Bernie Sanders The Vermont governor has made education reform, with emphasis on its rising costs, a significant part of his campaign. Sanders suggests a universal, free pre-K program and making college tuition in public universities free. He has criticized President Obama’s military spending and has stated, “If we were to reduce the President’s proposed increase in military spending by less than half, and instead invest that money in educational opportunities for today’s college students, we could cut tuition by 55%.” As president, Sanders would increase the salary of public school teachers and emphasize the need for “high-quality and widely accessible” early-childhood education.

Jeb Bush

Jeb Bush made headlines being one of the only Republican candidates who supports and endorses common core standards. As governor of Florida, Bush started a charter school and launched a foundation to support his education reform goals. Furthermore, he “expanded [the] community college system and made it more affordable for low-income families,” he stated at the annual National Urban League meeting in July. As president, he plans to increase education standards without getting the federal government involved.

“It’s immoral for the government to decide who dies and who lives.”

-Hugh Foley ’16

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. inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

News| September 22, 2015

Student body gets ‘a little too tight for its sneakers’ T

Sophie Call ’16 & Claudia Chen ’16

he Board of Education [BOE] is seeking approval for a potential extension to Staples. This extension would include additional classrooms, a robotics rotunda and space for digital art. At 1,896 students, nearly 100 students over the building capacity, Staples is facing its largest student body since the construction of the new school. The enrollment is projected to continue rising, and the problems from overcrowding are already evident.

“We’re getting a little too tight for our sneakers,” assistant principal James Farnen said.

While teachers said that their perfect class size would be 20 students, many classes exceed this ideal.

In fact, last year Sophie Dinitz ’18 was part of a 32 person gym class.

She remembers it being difficult for the teacher to keep track of students going to the tennis courts and even harder to keep the class quiet.

Large classes can also cause issues in academic departments. English teacher Samantha Ginzberg said that they cause students to lose the individualized attention they deserve and make maneuverability around the classroom difficult due to an increased number of desks.

Social studies teacher Drew Coyne also pointed out the logistical problems that arise from overcrowded classes. Finding time to grade tests, essays and projects can be a challenge according to Coyne “Five classes, times 25 students, times five pages — that creates a 750 to 1,000 page book that [I’m] reading in a

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Local Briefs Abby Lamb ’18

Sept. 17 and 24

Back to School Night

week,” he said.

As a result, the student body is getting too big for the building. Multiple classes over the last few years have had to move into unconventional spaces, such as an academic support class in a conference room, Chinese and Italian classes in a learning center, an English class in the library, a wellness course in the special education rooms.

In the days leading up to the first day of school, it was discovered that the new wellness course was without a room. It is scheduled into Period 8, which has an overabundance of classes, taking up the space the wellness class could have occupied. A solution was finally found when the special education teachers agreed to give up one of their classrooms for the period.

Unfortunately, assistant principal Karyn Morgan said this situation wasn’t ideal, as special education teachers usually meet with their students in this space during non-academic periods.

“There are a lot of compromises,” Morgan said. “People have to move and shift to do things like this, and in reality, it’s tough on kids and teachers.”

The Chinese 1A class in the World Language Learning Center last year faced its own set of issues. Jeffrey Shepard ’18 said that he was irritated when people constantly interrupted the class, looking to retake a test or for extra help.

If all goes according to plan, superintendent Elliott Landon hopes the expansion will be ready for the start of the 2017-18 school year, by which time Staples’ enrollment is projected to exceed 1,900 students.

Parents and guardians are invited to go through student schedule to find out what the curriculum will be this year.

Grades 9 and 10 are on Sept. 17, and grades 11 and 12 are on Sept. 24 from 6:30-9:25 p.m.

Sept. 15 and 29

Young Shoots Westport kids ages 8-18 have been competing to see who can take the best photo of the Westport Farmer’s Market.

This creative exhibit will debut on Sept.

15, and the finalists will be featured at Sugar and Olives through Sept. 29.

Oct. 2

Homecoming The homecoming football game will start at 7 p.m., following the pep rally earlier in the school day. Students are expected to support the Wreckers with logo wear in the game against Fairfield Warde.

Ongoing

Bedford Square Update Those involved in the Bedford Square Project have recently been listening to community input to improve the decisions of connecting the old YMCA with surrounding buildings. These changes have included more greenery, varying window sizes and more art to make the area more picturesque to shoppers.

Nov. 14-28

Searching for Host Families The world language department is looking for host families for 13 English-speaking sophomores from Singapore. The family would provide accommodations, meals and transportation from Nov. 14-28. The student will be paired with families and will attend their classes. Contact the world language department for more details.

Graphic by Alex Spadacenta ’17

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For continual updates go to www.inklingsnews.com

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News | September 22, 2015

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opinions 8

INKLINGS | September 22, 2015

Sense of community stolen one shoplifter at a time

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n Westport, a town that’s in the most affluent county in the wealthiest state, people shoplift––oh, the irony.

community service and/or fines. In our community, breaking the law often falls on the side of wrong and evil.

And yet, people still steal, often in the form of shoplifting.

Most do it for the thrill, others succumb to the pressure to fit in and a few even have a mental illness called kleptomania. Another reason that’s especially relevant in Westport is that many kids here have a sense of entitlement that the community fosters.

It’s the take-what-you-want-when-youwant-and-don’t-care-about-it attitude.

It’s the everyone-around-me-hasthis-so-I-deserve-it-too justification.

People who shoplift often don’t think about the consequences of

Inklings

EDITORIAL Since we were little, we’ve been taught right from wrong, good from evil. Anyone living in our community is aware that stealing is against the law and can result in jail time, required

Editors-in-Chief Adam Kaplan Jane Levy

Inklings Crown Finalist for Inklingsnews.com from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2015

Managing Editors Claudia Chen Margaux MacColl

Silver Crown Award for Newspaper Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2014

Web Managing Editors Kaila Finn Talia Hendel

Pacemaker from National Scholastic Press Association 2013

Breaking News Managing Editors Quinn Hughes Jane Schutte

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.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Public Relations Directors Will Dumke Julia Greenspan Creative Directors Caroline O’Kane Channing Smith News Editors Max Bibicoff Claire Dinshaw Becky Hoving Fritz Schemel

their actions in the moment, as they’re usually just focused on not getting caught. They forget about the shop owners selling the shirt, the company that makes the chocolate and even their own well-being.

To the surprise of some, a lot of stealing takes place within the school walls, whether that be in the cafeteria, the lost-and-found or the locker rooms. As a school, it’s evident to the students that we lack a strong sense of community, and because of this, people may be more inclined to steal from their peers since they don’t know the majority of them. It’s a noconnection-no-consequence mentality.

Some say the solution is as simple

Opinions Editors Kit Epstein Caroline Lane Lulu Stracher Jackie Sussman Features Editors Eliza Goldberg Emily Olrik Sarah Sommer Izzy Ullmann A&E Editors Abigail Lamb Margot Mather Frenchy Truitt Renee Weisz Sports Editors Max Appell Cooper Boardman Amelia Brown Julia Rosier Web News Editors Molly Liebergall Zach McCarthy Web Opinions Editors Rebecca Rawiszer Andrew Vester

as increasing surveillance. However, while we have the funds and the means to add more cameras and to beef up security, it might not be the best solution. Implementing more surveillance creates an atmosphere of distrust and insinuates that this kind of behavior is expected.

Fostering school spirit, loyalty and kindness is much more difficult to accomplish than installing a few cameras. It would take a conscious and deliberate effort from everyone in the school community. But connecting a face to an object being stolen and letting the shoplifters see who they are affecting might be the best start to solving the problem.

Web Features Editors Jen Gouchoe Blake Rubin Web A&E Editors Alice Hickson Ivy Prince Web Sports Editors Jesse Greenspun Brendan Massoud Web Creative Director Jimmy Ray Stagg Assistant Web Creative Director Anders Hovstadius Business Manager Kacey Hertan Assistant Business Managers Ben Foster Alix Sommers Alex Spadacenta Advisors Mary Elizabeth Fulco Rebecca Marsick Cody Thomas

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.

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Opinions | September 22, 2015

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Ripping away

the tutoring stigma Eliza Goldberg ’17

Graphic by Julia Schorr ’16

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estport is a town that boasts superior education and forward thinking, and its teachers constantly push their students to ask questions when confused or to work with the teacher outside of class.

So how come students get backlash when they seek help from individuals outside of school with a tutor?

I’m not going to lie, there is a group of people who abuse the privilege of a tutor. Tutors, just like teachers, are meant to guide their students into developing a strengthened understanding of material—when necessary. Tutoring is not paying someone to do your homework for you.

There are many different types of learning, the most common being auditory, visual or kinesthetic. With classes as big as 25 students, it is just not possible to cater to the needs of a specific type of learner all the time.

Further, not everyone learns at the same pace and in the same way.

Public schools try to come up with a formulaic filter to attempt to achieve equal learning for everyone, but sadly not everyone is able to benefit the same way from every class. There are varieties of assistance tutors who can supply and customize assignments to aid stu-

dents. From helping with math, to working with writing, to supplying extra practice on any type of topic, they are useful for all sorts of work.

Teachers often have over 100 students each year. Of course they are willing to give extra help when they can, but it is just not realistic for everyone to rely on extra help with everyone’s busy schedules. With the flexible timing of outside of school tutoring, students can receive help when it is most convenient.

According to a study recorded in the elementary school journal mentioned by the United States Department of Education, an after school tutoring program for low-achieving second and third graders resulted in a full year’s gain in reading for 50 percent of the students.

Yes, high school students are not just learning to read, but the idea is still there. Outside enforcement of tactics can redirect someone’s thinking and completely clear up a topic.

In some cases, it can take as little as one or two sessions for the topic to be shown in a new light. Tutoring doesn’t have to be constant.

The bottom line is that you never know why and for what reason someone receives tutoring. Just because a few people don’t abide by the moral standard doesn’t mean tutoring deserves the stigma of elitism it has received.

Photos by Caroline O’Kane ’16

for senior boys Ben Foster ’16

The first day of school has always been the toughest for me. Something about walking into Staples that morning in August really makes me feel nervous.

Maybe it’s the fact I’m in school in August. But there is one thing that turns my frown upside down: senior girls.

I am near an emotional break down when I close my car door heading towards Staples, but the second my ear catches the sound of those crisp, attentioncatching whistles, I can’t help but smile.

I was impressed with the display of school spirit on the first day of school from the senior girls. I don’t know how they manage to raise the bar every single year. While some might disregard their chants for Staples as some sort of

dogmatic display for a school they’re all preparing to leave, I see it as one last hoorah for each and every one of them.

Senior girls celebrate the start of the year because they’re excited to get out of the school by entering their final year. A burst of positive energy is given off by watching the senior girls chant towards their friends, strangers and administrators with their pink boas bouncing and whistles being blown with all their might.

