The Polygon: September/October 2020/2021 Issue

the

POLY PREP’S Student Newspaper VOL. CVI ISSUE I September/October 2020

POLYGON

The First

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

STUDENT-LED

INITIATIVES

How does the student body feel following the debate?

BEATRICE LARKIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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any Poly students agree that the presidential debate did not influence them to think from the perspective of the opposite party or reconsider their political affiliation. The debate contained very little useful discussion about policy and largely came off as childish bickering which negatively impacted the public’s image of both candidates.

Sophomore Rayeeda Mahmud said, “from what I saw, those who support Donald Trump will not be swayed to vote Biden and those who support Biden will not have been swayed to vote for Trump.

Neither of them capitalized on viewpoints that swing voters would agree with.”

Students largely agree that the candidates failed to cater to undecided voters and even made statements that could lose them votes.

Mahmud echoed this sentiment saying that the debate “simply gave each candidate’s supporters more of a reason to dislike the opponent, everyone was just waiting for the other side to mess up.”

Most people’s main takeaways from the debate were the errors made by their least favorite candidate, and this is largely due to the lack of substance and real discussions of pertinent policy. There was no shortage of these small slip-ups to focus on. The debate was filled with interruptions, name-calling, and bickering.

Sophomore Summer Hornbeck said, “They definitely had a lack of self-control.”

Other candidates interrupted more than they should have based upon the prior agreed-upon debate rules, with Trump interrupting 71 times and Biden 22, according to the Washington Post.

Hornbeck also added, “Understandably, many were critical of Biden’s

name-calling and childish behavior, but Trump was worse. Biden asked Trump to shut up as a last resort after being interrupted four times in the same sentence.”

Most students agreed that while Biden was childish, it was in retaliation to Trump’s behavior.

Some students were angered by Trump’s mentions of Biden’s college records, viewing those comments as off-topic and not valuable to the American people. While the comments on intelligence and the interruptions were largely classified as “bickering,” many were outraged by Trump’s comment about Biden’s son Hunter Biden and his drug problem.

Sophomore Brianna Kwan said, “It was disgusting to use Biden’s past pain and loss against him” and “it added nothing to the debate while dredging up a hard past.”

In addition to being disrespectful to Biden, many felt that Trump was disrespectful to the moderator of the debate, Chris Wallace.

These events have proven to be detrimental to Trump’s public image. Trump’s failure to condemn white supremacy also outraged many and has worsened the president’s reputation.

Sophomore Hannah Gross said, “Trump had the opportunity to condemn white supremacy but did not take that chance. This tells us something about whose vote he is trying to get.”

Furthering this point, Hornbeck said, “Trump’s failure to condemn white su-

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premacy was frightening even after all that we already know about him” Student’s opinions differed on whether Biden’s public image was somewhat tarnished by the debate.

Sophomore Hannah Crowley said, “when Biden looked directly into the camera and empathized with the struggles of the American people, it showed us that he cares. Biden came out looking more professional, especially by comparison.”

Some, however, believe that they are both worse off than when the debate started.

Sophomore Olivia Umeh said, “both of them did not come off well because of the lack of order and patience, and the debate was a whole lot of nothing” Most viewed the debate as useless in providing any policy views that were not already known by the general public. Mahmud said, “we did not learn anything new about where they stand as there was little talk of policy and nor really anything of substance.”

While most viewed the debate as insignificant, there was a consensus that it was still necessary. Kwan said, “they are a staple of democracy” and “are a reminder of who we are voting for.”

The universal opinion of the debate was negative with many finding it embarrassing to watch and with some even describing it as “scary” and “frightening.”

Crowley said, “I did debate in seventh grade and the kids there were more articulate than either of the candidates.

I am afraid that these are the types of people who will run our country.”

VoTE NYC:

Voter Registration Campaign “High school students represent the next evolution of political beliefs. The sooner we establish ourselves as agents of change, the sooner representatives and politicians will cater to us. We must make it known that our future is at stake, and we will do all we can to make sure our voices are heard and concerns are translated into legislation.”

Mental Health: Poly BC2m “Our mission statement encompasses exactly what we want to come out of BC2M “In the midst of the chaos that surrounds us, we need to know that we can rely on our community more than ever. Our goal is to encourage dialogue and to raise awareness, understanding, and empathy. We strive to end the stigma around mental health and to create a much-needed supportive environment at our school, focusing on emotional health and well being.”

Black Students Demanding Change “This year, we will continue to partner with the administration to improve the experience of Black students, as well as host BSDC sponsored workshops and forums.

There is a lot of work still to be done, but the existence of BSDC represents a call for change from students at schools across the nation, demonstrating that racial inequity is not unique to any one place.”

Read more about these new organizations on Features Pages 8 &9

Clubs Adapt to the Pandemic

Club and Affinity Group leaders are adapting, looking for new ways to create bonds and engage students virtually EMILY NG over being virtual in order to encourage social interaction. trieving the software at Poly that extracurricular activiBoynton said, “Even though the club is working fairly ties have relied on in the past. More specifically, school EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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midst the confusion since the start of the school year, extracurricular activities have not been forgotten.

From the Polyglot to the juggling club, Poly intends to keep their clubs and affinity groups thriving. The only difference this year, however, is that most of these activities and meetings will be done virtually.

Every Friday, there is about forty-five minutes allotted to club activities, and there is a separate slot of the same duration given to affinity groups. With most of these interactions taking place on Zoom, club leaders have expressed their concerns for bonding and efficiency.

In particular, performing arts groups are frustrated with going online, for being physical is a defining aspect of their productivity. Senior Gauri Purohit, who is leading Acappella this year, said, “We had to hold auditions for Acapella, and it’s quite challenging to hold them virtually because Zoom often lags. Rehearsals are also difficult since one of the most valuable aspects is being in each other’s physical presence and working off of each other’s voices, which isn’t possible over Zoom.”

Going online has also presented problems with re-

publications are finding it difficult to proceed with their intended plans.

The Poly Arts Journal, for instance, is preparing to put forth another journal this school year. Leading this initiative is senior Samarra Sanker, and she said, “Going online is definitely harder because we don’t have access to Poly’s publication center, so we’re working on getting software as of now. My biggest hope, however, is to have a really good turnout for submissions this year, or a great journal won’t be possible. I’m also hoping that some underclassmen will step up and join us because it is not as intimidating as it seems.”

On the other hand, there are some clubs that have fared well with the transition. Senior Tyson Boynton, who co-leads the Trading Financial Markets/Economics club, said, “We weren’t planning on being in-person at all, and a lot of what we’re doing uses technology to effectively analyze the technicals and fundamentals of the financial markets. In this way, it’s actually helped our club thrive so far since we can share our screens to present certain topics over Zoom.”

Yet, it seems that being in-person is still favorable

well over Zoom, we haven’t gotten to truly meet each other! So, it can be difficult to communicate in that way.”

Similarly, affinity groups are trying to establish stronger bonding through the computer screen. These groups rely on enriching dialogue and intimacy, and going online has taken away this fundamental part of unity within these affinity groups.

Senior Talia Bieler, who is co-running Women’s Affinity, said, “Going virtual has made it more difficult to make stronger bonds with some of the younger or newer students, who may feel intimidated to participate virtually. Yet, it’s also enabled us to engage with the group in creative ways, such as through slideshows and videos.

What’s great about meeting virtually is that anyone can tune in from anywhere!”

Although clubs and affinity groups are still situating themselves in these new circumstances, there is no doubt that they are doing as much as they can to stay engaging.

Since the start of the school year, Poly students have been grappling with creative ways to accomplish this, and it’s been a testament to the community’s dedication to making sure we make this school year as normal as possible.

THE POLYGON

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER NEWS

The Virtual Learning Option While the pandemic has led to the use tents and Poly’s outdoor space, how are students who have chosen to go completely virtual faring?

