The
C r i mson Sun Vol. 20, No. 3
The Student Newspaper of Morristown-Beard School 70 Whippany Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
May 2019
Photo courtesy of Aline De la Torre
The group assembles for a quick selfie before they proceed with their immersion into Colombian culture.
The Ambassadors: MBS in Colombia
by ANIKA BUCH On Saturday, March 9 at 3:00 AM, nineteen students and four chaperones met at MBS to embark on a week long trip to Cartagena, Colombia. It’s no secret that Colombia has quite a notorious reputation. In the words of Director of Global Studies, Spanish teacher and chaperone Aline de la Torre, “It’s a very peaceful country, but a lot of people in the United States don’t know that. We perceive Colombia as the Colombia of [Pablo] Escobar and Narcos. In reality, the country is much more than that." Instead of ignoring these more negative associations, students and teachers alike used it as additional motivation to go. Dyson Mitchell
‘20 said, “I’ve heard a lot of negative things about Colombia and I didn’t know if they were true.” Others saw themselves as part of a larger effort to debunk the negative stereotypes. Spanish teacher and chaperone Anna Pardo said, “I wanted to be part of eliminating the 'dangerous' stereotypes about Colombia.” Of course, a place cannot be limited to its stereotypes. Registrar, Spanish teacher and chaperone Rocio Romero said, “The beauty of Colombia lies in that is a place where unique culture, fascinating history, creative art, exotic food and lively music meet. Cartagena, the city MBS students
and chaperones visited, is one of Colombia’s crown jewels.” Once in Cartagena, the group checked into their hotel and went off on a walking tour of the Old City. Romero said, “we visited the Old City famous for its architecture, [and] urban neighborhoods, [with] booming street art and small plazas filled with locals enjoying live music.” According to a Colombia Spanish Immersion Trip blog entry written by students Sabrina Fagan ‘20, Julia Abbott ’20 and Sonny Hughes ‘20, “It was beautiful walking through the streets with all of the colorful buildings and pushy vendors.” As the hot summer day lent itself to
night, the students ate dinner at a local restaurant where they were able to sample of the local Columbian cuisine like fresh ceviche and paella. The next day, the group biked around the outside of the Old City, giving them an opportunity to enjoy more of what the city had to offer. The students stopped to see churches, museums, forts, and other attractions. A highlight of the day was a private coffee tasting. De la Torre said, “We tasted different coffee flavors and learned that the best coffee is actually sent out [of the country].” Nevertheless, these interactive cultural experiences are what led to the continued on p. 7
Pride Week: Love is Love
Photo ASHLEY CHEN
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Walks in the Arbo.................................p. 3 Stepping to Success...............................p. 9 Nights at MBS.......................................p. 10 Athletes of the Quarter........................p. 12
by VIKALP SHARMA In the second week of April, representatives of Spectrum, the group that supports the LGBTQ+ club and its allies on campus, held the first ever MBS Pride Week. Filled with events throughout the week during Collaborative Period, MBS Pride Week was co-president Quiya Harris’ ‘19 attempt at “inspiring the LGBTQ+ community at MBS to be open about their identities, and at the most basic level, live openly and freely at school.” Although certain events during the span of MBS Pride Week had happened before, like the Day of Silence, Harris thought that a week filled with daily events was a great alternative to the club attending NYC Pride in June. Harris gave her opinion on the im-
portance of recognizing the LGBTQ+ community at MBS, and how she wants them, “to feel accepted and celebrated” by their peers. Starting with “gender-bread” decorating on Monday and ending with the Day of Silence and Night of Voices on Friday, Pride Week without a doubt accomplished its goal: attracting and educating both allies and active members of the LGBTQ+ community. The events of Pride Week have been in the works for much longer than just a few months, with the idea starting back in May of 2018. It would eventually evolve into the planning of the event in January of this year, and finally implementing it this April. Before the week even began, Harris and her Speccontinued on p. 8
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C r i mson Sun
EDITORIAL The Crimson Sun 70 Whippany Road
Morristown, New jersey 07960 973-539-3032 Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Tone Editors Ari Bersch Anika Buch Julian Levy Faculty Advisors Owen Boynton Laura Kirschenbaum Thanks to: Bruce Adams, Darren Burns, Peter Caldwell, Mark Clar, Denise Elliot, Darren Lovelock, Boni Luna, John Mascaro, Barbara Napholtz, Caitlin Skobo-Trought, and Carol Wooldredge. We welcome letters to the editor, opinion pieces, stories, cartoons and photographs. To contact the paper regarding submissions, send an e-mail to either abuch@mbs.net, jslevy_20@mbs.net or lkirschenbaum@mbs.net. The Crimson Sun corrects its factual errors and accepts corrections.
The Crimson Sun is a 4-16 page newspaper, available in print and online through the mbs.net website. It is written primarily for the approximately 572 students attending MBS and the approximately 100 faculty and staff members, and is distributed free of charge to all members of the school community. The Crimson Sun provides information and entertainment in addition to various viewpoints on debatable issues. We will not print anything that is deemed libelous, obscene or in poor taste. We reserve the right to edit or withhold anything submitted and correct spelling, grammar and punctuation when necessary.
A Game of Cones
By ALEX REBHUN
Ice cream cones are among the worst creations on this Earth. To begin with, there are two types: waffle and wafer. Wafer cones are simply reprocessed cardboard with high fructose corn syrup splashed in. There was not, is not, and never will be a valid reason to accept your ice cream in one of these crappy cones other than to spit in the face of "God almighty" for actively defying the gift of reason bestowed upon you. Not to mention the thin, 1/4 ply “paper” that is applied to the exterior of these monstrosities that cannot, and will not, be removed cleanly. It is, and I say this with utmost certainty, absolutely impossible to eat a soft serve cone without ingesting some bit of ink and pulp from the paper wrapping. The esteemed waffle cone is hardly better. The “improved” taste is hardly noticeable, and the cone itself is a horror to the senses. The point of eating ice cream is to eat the ice cream. Why, then, do some poor sods choose to waste their time eating a Belgian piece of maple syruped toast. I myself love a proper waffle, but the squished, burnt, abomination of a waffle that is the waffle cone is disappointing at best. In addition, one is forced to bite the cone in order to eat their treat. This consistently results in inadvertently biting the ice cream itself, sending horrific shocks through the teeth, down the spinal column, and into the deepest and most sacred sanctums of the body which should never be violated by the icy prick of the bite. And don’t even get me started on the misery that is the bottom of the cone. The ice cream leaks out the bottom, cor-
What Pride Week Means to Me by QUIYA HARRIS
What is pride? Is it the joy that you get when you see people like you in public? How about the way you smile when you see positive representation? Or the comfort you feel when someone you look up to can give you advice you can’t get from your family? To me, pride is all these things and so much more. That’s why I decided, as I was running for Spectrum’s president position, to ask for a pride week. Going to NYC Pride last summer was one of the best experiences of my life, and I wanted to bring that to MBS since we can’t take club field trips in June. From May 2018 to April 2019, MBS Pride Week was transformed from an idea in my mind to a fully fleshed out week full of activities and themes. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of work, and I got tired of sending five emails a day with Spectrum in the subject line very quickly. There’s absolutely no way this week could have happened without my copresident, Maddie Sit, and our advisor, Mr. Augustyniak. The three of us had meetings every day, working with administration, students, and teachers to check items off our to-do list. Our work paid off in the end, with
people attending every event, and most students participating in the themes. I was most proud of the Night of Voices, which happened on April 12th, a Friday night. There were about 30 students there, which is impressive for an event at 7 PM on a Friday. The performances and discussions we had were my favorite parts of the night, and it made me feel very fulfilled when people came up to me to say they enjoyed the event. This is my 7th and final year at MBS. Throughout my time here, I have found my identity and connected with a school community that I never would’ve imagined as an 11 year old walking through the halls of the middle school. In my freshman year here, I found upperclassmen that I could rely on as friends and advisors. As a senior now, I often find myself hopefully acting as that same person to my freshman and sophomore friends. My ultimate wish as a graduating senior is to leave some sort of mark here. Through MBS Pride Week and my work as a co-president of Spectrum, I can confidently say that I did just that. Even as the student body and events change, the spirit of pride week will be ingrained in the club for years to come.
