Tower The Masters School
49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522
VOLUME 74, NUMBER 3
Editorial The administration’s decision to remove Ahnaf Taha as co-chair is a rebuke to the community that elected him. Taha served diligently and his ouster is a disservice to our community, removing an important role model. Worst of all, this strict discipline violates a core Masters’ tenet: “assume good intent.”
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017
tower.mastersny.org
VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER
STUDENTS STOOD IN SILENT protest of the removal of Ahnaf Taha as co-chair during announcements at Morning Meeting on Tuesday. Protesters turned their backs to the stage and held up signs in support of Taha, who was removed for allowing an unauthorized senior speech to take place. That same day, more than 100 students attended Executive Committee to voice their concerns.
Co-chair deposed; students have his back Sophia BrouSSet Copy Editor DaviD okS Opinion Editor The peaceful calm of Morning Meeting was shattered with a protest reacting to the news that the school’s co-chair, senior Ahnaf Taha, had been removed from office he news came after a controversy about Taha’s allowing senior Jaiden Feliciano to give a senior speech despite Feliciano not having permission from the school because the speech was submitted late aha’s removal marks the first time since 2013, when a co-chair was expelled from the school during the summer, that a co-chair seat has been vacant he school’s other co chair, senior June itahara, remains in office and aha’s seat will be filled temporarily by senior Phoenix Jackson, the secretary of ecutive ommittee According to Upper School Head Matt Ives, Executive Committee will determine “when and whether” to hold a special election to replace aha
Though the process for replacing Taha has begun, his termination has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many students he decision to permanently terminate his term as co-chair has drawn an angry reaction from students, especially seniors “ ased on what I know, what the school did wasn’t justified at all,” senior ichael argolis said ome reactions were even stronger “I’m appalled by the reaction that the school had to this I’m so upset It’s bulls t,” senior aroline i arro said Feliciano disputes the administration’s story e said that administrators were unclear in saying when he should have his draft in and he defended aha’s decision “It’s not like he did something heinously wrong that should cost him his position,” he said he school’s actions are “like what happens in an oligarchy ” After Taha’s suspension, word of the administration’s actions, and of the fact that Community Council was considering further action, spread rapidly among the student body n email from
Ives, in which he said the revocation of Taha’s position was “as a result of his decision to allow a senior speech to proceed, despite being explicitly told not to do so,” angered many students hortly after the official announcement was made, student discontent e ploded enunciations of the decision spread on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram and acebook secret acebook group was formed to protest the decision and even plan a possible walkout on uesday, ec during orning eeting hange org petition demanding Taha’s reinstatement, addressed to Head of School Laura Danforth, circulated and attracted the support of more than 300 people in less than 24 hours of the announcement, including the support of more than alumni The day after Taha’s removal was announced, hundreds of students, stood up and turned their backs to senior class presidents Dan Cienava and Ciara Escobar as they made announcements, the largest Morning Meeting protest in years any seniors raised
signs saying, “Standing for Ahnaf” or “ tanding with hnaf ” sign saying “‘elections mean: WE decide” was posted on the doors of the c night oom Ives defended the decision “ e followed the process we do for all disciplinary processes,” he said “I thought about it very seriously his was not an easy decision his was not a decision I en oyed making I like hnaf, I think everyone does, that’s why he was elected co chair ” Some alumni, too, were concerned by the decision “The school has no right to punish him for letting another student express himself in a public setting,” Andrew Ciacci said Teacher opinion appeared to be relatively divided “ e speak of the idea of restorative ustice oes this decision reflect the idea of restorative ustice ” Chair of the History & Religion Department keff oung said Associate Dean of Students, Jeff arnevale, said, “It’s always difficult because of confidentiality and because we respect privacy that not all the de-
tails regarding certain situations can be shared very publicly, and that can often make it very difficult and challenging to have a full picture and make a deeply informed decision without all the facts ” Carnevale, who also serves as community council’s co-chair, and sat on both cases, added that he “had no emotional attachment or investment in seeing either one of them be punished ” At the Executive Committee following the announcement, around 100 students showed up, gathering in the corner and airing their displeasure with the decision Taha, though apologetic, still wants the co chairship “I have tried my best to make sure that wrongs are corrected,” Taha said, but “what I feel I need to do, for the community and for the principles of leadership, can only be done with the position that has humbled me over the past months ” For further reading, visit: tinyurl.com/CoChairRemoved
Danforth and Kane raise Masters’ profile in Asia trip elijah emery Investigative Journalist Head of School Laura Danforth and Associate Head of School Tim Kane, visited alumni and prospective students in hina and Japan from ov and ov , ane described the main aims of the ourney “ he goal of the trip was sort of multifold hina’s our largest international cohort here, and it has arguably the largest language barrier with the parents ” efore her departure, anforth prepared for her trip Junior hyllis an said, “She asked us what suggestions we could give to the future boarding community and what some of our parents’ concerns are ” nd in hina, anforth relayed much of what is happening at asters to parents “I talked about all kinds of things that are going on at this school right now, from the capital campaign to the Master Plan, to college counseling and admissions,” anforth said “ he parents want to make sure that their kids are safe, they want to hear about the
food, and they want to hear about college counseling ll our parents in hina are just as important to us as our parents here at home, and we have to make an effort to keep those relationships strong ” Kane described how an in-person visit is able to break down the language barrier in a way that pamphlets or emails cannot “ e are able to go there, with an interpreter, so that we can talk about the college process, weekends, dorm life, the curriculum, with families that don’t necessarily have an understanding of all the nuances of an education in the United States,” Kane said “ eason two is we raise money Part of our job is to raise money from alumni and from parents, and we’ve spent the last five years working really hard to help educate international families about philanthropy e talk a lot about why, beyond your 60,000 dollars in tuition, that we would be asking you to give more and what that means nd the third part, the Japanese visit, really was to visit alumni ” Kane described his favorite experience of the trip, connected to a visit to The Masters School by a Japanese
PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIANA HAUSER
LAURA DANFORTH AND TIM Kane dine with Masters parents during their trip to China. Though the nine-day trip was aimed at building relationships with parents and alumni, there was also an emphasis on fundraising. film crew filming a show about independent schools his e perience began when ane received an email “It was from a gentleman who said ‘I’ve seen your show twice, and my first grade son has totally fallen in love with your school and I’d like to come to your event if I could ’” he man said that his wife
would move to the US while his son attends asters his, according to ane, is an example of a larger phenomenon with international, and especially Chinese, students Kane also described in detail the reception that he and anforth received “One of the events in Shanghai felt like
a wedding reception, we had lots of people, different tables, and lots of people taking pictures veryone greeted us individually, so we would stand up and shake hands, and talk to people about their child, and they’d talk about our trip, and it was very cordial and enjoyable, but festive at the same time ”
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NEWS
Democrat triumphs in Alabama DaviD okS Opinion Editor Doug Jones, a Democratic former prosecutor, won an upset victory in deep-red Alabama in a special election over the deeply controversial Roy Moore, formerly the state’s chief judge, whose support had fallen after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced, on Dec. 12. Jones’ victory was both a major symbolic victory for the Democratic backlash against President Donald Trump and a significant tactical gain that gives the Republicans a bare majority of 51 seats, making Democratic capture of the Senate in the 2018 midterms significantly more likely. The seat was formerly filled by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who resigned from it in February to serve in Trump’s Cabinet. Moore’s deeply conservative views and polarizing statements, including statements of support for laws criminalizing sodomy,
had attracted press attention after he triumphed over the incumbent Republican, Sen. Luther Strange, in September. In November, the Washington Post unearthed several women’s allegations that Moore
PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUG JONES FOR SENATE
DOUG JONES (ABOVE) UPSET Roy Moore in an Alabama special Senate election on Dec. 12. Jones defeated his scandal-hurt opponent in a close race.
