Volume 111, Issue 15

The Spectator

“The Pulse of the Student Body”

The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper

Volume 111 No. 15

May 17, 2021 OPINIONS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Pipedown With the Pipelines” Opinions writer Elio Torres discusses the dangers faced by various communities and the importance of holding companies accountable as National Grid implements a pipeline in NYC neighborhoods. see page

Prabhu Appointed as Interim Acting Assistant Principal of Teacher Support & Development and Data Systems Lead

By EUGENE YOO, ELAINE HUANG, WILLOW DENKER, and KEVIN CHAN Biology teacher Marianne Prabhu assumed the newly established role of Interim Acting Assistant Principal, Teacher Support & Development and Data Systems Lead on April 26. Prabhu plans to take on the role along with being a biology teacher until an official Assistant Principal has been determined. Applications for the position will open on May 3 where Prabhu will be among the individuals applying.

The role was created to support teachers technologically and in general instruction, especially amid the pandemic. “The changing times and circumstances require our teachers/staff to build on their capacity in areas of technology, data use, and adaptations to pedagogical approaches/practices,” Principal Seung Yu said in an e-mail interview. “The role will help lead our efforts in preparation for our instructional approach this summer, next school year, and in the future.”

NEWSBEAT Students will be expected to attend remote instruction during snow days in the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.

Junior Justin Murdock won the Kyunggi Scholarship at the 11th Kyung-Uhn Scholarship Speech Contest on Korean History, Culture, & People.

Junior Kai Mandelbaum played jazz piano in the New York State Band Directors Academy Honors Ensemble.

Seniors Katerina Corr and Alisha Heng are semifinalists in the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars competition.

Senior Isabella Lee was awarded the Songwriters Hall of Fame Songwriters of Tomorrow Scholarship.

The position is also meant to help support a strong educational experience at Stuyvesant.

“Stuyvesant academics are challenging and thus we need to be able to support all learners who may need different things in the teaching and learning process,” Yu said.

To establish this position formally at Stuyvesant, Yu worked with the district superintendent Kelly McGuire to discuss the subject of professional growth for teachers. “I concluded a position focused on teacher support and development would be instrumental in strengthening our overall academic program. I worked closely with the Superintendent’s team to determine the feasibility in realizing the position,” Yu said. A hiring manager will select an individual through the C-30 procedure, a process conducted whenever there is an Assistant Principal vacancy.

Prabhu was drawn to the role of Interim Acting Assistant Princontinued on page 4

stuyspec.com

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“Rina Sawayama: The Big Sister You’ve Always Wanted” Few artists are on the cutting edge of culture, identity, and social change as much as rising star Rina Sawayama. A&E writer Zifei Zhao discusses her journey to discovering the musician, and the musician’s journey to stardom. see page

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Stuyvesant Environmental Club Hosts Virtual Earth Day Fair

By EMMA CHIO, MAHIR HOSSAIN, MONICA LAI, MARY LEE, and ZUZI LIU

The Stuyvesant Environmental Club (SEC) hosted its annual Earth Day Fair on April 23.

The two-hour-long virtual event hoped to bring awareness to environmental issues.

The Earth Day Fair aimed to demonstrate support and educate on the various environmental changes. “We wanted to raise awareness for a lot of environmental issues and also spread a bit of positivity, just because we know this year has been super stressful,” senior and SEC president Sakina Gulamhusein said. “[We wanted to have] people enjoy Earth and maybe encourage people to go outside a little bit or clean up after their trash—those little things.”

This year’s Earth Day fair theme focused specifically on Earth Appreciation. “We wanted to make the fair about appreciating all that the Earth does for us rather than dwelling on negative environmental news,” junior and SEC secretary Nour Kastoun said.

While the SEC’s first virtual Earth Day Fair, which was held last year, was open only to SEC members, the SEC opened the fair to the entire student body this time as they had more time to prepare. “The leaders wanted to cre-

ate an event that would include Dungeons & Dragons. The authe participation of the entire stu- dience would be presented with dent body of the school,” junior certain scenarios that they would and SEC member Daniel Leong have to solve with the available said. materials and their thinking,” LeThe fair started off with an ong said. introduction of the club, and This layout differed from the then in three cycles. It was then traditional, in-person Earth Day structured so that attendees could fairs where SEC members would choose the activities they were in- set up presentations in the cafterested in participating in. eteria. “In person, it’s super “Each cycle conbustling,” Gulamhusein tained four difsaid. “Everybody just ferent breakout comes in, looks rooms [and at a board, the in] each members are breakout presenting room, a their own little g r o u p thing. There’s of club food, there’s members games, all the presentfun kinds of ed about aspects in a a differfair.” ent topic,” However, the Kastoun said. cabinet ran into “Each breakout several technical room also had a difchallenges in adjustferent presentation Lauren Chin / The Spectator ing the Earth Day fair to style. Between each a virtual environment. cycle, attendees reconvened in the “We faced a lot of obstacles in main room to use Zoom white- preparing for the fair, the main board annotations to write about one being designing the structure what they learned in their break- of the fair such that it didn’t last out rooms.” longer than 1.5 to two hours and One of the activities was a was simultaneously fun and edugame that Leong helped create.

“We created a role-playing game continued on page 4 that was inspired by the game

Stuyvesant Faces Large Number of Unresolved NX Grades

By AIDEN ACKERMAN, CHRISTINA WANG, LAUREN CHIN, RUIWEN (RAVEN) TANG, and SARAH DIAZ When New York City public schools closed last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students and teachers alike started school online.

To accommodate students who experienced a difficult transition to remote learning, the New York City Department of Education revised grading policies in April 2020.

Part of this policy was the introduction of NX, which stands for “Course in Progress.” Students who would normally receive a failing grade in a class received an NX grade instead. NX grades enabled students to finish fulfilling course requirements after the end of the school year without retaking the full curriculum of that failed class.

Students with NX grades were required to attend summer school, which served as an opportunity to resolve the grades, complete outstanding work, and

prepare for the next school year.

More than a year after NX grades were introduced, however, hundreds of Stuyvesant students are facing unresolved NX

Sabrina Chen/ The Spectator

grades, many of which are from last spring.

If students do not resolve their work by the end of the following term, their NX grades turn into NCs, or “No Credit.”

The NC indicates that a student did not pass the class, though it does not factor into their GPA. If

the course is required for graduation, the student must retake the course. All NX grades must be resolved before the end of the following term.

As of now, the majority of students with NX grades have one to two NXs typically in the core classes: English, History, Language, Math, and Science.

There are many conjectures among the administration about the large number of NX grades. Some speculate that a student earned an NX because they were unable to complete work due to personal circumstances. Others believe that students received an NX due to pandemic-related circumstances, such as lack of motivation to complete the work.

However, the administration acknowledges this problem caseby-case. “My impression is that it really varies student by student,” Director of College Counseling Jeffrey Makris said in an e-mail interview.

However, certain students

have also not communicated pandemic-related reasons for why they received NXs and still have not resolved the necessary work.

“Stuy may also need to become more stringent with issuing NXs. This may help at least some students to avoid giving in to the temptation to accept an NX and temporarily put off the work,” Makris said. “The NX option should be there for those students who are facing serious obstacles and really need the additional time while they work to resolve these issues.”

The administration urges students struggling with NX grades and other academic challenges to use support systems available to them, such as the guidance department, office hours, and peer tutoring. “Our entire school community needs to work together to make sure students don’t overschedule themselves and that they know when and how to utilize existing support systems when they are struggling, which can help them to not only better manage their classes but, more importantcontinued on page 2

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Page 2

News Stuyvesant Offers AP Art and Design

By REBECCA BAO, NADA HAMEED, and VEDAANT SHAH For the upcoming 2021-22 school year, Stuyvesant will be offering Advanced Placement (AP) Art and Design for the first time.

The course, also known as AP Studio Art, will be Stuyvesant’s second art AP in addition to AP Art History and will be taught by art teacher William Wrigley.

The class focuses on creating artwork revolving around a theme chosen by the artist rather than honing in on artistic techniques.

“It’s going to be a lot more broad in terms of the materials that it uses,” Wrigley said. “It’s going to give students the opportunity to think about their own artwork as more of a statement of self, more of a statement of their own mindset and their own ideas, not just as a demonstration of how facile they can be with the material.”

AP Art and Design involves creating an art portfolio over the course of the school year. “It’s going to be a little less focused on basic skill-building than it is more like finding your voice and looking more independently to build a portfolio,” art teacher Karen Leo said.

Instead of a culminating exam typically taken for an AP course, AP Art and Design requires an art portfolio of 15 photographs to determine a final score. “[It is] 15 photographs that demonstrate what the finished work tends to look like, how you make them, how your process works, [and] your sketches,” Wrigley said.

As reflected in the curriculum, the class will allow students to individually express themselves. “I work with students to think about their own relation to their technical skills, [...] to the materials that they’re using, [and] the concepts that they are working with,” Wrigley said. “[We will start] with a few guided projects [...] how everybody can figure out their own artistic focus, and from there, we apply their artistic focus

to a theme or essential question they come up with, and they start to build their work.”

To take the course, Wrigley emphasizes that students possess a strong interest in art rather than pursuing it for another AP course. “This is a class for students who really are confident in their art-making and want to push the boundaries of what they make, want to figure out a way to use the skills they have and build those skills, but also apply those skills in ways they haven’t done before,” he said.

Though the course is offered to anyone who has taken Art Appreciation, it is recommended for students with art experience outside of Stuyvesant. “It should be a rigorous, studio art class for students who are probably more advanced [and who have had] some experience,” Leo said. “The hard thing about that for our school is that we don’t have a lot of art classes for kids to build up their skills [and] get to that level.”

Many students also recognize the rigor of the course. “Even [for] in-class projects, art can take anywhere from 6-15 hours to finish a piece,” junior Cadence Li said. “So I just don’t think that it’s responsible for a junior to be ‘I’ll just put on an AP Studio Art for an easy AP.’” Some were surprised to hear that AP Art Studio was offered for the upcoming school year. “It seems like Stuyvesant offers every AP except the ones that are related to art,” Li said. “I was really surprised that AP studio art was offered as an elective because I assumed that was something Stuyvesant would never end up doing.”

Some students are drawn to AP Art and Design due to the hands-on aspect of the course.

Freshman Erica Chen, who is thinking of potentially pursuing graphic design in the future, hopes that AP Studio Art can help build up the required skills.

“When I took art appreciation, I really liked that aspect of drawing, so I wanted to do the same

in future classes,” she said. “I was planning on taking art electives, [and] AP Art and Design is considered an elective [...] and it’s an AP, so it’s even better.”

Similarly, sophomore Emily Young-Squire is interested in the aspect of making art rather than studying it. “The fact that it’s more about creating art makes me want to take it a lot more than art history because if you’re taking an AP art course, the main focus of it should be the art itself, and not so much the history,” she said. “I really want to revolve around art techniques and how to draw really realistic art, or how to draw in a certain style.”

Though the course is currently a senior-priority course, many hope that AP Art and Design will eventually be offered to sophomores or juniors. “I would totally be open to the idea of sophomores to get more art electives because I was pulling my hair out realizing that all the art electives were reserved for juniors and seniors,” Li said.

Many responded enthusiastically to seeing a new addition to the art courses Stuyvesant offered. “This is a great time for the art department and we really want to make sure that we are serving as many of the students as possible in many ways and just being more visible,” Wrigley said.