rupting the hands and forcing the eater to rub the thinly veiled excuses for napkins provided by the parlor into their flesh in an attempt to remove the sticky mess; while in reality rubbing it in further. It is also impossible to eat the bottom of the cone. Either the eater bites the point to such a small size that they cannot hold it anymore and it falls to the ground, or they attempt to swallow the thing and end up with a waffly spike impaled in their esophagus. But one may ask, “Aren’t there other benefits to eating ice cream with a cone?” To this mutant of a question I reply: “No.” Easier transportation? Cup or cone, one still must carry their frozen treat, except one is contained and the other is literally melting in your hand. Reduced cost? Waffle cones come with a surcharge, and the other “cones” are the same price as a cup or bowl. Increased ice cream amount? Nope. A bowl of the same “size” always hold more ice cream, as the server does not have to worry about the treat slipping to the ground. Additionally, the pointy end of the cone holds no ice cream, so one paying for a cone is, in fact, paying for empty ice cream space. Better toppings? It is a fact that cups hold more toppings, better toppings, and even have their own, exclusive toppings, such as the delicious hot fudge. In fact, I fail to see how anyone with a brain and soul could choose a cone over a bowl. Facts are facts, despite what some may say. So, let’s give up the ruse and finally all just get the ice cream we want: in a bowl.
Haiku Farewell MBS It’s been quite fun together Good luck without me
JAMES CUNNINGHAM
Took many classes Did numerous assignments Procrastination
BRANDON LEVY
L’amour était difficile Alors J’ai triché Ça puait, mais pas pour moi LAUREN SMITH & TIM ABBOTT
Goodbye my safespace You raised me up well and proud Escaping these fools
It has been so long It's been seven years of fun I'll miss MBS
IAN O'BRIEN
LINDSAY SMITH
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C r i mson Sun
PERSPECTIVES by ARI BERSCH
Walks in the Arb o
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum ("the Arbo") lies adjacent to the MBS campus. It is much more than simply a scenic addition. Many MBS faculty and students alike take walks in the arboretum during lunch or free periods, to take in its natural beauty and relaxing atmosphere before returning to their regular duties on campus. Dr. Miklos Jalics joined the MBS faculty in 2015 after teaching at the American International School in Budapest, Hungary, for 15 years. There, he taught primarily IB courses, which, similar to AP courses, allow high school students to take college-level courses. Jalics currently teaches Precalculus Honors and AP Calculus AB in addition to being the math department chair and JV boys’ soccer coach. Jalics is a frequent visitor to the arboretum. In nice weather, you can often find him there with other faculty members discussing various mathematic, philisophical, or scientific theories.
How is teaching and coaching in Budapest the same or different than in New Jersey? The greatest difference with teaching at the International School in Budapest has to [do] with the clientele were of many different nationalities. The students themselves were less homogeneous in that regard. It was very interesting, because you learn a lot about a lot of different cultures. The people that were there were either people on business, or diplomats, [but] there was certainly a large Hungarian population as well.
In terms of coaching, the events that took place [in Budapest] were mostly international. We would play in tournaments against schools from neighboring countries. These events would take place over a three or four, sometimes What do you enjoy most about teaching math at even five, day period. Sometimes we MBS? I really enjoy when I see a student that’s would host five or six different schools, struggling get to a point where they feel confi- all from different countries, and that Photo: A B dent in themselves. Mathematics is a nice way was normal. The freshly bloomed tulips are one of Jalics’ favorite parts of his Arbo walks. for me to challenge them. When they start believing in themselves, they become a completely Similarities; students are students. You world. It takes a certain kind of person to teach different person. have a large variety of students: some are very internationally, and I enjoyed that. You got to motivated students that are very keen. I see that meet an incredible number of amazing people. How does coaching soccer translate to classroom here and I saw that there as well. I got very comI had a very positive experience there, and I’m teaching? I’ve coached for a long time, at this fortable there after a number of years; the stuhaving a very positive experience now. school and at the previous school...[It’s] another dents got to know what I represented and the way for me to get to know the students, and when same thing has happened here. It’s taken a little Besides walking in the Arbo, what other outdoor they get to know you as someone other than just a time to get to know the students and for the stuactivities do you enjoy? I like to camp, particumath teacher, they can relate to you better. Forg- dents to get to know me, but basically, when you larly wilderness camping, with my family, crossing those connections helps them reach places start making the bonds, when you start relating country skiing, hiking, [and] anything [else] in they may not have been able to reach before. to students and they start relating to you, that’s nature. I’m not keen on going to a gym, not that when the learning improves. kind of stuff. I’m much more about being outWhat do you find most valuable in educating high side. school students and athletes? It’s a very interest- What was your favorite part about teaching in ing time in their lives. I am watching them grow Budapest? I really enjoyed the school, but I also In general, what do you enjoy doing when you are up and realize their goals that are coming up in really enjoyed the city. The city of Budapest is a not at school? I really enjoy travelling. [My family college and beyond. I am watching their founda- wonderful city, with lots of opportunities and and I] spend a lot of time traveling. Last summer tions develop and eventually blossom. I’m help- lots of culture. That was something I certainly and this summer we’ll be in Europe again...New ing to set their foundations for the future. enjoyed. I really enjoyed my colleagues; they places, new people, new foods. were very international and had seen a lot of the ri
ersch
A Reflective Retreat
by WHITNEY MCDONNELL
Photo: Darren Lovelock
MBS students enjoy the beautiful weather at the annual Writer’s Retreat in Blairstown, New Jersey.
On March 29th, 14 MBS students and faculty embarked on the Writers’ Retreat in Blairstown, New Jersey. The weekend was spent sipping hot chocolate, taking nature walks in the woods, and, of course, doing lots of writing. Mr. Lovelock also led the group in exercises to generate ideas; a highlight included everyone blindfolding themselves while Ms. Freeto fed everyone something on a spoon. Then, each student wrote about what it tasted like. Along with it being a lesson in trust, everyone sharpened their descriptive skills. The trip itself felt unique: usually the retreat takes place in November, but it was moved to March this year due to snow. It was still chilly enough to sit by the fire, but warm enough to enjoy s’mores outside -- the perfect recipe for a reflective weekend. A portion of both nights were spent taking silent walks to look at the stars and then coming
back inside to free-write. There was something wonderfully electric about the quiet that dominated those walks. Throughout the weekend, students and teachers alike shared poetry, short stories, and, initially, writer’s block. It proved difficult to separate from the fast-paced mindset that school demands, and shift into a more introspective place. However, everyone ended up being able to produce something they were proud of once school seemed a little farther away. With all of the essays, tests, presentations, and morning meetings, it’s easy to forget how to unwind and unplug. The retreat revealed sometimes the best way to be productive is by doing unproductive things: taking a walk, drinking a cup of tea, or doing a blind taste test. Whatever gives your brain a break, indulge in it the next time that college essay is staring you in the face.
