The Newtonite January Special V96

The Newtonite

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 • Volume 96

Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460

Cuts in METCO funds prompt student advocacy

Samantha Fredberg “It hurts,” said senior Jayden Destin.

“It’s not fair that we get our bus taken away when nobody else does, yet we’re supposed to all be equal students together.”

Destin is one of 431 students enrolled in the Newton Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program, which buses students from Boston to suburban school districts such as Newton.

This year, the METCO program faced a rise in bus fees without a rise in state-provided funding, forcing the program to make cuts at the beginning of the year. High school buses were one of the cuts.

At the beginning of the school year, the three morning bus routes from Boston were merged into two.

Destin was assigned to a different bus stop further from his previous stop in Copley Square. “The timing is earlier, so I have to wake up earlier.

I wake up at 5:00 a.m., I drive to the bus stop because it’s too far for me to walk, and it’s very tiring,” he said.

Once on the bus, Destin’s ride to school, consisting of six other bus stops, is not a relaxing one. Students sitting in bus aisles, or squeezing three people into seats made for two, are common seating arrangements on his bus ride.

“You want to come on the bus and have it be comfortable, and sometimes you may even want it to be a place to sleep because you have to wake up early in the morning,” Destin said. “You want to come to this place where it’s warm and nice, but everyday you have to deal with it being packed.”

The overcrowding is due to a lack of seats available for the large number of students who require bus services, but Newton METCO can currently do very little to bring the additional buses back, according to Maricel Sheets, the director of METCO for Newton Public Schools (NPS).

As director of Newton METCO, Sheets oversaw and eventually made the final decision about where the program’s funding would be spent, by

Wendy Li

Freshmen Kori-Reign Tyler, Jade Pepin, and sophomore Amir Skelly exit a METCO bus before school at the theater entrance Monday, Jan. 8. and where it would be cut.

“We didn’t receive notice about our funding until the end of July or beginning of August, which is pretty late,” said Sheets. “We had to hurry up and make decisions about transportation because our transportation contract went up by 20 percent. With the transportation contract going up 20 percent and the grant coming in at level funding— which means we got the same money that we got last year—I had a big gap.”

METCO programs in greater Boston are given $4,400 per student enrolled by the state of Massachusetts, according to Sheets.

Space for METCO participants is limited to 431 by NPS, so funding for the program is unlikely to increase if the number of students and funds per student does not change, Sheets said.

Funding for Newton’s METCO program from the state provides student transportation, METCO

staff salaries, and a portion of Newton teacher salaries. METCO’s transportation budget set for the current school year totaled $761,000, but the price of maintaining last year’s bus system would have cost $939,000, according to Sheets.

“The cost is going to go up, and I’m not in a position to cut another bus, so that would mean cutting [METCO] staff next,” Sheets said.

Before the overcrowding, during the summer, Sheets asked parents to identify which buses their students would be taking, and, according to Sheets, the numbers worked well with the number of buses available, even with a smaller number of buses than the year before.

“Now, if parents don’t submit the information, then we have no knowledge and do not know if the student will be on the bus,” Sheets said. “We do our best in sending out the online application every year to ensure that students are returning

and that we have the appropriate resources for those students, but if parents don’t fill it out, I don’t know that their student will need a seat on the bus.”

After buses became overcrowded, Sheets added high schoolers to middle school buses that followed a similar route. According to Sheets’ numbers, the new bus routes of the 12 available NPS METCO buses should each have a safe number of students riding, but according to Destin, the high school buses appear consistently overcrowded.

As part of a Leadership class project, Destin brought up the issue to his group. The group’s goal, according to senior Aidan Leary, a group member, was to design a product that would be desirable to the public and benefit the community in some way.

The group developed ‘Ride On’ sweatshirts with the promise of proceeds being set aside for a new

METCO bus. Group members sell the sweatshirts, which have a cartoon bus design, for $20.

A new bus would cost $100,000, which senior Sheil Mehta, another group member, recognized as a high goal. “Even if we don’t reach the cost of a new bus, all the money will go back to METCO,” he said.

“Programs like METCO always get the short end of the straw. We’re talking about transporting kids to school. This should be the first thing on the priority list.”

A c c o r d i n g t o S h e e t s, t h e METCO program would benefit greatly from any money raised, even if it’s not enough for a bus.

The money raised could possibly be set aside in an athletic fund to cover the fees of student-athletes in the METCO program or used to develop transition programming.

The most immediate way to make a difference, Sheets explained, is METCO Lobby Day on March 15. The day consists of a rally in the morning, held last year at the Museum of African American History, then a meeting at the State House with state representatives.

Sheets encouraged students to “understand that lobbying at the State House is how METCO gets its funding.”

In past years, other METCO districts have cut after-school busing entirely, made major staff cuts, and compromised programming due to a lack of funds. During Sheets’ time as director, cutting Newton METCO buses was the largest cut the program was forced to make.

This year’s lobbying may have a different outcome than in years past, according to Sheets. “The state of the federal government and cutting healthcare have a huge impact on state budgets. States are not willing to cut healthcare, so they will cut other things, which are programs like METCO,” she said. “The louder we are at the state house, the more legislators hear from our students about the success of the program, the better the impact.”

New mayor promises to add to Warren’s financial legacy Laura Schmidt-hong From late July to early November, mayoral campaign signs became a common sight across Newton, filling yards and storefronts and appearing on street corners as campaigners encouraged passersby to vote for their preferred candidate.

On Nov. 7, the city elected then-city councilor Ruthanne Fuller as Newton’s next mayor.

Two months later, the mayoral transition had run its course, as Fuller was sworn in Jan. 1 and former Mayor Setti Warren’s administration came to a close. Now, Newton residents and those involved in the transition alike are anticipating possibilities for citywide change.

Eight years prior to this year’s election and Fuller’s campaign, Warren began his mayoral administration. Since then, he has strived to better Newton’s financial stability, improve its schools, and increase its government’s transparency, by

“making investments to benefit residents today and in the future,” said former Director of Community Engagement Stephanie Foner, who organized Warren’s office’s communications. Warren has established a “long-term vision” for Newton, she explained, “building a long shelf life” for the city.

This foundation established by Warren, combined with Fuller’s campaign goals to both maintain and develop that foundation, promises to expand and subtly shape today’s Newton.

Warren’s legacy

During Warren’s campaign in 2009, his central promise to the city revolved around Newton’s financial stability, school system, and government transparency and accountability.

“When the mayor took office, the financial situation in the city was very unstable,” Foner said.

Following the Great Recession of

2008 and confronting a projected $40-million structural budget deficit in the city, Newton lacked an emergency “rainy day” fund and faced the potential reduction of its only AAA bond rating—the highest indicator score of financial health issued by rating agencies—according to a speech by Warren to the City Council in April.

Warren’s first term, as a result, largely “focused on getting the city’s financials in order,” Foner said. Now, Newton’s “rainy day” fund contains roughly $19 million, and the city has received two AAA bond ratings, from both Moody’s Investors Services and Standard and Poor’s, according to a May Newton Patch article. “The structural deficit has been eliminated,” added Foner, and “the city is on strong financial footing.” ◆ continued on page 3

Wendy Li

Senior Ethan Wright drives down the court in a 78-52 win against Billerica at home Saturday, Jan. 6.

opinion

2 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

Net neutrality repeal widens achievement gap Recent efforts to increase the integration of technology into classrooms has provided new opportunities for student engagement. At North, students might communicate with teachers over assignments on Schoology, work on collecting sources for a paper on Noodletools, or even supplement their learning by watching YouTube tutorial videos.

However, with the repeal of net neutrality by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Dec. 14, internet service providers (ISPs) are able to charge more for a greater variety of services, providing higher quality internet access to those who can afford it. This new policy may limit internet resources for students in school and at home. The FCC displayed a clear disregard for the decision’s impact on student learning.

editorial Net neutrality refers to the agreement that ISPs cannot block or throttle online content, providing equal internet access for everyone. During the Obama administration, the FCC established broadband internet as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. Those who rejected the Obama-era decision, including FCC chairman Ajit Pai, view the repeal as a means of promoting competition through a lack of government regulation on businesses.

Although the draft order revolves around internet regulations and accessibility, it fails to recognize or address the repeal’s tremendous effect on the nation’s education system.

According to a National Public Radio article, more than

118,000 schools and libraries in the United States use the Universal Service Fund’s Schools and Libraries Program. More commonly known as E-rate, the program helps provide affordable internet access to these institutions in low-income and rural communities. With the repeal of net neutrality, steeper prices can “further deepen the ‘digital divide,’ effectively limiting or outright denying internet access to the students who need it most,” according to a Dec. 2017 letter to Pai drafted and signed by 21 U.S. senators.

Not only could this divide grow across communities, but also within them. At North, for example, while free internet access may be available at school or in the library, at home the affordability of completing an essay on Google Docs or watching videos might be lost for students whose families may not be able to pay rising internet access prices when the school day ends.

The repeal of net neutrality will only expand the gap that already exists between North students with internet access and North students without. As more resources and assignments move online—and the school pilots one-to-one computer access— more students will be shut out by the higher price tags attached to better internet services.