SEANNA SANKAR & JASMINE DONALD CONTRIBUTING WRITERS s the school attempts to adapt to re- quarantine proved how important it is for opening in the midst of a pandemic, us to be in the school and not be isolated Poly has given families the option to either from one another. I believe that we have send their children to outdoor school or to much more work to do when it comes to stay at home and learn completely virtual- following guidelines, especially social disly. The coronavirus pandemic caused Poly tancing and I include myself. We need to Prep, and hundreds of other schools, to take accountability for ourselves, because close campus for the safety of the faculty, the administration and faculty members staff and students. After several months, cannot do everything.”

Poly reopened the school using a mix of Freshman Sophia Chamorro echoed in-person learning and virtual learning, this sentiment saying, “Personally I think offering the option of completely virtual academically in person learning is going learning for those who are immunocom- great. I think the teachers have done an promised or simply uncomfortable with re- amazing job trying to go back as much turning to school due to risk of COVID-19. as possible to ‘normal’ but also find new Poly’s in-person learning system has and creative ways to teach so far. Reled to a complete transformation of the garding the safety rules and regulations, back fields with tents erected for the Upper people constantly are a lot closer than 6 School. Each tent is labeled with a number feet whether that’s sitting in the classroom that corresponds to classes listed on the tents or standing and socializing with students’ schedules. Within each tent stu- friends.” dents are expected to set up camp chairs 6 Poly’s virtual learning system has feet away from each other to stay socially been a very different experience with virdistant. tual students currently making up a miFreshman Mary Howell said, “It’s nority of the student body. actually pretty easy to hear people talking “Virtual Poly has been going well and have discussions in class. To me, noth- considering the circumstances. I think ing has felt chaotic and it feels very orga- they’re handling the situation very well nized and well put-together. There is the and although I’d rather be on campus right huge downside that there are no sports or now, the online classes aren’t too bad,” after-school activities and I feel like when said Freshmen Nyjáh Harrison. we do go back to the normal campus, it Freshman Clayton Ward said, “Virtuwould seem weird (after not having been al is a pretty cool experience, but there’s there for over a year).” not that much of a social aspect that’s reWhile many students agree that the ally there.” experience of virtual learning has been a However, while many virtual students positive one, there is some fear that pro- are grateful for the option to continue their tocols are not being entirely adhered to by education, many students often feel that the whole student body. they are left in the dark. Virtual students Senior Kayla Thompson said, “I defi- have complained about schedules being nitely enjoy in-person learning because the unorganized, missing classes, and school

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UPDATE

Dearest Student Body, We hope you are staying positive and testing negative! The Student Government has met continuously over the course of the year and has discussed and proposed ideas to bring important change to the student body. The representatives have advocated for the change that you, the student body, want the most. The two most prominent topics discussed were the COVID-19 Pandemic and the 2020 Election.

Representatives addressed concerns of the institution’s handling of the Pandemic and the Administration’s “Outdoor-Poly” response.

Similarly, Representatives addressed the 2020 Election; pre-election day, the day itself, and the aftermath of arguably one of the most important events in the maelstrom that 2020 is. Discussions focused on election coverage and how Poly should handle the polarity within our community. The government also met to discuss reforms within the student-led group’s structure, all ideas to ensure accountability at all stages of our community’s leadership, and to facilitate the accessibility of representatives and administrators. The Student Government is very excited to continue meetings to better our community and they remind you to not be afraid to approach any representative about any concerns or ideas you might have.

All the best, The Student Government

hours being extended.

Senior Gauri Purohit says, “Though I very much appreciate the administration offering a virtual option for those who are unable to attend Poly currently, I have found that myself and all of the other virtual students I know feel as though virtual poly is not the priority; there is a profound lack of communication between the administration and families of virtual students that has persisted since the end of August. The administration often states

that it is running two schools, and we can all understand how difficult that may be, but often feels like we are running our schooling ourselves, scheduling classes we are supposed to have (but that aren’t on our schedules) every week.”

Most classes have combined virtual and in-person learning and although Poly faculty have tried their best to maneuver around these issues, language, math, and arts core classes are struggling with having in person students and online students on the same Zoom call.

An Evolving Bus System The bus system adapts to meet new safety guidelines JORDAN MILLAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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f all of the obstacles to creating a safe and effective environment for incoming students, one of the most challenging and significant is transportation for the 2020-21 academic year. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the country have been tackling the job of forming a functioning, safe bus system, and Poly is no exception.

While some people have been worried about the risk of contagion that may come with sitting in an enclosed space for a long duration of time, staff and faculty have been working hard to make the experience of student transportation safe over the past few months. This year, families have been given several options regarding their children’s transportation, including carpooling, self-dismissal, and parent pick-up. While these methods are similar to those in years past, busing has drastically changed this year.

When looking at the changes, Director of Safety and Security Vincent Rutuelo said, “The difference between last year and this year on the buses is the ridership numbers. Prior to COVID-19, the ridership numbers were much higher on all of our routes. Under the current COVID-19 state guidelines, we are limited to 25% ridership on our buses.” Now, all buses are far less crowded, allowing more space necessary to enforce social distancing protocols.

While the number of students on buses has been significantly cut, other new policies have also been adopted. Both students and drivers are required to wear masks at all times. Since the virus can be spread through airborne droplets, students are also restricted from eating or drinking during the rides.

This year, Head of Upper School Sarah Bates said “The bus system changes each year as we want to assure that every student has access to a route.”

Now, according to Rutuelo, students “must maintain

VIA COMMNICATIONS Students arriving at school social distancing (six feet separation) while on the bus,” as well as “sit in every other seat and in a staggered fashion,” with all the bus windows open. Siblings or children that live in the same household are advised and encouraged to sit together in order to create more room for other students. Poly has also reconfigured the unloading locations of students that travel by either bus or car in order to maintain order when entering the check-in tent in the morning. Another major difference in the busing system is the pick-up and drop-off, as the timing and structure have changed.

Upper School Dean Mr. Wong stated, “the timing of buses has changed slightly as there are just overall less

students taking the bus. Buses leave at 3:15, which is earlier than usual in previous years.” The arrival times of buses are also staggered, in order to keep social distancing. Now, there are no late (6 pm) buses available, and all students are required to go home immediately after school.

Many students have developed their own opinions regarding the changes. Poly freshman Danielle Jason, who takes the bus to school each day, said “I think that the ways that the buses are set up are really different, not necessarily in a bad way. The only thing I am not a fan of is that they changed where the buses pick us up in the oval. They’re never in the same order everyday so it takes a while to find your bus after school.”

Those who travel to school in other ways now witness a different experience. Janelle Bobb, another ninth grader, expressed: “I wish that I was taking the bus so that I can be with my friend. We normally talk on the way to and from school but I don’t take the bus this year.

My traveling experience isn’t worse, but it’s just less eventful. It is faster though.”

Although there have been many revisions made to the school busing system, it is all for good reason. Rutuelo said, “we follow all safety guidelines and protocols to ensure the safety of everyone who rides our buses.” The new system also presents some challenges. Mr. Wong said, “I know that many students would like to ride the bus, but it’s obviously a difficult situation with maintaining safe distances coupled with the length of some of the bus routes.”

While bus ridership, routes, and policies may be subject to change depending on the pandemic guidelines, Poly has strived to make a well-running transportation system that guarantees the health and safety of the community.

THE POLYGON

POLITICAL POLARIZATION Why are we so divided?

HONOR SEARES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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n September 25th, Poly held its first virtual election forum, discussing the reasons for polarization across the country and within the school community.

Head of the History Department, Margaret Moslander began by highlighting how the origins and consequences of the American two-party system create effective polarization, division not just in politics but also in social identity.

“This idea of polarization isn’t just motivated by disagreement in policy,” she said.

“It certainly may be rooted in that, but that it is increased about dislike and distrust. We should think about to what extent are our party identifications really becoming a part of our identities, in ways that make it very difficult to have conversations across political parties.”

The United States has become seemingly more polarized as time progresses.

Moslander shared a chart that displayed measurements of where Democrats and Republicans fell on a ten-item scale of political values in 1994. On a spectrum from consistently liberal to consistently conservative, the people in the middle of each party, by 2017, were almost 97% further away from each other than in 1994.