Junior Daniel Lyalin, who identifies as STEM-oriented, believes that the course offers an opportunity for students who are more art-inclined. “When I saw AP studio art, I felt really good for a lot of people who are not as STEM-focused as I am and who’d enjoy [it] a lot more because I think art courses [in Stuyvesant] are, to be respectful, a little bit lacking,” he said.

Others hope that Stuyvesant will offer more art courses in the future. “I see a lot of upperclassmen being like ‘why is [AP Studio Art] only offered now?’ and they regret it not being offered earlier,” freshman Lesley Lo said.

“The more options you get, the better it is [for all students].”

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and NASA

WORLDBEAT The US Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to children ages 12 to 15.

The World Health Organization approved China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, which will be administered for emergency use, increasing access for developing nations.

New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will allow businesses to fully reopen on May 19.

The Biden administration will lift patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines to produce more doses around the world.

Verizon arranged a deal to sell Yahoo! and AOL to Apollo Global Management for $5 billion.

Peloton recalled its treadmills after numerous injuries and a child’s death was linked to the product.

President Joe Biden will raise the cap on refugee admission to 62,500, nearly 50,000 higher than that during Trump’s era.

While AP Art and Design is limited in space, the introduction of the course may be a step toward further expanding the art courses offered at Stuyvesant. “Since it’s a full-year course,

there’s only one section of the course [and] it’s going to be hard to get into,” Leo said. “[But] I would really love to see this to be the beginning of offering more [art] electives.”

Stuyvesant Faces Large Number of Unresolved NX Grades continued from page 1

ly, connect with the resources they need to overcome the difficulties they are experiencing,” Makris said.

For students who received NXs as a result of personal challenges, there are concerns that the same difficult circumstances will continue to affect their ability to resolve these NXs. “Students who earn an NX get more time to complete the course, which is helpful on the surface,” Makris said. “But they still need to find the time to make up that work [...] while managing the demands of the following term’s classes, which isn’t easy [...] unless we’re talking about a spring term course and the student completes the work over the summer. Plus, the challenges the student faced that lead to their not being able to finish the course in the first place may be ongoing.”

Additionally, the tedious nature of online learning, be it the copious amounts of screen time or the minimal social interaction, can further impact students’ abilities to resolve NX grades. ”Re-

mote learning is really a lot of work [...] mixed with a decrease in motivation [and] some disconnection from being online so long. I think students are struggling to complete everything,” guidance counselor Sarah Kornhauser said

the end of the marking period,” an anonymous student said in an e-mail interview. “I have recently traveled to a different country and struggled to gain access to WiFi. NX [grades are] a great implementation.”

“Prioritizing mind and body health is the most important thing. Drink water, move your body, and go outside. Truly, nothing is more important than keeping your mind clear and your body strong, as much as you are able.” —Sarah Kornhauser, guidance counselor in an e-mail interview.

Many found the policy to be helpful as they considered the option of NX grades as a safety net, despite that NX grades were not implemented to serve that purpose. “NX helps me from the drought of assignments and pressure of turning it all in before

Some students were aware of the NX option and chose it, though they acknowledge that work can build up. “I NX’d in Japanese and biology due to missing labs and missing work [...] missing just one [assignment] will set you back a bit,” freshman Orup Ghosh said.

Additionally, others believe that NX grades have helped them in terms of time and effort. “The concept of NX is amazing since it boosts your average and usually makes it clear that one isn’t interested in a particular subject,” the anonymous student said.

Despite this, NX grades may have unintended serious consequences. “They are problematic for the college admissions process at least, and at worst, could interfere with a student’s ability to graduate, or graduate on time, if the courses in question are required for graduation and are not eventually completed. NXs only provide a temporary reprieve; they have to be positively resolved to avoid future problems,” Makris said.

Furthermore, the administration has faced difficulty pinpointing an exact solution, given the wide scope of the issue. “Should students get an automatic pass?

Should students have an unlimited amount of time to make up work?

Does it make sense to take the entire course over again? Should we not worry about things like graduating in four years and enrolling in college immediately after graduat-

ing from high school?” Assistant Principal Eric Smith said in an email interview. “With so many differing opinions, how do we fairly and quickly devise a plan that takes them all into consideration while tailoring the plan to each student’s individual circumstances?”

Looking ahead, there is hope that a return to in-person learning in the fall for the upcoming school year will reduce the number of students earning NX grades. “Getting everyone back in school full time will help across the board,” Makris said.

Kornhauser added, “The pandemic has had profound effects on our young people all over the world. It has not been a normal time and so our responses (understandably) have not been normal.”

Despite the emphasis on resolving NX grades, the staff also acknowledges the importance of prioritizing students’ wellbeing. “Prioritizing mind and body health is the most important thing. Drink water, move your body, and go outside. Truly, nothing is more important than keeping your mind clear and your body strong, as much as you are able,” Kornhauser said.

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Page 3

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News Congresswoman Grace Meng (’93) Speaks to Writing to Make Change Class

By JAMES KANG and ALICE ZHU English teacher Annie Thoms virtually hosted guest speaker Congresswoman Grace Meng (’93) on April 12 in her Writing to Make Change class. Meng, who represents New York’s 6th Congressional District of Queens, New York, discussed her Stuyvesant experiences, how she developed her political interests and her activism toward the Asian American community.

Writing to Make Change is an English elective offered to juniors and seniors to explore writing with real-life applications. “The aim is for the writing to go out into the world to make change of some kind on issues [students] care about. We explore many kinds of genres from op-ed writing to graphic novels to memoirs to poetry to podcasting,” Thoms said in an e-mail interview.

Because the class revolves around public writing, Thoms structured the class with invitations to guest speakers who actively use writing in their professional lives to inspire students to use their writing as a form of advocacy. Meng, who was a former classmate of Thoms, was chosen because of the work she does. “Meng is an extraordinary human being and politician and speaker. In the last few years, her voice has just become nationally more prominent and she has been so extraordinary in her work

in Congress,” Thoms said.

Students were provided with some of Meng’s work to familiarize themselves. One piece was a testimony of hers regarding the recent rise in violence against the Asian American community.

This testimony was conducted before the House Judiciary Committee and contributed to the success of Meng’s Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill, which was passed on April 22 with a vote of 94 to 1. Students were also provided with legislation promoting Asian Pacific American history in schools, which Meng strives to emphasize.

Part of Meng’s motivation in her work comes from the lack of Asian American representation in her education growing up. “As a kid growing [up] in New York City, I realized that I didn’t have enough opportunities to learn about the contributions of Asian Americans to this country,” Meng said.

“This discrimination against Asian Americans has really made me realize how we need to create more opportunities for our students, from K through 12 and beyond to learn about the history of different people’s contributions to this country.”

Though Meng did not follow a traditional path into politics, she grew an interest in politics and government work in her desire to help her community. That interest developed into a deep awareness of how politics could be used as a medium to help said communi-

ties and bring more representation into the field. “When I was a student at Stuy, I was a pretty shy kid, I was really quiet,” she said. “I knew I wanted to try to do something to help my community and to help people around me [...] During college, I had some internships in various government agencies and really became fascinated with how the government worked. [...]

It was also a cool place because there weren’t a lot of minorities and there weren’t a lot of women in these internships. I realized that politics, when used correctly, can be a really good way to help people.”

Meng uses writing to aid her political work and spoke of its importance while also highlighting its difficulty. “Writing skills are really important to formulating a clear argument, whether that be writing legislation, the bills that you read about, or just writing notes or questions when I am listening to a hearing or when I am participating in a meeting,” Meng said. “And I will tell you that writing doesn’t necessarily come easy to many of us. And that includes me, who actually liked it.”

A lot of the work she does is inspired by everyday people, who highlight issues for politicians like her to implement change. One such example is how one of Meng’s bills was inspired by a seventh grader’s letter highlighting the issue of period poverty and menstrual inequity.

“I learned about this issue [from] a

seventh-grader, who wrote a letter to me about how homeless people could not get pads and tampons in New York City from the homeless shelters, and I was shocked,” Meng said. “We have been able to work with the mayor to get these products in all New York City public schools. We have been able to get these products into our federal prisons because that wasn’t true like two years ago. The homeless shelters are now allowed to give out these products where they weren’t allowed to before. I just wanted to give you an example of how one letter, one short letter, one piece of writing can make a difference in people’s lives.”

With Meng’s accomplishments in mind, students also became cognizant of the struggles she faces as a person of color in politics. “At the end of her testimony, I could visibly see how upset she was and I realized how hard it can be for her to stand up for Asian Americans and other minorities in America when people continuously disregard her voice and the voices of minorities,” junior Erica Zhou said.

However, many also understood the motivation and confidence that Meng draws from the public’s support for the Asian American community. “When Grace Meng noticed that people outside the Asian American community and younger people in America were speaking out and standing up for Asians, she was

surprised and became much more encouraged and motivated to continue fighting.”

Others were inspired by Meng’s worldview. “I really liked it because I learned a lot about her work and what her thought process is,” junior Kartik Vanjani said in an email interview. “Grace Meng had a unique thought process in changing people’s negative views on topics. She believed that people are naive and the bad things they say are not an accurate representation of who they are. This was powerful and serves to be very true.”

Overall, many felt that the guest speaker event provided them with a unique opportunity to have a conversation with a member of Congress. “This event was successful and everything went smoothly,” Zhou said. “It felt surreal being able to meet Grace Meng, even if it’s over Zoom, especially because she represents my district. I knew this event was kind of a big deal when I noticed that a few other teachers were there and even Principal [Seung] Yu. The event ultimately allowed students to widen their knowledge.

“One important lesson I learned was to never think bad about somebody who says bad stuff because Grace Meng said that they are naive or were not brought up in the right way. To be able to hear from a Congresswoman in these times was just cool and I cannot appreciate Grace Meng’s time enough,” Vanjani said.

Prabhu Appointed as Interim Acting Assistant Principal of Teacher Support & Development and Data Systems Lead continued from page 1

cipal because she felt that the responsibilities associated with the position aligned with her interests.

“I enjoy researching pedagogy, educational technology, and different resources available to educators,” she said in an e-mail interview. “I love a challenge and learning new things so this is a welcome opportunity. It’s a time commitment, but it doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing something you love.”

She was considered for this role because of her prior experience with supporting teachers.

“She [worked] as a Peer Collaborative teacher leader at Stuyvesant supporting the efforts of teaching and learning [...] coordinated bi-monthly professional development sessions geared around the school instructional foci [...] and supported completion of the probation process for teachers and staff,” Yu said.

Additionally, she helped coordinate with and prepare colleagues for the blended and remote school year. “In preparation for the 2020-

2021 school year, she provided coordination this past summer with colleagues to provide learning sessions for teachers to share and learn from one another in our effort to prepare for blended and remote learning,” Yu said. “She has a wealth of experience in supporting teachers and a deep understanding in designing and organizing activities for implementation.”

Yu believes that Prabhu’s leadership skills as Interim Acting Assistant Principal will continue to aid both the teacher and student experience at Stuyvesant. “The goal is for her to continue what she has contributed and to build on those efforts,” he said. “She will be a thought[ful] partner for her peers and a team member in leading our efforts to strengthen our teaching and learning.”

