Tower Issue #1 2019-2020

Tower The Masters School 49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522

VOLUME 76, NUMBER 1

Editorial With the celebration of Free Speech Week last week, Tower reflects upon the ways in which social media has transformed access to information, and the importance of being mindful of the ways in which we use and consume it.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019

tower.mastersny.org

Masters “revolutionizes” handbook Kate Sibery Features Lead Editor

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ollowing a series of complaints and discussions surrounding Masters’ sexual misconduct policy, a group of Upper School administrators completely reconstructed it with the

goal of prioritizing healthy communication surrounding sexual intimacy and relationships.

Last spring, a group of students organized a town hall to discuss potential changes to the policy. Prior to this meeting, a small group of administrators participated in a workshop on sexual misconduct in schools, led by renowned sexual assault survivor and activist Katie Koestner.

The first woman in the United States to formally speak out as a victim of sexual assault on a college campus in 1990, and actually coin the term “date rape,” Koestner has been at the forefront of the national movement to reform sexual misconduct policies in schools. She has aided thousands of schools and institutions in writing more comprehensive policies.

Concerns regarding Masters’ previous policy dealt mostly with the concept of transparency, Interim Dean of Students Jeff Carnevale said. “As the students pointed out, I don’t think the policy clearly articulated what the steps were when someone reported a [case of] sexual misconduct.”

Over the s u m m e r , Koestner and her team worked as consultants ELLA TANG/TOWER to Masters’

Inside this issue: ◄ It’s 10 p.m.

Does Masters know where your children are?

administration. Following a period of intense reform, the current policy outlined in the Upper School Family Handbook now features an 11-step protocol that details the course of action that will be taken with regard to reporting and investigating alleged sexual misconduct, as well as the rights of students involved in said cases.

Carnevale highlighted the administration’s main goal in revising the sexual misconduct policy.“We knew we wanted it to be the most progressive policy out there, and to really reflect the culture and climate surrounding sexual misconduct,” he said. “We also wanted it to be fair and manageable so that it is something we can engage with consistently.”

In the words of Koestner, the policy has not only been progressive, but rather, “revolutionary”, both in its consideration of all possible acts of sexual misconduct and the thorough investigative process that clearly outlines the rights of all involved parties.

Koestner, who has travelled globally and spoken at nearly 5,000 schools nationwide since her own sexual assault, indicated that she has yet to see a high school take on such a comprehensive sexual misconduct policy, stating, “I’ve been to every one of the best schools in the country, and spent my life trying to change laws and policies. Masters is the first in history to be willing to take on an entire revamp of the sexual misconduct policy.”

Concerns about the Masters School “Safe Homes” policy Nora Fellas Opinion, Page 4 NORA FELLAS/TOWER

◄ Renovations to the boys’ dorms create a home away from home An inside look at the newly- renovated Strong and Thompson dormitories

Kira Ratan Features & Arts, Page 8

GEORGE CHANG/TOWER

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How one tweet ignited a global fight over freedom, sovereignty and justice With an exclusive interview with former NBA commissioner, David Stern

KENNETH LU/FLICKR

Continued on page 2

Mitch Fink and Sophie Grand Sports, Page 12

Vaping-related illness kills 33 across the U.S. Annie Rubinson News Lead Editor

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Kansas woman began vaping at the age of 50–on Sept. 10, one week later, she died. Doctors confirmed that although the woman had a long history of medical issues, it was vaping that “progressed her symptoms” and ultimately ended her life, NBC said.

Modern vaporizer or “vape” pens were first introduced in the mid 2000’s, Vape Daily said, as healthier alternatives to cigarettes. The idea that a vaporizer could mimic the sensations of smoking a cigarette without causing lung damage was appealing to buyers. However, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), electronic cigarettes are not nearly as safe as they were initially advertised to be.

The CDC has reported nearly 1,500 cases of life-threatening vape-related illnesses across 49 of the United States, with hundreds more being investigated nationwide, The Washington Post said. The national death toll from these illnesses has risen to 33 people as of Oct. 22. The majority of patients are between the ages of 18 and 34, the CDC said.

E-cigarettes–such as vape pens or Juuls–are battery-powered devices that heat aerosol-containing liquid to be inhaled into the lungs. This liquid, or “e-juice,” may contain nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabinoid (CBD) oils. These chemicals, among others, have since been linked to several fatal diseases, the American Lung Association said.

“When inhaled, diacetyl causes ‘popcorn lung’–a scarring of the tiny air sacs in the lungs resulting in the thickening and narrowing of the airways,” they added. In addition to popcorn lung, or bronchitis, vaping has led to several fatal cases

of pneumonia. Patients have experienced chest pain, coughing, fevers, vomiting and general fatigue, the CDC said.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also suspects that some of the THC oils in vaporizers are contaminated with Vitamin E Acetate, a chemical often incorporated in black market e-cigarette sales in order to “stretch THC oil,” The Washington Post said. Vitamin E Acetate resembles THC oil and is significantly cheaper, but can cause severe damage when inhaled.

“Because consumers cannot be sure whether any THC vaping products may contain vitamin E acetate, consumers are urged to avoid buying vaping products on the street, and to refrain from using THC oil or modifying/adding any substances to products purchased in stores,” the FDA told the New York Times on Sept. 7.

Hillary Peckham, COO of Etain Health–a medical marijuana company–and member of the Masters School Board of Trustees agreed with the evaluation that most cases of vape-related illnesses stemmed from black market products.

“When we make a batch [of cannabis oil] we have to go to the Department of Health for testing before we can release them for sale, whereas nicotine vaporizers don’t have to undergo any kind of testing,” Peckham said. She added, however, that regulated companies are still required to advertise the dangers of vaping, and that they do not sell vaporizers to minors unless they have approval from a physician.

“The long term effects of THC on young brains hasn’t been studied well,” she said. “Until there’s more scientific evidence that it does no damage, we prefer to be cautious.”

Peckham added that her company discourages customers from buying “smoke-able” marijuana.

Continued on page 2

GEORGE CHANG/TOWER

MASTERS STUDENTS ANDREW MITCHELL ‘22, Rowan Walter ‘22 and Wonjun Lee ‘22 partake in New York’s Climate Strike. They were among hundreds of other Masters students and faculty that chose to miss class in favor of the strike.

The protestors started the strike in Foley Square and marched over one mile to Battery Park.

Masters to excuse activist absences M. Brody Leo News Editor

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ust over a month ago, on Friday, Sept. 20, Attendance Coordinator Dreia Parker’s office line rang off the hook with over 200 phone calls, each from a parent announcing that their child would be missing school to attend the New York City Student Climate Strike.

This excusal of a such a large number of students, let alone for the sake of political expression,was unprecedented, but it may have opened the floodgates to a future at Masters where these events are important parts of both teacher curricula and Masters culture as a whole.

Head of School Laura Danforth and Interim Head of Upper School Peter Newcomb have both said they will excuse a student if they wished to attend a protest or strike for a cause in which they deeply believe, as they did for the Climate Strike.

As for any other broad policy, this privilege is not without conditions or intricacies. Head of School

Laura Danforth said, “Even if it’s a cause that I as a leader and educator might not agree with, I have to keep that outside of my decision-making.

However, there is a difference between that [a cause she might not agree with] and supporting a cause towards hatred.”

Danforth was not hesitant to state the importance of events like the

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“We want to tell our grandkids about this when we are older. We want to tell them that we were part of history.”

- LAWRENCE AZZARITI, ‘20

Climate Strike support the Masters Mission Statement. “We can’t just say we want our students to be ‘powers-for-good’ in the world. We can’t just talk the talk, we have to walk the walk,” she said.

Though missing class is always a concern for administrators, Newcomb also said he believes strongly in giving students the freedom to practice activism in forms that are mean-

ingful to them. “If we have a student who believes strongly in something and they have parental support, we want to do everything we can to support that as well,” Newcomb said.

Many other teachers acknowledged the importance of events like these, but also express some concerns over students missing important classwork–especially in classes with stricter curriculums, such as Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

AP United States History teacher Colleen Roche said, “It is the student’s responsibility to make up work that they missed.” However she was excited for a future where these events could coincide well with her curriculum. “It could be very interesting to plan lessons around the marches with enough advance warning,” she said.

Many students at the strike still value their significance much more than that of one missed day of school.

Lawrence Azzariti, one of the senior class presidents said, “We want to tell our grandkids about this when we are older–we want to tell them that we did something and that we were part of history.”

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NEWS

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

Shakespeare returns to Masters with “Twelth Night” Night’ has a lot of good roles... that’s a great thing–to give more opportunities to more people,” she said. As for the Staff Writer selection of a more classical piece instead of a modern play like last year’s “Museum”, O’Connor pointed out the he last time a Shakespeare variety it offered to the community. play was performed at Mas- She said, “We haven’t done anything ters, none of the current Up- classical in a while at Masters.” per School students would have been a Her style of directing by incorporatpart of the cast. For the first time since ing students’ ideas into the characters the 2015 performance of “A Midsum- and the play has increased excitemer Night’s Dream” a Sheakespeare ment among cast members especially. play – “Twelfth Night” – will again be That, combined with the selection of a performed.

Shakespeare classic, has the performAfter the production of the modern ers buzzing. piece “Museum” last year, the choice of “I love Shakespeare. He is one of a Shakespeare classic has gained the my favorites, if not my favorite, playattention and excitement of many, es- wright,” sophomore and cast member pecially those in the theater program. Lila Patterson said. She continued, Although it “His shows have is Director Meg such lasting power...

O’Connor’s first they were written Shakespeare’s shows have year at Masters, centuries ago and such lasting power...they she has a long still feel relevant towere well written centuries history in theater day.” Patterson also ago and still feels relavent dating back to her believes that the setoday. childhood. When lection of a classic recalling her ear- LILA PATTERSON ‘22 play is a “nice change ly discovery of her of pace for Masters.” love for theater, Patterson will be she describes her first outdoor play playing Maria, the lead servant of Olexperience as “the most magical thing ivia, in the play.

I had ever seen.” A true revelation Sophomore Marbod Faure, who for O’Connor, she knew immediately plays Orsino in “Twelfth Night”, also what she wanted to pursue when she has a key role in the performance. became an adult. “I thought, ‘Yeah Faure, an experienced actor who that is the end of my parents’ stock- worked in a professional theater broking dreams for me,’” she said. company in England, was impressed O’Connor, instrumental in the se- by the level of commitment that the lection of the play, explained why she cast members put into this perforchose this particular piece. “‘Twelfth mance. Faure said “I was surprised to

Ethan Schlapp

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find that kind of work level in a high school.” Faure continued, “there is definitely dedication and there’s definitely a will to perform well.”

Not to be overshadowed by the performance of a classic play, the behindthe-scenes work has started to become increasingly more relevant as the play approached. Junior Samantha New, the stage manager for the fall play, is working hard to make sure everything is ready for performance night.

New, a veteran in the field of stage

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managing, has held the title for 11 shows, some of which include “Museum” (the fall play last year), “Great Gig in the Sky”, as well as numerous spring dance concerts. “I am basically in charge of everyone on stage and backstage,” she said. More specifically, New noted the lights and sound cues, both of which she is in charge of “calling.” She is also an expert in the functions of the play, taking notes during rehearsals. “I can tell you everything– every movement,” she said.

The finishing touches were added to the play, with the open dress rehearsal on Thursday, Oct. 24, and the final performances set for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26.

Everyone in the play–the director, cast, and crew–really looked forward to the play last weekend and were hoping a lot of students and faculty would show up in the audience. Faure puts it simply to the audience members: “You can let go of the rest, and have fun.”

A SELECTION OF E-LIQUID pods displayed at the counter of Cedar Gifts & More. Recent New York state laws prohibit the sales of flavored e-cigarettes, forcing vape shops like Cedar Gifts & More to discount these flavored pods to move the inventory out of the store.

There have been noticeable dips in vape sales, perhaps due to recent vaping related illnesses. Read more on the centerspread on page 6.