Moslander said, “If we are in a political system that requires compromise, and the American political system is one that very much requires compromise, having people

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who are farther apart in party identity is going to make that much more difficult.”

As the forum moved to an open discussion, senior Abby Meyer said, “When it comes to parties getting farther and farther apart at the point where there are fewer things to agree on, that has empirically led to less policy being passed in the government. I also think that there are societal impacts. It is really hard to find a middle ground between the people who have the same beliefs as you and the people that are so opposite that you don’t feel safe having those conversations.”

According to Moslander, party alignment has also increasingly become more of an issue over the past twenty years.

When parents are asked about what identity would give them the most anxiety about the person that their child marries, the answer is now someone of the opposite party.

“That is something that we didn’t use to measure,” Moslander said. “Party identification was not a usual source of parental anxiety, that is a very new idea.”

Though many consider polarization problematic in contemporary society, Moslander highlighted the benefit of having clear political identities. “There was a real concern after World War II that too little polarization was problematic. The American Political Science Association was wringing its hands in September of 1950, saying that the parties aren’t different enough from each other, and if the parties

EDITORIAL: A Letter to the Freshmen THE EDITORIAL STAFF

Dear Freshmen,

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elcome to high school! But don’t be fooled… freshman year is not like High School Musical. There are no choreographed dance numbers (unless you audition for the musical), friendships aren’t always perfect, and sometimes, classes are actually stressful. Don’t be afraid though! Part of what makes freshman year an important bonding experience is that it sucks for everyone. Ask any of us. Not too long ago, we were in your shoes, yet it feels like a lifetime away. Since then, we’ve all become better versions of ourselves, so don’t worry too much about freshman year. Instead, try to make the most of it! Make new friends, push yourself out of your comfort zone, but never feel that decisions you make in freshman year will haunt you for the rest of your life. Most of us can’t even remember what we stressed about as freshmen. A single test or friend will not define who you are or who you will become, and there are plenty of opportunities lying ahead during the next four years.

Obviously, this year’s freshmen are facing an unprecedented and difficult time. Usually, classes aren’t held in tents on the backfields, and wind wasn’t a factor in our freshmen year transition. This new adjustment has not been the smoothest, especially for those new to Poly. While we have the luxury of socializing before it gets cold, and while it’s still difficult to stay engaged in tents with masks over your faces at six-feet distances, if you make an effort, you will be just fine.

Your classmates and teachers will always be there for you during your four years at Poly. So get to know them! Ask questions, and be annoying. Don’t let the fear of judgement discourage you from taking risks and making mistakes.

Make the best of our situation, and be prepared for when life is indoors again (fingers crossed!).

It sounds cheesy, but all those brochures that say that Poly has something for everyone are telling the truth. Give yourself some time, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself immersed in your own, small community here. Try out for a sports team, join a club that sparks your interest, or start your own initiative! You’re bound to find lifelong friends, valuable mentorship, and discover unknown passions (like the editorial staff at The Polygon!).

What has given our student body resilience during this unpredictable time is our ability to come together despite our different backgrounds, experiences and interests. As you continue to learn through a pandemic, remember all the people who were by your side, even when you weren’t able to step inside the building.

Good Luck!

The Polygon Editorial Staff

In a recent forum, students talk about the upcoming election and the partisan divide

aren’t different enough from each other then you are not giving voters meaningful choices.”

There is a value to having clear parties and policy preferences so that the act of voting is enhanced and given meaning; however, the point at which those parties become so distant that neither can speak to one another effectively undermines the United States as a political community.

Finding the middle ground between having clear political parties that add purpose to the polls and having problematic polarization that prevents any compromise has become yet another challenge Americans need to face.

The rise of social media and the internet has also contributed to how deeply affective polarization is throughout America.

Junior Gabrielle Perry said, “In my generation, there is often a conception or understanding that being Republican, for example, is immediately associated with Trump. I feel like it differs with conversations in person, at least with conversations that I’ve had with New York Republicans, they aren’t necessarily associated with the Trump party. Over time, we have lost the sense of what it actually means to be Republican. We have immediately associated this idea of ‘Trumpism’ with Republicans, and this definitely intensive the level of polarization that we see today.”

Senior Abby Meyer said, “I think the contributor to this increased polarization

is also increased education. It is so much easier as a teenager to gain access to different political perspectives now than it was for our parents. And I think that because of that, people are less likely to follow what their parents have taught them, or just sticking between the old party lines. I think that that has allowed for more mobilization on both sides because people are able to form their own opinions.”

In response to Meyer, senior Makieda Mackenzie said, “The fact that social media is here, and we’re so connected all of the time, we always know about what’s going on in the world. Since 2000, world strategies have just become everyone’s strategies which can make it really hard.

When people are confused or are emotionally overwhelmed, they are more likely to go to one of the two sides and become more radical because the middle is associated with chaos. So, I think that because of how much we are becoming aware of everyone’s problems and social crises, we are also becoming more polarized.”

The concept of social media allowing for deeper engagement in political conversations but also making many susceptible to performative activism highlights the complexities of how polarization has manifested itself in modern society. The challenge that Poly students face is not how they can eliminate it completely, but how can they foster healthy polarization within their community.

The POLYGON Editors-in-Chief Elizabeth Bentsianov, Honor Seares, Emily Ng Emma Spring.........................Managing Editor Tessa Marker.................................News Editor Carly Pyles..............................Opinions Editor Hailey Tobman.........................Features Editor Samantha Rodino............................Arts Editor Shepherd Dzina...........................Sports Editor Benjamin Mansfield......................Copy Editor Thalia Glyptis............Online Managing Editor The Polygon is published at least eight times a year by the students of Poly Prep Country Day School. We welcome both letters to the editor and guest opinions pieces of interest. All submissions should be emailed to polygon@polyprep.org and must include the author’s name. The Polygon reserves the right to edit all submissions for spelling, grammar, and length. Letters should be no longer than 200 words, and opinion pieces should be no longer than 750 words.

Linda Busetti...........................Faculty Advisor John Rearick.................Writing Studio Liaison

The Polygon c/o Poly Prep CDS 9216 7th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11228

THE POLYGON

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WEARING A MASK IS SEXY Are social norms in the way of students upholding the safety guidelines?

CALLIOPE LISSAK CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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ecently, I was on Zoom with a teacher who is working remotely this year. She admitted, somewhat self consciously, that she was still “a little bit nervous about the virus.” My question is why aren’t we all?

In the first few months of the pandemic, I was afraid all the time. I remember helping my mom wipe down all our groceries with bleach wipes and flinching when people walked anywhere near me on the street.

During those months we had to find alternate ways to create community.

The fact that I don’t have to organize a Zoom to see my friends anymore is beyond exciting. Little things like passing each other in the hallways (even if the hallway is just a grassy area between tents) or whispering to a friend during class (teachers, you didn’t see this) are things I honestly thought I would never get to do again at Poly.

In that sense, Poly has done us a great service by making school possible this fall. Being outside is infinitely safer for all of us. All day, I have conversations about how wet my shoes got in the morning, how uncomfortable my chair is, the lack of Caesar dressing, and so on. I complain, but I’m happy to simply have the chance to complain to other human beings. However, there is something missing from our dialogue. We have left strict social distancing and proper mask use out of our conversations.

In the same way my teacher shouldn’t feel embarrassed to say she is still nervous about the pandemic, you shouldn’t feel bad asking someone to pull their

mask over their nose or take a few steps away from you.

The Poly students and administrators have both fallen into a trap. As students, we have allowed the norm to be unsafe behavior. Dapping your friend up between classes should not be common practice. The administration failed to create the environment and rules to prevent these norms before they even formed. While neither group is fully to blame for this issue, it is everyone’s job to fix it.

This is a call to the student body and the Poly community. We must practice safer distancing while we are in school. I’m not just asking you to do this for yourself. I’m asking you to do it for your teachers, for your family, and for all our families. Poly’s reopening has increased our human contact enough. Every unnecessary contact we have with each other endangers the entire community a little more.

