SOPHIA DING/TOWER
AYANNA BECKET/TOWER
ELLEN COWHEY/TOWER
SOPHIA DING/ TOWER
The Masters School 49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522
Changing courses: Administration moves away from AP classes in 2027
flexibility to run the courses in the mission-aligned way that we want.”
On any school day at any time, students walking into the library are bound to see a few upperclassmen scratching their heads over AP Chemistry or burying their noses in an AP Calculus textbook.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses have been a central aspect of the Masters curriculum since the school first introduced them over 35 years ago. AP courses are designed by the College Board with the intention of providing high school students with more difficult, college-level classes. They culminate in a comprehensive test taken by every student in each individual AP class.
However, starting in 2027, these notoriously difficult classes will no longer be offered at Masters in their current form.
Over this past summer, Head Of School Laura Danforth emailed the entire school community to announce the curriculum change.
She said, “The Masters School has decided to move away from the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) program in favor of our own internally designed, academically rigorous suite of courses that more closely align with our school’s mission.”
The framework for these new rigorous courses is being developed by a committee led by Math Department Chair Marianne van Brummelen and Dean of the class of 2026 Darren Wood.
OVER THE SUMMER, AN email was sent to inform the community that APs will be replaced by new courses designed by teachers at Masters. This change will affect students that planned to take APs for college applications.
Van Brummelen said, “The School has been in conversation [about removing APs] for a decade or more, so it’s a conversation that has been going on for a long time, both at Masters and at a lot of independent schools.” She added that the committee is not directly in charge
of creating the new coursework. Instead, each individual department will help create the new courses within it.
Van Brummelen gave insight into the specific reasons for the switch. She said, “Masters decided that the AP curriculum was not right for us because it did not give us the
Director of College Counseling, Adam Gimple, said, “It’s important to note that this significant of a decision was not done in a vacuum. It was done in consultation with higher education and with feedback and interactions with other schools who have made a similar move.”
Gimple also noted that many other prestigious independent schools across the U.S. are making similar switches.
“In the state of New York, 50% of independent schools have either considered making the switch [away from APs] or are in the process ofor have already completed - it. We are in good company,” Gimple said.
In the past, one of the primary appeals of APs was their difficulty.
Junior Bennet Sonnenberg, who is taking AP Bio, said, “I took APs because of the challenge factor. There is a unique sense of advanced learning you get when you take an AP course.” The committee plans on keeping the courses academically challenging, but they are also hoping to steer clear of outdated measurements of difficulty such as sheer quantity of work or excessive readings when creating the basis for the curriculums.
Wood said, “We want the courses to be challenging in great ways, but we don’t want the challenge to be based on volume or speed.”
Another big reason for
taking APs in the past has been their large impact on college. Not only do they help bolster academic profiles, but they also allow students to ready themselves for college while they are still in high school.
Nico Khoury-Levy, a junior who is taking three APs said, “I took APs because I wanted to push myself in the topics I am interested in, and because showing academic rigor is important for college applications.”
Ending APs may bring about questions regarding the switch’s impact on college admissions. However, some of those concerns are alleviated by colleges policies regarding schools in which APs aren’t made available to students. Gimple said, “I have asked every single college admissions officer that came through our doors what impact [moving away from APs] would have on admissions, if we switched to an even more stellar program. Every single one of them said it would have no impact whatsoever on how students are viewed in admissions.”
-Bennet Sonnenberg ‘26 “
I took Aps because of the challenge factor. There is a unique sense of advanced learning you get when you take an ap course.
Halloween sparks skits and spirit
With the Claudia Boettcher Theatre (CBT) cloaked in scaffolding and sawdust this Halloween, The Masters School found a new stage for its holiday creativity. On Oct. 31, a school-wide assembly in the Fonseca Center (FC) gym brought video games to life through live skits. Amid the laughter and colorful costumes, the event revived the school’s festive spirit from previous decades before videos came to dominate the celebration.
Every year, the senior class selects an overarching Halloween theme for the Upper School. This year they chose video games. Historically, each grade and department is assigned a category within the theme and creates a funny video. However, with the theater under construction this year, video presentations were not possible.
Rene Hurley, an Upper School science teacher and dean of the Class of 2025, described the extensive planning for this year’s assembly: “This process actually started the first week of school. We’ve been working on it this entire quarter, starting with working with the seniors to pick a theme, asking for ideas, and then voting for the theme.”
By early October, the school had already distributed the theme details to everyone involved, allowing groups several weeks to prepare.
As a throwback to earlier traditions, each group performed live skits instead of videos. “It took a lot of work and some compromise with our senior leadership and administration,” Hurley said. “Halloween has been a tradition at Masters for ages. I don’t even know how far back it goes, but far enough back that there weren’t video
cameras, so they had to do live skits.”
Senior Class President Sophie Moussapour also emphasized the event’s return to tradition, saying, “It was actually some members of the faculty who have been here for a long time that reminded us that - pre-videos – actually everybody did skits, so this wasn’t a revolutionary idea. We were more
so returning to a way it was done.” The move to live skits proved to be a hit with some students. “The skits were way more engaging than the videos,” junior Nathan Beckman said. “They increase participation from everyone in the whole school versus the videos, where only a few people per grade present.”
In addition to the skits, the assembly included a blend of traditions and new surprises. “A big thing was that we still had the senior video [earlier in the week]. We also had that senior band at the end too, which we haven’t seen in a while, but has been part of [the Halloween assembly] in the past,” Hurley said. “It was really great that we brought that together.”
Following the skits, the senior band, led by Mert Kaplan, played the Michael Jackson song “Thriller,” and the entire senior class rushed the gym floor to dance alongside them. Kaplan was approached by Senior Class Presidents Moussapour and Velizar Lazarov to direct the band for the event.
“Sophie approached me because she was in need of a director who could bring the group together and had access to DoPA,” Kaplan said. His experience in student-led bands and music classes made him a natural fit for the role.
Despite the initial challenges, Moussapour stressed the importance of gathering in person. “If we had [only] done videos, advisories would have been watching them alone in their advisory rooms,” she said.
“Bringing everyone together as a whole school was the utmost priority,” Moussapour added. “That kind of special energy you feel when everyone’s there, laughing at whatever ridiculous skit or video — that’s what we wanted to emphasize.”
JUNIORS M’KAELA RILEY, ANASTACIA Alexander, Jamie Milward and Ross Manzano race around obstacles in a Mario Kart-themed skit. The students dressed as the video game characters Mario, Yoshi, Luigi and Toad. The Halloween assembly started just before 2 p.m. and ended at around 3:40.
SOPHIA DING/TOWER
CHANA KIM/TOWER
Thomas mccallum
Rooke WiseR
OpiniOn
EDITORIAL
Ch-
ChChanges
Autumn reminds us that change, both natural and human-made, is constant. Change in the weather, our community and the world. Quickly, trees become brittle and lose their leaves, the air grows cold and dry and the quad is emptied out. But these changes extend beyond nature: chain-link fences sprouted up at the center of campus, sheets of plastic now barricade the Claudia Boettcher Theatre and the art room has now become the art rooms. Change touches every corner—from the fields, where sports ceremonies are transforming, to academics, where Advanced Placement classes will become history in a matter of years.