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C r i mson Sun
PERSPECTIVES
After I Entered
by KASSY PATINO
When I got accepted to Morristown-Beard, I couldn’t believe the news. It was a dream come true! The campus was so big and I knew that there were going to be many opportunities and, most importantly, new friends who would support me upon entering my new school. On my first day, I was nervous. But everyone was so kind. The MBS community was very welcoming, making it easy to adjust to my new school environment. In the first few weeks, I was able to choose an elective, a club, and an after-school sport! There were so many different options for clubs that it was hard to pick just one. I ended up choosing crochet. My mom had tried to teach me how to crochet during the summer, so it seemed like a good idea to keep learning and practicing that skill. There were a lot of sports options too, but everyone had a sport they had played for a while, so it wasn’t hard making a decision. I chose to do soccer for the fall season, swimming for the winter season, and I am currently doing softball for the spring semester. Only a few people might have tried a new sport. Electives were just as fun. You could choose a year long elective or do two different electives: one for the spring and one for the fall. In the end, I chose to do band as a full year elective because of my love for music. My favorite part of starting at MBS was meeting the amazing teachers at the school and listening to the funny stories they had to tell us. Dr. Girvin told us a funny story of a time when he visited the Caribbean Island and the little kids thought he was an enemy from another country since he didn’t look
like the people who lived at the islands at all. The teachers make every class fun and educational at the same time. They always include our school values; empathy, cooperation, humility, awareness of diverse perspectives, independence of mind, connectedness and humor. Everyone learns something new at MBS, whether it is how to grow as a strong independent person, or how to apply new things we learn to our everyday lives. The first semester brought along many surprises likes our Middle School House Competitions or fun consortiums to participate in. I went on the Science Consortium which took us to a planetarium. It was a great opportunity to learn many new things about constellations and our mysterious universe. There were other consortiums such as the chorus consortium and the chess consortium just to name a few.
Everyone learns something new at MBS. We also had chances to gain confidence by reading poems on stage or performing during Middle School Meeting on Wednesdays. Additionally, we got chances to see high school music groups and chorus perform during All School Meeting on Fridays. The second semester has had many surprises too. We met other kids that will be in our grade next year, and saw exciting performances to learn about different cultures and how we can support them. To sum it all up, entering the MBS community in the sixth grade was the best thing ever. The kind and welcoming people of our community make us stand out from the rest. Sketch: Zachary Mazouat
Before I Leave
by IZZY SILVER
Leaving high school: some dread it, while some can’t make it come soon enough. Whatever your feelings on the matter, most of us seniors have resonated with both feelings at least once, most likely at the same time. As we grow into a newfound feeling of independence, there is one value that MBS has made us all believe in that is crucial to bring with us: the sense of community. Many of the lessons we have learned at this school are derived from and are rooted in the very existence of the community here. The place where we have learned how to build our character and our academic self is brought together by a sense of a mutual need and dependence. While our cultural landscape today glorifies a hyper individualism and independence, sometimes the best thing to do is recognize your emotional dependence on the people around you, even if (like at the beginning of college) you are not intensely connected to the people you encounter in your day to day. MBS prides itself on trying to create a giving and caring community, and values gaining strength from togetherness. In leaving for college, whether that be in four years or one, we have an early advantage in knowing the limitations of pure independence. While it's important to have a sense of pride in navigating the world as an individual, it doesn’t mean that this aspect of our identity has to erode our trust in the value of community. Especially in college, when we are going to be asked to adapt to an entirely new location and group of people, it may seem easiest to try to do it all on your own. But, this would be ignoring the reality that other people are part of your
process of adjusting to a different life in college just as much as you are. In having the privilege to being a part of the MBS community, we can understand the myth that has led us into our current mental health crisis on college campuses (and everywhere) in America when people choose to ignore this. If it is a sign of strength to do things on our own, it doesn’t mean it has to be a sign of weakness to recognize that there will be times in college, and life, where you can’t. Surely, the way we forge relationships and connections to our communities after MBS will look radically different from each other. For some, it may look like pushing ourselves to go to the football game; for others it may be introducing ourselves to a professor after class; and for many of us it might be asking for help from a new friend when we miss home or are feeling down. No mat-
There is one value that MBS has made us all believe in that is crucial to bring with us: the sense of community. ter what trust in a community looks like, the principle of staying connected to the people around you is crucial, even if it feels uncomfortable or against the status quo. No matter how much others may try to hold on to the facade that they are just fine flying solo, it is worth taking the time to help others realize the power in mutual support. So whether you feel excited about the prospect of a new start or are stuck in feeling the nostalgia of leaving MBS, it is crucial to hold on to the roots of community and trust that we have cultivated here. Sketch: Zachary Mazouat
MSC Art Gallery Profile : Mr. Donahue
by TALIA GOLD and ALI STECKER
Featured as the latest spotlight artist in the Morristown-Beard gallery, Mr. Donahue brings us inside his magical artistic eye to understand how art has shaped his life. “I've been drawing cartoons since I was old enough to hold a pencil,” says Donahue. “I became serious about painting in high school with my grandmother's mentorship. She was a retired teacher, and took up oil painting and inspired me to do the same.” Throughout his youth and adulthood, Donahue kept his grandmother’s mentorship in mind when painting with his favorite medium: oil paint. “It's more forgiving of mistakes,” he explains. However, unlike most artists, Donahue does not tend
to work from inspiration, but rather a mere kind of curiosity. “Most of my pieces begin with a question,” explains Donahue. “Sometimes it's a question about color, or a question about process -- how to put the paint on the canvas or what additives to mix in.” For the Upper School English teacher, art has always served as a safe space. “Art keeps me sane. It's a safe place to experiment, ask questions, and make mistakes,” says Donahue. “I can make ten bad paintings and it doesn't matter -- that kind of freedom to fail, I think, is good for my health.” Mr. Donahue wants to share his art with the rest of the community to show the students that art is
nothing to be afraid of. “I want my art to be an example to students who might be intimidated by the painting medium,” he says. “I want student artists to see it's okay to try things and make mistakes and get messy in the studio.” In fact, Mr. Donahue and Miss. Hartman will be co-teaching an elective called “Word and Image” next year, which connects his two passions: visual art and literature.“I see a lot of the same design principles at work behind both visual arts and literature. Composition, balance, form, tone,” says Donahue. Many of the principles Donahue teaches as an upper school teacher are able to be translated into his passion for art.