had molested them as teenagers. The race remained tight in the culturally conservative state, which had not sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1992. The race soon became nationalized. Figures from both the left, among them former president Barack Obama and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, and the right, including President Donald Trump and Breitbart’s Steve Bannon, rallied to support Jones and Moore, respectively. “We need Roy!” Trump said at a rally near the Alabama-Florida border on Dec. 4. Jones had attracted national attention years ago for prosecuting Ku Klux Klan members responsible for the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four young girls. He had kept a low profile in the years since before easily winning the Democratic primary in September. In reaction to the news of his loss, Moore refused to concede and demanded a recount.
TOWER/DECEMBER 15, 2017
Oks loses in Ardsley After a long wait for the results for the title of the Mayor of the Village of Ardsley, the results are finally in. 16-year old and Masters junior David Oks, had been campaigning for the position since early August. Oks ran as a writein candidate against his neighbor and former deputy mayor, Nancy Kaboolian. According to the Westchester County general election results, Oks received 50 votes, which was 5 percent of the total 1,102 votes. Kaboolian received 1,033 votes,
winning 94 percent of all ballots signed. “I always knew I was going to lose,” Oks said. “The goal was to raise the level of discourse in Ardsley, and I think we definitely did that. You know you’re doing something right when you’re angering the people in power, and both the current and former mayors have criticized me,” Oks added. Although Oks lost the election, he plans to continue to remain involved in politics. •News brief by Sarah Faber•
Tower grabs the gold Every year, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association commends high school newspapers for exemplary work. Entering as a “hybrid” paper (meaning that both paper and online presence are considered in judging), Tower won a gold medal
for its 2016-2017 issues. We extend warm thanks to our faculty advisers, Matthew Browne and Ellen Cowhey, and to editors-in-chief emeritus Allie Berdon, Courtney DeLong and Leo Psaros.
Masters community SAT tutoring: an unfair advantage? debates gender neutrality DaviD okS
Opinion Editor
sion and efficiency,” Jackson said, “It combines the idea that the most qualified person should be the one with Copy Editor the position and the idea that we shouldn’t be confined by two gender Senior Phoenix Jackson and soph- binaries.” omores Sarah Faber and Michelle Wei The sunset provision is another facput forward a proposal in Executive et of the proposal. Sunset provisions Committee, which works towards ac- are common practice in public policommodating to the needs of individ- cy; they are clauses which stipulate uals in the Masters community who that the program or bill in question identify as “non-binary,” . Non-bina- be re-voted on within a certain period ry is an umbrella term covering all of time. Under the sunset provision, individuals who identify with gen- the gender neutral bill, if passed, will ders that differ from those be re-voted on in the 2021 school assigned at birth or differing year to ensure it remains effecfrom traditional binary gentive. “Within Executive Comder titles such as male and femittee we had some opposing male. If passed, the bill would opinions which makes sense, but I seek to remove gendered don’t think we can completetitles of various leaderly cancel out the idea of ship positions around having a gender-neucampus. tral election until we try For example, rathit,” Wei said. “With this er than having a we are able to dip our male and female toes in the water but if co-chair, there it doesn’t work, we don’t would be two cohave to keep it.” chairs elected The results of a surwithout gender vey of the student body playing a role questioning whether or in consideration. not they would be in faThis would allow invor of removing gendered dividuals who identititles, found that the proposfy as non-binary to al remains controversial. Alrun for leadership though 42 percent of students positions without having to said they would be in favor conform to a certain identity. of removing gender stipulaAlso, non-binary individuals tions, over 34 percent of stuwho may feel uncomfortable dents stated that they would disclosing their gender idennot be in favor and 23 percent tity are not forced to do so said they were unsure. A surand can still participate in vey sent to teachers yielded school government. almost identical results with Aside from the matter of 41.5 percent in favor, 34 perSOPHIA BROUSSET/TOWER non-binary individcent not in favor, and uals, Faber, Jackson, and Wei are 24.5 percent unsure. In the survey, addressing another recurring issue by both the students and teachers, within elections. “Last year, in the the overall concern was that if gender election for freshman class president, stipulations were taken away, posithere were two boy candidates and tions would become dominated by one seven girl candidates so it was almost gender. like the boy automatically got the po“I think it is a totally valid concern, sition,” Faber said. but as someone who ran against two A second proposal, which goes men in an election that was schoolhand-in-hand with the non-gendered wide, I’ve found that passion is what bill, seeks to tackle this issue. A re- drives people and I think that if one striction currently exists which re- person is passionate enough and is quires co-chair candidates to have qualified enough, they’re going to attended at least six meetings of Ex- run regardless of the position being ecutive Committee. However, these typically held by one gender or the restrictions do not exist for class pres- other gender intimidating them. I ident, day/boarding representative, or think here at Masters we do a great MISH representative. The implemen- job of constantly having change; so tation of this bill would require can- we might see that one year five girls didates for these positions to have at- run for president and the next year tended a certain number of Executive six girls run for president. I personCommittee meetings which would ally am not too concerned about havvary by grade. For example, sopho- ing positions habitually dominated by mores, juniors and seniors running one gender.” Jackson said. for class president must have attend“We’re already heading in this died three meetings of Executive Com- rection and here at Masters, we’re all mittee while freshman candidates about inclusion, we’re all about promust have attended one. gression. We passed Indigenous PeoWith the combination of both of ple’s day and we have an all-gender these bills, Faber, Jackson, and Wei bathroom,” Jackson added, “I think said they hope to have elected officials the next step is having our leadership who are the most qualified rather reflect the same inclusivity that the than those who are elected arbitrari- rest of the school is talking about.” ly. “The basic idea and the reason we The bill is expected to be voted on came up with it was really just inclu- some time after winter break.