School spirit is obviously best captured by senior girls, but I think we all can learn something from them. Maybe it’s time for senior boys to style some feather boas and chant senior boys at the top of their lungs. It’s time for them to get rowdy and loud for school spirit.

So maybe someday the senior boys will get over their macho personas and grab a whistle.

JUMPING FOR JOY Will Dumke ’16, Jack Zapfel ’16 and Jesse Greenspun ’16 rival the spirit of the dynamic senior girls while sporting Senior Girls logowear. inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

10

Opinions | September 22, 2015 Photo edited by Alex Spadacenta ’17, via Wikipedia under the Creative Commons License

A B O L I S H E D Connecticut ends death penalty Andrew Vester ’17

W

illiam Petit stumbled out of his Cheshire, Connecticut home with a bloodied head, screaming his neighbor’s name.

For hours, the Petit family of four experienced the unimaginable while held hostage in their home. It all started when Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky followed wife Jennifer and daughter Michaela, 11, to their home from a grocery store. In the early hours of the day, they hit Petit in the head with a baseball bat and tied him up in the basement at gunpoint and his family members in their respective rooms.

The events that followed were even worse. After forcing Jennifer to withdraw $15,000 from the local bank, Hayes raped

then strangled her while Komisarjevsky raped Michaela. Once finished, they doused Jennifer, Michaela, and Dartmouth-College-bound Hayley with gasoline. With the women still tied to their beds alive, they set the house on fire.

Rightfully so, both men were originally sentenced to death for their crimes.

Yet when the Supreme Court of Connecticut found the death penalty to be unconstitutional this past August, meaning the state could no longer execute criminals on death row, Hayes’ and Komisjarevsky’s punishments turned into life sentences.

Ask yourselves: why do these two men deserve to live? They held an innocent family hostage in their own home for more than seven hours, they raped a mother and a child and they burned two

young women, with whole lives ahead of them, alive without feeling any remorse.

The answer is they don’t. Yes, the death penalty is a despicable punishment. No government should kill its own citizens for the majority of crimes, including first-degree murder. Prosecutors seek the death penalty far too often, and judges condemn criminals to death on too many occasions.

But when a crime committed is as heinous as the 2007 Cheshire home invasion, a penalty worse than a life sentence should exist.

According to CNN, the state of Connecticut has executed one inmate since 1960. The man executed, Michael Bruce Ross, raped and murdered eight women ranging in age from 14 to 25.

Like Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky, Ross deserved a punishment

more severe than life imprisonment.

The death penalty acts as both a deterrent for criminals and as retribution for the families of victims. Many won’t follow through with an odious crime knowing that, if arrested, they could be killed. In a testimony before Congress, senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation David Muhlhausen stated that for every criminal executed, fourteen murders are prevented, citing a nine year study. Life is the most valuable thing in the world to many and the threat of taking it away is enough to deter even the most inhumane.

Dr. Petit deserves to see retribution for the deaths of his wife and two daughters. The death penalty must be kept in order to prevent people from going through what the Petit family went through.

to drink

Photo dramatization by Caroline O’Kane ’16

.

E .

R .

A .

D

Students

D.A.R.E. fails to prevent substance abuse Jesse Greenspun ’16 Staples students drink and smoke. If this comes as a shock to you, you probably don't know enough high school students.

Not all Staples students drink, but the amount that do is disproportionately high. But why, in a town like ours, is the choice activity on weekends to go out and get drunk, despite the fact that we have been learning about the harms of these substances since elementary school?

The answer is simple: our drug abuse resistance education, more specifically the D.A.R.E. program, has failed.

The first issue with the D.A.R.E. curriculum, which aims to prevent illegal and underage substance use, is the timing of the program. I can guarantee that there are no Westport fifth graders with drinking problems. Though I understand that the program is designed to educate students about drugs and alcohol before it becomes an issue, elementary school is too far removed from the time that students begin to use substances.

Also, the program emphasizes abstaining from using alcohol, and should instead focus on safe usage.

High school kids are young and curious, and it is impossible to think that D.A.R.E. could ever prevent every single student from drinking.

Over the past week, I came across countless articles from various organizations and top researchers that stated the flaws of D.A.R.E. and how ineffective it is.

After seeing this, I decided it was important to do

some

of my own investigation.

While wholly unscientific, I asked about 50 students at random whether or not they remembered anything about D.A.R.E., and whether or not it made them think twice about drinking in high school.

I was met with a resounding “no.”

I do commend the effort of D.A.R.E., because a lot of hard work and dedication is put forth, but if D.A.R.E is ever going to fulfill its purpose, it must undergo some serious changes. inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

98

Opinions | September 22, 2015 Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

11

percent

of rapists will never spend

a day in jail Every

107 seconds an American is sexually

assaulted Stop sweeping sexual assault under the carpet

I

Talia Hendel ’16

t’s no secret that sexual assault has become a big issue on college campuses.

But the bigger issue is how terribly many of these universities have been handling it. According to data gathered by the Washington Post, “55 percent of about 1,570 colleges and universities with 1,000 or more students received at least one report of a forcible sex offense on campus in 2012,” and numbers have only continued to rise.

These numbers are absurd, but the way that sexual assaults on many college campuses are being dealt with is even more absurd.

It is understandable for a university to want to protect their reputation. However, I think a parent would be more assured about their child’s safety at a school that strongly aids sexual assault victims, rather than at a school that turns a blind eye to the situation and pretends that nothing ever occur.

It is inevitable that situations such as these will occur, whether it’s on a random street or at a prestigious university. It is disgraceful that some universities believe that the best way to deal with this issue is to sweep it under the carpet and pretend not to know it exists.

Colleges put a lot of time and energy into ensuring that students want to attend their campuses. They should continue to put that effort into caring about the students while they are a member of their school’s community.

It is time for colleges to realize that their top priority should be their students’ health and safety and not their reputation. There is no doubt in my mind that a school would be better able to maintain a strong reputation if they are known for dealing with sexual assaults well rather than pretending none occur.

4/5

people assaulted were attacked

by someone

they know Statistics from Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network

Graphic by Philip Hans-Lemus ’16

Trump trumps the odds regardless of offensive comments Katelyn Deagro ’17

New York California Texas

*Pins denote the most immigrant populated states. Information is from the Center for Immigration Studies.

Mexico City

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Donald J. Trump is like that smell of formaldehyde left on your skin after dissecting that frog freshman year. No matter how many times we try to wash our hands, we just can’t get rid of him.

Now here we are wondering when this stench is ever going to go away. No matter what crass comment he makes, Trump seems to grow more popular.

When will it be wrong for Trump to make fun of veterans like John McCain, who was mocked for his service in the Vietnam War? When will it be wrong for Trump to criticize females with opinions? This is not only sexist but surprisingly archaic. I thought we moved past this. But Trump shocks us again when he criticizes Republican candidate Carly Fiorina for her looks.

When will it be wrong for Trump to accuse every hispanic male, female and child of not only being capable of com-

mitting rape and murder but being prone to it? When will it be wrong to keep them out by building a new Great Wall of China?

Trump is a political grenade. If he doesn’t win the Republican primary, he will run as a third party candidate and take any chance that the RWepublican party has with him.

Yet Trump has recognized that the people are sick of nothing actually being said. So he has become that one racist uncle who sits at the end of the Thanksgiving dinner table that no one can tell to leave and never come back. In other words, he is the entertainment for the night. Or in Trumps case, the next breaking-news headline.

This is why someone like Trump is the leading Republican candidate: while he may not be saying things that are particularly popular, at least he is saying something.

As of now we haven’t found a soap that does the trick, but, heck, at least we get some good television out of it, right?

T

Jen Gouchoe ’16

he struggle of choosing which brand of bottled water to buy is real. Dasani, Smartwater or even the new hipster Boxed Water? It may seem like a major life decision, but choosing a water bottle isn’t going to change your life. However, choosing Choice Water could change the lives of those in need of charity.

“Choice Water is a brand of bottled water where consumers have the choice of choosing between which labeled bottle they want to buy,” Ben Goldstein ’16, CEO and founder of the company Choice Water, explained.

The two bottles of Choice Water represent two different charities: Autism Speaks and Child Advocates of Southwest Connecticut. Whichever bottle the consumer chooses will determine which charity the money goes to.

“I tried to think of a simple choice someone can make when they’re giving to charity as well as buying a product, and I thought, what is more basic than bottled water?” Goldstein said.

But Choice Water is far from basic. Goldstein, taking inspiration from other projects, decided to make something of his own.

“I’d seen something similar, and I quite frankly thought I could do it better, so I wanted to give it a go,” Goldstein said.

Business aside, Goldstein has been long involved with charity work.

His brother was diagnosed with autism and ever since, his family has been involved with Autism Speaks.

This devotion to charity com-

bined with his passion for business fueled the creation of Choice Water. After taking a business course at Brown University, Goldstein talked to various industry professionals and got to work.

Goldstein first had to create a logo and label for his product. Using the website 99designs.com, he chose a logo designed by a woman in Indonesia and a label designed by a man in Hungary.

“It’s amazing how the world is within reach even to a high school student,” Goldstein said.

Although the process was time-consuming, Goldstein eventually met his goal of getting Choice Water in stores about a month ago. He wholesales the bottles to the stores where they choose the retail price. A percentage of his profits goes towards each charity.

Choice Water is currently being sold in Oscar’s, Gold’s Delicatessen and Village Bagels. Goldstein hopes to take Choice Water to the next level by selling it to larger stores throughout New England.

“I think this was a really great learning experience for me and has taught me so much about business that I wouldn’t have learned without actually starting a business,” Goldstein noted.

So, what’s next for Goldstein?

“My ultimate goal is to pioneer the first fully electric commercial aircraft,” Goldstein said.

When asked whether or not he has what it takes, Goldstein grinned assuredly.

“I’m motivated, I’m passionate about it and I know that I need to learn a lot,” Goldstein said. “It’ll take some time to get there, but hopefully it won’t be too long.”

features

Choice water promotes a better choice

features

12

Features | September 22, 2015

PHOTO BY JEN GOUCHOE ’16

New sandwich stirs interest among students Fritz Schemel ’17 It’s the most chaotic time of day at Staples—lunch.

Students scramble to get in line for sandwiches, their conversations echoing throughout the cafeteria.

However, a new app, created by Westport mom and cookbook author Nicole Straight, seeks to speed up lines and simplify the process of ordering a sandwich.

The app, called Quick’sand, would allow a user to pre-order their sandwich in the morning and pick it up at a set time. Users would be able to see when their sandwich is ready and who made

it, in case there were any issues with it.

The app is currently being developed and pitched to Chartwells, the food service company for Westport Public Schools.

Straight says the app would dramatically reduce the amount of time students wait for sandwiches.

“Instead of spending 18 of your 22 minutes going to the cafeteria to order food, then waiting for the food, you will quickly order your custom sandwich or salad on the Quick’sand app,” she said. “It will take you all of 45 seconds to get exactly the meal you want. It doesn’t get much easier.”