Let’s make this a part of our discussions every day.

Once you finish complaining about your chair breaking or your Caesar salad with ranch dressing, let’s talk about keeping each other safe: don’t touch each other, keep your masks on, and be responsible outside of school— the bar is basically on the floor. Let’s do this together for the sake of our faculty, our families, and our collective sanity in the months to come.

This is my fifteenth year attending Poly Prep. Over the course of the last decade and a half, I never felt an urge to write an article for this newspaper. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading it, answering questions for Poly’s journalists, and listening to my friends explaining their articles. However, I have just found other ways of being a part of the Poly community. But for the first time, I feel like I need to take a moment to address the entire community.

THE FLY:

VIA CALLIOPE LISSAK Lissak and her friends, Etta Humes and Brooke Johanessen, social distancing on campus

A GREAT AMERICAN DILEMMA Do our conversations about politics distract us from the pressing issues that candidates are failing to address?

THALIA GLYPTIS ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR

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e all saw it. The tiny little fly that sat on Mike Pence’s head. It was a civil rights activist, a feminist, a scholar.

We all joked the next day about how flies are always attracted to trash, just like it was the night before. I’m always up for political banter, but most people failed to realize that the fly is part of the reason America has such a high level of polarization.

I decided this year that I would watch all the presidential debates, however terrible they may be. Although in November I will still not be old enough to vote, I realized I need to stay politically conscious, so I’ll be prepared to vote in 2024. The debates, as you may know, ha-

ven’t been pretty. The Presidential one was definitely more notable, as Biden’s remark,“Will you shut up, man?” became a viral sensation on social media.

But something fascinating happened in the Vice-Presidential debate that wasn’t so apparent in the Presidential one. Nine segments of 18 questions were asked but barely one question was answered.

Harris and Pence alike both skewed questions to tell their fanbase what they wanted to hear, not the questions the American public needed answered.

This political vagueness is far from new. George Orwell’s groundbreaking paper “Politics and the English Language” discusses just that. He states, “political speech and writing are largely in defense of the indefensible… Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and

VIA CREATIVE COMMONS Pence and the infamous fly on the night of the debate

sheer cloudy vagueness.”

During the Pence-Harris debate, moderator Susan Page asked how they could handle a presidential disability, with both presidential candidates being in their seventies. Pence, instead of answering the question, took the time to note Biden’s mishandling of the H1N1 swine flu scare during the Obama administration, fully dodging the intended question. Likewise, Harris’s response was nowhere near an answer. She recalled the moment when Biden had called her and asked her to be his running mate. This refusal to answer concrete questions, like the specific cautions these candidates are taking with their older presidential candidates, is one of the greatest problems in American politics.

When a politician verbally maneuvers around direct questions, one has to be weary of how they really plan to run our country, since gaining power

may be prioritized over improving the lives of Americans. This lack of information, however, isn’t just the puppet-mastering of a few powerful politicians. This cycle is also reinforced by the complicitness of the people. When we choose to ignore the secrecy of our politicians and instead focus on trivial matters, we let them get away with it.

Joking about flies rather than addressing why neither Pence nor Harris could give a clear plan of how to solve climate change allows these politicians to get away without knowing the answer either.

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t joke about our politicians, since I actually find a lot of their actions quite laughable. I’m simply highlighting our society’s tendency to make light of politics instead of discussing why our lawmakers, who are supposedly our greatest advocates, choose not to tell us certain things.

“When we choose to ignore the secrecy of our politicians and instead focus on trivial matters, we let them get away with it. Joking about flies rather than addressing why neither Pence nor Harris could give a clear plan of how to solve climate change allows these politicians to get away without knowing the answer either.”

THE POLYGON

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER OPINION

POLITICIZATION OF THE PANDEMIC Politicians are taking advantage of a global health crisis for their own political gain

LUCAS BASHAM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has been politicized worldwide. In some countries, the politicization has been productive and fair, while managing not to interfere with health experts’ authority. On the other hand, it’s had the opposite effect in certain countries, including the U.S. Reasonably, problems and events are politicized simply because they bring up other political topics that needed to be addressed. The coronavirus pandemic, for example, has revealed weaknesses in the healthcare system and has shown the lack of equity regarding different neighborhoods’ access to hospitals and testing sites. Some communities have to travel multiple hours just to get tested, while others have multiple testing sites set up in their neighborhood. In many countries, including many U.S. allies, this was the extent of the politicization.

For example, a few of the United Kingdom’s issues were exposed by the pandemic. Nicola McEwen, professor of territorial politics at the University of Edinburgh, explained that the pandemic clearly revealed “that the four nations are now run by different political parties who have different ideologies and different ideas about the UK’s future.”

Across the ocean, the U.S. and Brazil took politicization to the next level. As issue after issue was exposed by COVID-19, political leaders utilized the consequences of the virus to rebuke their opponents.

As seen in the U.S., President Trump downplayed the severity of the virus in order to make himself look competent and successful. As the death toll and infection number rose, the Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, began to constantly advertise and campaign off of President Trump’s failure to control the virus. Although it may not have been intentional, President Trump and former Vice President Biden used the largest public health issue in a century for their political gain.

And it wasn’t just them. Science Advances, an

online journal that publishes original research, analyzed over 30,000 tweets from lawmakers in the U.S. Congress. They found that initially, most tweets simply addressed the public health issue and discussed what must be done to combat the virus. Soon after these initial tweets however, lawmakers realized the potential political gain that could be derived from the virus and no longer tweeted with the intent of improving public health, but rather with the intent of advancing their party’s political agenda. Clearly, politicizing the coronavirus in tweets practically spread like its own virus. Because the coronavirus pandemic is an issue of public health, politicians need to let the health experts lead. It is reasonable to use one issue in order to expose another, so that it may be understood and addressed appropriately. However, turning a public health crisis into a playing field for politicians is not acceptable. Lives come first; politics come second.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been politicized worldwide. In some countries, the politicization has been productive and fair, while managing not to interfere with health experts’ authority. On the other hand, it’s had the opposite effect in certain countries, including the U.S.”

“I Dissent”

The life, legacy, and illegitmate replacement of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

CARLY PYLES OPINIONS EDITOR

T

he late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the epitome of an unassuming hero. While small in stature, her contributions to American society were immeasurable. Ginsburg possessed the brilliance to interpret the law for a modern day America, the power to right the legal wrongs of our past, and the humility to do so in a just and honorable manner. Her death is truly a loss of great consequence for the American people.

The groundbreaking nature of her career inspired countless women.

Ginsburg was not only a trailblazer for gender equality, but she became a cultural icon for the youth. Her influence extended across multiple generations as she represented a country striving for progress.

Ginsburg was born and raised in Brooklyn, where she attended James Madison High School. She graduated from Cornell University at the top of her class before pursuing a degree from Harvard Law School, as one of only nine women in her class. There, she remained at the top of her class and served on the Harvard Law Review, all while raising her young daughter and attending both her own and her husband’s classes following his cancer diagnosis. She transferred to Columbia Law School for her final year after her husband accepted a job in New York.

Ginsburg graduated in a tie for first in her class and became the first woman to serve on two major law reviews.

A person of her astounding qualifications should have had countless doors open to her; however, Ginsburg struggled to find employment. In fact, every one of the 12 firms she interviewed for refused to offer her a job because they did not want to hire a female attorney.

In Ginsburg’s own words, “I was Jewish, a woman, and a mother. The first raised one eyebrow; the second, two; the third made me indubitably inadmissible.”

Ginsburg began her legal career

VIA CREATIVE COMMONS An image of Ginsburg at the Supreme Court as a clerk before becoming the associate director of Columbia’s Project on International Procedure. In 1963, Ginsburg was offered her first teaching position as a professor at Rutgers Law School, and in 1972, she returned yet again to Columbia Law School, where she would become the first female professor to earn tenure. Throughout this time, Ginsburg worked passionately to free both men and women from the gender roles to which they were bound.