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JUNIOR CAIO LANES REHEARSES for the showing of the Fall Play. An international boarding student from Brazil, this is Lanes’ first time participating in a Masters theater production. He plays the role of Sebastian, the lost twin brother of Viola. In this scene, Sebastian delivers a soliloquy to the audience, addressing his conflicting feeings toward marrying a woman he’s only just met.

GEORGE CHANG/TOWER

MASTERS STUDENTS REHEARSE FOR their performance of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. The final performances were were set to run last weekend, on Oct. 25 and 26 to the Masters community of students, parents and faculty. The play explores themes of gender, sexuality and class.

GEORGE CHANG / TOWER

“The act of decluttering and organizing can seem more than overwhelming – it can seem as difficult as getting to Mars.”

- Allison Wohl, professional organizer

ANNIE RUBINSON/TOWER

National death toll by vaping climbs to 33 Continued from page 1 They do not carry flower products, and they require their patients to sign waivers before purchasing CBD oil cartridges.

As other alternatives, they sell lozenges, capsules, a water-soluble powder, and a peppermint spray (targeted at pediatric patients who don’t like the taste of cannabis).

The motivation behind the innovation of e-cigarettes was to help nicotine addicts (a largely adult population) quit smoking, but it wasn’t long before the trend spread to middle and high schoolers as a gateway

into nicotine use. Vape pens have been sold in a variety of flavors, such as Pink Lemonade, Watermelon and Blue Raspberry, in order to appeal to these younger buyers. Several states, including New York and Massachusetts, have banned the selling of these flavored vape pens in attempts to both stop the spreading of the vaping epidemic to younger generations, and limit the lung damage caused.

The FDA has warned the nicotine and vaping industries against advertising vaporizers as healthier alternatives to cigarettes, and the CDC has recommended that people stop using e-cigarettes altogether, USA Today said.

Student handbook changes Continued from page 1

917 - 733 - 5232 allison@rockettomarsorganizing.com rockettomarsorganizing.com

Koestner feels that the ability of Masters to adopt such a forward-thinking policy reflects the goals and ideals of Head of School Laura Danforth and those in the Upper School administrative offices. She shared her admiration for Danforth and the Masters’ administration. “By being so granular with [their] policy, Laura Danforth and Masters are really saying, ‘We’re willing to put ink on the paper and say we will take on all of these nuances of sexual misconduct, from stalking to sexual harassment to sexual exploitation, every single facet, from unhealthy relationships to disrespect.’ That was what she was willing to do.”

Active communication and access to support systems are now the grounding principles of the investigative procedure, Carnevale affirmed. “The big piece through it all is communicating, making sure both parties have access to support here at school and outside of school, and that they’re kept up to speed with investigation so they know what’s happening each step of the way.”

The new standards employed by Masters state the rights of students, and more specifically the rights of adolescents as sexual beings. “The Masters School recognizes the importance of sexual intimacy as part of healthy adolescent development, and provides education, counseling and support ser-

vices around sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity, sexual health, gender, healthy relationships and consent.”

Koestner commended Masters’ proactivity, especially the students.“I was excited about the ability of the students to rally and voice their opinion so strongly and be heard so well that the school administration said ‘Ok, you’re demanding change and we’re willing to go there.’”

Former Co-Chair Rachel Aideyan, ‘19, along with a group of her classmates, were the most vocal about the issues surrounding the former sexual misconduct policy. Following the town hall, they remained involved in the reformation process.

Having witnessed the massive changes to the policy, Aideyan said she now feels the school is beginning to accommodate the needs of any victims of sexual misconduct.

“It’s now about how to make sure someone is safe, and how to make sure someone is not afraid to relieve themselves of that trauma they experienced.”

Koestner will continue to be involved as Masters continues to have discussions surrounding the importance of sexual health, consent and communal respect. On Nov. 21 Masters will be hosting a “Day of Respect,” during which Koestner and members of her team will work with students and faculty to address the nuances of sexual misconduct with a special focus on consent training.

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OP-ED

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

It’s 10 p.m. Does Masters know where your children are?

Nora Fellas Opinion Lead Editor

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n Friday, Oct. 4, Interim Dean of Students Jeff Carnevale sent an email to Masters parents announcing the “new” Safe Homes Agreement (SHA), which seeks to create a network of parents who pledge to host alcohol and drug-free, supervised parties for Masters students at their homes.

Although labelled a “new” program, a similar program used to operate through the Parent Association, but Carnevale said it hasn’t been in effect for about ten years. This year, Carnevale said that the Dean of Students office revamped the program with the goal to, “create open communication between adults.” Carnevale said in the email that the SHA is designed to enable parents to “easily check to see if the house [their] child will be at is a designated Safe Home.” While I commend the administration’s efforts to ensure students are safe at parties, the specifics of the SHA are troubling.

I will focus on three areas of concern: first, through the SHA, the school is unnecessarily inserting itself into the family and social life of its students; second, the effect of the SHA is that parents will inevitably have to regard their children’s friends with suspicion; and third, parents who sign onto the SHA program might be unwittingly assuming legal liability they would not otherwise have.

In my four years at Masters, I have come to understand that a central element of the Masters ethos is to teach students to advocate for themselves and to encourage parents to stay out of our academic sphere.

Given this ethos, it seems reasonable to assume that the school would try to avoid getting involved our social sphere. Yet the SHA directly inserts the school’s administration into our

home life. or on our propThe SHA outlines commitments erty.” It contains and recommendations for parents. similar commitRecommendations include: “speak ments regarding candidly with your child about what alcohol, tobacco, your expectations are with respect e-cigarettes and to drugs, alcohol and other risky be- vaping. And the haviors,” “set a curfew” and “let your entire point of neighbors know in advance there will the SHA, as outbe a party.” These recommendations lined in Carnevborder on the school “parenting” par- ale’s email, is so ents, going so far as to insert itself that parents “can into conversations between parents, easily check to their children and even their neigh- see if the house bors. your child will be The SHA also recommends that at is a designated before a parent sends their kid to a Safe Home.” The “Safe Home” party, they question SHA states that the host-parents: “Ask how they plan the sole conseto handle the situation if someone quence parents shows up in possession or under the could face if they influence.” Here the school is “par- violate the SHA NORA FELLAS/TOWER enting” parents on how to “parent” is their “home be- PARENTS WHO SIGN ONTO the Safe Homes Agreement (SHA) agree to confiscate their guests’ backother parents. ing removed from packs, water bottles and keys, among other things. They also agree not to allow the use of solo cups My second concern raised by the the Masters Safe at parties. Fellas argues that this agreement imposes too much on students and parents.

SHA program is that it will foster Home network.” a culture of suspicion. For example, But this ignores the potential liabil- would exist independently of whethWhile I applaud the school’s conthe recommendations state: “make ity parents assume by signing the er a parent signed the SHA. The SHA cern for student safety at parties and regular and unobtrusive visits (ev- SHA in the first place. fails to warn of the potential liability its goal of facilitating communication ery 30 minutes)” George David- a parent might be assuming by sign- between parents, I feel this can be and “collect son, a litigator ing on to it in the first place. achieved without a legally binding It is an ambiguous conbackpacks, bags, who specializes in The SHA is presented as “commit- document. I recognize that parents of tract. It’s less clear than it purses, keys, wainstitutional and ments and recommendations,” and at international students, in particular, should be for parents to ter bottles, etc. at parental respon- first glance, it would seem these “rec- may rightly feel disempowered reknow what they’ve bought the front door as sibility with over ommendations” are merely that. Car- garding their children’s social activiinto. kids arrive.” Not 40 years of expe- nevale said that parents should treat ties, and the school’s responsibility to only is this a recrience said that this section of the SHA as “pro-tips,” keep track of their children is greatipe for a terrible - GEORGE DAVIDSON, J.D. signing the SHA not mandatory standards. However, er. But again, this can be achieved party, but also it opens parents up in his email to parents, Carnevale without parents signing a contract encourages parents to regard their to a “separate” liability they would states that the SHA includes “com- and potentially opening themselves children and children’s friends with otherwise not have. mitments and recommendations that up to liability. Additionally, I believe mistrust. And implicit in the SHA is If parents permit their child to go you will need to abide by to partici- in parent’s ability to communicate that parents should actually search to a party only after having confirmed pate in the program.” Similarly, the with each other; let’s treat parents the backpacks, bags, purses and the that the host-parents have signed the SHA itself states that by signing, like the adults they are. “etc.” of their teenage guests, other- SHA, and, if, unbeknownst to those parents “agree to participate in the I wouldn’t want to be at a party wise how else could parents confirm host-parents, someone sneaks drugs Safe Homes Program and abide by where my parents were confiscating that there will be no illegal drugs at or alcohol into the party and a child the guidelines,” a term broad enough or searching my friends’ backpacks their party as the SHA requires? is injured, the host-parents could face to include both the “commitments or walking in every 30 minutes —but This brings me to a third area of civil liability. and recommendations” in the SHA. beyond feeling criminalized, I would concern: the potential liability asIt is noteworthy that the SHA Davidson said because of this, the be worried about the potential liabilisumed by parents. Parents who warns only once of civil liability — in SHA is an “ambiguous contract.” ty my parents could face if a teenager sign the SHA make several commit- the case where a parent knowingHe added that “It’s less clear than made a mistake. I have warned my ments including, “we will not allow ly lets a child leave their house un- it should be for parents to know what parents not to sign the SHA, and you the use of illegal drugs in our home der the influence. But such liability they’ve bought into.” should too.

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Atwood grabs ‘em by the possibilities is much like the dystopian world of Gilead. In the current government of the United States, President Photo Editor Trump has displayed this viewpoint as well.

The end of “The Handmaid’s Tale” left Atwood’s readers hungry for a sequel to answer their many Testaments” (2019) is a riveting sequel questions. Atwood delivered on this desire 35 years to “The Handmaid’s Tale” (1985) by Mar- later, with the politically-charged sequel, “The Testagaret Atwood. It’s a powerful novel about ments”. One of the main narrators, Daisy, a Canadithree unlikely women coming together and telling an, is an Anti-Gilead activist. In the beginning of the their stories despite the risks. The three main char- book, she talks about the protests in Canada against acters are Agnes, the daughter of an important com- Gilead, how they learn about it in school and the mander who struggles with the con“Pearl Girls” who are missionaries cept of becoming a wife even though that come into Canada trying to she’s been raised her whole life recruit women into Gilead. to be one, Daisy, the daughter “The Handmaid’s Tale” of anti-Gilead activists who live was simply an idea, a possiin Canada, tells her account of bility of a world that could sneaking into Gilead, and Aunt happen (modeled after Lydia, one of the Aunts from George Orwell’s 1984, Al“The Handmaid’s Tale” who dous Huxley’s Brave New isn’t so loyal to Gilead afWorld and other pieces of ter all. dystopian-fiction). “The “The Handmaid’s Tale” Handmaid’s Tale” was is narrated by Handmaid meant to mirror aspects Offred. As a handmaid, of dictatorships from difher sole purpose is to ferent eras throughout conceive a baby. She is the world–not the Unitnot allowed to read or ed States in its current close her bedroom door, form. and every public move “The Testaments”, she makes is watched by on the other hand, The Eyes, Gilead’s police is a searing political force. Both books are set statement not about in the dystopian world a possibly future, but of Gilead. A world conan actual present. AtMATTHEW IVES/TOWER trolled by men, women wood wrote in the achave few to no rights, and knowledgements of the scant number of women who do are still controlled “The Testaments”, “Thirty-five years is a long time to by their husbands, The Eyes and the government. think about possible answers, and the answers have Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was ahead of its changed as society itself has changed, and as possibiltime, making the novel much more profound, especial- ities have become actualities.” ly because it predicted many “The Testaments” is a aspects of modern American call to women to speak their Thirty-five years is a long life. Being in a country run by truth, be brilliant, cunning time to think about possible a man who has no respect for and strong. By itself, there is women, a country that once no doubt that it is a powerful answers, and the answers had solid female reproducbook, a must read. But “The have changed as society itself tive rights that are now being Handmaid’s Tale” was not dehas changed. challenged in many states, signed to be a political book, one may feel that the world while “The Testaments” was, of Gilead is not that far away and as a sequel it takes away - MARGARET ATWOOD, AUTHOR OF “THE from our current reality. from both itself and “The HANDMAID’S TALE” AND “THE TESTAMENTS” President Donald Trump Handmaid’s Tale”. There is no nonchalantly remarked in a doubt that Atwood has writtaped discussion with Billy Bush, “You know, I’m au- ten yet another moving and thought-stirring book, tomatically attracted to beautiful— I just start kiss- but, to make “The Handmaid’s Tale” series political ing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even draws away from its original power, the awe of it bewait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You ing ahead of its time. Both novels are great literature can do anything… Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do on their own, they each have their own purpose. Take anything.” Women in our society are too often seen each book on its own, not as a pair, or read “The Tesas property, useful only for sex and their bodies. This taments” as a conscious sequel.