We must view the fight for net neutrality not merely as an effort to “save the internet”—or your 14-hour Netflix binge—but as an opportunity to curtail the steadily growing educational achievement gap. Rather than become a breeding ground for inequality, the internet should serve as a level playing field for students everywhere, as a place full of accessible resources and opportunities.

The Newtonite The Newtonite, founded in 1922, is the news source of Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460.

Editors in chief — Valeria Dountcheva, Jackie Gong, Lucy Lu Managing editors — Rose Bostwick, Amy Morrill Senior editors — Nour Chahboun, Jonathan Cohen, Samantha Fredberg, Maya Waldman Arts editors — Zoe Goldstein, Hannah Liu Features editor — Laura SchmidtHong News editors — Tali Falk-Judson, Rose Skylstad, Sophia Zhou Sports editors — Jake Forbes, Will Kharfen

Opinion/Blogs editor — Adam Clements, Sophie Ravina Talk of the Tiger editor —Nichol Weylman-Farwell Photography manager — Wendy Li Graphics manager — Alisa Caira Advertising and Business manager — Ophelia Baxter Technology manager — Michael Tang Advisers — Tom Fabian, Derek Knapp, Amanda Mazzola Staff — Teddy Everett, Tianna Houston, Jai Khurana, Derek Krantz, Abby Roll, Joelle Sugianto

The Newtonite staff does all its reporting and photography to post content daily to its website, thenewtonite.com. They make all content choices.

Sign up for The Newtonite’s weekly email newsletter on its website. In addition to the print graduation special, the Newtonite publishes a special on the first day of school, a club special, and a midyear special.

To place an advertisement in the online or print version of The Newtonite or to contact us by phone, please call 617-559-6273. Readers can also reach us at thenewtonite@gmail.com.

Letters The Newtonite serves as a designated forum for student expression. Readers are invited to submit guest articles and letters to the editor. Letters should be put in The Newtonite box in the main office or emailed to thenewtonite@gmail.com.

The Newtonite reserves the right to edit all letters, which must have the writer’s name and a student’s class and homeroom.

Wendy Li

Junior Amar Ahmad and sophomore Sarah Bottino rehearse for ‘Fly by Night’ Tuesday, Dec. 5 in the Little Theatre.

Trump defies public interest with attack on federally protected lands AdAm Clements Recently, the Trump administration breached over a century of federal support for public lands by leading an attack on them spearheaded by the drastic shrinking of two national monuments in Utah, Bears Ears and Grand StaircaseEscalante. This abominable move is in contradiction to the interests of most Americans. Our untouched public lands are one of the best things the United States has to offer, so we must take pride in them, take time to use and appreciate them, and defend them.

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column Historical government support for public lands is no coincidence.

Appreciation for our remaining wild places, and a wish to preserve them, both as wild ecosystems and natural pockets of paradise for human recreation, unites Americans across the political spectrum like few other issues. A poll released by the National Recreation and Park Association in February 2017 found that 82 percent of Americans say it is important to preserve public lands, proving just how unpopular and senseless Don-

ald Trump’s actions are.

Trump’s unilateral move to rescind most of the land in established national monuments is legally questionable and unprecedented.

It has opened up a debate about the Antiquities Act, a 1906 law that gave the president the right to set aside any public lands for “the protection of objects of historic and scientific interest.” President Theodore Roosevelt, who signed the bill into law, interpreted it liberally to give him authority to preserve any wild lands that he found to be particularly beautiful or interesting.

This precedent has held since, and 16 presidents have collectively used it to designate 157 national monuments.

Trump, however, has been critical of the Act, signing an Executive Order calling for it to be reviewed in April.

While the Act gives the president broad unilateral power to establish monuments, it designates the authority to rescind them only to Congress.

It does not establish any presidential power to shrink a monument, making Trump’s actions an overreach of his power that is not clearly supported by the law. A number of lawsuits have already been filed in response, by groups ranging from environmental organizations to out-

door retail giant Patagonia to Native Americans, to whom the land holds historical value.

The Antiquities Act is one of the best ideas the U.S. Congress has ever had, and it should be vigorously defended. Its enabling of rapid protection of at-risk land has saved some of the most special American wild places. Current national parks—the highest level of protection for public lands—like Grand Canyon, Acadia, Olympic, and others all began as national monuments, designated to protect the land from impending threats.

Trump’s attack on public lands is an un-American rejection of our widely beloved national treasures in favor of the select few who want to free the land’s natural resources for their own economic benefit.

Bears Ears and Grand StaircaseEscalante are two of many monuments the Trump administration has placed under review. We should all take action to preserve these public lands and demonstrate how important they are to us as citizens. We must continue to embrace the lands we still have, to go outside and appreciate the natural wonders of some of the countless wild public spaces this country has to offer.

NFL facilitates dangerous environment sophie RAvinA Aaron Hernandez, a former Patriots tight-end, was found dead in his prison cell earlier last year, having committed suicide at the young age of 27. Hernandez had been serving a life sentence, convicted of murdering his best friend.

However, after close examination of MRIs, previous medical history, and anecdotal evidence from friends regarding his strange behavior, doctors concluded that Hernandez suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, a brain disease resulting from serious, repeated blows to the head.

Hernandez’s story is just one example of the toxic environment being promoted by American football.

The NFL has created a culture that has made athletes celebrities, while ignoring the correlation between injury and violent crimes that remains prominent in football. Out of the current 1,696 players in the league, 874 of them have been convicted of crimes such as theft, robbery, and domestic abuse—and many are still out on the field.

Football culture has built these players into invincible heroes, yet they are simply men whose serious head injuries possibly lead to acts of violence.

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A study by the University of Exeter revealed that a serious brain injury, especially when the brain is still developing, affects the natural development of temperance, social judgement, and impulses, all of which contribute to criminality. The average human brain is fully developed at age 25, yet some NFL players are drafted as young as 20 years old. These men are valuing a few years on the field with undeniable risks over a lifetime of better health.

column Despite overwhelming evidence pointing to mental instability in players who have suffered head injuries and were later convicted of violent crimes, many of them have ended up back in the game. The only treatment they receive is from doctors sponsored by the NFL whose salaries are paid by NFL executives themselves. Players need better treatment for head injuries by doctors who are unrelated to, and therefore unbiased towards, the NFL. Doctors who prosper off giving a clean, possibly fake bill of health are doing immeasurable damage to the players by sending them in to play when they are not ready.

In addition, convicted criminals should not be allowed back onto the field to be worshipped as American football culture leads them to be. If we allow convicted men out onto the field, we are demonstrating that our priorities lie with football, and not the safety and well-being of American citizens. It serves only to build egos and generate profit, while endangering the safety of those who need protection the most.

The NFL’s new slogan, “Football is Family,” is meant to bridge the gap between the players and the fans, who want to feel more connected to the people they see on the field.

However, this slogan is incredibly hypocritical when many NFL players have been convicted of domestic violence and sexual abuse—not exactly the first things that come to mind when one pictures a happy family. Instead of hiding behind appealing slogans, the NFL must take responsibility for the trauma and abuse their sport causes.

The NFL has time and again shown blatant disregard for the true safety of players, and therefore disregard for the safety of the general public. It is time for NFL officials, players, and football lovers alike to make a change and take decisive action to prevent future tragedies.

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Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite

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Fuller mayoralty to focus on schools, housing continued from page 1 Without these achievements in fiscal health, Foner noted, “nothing else would have been possible,” whether it is development of roads, housing, or schools.

Improvements to Newton’s schools, in fact, emerged as another key element of Warren’s efforts.

According to the Newton Patch article, in Warren’s 2018 spending plan—approved at a May 18 city council meeting—$219 million of $388 million is dedicated to schools.

Warren has also overseen renovations to Newton’s schools, including Angier, Cabot, Carr, Day, and Zervas. “The plan to rebuild and/ or renovate five schools in six years is another cornerstone of the mayor’s legacy,” said Foner. Students began attending Angier in January 2016 and Zervas in September 2017, while Cabot is scheduled to open in September 2019, according to the Newton Public Schools website.

Warren’s emphasis on Newton’s schools have extended even past these physical renovations. He has prioritized such youth services programs as the Mayor’s Summer Internship Program, according to Foner, which began with six students in 2013. Since then, it has grown in scope, with almost 100 students participating in the summer of 2017 and the spread of involved companies expanding as well. The goal of the program, according to the city’s youth services website, is “to serve as a hands-on summer learning experience for young adults in the community” through real-life job experience, weekly workshops, and presentations.

senior Lukas Alexander “The first thing you need to be able to learn is a good place to learn.”

“While the internship program is open to all,” the website noted, “we seek to provide opportunity to high-risk and at-risk youth, students of color, first generation college students, and those from low income families.” The program’s focus on such students are one facet of “a very concerted effort to address the achievement gap in the schools,” Foner noted. As such, the impact of Warren’s administration has extended past the physical learning environments of students to the breadth of their educational opportunities.

In addition, increasing government openness on all fronts has remained one of Warren’s focuses both on the campaign trail and in office. After the 2009 election, Warren organized a listening tour throughout the city in order to better connect with Newton residents.

During his first term, Warren also held office hours during which city residents had the opportunity to visit and speak with him.

Warren has taken strides to both solidify and expand on Newton’s fiscal, educational, and political standing, establishing the basis for years of work by future mayors and city officials—including Fuller.