Sophia BrouSSet
In the contentious sphere of standardized testing, few topics provoke the heated debate that does private tutoring for standardized tests like the SAT and the ACT. Many Masters students who use standardized test tutors describe them as useful. Yet David Coleman, the president of the College Board, the organization that designs the SAT, called private tutors “predators” who “provide no real educational benefit” in a New York Times interview. Junior Daniel Jaffe is one student who sees a private tutor for the SAT. “It helps a lot to have oneon-one sessions with someone,” he said. Jaffe’s tutor is an employee of Advantage Testing, which charges more than $300 per 90-minute session. At sessions, Jaffe and his tutor complete preparatory materials, study concepts and review testing strategies. Jaffe isn’t alone. In a Tower survey sent to all juniors and seniors to which 79 students responded, almost 85 percent said they used or had used private SAT/ACT tutors. According to the survey, almost half of those who had standardized test tutors saw them once a week. And it’s not just Masters. Test prep companies like Advantage are concentrated in wealthy areas like Westchester and Manhattan, where tutoring can be extremely lucrative. The most prestigious
tutors charge huge sums. Self-described “tutor to the one percent” Anthony-James Green, for example, bills more than $1,000 per hour. Ivy League graduates often become tutors for extra cash while pursuing other careers. A majority of Advantage Testing’s tutors in Westchester County list degrees from Ivy League colleges. Advantage Testing and other companies like it have angered some parents and test-designers. Critics suggest that tutoring for tests like the SAT and the ACT are largely ineffective. “Coached students are only slightly more likely to have large score gains than uncoached students,” the College Board’s website declares. The National Association for College Admission Counseling, in a 2009 study, found that private tutoring has a “minimal positive effect on both the SAT and the ACT.” Others suggest that private SAT/ ACT tutors is effective, but widens the preexistent educational divide between wealthier and poorer students and corrupt tests that were supposed to reduce the influence of background on college admissions. According to the Washington Post, from families making more than $200,000 a year scored more than 250 points higher on the SAT than students from families making between $40,000 and $60,000. A 2010 study in Social Forces, a sociology journal, suggested that private SAT/ACT tutoring “increase[s] the influence of social origins,” especially family income, on college admissions.
Senior Grace Gilmore, who took an ACT course with a firm called Applerouth for $225 per session, found that her scores jumped four points (out of 36 total, and thus more than 10 percent) in 10 weeks. Though it benefitted her, she believes that private tutoring exacerbates inequality. “I believe that if my family hadn’t been able to afford a tutor, I’d have to study on my own and I would not have done as well on the test,” she said. Some students, while deploring the inequality they feel private tutoring promotes, feel compelled to use it regardless. Junior Alana Hornstein took an ACT course with a firm called Bespoke Education that costs at least $195 per hour. “I am luckily in a good socioeconomic position so I can afford tutoring,” she said. “If these opportunities are open to me, then I should take them.” Senior Eamon Pearson, who took an SAT course with a firm called Smart Test Prep, feels similarly. Though he feels “guilty” about taking the course because it’s unavailable to poorer students, “It’s hard to justify not taking advantages that are available to me,” he said. Not all students have access to tutors. “I am unable to afford private SAT tutoring,” senior Noah Crooks said. “The SAT was originally intended to be a test that one couldn’t study for. Currently the test favors those with the resources to hire specialized tutors.”
OP-ED
TOWER/DECEMBER 15, 2017
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OpiniOn
EDITORIAL
Taha’s removal is a disgrace to Masters The position of co-chair is the highest community government role at Masters. Each year, the school democratically elects two upcoming seniors to head the community government for the next year. All juniors are given the opportunity to run, and all students and faculty are able to vote for who they believe will be the best candidate for the job. To ensure that the co-chairs selected are, in fact, the best candidates to fill the positions, the school holds multiple rounds of elections. But this year the students’ choice has been overridden, and the administration has undemocratically removed the male co-chair, Ahnaf Taha, from his position. Taha’s discipline stemmed from an incident in which he allowed a student to give a senior speech that had not yet been approved. The senior went on to use several curse words
in his speech, and displayed conduct towards a faculty member that many found disrespectful, and inappropriate for an all-school event. The senior did not appear to be reciting a memorized speech, but rather seemed to be speaking off the top of his head. It is highly unlikely that Taha could have known the content of the speech. Taha’s only wrongdoing, to the best of our knowledge, was allowing a student to speak when he knew that the speech had not been approved. Had the subject matter of the speech been more appropriate, this fault would not have been as heavily magnified aha’s minor transgression has been amplified by this senior’s much larger error Additionally, any member of the faculty or administration had the opportunity to stop the speech as the senior was going to the stage, but failed to do so, strongly suggesting
Letter to the editor: student voices Dear Tower, Walk up to a student. A teacher. A child who lives on campus. They all can tell you our mission statement. “A community of diverse individuals, we gather to learn, to strive, to dare, to do -- to be a power for good in the world.” We’ve heard it so many times many students and even more of the administration have become numb to its meaning. I have chosen to evaluate the “notion of gathering to learn”. On the Masters School website this belief is expanded upon—it states that “our students practice communication and thinking skills by developing and supporting their ideas, listening carefully to others, working collaboratively and sharing feedback.” I believe that this is absolutely true. The students are well-versed in careful, thoughtful listening, collaboration and communication. This time it is not the students who need education in listening and open dialogue, but ratherit is those who
preach it. Whether it be from voting members in Executive Committee or spectators such as myself, there is a feeling that even though students have been given a platform, no one is listening. What good comes from having a voice if all it is used for is yelling into a void? In my understanding of the Morning Meeting demonstration on Tuesday, Dec. 12, it was not only about an unjust and inflated punishment, it was about the continued feeling of being placated instead of being taken as intellectuals with valid opinions and needs. Community government should represent the beliefs and wants of the majority of the community. It is not meant to represent the beliefs of faculty or administration alone. Here we learn to have voices and we learn how to use them from the incredible teachers and adults around us. It is now time we teach them how to listen. Bridget Slakas ‘19
THE INTERNATIONALIST
Slave trade is reborn in Libya
that the issue the administration had was the content of his speech, not Taha’s approval of it. Students have made their displeasure with the decision known through a petition and a protest at Morning Meeting in which students stood with their backs to the stage during the announcement period. Taha’s punishment is both unprecedented and unfair. The role of co-chair is supposed to represent the student body, and Taha did just that during his time as co-chair. His main misstep involved providing a senior with the opportunity to speak. By stripping Taha from his position, the administration is ignoring the student body’s voice, and is doing nothing beneficial to the asters community, and rather is than fle ing their authoritarian power with their might.
