Inklings October 2019 Issue

inklingsnews

Join the discussion.

Oct. 31, 2019

Staples High School

Volume 88, Issue 2

return home:

Football plays first game on new turf “From last year’s field to playing and practicing on this great new one, Staff Writer I have really felt a difference,” he said. “The turf is a lot nicer which makes the field less slippery and I think our team has improved since coming back and practicing on it.”

Senior football players in fter the football field and track remodeling was com- particular expressed that they were pleted on Friday, Oct. 4, the anxious for the project to be Wreckers broke in the new field at the completed because they wanted homecoming pink-out game against to play as many games as New Canaan on Friday, Oct. 25. possible at Staples during Although the Wreckers lost their final year. Now that by a score of 41-21, the athletes the project is complete, they enjoyed playing for the first time appreciate the renovations.

“At first, we didn’t like back at Staples and on the new field.

“The first true home game on the idea of redoing the field as it Staples’ new turf against New Canaan forced us to play our first few home games at Norwalk,” was memorable,” “We probably have the best captain Jake Thaw Michael Loucas ’20 said. “But after ’20 said. “Despite stadium football field in all of seeing the outcome the loss, the Fairfield County.” and playing on it community came - Athletic Director Marty Lisevick during homecoming, together and a large it definitely crowd showed out.

It was great to finally use the field after made waiting worth it as both the all the hard work that was put into it.” field and atmosphere were amazing.”

Gym classes will also now be The renovations feature brand new synthetic turf in an attempt to make able to utilize the field for outdoor the field safer for athletes. The track activities. Additionally, spring sports around the field was also replaced. teams such as rugby, lacrosse and track “The field is safe, reduces will have access to the field for the concussions, has great traction entirety of their respective seasons.

“We probably have the best stadium and really is an incredible facility,” Athletic Director Marty Lisevick said. football field in all of Fairfield County,” Sam Milberg ’21 commented Lisevick said. “We went top of the line on on the difference between this and I think it’s something the kids are the new field and the old one. going to love for the next 10 to 12 years.”

Teddy Dienst ’20

A

by D Photo ylan G n ’21 oodma

Goo Photo by Dylan

1 y Livingstone ’2 Photo by Popp 1 ’2 Goldman Graphic by Lys

dman ’21

ial Berkley ’22/Aer Photos by Ben

ll team, led by e Staples footba Th E C N A TR onto the newly GRAND EN erg ’20, sprints db ol G me against w re nd mecoming ga captain A ho e th re fo be field back page renovated turf Oct. 25. Check on an na p.

Ca New for a game reca

lub Photography C

Stadium was turf at Staples w first ne e Th D EL s to play their FRESH NEW FI ing the Wrecker me w lo ho al us 4, . io ct ev O g their pr in ay pl completed on r te af hetic turf, e on Oct. 25 ld features synt fie e true home gam Th . ol ho alk High Sc the center. games at Norw t Staples “S” in an gi a d an es sleek white lin

Goo Photo by Dylan

dman ’21

girls wear RFANS Senior SPIRITED SUPE show white t-shirts to their blue and g in the ter participatin school spirit af Beach. de from Compo annual motorca also deck out ents and fans Wreckers stud s to support and accessorie in pink clothes th. awareness mon breast cancer

Inside the issue

Twin Day shows need for listening, respecting, responding Page 6 Siri Kanter ’20 reflects on controversies surrounding race sparked by Spirit Week’s Twin Day.

Schussheim talks about stuttering and overcoming obstacles Page 7 Benji Schussheim ’20 educates the Staples community about stuttering by presenting to classes and clubs.

70 North Ave., Westport, Connecticut, 06880

Fall production of ‘Mamma Mia’ hits the Staples stage Page 11 Staples Players will present “Mamma Mia” this November. Read this article for a preview of their performance.

Should the Wreckers’ mascot be gender-neutral?

Page 15 Remy Teltser ’21 and Rachel Suggs ’21 debate the Staples mascot and whether it should be changed.

inklingsnews.com

2 News

Oct. 31, 2019

Local briefs Lucy Arrow ’21 Features Editor

NOV. 1

Book Signing with Paul Rosolie

Held at the Westport Library, naturalist, author and award-winning filmmaker Paul Rosolie will be discussing his new book “The Girl and the Tiger.” It tells the tale of a young girl’s journey through a jungle in India, and her revelations about the human relationship to nature.

Rosolie will be signing books and speaking about his writing experiences. This event will begin at 7 p.m. with no entry fee.

NOV. 2

‘Coco’ Screening on Dia de los Muertos

In celebration of Dia de los Muertos, the Westport Library will be hosting a screening of the Disney movie, “Coco” at 2 p.m. Along with the movie, everyone who attends will have the opportunity to create a colorful skull mask following the screening. Admission is free for all.

College Board requires earlier AP Test registration; updates late and cancellation fee policies Audrey Bernstein ’20 Editor-in-Chief

T

he College Board, which owns and facilitates the Advanced Placement (AP) course program, has updated its policy for the 2019-20 testing year, requiring students to sign up for AP tests by Nov. 15 rather than in the spring. Additionally, students will now be required to pay a late fee of $40 if they register after Nov. 15 or if they wish to cancel their scores.

Ben Gross ’20 is enrolled in four AP classes and believes that the College Board enacted the new policies in order to make money by requiring seniors to register prior to knowing what college they will attend.

“It used to be the case that seniors would [...] know if they should take the exam based on whether or not their college would give them credit,” Gross said. “It makes it difficult to know how much work I would want to take on, because I’m not going to know whether the college I’m going to take[s] those AP credits.”

Staples AP Logistics Coordinator Andrew Carroll helps to facilitate AP exams for Staples students.

Carroll similarly does not support

Election Day

There will be no school on Nov. 5 for students due to Election Day. Polls will be held at Saugatuck Elementary School, Greens Farms Elementary School, Long Lots Elementary School and the Westport Library. Residents can find their voting location at westportct.gov.

NOV. 8-9

‘Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.’ at BMS

Performances of “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” will be on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m and Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. The play will be performed by Bedford Middle School’s sixth grade students.

the earlier registration deadline and believes it will have negative effects.

“I am not a fan of the earlier deadlines. I think it’s actually the wrong thing to do to students,” Carroll said.

“They’re making students have to declare that they are going to sign up to take a test and us to order them before students really start getting accepted to college.”

Carroll added that two months is not enough time for students to determine whether they feel comfortable enough to take an exam on a subject they’re still learning.

Samuel Powell ’21, another AP student, is not personally concerned with the earlier

Graphic by Adam Greenlee ’20

Infographic by Theresa Vandis ’22

Matsu Sushi closes temporarily due to sales tax suspension Molly Gold ’21 News Editor

NOV. 5

Inklings News

Matsu Sushi closed temporarily due to the suspension of their Sales and Use tax permit on Oct 11.

The permit was suspended due to violations such as a discrepancy in the sales tax remittance from years past, according to WestportNow. Many Staples students are no longer customers of the business due to the constant closings and accusations made against them by their employees.

“I don’t ever go to Matsu anymore because I never know if it’s open,” Shannon Conte ’21 said. “I also don’t really feel comfortable going there because of their history with their workers.”

The restaurant states that these discrepancies are caused by frequent closings over the past year.

In April, Matsu Sushi closed unexpectedly due to renovations.

Additionally, the restaurant has had a tumultuous relationship with its workers, who went on strike in February due to a variety of reasons including excessive work hours, according to Dan Woog.

Matsu Sushi was also forced to reinstate two employees who won a lawsuit against the restaurant over its failure to provide minimum and overtime wages.

All businesses who intend to sell goods in Connecticut are required to have a Sales Tax Permit in order to operate their business, according to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Matsu must have their permit reinstated before reopening.

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

date of registration; however, he does find fault with the additional costs required.

“It is quite apparent that the College Board wants a stronger financial holding on our testing earlier throughout the year,” Powell said.

Secondary English Coordinator and former AP English Literature and Composition teacher Holly Sulzycki similarly believes that asking students to pay for exams in November requires students to sign up before they can make an informed decision.

“Asking students to pay upfront is, to me, odd, because it is a moneymaker,” Sulzycki said, “and then kids might not want to take the test [...] but have already given over some funds to do that.”

Despite this, Sulzycki believes that the earlier registration might allow teachers to better prepare curriculum.

“I personally would love to know how many of our students registered early and then I can tailor some of my focus to specific skills if needed,” Sulzycki said. “If a majority of my students aren’t taking the assessment, I might be able to feel more flexible in my delivery of the curriculum.”

Oct. 31, 2019

Inklings News

SO

News

NO

Photos by Audrey Bernstein ’20

MALL

SHOPPERS WELCOME The SoNo Collection mall opened on Oct. 11, but not all of the businesses were open for customers. Out of the 86 stores that the mall will eventually house, 22 are currently open.

SoNo Collection mall officially opens in Norwalk Mia Daignault ’20 Staff Writer

F

airfield County’s newest mall, the SoNo Collection, opened on Oct. 11 in South Norwalk, Connecticut after over two years of construction.