Points of conflict in election

As an at-large city councilor from Ward 7 beginning in 2009, Fuller has addressed issues similar to those worked towards by Warren’s administration. She served on the city council working groups which organized the renovations of

Angier, Zervas, and Cabot and addressed Newton’s financial accountability as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Financial Audit Advisory Committee, according to her campaign website.

Prior to her time as a city councilor, Fuller worked at WGBH, creating its first master strategic plan, and later joined the Chestnut Hill Association to oversee safe development of the neighborhood.

This experience crystallized into her core message on the campaign trail, centered around Newton’s schools, financial sustainability, and housing. “The challenge was really just being able to get your message out,” commented Dujardin. “Talking to 25,000 people and making your message stand out is probably the largest challenge you have” as a candidate.

Senior Chloe O’Neil, who worked as an intern for Fuller’s campaign and served on her transition team, noted the unique relevance of Fuller’s message about Newton’s schools. Summarizing Fuller’s position, O’Neil explained, “Because our schools are so good, people move here to raise their children, and that’s what augments our economy.” In turn, a special importance must be placed on schools and the quality of their teachers, who “make a huge difference in the lives of students,” she said.

Given Fuller’s experience on working groups for elementary school renovations, she is especially qualified to oversee similar improvements as mayor, added senior Lukas Alexander, who volunteered and canvassed for Fuller’s campaign over the summer. “The first thing you need, to be able to learn, is a good place to learn,” he said.

“Creating new and updated buildings with the proper technology and space is definitely a big step forward” for students, both those who have already benefited and those who will benefit from such renovations.

However, Fuller has not completely escaped the criticisms of hypocrisy she faced during her campaign, including the enrollment of her kids at private schools. Senior Max Teszler, who worked with mayoral candidate Scott wLennon’s campaign throughout the summer and early fall, detailed other criticisms centered around her history of Republican campaign donations.

“Especially since she based a lot of her campaign on ‘leading the resistance’ from Newton and having our city be a bastion of progressivism,” he explained, such donations “seemed particularly hypocritical” to him.

senior Chloe O’Neil “It’s really interesting and wonderful to see someone who is so willing to listen and wants other people’s input.”

Nevertheless, Teszler added that he wishes “the best for her and her administration.”

“So far, she seems to really be reaching out to everyone in Newton and trying to make good on her promises,” he said. “The only thing I’d say is that she needs to remember people on the North side of the city, and those with lower incomes,” especially given that top city leaders come predominantly from the southern side of the city, “which really limits the diversity of

Wendy Li

Kicking off her term, new mayor Ruthanne Fuller signs documents at City Hall Monday, Jan. 8. our government.”

Citywide unity, in fact, was another facet of Fuller’s campaign message. O’Neil explained that she encountered a reappearing question while canvassing for Fuller: “‘What are we going to do? Newton is so divided.’” Ultimately, said O’Neil, Fuller answered, “‘I’m not just the mayor of this part of Newton. I’m the mayor of all of Newton.’”

Fuller’s economic goals

Simply as a result of Fuller’s emphasis placed on the school system, O’Neil said, students can expect to see positive change in their own academic lives under the incoming mayoral administration.

In addition, despite Warren’s efforts to address Newton’s financial stability, certain economic struggles remain on the citywide level. Newton’s pension liability remains high, the city having accumulated $1.12 billion in debt and other unfunded obligations, according to a 2015 Newton TAB article.

As city councilor in 2014, Fuller composed an 80-page white paper on this debt and potential solutions, according to her website. Combined with her experience as WGBH’s strategic planner—and “because she’s so financially conscious” as a result—said O’Neil, the trajectory of Newton’s fiscal health moving forward appears positive.

Inextricable from the city’s economic health is the ongoing citywide discussion around affordable housing, which also appeared in Fuller’s goals as mayor. “The limited availability of developable land coupled with high demand for housing,” according to Fuller’s campaign website, “has led to escalating housing values and increasingly limited housing stock diversity.” As a result, those considering moving to Newton, seniors who are seeking smaller and less expensive housing, and other low-income residents are facing fewer suitable housing options and can be turned away from the city, said O’Neil.

In addressing the availability and accessibility of housing, “new housing developments should include living units in a range of prices, sizes, and layouts for people of various means and interests,” according to Fuller’s campaign website, thus “fostering a diversity of

housing options and thus a mix of residents.”

Fuller’s transition

In order to realize and implement the goals established in her campaign, Fuller both organized a transition team and continued to reach out in person to community members across the city. Her team comprised of a three-member executive committee and a 34 committee members, according to a November Newton TAB article. It included six subcommittees: Community Engagement and Community Life; An All-Age Friendly Newton; Village Vitality, Economic Development, and Housing Affordability; Environmental Sustainability; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Public Safety and Public Health.

During transition team meetings, subcommittees presented their findings to the rest of the team as well as Fuller. “It’s really interesting and wonderful to see someone who is so willing to listen and wants other people’s input,” commented O’Neil.

Even with those in Newton not directly involved with her message, campaign, or transition, Fuller has made continual efforts to build connections and interactions.

Having visited “restaurants, cafes, and different public venues and held out-of-office hours,” said Alexander, Fuller provides “all citizens of Newton the opportunity to come in and tell her what’s important to them so she knows what to prioritize when she enters office.”

Continuing the door-knocking begun during her campaign is another element of Fuller’s community engagement, Dujardin noted.

“It’s knocking on everyone’s door and saying, ‘what’s going on in your neighborhood that we’re not hearing in the mayor’s office or city hall?’”

In forming a transition team and reaching out to Newton residents, Fuller is ultimately putting into action her own campaign goals— and, by extension, developing and expanding Warren’s efforts and legacy.

Newton’s future

With Fuller now in office and Warren’s administration having

reached its conclusion, those connected to both the past and incoming administrations reflected on their expectations for the city’s future and potential for improvements.

Fuller campaign manager Amaury Dujardin “Ruthanne is up for the task and is out there making sure everyone’s voice is heard.”

Foner noted that Warren’s administration placed focus not on “managing the city for tomorrow,” but “managing the city for many years to come”—a focus which “will be a major cornerstone of his legacy.”

In Warren’s final State of the City address, he similarly said, “I don’t see my final year as Mayor as an end—but rather a foundation for what is possible in our great city. I am proud of the work this administration and city staff have done and the progress we’ve made.”

These past efforts will collectively underpin Fuller’s future work, allowing her to achieve her goals of “great schools, livable neighborhoods and vibrant village centers, and a strong financial position” for Newton, said Dujardin.

Ultimately, Alexander commented, “It really depends on what can get done in such a little time.

I think what will ultimately be remembered from Ruthanne is her work ethic and commitment to Newton.”

Such local government work, Dujardin noted, is “hard to keep up with” but is growing in importance, “with everything going on at the state level and the national level.”

In turn, he said, “it becomes the job of the elected officials to tell their constituents, ‘this is what we’re doing. What do you think?’”

“Ruthanne is up for the task and is out there making sure everyone’s voice is heard,” Dujardin added, “whether you’re a student who goes to Newton South or Newton North or you’re a senior who’s lived your whole life in Newton. There’s a lot to be done, but she’s out there doing it already.”

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4 â—† The Newtonite, Newton North

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Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

sports

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite ◆ 5

Athletes must choose between school, Academy teams

by Jonathan Cohen, Jake Forbes, and Will kharFen High school sports are a big part of a school’s atmosphere. Many students follow their teams closely, and athletes gain a sense of pride and team spirit. Club teams, on the other hand, attract student-athletes wishing to play at a higher level.

Those with the option to join club teams—a possible gateway to both the collegiate and professional levels—must decide between playing for their high school team, a club team, or both. Many factors including academics, coaches, friends, and other time commitments make the choice difficult.

“My social life ends up struggling, and I don’t get to hang out with friends as much,” said sophomore Kate Rooney, a member of both the girls’ soccer team at North and the Global Premier Soccer (GPS) club team, adding that she tries to “prioritize school work first, then soccer, and then my social life.”

Yet, for soccer players striving towards the highest level, another option exists: an Academy team.

Club sports have grown tremendously in recent years. According to a Time magazine article published in August 2017, a study conducted

by WinterGreen Research shows that “the nation’s youth-sports industry has grown 55% since 2010,” becoming a $15.5 billion dollar business in the United States. This amount can be attributed to sponsorships and club dues. Comparatively, the research concludes that the NFL, considered by many sports fans to be the largest sports industry in the country, has a net worth of $14 billion.

Often confused with club soccer, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, also known as Academy, is an elite team of the best players within a club. These athletes play for free, receive advanced training from nationally certified coaches, and take part in prestigious tournaments around the world.

This Academy structure in boys’ club soccer has been in place since 2007. This past fall marked the inaugural season of the U.S Soccer Girls’ Development Academy.

Unlike most other athletes, players who participate in Academy are prohibited from playing for their school “to maintain a focus on training,” according to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) website.

English teacher Alicia Carrillo, the head coach of the girls’ soccer program at North, agreed with the

rule limiting the amount of time student-athletes can play. According to Carrillo, if student-athletes play too much, they could risk getting overuse injuries.