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INSIDE THE HERRICK ROOM

Jeans Days foster a sense of Masters identity russell Wohl Since the 1970’s, Friday Jeans Days have been a valuable and safeguarded tradition at Masters.

They promote a strong sense of community and fit nicely into the casual Friday vibe, making for an appropriate way to end the week.

In prior years, Jeans Days were connected to donations to MISH charities and gave students a feeling of pride to know that we were affecting change. However, the new schedule has divorced Jeans Days and Donations Days, eliminating the cost to wear jeans. This break between Jeans Days and Donation Days have created a leniency with wearing jeans, dismissing some of the community aspects of the tradition, leaving many to question if we should even continue upholding it at all.

Senior Lawrence Azzariti has proposed a bill allowing jeans to be worn every day of the week.

Proponents of this bill argue that Jeans Days have been stripped of their value without enforced donations, thus viewing the tradition as futile. They add that limiting stu-

dents’ expression by banning jeans contradicts the principles of the Dress Philosophy.

However, Jeans Days are an important part of the school week and play a big role in our school.

The Jeans Day donation tradition makes us unique. It creates a more professional school environment and encourages us to be mindful of the way we present ourselves, as is the primary goal of the Dress Philosophy. If wearing jeans were permitted all week long, we would lose what makes Jeans Days special. The way we present ourselves as a school and what we pride ourselves on, like giving to charity, all factor into our school identity. Just because the new schedule challenges our school’s traditions does not mean we should change them.

So what should we do instead?

Every day that we do not have Morning Meeting, we either have advisory or class meeting. This means that if we continue the $1 jeans policy, there will always be a way to collect donations every Friday.

OP-ED

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

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OpiniOn

2019-2020 editors-iN-Chief michelle Wei loGAn schiciAno

EDITORIAL

Flood of misinformation in the digital age threatens liberties W

hen the first ten amendments to the Constitution were established, it would have been impossible to predict how advancements in media and technology would alter the ways in which we exercise our rights, specifically those protected by the First Amendment: freedom to petition, of speech, press, religion, and assembly.

With our increasing online presence, the freedom of speech is exercised more than ever these days.

President Donald J. Trump has sent out over 17,000 tweets during his presidency. If Trump had started tweeting on a regular basis from the signing of the Bill of Rights in 1789—84,038 days ago—he would have averaged roughly one tweet every five days. The Founding Fathers could hardly imagine the ability to talk so much–and so directly–to the American people.

But it’s not only presidents who can reach a wide audience much more easily than in the past. Recently, a controversy arose after the General Manager of the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, expressed support of protesters in Hong Kong in a tweet.

Both Trump’s regular use of Twitter and Morey’s tweet exemplify how new platforms create new opportunities for speech. There is no doubt that this new

era of internet culture has provided more readily available access to information than ever before. But this era also brings new dangers.

Freedom of speech and freedom of the press continue to be integral to democracy and the human experience. But confronted with a firehose of online speech, citizens run the risk of drowning in information.

Mindful consumers can try to be discerning and skeptical about the information they receive. With the rise of deepfake videos and sites like ABCnews. co, people–often malicious–are creating new sources of misinformation designed to mimic legitimate sources and mislead readers.

In the end, however, determining what is real and what is not can be almost impossible for the average reader; that is why it is critical to seek out legitimate news sources. This in a time when journalists are being attacked perhaps more than ever.

The spread of misinformation–an abuse to our freedom of speech and press–has never been as widespread as it is now. Upholding access to accurate information as a pillar of democracy means that legitimate news organizations need to be trusted. But, counterintuitively, as the availability of online information surges, traditional news organizations

and publications have dwindled in readership and circulation. There was a 12 percent decrease in weekday newspaper circulation, and a 13 percent decrease of Sunday print circulation in 2018 according to the Pew Research Center. Taking into account online readership and subscription surges, overall circulation still dropped by 1 percent from 2017 to 2018.

It’s clear that the ways people present and consume information are changing rapidly.

Just as newspaper circulation has declined, newsroom employment has decreased 25 percent between 2008 and 2018 according to the Pew Research Center One and even worse, worldwide, one journalist is killed every five days according to UNESCO. Within the United States, news organizations are often denigrated by being labeled sources of falsehood.This crucial understanding of the danger and risk of being a journalist and moreso, the value of reporting the truth and sharing the wealth of knowledge, emphasizes why we need responsible producers of information. As the integrity and value of true journalism are threatened, it’s paramount that we reflect on how we can support truth in journalism and protect our individual liberties to freedom of speech and the press.

For which we stand, bring back the pledge Tim maThas Opinion Editor “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Each morning in elementary school, with hands over hearts, my fellow classmates and I recited these 31 words with strength and certainty. Although I did not yet understand their meaning, these words provided a sense of unity that seemed unexplored, yet somewhat identifiable. However, as more schools have eliminated the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, the overall sense of patriotism and unity has since been forgotten, a dilemma not only present in schools, but in the country as a whole. While this predicament cannot be solved overnight, this lack of patriotism can be partially rekindled with the restoration of the Pledge of Allegiance in all schools nationwide.

In the last decade or so, many private schools have refrained from requiring their students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. This reaction is perhaps due to the many cases in

which parents complained that the words “under God” refer to a certain God, according to an article published on the website of the National Constitution Center. It is worth noting, however, that there has not been a court at any level that found this phrase to be unconstitutional.

In the eyes of the “more progressive-minded,” the recitation of The Pledge of Allegiance has become associated with more traditional and conservative teaching. Consequently, the number of American flags in schools have significantly decreased, as there is no longer any use for a flag in every classroom.

It is naive to associate the American flag solely with traditional or conservative beliefs. The flag signifies both liberty and authority, liberalism and conservatism, and most importantly, traditionalism and progressiveness.

Its meaning was not just created by the founding fathers, but by the fellow patriots that have succeeded them.

Due to the loss of these “American” symbols and rituals, confusion has arisen in society today regarding the meaning of patriotism. For this reason, patriotism has wrongly become synonymous with nationalism. While both words refer to the pride one may feel for their country, nationalism im-

plies that one or many may feel a sense of superiority over other countries and peoples.

Patriotism, on the other hand, is taking pride in a certain identity or a way of living that is often associated with a racial, ethnic, or religious group.

All of us, both in the Masters community and the rest of the country, should be united by a common sense of patriotism. It is important to understand that by being a LOGAN SCHICIANO/TOWER patriot, you do not THE AMERICAN FLAG FLIES high outside Masters Hall on have to be a believa cloudy September afternoon. The Buildings and Grounds er in the country in Department is responsible for the maintenance of all flags its current state. It flown on campus. goes without saying that the role of “civil disobedience” Allegiance are not symbols of the curin the form of rebels, critics and advo- rent administration or any other politcates has been and will be essential to ical institution, but they represent all the growth and success of this country. of the patriots that came before and The American flag and the Pledge of those who have yet to come.

Tower welcomes 2019-2020 bloggers and columnists

SOPHIA VISCARELLO/TOWER

Tech Check Carly Grizzaffi Tech Check is a technology-based blog and multimedia experience. Grizzaffi will write about innovation and its intersection with student lives. It will consist of feature podcasts, videos and articles.

SIMON IRVIN PHOTOGRAPHERS

Panther Abroad Emanuel Adamiak The aim of Adamiak’s blog is to share international news with the Masters community. Adamiak will cover the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, far right terrorism in Europe, the war in Yemen and more.

ANNIE FABIAN/TOWER

MATTILYN STONE/TOWER

Inside the Herrick Room Russell Wohl

Su-stayin Alive Anastasiia Gorobets

In his blog, Wohl will review and evaluate recent Executive Committee proposals, debates and discussions each week for students, faculty, staff and administrators alike.

Gorobets’ blog discusses environmental protection, climate change and sustainability. She will also research and reflect on how sustainability affects purchasing habits and lifestyles within the Masters community.

News Lead editor Annie Rubinson News editor m. bRody leo opiNioN Lead editor noRA FellAs opiNioN editors sophie GRAnd Tim mAThAs features Lead editor kATe sibeRy features editors oWen sTRieR yAsmine pAscAl sports Lead editor miTch Fink sports editors GAbe kelleR TyleR conWAy web editor & soCiaL media maNager kiRA RATAn photography editor mATTilynn sTone aCCouNtabiLity & aCCuraCy maNager JAcob kRiss Copy editor sophiA VAn beek staff writers eThAn schlApp Reed GilmoRe advertisemeNt & distributioN maNager Reed GilmoRe staff iLLustrator

JiAyun (ellA) TAnG CoNtributiNg writers Russell Wohl lAnce leys kWynne schlossmAn clARA kolkeR staff photographers sophiA ViscARello Annie FAbiAn hAnnAh Reynolds CoNtributiNg photographer AlAnA Gould faCuLty advisers ellen coWhey mATT iVes oNLiNe media

For more information, follow Tower on the following platforms: Website: Tower.MastersNY.org Facebook: MastersTower Twitter: @MastersTower Instagram: @MastersTower

d istributioN proCess

Tower is hand-delivered on the day of publication to the Upper School. 650 copies are printed. 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, 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 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.

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

FEATURES

Features & arts

5

Masters alumna curates show to celebrate migrant narratives

artists, there pervades a common thread of human connection and the celebration of migration as it Features Lead Editor has evolved. One of the pieces, a large tapestry of the earth by Natalia Nakazawa which is made of a Masters’ alumna Charlotte complex array of textiles and with Mouquin, who graduated with the colored lengths of yarn showing Class of 2000, has been working individual paths of human migrawithin the arts sector to share her tion, exemplifies the core values of personal belief that art reflects the exhibit. human development at local and Nakazawa, a first-generation global levels. She currently acts as American, said, “Textiles are a the Executive Director at the Pel- great place to look at the complexham Art Center and has been in- ity of human migration,” Her piece strumental in organizing their cur- acted as an interpersonal art exrent exhibit: IN/FLUX (which will perience, as she helped audience be on display until Nov. 2). members embellish the tapestry The exhibit displays the work of with either their ancestral path, immigrants and first-generation current path of life, or future path. artists, all of which express a col- She said, “In this case the way I’m lective narrative that features the thinking about is as a sort of exevolution of human migration and panded American flag, or an exour roles as global citizens. The panded identity that we have colshow, which includes sculptures, lectively as humans.” tapestries, paintings, photography In putting together this show, and other meMouquin’s diums, was driving purco-curated by One of the things I’m really pose was to Mouquin and passionate about as a curator make people Gallery Adand being in the arts is bringthink about visory Board their roles ing people together as global member Vicwithin a globcitizens. toria Rolett. al community.

The cura“One of the - CHARLOTTE MOUQUIN ‘00 tion of the things I’m reshow, as deally passionscribed by ate about as Mouquin, was fueled by a desire to a curator and being in the arts is put together highly cutting-edge, bringing people together as global contemporary artwork that would citizens, because I see art as a veencourage viewers to become more hicle to bring people together,” she well-rounded in realizing our col- said. lective humanity.