Ginsburg began working as a volunteer attorney with the ACLU where she notably co-wrote the brief for the Supreme Court case Reed v. Reed, arguing gender discrimination was in fact a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case was a defining aspect of her career, as she would later co-found the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project in 1972. She argued numerous cases on sex-based discrimination and presented six before the United States Supreme Court - five of which she won.

Ginsburg spent the remainder of her

legal career as a judge. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where she served for thirteen years. However, her life’s work culminated in her historic nomination to the United States Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993; the Senate confirmed her with a near unanimous vote of 96-3. Ginsburg became only the second woman to ever serve on the highest court in the land. As a member of the Supreme Court, Ginsburg is not only known for her influential rulings, but her infamous dissenting opinions which have become the framework for future legislation.

In her own words, “Dissents speak to a future age...the greatest dissents do become court opinions and gradually over time their views become the dominant view. So that’s the dissenter’s hope: that they are writing not for today, but for tomorrow.”

In tribute to RBG, I offer my dissent regarding her replacement. I would say that arguably the most distressing aspect

of her passing is the overwhelming politicization of her death. Prior to Ginsburg’s death, the court was already conservative-leaning, with a 5-4 majority.

Trump’s attempt to rush through Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s appointment will tilt the court further right for generations to come.

Amy Coney Barrett is an especially ironic choice to replace the late justice, as Barrett aims to repeal the progressive legislation Ginsburg fought so fiercely for throughout her career. Barrett has made it abundantly clear that she will vote to overturn both Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act. Unlike Ginsburg, who construed the law with respect to the present day, Barrett is an originalist. She believes that the Constitution must be interpreted exactly as it was understood by its creators in 1787. The difference between the two women is essentially the difference between looking forward and looking backward.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has demonstrated absolutely no decorum following Ginsburg’s passing.

Ginsburg’s granddaughter recounted her dying wish as the following: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Not only has the president wasted no time in announcing a nominee to succeed her, but he claimed that the Democratic party fabricated the above statement.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also displayed a blatant disregard for maintaining the integrity and nonpartisanship of the court. When Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in 2016, McConnell did not allow a senate hearing for President Obama’s nominee.

McConnell publicly justified this move by saying a president should not appoint a Supreme Court justice in an election year. Justice Scalia passed away 11 months prior to the 2016 election; Justice Ginsburg died a mere 46 days from

Continued on page 6

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER OPINION

OUTDOOR LEARNING: The Freshman Experience Get freshmen’s perspective on what it’s like to learn in the tents and come to a totally transformed campus

SHRIYA NANDURU & JESSICA DOSIK CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ILIANA BORGES & KRISTINE TAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

T

W

he outdoor tent experience at Poly this year has some great advantages compared to other high schools but also many challenges. Poly students have an enormous campus that has allowed for the option of attending classes in tents on the school’s large fields. Some schools don’t have these same opportunities, leaving them with no option other than going fully virtual. Poly students are lucky to be able to attend school four days a week.

Although this has been an amazing experience, there are some downsides to outdoor learning. One concern given this new environment is the changing weather conditions. The cold, harsh winds can cause whiteboards and papers to fly away. Without proper desks, it is even more difficult. The inclement weather also presents the issue of not knowing what clothing will be appropriate for the day. Wind can cause a perfectly sunny day to feel quite cold, leading to other problems. Cold weather means cold hands, making writing more difficult, and it’s pretty hard to focus when you are shivering.

Also, there is a problem of hearing other sounds that we normally wouldn’t in classrooms or back at home doing online school. Loud trucks passing by or airplanes flying across campus are only a few of the distractions that students face.

There are environmental problems as well, with insects pestering students in every class. Having bees buzzing throughout the field is nothing near an ideal situation. It is much easier to zone out during class when there is so much to look at.

Although there are many problematic parts of outdoor learning, we have found that the social aspect is not one of them. One of the defining aspects of high school is the unforgettable friendships developed during those four years. Compared to students in other schools, who have to be all virtual, we are actually able to make friends in person. It’s difficult to maintain friendships and even harder to establish new ones when you can only see each other through a computer screen; being on campus has made it much easier for incoming students to adapt to school and make new friends.

The only issue in making friends has been lunch. Ideally, lunch would be the time where you would meet new people. Having lunch during a class takes away an essential time to socialize, especially for incoming students.

Students aren’t the only ones who have been grappling with this new way of learning.

It has also been a huge change for our teachers.

History teacher Dr. Reid said, “The best part of the tent experience is seeing everybody again and being together as a community after so many Zoom classes.” However, he also states, “It’s just hard to hear each other or collaborate on work the same way you can in the classroom. It’s also hard to remember to keep the proper six feet distance — let’s face it, as a school we need to do a lot better on this.”

Both teachers and students can agree that in-person learning has had its ups and downs, but we are all trying as hard as we can to make this experience the best it can possibly be. As a school, we can make this work.

hen Poly first announced its hybrid learning plan that would implement both online and outdoor learning, many questions about the typical freshman experience, both socially and academically, went unanswered. Starting highschool is a big deal. With new teachers, subjects, and classmates, in addition to a global pandemic, it can get quite overwhelming.

When we first heard about the outdoor learning system, we weren’t sure how to feel about it. The outdoor setting comes with a lot of complications such as weather, noise, and bugs. We questioned how Poly was going to maintain both safety protocol and educational standards while dealing with these obstacles.

However, all our worries and concerns were put to rest when we finally set foot on campus in early September. The tents lined up on the tennis courts, the oval, and the backfields gave Poly a completely different look. The entrance process, including finding our designated chair, went relatively smoothly, as did finding our first period tents. Moving between tents, however, is where the day got a little messy.

Freshman Janelle Bobb, now in her fifth year at Poly, said, “I don’t enjoy the transition from one tent to another.”

The tent numbers don’t seem to follow a very specific order and finding our next class was a bit flustering. Luckily, the faculty members around the fields were extremely helpful in helping us locate our tents. As students are beginning to adapt and familiarize themselves with the new system, the tent transitions have improved.

New students at Poly this year, especially freshmen, are new not only to the Poly community but to outdoor learning as well. It is our responsibility, as returning students, to help them feel welcome at our school. When asked about their perspective on the Poly campus, all the new freshmen gave positive feedback.

“I didn’t realize that the campus was going to be this big; I was very impressed by that,” said Ava Rosario, a new student to Poly. “The tents are really big and I think everyone can social distance in them.”

Another new freshman, Alba Niccolai, said, “It seems like a nice community in general, and the teachers are doing really great with outdoor learning.”

New freshmen are seemingly satisfied with the outdoor learning environment, but many also wish to explore the inside of Poly’s campus as well.

“The tents are fun and I like being outside especially since the weather has been so nice, but I would also like to see the inside of the school since I don’t really know what it looks like yet,” said Freshman Lorenza Jaramillo.

As we quickly approach Thanksgiving break, we hope that we can get more comfortable outdoors, especially with colder weather right around the corner. New freshmen seem to be enjoying the spacious campus and new teachers, but they have yet to see the entirety of Poly yet. We hope that the Poly administration can effectively overcome challenges in the near future regarding in-person learning so that we can have a smooth transition back into virtual learning throughout the wintertime.

VIA COMMUNICATIONS Students and teachers working under the tents

“I Dissent” continued this year’s election. Barrett’s appointment is in violation of the precedent McConnell set himself four years ago. The hypocrisy of this undertaking reveals the current Republican party’s disregard for reason and equity; it is unlikely that enough Republican senators will defect and stand by their own precedent set by their own party.

President Trump has continuously insisted that voter fraud will influence the 2020 election, on account of mail-in ballots. He has repeatedly stated that he will not accept the results of the election if he loses. In fact, he recently responded to a reporter’s question on the issue by saying, “Well, we’re going to have to see what happens.” Later, he said in no uncertain terms that if the election does not result in his favor, the Supreme Court will be involved. Trump’s exact words were, “this scam that the Democrats are pulling -- it’s a scam -- this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court. And I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation.”