The college process is destroying high school DaviD Oks Opinion Editor Seniors are at the beginning of the long season of hearing back from their chosen schools, praying for fat letters in the mail or dreading the polite email that churns hearts with the word, “Unfortunately….” For many, after an arduous journey—editing and re-editing essays, poring over standardized tests and wishing their acceptance letters paint them as brilliant paragons of virtue—they won’t hear good news. That’s because the “top schools” so many students covet of have been accepting a lower and lower percentage of students in recent years. For example, Vanderbilt accepted 61.4 percent of students in 1999, and just 10.7 percent 17 years later, according to an article in The Tennessean. The consequence of “elite” universities’ acceptance rates bottoming out is that more bright, hard-working applicants are being rejected. In the eyes of many high school students, this is a tacit rebuke: they weren’t, they think, good enough. It’s no wonder, then, that rejections take such a toll on students. Many sulk, cry or wonder why their “dream school” doesn’t appear to love them back.
Casey Li On Nov. 14, 2017, CNN broke the news that slave trade was being practiced in Libya with a video of two men being auctioned as laborers, sparking internet outrage and political condemnation across Africa and Europe. The first official account of such practices surfaced in April when the International Organization for Migration (IOM) discovered slave markets along North African migrant routes. Libya is the main transit point for refugees and migrants who attempt to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. In April, the EU Trust Fund for Africa adopted a policy of “improved migration management” and dedicated €90 million to enforcing border control and curbing migrants from trying to cross into Libya. The EU also engaged in smear campaigns against non-governmental organizations (NGOs), claiming they’re complicit in the migration, but has yet to provide any evidence for their claims. The Italian government independently forced several NGOs to sign a “code of conduct” which prohibited entrance to Libyan territorial waters and obstruction of Libyan Coast Guard duties. The EU’s anti-immigration policy and its failure to provide alternative, legal methods led to many
migrants and immigrants being detained. Since the Libyan premier resigned in 2013, the country has been embroiled in civil war. The transitional government has failed to implement legal regulations. Some took advantage of the lawless state of the country and engaged in slave trade. In short, an influx of people at detention centers and the anarchic status quo of Libya induced the slave trade. After several countries recalled their Libyan ambassadors and people protested multiple Libyan embassies, substantial changes have taken place. African and European leaders agreed on an emergency repatriation of migrants. Libya launched a formal investigation into the slave trade and agreed to open a safe transit center. Despite existing international efforts, more should be done to tackle the true cause of slavery in Libya. Legal refuge options must be created. Tech companies that own online platforms where human trafficking occurs should cooperate. The Libyan government must allow the UN better access to detention centers. More funding should go to the UN Refugee Agency as it faces dramatic funding gaps for operations in sub-Saharan Africa.
“A Failed Rite of Passage”
It wasn’t always this way. The schools students pine to enter once offered virtually free admission to the wealthy and privileged. The change came when quotas and the like largely disappeared and millions of students who would once have never been able to afford college were enabled to attend by federal higher education funding. With this deluge of applicants, colleges were forced to become more selective. As college became both more accessible and harder to get into, the cult of elite education was born. Parents and students alike were captivated by what they imagined exclusive colleges offer. his obsession inflated the importance of where a student matriculates to the point that the process became a “failed rite of passage,” in the words of an article for Independent School magazine by psychologist Michael Thompson. As it exists now, the state of college admissions could hardly inspire more anxiety. Much of this comes not from students, but from parents. Many parents see their child’s success as a reflection of their own parenting if their son or daughter doesn’t get into “the best schools,” it is a public indictment of their child-rearing. Thus so many parents force their kids to follow the tight script of what the imagined admissions officer wants down to each detail. All of this falls terribly on the teenager. Some train themselves to plow through work mindlessly and adhere slavishly to a pre-ordained list of in-
terests and skills (typically, a musical instrument, volunteer service, and a skill or passion “that will look good”) while neglecting what they really want to do. The process also encourages students to pursue lifestyles that are clearly unhealthful. It’s not uncommon to hear ambitious students talk of staying up until the wee hours of the morning drinking coffee. These lifestyles also hurt students’ mental health. According to a study by New York University, 49 percent of private school students report high stress, and 26 percent report feeling clinically significant depression The student’s suffering does not end when decisions come. By the time they get into college, many will be emotionally wrecked by the process. Those who didn’t land in their dream schools feel they have botched the great rite of passage from teenagedom into adulthood. Even the lucky few who got into their dream schools find themselves having climbed the mountain they were were told to surmount, and ask: “What now?” It’s no wonder so many undergraduates burn out: they’ve seen the promised land, and found it is not so wonderful.
Fixing the Process
Students, parents and especially colleges need to change their approach to college admission. Much of this shift must come from students and parents. Students and parents should turn a skeptical eye towards the inscrutable cosmology of “the good schools” that e cludes untold do ens of fine institutions for no reason at all. They should ignore rankings like the infamous U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” list. Parents and students should also reassess the role the college admissions process plays in their life. One shouldn’t weep because a faceless admissions officer decided one’s application would go in one pile rather than another. But most of the change must come from colleges. They must stop saying they are “holistic ” fficers usually make decisions in ten minutes after cursory scans of a transcript, essays and test scores. It’s laughable to call that a comprehensive look at someone. nless admissions officers can grasp the identity of thousands of students at a clip of a few minutes apiece, universities should stop trumpeting how holistic their processes are. The process of college admissions has a valuable place in a modern society, but it needn’t be so abusive and so damaging to so many students. If we care about our students—and about our schools, and about our communities—then we must recognize this, and ensure that college admissions reinforce students’ confidence, health and happiness.
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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 appro imately five 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.