One of the photographers in the Among the highly diverse pool of show, Ruben Natal-San Miguel,

Kate Sibery

“

KATE SIBERY/TOWER

PELHAM ART CENTER EXECUTIVE Director and Masters’ alumna, Charlotte Mouquin, used her postion to organize Pelham’s current exhibit: in/flux. This exhibit showcases many pieces surrounding the evolution of human and migration and our roles as good citizens. One of the artworks displayed in the exhibit is entitled “ New Land 2019”, by Selin Balci. Balci uses microscopic moles in order to represent societies constant competition for space and resources. has sought to document how amazing street culture is since he narrowly survived the horrific events of 9/11. He has spent the last 17 years of his life moving around the boroughs of New York City to photograph the necessity of human relationships in dealing with grief and persisting through tragedy.

The exhibit addresses the many facets of immigration, an issue that has saturated the political

Thorn juggles student needs during add/drop period Yasmine Pascal Features Editor

M

eeting with over 50 students to rearrange their schedules during the first few days of school might be considered a stressful job by some, but Associate Head of Upper School, Sara Thorn thinks it’s enjoyable.

Thorn’s office, which is located in a narrow hallway on the second floor of Masters Hall, attracts a lot of foot traffic at the beginning of the year. Outside her door, there is a seemingly “never-ending” line of students--few are lucky enough to sit in the chairs lined against the wall, while most sit on the ground or stand. All of them patiently wait for their turn, in hopes of meeting with Thorn, who may be able to change their schedules to accommodate their different interests.

Sept. 3-17 was the “add/drop period” for the first semester. During those two weeks, students were able to meet with Thorn in order to change their minors or majors.

Due to the new eight-day schedule, Thorn noticed a fewer number of students meeting with her this year compared to previous years.

“When we were doing the ‘Delta-Phi’ [schedule] still, the first week of Delta was extremely busy.

This year, I think because the classes meet every other day, the

Read Nora Fellas’ article discussing how the new schedule impacts students who are a part of multiple clubs meeting at the same times on the Tower website: @tower.mastersny.org

YASMINE PASCAL/TOWER

ASSOCIATE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Sara Thorn meets with junior Yevheniia Nykonorova to change Nykonorova’s schedule for the current school year. These meetings with students are very common during the “add/drop” period as students meet with Thorn to rectify their schedules. students were getting more exposure to the classes,” Thorn said. In the previous “Delta-Phi” schedule, majors would meet twice a week for 55 minutes and once a week for an hour and 50 minutes, while year long minors would meet twice a week for 55 minutes.

The current format gave junior Caio Lanes a better sense of what classes he wanted to take. “[The schedule] helped me know whether I liked something or not. The 80 minutes blocks helped me decide whether my classes were tolerable,” he said. Lanes also commented that thus far, he is excited for all the subjects he is taking this year.

Thorn’s meetings with students may take only a few seconds if she simply has to replace a free period with a minor or vice versa, but it can take much longer when dealing with a major. She said, “If they are changing a major, it’s more of a dis-

cussion of why they want to change their major course, what they want as their alternation and checking whether the students have talked to parents and advisors.”

For a few weeks following the “add/drop” period Thorn continued to work through schedules due to departmental misplacements. This mainly happened to new students, as teachers and departmental chairs realized that students were in the wrong level, either because the student knew the majority of the information already and needed to be moved up, or they were not taught the fundamentals and as a result had to move down a level.

Despite all the challenges, Thorn has always had a love for solving puzzles and this passion has seeped into her work. She said,“[Scheduling] is a puzzle and I try to make these pieces fit together the best way possible for the student and for the teachers.”

limelight, especially in the United States, which was once referred to as “a nation of immigrants” by JFK in 1963. Several of the featured artists are immigrants whose legal status in the U.S. remains uncertain. Rolett recalled having to install the work of Omid Shekari, an Iranian artist, months prior to the actual opening of the exhibition.

It was unclear whether or not he would be able to remain in Ameri-

ca, the country where he has lived and worked for the majority of his career.

Since graduating from Masters, where Mouquin was an active participant in the arts-centered curriculum, and a reporter for Tower, her desire to share personal narratives has remained a key facet of her career and acts as the driving force in her choices as a curator.

6

FEATURES AND ARTS

FEATURES AND ARTS

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

7

UP IN SMOKE: dreams of a safer cigarette

Since August, vaping-related illnesses and deaths have been impacted thousands across the U.S. In the voices of addiction specialists, vape shop owners, Masters administration and Masters students themselves, this piece explores the impacts of these findings on the Masters and Dobbs Ferry communities. Researched and written by Annie Rubinson, News Lead Editor.

Danforth speaks to e-cigarette policy

Students unpack vape culture at Masters

T

A

senior boy recalled the first time he with the dangers of vaping led her to shift heard about the dangers of e-ciga- her mindset. A friend of hers (not a Masters rettes, when he read a story about student) contracted pneumonia and was hosa puppy who died after eating a Juul pod.“I pitalized for three days last year. It was dedidn’t want my dog to eat it [my Juul] and termined that her year-long vaping habit was die,” he said. the cause of the sickness. The friend had to This student is one of several among the undergo lung purification, she said.

Masters community who has quit vaping since “She vaped every single day,” the sophomore the news about vaping-related deaths. Some girl said. “She couldn’t go a week without it.” who have not yet quit have reduced the fre- The sophomore girl now says she’s making quency at which they vape. more of an effort to stop completely–once she He first became involved in vape culture runs out, she won’t buy more. just over two years ago, mainly due to being In recent years, mainly before the lung influenced by upperclassmen in the Masters disease outbreaks, e-cigarettes had a strong community, he said. “The older kids thought presence in the party culture at Masters, the it was cool. If I was using it, I’d be accepted,” senior boy said. “I used to see people holding he added. He continued to use e-cigarettes be- red solo cups in one hand and their Juul in the cause “the nicotine rush brings a momentary other,” he said. Vape culture at parties had sense of pleasure.” become so prominent that at times, he added, This student said he was addicted, and be- that he didn’t always know exactly what he gan vaping several times during the school was smoking. “People will say ‘take this, it’s day –he said he couldn’t give an exact count of like a Juul,’” he said. the times he juuled on the Masters Campus.

After the last final exam of his junior year, He did, however, mention the student decided to throw that he kept his Juul in his away his Juul. “I wanted to car during his junior spring, start a new chapter,” he said.

“If something allowing him easy access One of his friends, he added, were to happen throughout the day. was initially supposed to quit This student is not the in this communiwith him–but the friend had only one who frequently used ty, it [the news] a fake ID, which provided a vaporizer on the Masters would definitely hit him with the opportunity to campus. A junior boy said harder. readily buy more e-cigarettes that he first discovered vaand relapse. ping when his friend walked Several other of this stu- sENiOr BOY in on somebody juuling in dent’s friends have also the bathroom. stopped juuling, or at least The junior boy eventualcut back significantly–but ly began vaping frequently, there is still some convincing roughly once a week.“I felt like it was going to left to be done. Two or three of his friends still happen eventually,” he said. “It’s just part of bring their vaporizers to school, he said. the Masters community.” He added that he’s The junior boy also started vaping signifiglad he was able to try vaping for the first cantly less when he began conducting retime in a casual environment, rather than at search about the linked diseases discovered a party scene. over the summer. He was trying to encourage A sophomore girl felt the same way. “If I un- his friends, who vape more frequently than he derstood what the experience was to a mini- does, to quit, or at least slow down, he said. mum degree, I wouldn’t be tempted to do it in The senior boy said he worries that because a situation where I would have been pressured no incident of vape-related illness or death to do more,” she said. “Relatively speaking, I has directly affected a member of the Masthink I made a responsible decision.” ters community, e-cigarette smokers may not “For the record, I don’t vape,” she clarified. be taking the epidemic as seriously as they At summer camp this year, she said, a girl should be.“I hate to say it,” he said, “but if asked her to accompany her to the bathroom, something were to happen in this community where she pulled out her cucumber-flavored it [the news] would definitely hit harder.”

Juul. She tried it, and has not juuled since.

The senior boy acknowledges the exception“You know when you have a really minty al popularity–both positive and negative–that mint, inhale, and just feel the mintiness?” she e-cigarette culture has gained over such a asked. “That’s what it felt like. I did not enjoy short period of time. “I remember ripping a it.”

Juul for the first time in ninth grade, and I From the perspective of these students, had no idea what it was,” he said. “Only four there are a variety of reasons why Masters years later, ninth graders are talking about it students vape. For some, including the junior on a daily basis.” boy, it provides a sense of camaraderie among He encouraged students to resist vape culfriends who also vape. For others, vaping pro- ture before it’s too late. “If we stand up against vides a sense of relaxation in the midst of a this outbreak, then hopefully future Masters busy, and stressful school schedule. A differ- students will send the same message,” he said. ent sophomore girl elaborated, “You feel lightheaded, but not in a bad way. It gives you time to think,” she said.

Recently, however, a personal encounter

he new Masters Student Handbook currently has a one-strike policy for illegal drug and alcohol use. However, the handbook specifically excludes tobacco and e-cigarettes (for nicotine) from this policy. But due to the recent rise in illness and death by vaporizers, Head of School Laura Danforth said this may soon change.

Danforth said that part of the reason why tobacco and e-cigarettes have their own policy separate from that of other illicit drugs is because they are not “mind-altering,” at least not in the same way.

Head of School also said she recognizes that nicotine is one of the hardest drugs to quit, and wants to act as a support system for kids who have nicotine addictions. “I would never have a one strike or zero strike policy without a sanctuary policy,” she added.

Now, however, with climbing rates of illness and death due to vaporizer use across the United States, Danforth said there may need to be a change in policy. She has tasked Head of the Upper School Peter Newcomb and Dean of Students Jeff Carnevale to lead a discussion with the class deans and student representatives about whether or not vapor-

“

“It creates pathways in the brain that later on can lead to substance abuse of other things, when it was really developed for older people who were smoking a pack a day.”

- Marilyn Sibery, addiction SpecialiSt

izers and other e-cigarettes should be included under the umbrella of “mind-altering” drugs. Depending on their recommendation, the change may occur either midyear or at the beginning of next year.

“The e-cigarette thing is scary to me, and it should be to everybody,” Danforth said.

“Shame on the companies that are still trying to sell.”

In response to student allegations that perhaps the rigor of the Masters curriculum and schedule may be a reason why students vape so often, Danforth pushed back.

“This is a generation that has never been more connected and never been more alone,” she said. “Loneliness is what’s causing the need for escape more than the academic schedule.”

“There’s a high over trying to get away with it, [but] we don’t hide things we’re not ashamed of,” she said. Danforth concluded with advice to any students struggling with nicotine addiction, or with a friend struggling with a nicotine addiction.

“Talk with a trusted adult within the community. If someone is looking for help, they will not get in trouble,” she said.

“This is a generation that has never been more connected and never been more alone.

Loneliness is what’s causing the need for escape more than the academic schedule.”

ELLA TANG/TOWER

THE HIDDEN VAPING CULTURE at Masters has changed in recent months, anonymous sources said. With the findings against e-cigarettes circulating in the media, current and former vaporizer-users have observed that several people have become more conscious of the consequences their decisions to vape bring. A student links the beginning of juuling to wanting to fit in, and another shares a witness acount of a friend’s addiction.

- laura danforth, head of School

Vape shop sales take a hit; Cedar Gifts & More employees defend e-cigarettes

C

edar Gifts & More sold all of their siness, overall. vape pens at half price on Oct. 3, the He said that when it comes to vaping, he last day before the 90-day ban on believes that the dangers lie not in the cheflavored nicotine in New York. micals used, but in the extraction process.

Employee Olga Dumych, with a Lava 2 “If you eat a poisoned chicken, that doesn’t vape pen strapped around her neck, said mean all chickens are bad,” he said. “You these vape products normally account for cannot brainwash people anymore.” between 35 and 40 percent of the store’s reHe said he fears that cigarette companies, venue, and is unsure how they will make up along with the government, are fabricating for the lost money. stories about vaping for financial purpoDumych first got inses, saying that cigarette volved in the vape sales companies have lost money industry both because with the rise in e-cigarettes. of the popularity of vape “The funny thing “They don’t care about culture, and a desire to is, menthol is alpeople[‘s health], they care help nicotine addicts quit lowed but mint is about money,” he said. smoking, she said. She, not. It’s not fair.