Oftententimes, change is given to us, handed down through generations or thrust into our hands, indiscriminate to whether it’s good or bad. And when faced with these changes, how does one respond? One option is to ignore it, isolate ourselves and only worry about the immediate until they’re impossible to ignore. Another is to grow accustomed to the shifting reality and accept each day as a fact of life Alternatively, one can resort to complaining about the change, often half-heartedly without any follow-ups. As students, our ability to create change is only limited by our willingness to act. Change comes from within and it can come right now. The Executive Committee is currently work-
ing on a bill to bring back club boards. The Young Democrats Club helped students register and preregister to vote. Others are simply creating spaces to share opinions and thoughts.
Performing arts students have not only adapted to these changes but actively embraced them with creativity. After losing access to the Claudia Boettcher Theatre, the Masters Dance Company transformed the fencing studio into a new performance space for its fall showcase. Similarly, the casts of the fall play “Antigone” were forced outdoors, but skillfully used Estherwood’s ambient lighting and Renaissance Revival architecture to bring the story to life. Change isn’t a oneway street: it can find origins in the smallest of crowds, the minutest of kindling. They change us, we can change them.
Beyond campus, change is, of course, national. The presidential torch will be passed forward in a matter of weeks, but the country will no doubt remain as polarized as ever. Even globally, change is creeping in. A forest fire in New Jersey, fueled by the effects of global warming, has triggered a burn ban across New York State. Ask yourself: where does change come from and where can it come from? What can it achieve? And how can I be part of it?
Dining Hall americanizes foreign foods
Lunchtime is a period that I look forward to everyday. As first, second and third period drag on, I sit in my chair daydreaming about the sweet flavor of lunch. When late lunch has finally arrived, I line up in the long queue, my goal almost in my grasp. But sometimes when I get to the front, I realize with disappointment: this isn’t what the label promised.
The dining hall always tries to have food from cultures around the world, there’s even a map in front of the kitchen displaying where all the different foods originate, but the dishes often fall short of the real deal.
Sophomore Jiaqi “Esther” Ni said, “There was a dish [that] used the Chinese name; it was completely another dish instead of the Chinese one.”
The dish was gong bao ji ding, also known as kung pao chicken. She explained that the dish should have been spicy and salty, but it was, instead, sour and sweet.
Another instance Ni shared was when she had encountered a mystery food consisting of some sort of bread and roasted pork. “After a search, [I discovered] they were trying to make baozi, but they didn’t get it.”
Despite the dining hall’s misrepresentations, Ni said that the dishes they created were actually tasty, just mislabeled. If the Dining Hall wishes to represent these dif-
ferent cultures, they need to take care to use recipes accurate to the authentic dish.
Lee Bergelson, General Manager of Dining Services, described the process of creating the menu as a team effort where creativity and satisfaction were emphasized.
He said, “Not everything can be a favorite, but we try to have a blend that can attract as many people so that they’re happy.”
bage, are taken off the menu. But their emphasis on what they believe the masses will like is creating watered-down versions of different dishes. Adherence to the tastebuds of an American palette is not in keeping with the Masters mission of diversity and inclusion.
ELLA LIU POINTS OUT that too often food that aims to be Chinese is “americanized” - the “wontons” in this wonton soup for example, are more like jiaozi than wontons.
Our diverse body of students invites different perspectives in all parts of the school, including the dining hall. Students should be aware of the cultures their food is coming from and in order to do that, they must be able to see accurate representation of those cultures. Despite these more minor faults, the Dining Hall has made a big effort to make a diverse menu, and out of the many dishes they provide, the majority have been more accurate. To enforce this accuracy, students should hold our school accountable. Next time you notice a dish is mislabeled, don’t just sit back, make sure to let the dining staff know. One way to do so is with the suggestion wall outside the kitchen. Bergelson said that the staff does look at the wall of suggestions. He said, “If it’s something reasonable, we try to do that.” Don’t be afraid to share your opinion next time you’re in the dining hall; you’re protecting the mission of Masters and cultures all around the world.
Editors-in-Chief
Ellie Hise
Justine Pascutti
Rooke Wiser
Illustration Editor
Jenny Xu
Lead News Editor
Allie Faber
News Editor
Mila Benson
Lead Features Editor
Neena Atkins
Features Editor
Ella Liu
Lead Opinion Editor
Elaina Barreto
Visuals Director and Opinion Editor
Ayanna Beckett
Lead Sports Editor
Ella Black
Sports Editor
Thomas McCallum
Web Editor
Jack Bilman
Social Media Manager and PR Editor
Loewy Nalle
Faculty Advisors
Matt Ives
Ellen Cowhey
Photographers & Illustrators
Chana Kim
Sophia Ding
Alyssa Wang
Rose Yuan
Annadele Dyott
Esther Ni
Zara Murray
Helen Gao
Online Media
For more information, follow Tower on the following platforms: Website: Tower.MastersNY.org
Facebook: MastersTower
Instagram: @MastersTower
Distribution Process
Tower is hand-delivered on the day of publication to the Upper School. 650 copies are printed. A copy is sent to each of our advertisers.
scholastic Press affiliations, letters anD eDitorial Policy Tower is the winner of the Pacemaker Award for Overall Excellence, an award-winning member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), Journalism Education Association (JEA) and Quill and Scroll. We encourage Letters to the Editor, which can be submitted to the following email address: TowerEditors@MastersNY.org. Published approximately six times a year, Tower, the student newspaper of The Masters School, is a public forum, with its Editorial Board making all decisions concerning content. Commentaries and opinion columns are the expressed opinion of the author and not of Tower and its Editorial Board or its advisers. Furthermore, the opinions conveyed are not those of The Masters School, faculty, or staff. Unsigned editorials express views of the majority of the Editorial Board.
Ella liu
Endorsements don’t matter
lack of endorsements does
In 2016, the year of Trump’s first presidential victory, I was about to graduate from elementary school. Now I’m in my final year of high school, and it almost seems like nothing’s changed. Would the result have been any different with an endorsement of Kamala Harris from the Washington Post? Doubtful, but the silence that replaced the tradition al avocation was deafening.
The Washington Post lost 10% of its subscribers within a week of its announcement to not endorse a can didate this year, according to the Guardian. Similarly, dozens of its colum nists quit and spoke out against the publication. But why was this move so controversial, and was it really worth it?
have no impact seems a little rude to the paper he bought a little over a decade ago. The paper, which employs around 2,500 journalists, is read by between two and three million people, and has been around for nearly a century, allegedly doesn’t carry any political impact.
Although the editorial team had queued up an endorsement for the Harris-Walz ticket, it was at the last minute shot down by owner Jeff Bezos.
Bezos later published a letter claiming, “Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election. No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, ‘I’m going with Newspaper A’s endorsement.’ None. What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one,” So essentially, endorsements don’t affect real change, all they do is give the impression of bias. Let’s unpack that.
The idea that endorsements
In one disingenuous defense, Bezos has managed to insult the core of the journalism industry- impact. And as for the claim about bias: A newspaper’s job isn’t to publish unbiased pieces. Opeds, letters-to-the-editor, columns and even restaurant reviews are all ‘biased.’ A paper that can express their opinion on one topic can express their opinion on any. It is an overt lie to claim that the endorsement is any more of a show of bias than the editorial they wrote criticizing Trump’s economic plan, the failures of the Secret Service, or any other politically charged position that a newspaper has the right to discuss.