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OP-ED
TOWER/DECEMBER 15, 2017
America slides into dangerous internet corporatocracy Henry WiLLiams News Editor
On December 14th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote to scrap net neutrality rules that prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking or slowing down websites or creating internet “fast lanes.” With these rules gone, the very fabric of the most important technology of our times will be altered: stifling competition, strangling free expression and putting the United States even further behind every other developed western nation in internet access. The Original Open Internet Order The legal fight over the net started in 2010, when the FCC moved to formally regulate ISPs by instituting the Open Internet Order. Its rules specifically prohibit blocking access to lawful content, throttling internet speeds for those trying to access lawful content or accepting payment to prioritize some internet traffic over others. As a doctrine, this is called “net neutrality,” the principle that internet is important to communications infrastructure, and as such, providers should not be allowed to restrict consumers’ access. Proponents of the repeal point out that the internet was around for years before the 2010 rules were passed, during which time providers acted with a “gentleman’s agreement” not to throttle or block traffic. However, this argument completely misses that the market for ISPs today is wildly different from that of the late 2000s. Through a series of municipal contracts, mergers, acquisitions and predatory pricing, internet service in America has been consolidated into a handful of regional and near-monopolies. The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is
almost totally dominated by Comcast. Los Angeles has only two service providers: Time Warner Cable and Charter. As of the fourth quarter of 2013, just six corporations control 71.5 percent of the United States internet service market, with Comcast at the top of the pack . Free market proponents argue that natural competition will prevent ISPs from instituting unpopular blocking, but the current state of monopolistic dominance make this impossible in wide swaths of the US. The Necessity of Title II Reclassification The other piece of regulation to be repealed in December is the 2015 reclassification of ISPs as a Title II communication service, or “common carrier,” rather than their previous classification as “information providers.” This came as a result of a 2014 case, Verizon
Communications Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, in which the D.C. Circuit Court determined that the FCC had no authority to enforce its 2010 rules as long as service providers were not identified as common carriers. So what exactly are common carriers? The FCC was created in 1934 to regulate the public radio airwaves, and its mandate is focused on communication infrastructure, which in the 20th century expanded to include TV and phone service. These are common carriers because they exist as venues for disseminating important information and connecting people across the country and the world. Unlike private creations such as social networks, the internet is infrastructure, created and subsidized by the federal government. Title II treats providers this way, demanding that they not prioritize or block content and serve as a tru-
ly open means for communication. Until the 2015 Title II rules, there were no clear legal protections requiring net neutrality. Between 2005 and 2012, five attempts to pass bills in Congress containing net neutrality provisions failed. Current FCC chairman Ajit Pai, a Trump appointee, has said, “We aren’t giving anybody a free pass. We are simply shifting from onesize-fits-all pre-emptive regulation to targeted enforcement based on actual market failure or anticompetitive conduct.” If the FCC drops its mandate, regulation of Telecoms gets kicked back to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Proponents argue that the FTC is better suited for breaking up monopolies, but the organization is largely unable to make binding rules. In addition, a pending case argues that the FTC doesn’t have the authority to regulate the conduct of communications companies.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FREE PRESS ACTION FUND/FLICKR
PROTESTORS FOR NET NEUTRALITY demand that the FCC protect net neutrality in 2014. Under the commission’s new chairman, Trump appointee Ajit Pai, the issue of net neutrality has again come into the public eye.
Turning a deaf ear to the public
During the legally mandated public comment period, 22 million comments were filed. While many were spam, an industry study found that 98.5 percent of unique comments supported the current rules and opposed the repeal. 28 Democratic senators have pushed to FCC to postpone the vote. Advocacy groups and smaller ISPs have weighed in against the change. Fewer than 20 percent of Americans oppose net neutrality . Despite the outcry, the FCC has flatly refused all detractors. In a statement on Senate opposition, the FCC hit back, saying “This is just evidence that supporters of heavy-handed [i]nternet regulations are becoming more desperate by the day as their effort to defeat Chairman Pai’s plan to restore [i]nternet freedom has stalled.” This a shockingly adversarial tone for an unelected bureaucracy pushing wildly unpopular changes. The FCC is supposed to serve the people, but they are representing the interests of the companies they were created to regulate. Perhaps worst of all is that the statement is right. Supporters of net neutrality are desperate. The past year has revealed the astonishing power of our supposedly representative government to get away with actions that do not represent the majority of Americans. The American executive branch ultimately does have the power to repeal Title II. In an essay published in The Federalist Papers, James Madison argued for checks and balances: “a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.” A noble goal, but one that rests securely on the principle that governments will control each other or themselves, a principle that seems to slip further from us with each passing day.
No offense: it’s time to re- Masters must say #MeToo think political correctness Logan Toporoff Managing Editor
george Weed Editor-in-Chief For most of my childhood, political correctness was something of which I was not even conscious. I would make offensive jokes or laugh at other people’s insensitive comments all of the time without realizing that I was violating any societal rules. I went to middle school with a largely homogenous group of white, middle class Christian classmates, and I never truly learned the weight that my bad jokes actually carried until later on. And while my while my parents would try their best to steer me away from crass or disrespectful influences, many of my peers directed me otherwise. Only after I entered ninth grade at Masters was I even introduced to the concept of political correctness, and it was not a warm introduction. I remember it clearly: I was on the second floor hallway of Masters Hall, and I had made an inappropriate joke about AIDS to one of my friends. Someone listening to the conversation was bothered by my comment, and yelled at me, asking how I could be so insensitive. I felt taken aback and embarrassed for saying something that I didn’t know had crossed a line. I do not defend my ninth-grade self, and I know that my comment was insensitive. However, the way that my politically incorrect joke was addressed only made me feel defensive and unsympathetic. In America today, I feel like the term ‘politically correct’ has a somewhat negative connotation. Some of this comes from people who genuinely do hold views that are offensive to underprivileged people, and who don’t want to be told what is right. But I believe that a larger part of that negative association stems from people who might be more tolerant by nature, but have uncomfortable first exposures with political correctness. If you were speaking another language to a native speaker, and you
PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES BOT/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A WWII POSTER WARNS readers not to confuse “free speech” for “careless talk.” Weed urges readers to avoid excessive political correctness. accidentally said something that offended them, wouldn’t you want them to explain what you had done wrong rather than solely berate you for offending them? Even when you are in the wrong, being publicly called out for something that you said can make you feel targeted and embarrassed. That is how I felt, and how I continue to feel when I am publicly challenged about inappropriate mannerisms that I have forgotten are improper or simply never learned in the first place. As a straight white male with numerous unearned privileges, I often have a hard time defending myself in this kind of situation. Thus, it is often hard to convert these unintentional faults into a meaningful dialogue. Instead, I find when I am called out publically, I shut down and say nothing at all rather than speaking up and asking why. The defensive state of mind that this approach helps to establish is not conducive to learning. Sure, getting mad at someone for mislabeling or misspeaking might
silence them in the moment, and sure, they may not say it again, but I think that they won’t necessarily grow to accept the other point of view. For me, my ninth-grade memory sticks out as a negative experience rather than a learning one. While negative reinforcement is sometimes necessary, I think that as a community, and as a country, we need to adjust the way that socalled ‘politically correct’ issues are discussed. Social expectations with regards to PC culture should be introduced at an earlier age across the board, by parents and by learning institutions. Reducing this potential for hostile exposure would help to close the gap, and make ‘political correctness’ a term that people don’t have such a negative association with. I’m not suggesting one should suffer in silence if they are witnessing unacceptable language or behavior. Rather, do speak up, but try to extend the offending party as much dignity and compassion as you would have them extend to those they just casually maligned.