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May 2019
C r i mson Sun
NEWS
MBS Website Gets a Facelift
by ANIKA BUCH
A few months ago, the MBS website underwent a significant redesign. The original website had been in place for over three years, and the Advancement Office ably undertook the challenge of updating it. When asked why a new website was necessary in the first place, Michael Smith, website manager, said, “People are doing a lot more research now than they did in the past, both for small decisions and for the more significant ones like choosing a school for their children. Before anyone steps foot on campus, you can bet that they’ve been on the school’s website.” Smith best summarized this when he said “The pace of change in web design is very fast. Best practices change. The needs of users shift. Trends come and go.” Having an attractive website is a critical
step towards making a positive and lasting first impression for prospective families. Smith said, “[The website] is the first opportunity we have to engage with them and show them what makes us different and special and the right fit for their kids. We want to make sure that initial visit–and, really, every visit from that point on–is a positive experience and really representative of our school.” With that spirit, the project began. Reconstucting the website was a ninemonth process that emphasized MBS’ commitment to hearing the voices of each of its community members. Director of Marking and Communications Janet Burdorf said, “We began by sending a survey to our senior administrators to gather their feedback on what was important to address with the new site. We did focus groups with the community–from parents and alumni to our faculty and staff–to hear their ideas and to find the pain points in their day-to-day use of the prior website.” In doing so, everyone’s perspective was taken into account during the construction of the new site. Of course, like any other major project, there were challenges, the most notable of which was the number of moving pieces in the process. Burdorf said, “To get those pages and content where they needed to be, we had to speak to and coordinate with many Photo: S P people; people who are very busy and were Burdorf and Smith routinely update the website to make sure it is good enough to take time out of their schedteve
atchett
ules to help us.” The degree of collaboration required to make the new website a reality and a success was admirable, not to mention consistent with MBS’ core values. Burdorf said “Administrators, faculty, and students took time out of their day to sit down for interviews and to talk about what Morristown-Beard means to them. Teachers let us into their classrooms to capture the real, candid moments of students engaged and learning that you see on the site. People from all areas of the school poured over the content on their respective pages and updated and refined what was there, or, when the need was present, rewrote the pages altogether.” With great challenge comes great reward. The most rewarding part of the new website for the creators was its “involvement with the community where everyone pulled together to get this done. Just seeing how the new site, piece by piece, started to bring our story to life was amazing” said Burdorf. Considering the fast-paced, constantly changing world we live in, the website will need to be kept up to date. Smith is instrumental in ensuring it does. Burdorf said, “For the new website to continue to be the best it can possibly be, we need the community’s continued help.” As of now, with the updated website, Burdorf and Smith are “grateful for how everyone worked together to make this new website a success.” After all, that is what MBS is all about.
running smoothly.
by ANIKA BUCH
Decoding Mr. Smith
Michael Smith, the MBS website manager, helped to create the new website launched this winter. His expertise is helping to futher our community goal of innovation. Tell me a bit about yourself. I was born and raised in New Jersey. I graduated from Seton Hall Prep not too far down the road in West Orange in 2003. What are your interests / hobbies? Hockey has always been a part of my life. I’ve been a fan as long as I could remember. I spent a lot of my childhood playing street hockey and denting garage doors with pucks, much to the dismay of my neighbors. In high school, I would go to as many Seton Hall Prep hockey games as I could. We had passionate fans, which always made the games a huge amount of fun, but the couple of MorristownBeard games I’ve been to have shown me, Crimson fans can hold their own.
Hockey remains present in my life as an adult, but in a different way. For the last five years, I’ve built a skating rink in my backyard with my father-in-law. While there’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into setting it up and maintaining it, having a rink completely changes your perspective on winter. The cold stops bothering you. You’re not stuck inside for what feels like months at a time. You’re actually able to enjoy January and February with nighttime skates under the stars. Now, with my son being two years old, I can also share this passion with him, and that’s an incredible feeling as well. This past year we got him his first set of skates and had him out on the rink for the first time. How did you first become interested in programming? I remember building my first Geocities websites when I was maybe 10 years old and digging into HTML and CSS for the first time. For whatever reason, I’ve always been interested in websites and what goes into making them. There were times, years later, when that knowledge would help me with my hockey writing and blogging. Not long after that, with a lot of reading and learning in my spare time, it eventually became my full-time job and has been for the last eight years or so.
Photo courtesy of Michael Smith
Smith gets ready to skate in his backyard ice rink.
dorf and her team here in the Marketing and Communications department. My role is to take this amazing redesigned website and keep it as good and up-to-date as it can possibly be moving forward.
If you had one piece of advice for your younger self, what would it be? As a senior in high school One of my first jobs out of college was actually heading off for college, I was very concerned writing for the New Jersey Devils. I was able to with choosing a major, finance, that was directly meet and interview some of the players in the and obviously connected to a job after graduaNational Hockey League like Martin Brodeur tion rather than a major that I was very passionand Zach Parise. I would have happily done so ate about. In the end, I wound up working in a for free, but to actually have that be a paying job What role did you play in executing the new web- field where my genuine interests were regardless. was just indescribably lucky, and I feel very fortu- site? We actually launched the website a week I would tell my younger self to study any and evnate to have gotten that experience. after I started at Morristown-Beard. So, all the erything that I really wanted to learn about and credit for the website redesign goes to Janet Bur- the career piece of things will fall into place.
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C r i mson Sun
NEWS
Pressing Pause on the Government by JULIAN LEVY and MATT LOHMANN
A battle has been consuming American politics since 2016 over immigration. How many immigrants should enter the country, where they should come from, and how to stop those entering illegally are the many questions surrounding the debate. President Donald Trump’s solution to the issue of illegal entry, as proposed on the campaign trail, has been to build a wall across the US-Mexico border, preventing Mexican and Latin American immigrants from crossing illegally. Democrats have argued that a wall would be ineffective and costly. This fundamental disagreement led to the longest government shutdown in American history, and subsequently one of its most controversial national emergencies. This disagreement over illegal immigration became politically divisive in December 2018, when the congressional budget for 2019 was released and passed by the Republican-controlled Senate. In it, there were 1.6 billion dollars of additional funding for border security; however, President Trump had promised to get 5.7 billion dollars in funding for the wall, and right wing media outlets criticized him for “backing down.” Perhaps due to this, or his own personal opinion, Trump withdrew his support from the spending bill, throwing the House into chaos as Republican representatives were conflicted as to whether to vote for the bill. House Republicans quickly passed a stopgap bill that would have funded the government temporarily with five billion dollars in funding for the wall; however, the bill was filibustered in the Senate by Democrats, and it died on the Senate floor. Thus began the government shutdown on December 22, 2018. Democrats refused to give more spending on the border, Republicans refused to give less, and neither side had enough votes to override the other. The
immediate effects were the closing of nine federal departments, including Homeland Security, Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Interior, and the furloughing (sending home without pay) of over 800,000 government employees. Progress in negotiations were essentially nonexistent until January 3rd of this year, when Democrats elected in the midterms back in November 2018 took control of the House, with representative Nancy Pelosi of California resuming her role as Speaker of the House. Immediately, Democrats passed the original spending bill from the Senate, which included 1.3 billion dollars for the wall. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to bring the bill to the Senate floor without the President’s approval. In response to this, Democrats began using a similar strategy as Republicans during the 2013 shutdown, passing smaller bills to open individual departments unrelated to immigration. McConnell still refused to hold votes on these bills. In an attempt to end the shutdown on January 8th, President Trump made a Presidential announcement on all major news networks to convince the American people that a wall was required to stop illegal immigration. Democratic leaders Pelosi and Schumer argued in response that a wall is unnecessary and that the government should be reopened before negotiations on border security could resume. During all this, the situation for federal employees was worsening. Many workers, most notably TSA workers, were called back to work without pay. Workers were having to draw on savings accounts as they ran out of disposable cash, and many were turning to food banks and charities for aid. Native Americans, Washington, DC, and food stamp programs all stopped receiving federal aid. Food inspections, inspec-
SOPHIE SCHRAMM
tions of ICE detention centers, and FBI investigations all struggled to be completed, as workers were forced to come in without pay and FBI agents were unable to pay informants. By January 24, 2019, Republicans in the Senate and House were beginning to defect from the stance of Republican leadership, wanting to reopen the government first and negotiate later. So, McConnell allowed votes on two separate bills, one backed by Democrats that was the same as the House bill, and one backed by Republicans that had increased funding for the wall as well as protections for the DACA and TPS programs. Both bills failed to pass, with the Democratic bill losing 52-44 and the Republican one 50-47; the bills require 60 votes to pass. Finally, on January 25, 2019, President Trump came out in favor of a stopgap bill to fund the government through February 15th, and signed it on the same day.