The misconception is that papers need to be unbiased. But when you assume your reader can understand personal opinion, and when you clarify an article is just an opinion or editorial, objectivity isn’t a key issue.
“ Nothing does more to weaken the reputation of journalists than an obvious money grab.”
-Ellie Hise
or the amplification of only certain writers’ perspectives and the suppression of any article (or endorsement) that might stir controversy. Most readers, and many journalists employed by the Washington Post, see the backpedaling as a sign of Bezos’ fear of Trump’s potential retaliation. I would like to add the same defensive thinking that led to the decline of CNN cable viewing. Already confronted with a dwindling audience, newspapers are worried that by continuously posting left leaning articles, they alienate their right-wing supporters. What CNN and now the Washington Post failed to see was that there were incredibly few conservative viewers to alienate, and the result was only a net loss of subscribers.
“ Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election.”
-JeFF Bezos
What does show bias, though, is the cherry-picking of which articles can and can’t be published,
The Associated Press was another publication that didn’t endorse a candidate this year, but AP has never endorsed a candidate before -- they don’t even publish opinions. That’s where they differ from the Washington Post or LA Times – consistency. AP is unwavering in their unbiased approach.
Does an endorsement of a can-
didate sway a voter’s opinion any more than a New York Times recipe sways a cook, or a top 10 book list sways a reader? The issue isn’t the papers’ decision whether or not to contribute to political discourse, it’s drawing arbitrary lines on what they can write for the sake of shielding the owner from potential backlash. Nothing does more to weaken the reputation of journalists than an obvious money grab. Too scared to risk losing a little bit of capital, Bezos sacrificed a sizable amount
of the paper’s dignity and ethical standing. It’s selfishness, and it’s cowardice. More than that, it raises some questions. How much control does Bezos have? Has he been pulling articles he doesn’t like for years now? Does the editor in chief, or the publisher, or the managing editor have any actual authority? Let me pose one final question: Since when were newspapers -- the beacon of truth, the voice of the people, the harbinger of tough pills to swallow-- so scared?
WASHINGTON POST REFUSED TO endorse a presidential candidate because of CEO Jeff Bezo’s claim that it would not affect the election. Ellie Hise argues against this statement in her opinion piece.
The freshmen need to FC their way out of morning meeting
FRESHMAN HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED to Morning Meeting on Zoom for the last couple of years. With the CBT currently being out of commision, the whole student body, including freshman, have been in the FC gym. Mila Benson argues that the struggles of online Morning Meeting is an
part of the
year experience.
Morning Meetings in the Claudia Boettcher Theater aren’t always everybody’s cup of tea. It’s early in the morning, students are stressed about classes and work, and the dark atmosphere can make students feel sleepy.
This is a stark contrast to the loud, bright, and shiny gym that does the opposite of putting students to sleep. Nevertheless, Morning Meetings at Masters are a crucial part of our day for a shared community feeling that includes the whole school… except the freshmen.
Now that the CBT is under repair due to mold abatement, Morning Meeting has been relocated to the Fonseca Center, where the whole school can take part in announcements and speeches.
As of about eight years ago, the population of the Upper School had outgrown the CBT, so freshmen had to take one for the team and watch remotely from their classrooms. Having whole school morning meetings seems
like a good thing at first glanceeverybody gets to participate in morning meetings and the freshmen don’t have to deal with laggy Zoom meetings from a classroom somewhere else on campus. But, I think that this takes away from the freshman year experience.
In our freshman year here at Masters, we all had to go through the learning and adjusting process that is sitting in a dark classroom while Morning Meetings played through the projectors and the (sometimes) working speakers. In my opinion, zoom Morning Meetings are a crucial right of passage for incoming freshmen.
Yes, it is true that the zoom format can feel isolating and somewhat tedious, but it’s a key area for problem solving and learning how to navigate issues that arise on the spot.
Part of the challenges of high school is learning how to overcome challenges. This prepares students for the real world after university and beyond. Without the important step of watching Morning Meetings from classrooms, the freshmen will have a harder time throughout the rest of high school. A common challenge
that high schoolers face, for example, is staying on top of homework and tests. So, if freshmen learn how to navigate the challenges of zoom issues in a timely manner, they will also be able to navigate the work challenges, too. High schoolers face a lot of social issues, too. Learning how to work together with advisory peers to get through challenges can further prepare freshmen for the years of high school social challenges to come. Also, watching Morning Meetings from classrooms can give students a chance to bond with their own classmates, and simultaneously look up to the upperclassmen. Morning Meetings should be something that newcomers look forward to - not something that they’re thrown into right away. There needs to be an adjustment period of critical thinking and bonding with other classmates before the freshmen can really feel part of the school as a whole, and the FC Morning Meetings are not allowing for that adjustment.
Mila Benson
ellie Hise
essential
freshman
ALYSSA WANG/TOWER
ALYSSA WANG/TOWER
Economic disparities drive widening gap in education inequality
the income of a student’s family.
In today’s rapidly changing world, the association between economic struggles and the quality of education is becoming ever more prominent, especially in the United States.
According to a New York Times article by Claire Cain Miller, those who are in the families of the top 20% earners in the United States are seven times more likely to score at least 1300 on the SAT. The gap was even bigger for the richest one percent, who are 13 times more likely.
This is a pressing issue. If it continues, it will only further widen the already broad gap in wages between higher and lower-level earners in the United States.
A large part of the reason for this great disparity is simply the amount of money that parents can invest in their children’s education. Low-income families are less likely to afford tutors or college advisors. Thus, their children may perform worse on the SAT or get rejected from higher-ranked colleges compared to children from high-income families.
The quality of education is also impacted depending on whether a student goes to an expensive, private or public school. Students enrolled at a private school are roughly four times more likely to make it to an Ivy League college. Again, this is largely based on
Financial prosperity can affect a student’s application in certain cases at need-aware schools, where economic status is considered.
Adam Gimple, director of college counseling, said, “When a student is a borderline candidate at a need-aware school, they will — in certain circumstances — say, ‘If we admit this student, what is the likelihood that we are going to be able to provide them with enough financial support?’”
Family legacy often results in a continuous loop of sustaining wealth and college acceptance. According to Cornell Daily News, “Students who are children of alumni are nearly four times as likely to be admitted to elite colleges as students who have identical test scores but are not children of alumni.”
This is troubling because alumni of elite colleges are expected to earn roughly $160,000 a year by mid-career compared to the national average of roughly $60,000. This creates a double advantage for those who are born into legacy families — both resources and acceptance rate — further increasing the bias against low-income individuals and reinforcing the likelihood that children from high-income families will remain wealthy.
As part of his plan for the
presidency, Trump has proposed eliminating the Department of Education (DoE) entirely and redirecting funding for high-poverty schools and financial aid for college students. Eliminating the DoE would greatly impact the resources available to lower-income families and drastically change the overall landscape of what it means to be a low-income
student applying for a top university. In order to shrink the educational gap between the rich and the poor, we must consider the systems that are in play, including elite universities and government administration. One solution is not only becoming test-optional, which many colleges already are, but not accepting standardized test scores at all.