Helping Straight create the app is Dylan Diamond ’17, creator of myHAC and the Inklings app.

“[Dylan’s] a great kid, super smart and seems to understand the time issues in the cafeteria,” Straight said.

Diamond, as a student, thinks the app will alleviate the struggle of waiting in line for a sandwich.

“I thought it would be a great idea for the school,” he said. “I’m a student. I face the daily struggle everyday of waiting for a sandwich.”

The app would also help Chartwells, according to Straight. She says only 30 percent of students buy school lunch, which is on par with the national average, but that number could be greatly increased if wait time was decreased.

Student reaction to the potential of the app being implemented was strong.

Noah Staffa ’16 believes the app could work, but still has some reservations.

“It seems like a good idea in theory.

I would definitely use it,” Noah Staffa ’16 said. “My only concern is there might still be a bit of a line to pick up your sandwich.”

Ultimately, Straight, who grew up in the heart of technology in Silicon Valley, hopes the app will be able to help students and potentially expand into other markets, such as corporate cafeterias.

“There is technology out there already to order food from restaurants,” she said. “Why couldn’t I create an app that would help digital natives, high schoolers, get their food faster from their cafeterias?”

How do you feel about the possibility of the new app?

“The whole school will be downloading that app, that’s for sure.”

-Jay Mudholkar ’17 PHOTOS BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’16

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

“Now I will finally be able to try a sandwich without waiting in line for so long and not having time before the bell rings.”

-Allie Avila ’19

Features | September 22, 2015

13

Meet the People

PHOTOS BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’16

@inklingsnews www.facebook.com/humansofstaples

STRIKING THE FINAL POSE Anniina Haka ’ 16 uses ballet as an outlet to escape reality in a competitive company outside of school. She uses it as a technique to express herself and is interested in pursuing it after high school.

Haka expresses herself through dance Kacey Hertan ’16

A

t 4 a.m., just a few hours after many students finish their homework and crawl into bed, Anniina Haka ’16 is waking from a full seven hours and crawling out to begin her homework.

Haka wakes up at this hour not only because she’s a morning person but also because she has an exhausting afternoon. Six days a week she dances at Ballet Etudes for four hours every afternoon. “I have a fresher mind in the morning than I do after being exhausted from dancing all day. I can think better in the morning,” Haka explained.

Dancing for four hours a day on pointe, where your entire body weight rests on the tips of your toes, may sound unbearable to many. But Haka couldn’t be happier. “I use [dance] as my escape, a place I go that doesn’t have to do with numbers, schools or drama,” Haka smiled.

“There’s none of that there. I go for peace.”

Haka aspires to be a professional dancer. In January and February she will be auditioning for several highly selective twoyear, company-training programs, which eventually lead to company auditions.

“First I find out if I get into college, then I find out if I get into a dance school,” Haka explained. She plans to defer college if she gets into a dance-training program, especially if the training program is for the Boston Ballet, her dream company.

Ballerinas are notorious for their perfectionism, and Haka is no exception. She is known among her friends as obsessively organized. However, she knows that no one is perfect and feels that dance has reshaped her idea of perfection. “There’s no definition for perfection. She said as a dancer you have to learn that nothing is perfect and learn that your dancing and body language is expressing what you’re feeling and think-

ing, and none of that has to be perfect.”

Haka not only excels at dance but also at languages. She is trilingual; she speaks Finnish, Swedish and English.

Her parents are from Närpes, a town five-to-six hours outside of Helsinki, Sweden with a bilingual community of Finnish and Swedish speakers.

Haka was born in Sweden and ironically learned Swedish from her Finnish dad and Finnish from her Swedish mom.

“I still have confidence in speaking [Finnish and Swedish]. I don’t want to lose [that confidence],” Haka said. She learned English at 4 or 5, which is why she doesn’t have the accent everyone expects.

However, besides being a future prima ballerina and fluent in three languages, Haka still enjoys the little things in life, like stressing about AP Environmental Science. She still labels passing APES as one of her greatest achievements.

“My passion for soccer in the Americas runs through my blood, my heart, my jersey and my headdress.”

-Christopher Morales ’16

“Being a senior girl is awesome because you’re the queen of the castle...”

-Gillian Rozyneck ’16

English department welcomes a new face Chase Gornbein ’16

PHOTO BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’16

Most teachers’ desks are filled to the brim with copious amounts of books, pictures of their families and posters that foster positive learning.

However, for Staples’ newest addition to the English department Paul Zajac, his desk is missing all of those things.

While Zajac and his family were moving from northern Chicago, where he lived for eight years, to Westport this past summer, Zajac’s moving company actually stole most of his “teaching library.”

His “teaching library,” as Zajac refers to it, was the plethora of books he used to store in the cabinets and overheads of his desk. Now, nearly all of those are gone, and Zajac must “go through a rebuilding process” to restore his books.

He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received a degree in English, and then went on to receive his masters degree in education from Northwestern University.

Zajac used to teach AP Literature, English II and English IV at Alcott College Prep High School in northeast Chicago before he voyaged to Staples.

He believes that the transition from city life to suburban life has been a “very nice change because we now

have peace and quiet,” Zajac said.

The father of two children, Chris and Caroline, Zajac understands the significance of finally having a backyard, and that is something that he “doesn’t take for granted.” Formerly living in a highrise in Chicago, Zajac’s kids now have the opportunity to “run outside and play freely.”

Also as a new member of the Staples community, Zajac is thrilled to get involved “[I can’t wait to] meet everyone, including teachers, parents and students,” Zajac said. “That is what I am most excited about.”

Zajac, who now teaches freshman English, has the unique ability to connect with his students who are new to Staples as well.

One of his students, Jack Phelps ’19, believes that because he is new it helps with his teaching style.

“I think having first-year students goes really well with him being in his first year here because it can strengthen the student-teacher bond since there is something we can relate to,” Phelps said.

Jesse Bauks, a colleague of Zajac, is excited to introduce “a little midwestern sensibility” at Staples.

“He is tall,” Bauks said.

“The only guy taller than me.”

POINTING IN A NEW DIRECTION English teacher Paul Zajac is excited for his first year at Staples with a new curriculum and a different environment.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

14

Features | September 22, 2015

The sound of security tags dropping on the floor alerts store owners and shoppers alike that there is something going on beneath Westport’s affluent image.

Sarah Sommer ’16 & Becky Hoving ’17

A

junior athlete steps out of her Jeep Wrangler and into Oddz, a local clothing store on Main Street.

She runs her fingers along the soft, expensive cotton draped over a nearby table, scanning the store for onlookers. She opens her Chanel purse, but instead of a 20 dollar bill, she pulls out a thick, black Urban Outfitters shopping bag.

“I keep an Urban bag in my purse a lot, because they’re sturdy and black so no one can see in them,” the source, who chose to remain anonymous, said with a mischievous grin. “I just fold it up and take it out when I’m shopping.”

A few minutes later, she casually exits the store, her Urban bag overflowing with pattern shorts in the triple digits, flowy tank tops and bright jewelry–none of which she paid for–leaving the store keepers aloof and without a clue. “As a high-school-age girl, I just don’t look

STOLEN

BY THE NUMBERS.

OUT OF 587 RANDOMLY SAMPLED STUDENTS...

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

like a threatening person,” she said. “I look young and innocent, so people never suspect me [of shoplifting].”

For this junior athlete, who has only had very minor experiences with being caught, shoplifting is simple. However, just a few doors down from the scenes of her crimes works a group of people who would tell a very different story–the Westport police. According to Deputy Vincent Dobson, shoplifters are often taken into custody or issued misdemeanor summons on the scene. As the value of the stolen merchandise increases, so does the severity of the punishment, he explained.

But this junior is not alone in her habit. In fact, shoplifting is fairly common among Westport teenagers. Michelle Sabia, an employee at LF Westport, reported she and her co-workers catch a shoplifter as often as once a month. “People think because we don’t have sensors, they can just rip the tags off and run out,” Sabia said, while ringing up a customer. “But we do notice.

It’s quite easy to notice if you’re just paying attention.”

17%

OF STUDENTS SHOPLIFT

“It’s so easy to shoplift if you’re subtle about it and there aren’t security tags. It’s practically like they’re asking for it.”

-Anonymous senior

In fact, a number of downtown retail stores agree that shoplifting is not just common but easy to spot and have even established different protocol for dealing with the situation. At LF, Sabia says that if she or one of her coworkers is suspicious of someone, she has been instructed to ask the suspected shoplifter to open his or her bag if they are on store premises. “If they don’t allow us to open their bag, which is a

33%

OF STUDENTS KN SOMEONE WHO S

s o r f , a

15

SHOPLIFTING DOWNTOWN (From top left clockwise) LF Stores has security cameras to help catch shoplifters in the act. During their frequent store sales, items are cluttered on tables, which attracts many shoplifters. Oddz, another popular shop for Westport teens, also faces issues with shoplifters when the store is crowded and disorganized. Many shoplifters choose to infiltrate Brandy Melville in downtown Westport.

The store has upped their combative measures against shoplifting with more security tags and tracking of the number of items that are brought into a customer’s dressing room.

PHOTOS BY BECKY HOVING ’17 & SARAH SOMMER ’16

right they have, we then call the cops,” Sabia explained.

At Oddz, owner Kim Cellato prefers a friendlier, more casual approach to the problem. “If I see a girl trying to slip something into a bag, I try to keep my cool and I’ll say ‘Oh, did you want to buy that,’ instead of making them uncomfortable and confronting them,” she said.

From an employee perspective, Sabia agrees that shoplifting almost always has serious consequences. She explains that what offenders often don’t realize is the seriousness of their crimes. At a high-end store like LF, stealing just four or five items can add up to over 1000 dollars, enough to be considered grand theft, which is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. “Don’t steal, it’s not pretty,” Sabia said. “A lot of the time the cops get involved, and it could ruin your future.”

And in such a college and career focused, affluent community, it’s hard to imagine the reasoning behind shoplifting. But in fact, there are a variety of reasons.

Kim Cellato, the owner of Oddz, attributes much

NOW SHOPLIFTS

31%

of the shoplifting to peer pressure or the “thrill of it” rather than the inability to afford the clothes. “I believe that especially young girls are influenced to shoplift because they think it’s ‘cool,’ Kim said. “Others could be doing it for the thrill and rebellion.”

However, shoplifters seem to say it’s for a completely different reason: the pure easiness of the task. A junior athlete claims she has become so inconspicuous in her actions that she has even shoplifted items right in front of her friends, and even they, who were right next to her, didn’t notice. Similarly, a senior skier argues that the stores’ lack of security makes shoplifting as easy as taking candy from a baby. “It’s so easy to shoplift if you’re subtle about it, and there aren’t security tags,” she said confidently. “It’s practically like they’re asking for it.”