According to The Hour, stores at the mall will open on a “rolling basis,” indicating that more stores will continue to open throughout the remainder of the year.

Many high school students in the community expressed excitement about having a new shopping destination.

“I’m really happy about the mall opening up close by,” Jessica Plotkin ’20 said. “I think it opens up opportunities to spend time with others going shopping, instead of online shopping. I hope that the mall becomes a sort of gathering place for friends.”

A new addition to the mall includes entertainment company Pinstripes, which will be an added attraction in addition to shopping. Pinstripes offers a dining experience with recreational activities like bocce and a bowling alley.

This will be Pinstripes’ first appearance in a Northeast location and a unique feature compared to other malls in Connecticut.

“The bowling alley seems so cool,” Zach Allen ’23 said.

While many are enthusiastic about a new shopping hub, others express concern over its effect on the local economy and small businesses.

A local blogger, Marcy Sansolo of Facebook’s “WhatUp Westport,” voiced her concern over the new mall and how it could detract from local businesses and reduce the customer service experience.

“I want to implore you to continue to support your local businesses, despite

the pull of a Wetzel’s Pretzels and maybe valet parking,” Sansolo said. “Our local shops need you now more than ever.”

Staples student Cooper Tirola ’23 echoed Sansolo.

“I’m excited but I think it’s going to cause a lot of shops in downtown Westport to close, which is concerning to me,” Tirola said.

Traffic may also become a factor for those commuting in Norwalk’s surrounding areas.

“The mall has had a significant increase in traffic around the area of the malls location,” Alyssa Chariott ’20 said. “When I got to the SoNo area, I immediately noticed an influx of cars headed in the direction of the SoNo Collection. I had to sit through an

unnecessary amount of traffic to even reach the Collection’s parking lot.”

The SoNo Collection shopping experience offers a variety of food choices and unique retail stores. The mall will not have a food court but instead will have various restaurants including: Sally’s Apizza, Jacob’s Pickles, Yong Kang Street Dumplings, Mission Ceviche, Pokelicious, Sono Ramen, Yalla Organic Hummus & Grill, Road Runner and of course the classic Pretzel Maker.

The Brookfield Property Partners, a global real estate company, estimated the final cost of the mall to be $451 million. According to the SoNo Collection website, they believe this mall is a “lifestyle destination unlike any other in the Fairfield County.”

3

Local briefs NOV. 9-10

CraftWestport

The Westport Young Woman’s League will be presenting CraftWestport, a pop-up marketplace of local artists. At this event, artists have the opportunity to display their original fashions, accessories, jewelry and much more. The pop-up market will be held at Staples High School on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m - 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets for general admission are $10 per person.

NOV. 14

‘Hall of Fame: Votes for Women’

In honor of 2020 marking the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States, the Westport Historical Society will be hosting the “Hall of Fame: Votes for Women” event on Nov. 14. This event gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the Connecticut women who fought on local, state and national levels for women’s voting rights. There will be artifacts on display related to the history of women’s suffrage with free admission for all.

NOV. 15

‘Mamma Mia! The Musical’ Opening Night

Staples Players’ opening night performance of “Mamma Mia! The Musical” will be held on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Staples Players’ will also be performing the show on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17 at 3 p.m., Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at staplesplayers.com. Prices are $10 for students and $15 for adults.

inklingsnews.com • Staples High School

opinions Inklings News

4

inklingsnews STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Oct. 31, 2019 Have an opinion about an article?

Write a letter to the editor at inklingsnews@westportps.org.

www.inklingsnews.com inklingsnews@westportps.org (203) 341-1499 or (203) 341-5192

Editors-in-Chief

Audrey Bernstein & Allie D’Angelo

Managing Editors

Kaela Dockray & Dana Perelberg

Web Managing Editors Graphic by Poppy Livingstone ’21

Sophie Casey & Eddie Kiev

Business Directors

Caroline Donohue & Emily Stone

Creative Director Poppy Livingstone

Associate Managing Editors Lia Chen & Siri Kanter

Social Media Directors

Claire Redmer & Emma Van Riper

Assistant Creative Directors

Roxy Augeri, Brooke Dembin & Adam Greenlee Eliza Barr & Olivia Valante

Broadcast Directors Lily Kane & Serena Ye

Assistant Business Directors

Ella Bloomingdale, Logan Gornbein & Theresa Vandis

News Editors

Natalie Bandura & Molly Gold Lys Goldman & Andreas Lolis

Opinions Editors

Samantha Felner & Abby Fleming Lia Gordon & Chelsea Strober

Features Editors

Lucy Arrow & Remy Teltser Reilly Caldwell & Carly Kaplowitz

Arts Editors

Katie Simons & Tallula Stvan Tierney Kugel & Evi Tarshis

Sports Editors

Madison Andrews & Jackson Lev Jack Dennison & Rebecca Kanfer

Spirit week encourages student autonomy, fosters inclusivity

L

ast week, students sported onesies and colorful glasses and united in blue and white as they cheered at the pep rally. Remains of excess glitter and boa feathers left vivid trails through the hallways as testimonies to the lively environment generated during Spirit Week.

Spirit Week built anticipation among students as each day inched closer to the long awaited homecoming football game. Yet, Spirit Week offers so much more than an excuse for students to arrive each day in festive attire: It represents a necessary opportunity to hone skills critical for our independence.

Spirit Week allows students to express themselves and make decisions without administrative intervention. It promotes collaboration and conflict resolution— skills that carry beyond Spirit Week, while simultaneously encouraging a lighthearted environment amid school stress.

Web News Editors

Annabelle Iannone & Rachel Suggs

Web Opinions Editors

Jake Navarro & Anastasia Thumser

Web Features Editors

Lauren Hassell & Marlo von der Ahe

Web Arts Editors

Julia Kasabian & Giselle Oldani

Web Sports Editors

Alex Massoud & Lexie Moskovit

National Arts Blog Manager Maya Reiner

Advisers

Joseph DelGobbo & Mary Elizabeth Fulco Editorials and letters to the editor All opinions in this paper are those of Staples High School students. The editorial board determines editorial opinions which are authored by the editors-in-chief. Send signed letters to inklingsnews@westportps.org. Submissions will not be edited prior to publication.

Advertising Inklings News reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health.

Memberships Inklings News is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center.

Distribution Inklings News, a curricular and extracurricular publication, has a circulation of 1,800 and is uncensored.

Inklings News is uncensored, unedited by administration and does not allow for prior review. Inklings News serves as an open forum for the public and welcomes letters to the editor and other submissions. The decisions of Inklings News 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.

For instance, when costume ideas were posed to the senior girls’ Facebook group, many options prompted disagreement among the students as some ideas appeared to show insensitivity towards body image and race. But members of the senior class displayed persistence, collaboration and compromise in ultimately deciding the unified Twin

Day

character: Winnie the Pooh.

Students used the open forum provided through the online group as an opportunity to express their emotions and concerns regarding the final outfit, ultimately succeeding in choosing a raceless character that simultaneously does not perpetuate any stereotypical body images. Not only did Twin Day prompt conflict resolution, but it demonstrated collaboration among students without administrative involvement.

Twin Day exemplified that we are capable of engaging in meaningful deliberation and are able to both agree and disagree with the ideas of others respectfully.

USA Day also provided an opportunity for students to voice their opinions and enact change. In the past, the name of this spirit day has solely encouraged American-themed pride, failing to nurture inclusivity. This year, however, a senior girl took initiative to promote pride by altering the name to USA/Where You’re From Day, so students had the opportunity to represent their nationality instead of exclusively where they currently reside.

This year’s USA/Where You’re From Day was marked by tremendous enthusiasm. As students paraded the colors and flags of their native countries, it became clear that student voice in Spirit Week is invaluable. Students demonstrated thoughtfulness and leadership, ultimately taking it upon themselves to address an inherent flaw in this particular day and achieve resolution. The day prompted student involvement, resulting in a greater form of spirit shaped by how we

wish to represent our school community.

However, in the future, the editorial board suggests that the day be renamed to one unifying name mirroring the sense of community the day displayed, rather than appearing as an addition to the original day. For example, remove “USA” altogether, and keep “Where You’re From Day” or change it to “Nationality Day.” From the early hours of Pajama Day to the final plays of Friday night’s game, Spirit Week exemplified student unity at its finest. The editorial board commends those who participated in promoting, improving and celebrating the week, as well as the administrators who enabled students to independently work out their differences and reach healthy compromises.

In working together, we created an environment where students are comfortable expressing themselves without fear of judgment. Such spirit of community leads us all to realize that involvement and inclusion, whether dressed in a costume or not, is actually the greatest form of school spirit and what Staples must continue to manifest in years to come.

The editorial board voted unanimously in favor of this editorial.

Scan this QR code to visit the Inklings website.

[inklinations]WHAT DOES SPIRIT WEEK MEAN TO YOU?

NICK PRIOR ‘22

MAYA WOFSY ’21

“Spirit week really represents our school and the best aspects of it.