As more stories of sexual assault and harassment emerge in the news, campaigns have begun worldwide to empower those who have dealt with such abuse. One growing movement is the #MeToo campaign, used by men and women globally to share their personal stories and open up a dialogue on the topic of sexual misconduct. The movement, started by activist Tarana Burke more than ten years ago, resurfaced as a hashtag on Twitter and Facebook. The viral campaign came to the Upper School through GALS, the student feminist club. Their initial project sought to survey the community to gather anonymous stories of harassment and sexism to be shared with the community to raise awareness. But the survey was short-lived, as it was discontinued only hours after it was sent out by the administration. This is where our campus’ problems begin. When we chose to close a platform for victims of sexual abuse, we invalidated the voices of the many who needed it. No matter where one is, men and women are going to be harassed or assaulted; it is inevitable, even at Masters. Over the course of time, Masters has experienced harassment andabuse cases which have been extremely closed off to the community. When it comes to drug abuse, our community handles disciplinary procedures through a fairly open process that is soon announced through an email and/or speech to the community to assure everyone that the issue is cared for and the student body is educated on it. But when it comes to sex-related offenses, a very different line is drawn. Rather than a speech about how to handle the situation or open a dialogue with those who are uncomfortable, the case is quickly closed off to students. This process puts shame on the abuse itself and lessens the community’s education on what is happening around us, as well as what could happen to many of us. It also takes an open dialogue out of the picture as the topic is seemingly deemed
“too controversial.” One must recognize that stories of sexual harassment or abuse told by members of our community in a forum like the GALs survey may be difficult for our administration and that their need to then investigate such allegations would be in direct conflict with the survivors need for anonymity. But while tackling cases of sexual assault and abuse may be a sensitive matter for Masters as it seeks to attract prospective students, we must prioritize the protection, education and dialogue of our student body first. Students should not feel silenced through the quiet way of dealing with such cases and the closure of their platform. While the administration may have reasonable concerns about bringing platforms like #MeToo to Masters, many of these concerns are less endangering than suppressing open dialogue about an issue that has been pushed under the rug throughout our society for too long. Just because we speak of the topic less does not mean that the issue is not there. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately one in six boys and one in four girls are sexually abused before the age of 18. The unfortunate truth is that too many students experience these scenarios for our community to be so closed off toward the topic of abuse. It is time for Masters to say #MeToo.
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MASTERS, DESPITE STUDENTS’ REQUESTS, has refused to more openly discuss issues of sexual harassment. Even in Masters, Toporoff argues, issues of sexual harassment exist and must be combatted.
TOWER/DECEMBER 15, 2017
FEATURES
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Masters’ sustainability initatives come with a cost alexandra Bentzien Features Editor Having an annual theme allows the Masters community to explore one topic that sparks discussion, passion and collaboration. While the school has delved into themes ranging from water to diversity in the past, last year’s focus on sustainability has proved to be a commitment that exceeds the boundary of a single school year. The EFFECT group’s composting is transforming food waste. New water fountains utili e low flow technology to conserve water and reduce the use of plastic water bottles. Brock, Masters’ food service, is highlighting the incorporation of organic foods. Solar energy is being used in the Fonseca Center, and a change to cleaner gas is underway. While these additions promote a green mission, they are not always inexpensive. Solar energy on campus is described by hief inancial fficer d iddle as a “win-win deal.” The solar panels on top of Strayer Hall and the Fonseca Center have already saved the school a significant amount of energy and money, with the amount of annual savings estimated to be at least $15,000. However, the initial cost of the installation of solar panels, and a green, three-story
facility, was no small price. Biddle declined to give the exact amount for the FC, stating that the number was “too big to be understood without a proper context.” According to the 2012 plan for the Fonseca Center, the implementation of photovoltaic solar panels cost an estimated $750,000. Likewise, the difference between cost in the previous food service provider, Aramark, and the current provider, rock, is “very significant,” according to Biddle, who declined to tell Tower the exact cost disparity. Biddle attributed the difference in amount to the difference between the quality of food product, the type of food preparation and the type of food service Brock delivers. urrently, asters is in the final stages of installing new steam pipes on campus, which would allow the school to transition from using No. 6 heating oil, a highly unsustainable fuel which will soon be illegal, to No. 2 heating oil, an eco-friendly alternative. Though Biddle stated that the switch from No.6 to No.2 oil is not cost-saving, as the installation of No.2 cost $800,000, the new oil would decrease pollutants and fuel expenses by $100,000 annually. With regard to sustainability, Associate Head of School Tim Kane remarked that the change in fuel type will be “the single most important thing the school has done in its history.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
MASTERS’ VISION FOR A more sustainable campus is reflected in its Campus Master Plan. One of the plan’s initiatives will transform the woods to emphasize community learning through nature. Kane went on to add that, “A commitment to sustainability can be expensive. But we need to ask ourselves, is it more important to be green or lowcost?” Biddle said, “Personally, I’m committed to sustainability. I might be willing to pay more for myself, but my personal decision might be different from my responsibility to the financials of the school.” Now, Masters as a whole
needs to decide if it is willing to pay more in return for the long-term effects of using sustainable products. ane stressed that the financing of the switch to No. 2 oil will not be paid for by tuition, but solely through fundraising initiatives like last year’s Spring Gala. Many are quick to assume that these new undertakings will lead to a rise in tuition; however, according to Biddle, one should “never say a partial
expense resulted in increasing tuition.” Masters plans to implement more renewable energy sources moving forward. The pilot project of the school’s sustainability mission, the Fonseca enter, has recently been certified as a LEED Gold structure within just two years of its construction. A LEED Gold award is a prominent national certification awarded to “green” buildings with sub-passive solar design features (in which electrical or mechanical equipment does not interfere with the system) that actively use recycled materials. The school looks to promote sustainability as a primary focus in all future construction and renovation projects, especially with regard to the Master Plan. The Plan, which can be found in full on the school website, promises to conserve energy and increase use of renewables, reduce water consumption, rethink waste and expand recycling across campus under a section solely devoted to promoting environmental stewardship. Masters is devoted to large-scale sustainability plans, but it is not difficult for each individual to become greener in their daily life. “Turning out lights, making sure your sinks don’t leak, using low energy bulbs: becoming sustainable is made up of little steps,” Kane said.