This would level the playing field that upper-class students can’t get ahead in an area where they consistently outperform lower-class students. As for government administration, they must ensure that schools that rely on DoE funds are not left behind. This could be solved by preserving the DoE or at least creating another government entity to fulfill its role.
COLLEGE BOARD’S DATA OF SAT test-takers from the class of 2024 demonstrates a strong correlation between higher family income and increased test scores, with total scores ranging from 887 out of 1600 for families earning under $55,667 to 1152 for those earning more than $117,610.
Trump must prioritize merit, unity and competence
On Jan. 20, 2025, Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States, marking the first time since Grover Cleveland that a president has served two non-consecutive terms. Despite the excitement and upheaval, I say take a step back and observe the issues Americans are facing. The U.S. faces issues of affordability, foreign affairs and domestic affairs. So, here is my advice on what Trump needs to do.
Step 1: Appoint cabinet members on merit, not loyalty.
Susie Wiles, Elise Stefanik and Marco Rubio are solid options for their respective positions, especially Rubio. Matt Gaetz (his current pick), however, is beyond idiotic and chaos-driven. I urge Trump to reconsider immediately. Similarly, appointing Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense is reckless. The Department of Defense oversees a $1 trillion budget for Pete’s sake. He’s a television host — where everything is scripted — with no independent decision-making experience. What happens when China threatens us with a nuclear weapon? Hegseth is an expert in make-up, not management.
Tulsi Gabbard, as head of national intelligence, is beyond irresponsible. Her questionable ties to Russia could pose a serious national security risk. I also recommend Vivek Ramaswamy not be part of the cabinet, but I do recommend Elon Musk as an advisor. However, making Musk a cabinet head would add too much to his $1.2 trillion commitments. The Department of Government Efficiency is an incredible idea but only if under proper leadership.
Step 2: Do not divide Republicans. Work with them.
From 2017 to 2019, Trump’s first two years, the GOP held a trifecta: a Republican-controlled House led by Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican Senate led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the presidency. These years saw some successes, such as the Trump Tax Cuts, helping businesses by lowering their taxes to 21%. However, those cuts are set to expire in December 2025. Still, Trump had a problem. He couldn’t work with Ryan and McConnel, as there was always tension between them. Paul Ryan, the 2012 vice presidential nominee, never endorsed Trump until after the nomination and even then he still held grudges against him. After all, Ryan’s no-nonsense character clashed with Trump’s opposite style, which, while not necessarily negative, did bring some baggage. As a result, the two never got along and Ryan
left the Speakership because he couldn’t govern with Trump. This division contributed to Democrats reclaiming the House in 2018.
Step 3: Use your strength.
Trump has an unusual impact on foreign affairs. Whether it’s fear or something else, the war-lovers really don’t play around with him. I strongly urge Trump to use his connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to the Ukraine War. He must put his foot down, ensure Putin retreats, and prevent any further escalation.
For Israel, it’s much easier as most of Hamas and Houthi leadership is wiped out. However, questions will arise around a two-state solution and what happens to Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump should just focus on bringing that conflict to an end and bringing the hostages home.
Step 4: Be sensible with tariffs.
A 60%, 200%, or even 1,000% tariff on China is ridiculous. The overall concept of a tariff can be good if taken cautiously. We heavily depend on China and, yes, we should probably change that as China increasingly becomes a competitor. The President-elect should take some action to encourage industry to move back to America, but he must do it cautiously.
A 15% tariff would be much more reasonable and realistic than 60%.
Tariffs can lead to short-term challenges but long-term prosperity.
Step 5: Don’t do anything negative to abortion rights.
This is an issue that could leave society in shambles if this right is taken away. When Roe was overturned in 2022, at least the decision was up to the states. While far from ideal, there would have been much more damage done if it was banned entirely. If there is any attempt to ban it completely, that would be catastrophic. It would spark division, enrage riots, and, most importantly, severely harm women nationwide. We need to be united, not divided, and a nationwide abortion ban would bring divisions and do nothing but harm women nationwide.
President-elect Trump has the potential to be a positive, influential president. To succeed, he must appoint his cabinet based on merit, cut spending, work to end global conflict, be sensible when it comes to tariffs and be pragmatic when it comes to abortion. It’ll take a lot of work, but it is beyond achievable. Clearly, he did something right in his campaign and Americans should hope for his success as president. He has the groundwork to achieve it.
WANT TO BE A COLUMIST?
Tower will soon be opening applications for columnists. Columnists work on a regular schedule to be posted online and potentially in print issues (like the one to the left!)
WANT TO BE A CARTOONIST?
Tower is also looking for cartoonists to create content for our print issues, focusing on relevent political or campus-related topics. All submissions must adhere to our standards of appropriateness and respectfulness. More details to come.
Mason Dwek
Jack BilM an
MAGA
NeeNa atkiNs
Donald Trump made history once again by reclaiming the presidency in an election that captivated the nation. His victory over Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris followed an intense campaign that navigated legal battles, rallied his base and garnered support from key regions across the country that shifted in his favor over the past four years.
Trump previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, a tenure including two impeachments: one in 2019 for abuse of power and again in 2021 for inciting insurrection. After losing to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, the Brookings Institute found that Trump and his allies filed 62 election lawsuits challenging the results and alleging election fraud. In August 2023, Trump was federally indicted on charges related to these efforts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and witness tampering.
In addition to the indictment, Trump faced four other criminal cases. A month before the indictment, a New York jury unanimously found Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996 and awarded her $5 million in damages for the assault. The jury also held him responsible for defaming Carroll over the years by repeatedly dismissing her allegations as false.
In a separate New York case, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. According to USA Today, Trump has accumulated 4,095 lawsuits over his career, and
Trump returns
following a New York judge’s ruling that Trump lied about his wealth while building his real estate empire, he was hit with a $454 million civil fraud penalty. These legal hurdles did not prevent Trump from securing the Republican nomination in March 2024. Although Biden initially seemed like his opponent, Biden withdrew in July 2024 after a poorly received debate performance, leaving Harris to lead the Democratic ticket.
On Election Day, Pennsylvania emerged as a critical battleground. Shannon Powell, co-founder of Indivisible Westchester, a grassroots organization working to advance Democratic policies, recalled the moment Trump’s win in the state was projected.
“One of my friends texted me to say that Steve Kornacki called Pennsylvania [for Trump] and, having spent so much time in Pennsylvania, I was shocked,” she said. “None of us [Indivisible Westchester volunteers in Pennsylvania] saw any get-out-the-vote effort from Trump. Now, Elon Musk had a PAC [Political Action Committee] doing things. I think that’s the key.”
Indeed, while Trump’s campaign took a less traditional canvassing approach in Pennsylvania, Business Insider noted that Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and X, spent over $130 million on the election, most of which went into late-stage voter mobilization. His America PAC introduced a unique strategy, offering $100 to registered Pennsylvania voters who signed conservative petitions and $47 for referrals to other voters.
At an Oct. 19 event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Musk announced a plan to award $1 million daily through Nov. 5 to one swing-state voter who signed his PAC’s petition supporting
the First and Second Amendments, protecting freedom of speech and one’s right “to keep and bear arms.”
Trump ultimately captured Pennsylvania, contributing to a 50.1% national popular vote share over Harris’s 48.3%.