To transition into the role, Prabhu has been preparing for its responsibilities. “Right now, I am listening and learning as much as I can. Together with the administration, we will develop a strategic plan to create some consistency across departments, where appropriate,” Prabhu said. “I reviewed a number of tools and wanted to

share them with the Stuy community. I also knew that many teachers had found success in their own ways and we could all benefit from hearing and seeing it in action.”

Many students hope that the role will provide the necessary support to both teachers and students. “When we transitioned to remote learning last year, many of Stuy’s existing weaknesses were highlighted,” junior and Student Union Vice President Shivali Korgaonkar said in an e-mail interview. “As students, we experienced a lack of support on many different levels [...] and teachers experienced a similar lack of support in their transition [...] Both students and teachers need extra support in dealing with remote learning, but also looking beyond this pandemic and into changing cultural norms at Stuy that emphasize communication and unity.”

The new role may also be particularly crucial to incoming ninth and 10th graders. “With both a freshman and sophomore class that have never experienced Stuy in its true form, they will need a lot more support than we were given this year,” Korgaonkar said.

Korgaonkar also hopes that Prabhu will welcome student feedback. “We, as students, have firsthand experience with different classes, but our reflections are rarely taken into account between years,” she said. “I want to see student data and input used while strengthening Stuy’s learning practices. I hope Ms. Prahbu is able to make feedback between students, teachers, and administrators a normal practice, as it has not been in the past.”

Freshman Kyle Hon Chan emphasized cooperation in the transition back to fully in-person classes in September. “They need as many hands on deck to create a smooth transition for the students,” he said in an e-mail interview.

Prabhu’s students have mentioned her enthusiasm and charisma, which are important qualities for encouraging cooperation between students and teachers. “[Prabhu is] really sweet and a teacher that seems approachable,” sophomore Lara Ongan said in an e-mail interview. “She’s good at both listening to what people have to say and getting the point she needs to get across, and she defi-

nitely takes what people tell her into account. [...] I hope Ms. Prabhu can make learning online more bearable for all of us this year.”

Many students hope that Prabhu will smoothen the transition back to in-person instruction.

“I hope that there is sufficient instructional time for teachers to finish their curriculum, while also giving students reasonable time to understand material and avoid having to self-teach everything,” Korgaonkar said. “We have [this] opportunity to change standard practices at Stuy to prioritize effective learning and improve studentteacher relationships.”

Ultimately, Yu hopes that the role of the Assistant Principal, Teacher Support & Development and Data Systems Lead will improve and better support the Stuyvesant community. “I want to grow our prospective leaders and all staff as the strength of the school is rooted in its people,” Yu said. “The pandemic challenged all of us to reimagine and reconsider how we teach and learn; therefore, we must adapt to the changing circumstances by building our capacities to respond to such changes.”

Stuyvesant Environmental Club Hosts Virtual Earth Day Fair continued from page 1

cational for attendees,” Kastoun said. “We also had to adjust for possible technical difficulties and work out Zoom logistics.”

Despite these difficulties, the cabinet found the fair to be successful. “We had a really great turnout (almost 200 people) that was slightly unexpected, but very exciting,” Kastoun said. “Thankfully, the fair ran smoothly with-

out any technical difficulties, and attendees seemed to enjoy the different activities.”

Students and faculty members alike shared positive opinions of the fair. “I could barely imagine the SEC could successfully bring all that fun and excitement, not to mention interaction, to a virtual setting, but they absolutely did.”

Assistant Principal of Pupil Personnel Services Casey Pedrick said in an e-mail interview.

The attendees also gained

newfound knowledge from the presentations. “I had no idea that bees had a separate stomach for storing the nectar. And that, when they return to the hive, they regurgitate the nectar and pass it along to another bee,” Pedrick said.

Sophomore Hailey Seltzer added, “I enjoyed the storybooktype activities that were shown.

Basically, the presenters roleplayed as bees and had a storyline.”

Junior Ivy Jiang found the re-

search shown at the fair thoughtevoking. “I learned several fun facts about the Earth and our environment such as honey is actually bee vomit, ants can lift twenty times their body weight, bees pollinate nine out of 10 crops humans eat, and three percent of the water on Earth is drinkable,” she said in an e-mail interview. “These facts only accentuate why Earth is such an interesting place and the need for us to protect it.”

Ultimately, SEC board mem-

bers felt that the fair surpassed her expectations, especially as it took a virtual format this year. “The energy in the room was super great [...] [W]e had the whiteboard presentation, where we’d have people draw on the Zoom thing so they’d have something fun to do. That kind of made the room lighter, and more people willing to talk because of that,” Gulamhusein said. “[The fair] went perfectly according to plan. I was really happy with how that went.”

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

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News Students Share Opinions on Scheduling for the 2021-2022 Academic Year

By THE NEWS DEPARTMENT With the end of the remote school year nearing, The Spectator conducted a survey with current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors on their opinions on preferred school scheduling for the 2021-2022 school year. Out of the 190 responses, 64.2 percent of students preferred the current modified schedule for remote learning—10 periods over the span of two days with five periods each day—while 34.2 percent of students preferred the traditional schedule used in-person before the pandemic—10 periods everyday. The remaining 1.6 percent did not have a preference or suggested a new scheduling format.

Within these responses, 76 were freshmen, 53 were sophomores, and 61 were juniors. Preference for the modified remote learning schedule decreased as grade level increased; 72.3 percent of freshmen and 71 percent of sophomores preferred the schedule in contrast with the 55 percent of juniors. Similarly, preference for the traditional daily 10 period schedule increased as grade level increased; 45 percent of juniors preferred it while only 21.6 percent and 28 percent of freshmen and sophomores preferred it, respectively.

To better understand the opinions behind schedule preferences, the News Department conducted interviews with students. Here is what they said: “The five-period schedule is pretty neat and it allows for students who have extra work to have more time to complete it. I never experienced what it was like to have the 10-period schedule but I believe that it would be more stressful since students would have to get their homework done the next day. There are more classes but less time in each which I think would make it harder to learn things. ” —Kayla Lin, freshman “We should keep the schedule we have now because it gives us more time to relax between periods and allows us more flexibility to do work. However, I do think it [allows] teachers to assign more work than they would ordinarily.

That being said, I do still prefer the five-period schedule.” —Bella Rosen, freshman

“Depending on remote or in-person schooling, I would prefer different schedules. If school is in-person, I would prefer the original 10-period schedule because I would be able to learn more in one day, and I also feel more motivated with the 10-period schedule. In some of my classes, the class has been rushed due to the five-period schedule. If we are remaining in the remote school environment, I would prefer the fiveperiod schedule because it would be exhausting to stare at the screen for eight to 10 periods a day. Even with the five-period schedule, sometimes I find myself losing focus in the middle of the day after staring at the screen for too long.” —Anonymous, sophomore “Stuyvesant should keep their 1-5 and 6-10 period schedule. There would be more learning time for a single subject rather than jamming information of nearly nine different subjects inside your head in a single day. This would allow students to fully comprehend the lesson and give them more time to think about it before jumping right into the next lesson the next day. It would also relieve stress for students because they have more time to focus on a subject’s assignment every day. —Calvin Zhang, freshman

“The school should devise a completely new schedule for the first few days to a week. This schedule should be half days but a full 10-period schedule to gradually integrate us into our traditional periods. These days, work should be productively assigned within these shortened periods to slowly accustom us to this schedule. After these first few days, I think that school should go back to its traditional ten periods per day schedule because the five-day schedule was a lot less efficient in that less work was being done.” —Brian Lee, junior

“I prefer the 10-period option because I want to take more classes. There’s a lot of electives and APs open to juniors so I want room on my schedule for it. Also, the five-period schedule makes it hard for me to learn personally. I feel like I lose a lot of what I learn when I only see the teacher every other day and sometimes after three days when it is the weekend.” —Lauren Lee, sophomore

“We should revert back to the traditional 10-period school day since that would allow us to learn the curriculum in the amount of time it was intended for. Right now, I feel like the curriculum for pretty much all of my classes is really rushed, despite having longer classes.

I do think that it’s going to be a really stressful change, though, so I hope that if the administration does decide to use the 10-period schedule, they find a way to make the transition back to it smooth (ex. leniency with grades, shorter class times, longer breaks between classes, etc.).” —Hana Kaloudis, sophomore

“We should keep the five periods per day schedule since, hopefully, most of us have adjusted to it. I think having the schedule broken up would allow for work to be better divided. People can spend more time preparing for a test or doing the homework, instead of having every class’s work due the next day.”

—Elaine Ye, freshman

“With 1-5, 6-10 schedules, it’ll allow students and teachers alike to have more time for themselves instead of doing busy work: there would be more transition time, later classes, and more extracurricular/PSAL time. Don’t confuse this with losing the prestige and overall high education that may come with it. Teachers will find their way to make sure that their curriculum is being taught, like during these times.” —Anonymous, freshman

“I’d rather keep our current schedule of five periods a day. I really like getting to sleep in, and since the classes are longer, I get to spend more time with some of my favorite teachers. I also get a break from classes since we have class every other day, so I have some time to rest and don’t have to do homework for all 10 classes right away.”

—Rachel Lin, junior

“From a subjective standpoint, I’d rather five period days instead of 10 period days as it has been a lot less stressful for me and the homework load has been a lot more manageable. However, in playing devil’s advocate and stepping in the shoes of my teachers, I do realize that 10 period days are favorable in terms of getting the whole curriculum down in a less stressful way. It makes sense when considering how many of my teachers have expressed their concern over how little time they have to teach the whole class.” —Koey Ng, sophomore

“We should keep the schedule as is (five periods per day) when we go back to school in the fall. I feel like having an extra day before having to hand in the homework for a class relieves a lot of stress, because it doesn’t feel like there are so many things due every single day [...] Especially since next year, assuming we go back to in-person school, students would have to deal with commute [...] as well as staying later in school for extracurriculars,” —Erica Chen, freshman “It’s better to keep the schedule as is, five periods per day, just because it is less stressful on the students, and also it’s usually a shorter day instead of having kids go from 8:00 to 2:30, which is probably tiring on the students.

Also, when we have the five period days, we have less homework, so you have more time to complete it. And I think the off-day is very important because you are being swarmed with homework from all subjects every single day. It would be tiring, especially during this pandemic.” —Anonymous, junior

“For one to five, six through 10, that is better because students are better able to manage their time and they are able to have less homework for [fewer] subjects than for 1-10, where you have 10 different subjects at most that you need to do homework for.

But I see the upside of having [the] 1-10 schedule in that teachers get to see more so it’s a better quality of teaching.” —Ravindra Mangar, sophomore “The 10-period day works better. With the 10 periods per day, teachers don’t feel rushed to teach faster and students aren’t pressured to absorb more information in one sitting. With the 10-period day, everyone has more time to learn.” — Giridhar Bonu, sophomore

“We should keep the five periods per day schedule but include a lunch/free period each day. That way, one student doesn’t end up having no frees on a certain day. The five period days, in my opinion, were better because I wasn’t bombarded with homework from all the subjects I would have if it was 10 periods per day.”

—Melody Lew, sophomore

“Probably the 10 period one. The most important thing is maximizing class time.