It’s not hard to deduce why the Trump administration is pushing through this appointment so quickly; if they lose the election, they want the court stacked in their favor. However, that is not in line with the purpose of the court or the definition of democracy. The Supreme Court was intended to be apolitical and fair. The Trump administration is undermining the legitimacy of the court by attempting to legislate from the bench what they cannot achieve in Congress.

The unjust replacement of Justice Ginsburg not only opposes her dying wish, but disrespects her legacy. Ginsburg paved the way for countless women in her field. After she overcame numerous obstacles throughout her career, she worked tirelessly to change that reality for the women who would come after her. The current nominee will not work to do the same.

THE POLYGON

New Outdoor Dance Classes

Outdoor learning allows Poly students to continue dance classes on the back fields.

BRIANNA KHRAKOVSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

PAGE 7

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ARTS

s the Poly Prep community is adjusting to a new way of learning, creativity plays a major role in figuring out how we can make school as normal as possible while maintaining necessary safety protocols. While the transition into academic classes has been quite smooth, it is hard to say the same about dance classes.

Due to the movement that takes place in dance classes, students are required to stay twelve feet apart rather than just six. Since the tents cannot accommodate the necessary space for all of the dancers, the classes have migrated to various spaces across campus in order to sustain such distance.

Middle school dance teacher Ashley Hacker and Upper School dance teacher Danielle Bensky have been working strenuously to ensure that the dance atmosphere feels as normal as possible.

“We are utilizing a variety of sites around campus and are reinventing the way we structure learning our pieces,” Bensky said. “We often have to pivot at a moment’s notice due to outstanding circumstances such as wet ground, or a windy day.”

Seeing how their students deal with these challenges, Hacker and Bensky are greatly inspired by the willingness of their students. Ms. Hacker says, “I am so grateful to be part of such a robust arts community at Poly and am constantly striving to give our students meaningful experiences.” Bensky said, “I am extremely proud of how quickly Poly dancers adapt. It’s so nice to dance together again, even at 6-12 feet,

and boost each other up with energy and joy.”

Dance classes at Poly have always been very hands-on; the teacher was always there to help fix students’ form. Of course, it is now much harder to make accurate corrections over Zoom or even from twelve feet away. Senior Ella Barnett said, “I have never experienced a lot of classical training which makes me so fortunate to be offered ballet and modern days in school but without Ms. Bensky having the physical ability to help my placement and posture, I feel like I am just not getting the same level of instruction.”

Another aspect that has been challenging is the lack of intimacy. Prior to the pandemic, the dance studio was utilized to create and perfect pieces before they are showcased. Now since the entire school can watch dance classes, the level of intimacy that had comforted the dancers is gone. Senior Alexa Nanfro said, “It’s been hard to have to dance in front of all my other classmates because dancing requires a safe space for everyone to feel comfortable with making mistakes.”

Apart from these hardships, outdoor dance classes also serve as an opportunity to get inspired. Junior Madeline Doty said, “I think this is a new experience and we will learn a lot from it. I am excited to see where this very unusual year of dance will lead us. I believe that this will be a true challenge and we will learn new ways to collaborate.” All of the dancers are nervous about what is to come, but they are sure that the journey will be meaningful.

The dance classes are currently working very hard to create pieces in a safe manner, and they cannot wait to share their work with everyone.

Dominique Porte’s ‘21 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PLAYLIST Monster Mash

by Sam Fender Upside Down

by Jack Johnson Enter Galactic

by Kid Cudi

Smoke Break (feat. Future)

by Chance the Rapper, Future Cheesin’

by Cautious Clay, Remi Wolf, Sophie Meiers, Still Woozy Are You Gonna Be My Girl

by Jet Good Nights (feat Mascolo)

by Whethan, Mascolo Say Hey (I Love You)

by Michael Franti, Spearhead Surf

by Mac Miller Move Your Feet

by Junior Senior Compensating (feat Young Thug)

by Amine, Young Thug

Follow their journey on the Poly Arts Instagram @Polypreparts.

MOVIE REVIEW:

THE SOCIAL DILEMMA

How does social media culture need to change, and how invasive is technology?

LUCAS BASHAM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

ueled by criticisms of the social media platforms they helped create, former Silicon Valley executives warn of social media’s dangers in Netflix’s newest documentary, “The Social Dilemma.” Any user of the Internet has heard how Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms are dangerous, but almost none of us know the extent to which social media’s addictive quality and polarization can affect us.

The documentary comprises of many interviews and conversations with former leaders and critics of the technology industry, such as Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist at Google, and Jaron Lanier, who wrote a book on the benefits of deleting your social media accounts. “The Social Dilemma” goes the extra mile by intertwining scenes of a fictional family who suffers the consequences of social media addiction,

including polarization and destructive obsession with self-image.

The 90-minute film highlights the increasing mental health and suicide rates that seem to align with social media’s growth. Compared to the first decade of this century, the suicide rate for girls ages 15-19 was up 70% by 2018 and up 151% for girls ages 10-14, eerily aligning with social media’s availability beginning in 2009.

According to the documentary, social media is such a large and successful industry because of advertising. Advertisers can always be certain that users will see their ads, as intelligent algorithms put the perfect piece of content on your screen to keep you engaged and scrolling, and therefore viewing more advertisements. Because social media is free for users, the users themselves are the product, and the advertisers are the buyers.

The algorithms aim to only show users posts with which they will engage.

The Facebook news feed is one of the main sources of news for its 2.7 billion users, and when billions of people are only hearing news that they agree with, the world becomes divided and polarized. But Facebook doesn’t care, because they are being paid to keep users on the app looking at the news. An MIT study shows that fake news spreads six times as fast as real news on Facebook, which is one of the main reasons that Russia was so successful in its election interference campaign in 2016. Simply put, Facebook has the moral responsibility of being a main news source for 2.7 billion people, yet its algorithm operates solely to make money and fails to educate people correctly and fairly.

With all of this polarization due to social media, Tim Kendall, a former executive at Facebook and the former president of Pinterest, went as far as to say that his biggest worry in the short term is civil war.

Overall, the documentary suggests

that the culture in Silicon Valley needs to change completely. As Tristan Harris puts it, the entire culture of capitalism needs to change. Just as a tree is worth more as lumber and a whale is worth more dead, a human is worth more distracted, polarized, and addicted. “The Social Dilemma” explains that we have a big problem: We are all using technological platforms at the expense of human and social good, and the incentives of these platforms, such as profit and control, are not beneficial for our mental health and our democracy.

Though exposing all of these problems in the technology industry, the experts fail to give any real solutions. Not once were viewers directly told to delete their social media accounts or even set screen time limits on their phones.

So it’s up to us, the addicted and polarized products of social media, to speak out and force change in the world just as we have for hundreds of issues in the past.

{ THE POLYGON

PAGE 8

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER FEATURES

STUDENT-LED INITIATIVES:

YOUTH FOR CHANGE

Poly students are creating change within the school and wider community through multiple different new student-led organizations

VoTE NYC:

Voter Registration Campaign

meet the poly reps

Seniors Talia Marash and Olivia Gryson work with VoTE NYC to spearhead a contactless campaign to register eligible voters

OLIVIA GRYSON

Q: Why do you

think that the youth vote is so important?

sure you’ve heard A: I’m this before, and it may

VIA TALIA MARASH A post from the VoTE NYC instagram & the QR code which links to registration resources

LIZ BENTSIANOV EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

S

eniors Talia Marash and Olivia Gryson have been working with a new organization, Voters of Tomorrow Engage NYC, to register Poly students to vote and to foster an environment that will allow for increased civic engagement.

Voters of Tomorrow Engage NYC, also known as VoTE NYC, have three pillars that make up their mission: educate, empower, and engage. While the primary goal of the voter registration campaign was to register all students aged 16 or older, the larger purpose was to ensure that every eligible student in the Poly community could participate fully in politics and to empower a new generation of educated and excited voters. Marash and Gryson have pursued this goal by hosting virtual events, disseminating nonpartisan information about the upcoming election, and answering questions about voter registration. Most importantly, however, they have made themselves a resource to the Poly community, encouraging students to reach out directly to them.