Advanced Placement United States History and political science teacher Colleen Roche observed how Harris struggled to replicate Biden’s 2020 performance.
“I was watching CNN and they were doing a deep dive into how Harris’s results were comparing to Biden’s results. She was underperforming pretty much everywhere,” Roche said. “Even if she was winning, it wasn’t by the margins Biden had in 2020, which was an early sign to me that [the election] might not work out in her favor.”
Trump’s appeal to a masculine and no-nonsense audience played a significant role in his campaign strategy. He reinforced this image with an appearance on a three-hour podcast with Joe Rogan, a popular podcaster and comedian, that drew over 45 million
views on YouTube prior to the election.
Powell, who volunteered in Pennsylvania, noticed how this image resonated with male voters: “I had a couple of situations where there were some men who were registered Democrats, and if they said they were supporting Trump, I would ask if their wives were home. If they weren’t, I asked who they were voting for. In almost every case, they [the husbands] said their wives were voting for Harris,” she said.
“
A New York Times article written by Shawn McCreesh described how Trump’s campaign connected with various demographics through tailored outreach, from discussing inflation in rural barns to using humor with cryptocurrency advocates in Nashville.
their pocketbook. It’s possible the Harris campaign and the Democrats didn’t do as much to address economic issues as what the voters wanted.”
Despite endorsements of Harris’s economic plan from 23 Nobel laureates, voters appeared more focused on immediate economic pressures.
There’s a saying in politics that people vote with their pocketbook. It’s possible the Harris campaign and the Democrats didn’t do as much to address economic issues as what the voters wanted.”
-Colleen roche
“People saw in him whatever they wanted to see,” McCreesh wrote, highlighting the loyalty of Trump’s base and their belief in his ability to represent them.
Trump’s controversial remarks continued throughout the campaign without substantially affecting voter support. A comment by comedian Tony Hinchcliff at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden — “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” — sparked outrage among many Americans. Yet, Trump still gained notable support in Democratic strongholds with large Hispanic populations, with SpectrumNY1 finding that GOP support has grown since 2020 by over 11% in the Bronx, 6% in Brooklyn, and around 8% on Staten Island.
For many Americans, the economy was the leading issue in this election.
Roche explained, “There’s a saying in politics that people vote with
Masters alumnus Logan Schiciano ‘21, a senior at Northwestern University, News Director at Northwestern News Network, and Former NBC News White House intern, said, “There have been some economic struggles like rising prices that have really put a strain on the average American family. I think that a lot of people are fed up and want to see change.” Schiciano added, “Even though President-elect Trump carries a lot of baggage with him…people are just looking to live a better life.”
With a clear popular vote victory, control of the Electoral College, and a Republican majority in both chambers of Congress, Trump enters his second term with a firm mandate, a distinction he lacked in 2016. Consequently, Trump’s influence over the Republican Party has deepened.
“The Republican Party really is the Trump party,” Roche said. “Even long-term politicians in the party have changed some of their policies to coincide with his.”
Trump’s return to the Oval Office signifies a personal political comeback and a lasting shift in the Republican Party’s direction. Trump’s brand of conservatism is now rooted in its core.
ROSE YUAN/TOWER
DONALD JOHN TRUMP RECLAIMS the presidency, winning both the electoral and popular votes against Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump will be the second president in U.S. history to serve non-consecutive terms, with the first being Grover Cleveland in 1893. He will also be the first convicted felon elected president.
returns to the oval office
Predictions v. Reality
Third-party voters
For nearly the entirety of its history, the United States has been dominated by a two-party political system, with voters overwhelmingly supporting one of the two major parties. Yet, polling leading up to the 2024 election revealed growing discontent: 63% of voters said that the Republican and Democratic parties do “such a poor job” representing the American people that “a third major
party is needed.” Major publications like The Guardian and The New York Times published articles highlighting how the polls indicated that the election could be decided by third-party voters. However, when election day came, the results told a different story. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump got 312 electoral votes and a majority of the popular vote. Jill Stein and Chase Oliver, the only third-party candidates on enough ballots to potentially win
the election, only received 0.5% and 0.4% of votes respectively. So the question becomes, how was the outcome so different from what was predicted? Benjamin Thorn, a Middle School and Upper School latin and history teacher, offered his thoughts: “I think that in a largely two-party system, people are strategic in their voting, and they realize that voting for a third-party candidate will take away from their the votes from one of the two major party candidates.”
He went on to say, “In 2000 during the Bush versus Gore election, George Bush won Florida in in part, because a number of very, I would say left-wing voters voted for Ralph Nader and the Green Party. Those votes would have otherwise probably gone to Al Gore, and he might have won Florida and then the election. So I think some people, at least of my generation, do keep that in mind when thinking about voting for a third-party candidate.”
While many voters express a desire to support third-party candidates, history and the structure of the electoral system have taught them otherwise. Faced with the reality that third-party candidates are unlikely to win, voters have learned to compromise and vote for the major party they find more acceptable. In the end, the persistence of the two-party system lies in this strategic calculus – a choice shaped more by pragmatism than idealism.
AyAnnA Beckett
Debate Team transforms into high-energy hub on campus
Once a quiet club with scattered meetings and a handful of members, the Masters debate team has exploded into one of the most energized groups on campus this year. With a record number of 63 club members, their meetings buzz with students eagerly practicing debate drills under the guidance of their student leaders and new coach Nicholas Moore, a Masters alumnus from the class of 2019.
Returning to his alma mater, Moore brings a passion for debate and a sense of structure to the team he founded as a student.
“Starting the team was one of my proudest achievements as a student, but seeing it thrive today feels even better,” Moore said.
Now, with Moore at the helm, the team is committed to inclusivity and growth. “Debate is inherently equitable,” he explained. “We’re novice-forward and open to anyone
– there’s no barrier to entry here.”
The team’s rapid growth in size led to meetings being moved to the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) to accommodate the increased turnout. Sessions now feature drills, structured mini-debates and a focus on debate fundamentals.
Sophomore Arlo Goldberg, a novice team member, noted the difference: “I remember last year it was so unorganized. At some of the meetings, there would be three people there. This year, it’s grown so much that we had to move to the IEC.”
The growth is seen not just in numbers but in performance. From Oct. 18 to Oct. 20, Masters debaters competed at the Bronx Science Invitational Tournament. Next month, the team is gearing up for two groups heading to the Princeton Invitational and the Tournament of Champions Digital Debate from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8.
The debate team has also launched a new mentorship program, pairing varsity debaters with novice members for guidance beyond reg-
ular meetings. Moore explained the goal of this program is to facilitate learning among novice members.
“We felt that having one more point of contact between club officers and students who are seeking to develop their skills as quickly as possible, might really help improve their performances,” he said.
Senior captain Max Lovitt and junior captain Isabella Levine are committed to making debate purposeful and engaging.
Levine expressed her appreciation for Moore’s mentorship. She said, “It’s been amazing to have him as a coach, and for him to be there as somebody to sit down with you, help you and encourage you, but also push you and work with you to improve.”
Levine emphasized that the debate team’s accessibility is one of its greatest strengths. She said, “You can walk into debate with a laptop, a piece of paper, pen and you can become a star debater, so I think that debate as an activity is an incredible place to learn.”