Because of APs, it would be a cram if there’s not enough class time. When it’s five periods, we have less class time, which is why I prefer it. I also feel like class time would be too long and I prefer for class to be more frequent.” —Larissa Yue, sophomore

“I would choose to keep the five periods a day because I feel like there is less work. I mean, I haven’t experienced in-person school yet, so I can’t say for sure but the current schedule seems to work better for me. I would assume there is less work than usual with homework being due every other day. However, it would be interesting to see what authentic Stuy would be like.” —Natalie Keung, freshman

“Five periods a day, because it’s generally just easier to learn, to focus in class, and to complete my work. I’ve been able to settle down and focus on just three to four subjects a day, and I’ve learned better, even when there’s homework due between days because I’ve had more time to work on homework and properly digest the material [...] It’s just more efficient, and I’ve definitely gotten much better sleep with half the amount of stress, which in turn makes it easier to focus in class.” —Elicia Chau, sophomore

“I’d like it if we kept the five-period days, but only because I’ve grown used to it. I’ve already fallen into the habit of doing homework for different classes on alternating days [...] I also think it might be better for the incoming freshmen to start off with ten-period days so they won’t have to adjust like we would if we do go back to the traditional schedule in the future.” —Celeste Hoo, freshman

“Well, 10 periods with different classes are twice as many classes to take in a day. That’s twice as many topics of information you have to absorb, so why not just immerse yourself in five topics every day and get a deeper understanding.” —Jeremy Kwok, sophomore

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The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Features In Memory of Philip Osborne Mott

By KAREN ZHANG and MORRIS RASKIN Longtime former Stuyvesant English teacher Philip Osborne Mott passed away on March 30, 2021. He taught at Stuyvesant from 2002 to 2017, where he led the American Literature and Shakespeare classes. However, Philip did more than just teach. He created a theater, with a stage and curtains, in his room on the 10th floor for the students in his Shakespeare class to fully act out the plays. He was invited as the student-selected graduation speaker for the Class of 2006. He sang Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor alongside the Stuyvesant choir in the Spring Concert and at Carnegie Hall in 2016.

For many, Philip was more than just an instructor or colleague, but also a friend. While current Stuyvesant students did not have the privilege to meet him, countless administrators, teachers, and other staff members can distinctly remember his presence. He was known to have an infectious smile, a creative mind, and a uniquely strong bond with his students, past and present. Whether it was his passion for teaching, ability to form connections with his students, sense of humor, or love for the arts, Philip made an immeasurable impact on the Stuyvesant community.

In honor of Philip, a virtual ceremony, hosted by choral director Liliya Shamazov and health teacher Barbara Garber, was hosted on May 12. Family, friends, and former colleagues attended the ceremony.

Quotes have been altered for clarity and concision

Courtesy of The Indicator

“I first got to know him as a teacher and a person when he was my oldest daughter Hannah’s English teacher. Stuyvesant can be a very tough place for students––a lot of work, a lot of stress––and his class was her moment of joy. So as a parent, I would hear how [Philip’s class] would be the place where she had meaningful connections with her teacher.

My first interaction with [Philip] was at my first parentteacher conference as a ninth grade parent, and he ran it differently […] He look[ed] at me, and he [said], ‘You must be Hannah’s father.’ I don’t know how much I look like my daughter, but that told me ‘I know who she is.’ So in a school where, as a ninth grader, you can get lost in this large, 10-floor building with 3,300 students, my first memory is sitting down as a parent and having him recognize my daughter through my face [...] That’s what I remember most about [Philip]––he created a space where students are known, where they were humanized, and where they were heard.”

— Eric Contreras, former Stuyvesant principal “[Philip] was an extremely captivating type of individual. It’s like wherever [Philip] was, tension [was] going to come in that direction because of his sense of humor. Like I’ve had some of the biggest belly laughs around [Philip], as well as some really serious conversations about really caring about people, about students, about families, about things going on in this world and always having a voice, and [about] not being afraid [...] One thing I loved about Mr. Mott was that he wasn’t afraid to share how he felt about things in his life or what’s going on, and I could never make it down the hallway without him not talking to so many students.”

— Undine Guthrie, guidance counselor

“He was a true gentleman [and] just a really great guy to hang out with [and] to sing with. He loved music. He loved singing [...] There was a piece where we really needed a tenor, and he was a tenor [...] He received permission to attend rehearsals with us, and he started singing with us and learning the music [...] He sang with us at Carnegie Hall for Mozart’s Requiem in 2016 [... Philip] sang with us at Stuyvesant at the Spring Concert where we did the Mozart Requiem, and he’s singing with the tenors at our stage [...] He would always joke, but at the same time, he was always very insightful. He genuinely loved teaching and loved the kids. He made it a big deal that for him, it wasn’t about grades; it was [...] them and being a good human that he really valued. He taught kids life skills and etiquette skills and how to talk to people, how to be respectful.

His classes were something more than an English class. It was always something more than a class. It was more of a family.”

— Liliya Shamazov, choral director

“I met him when I helped out Pepe in the attendance office, and he would stop in with his forms or say ‘hi’ to Pepe. He would always crack jokes and take the time out to make a little conversation with the both of us. After our little conversations, he would always say ‘hi’ to me in the hallways with such kindness and warmth that was uncommon with Stuy teachers. I never had him as a teacher, but I was thankful that we got to know each other through our small encounters. He was a much-appreciated wake-up call to relax and be a person when I was dragging my sleep-deprived self around Stuy. He will be missed.”

— Jack Cruse (‘18)

“While I hadn’t seen Philip for a couple of years, we had our singing in common, and we had been friends in school. In fact, at a student talent show he facilitated many years ago, I serenaded him with a bluesy version of “Summertime,” and we always jokingly recalled that as our BONDING moment. Indeed it was. I am honored we did that together so many years ago. Anything that encouraged students’ exposure to arts and artistic expression he was at the forefront of and was their inspiration. We both performed Mozart’s Requiem with Stuyvesant’s magnificent student chorus at Carnegie Hall, generously allowed and under the brilliant direction of [former Stuyvesant choral director Holly] Hall and [Shamazov]. The comfort and joy the students felt just standing and singing next to and around him and their admiration for him [were] apparent throughout rehearsals.

An unconventional guy at a conventional school, a lover of arts and creative expression, [Philip], I believe, exposed our students to lessons beyond academia and helped foster in them a sense of individualism and confidence. I am happy to have met him and happy to be able to recall his most vivacious smile. Rest in Peace.”

— Lisa Shuman, history teacher

“[Philip] was a vivacious, amazing, and caring individual who may not have always followed every academic line of policy but truly cared for his students and always was sincere and empathetic. He was endearing, and his smile was contagious. I only had the opportunity to work at Stuy in the last year before his retirement (though I knew of him in the three previous years as a Stuy parent of a ‘17 student). The outstanding memory I have of [Philip] was that he always greeted me with a smiling ‘hello’ and conversation every single time he saw me… every single time. It’s something I have remarked about before his death several times––how he was always present. It seemed he was never too busy or preoccupied to notice people and had a sincere personal interest in so many. I guess that is why so many people, including myself, miss him and his comforting smile.”

— Dina Ingram, Director of Family Engagement

The Loneliness Dilemma

By SABRINA CHEN, TASHFIA NOOR, and ZIFEI ZHAO Humans are social creatures by nature. And now, over one year into quarantine, the world is beginning to open up again. And yet we’re still largely lacking one major aspect of our daily lives: social connection. With the results of the Stuyvesant mental health survey this past winter paired with continued isolation, it’s clear that students are struggling to find the solution to feeling detached and lonely.

The question remains: what even is loneliness, and is there a solution? Is it the physical solitude that we’ve grown accustomed to when in isolation, or perhaps an emotional void? For an anonymous sophomore, it’s both. “It’s a state of mind accompanied by sadness and sometimes a feeling of yearning for social interactions,” the sophomore said in an e-mail interview. “Your mind kind of makes you overthink, and even if people

are physically by you, it seems like you’re alone with nowhere to go.”

Other students have shared that loneliness brings on an indescribable absence––a feeling of wanting. “It just feels like you’re lacking something inside. You’re not fulfilled,” junior Ashley Tian said. Similarly, Principal Seung Yu defines loneliness as an internal disconnect. “Loneliness to me is the feeling of not being connected to others, particularly to my family and closest friends,” he said in an e-mail interview.

Despite the various definitions of loneliness, it’s undeniable that the pandemic has created a void of disconnection among students.

“Loneliness definitely eats me up a lot. It gets kind of unbearable sometimes, being cooped at home with only my family; going through the same routine in my house every day,” sophomore Luca Adeishvili said in an e-mail interview. He describes how he would usually hang out with friends after school during in-person learning, which

would help make school more engaging, but not being able to see his friends has made this far more difficult.

Tian also feels that remote learning has not only made her feel more lonely, but has also added stress to her academic life.

“Emotionally, it’s been a lot more stressful on my mental well-being,” she said. “I’m not retaining any of the information I learned, so that makes me feel unprepared for what follows me during senior year because I feel like I’ll be behind.”

Other students, however, have been able to find new ways to connect with their peers using virtual platforms. “Sometimes, my friends and I will go on a Zoom call to chat or watch a movie or series, an activity the pandemic helped me learn about,” the anonymous sophomore said.

Likewise, freshman Amanda Cisse establishes weekly video calls to remain in contact with her middle school friends. “I stay connected with all of my friends from my

middle school by having a Zoom every Wednesday night where we play games and talk,” she said in an e-mail interview. “It has made it so that I feel just as close, or closer, to my middle school friends as I was pre-pandemic.”

For junior Vicky Liu, she has found a sense of normality with this way of communicating with friends now. “I made sure to keep in touch with my friends and call often with them to keep updated [...] I haven’t really felt a feeling of loneliness in a while. I’ve just learned to adapt to communicate better online,” she said in an e-mail interview.

But students aren’t the only ones that have to adapt to pandemic loneliness. For Principal Yu, family grounds him. “I call my mother and sisters every day, or as much as I can,” Yu said. “They help ground me and even though our conversations are usually not very deep, they are touch points for a quick laugh or share out of how we’re coping.”

Though both students and administrators can usually reach out to their friends and loved ones, it doesn’t always quell these complex feelings. While the school has attempted to improve social relations by hosting online events, many of which have good intentions behind them, they just aren’t a solution to the growing lack of social connection. “You can’t alleviate a person’s loneliness by simply showing them charts and videos about how loneliness affects you badly and why the pandemic is bad for mental health. It addresses an issue but in no way solves the issue being addressed––it’s an essentially performative action,” sophomore Luca Adeishvili said.

Similarly, Tian pointed out a probable reason as to why some students don’t go to events that are supposed to improve mental health: students don’t see them as effective. “I feel like they would just regurgitate the same advice, continued on page 7

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Page 7

Features “You Just Feel a Little More Like An Outcast”: Asian Americans Amid Anti-Asian Violence

By KAREN ZHANG and CLARA SHAPIRO Additional reporting by Calista Lee

shocked because we just moved. It was a new neighborhood, and my neighbors had thus far been nice,” she said. “This experience actually kind of opened my eyes to that, and it let me down a lot [...] I was expecting to feel as safe here as I did there, and now, that has gone under because of this experience and a few other experiences just like that.”

Danger forces adaptation for where you walk, when you walk, and with whom. Yet perhaps the pressure to change ought to be placed more on the attackers than on those being attacked. Asian Americans have been adapting themselves to survive in a hostile environment for generations, but in an attempt to assimilate, a part of the original self is lost.