As a football player, it is also a great lead up to the homecoming game.”

“It is such a fun opportunity for us to show our pride for our school. I really like how all the grades come together and make school a lot more fun for the week.”

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

BLAKE LAWRENCE ’20 “Spirit week really brings a sense of community and a lot of energy to the school. It’s a great way for everyone to really feel a part of Staples.”

Inklings News

Opinions

Oct. 31, 2019

5

The Artichoke Inklings Satire * *Alleged famous person causes riots at local middle school (based on a true story)

Dana Perelberg ’20 Managing Editor

T

he day began like any other. As the last school bell rang, high schoolers shuffled past Bedford Middle School to their cars at Wakeman Fields. As they pulled away, Wakeman was engrossed with comfortable silence; there was no hint of the chaos that would soon ensue.

But soon passersbys were swept away as a herd of screaming middle schoolers stampeded out of the Bedford doors. Equipped with their stuffed backpacks, the tweens ran as fast as their prepubescent bodies would take them. All they wanted was to see him—the elusive rapper, Yalee.

A car pulled onto the side of the field and the iconic rapper stepped out. It was Yalee. Yalee who? No one really knew.

But it made no difference: he had an Instagram account with 55.3k followers.

Gru Pea ’24 heard of the meetup after finding him on a late

night Insta stalk session.

“Yeah, I haven’t really listened to any of his music,” Pea said. “This morning, I didn’t even know who the guy was. But he’s famous... right? Right??”

Pea was one of the first to see Yalee, and knocked down three dog-walkers and multiple peers to get as close to him as possible.

“I didn’t know what was happening,” Karen Abowtu, a Westport mom who went to pick up her children at Wakeman on the day of the incident, said. “They came out of nowhere. They were so little yet so fast.”

Abowtu will be spending a night

Photo by Remy Teltser ’21

in the hospital for a broken arm and screaming invoked headache she sustained from the crowd.

Yalee first rose to Westport fame when he posted on Instagram

earlier that day that he was looking to visit the schools of his followers.

Yalee’s meetup lasted about 10 minutes and consisted of him shouting positive affirmations as the mob of middle schoolers screamed at the top of their lungs to get his attention.

“Yalee told me to follow my dreams,” Chase Clowt ’25 said. “He’s so inspiring. I had never thought of doing that before.”

That night, Clowt posted four semiblurry pictures of Yalee with the caption: “Yalee is this generation’s Gandhi. #deep #inspo #yaleefan4life.”

Graphic by Poppy Livingstone ’21

Scan this QR code to see Yalee’s first appearance in Westport

‘Twin Day’ conflict illuminates need for listening, respecting, responding in our school Siri Kanter ’20 Associate Managing Editor You might have heard people gossiping about it in the hallway. Maybe you heard a girl complaining to her friend about it in a bathroom stall. If you didn’t, I’ll catch you up: The senior girls this year could NOT decide on what to wear for Twin Day during spirit week.

At first, we were going to be Barbie.

That got shut down for perpetuating the white, skinny and blonde beauty standard.

Soon, people came in with other ideas: Hello Kitty, Napoleon Dynamite and Cheetah

Graphic by Roxy Augeri ’20

Girls. After another vote, the majority voted T-Bo, the character in iCarly who works at Groovy Smoothie, famous for his ability to put all kinds of food on a stick.

Personally, I was ecstatic about the idea. Growing up, I loved iCarly, but I loved T-Bo even more. In my eyes, the thought of 200 girls dressed up as him was hilarious.

The only problem? T-Bo is a Jamaican man, and the majority of girls in our grade are white. The prospect of dressing up as a Jamaican man raised some valid concerns regarding cultural appropriation.

The costume in its simplest form, I believe, would have been acceptable. An orange t-shirt with the “Groovy Smoothie” icon ironed onto it, black leggings and bagels on a stick. This costume would have no indication of T-Bo’s race.

However, girls started bringing it to the next level; some said they were going to braid their hair like his and wear a durag.

Minority girls in the grade voiced their troubles about the costume, and all of them were completely rational. Following this, many people agreed, but there was also a surprising amount of pushback, much of it because we were using a “majority-rules” system, and the majority voted T-Bo. A black student who posted about the issue underscored the fact that the majority vote will rarely work in favor of a minority group. This, I’ve always felt, is a fault in America’s democracy, but I have

never really thought about it on a more intimate level. It honestly took my breath away; if all the people of color voted for other costumes, white people would never know--simply because they constitute a small fraction of the student body. In a majority rules system, the minority’s voice may never be heard. This is why their speaking out and defending your opinions, especially in this situation, is so critical.

Eventually, the senior girls took another vote and decided to dress as Winnie the Pooh. Aside from the occasional complaint that we could’ve chosen a better or more unique costume, it was thankfully unproblematic.

I applaud all of those who spoke up for how they were feeling.

It takes a lot to post in a Facebook group where it seems as though everyone ridicules your words. To express your dissent about a matter that it seems everyone else is in agreement on is incredibly courageous. The conversation about race is one that should be evergoing in the Staples community, especially because there are so few people of color.

As a white student at Staples, I feel that I have absolutely no authority telling any minority students what they should be feeling. Despite the fact that the costume was not offensive to me, I have no right to say it shouldn’t be offensive to anyone else.

While it may be uncomfortable, it’s necessary that we hear out everyone’s perspectives. A school in which even one person feels uncomfortable because of their race, gender or sexuality is not one that I would like to attend.

Graphic by Adam Greenlee ’20

inklingsnews.com • Staples High School

6

Opinions

Oct. 31, 2019

Inklings News

Should President Trump be impeached?

Impeachment inquiry attacks democracy

Congress must impeach Trump

they could not charge Trump with a quid-quo-pro, the Left changed Staff Writer their narrative again and claimed it he impeachment inquiry into was immoral for Trump to look into President Donald Trump is just the Bidens and said it was a breach one more attack by the Left to of the American electoral process. undercut the credibility of the president.

But why is it a problem for Combined with Washington’s establish- Trump to look into the obvious ment, the backing and aid of mainstream trail of corruption that the Bidens, media and the intelligence communi- former president Barack Obama and ty, the Left has been set on ousting the Poroshenko officials left behind? president since his campaign for office. Looking into the corruption of a The impeachment inquiry has been former vice president and possible based on a false narrative accusing presidential candidate is, quite Trump of attempting to strong-arm frankly, protecting the American President Zelinsky of Ukraine to electoral process and our democracy. investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

As the Left has not been able There is a lot of history driving to find anything impeachable from this accusation, so have some the president’s conduct, they are patience and let me break this down. now utilizing partisan controlled First, here are the facts that both kangaroo tactics to avoid giving conservatives and liberals agree upon: House Republicans subpoena power.

Earlier this year around the middle of Trump and his aids are being July, the Trump administration withheld investigated in private without around $400 million dollars in military representation from the Republicans. aid to Ukraine. On July 25, Trump If Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had a call with Zelinsky where Trump and Head of the House of Intelligence congratulated Zelinsky on committee Adam the success of his election Shiff were in Looking into the and afterwards discussed the interest of corruption of a former several other matters. fairness, they Among those would include vice president and several matters, Trump both sides of possible presidential asked Zelinsky to the House. candidate is, quite frankly, look into corruption T h e between American and e s t a b l i s h m e n t protecting the American Ukrainian government Left has been set electoral process and our on ousting our officials and more democracy. specifically, the activities democrat ic a l ly of Joe and Hunter Biden elected president in Ukraine under f o r m e r since the start of his campaign.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko. After the use of the constitutionally This is where the facts end, and what questionable Foreign Intelligence follows is a twisting of events when a Surveillance Act (FISA) Courts to Whistleblower report released to the FBI tap Trump campaign aids in the was published on Sept. 26. The Left and FBI’s Operation Crossfire Hurricane big media freaked out over the report and the bogus Russian collusion and used it to claim Trump attempted investigation couldn’t take the to strong arm the Ukrainian president. president down, the Left has turned to The Left’s narrative is that Trump ousting Trump through this inquiry. purposely withheld the aid in order to What they fail to realize though, enforce a quid-quo-pro with Zelinsky; is that the congressional and top the Left claims Trump was threatening Democrats’ thirst for power has to only release the funds to Ukraine if exposed their agenda and destroyed they looked into Joe and Hunter Biden. their credibility among the American The one problem with this idea is that people. Once Federal Prosecutor John nowhere in the transcript Durham, Attorney General William of the phone call did Barr finish their “investigation of the Trump indicate he would investigators,” the attack on Trump continue to withhold the will be rectified funds unless Zelinsky and justice investigated will finally the Bidens. be truly After realizing served.

other countries with the intent of hurting the American electoral process. However, Web Sports Editor Trump also issued an alleged quidTaking into account the recent pro-quo for the Ukranian government, developments with President pointing out the large amount of aid the Trump’s actions involving Ukraine, U.S. gives to the Ukraine. While Trump the President of the United has denied any “quid-pro-quo,” his acting States needs to be impeached. Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney has said in Trump has long tested the a press conference that the White House American democratic system, does “quid-pro-quos all the time,” and that with many instances earlier in his the United States “held up the money.”