A Nat iona l E merge nc y
by JULIAN LEVY and MATT LOHMANN
After a 34 day government shutdown, Trump and the Republican party had failed to procure the necessary funding to build a wall on the southern border between the US and Mexico. While the stalemate over funding for the wall ended almost as it started, this was by no means the end of the border wall saga. The decision to follow is almost as contentious within Trump's own party as it is with the Democratic Party, and many argue that it could be setting a dangerous precedent for the future of presidential power. On February 15, Trump declared perhaps the most contentious National Emergency in recent history. In a speech that also included topics such as his upcoming meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-Un of North Korea and assertions that he should win the Nobel Peace Prize, Trump
border. Trump also conceded the emergency might not have been necessary, stating that, “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster,” and that “I just want to get it done faster, that’s all.” He also said that he “...expects to be sued.” And indeed, multiple lawsuits have been leveled against the President on this point. Advocacy group Public Citizen filed a suit on behalf of those at risk of losing their land as a result of border wall construction. Additionally, both California and New York are suing the President on account of the National Emergency. Along with the $1.375 billion in fencing from a recently passed spending package, the national emergency will allow Trump to access funding from other government projects: $3.6 billion from military construction projects, $2.5 billion I didn’t need to do this, but I’d from counternarcotics, and $600 million from the Treasury Department. rather do it much faster. Many are labeling his declaration a blatant declared a National Emergency to cull what he misuse of power such as House Majority Leadcalled, “an invasion of drugs and criminals com- er Nancy Pelosi. She said in a joint statement ing into our country.” The announcement was with Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Mimade just a day after congress had passed a new nority Leader, that Trump “has gone outside the spending measure which did not include the de- bounds of the law to try to get what he failed to sired amount for building a wall on the southern achieve in the constitutional legislative process.”
The National Emergency has likewise been challenged in Congress. After passing in both the House and the Senate, Trump was forced to
Congress has the freedom to pass this resolution, and I have the duty to veto it. issue the first veto of his presidency, preventing the National Emergency from being overturned. Congress was not able to override the veto, failing to secure the necessary ⅔ of the vote from the House and the Senate. Trump said about the his action that, “Congress has the freedom to pass this resolution, and I have the duty to veto it.” With the National Emergency and other discretionary funding potentially allowing Trump to access 8 billion dollars for the wall, he has so far exceeded his initial asking amount of $5.7 million. But, it’s unlikely to remain uncontested. The National Emergency Act allows for the disapproval of a resolution to be raised every six months, and according to Schumer, the Democrats have full intention of challenging the issue again.
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The Ambassadors: MBS in Colombia continued from p. 1
immersive experience. On the third day, the group went to the village of San Basilio de Palenque, 45 minutes away from Cartagena. Cartagena once served as a port during the slave trade, and San Basilio de Palenque was a place where escaped slaves settled. In 1661, Spain made it official and guaranteed the freedom of all African slaves in San Basilio de Palenque. De la Torre said “The reason Palenque is so important was that when the slaves came, there were a couple of them that escaped at that time. They settled in Palenque and people knew where to go as a safe haven.” She continued, “Palenque has preserved that African tradition now infusing it with the Colombian tradition. They’ve kept their language and their music. It’s a very important historical part of what Colombia is all about.” The languages of the village were just one of the many impressive things about it. The people spoke Bantu—a mixture of Spanish, French, Portuguese, and African dialects. The village left an impact on both students and chaperones alike. Brittany Berry ‘20 said, “[the people of Palenque] lived off of 5-10 pesos a week and that’s all the money that they had. It kind of just puts it in perspective because we always take the things that we have for granted.” Julia Abbott ‘20 said, “I’ve never really seen that kind of poverty like when we were in Palenque.” The group ate lunch at a restaurant in a woman’s home where banana leaves were used as plates, and utensils were made of bark. On the fourth day, the group took a break from touring by foot. After visiting the fishing village of La Boquilla, they went canoeing through the mangroves, learning about the vegetation in the area. In the words of de la Torre, “the canoe ride showed us what Colombian culture and lifestyle really is and opened our eyes to new experiences.” The group spent the rest of the day at the beach. Berry said, “The water was so gorgeous, there was good food...everyone was just chilling.” The next day, the group went back to La Boquilla, but this time to learn and to teach in a local classroom. They went to Pescado-
Photo courtesy of Aline De la
The group got to sample some of the flavorful local cuisine.
res de Letras (Fisherman of Letters), a school dedicated to improving the lives of children in more marginalized neighborhoods of Colombia. De la Torre said, “They had kids that couldn’t get to school. These kids—three or four years old—come with palettes and... they’ll come on their own to this little school. What they learn in that first year is how to wear shoes, how to eat with utensils, how to behave with other kids, how to learn language, [and] how to just be in an environment.” The school redefines the cost of education. Romero said, “This trip allowed me to understand humanity at a different level that I had not been able to see before.”
I definitely came back with a different sense of self. On the sixth and final day, the group embraced a vital part of the Colombian culture: the food. The group attended a cooking class where they first visited a local farmer’s market to purchase all of the ingredients. Students were able to cook all types of local cuisine. De la Torre said, “Our chef had a relationship with the vendors. Then they rented a hotel for us where we separated into two groups and we went in there and cooked traditional food. We were cooking. With help, but we were making it! At the end, we had made fish, bananas, salads, rice.” The group had experienced Colombian food firsthand: from market to table. In the end, the group did much more than simply act as tourists in a foreign country. De la Torre said, “Coming back from Colombia, we helped seventeen different communities. We helped the people from Palenque, we helped the indigenous people [on] the street, [and] we went to a Cumbia show and helped them preserve the Afro-Colombian tradition.” Each member of the group returned with a new sense of community, and of what Colombia meant to them. Berry said, “Going there made me think about how different everything is, and how not everybody is as privileged as we are. There are things outside of our little bubble.” This was not just a vacation, it was an immersive experience that taught important life lessons to all. Dyson Mitchell ‘20 said, “I learned a lot about how people live outside of America. I definitely came back with a different sense of self and a different sense of how other people live.” After eight days of meeting the people of Colombia, seeing and experiencing their languages, music, food, art and passion, the group headed back home. De la Torre said, “...to think that MBS is coming back to be the ambassadors of Colombia was so gratifying. We did it. It was this beautiful feeling. It wasn’t what we gave to T them, it was what we got back.” orre
Humans of MBS by ALI STECKER and SOPHIA MARTINO
What is the worst thing you’ve ever done as a kid? “One time, I pushed my brother down the stairs and he broke his collarbone. At that time I was 7 and he was 4.” -Sean Pelinsky (right), Class of 2021 “One time, I pushed a kid off of a bike and he had some pretty bad stuff on his arm.” - Luke McManus (left), Class of 2021
What was your childhood like? “I was the youngest, and my family would all sing together while doing the dishes. My brother was really good at art, my sister was really good at art, and my dad was really good at art, so we would draw a lot. I remember we used to play a game that my brother invented called ‘Drawings For Drawings,’ where we would all make drawings and then bid on each others like a weird art show...As the youngest...I was always kind of the ‘special’ child. That is probably why I still think I am pretty special today. It has been engrained in me that I am the coolest, and so yeah, that is the way I view my life.” -Mr. Mazouat, Art Teacher
What do you consider to be your best talent? “So, I guess I’m pretty psychic, I have predicted a lot of things over my years - oh yeah - I predicted the name of my friend’s great-grandma. And I thought of it, so yeah, I’m just so psychic.” - Connor Downey, Class of 2022
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Pride Week: Love is Love continued from p. 1
trum co-president Madeline (Maddie) Sit ‘19 announced that MBS Pride Week would bring color themed dress down days, each day corresponding with a stripe on the Pride flag. Tuesday would be red, Wednesday would be orange or yellow, Thursday would be green, and Friday would be blue and purple. The first two days were tremendously successful, with students in both the Middle and Upper Schools showing their support by not only wearing the color of the day, but also participating in the activities during the end of day collaborative period. On Tuesday, Students gathered in Ms. Karosen’s room during collaborative for the “gender-bread” decorating activity discussing topics like gender identity, while simultaneously decorating their “gender-bread” homes. On Wednesday, an LGBTQ+ panel gathered students and faculty to discuss whether or not they felt supported in their community, as well as what teachers could do if students felt excluded. This gave both students and faculty a chance to brainstorm the creation and implementation of potential new policies that could aid those who felt excluded. On Thursday, the activities continued, now with even more supporters who had heard about earlier events. During collaborative period, over 40 students participated in a scavenger hunt through Grant Hall, Beard Hall, and South Wing. The goal was to split up into teams of 5 and find 11 Pride flags hidden throughout the three buildings in 20 minutes. In the end, one team rose above the rest, gathering 4 total
flags against the other teams’ one or two. On the final day of MBS Pride Week, with students all over school wearing blue and purple, the Day of Silence began. This nationwide annual event is used to raise awareness for members of the LGBTQ+ community who are bullied due to their sexual orientation. Students in both the Upper and Middle School stood up for victims of violence against the LGBTQ+ community for the third year in a row. At Friday’s All School Meeting, Spectrum showed a video of quotes from various members of the MBS community. Each quote stated why they participate or support the event. The support continued into the evening with the Night of Voices. Students from both MBS and Kent Place attended the event that night, with dinner, Kahoot, performances, and group discussions. It was a successful conclusion to MBS Pride Week, and what Harris and Sit hope becomes an annual tradition at MBS.