Dumych agreed, saying herself, began regularly that the dangerous chevaping three years ago micals are only present in to quit her 15 year-long - OLGA DUMYCH, black market products. “If smoking habit.

EMpLOYEE Of CEDAr they want to do a ban, [they Dumych said she worGifts & MOrE should] shut down the inries that the ban on flaternet,” she said, because vored nicotine products will online shops do not verify the harm not only vape shop owners and em- age of buyers as strictly as vape shop owners ployees, but customers as well. do. “A lot of people just read the headlines, “The funny thing is, menthol is allowed [and] the media did not cover the whole stobut mint is not,” she said. “I have a lot of cus- ry,” she added. tomers that stay away from menthol flavors Several Mercy College students have purbecause it will remind them of smoking,” she chased vape pens from Cedar Gifts & More, said. “It’s not fair.” according to the Cortlandt vape shop owner.

A Cortlandt Manor vape shop owner and While Dumych added that she has to turn part-time employee at Cedar Gifts & More, away underage buyers roughly two or three who asked to be quoted anonymously, said times each month, the Cortlandt shop owner he noticed a brief decline in vape pen sales does not believe he has ever turned away a in early September, after the news broke Masters student. about the sixth vape-related death.

“When they started making all this fake stuff up, it took a week, and then it came back to normal,” he said. He added that he has also noticed more gradual drop in bu-

CEDAR GIFTS & MORE employee Olga Dumych, sporting a Lava 2 vape necklace, discusses the impact of the ban on flavored vape pens on the stores.

“

Centerspread designed by: annie rubinson (news Lead editor) Kate sibery (Features Lead editor) Logan sChiCiano (editor-in-ChieF)

6

FEATURES AND ARTS

FEATURES AND ARTS

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

7

UP IN SMOKE: dreams of a safer cigarette

Since August, vaping-related illnesses and deaths have been impacted thousands across the U.S. In the voices of addiction specialists, vape shop owners, Masters administration and Masters students themselves, this piece explores the impacts of these findings on the Masters and Dobbs Ferry communities. Researched and written by Annie Rubinson, News Lead Editor.

Danforth speaks to e-cigarette policy

Students unpack vape culture at Masters

T

A

senior boy recalled the first time he with the dangers of vaping led her to shift heard about the dangers of e-ciga- her mindset. A friend of hers (not a Masters rettes, when he read a story about student) contracted pneumonia and was hosa puppy who died after eating a Juul pod.“I pitalized for three days last year. It was dedidn’t want my dog to eat it [my Juul] and termined that her year-long vaping habit was die,” he said. the cause of the sickness. The friend had to This student is one of several among the undergo lung purification, she said.

Masters community who has quit vaping since “She vaped every single day,” the sophomore the news about vaping-related deaths. Some girl said. “She couldn’t go a week without it.” who have not yet quit have reduced the fre- The sophomore girl now says she’s making quency at which they vape. more of an effort to stop completely–once she He first became involved in vape culture runs out, she won’t buy more. just over two years ago, mainly due to being In recent years, mainly before the lung influenced by upperclassmen in the Masters disease outbreaks, e-cigarettes had a strong community, he said. “The older kids thought presence in the party culture at Masters, the it was cool. If I was using it, I’d be accepted,” senior boy said. “I used to see people holding he added. He continued to use e-cigarettes be- red solo cups in one hand and their Juul in the cause “the nicotine rush brings a momentary other,” he said. Vape culture at parties had sense of pleasure.” become so prominent that at times, he added, This student said he was addicted, and be- that he didn’t always know exactly what he gan vaping several times during the school was smoking. “People will say ‘take this, it’s day –he said he couldn’t give an exact count of like a Juul,’” he said. the times he juuled on the Masters Campus.

After the last final exam of his junior year, He did, however, mention the student decided to throw that he kept his Juul in his away his Juul. “I wanted to car during his junior spring, start a new chapter,” he said.

“If something allowing him easy access One of his friends, he added, were to happen throughout the day. was initially supposed to quit This student is not the in this communiwith him–but the friend had only one who frequently used ty, it [the news] a fake ID, which provided a vaporizer on the Masters would definitely hit him with the opportunity to campus. A junior boy said harder. readily buy more e-cigarettes that he first discovered vaand relapse. ping when his friend walked Several other of this stu- sENiOr BOY in on somebody juuling in dent’s friends have also the bathroom. stopped juuling, or at least The junior boy eventualcut back significantly–but ly began vaping frequently, there is still some convincing roughly once a week.“I felt like it was going to left to be done. Two or three of his friends still happen eventually,” he said. “It’s just part of bring their vaporizers to school, he said. the Masters community.” He added that he’s The junior boy also started vaping signifiglad he was able to try vaping for the first cantly less when he began conducting retime in a casual environment, rather than at search about the linked diseases discovered a party scene. over the summer. He was trying to encourage A sophomore girl felt the same way. “If I un- his friends, who vape more frequently than he derstood what the experience was to a mini- does, to quit, or at least slow down, he said. mum degree, I wouldn’t be tempted to do it in The senior boy said he worries that because a situation where I would have been pressured no incident of vape-related illness or death to do more,” she said. “Relatively speaking, I has directly affected a member of the Masthink I made a responsible decision.” ters community, e-cigarette smokers may not “For the record, I don’t vape,” she clarified. be taking the epidemic as seriously as they At summer camp this year, she said, a girl should be.“I hate to say it,” he said, “but if asked her to accompany her to the bathroom, something were to happen in this community where she pulled out her cucumber-flavored it [the news] would definitely hit harder.”

Juul. She tried it, and has not juuled since.

The senior boy acknowledges the exception“You know when you have a really minty al popularity–both positive and negative–that mint, inhale, and just feel the mintiness?” she e-cigarette culture has gained over such a asked. “That’s what it felt like. I did not enjoy short period of time. “I remember ripping a it.”

Juul for the first time in ninth grade, and I From the perspective of these students, had no idea what it was,” he said. “Only four there are a variety of reasons why Masters years later, ninth graders are talking about it students vape. For some, including the junior on a daily basis.” boy, it provides a sense of camaraderie among He encouraged students to resist vape culfriends who also vape. For others, vaping pro- ture before it’s too late. “If we stand up against vides a sense of relaxation in the midst of a this outbreak, then hopefully future Masters busy, and stressful school schedule. A differ- students will send the same message,” he said. ent sophomore girl elaborated, “You feel lightheaded, but not in a bad way. It gives you time to think,” she said.

Recently, however, a personal encounter

he new Masters Student Handbook currently has a one-strike policy for illegal drug and alcohol use. However, the handbook specifically excludes tobacco and e-cigarettes (for nicotine) from this policy. But due to the recent rise in illness and death by vaporizers, Head of School Laura Danforth said this may soon change.

Danforth said that part of the reason why tobacco and e-cigarettes have their own policy separate from that of other illicit drugs is because they are not “mind-altering,” at least not in the same way.

Head of School also said she recognizes that nicotine is one of the hardest drugs to quit, and wants to act as a support system for kids who have nicotine addictions. “I would never have a one strike or zero strike policy without a sanctuary policy,” she added.

Now, however, with climbing rates of illness and death due to vaporizer use across the United States, Danforth said there may need to be a change in policy. She has tasked Head of the Upper School Peter Newcomb and Dean of Students Jeff Carnevale to lead a discussion with the class deans and student representatives about whether or not vapor-

“

“It creates pathways in the brain that later on can lead to substance abuse of other things, when it was really developed for older people who were smoking a pack a day.”

- Marilyn Sibery, addiction SpecialiSt

izers and other e-cigarettes should be included under the umbrella of “mind-altering” drugs. Depending on their recommendation, the change may occur either midyear or at the beginning of next year.

“The e-cigarette thing is scary to me, and it should be to everybody,” Danforth said.

“Shame on the companies that are still trying to sell.”

In response to student allegations that perhaps the rigor of the Masters curriculum and schedule may be a reason why students vape so often, Danforth pushed back.

“This is a generation that has never been more connected and never been more alone,” she said. “Loneliness is what’s causing the need for escape more than the academic schedule.”

“There’s a high over trying to get away with it, [but] we don’t hide things we’re not ashamed of,” she said. Danforth concluded with advice to any students struggling with nicotine addiction, or with a friend struggling with a nicotine addiction.

“Talk with a trusted adult within the community. If someone is looking for help, they will not get in trouble,” she said.

“This is a generation that has never been more connected and never been more alone.

Loneliness is what’s causing the need for escape more than the academic schedule.”

ELLA TANG/TOWER

THE HIDDEN VAPING CULTURE at Masters has changed in recent months, anonymous sources said. With the findings against e-cigarettes circulating in the media, current and former vaporizer-users have observed that several people have become more conscious of the consequences their decisions to vape bring. A student links the beginning of juuling to wanting to fit in, and another shares a witness acount of a friend’s addiction.

- laura danforth, head of School

Vape shop sales take a hit; Cedar Gifts & More employees defend e-cigarettes

C

edar Gifts & More sold all of their siness, overall. vape pens at half price on Oct. 3, the He said that when it comes to vaping, he last day before the 90-day ban on believes that the dangers lie not in the cheflavored nicotine in New York. micals used, but in the extraction process.

Employee Olga Dumych, with a Lava 2 “If you eat a poisoned chicken, that doesn’t vape pen strapped around her neck, said mean all chickens are bad,” he said. “You these vape products normally account for cannot brainwash people anymore.” between 35 and 40 percent of the store’s reHe said he fears that cigarette companies, venue, and is unsure how they will make up along with the government, are fabricating for the lost money. stories about vaping for financial purpoDumych first got inses, saying that cigarette volved in the vape sales companies have lost money industry both because with the rise in e-cigarettes. of the popularity of vape “The funny thing “They don’t care about culture, and a desire to is, menthol is alpeople[‘s health], they care help nicotine addicts quit lowed but mint is about money,” he said. smoking, she said. She, not. It’s not fair.

Dumych agreed, saying herself, began regularly that the dangerous chevaping three years ago micals are only present in to quit her 15 year-long - OLGA DUMYCH, black market products. “If smoking habit.

EMpLOYEE Of CEDAr they want to do a ban, [they Dumych said she worGifts & MOrE should] shut down the inries that the ban on flaternet,” she said, because vored nicotine products will online shops do not verify the harm not only vape shop owners and em- age of buyers as strictly as vape shop owners ployees, but customers as well. do. “A lot of people just read the headlines, “The funny thing is, menthol is allowed [and] the media did not cover the whole stobut mint is not,” she said. “I have a lot of cus- ry,” she added. tomers that stay away from menthol flavors Several Mercy College students have purbecause it will remind them of smoking,” she chased vape pens from Cedar Gifts & More, said. “It’s not fair.” according to the Cortlandt vape shop owner.

A Cortlandt Manor vape shop owner and While Dumych added that she has to turn part-time employee at Cedar Gifts & More, away underage buyers roughly two or three who asked to be quoted anonymously, said times each month, the Cortlandt shop owner he noticed a brief decline in vape pen sales does not believe he has ever turned away a in early September, after the news broke Masters student. about the sixth vape-related death.

“When they started making all this fake stuff up, it took a week, and then it came back to normal,” he said. He added that he has also noticed more gradual drop in bu-

CEDAR GIFTS & MORE employee Olga Dumych, sporting a Lava 2 vape necklace, discusses the impact of the ban on flavored vape pens on the stores.

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Centerspread designed by: annie rubinson (news Lead editor) Kate sibery (Features Lead editor) Logan sChiCiano (editor-in-ChieF)

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FEATURES AND ARTS

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

Five-day students share boarding ups and downs Owen Strier Features Editor

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his year, for the first time, Masters has implemented a five-day boarding plan in addition to the pre-existing seven-day boarding plan. This is in the hopes of letting students experience the benefits of boarding while maintaining the ability to go home on weekends to spend time with their families.

Susan Greally, director of aquatics and McCormack Dorm said, “I think that they [the school] are trying to attract a different clientele of boarders, somebody who would be interested in boarding but not full time.”