Beyond the supposed “easiness” of shoplifting, school psychologist Mary Bernhardt suggests people shoplift as an outlet for their feelings of helplessness. “When you have your parents, your teachers, and really everyone telling

OF SHOPLIFTERS STEAL BECAUSE ‘IT’S EASY’

you what to do, teenagers may feel as though they aren’t in control of their lives. In shoplifting, teens find that control because they are taking action. It’s sort of a rite of passage,” Bernhardt said, before concluding that this longing for control fades quickly. “It’s a phase, and a common one at that, that teenagers go through and then grow out of.”

Another anonymous source wholeheartedly agrees with this theory, acknowledging that it was a phase she went through but ultimately grew out of. “I used to shoplift almost every time I went shopping, but I feel like it’s really an age thing,” she said. “I rarely, if ever, do it anymore because I have taken so much in the past, and now I just feel bad about it.” She even believes the consequences of shoplifting, even though she has never been caught, still affect her.

“I don’t even wear the shirts I’ve taken because I believe it’s bad karma, and I feel so guilty about it now,” she said. “Wearing a shirt I had shoplifted in the past somehow psychologically negatively impacts my whole mood, and really, it just negatively impacts my whole life.”

64%

OF SHOPLIFTERS STEAL FROM RETAIL AND DRUG STORES

16

Features | September 18, 2015

Features | September 22, 2015

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Testing the limits RR

’16

Some colleges spark change in admissions proccess by becoming test-optional Kit Epstein ’17

I

t can be spotted almost anywhere. The bright blue and piercing green cover of “College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide” is no secret to Staples students. There’s a PPSAT available in March of sophomore year, and the perpetual discussion of the college admissions process begins freshman year.

Nevertheless, the world of college admissions and standardized testing is rapidly changing. According to FairTest.org, over 800 colleges in the United States have become test-optional schools, essentially allowing students to choose whether or not they would like to send in their

standardized test scores.

One college that gives students a testing choice is Bard College in Annandale-on-the-Hudson, New York. It has been test-optional for the past 35 years and was one of the first

to be discerned from simple test scores,” Mary Backlund, the Director of Admissions at Bard College, said.

Members of the Staples community are in strong agreement with Backlund’s view on stan-

“You can’t measure greatness in a person’s ability to solve for x,” -Ellie Aronson ’16 schools to make the switch. “[Our teachers] are interesting people who deserve to have interested, dedicated, creative students in their classrooms-characteristics which are not able

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

dardized testing. “You can’t measure greatness in a person’s ability to solve for x,” Ellie Aronson ’16, an opponent of standardized testing, said.

“Honestly, I love the idea

of test optional colleges.”

One of the main reasons why so many reputable colleges across the country, such as George Washington University and Wesleyan University, are becoming test-optional is because of the recent trend to look at each student holistically. This means looking at the student as a whole person, as opposed to just seeing them as a test score or a GPA. Another school that has recently gone test-optional is Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, with applicants for the current 2015-2016 school year not obligated to send in their SAT or ACT scores.

The Standardized Testing

Policy page on Hofstra University’s website states, “This change provides students with the ability to decide for themselves how to best present their academic strengths and abilities to the admission committee.”

Test optional schools allow students who might have a great GPA and unimpressive test scores to only present the part of their high school career they find most impressive.

“I like test optional schools because I feel as though testing is the most overrated, unfair aspect of college admissions,” Vig Namasivayam ’16 said.

Students who don’t do as well on standardized tests still excel academi-

cally in college. “Statistically speaking, 53 percent of our admitted students submitted test scores and 47 percent did not,” Sue Willard the Associate Director of Admissions at Hobart and William Smith Colleges said. “The academic profile of those two demographics is almost identical as is the achievement they have during their time as students.”

With college applications due in the next five months, Staples seniors that are considering their academic strengths and weaknesses now have the opportunity to apply to over 800 colleges that will not require them to send in their standardized test scores.

Features | September 22, 2015 PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY ALIZA GROSS ’16

17

Emma Lederer ’16 With the start of a new school year, there are two new, exciting courses for animal lovers: Animal Behavior and Zoology. Both classes are centered around studying the behavior and evolution of animals and researching how different species are both alike and different.

Lucy Mather ’18, who is currently enrolled in Animal Behavior, says the class is great for students who have a passion for animals and are interested in learning more about them.

“The course is very enjoyable for animal people like me,” she says. “I thought that it would be fascinating to see how animals react to certain things, like stimulus or emotion and much more.”

Along with learning about how animals react to certain stimuli, she reflected on how fascinating it is that their studies include humans. “The class is really interesting because we get to understand the way animals and humans interact with each other,” she said.

The class actually began their studies by observing human behavior. Mathilde Densby ’17, explained an exercise that the stu-

dents partook in. “The other day we had to stand outside and take notes about the way students and teachers interacted,” she said.

In order to explore animals’ behavior, the class will also participate in dissections and, according to Mather, hopefully take “many field trips.”

Students who are enrolled in the other new course, Zoology, such as Justin Pecoriello ’17, said that the course is very engaging thus far and that they are excited for what’s to come. He explained that the class will be analyzing the differences between groups of animals through dissection.

“I’m excited to learn more about the evolution of animals and how they’ve developed,” he said.

Emma Glick ’17, who is also taking Zoology, expressed her own enthusiasm regarding the course. Although she is not entirely sure what’s to come, she says she’s “very excited” for all of the knowledge she will gain.

In order to further their studies of animal behavior, the class will also be going on field trips to zoos. Garrick New ’16 is looking forward to class expeditions. “In the course we are taking a field trip to the Beardsley Zoo, which should be a lot of fun,” he said.

PHOTOS BYCAROLINE O’KANE ’16

Zoology and Animal Behavior courses change science department

TESTING BEHAVIOR Students in the Zoology and Animal Behavior course focus on studying the structure and function of animals through hands-on labs, dissections and observing animal artifacts and skulls. Students also have the opportunity to observe real, live animals and obtain a variety of classroom experiences.

Singapore trip sparks cultural nuances in students Alice Hickson ’17 & Colette Lippman ’17

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hen summer rolls around, some students pack their suitcase and jet off to a summer program, while others go off for their final year at camp. However, this was not the case for Angela Yu ’16, Aliza Gross ’16 and Rachel Corbally ’16.

These students were selected out of a competitive pool of applicants to attend the Hwa-Chong Asian Pacific Young Leaders Summit (HC-APYLS) in Singapore.

The HC-APYLS website describes the program as “a forum for promising student leaders who clearly demonstrated a commitment to serving society.” Thisprogram was not a vacation for these students; they were in for a rigorous 13 days.

Students from 13 different countries, including countries such as India,

China and Malaysia, stayed at the HwaChong boarding school in Singapore.

“I was basically all over the world at the same time,” Yu said. “I didn’t have to travel around the world to learn about these things. The world just came to me.”

Each day followed a set itinerary with hardly any downtime. The students visited places such as a broadcasting corporation, an investment corporation, the housing ward and the public utilities board.

“The summit provided a platform for this group of diverse delegates to discuss issues and share views on how to find solutions,” Corbally said. “By interacting with each other, we had a taste of all the different cultures and life experiences.”

However, it was not all work and no play. When the students weren’t meeting with the Editor-in-Chief of the national newspaper or an ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they got

to participate in recreational activities such as kayaking, visiting an aquarium, exploring a night safari and even hosting a mock program on Singapore TV. Through all of these exciting activities, all three participants from Staples agreed that their favorite part of the trip was meeting the people of Singapore.

“The people in Singapore were phenomenally nice,” Yu explained. “I don’t think I’ve met anybody as nice as them.”

Although Singapore is considered one of the more westernized countries in Asia, there were still notable cultural differences for the Westport students.

“The Singaporean schools seem a lot more rigid and intense,” Gross said. “Their society was also a lot more socially conservative than ours was, which was kind of shocking to me.”

The Singaporeans may have been more intense, but the students found it

hard not to notice their passion, especially since it was Singapore’s 50th anniversary of becoming an independent state.

“You can feel it in the atmosphere,” Corbally said when speaking of the immense pride the people of Singapore had for their country.

This observation was not one sided. J-Anne Yow, one of the participants from Singapore, described the American delegates as having “infectious enthusiasm and pride for their country.”

Although nine days seem like a short amount of time, all of the participants made lasting bonds. Yow was not the only Singaporean student to share that she formed strong friendships with the American students.

“My American friends are all extremely friendly and kind-hearted,” Penny Shi Peng Yi said. “They’re friends that I know I’ll treasure for life.”

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY ANGELA YU ’16

CULTURAL ASSIMILATION (From left) Aliza Gross ’16 (far left) was among the Staples students to tour a Singapore media company, Mediacorp, and create a mock episode of a TV talk show.

(Middle photo) A Singapore student, Gross, Angela Yu ’16, Staples teacher Mary Elizabeth Fulco and Rachel Corbally ’16 pose for a group shot during their 13-day trip. (Far right) Other attendees of the trip perform an American dance with Staples students Gross and Yu who show off their moves in the second row of dancers.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

18

Features | September 22, 2015

Library purchases new virtual reality glasses Anders Hovstadius ’17 & Francesca Truitt ’17

T

PHOTO BY AMEILIA BROWN ’16

he dream of being able to immerse oneself into a virtual, threedimensional environment has made its way out of science fiction novels and into the Westport Public Library. The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that is worn like goggles and provides an immersive, virtually realistic experience.

As described on the company’s website, the Rift is “unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.”

But these glasses are more than a simple lense and frame — they provide a virtual reality experience complete with visuals and sounds.

“Whether you’re stepping into your favorite game, watching an immersive VR movie, jumping to a destination on the other side of the world, or just spending time with friends in VR,” the company’s website said, “you’ll feel like you’re really there.”

The Oculus Rift glasses allow you to experience a trip to Barcelona, Spain, or a game of Mario Kart within the comfort of the Westport Public Library.

Lauren Thompson ’18 expects the introduction of the Oculus Rift to bring more people to the library, so it will become a more social environment. “It will bring a lot more attention to the library, which is good because not many people go [there] other than to study,” Thompson said.

Diamantis Datil ’16 agreed

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE The director of innovation at the Westport Public Library, Bill Dairy, demonstrates using the Oculus Rift glasses that portray a virtual reality. The glasses allow users to see different aspects of video games or a virtual scene depending on the way users turn their heads. The library hopes to get a sign-up sheet for the public starting in a few weeks.

that the library will soon become a more social environment, while keeping its inherent academic vibe. “I might actually go to the library not just for books but now just to hang out,” Datil said.

The introduction of these virtual reality glasses should certainly increase teen library

attendance. But Angela Zhai ’18 saw it as inviting new kinds of people to the library, in addition to the studious academics who already attend. The Oculus Rift will entice “people who are into gaming, not just people who are into studying and reading,” Zhai said.