Marash said, “I think, when given the chance, students want to make their voices heard. I hope that VoTE makes it easier for students to have this political discourse in an effective way.”

The voter registration campaign has had to adapt to a pandemic era, leading to the implementation of a paperless registration process.

Marash created a QR code linked to a Link Tree that contains numerous resources about voter registration. She posted this QR code around campus, hoping to create a centralized resource that will assist students in the process of registering and keep them informed.

Gryson said, “Talia came up with the genius idea to create a QR code that goes directly to a link tree.

The link tree was filled with all the resources needed to register, find your polling location, request an absentee ballot, etc.”

Marash also added, “It allows us to present the same information we would have done in person, but make sure that everyone is socially distant while staying informed! …

I think that ultimately, students are smart enough and care enough to make sure that they register and can reach out if they have any questions, it just made me sad that I couldn’t be more of a resource.”

The pandemic era has also led Marash and Gryson to increasingly use social media as a way of spreading their message and sharing information. Through both of their personal social media accounts as well as the VoTE Instagram account, they have been able to directly com-

municate with students, both inside and outside of Poly, and provide them with resources. Gryson said, With the use of the student government social media pages we were able to send out the QR code so that all members of the Poly community could access it. With the help of Poly’s social media accounts, we have had great success with sending out extremely important information to those who may not have known where to find it.”

Both Marash and Gryson believe that the youth vote holds immense power and that youth voter turnout will play a large role in the upcoming election and in influencing future policy.

Marash said, “High school students represent the next evolution of political beliefs. The sooner we establish ourselves as agents of change, the sooner representatives and politicians will cater to us. We must make it known that our future is at stake, and we will do all we can to make sure our voices are heard and concerns are translated into legislation.”

Marash also adds, “The cynicism in the system combined with obstacles put in by an overly complicated system has contributed to the reality where the majority of voters who turn out are white, middle class, middle-aged, middle Americans.”

sound cliche, but young people are the future of our country. Politics have never been traditionally catered to younger generations, but it is so important to emphasize that the voices of our youth matter. We have the ability to create meaningful policy change but we can only do so if we have the ability to make our voices heard. This is why it is so important to get all those who are eligible to vote to go and do so.

TALIA MARASH

Q: What inspired

you to work on this campaign?

A: When

two students from Dalton who I had worked with on other civic engagement events founded VoTE, they reached out to me asking if I wanted to be the Poly Prep representative. I instantly jumped on this opportunity. The influence that a group dedicated to civic engagement and voter registration in NYC private schools could have would be amazing and would help me learn how to run my own voter registration efforts better. I knew that this voter registration week was not the only effort that this group is working towards, but the effort to create a general consensus that civic action does not have to be a separate entity from in school and social education, but should be intertwined in everything we do. The belief that politics and civic engagement spans all topics is one of my core beliefs that initially got me engaged in this organization, and the passion that Poly students as well as the students I work within this organization has shown is the reason I have stayed so involved over time.

Q: Why do you think that the youth vote is so important?

A:

I have always been extremely passionate about politics, but I will not be able to vote in this next election. I knew that the biggest thing I could do was make sure that other students understand the importance of voting and voter engagement. The issues this generation will face in twenty years are not reflected in legislation currently being passed. The sooner we establish ourselves as a powerful voting block, the sooner we will be able to see change that will affect us long term. The current people in office will not be alive when issues like climate change come to fruition, so our vote is the best way we can make sure that although our generation may not be able to take office, we are voicing our concerns. This generation is articulate and has the resources and education like no other due to increased access to social media and the internet, and I think this will be a great advantage as we take to the polls because we can make informed decisions that hold legislators accountable.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER FEATURES

THE POLYGON

PAGE 9

Mental Health: POLY BC2M

Senior Zoe Tzivas starts a Poly chapter of Bring Change to Mind, an organization looking to open dialogue about mental health

SEANNA SANKAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“

Every individual who speaks out inspires another.

And another. That’s how we’ll end the stigma around mental illness. That’s how we’ll Bring Change to Mind,” reads the official Bring Change to Mind website.

Poly’s Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), a student-run club, looks to provide a safe environment and opportunities for open dialogue between students about the importance of mental health. Its role is to transform many preconceived notions about mental health and give a voice to those who are isolated and struggling with their psychological well being.

“In my 23 years working at Poly, I have [got] to know and provide support for many Poly students experiencing mental health challenges. Yet I know that there are a considerable number of students who I don’t reach because they don’t feel comfortable asking for help or worry about the stigma of seeing a mental health professional. The quarantine exacerbated my concern about students feeling isolated and alone in their struggles,” said Karen Ezra, a Poly BC2M faculty adviser, and school psychologist.

From the perspective of a current BC2M member, Gabrielle Perry said, “As a person who has had their fair share of not properly responding to my own needs due to a lack of acknowledgment of mental health issues, I understood how important it was to destigmatize it in a school environment.

We cannot fix a problem if we don’t acknowledge it’s there.

The pandemic only intensified our need to create a space like this considering a large number of us had lost the one thing that ensured stability in our chaotic teenage experience: social interaction”.

“Our mission statement encompasses exactly what we want to come out of BC2M “In the midst of the chaos that surrounds us, we need to know that we can rely on our community more than ever. Our goal is to encourage dialogue and to raise awareness, understanding, and empathy. We strive to end the stigma around mental health and to create a

much-needed supportive environment at our school, focusing on emotional health and wellbeing. It’s important to remember, especially during this time of social distancing, that you are not alone,” said Perry.

In the spring, Ezra spoke with some students who were interested in psychology and asked about their interest in forming a club at Poly that would help encourage open and honest conversations about mental health issues and let students feel empowered to support each other.

Senior Zoe Tzivas, who is interested in majoring in psychology in college, did research on her own after reaching out to Ezra and came across the organization Bring Change 2 Mind. She was influenced by other student-led organizations in high schools across the country, the result being BC2M. “Our goal is to de-stigmatize conversations about mental health and to offer a safe space in our community to have those important conversations. Also to learn more about how to care for each other and ourselves in these trying times,” Tzivas, President of BC2M, said.

1 in 5 young people suffer from a mental illness. Not having stable mental health can obstruct at-home life, personal relationships, and school studies. BC2M promotes productivity and tries to zero in on how choices are determined, along with how situations are handled and coped with.

After their first successful meeting, Ezra said, “...students spoke with each other about the ups and downs of the start of the school year. The feedback we received was positive and the students seemed genuinely appreciative of having a space to talk about mental health.”

Regarding future plans of Poly Bring Change to Mind, Ezra said, “Over the course of the school year, we plan to run public awareness campaigns about various mental health issues and will invite the student community to participate in events which we hope will be both informative and engaging.

We strive to reduce the stigma of mental illness by normalizing talking about mental health. And, most importantly, we want to help students know that they are not alone.

Meet the Founder ZOE TZIVAS

did you decide to create a Poly Q: Why BC2M chapter?

near the beginning of quarantine, Dr. Ezra and A: Basically, I realized that for some students, school might have been their primary source of socialization. For this reason, it’s understandable that quarantine could be detrimental to the mental health of a lot of students in our community, causing them to feel isolated, sad, and alone. I was really excited about this idea, so I started to do some Googling about mental health clubs at high schools and happened to stumble across the Bring Change to Mind organization.

As I read about their mission and all of the ways they work with high schools across the country to promote important conversations about mental health, I knew that it was something I had to bring to Poly. Now more than ever, we need to erase the stigma surrounding mental health issues and learn how to be compassionate towards each other, because frankly, we’re all feeling a little uncertain about what the future holds.

change do you hope to see as a Q: What result of BC2M? hope that as a result of BC2M, our community is A: Iultimately able to find new ways to relate to one

another. I want people to realize that although it might not seem like it, there are others out there who may understand what you’re going through and want to be there for you. Through learning about mental health together, I think we can make Poly a more accepting and positive environment for everyone.