This risk is one consequence of the extensive time Academy players commit to their team. “Academy has four practices a week, all are an hour away, and that takes up a ton of time,” said senior Matt Rooney, a member of the North boys’ soccer team and former FC Boston Bolts Development Academy player. “One weekend, you go to New York, the next weekend, you go to Vermont, the next you go to Connecticut. It was a lot of travelling,” he added.

This time commitment is one factor players have to consider when trying out for Academy. Senior James Swomley, a member of the FC Boston Bolts Development Academy U19 team, understands that it’s “more traveling, but, you’re playing against better players from all around the region and all around the country as well,” he said.

senior Matt Rooney “I realized my desire to play in college wasn’t as big as it was. So I decided to represent my school, play with my friends, and have a good time.”

Even if she had the option, senior Lauren Eckenrode, a captain of the girls’ team at North and member of GPS, said she wouldn’t play for the Academy team because she has “too much on my plate.”

But junior Declan Sung, a member of the FC Boston Bolts Development Academy U17 team, likes playing soccer without a seasonal break. “I just liked the idea of playing year-round rather than playing for my high school team or going to a club,” he said.

For junior Sam Norwitz, Sung’s Academy teammate, the skill development outweighs the concerns about the time commitment, as it helps him work towards future goals. “U.S. Soccer Development Academy is a pathway to so many things: college, the national team, and professional teams. College isn’t the end all, be all for Academy.

It’s helpful in any career path players want to pursue,” said Norwitz.

However, for many interested athletes, the expense of club soccer makes it inaccessible. Academy, on the other hand, can open up the opportunity to play. “There are kids on my team that aren’t as privi-

leged,” said Norwitz. “Having the Academy provide a lot of financial support—and allow them to play the game that they love—means the world to them,” he added.

Aside from financial support, student-athletes debating whether to play Academy or high school might also need to weigh more dayto-day concerns.

One of these concerns is academics, which may be negatively affected by the strain of a year-round commitment. Special education teacher Roy Dow, the head coach of the boys’ soccer team at North and a coach for GPS, recognizes the difficulty of maintaining good grades. “I’m only twelve years out of playing club sports myself, so I understand where [the players] are coming from, trying to balance all of their obligations,” he said.

“Coaches want us to do well in school, and they want us to get into a good college for soccer, so they understand academics is a big part of that,” added Matt Rooney.

According to Norwitz, early in the Academy season, the coaches tell the players that despite the importance of practice, their top priority should be academics. Having a “strict schedule actually helps me with work,” he said.

Yet, Norwitz acknowledges that hard choices have to be made. “By playing Academy, you are going to have to understand that you have to make sacrifices. My game is more important than going out with friends,” he said.

Players must also weigh the dynamics of high school team play against the individual player development of Academy programs.

Students must decide which of these different aspects motivate them more.

According to Norwitz, “Playing high school would be a lot less stressful, and a more fun environment, but that’s not what I want out of my athletics. I don’t want to just have fun, I want to do something with this.”

Swomley chose not play for North because his “goal has always been to play at a higher level, play in college, potentially professionally,” he said. “Playing in the Academy gives me a much higher level of play and it’s better for player development.”

Although Rooney tried out for the high school team during his freshman year, an injury prevented him from finishing the tryout. He played for an Academy team during his sophomore and junior seasons, but then decided to return to

Joelle Sugianto

Varsity boys’ soccer listens to the national anthem before a 1-1 tie against Braintree Thursday, Oct. 19.

Club Program Hierarchy Year-round commitment (conflicts with high school team)

Seasonal commitment (does not conflict with high school team)

Substantial cost

Academy (USSDA)

No cost

Club Team

Jai Khurana

North’s program for his senior year.

“In high school, people really wanted to win for each other, and do well for each other,” Matt Rooney said. “They really cared about the team and everybody else a lot. There is more chemistry in high school.” Unlike the high school team, he added, the players on Academy “were doing it for themselves, to try and get into college. It wasn’t about the team. It was more about the individual.”

Kate Rooney said that although she feels her club teams “teach players to have good technicality,” her North team experience has been about something more.

While Carrillo’s own playing experience and coaching background provides her with great insight on the game, according to Kate Rooney, she also helps the players mentally. “Since we are together so often for North, she has to be there for us mentally and support us both on and off the field,” she said.

Dow said that he establishes a stronger connection with the players on his high school team as opposed to his club players. “I don’t know their teachers and their life outside of the soccer program as much as I would for those of kids on the North team,” he said.

For senior Adrian Scott, a captain of the North boys’ soccer team and former Academy player in middle school, playing for North brings about a strong sense of school pride. “The feeling of playing on the stadium field, with the school behind you...and representing the school with every play you make, is amazing.”

Dow also understands the difference in atmosphere between high school and Academy soccer.

Being a teacher at North, he enjoys “seeing the kids all the time.

It’s also nice to have that feeling of school pride at North, whereas you don’t get that same feeling for club,” he said.

For Matt Rooney, playing for North gives him a boost on the field because “there’s a lot of pride playing for your school that gave me more motivation. On Academy, I didn’t feel that pride.”

According to athletic director Thomas Giusti, North soccer has historically had a strong reputation, partly due to training from club teams. “We rely on the youth programs for their development of the players,” he said.

The North girls’ soccer team had a successful season this year, improving from a one win season in 2016 to falling just short of the playoffs. The boys’ team also played well, qualifying for the State tournament for the first time in six years.

Despite these outstanding seasons, high school teams continue to feel the consequences of players’ decisions to join Academy teams.

“Some of the clubs didn’t want the kids to play for their high school because they wanted them to be solely committed to club soccer, so that hurt our program with the boys,” said Giusti, referring to the USSF rules.

According to Matt Rooney, many players who could have helped the North team instead play for Academy. “There are four or five kids at North that I have played Academy with that would be really good players for high school.

It kind of stinks that it’s like this, but we just have to deal with it,” he said. “If there was no Academy, the high school teams would have been better,” he added.

While recognizing that it is one of many issues a team may face from year to year, Carrillo doesn’t deny that the introduction of the girls’ Academy program may negatively affect the strength of the team. “Every high school sport program is going to have to make an adjustment because every year the team is not exactly the same; regardless, there is an impact from the Development Academy,” she said.

“In the long term, I think it is definitely a better choice for me,” said Swomley about his decision to play Academy, “even if I might have missed out on playing with my friends.”

Similarly, Sung said his friends “remind me every single day, ‘come play high school, it’s so much more fun,’ and then going to the night games, like all these big games, and seeing the Tiger pride, and I think, like yeah, maybe that’s something I’d like to do, but then I have to think about what’s going to be best for me in the long term.

That’s where Academy comes in.”

In the end, Matt Rooney found that playing soccer with his friends was more important than playing soccer in college. “I realized my desire to play in college wasn’t as big as it was. So I decided to represent my school, play with my friends, and have a good time,” he said.

Considering these connections with even greater perspective, Giusti said, “When you have a reunion many years later, you don’t go back to your club team, you go back to your high school. Those are the memories that you store, those are the good times you have with your classmates, those are the connections you make with the school.”

Editor’s note: Newtonite senior sports editor Jonathan Cohen is a member of the FC Boston Bolts Club and North boys’ soccer teams.

6

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

The Newtonite, Newton North

Main Street fashion

Illustrated and Designed by Alisa Caira and Valeria Dountcheva

What role does fashion play at North?

At a school with a lenient dress code, North students are able to express themselves through their personal style.

From mom-jeans to crop tops to Nike Elites, fashion is a hallmark of high school culture.

Trendy outfits grace the cover of magazines, the profiles of social media

stars, and the hallways of North.

However, newfound awareness around clothing ethics and opportunities has led to alternatives for buying clothing, such as shopping at secondhand stores, or finding more environmentally sound attire.

This new understand-

ing has also led students down an entrepreneurial path. They seize the opportunity to capitalize on the recent popularity of apps like Poshmark and Depop to upcycle, thrift, or resell their own clothing through Instagram.

While people are so much more than their outward appearance or

the content of their closet, many students choose to express themselves and their values through how they present themselves to the world.

The stories and interviews below highlight students and faculty who present a variety of perspectives on the role fashion plays in their lives.

Newton North, The Newtonite

7

Students find success in Instagram businesses Rose skylstad Student entrepreneurship is not new to North, but this school year in particular, Instagram-run clothing businesses like Indigo Clothing, Garment Findz, and LeezyFits have become popular business models.

Each business has a different premise, but each shares similar qualities. They are all run exclusively on Instagram, with a clothing focus.

Many of these student-run businesses have found great success within and beyond the North community.

Senior Zoe Lee and her sister, sophomore by

Ali Lee, started Indigo Clothing last August. It has now grown its presence into different states and regions across the United States, according to Zoe. The two sisters decided to start the company after Zoe did a project on “shibori dyeing,” a traditional Japanese method, at a pre-college art program. The method uses dye from the indigo flower to color clothing items, hence the company name.

“My sister and I have been trying to make businesses since we were really young,” said Zoe. “It’s just been random shots in the dark, seeing

what would work, until this one stuck and expanded from there.”

Due to increased demand, the Lee sisters are transitioning the store to a website and are filing as a business with the City of Newton now that Zoe is 18. According to Ali, the two hope to continue the business at least until she graduates, and maybe beyond.