STEM Challenge! Identify the specific scientific discovery described by these four images. E-mail submissions to: smccormick@mbs.net.
RGB 45 41 38 !
Photo : Vikalp Sharma
Students enjoy the Night of Voices event in Founders Hall.
Voices Amid the Silence “Respect, Tolerance, Understanding.” -Miklos Jalics, Math Department Chair
“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I need to stand up for the rights of so many people I know and love, and everyone else experiencing oppression for who they are.” -Lauren Laskey, Associate Director of College Counseling
“Everyone deserves to be respected and feel safe to be themselves. I choose solidarity until my voice is heard.” - Jayshon Dubose ‘20
“Because every student deserves to be HEARD!!!” -Darren Burns Head of Upper School
“Because being an ally is important. Strong advocates must join up with underrepresented communities in order make sure all CCIs are accepted in society.” -Perri Easley ‘19
Love is Love is Love is Love is Love
“Let’s be clear. There are still those who fear being themselves because of ridicule. This is wrong, and this is why I support the Day of Silence.”
-Peter Caldwell, Headmaster
“LGBTQIA+ rights = human rights and I want every person I care for to enjoy freedom.” -Ms. Klarissa Karosen, Director of Diversity and Inclusion
“Everyone deserves respect and to be heard. I want to let those who do not feel safe know that they are not alone. They have an ally in me.” -Sam Tuttle, Guidance Couselor
“I consider myself an ally” -Kaya Moody ‘20
“I want to support the LGBTQ community.”
-Connor Downey ‘22
“Because many of us are forced to remain silent, and the freedom to live my truth is something everyone should have the opportunity to pursue without fear or hesitation.” -Kyle Augustyniak, English teacher
“I believe that everyone should have a voice.”
-Grace Goodman ‘19
compiled by ESHAAN POPAT
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ARTS
A Step in the Right Direction
by EMILY FREELUND and HANNAH WILLIAMS
This year, two sisters, Hannah Williams ‘22 and Sarah Williams ‘19, brought a childhood hobby of theirs to MBS: stepping. Stepping is a type of dance, in which people use their entire bodies as an instrument through the use of stomping, clapping, and the spoken word. The sisters did not know how to approach the addition of step to the school. They were unsure whether it would be a cheer squad, a team, or a club, where they would perform, and if anyone would actually join. After talking to a few teachers, they brought the idea to Ms. Karosen, the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, who received the idea with excitement and support. She suggested that the easiest way to start the team was to integrate it into Kaleidoscope. And so the Kaleidoscope Steppers were born. Much to their dismay, the team did not have a very strong start: with only 3 people at the first practice. Discouraged, the sisters ended practice early with little hope that the team would ever grow. The following week, during a Tuesday collaborative period, they held another practice, hoping for even just a few more people. To their surprise, a large group came, excited and eager to learn. At the beginning of the second practice, everybody introduced themselves and got to know each other. Then, they began stepping and learned a whole step — or routine —in just one rehearsal. Sarah said, “I remember everyone being so happy
by MATTHEW LOHMANN
after they learned their first step, it was just such a joyful moment.” Despite its initial setbacks, the step team has become extremely popular and has performed at many events, including the MLK day assembly, the Black History Month assembly, and most recently, the Night of Voices. The team is thriving, to say the least, and continues to grow today. Many members of the group have taken up leadership roles and actively participate in the creation of steps. Some of the team’s steps are made by the group as a whole, while others are learned from online choreography. Rafael Cruz ‘22, said that the reason he stuck with the step team is because of “the people. Once you create relationships and feel comfortable, you are able to share and express your culture as a whole.” Yes, it is a step team, but it’s the people in it and the relationships they have with each other that keep it going. Kaya Moody ‘20 said, “At first it didn’t really seem that appealing to me but I had always wanted to be on a dance type thing at our school other than modern dance. But it was also the bond that we all created [through step] that really made me love it.” Kaleidoscope President Nicolette Lewis ‘19 describes step as something “fresh” and “original” She said, “It all started out as an idea and has grown into a club that has done several performances. Step is self taught and their hard work
brought them to the point where they are today. I am so proud, and I know they will continue to prosper after I’m gone” Jayshon DuBose ‘20 is one of the two male members on the step team. When asked why he continued with the team, he said, “I originally joined the step team because I wanted to be a part of it in middle school but never had the chance to. Once that chance presented itself this year, I was very eager to take it. I love how close-knit the group is, everyone is so close and we are like a family, we all love and support each other and that means so much to me which is why I continue to keep stepping.”
Photo : ANIKA BUCH
The Kaleidoscope Step Team dances at MBS' Multi-Cultural Collaborative's Sankofa.