Black Students Demanding Change Poly BSDC representatives, Kadyn Liburd, Makieda McKenzie and Nyla Liburd, partner with the administration to create school-wide change KADYN LIBURD FEAUTURED WRITER

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lack Students Demanding Change (BSDC) is a by students for students organization. Our goal is to foster a centralized community space where Black students feel heard, supported, and celebrated. We work to implement racially equitable reform in independent schools across the nation by serving as an intermediary between Black students and our administrations. Our platform amplifies the voices of our peers by translating concerns and ideas into actionable steps to make our institutions actively anti-racist and authentically inclusive, thus improving the educational experience for all students. We aim to work in conjunction with our administrations to implement changes, ensuring accountability and transparency along the way.

BSDC’s first order of business was to curate a list of collective demands that expressed Black students’ concerns and requests. BSDC representatives then tailored these demands to fit the needs of their respective schools. Since the inception of BSDC in June, we have made unforeseen amounts of progress. Some of our most notable accomplishments include having 13 schools agree to our demands, expanding nationally, reaching over three thousand followers on Instagram, hosting our inaugural BSDC virtual conference, and being hosted on WBAI’s radio segment called ‘Good Morning Nueva York.’

As Poly’s first BSDC representative, I wrote an action plan for Poly specifying ways we could work towards becoming an anti-racist institution. The administration accepted these demands, and since the summer, me and my fellow BSDC representatives Makieda Mckenzie ‘21 and Nyla Liburd ‘24, have been involved in meetings

VIA INSTAGRAM The Black Students Demanding Change Logo discussing how to actualize the demands . This year , we will continue to partner with the administration to improve the experience of Black students, as well as host BSDC sponsored workshops and forums. There is a lot of work still to be done, but the existence of BSDC represents a call for change from students at schools across the nation, demonstrating that racial inequity is not unique to any one place. Our outcry is indicative of a need for systemic reform across educational institutions in America.

Meet the Poly Reps KADYN LIBURD

MAKIEDA MCKENZIE

Q: How do you envision

Q: How do you envision

my school can become A: Ianhope authentically inclusive place,

envision a Poly that is truly incluA: Isive and holds the needs of all of

Poly?

where every students experience does not differ based upon their skin tone. I also envision my school as a community where everyone feels welcomed and accepted.

Poly?

its students at its core. I envision a Poly that strives to make all students feel welcome and able to truly develop into their best selves.

NYLA LIBURD do you envision Q: How Poly? had many dialogues in A: Imyhaveclasses about race and

bias. I want Poly to be an accepting place with good policies.

excerpted from @bsdcny

THE POLYGON

. SEPT/OCT 2020

Girls Varsity Soccer Takes Home the Gold GVS and Coach Cannon receive the United Soccer Coaches Team Pinnacle Award for the 2019-2020 season

League changes to professional sports result in safe conditions but low fan turnout ISSEY GETSEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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SHEPHERD DZINA SPORTS EDITOR

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arsity Girls’ Soccer and Coach Kristin Cannon have been named the recipients of the United Soccer Coaches Team Pinnacle Award for the 2019-20 academic year and second consecutive year.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fall sports season has been canceled with hopes of it returning in the spring. Although this is disappointing for many athletes, especially the seniors, there is still cause for some celebration this fall.

They are one of only 23 high school teams in the country to receive this extremely prestigious award, which is granted to teams with extremely reputable sportsmanship, educational excellence, and a winning record of .750 or above.

“For our team to earn the United Soccer Coaches Pinnacle Award is a testament to our student-athletes and their commitment to each other and this program,” said Cannon. “To be one of only 23 high school teams in the country to have this distinction is a source of pride for our program and our community. Thank you to everyone involved with our program. To our coaches, parents, and teachers - thank you.”

Members of the team also expressed their

Professional Sports MAKE A COMEBACK

VIA COMMUNICATIONS GVS posing on the backfields last year excitement about receiving this award.

Senior Claire Prutsalis said, “I am really proud of the whole team. We all work really hard both on and off the field and it’s exciting to see us get recognition for that, especially two years in a row.”

Another senior, Tessa Weiss, explained that “this was truly a team effort with incredible leadership from our coaches and participation from every single player on GVS.”

The Outdoor Weight Room

hough the pandemic has severely limited the return of professional sports and prevented stadiums’ usually exciting atmospheres, many teams and leagues, including the MLB and NBA, have successfully managed to hold games and competitions safely.

Every professional sports league has been able to continue their seasons; however, the format of each was quite different from its original. For example, the NBA took 22 teams to Orlando, Florida, where they played in what was called the “bubble,” an indoor basketball facility. In the bubble, only staff, players, and family members were allowed to watch the games. They also implemented a virtual crowd where people can join in to experience the fun and cheer on their favorite players. Teams like the Suns and Nuggets really surprised the league, as they both went onto have unexpected amazing performances.

The MLB also underwent many changes to accommodate safety measures. The league decided to shorten the extensive 162 game season to 60. Similarly to the other leagues, they didn’t allow fans, but by the end of the season, they decided to allow some for the World Series.

Both teams from Los Angeles won the World Series and NBA championships, but many fans just were not as excited as they normally are. Both of these championship series had the lowest viewership ratings in years. Regardless of what people may have thought about the shortened seasons with no fans, it is still an immense accomplishment for Los Angeles. One can only hope that next season the teams will be able to safely host fans again and revive the leagues from this lackluster season.

Poly’s Athletic Staff adapts to new safety regulations by creating an outdoor workout space on the football field and track

LUKE ZIMMERMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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OVID-19 has dramatically changed our lives. With school moving completely outside, athletic training at the Dyker Heights Campus has followed suit.

Even before the pandemic, the coaches had been creative in utilizing all of campus, but six months ago being restricted to only working out outside would have been unimaginable, and students never would have pictured all our athletic equipment on the field. The Poly Prep athletic staff has been accommodating in allowing students the option of working out during the school day.

Poly’s Director of High Performance and former Olympic athlete Coach Richard James is leading workouts Monday

VIA SHEPHERD DZINA Senior Ansel Ng working out in the outdoor facilities to Thursday between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. He said that it is essential to “make the necessary adjustments for survival, fun, and improvement.” It is important to keep our bodies safe and to maintain our strength, especially at a time when respiratory health is so important.

While students are not able to compete against other schools, athletic training provides a much needed mental break from their academics. The workouts ground people, giving them an opportunity to exert energy and get rid of frustrations and stress.

Coach James recognizes that despite the uncertainties over whether sport seasons will return, the athletes must be pre-

pared to compete, taking inspiration from Sun Tzu: “The Skillful Warrior does not rely on the enemy’s not coming, but on his own preparedness.” Coach James’s commitment to each athlete is immeasurable, and his program is designed to encourage everyone to exercise regardless of their involvement in sports.

Andrew Hart, a senior on the football team, said that he likes “working out outside as opposed to not working out at all.”

He is “happy [he] can interact with [his] teammates safely while getting better at the same time.”

Dylan Moskowitz, a junior who plays basketball, said that while he “definitely [likes] what we’re doing with the track and [likes] working out there,” he enjoys “working out indoors better than out on the track,” saying the “wind and sun can be annoying.”

Overall, everyone is happy to be

able to workout, but students are split on whether the new setup is as functional as the traditional indoor setup.

In addition to the outdoor workouts, Coach James is hosting virtual workouts Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:00 pm with Assistant Director of Sports Performance Jillian Wojcik, who is at the Lower School Park Slope Campus during the day and unable to coach the in-person workouts. There are also workouts posted to the Poly Blue Devils Instagram page on Mondays and Fridays.

During the outdoor workouts, students and coaches are social distancing and wearing masks and gloves to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved. The Poly community happily follows COVID-19 protocols and recognizes how lucky Poly is to have the space and resources to create this wonderful outdoor gym.

VIA SHEPHERD DZINA A rowing machine set up on the football field