Other clothing businesses in North have found success as well, such as senior Olivia Kelly’s Garment Findz, which sells upcycled clothes on Instagram. Upcycled clothes are bought secondhand by a seller, who alters and resells the clothing.

Garment Findz was inspired by a knack for thrift shopping explained Kelly. “I would go and I would come back with so much stuff, and people would be like, ‘I always go there and I never find anything,’” she said.

Kelly thrifts the clothes about once every month, hems or modifies them, and then posts pictures of them on Instagram for sale.

According to Kelly, managing her business, school, and other activities

can be challenging, and this fall she had to step back during volleyball season. After receiving texts during this time asking her to post more clothes, she began to realize the success of her business.

“I see that people really like what I’m doing and they want more of what I’m doing. That’s good feedback to hear,” she said.

Another student business, LeezyFits, is run by seniors Alisa Caira and Carrieanne Mamba, who sell old clothes that they no longer wear or new clothes that they missed the return date on.

“If anyone knows me and Alisa, we have a lot of clothes, we buy things all the time, and our old clothes have to go somewhere, so we either donate them, which we usually do, or try to make a profit off them,” she said.

According to Mamba, the duo was inspired by the wave of clothing businesses at North to start their own business. “We don’t make any clothes and we don’t go thrifting a lot, so we just take what we have,” she explained.

Mamba added that she sees the business as giving “old clothing a new life,” allowing her and Caira to dispose of old clothing, while giving buyers something new.

Each of the student business owners explained that they learned important skills from their experience.

Zoe Lee explained that she has learned skills from Indigo Clothing that she hopes will help her in a career as an artist. “I now know how to market myself, market a product, and do a lot of the operations of a business,” she said.

Kelly said that Garment Findz has challenged her to be flexible and creative. She also learned that she is “interested in working with other people, trying new trends, trying new things, and having clothes be a form of expression.”

Mamba explained that LeezyFits has helped her improve communication skills. “There are seven billion people in this world, and you’ve got to have good communication skills to survive,” she said. “That’s what you need, not only in a business, but in life.”

Thrift-shopping provides rewarding experiences Rose skylstad Walking down the halls of North, it is not uncommon to see a unique sweater, t-shirt, or pair of pants and hear the proud response, “I thrifted it” when inquiring about where it came from.

In a world of mass production and a school full of students wearing Urban Outfitters jeans with a pair of Vans or Converse, many students look to thrift shopping to find something affordable that stands out from mall-purchased clothing and helps reduce the wasteful clothing industry.

“You can’t get a purple and green windbreaker at Macy’s,” said sophomore Daze Purcell. “You have to go somewhere special for that, and that usually ends up being at the bottom of the clearance aisle at Sister Thrift.”

Junior Chloe Lund said that her love for thrifting began after borrowing thrifted sweaters from her brother.

“I like things that look old,” said by

Lund, gesturing to her 80’s style jacket.

Similarly, Purcell said they like the “experience” of thrift shopping.

“You see all these clothes from the 80’s and 90’s and early 00’s, and it’s really gross and it’s all just in this collage of horrible fashion sense,” they said.

This opportunity to find unique and interesting clothing, however, presents an ethical dilemma for thrifters, especially for students who can afford mall prices.

Some argue that students who can afford to buy new items should think conscientiously about their shopping choices and make sure to leave clothes to those who cannot afford mall prices.

Junior Gigi Downey pointed out that many North students “come from a place of privilege,” and she encouraged mindfulness when thrift shopping.

Lund, who frequently shops at thrift stores, recounted a story of a

sale for a free pound of clothing at the Garment District, a local thrift store, where she encountered a woman she believed to be homeless gathering a pile of clothes. “I was picking up something and she said ‘NO, it’s mine,’ because she had a whole pile that was hers,” Lund said.

Lund explained that she let the woman take the piece of clothing, because a main function of thrift shops is to provide a clothing option for those in need. She said that, in the moment, she thought “yes, it is yours.”

Junior Rachel Shereda said that she does not feel that thrifting takes away from those in need, but rather it is a good way to have a positive impact on the environment. “We’re just recycling clothing,” Shereda said.

Science teacher Ann Dannenberg, who teaches the Sustainability & Environmental Science class, explained that

thrifting can help reduce the waste of the clothing industry. “Buying something that would otherwise be disposed of gives it new life.”

Dannenberg said that the fashion industry creates constant demand by promoting that consumers need different clothes for new seasons.

She explained that most fast-fashion is not made to last, but rather to fill the trends of the season.

“It’s okay if something was in fashion last year or the year before. It doesn’t make it not good anymore,” said Dannenberg.

French teacher Kathryn Teissier Du Cros, who has a background in sustainability work, explained that what people spend their money on is “another extension of our values,” and being conscientious is important shopping.

“If we don’t buy this really cheap fashionable clothing, and we spend more money on better quality clothing that we know was made responsibly, we do some really great things for society in general, but also for the environment,” she said.

North students explore variety of fashion trends sophia Zhou Here at North, students showcase a wide variety of clothing styles with few restrictions on what students are allowed to wear.

According to the student handbook, “You are expected to dress in a manner that does not disrupt the educational process.”

Talking about how his own fashion sense has changed over time, senior Long Do reiterated this idea, “I would definitely say my attitude towards fashion has changed through high school,” he said. “It probably started as willful negligence, but I would definitely say that I care about it now. I’m not sure that I view it as s way to express myself, but more like a fun little puzzle every morning.”

According to Spanish teacher Denise Cremin, high school is when many students begin to break away from conformity in their fashion.

“Students in middle school are very tied to brands, and I think that is by

“I don’t giv e care about a hoot. If you what I loo k lik you have p roblems fo e, r yourself h oney.”

d like ding out anthing, n a st y jo n e “I with my clo taking risks ke having an outfit and I also lis a conversation.” that start

“I look at Pinterest a lot. fort.

Pinterest has a lot of really ress for com “ I like to knit and I found ost days I d want to like, M “ good outfit ideas and I think I this nice yarn so I just decide if s, ay d er d Oth ear jeans.” a lot of people put their ideas to knit it and it just, it took jazz it up I w a out there and it’s a really good while but it was fun and I like d place to find different things.” it, so I decided to wear it to school.”

photos and quotes compiled by Jackie Gong, Wendy Li, Maya Waldman, Joelle Sugianto

not the case here at the high school,” she said. She explained that kids begin to discover their fashion sense in middle school, and then develop style in high school.

For some students, fashion is used to express individuality.

Junior Faith Lyons said, “Fashion is just another part of me like art or music, and it’s a pick-me-up in my day. I see fashion as an expression experiment because clothing can give first impressions or even just give us confidence.”

Echoing Lyons’ sentiment about clothing giving students confidence, sophomore Lucy Bronstein said, “I love clothes, and I use them to boost my confidence. I have so much fun picking out clothes, and when I’m wearing a cute outfit I feel a ton more confident.”

This rise in diversity in student fashion could in part be explained by a rise in online shopping, according to Cremin. While there are still

popular brands such as American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch, she explained that high school students tend to be less tied to them now.

For students who do follow trends, Bronstein felt that this year many have embraced 80s fashion with a modern twist, which includes items such as scrunchies, retro sneakers, baggy jeans and colorful windbreakers.

However, not all students care about fashion or use clothing to express themselves. Some simply use clothing for its functionality, opting for more comfortable, straightforward attire.

“I spend almost no time on clothing, except at Model United Nations Conferences,” where he wears a suit and tie, said junior Xander Siegelman. Generally however, “I find what’s in the drawer and doesn’t look obscure.”

Bronstein explained that she noticed students caring less about

clothing as the year goes on, saying, “I definitely see a progression from people looking cute and put together to just sweats and pjs.”

The varied degrees of enthusiasm for fashion and clothing extend not only to students but also to teachers, according to Cremin.

“I think teachers are as diverse as kids in terms of style,” she said.

“There are some teachers who wear jeans and sneakers everyday, and some teachers who are also coaches who wear sweatsuits everyday. But I think that teachers like to look like adults and like to be able to dress up.”

Despite the variety of styles, Lyons expressed disappointment in North’s overall fashion culture, feeling that creativity and individuality is often stifled rather than encouraged.

“It’s very common to get pulled into the mindset at our school

that if you put together a nice outfit it can be seen or labeled as ‘extra’ which sadly pushes back some of North’s self expression in what we wear,” she said.

Sophomore Michela Picariello added that the desire to fit in can make it easy to lose sight of individual style. She explained that students often worry about what other people think of them “You have the right and choice to wear whatever you want as long as you feel good in it,” said Picariello, “It’s definitely the best way to express yourself and I don’t want other people to be afraid because they’re scared of what people think.”

opinion

8 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

Create healthy political conversations, reject satire Will kritzer I live in an angry liberal’s utopia. For a person like myself that prejudges a candidate based on the “R” next to their name, living in Massachusetts, where over 60 percent of voters came down against President Donald Trump, is a valid excuse to absolve myself of responsibility for making this man president. I am an “Obama-Biden 2012” bumper sticker. All media, fake or otherwise, confirms my acrimony that this man who calls himself the President garnered enough electoral votes to be sworn in.

My anger is fueled by a 24-hour news cycle of executive blunders from D.C., but those blunders, largely pertaining to Trump, were born out of an equal and opposite anger: Trump supporters have been angry about politics in the way that I currently am for plenty of years.