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inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

It is especially the glasses reality-like graphics and sounds that intrigue avid gamers like Jean-Luc Lefebvre ’17. Lefebvre is most excited to experience the game “Fallout 4” using the Rift.

Although he has not yet tried the glasses, Lefebvre predicts “they will be able to immerse the

person playing the game into the game itself.”

Melissa Exner ’17 agreed.

“It’s cool because the library is always thought about as a boring place,” Exner said. “But now it’s probably going to become a fun place for people to go and use [the glasses].”

arts 19

Photo by Channing Smith ’17

A guide to fashion week Navigating New York fashion week Models’ beauty shines despite the chaos Channing Smith ’17

ning Smith ’17 Photos by Chan

off GlauA model shows ft: le p to m fro edgy spring E Clockwise lby P. Bragais’s De r SMILE AND WAV ne rsig De n. norms. Model Ca g collectio ent from bridal r di’s newest sprin rg ne ve di sig nt De sa s. ea ai n is a pl Delby P. Brag g tin or sp bridal collectio so r ei al close th the press while crowds as they men poses for er wave to the ht ug r. ea da r w ’ he ns d re Nancy Vuu an n, Fantasy Child r new collectio showcase on he

Every year, hundreds of fashion enthusiasts pile into a dark room, often paying more than 1000 dollars per ticket, to watch the prettiest girls in New York unveil the trends of the upcoming season.

It’s anxiety-inducing for some, nerve racking for others and chaotic for all, but New York Fashion Week has every blogger, aspiring designer and New York celebrity counting down the days.

However, the exclusive event is invite only and tickets are hard to come by. Only with some careful searching and a few calls cashing in favors from your mom’s old college friends can a lucky few land a seat along the runway.

Each year, among the blessed individuals who faire the lines and conquer security, are a few fortunate Staples kids who get the opportunity to bask in the glory of what is New York Fashion Week. Aishah Avdiu ’17 was able to attend a show last year through her mother’s connections and noted that it was an experience unlike any other. “The venue was crowded and hectic, but it was definitely worth a bit of claustrophobia,” Avdiu said. “I even got to peek backstage, which allowed me to have a deeper understanding of all that goes into a show.”

While one would think that they would have the ability to attend a show every night of the week, Fashion Week is not actually a week. Shows can linger in smaller venues for days after the official week comes to a close.

During New York Fashion Week, there are over 200 collections presented. This means

Fashion to watch: Update on flannel

This season, make sure to update your look with a grid or gingham print flannel.

These prints can offer a cleaner look than your dad’s old flannel, while remaining simple and easy to wear. Try brighter colors such as blue plaid as opposed to the normal red.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

An eye for details

This season is about intricacy. Pants with lots of pockets, zippers, embroidery and embellishments are starting to make their way into the day-to-day scene. Small details on any item of clothing are an easy way keep up with the trends without making too much of a statement.

each minute is precious in scheduling. Shows can start up to an hour late, only beginning when the last Kardashian arrives and takes her seat. This causes a disorderly scramble when the last model finally walks out, because the next show is often across town.

Emerson Kobak ’18 has been dreaming of attending Fashion Week since even before she began running her own fashion blog and making her own clothes. “I am actually trying really hard to get tickets because it is my dream to go,” she said.

Many agree that the significance of Fashion Week outweighs the temporary rush of anxiety. Bailey Blaikie ’19, a Staples fashion aficionado, noted the importance of the shows effects despite the energy needed to go to them. “I do think the crowds and chaos are worth it because the clothes and the designers set the trends for the upcoming seasons,” she said. To accommodate for the chaos of the live show, New York Fashion Week has undergone major renovations, making it easier to enjoy the glitz and glam from the calm, quiet of your own home. This year, New York Fashion Week is all about the technology. The shows were designed to entertain and with lots of celebrities and elaborate displays, the shows were able to captivate their audience, even those who had little interest.

A show’s success is measured by how much traffic and attention it gains on social media. “I have never been in the past, but I follow it through blogs and social media,” Kobak ’18 said. With all the shows televised and directly streaming to the NYFW app and website, the public can keep up with the trends without getting caught up in the pandemonium.

The feminist look Who says suits are for men? Models walk the runway looking fiercely androgynous, and sexuality is becoming less tied to fashion. Unisex jumpers were popular on the runway, with clear inspiration drawn from the 70’s pantsuit. More gender neutral styles will be popular this season.

19 20

Arts | September 22, 2015

The new best burger.

Plan B becomes burger lover’s plan A

tion of a Cuban Sandwich, with a pork patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, spicy mustard and ust over a month ago, our salvation was pickles) with a side of “Fancy Fries” (Plan found in the form of a newly-opened B’s take on french fries), and I chose the Phiburger bar. Salvation from the typical listeak Burger (a beef burger topped with ohcheeseburger and fast food experience. sliced steak, garlic mayo, mushrooms, onions, Now, don’t get me wrong, I love fast food and simple cheeseburgers, but specialty American cheese sauce, with a touch of naburgers are an entirely different entity cho cheese) with a side of hand cut steak fries.

Now I know that may seem overwhich have been hitherto unknown to Westport. Now they can be found just whelming, but that’s because it was in the down the Post Road in Fairfield. best way possible. I am not normally a fan Boasting incredible interior decor and of wings, but these were brilliantly made, an extraordinarily unique menu, Plan B with a deliciously mild coating. Both of our Burger Bar provides an all-American alter- fries were incredibly tasty and found the pernative to fast food. fect balance of saltiness.

The mo- “Boasting incredible interior After I nearment I crossed ly dislocated my jaw decor and an extraordinarily the threshold into trying to open it wide the five-week-old unique menu, Plan B Burger enough to take a bite of restaurant, I was Bar provides an all-american my burger, I instantly instantly envelfell in love. No soonoped by a feeling alternative to fast food.” er had I swallowed my that I can only first bite than the word describe as “homey-ness.” With bare brick “wow” escaped my lips. The Cuban Burgwalls, exposed wood, a patterned tin ceil- er was equally as delicious, and stayed ing and elaborately simple lighting fixtures remarkably true to its source material. combined with the feel-good music that Besides the menu, there seems to float over your head, it’s impossible are some other details that make to not feel comfortable as you take your seat. Plan B stand out from the crowd.

What added all the more to the They pride themselves on the fact that feeling of comfort was the outstand- all of their meat is ground in house, twice ing service. From the instant I was seat- daily, is never frozen and contains no aned until the instant I left, I felt fully at tibiotics or unnatural hormones. Not only home, thanks to my server, Brianna. this, but the chefs are encouraged to tinker One of the first things that excited around with recipes and propose new menu me, was that Plan B offered sliced pickles. items, which makes the menu ever-evolving.

For the meal itself, my father and I Allinall, the neighborsplit an order of mild chicken wings as an hood feeling, along with the remarkappetizer, and each chose different burgers. able food makes me give Plan B BurgHe chose the Cuban Burger (an interpreta- er Bar two all-American thumbs up.

J

Jimmy Ray Stagg ’16

Alix Sommers ’16

The aroma of barbecue sauce, fried bacon and grilled cheese filled Jesup Green. Bouncy houses enjoyed by young families were scattered along the pavement of the parking lot, as well as food trucks and stands waiting to serve herds of people with their delicious goodies.

Food was the heart of the Blues, Views and BBQ festival.

The Bobby Q’s Barbeque and Grill stand was a big hit, with a line queuing far beyond the order station. Their menu included everything a barbecue lover could want: ribs, pulled pork, burnt

ends, sausage, pit beans and coleslaw.

“I only went to the festival because I knew that the barbecue would be good,” Jenna Levantin ’16 said with a laugh. “I ordered the ribs and they were to die for.”

There was also a stand called “Fried Up” containing every fried food you could dream of, including Oreo, funnel cake, Kool-Aid, candy bars and Twinkies.

“I was so surprised at the amount of food there, and it all seemed pretty good,” said Avery Shuldman ’18. “My favorite was the funnel cake.” Another big hit amongst visitors was the MeltMobile. The menu was elaborate for such a small food truck but it’s delicious sandwiches kept people coming back for more. One of their options was The Caprese which included

Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

BONKERS FOR BURGERS Plan B Burger has eight locations, including Washington D.C., Connecticut and Massachusetts and has six different menus, including, a gluten free menu. The restaurant serves specialty burgers, such as the Squealer, which is a half pork, half beef burger with bacon, lettuce, pickles, cheese, tomato, mustard and mayonaisse. It also serves salads, such as the Burger Salad, lobster sliders and beer-battered shrimp.

fresh mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, fire roasted peppers, tomato, arugula and pesto aioli on kalamata olive bread. The Levitt was also filled with Westport residents as well as folks from all over the state and country. The blues music playing at The Levitt made biting into a tasty meal even more satisfying, with bands such as Relative Souls, and Dumpstaphunk. Visitors could hear the beat of the music in the background but food took the main stage.

People of all ages took advantage of the offerings at the festival, especially elementary school kids. With face painting, balloon twisters, ice cream and Italian ice, the activities made for a great long weekend.

As volunteers in the community, their responsibility was to run the inflatable

houses, make sure children were abiding by the rules and ensure safety for all visitors.

In order to keep the festival running smoothly, Builders Beyond Borders, a local volunteer group which takes annual trips to rebuild countries in need, played a large role in the festival. “I enjoy[ed] seeing how many people were there at such a big community event. Especially where I was working, there were many, many kids with their families,” Helena Knoll ’18 said.

The food, activities, music, and presence of B3 made for an enjoyable weekend for all visitors. “I’m so glad I went and got to enjoy everything the festival had to offer,” said Levantin said. Knoll agreed, saying,“It was a great way to get the community together on such a beautiful weekend.”

Photos by Alex Spadacenta ’17

BBQ ON A HOT SUMMER’S DAY (from left) Bobby Q’s serves ribs and pulled pork sandwhiches. The Levitt Pavillion overlooks a line of food trucks. Bobby Q’s baby back ribs glisten in the sunlight.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

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RO CK

Arts | September 22, 2015

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A MUSIC DEBUT

At a venue in Brooklyn, New York called Death by Audio, Ellen Kempner ’12 rocks out on a Harmony Bobcat she found for an inexpensive price in North Carolina. She was chosen to play as part of the farewell show at the venue.

Kempner’s album “Palehound”

is a raving success

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ELLEN KEMPNER ’17W

Quinn Hughes ’16 & Maialie Fitzpatrick ’16 On August 14, 2015, Palehound, or more commonly known within the halls of Staples High School as Ellen Kempner ’12, released her first full-length album titled Dry Food.

The album received rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine, one of the world’s premier music publications, and an eightout-of-10 rating from the highly critical alternative music commentary, Pitchfork.

The album focuses primarily on Kempner’s heartbreak from a serious relationship, and according to Pitchfork writer Laura Snapes, “Its sound captures the Herculean efforts required to survive the ensuing slump.”