Principal Seung Yu recalled a particular incident: “When I was in elementary school growing up in North Carolina, I remember feeling embarrassed of being Asian— being a Korean American—because at the time, I heard every derogatory name […] and I just remember feeling embarrassed,” he said. “Fortunately, as I grew up, I’ve learned more about my family [and] our culture, [and I] really gained a sense of pride.”

Asian identity is not something to change. What can change is how we go about thinking of ourselves in the Asian American community. “I’m hopeful for this moment,” Sonya Kim, a parent of a 2020 Stuyvesant alum, said. “For better or for worse, this has been a wake-up call for the Asian American community.”

The wake-up call rings loudest in the ears of Asian Americans. Yet other groups, too, must be prepared to hear the call and answer it. “There’s this idea about Asian Americans being considered ‘other’ and/or invisible, [but] Asian Americans have a rich history in this country and beyond,” Yu said. “It needs to be seen, heard, and valued, and it starts there from every individual.”

In addition to discussing just current events, it is also imperative to confront the long-standing

Karen Zhang / The Spectator

“From what I remember, I was going out on a normal walk. I like fresh air. I remember passing by a house that had a Trump flag on the front, and yes, there were people outside of the house, and one of them, a woman, [...] took one look at me, and—how to describe it—she looked very annoyed, angry, [and] hateful. And she saw me, and her expression was like that.

And she went up to me after that, and I was not expecting anything good if the expression on her face was any indication, and she told me I was a ‘dirty chink’ and also the classic ‘Go back to China,’” junior Rachel Lin said. “[My mom] told me that she was at the supermarket. This was maybe three months into quarantine, and she said that one lady came up to her and told her to go back to her country, which she was assuming was China, because my mom isn’t even Chinese. My mom is Thai, for reference. She thought it was crazy. The lady just had the audacity to come up to her and say, ‘Go back to China’ or something,” junior Paige Wolfing said.

These are not isolated cases. In San Francisco, Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old immigrant from Thailand, died after a man pushed him down the streets on January 28. A month later, Xiao Zhen Xie, a 75-year-old Chinese woman, was attacked on the streets and fought back against her attacker.

And in Atlanta, Georgia, eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent, were shot in a massage parlor by an assailant who claimed to have a “sex addiction” and carried out his shootings in an attempt to eliminate his temptation.

Anti-Asian hate crimes across the country surged by 169 percent in the first quarter of 2021, with New York City experiencing the largest spike—223 percent. Research by Stop AAPI Hate, an or-

ganization created in March 2020 committed to combat anti-Asian racism, recorded 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents since the pandemic started, with women making up 68 percent of the share of reports.

Statistics tell a story. Yet they do not tell individual stories. For people who have either experienced a racist incident or live in fear of experiencing one, these numbers are personal. “You just feel a little more like an outcast,” one anonymous sophomore said in response to the attacks. “You feel a little less of an American even though you’ve been here your whole life and you know it’s your own country, right? It just feels like your own country is turning against you.”

To be an “insider” or “outsider” in this country takes on a literal meaning in the context of the pandemic. To be inside is to be safe as much from the virus itself as from racist jabs about the “Kung Flu,” and to be outside is to be in danger of both. Those who dare to go outside become acutely aware of just how much they are forced to feel like outsiders. “The biggest thing for me is being afraid because when you’re walking on the street, you have to look over your shoulder at all times because it’s actually a little scary now when you have to go out,” the anonymous sophomore said. “I have a sister. I don’t want her walking around. I’ve been trying to go with her everywhere because I don’t want her to get stabbed.”

Passersby are not necessarily the enemy. For the sake of safety, though, many students stay on guard. “When I start passing people on the street or when I’m alone—especially white people, not that I have anything against them, but in my experiences a white person has spewed words of hate at me—there’s a feeling of tenseness,” Lin said. To have to navigate the neighborhood in a full suit of armor is still a new experience for Lin, who only recently moved to Staten Island from Chinatown. “To be honest, I was a bit

model minority myth, a term that coins Asian Americans as hardworking and, thus, socio-economically successful in America. However, this perception has forced a racial wedge between other minority groups while overlooking the adversities that the Asian community faces. “Like all stereotypes, the model minority myth creates separation among groups. In this context, it misconstrues how successful certain ethnic groups are when the reality is much more complicated,” social studies teacher Hing Li said.

Dismantling this myth is key to recognizing that Asian Americans indeed face racism and hate crimes. “Not a lot of people are actually recognizing these crimes as hate crimes against Asians,” junior and Stuyvesant Asian Coalition Vice President Alice Zhu said. “Some people try to look the other way [...] Part of that comes down to that there’s been such a long-prevailing myth of Asians being the model minority that now [...] that there’s a rise in actual Asian crimes, a lot of people don’t really want to recognize that.”

Education is a first step. To educate is to raise awareness of the rich and extensive history of Asian Americans along with the struggles that they’ve faced. “Education is one of the best antidotes to racism. Asian American history has to become part of the New York City school curriculum,” Kim said. “This way, Asian American students not only have pride in the contributions that Asian Americans have made to this

country, but non-Asian students also see that Asian Americans are an integral part of American society and culture, and hopefully, that builds tolerance and respect for their Asian peers.”

Speaking up, whether it is through social media or protests, is a powerful tool in and of itself in amplifying voices. “We should all speak up, and this is not the time to be quiet. We should all raise awareness that this is happening to the AAPI community,” Kim said. “And for young people who are really good with social media, they can use their platforms to shine a light on this problem. They can organize rallies within their communities [and] just in general, become an activist because [... it] gives you agency and sort of control over the situation somewhat.”

Whether it is educating friends or attending rallies to stand in solidarity with the Asian American community, increasing the visibility of Asian Americans ultimately starts on an individual level.

“Each person is capable of different things, and that is what makes us unique. Use your developed skills, passions, talents, and more to begin a conversation or engage directly in the cause,” Li said. “It might not be anytime soon, but I want you to understand who you are as a person and develop your identity. This may take months or even years. The change you want will not happen overnight. I believe in each and every one of you.

Most importantly, you are not alone. We can do this together.”

The Loneliness Dilemma continued from page 6

tant that we find ways to share different perspectives. There are no easy answers but I believe through open dialogue we can make work

dents to have ways to communicate how they are feeling and to share their experiences,” Principal Yu said. “We can’t run away from challenging issues and it is impor-

together to help every student, staff, and adult have an enriching experience.”

Through it all, students and administrators are learning what

Emily Lu / The Spectator

like things we already know. I don’t think it’s something that can really be fixed,” she said. Though she hasn’t attended the school functions, she appreciates how her guidance counselor makes a welcoming space in office hours in case she ever does want to reach out. “I thought that was really nice and it felt a lot more personal. I think it was a really good move on his part.”

But beyond remote learning, some students have said that they still felt lonely during in-person school. “I found it hard to create new friendships and have social interaction when everyone is busy with their own things and when there is little time to interact in school,” the anonymous sophomore said.

Tian shared a similar sentiment.

“Even though I had my friends, I still felt I was lacking something.

It didn’t have anything to do with my friends. It had something more to do with my family and how I wasn’t satisfied with myself. And I wasn’t the best person I could be.”

These comments allude to a larger mental health problem within Stuyvesant’s virtual and inperson walls, even before the pan-

demic. Though there is no easy solution, there are students and faculty members who are willing to listen. “It’s important for stu-

works best for them, and what helps them get through their loneliest times. Cisse has been able to make friends through clubs, such as debate and BSL. “Joining teams and clubs is a really good way to meet people and become a tightknit community,” she explained.

Cisse is a part of blended learning, where she has been able to meet new people through commuting and seeing them at school.

Additionally, Cisse has also taken advantage of guidance counselor meetings.“I have been to my counselor’s office hours, which was fun because it was a good space to talk about life––my guidance counselor even gave me tips on my hair.”

On the other hand, Adesihvelli has stayed grounded through motivation and hope for the future.

“I try and find motivation through the many online interactions with friends [...] and it gives me hope as to the future post-pandemic where I’ll be able to physically hang out with them and do so more often,” he said. Adesihvelli also offers advice to teachers who want to help relieve the stresses of remote learning. “Teachers should try and allow for more discussion between peers during classes to build more relationships because we tend to not get to know our classmates in

our online classes too well. Getting to know them better may help alleviate some measure of loneliness during the school day.”

In many ways, opening up to close family and friends about our feelings can make you feel better and build even stronger bonds.

“For me, combating loneliness means to challenge my thoughts and have a conversation with my friends or family about anything,” the anonymous sophomore said.

“It’s a challenging and strange feeling, loneliness, but it gets worse if you keep it bottled up.” Sharing experiences with close friends helped them realize that loneliness is only a temporary feeling. They also recommend taking breaks from work to prevent burnout and partaking instead in activities such as drawing, watching shows, or listening to upbeat music.

At the end of the day, loneliness is a complex and difficult emotion to experience, especially with an isolating pandemic. But as Tian said, “We all have our ups and downs, we all feel lonely, but lonely people can come together to [feel less] lonely.” You are not alone with your emotions, and as always, you can reach out to others to talk to.

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The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Features A Coffee for Your Troubles

By VINCENT TAN You might see your teachers as major adversaries in a learning environment. They’re the ones giving you hour-long lectures, assigning piles of homework, and handing out tests. Especially through the virtual lense of Zoom, your teachers might seem hardly more than just digitized score-givers. However, outside of an educational setting, your teachers are likely far more approachable than you think.

Senior Sunny Bok found herself relating to a handful of former teachers, including chemistry teacher Gabriel Ting and precalculus teacher Joseph Stern. She notes that while teachers may appear unnerving, communicating with them outside of class really lowered that fear. “Every so often, an alum friend and I will pop by with emails to ask [Ting] ‘what’s up’,” Bok said.

“It’s very chill talking to past teachers, since there’s no specific academic relation, and it’s rewarding to see a side to teachers that most don’t show in the classroom setting.”

She and her friend would discuss life in lockdown with Ting while also providing updates on their academics. Although they aren’t students of his anymore, they still maintain amity and often reminisce about fond memories in chemistry class together. “I’ve been thinking extra hard on what to get for recommendation gifts [for him] and will probably end up making some super cool friendship bracelet,” she joked, referencing an inside joke from their chemistry class.

Keeping in touch with teachers isn’t only limited to friendly chats, but also guidance in academia. As someone who greatly values communication with teachers, senior Aditiya Rashid finds ways to interact, whether it’s checking up on her American Literature teacher Zakia Babb or sending physics clips to her physics teacher Ulugbek Akhmedov. “I’ve kept up with teachers who have helped me in the college process and often update them about how it’s going,” she stated, referring to those who not only wrote her letters of recommendation but also those who helped her

with her writing in general.

When thinking of interactions outside academics, Rashid mentions teachers with whom she talks to about topics outside of school, namely her sophomore English teacher Lauren Stuzin. “We sometimes talk about what we’ve been up to, video games, make-up, clothes, and even music videos,” she said.

She also expressed a desire to give them a gift as a token of her appreciation. “They mean so much to me and I want to give them something to remember me by, just like how they gave me something to remember them by,” Rashid added.

Contrary to the impersonal nature of teachers giving tests and grading assignments, Rashid and Stuzin’s interactions show how teachers can relate to students beyond the classroom as well.