They have felt left behind by a political system that, to them, appears to be inbred. As a result, they have placed their trust in Donald Trump, a perceived Washington outsider, to shake up the national status quo in their favor.

Because such a large and previously silenced population has taken control of the government, my educated, politically engaged family cannot bear to watch. We still do love politics, but it is increasingly

by

difficult for us to maintain a level head with respect to the news. In order to make ourselves less upset, we now lean on the political satire of Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and Trevor Noah. And we are not the only ones. The growth in satire’s following since Trump’s rise has been staggering. On TV, Colbert has gained 11 percent of the market share of late night television since 2016, and Jimmy Fallon, a comedian who does not generally show political satire, has lost 14 percent of late night viewership.

My family in particular watches most of our satire in YouTube clips, a medium which also bears witness to the growth of satire. Colbert’s YouTube account has increased in monthly viewership from 7.4 million views in July 2015 (before Trump) to 143.2 million views in July 2017 (Trump’s sixth month as president).

The expanded and adoring audience that satire now has, of course, mandates that the comedians use their platform even more wisely.

With satire increasingly under the public eye, it came to my attention that the comic relief that satire provides may come at others’ expense.

This realization has caused me to stop watching satire, full stop.

A particularly distasteful bit aired last year, when Colbert

Stephen Colbert YouTube viewership before and after 2016 election 140 M 120 M 100M 80M 60M 40M 20M 0M

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Jai Khurana

hosted the Emmy Awards. During his opening monologue, Colbert mentioned that “Unlike the presidency, Emmys go to the winner of the popular vote.” The audience chuckled at an objectively funny crack over Trump’s electoral, but not popular, victory. I know if I were in that audience, I would definitely have laughed, yet this joke causes the stress and bitterness in Trump’s supporters that make political discussion impossible. No matter whether or not the electoral college is a fair way to choose our heads of state, this joke forces anyone who voted for Trump to go on the defensive in order to maintain the legitimacy of this president. By doing so, they close off to all input from progressives, and rightly so, for they do not want to be attacked again in a way that seems personal.

Trump supporters are surrounded by jokes like this. On social media, they see Trevor Noah saying that “Trump is basically the perfect African president” in a direct allusion to the military dictators ruling many countries on Noah’s native continent. This joke is intended to debase the president, but by doing so, it forces his supporters, already enraged by the belittling comparison to African tyrants, to defend their leader by any means possible.

Oliver too, derided Trump, saying that the Republican establishment is rejecting Trump “like a transplanted organ, which is fitting, as Trump does resemble a kidney dropped on the floor of a Supercuts.” There is no way for one of his supporters to respond to such an assertion other than with aggression. It would be unrealistic for us liberals, whose favored presidential candidate underwent extensive ad hominem attacks, to expect otherwise.

Trump’s supporters can also fall back on material like Oliver’s to prove that liberals only want to obstruct Trump’s agenda, the same agenda that they themselves believe in. Because they feel that their values are being attacked, they struggle to respect the liberal point of view enough to be able to discuss it.

Jokes such as Colbert’s or Noah’s also reinforce the patronizing view that liberals take towards their conservative neighbors. By attacking the electoral college system, satirists make Trump appear to be an illegitimate president, reinforcing the common liberal viewpoint that Trump supporters are somehow less intelligent for supporting him.

By portraying Trump as an African dictator or a non-functioning body part, satirists make Trump’s supporters’ opinions appear less valid, and almost “deplorable.” As a result, it is difficult for liberals to enter an argument with a conservative with full respect for them, thereby leading to the inability of Americans to discuss politics with people who disagree with them.

guest writer Part of the reason that satire’s viewership has gone up is perhaps because of their audience’s desire to make politics less depressing and more palatable. In strained political times like these, a drop of fun within in the deep D.C. well of pessimism is reason enough for anyone to tune in consistently. Fans of satire defend the medium by pointing to the disarming power of humor to point out difficult truths to the public. They are also quick to demonstrate the validity and truly academic nature of some satiric work.

All of this is entirely true. It is hard as a political junkie and a generally argumentative person for me not to appreciate the finely crafted arguments that satirists often spin.

It is imperative, however, to note who Oliver, Noah, and the rest of the political satirists are speaking to when they present these brilliant points. When the lights turn on and the cameras roll, today’s satirists know that they are speaking to an audience that to a large extent agrees with them. In other words, Colbert does not need to convince his viewers that Trump’s administration is not acting in the best interest of citizens. His audi-

ence would certainly be angry with what they see out of Trump regardless of whether they watched the show or not. Any point that Colbert makes, no matter how brilliant, is to be used by the audience only as evidence to tip their personal scales of judgement to condemn Trump. By further enraging an already angry audience, the satirists cause their viewers to become even more closed off to productive conversation. Ironically, it is the lack of the same discourse precluded by satirists that allowed Trump and his angry, simplified politics to win the election.

Since eliminating satire from my media diet, I have felt more depressed overall about the state of public affairs. But what has kept my personal boycott alive is feeling closer to the community of people who are actively pursuing a solution to the problems that they see in this country.

Those opposed to the President have a responsibility to take the moral high ground in response to this presidency. Our job over the next 1,107 days of the Trump administration is to fight for the institutions that have made our government a vital column supporting the temple of global stability for centuries. One of these institutions is citizens being on speaking terms.

Maintaining a basic level of civic virtue from sea to shining sea to assure that the government hears as diverse a public opinion as possible.

Using satire as a crutch does not help us maintain our institutions. Therefore, we must use the chief benefit provided by satire— comedic reprieve from the political reality—only if the harm that it causes is recognized. Satire is like chocolate: it is tempting, but can lead to a whole host of problems if consumed irresponsibly. The course of action for safe consumption of chocolate is eating it in limited quantities. As such, the course of action for safe consumption of satire is an outward acknowledgement of the corner that it backs conservatives into.

‘Shackles of masculinity’ keep men from defying norms Corey Gelb-biCknell My eighth grade graduation party took place on a yacht. Well, it was more like a glorified boat docked in the Boston Harbor, but in my mind it was still the coolest party I had ever been to. There were good snacks, two DJs (one for each of the dance rooms), and a chance to capture the perfect photos for the end of middle school. Really, it was everything a kid could want from a school party.

Yet, I am not smiling in a single picture I ended up taking. Instead, I have this macho scowl on my face, cracking my knuckles or crossing my arms. And it’s not just me.

While the girls in the back of the photos are smiling, dancing, or posing, nearly every teenage boy has the same stone cold glare.

What strikes me is how these photos look so normal. Why is it that when you scroll through any teenager’s Instagram profile, the males, who were told often as kids to “smile for the camera,” appear as if they were told to “look like you are about to punch the cameraman in the gut?”

Everyone can answer that. They are simply trying to look cool. Trying to fit in. But, what does it mean to fit in as a teenage boy?

When I asked my male friends to imagine a masculine man, they by

all gave pretty much the same description. “He would be strong, bold, and confident,” one of them said. “It would be some tall guy with huge muscles… He’d be tough and would probably play football and wear baseball caps,” said another.

When I asked if they wanted to be this man, most of them shook their heads in denial. Yet, to some extent, they were all trying to resemble him. Reflecting on the idea, one of my friends realized, “I do care a lot about sports. I think a lot about girls. And I do care a lot about my appearance.”

guest writer This is the masculine dilemma.

It doesn’t matter if teenage boys want to be masculine. They are pressured to be that manly man, or something close enough to blend in with their male peers. That means flexing muscles, acting fearless, and, undoubtedly, scowling for the camera.

Though boys start absorbing the ideals of masculinity at a young age, they are less affected by it as children. In fifth grade, my friends and I showed up to a Halloween party in dresses, makeup, and high heels.

We weren’t trying to make a state-

ment; we just thought the costume was hilarious. In middle school, however, adulthood becomes an aspiration. Boys become much more susceptible to conformity because they want to learn how adult men should act. They turn on each other, calling out kids who act differently from the guys they see on TV until victims become the bullies as well. Masculinity is amplified from boy to boy, man to man, until it is ingrained in all of us. This year for Halloween, one of my friends suggested we all dress up as people in a wedding party , but quickly changed his mind when no one wanted to be the bride (or a gay spouse, for that matter). We are no longer boys, but high school men — less interesting and more insecure.

The only thing stronger than one masculine man is two, so teenage boys learn how to find bros. A lab-partner would wave to you in the halls, and a companion would greet you, but a bro would slap you on the neck and tell you to find some better looking shoes. Lying somewhere between acquaintances and allies, bros are often impersonal relationships, maintained in order to uphold our image. Without any glue to hold two bros together except the desire for group security, the conversations tend to stick to the big three of masculinity: dirty

jokes, insults, and women.

Yet, the greatest harm often lies in our closest friendships. From my experience, we have no problem talking about the most vulgar and controversial of topics with our best friends, but as soon as the conversation gets too personal, we distance ourselves. I’ve heard my friends joke about cancer, but I’ll probably die of it before we sincerely say we appreciate each other. In one friend’s words, “We’re very good at saying what we think, but often times what we feel doesn’t come out.”

In the worst case scenario, we are hiding our pain. Recently, a classmate of mine drove her younger brother home from school.