Presidency driving him close to Supporters of Trump will argue, just impeachment. Because of just how as Trump does, that there was no clear frequently Trump seemingly breaks exchange of services, but any reasonable or bends the law, it is important person can look from the perspective of to recap some of the seminal the Ukranian government and understand moments of his few years in office. the predicament Trump places them in. A Early in his presidency, there relatively economically weak nation like was the indictment of members Ukraine is certainly going to do what their of his campaign staff, resulting in proverbial older and much more powerful some high-ranking people, like Paul brother, the United States, tells them to do.

Manafort, going to jail. Trump’s verbal It is clear to many that the President bearatement of women and people should not be using the power of the of color has been government to leverage ceaseless. His close It is unethical, unAmerican a personal problem. relationship with The most important and nearly treasonous Russian President thing to remember to enlist help from other Vladimir Putin, in this issue is that and lack thereof countries with the intent investigating Hunter with European Biden does not help the of hurting the American allies like German country, but rather only electoral process.

Chancellor Angela helps the president.

Merkel is certainly eye-raising. Donald Trump is more concerned More recently, the conclusion of about helping himself, rather than the the Mueller Report left the American nation, and it is this sobering truth that public with 10 specific instances of makes impeachment a necessity. For Trump obstructing justice. President a President who claims to be trying to Trump claimed “witch hunt,” and restore democratic values, he seems to be that the report “exonerated him.” It doing much to undermine them behind did not, but alas, that report has been the resolute desk of the Oval Office. dropped from the consciousness of the As a nation, we have given nation due to the 24-hour news cycle. Trump enough time to shed his The tipping point, though, campaigning shenanigans and resume that has formally begun the road to the full responsibilities, and necessary impeachment for Donald Trump, is decorum, required of being the leader the issues that have arisen regarding of the free world. However, he has Ukraine. It is now clear that President shown no interest in being anything Trump had a private conversation with other than a reality TV/Twitter star. the leader of Ukraine and asked him While his supporters remain to investigate the actions of a political extremely fervent and still stand in rival. He did this in 2016 with Hillary admiration for President Trump, Clinton, and then publicly asked for it is the duty of Republican and more help from hostile nations in Democratic representatives alike to investigating the Clintons. He is doing listen to their conscience and take the it again with the current democratic necessary steps in healing our country. frontrunner for 2020. This is illegal.

To preserve the democratic system, Trump’s actions with Ukraine and the values that every American prides are worthy of impeachment without themselves on, it is imperative to impeach the second layer of problems. It is President Trump as soon as possible. unethical, unAmerican and nearly treasonous to enlist h e l p from

T

Graham Wood ’20

Alex Massoud ’20

Graphics by Poppy Livingstone ’21

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

features Inklings News

Oct. 31, 2019

7

New Assistant Principal Chase Dunlap strives to enhance Staples community Natalie Bandura ‘22 News Editor

W

hile the new permanent 10th grade Assistant Principal Chase Dunlap is a new face to the Staples community, Staples is not entirely new to him. He has heard stories of the auditorium hallway, where tables are still crowded with students during their free periods, or the football fields and bleachers on which students cheer for their school during games. Although these places were not quite the same back then as they are today, they were once part of the high school experience of Dunlap’s wife, a Staples alumni.

Dunlap, who started working at Staples the week of Oct. 28, hopes to interact with all facets of the school community. He strives to gain a better understanding of how Staples functions so that he can use his past experiences as an AP at Westhill High School in Stamford and make a contribution to Staples.

“I’m really excited to learn about what it is that makes this a top high school in the state and what it is that the school would like support on: what initiatives I can help on, or how I can use my expertise to provide some support,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap describes prior accomplishments he is most proud of that

by a committee of teachers, parents, prior experience with administration, helped Westhill’s students and parents administrators and one student from as well as his prowess at interacting feel more welcome and comfortable with a candidate pool of 100 applicants, 13 with all levels of the school community. being a part of the school community. of which were interviewed. In these “This is a business about people.

One such undertaking was the interviews, the committee posed a It’s a school, and it’s so important how development of a peer-to-peer mentor series of case studies to the applicants you communicate and the feel that program that paired juniors and seniors to see what their reaction would be you give,” Thomas said. “Everyone with incoming freshmen to guide the to important situations in the school. felt extremely comfortable being freshmen and provide the older students Principal Stafford W. Thomas Jr. around [Dunlap]. His demeanor, his with a valuable leadership opportunity. said Dunlap stood out from the others personality, his decision-making ability Dunlap additionally created a parentas a result of his vast and successful all fit into what we were looking for.” university initiative to help grant parents access to information on MEETING THE STAFF how to best help their Photo by Lyah Muktavaram ’22 children through their (BELLOW) On Oct. 21 Dunlap high school years. He got the chance to meet with also established a “zen staff members including cafe,” where students English teacher Lindsay could go as a retreat Marlow after school to from the more chaotic introduce himself and get traditional cafeteria to know more of the Staples environment. He hopes community. that bringing programs like these to Staples will help ease the anxiety and uncertainty of students’ Photo by Karina Murray ’22 high school years.

“If Staples is anything like Westhill where I come from, I think one of the things I would love to continue to work on is student leadership, student advocacy and NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Chase also creating safe spaces Dunlap takes the role of new Assistant for students [to facilitate] Principal this October for the class of 2022 social and emotional learning,” Dunlap said. after previous Assistant Principal Richard Dunlap was selected Franzis retires.

Schussheim instills awareness about stuttering, overcoming obstacles Emma Dantas ’21

Photo by Allie D’Angelo ’20

Staff Writer Standing in front of a group of his peers, clad in a casual navy and red striped sweater, Benji Schussheim ’20 draws his audience in with his welcoming personality. The powerpoint behind him declares stuttering as the presentation’s topic of conversation, but there is another key feature, besides his red hair, that the group notices. Schusshiem speaks with a stutter himself–an intermittent, repeated sound of consonants.

In an interview, Schussheim explained social obstacles he faced early on due to his stutter.

Ordinary, everyday things such as raising his hand to speak in class or making a joke to a friend are two everyday experiences he thought he could not do. These were obstacles Schussheim had to overcome.

Schussheim is well known around the Staples community for giving an informative and personal presentation about his experience having a stutter, which he continues to give to health classes and student clubs like Kool 2 Be Kind and Teen Awareness Group. Schussheim’s personal story of overcoming stuttering teaches people, whether they face stuttering or not, about respecting others and overcoming obstacles in their lives.

“On a macroscale, it’s all about promoting a cause because the long story short is stuttering is often mistreated in speech therapy a lot,” Schussheim said.

Schussheim said stuttering improving the algorithm, the is often mistreated by speech duo want to pitch the software to therapists, who try to employ tactics larger companies for distribution. known as fluency shaping. Fluency “It would be totally awesome shaping is centered around providing if people with stuttering could use individuals with tools to not stutter, speech recognition technology but, according to Schussheim, this because that’s becoming more and treatment can actually increase more a part of this thing called the amount one stutters. Instead, human computer interaction,” Schussheim supports cognitive Schussheim said. “It would restructuring, an idea thoroughly also be great for publicity.” explored in his presentation.

Schussheim says his “Cognitive restructuring presentation on stuttering provides changes the way you view a lot of lessons about morals and stuttering,” Schussheim said. “[It is] many teaching points. He says the concept I said p e o p l e “On a macroscale, it’s all in the presentation who face about accepting stuttering about promoting a cause it and teaching those because the long story short and yourself to be okay who don’t is stuttering is often with stuttering.” are taught Additionally, mistreated in speech therapy v a l u a b l e Schussheim works l e s s o n s a lot.” with Rishabh such as -- Benji Schussheim ‘20 overcom i ng Mandayam ’21 to improve how the cha l lenges, stuttering community can interact accepting differences and not with computer and software like giving in to what people think.

Siri or Alexa. The algorithm he has “I think it helped TAG get an written is a software that can be put understanding for other challenges into phones, computers and other people might face like this,” Sam technology so that people with a Seideman ’21, a member of TAG, stutter can use functions like Siri. said. “Benji also presented in such The technolagy takes in speech an interesting way that moved input and runs an algorithm that so many people. Graduates from splits the audio into frames. It then TAG last year still talk about it.” identifies if the frame has a stutter Schussheim hopes to be able to in it, and if it does, cuts it out of reach the entire Staples community the frame and passes the rest of at some point this school year. the audio through the transmitter.

“I talked to Principal Schussheim is continuing Thomas about doing an all school to develop the software to work assembly which would be my for louder, quieter, slower or ultimate dream,” Schussheim lower-pitched stutters.

After said. “I really hope that pans out.”

inklingsnews.com • Staples High School

8

Features

Oct.31

Kyle Dahlke cashes in on ant Poppy Livingstone ‘21 Creative Director

M

“

eet me behind Whole Foods at four o’clock.