Similarly, fellow English teacher Minkyu Kim mentions a similar story when a former student wrote and illustrated a book. After entering it into a contest and winning, she used it to pay him homage.“The prize was that they published her book! She gifted me a copy with a

[hand-written] inscription on the inside cover, and it’s something I still treasure,” Kim said in an email interview. Additionally, he felt it was worth noting the messages students sent him. “I love the emails and cards I get from students just saying thanks,” he said. Among the many interactions he has with students, the appreciation they show has a profound and meaningful effect on him.

Teachers have also interacted with former students by meeting outside of Stuyvesant. In an e-mail interview, mathematics teacher Ashvin Jaishankar remembers meets for coffee, lunch, and general returns to Stuyvesant. Meeting them shows him how they have been performing since graduating, citing an example of a former student he had known since her freshman year. “She was a TA for my NY Math Circle course one summer. When I met up with her in Cambridge for coffee, it was so nice to hear of her time at MIT and what she was planning to do once she graduated,” he wrote.

Besides these occasional vis-

its from students, Jaishankar also mentions a memory of a student’s letter that has stood out to him for nearly a decade. “Math was not her strong suit, but she gave me everything she had day in and day out, and ended up with an 80 in the class,” Jaishankar reminisced, noting how the letter started with an apology. “[She] felt she had let me down for some reason, [yet] nothing could be further from the truth.

My wife actually had it framed for me and I keep it as a reminder of why I became a teacher in the first place and also [how] I’ve been very lucky to be able to teach here for 15 years now,” he said.

Jaishankar’s optimism with his former students is a testament to what lies beyond schoolwork and lessons.While they may simply appear to be people who only exist to give you work, teachers can be extremely personable. Maybe several years later, you’ll find yourself reminiscing about a course you took in high school and see your former teachers in a different light. They might even one day be the person you’re getting coffee with.

Virtual English: Yay or Nay?

By LIANA WU

cause we have so much less class time, I’m doing fewer units, with my freshmen in particular, than I normally would.”

English teachers have had to choose which books to teach, which is limited by more than just Stuyvesant’s shortened schedule.

Students have been reading material digitally, often in PDF format.

“The only real difficult factor is books that I want to teach that are

of virtual school, teachers lose some of the typical capabilities of a classroom while using breakout rooms. “In the classroom, I’m able to see and pop into different conversations and hear from a lot of student voices, but in the breakout rooms, I’m just not able to get to all of them. There’s just a lot of trust I’m putting in my students,” Huhn said.

Another aspect that teachers had to consider was Stuyvesant’s shortened schedule this school year. Most, if not all teachers, have had to find ways to condense their curriculum. “We want to be more expansive in our curriculum by including more women and more writers of color, but that goal was hard to accomplish by cutting in half the things we are already doing,” Assistant Principal of English Eric Grossman said.

However, because English requires no specific quotas that teachers need to fulfill, many feel that they have a considerable amount of flexibility when adapting their curriculum. “I’m lucky in that, in English, I don’t have a specific amount of content I have to cover—my classes are much more skill-based,” Thoms said. “Be-

not necessarily found online. If they don’t have something available, we can’t do it,” Ferencz explained.

However, not all teachers have found that reading online has been completely detrimental.

Some feel that remote learning has its benefits, including not being restricted to physical books kept in the Stuyvesant building. “I really like being able to generally have easier access to books, because in the building, we have to constantly buy books and replace lost copies,” English teacher Mark Henderson said. “There are some books that almost all teachers of a grade teach, and because we only have a set number of physical books, it sometimes becomes a struggle.”

Reading online with a changed curriculum has also offered some teachers the chance to try new things. “I had the opportunity to teach a new book for the first time, The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas,” Ferencz said. “Teaching a new book remotely was a little daunting at first, but it was a really rewarding experience, and I was glad I got to experience a new text with my students that

Vivian Teo / The Spectator

From classic 16th century novels to Shakespearean skits, contemporary works to graphic novels, English class at Stuyvesant offers some of the most varied curricula out there. Whether it be an Advanced Placement course or a writing workshop, students have the opportunity to explore and build their skills through a diverse set of options.

At Stuyvesant, a typically STEM-oriented school, English classes typically revolve around class or small-group discussions.

“We start off with minutes, we use an aim question that we answer throughout the lesson, the majority of class is responding to a prompt in their notebooks, talking to the students around you, and then sharing in a large group discussion,” English teacher Heather Huhn described.

During in-person school, these discussions are easily facilitated by the way most English classrooms are set up. “Like many English teachers, I have my seats in a U around the room,” English teacher Annie Thoms said. “My biggest goal in most classes is to have discussions where students are comfortable calling on each other, and discussions can go on without me.”

In this way, in-person English classrooms allow for a lot of collaboration between students that builds a unique sense of community. However, ever since the pandemic moved classes online, English teachers have had to adapt their teaching methods to a remote setting, a format that makes it difficult to maintain the same type of easy-going conversation that happens in a classroom.

Teachers have used several techniques to connect with their students outside of an academic setting. “Being in a classroom together, when everyone is writing together, there is an energy of the quiet room that isn’t the same quiet [as] everyone being muted.

It’s a totally different feel. I have struggled to establish the kind of rapport and community feeling, and I’ve tried very hard to work on that,” Thoms said.

English teacher Eric Ferencz echoed Thoms’s sentiment. “I try to meet students individually during office hours to develop a

rapport with them,” Ferencz explained. “I’ll ask them silly questions so that we can get to know each other, but during class, I really rely a lot on breakout rooms.”

Breakout rooms have become a new norm during online learning. On Zoom, teachers have the option to place students in random rooms, in specific rooms, or have students choose their room. However, like with many other aspects

I’ve never been face to face with before,” he expressed. This new opportunity for Ferencz’s students also gave them the chance to connect the literature with real-world current events. “There are times when, serendipitously, things that are happening in the news come up in the classroom, like how the Derek Chauvin trial aligned almost exactly with The Hate U Give,” Ferencz said. “When you’re working with literature, you are going to find parallels between whatever you are working on and whatever’s going on in the world.”

And for many English teachers, the benefits don’t stop at book selection. The chat function on Zoom has been praised by many, as it allows students to connect with each other in a time when connection is so hard to find. “My sophomores are all over the chat.

Like all over the chat, all period long, and in the best possible way,” Grossman laughed. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the way that can create opportunities for students who may be a little quieter in a full discussion to be really visible, and for me and the rest of the English teachers to get a sense of what they’re getting from the lesson.”

Teachers are looking to find ways to implement certain remote learning features when they eventually transition back to in-person learning. Students who may not feel comfortable raising their hand and discussing in front of the full class may use the chat or post in the Google Classroom stream instead. This way, teachers can get a better understanding of student participation. “It’s been really interesting to see certain students who may not be as stimulated in the classroom really come alive in an online context,” Ferencz explained.

Another benefit of remote learning comes from the easy access to technology. For example, when Thoms invited guest speakers in her Writing to Make Change class, she found that it was much easier to host speakers that typically might not have been able to make it. “[Since] now, they just have to log on to a Zoom, I’ve been able to get guest speakers who might not have been able to take the time to come to Stuyvesant for a whole day,” she said. “It definitely is an option to continue

to have virtual guest speakers.

For example, if we have a guest speaker who lives in California, I wouldn’t necessarily have to wait until they were in New York to have them, so it definitely opens things up for me.”

Despite the hardships accompanying online learning, most teachers agree that this has been an invaluable learning experience for them. Many have become more comfortable with technology and wish to adapt it for inperson learning. “It has forced me to become more familiar with technology and online resources, such as Google Classroom, which I used in a limited capacity beforehand,” English teacher Emilio Nieves said in an e-mail interview.

“I realized the immense value of these resources, and I am considering working with a ‘smart board’ in the future, where I can combine my usual in-class preferences with the online resources I learned so much about.”

Teachers aren’t just learning through technology, however— they are also learning from their students. Stuyvesant is largely made of driven, motivated students, and this has reflected through remote learning. “I am repeatedly struck by how quickly you guys started this year. It’s almost as if you guys just looked around and said ‘okay, it’s school.’ You guys are showing us that you want to make the most of this year, and when it feels hard for us, it’s a nice thing to see and be inspired by,” Henderson said.

Other teachers added to this sentiment. “I’m impressed by the creativity students apply in the face of these problems when trying to connect to each other and when trying to maintain their mental health,” Ferencz said. “I draw a lot of strength from my students when I’m struggling, and it’s just been a gift to witness.”

Online learning certainly has its ups and downs, but English teachers are committed to doing their best to maintain their optimism and provide students with the best education possible. As Huhn said, “There are certainly days where remote learning is monotonous, and you are in front of a computer all day long, but if my students are showing up, I need to show up too—and show up with a smile.”

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Page 9

Features The Battle of the Boroughs

By AVA FUNG, SHIVANI MANIMARAN, and SOOBIN CHOI

Confederate flags flying; I’ve seen a bunch of neo-Nazi paraphernalia,” Zhao said. “Everything here is outdated––it feels like we’re stuck in purgatory.”

Sophomore Lara Ongan feels the same way. “I don’t meet many people who share opinions or values with me there, and we generally don’t click,” they said in an e-mail interview.

This is why both Zhao and Ongan’s borough of choice is Manhattan. Zhao fondly described many activities, ranging from leisure in Madison Square to parts of Chinatown and K-town.

“There’s just stuff to do––there’s dope food there, which is the opposite of what there is here,” Zhao said.

Ongan has a similar image of Manhattan. “There are a lot of things to do there,” they said.

“But all my closest friends live there, so I’m very biased.”

One of Staten Island’s most well-known attributes is its ferry system and long commute.

Though it is seemingly a time drain, Lu commented on its upsides. “Do city kids get the choice to ride a boat to school each day?

We Staten Islanders sure do, and I’d say that’s a plus for us.” Lu also offered some heat toward the Bronx though with her remarks.

“I searched it up, and the first thing I got was that the Bronx is known for being the only borough with ‘the’ in its name. Bronx has always equated ‘basic’ in my mind.”

With all this heat, sophomore and Bronx native Arlette Duran proudly defended her borough.

Duran emphasized the Bronx’s importance to the rise of signature New York hip-hop. “Well, hip-hop did originate here in the Bronx, I guess that’s superior to every other borough. That’s a really good thing,” she said. She also talked fondly about the community in the Bronx. “We do have a lot of culture[s] here, and it is very diverse. You can find basically any type of food, any type of clothing, and we each have unique spots.”

Bronx native sophomore Mirian Hernandez followed up on the strength of community in their borough. “I like it mostly because of the people. It seems

very scary, but I think the people here are very nice,” they said.

Though Manhattan does come at a close second in their mind, Hernandez argues that it cannot beat the Bronx. “I like Manhattan because of all the cool shops and all the really cool sights. I don’t appreciate the people that much, though.”

Throughout the battle, all five boroughs have been put to the test and made to prove their worth over the others. However, not all residents liked their borough for its typical attributes, but for their personal attachment to it. The nostalgia of simply living in Brooklyn offsets some of its shortcomings in the eyes of sophomore Alice Lin Zheng. “All of my friends are from there.

Also, I have a bunch of memories that I attach to places there.

Also the beach—I really like the beach. Coney Island isn’t a very clean beach but I remember it very fondly,” they said.