Sophomore Josh Im, a new student and five-day boarder from Scarsdale, said, “I think it [five day boarding] influenced my decision to come to Masters over other schools; it’s just a convenient program for the situation I’m in with my family.”

In the program’s inaugural year, only 14 students who attend Masters are five-day boarders in 20192020. Greally said, “Being the first year for the new program, we expected a larger pool of five-day boarders and more of an impact, but it really hasn’t impacted the boarding life at all,” she added.

Sophomore Micheal Couri explained his decision to stick with

seven-day boarding. “I felt that if I was a five-day [boarder], I wouldn’t make as many friends and I would miss out on trips and other things on the weekends. He continued, “Being a seven-day [boarder] you have a better experience, but you’re away from home longer. As a five-day boarder, the dorms feel more like a hotel than the place you live.”

On the other hand, Im doesn’t seem to mind leaving for the weekends. “If you’re a seven-day [boarder] you definitely get closer with your dorm because you have more time with them, but I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the weekends because I’m doing stuff at home with my parents and friends from my old school,” he said.

Greally said, “I think they [five day boarders] get to experience different opportunities that our seven day boarders don’t get to do, for instance being with their family on the weekends, but they are missing out on spending time with their friends here.”

Thompson Dorm proctor and seve-day boarder, Kyle Benson says not much has changed in the boarding community since last year. “It’s definitely a little quieter in the common rooms on weekends than it is during the week because five-day boarders go home, but I don’t think it’s as big of an effect as it would be if there were more five-day boarders,” Benson said.

HANNAH REYNOLDS/TOWER

IN MCCORMACK DORM, BOTH five-dayand seven-day boarders gather in the common room for their nightly dorm meetings. These meetings ensure that all boarders are in their dorms by 8 p.m. and check in as a residential community.

HANNAH REYNOLDS/TOWER

MICHAEL COURI/TOWER

MCCORMACK DORM DIRECTOR SUSAN Greally converses with seven day boarder, Nolwenn Favre. Greally often checks up on students, especially those in her dorm, in case they need someone to talk to.

MICHAEL COURI AND JOSH Im’s room is often very quiet on the weekends. Im is a five-day boarder and thus goes home on Fridays. For about two days, Couri has an entire room to himself.

Renovations to the boys’ dorms create a home away from home is entering his third year at Masters as a boarder, second year as Kira ratan a Strong dorm proctor, and first year as a student boarding repWeb Editor and Social Media Manager resentative, expressed his satisfaction with the improvements.

It has been a productive few “Everything was very old and desummers in the Masters dorms, crepit. I think they upgraded it filled with renovations and revery well,” he said. pairs. Two summers ago, the girls’ The upscaled conditions within dorms had their common rooms rethe dorms are proving beneficial decorated and floors updated and in other ways as well. Lanes now this past summer, the boys’ dorms, finds it easier to keep his room Thompson and Strong, neater than before because had their floors, common his surroundings look clean rooms, and bathrooms retoo. “Before, during cleandone. ups, we wouldn’t try very It’s just much more aesthetically pleasing to Brendon Barrios has hard because there wasn’t spend time in that space. been an Upper School really much we could do history teacher for five with the appearance, but - BRENDON BARRIOS, UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER years and a dorm parent now the clean-ups are much in Thompson dorm for more efficient,” he said. four. Before the renovaBarrios thinks that the tions, Barrios said certain renovations have enhanced aspects of the dorms seemed to be spaces that actually felt like home; the boarders’ time spent in their in disrepair: paint was peeling off spaces where people would actual- living spaces tremendously. He walls, bathrooms were cluttered, ly want to hang out, gather, play said, “It’s just much more aesand furniture in the common rooms games and talk.” Peterson also thetically pleasing to spend time was dilapidated. “A lot of the board said she is happy with the way the in that space.” games were missing pieces, the common rooms turned out and is The Thompson and Strong respool table was old, and when we receiving positive feedback from idents Tower interviewed were sat on the couches, there would be boarders living there. pleased with all of the upgrades pieces falling off,” he said.

Although new boarders will be to their living space, and are takA lot of planning went on be- able to experience the renovating advantage of the new renovahind the scenes before the actual ed space for their entire stay at tions. Barrios said, “I don’t know remodeling began, according to ad- Masters, returning boarders are how you could live there and not ministrators who took part in the especially appreciative of the new be happy with what you got.” redesigning process. designs. Junior Caio Lanes, who

New schedule reworks private music lessons

Aishling Peterson, the director of parent engagement and special events, helped modernize both the girls’ and boys’ common rooms. Peterson, who worked on the project with furniture companies in North Carolina, including Furnitureland South, was inspired by her own boarding school experience and tried to channel the warm feeling that her own common rooms had evoked. She said, “I wanted them to feel like comfortable, communal

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GEORGE CHANG/TOWER

BOARDERS IN STRONG DORM bond over playing video games in their newly refurbished common room. The entirety of the boys’ dorms were renovated over the summer, following renovations in the girls’ dorms the summer prior. Both the faculty and the students in the dorm have expressed their satisfaction with the renovations.

DOPA.MASTERSNY.ORG

IN A PRIVATE LESSON, David Jones teaches freshman Dakota Daniello the drums.

The Department of Performing Arts has worked to ensure private lessons adapt properly to the new schedule.

SOphia Van BeeK Copy Editor The new schedule, operating on an eight-day rotation, has complicated the scheduling of private music lessons at Masters, but the Department of Performing Arts (DoPA) is dedicated to the ongoing process of adjusting, according to Curt Ebersole, the private lessons coordinator and classical music and public speaking teacher.

Traditionally, lessons were held on a particular day of the week during students’ free periods and/or study halls. Students also had the option of studying an instrument after school.

Ebersole said that the irregular rotation has made scheduling both easier and harder.

In the past, there were alternating “Phi” and “Delta” weeks, in which morning and afternoon classes would flip periods. Because the Upper School morning/afternoon classes alternated, and the Middle School schedule didn’t, lessons would often conflict. The rotating schedule makes it easier to coordinate Middle and Upper School students’ lessons, Ebersole explained.

Although lessons are no longer scheduled to occur on the same day of the week, due to an eight-day rotation, Ebersole maintains that one lesson a week is ideal. “Our goal is a lesson a week; that is the tried and true, pedagogically-sound rhythm of studying privately,” he said. In most cases, lesson days and times change week-toweek in order to keep the one lesson a week goal.

Barbara Cianella is both a professional collaborative pianist, meaning she accompanies singers, choirs, orchestras, and other instrumentalists, and is also a private instructor at Mas-

ters on Tuesdays through Thursdays.

She said, “If I have committed three days to Masters, I know that on those three days I can’t be doing collaborative piano. Now the lessons can fall in places other than Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.” It is not always possible for an instructor to commit all their weekdays to teaching at Masters because they often have busy professional and personal lives, according to Cianella.

Jennifer Carnevale, chair of DoPA, realized that all the classes in a major course fall on either the odd or even days of the rotation. Because a student cannot be in eight major courses, they will most likely have at least one free period every other day. If an instructor chooses two consecutive days to teach, they will be able to teach every block.

For instance, a student may have a free period on Tuesday and Thursday; and if their instructor chooses to teach on Wednesdays and Thursdays, they can meet with that student. This makes instructors’ schedules much more sustainable and realistic.

Sophomore Dosi Weed has taken guitar lessons from Brian Connie since the beginning of their freshman year. Weed used to take lessons during fourth period every Friday, but has switched to X-Band, which alternates between Thursdays and Fridays. They said, “I almost missed one of my lessons because I forgot. It’s just difficult to remember with the alternating days.”

Some instructors, however, have felt apprehension, according to Ebersole. One teacher has left the school as a direct result of the new schedule. Although change can be difficult, teachers have been remaining flexible.

Ebersole said, “The fact that we have lost only one instructor says a lot about everyone’s tenacity and dedication.”

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

9

FEATURES AND ARTS

English Department now offers junior seminars Gabe Keller Sports Editor

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the spring semester are American Dream/American Nightmare, Virtue and Scandal, and Home Fires Burning.

Stephanie Andreassi is one of the English teachers who helped put the new program into place.

She teaches What Are We Afraid Of in the fall semester, and Virtue and Scandal in the spring semester. What Are We Afraid Of focus-

n an effort to broaden opportunities for juniors at Masters, the English Department is offering several semester-long courses for the 2019-2020 school year. English seminars for seniors have been around for years now, and A lot of research indicates that while juniors are using a more student agency and intrinsimilar model, there is no sic motivation in course selection course overlap between the juniors and seniors. leads to a lot more positive learnThere are six “Seminars ing outcomes. in American Literature” offered to eleventh grade - GEOFFERY NELSON, ENGLISH DEPARTMENT CHAIR students: three in the fall semester and three in the spring. Those in the fall include: Off The Grid, Un- es on fear as a literary tool, while told American Stories, and What Virtue and Scandal looks at the beare we Afraid Of. The options for havior of characters in literature

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GABE KELLER/TOWER

JUNIOR DOMINIC FLORIAN READS a novel in the English seminar, Untold American Stories, taught by Ms. Emery. The course is about stories that highlight American experiences which aren’t told in traditional formats. Many of the students have expressed their enjoyment of the new seminars.

and how it relates to concepts of good and bad.

Andreassi recalled the English Department’s decision to make the curriculum change last year.

“Originally, the idea was to design junior and senior combined seminars,” Andreassi said. “We were trying to open up senior seminars to juniors, but it seemed like a lot to do quickly, so we just decided to apply the senior model to juniors,” she added. The idea, along with the design for each seminar, was conceptualized by departmental meetings during the 2018-2019 school year.

Junior Brooke Tatarian is currently taking America’s Untold Stories, a seminar that highlights stories and experiences in the United States that aren’t often told through traditional forms of media. Tatarian shared her initial impressions on the new format. She said “I really like it.

I think that having the option of learning about two different areas of subject matter is a lot better than having to pick just one, and I enjoy being able to read different types of literature.”For her second semester, Tatarian plans on taking the seminar Home Fires Burning, which analyzes the true concept of “home” as both a place and a mentality.

Teachers have shown support towards the more diverse learning opportunity. English Department Chair Geoffery Nelson, who teaches two junior English seminars, thinks that students are more eager to learn when they have more ability to choose classes that interest them. Nelson elaborated on these ideas, saying, “A lot of research indicates that more student agency and intrinsic motivation in course selection leads to a lot more positive learning outcomes.”

“There are a lot of goals within an elective education, and one of them is to give students more control over their own educational process,” he added.

GOOGLE MAPS

MANY STUDENTS TRAVEL THROUGH this intersection en route to school. On most mornings last year, students arrived earlier and avoided traffic. With the new start time, more students are experiencing traffic. In response, some students now leave home just as early as last year to arrive on time for class.

X-band may not benefit day students’ sleep Jacob Kriss Accountability & Accuracy Manager This year, Masters has implemented a new schedule, and as a result, classes begin and end half an hour later than they have in past years. The 30 minute window between 8-8:30 a.m. is now known as X-Band, a flexible time when students are able to meet with teachers, do homework, eat breakfast or just hang out. Students on set bus schedules and upper class students who drive themselves to school have had differing experiences due to these time alterations.

Since some students are leaving home later in the morning, traffic on the roads has gotten worse. Despite enjoying being able to wake up later, senior Mikkel Reid said, “ I run into a lot of traffic. A typically 25-30 minute drive can take up to 40 minutes.”

Reid’s experience is not unique, as senior Charlie Loigman has also faced obstacles because of the time changes. “I would leave later, but the traffic is just more congested, so, it’s not better than last year since I am forced to leave at the same time I always have,” Loigman said.

Other students still have obligations during X-Band that

require them to arrive at school before class starts. Senior Dorian Gilmartin said, “Some organizations, like DAA [Dobbs Athletic Association], meet from 8-8:30 a.m., which means I don’t always get those extra thirty minutes every morning.” Nevertheless, Gilmartin appreciates the new schedule on days when he doesn’t have these commitments, “ Most days I have X Band free, it’s great because I can use that time however I want, especially if I have a free first period because I don’t even need to come in until 9:50 a.m. when the Masters Hour’ begins.” Coming in late on days with a first period free is a privilege only given to seniors.