ANNADELE DYOTT/TOWER
NeeNa atkiNs
DoPA manages construction woes by occupying new spaces
Fencing studio takes on new life as a dance stage
Loewy NaLLe
This school year, the Department of Performing Arts (DoPA) has faced challenges due to major renovations across campus, particularly in Strayer Hall, where rehearsals are usually held. The Strayer weight room was relocated to one of two dance studios in the Fonseca Center (FC), and the Claudia Boettcher Theater (CBT) is closed for renovations. These closures have forced Masters Dance Company to adapt to a single studio.
With limited space, the company split rehearsals into two separate dances and often searched for alternatives.
“Since there’s only one studio, the only other place that we would have to practice would be somewhere else in the FC, like the third floor,” sophomore Susie Brown said. “The dance space is a lot more confined than last year.”
Upper School dance teacher, Melissa Edwards, emphasized the importance of the CBT during a regular season.
“Our fall concert is usually scheduled for the CBT. So, while that is offline, we had to go around and look at spaces in the community,” Edwards said. The company chose the fencing studio for its fall showcase.
Peter Wiley, theater technical di-
rector, transformed the fencing studio into a performance space, adding curtains, lights, and dance-friendly floors.
“The fencing studio needed to have curtains to create wing spaces and work to transform the space into theater,” Wiley said. He continued, “I think the show is going to be excellent. It’s not a normal venue, but one of the great things about dance is that you can move into different spaces.”
Edwards reflected on Wiley’s hard work. “It’s a lot of extra work on top of putting a concert together,” Edwards said, but she and Brown have also found positives to having one studio. She explained, “Everyone gets to know each other really well in that one studio. We have to be in a small space and kind of on top of each other to grow social relationships.”
Brown agreed that there were positives to the change in location.
“It’s great because it makes a stronger community. There’s more time to spend with the people that you want to dance with,” Brown said.
“The one studio we have is a really special one. There are multiple windows. We often see students peek into practice to watch our tight-knit community evolve. A tight-knit community helps everyone to become better dancers and better friends with each other.” Brown said.
ISMENE PLAYED BY REMY Morra Pearlman ‘25 is brought to Creon played by Emerson Riter ‘25 after being acused of burying her brother, Polynices.
CREON PLAYED BY GRAYSON Bokhour ‘26 gives a speech at the top of the show while his aides played by Ayalah Spratt ‘26 and Eileen Kang ‘26 observe the crowd.
Antigone set in World War II and outdoors
During the performances of the fall play, performed by two casts this year, the famous Greek characters of “Antigone” came to life at the circle in front of Esterwood, illuminated by an outdoor arrangement of motion lights and dressed in World War II-inspired costumes to reflect the postwar atmosphere. Due to Claudia Boettcher Theatre (CBT) renovations, the fall play relocated to the circle outside the oldest building on campus and was performed Oct. 25-27.
In Cast A, the roles of Antigone, Creon and Ismene were played by Josie Leff, ‘25 Grayson Bokhour ‘26 and Ayanna Beckett ‘26. In Cast B, the characters were played by Gifty Baah ‘25, Emerson Riter ‘25 and Remy Morra Pearlman ‘25, respectively.
Theater teacher and director Beth Manspeizer said she wanted to create a slightly different version of “Antigone” by changing the time period from ancient Greece to the World War II era. “I did not want to set [the play] in ancient Greece, but I wanted a nod to ancient Greece and Estherwood gave a bit of that vibe.”
She continued, “I wanted to give a vibe that it’s post-World War II because that war is still in the social consciousness of people.”
Manspezier said she worked with costume designer Jules Cunningham to recreate the World War II atmosphere. The chorus ensemble was dressed in brown scarves to mimic the red and white polka dot scarf worn by Rosie the Riveter and the messengers and guards wore uniforms to indicate they fought in the war.
Despite the cooler outdoor temperatures actors had to rehearse in, sophomore Julia Panos said she noticed a positive attitude from the cast.
“The play ended up working really well outside because we had all these cool lights and Estherwood is just a really pretty location,” she added.
According to Manspeizer, Peter Wylie, the theater’s technical director, brought and set up all of the lighting equipment used for the show.
Senior Gifty Baah, who played Antigone in Cast B, said the new space also influenced how actors moved around the set. “I think outside, the way your body moves in a space is
different. You might want to play a little bigger [and] more exaggerated [when you’re] outdoors versus in an indoor setting where it’s more intimate.”
The show included three ensembles: guards, messengers and the chorus. Manspeizer said that, as a director, making sure all the movement on stage flowed properly was important to her.
Although Antigone was not performed in one of the theaters, the actors’ costumes and the set design at Estherwood were still able to capture the post-war setting of “Antigone.” As Manzpeizer said, “Theater can happen anywhere.”
eL aiNa Barreto
CHRISTINA HA
FROM BACK ROW TO front row Lucy Vargas ‘26, Roni Barkan ‘26, Ross Manzano ‘26, Jay Klainbard ‘27, Malachy Green ‘26, Skye Pearlman ‘25, Jack Sobolewski ‘27, Rex Wallach ‘28, Gemma Gilmartin ‘27 as Guards in Antigone.
CHRISTINA HA
ESTHER
IN THE SECOND NUMBER of the annual fall dance concert dancers perform a contempoary dance to “Breathe Me” by Sia.
AYANNA BECKETT/TOWER
MASTERS DANCE COMPANY PAYS homage to flamenco dancing in their performance. The costumes, which are modest calico gowns trimmed with ruffles, are inspired by traditional flamenco dancers from southern Spain.
HELEN GAO/TOWER
CREON PLAYED BY GRAYSON Bokhour confronts Antigone played by Josie Leff at the climax of the show.
DANCE COMPANY PERFORMS VARIOUS pieces in different unique and intricate constumes. The styles of the dance ranged from ballet to hip-hop to contemporary. Songs featured were “Breathe Me”, by Sia, “Back to Black”, by Amy Winehouse, “Wonderland”, by Taylor Swift and “Father Stretch my Hands Pt.1”, by Kanye West. Featured clockwise from the top left is Marcella DeSpirito, Kate Anderson, Juan Torres, Amara Baker, Kaela Riley, Ari Melnick, Marcella DeSpirito, Susie Brown and Ari Melnick.
Portraits in motion debuts in the fencing studio
into motion, a blur of colors and movement that mesmerized the audience.
Under the shimmering glow of stage lights, the fencing studio transformed into a vibrant dance floor, alive with the energy of young performers. As the first notes of music floated through the air, a hush fell over the crowd, and then, with a synchronized leap, the dancers burst
On Nov. 15 and 16, the Masters Dance Company presented its annual fall performance at 7 p.m. in the Fonseca Center fencing studio. The concert consisted of six unique dance styles: contemporary, modern jazz, hiphop, ballet, dance hall and flamenco.
The Masters Dance Company has 15 dancers, all of whom began rehearsing for this concert during preseason in August and have continued their practice Monday through Friday during co-curriculars. The concert ran for less than an hour, and was held in the Fencing Studio since the Claudia Boettcher Theatre is undergoing remediation.