The album is said to be a reflection of knowing and losing someone, but Kempner’s former college roommate, Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis, says, “Kempner never lets a sad jam wallow: she kicks the end of the song into shape with a zippy electric guitar motif and some awkward, itchy squall.”

Kempner attended Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York for two years until realizing college was not the right path for her. Not finishing college proved to be beneficial for Kempner’s development as an artist. As a result of her time off, she has toured the country many times and has had time to focus on writing more music, which in turn has landed her the feature in Rolling Stone.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting this kind of response! It’s been a very pleasant and amazing surprise to see people reacting

DRUMMING THROUGH LIFE With a pair of Vic Firth vf5B brand drumsticks, Will O’Halloran ’17 beats a drum in the Staples band room. He also likes brands such as Vader, Remo, and Pearl. He has been playing the drums for 10 years and owned about 20 pairs of drumsticks over the years.

O’Halloran drums to his own beat Molly Liebergall ’17

For Will O’Halloran ’17, it started as a hobby but soon transformed into a lifestyle.

Drumming has become his passion and his identity, and it all began when he moved to Westport.

“Once I started in second grade, it just kind of clicked,” he said. O’Halloran began by creating makeshift drum sets using pots, pans and stirring sticks. After breaking a couple pieces of kitchenware, his parents decided to spare the rest of the appliances and signed him up for drumming lessons.

O’Halloran eventually played for numerous amateur bands during middle school and learned how to play more than 12 instruments, including drums,

piano, marimba, xylophone and steel pan to name a few. “I was just kind of revolving around music,” O’Halloran said.

His musical versatility does not go unnoticed by friends. “It’s something unique about him that he’s able to have so many talents in so many different areas,” Charlotte Rossi ’17 said. “He’s passionate and I definitely think [drumming is] something he could continue to play through college and in the future.”

O’Halloran is considering minoring in musical theatre in college. He has drummed at the Jim Royle Drum Studio in Bridgeport for several years, and although he admits it is a big commitment, practice is one thing that O’Halloran is always willing to devote time to.

Staples band teacher, Nicholas

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

to the album this way,” Ellen Kempner said.

Kempner’s younger sister, Julia Kempner ’16, is also an aspiring musician. Julia believes Ellen is a role model in the sense that she uses music to escape from society’s constraints.

“She plays music for all the right reason,” Julia Kempner said. “She plays for so many more reasons than to provide entertainment and be heard. She doesn’t want to just be heard, she wants to be understood and she wants her listeners to discover something in themselves through her lyrics.”

BE AT

Mariconda, admires his work ethic, describing O’Halloran as an “enthusiastic percussionist,” and someone who “really likes to work hard and prepare himself.”

This dedicated work ethic will come in handy over the next few weeks while O’Halloran prepares for his upcoming community drum fest. On Oct. 24, he will be hosting an event at Bridge Academy with professional musicians, like Marcus Santos, to raise money for two one-year scholarships to the Jim Royal Drum studio for young musicians.

“I started the event because I just kind of thought that I did stuff like Service League of Boys (SLOBs) here at Staples, but I never really did something of my own that made me stand out and did something that I could really give back for,” he explained.

PHOTO BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’17

O’Halloran’s event is not the only thing that helps him stand out; his unique onstage fashion sense is quite different from the rest. “I used to have this dope ‘Wonder Weasel’ shirt,” he said. “It was a weasel with an eye patch, and it was green, so yeah I wore that to a lot of my shows when I was young.” However, nowadays he prefers sticking with shorts and Hawaiian shirts.

“I just do whatever I feel flows,” O’Halloran said. One thing he does not let flow, however, is his hair.

“I have to toss it in a small bun, just to make sure it doesn’t get in my eyes because then I can’t see my music,” O’Halloran said while removing his cap and shaking out his near-shoulder-length hair. “I don’t even know how to play the drums,” he joked. “I just worry about my hair.”

BEAT BEAT

THE

22 Arts | September 22, 2015

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR FERRIS ACRES (From top to bottom) Julia Kaplowitz ’16, Zoe Brown ’15, Margaret Fair ’15 and Lily Valente ’16 all took the 40-minute drive to Ferris Acres Creamery in Newtown, Connecticut. All ice cream is homamade including specialty flavors such as Bad Habit and Campfire.

PHOTO BY JULIA KAPLOWITZ ’16

P HOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ZOE BROWN ’15

Ferris Acres Creamery melts into Instagram feeds Aileen Coyne ’16

T

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY MARGARET FAIR ’15

his summer, Fairfield County Instagrams were flooded with pictures from Ferris Acres Creamery. You have probably seen them: photos with a waffle cone filled with two flavors, generously topped with candy and with cows grazing in the background.

While it is a trek to Ferris Acres, the 40-minute drive to Newtown is well worth the freshly made ice cream. The winding roads framed by farms are part of the experience, and the ice cream tastes so much better knowing that you can’t make a quick trip for it.

Ferris Acres is nothing like anything available in Westport. A long line leading to the outdoor order counter swirls around the perimeter of the building. The cows roaming around the adjacent farm add to the rustic feel.

The list of flavors seems endless, ranging from the traditional chocolate and vanilla to “The Creamery” specialties like “Elvis’s Dream,” which is vanilla with peanut butter,

banana pieces and dark chocolate chunks.

Other favorite flavors include “Salty Cow,” which is vanilla with caramel swirls and chocolate covered pretzels, as well as “PBC^2,” which is chocolate with fudge, peanut butter swirls and chunks of peanut butter cups.

All the flavors are decadent, and the perfect mixture of sugary and creamy.

Everyday they offer their standard 32 flavors plus an additional six specials.

While Ferris Acres Creamery may not be your day to day ice cream store for the summer, it’s a sweet road trip for a summer day with nothing else to do.

Quick hits Summer movies make a splash

PHOTO BY LILLY VALENTE ’16

Hannah Bjorkman ’16 & Thomas Nealon ’17

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IO N S S I

IM P O S

SiB

Emma Greenberg ’18 : X F A U Quinn’s novel keeps readers “Anchored” to the pages RY M D A I watched this movie R

OA

M

LE

To end the summer right, “Mission Impossible Rogue Nation” had the last sold out blockbuster movie in theatres. Many agree that this installment of the series is one of Tom Cruise’s best. The movie was thrilling and kept me on the top of my seat because in minutes a person went from good to bad. For example, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) tried to kill Ethan (Tom Cruise), but then later saved him. Sometimes the plot was hard to follow because of alliances and betrayals from each character., though.

PA

D

knowing nothing about George Miller, the director, and the kinds of movies he produces. The concept was interesting because it was about women’s rights. These women had to fight/flee this madman who took advantage of them to populate his dynasty. The visuals in this movie were incredible, and the filming was nothing like I’ve ever seen before, so if you're into film and visual effects, this movie is a must see. I would suggest “Mad Max Fury Road” to people who are into action and thriller movies.

OWNS T R E P Paper Towns is yet

another John Green film that features the “it” model Cara Delevigne who plays the mysterious yet seductive character Margo in an epic adventure to find what (or who) she loves. Quentin is played by the actor Nat Wolff who has been in previous John Green movies such as “The Fault in our Stars.”

The movie was ok, nothing special. The only reason I wanted to see it was because Cara was in it. The ending was disappointing, but consistent with the book.

Emma Greenberg ’18

Staples mom Brigitte Quinn, mother of Jen Gouchoe ’16, delves into life as a news anchor in her refreshing first novel “Anchored,” which was released this past summer.

Quinn offers a unique take on the realities of life in the newsroom and uses her personal struggle of staying anchored to her family and her job to advance the plot. Quinn herself is a veteran news anchor with 12 years of experience at Fox News, MSNBC and NBC and is a mom of three. She currently anchors mornings at 1010 WINS radio in New York City.

“Anchored” is an entertaining, action-packed read, perfect for the last sunny beach days before fall creeps in.

The story sets a tone in which the reader feels an intimacy with the characters and the events they experience.

I’ve never stepped foot in a newsroom or understood the inner workings of such

a complex, cutthroat business, but Quinn makes me feel like I’m the main character, Barbara King. When I’m reading, I’m under the lights and under the pressure covering an array of news stories on the fly for the Phoenix news channel. From interviews with washed up celebrities to crazy car chases to devastating events, “Anchored” makes it clear that reporting the news is not as easy as it looks.

Readers are charmed by the dramatic plot full of romantic twists and turns and the quirky characters. Although King is married with children, she finds herself having chemistry between her and her new co-anchor, Jack Stone. However ,she tries to remain anchored and committed to her husband and family.

Quinn’s fictional novel stands out among the bland background of nonfiction memoirs by former news anchors who tell the same old story. Quinn is truly able to captivate her readers, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

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Advertisement| September 22, 2015

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Please recycle this paper !

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sports 24

Inklings | Sept. 22, 2015

Roehm conquers the turf and the stage OPPOSITES ATTRACT Nick Roehm ’17 has acted in Sweeney Todd and also starts on Staples varsity football team as a left tackle.

Adam Kaplan ’16

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Renaissance man is defined as a present-day man who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field. For Nick Roehm ’17, proficiency only begins to describe his many talents.

As the old expression goes, ‘looks can be deceiving’ and in Roehm’s situation, that’s the case—sort of. When you see the towering 6’2 Roehm walk the hallway, football seems like a natural fit for the starting left tackle.

What isn’t expected upon f irst sight is Roehm’s role in Staples Players.

“The physicality of football is fantastic. There’s a primitive and boyish charm that comes with it,” Roehm said. But Roehm is not just a sports star; he’s a drama buff, too.

“The total emersion that you can feel on the stage, is the best part of acting,” Roehm said. “I’m on the stage, I feel like I can become my character and forget about the real world.”

Before an injury derailed his season, Roehm was getting serious playing time as a sophomore on

Graphic by Phillip Han-Lemus ’16 Photos by Colette Lippman ’17

varsity. Now, as a junior, Roehm is poised to start at left tackle for the season opener.

Head Coach Marcee Petroccio had high praise for Roehm when he said, “He’s aggressive, he’s strong, he’s smart, and the best thing about him is his tremendous motor. He goes 100 miles per hour every single play, and that’s hard to get out of kids now a days.” As far as splitting time with players, Petroccio believes balance is important. “This past year he has done

a great job at balancing both [Players and football].” Petroccio continued, “For a month or so he is really involved in Players, and I let him do what he wants.

These guys, they’re still kids. As long as he can get a chance to lift on his own— more power to him. Enjoy yourself.”

For all of the success Roehm has had on the football field, he’s had similar success on stage for Staples Players.

Vice president of Staples Players, Nick

Ribolla ’16, raved about Roehm’s skills on the stage. “He’s got a very broad range,” Ribolla said. He’s a funny kid and can flip a switch and become very intimidating.”