I’ll bring the money, you’ll bring the ants.”

To the unexpecting listener, this may sound like the opening line to the world’s weirdest heist film. But to Kyle Dahlke ’21, this is no odd request. As Connecticut’s premier queen ant dealer, Dahlke has come to expect these calls.

“I collect queen ants and sell them,” Dahlke said. “They have nuptial flights during their mating season, and I find them on the ground and collect them with test tubes. I find them all around Connecticut, but usually at my house.”

Dahlke has been in the ant dealing business for over a year. He was introduced to the world of ants on AntsCanada, a Youtube channel that boasts over 3.2 million subscribers.

The channel features informational videos about ants, ant ‘point-of-view’ videos and other videos showcasing the fascinations of ant keepers.

According to AntsCanada’s Youtube channel, ant-keeping is an active and global hobby that includes the care, keeping and study of ants.

“Ants are the most amazing creatures on the planet, and every new discovery about their micro world gives us some profound insights into the world around us and ourselves,” AntsCanada.com says on its website.

After finding the channel, Dahlke was led to AntsCanada’s website, which sells both ant-themed memorabilia and equipment. The aspect of their site that piqued Dahlke’s interest, however, was a tab titled ‘Queen Ants for Sale’, which connects prospective collectors of queen ants and local sellers. Seeing an opportunity, Dahlke registered as a seller and began locating queen ants near his home.

“Ant dealer” isn’t exactly a typical job for a high school junior, but it can be a lucrative one. Dahlke has made nearly $900 off his venture, selling queen ants at $60 each. This high price is the result of restrictive environmental laws on the state and national level.

“There’s a law that says you can’t bring or buy insects and animals in from other states, including ants,” Dahlke said.

y to b Pho iv py L Pop ’21 tone ings

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

Features

1 , 2019

9

t dealing business “I’m the only dealer in Connecticut, so I have a monopoly over the ants. Sixty dollars is a reasonable price because there’s a high demand and a low supply for them.”

Dahlke identifies viable queen ants around town or in his yard, picking them up and storing them in test tubes in his room. He then makes a post on AntsCanada.com, and within days a Connecticut ant-keeper reaches out to him over email to buy the ant.

According to the website Dahlke sells on, ant-keeping is a hobby involving the capture, care and observation of ants, similar to the more mainstream practice of beekeeping.

Though Dahlke doesn’t advertise his business to the Staples community, some Staples students appreciate his work.

“I’m extremely jealous of his ant business,” Garett Naples ’21 said. “He has to expand the brand. Go national.”

Dahlke has admitted that the “easy money” of ant dealing is his main motivation. Though he knows the tricks of the trade, he has no interest in pursuing the study of insects or ants.

“It’s definitely more of a side hustle,” Dahkle said.

Side hustle or not, Dahlke doesn’t plan to stop dealing ants.

“I plan on continuing this business in the future,” Dahlke said. “I make good money and I get a lot of stories. It’s entertaining.”

Graphics by Adam Greenlee ’20

Graphics by Poppy Livingstone ’21

inklingsnews.com • Staples High School

10 Features

Inklings News

Oct. 31, 2019

Lexie Moskovit ’21 Web Sports Editor

S

taples students and staff participated in spirit week Oct. 21 to Oct. 25 to showcase their school pride leading up to the homecoming football game.

On the first day of spirit week students showed up in matching pajama sets, onesies and could go throughout t hei r day in a comfortable outfit.

“I love PJ day because I can just roll out of bed and show up to school,” Maya Wofsy ’21 said. “I am comfortable the whole day which is nice.”

Photo contributed by Marlo Von der Ahe ’20

STAPLES SENIORS (LEFT TO RIGHT) Mia Gonzalez ‘20, Lily Kane ‘20, Evie Dockray ‘20, Ali Green ‘20, Zoe Julien ‘20, Jordi Katz ‘20 and Marlo Von Der Ahe ‘20 roll out of bed and go to school to celebrate pajama day.

Photo by Lucy Arrow ’21

On Tuesday, students were able to represent where they were from.

Many people interpreted this in different ways and represented various countries such as America, Sweden, Africa and Israel.

“I was really glad when the senior class decided to change the traditional USA day to USA/where you’re from day,” Caitlin Germishuys ’20 said. “I know of so many students who have backgrounds they want to represent but never have an opportunity to, and it was really cool to see how many different countries are represented at Staples.”

Students got to twin with someone on We d n e s d a y.

The senior girls all dressed up as Winnie the Pooh. Students and teachers wore the same clothing to twin or even triplete with their friends.

“It was tough to decide on an idea for twin day at first, but once we picked Winnie the Pooh it was really fun dressing up as a grade because no other grades participate in this and it was special for the senior girls,” Abby Carter ’20 said.

Photo by Lucy Arrow ’21

TWINNING IS WINNING Savaria Baig ‘22 and Raina Mandayam ‘22 celebrate twin day for the third day of spirit week.

All grades wore different colors on Thursday for a “color war.” Freshman wore green, sophomores wore purple, juniors wore yellow and seniors wore red.

“I really enjoyed color war day, because it was different than what I expected. It was cool how each grade wears a different color; it unifies the grades together,” Basha Perkins ’23 said.

COLOR WARS Merel Kanter ’22 shows 10th grade by wearing purple. Other students dressed in red, yellow and green to show their grade spirit.

Photo contributed by Kylie Cohen ’20

USA PRIDE Sydney Newman ‘21 shows off her American spirit as she and Staples students celebrate USA or Where You’re From Day. Graphics by Lia Chen ’20

Photo by Lucy Arrow ’21

The whole school showed their Wrecker pride by wearing blue and white on Friday to celebrate the hom e c om i n g game and the last day of spirit week. “ W e love the fact that the whole school comes together and shows their pride, and then we get to play the biggest most fun game of the year,” Nick Augeri ’22.

GAME DAY (LEFT TO RIGHT) Reese Sutter ’20, Jackie Zinn ’20, Kylie Cohen ’20 and Nina Udell ’20 show off their senior girl shirts with personalized names on the back for homecoming. Senior girls also wore these shirts to the football game that night.

Volunteer EMR Emma Alcyone explores medical field Maya Reiner ’21

Graphic by Adam Greenlee ’20

Photo by Josh Suggs ’21

National Arts Blog Manager

An average high school girl typically follows this routine throughout the school year: wake up, go to school, participate in extracurriculars, do school work, sleep, repeat. But for Emma Alcyone ’22, her routine is slightly different.

Alcyone works as a volunteer as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) after school.

She loves everything that her job entails.

“I enjoy the responsibility of working at EMS and having the opportunity to explore a potential career path before I graduate,” Alcyone said. “It’s also a chance to work with some great people and become more active in the town of Westport.”

Alcyone’s friends have admired the job she has taken at such a young age.

“What I most admire about Emma is the initiative she took to pursue something

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

she had interest in,” Sabrina Didner ’22 said. “Being an EMR in general is incredible by helping people and getting to see the medical field at a really young age.”

The process to become an EMR requires intense training. Usually, training takes two months with two threehour lectures a week and an occasional eight-hour lab day on Saturdays.

Although it took Alcyone numerous hours to complete, she learned a lot of information.

“I definitely enjoyed learning about the content,” Alcyone said, “because it’s skills that you’re able to apply in real life [that] could potentially save someone’s life.”

In addition, she has had very memorable experiences that have shaped her outlook on life.

“Hearing about someone’s family life or nostalgic memories puts it all into perspective for me.” Alcyone said.

“It allows you to see them as more than just a paper with some basic information and a set of vital signs.”

An average shift for Alcyone entails checking on the ambulances

and then acting upon the calls received.

“A typical shift usually starts with a ‘rig check’ where we take an inventory of the ambulance and replace any supplies that are missing,” Alcyone said. “After that, we’ll respond to any call that’s brought in.”

Although Alcyone does work once or twice a week throughout the school year, she is able to juggle all of these components.

“She’s able to balance EMR work and do well in school, and still spend time with our friend group,” Didner said. “I’m not really sure how she does it but I know she works hard in everything she does, and knows how to not let it consume her.”

Alycone has valued the several calls she has received while being a volunteer.

It has provided her with challenges but also taught her some great lessons.

“When you’re on a call, you’re entering into a private and often frightening moment in someone’s life where they put their complete trust in you,” Alcyone said. “The most difficult thing to figure out was how to separate myself from the emotion of the moment and remain professional in what I was doing.”

arts Inklings News

Oct. 31, 2019

11

Fall production of ‘Mamma Mia’ hits the Staples stage Dana Perelberg ’20

B

Managing Editor

londe wigs, flowy dresses and Abba songs seemingly have nothing in common. However, this November, the three - elements will

Photos contributed by David Roth

combine to create a musical theatre production filled with uplifting music, cheery dance numbers and creative costumes.

For past fall shows, Staples Players has performed “Legally Blonde,” “Newsies” and “The Music Man.” Now for the 2019 fall production, Players takes their production of “Mamma Mia” to the stage on Nov. 15.