#DontSpoiltheEndgame
Avengers: Endgame on April 26th. Unless you’ve been reliably following the franchise for at least the past few years, it’s easy to get lost in the 30+ characters with plotlines spanning over literally decades of time and lightyears of space. Endgame should not be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie to watch. Even if you’ve only seen bits and pieces of the other movies (or television shows like Netflix’s Daredevil, Jessica Jones or Luke Cage), Endgame is a reliably enjoyable experience. The lead characters are the original six Avengers: Iron Man (Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). They are joined by some of the newer characters to the MCU: Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Nebula (Karen Gillan), and Rocket Raccoon (yes, a raccoon, voiced by the hilarious Bradley Cooper) who continue their respective character developments in interesting and profound new ways that shock viewers and tug at the heartstrings. The CGI, settings, and cinematography have come a long way from that first MCU movie in 2008. The actors are funny, Photo courtesy of Reddit.com making quips to lighten the Fans on Reddit created this image of all 21 MCU movies that preceeded Avengers: Endgame. tension while being serious In 2008, Marvel Studios released their first original film. The studio had already sold the film rights to its most popular characters after a massive comic book speculator crash in the 1990s that decimated revenue. Film rights to The XMen, Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man were sold off in an attempt to get back into the black. Jon Favreau, a relatively unknown writer and actor, was hired to direct this first film, while a rehabilitated Robert Downey Jr. took the lead role. Most people expected very little from a character few outside the core Marvel fan base knew. Who had ever heard of Iron-Man? 11 years, 22 movies, and over 20 billion dollars in revenue later, Marvel Studios concluded their epic saga that had grown out of the unexpected box office hit Iron Man with the release of
when required. The film produces exactly what should be expected from a multi-billion dollar franchise backed by the giant that is Disney and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The Russo Brothers not only directed the last Avengers film, but also won an Emmy for their work on the television show Arrested Development. If you’ve followed the franchise since its birth, it is the movie of a lifetime. It is the culmination of over a decade of astonishing films that constantly surprise and entertain millions worldwide. The connections between every single movie, from Iron Man having a drink at the end of The Incredible Hulk, to a six hero team up in The Avengers, to over 30 heroes in Avengers: Infinity War, create a massive span of characters to attach to, villains to hate, and an entire universe to fall in love with. Most impressive of all, it does all this without confusing audiences. It is difficult to explain the euphoria and thrill of seeing all of the heroes face down the ultimate intergalactic villain Thanos (voiced by Josh Brolin), with the knowledge that any one of them could die as many of the actors reach the end of their contracts. To anyone who has followed the franchise, Endgame pulls off exactly what it should have: bringing a satisfying end for multiple characters, setting up a slew of new movies for Marvel to launch the next phase of the MCU, and maintaining the classic combination of humor, storytelling, and action that has defined these films. Expect to come out of the movie satisfied and hopeful for the future of Marvel Studios. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby would be proud.
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ARTS A
Nights at MBS Photo courtesy of Emma Sombers
Every quarter, MBS students participate in a plethora of co-curricular activities outside of the classroom. Here are just a few highlights from the fourth and final quarter of the 2018-2019 academic year.
C
B
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Tone
D Photo: Ian O’Brien
E
F
Photo: Ethan Kim
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Tone
Photo courtesy of Paris Luckowski
H
G
Photo courtesy of Paris Luckowski
Photo: Ethan Kim
A: The MBS boys and girls basketball teams worked with the community service club to raise over $2,000 for the Special Olympics by playing a game with local Special Olympics team Storm on March 6th. B: The ensemble of Upper School musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying showcases their months of dedication on February 27th. C: The Upper School Jazz Ensemble performs in their annual Spring Concert “All That Jazz” conducted by Dr. John Girvin on April 25th. D: Anoushka Shah ‘19, Kaity Bednarski ‘19 and Lindsay Smith ‘19 get ready to walk in the Senior Fasion Show on April 28th. E: The final scene of the Upper School Musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying takes the stage. F: J.R. Opont ‘19 brings down the house with his performance of an original song at CMW on April 5th. G: Ethan Kim ‘19 sings “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey accompayed by Matthew Francis-Manshel ‘21, Zachary Lebovitz ‘20 and Mr. Troy Rusnack at CMW. H: Shyam Popat ‘19, Gabriella Pinto ‘19 and John Trombetta take a selfie in their formal wear before walking in the Senior Fasion Show.
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SPORTS
Tending the Goal
by ANNA FERRIER and LUCY MCCARTHY
Despite its past successes, this year the girls’ varsity ice hockey team hit a bit of a snag early on. A few weeks into the season, the girls found themselves without a goalkeeper. Goalies require extra training, making this position particularly difficult and time-consuming to fill. Four girls graciously volunteered. Anabelle Plante ‘21, Frankie Becchi ‘20, Sam Hutchinson ‘19, and Faith Facchini ‘21 became the new goalies in training for both the varsity and junior varsity teams. Plante is particularly excited about her new position. She says that although it is “harder than expected, [and] takes a lot of practice,” the team was in need of a goalie, so she was more than willing to put in the effort for her fellow teammates. It’s a challenge to begin playing a new position, and anyone who tries has to be prepared for extra practice and frustration. Facchini was also excited to talk about her new role. She said, “There is nothing better than stepping on the ice in goalie pads for the first time and making a great save.” Facchini added, “The cheers from the bench were by far my favorite part.” When the new goalies began playing, changes were made to the team’s defensive strategy as well. Girls’ hockey assistant coach and science teacher Christopher Payette elaborated upon some of these changes. One change made was
by GEORGE BURKE
that “the defensemen were more aggressive blocking shots. When you have a really strong goalie, you can take more risks because you have more confidence that [the puck] won’t end up in your net," he explained. Defensive players take into account that without an experienced goalkeeper, there is a higher chance that an opponent’s shot could result in a goal. This collaboration from teammates made it easier for the new goalies to learn from their mistakes and never give up. Facchini said, “Once that puck when in the net, I felt like I let my team down, but my teammates were always there for me and helped me get back in the game.” Looking to next year these newer roles could potentially become more permanent. Facchini said, “If [head] coach [Bruce] Driver put me in net next season I’d be more than happy to take on the challenge.” These sorts of positive attitudes from the players made the team work grow closer. It was a year of growth and rebuilding after losing so many great players with last year’s graduating class. But, through hard work, training, and determination, the girl’s hockey team’s goalies in training have helped to lead the girls to a successful season with an overall team record of 11-11-1, and closing out with a 6-2 victory over Immaculate Heart Academy in the Prep Finals.
Drafting for Success by OLIVER SIMON and WIL KELLY
This past weekend Nashville, Tennessee hosted the 2019 NFL Draft. It featured an incredible amount of talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Last year’s draft headlined a potluck of quarterbacks with four drafted in the top 10 and five drafted in the first round alone. The most talented prospects in this year’s draft were on the defensive line. That being said, it did not stop the Arizona Cardinals from taking Oklahoma University QB Kyler Murray with the first overall pick of the draft. Back in June, Murray was selected ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. On Thursday night, Murray made history, becoming the first ever person to be selected in the first round of both drafts. In the end, Murray said, “I was raised to play QB,” choosing the Cardinals over the Athletics. With Murray off the board, the San Francisco 49ers chose Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa, with the second overall pick. His older brother, Joey Bosa, was selected third overall to the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2016 NFL Draft. Bosa’s father, John Bosa, is a former first round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 1987, chosen 16th overall that year. The Bosa family is now the first family since the Mannings (Eli, Peyton and their father Archie) to have father and sons all drafted in the first round. The New York Jets had the third overall
pick this year. They had aggressively tried to trade down in order to recoup draft picks lost in 2018. Last year, the Jets traded away three second round picks to move up and se-