Senior Juan Torres, who has been dancing with
Dance Company since his freshman year, explained how he felt leading up to the performance, saying, “I was so excited, honestly. Despite all the changes that have happened on campus, and in the DoPA department, the entire company has sort of embraced those differences and leaned into the change, and it makes it a lot more exciting to be a part of something that is somewhat different but still beautiful in a way.”
He continued, “Everyone has been working really hard. Our technique has improved tremendously, and none of that would have been able to happen if Ms. Edwards, our new dance teacher, wouldn’t have been here to make that possible. I think she has been a very key player in all of this and in embracing everything.”
Senior Amara Baker has also been in Dance Company since her freshman year. She describes how she feels being a part of the Dance Company now as a senior, knowing that the number of
performances she has left with Dance Company are limited. “A lot of things have definitely changed over these past years that I’ve been here. I would say that Masters Dance Company has been my main thing at this school, so preparing to leave it behind has been difficult. I’m sure in the spring I’ll definitely be crying.”
Upper School dance teacher Melissa Edwards shared her experience so far with the Dance Company during her first year at Masters. “It’s been amazing. I love it. We started during pre-season, so we’ve been together since August. We re ally did a lot. We bonded, we danced, we did conditioning. We did some fun, cho reography games. We really got to know each other and it was a great way to start the year. It’s like my little family here.”
Speaking about the recent performance Edwards said, “I am extremely proud of the dance concert last weekend. Some of the
words used by dancers and audience alike were ‘incredible, professional, moving and joyous.’ I think Masters Dance Company’s fall concert represented the intersection of rigor and joy perfectly.”
Eighth annual Saturday Summit convenes after weeks of preparation
For the eighth year in a row, students and teachers from almost a dozen different schools gathered in
the Middle School’s Doc Wilson Hall. This year’s Saturday Summit, held on Nov. 16, was co-hosted by Masters and Rye Country Day School (RCDS), with around 100 students arriving from independent schools nearby. The theme of this year’s conference was “Reframing Our Space: Navigating Approaches to Social Justice Work.”
According to the Dean for Inclusive Excellence, Esperanza Borrero, the day began with student workshops, many led by student ambassadors from Masters. The day progressed through additional workshop sessions and affinity group meetings, fol- lowed by guest
speaker Vincent Madera, who spoke for an hour on the theme. The conference ended with a cheerful party that included a DJ.
The Saturday Summit was created as a more accessible alternative to the National Student-led Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), which only accepts six students per school. Borerro said, “Many students feel like SDLC is a life-changing conference. It also is very similar [to Saturday Summit] in that it focuses on issues of equity and social justice, there are affinity groups, and is meant to be leadership training.”
The student ambassadors attended weeks of training sessions leading up to the conference to hone their presentations. Students divided into affinity groups after the workshop.
Senior Jordan Lee found that breaking up into groups was crucial to the summit. She said, “Having that group where you have shared experiences is very key. I was thinking today at our black affinity group, what
would it be like to have this conversation with someone who doesn’t look like me, or have the same experiences as me. I think it would be so different and I wouldn’t have the confidence to speak up and say what I need to say.”
She wasn’t the only student to appreciate that specific part of the schedule. Jayde Lynch-Mensah, a freshman at Holy Child, said, “You have your own ideas and your own opinions and when you branch out into a bigger space it helps bring out new ideas.”
It was Lee’s second time attending the conference, facilitating the workshop, “Echoes of Harlem.”
The workshop centered on the impact of the Harlem Renaissance, and how it contributed to people’s self identity. For her, a big aspect of the conference was meeting people. “There’s a lot of new people this year so I learned about people from Rye, Holy Child, King. Hopefully I’ll see these people around and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, I know this person from Saturday Summit.’”
Another Masters student, Emily Negron attended the summit for the first time, plans to return next year. She said, “It was really fun, I got to connect with people who I’ve never met from other schools. And I got to connect with my ethnicity and talk about experiences that I’ve gone through and listen to other peoples stories and relate to them.”
The Director of Public Purpose at RCDS Rebecca Drago said, “It’s a pretty magical experience for young people in the world of DEI and social justice to be connected to students from other schools who are navigating similar challenges at home or in their school communities who are excited to talk about these issues, who are excited to make change in the world. I think it’s inspiring and connective.” Negron said, “I learned to be proud of my culture. You can leave here and go to another community but your ethnicity doesn’t leave you, so it’s better to be proud of it than to try to hide it.
New York. He spoke about “filling your cup” and finding one’s source of
ElliE HisE wit H r Eportng from Zara murray and ayanna BEck Ett
VINCENT MADERA PRESENTS ON the importance of social justice and diversity. Madera, a Masters alumnus from the Class of ‘05, has a masters degree and serves as program director of permanency supports at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry,
JustinE pascutti
ALL DANCE PHOTOS BY HELEN GAO, ZARA MURRAY AND AYANNA BECKETT
ALL SATURDAY SUMMIT PICTURES BY AYANNA BECKETT
Pictured left to right: Jael Nuamah, Linda Enyia, Juan Torres, Dallas Banks, Trey Webber, Jaden Laboriel, Nini Mukiibi and David Morris.
Shub and Moscato lead soccer team through a challenging season
Ella Black
The Girls Varsity Soccer team wrapped up a challenging season with a final record of 5-6-2, led by captains Anna Shub and Anna Moscato. Chosen as captains for their complementary leadership style, they were determined to build a supportive team culture. Coach Cobos said, “It’s really awesome to have two captains who are so different from one another in their leadership
styles.” According to Cobos, Shub had more of a tough-love approach, bringing firmness and directness, while Moscato provided a more approachable and nurturing style.
Shub said, “This balance works well because some people work better with positive reinforcement, and others with constructive feedback.”
Throughout the season, the captains empowered their teammates to make mistakes and learn from them, a shift from past seasons when constant criticism often lowered people’s spirits.
“We really tried to create a team culture where, instead of tearing each other down for mistakes, we took those moments to lift each other up,” Shub said. This new mindset resonated, especially with the younger players, who often struggled to find confidence in challenging games.
The captains also focused on setting the right tone on the field, urging everyone to communicate without harshness or negativity.
“A lot of our girls come from club teams where the environment can be pretty harsh. We wanted to do the opposite and build a place where people felt comfortable and supported.” Moscato said.
Cobos highlighted that this positive environment would not have been possible without the captains’ openness to have one-onone conversations with each player.
The team’s game against St. Lukes was particularly tense because of the captain’s memories of their losses in freshman and sophomore year. A huge St. Luke’s crowd only added to the pressure. Even though Shub and Moscato were frustrated, they knew they had to keep calm. “Even if things weren’t going our way,
“It’s really awesome to have two captains who are so different from one another in thier leadership styles”
-Juan cobos
we had to keep our cool,” Anna said. Their restraint paid off, as the team stayed focused and resilient, ultimately winning with a final score of 1-0.
Reflecting on the season, Moscato expressed pride in how they’d shaped the team’s culture.
“We really wanted to build a good
culture, and I think, in the end, the legacy we left was very valuable.”
Shub also took pride in how they’d changed the team culture and hopes that her impact as a captain continues to foster a competitive sport that shows you can win and be a positive force.
Cobos said, “I could not be prouder of these players. Their growth as leaders and their commitment to building a positive team environment has set a new standard for the future.”
Sports awards ceremonies kick off a potentially permanent shift
Often overlooked due to the glaring construction taking place across campus and the dramatic policy changes towards phones, a quieter change has sprung up this year: sports awards are being conducted differently going forward. Namely, one ceremony has become many.
Historically, ceremonies were for the collective athlete body, and coaches had only a few minutes they could devote for each award. For this year’s fall and winter ceremony, and potentially the spring as well, the program will meet in individual groups where the coaches can dedicate more time to the celebration.
“In previous years,” said Head of Athletics Logan Condon, “We recognized the varsity athletes in a classic awards assembly. The coaches come up, speak, and award their two award recipients. Historically we have just done varsity award winners. It will now all be separated. Each sport will have its own date and space.”
In addition to smaller gatherings replacing the larger, inter-sport assembly, junior varsity (JV) athletes are being highlighted in addition to just varsity.
The change was in part due to the previous limitations on how long each coach had to speak.
Condon said, “This [change] allows our programs as a whole to really go in depth about as many athletes as they feel necessary and
ceremonies.
really talk as a group, including the JV teams within that program with the varsity team. Coaches can give different awards, recognize the seniors more in depth and just have a bigger celebration for the end of the season.”
Condon continued, “Coaches are really excited about it because it enables them to have more than five minutes. It allows you to dive deeper in really celebrating a whole season of work.”
“ IT ALLOWS YOU TO DIVE DEEPER IN REALLY CELEBRATING A WHOLE SEASON OF WORK” -LOGAN CONDON
Juan Cobos, the assistant athletics director, said, “It not only gives the ceremony a more intimate feel but it gives coaches a chance to go more in depth as they highlight award recipients. It also opens the door for the presentation of program-specific awards, thus acknowledging the contributions of even more student-athletes. Beyond that, it encourages greater attendance numbers, as evidenced
by our fall awards this past week.”
While the fall and winter sports seasons will be affected by the new ceremony structure, the spring season’s plan has yet to be decided. Generally speaking, the spring season awards ceremonies have witnessed a higher attendance and is celebrated more thoroughly. Because of that, Condon has looked to peer schools to see what they have been doing. He said, “A lot [of schools] have actually transitioned into this type of event where they still have a giant awards ceremony at the end of the year, which is for the major awards, but still allows each program to have more time with one another. It’s more intimate, and from what I’ve heard from other schools, their families have really enjoyed it.”
SOPHIA DING/TOWER
CAPTAIN ANNA SHUB PASSES the ball to a teamate during a game against Holy Child. Shub had a key role in creating a supportive team environment.
ElliE HisE
GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS CELEBRATES a successful season with a single-team awards ceremony. The athletics department has switched away from multi-sport gatherings in favor of more individualized single-sport
SENIOR CAPTAIN ANNA MOSCATO brings the ball up the field in a game against Holy Child. Moscato helped lead the team to a 5-6-2 record on the season.
SOPHIA DING/TOWER
SOPHIA DING/TOWER
GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS Jenny Xu, Elizibeth Skrenta, Ella Black and Sienna Morin celebrate at the teams volleyball-specific awards cermony.
SportS
No recruiting, no problem: How boys basketball continues to excel
Allie FA ber
During the 2023-24 Winter season, the Masters boys varsity basketball team had one of their best years yet: they made it to the semifinals of FAA and sent a star player to play at Bowdoin College, all while having a strong, supportive culture. So, this year, when a swath of basketball players joined the Masters community -- known by much of the student body as recruits -– it came as no surprise.
Although the flood of basketball players may be deceiving, the admissions and athletic departments do not have an official recruiting program.
At the collegiate level, recruiting usually involves offering student-athletes a standardized scholarship in exchange for their joining a team. This practice is not echoed in Masters admissions.
According to Associate Director of Boarding Admission, Jack Steven, Masters exclusively provides need-based financial aid -- not merit-based scholarships –- meaning there are no athletic scholarships akin to those in higher education for students to play sports for Masters.
“College and higher education is a little bit different, because colleges and universities have the ability to assign loans as part of a financial aid package. If we're talking about Division One athlet-
ics, as opposed to two and three, we're talking about scholarship money that is actually allocated specifically to that particular talent pool that doesn't exist on the high school side,” Adam Gimple, director of college counseling, said.
So, why the misconception?
Well, for starters, both high schools and colleges demand consistent levels of academic excellence across all their accepted applicants –- even student-athletes.
“First and foremost, if a student doesn't have the academic chops, they're simply not going to be admitted to a school,” Gimple said.
Stevens said, “[Being a skilled athlete] doesn't affect our academic standards or admission standards. It's really important that these students who are going to be high-impact athletes are also going to be high-impact classroom students and high-impact community citizens.”
cludes an area for students to highlight their specific interests, is also included prior to formal application. Then, the admissions team puts students in touch with coaches who head their respective sport.
“It's not necessarily recruiting…but, I'm having conversations with all types of athletes and connecting them with coaches on campus,” Stevens said. He explained that this part of the admissions process helps prospective students become part of the Masters community.
“ It’s not necessarily recruiting…but, I’m having conversations with all types of athletes and connecting them with coaches on campus.”
- Jack Stevens
When student-athletes apply to Masters, they can fill out a prospective student-athlete form. Created last year, this form goes directly to the admissions office. An optional general inquiry form, which in-
“As Masters continues to have its own institutional priorities of growing specific programs, whether that's the IEC programming, or if it's our visual and performing arts programming, or if it's athletics programming, there are always opportunities for schools like Masters to go out into the market and say, ‘We want to build this program, so we want to try and find students who have talents and capabilities to contribute to this program,’” Gimple said.
Stevens and the head coach of the boys varsity basketball team attribute the arrival of several players
to the team’s improvement, strong leadership and welcoming culture.
“[The influx of student-athletes] is a result of the product. You know, when people hear good things about a program, they want to join it. And Coach Kuhl has built a program that kids want to be a part of,” Stevens said.
Head coach, Joey Kuhl, noted the team’s significant success in recent years and celebrated the team’s en- ergy under senior leadership.
“People like what they see when they look at our program, and that's really a testament to the players. The seniors from two years ago and last year really did a great job setting a cul ture, and it's a fun but se rious team to be on, which I think is what most people are looking for,” Kuhl said.
This year the team has been working hard in the off season, with weight room sessions, 4v4 drills, morn ing practices and runs. One of the new players, Veljko Stanic ‘26, compared the basketball program at Mas ters to ones of which he has previously been a part of.
“Completely differ ent. In Serbia, it’s clubs,
nothing to do with school. And here, it’s school activities, so it’s more fun.” He continued, “I’ve gotten better at the game. I’ve also learned that knowing people around you, the people you play with, helps on the court.”
Although Masters doesn’t have a fully fledged recruiting regime, the basketball program has grown and is working towards the upcoming season.
Gimple said, “If they have the ability to be academically successful here, they’re mission-aligned in terms of who they are personally, and they happen to possess a talent related to a
AyAl Ah Spr Att
ON THE LEFT, LUC Brongniart ‘26 and Omari Levy ‘26 watch a demonstration of a drill during boys varsity basketball tryouts. On the right, Ben MacLean ‘26 is receiveing a handoff from assistant coach, Jack Stevens. On the far right, Veljko Stanic ‘26 shoots a jump shot.
JENNY XU/TOWER