Graphic by Brooke Dembin ’22

“The show was written around the music, which means that the way it is written is very different from any other shows we’ve done,” Tobey Patton ’20 said. “That creates some complexity in how we act the scenes and the music is not musical theatre music, so there’s more difficulty in that respect.”

Patton plays Sam in the production, one of the love interests of the lead, Donna. Sam and Donna are reunited on her home island.

This happens when Donna’s daughter, Sophie (Played by Erin Lynch and Sophie Rossman), invites Sam and two other men to her wedding, suspecting that one of them may be her father.

“Sam is someone w h o ’ s gotten a second chance at love with Donna,” Patton said.

“He’s very fearless when he goes back into the situat ion and that’s something I envy.”

In addition

to Sam, the show features a variety of other characters, each with their own defining traits. They come together to create a fun and interesting production.

“I really like how confident my character is,” Camille Foise '21, (who plays Donna) said. “She brings out a lot more individuality in me when I play her.”

The show has a cast of 65 performers, as well as numerous songs and dance numbers. Some feature Foise’s character singing alone while others have a packed stage of ensemble members.

“I really like the ensemble numbers just because it really brings us all together when we’re doing the same movement on stage,” Foise said. “It’s all for a common goal which is to just make people happy.”

With so many numbers to choose from, there will be a song for every audience member. However, Patton believes that Foise’s performance of the song, “Winner Takes It All” will be one of the most remembered.

“It’s gonna be the number in the show that people talk about after,” Patton said. “I love listening to [Foise] sing it, and it’s also a really good song.”

However, the show is not just about the performers. Countless crew members work after school everyday to ensure the show is the best it can be.

“Being Assistant Director [I] make sure rehearsals run smoothly and the actors are where they’re supposed to be,” Chloe Delgado ’20 said.

In the end, all of the hard work from the cast and crew members culminates at the performances. “Mamma Mia” will go on for two weekends with five night shows and two matinees.

“Opening night there’s such an energy from the audience and everybody gets it together,” Delgado said. “The curtain goes up and the lights go up and it’s just magic.”

Prolong Halloween festivities using these spooky recipes Molly Gold '21 News Editor As October comes to an end, Halloween is in full swing. But the festivities don’t have to end when the month does. Instead, grab a handful of candy from your trick-or-treating bag and make these spooky desserts.

These super simple cupcakes make the perfect Halloween dessert. All you need is Oreos, gummy worms, chocolate frosting and a box of cupcake mix. Start by baking the cupcakes and topping them with a thin layer of chocolate frosting. Then, crush up half a package of Oreos until it resembles dirt. Coat the cupcakes in the crushed Oreos and gummy worms. If you’re feeling extra festive, go online and print out a gravestone, tape it to a toothpick and prop it up to create a graveyard.

This treat allows you to extend the Halloween spirit into November by embracing the best part of the holiday: candy. Melt Baker’s brand chocolate (or any chocolate melts) and spread a thick layer across a sheet of parchment paper. Then, scatter an abundance of leftover candy and refrigerate the bark overnight.

The next day, break up the bark and enjoy.

Celebrate not just Halloween, but all of fall with its spin on the well-loved Rice Krispies dessert. Simply make Rice Krispie squares, but add a dash of orange food coloring to the melted marshmallows before adding them to the cereal.

Then, grab a handful of the Rice Krispies mixture, mold it into a ball and make an indent on the top. Use any green candy (I recommend dots) to create a stem.

Photos by Molly Gold ’21

inklingsnews.com • Staples High School

12 Arts

Inklings News

Oct. 31, 2019

Art classes offer advanced education, enjoyment not much else,” McMahon said. “One of the significant differences I’ve noticed [in Web Opinions Editor Digital Foundations Honors] is the focus on application rather than fundamentals.”

McMahon added that students are rewarded with greater freedoms in art classes of more rigor, and the assigned projects are rushes stroke against blank can- preparation for higher-level arts. vases, pencils shade rigorously, ev“Some of the projects we’ve done eryday objects are formed from include a redesign for the Ball brand mason nothing other than wire. From intro- jar and a personal business card, things ductory classes to in-depth explorations, that have more practical applications 30 different art classes are offered at Sta- in the design world,” McMahon said. ples, in which hunWhile some dreds of students students take these “They are definitely comparative electives in pursuit take advantage. to a lot of colleges—even better of furthering their As a testament to the stellar art education, than some of them—and the qualities of Staples others are artwork that is produced is really art classes, Nate interested in a impressive.”

Kolek ’21 completed class that can be Drawing and relaxing - Nate Kolek ’21 both Advanced Drawing and productive. last year and is currently enrolled in Oil “I love [my art electives] so much.

Painting. Thus far, his experience taking It’s calming and fun, and I’ve learned art electives has been extremely positive. how to do so much stuff with different “Staples art classes are amazing,” Kolek materials,” Olivia Marshall ’22 said, said. “They are definitely comparative referencing both her Jewelry Making to a lot of colleges—even better than and Advanced Jewelry Making classes. some of them—and the artwork that is Marshall considers the class to be produced is really impressive. All the entertaining, yet confirms her art skills classes are really well supplied, and some have improved due to her enrollment. of the technologies Staples art has I would “I now know how to make jewelry, never think to see in a high school.” [and] the classes have made it easier for In addition to A-level art classes, me to picture perspective,” Marshall said.

Staples offers classes that are categorized Staples art electives cater to as Honors and Advanced Placement (AP). students’ curiosity, allowing for Similarly to a curriculum course, art those passionate about art to take classes of higher levels require students classes that will be most beneficial to complete A-level prerequisite classes. for their learning style and interests.

Quinn McMahon ’21 enrolled in “We have some fantastic instructors Digital Foundations Honors this year and here at Staples and opportunities to take innotices a distinct difference in the pacing depth courses,” McMahon said. “Anyone and teaching methods of the course. interested in art, whether it be digital or “In an A-level art class, you should traditional, painting or drawing, should expect to cover the fundamentals, but take advantage of these opportunities.”

Anastasia Thumser ’22

B

STILL LIFE DRAPERY Terry Brannigan ’20 and Imogen Barnes ’20 practice still life drapery, a skill they’re currently learning in AP Studio Art. This requires artists to draw the complex folds and movement in the draped fabric they are replicating.

Photos by Roxy Augeri ’20

FROM CLAY TO ART Keelin Wolter ’21 shapes clay on a pottery wheel during her Advanced Pottery class. The class focuses on aesthetics and critical thought through the creation of pottery.

student submission

Photos by Roxy Augeri ’20

Email any art, photos and articles to be featured in the newspaper or online to inklingsnews@westportps.org

Fall trends fresh from runway make their way to Staples Liv Pines ’20

In the wake of New York Fashion Week, trends have become established, uncovering what will come off of the runway and into our closets, and what will be rolled up with the red carpet.

I’ve broken down the best and most wearable colors, textures and trends from tops to pants to shoes in this NYFW fall trend guide.

Lavenders and muted purples are in and will make up a lot of the new fall attire. Justine Carreon, a marketing editor for Elle Magazine confirms. “The orchid hue is all the rage” Carreon states.

Gold tones and beiges are nothing new for fall, but they will be making a strong comeback after their hibernation from summer and were seen on almost every NYFW runway. “Models wore sandy colors from head to toe,” Carreon documents.

Feathers, tweed and ruffles will adorn everything from sweaters to two-piece sets to jackets.

Feathers are a new trend, perhaps sparked by last years trend of colored faux fur, which will continue to stay strong this fall. Jeans and shoes are trimmed with feathers, seen on Prada’s runway.

“We’re especially fond of Prada’s collection of feathered goods, including a pair of boyfriend jeans trimmed in ostrich

that will amp up a basic white tee,” Carreon states. Those are definitely my favorite too.

Tweed sets are perfect for a dressier look and are reminiscent of Coco Chanel’s original designs. Ruffles are coming back to both knitwear and dresses. Love Shack Fancy and Tularosa are two brands have been on the ruffle trend for quite some time and don’t show signs of stopping.

Loose pants and jeans will stay in, as we still take a break from tight skinnies that we have donned for the past few years. Belts stay in style, moving from leather and buckles to chains and snakeskin. Jumpsuits, particularly denim and pleather, are making a big comeback.

Choosy, an online label merging tech, artificial intelligence and fashion, is pumping out jumpsuits for every occasion, with almost all designs under $100. Be sure to check those out.

On top, we see puffy sleeves, turtlenecks and cardigan sets. While cardigans came back from their 2008 slumber this summer, cardigan sets, meaning a knit top and matching cardigan, will take over as

we

move towards colder weather.

Jacket wise, puffers stay around for another winter, and I hope they never go. This year, designers like SAM. came out with unique colors from bright neon orange to glossy patent white and purple satin. Colored fur, whether it be an accent on a hood or the makeup of the whole coat, also will hang in there as it begins to snow.