I was raised to play QB. lect USC’s QB Sam Darnold with the third overall pick. After being unable to find a suitable trade partner, the Jets decided to take Alabama University interior defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, who many scouts regarded as the top overall player in the draft. The top three picks of the draft were expected, as several well respected sports journalists had speculated those exact picks weeks ago. Despite these accurate predictions, there were still some gigantic surprises. At pick number four came the first shake up, with the Oakland Raiders selecting edge rusher Clelin Ferrell out of Clemson University. He was regarded as a late first round pick, so it was a shock to see him get picked so early on. The next surprise pick came at number six, where the New York Giants drafted Duke University’s QB Daniel Jones. Many anticipated the Giants to take QB Dwayne Haskins, as he threw for 50 touchdowns this past season at continued on p. 12
Your Chariot Awaits
The best of Morristown-Beard’s student athletes gathered on Burke field on April 17th to participate in what many consider the most spectacular sporting event of the spring—the Latin Club’s Annual Chariot Race. From the onset of the event, the intensity of the participants was apparent. As the charioteers paraded their chariots in front of the bleachers, designs such as a hand truck with a hockey stick taped to it drew the attention of the raucous crowd. Also among the chariots were several that competed last year, but with new paint. Notably missing were the garbage cans turned chariots that had once been a staple of the race, barred from entering this year. Despite the pageantry that marked the beginning of the event, the athletes quickly dialed in. Some donned cleats, while others removed their footwear altogether hoping not to slowed down by the extra weight. Joseph DePoalo ‘19, a crowd favorite, got stretched out in the endzone before the race by a friend, although the ritual had no noticeable effect on his speed. In three heats the competition was narrowed down to six teams. In the finals James Cunningham ‘19, John Cohen ‘19, and Arik Morton ‘19 emerged victorious. Cunningham said it was “a
fairy tale ending to conclude my Latin Club career (i.e. Bread and Circus), to appease the masses and with a victory in the Chariot Race. Definitely one quell any discontent among the student populaof the top ten moments in my Morristown-Beard tion. We are grateful to all the student and faculty career.” The thrilling end was unfortunately wit- participants in the event, as well as the spectators, nessed by few because of a mass exodus of specta- for their willingness to help.” tors midway through the competition in search of sustenance. In addition to the Chariot Race, the day’s spectacles included a packed halftime show. First was a foot race, won by a backpack-wearing Trevone Quarrie ‘19, who steamed past his opponents in the last few seconds of the race. An intense “Pin the Tail on the Dictator” game quickly followed, where Headmaster Peter Caldwell, clad in a toga (possibly from his fraternity days), was poked by blindfolded participants. Meanwhile, spectators beat each other with pool noodles. Commissioner Michael McGrann once again put together an amazing event for all to enjoy. Reflecting on the event, McGrann wrote, “We are once Photo courtesy of G B again very pleased that we were able, in Cunningham celebrates his victory. the style of a Roman Panem et Circenses eorge
urke
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SPORTS
Male Athlete of the Quarter:
Ethan Davison
Female Athlete of the Quarter:
Gianna Rella
by ANNA BAJAK
by ARI BERSCH
The Crimson Boys’ Tennis team has gotten off to a strong start in 2019, with seven victories and four defeats at time of printing. The team’s most memorable victory was a resounding 3-2 truimph over Mountain Lakes on April 16. This was the first victory over the Lakers for MBS Boys Tennis since 2008. Third singles player Ethan Davison ‘20 played a pivotal role in the victory, clinching the match with a thrilling 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1 victory over Mountain Lakes’ Stefan Prvulovic ‘19. Davison notched victories over seven of his nine opponents prior to the Morris County Tournament. Davison continued his strong start to the season at Counties, defeating his opponents from Madison and Morris Hills in the first round and quaterfinals respectively. He eventually fell to tournament champion Pedro Cattaruzzi ‘22 of Chatham 6-1, 6-3 in the semifinals.
and how everyone carries their own weight for the sake of the team.
When did you start playing tennis? I started playing tennis in elementary school.
Davison prepares to hit a forehand against Crimson’s rivals, Mountain Lakes.
What is your favorite part about playing tennis at MBS? My favorie part of playing at MBS is having a bunch of teammates that want to have a good time and win. I just want to give a shoutout to Teddy Koide for being a four-year varsity player and great team captain.
Are there any specific songs you listen to before a match? I will to some rap usually: “Get Right Witcha” (Migos), “Middle Child” (J. Cole), “Real Ties” (Lil Skies), and “3500” (Travis Scott) just to name a few.
What is your favorite sport to watch? Why? My favorite sport to watch is probably hockey, because I grew up in a hockey family. I love how fast paced the games are.
Photo: Teddy Koide
What athlete do you look up to the Were you always a singles player? My most? Why? I look up to Kyrie Irfreshman year I had played second ving because he is a Jersey boy and doubles, the following year I was plays the same position as me in third singles and have been there basketball. Plus, he’s coming to the Knicks next year...hopefully. ever since.
Gianna Rella ‘19 has played both basketball and softball each of her four years at MBS. She is now a captain for both teams. As if seniors didn’t have busy enough fall semesters, Rella added soccer to her already glowing athletic resume. Recently, she accomplished two major milestones in her athletic career. First, Rella led the MBS basketball team to victory as both NJAC Conference and Morris County champions. Second, this spring, she hit her one hundredth career hit in softball. According to varsity girls' softball head coach Kevin McDonald, “It’s an incredible individual accomplishment that represents her success on the field for the past four years.” Rella will be attending Elon University in the fall. Although both her personality and her athletic ability will be missed next year, MBS wishes her the best and are excited to see what the future brings her.
Drafting for Success continued from p. 11
Ohio State, but the Giants most likely decided to take Jones because of his similarities to their longtime QB Eli Manning, hoping that Manning can mentor Jones to develop into a quality starting quarterback. Perhaps two of the biggest surprises of the draft were LSU CB Greedy Williams and Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) WRs DK Metcalf and AJ Brown all left as fair game after the first round ended. At one point during this past
What were you thinking about when you hit your 100th career hit? I was thinking about all of the people who helped and supported me along the way to reach that milestone. What have you learned from playing the sport? I have learned about communication and teamwork. Communication is key in any sport, and teamwork is important to achieve goals as a team.
What has it been like to have major accomplishments on two varsity teams your senior year (basketball and softball)? It has been a great experience because of the girls on the basketball and softball team. The girls on both teams blend so well together, and if it weren’t for that, none of our accomplishments would have How long have you been playing soft- been achieved. ball? I have been playing softball since I was 6 years old. What piece of advice would you give to someone considering playing softWhy do you like playing softball? I en- ball at MBS? It’s not one of the most joy playing because I’ve always loved popular sports at MBS but don’t let the game ever since I was younger. that sway your decision about playing. Coach Mac is the type of coach who always makes the sport enjoyable to go to everyday. During my four years here, I always had a great time playing softball. What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself? As said in the question above, softball isn’t the most popular sport at MBS. That almost changed my decision playing softball, but then I realized that I enjoy playing the sport, Coach Mac [is] an awesome coach, and the girls on the team [are] amazing. So, regardless of all of your friends playing the sport or not, play because you want to or you want to try something new.
What advice would you offer new players to the sport of tennis? I Do you play any other sports? I play would say it is a sport you can easily varsity soccer in the fall, varsity pick up on, and if you go out to play basketball in the winter, and varsity often, you will see yourslef get better at it fast. tennis in the spring. What is your favorite sport to play? Would you rather fight a horse-sized Why? My favorite sport is basket- duck or 100 duck-sized horses? (Afball; I love how you play as a team ter some laughter.) A horse-sized duck.
What has been your favorite memory being part of the team? Coach Mac’s magic tricks.
Photo courtesy of Anna Bajak
Rella gets yet another hit during a softball game this spring season.
season, both Williams and Metcalf were considered top 10 picks, and all three were seen as virtual locks for the first round. Early on this season, Metcalf was considered the top wide receiver by some analysts after posting incredible numbers at the scouting combine. While he exceeded expectations in most of the events, he lacked in others, and ultimately fell in rank as many teams saw him as a one-dimensional player. Metcalf ended up being the 9th receiver taken. The Seattle Seahawks drafted the Ole Miss WR with the last pick in the second round. Like Metcalf, Williams was seen as
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? To be able to fly.
one of the top cornerback prospects. While he did a solid job in the combine and at his pro day, he didn’t mix very well with many NFL front office executives. In the end, William’s character issues led teams to pass on him. He was selected 44th pick overall, by the Cleveland Browns in the second round. The NFL draft is difficult to predict as merely a spectator. Much time and planning goes into sports commentator’s predictions each year. But as fans have heard time and time again: anything can happen during the NFL draft.