For Lin, Brooklyn is superior mostly because of her understanding of and familiarity with it. “The best thing about my borough is that there are a lot of little places with—maybe I’m biased because I live here and feel like I know this place—but there are a lot of spots that everyone knows,” they said.

The familiarity of the Bronx is also important to Duran. “It’s sort of like a family here,” she said. “Everyone knows each other. And we’re just comfortable around each other.”

While the competition was fierce and the flames were fanned, no borough emerged truly victorious over the others. We were educated about Staten Island’s greenery, Manhattan’s serenity, Queens’s bustling culture, the Bronx’s community ties, and Brooklyn’s millennial culture. Each has its unique strengths and weaknesses that define it. We are left with no true winner of this age-long debate amongst New Yorkers. Tang puts it best when he addressed the role of the boroughs to diversity in the city. “They have contributed to the melting pot that is New York City,” Tang said. “Each borough has a different significance in its contribution to that history of New York City.”

Adrianna Peng / The Spectator

Five boroughs enter the ring, but only one can leave. Introducing the competitors: Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Each makes up a section of New York City, but which will best the others? In the legendary, long-awaited Battle of the Boroughs, the answer will be delivered by proud Stuyvesant representatives. Students will bring to the table examples of their favorite hometown spots, paint an image of their neighborhood, and spit game at rival boroughs.

In this corner is our first contestant, Queens. “Well, I think there’s no argument there, Queens is simply the best by definition,” freshman William Tang said. He emphasized Queens’s warm and tight-knit community. “It’s more ‘homes and small businesses’ in Queens, as opposed to capitalism in Manhattan and all the ‘moneypeople’ over there,” Tang said.

Freshman Rebecca Bao agreed with this sentiment in an e-mail interview. “Queens is a great borough because you can find a place that suits your mood anywhere,” she stated.

Sophomore Rafatune Myma highlighted Queens’s racial and cultural diversity. “In Jackson Heights, there [are] tons of Asian people. There’re many ethnic enclaves in Queens––we have so many.” These numerous enclaves all contribute to Queens’s diverse cuisine and culture as a whole.

“We have so many types of stores from different countries, so there’re many desserts from Italy and India and Bangladesh and China,” Myma elaborated.

Tang mentioned he also likes Queens because the people there don’t live in the glimmer of expensive Manhattan. “At the end of the day, most people don’t live in Manhattan; they can’t afford to live there,” he said.

Brooklyn resident and sophomore Bella Stenhouse also took aim at the borough. “Brooklyn is nicer than Manhattan because it [has] a lot less tourists, and [is] much prettier, more peaceful, and quiet.” She illustrated an image of

Brooklyn. “It’s [...] a very diverse borough. It has people from all different countries and religions,” Stenhouse said.

In the face of Tang’s blow to its grandiose, sophomore Anjini Katari of Manhattan rises to the challenge. She pointed to the iconic landmarks that often represent New York City to the rest of the world. “We have the Met, Carnegie Hall, the Empire State Building. We have the Freedom Tower,” Katari said. Though known best for these upscale wonders, Manhattan is balanced out by a surprising amount of charm. “We have the bustling city with the giant buildings, but we also have the quieter parts,” she described. “If you go downtown to SoHo or Washington Square, it’s a lot quieter, and the areas are less city and more character.”

Sophomore Melanie Lin focused instead on Brooklyn’s familiarity. “There are a lot of spots that everyone knows. There are a lot of parks that people typically go to or places people go to get food,” she said.

But Brooklyn representatives aren’t all bark; they brought the bite to the fight. “I don’t want to hate on Staten Island because I like some aspects of it. And it’s actually very quiet and peaceful.

But it’s not really the rest of New York at all,” Stenhouse elaborated. “It’s very suburban, not very diverse, doesn’t have many attractions, is cut off from the rest of New York, and it’s also kind of hard to get there.”

In opposition to Stenhouse’s claims, sophomore Emily Lu came passionately to her borough’s defense. “Staten Island is simply glorious, Manhattan is... well, Manhattan,” Lu wrote in an e-mail interview. Lu is especially fond of Staten Island’s slowmoving and residential environment. “There’s no tons of boring monochrome buildings and instead, lots of healthy greenery to let your eyes rejoice,” she said.

However, not everyone is so keen to defend their own borough. Such is the case with sophomore Katherine Zhao, who also lives in Staten Island. “It’s boring, it’s full of white people, there are more minorities now, but it’s still 100% white people. I’ve seen

Clara Shapiro’s Advice Column Querida Clara, How to be productive?

—Anonymous, Junior Smite, hack, eviscerate, destroy.

Put together, that is “SHED.” Many times in life have I applied Smite, Hack, Eviscerate, and Destroy, and each time the rewards have been rich. How did I convince newspaper authorities to let me write this column? SHED. How did I “make friends” here at Stuy? SHED. How did I, and continue to, evade the police? SHED. And though it is true that the SHED technique can be applied (with success) to many scenarios, SHED is at its most effective when used for productivity.

There is no substitute for simply annihilating your work with great force. And as you go about annihilating it all, one thing to do is to make a “To Smite” list, much like a “To Do” list but with a combative element that some people find compelling. Cross things off with a firm red slash.

Other people offer a different perspective. “Take 10-minute breaks between assignments,” they say. “Repeat positive mantras while you work to motivate yourself.” And righteous advice this is. I, too, have my own positive mantra to resort to as I work. It is a two-step procedure, as follows: 1. You will not take ME down.

2. I will take YOU down.

And once you are done with it all, you will at last be at peace.

You will cast off the weight. You will SHED it.

The Reason for Human Reasoning

By ISABELLE LAM Four years ago, computer science (CS) teacher Peter Brooks made the decision to stop teaching his Human Reasoning course in favor of a more modern one: Artificial Intelligence (AI). This was not an easy decision for Brooks, but due to his software development roots, he wanted to create new things. “It’s a little bit harder when you’re a teacher to create something entirely new. I had a chance to do that with [former computer science teacher Michael] Zamansky [...]. The two of us created the second semester of Intro to CS together, and then I [created] the Human Reasoning course [and] the AI course,” Brooks explained.

The AI class was hard to formulate; Brooks took a sabbatical semester off to focus on creating the course. Since many people have a misconception of what AI actually is, he faced dilemmas such as what approach to teaching he’d take. “The difficulty with the AI class is that most people think of [AI] these days as consisting of machine learning. Machine learning is only a small part of AI,”

Brooks explained. He didn’t have enough material for a year-long course, but limiting AI to just a semester would mean that he could only touch upon a sliver of machine learning. Ultimately, AI ended up being a one-semester course.

In the class, Brooks makes sure to not only focus on the CS aspects of AI, but also on real-world applications and impacts, such as AIgenerated unemployment, privacy and surveillance problems, and military issues. “Those are interesting and societally important to think about,” he said.

Junior Alvin Li, however, is disappointed to see the class go, replaced once again by Human Reasoning. Since spring semester, he has been auditing the class because he wasn’t able to obtain the course despite his large interest in CS career options, specifically AIrelated topics. “There was a large range of post-AP CS classes that I wanted to take [and] one of the more interesting ones was [AI] because it was taught by Brooks, who I had for Intro [to CS], and he was a really interesting teacher,” Li explained.

Now, Brooks thinks it’s impor-

tant to revive his Human Reasoning course due to recent events.

“We’ve been through the Trump era. And, as a result, [...] we have had difficulties [...] telling truth from fiction,” he explained. The course would emphasize teaching students critical thinking. “At this point, I feel it is more valuable [...] for students to take the Human Reasoning course than to take [AI], and I wish I could have [taught the class] during the last four years when I think we needed it more,” he said.

Human Reasoning would also teach students how to find credible sources of information, make fruitful estimates, and ask interesting questions. For example, queries like “How can you possibly answer a legitimate question in two different, contradictory ways?” pepper class discussions and center the course. Brooks seeks to answer these questions, despite their more philosophical nature. “Well, your head blows up. We suffer those consequences in a few students, but we still have most of the class left,” he explained. In Human Reasoning, Brooks also wants to teach students to not rely on Google for

all of their information. “Do not depend on Google [...] because Google does not know very large quantities of things,” he said.

Aside from differences in content between the two courses, another difference is that Human Reasoning does not have any prerequisites, while AI requires the student to have passed or to currently be taking Advanced Placement CS. Human Reasoning is a math class and is set to fulfill the Math 4 requirement, which requires students to take a math class their senior year. “If you need pre-calc[ulus], you can’t replace it with this course. That’s why it’s likely to be a senior level course except for the folks who’ve taken pre-calc[ulus] in second grade,” he said. He mentioned that if the class is oversubscribed, the Program Office might select students based on different criteria. “It will probably be by height,” he joked.

Though Brooks could preserve both his AI and Human Reasoning courses by dropping his Intro to CS class, he explained that he treasures the opportunity to introduce students to a completely new subject. Since students may come

into Stuyvesant with prior knowledge of almost all other subjects (i.e. English, mathematics, and science), it’s very rare for teachers to teach topics that students have never encountered before. He’s also able to introduce students to a new way of learning that promotes individual thinking. “I will teach you the basics, but the next level? You have to figure out [yourself...] This is a way to open up a bunch of people’s minds to something brand new and powerful,” he said. Despite this motivation, Brooks may also have an ulterior motive for students who retain this problem-solving knowledge. “[It] makes me look good,” he revealed.

As with in-person and remote learning, Brooks is open to people auditing his classes. “I have no restrictions on that. [...] The more the merrier, I’m very happy to have auditors,” he said. However, because of projected plans of returning to in-person learning in September, the number of people who can audit will be limited.

“There’s a limited number of seats on the air conditioner for people who are auditing,” Brooks said with a smile.

Page 10

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Editorials Five Steps to a Better Stuy When we heard last summer that each school day would be five periods instead of the usual 10, even the most hardcore students feared the worst. Was Stuyvesant easing up? Giving kids two days to do homework? Allowing students to sleep long enough to experience basic functionality the next day? The plan seemed to be the antithesis of the brink-of-collapse academic rigor that gives Stuyvesant its hallowed name.

But Stuyvesant, in all its excellence, has not collapsed or crumbled during this pandemic. It has simply changed and, in some ways, changed for the better. When students return in the fall (presumably to our usual, 1-10 schedule), here are some of these changes from remote learning to keep for good.

Later Start Time One of the most appealing aspects of remote learning has been the later start time.

The new 9:10 a.m. start time, rather than the traditional 8:00 a.m. start time, has provided students with an extra hour and 10 minutes every day to sleep, commute, or eat. This extra hour has also provided more flexibility for students to ease into first period, especially for remote learners who no longer face the issue of chaotic commutes. While a 9:00 a.m. start time may be too extreme in combination with the ten-period, in-person schedule, a 30 to 40-minute push could optimize students’ health and readiness to learn for the next school year.

It would be especially helpful for the current freshmen who have never experienced Stuyvesant’s rigorous schedule in their transition to acclimate to a new environment. With the drastic shift from remote to in-person learning, a later start time would aid in the transition back to in-person learning after having spent three semesters online.

Longer Passing Periods The 1-5 schedule provided a 10-minute break between

periods. As sitting through 55 minutes of online class can be exhausting, these extended breaks provided some muchneeded time to rest and recharge before our next class.