Long coats and trenches are a break from previous years of cropped bombers and leather jackets. Carreon elaborates on the change in length. “After looking at all the fall 2019 collections my coats started to feel so...short,” Carreon states.

“Tory Burch, Max Mara and others

presented longline coats that will provide extra warmth this winter. These longline coats aren’t your typical lightweight dusters either. Instead, find them super structured and made of heavy wool.”

In footwear, square toes and lace up boots take over the scene. Sandals transition to boots, where we see square toed moto styles and lace up pointy toed styles. So called ‘cozy shoes’, or those that have faux fur, sherpa or fleece adornments are also perfect as the weather cools down.

When shown a pair of furry slippers

by Phillip Lim, social studies teacher Jon Shepro was not a fan. “I think they look like you stepped on a toy poodle,” Shepro said.

Graphic by Liv Pines ’20

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

Inklings News

Arts

Oct. 31, 2019

13

Overspending takes away from Halloween spirit Opinions Editor

T

hinking back to my early Halloweens, I remember walking up and down Gault and Compo admiring all the creative, homemade decorations adorning each home.

I would see paper cut-outs of ghosts draped from front porches, as well as carefully carved jack-o-lanterns lining the driveways of Westport homes. I loved Halloween for the do-it-yourself costumes and the pumpkin carving.

The day of Halloween consisted of trick-or-treating at the most popular neighborhoods in town, passing out candy from our driveway and inviting friends over to eat. This holiday, to me, represented the simplicity of family time, the careful preparation leading up to this exciting day and the opportunity to gather with friends. However, now the holiday has transformed from a fun, craftsy, DIY festival, into an implicit competition among neighbors.

Halloween is now a holiday that has parents competing against each other for the most outrageously thrilling displays.

Now, I see houses with the $300 blow-up cats, talking zombies and eerie witches displayed on people’s lawns. There are homes with frightening movies projected on the side of their homes and three story blow up, black cats plopped on their front lawns. Then there is

a house obscured in a cloud with the help of a giant fog machine and one with an enormous, illuminated spiderweb affixed to the roof, draping the entire facade of the house.

Even children costumes are part of this frenzy. When walking around on Halloween night, I no longer see getups constructed of painted cardboard boxes, or a sheet with two holes cut through. Instead, I see entirely store-bought costumes that must have cost anywhere from $30-60, even for toddlers and young children.

Linda McMaken, a national finance journalist for Investopedia Magazine, even said that Americans are predicted to spend around $9 billion on candy, costumes and decorations.

While many would say these efforts might maximize fun, the extent to which some people spend on Halloween distracts from the nostalgia of the simple and old-fashioned Halloween of years past — the high spirited, spooky DIY Halloweens I cherish most. But for those of you looking for action-packed adventure and a fully frightening experience, then Westport is the place for you.

Photos by Karina Murray '22

Samantha Felner ’22

TREE CARVINGS This yard features trees with fake carvings of faces as a decoration.

These tree carvings are additional to the house's other decorations.

LARGE-SCALE SPIDER WEBS This Westport house features a large spider web and several pumpkin decorations. The house is located near Compo Beach, a popular trick-or-treating neighborhood.

Graphics by Lia Chen '20

INFLATABLE CAT This inflatable cat is one of many decorations displayed in this lawn. Inflatable decorations can cost hundreds of dollars depending on the size.

‘Big Mouth’s’ third season goes through changes Poppy Livingstone ’21 Creative Director

Middle school is never easy. Faces break out in pimples. Workloads increase.

Cliques form and friendships crumble.

You get your first phone, have your first kiss and go through your first heartbreak.

It’s a time of intense discomfort and immense growth, and “Big Mouth’s” third season manages to capture the good, the bad and the ugly of early adolescence once again with hilarity and grace.

In its freshman and sophomore his own person this season as he explores seasons, Netflix’s “Big Mouth” established the crushing loneliness of being the itself as a comedic powerhouse. “Big only gay kid in school followed by the Mouth” seemed like Netflix’s dirty little unexpected pressure of a first relationship. secret: exaggerating the horrors of early Voiced by a catty Andrew Rannels, his puberty with honesty so brutal, shocking character morphs from a stereotype to the and relatable it left me stunned. Still, heart of the show. Mathew’s plotline is an uncharacteristically when recommending poignant (though By maintaining its well-loved it to people, I found still notably myself rushing to immaturity while also tackling hilarious) one that warn people about the more mature issues, the show sets the tone for the depravity of the show. is more relevant, powerful and rest of the season.

S l i g h t l y Perhaps the diverging from this relatable than ever. biggest risk and immaturity, its third reward of the season pivots into the world of more serious, grown up issues (or issues as grown up as a season comes from its take on the Me show like “Big Mouth” allows). This shift, Too movement. Season three showcaseds though risky, ultimately pays off in full. multiple plots on the issue. In the second Take Matthew—formerly portrayed episode alone, the girls protest a restrictive solely as a ‘gay best friend’—who becomes dress code policy with an Amber Rose

inspired Slutwalk and the culture of toxic masculinity reform is called into question as protagonist Nick learns the difference between being a ‘good guy’ and a good ally. Though these plotlines could have easily turned preachy, overlyserious or just plain distasteful, the show manages to deftly walk the line of comedy and education. The weight of the issues in the season by no means slows the levity of the jokes, resulting in some of the biggest laughs of the show as a whole.

By maintaining its immaturity while also tackling more mature issues, the show is more relevant, powerful and relatable than ever. As with its characters, its seems as though “Big Mouth” is growing up. In an echo to its ear-worm theme song, “Big Mouth” is going through changes, and these changes have paid off in full. I give it 4/5.

Graphics by Emily Desser ’22

inklingsnews.com • Staples High School

sports Inklings News

14

Oct. 31, 2019

Seniors to lead winter teams to success

A

Allie D’Angelo ’20 Editor-in-Chief

s the fall season begins to wind down, winter arrives with a new set of teams coming off a well trained offseason led by a new group of seniors. Many student athletes return better than ever after concluding successful runs last year. Staples Superfans can’t miss out on some of the many notable teams this winter.

Girls’ basketball looks forward to a season led by captains Abigail Carter ’20, Ariana Gerig ’20 and Marissa Shorrock ’20.

After ending last year with a record of 1310, the team hopes to enter this year with new skills that will help the team succeed.

“Last year, we had a problem where we would fall behind during the first quarter and then we would have to fight our way back and it was really tough, so we want to improve on that,” Carter said.

Carter additionally mentioned some key players including Alva Nordin ’21, Nicole Holmes ’21, Lexie Moskovit ’21 and Marley Lopez-Paul ’21. Gerig will also be a key asset to the team returning to the court after suffering from an ACL injury last season.

“I am very excited to be returning to the court after missing my junior year,” Gerig said. “I think we have the opportunity to be great [this year].”

The team looks forward to notable games against Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Trumbull High School and Norwalk High School.

Captains Simone Lantier ’20 and Soleil Molesworth ’20 noted the team finished in fifth place at States last year and hope to have a strong season this year with their new team members. For the second year, the gymnastics team has combined with Norwalk High School for their upcoming season. Molesworth noted some key players for their season.

“Mia Guster [’23] [...] is a level 10 which is the highest level,” Molesworth said. “We definitely have a bunch of strong gymnasts like Chloe Ashton ’21, Jaimie Hebel ’21 and Sarah Allen ’21.”

Lantier mentioned the team has recently began their preseason and will focus on improving their skills to prepare for the FCIACS. “We just started preseason so we are focusing on cleaning up all our skills and hopefully adding newer and harder skills to our routines,” Lantier said. “A lot of these teams like Greenwich and Darien, who we usually lose to, lost a lot of their strongest team members who graduated last year.

I believe this year will possibly be one of the best years for our team in a while.”

This season, the wrestling team will be led by captains Jacob Rizy ’20, Luke Molina ’20 and Terry Brannigan ’20.

After finishing last year with an 11-5 dual meet record, the team hopes to have another strong record this season.

“The wrestlers worked hard doing morning runs and wrestling clinics in the summer and we are getting everyone ready by doing group technique clinics as of now,” Molina said.

The varsity team additionally welcomes back both old and new key players that will contribute to success this year.

“I’m excited to see how we grow as a team since a lot of new faces are being added to the varsity lineup a lot of sophomores and I’m looking forward to seeing how they respond,” Molina said.

According to Molina, the wrestling team looks forward to dual meets against Greenwich High School.

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

After finishing last season with a 10-12 record, the boys’ basketball team hopes to make a comeback this year. Led by captain Jake Thaw ’20, the team has been working on both offense and defense during the offseason.

“We’ve really been working our defense and transition going into this season and we’re looking to run a high paced offense,” Thaw said.

Thaw additionally noted some key players essential to succeeding in their upcoming season.

“We’ve got a really solid shooting team with Lucas Basich [’21] being a great shooter, as well as Teddy Dienst [’20],” Thaw said. “Benny Feuer [’20] will be a slasher and true guard for us and AJ Konstanty [’20] will be big on the boards and score in the low post.”