Having to wake up early to participate in required meetings, for a club, teacher meetings or simply due to traffic, does remove the benefit of more sleep that was promised by this new schedule.

However the benefits of a later start have nevertheless been felt within the Masters community.

Junior Cooper Kramer stated “At first I was annoyed that I had to come to school at the same time as last year and just sit around during X Band but since school started I’ve come up with a lot of ways to be productive in the morning, like eating breakfast, finishing my homework or just hanging out with my friends.”

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FEATURES AND ARTS

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

Upper School greets 14 new faculty members Madkins is a ‘perfect fit’ for learning enhancement and development director Clara KolKer Contributing Writer Julee Madkins’ favorite thing about Masters is the school’s “distinct culture of kindness.” While she and her family have lived in the Westchester County area for two years, the spring of 2019 marked a warm introduction to the Masters community, not only as a faculty member, but also as a parent of Olivia Madkins ‘23.

When the position of Learning Enhancement and Development Director (LEAD) opened following her daughter’s admission, Madkins knew that this was the work environment that she desired.

Originally, Madkins trained to be a teacher for children with special needs in California public schools. However, after her kids reached school age, she realized there was a need for differentiat-

ed learning help in independent and she gives her 100%. It’s a good schools. two-way street.”

As LEAD specialist, Madkins That being said, Madkins reworks with students, helping them vealed that she has a secret, darkdevelop effective study strategies. er side: she is a serial April Fools Madkins clarified that while she prankster. helps facilitate accommodations Like any professional, Madkins for students with learning diffi- wouldn’t give away her secrets but culties, her office is “open to any did admit that her pranks have student who feels thatthey need an gotten so .elaborate that her husadditional layer of support”. band has started warning their Madkins works closely along- children every time April 1 creeps side Upper School faculty member around the corner.

James Minio “He warns and Mona Hazthem, but he arika-Tamucci The faculty seem to really love workdoesn’t know of the Middle ing with her, and she gives her 100% it’s what I’m going School. She’s a good two-way street to do either. very happy to So every year be part of the - JAMES MINIO, LEARNING SPECIALIST I have to get Masters comtricky about it. munity, she Each year they said, and the think they’re community seems to be glad she’s prepared,” She smiles, a mischiepart of it, too. vous twinkle in her eye. “But I get “I think she’s a perfect fit,” Min- them every time.” io commented. “The faculty seem to really love working with her,

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CLARA KOLKER/TOWER

LEARNING ENHANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT Director Julee Madkins is a new addition to the Masters’ community. She has training in teaching children with special needs and believes that it is necessary to implement different learning styles in independent schools.

From Broadway to Dobbs, Driscoll wants students to love language Breault inspires creativity lanCe leyS

ativity was being caged in and he yearned to express himself in some Kwynne SChloSSman other way.

Contributing Writer While searching for a change in work environment, Breault’s friend introduced him to Masters and he The new Theater Technical Di- believed it was a good opportunity. rector, Sean Breault, joined the He recalled feeling an instant sense Masters community with the con- of belonging and acceptance from fidence that his previous experi- the community. He said, “They just ence will enhance the performing seemed honest and true. I didn’t arts program. Prior to his arrival, feel like I had to act. I didn’t feel in Breault earned over 30 years of ex- my interview like I had to be anyperience working within all realms thing more than what I was.” of the theater world.

Breault has many ideas to imBreault’s interest in theater prove theater and tech programs started at a for students, rangyoung age. Afing from education ter studying to student life. He at an arts colMr. Breault is all about kindsaid the school’s lege in Boston, ness and truly respecting the upfront support of he moved on to sapce and the culture of the thehis new ideas gave studying the- ater and each other. He is going him confidence ater in New to be really great for Masters. that it would be the York City before right fit. attending Cir- ARIANA COPLAND ‘20 Other members cle in a Square of the Department theater school. of Performing Arts He entered New have supported York’s competitive acting scene, but Breault’s adjustment to Masters. later discovered it to be “unfulfill- Gilles Pugatch, (DoPA faculty) ing creatively,” also remarking that said, “A consummate artist, Sean “it felt forced.”

Breault is on track to inspire stuBreault returned to visual arts dents and staff years to come.” Curt when offered an opportunity from Ebersole (DoPA faculty) is also exthe Atlantic Theater Company to cited to see what Breault will offer build sets. He remembered that Masters. He said, “He brings his extime as, “A satisfying blend of art tensive experience from Broadway and working with my hands; build- into the realm of education.” ing something from nothing.” His Ariana Copland, co-president of reputation grew along with his Phoenix, the honorary drama sociwork; as Breault has worked on a ety, remarked, “Mr. Breault is all number of Broadway shows includ- about kindness and truly respecting “Hadestown”, “Harry Potter”, ing the space and the culture of the and “Springsteen”. While Broad- theater and each other. He is going way represents ultimate success to be really great for Masters.” for some, Breault felt that his cre-

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Contributing Writer Ellen Driscoll is a teacher who, in her words, has “truly seen it all”.

Teaching Latin to students of all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds, which has lent her a very diverse view of the academic world, having had experiences which have allowed her to become the teacher and parent she is today.

Driscoll joined Masters this year as a Latin teacher, with almost a decade under her belt. She dedicates her heart and soul to her teaching, and still keeps in touch with her students from her first year of teaching, she said. “It is truly wonderful to see them all grow up and get into relationships and work towards their dream jobs,” she said of her first class of high schoolers, who are now in their midto-late twenties.

Another inspiration for Driscoll is how encompassing Latin is as a language. “There’s always something that a student will love about Latin, even if it takes a while for them to find it,” she said. She finds that Latin can be found everywhere in the modern world, from math’s founding principles to the sometimes nonsensical eccentricities of English that borrow several prefixes from the language.

All of her previous jobs as a teacher have been at public school. She taught in Pennsylvania for four years, in Queens for three years, and in Westchester, adding up to a total of nine years of teaching experience with Latin.

Compared to her experiences at public school, she says that the encouraged teaching methods, including Harkness, clinic time and X-Band, have led to a much more involved teaching experience that allows her to grow closer to the students she teaches.

She is currently the parent of two children, a 4 year old and a 6 year

old. She spends her time with them through in class. Carolyn Hohl, a reading often. “We read a lot, at the student in her Latin seminars, said library, at home, sometimes at both in “She is a truly enthusiastic teacher, the same day!” She said. Having chil- and wants everyone to do well.” She dren has changed her perspective on assigns each of her students Latin teaching as well. names to immerse She explained them fully in her There’s always something that a teaching experithat “When I teach, I see the student will love about Latin, even ence. students as the if it takes a while for them to find it.

Her coworkers children of adults have good things - ELLEN DRISCOLL, instead of just as to say about her UPPER SCHOOL LATIN TEACHER students.” This is as well. Mandarin something that Teacher Mae Jan allows her to push said “She’s always herself even further, since she feels smiling, and always kind to her stueven more obligated to do right by the dents as well.” “We always eat breakparents and their children. fast together, and talk about our Her students say that the care classes and she listens to what I have she pours into her teaching shows to say.”

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LANCE LEYS/TOWER

LATIN TEACHER, ELLEN DRISCOLL has been teaching Latin for the past nine years at public schools in Pennsylvania, Queens and Westchester. Masters marks her decade of teaching, at her first private independt school. Driscoll still keeps in touch with her students from previous schools and believes that there is always an aspect of Latin that students fall in love with.

Profiles of our 12 other new Upper School faculty and staff members will be available on the Tower website soon, tower.mastersny.org

KWYNNE SCHLOSSMAN/TOWER

NEW THEATER TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Sean Breault is a veteran in the theatre world with over 30 years of experience. Breault has many ideas to improve the Performing Arts Program and is confident in his ability to make a positive change.

Stacy Brown - English Teacher Jeff Carnevale - Interim Dean of Students Arlene Casey - Math Teacher Logan Condon - Athletics Director Mae Jan - Chinese Teacher Kayla Medina - Athletic Trainer Geoffrey Nelson - Chair of English Department Peter Newcomb - Interim Head of Upper School Meg O’Conner - Upper School Theater Teacher Katya Ostor - Wellness Counselor Caroline Savage - Associate Director of Admissions Sam Savage - Dean of Faculty Amie Sevino - Alumna/i Engagement Consultant

TOWER/OCTOBER 28, 2019

SPORTS

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Field hockey team forges family bond Annie Rubinson News Lead Editor

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n Sept. 14, the girls’ varsity field hockey team defeated the School of the Holy Child for the first time ever by a score of 6-1.

“Holy Child has a history of being a really tough school,” senior and co-captain Zia Foxhall said. She added that this was especially exciting for the team, as they didn’t win a single game last year. “Especially for the girls who hadn’t really seen a win before, it was a way of proving that their hard work was coming to fruition,” she said. “[It] really brought us together.”

This win was not the only element of the season that has unified the team, she said.

Muriel McWhinnie, senior and co-captain, noted that across her four years playing on the team, there has not been much continuity with players. Of the 12 freshmen who began playing in 2016, only four made it to their senior season: Dara Anhouse, Assistant Captain, Nicole Newman, Assistant Captain and Defensive Captain (as goalie), Foxhall and McWhinnie. “You have to start from scratch every year,” she said.

In the wake of this obstacle, Foxhall said returning players work to instill a sense of community. “The team has a really deep sense of care for each other,” she said. She added that a series of long standing team traditions have helped create a sense

ANNIE RUBINSON/TOWER

CAPTAIN OF THE FIELD hockey team Zia Foxhall, inbounds a pass during a corner drill. Upperclassmen on the team, including Foxhall, have been focusing on a family-like atmosphere. Team bonding activities have included Secret Psych, the field hockey team’s version of Secret Santa, and the Friends and Family game, when familily members of the team bond over the sport. of continuity.

The team begins each year with preseason, closing out the week with the announcement of the team captains and a team olympics. Every new member is assigned to a field hockey “family” upon joining the

team, Foxhall said. “It’s kind of like how it works in sororities,” she added, laughing. The seniors in each family serve as the “big sisters,” providing underclassmen with an extra support system in and out of practice. “Field hockey doesn’t end on the

field,” Foxhall said. “We are here for each other during the school day, and throughout the year, even when the season’s over.”

Another field hockey tradition is Secret Psych, a Secret Santa- activity that continues throughout the

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season. “At the beginning of every season, you get assigned a player,” Foxhall said. “Before every game, you get them something small, like a little note or a piece of candy, that encourages them to do their best during the game.” This serves both as a way to establish a sense of camaraderie, and to “get [the team] pumped to play every game.”

Foxhall said that her favorite tradition is the Friends and Family Game, which occurs at the end of each season. “It’s our last opportunity to scrimmage all together, and we invite our family and friends to have this big fun field hockey party,” she said. “It brings a sense of closure.”

The team has won a total of two games, defeating Horace Mann by a score of 2 - 1 and the School of the Holy Child. The loss of key upperclassmen has allowed underclassmen the opportunity to have more playing time than in previous years.

Sophomores Alexa Wachen and Sabrina Wolfson both began playing field hockey last year, and are now starting players. Both added that their team “big sisters” have added to their experience on the team.

“It’s nice to have an upperclassman say hi to you in the hall when you’re a new freshman,” Wachen said. “It makes our dynamic on the field even better as well.”

McWhinnie said she hopes the team will receive more support from the Masters community in their upcoming games. “Field hockey is a really fun sport to watch and we do so much better when we have people cheering us on,” she said.

SENIOR GOALIE NICOLE NEWMAN stands in the goal during a game against The Horace Mann School. Newman is one of four seniors on the team. Each of the seniors serve as “big sisters” to underclassmen for team unity.