A funny thing happened on the way to the humor theme . . . Joseph Goldstein Contributing Writer In light of the bombardment of depressing headlines that populate the front pages of newspapers and appear on television, a laugh can be a relief. While laughter is a necessity for maintaining an optimistic view toward today’s events, many Masters students and faculty have questioned the significance and meaning of humor as the theme for the 2017-18 school year. he first effort to involve humor at Masters came this November. Artistic Director of Dance Company, Shell M. Benjamin, embraced the challenge of creating a dance concert that encompassed humor. Benjamin enjoyed the challenge of encouraging the audience to laugh with others instead of laugh at others. “Right now, we are going through such difficult times of uncertainty. Humor is sorely needed,” Benjamin said. Benjamin also mentioned how she is “waiting to see other projects portray humor” other than the dance performance. According to Head of Upper School Matt Ives, Dean of the Class of 2018 Shelly Kaye, and Associate Head of School Tim Kane, there is no plan for a Masters Matters day involving humor. These days, usually involving symposiums, allow all students to experience the school’s annual theme. In past years, Masters Matters symposiums were perhaps the highlight of previous themes. Guests spoke to the Masters community such as bestselling author
and lead chef for Stone Barns, Dan Barber, and Tim Wise, an author who writes against racism. Both authors spoke regarding their work and how it correlates to the theme of the symposium. Additionally, there is not a club that is focused on humor or comedy. Diversity Ambassadors, a club concerned with Masters’ diversity, played a significant role in the 2015-16 school year when the theme was diversity. EFFECT, a club created to raise environmental awareness and act as a sustainability committee, was created for the 2016-17 school year. In response to the lack of a humor-related club, Kane emphasized how EFFECT and Diversity Ambassadors played a large role in organizing Masters Matters symposiums. However, no attempt at creating a club or adapting an existing club to promote humor has been made so far this year. Kane attributed the absence of a Masters Matters day to the lack of a club being involved and low student initiative to organize an event. Ives, Kaye and Kane have revealed that there is some money that could be used for a future activity with humor. However, with a full semester almost finished and no date set for a Masters Matters day, the movement to create an event to acknowledge the theme of the year may fall upon students who wish to see the theme implemented. “If the students have a great concept and bring it to their class dean or Mr. Ives, they could initiate a plan involving humor,” Kane said.
By removing popular programs, Netflix’s shift towards originals creates dissent Michael FitzGerald Editor-in-Chief In order to have the occasional break from stress caused by high school, etfli is an outlet which allows students to unwind from their busy work filled lives In , etfli bought the rights to some of the most popular shows on television and made them available to watch for per month s the company took off in the following decade, etfli diversified its subscription options by adding a more expensive subscription option which allowed customers to watch etfli on more than one device. Initially, this price increase was met with a negative reaction from many customers, but etfli silenced critics when the additional funds were used to increase their variety of TV
shows etfli again announced a price increase in early December 2017 , when the lowest priced package was increased to Some subscribers might believe that with the recent price increases, etfli would be acquiring the rights to stream more fan-favorite TV shows. For example, in 2014, etfli acquired the rights to stream “Friends”, a vastly popular show which featured 10 seasons and 236 episodes. It was rumored that the acquisition price was approximately $500,000 per episode, or about $118 million in total. While many customers e pected etfli to continue their purchase of popular TV shows, they have actually been doing the opposite. ecently, etfli has not been renewing the rights to stream various popular shows, and many customers are wondering why these shows are being removed from etfli
The reason behind this is because etfli is allocating more of its budget towards creating “ etfli riginals”, shows that are produced and created by etfli itself ecently, shows such as “The League,” “Psych,” and “Friday Night Lights” have all had their contracts suspended. Additionally, “How I Met our other,” etfli ’s second most watched program from 2016 according to Business Insider, was removed from etfli in mid-November. Dropping these expensive shows has given etfli financial fle ibility to fund “ etfli riginals” such as “Orange is the New Black,” “House of Cards,” “Stranger Things” and “Narcos.” While these particular “originals” have been major successes, not all “ etfli riginals” have been popular. This has frustrated customers who bought a subscrip-
tion to rewatch many of their favorite shows. Additionally, the volume of shows is skewed; one episode of “Stranger Things 2” costs the same as 16 episodes of Friends. With their new budget reallocation, Net-
fli is indicating to its customers that they wish to become a producer of original content, rather than focusing upon its original goal of streaming television, leaving many fans heartbroken.
IMAGE COURTESY OF SELVAGGIA SERINI
STRANGER THINGS, ONE OF Netflix’s most successful original programs, brought in 15.8 million viewers for its Season Two Premiere. However, the streaming service’s elimination of popular shows such as “How I Met Your Mother” has caused anger among its customers.
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Swim dives into new season Jacob Strier Copy Editor The swim team at Masters has an action-packed season ahead. The team has over a dozen meets planned for January and February and a new coach who plans on revamping the practices. The team, now in its third year, is evolving from its past years, and many swimmers are welcoming new changes. The program is becoming more competitive, and is comprised of both beginners and experienced swimmers. According to senior and team captain Charlotte Peterson, who has been with the program since its inception, “The team has changed a lot over the past three years, it has become more serious and competitive.” The team’s previous coach did not return this year, but his departure was not met with much objection. His workouts were seen by some as unvaried and tiring. As junior Marcus Diaz pointed out, “He did the same thing every practice. There was no variation.” These past issues are being rectified, however, by the new coach, whose practices and drills are reported to be more dynamic than those of the previous coach. According to Peterson, the new coach, Craig McClintock, has been focusing on stroke technique and more
Russia banned from 2018 games SaraH Faber Social Media Manager
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THE SWIM TEAM PAUSES between sets during practice. Head coach Craig McClintock talks to team members before their next exercise. creative practices. Peterson also noted a newly-implemented record board encourages swimmers to break their personal records. “We have a chance to get in shape before our meets,” Peterson said. “We really have to put our everything into the meets we do have,” she added. With eight meets in January and five in ebruary, the team has a busy upcoming competition schedule. The team’s first meet after winter break is on Jan. 10, 2018 which will be at the Hamill Natatorium in the Fonseca Center. The season concludes with a championship meet at the Hopkins School on Feb. 24, 2018. The swim team has a gender imbalance, with 27 boys and 13 girls. “Most of the girls have been very consistent,”
Peterson said. She pointed out that the competitive winter musical and boys’ sports teams in the winter season leads many boys to join the swim team, which is open to beginners, as some boys may find other winter programs too competitive. The team is a mix of new and more experienced swimmers, and boasts an especially strong upperclassmen group which includes several seniors. Several members of the team have expressed both positive and negative opinions on the future of the team. “I am a little worried about what’s going to happen when all the seniors graduate,” Peterson said. The future is promising, however. “We have a lot of really strong underclassmen,” Peterson said.