Captain AJ Konstanty ’20 noted that the team looks forward to games against St. Joseph High School, Wilton High School and Fairfield Ludlowe High School.

“Wilton does a great job of shooting from the perimeter,” Konstanty said, “and I know we have been working hard all offseason on defensive close outs and how to play help defense on good shooters. St. Joe’s is usually very strong at pushing the ball up the floor, so we have been working on our defense in transition a lot. Ludlowe plays a very strong zone defense which we have been practicing on how to score against.”

Led by captains Daniella Gat ’20 and Paige Lundiquist ’20, as well as seniors Evie Dockray ’20, Julieanne McGrath ’20, Claudia Fernandez ’20 and Lily Kane ’20, the Wreckers have been working on their tumbling since the summer in hopes of improving their skills for the competitions.

After ending a strong last season placing second in the FCIAC and third in States, as well as placing fifth in the North East at Regionals, cheer hopes to have another successful season this winter.

“We’ve started our training for the season over the summer and have just been working on our endurance to make it through along with getting new tumbling and stunting skills,” McGrath said.

McGrath additionally noted the team’s new addition to the coaching staff, Hannah Gilpatrick. According to McGrath, Gilpatrick was formerly an All Star cheerleader, and currently works for the National Cheerleading Association.

“She has really helped and taught us a lot about what the judges really want to see and is always encouraging us to do our best,” McGrath said.

The team looks forward to competing against Fairfield Ludlowe High School and Danbury High School this season.

(From Top to Bottom) Photos by Charlotte Armstrong ’21, Maddie Phelps ’19 & Andreas Lolis ’21 Graphic by Poppy Livingstone ’21

Inklings News

Wreckers mascot fails to represent all students Rachel Suggs ’21

A

Web News Editor

school logo serves many purposes. Not only does it provide a spirited motif for a school cheer, a cute face for logo wear and the inspiration for a school’s colors, but it creates an identity for students. When students represent their school in academic or athletic competitions, they fight under the identity of their school mascot.

However, because the Wrecker is a white man, many students may struggle to identify as a Wrecker. If you ever pay a visit to the hallway by the girls’ locker room, you will find a mural with the silhouettes of female athletes performing a variety of sports with the caption “Lady Wreckers.”

To showcase self-expression and athletic pride, female athletes must modify the mascot name to specify gender because the Wrecker does not inherently include them.

While some may not support a logo change for the practicality and economics of the issue, the change is pertinent for collective school spirit.

We wouldn’t have to change every piece of merchandise, as our school colors would be kept the same and the big Staples “S” will still foster pride equal to that of the Superman insignia.

The only thing that would change would be the actual Wrecker illustration itself, which would be replaced by a different mascot.

If Staples were to change its mascot, it would not be the only institution to do so. We are living in an age right now where multiple professional sports teams are modifying their branding to be more respectful, such as in the case of the Cleveland Indians.

Beginning this past season, the team no longer uses the Chief Wahoo logo on their uniforms or merchandise, as it was deemed insensitive and racist towards Native Americans.

Thus, changing our mascot is not as fanciful of an idea as it may seem. It will show that Staples is making an effort to be more inclusive, which can

15 Sports

Oct. 31, 2019

set a precedent for similar actions to be taken by neighboring communities, as six other schools out of the 16 teams in the FCIAC have mascots with a male image.

As for the name of the new mascot, multiple options exist. Perhaps an animal may be the best alternative, as they are gender and race neutral.

However, the appropriate animal is a debate for a different day.

Not everyone can unite behind the mascot of the Wrecker. Because the mascot is a white man, it is failing to accurately represent the school as a whole and cannot serve as a basis for unification. It’s time for the Wreckers image to more accurately reflect the students fighting on behalf of Staples.

The Wrecker symbolizes tradition Remy Teltser ’21 Features Editor Staples High School is the epitome of school spirit. On Friday evenings, football players prepare for their game, cheerleaders rehearse their halftime performance and Staples game-goers gear up in their blue and white superfans shirts all in preparation for an intense football game at the stadium. Superfans and parents gather together in the stands, cheering in support for the team, unified by the historic Wrecker.

The modern Wrecker logo was designed by Staples alumni Tom Wall in 1980: a caricature of a male

construction worker in a hard hat, clutching a crowbar in one hand and a hammer in the other. Although this cartoon worker has been Staples’ established mascot for almost 40 years, some students have called for a change to the Wrecker because it is specific to gender and race, being a white man.

While I understand the desire to make our mascot more inclusive, I respectfully believe that the Wrecker is a Staples tradition symbolic of our school pride and therefore should remain untouched.

Unlike many other high school mascots, the Wrecker is uniquely ours. In 1920, Norwalk chose to play Staples for their homecoming game, anticipating an easy win. Instead, Staples upset Norwalk and the headlines read “Staples wrecks Norwalk” the next day. From then on, Staples became known as the Wreckers.

With a historical meaning behind our mascot, completely altering the design would undermine the grounds in which our school spirit was created upon.

As a student who has participated in Staples girls’ sports, I never perceived the Wrecker as exclusive against our team.

In fact, many girls’ teams at Staples have broadened the scope of the Wrecker, calling themselves “Lady Wreckers.” The swim and dive team even designed suits printed with the phrase in the 2018 fall season.

I recognize Staples’ team name was ultimately created in the early 1900s when inclusivity was less of a societal priority, but the Wrecker is clearly a fictional character. Although a man, he has arms like trees and a cartoon face.

Wall’s intention was not meant to show male dominance or white superiority; it was intended to show strength and greatness to those who bear the Staples name. By displaying your school spirit, everyone embodies a Wrecker.

Without a doubt, sexism and racism are pressing issues within our country.

Social consciousness is vital to students as we are becoming young adults, but taking away the symbol of Staples’ traditions will not promote meaningful change in our actions towards others.

Our Westport community should work together to broaden our scope of equity and tolerance, however our high school mascot is not where we need fixing.

Graphic by Adam Greenlee ’20

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

16 Sports

Inklings News

Oct. 31, 2019

Graphic and photo by Poppy Livingstone ’21

New Canaan wrecks Staples’ home opener Andreas Lolis ’21 News Editor

T

he Staples football team lost 4121 against New Canaan in their homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 25, bringing their record to 2-4.

The Wreckers opened the game with a change at quarterback. Jake Thaw ’20, the starter for the entirety of the 2018 season, replaced Jackson Zager ’21, the starter for the first five games of the 2019 season. Thaw played wide receiver for the first five games.

Thaw appreciated the support both head coach Adam Behrends and Zager gave him.

“Jackson was super supportive so

that made everything easier,” Thaw said. “He was essentially another coach on the sideline.”

While Zager didn’t take any snaps, he assisted the team by helping with offensive strategies.

“I tried to help Coach [Behrends] with what the [New Canaan] defense was doing, letting him know so he could have an extra set of eyes on it,” Zager said. “I just really tried to help out as much as I could and be there for Jake and support him for everything.”

Thaw was regularly under pressure throughout the game. He constantly found himself scrambling out of the pocket or evading an unblocked linebacker.

New Canaan recorded eight sacks.

Behrends recognized this weakness in his future gameplan.

“I got to do a better job making sure the quarterback’s protected and making sure we’re keeping him off his back,” he said.

Despite this pressure, Thaw had some success throwing the ball downfield. Most notably, he connected with tight end AJ Konstanty ’20 for two touchdowns in the first half.

In the second half, however, Staples’ offense was shut out due to three Thaw turnovers, which included an interception from inside the Rams’ 35 yard line.

On the other side of the ball, it was a tough night for the Staples run defense.

New Canaan running back John Wise ran for 190 yards on 25 carries. On the goal line, the Rams utilized a flexbone option offense, which the Wreckers struggled to stop. Using this formation, Wise scored three touchdowns out of the backfield.

To prevent this from repeating next week, the coaching staff plans on focusing on defensive fundamentals next week.

“I’ve got to do a better job of making sure we’re working a lot more tackling during the week so we can wrap those guys up and get them to the ground,” Behrends said.

While this loss is disheartening for Staples’ postseason hopes, the team plans to persist in the face of adversity.

“I’m pretty sure this mathematically eliminates us from the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop trying,” Thaw said. “Every single game we’re going to go just as hard as the last one and we’re going to look to play spoiler for a bunch of teams.”

The Wreckers hope to bounce back from the loss as they travel to Wilton on Friday, Nov. 11 to take on the 4-2 Warriors.

Photo by Jack Dennison ’21

Photo by Lyah Muktavaram ’22

TAKE A STAND The Staples Wreckers stand for the National Anthem sung by Colin Konstanty ’22. The team was 2-3 going into the game.

MAN DOWN Linebacker Tadeo Messenger ’20 tackles wide receiver Kyle Russel.

Photo by Natalie Bandura ’22

CHEERING FOR A CAUSE The first official home game was in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Superfans dressed in pink to support the cause.

Staples High School • inklingsnews.com

Photo by Natalie Bandura ’22 inklingsnews.com • Staples High School