Cross country adapts amid league change TyleR ConwAy Sports Editor

ANNIE RUBINSON/TOWER

The 2019-2020 season of Mastes sports will likely be defined by change, as many teams adjust to a new league. Now participating in Ivy League meets, as well as the independent circuit, the boys’ varsity cross country team has been focused on working toward improvement while adjusting to alterations made to the program and dynamic of the team.

The team, led by coaches Stephanie Van Pelt and Issac Updike, and senior captains Maxwell (Max) Levy, Michael VanDemark and Michael Garcia, are in their first season following their departure from the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA).

The returning runners on the team must adjust to a variety of changes to the program. The team now has new competition in private schools from New York City such as The Horace Mann School, The Trinity School and Poly Prep, and local public schools such as in Rye and Dobbs Ferry.

Earlier this month, the team ran in the Brewster Bear XC Classic, which was an invitational attended by over 45 schools. Sophomores Aidan Lothian and Mac Alexander not only had the best two times among Masters runners in the race, but both set personal records. Lothian completed the 5000 meter race in 17:56 while Alexander crossed the finish line with a time of 18:45.

Their league meets take place at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, which is a course on which most of the runners have limited experience.

“The trails are new to everyone, so it’s a fun bonding experience for us to run them together, whether the athlete is returning or new,” senior Dorian Gilmartin said.

Senior Jonas Abady said that the team’s ability to adapt has been largely due to the members’ positive attitudes, determined newcomers, and positive leadership from the returning runners. He said, “We have great energy on the team this year.

The seniors have done a good job of welcoming the new runners, and the freshmen genuinely like us which makes us a stronger team.” He added, “It’s also such a tough sport that all the kids who aren’t into it leave right away, which leaves us with a group of new runners that we don’t need to force to push harder.”

Coach Van Pelt has also noticed improved contributions from new

runners. “We had two injured varsity runners, and needed the new runners to step up.” She added, “I called up a couple JV runners and they performed very well as varsity runners, especially for newcomers to the sport.”

At the team’s most recent meeting which took place at the New York Military Academy (NYMA) on Oct. 19, many runners performed well.

Freshman Jack Borwick, in his inaugural varsity race, placed third overall. Borwick was one of four Masters runners who notched a top ten finish: Junior Logan Schiciano finished second, Alexander came in third and Van Demark was not far behind in fifth. These results earned the Panthers an overall team victory, edging NYMA for the second consecutive year in the invitational.

Although the team must become accustomed to all the changes that accompany joining a new league, the runners Tower spoke with have optimistic expectations for their overall performance. “My expectations are to win the championship,” Gilmartin said. He added, “I have faith that our team is good enough to go out and beat any other school we face.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALANA GOULD

JUNIOR RUNNER JOSEPH (JOE) Diaz running at a Van Cortland Park. Ivy League meets are held at Van Cortland Park, whereas independent meets are held at the public schools the team is running against.

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TOWER/OCTOBER 28. 2019

Boys’ varsity soccer shoots for playoffs Ethan Schlapp

Staff Writer

GEORGE CHANG/TOWER

GIRLS’ VARSITY SOCCER CELEBRATES a 2-1 vicory over Convent of the Sacred Heart on Oct. 5. Pictured from left to right are Lauren Marlowe (‘23), Francesca Mann (‘21), Kwynne Schlossman (‘22), Rachel Schwartz (‘21), and Tara Phillips (‘23). The team has more wins this year than they’ve had in any season since 2009.

Girls’ soccer nets best record in a decade under new coach Sophie Grand Opinion Editor

With a new head coach and an influx of underclass talent, the girls’ varsity soccer team got off to a quick start, notching victories early on in the season. They have maintained a winning record to date and their cohesive play was showcased in their recent sweeping victories, including a 5-0 victory over Avenues and a 2-1 win over Nightingale Bamford.

Because there are only five upper class students on the team, the underclassmen play a significant role, as four of the eleven starters are firstyear students. According to junior captains Rachel Schwartz and Francesca (Franny) Mann, the first-years are contributing unparalleled speed and consistency to the game, as well as spirit and tenacity. Among those are attacking midfielder Lauren Marlowe and fellow freshman center midfielders Hannah Florian and Tara Phillips.

This season, the girls welcomed Brendon Barrios as their head coach after Hernando Santimaria, the team’s former coach, moved on from Masters after five years. Barrios is a teacher in the History and Religion Department, who also served as the assistant coach of the boys’ varsity soccer team in the two seasons prior. Bar-

rios said, “They have really been quite our spirit has gone up. Whenever we responsive to the changes, goals and make a mistake, instead of being upstyle that I bring to the team.” Barrios set, we just encourage each other and adjusted the team’s pre-practice rou- practice those skills more.” Marlowe tine from static stretching to a series continued, “Everybody on this team of dynamic warmups, which require is excited for each other and their acmore running complishments. and movement There is no one across the field. person that pushWe’re all staying super inThe squad es ahead. If one tense and focused because also made a person has a sucwe want to win and we mid-season taccess, it’s everyknow we have the potential. tical adjustment, body’s success.” implementing One year re- FRANCESCA MANN the “three-fivemoved from lostwo” strategy, a ing 16 games, formation with the team has not three defenders, five midfielders and only exceeded their win total from last two attacking players. Barrios said, season, but has the best record of the “The idea is to get us a little more at- Masters’ girls soccer team in the last tacking-minded. We are used to giv- decade. The team has not won this ing up a lot of goals and by making the many games since 2009. switch [to a new formation], it allows Barrios said, “I think in years past us to put the other team under pres- we were used to losing. We had a drop sure through the midfield.” in the program’s success and now that Mann explained how the team’s we have had a bit of a turn, we are mindset has shifted. “This year during starting to win more games. We have practice, we’re all staying super in- become more competitive, so our attitense and focused because we want to tudes and our mindsets have to adjust win and we know we have the poten- with that.” tial. We just need to put in the work,” The girls’ recently had a five-game she said. winning streak snapped due to a The team’s effort throughout the draw against Greenwich Country season is clear to first-year attacking Day School on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Their midfielder Lauren Marlowe. “Our next contest is Wednesday, Oct. 30 at possession has really improved and School of the Holy Child.

“

Coming off a loss in the semifinals to the Hopkins School last year in the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) playoffs, the boys’ varsity soccer team hopes to eclipse last year’s six-win season.

The loss of graduated key players, as well as the retirement of longtime Athletic Director Kevin Versen, called into question whether the team would be able to play to the same standards that they had in previous years, especially after winning the 2016 FAA Championship only a few seasons ago.

However, rather then marveling over past accomplishments, the team’s newly-arrived coach Neil Jaggernauth is instead focused on the present.

Throughout his six-year coaching career where he spent time at The Hackley School and The Windward School, Jaggernauth said he gained both experience as well as further understanding of the game.

The transition to a new school has been easy for Jaggernauth, resulting in a gradual improvement of player performance on the field, especially the underclassmen, according to the coach. “They’re one of the strongest parts of our team,” Jaggernauth said regarding his group of young talents.

Jaggernauth continued to praise the group of boys, noting that “they’re high character individuals.”

“They’re all really talented,” said junior left back Julian Dennis when speaking of the younger players. He especially praised the play of soph-

omore attackers Wonjun Lee and Kyle Benson, as well as midfielder Daniel Medina and goalkeeper Nate Dyott.

Although the gradual improvement and strong underclass play didn’t show success in the record book initially–the team went winless through their first four games –Jaggernauth believes there’s more to the story. “A shorter preseason compared to other schools” definitely contributed to their slow start, according to Jaggernauth. Unlike The Hackley School’s two-week preseason, the Panthers had only a week to prepare before their first game.

“We are playing really good soccer, we just need to keep believing in ourselves” junior Dominic Florian said after a difficult start to the season.

After logging only one win through their first eight games, the team defeated Long Island Lutheran on Oct. 1, by a score of 5-1.

The Panthers then competed against the French American School, a team that had won their first five contests of their season; however, Masters managed to win a close game by a score of 3-2. In the closing minutes, sophomore Kyle Benson’s corner kick miraculously found the back of the net and was the deciding goal in the contest After a one goal loss to the United Nations International School, the Panthers bounced back with a recent 2-1 win over Avenues on home turf.

The team will face three more opponents in the regular season with their final contest at home on Oct. 5 against Riverdale Country Day School.

GEORGE CHANG/TOWER

SOPHOMORE KYLE BENSON DRIVES a ball up the field against Long Island Lutheran School. Under a new coach, Neil Jaggernauth, the boys’ varsity soccer team has rallied around the production of younger players like Benson.

The team looks to secure a spot in the NYSAIS playoffs for the fifth time in six years.

Ex-NBA commissioner has Stern words on China tweet ating their right of dominion over Hong Kong.

In an exclusive interview with Tower, former NBA Commissioner Opinion Editor & Sports Lead Editor David Stern, who served the position from 1984 to 2014, said, “I thought it When Houston Rockets Gener- was indelicate of him [Morey] to isal Manager Daryl Morey sent out sue the tweet when he did, but I also a tweet–a graphic with the slogan, believe that that was his right.”

“Fight for Freedom, Stand with China is very important to NBA Hong Kong”–on Oct. 4, it’s unlikely finances. During the 2017-18 seathat he could have predicted the re- son 800 million total viewers–over verberations of his actions. double the population of the entire Morey’s support of the Hong Kong U.S.–watched some sort of NBA meprotesters frustrated Chinese offi- dia. In response to Morey’s tweet cials, who felt the NBA was alien- major Chinese NBA sponsors backed out of their lucrative contracts and Chinese TV channel CCTV suspended streaming services in China for NBA preseason and opening night games. Last season CCTV paid the NBA nearly 500 million U.S. dollars.

KENNETH LU/ FLICKR Current NBA NBA SIGNAGE ADVERTISES THE NBA’s 2004 China Games. The C o m m i s s i o n e r matchup featured the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets. Adam Silver has that China has become one of the largest consumers of NBA content. emphasized

Sophie Grand and Mitch Fink

he will not apologize for Morey’s tweet and respects Morey’s freedom to express his personal political opinion. In an official statement, the NBA said, “We recognize that the views expressed by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey have offended so many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable. While Daryl has made it clear that his tweet does not represent the Rockets or the NBA, the values of the league support individuals’ educating themselves and sharing their views on matters important to them.”

Stern said of the NBA’s response to the Morey’s tweet. “I would say that Adam Silver did a great job in standing up for American freedom of expression. We have a different system in the U.S., and if the Chinese are going to react to everything that our players are free to say, and our coaches and executives, then that isn’t going to be a promising blueprint for the future relationship.”

Masters students shared their views on the controversy. Yingzhi (Allen) Ning, a sophomore boarding student from China and a member of the school’s boys’ varsity basketball team, compared the seriousness of

racism in America to that of speaking out against the government in China. “Western and Eastern values are different,” Ning said. “Racism is the untouchable line in western countries. But in Eastern countries like China, the unity of the country is the untouchable line.”

Another boarding student from China, who asked to remain anonymous due to the political implications of the issue, said, “You have to define free speech. I can’t say anything in China. People will come after you if you say the wrong thing.

I think it works the same way here.

If you say something really racist, or really offensive to a lot of people, you can say it but other people will react to it negatively.”

While politicians on both sides of the aisle argued that the NBA’s comments did not fully advocate for free speech, Stern sharply disagreed.

“Those particular politicians, Republican and Democrat alike, are idiots. They don’t know how to read.

They didn’t know the facts, but they did know the desire to get publicity,” Stern said. He continued, “We [the NBA] are big believers that sports can bring people together. So much for that.”

A brief history of Hong Kong’s relationship with China In 1842, China ceded the island of Hong Kong to Britain through the Treaty of Nanjing. 56 years later, the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory leased the populous island to Britain for the next 99 years. Under this treaty, China was to reclaim dominance over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. Both Britain and China signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, giving Hong Kong a degree of autonomy through a “one country, two systems” policy for 50 years. Hong Kong is autonomous in its financial and legal endeavors, while foreign policy and defense are controlled by the Chinese government. Hong Kong soon became a Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) with their own written constitution. The Basic Law of HKSAR was enacted in 1990 by the Seventh National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, and was effectuated in July of 1997.