When she asked him about his day, he started to sob. She knew he was struggling with loneliness, but he thought he was strong enough to fight it alone. Within minutes, he was silent again. His face reverted back to a stone cold stare. Later, she asked if he was okay, but he denied ever shedding a tear.

“There is never a moment of letting go and letting our emotions out. When I’m around people, I feel like I have to hold myself together in some way,” one friend said. He, like many of us, could see that some females handle their emotions differently. “When I see girls crying to

each other in the halls, I think ‘get it together,’ but then I think that maybe they’re happier. We never get to talk about our emotions and we let them simmer. They never pass.”

That’s what masculinity does. It represses emotions, good or bad.

In all of my conversations, the one thing that seemed unattainable was a solution. We appeared to be the thing our masculinity sought to avoid: helpless.

A teenage boy alone cannot change American culture. At the moment, not all males will embrace a defiance of masculinity.

Perhaps part of the solution just comes from growing up, but a teenager can decide today that he just doesn’t care. My friends, for one, have begun having “real talk” sessions, where the big three of masculinity is thrown out the window and nothing is left on the table. The shackles of masculinity are just a perception. If we break them, we will discover that we are stronger, bolder, and more confident than before. You may be the guy with big muscles who plays football and wears baseball caps; that is not the problem. The problem occurs when macho is the requirement, imposed upon all males. So let the masculine be manly, but don’t stop the rest of us from being ourselves.

feature

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite

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Students weigh benefits, price of SAT tutoring Maya WaldMan The time is 7:50 a.m. on a Saturday morning. High schools across the country are buzzing with nervous energy, but not a sound can be heard in the halls. Any second now, thousands of students will begin the test that they have likely spent months rigorously preparing for.

Taking the SAT or ACT has become ingrained into the culture of high schools across the country.

At North, towards the beginning of junior year, students enter a frenzied state of test preparation that sometimes lasts well into their senior year.

Although students often find this span of time to be intense, counseling department chair Beth Swederskas said that the SAT only partly impacts a student’s ability to get into college. “There are many schools that are test optional and do not place emphasis on the standardized tests,” she said.

by

college counselor Jillian Hall “It’s nice to know that there are many options if your testing doesn’t go as you hope.”

According to college counselor Jillian Hall, there are also competitive schools that place more weight on a student’s transcript and other parts of the application, such as the essay or extracurriculars, rather than standardized test scores. “This is not to say that students shouldn’t test or should take the testing lightly, but it’s nice to know that there are many options if your testing doesn’t go as you hope,” she said.

However, Swederskas acknowledges that the majority of students still feel stressed about taking the test because of its high stakes and the emphasis colleges place on it.

looking online for SAT questions and preparation tips. According to Bennett, the way in which she chose to study is just a personal preference because “everyone has their own learning style. I personally think I work better by myself.”

However, doing well on a standardized test isn’t always easy, and many North students have found that the pressures and high stakes of these tests push them to seek outside help.

Tutors are able to work with a student’s specific needs and customize the studying schedule to focus on the areas that need the most work.

For Shibuya, the decision of whether or not to get a tutor was an ethical one. “I feel like getting help to study goes against the idea of what the SAT tests for, which is more or less test taking abilities rather than knowledge,” she said.

According to senior Shriya Shinde, “many kids get into college without having to pay someone.”

While she was preparing for the SAT, she decided to end tutoring when her scores did not improve significantly.

However, tutoring often does improve scores, and can also give students a motivation to put in time and prepare for the test.

According to junior Maria Herwagen, “It was easier to have the time in my schedule already set out for studying that I couldn’t choose to do something else with, since another person was involved.”

Yet meeting with a tutor weekly, or even monthly, can be challenging if a student has a busy schedule.

Junior Ben Borhegyi said that “as a person who has a lot of homework and extracurricular activities, I like to be frugal with my time.” In this case, he added, that meant not hiring a tutor.

Another option to help with

Alisa Caira

“Students tend to get nervous because they want to do well and the time it takes to prep for the test is additional pressure added to their lives,” she said. “They also do not want to give up a Saturday to spend multiple hours on taking the test.”

Even though it may be important to do well on the test, junior Miki Shibuya said that it is still “difficult to be doing test prep consistently as schoolwork is my priority during the weekdays, and weekends get busy too. The idea of studying for a test about test taking isn’t exactly motivating either.”

But, as junior Rosa Bennett pointed out, “if you want to get a good score, you have to be willing to put the time into studying and preparing.” Bennett decided to prepare for the test by herself.

Students have certainly found ways to prepare on their own for the SAT, whether by using the College Board website or by simply

preparing for the test, rather than tutoring, is to take a class. Unfortunately, taking an SAT prep class can be just as time-consuming, with classes often meeting every week for several hours.

However, junior John Ozkol said that his experience with an SAT class was worth his time.

“I took a math class at the Russian Math School,” said Ozkol.

“It’s taught by math teachers who are able to teach all levels of math, and since the classes are small they’re able to help students with their specific needs in math.”

Even if students can accept the time-consuming component of being tutored or taking a class, for some families, it can still be very financially draining.

The students interviewed for this story gave hourly rates of tutors in Newton that ranged from $50 to $160.

Junior Julia Greenblatt said that

Wendy Li

Friday Night Lights spectators act as waterboys for players on the sideline for the 27-0 win Friday, Oct. 20. “due to the often outrageous costs” it’s possible for someone to not have enough financial resources to afford a tutor.

“It’s definitely not cheap,” said junior Cal Miller, who planned to seek tutoring even before he received his PSAT scores this past December. “But I feel like having someone who is fully trained to do this type of stuff is extremely helpful.”

While classes are often not as expensive as private tutoring sessions, they can still be pricey. At the Russian Math School, SAT classes cost $3,024 per year or $336 per month.

Unfortunately, there may be some correlation between being able to pay for these expensive tutors and classes and doing well on the SAT. According to “SAT Scores and Family Income,” an article published by the New York Times, “generally speaking, the wealthier a student’s family is, the higher the SAT score.”

This connection seems to be true in Newton. According to the official city website, Newton has a median family income of $104,887 (in comparison to the U.S., whose median family income is $51,222).

Likewise, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website, in the 2015-16 school year, the average scores for students at North on the SAT were 580, 572, and 598 for Reading, Writing, and Math, respectively out of a 700 point scale, while students labeled as economically disadvantaged at North received average scores of 520, 517, and 534 on the same sections.

Often, economically disadvantaged students are the very ones who cannot afford tutors, so they have no choice other than to study independently. The issue with studying alone for a standardized test such as the SAT, according to Hall, is that “it requires a student to sit down and be really diligent,

and do this stuff on their own. Oftentimes when I have spoken with low-income students, they have a lot of out-of school responsibilities, and so in that regard, it’s harder for them to find time to do the test prep.”

But the North college counselors argued that spending money is not the only way to do well on the SAT. The counselors offer a wide variety of ways in which students can prepare for the SAT for free, including diagnostic tests and “a whole library” of test prep books, according to Hall. “The ACT has a test prep program that is free for students who are on free and reduced lunch or receive a fee waiver to take the test,” she added.

Yet even they admit that having a tutor can be extremely beneficial.

College counselor Melissa Hanenberger said that whenever she sees “a big jump in a student’s scores,” she asks them what they did to prepare, and “they often have worked with a testing agency or tutor.”

Having access to a broader field of free test-taking materials may solve another issue that is prevalent in Newton: an atmosphere that encourages people to spend money on SAT prep, despite the fact that it is perhaps unnecessary.

junior Miki Shibuya “If good SAT scores mean going to a good college, it means spending money on getting help for SAT studying.”

“Overall, Newton has a reputation of going to the best schools, getting the best education, and having the best jobs, and most families do everything they can to ensure their kids can do those things,” said Shibuya. “Oftentimes, that involves using money. So if good SAT scores mean going to a good college, it means spending money on getting help for SAT studying.”

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Visit www.GreenNewton.org to find out about Green Newton and Students for a Greener World.

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We welcome your participation!

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arts

The Newtonite, Newton North

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

Ensembles feature pop movie themes, ‘powerful’ classics Zoe Goldstein Including music ranging from a symphony in Latin to songs from La La Land, this year’s Winterfest I and II offer a variety of music that will give audiences insight into the diverse abilities of North’s music department. by

Winterfest I

At Winterfest I on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, audiences may hear a number of tunes they recognize. Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, directed by music teacher Richard Labedz, will play a collection of moviethemed pieces. Jazz Ensemble II, directed by Labedz, will also participate in the concert, but will focus on traditional jazz music.

According to Labedz, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble are “trying something for the first time” with the movie theme. Over the years, Labedz said he has accumulated many movie arrangements for Pops Night, a concert in May centered around pop tunes, that had not been performed. This year’s concert is “based on all the pieces we haven’t been able to program into Pops Night for the last three years,” said Labedz.

These pieces “were a little bit more challenging and would take more work” for the mainly studentdirected concert, Labedz added While the list of songs for the concert is still tentative, there are plans for the bands to play tunes from Aladdin, La La Land, The Muppets, and various Pixar movies.

“The movie theme is super fun and is enjoyable for everyone,” said senior Christine Collins, an oboe player in Wind Ensemble.