Being part of two incredibly different groups. One consequence for Roehm is a fair share of chirping. “ Both the Players and the football players give me crap” he joked.

“Football players will call me names or make me sing, but Players will make me do the heavy lifting and also make jokes. It’s all in good fun, though. None of it is mean-hearted.”

With this extensive time commitment, Roehm has had to manage his fair share of late nights and early mornings to work with academics. “There are some days when I come to school with no more than the energy that coffee provides” Roehm said.

However, he went on to say, “Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It makes those good experiences so much better, and I think I just like seeing how much my body can take.”

Roehm ended by giving one last piece of advice to people trying to pursue very different interests. “I’d say, do what you want to do. Don’t let anyone put roadblocks in the way of what you want,” Roehm said.

“I have gotten to meet so many people and experience so many more things because of my dual interest, and that is really one of the best benefits of it all.”

New York Football Club guarantees goals Jason Streiter ’17 This past soccer season, Yankee Stadium was occasionally filled with fans all wearing blue. But not the traditional navy of the Yankees.

Instead they were wearing the powder blue shirts of NYCFC. The team is modeled after the English Premier League club, Manchester City. “The idea is for the clubs to share a methodology and philosophy of how to win,” Jason Kreis, head coach

and the fifth all-time leading goal scorer in Major League Soccer history, said.

Kries is also the father of Kason Kreis ’17.

The club had the luxury of the league’s biggest budget in their inaugural season, and part of that methodology is spending money on buying big time players.

This summer Manchester City bought stars Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne for over $60 million each. NYCFC has also bought stars, while not at the same price.

In June of 2014 Kreis signed his first player, Spain’s all-time leading international scorer and 2010 World Cup silver boot winner David Villa, who was PHOTO BY JASON STREITER ’17 once sold from

STRIKING ON GOAL New York Football Club plays at their home field , Yankee Stadium, in a close game on Aug. 29th where they lost 2-1 against Columbus Crew.

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Valencia to Barcelona for $40 million.

Kreis has made a splash with two other big moves, signing Chelsea’s alltime leading scorer and 2005 Ballon d’Or runner up Frank Lampard. He also bought three time Series A Footballer of the year and 2006 World Cup Final Man of the Match Andrea Pirlo.

However, making big-time signings has also put Kreis on the hot seat.

“Signing big time players puts pressure on a team, but I think it is pressure that we can handle,” Kreis said. “If our players can’t handle pressure then they shouldn’t be playing in New York City.”

In addition, Kreis has been publicly critical of his team since he knows what they are capable of. “I couldn’t be more disappointed. I think that’s the most succinct way to put it,” Kreis said after a tough loss to the Columbus Crew on Aug. 29.

“Devastating for us to lose that game. Seven games left, 21 points available, I still think there has to be a glimmer of hope.

But at the moment, it’s tough to see it.”

There are currently six games left and 18 points available, and the team sits four points out of the playoffs, but Pirlo thinks they can do it. “It’s six important games we have to play, but we have to think of one at a time,” Pirlo said. “They are all hard, but I’m sure if we think of winning one at a time, you do one and you think of the next.”

Sports | September 22, 2015

From Westport to Westhill

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Speer makes his mark on minor league baseball Cooper Boardman ’17

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n May 24, 2008, Staples pitcher David Speer ’10 toed the rubber at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. Speer went into his windup and fired a fastball past a Westhill batter, and the Staples Wreckers were crowned 2008 FCIAC champions.

On that day, in a postgame interview, Speer said, “This has been the perfect year.”

Six years later, he’s looking for another perfect year and a chance to make an MLB roster, this time with a different team name across his chest.

Following his esteemed high school career at Staples, Speer headed to Columbia University, where he was named the 2014 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year.

This caught the eye of major league scouts, and as a result he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.

“I was speechless at first because getting drafted was a dream come true,” Speer said. “I knew there was a chance of it happening, but it was still one of those things I never expected to happen until it actually did.”

Now in his second season in the minors, Speer has posted a career 8-6 record, along with a 2.08 ERA in 108.1 innings pitched.

Speer first headed to the New YorkPenn League and Carolina League before being assigned to Lynchburg, Virginia, for A-ball—just two steps away from a

coveted spot on a Major League roster.

He describes professional baseball as a “mental and physical struggle” and attributes this struggle to the rigor of a long season (142 games, compared to the 40-60 game collegiate schedule).

And while Speer chases his MLB dreams, he’s also inspiring a current generation of Wreck-

ers, such as pitcher Ryan Fitton ’17.

“It motivates you to work hard every day,” Fitton said. “He was once a high school junior just like I am now, and now he is playing A-ball, which is special.”

Like Speer, Staples head coach Jack McFarland’s favorite memory of the left-hander’s time at Staples was the Wrecker’s 2008 FCIAC

championship victory over Westhill.

“As a 15-year-old kid, to shut down that lineup, that was a special day,” McFarland said.

Speer has had a lot of special days, from that FCIAC championship to being drafted by the Indians. Nonetheless, he hopes for one more special day—his Major League debut.

GRAPHIC BY COOPER BOARDMAN ’17

Diving in

Staples diving team takes off into new season Will Dumke ’16

PHOTO BY CAROLINE O’KANE ’16 MAKING A SPLASH Sophia Stanley ’16 practices dives for the upcoming season.

Stanley recently made her mark on the Staples records plaque in the poolhouse when she recieved a score of 219.

Many Staples sports teams have broken records, but one team has been under the surface for many years. After breaking three records in the 2014 season, the Staples diving team has leapt into the Wreckers hall of fame, as well, and has high hopes for this year’s fall season.

“The Staples girls diving team is the strongest it has ever been. Not only do we have four talented returning senior, but a new group of four freshmen eager to keep Staples diving going strong,” coach Dan Long said. “This year we hope to have all four seniors on the record board, proving this is the strongest team we have ever had.”

Unlike most team sports, diving is judged on skill and form rather than the efficiency of a play. At every meet the divers perform six dives, and with those six dives they receive two to three scores. Finally, all the scores are compiled and then added together, which evaluates how the divers placed against one another. The intensity of the sport rests on the precision of the judging, which forces each diver to perfect every miniscule movement in their performance.

Still, last year three Staples divers each broke records. The record for highest score in Staples history is 243, but last

season Sophia Stanley ’16 received a 219, Eliza Donovan ’16 received a 221 and Kacey Hertan ’16 received a 209. They each earned their names on a plaque in the poolhouse. With this outstanding performance comes high expectations for the team in the 2015 season.

“Losing Olivia Crosby [’17], our only senior diver from last year, was difficult,” captain Emily Duranko ’16 said. “She was not only a fantastic diver but also a great diving team leader.”

Nonetheless, the team still has high hopes for the season since many of the returning divers, along with incoming freshmen, seek to play key roles on the team.

“We have four new freshman this year who I think can add a lot of potential to the team, especially in the state opens,” Sophia Stanley ’16 said. “Last year Eliza and I placed in the top 15, so we are really excited to do just as well if not better this year.”

After having an amazing 2014 season, the Staples diving team has high hopes for the future, striving to break even more records.

“This season will not be without challenges because Fairfield County has some of the best divers in the State of Connecticut,” coach Long said. “But I feel confident that the Staples divers will do well and make the team proud.”

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Sports | September 22, 2015

Staples students predict fantasy football stars ROB GRONKOWSKI, TE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Jack Zapfel ’16

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ots of students and teachers are writing in their group messages and sending snapchats to get their fantasy leagues up and running for the upcoming NFL football season. With each new NFL season, comes a new fantasy football season, a chance for champions to repeat or fall off, losers to shine or continue to fail, and so much more.

For those who are not familiar with fantasy football or the hype surrounding it, it usually consists of eight to 14 friends or colleagues who compete against one another in a statistical game in which players are responsible for drafting and managing groups of professional players from the NFL. The winner of the league often receives a cash prize from all league entry fees. The game around fantasy football is built on smacktalk. Everyone gets a kick at dissing one another before and after the week-to-week match ups.

The following blurbs are analysis on top fantasy football players.

Gronk is without question the best player at his position. It’s not even close.

Injuries to his knee and forearm have held him back in the past, but last year he stayed healthy and was a complete stud.

He posted 82 grabs for 1,124 yards and 12 scores. His numbers could have been a bit down with Garoppolo potentially leading the Pats for the first four weeks. However, fantasy owners have nothing to be skeptical over, due to Brady’s reinstatement.

Expect Gronk to be a force of nature right out of the gate.

LE’VEON BELL, RB PITTSBURGH STEELERS Le’Veon Bell is the real deal after recording more than 10 fantasy points in 14 out of 16 games last season. He should be the first or second back off the board in most drafts. Last year, his workload was heavy with 18.1 carries and 5.1 receptions per game and no fumbles. There’s no reason why the young back shouldn’t keep up the production entering his thrid NFL season.

“If I had the first pick I would pick Le’veon Bell because he is a dual threat in the pass and run game,” Ben Thaw ’16, a participant in two fantasy leagues, said.

ADRIAN PETERSON, RB MINNESOTA VIKINGS Adrian Peterson and his owners are looking to rebound off a disappointing campaign in which he played just one game due to a suspension because of child abuse allegations. Under a good but not great offensive line, he looks to regain his hall of fame form. Projections have Adrian running for around 1200 yards and 12 TD’s.

“I think AP could have a bounce back year, and the Vikings will focus on him, but I won’t pick him up because he destroyed my team last year,” social studies teacher Jonathan Sheprosaid. “Ironically enough my team name this year is, “Don’t Beat Your Kids”.”

ANTONIO BROWN, WR PITTSBURGH STEELERS

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Another Steeler, Antonio Brown is one of the most uncoverable, if not the most uncoverable receiver in the league.

Last year, he secured 129 receptions for an ungodly 1,698 yards, and 13 TDs. In fact, Brown has posted 20 10-plus fantasy point games over his last 25 games. He’s as consistent as they come.

“Antonio Brown is by in large the safest pick in any fantasy draft,” Julian Ross ’17 a participant in two fantasy leagues, said. “The consistency that comes along with a guy like Brown is unparalleled among any other fantasy backs or receivers.”

BRANDON MARSHALL, WR NEW YORK JETS

PLAYERS HEADED FOR THE TOP (left to right) Le’veon Bell, Rob Gronkowski and Adrian Peterson all have potential to be the best fantasy player this year.

Brandon Marshall is a big-play wide receiver—a guy that has the speed to beat man coverage, but the football acumen to play through zone coverage as well. The 6’4, 230 pound receiver logged in eight touchdowns last season. Marshall provides a strong, veteran presence and takes over as the number one receiver for the New York Jets. He proved his worth in his first game against the Cleveland Browns, too, notching one touchdown en route to a 3110 victory. These key contributions make Marshall a solid pickup as a number two receiver or flex on your fantasy team.