While countries all around the world are training for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Russia is dealing with the news that they have been banned from the Games. The punishment was issued by the International Olympic Committee after an investigation found that Russian athletes had the highest doping levels in Olympic history during the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. Urine samples showing use of performance enhancing drugs from Russia’s top athletes were swapped out with clean samples that, according to Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, had been taken months earlier. During the 2016 Summer Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, only a handful of Russian athletes were permitted to participate. According to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, “clean” individual ath-
letes will be allowed to participate if they “meet standards determined by an IOC-convened panel.” If they win a medal, it will not be counted in the official Olympic records as a win for Russia. The Russian national anthem will not be played at the ceremonies. In addition to being banned from the upcoming Winter Games, the Russian team will be fined $15 million, “money that global officials said will be put toward drug-testing international athletes,” according to The New York Times.
Squash teams look to continue success of last year Drew ScHott Features Editor
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SOPHOMORE GARRETT WENBERG HITS a backhand rail. Garrett, a veteran member of the team, looks to help bring boys varsity squash back to nationals.
Two years ago, the opening of the Fonseca Center enabled Masters to add many new sports to its athletic program, including squash. Now in the sport’s third year, the boys and girls’ squash teams have received increased interest from numerous students. As a result, the boys team added a JV squad in the 2016-2017 season, while the girls team added a JV squad this athletic season. The boys’ team begins its season coming off of a victory in last season’s 2016 Division III High School National Championships. In the championships, current sophomore member of girls’ squash Nouran Youssef was included on the roster. As of this year, Youssef is the top-ranked Under-17 player for girls squash in the United States. For the third straight season,
COLUMN: TEAMS OF RIVALS
MitcHeLL FiNK
North Korea to compete in 2018 Olympics
As the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea approach, two figure skaters are training in Canada hoping for a chance to represent their country in the South Korea-hosted Olympics for the first time ever. Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik, from North Korea, have qualified for the Olympics. The only question now is whether or not their leader Kim Jong Un will allow these athletes. North Korea has participated in most of the previous Olympics, with impressive success. They have 56 medals with 16 athletes bringing home gold. When the last Olympics were in South Korea in 1988, North Korea boycotted the games. South Korea has been trying to turn around a very tension-filled Olympics this February into a step towards peace. President Moon Jae-In in a speech to the National Unification Advisory Council said,
“The door to PyeongChang, the road to peace is open even to North Korea. North Korea competing in PyeongChang would represent massive progress toward peace.” South Korea even reached out to North Korea to try to co-host the games, although that plan ended up falling through. While South Korean officials may be attempting to make the Olympics a show of peace between North and South Korea, the constant threat of Kim Jong Un and the potential for a nuclear attack is a possibility. PyeongChang is just 50 miles from the North Korean border, which is a cause for worry for the South Korean government and for ticket buyers. The threat of North Korea looms large, and ticket sales are down, but for once the world can focus on something that truly brings it together together.
the boys’ varsity team will be led by coaches Sahar Anwar and Ahmed El Mehelmi. John Kinsley, a senior and third-year member of the team, views the coaches as a key reason for the team’s success. “The coaching staff is great because they care about us as players and that really helps in terms of our morale and what they are teaching us and how they are coaching us,” Kinsley said. Additionally, the boys’ team has added sophomore Taha Dinana, who is ranked third in the Under-15 division for boys squash in Egypt. Due to squash’s growing popularity, the skill level of players has increased, creating greater competition for a spot on the team. In response to this development, boys’ JV Head Coach Skeffington Young said, “We’re not taking everybody because we’re trying to build on skills and competitiveness.” After a two win season last year,
the girls team plans to continue developing under Head Coach Robert Fish. Fish hopes to work with the team to enhance their skill level and build their competitiveness by spending more time on the courts. “Some goals for the team this year will include becoming comfortable playing as individuals, developing confidence, and learning how to approach a competitive, individual sport,” Fish said. The girls’ team has announced two captains for this season: twins Daisy and Mary Sulavik, who are both three-year veterans of the team. “This season, it is important for each individual to improve and to help each other become better,” Mary Sulavik said. She also mentioned that since the program was recently developed, it is important to have veterans in the future who can help mentor incoming players. Thus far, the boys’ team holds an 0-2 record with losses against The Hackley School and Bruns-
wick. Meanwhile, the girls’ team has a 1-4 record, with a crucial 7-0 victory over the King School. Their sixth contest is on Jan. 4 versus the Rye Country Day School at the Fonseca Center.
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SOPHOMORE TAHA DINANA LUNGES for a ball before a match. Taha, a recruit from Egypt, is new to Masters but is already a valuable part of the squash program.
Masters freshmen rock at climbing DaviD oKS Opinions Editor This past May, as Masters students looked forward to summer vacation, Brody Leo, now a freshman, waited anxiously to begin climbing three large walls while wearing a harness tied to the end of a rope. After Leo’s turn began, he surveyed the massive walls he had to scale, silently working over how to get to the top in time. For each wall he had four minutes to get to the peak. Quickly but with some difficulty, he conquered each wall. As the competition drew to a close, he was proud. “I didn’t do badly,” Leo said, “But I didn’t care how I did. I learned a lot.” Leo is a rock-climber who participates in competitions across the New York metropolitan area for the Vikings, a team belonging to the Cliffs at Valhalla gym. He practices for two-and-a-half hours at least twice a week. “It takes up a lot of my time,” Leo said. He’s been rock climbing for two years, has a coach and has participated in more than a dozen local and regional competitions.
“It’s stress-relieving,” Leo said. “I always get nervous before the competitions, but even if I don’t win, the satisfaction is in competing. It pushes your determination and grit.” Rock climbing can take multiple forms. Typically, climbers use a harness and a rope to surmount a wall. Before climbing, they have time to understand the wall they are going to climb and find suitable paths. Depending on the competition, various methods and styles are utilized, using ropes in different positions and of different lengths. Leo isn’t the school’s only rock-climber. August Grossman, also a freshman, competes for the Vikings too. Grossman, like Leo, is a member of the Vikings and practices at least twice a week. “Obviously I hope to be one of the best one day, but other than that it’s just a fun thing to do,” he said. Danny Hickey, who coaches both Grossman and Leo, is proud of his athletes’ achievements. “Dedicated is the number one word I’d use to describe them. They’re serious about the competition, but they’re never hard on anyone else,” he said. “They always try to get
the most that they can out of the sport.” For Masters’ rock-climbers, the sport has proven to be a great help in other avenues of life. “If I fall, it’s like getting a bad test grade,” Leo said. “It’s about the process. It’s about getting better.” “In rock climbing we call what we climb ‘projects,’ and it’s the same thing with school work and tests,” Grossman says. “What you learn in rock climbing helps in other parts of life.” When Leo describes his favorite sport to others, he sometimes gets raised eyebrows. Yet for him, that’s a sign that what he does is valuable. “One thing I really like about rock climbing is that it’s out of the usual. I can call it my own,” he said.