Sophomore Maya Lobel, a saxophone player for Wind Ensemble, added, “I like the movie theme because it’s different from what we normally do, and it’s cool when you’re playing a piece and you recognize the music.”

In picking songs to fit the movie theme, Labedz said that “the students had a lot of choice. We did it democratically, to some degree.”

After listening to, looking at, and sometimes even playing through the arrangements, Labedz and the band members decided which songs they wanted to play. The students “were pretty perceptive as to if some of the arrangements available were too simple or too challenging,” said Labedz.

“It was a learning process in the listening aspect of it,” he added.

As the bands prepare the pieces, many of which “are based a little bit more on jazz interpretations” according to Labedz, the learning process will continue, with band members discussing different interpretations of the music.

This concert is a departure from the usual band literature played at concerts as “this music is more from a jazz popular tradition. The interpretation is different,” said Labedz. Moreover, Labedz said he thinks “the traditional band literature is actually pretty obscure pieces, whereas I think this will be a nice concert where the audience will appreciate knowing some of the pieces.”

Similarly, Collins added that “since mostly everyone is familiar with the pieces it makes it even more fun to play them.”

Winterfest II

The music will continue the next night, Thursday, Jan. 25, with Winterfest II at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. The concert, named the Ray Smith Memorial Concert after the founder of Family Singers, will star Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Family Singers, and Orchestra, directed by music teacher Adam Grossman, and perform Haydn’s approximately 40-minute long piece, “Mass in Time of War,” accompanied by Haydn’s Symphony No. 88.

According to Grossman, “Mass in Time of War,” “is a great piece and a classic of the literature.”

He added, “It’s a piece that’s quite difficult but not too difficult for [the bands] to play.”

The mass, which is in Latin and is made up of several movements, “is a powerful and long piece,” according to Collins, who is also a member of Family Singers. “Each movement has a different feeling, but they all flow together in the order of how a Catholic mass is held,” she said.

The ambitious piece is “basically [the group’s] second term project,” said Grossman. “It’s an unusual opportunity for a high school to do a piece this big, and it’s complicated to put everybody together at the same time.” Some wind instruments from the bands will also be featured in the piece, furthering the amount of coordination needed.

According to Grossman, the piece had been performed around six years ago in combination with Newton South, but it is still a daunting challenge to put together a piece “this difficult and this long and involving this many people.”

Although sophomore Anna Weylman-Farwell, a member of Concert Choir, said she thinks “some of the harmonies are difficult, especially for the altos,” she is “looking forward to singing with Family Singers because they’re a really talented group.”

The groups have been practicing the piece since mid-November, according to Grossman. Collins said that the Family Singers “have been working on this piece every class” and “persevering through sections.”

She added, “It is somewhat difficult to learn, but once we learn each movement, it becomes easier to learn the next movement.”

The camaraderie that holds the musical groups together also helps make this process easier. According to senior Ying Ying Rossi, a violin player in Orchestra, “Preparing these pieces is made simpler by the sense of community we’ve fostered.

We help each other out with the music and it keeps us all together, both in the musical sense and in the relationship sense.”

She added that audiences should “definitely look forward to Symphony 88—the dynamics are super exciting. Also, the choruses are going to sound really great with the Orchestra.” Overall, Rossi said she is excited “to hear how we all come together to actually sound good.”

All the hard work of the various music ensembles will coalesce in Winterfest I and II to create two concerts that will provide a splash of much-needed color to audiences during the long, grey month of January.

Joelle Sugianto

Chorus groups go caroling in the hallways with holiday-themed songs before winter break Friday, Dec. 22.

Old Grannies knit together club to create inclusive environment HannaH liu Students sit, chatting about their days as the news plays in the background. Some sip tea or play with cats, but each has their hands busy, either working on their own sewing or knitting project, or teaching others. Contrary to typical clubs at North, many of which involve competitions, academic work, or a way to pursue a career, Old Grannies Club takes pride in giving students a chance to self-indulge and find a community.

Senior Sophie Spector, an officer of the club, explained that Old Grannies is intended to allow students to relax in the middle of the week. “We all talk about whatever is going on,” she said. “It’s like a group therapy session with knitting. It’s like hanging out with friends, but there’s a variety of people, so you get to talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, and it’s fun.”

Currently, the club is run by Spector and senior Ally Beizer and meets every Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., alternating houses between Spector’s and Beizer’s. Spector said she specializes in teaching club members needlepoint, while Beizer helps them learn to knit.

Spector added that meeting at people’s houses embodies the vibe she wants for the club—“chill, relaxing, no pressure.”

The club isn’t a big time commitment, according to senior Victoria Joseph.

“You come when you can,” she said. “Some people come and don’t knit—they don’t have to—its kind of just a nice place to be. If you don’t have too much homework, it’s fun to just go and chat. It’s a relaxing space.”

Members generally choose to by

Teddy Everett

Senior Sophie Spector knits a colorful scarf at Old Grannies Club.

knit, embroider, or sew, although no one is expected to have these skills when they join the club. At the start of the school year, Beizer and Spector taught newcomers and beginners the basics to allow them to start working on projects. Spector explained that as the year progresses, the members begin to teach each other.

“Anybody can learn these things,” said Spector. “You don’t have to be old or a granny, and anybody can learn. That’s the philosophy.”

Joseph has spent her club time working on an infinity scarf. “I’d never knit anything before,” she said. “Now I enjoy knitting.”

She added, “If you want a space that’s comfortable and can adapt for you, I think it’s a really great thing to be a part of.”

However, the Old Grannies Club is more than just an unfocused hang-out session. It also embarks on group projects, like when members made “pussy hats” for themselves to wear to women’s marches last year. Spector said that she also wants to use the club to contribute to charitable causes this year. One such charity which Spector is considering involves making red hats for premature babies with heart conditions. She also is looking into working with GALS and Rosie’s Place.

Additionally, Spector said that some members use club time to create holiday or birthday gifts for their loved ones. “I think knitting is a very easy thing to gift because it’s handmade, and it means a lot, while you still get to knit. It’s kind of a win-win,” she said.

According to Spector, she initially joined the club as a freshman because many of the other clubs seemed too “intense.” She cited the lack of “leisure clubs” at North, with too many clubs having intense goals and vigorous competitions as a reflection of the pressure students have to build up their college applications.

Conversely, Spector described college campuses as having “so many weird clubs,” such as a club where members do five push ups and eat pizza and other clubs that “don’t exist in high school because people wouldn’t spend their time on that.” She said that Old Grannies is similarly unique and fun by being more of an “all inclusive friend group” than a high pressure environment like many other high

school clubs.

According to art teacher Cindy Massoff, the club’s adviser, the club was founded in the spring of 2013 by Karen Douglas. Massoff explained that Douglas was a “super talented kid” who was a “super, super hard worker” and who’s main goal in creating the club was to have a “soothing environment.”

Physics teacher Michael Hazeltine, who taught Douglas, said, “My sense was she wanted a group of people to get together and knit and feel connected with other people.”

Douglas was a student at North, whose sudden death as a senior in the fall of 2013 stunned the North community. At the time, co-president Lucy Beizer, ‘14, who is Ally Beizer’s older sister, kept the club going.

Since then, Old Grannies has carried on Douglas’ positive energy and inclusiveness in the North community. The club still uses her bag of yarn, showing her continued presence in its spirit.

“It’s important because it’s Karen’s memory,” said Spector. “It was important to her, and I know it’s still important to her family. It’s a way of honoring her.”

Similarly, Massoff said, “I’ve loved being a part of this group and watching the legacy continue.”

When Spector was a sophomore, Old Grannies almost ended when all the members graduated.

She decided to take over along with Beizer to keep it going. Currently, the club is facing the same problem, with a lack of underclassmen to continue it next year. One of the club’s long term goals is to recruit more underclassmen and keep it alive.

“I think that the Old Grannies club is cool from the perspective that it really is very much what I would consider to be a social-emotional club where it’s people getting together,” said Hazeltine, who is also the director of clubs at North.

“There’s a certain level of mutual support. I think that’s good. I like seeing that.”

In many respects, the club has maintained the vision that Douglas had planned, including the silly but defining aspects of cat mascots, drinking tea, and most importantly, the relaxing environment.

Massoff said the club ended up taking on “a whole life of its own” and “the fact that it’s still going today is really beautiful.”

Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

Newton North, The Newtonite

Winter Word Search

Words: Boots, Snowboarding, Shoveling, Ice, Delay, Holidays, Coat, Snow Day, Skiing, Mittens, Hot Cocoa, Snow

Maze Game

Sudoku Challenge

Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.58)

2 8

7

4 3

5

7

2

1

9 3

2

4

3 5

5

1 6

7 6

5

5

4 4

4

2

2 2

7

Compiled by laura SChmidt-hong and niChol Weylman-FarWell

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Tue Dec 5 14:29:48 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

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12 ◆ The Newtonite, Newton North

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Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018

THINK SUMMER Summer School is now part of NCE. In addition to academics like Chemistry and Calculus, you can sign up for Playwriting, Marine Bio, Make a Musical, and more.

Don’t forget, we have Driver’s Ed and ACT/SAT prep too—all year round.

Do what you love or learn something new.

newtoncommunityed.org 617.559.6999