Saugatuck Rowing Club treks to Rio Jack Zeldes ’16 & Jackson Livingson ’16

Whether it be at the Olympics, in the World Cup or at an international tournament, it is the dream for many young athletes’ to represent their country. For Staples students and rowers Oliver Bub ’16 and Lucas Manning ’16 this dream came to fruition on July 28.

This past summer Bub and Manning, members of local Saugatuck Rowing Club, competed in the Junior World Championships of rowing as part of Team USA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Racing as a pair in the under-19 division, the duo received 10th place in their event, helping team USA to its most success-

ful performance ever in this tournament.

“It was an awesome experience.

We made great friendships and hung out with some of the best rowers in the U.S.A and in the world,” Bub said.

For both Manning and Bub, rowing started in their respective families.

Lucas was introduced to the sport by his sister, while Oliver’s brother rowed at Saugatuck and is currently rowing at Wisconsin. Bub’s father also competed for West Germany in the boycotted 1980 Olympics. However, for the duo, rowing has become much more than a family legacy.

“Ever since my first day, I was hooked. Everyday you are trying to get better. Pushing yourself to a limit and then pushing past that limit gives me the most satisfaction I have ever felt,” Bub said.

This intense mindset is a common

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theme at Saugatuck Rowing Club and has been credited as a major reason for its recent run of success. The club, which is not affiliated with Staples, has had Junior National Team selectees while also qualifying for the National Masters Championships in six of the last 10 years of competition.

“The way our team pushes us to do better is great. Our best guys are always coming in for extra workouts. Everyone’s always competing for spots and pushing each other to get better” Manning said.

Imi Ratcliffe ’17, who rows for Saugatuck as well, says senior members like Oliver and Lucas are a big part of what makes the club great.

“They both work really hard, which makes the younger guys work hard, too,” Ratcliffe said.

While their teammates have

helped push the Junior Olympic duo, Bub and Manning are also quick to accredit much of their individual success to the high-level coaching and equipment that is available at the Rowing Club.

“Our coach Sharon Kriz pushes us relentlessly to get the most performance she can,” added Manning. Bub also credits good coaching at the freshman and junior varsity levels for the club’s ability to stay competitive. The duo also hopes for their accomplishments this summer to encourage more people to join the rowing club.

For the future both Manning and Bub have high aspirations. “Hopefully we’ll do well at the head of the Charles and youth nationals,” said Manning.

“Oliver and I might try to go for the national team again next year, but we’re trying not to look that far ahead, yet.”

Sports | September 22, 2015

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SEE YA! Josh Donaldson, third baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays, watches his ball as it soars into the seats. Donaldson has hit 38 home runs on a .302 batting average in the 2015 season, which is the third highest among MLB players behind Nelson Cruz (41) and Chris Davis (42).

GRAPHIC BY CHANNING SMITH

Contention in MLB standings spurs conflicting views

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Brendan Massoud ’17

very September, as the weather cools down, Major League Baseball heats up. Division and wild card standings become incredibly competitive, and other races such as the Most Valuable Player Award come down to the wire. For these brief yet enthralling coming months, all eyes nationwide will shift toward the MLB. Students at Staples High School are far from the exception, and one is certain to hear chatter about topics like the American League wild card standings while walking through the halls.

Students and administrators, however, can not seem to agree on exactly how

the MLB postseason will shake out.

Although the St. Louis Cardinals are up by 3.0 games in the National League Central Division, Michael Thompson ’19, a diehard Chicago Cubs fan, believes the Cubs stand the best chance to come out of the division hot. “[The Cubs] have the best young talent in the league,” Thompson said.

Andrew Moy ’19, a baseball player himself and a follower of the New York Yankees, responded to this assertion by saying that the Cardinals were, in fact, the strongest team in the league.

Across conferences, the American League East is also setting up to be exciting down the stretch. Even though the Toronto Blue Jays are up on the home-

town-favorite Yankees by 3.0 games, Madison Malin ’17 is unphased. “If they don’t go on one of their dry spells and the rotation performs with their lockdown bullpen, there’s no reason why [the Yankees] can’t make a deep playoff run,” Malin said.

Kevin Rabacs ’19, a Yankees fan as well, seconded Malin’s motion. “The pitching staff is coming together,” Rabacs stated. “And the middle of the order is second to none.”

The Blue Jays are led by star third-baseman Josh Donaldson. With 169 hits, 38 home runs and five stolen bases, Donaldson is considered by many, including Thompson, to be the AL MVP favorite. Like the playoffs, however, there is always disagreement.

Security guard and longtime Baltimore Orioles fan David Dubois sees two other candidates challenging Donaldson for the title. “[Mike] Trout [of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim] and

[Nelson] Cruz [of the Texas Rangers] are both having great seasons,” Dubois said.

Despite the number of teams that have a shot at the World Series, fans continue to stay hopeful that their team will be the one to bring home the championship. Staples varsity baseball head coach Jack McFarland thinks the New York Mets will make it back after 15 years of World Series drought.

“The Mets made smart moves in August and have the best arms in the game,” McFarland pointed out.

“This year’s team is reminiscent of the 1969 [World Series Champion] Mets.”

James Farnon, the class of 2019’s assistant principal and dedicated Boston Red Sox fan, also feels that the 2015 Mets share characteristics with a previous World Series Champ. “The Mets remind me of the Red Sox of 2007,” Farnon said. “They’re peaking at the right time.”

On the other hand, some fans just like to be disappointed. Guidance counselor and varsity baseball pitching coach and Red Sox enthusiast PJ Washenko is one of those people. “I think the Red Sox will win it all,” Washenko said. “I love to be let down.”

(Statistcs last updated Sept. 16, 2015.)

Staples alumni represents Team USA Jason Streiter ’17 Seventy-nine years ago, Adolf Hitler didn’t allow Jewish athletes to compete in the Berlin Olympics. This past summer, Berlin was host to the Maccabi Games, where Staples grad David Katz ’14 represented Team USA in basketball.

The Maccabi Games are similar to the Olympics, but what makes it unique is that all of the athletes identify as Jewish. The tournament is played under FIBA rules, meaning the game is slightly different. The three-point line is deeper, the paint is wider and a different ball is used.

Katz plays for New York University’s basketball team, and playing for Team USA was a dream come true for him. “It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around often, and to be able to walk out onto the court with the USA across your chest, there’s really nothing like it,” Katz said. “I was one of 12 guys selected to play for the USA basketball team against top talent around the world,

and it didn’t get much cooler than that.”

Playing for Team USA is an honor every American athlete grows up dreaming about, and the experience exceeded Katz’s expectations. “The difference between this and every other team I have played for is that this is the national stage,” Katz said.

“Any time that you are representing your country there is a different sense of pride on the line and so many people rallying behind you. But being on Team USA made us feel like celebrities. Athletes from all over the world were coming up to us to get pictures because we were the U.S..”

Katz was hobbled during the tournament due to an ankle injury, but it was the experience of being part of the team that he cared about. “All I had strived for was to be able to get on the court,” Katz said. “aIn my first game I knocked down a three a few possessions in and it felt so great. My teammates picked me up. I was just happy to help the team in anyway possible. It was a remarkable experience.”

Former teammate Ben Casparius ’17 knew that the ankle injury wouldn’t

CONTRIBUTED BY NEIL KATZ

STOUT DEFENSE Despite suffering an ankle injury, David Katz ’14, goes out and helps Team USA win the silver trophy in Berlin at The Maccabi Games.

stop Katz from playing. “David was an awesome teammate and a great leader,” Casparius said. ”He has a strong work ethic, and he’s such a competitor, an injury can’t stop him from playing.”

Team USA advanced through most of the tournament with ease winning all of their games by 25 points or more, but they fell to Team Russia in the finals, coming home with the silver medal.

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Sports | September 22, 2015

Under the

under the

Lights NOTInfluence

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Jesse Levinson ’17 & Fritz Schemel ’17

his year’s homecoming game will again take place at night, this time on Oct. 2 against Fairfield Warde.

After a run of before-noon kickoffs in previous years, a night-time homecoming game in 2013 was successful, and the game now returns to a 7:00 p.m. kickoff in 2015.

Following the hospitalization of five students due to excessive drinking during the 2009 late afternoon game, former principal John Dodig described to WestportNow.com that the homecoming game was “a very negative experience.” “[In 2009 we] had to call for the am-

bulance on five different occasions during one game with kids getting sick from being intoxicated,” athletic director Marty Lisevick said.

In following years, the game was moved to 10:00 a.m. in order to deter drinking.

However, in 2013, after lights had been installed in Staples Stadium, Dodig decided to give the students another opportunity, moving the game under the lights for the first time in school history.

Dodig’s risk paid off. The fans responded enthusiastically and responsibly, as row after row of Superfans stood in attendance that Friday night.

“[During night games] the crowd was always more electric and into the game, which made it better for the players,” Joey Zelkowitz ’13, a former captain said.

Players look forward to these high-energy atmospheres, like the one they will encounter this year against Warde.

“Games are always better at night.

It’s a different environment, and it’s the perfect setting for a Friday night football game,” Sam Arciola ’16, senior captain and running back said.

After spending countless hours training throughout the offseason, includ-

ing 6:00 a.m. workouts all summer, Arciola and the rest of the Wreckers are excited to showcase their talent in front of a large fan base.

Students planning on attending the game are equally excited.

“From my experience I think the fans at night get more into the game seeing our team under the lights against an opponent,” Billy Hutchison ’17 said. “There’s just nothing like it.”

Still, the responsibility of a night game still remains for fans to be on their best behavior, according to Lisevick, who said he expects, “excellent conduct with first-class sportsmanship.”

Staples football homecoming history (since 2009)

Year: 2014 Opponent: Westhill Score/Result: 34-0, Win Year: 2013 Opponent: Wilton Score/Result: 14-7, Win

Year: 2012 Opponent: Westhill Score/Result: 49-7, Win Year: 2011 Opponent: Darien Score/Result: 42-23, Win Year: 2010 Opponent: Ludlowe Score/Result: 35-10, Win Year: 2009 Opponent: Norwalk Score/Result: 42-6, Win Year: 2008 Opponent: Danbury Score/Result: 21-14, Win

GETTING HYPED Staples runningback Ethan Burger ’17 and wide receiver Sam Arciola ’16 celebrate Arciola’s touchdown catch in a scrimmage against Fairfield Prep this September. Fans can expect more of the same as the team plans its homecoming game under the lights on October 2 vs. Warde.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SHELLEY BURGER PHOTOS BY ALISON MORRISON ’16

INSIDE THE ISSUE page 27

page 25

page 25

page 24

David Katz ’14

Staples Diving

David Speer ’10

New York Football Club

Staples alum, David Speer, goes from Westport to Westhill and starts his professional baseball career.

New soccer team in New York expects great things for the season and years to come.

David Katz played for Team Staples diving looks like USA at the Maccabi Games one of the best teams Staples has ever had. in Berlin. inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL