Tower The Masters School
49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522
VOLUME 73, NUMBER 1
Editorial This presidential election shows the stark contrast between the two candidates: one, a dedicated public servant; the other, a dangerous demagogue. As “powers for good in the world,” mebers of the Masters community ought to make the moral and intelligent choice this election.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 21, 2016
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Assange threatens to upturn election
Robinson talks creativity MichAel FitzgerAld News Editor Tomorrow during family weekend, Sir Ken Robinson, the man with the most viewed Ted Talk of all-time, will speak to the Masters community. Robinson is an author, a speaker and an international advisor. During his professional career, he served as Director of the Arts in Schools Project, where he worked with over 2,000 teachers, artists, and administrators to develop arts and education throughout England. He later served as a professor at the University of Warwick for 12 years. Another field he specializes in is the development of creativity. He was listed by Fast Company magazine as “one of the world’s elite thinkers on creativity and innovation.” The Ted Talk he delivered, Do Schools Kill Creativity?, has over 40 million total views. In this speech, he discussed how children are taught not to be wrong by the educational system, which leads to limitations of their creativity. Robinson believes that being creative means being willing to make mistakes. Not teaching children to take risks squanders their ability to learn. Robinson’s book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, which was published in 2009, reached the New York Times bestseller list. The book explores the balance of talent and passion. Robinson claims that in order for people to work to the best of their abilities, it is vital that they are passionate about their work. Senior Dan Solomon said about Masters, “For a school that emphasizes discussion and has every class oriented around it, I think it’s interesting how few classes there are that really focus on creativity or creative thoughts as a subject itself.” English teacher Dr. Paul West remarked, “It’ll be interesting. It’s nice having speakers from other walks of life, too. But I think so, also because [Mr. Robinson] comes from another perspective than most of us. I do think it’ll be worthwhile.”
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GETTING THE BIGGER PICTURE in a senior class selfie is one thing, but getting the bigger picture for a long-term plan is another. The “Campus Master Plan” is currently being designed by the firm Blinder Beyer Belle to help future Masters generations enjoy the campus to its fullest ability, and every angle is being taken into consideration.
Masters plans upcoming years AlexAndrA Bentzien News Editor In the past ten years, Masters has experienced a sizable campus expansion with the additions of the Greene Family Field, Morris Hall and, most recently, the Fonseca Center. Now, a committee is planning how the campus can be more effectively enjoyed and accessed by all with the “Master Plan” strategy. “The idea of the plan is to take our campus, understand what works and what does not, and allow the school to change in a smart way,” Associate Head of School Tim Kane said. “We are looking at absolutely everything.” Although the Master Plan has been in development since last spring, planning began in earnest in September, when the architectural planning firm, Beyer Blinder Belle, was chosen by a committee of
Trustee members and select staff. Kane said the plan’s focus is to create “more functional outdoor space” around campus. One of the top priorities is making Masters more convenient for cars and pedestrians alike by developing logical routes for all types of transport to
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The idea of the plan is to take our campus, understand what works and what does not, and allow the school to change in a smart way. - TIM KANE
efficiently navigate campus without creating traffic. Blinder Beyer Belle spent time visiting the campus’ open spaces, like the woods next to Clarke Field, the woods areas behind the middle school, and the green space in front of Esthwerood to examine the possibilities of outdoor science classes
and walking or running trails. The Master Plan also focuses on spaces within campus buildings. “We have spaces that are overutilized and strained and spaces that are underutilized or serving the wrong functions,” said Head of School Laura Danforth. The Mann Dining Hall is one of these spaces. Built in 1967, it was originally constructed to accommodate 300 girls who sat down and were served during meal times; today, the same building is filled with up to 1,000 people at a time, resulting in long lines and a space that seems smaller than it was meant to be. In keeping with the school’s theme of sustainability, the committee wants to reorganize the dining space to successfully host the school’s growing population, as well as to make it more accessible for those with disabilities. Continued on page 2
Julian Assange, creator of Wikileaks, a website responsible for releasing government information provided by whistleblowers or hackers, went on record in September claiming that he would release documents damaging the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Assange claimed that the documents he would release would qualify as this year’s “October Surprise”, a term used to describe a catalyst during the election cycle. Assange called a press conference on Oct. 3, on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, later moving it to the following day in Berlin, due to fear of an assassination attempt. The public was met with further disappointment after Assange did not release any documents for another week. Finally, on Oct. 7 Assange released emails sent by John Podesta, an associate of the Clintons and Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton. The subject matter of the emails ranged from information sent from a Bernie Sanders campaign staffer, regarding tweets that would later be posted, to the release of information pertaining to plants in the audience to ask intriguing questions which Clinton had rehearsed. Even with the 17,000 plus emails that have been released, the media coverage of it has been minimal. Senior Oliver Clayton, who will be voting in Continued on page 2
Chairs and spaces dwindle as class sizes continue to grow Phil Minton Opinion Editor The beginning of the school year always brings forth the anticipation of new class members. This year, many students were surprised to see that their classes had up to 18 students in them, four more than the average class. For years Masters has prided itself on small and intimate classes around the Harkness table. Michele Dennis, Chair of the Mathematics Department, explained that even with 14 students as the average class size, 16 is usually the maximum amount of students that can be in a class, considering no more can fit around the table. “Most of our senior math classes are maxed out,” said Dennis, “it would not be the end of the world if we had bigger classrooms.” She went on to say that a few students even volunteered that it was hard to learn in a smaller classroom with more students. Though it seems like many classes are completely filled, Dennis made note of the fact that Head of School Danforth has made it her top priority to create more classrooms. Junior Amanda Taylor said of productivity in the class, “In
classes like Amstud, where there are two classes combined [28 students], having a large class is extremely beneficial to learning because it makes for a more interesting conversation, however, in classes like calculus, it just becomes less productive.” Many students feel that the collaborative process of Harkness helps further their understanding of the material. However, grade size continues to expand faster than classrooms can be constructed. This year the Class of 2019 added 27 new students (a 20% increase) to their previous 108, making them the second largest grade on campus after the seniors. Although the current senior class size [138 students] was deemed an anomaly at first, it seems that it has become the new Masters norm. The Class of 2017 is about 17% bigger than the previous graduating class [118 students]. Similarly, the sophomore class is about 14% larger than the Class of 2016, and will continue to add students for the 2017-2018 school year. Head of Upper School Matt Ives came to Masters 20 years ago, the same year that the Harkness tables were introduced. Over the years Ives has observed that for a Harkness discussion to be
PHIL MINTON/TOWER
CLASS SIZES HAVE INCREASED in the past years, resulting in classrooms feeling smaller than desired and a call for added classrooms. effective the students need to feel sweet spot. It really depends on small for 14 or 15 students,” said safe and motivated. He goes on what the class is doing,” said Ives. Ives. Though Masters continues Ives confirms that in the next to grow over time, Harkness reto say that a key aspect of a good 20 years the goal is to create five mains a core part of the school’s class discussion is the number of or six more classrooms amongst identity. students in the class. “Less than other things being created around nine students is too few, which campus. “I think that we need is why we strive for a goal of 16; more classrooms because right however, more than that is not now we have some that are too impossible, but 14 is definitely a
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NEWS
TOWER/OCTOBER 21, 2016
Masters students shine at UN Mark TseyTin Sports Editor Not only do Masters students speak in front of a Model United Nations audience, but some have spoken in front of the real United Nations (UN) as well. This year, three Masters students spoke at and participated in events at the UN. The visits were not set up by Masters and happened independently, showing the students dedication to their respective causes. At the UN-sponsored No Boundary Youth Art Exhibition on Aug. 14, sophomore John Jiang displayed his photography. On Sept. 21, Senior Jared Foxhall spoke about sustainability at the International Day of Peace in the historic General Assembly room. Finally, on Sept. 11, sophomore Sameer Nabi spoke about education in Afghanistan. Foxhall, from Peekskill, New York, spoke on behalf of, Something Good in The World, a small Cortlandt-based nonprofit. He tackled the issues of sustainable outdoor education, hands-on involvement and his personal connection with the organization. “It felt great being able to represent our organization at this assembly because it is really something that I am passionate about and have been doing since I was a kid,” Foxhall said. He added that the organization needs more attention, money and resources in order to be successful. Since Foxhall was homeschooled when he was young, the gardens, run by the organization, had a profound effect on him. He said being able to learn outside inspired him and credits most of the project’s incredible work to the founder of the organization, Barbara Sarbin. His passion for the project, coupled with Sarbin’s, has already lead the organization to achieve recognition by the United Nations
ACIDPOLLY/FLICKR
JULIAN ASSANGE PLANS TO release damaging documents that will expose the Democractic National Committee and its presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign strategies. JOHN JIANG
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED Nations General Assembly attended the No Boundary Youth Art Exhibition where sophomore John Jiang showcased his photography. Senior Jared Foxhall and junior Sameer Nabi have also spoken at the UN this year. and there is hope that it will do even more. John Jiang, originally from Beijing, China, was fortunate enough to have his photography displayed at the United Nations. The exhibit he participated in was developed to create a broader international platform from which young artists can display their work, learn from each other and improve their understanding of art. “I loved attending this project and really getting involved with it. I know that I am not a professional photographer but my mom told me to try it out so I did, and it turned out great,” Jiang said. Jiang was one of six Masters of Ceremonies, an exclusive position given to select few out of thousands. Jiang is very thankful for being awarded the opportunity. Jiang’s work was named top 50 out of thousands of other works and he was selected as a Cultural Ambassador, allowing him to represent the exhibition. Jiang said that he “was surprised to hear the announcement at morning meeting because nobody told me they were
Masters plans upcoming years
going to announce it so formally. It was definitely a pleasant surprise.” Nabi talked with people working closely with the UN including Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium, General Assembly president and David Cameron, former prime minister of Britain. “My mission was to talk about education and make clear that Afghanistan is a growing country that has great potential. So many people think that it’s just a country full of illiterate people, but I hope that in my speech I proved otherwise,” said Nabi. The primary focus of Nabi’s speech was to bring justice and a better education system to Afghanistan. As part of the initiative to save the children, Nabi, along with many other representatives from places such as China, Africa and South America, got together for this project at the UN. What all three of these students have in common is that they are all committed to their respective causes and are actively playing a part in the world’s larger community.
Assange threatens to upturn election
really highlights the issues we are facing this year.” The subject matter of the emails this election, was “unaware” of the has not proven to be a threat to Podesta email situation. Senior Isabelle Davis, who is in Clinton’s campaign, but it is still Political Science class, said, “The relatively early. To many Amerireason it is not getting as much cans, these emails are only reinforcing an idea attention is bethat has been cause Trump reiterated nuis blowing up THE ELECTION CYCLE HAS merous times right now,” and NOT PRESENTED ANY FAVORthroughout “that is what ABLE CANDIDATES AND HILhistory. Davis the public is LARY REMAINS THE BEST OPsaid, “So many interested in TION. politicians are right now.” doing immorYet after - OLIVER CLAYTON al and dislikehearing of the able things all leaked inforthe time, and mation, Clayton said, “It won’t influence my we only find out about the things vote. The election cycle has not that get exploited.” Assange has presented any favorable candi- claimed that further releases will dates and Hillary remains the contain more damaging informabest option.” Clayton later said, tion. Even then, it is unlikely Clin“In a different election cycle my ton’s success will be threatened. thoughts might be different, and I think that is interesting because it Continued from page 1
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Poli-Sci polls Masters allie Berdon
While decisions will be Danforth and the Board of Trustees According to Kane, Strayer Hall have ultimately authority over decision-making process, is also being studied to ensure that the Kane stated that it is importits facilities, including the digiant for students as well to have tal lab, the recording studio, and “a vested interested in what the practice rooms, match the quality school should look and be like.” of Masters’ music program. Pos“Our grounds and facilities sible changes could result in a rehave a direct impact on our enerdesigned interior with acoustics gy, creativity, mood, and sense of appropriate for all types of encommunity. It also matters that sembles. the Masters campus conveys the The committee is also keepvibrant health of our school. There ing in mind the historical signifare places on campus that don’t icance of the campus space, and show us at our best, and it’s time how school landmarks, including to get that into alignment,” DanEstherwood and the Carriage forth said. House, can be On Nov. used to their 17, Masters fullest potenwill host a tial and change second event OUR GROUNDS AND FACILin a way that is with Beyer ITIES HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT contemporary Blinder Belle ON OUR ENERGY, CREATIVITY, to the times in the form MOOD AND SENSE OF COMMUwhile still stayof an open NITY ing true to their house. Disroots. play boards - LAURA DANFORTH However, will be set up Masters may in the Dining not achieve Hall for a few all proposed hours during changes: Kane lunch for students to see potential stressed that decisions will be proposals, make suggestions, and made based on a matter of priorask questions. ity and affordability, as all projThe Master Plan is on track to ects will be financed by private be completed this January, with contributions, not tuition money. some ideas being realized in as Tracy Tang Limpe, Chair of the soon as two to three years. As Board of Trustees, and P ‘18, said Masters approaches its 140th anthat the Master Plan will still niversary, it is already investing provide a helpful outline for the in the next 140 years, allowing campus’ future: It “is our attempt future generations to do it with to take a more holistic look at their might. many different needs and desires, to step back from a reaction-based approach and look at everything, and hopefully create a long term vision for the campus.” Continued from page 1
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Editor-in-Chief If you have ever wondered what political party your teachers are affiliated with, it can sometimes be a challenging feat to figure it out. However, every four years faculty and students are buzzing as the election floods the school community. Both Political Science classes have been analyzing the presidential and vice-presidential debates, reading about the complexities of the election in The New York Times, and polling the Upper School and faculty about their political views. The graphs below, both random and fixed, show the results from a selection of 47 teachers and a group of 60 Upper School Students chosen randomly. Interestingly, of the 47 teachers polled, a staggering 86% identify as Democrat, and of the 60 students who were polled, 68% identify as Democrat. 15% of the students identify as Republican while only 2% of the teachers do. 10% of the students identify with the Independent, Liberal and Social Democrat parties, while 7% do not identify with a party at all. When asking about important issues, 19% of the teachers chose job growth and the economy as their number one issue. 17% chose environmental issues, with institutional racism and education as a close second at 9%. One Political Science class polled sophomore boys specifically. They felt strongly that public universities should be free, with 63% agreeing. Overall, the results of the poll show a strong Democratic presence on campus, but also a not insignificant Republican population.
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OP-ED
TOWER/ OCTOBER 21, 2016
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OpiniOn EDITORIAL
This election, voters’ choice is clear Never before has America been so critical of both presidential candidates going into an election season. Both candidates have high disapproval ratings. One candidate, however, is more qualified than the other. In this election one candidate has bragged about sexual assault, made racist comments and ridiculed people with disabilities. Thus, many papers across the country have felt the need to endorse his opponent. Over 80 publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Daily News, The Miami Herald and The New York Times have endorsed Clinton. Even Salt Lake City’s traditionally conservative, mormon-owned Deseret News has backed Clinton’s candidacy. As an editorial board, we understand their decisions. As a student paper, Tower’s editorial board does not usually endorse presidential candidates. However, in this upcoming election, we implore our readership to support Clinton. It is true that Clinton has her flaws. She undermined her opponent Bernie Sanders, used an illegal private email to send classified documents. Trump, on the other hand, runs a billion dollar business but has admitted to not paying income tax, refusing to release his tax returns. He even referred to himself as “smart” for hypothetically not paying taxes to
the Government he wishes to represent. Also, a person’s ability to speak one’s mind or, as Trump often reminds voters, “run a business” is irrelevant when it comes to running one of the world’s most powerful countries. What a world leader needs is political experience, a global perspective and respect for the country’s citizens.
Trump’s running mate, Governor of Indiana Mike Pence, signed a bill that allowed businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals.
Trump has made incredibly lewd comments about women and has even declared that a “woman who is very flat-chested is hard to be a 10.” These homophobic and sexist acts show the pair’s ineptitude to run our
country. While both candidates have their flaws, Clinton is by far more qualified to be president than her Republican counterpart. She has had political experience as both a Senator and as Secretary of State. She fights for equal pay and lower public university tuition. She is also a role model for women and men around the world. With Clinton’s multitude of experience in the political world we believe that she is a superior choice to both Trump and third party candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson who have little political experience and have often come under fire for controversial statements. At Masters we are told to go out and be powers for good in the world. We are told to respect others. How can we, as members of the Masters community, support a candidate that supports the exclusion of an entire religious group, calls women “pigs,” and has no experience as a politician. As members of this community we vote with our might. This means voting with our consciences.
News editors
Alex Bentzien MichAel FitzgerAld opiNioN editors
Phil Minton henry WilliAMs Features editors
logAn toPoroFF george Weed sports editors
oWen lieBer MArk tseytin MaNagiNg editor
cedAr Berrol young advertisiNg MaNager
JAck MurrAy desigN editor
JAke regele Copy editors
JAck MurrAy dAvid oks FaCt CheCker
toMMy MckennA eMMA luis photo editor
soPhie BuchAnAn CoNtributiNg writers
sAM levin CoNtributiNg photographers
have that meeting place. Or at least those who want it, to have that meeting place. This school already has so much pride and spirit. I would never disregard the things that make this place special. And for the record, I am not trying to re-create my high school experience. I just want to broaden yours. Masters will never be my high school; it is your high school. The Den doesn’t belong to anyone. We are all a part of it. It is symbolic of our love for this place. It doesn’t matter the sport or event. I want the idea to resonate that when we say we are going to “Pack the Den,” it simply means we are going to put our full energy behind supporting the awesome things people do here. Soccer, Phochella, swimming, “Great Gig,” lacrosse, jazz band concerts, it won’t matter the venue. It will be about sharing in an experience together. I simply chose to start with athletics because it is the place that – I felt – could use some support and love. To those who came to the first event for Girls Varsity Volleyball, I appreciate your willingness to try something new. Your support means the world. It shows that just because we don’t, doesn’t mean we can’t. Traditions are born every day. This could be our legacy at Masters. I hope to see you at the next “Pack the Den.” Sincerely, Brendon Barrios History Teacher
sArAh FABer huston WAtson FaCulty advisers
Letter to the Editor: Barrios defends The Den I have gotten a lot of feedback over the past two weeks regarding The Den (the official supporters group started by DAA and Phoenix). Some excitement. Some skepticism. Some indifference. A lot of misunderstanding. I agreed to write this letter, not necessarily to defend The Den, but rather, to clear the air. The Den exists for one reason and one reason only…school spirit. As I mentioned in my presentation, I love sports, and I know there are people at Masters who love sports too, but The Den isn’t about sports. It is about community. “We gather” for a lot of cool reasons here at Masters: Founders Day, MISH projects, Community Weekends, Halloween, prom, graduation. When I arrived at Masters, my question was simple: Why not sports too? I received a lot of pushback for simply asking the question and understandably so. I was new and I didn’t have a grasp the culture here. This is an arts school. Pushing any athletic agenda would mean this would naturally take something away from something or someone else. I felt silly. At my high school, we didn’t have the luxury to come together in the same way as Masters. Athletics was one of the few ways we could unite as a community. Friday night was a night to be with friends, wear your school colors, tailgate, watch – or, in my case – perform in the marching band, and then head to Ruby Tuesdays after the game. It was our meeting place. I want us to
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LAST YEAR’S EDITORS-IN-CHIEF and faculty advisor Matt Browne lead the paper to its fifth consecutive award.
Tower gets the gold, again
For the fifth year in a row, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded Tower a Gold award for overall excellence. A judge for the competition wrote, “this is as professional looking a paper as I’ve seen. It has that Times feel to it, and the coverage you give to the important events, places, people, etc. is commendable.” Additionally, for the first time in the paper’s history, the National Scholastic Press Association has declared an editorial published by Tower an Editorial/Opinion Story of the Year finalist. The editorial which received the award, “Diversity at Masters: Lack of diverse teachers sends hypocritical message to minority students,” was written by former editors-in-chief Rajan Cutting and Ariel Censor and was pub-
lished in the Feb. 2016 issue. It discussed the gap between the states of student and faculty diversity. “We cannot have an honest conversation pertaining to identity until we acknowledge the drastic contrast between our studetn body and the adults that teach us. Our school is predominantly taught by white teachers which isn’t representative of our diverse student body,” Censor and Cutting wrote. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to these achievements, especially our other former editor-in-chief Yiyi (Mia) Ouyang as well as Ellen Cowhey and Matthew Browne, our faculty advisers. We would also like to extend our thanks to Rajan and Ariel for their thoughtful and well-written editorial.
Tower is hand-delivered on the day of publication to the Upper School. 650 copies are printed and one is put in each faculty member’s mailbox. In addition, 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, a finalist for Editorial/Opinion Story of the Year from NSPA, 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.
Features & arts 4
FEATURES AND ARTS
Remembering Masters’ faded traditions would be nearly unrecognizable if it weren’t for hockey team that was still around until 2005. the familiar stairwells, hallways and trees in the Atlee, faculty member at Masters for 31 years, backs of pictures. In the ‘60s, each of the tiny, said “Traditions in a school and a society change Web Editor all-girl sports teams were made even smaller by as time goes on, and it’s helpful to reflect on splitting each team into Delta and Phi because what’s good, or not so good, about them. A lot of Masters will be celebrating its 140th anniver- there were no other schools to compete against. traditions that we had morphed with the times. sary this coming January, and although the land Delta and Phi even had their very own cheerlead- They sort of build meaning and community as has remained the same, a lot has changed. ing team. In the ‘80s, the girls spent their time they evolve with the school and student interest. Skimming through the old yearbooks and pic- having sing-alongs in the dorms, and hanging out Some remain strong, and some just die out.” tures from 50 years ago, one can see in the senior room when the seniors weren’t there. Evolution is an important factor in the upkeep that Masters “That was the best part. So many of the girls of traditions.When switching from an all-girls were boarders that we spent as much time as pos- school, names of clubs, sports teams and so many sible on campus,” Laura Gilman, other things had to be altered to match the times. Class of ‘87, said. In the ‘90s, boys Not only is time an important factor, but money joined the and size are also key reacommunisons for the so-called disty, and life appearances. at Masters Traditions like flower completely Traditions in a school and chain, an event where the transformed. a society change as time goes seniors would buy each But even on, and it’s helpful to reflect other fresh cut flowers on as one goes the senior steps, fell off on what’s good, or not so f u r t h e r the grid when financial good, about them. through time issues became a problem. to less than 15 Not only was money a -A my A tlee years ago, the major problem in keeping yearbook pages up these traditions, but are dotted with also size. As Masters conclubs, classes, teams and traditions that tinues to expand, more traditions such as baby no longer exist. “Spirit Squad”, the old- days, a whole-school field trip to the circus or the school version of “The Den,” “Suburban city each time a faculty member, had a baby had Disconnection”, a spin-off of Urban Con- to be cut away. Even the Junior Games, a former nection, and “Sohns”, the male version of gymnastics showcase, had to be ended and altered Dohters, have all said goodbye within the to accommodate the changing times and safety last 15 years. Clubs haven’t been the only measures. things that have seemingly disappeared. Of course with all of these cutbacks, they have Traditions have also seemingly vanished left room for new clubs, new traditions and new with no explanations. A 9/11 recognition teams to thrive at Masters, hopefully for the next assembly, a black and white dance and an 140 years to come. annual campfire all followed the class of 2003 out of the door. Even the sports teams have suffered a few losses, from a gymnastics team coached by Amy Atlee, to an ice EMMA LUIS / TOWER
By emma LuiS
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Bon Iver tops the charts Sam Levin Contributing Writer
Students feed into sustainability been communicated in a more interactive way to keep student’s attention and avoid doing these during Features Editor lunch, because of these issues the students lacked attention from the This year’s theme of sustain- PowerPoint so the information was ability has already been executed not being heard.” in many ways throughout the comSenior and Effect member Darryl munity. Effect, a student-run sus- Frank also added, “Though it did tainability group, has been put into serve its purpose in being an introplay to expose people to the ideas of ductory presentation about sustainsustainability as well as other small ability, I think instead we should attempts to make Masters a more have more hands on work with the environmentally beneficial place. In different grades or hold Harkness addition to these efforts, the school discussions on the topic so more stuhas added a mandatory lunch or dents are engaged,” which is an idea class meeting for each grade regard- Effect is trying to pursue. ing how to live a sustainable life Environmental teacher and Effect and what that really means. Elaine advisor, Mary May said, “the goal Franck, a was to bring represenforth sustaintative from The goal was to bring forth ability to get the Outdoor sustainability to get students students on Science and on board with it. board with Leadership it. We want Institute, has - Mary May people to been speaking start taking at these grade responsibilevents to efity for their ficiently eduwaste and cate students asking questhrough a video and presentation on tions.” She also added, “My hope is what they can do both as individu- if students care at all, they will start als, as well as a school community. to get involved on a personal level. The junior class had their Making changes, and being the diflunch in the Lecture Hall on Septem- ference.” As Masters continues its ber 29th. Junior and Effect member attempts to grow as a sustainable Olivia Johnke said, “I definitely community, many more discussions think it was beneficial to our school, and activities will be following these we cannot afford to ignore sustain- lunches to keep students aware of ability issues any longer so I think these issues. we should continue these drives.” She also added that, “it could have
Logan Toporoff
After five years of hard work and cryptic teasing, Bon Iver’s “22, A Million” was finally released on September 30th. Before the release, the band performed songs from the album live on television, and released singles to promote the 10-song experience. While every song is unique and interesting, perhaps the most intriguing story is Justin Vernon’s. Justin Vernon is the lead singer and writer for Bon Iver. He grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and went through many bands and even a solo act to get where he is today. He created and played with the band DeYarmond Edison during his time in high school and college. The band decided to take their music elsewhere and traveled to North Carolina to pursue their musical career. They released two albums and still have an unreleased EP up on their MySpace page. Eventually, the band broke up, as well as Vernon and his girlfriend, and he decided to travel alone back to Wisconsin. Depressed and confused, diagnosed with mononucleosis, he lived alone in his father’s remote hunting cabin, hunting his own food and writing music. During his time there, he wrote and recorded his album titled “For Emma, Forever Ago” using only his voice, a guitar, a snare drum, a piano, and some horns. His career skyrocketed from there and he started getting noticed by other musicians. Vernon has worked with James
PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA, EDITED BY GEROGE WEED/TOWER
SINGER-SONGWRITER- JUSTIN VERNON hits the top of the charts with his #1 album, “22, A Million.” Blake, Kanye West, Frank Ocean and many more musicians due to his iconic falsetto voice. Performing on albums such as “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” and The “Colour In Anything.” His music is featured on TV shows such as “One Tree Hill” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” bringing him more recognition. Since 2009, he has only gotten more and more popular, and finally after breaking into the “pop” genre, he has started a tour for the new album, “22, A Million.” The new album features fewer instruments than his first. There is a lot of computer-generated noise used as drums, and Vernon puts a vast array of audio effects on his
voice to create a whole chorus built on top of his vocals. He often raises his vocal tracks by an octave which surprisingly doesn’t sound silly at all. He uses a full orchestra at one point, and he samples a lot of hymns. Over all, the album feels very religious, but not annoyingly so. Every song brings a new element to the table, and by the very last song, Vernon lets you feast on the whole buffet. “22, A Million” is a musical experience. While not every song can be listened to without the others, the entire album together is a 34 minute landscape of sounds and feelings that I highly recommend.
FEATURES AND ARTS
TOWER/ OCTOBER 21, 2016
5
Students enjoy the new dining service Tommy mcKenna Fact Checker This year, Masters changed its meal provider from Aramark to Brock and Co., following concerns raised by the community about sustainability and health. This new company has been providing new foods and beverages that are markedly different than past years’, but these changes have affected movement in the dining hall itself. As senior Meaghan Cunniffe said, “I think that maybe the layout should be changed just so that it’s not crazy all the time… Last year it was all mainly centralized in one area,” Cuniffe recalled, “But now it’s all over [the Dining Hall] and its annoying to get around.” Cuniffe added that she heard numerous complaints about how disorderly lunch has become since the change in providers, and said she “Would change how the lines work” to reduce pandemonium. Regarding the food, however, Cuniffe felt the food is “really good,”
a sentiment that was echoed by senior Lucas Curran, a vegetarian; and sophomore Elisabeth Foreman. “I love it. It’s amazing. I like that they kept the old [workers]; but more importantly, the food is amazing.” Curran also noted the increased options for vegetarians, while mentioning the issues and concerns raised about Aramark last year. There are a “lot of vegetarian options”, remarked Curran, “A lot of organic options from locally-grown places. It’s amazing.” Regarding the new organization of the Dining Hall, Curran said “There are a lot of lines, but there were a lot of lines last year too,” adding that he “doesn’t know how they can really fix that.” Foreman echoed this sentiment: “It was insanely confusing at first but now it’s completely fine,” in reference to the location of meals. “I was just not used to seeing the tables like that.” While this new change at Masters may be one of the most far-reaching this year, students surely appreciate at least some aspects of the new dining service.
SOPHIE BUCHANAN/TOWER
STUDENTS WAIT ON LINE at one of the many food stations provided by Brock, the new dining hall service. Early feedback regarding the new dining service has been very positive.
Benjamin helps dancers explore individual styles george Weed Features Editor In the absence of former Head of the Dance Department, Mary Rotella, many dancers were skeptical at the company’s ability to live up to the previous years’ standard. “I think we were all a little nervous at first,” said senior dancer Isabelle Davis “We’d only ever worked with Mary.” But Shell Benjamin, the new Dance and Drama Teacher, hopes to prove to her students and to the rest of the school that she can improve and expand the dance program. A lifelong dancer and 15 year instructor, Benjamin is trying to direct the group in a new direction with her first themed production. Despite a hard deadline, she has made a promising start. Since the beginning of the school year, Benjamin and her students have been training and choreographing for a themed showcase of their talent and potential. “In a given production, 60 hours of work are required.” Benjamin said, “often more.” While she encourages all of her dancers to perform a the highest potential, her motives in doing so reflect a more humble goal: for dancers to have an opportunity to express a piece of their true self through dance. Benjamin’s priorities reflect
GEORGE WEED/ TOWER
SHELL BENJAMIN, THE NEW Dance and Drama Teacher, demonstrates technique to a dancers Ileya DuBoulay and Ziqi (Lily) Wang who will be performing in the upcoming “This Is Me” dance production. typical Masters values of individuality. The theme for their first production is “This Is Me.” All senior dance students have the opportunity to
choreograph a piece based on a part of their inner self. And ultimately to present that to the larger Masters Community. “I’m here to teach these creative
beings how to use the art of dance to express a part of themselves that people dont necessarily get to see,” she says. “I want them to portray as much of them as they feel comfort-
able with.” “Everyone is getting to expose a part of themselves or who they are,” said senior Emma Rubinson, “it allows us to to focus the piece around a message that is important, and it makes the piece unique to the choreographer. I’m excited because I get to express a different side of myself that I haven’t shown before” Dancers like Rubinson have the distinct opportunity to pass the torch down to the younger members of the dance company, and bolster them to the new seniors of the dance company. While Benjamin does help her students with the basic dance technique, the choreography, costume and overall style of the performances are centrally determined by the dancers themselves. Music is also a big part of the entire production cycle, Benjamin said, and that too is something that is being chosen by the dancers. “I’m helping the students to artistically convey a message,” she said. “The most interesting part, is that the message means something different for every dancer.” The showcase that is taking place tonight in the Claudia Boettcher Theater is only a part of the larger “This Is Me” theme. The Dance Company will also be having a longer, second production on Nov. 11-12. and Benjamin and the entire Dance Company encourage you to go check it out.
Masters clocks in after hours george Weed Features Editor
“
CEDAR BERROL YOUNG/TOWER
SAINT LUC NOISETTE, CUSTODIAN at The Masters School wipes down the glass in each classroom of Masters Hall, dusts all the tables and takes out the trash everyday.
7:30 A.M. and the first day students are beginning to trickle into school. It’s a regular school day and, although early, by the time that the doors have opened, everything is ready to go: floors vacuumed, trash emptied and chairs neatly pushed in. This state of cleanliness often goes unnoticed and unappreciated because it is considered normal. However, take away the combined efforts of the roughly 70 members of the janitorial, security and food services, and the school might look very different. One reason that a lot of this manual work goes unnoticed is because little of it gets done during school. While students are in class and using the facilities, it is difficult for custodians to clean rooms or collect trash and recycling, but work begins as soon as school ends. “I have a team of 18 men and women on staff,” said Brian Kaczmarek,
Manager of Building Maintenance. “They are constantly at work.” Seven days a week, every day of the school year, they must clean all surfaces, vacuum all carpet, polish all stone, and take out the garbage from each room. “My team is here from about 3:00 to about 11:30 [P.M.] on school
“
They are constantly at work. Seven days a week, every day of the school year -Brian Kaczmarek
days, to ensure that all facilities are in working condition for the following day.” Masters doesn’t go to sleep at 11:30, though. “There are always at least two guards on campus tasked with maintaining security at all times,” said Dan Pereira, Director of Safety
and Resources. Even after the last custodians have left school grounds, security officers are on campus making their regular hour-long rounds to ensure that no one is trespassing. By 6:30 A.M. the dining hall staff will have arrived and begun working on breakfast. Lee Bergelson, Dining Hall General Manager and Culinary Institute of America graduate, is busy along with his staff from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave, either prepping for the next meal or cleaning from the last. Bergelson and his 35 staff members are working hours before school begins and hours after most students have left. Be it a school day, weekend or holiday break, there are always people on campus ensuring that school continues to run smoothly. It is through the combined efforts of the men and women behind the scenes that our school remains a safe, productive and healthy place to be.
Features & arts 4
FEATURES AND ARTS
Remembering Masters’ faded traditions would be nearly unrecognizable if it weren’t for hockey team that was still around until 2005. the familiar stairwells, hallways and trees in the Atlee, faculty member at Masters for 31 years, backs of pictures. In the ‘60s, each of the tiny, said “Traditions in a school and a society change Web Editor all-girl sports teams were made even smaller by as time goes on, and it’s helpful to reflect on splitting each team into Delta and Phi because what’s good, or not so good, about them. A lot of Masters will be celebrating its 140th anniver- there were no other schools to compete against. traditions that we had morphed with the times. sary this coming January, and although the land Delta and Phi even had their very own cheerlead- They sort of build meaning and community as has remained the same, a lot has changed. ing team. In the ‘80s, the girls spent their time they evolve with the school and student interest. Skimming through the old yearbooks and pic- having sing-alongs in the dorms, and hanging out Some remain strong, and some just die out.” tures from 50 years ago, one can see in the senior room when the seniors weren’t there. Evolution is an important factor in the upkeep that Masters “That was the best part. So many of the girls of traditions.When switching from an all-girls were boarders that we spent as much time as pos- school, names of clubs, sports teams and so many sible on campus,” Laura Gilman, other things had to be altered to match the times. Class of ‘87, said. In the ‘90s, boys Not only is time an important factor, but money joined the and size are also key reacommunisons for the so-called disty, and life appearances. at Masters Traditions like flower completely Traditions in a school and chain, an event where the transformed. a society change as time goes seniors would buy each But even on, and it’s helpful to reflect other fresh cut flowers on as one goes the senior steps, fell off on what’s good, or not so f u r t h e r the grid when financial good, about them. through time issues became a problem. to less than 15 Not only was money a -A my A tlee years ago, the major problem in keeping yearbook pages up these traditions, but are dotted with also size. As Masters conclubs, classes, teams and traditions that tinues to expand, more traditions such as baby no longer exist. “Spirit Squad”, the old- days, a whole-school field trip to the circus or the school version of “The Den,” “Suburban city each time a faculty member, had a baby had Disconnection”, a spin-off of Urban Con- to be cut away. Even the Junior Games, a former nection, and “Sohns”, the male version of gymnastics showcase, had to be ended and altered Dohters, have all said goodbye within the to accommodate the changing times and safety last 15 years. Clubs haven’t been the only measures. things that have seemingly disappeared. Of course with all of these cutbacks, they have Traditions have also seemingly vanished left room for new clubs, new traditions and new with no explanations. A 9/11 recognition teams to thrive at Masters, hopefully for the next assembly, a black and white dance and an 140 years to come. annual campfire all followed the class of 2003 out of the door. Even the sports teams have suffered a few losses, from a gymnastics team coached by Amy Atlee, to an ice EMMA LUIS / TOWER
By emma LuiS
“
Bon Iver tops the charts Sam Levin Contributing Writer
Students feed into sustainability been communicated in a more interactive way to keep student’s attention and avoid doing these during Features Editor lunch, because of these issues the students lacked attention from the This year’s theme of sustain- PowerPoint so the information was ability has already been executed not being heard.” in many ways throughout the comSenior and Effect member Darryl munity. Effect, a student-run sus- Frank also added, “Though it did tainability group, has been put into serve its purpose in being an introplay to expose people to the ideas of ductory presentation about sustainsustainability as well as other small ability, I think instead we should attempts to make Masters a more have more hands on work with the environmentally beneficial place. In different grades or hold Harkness addition to these efforts, the school discussions on the topic so more stuhas added a mandatory lunch or dents are engaged,” which is an idea class meeting for each grade regard- Effect is trying to pursue. ing how to live a sustainable life Environmental teacher and Effect and what that really means. Elaine advisor, Mary May said, “the goal Franck, a was to bring represenforth sustaintative from The goal was to bring forth ability to get the Outdoor sustainability to get students students on Science and on board with it. board with Leadership it. We want Institute, has - Mary May people to been speaking start taking at these grade responsibilevents to efity for their ficiently eduwaste and cate students asking questhrough a video and presentation on tions.” She also added, “My hope is what they can do both as individu- if students care at all, they will start als, as well as a school community. to get involved on a personal level. The junior class had their Making changes, and being the diflunch in the Lecture Hall on Septem- ference.” As Masters continues its ber 29th. Junior and Effect member attempts to grow as a sustainable Olivia Johnke said, “I definitely community, many more discussions think it was beneficial to our school, and activities will be following these we cannot afford to ignore sustain- lunches to keep students aware of ability issues any longer so I think these issues. we should continue these drives.” She also added that, “it could have
Logan Toporoff
After five years of hard work and cryptic teasing, Bon Iver’s “22, A Million” was finally released on September 30th. Before the release, the band performed songs from the album live on television, and released singles to promote the 10-song experience. While every song is unique and interesting, perhaps the most intriguing story is Justin Vernon’s. Justin Vernon is the lead singer and writer for Bon Iver. He grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and went through many bands and even a solo act to get where he is today. He created and played with the band DeYarmond Edison during his time in high school and college. The band decided to take their music elsewhere and traveled to North Carolina to pursue their musical career. They released two albums and still have an unreleased EP up on their MySpace page. Eventually, the band broke up, as well as Vernon and his girlfriend, and he decided to travel alone back to Wisconsin. Depressed and confused, diagnosed with mononucleosis, he lived alone in his father’s remote hunting cabin, hunting his own food and writing music. During his time there, he wrote and recorded his album titled “For Emma, Forever Ago” using only his voice, a guitar, a snare drum, a piano, and some horns. His career skyrocketed from there and he started getting noticed by other musicians. Vernon has worked with James
PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA, EDITED BY GEROGE WEED/TOWER
SINGER-SONGWRITER- JUSTIN VERNON hits the top of the charts with his #1 album, “22, A Million.” Blake, Kanye West, Frank Ocean and many more musicians due to his iconic falsetto voice. Performing on albums such as “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” and The “Colour In Anything.” His music is featured on TV shows such as “One Tree Hill” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” bringing him more recognition. Since 2009, he has only gotten more and more popular, and finally after breaking into the “pop” genre, he has started a tour for the new album, “22, A Million.” The new album features fewer instruments than his first. There is a lot of computer-generated noise used as drums, and Vernon puts a vast array of audio effects on his
voice to create a whole chorus built on top of his vocals. He often raises his vocal tracks by an octave which surprisingly doesn’t sound silly at all. He uses a full orchestra at one point, and he samples a lot of hymns. Over all, the album feels very religious, but not annoyingly so. Every song brings a new element to the table, and by the very last song, Vernon lets you feast on the whole buffet. “22, A Million” is a musical experience. While not every song can be listened to without the others, the entire album together is a 34 minute landscape of sounds and feelings that I highly recommend.
FEATURES AND ARTS
TOWER/ OCTOBER 21, 2016
5
Students enjoy the new dining service Tommy mcKenna Fact Checker This year, Masters changed its meal provider from Aramark to Brock and Co., following concerns raised by the community about sustainability and health. This new company has been providing new foods and beverages that are markedly different than past years’, but these changes have affected movement in the dining hall itself. As senior Meaghan Cunniffe said, “I think that maybe the layout should be changed just so that it’s not crazy all the time… Last year it was all mainly centralized in one area,” Cuniffe recalled, “But now it’s all over [the Dining Hall] and its annoying to get around.” Cuniffe added that she heard numerous complaints about how disorderly lunch has become since the change in providers, and said she “Would change how the lines work” to reduce pandemonium. Regarding the food, however, Cuniffe felt the food is “really good,”
a sentiment that was echoed by senior Lucas Curran, a vegetarian; and sophomore Elisabeth Foreman. “I love it. It’s amazing. I like that they kept the old [workers]; but more importantly, the food is amazing.” Curran also noted the increased options for vegetarians, while mentioning the issues and concerns raised about Aramark last year. There are a “lot of vegetarian options”, remarked Curran, “A lot of organic options from locally-grown places. It’s amazing.” Regarding the new organization of the Dining Hall, Curran said “There are a lot of lines, but there were a lot of lines last year too,” adding that he “doesn’t know how they can really fix that.” Foreman echoed this sentiment: “It was insanely confusing at first but now it’s completely fine,” in reference to the location of meals. “I was just not used to seeing the tables like that.” While this new change at Masters may be one of the most far-reaching this year, students surely appreciate at least some aspects of the new dining service.
SOPHIE BUCHANAN/TOWER
STUDENTS WAIT ON LINE at one of the many food stations provided by Brock, the new dining hall service. Early feedback regarding the new dining service has been very positive.
Benjamin helps dancers explore individual styles george Weed Features Editor In the absence of former Head of the Dance Department, Mary Rotella, many dancers were skeptical at the company’s ability to live up to the previous years’ standard. “I think we were all a little nervous at first,” said senior dancer Isabelle Davis “We’d only ever worked with Mary.” But Shell Benjamin, the new Dance and Drama Teacher, hopes to prove to her students and to the rest of the school that she can improve and expand the dance program. A lifelong dancer and 15 year instructor, Benjamin is trying to direct the group in a new direction with her first themed production. Despite a hard deadline, she has made a promising start. Since the beginning of the school year, Benjamin and her students have been training and choreographing for a themed showcase of their talent and potential. “In a given production, 60 hours of work are required.” Benjamin said, “often more.” While she encourages all of her dancers to perform a the highest potential, her motives in doing so reflect a more humble goal: for dancers to have an opportunity to express a piece of their true self through dance. Benjamin’s priorities reflect
GEORGE WEED/ TOWER
SHELL BENJAMIN, THE NEW Dance and Drama Teacher, demonstrates technique to a dancers Ileya DuBoulay and Ziqi (Lily) Wang who will be performing in the upcoming “This Is Me” dance production. typical Masters values of individuality. The theme for their first production is “This Is Me.” All senior dance students have the opportunity to
choreograph a piece based on a part of their inner self. And ultimately to present that to the larger Masters Community. “I’m here to teach these creative
beings how to use the art of dance to express a part of themselves that people dont necessarily get to see,” she says. “I want them to portray as much of them as they feel comfort-
able with.” “Everyone is getting to expose a part of themselves or who they are,” said senior Emma Rubinson, “it allows us to to focus the piece around a message that is important, and it makes the piece unique to the choreographer. I’m excited because I get to express a different side of myself that I haven’t shown before” Dancers like Rubinson have the distinct opportunity to pass the torch down to the younger members of the dance company, and bolster them to the new seniors of the dance company. While Benjamin does help her students with the basic dance technique, the choreography, costume and overall style of the performances are centrally determined by the dancers themselves. Music is also a big part of the entire production cycle, Benjamin said, and that too is something that is being chosen by the dancers. “I’m helping the students to artistically convey a message,” she said. “The most interesting part, is that the message means something different for every dancer.” The showcase that is taking place tonight in the Claudia Boettcher Theater is only a part of the larger “This Is Me” theme. The Dance Company will also be having a longer, second production on Nov. 11-12. and Benjamin and the entire Dance Company encourage you to go check it out.
Masters clocks in after hours george Weed Features Editor
“
CEDAR BERROL YOUNG/TOWER
SAINT LUC NOISETTE, CUSTODIAN at The Masters School wipes down the glass in each classroom of Masters Hall, dusts all the tables and takes out the trash everyday.
7:30 A.M. and the first day students are beginning to trickle into school. It’s a regular school day and, although early, by the time that the doors have opened, everything is ready to go: floors vacuumed, trash emptied and chairs neatly pushed in. This state of cleanliness often goes unnoticed and unappreciated because it is considered normal. However, take away the combined efforts of the roughly 70 members of the janitorial, security and food services, and the school might look very different. One reason that a lot of this manual work goes unnoticed is because little of it gets done during school. While students are in class and using the facilities, it is difficult for custodians to clean rooms or collect trash and recycling, but work begins as soon as school ends. “I have a team of 18 men and women on staff,” said Brian Kaczmarek,
Manager of Building Maintenance. “They are constantly at work.” Seven days a week, every day of the school year, they must clean all surfaces, vacuum all carpet, polish all stone, and take out the garbage from each room. “My team is here from about 3:00 to about 11:30 [P.M.] on school
“
They are constantly at work. Seven days a week, every day of the school year -Brian Kaczmarek
days, to ensure that all facilities are in working condition for the following day.” Masters doesn’t go to sleep at 11:30, though. “There are always at least two guards on campus tasked with maintaining security at all times,” said Dan Pereira, Director of Safety
and Resources. Even after the last custodians have left school grounds, security officers are on campus making their regular hour-long rounds to ensure that no one is trespassing. By 6:30 A.M. the dining hall staff will have arrived and begun working on breakfast. Lee Bergelson, Dining Hall General Manager and Culinary Institute of America graduate, is busy along with his staff from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave, either prepping for the next meal or cleaning from the last. Bergelson and his 35 staff members are working hours before school begins and hours after most students have left. Be it a school day, weekend or holiday break, there are always people on campus ensuring that school continues to run smoothly. It is through the combined efforts of the men and women behind the scenes that our school remains a safe, productive and healthy place to be.
TOWER/ OCTOBER 21, 2016
OP-ED
6
Communities come together to protest Dakota Access Pipeline allie BeRdon Editor-in-Chief Ever since settlers first “discovered” the United States, Native Americans have been persecuted and thrown off their sacred land by individuals, as well as the United States Government. When Europeans first arrived in the United States in the 15th century, there were almost 10 million Native Americans living throughout the country. Now, six centuries later there are about three million. Life has never been easy for Native Americans, and big businesses and the government have little respect for the traditions and values that each individual tribe upholds. In 2014, the Army Corps of Engineers, a federal agency, approved the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Pipeline is a 1,172mile project designed to transport crude oil from the Bakken Formation, which was discovered in Tigoa, North Dakota, to Patoka, Illinois. The completion of the Pipeline would enable domestically produced crude oil to be transported at an exponentially higher rate than before, and would hopefully reduce the U.S.’s dependency on foreign oil. While the prospect of a faster and more “American” system sounds ideal, the environmental and social impacts of the Pipeline pose more risk than reward. North Dakota has a significant Native American population. The construction of the pipeline has
posed a threat to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in particular. The Tribe is located in Fort Yates, North Dakota, about 300 miles from the origin point of the Bakken Formation. The pipeline runs directly through the reservation en route to its final destination. In July, the tribe filed a complaint in federal court stating that the construction of the pipeline would destroy nearby sacred land, as well as pose a threat to the tribe’s drinking water in the event of a leakage. These complaints are not only valid, but completely realistic when looking at the performance of other oil transport systems, for example the Trans-Alaska Pipeline which exploded and caused massive oil leaks on various occasions. The exploitation of Native American land for the creation of the pipeline shows the lack of respect towards the tribes and people that inhabited this country first. While oil companies and refineries might benefit financially from this project, the potential of an oil spill or leak onto Native American land is physically detrimental, and would disrespect generations of a tribe’s traditions. Similarly, the tribes do not profit from the pipeline and do not receive and compensation for the destruction of their land. Thankfully, on Oct. 7, the Obama Administration temporarily halted work on the pipeline. Though the standstill is only temporary, the future of the pipeline is more uncertain than before the injunction. Now that
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIBONACCI BLUE
PROTESTERS OF ALL AGES stand together and hold signs against the Dakota Access Pipeline. This issue has inspired many people to protest, including actress Shailene Woodley. Woodley was arrested last week during a peaceful protest. the government has halted the production it is likely that the Obama Administration will cancel the pipeline’s permits altogether. This is a huge success for the Standing Rock tribe, but it continues to protest the construction and continue to lobby against the Army Corp of Engineers.
Though the protests have been led by Native Americans living near the construction, everyone is able to get involved by holding protests and rallies, writing to congress, contributing money to the tribe’s legal fund and calling the North Dakota governor, Jack Dalrymple, to share their
opinions. Not everyone can physically be in North Dakota supporting the tribe, but it is important to stand in solidarity with them to show support of the cause, and work to regain the trust between natives and non-natives during such a tumultuous time.
Gary Johnson is not the right choice for former Bernie supporters Jake Regele Design Edtior
JAKE REGELE/TOWER
AFTER BERNIE SANDERS LOST the nomination to Hillary Clinton, many of his supporters turned to Libertarian Gary Johnson, who many see as their last hope, instead of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s campaign message is that democrats and liberals are “Stronger Together.”
The rise of Bernie Sanders earlier in the year brought about this generation’s first foray into American politics, and quickly cemented their views in the far-left. As Sanders’ campaign was nearing a close it seemed likely that these newfound liberal extremists would find their place among the Democratic Party, or, possibly with the similarly liberal Green Party if they wanted to carry Sanders’s anti-Clinton rhetoric through to the election. A significant portion of these Sanders supporters, however, seem to have uprooted their newfound
liberal ideologies in favor of another third party candidate: Gary Johnson. “I see the appeal of Johnson. He’s very socially liberal,” said senior Eitan Magaliff, an avid supporter of Bernie Sanders. To me “the most important part of a candidate is their social views, you don’t want a bigot in the White House,” added Magaliff. With the popularity of movements like Black Lives Matter, it’s no shock that many post-millennials are placing a high value on candidates’ social policies. Though Johnson is exceptionally liberal on social issues, expressing the libertarian belief of total freedom, his economic policies are a complete contridiction of Sanders’.
Sanders believes in free college, no student debt and increased taxes. Johnson on the other hand believes in decreased taxes and a laissez-faire style capitalist economy. This new emphasis on social change is blurring party lines. Regardless of age and demographics, economic policies should be valued nearly equally as much as social issues. Candidates such as Johnson, who many liberal voters used to consider a worst-case scenario, are now a strong second choice. This unprecedented switch in support is exactly what separates this election from others.
TOWER/ OCTOBER 21, 2016
OP-ED
The gender wage gap adds up allie BerDon Editor-in-Chief American women first entered the work force en masse during World War I while their fathers, husbands and brothers were sent overseas to fight. Women were recruited to factory, government, office and other vacant positions, as well as became nurses in the army. In 1914, right before the war, there were about 3 million women in the workforce. By 1918 there were almost five million working women. Though women were doing the same jobs as men did before the war, they were paid significantly less for their efforts. People worried that factories would want to keep women on their payrolls once men returned from the war because of their lower salaries. However, when soldiers returned home women were either fired from their jobs or remained alongside their male counterparts but with a significantly lower salary. Though the wage gap is inherently unfair, it might be understandable considering the lack of education and experience offered to women in the workforce in the early 20th century. However, as higher education became more accessible to women, equal salaries did not. In the
late 1940s, men accounted for more than 70% of college students. Since the 1970s, however, women have accounted for 57% of college enrollment, but they continue to fill lower-paying jobs, advocate for raises less and are less likely to have stable saving plans. While it might seem like women are choosing to be paid less, in reality women have not been as empowered as men to advocate for higher paying jobs. Women are taken less seriously in the workforce and their credibility is often challenged when the issue of maternity leave, childcare and other assumed gender roles are brought up. The lack of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professions is directly linked to the wage gap. Women only achieve 35% of STEM bachelor degrees and many report a misogynistic workplace culture. According to a US News study, more than half of women in STEM professions abandon their careers, double the rate of men. The New York Times polled 24 medical schools in 12 states and analyzed the difference in wage between male and female doctors. In fields such as neurology, oncology, gynecology and orthopedic surgery, men are paid between 25 and 30 thousand dollars more per year than women, and the only medical field where women earn more than men is radiology. These statistics confirm the concept that women are underrepresented in STEM fields and are paid significantly less, regardless of their education or expertise. There is an unfortunate societal standard that women are expected to be home with children while their husbands assume the breadwinning roll. While statistics
show that women are more likely to work fewer hours than men, it raises the question as to why. This is not because women are lazy or incompetent and it is definitely not because women are unqualified. It is because many women feel societal pressure to stay at home if they have children, and often feel torn between building a career and building a family. The issue of familial leave also negatively affects men because in the United States men are not guaranteed paid paternity leave, whereas most women are given a maternity leave period. Still, maternity leave differs between states, and only four states, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have publically funded maternity leave. The theory that the wage gap doesn’t exist can be disproved when looking at the lack of women in STEM, and the societal pressure for women to stay at home, leading to difficulty holding a job and moving up in the ranks. While choosing to be a stay-at-home parent is a commendable and necessary role in our society, no one should feel forced one way or another. Both men and women deserve to have equal opportunities in their homes and offices, and while the wage gap has shrunk over time, inequality is still prevalent and has significant economic and social implications. LEO PSAROS/TOWER
7
COLUMN: WHAT’S ON MY MIND
Challenging stereotypes: a complex conversation on race nina Hylton Last year, as a Diversity Ambassador and Onyx president, I was a part of many hours of hard discussions about race. I found it interesting how “minorities” are often group together as if we all have the same experiences. I am of mixed race: black and Japanese. I can testify through my own experience that anti-blackness exists in every racial group. Although I am not only black, those racial stereotypes are the ones that I am contained to. I am always perceived as loud, ratchet or mean, before being assumed to be smart, or being held to a standard of of academic excellence because my prevailing features are not necessarily telling of my mixed identity. For example, the texture of my hair, is unmistakably black. This year, like every year, the black community is under attack. You cannot turn on the news or go on any social media outlet without knowing this, especially after some racially charged tragedy takes place.
I saw a lot of outrage last year, not that the black community was being terrorized, but that other minority groups felt that they were not being represented in the same way that the black community was. Some students believed that their issues were not made out to be as important because they were not the topic of discussion as often. This is another form of erasure. We too often feel that as a part of a minority group, we are freed from thinking about the ways that we negatively impact the movements and empowerment of other marginalized peoples. Not exclusively, but most often, I feel that happens against black people. No, our struggles do not need to be compared or put on a scale, but when the struggles of non-black minority groups in America, are used to hush the outrage of black people, neither minority group is making progress. Rather, we should join forces and fight for justice for all.
Why the gender wage gap doesn’t make cents leo Psaros Editor-in-Chief In the state of the union, President Obama said that the gender wage gap “is not a myth, it’s math.” He then cited the famous statistic that women earn 79 cents for every dollar a man earns. This ratio has been repeated by women’s rights groups and the media so much that it has become a ‘common consensus’. Many say that the reasons for the wage gap are sexism and gender discrimination. Though there is definitely workplace gender discrimination and societal pressure for women to take care of children and work lesser paying jobs, the idea that women are payed 20 cents less for the same work is economically and fundamentally misleading.
The Bureau of Labor Statis- men are almost twice as likely almost three times as likely to tics, or BLS, constantly states as women to work more than 40 quit a job because of childcare. that women get paid 20 cents hours a week. This gap in working hours is less than men for the same job. This is a major part of the a major reason why women, who How the BLS came up with this wage gap because if a man works according to The Boston Globe statistic is questioned by few. 50 hours a week, and a woman are more likely to attend college The answer is than men, make less money simple, the BLS took a year than men do. the average yearly Secondly, men are much salary of a full time THOUGH THERE IS DEFINITELY WORKPLACE more likely to take higher working American DISCRIMINATION AND SOCIETAL PRESSURE FOR paying jobs. While Ameriwoman, as well as WOMEN TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN AND WORK can women attend higher her male counterLESSER PAYING JOBS, THE IDEA THAT WOMEN education at a higher rate part, and compared ARE PAYED 20 CENTS LESS FOR THE SAME WORK than men do, they tend to them. IS ECONOMICALLY AND FUNDAMENTALLY MISpursue lesser paying fields. In fact, the BLS LEADING. For example, for every male says in their 2013 renurse there are almost ten port on the wage gap, female nurses. However, for “the comparisons of every female surgeon, there earnings in this report are on a works 40 hours a week in the are 5 male surgeons. broad level and do not control for same job, the man will make 20% In addition to this, according many factors that can be signif- more than his female coworker. to Fortune, men are three times icant in explaining earnings difAlso according to the Pew Re- more likely to bargain for highferences.” search Center, 42% of women er salaries than women. This In short, the BLS didn’t con- have had to reduce their work difference in job focus is anothsider factors like working hours, hours to care for a child, while er major factor in why the wage childcare, and labor expertise. only 28% of men do the same. gap is what the BLS reports. Firstly, according to the BLS, In addition to this, women are Lastly, think of this issue
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from a logical standpoint. If a company could legally pay a woman less for the same work, why wouldn’t it? According to the wage gap, it would save the company 20% in revenue that goes to salary Though there is workplace discrimination and sexism in the United States, the impact it has on wages is small, and according to Forbes, is decreasing every year. In fact, the BLS reports that single women make 96% of a men’s earnings. If anything, the wage gap overshadows the real issue of women’s underrepresentation in STEM, business and medicine. Moreover, it is an oversimplification of American lifestyle and work patterns, and fundamentally is flawed in its logic and reasoning.
Change can’t happen without us: we need to take responsibility Courtney Delong Editor-in-Chief Two years ago, a senior said in his senior speech “thank God I’m getting out of here on time.” He, like many current upperclassmen, was upset that Masters’ culture was changing. Currently, people gravitate towards Masters because it is different. Our teachers get up on stage with small, stuffed animals. We enthusiastically sing “Allah, Allah, Allah” together at 8 a.m. What makes our school great is our appreciation for diverse interests, not singular interests in only the arts or athletics. But this summer a “You Can Play” video upset many students. Phoenix president Sam Coppola said, “A lot of the arts people were upset that the administration made the ‘You Can Play’ video… a
lot of people felt like the video was saying that you can’t be part of the community unless you can play… I think that’s were a lot of resentment started and people came in to the school year with a negative attitude.” The video was part of a nation’s campaign to show support for LGBTQ+ and other minority students. However, Coppola and other students in athletics were concerned that Masters had not produced similar material for an inclusive campaign for the arts. As Masters continues to develop its athletics program, it risks losing some of what makes it special. But it does not have to. Students working together to support each other across different disciplines is in tune with “Masters culture”. After the video came out, a group of students created a Facebook group and reached out to Head of School Laura Danforth to voice their concerns. She reminded
students the “You Can Play” video was part of a larger campaign for inclusivity. As students, we control our school’s culture. If we want to see a growing celebration of athletics then we have an obligation to attend events like “Pack the Den.” If, however, we want to see a continued celebration of the arts then we should attend concerts, dance performances and theater productions. We should take action and tell our administration what we would like to see. If we write emails or have conversations with administrators about what we care about, our school will better reflect what we want. Rather than cowering behind the blanket of nostalgia and trying to graduate before “Old Masters” disappears, let’s make Masters a better place for those who come after us.
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MASTERS’ PANTHER MASCOT BRINGS spirit at Pack the Den. Many students attended the event to support Masters athletics.
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Panther pride shines at “Pack the Den” By OWen lieeBr Sports Editor Warning to all FAA teams: it is no longer safe to venture into the panther’s den. Pack the Den, or The Den, is a self-appointed group of fans championing all Masters events with the goal of uniting and strengthening our home turf at sports games and arts performances. Pack the Den plans to make a strong showing for at least one game for each varsity team per season. On Oct. 5, over 50 Masters students filled the Fonseca Center gym and sported black “Pack the Den” t-shirts for the first time at the Girls Varsity Volleyball game against Riverdale Country School. The students cheered passionately for every point. Senior volleyball player Mikayla Zion said, “I think the presence of the Den pumped the entire team up and brought the whole community together.” Although the team lost the game 2 sets to 3, the Den made a positive and lasting impact on the players. Zion also mentioned, “We want the Den to be at our sports games. Everyone enjoys it and it gives our school spirit a new look.” Brendon Barrios, history teacher and founder of Pack the Den, has a background in sports and supporter
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STUDENTS ENJOY THE GIRLS’ Varsity Volleyball at the first Pack the Den event. Over 50 students came out to support the team and sport the new Pack the Den t-shirts. Masters ended up losing to the Riverdale Country School 2 sets to 3. groups. Before joining the Masters community, Barrios worked for a Major League Soccer team, D.C. United, and was impressed by its faithful and dedicated group of supporters. In addition, Barrios attended Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia where the sporting events were an integral part of his experience. The school consisted of around 2,000 students includ-
ing the 500 students in his graduating class. Barrios talked about Pack the Den at Masters saying, “It happened pretty fast. It’s one of those things where there isn’t a lot holding us back. There is no real reason why we can’t do this at our school.” After witnessing the Masters community actively participate events such as Founders Day and MISH for a year, Barrios said, “I think our school
Youssef makes a statement on the court By sOpHie BucHanan Photo Editor Hailing from Alexandria, Egypt, 14-year old Nouran Youssef has started her freshman year at Masters. While Dobbs Ferry may seem a long way from home, Youssef is no stranger to traveling. Before coming to the United States, she was able to visit England, Hong Kong and Germany, all in the name of squash. Youssef has been playing squash since the age of six when her dad encouraged her to start playing the sport. Since then, she has participated in and won many tournaments around the globe. She has been a part of three U.S. Opens, three British Opens, two
Hong Kong Opens and another in Germany. Youssef’s favorite tournament was the 2013 U.S. Junior Squash Open. After a long and grueling run, Youssef came out on top, fin-
ished first and won the tournament. “When I play in the U.S. I always get first place. I love the U.S.,” Youssef said. While squash may not play as significant a role in
the United States, it is a very popular sport in Egypt. But many of the players from Egypt and around the world travel to the United States in order to further their squash careers. Ahmed Abdel Khalek, native of Cairo, Egypt, came to the U.S. as a teenager to study and play squash at the Westminster School, a private, highly regarded boarding and day student in Simsbury, Connecticut. After high school, he was the number one player in college squash playing for Bates College. This is a path that Youssef might hope to follow. As the fall sports season comes to a close, Youssef is gearing up for a successful season on the Masters squash team. She continues to train hard with her coaches and fellow players here at Masters.
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Boys’ Varsity Soccer seeks playoff run By OWen lieBer Sports Editor After a successful season last year including an appearance in the FAA Semifinals, the Boys Varsity Soccer team is determined to get back to the playoffs and fight for another championship. With a record of 8-1-1, the team’s future looks promising as many of the players have stepped up to create this winning season. While each player will certainly focus on developing his individual skill set and fitness level, working together as a true unit will be essential. “We recognize that instead of playing as individuals, we need to come together as a team,” said senior Left Back Thomas Davoren. Davoren also mentioned that in addition to bringing one’s talent to the field, playing with heart and giving it one’s all is important. “Putting in the effort is what matters,” he said. Beyond the team dynamics, the style of play is an integral part of soccer. Davoren pointed out that “possession is key” for the Masters offense. He also mentioned that changes were made defensively: a strategic shift to have the wingers be more attentive to
has spirit. We just needed someone to bring it to athletics.” Pack the Den is not just for sports. It reached out to Phoenix in an effort to bring Masters students to the arts performances. Head of School Laura Danforth commented, “I love Pack the Den for athletics and I love it for the arts. We should pack the den for the fall play and pack the den for the dance concerts.” The idea is to encourage every-
one, both students and faculty, to support their fellow students in any event. “I would love to see the Pack the Den concept at all of our events, whether you are an artist, an actor or an athlete. I think Mr. Barrios is on to something,” Danforth said While Barrios is eager to connect both the arts and athletics with Pack the Den, there is still work to be done. Phoenix President Sam Coppola said, “I think it’s a great idea but Ms. Danforth, the Theatre Department, the Arts Department and the Sports Department have not sat down and had a meeting.” In addition to scheduling events for the arts, Coppola was unsure about the structure of Pack the Den. Coppola said, “I think when you give people an incentive to come to a show like giving them t-shirts, people don’t really want to be there.” There is no doubt that people want to win, support our fellow students and build pride in the school. But in the end, Pack the Den is all about strengthening community ties. Barrios said, “The idea is to create an experience. It’s not about the game, it’s not about whether you understand the sport, and it’s not necessarily about winning. It’s about a social gathering and bringing the community together.” The next Pack the Den event will be on Oct. 26 at 4:30 for the Girls Varsity Soccer game.
Girls’ Volleyball comes together for victory By Henry Williams Opinion Editor After a rocky start to the season, Girls’ Varsity Volleyball has hit its stride with three straight wins against Long Island Lutheran, the Knox School and the Wooster School. The Wednesday Oct. 19 game against Wooster was an all-out success, ending in a three-game shutout by Masters witth scores of 25-17, 2512 and 25-23. The game held special significance for the team because it marked their first home game since its first wins of the season, and their victory marks a three-game winning streak. “The other team was scrappy, but we kept up with them,” said senior Victoria Graziosi. A unique and evolving team dynamic has so far characterized this season with a roster of primarily senior girls embodying a stronger community spirit and leadership than in previous years. In the first weeks of the year, the team did not have formal captains, but on the request of the team’s members, Sophie Cohen and Haley Goodman were named co-captains. “In volleyball you need to get comfortable with the people around you on the court,” Cohen said. “This year all the girls on the team are so won-
derful and that has really helped us.” Cohen believes the team was working hard in practice but their efforts simply were not translating into wins. “We didn’t play in games how we practiced with each other,” she said. But the wins against Long Island Lutheran and Knox were “wonderful and emotional” victories that served as a turning point for the team, according to Cohen. The team demands a lot of its players, often making it difficult to manage practice and schoolwork. This October, the team has 11 games in total. Graziosi and senior Julia Murphy explained how they strike a balance between sports and other commitments. “I mentally prepare myself for working late on game days,” said Graziosi, who often misses dinner time in the Dining Hall on away games and has to order food separately. “Four years of playing varsity sports makes it manageable,” said Murphy, “but it’s still a challenge.” Despite this challenge, athletes feel they gain a lot from the sport. “It really teaches you how to make mistakes,” said Murphy. “Volleyball is all about making fewer mistakes than your opponent, and managing those mistakes better,” Graziosi added.
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JUNIOR STRIKER JOOST-OLAN SHEEHAN fights for possession. Masters won the game 12-0 over the King Low Heywood Thomas School. defensive side of the ball. On this topic, junior striker JoostOlan Sheehan said, “Just like everyone else on the field I like to put a strong emphasis on possessing the ball and not having to chase it. That’s how our coaches want us to play and clearly it has been working.” After a successful campaign, the story for the rest of this season has yet to be written. With few games left until the playoffs, the bar is set high. Olan Sheehan noted, “I want us to get on that next
level of competition. The goal is to be invited into the NEPSAC league to play more competitive schools and get a taste of another level of soccer.” While the future of the soccer program is bright, the team is well aware that they must focus on the task at hand, finishing the season strong and moving into the playoffs with momentum. Senior striker Geoff Fox said, “We need to just keep winning and hopefully we can win the FAA.”
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JUNIOR ELIZA BREWSTER SERVES to start what became a massive victory for the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team. The team won 3 sets to 0 over The Wooster School.