Upon returning in person, extending the passing periods can be equally beneficial.

Students often struggled racing up eight, nine, or even 10 flights of stairs in under five minutes to make it to their next class on time. With just a bit more time, students can arrive at their classes on time more easily. Students could also go to their locker or the bathroom, briefly interact with friends, or grab a quick snack before class, reducing the stress often accompanied by rushing to the next class.

More Time to Do Homework Another benefit of the 1-5 schedule was having two days to complete homework assignments for each class. Rather than rushing homework the night before, students are able to digest the information learned in class more thoroughly and complete assignments more thoughtfully.

Though a strict two-day homework deadline may not be possible for all teachers to implement next year, more time for projects and homework in general could help ease the stress (and perfunctory work) caused by rushed deadlines. One way to do so is to assign homework in advance, allowing students to complete assignments at a more comfortable and thoughtful pace.

For classes that rely heavily on reading, most notably English and history courses, adopting this two-day deadline could involve assigning readings in advance. This would allow students to allocate appropriate time to complete these readings without feeling the anxiety of completing them at the last minute; outlining homework ahead of time enables students to complete work on weekends or free periods, thus, lessening their workload during the week. In courses where home-

work acts as a reinforcement of the lesson, homework can be assigned every other day to span the content of two class periods instead of one. With this system, students would be able to practice the same number of concepts while accommodating personal time constraints.

Required Office Hours During remote learning, the school also implemented a policy of mandated office hours after school. With an extra 20-minute after school, students could drop by for a quick question regardless of their schedules. Traditionally, teachers could hold office hours for two of their 10 periods, but there were no mandated office hours after school. Though teachers could usually make themselves available after school upon request, there was little consistency in terms of meeting times. If a student didn’t have a free period or lunch during his or her teacher’s office hours, then the student would be unable to meet up with the teacher. Even if office hours are not held every day, providing students easier access to teachers is vital in helping them learn the material and answer remaining questions from class.

More Online Resources Teachers’ use of online resources has helped students enormously in keeping track of their work. With individual Google Classrooms for all classes, it was far simpler to track assigned work with its clear due dates and calendar feature in comparison to inperson learning. Additionally, more teachers started using online services such as AP Classroom or Desmos, which largely improved students’ understanding of the material and made class more interactive. Once in-person schooling restarts, consistently posting assignments on Google Classroom and incorporating online resources into lessons would enhance both the teachers’ and students’ experience.

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For far too long, the Stuyvesant name has been used to warrant unreasonable amounts of work and pressure. In the name of “rigor,” students are assigned a copious number of assignments, resulting in a lack of sleep, poor mental health, and high levels of stress. While a rigorous environment has long been the hallmark of Stuyvesant, rigorous learning is often conflated with overworking students. If there is anything remote learning has taught us, it is that quality takes precedence over quantity. More than anything,

E D I TO RS

Ezra Lee Amy Lin Susie McKnight

M ANAGE RS

Jared Moser** Tina Nguyen WE B

E D I TO RS

David Chen** Alyssa Choi Andrey Sokolov FAC U LT Y

ADV I SE R

Kerry Garfinkel We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and length. © 2018 The Spectator All rights reserved by the creators.

the administration should recognize students’ experiences both on and offline to better the Stuyvesant school day.

Those at Stuyvesant who take pleasure in the ceaseless grind have nothing to fear. Stuyvesant must and will remain as rigorous as it has always been. Yet there is a chance in this pandemic for Stuyvesant to become better.

If a pandemic does anything good for anybody, it is this: after a period of sickness, the body returns to what it was before. But stronger.

Female CEOs Aren’t Feminist Icons

By CHARLOTTE PETERSON Many feminists use female CEOs to represent a more progressive future and show the ubiquitous opportunities women now have. Corporate feminist books like “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” position diversity within the super-wealthy as the most important goal. However, these women are not truly helping all women. Rather, they only benefit themselves and often hurt other women to get there.

Female CEOs earn a median of $13.9 million a year, hundreds of times more than the average American worker under them, who makes $67 thousand a year. For American companies exploiting other countries, the ratio of CEO income to worker compensation is even higher. In Bangladesh, garment workers are only paid $112 a month, with female workers being paid less than their male counterparts.

Female CEOs using cheap, female labor are directly taking advantage of the patriarchy’s grip in other countries by not paying the working women as much, choosing to maximize profits even further at the expense of underprivileged women.

The fashion industry is particularly guilty. Stores such as Gap and H&M have been applauded for having female CEOs, who are seen as more progressive than their nonfemale counterparts. How much difference does having a female figurehead make to an underprivileged woman?

Women’s lives aren’t improved from having a female executive, particularly when some women are being hurt by the patriarchy that the female CEO is helping keep in place.

Popular clothing stores are perhaps the most guilty of exploiting the injustices of sweatshop work, where an overwhelming proportion of laborers in the garment sector are women. To be a woman

accumulating wealth while stepping on other women, especially women of color and low socioeconomic status, is disempowering to woman-

The executive discriminated among her employees based on gender. Despite Agrawal describing herself as a feminist and as the “SHE-E-O”

Exploitation, especially of the patriarchy, is not only a man’s job anymore. kind. To not stand up for all women is to not stand up for women. This is not to say that having gender diversity within the ruling class is a negative thing. Rather, one cannot be a feminist while exploiting women, regardless of one’s own gender.

Even within corporate America, female workers are exploited. Former chief executive officer of Thinx Miki Agrawal is a glaring example.

of a company against period stigma, she received accusations of sex-based discrimination. One employee described Thinx as a “feminist company that disempowers and undervalues its (majority woman) staff.” Others have accused Agrawal of disproportionately giving raises to, and otherwise favoring, male employees. She exploited women’s labor for the sake of maximizing her own personal profit.

The question that remains is how female CEOs can truly embody feminist ideals through their actions as well as their words. The simple answer is to not exploit women (or anyone else). Support other women, especially those who work for you. In the same way that being a woman cannot make one a feminist by itself, it is not only female CEOs who should be better feminists; regardless of their sex, any and all CEOs can and should be feminists.

Representation is always crucial, and it is important to recognize how far women have come by 2021. Exploitation, especially by the patriarchy, is not only a man’s job anymore. Being a female CEO does not make one innocent of the injustices underprivileged women underneath her are subjected to. Instead, we must push for gender diversity within the upper echelons that does not oppress those employed.

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Page 11

Opinions Don’t Wait I have never wanted to go to the doctor. As a child, I was frightened of shots and unwanted prodding. When I started high school, my busy schedule made it difficult to make time for checkups. Now, I tell my parents to reschedule because checkups and doctor visits are unnecessary and too cumbersome. This fear and dislike of doctors prevent me from seeking medical care as often as I should.

Last spring break, my mother and I stayed in a small but cozy Airbnb in Massachusetts so I could tour colleges. The experience for the first few days was thoroughly enjoyable—the host stocked the pantry full of endless bags of potato chips, and the college campuses appeared only a little less perfect than they’d seemed on their websites.

Then, one night, I stepped on a piece of glass inside the apartment. Concerned but not paranoid, I spent the next half hour trying to pull the glass out of my foot with tweezers. My efforts were rewarded. I extracted a long sliver of glass from my heel and then proceeded to spend the night watching a movie.

A few days following my unfortunate incident, I still felt a persistent stabbing pain in my foot. Like any good Gen Zer, I spent the next hour googling “Will glass

come out of my foot eventually?” and after seeing reassuring posts of a “doctor” on Quora, decided to wait it out.

Three weeks later, I found myself sitting in front of a foot surgeon with my entire heel anesthetized.

As I lay Ka Seng Soo / The Spectator

By ISABEL CHING

there while the podiatrist painstakingly searched for more pieces of glass inside my foot, I regretted not coming to the doctor immediately after my unfortunate incident.

My reluctance stemmed from three factors. The first was the perception around seeing a doctor or receiving medical care. For most of my life, I had been taught that seeing a doctor was a last resort, something people only do when they are severely injured. When I saw glass in my foot, my first instinct was to solve the problem myself without medical interven-

tion. This stigma is particularly harmful, especially for people who do not normally see a regular physician. The second factor was cost. While my family is fortunate enough to be able to cover the cost of my medical care, it felt wasteful to be using their money on a situation I could “solve” myself. The third reason was simply procrastination. I prioritized other aspects of my life over my injured foot while not understanding the importance of

medical attention.

I am not alone in this reluctance. Generally, most people avoid doctors for one of three reasons: a fear of bad news, a fear of pain or discomfort, or a fear of disclosing personal information. What you don’t know can’t hurt you, right? The medical industry is also seeing a decline in the number

of patients but not because Americans are getting healthier. Researchers attribute this drop to a breakdown of t h e doctor-patient relationship. Combined with the slow but stead y drop in t h e number of Americans who see a regular physician and the stress of the pandemic, a vicious reinforcing cycle h a s emerged.

Fewer Americans are seeing a doctor regularly, which contributes to the decline of the doctor-patient relationship. This deterioration, in turn, disrupts thehealthcare system as a whole. High prices for medical care only worsen this issue. Nearly 11 percent of Americans were uninsured in 2019, and this number has only risen since the onset of the pandemic.

As healthcare prices continue to rise and medical care becomes increasingly expensive, more Americans will continue to sacrifice medical care to pay rent and keep food on the table. In fact, according to a survey conducted by 20|20 Research, two-thirds of Americans avoided or delayed

getting medical attention for cost-related reasons. During non-pandemic times, this reluctance can be attributed to one simple fact: people just don’t prioritize seeing a doctor over their other needs or wants. Work, family life, and finances are often prioritized in our fast-paced and hectic lives, and it seems our health pays the price of our ambition.

Though there is no one solution to address healthcare inequities and dispel stereotypes around medical care and immediate treatment right now, raising awareness about the importance of medical attention is the best course of action we can pursue in the present. Speaking out about common misconceptions about medical care and actively working to spread information about it in the mainstream media can help combat the knowledge gap surrounding the medical industry. In the long term, implementing programs like universal healthcare, which would ensure that all American citizens have access to quality healthcare, may be able to directly counteract the healthcare crisis we find ourselves in. But no matter the solution, one thing is certain: we must find a way to alleviate the symptoms of the one sickness America cannot seem to cure—a reluctance to seek medical care.

“Live, Laugh, Love”… Let’s Not

By ERICA LI

person feel worse and can potentially prevent both of you from becoming better people as you are ignoring these challenging feelings.

Furthermore, it is now more important than ever to address the types of toxic positivity in our lives and correct them. As more people

usual one in 10 pre-pandemic.

Eighty-seven percent of Gen Z adult college students are feeling significant school-related stress. Additionally, during this uncertain time, society imposes this illogical pressure to stay productive, built off of the belief that we should use the “extra time” spent at home

confronted with someone’s negative feelings, it is typical to want to avoid dealing with the emotional situation at hand. If you are not careful, however, you may turn to toxic positivity to avoid these feelings. This response only makes the other

become impoverished or lose loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has declined dramatically. Four in 10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic compared to the

to our advantage. Therefore, it should be clear that no one needs the added negative implications of toxic positivity in their life. A study on the effect of hidden/denied feelings and stress levels found that the group who suppressed their

Tina Siu / The Spectator

During my freshman year at Stuyvesant, getting report cards back was like a game— people traded papers, compared grades, and calculated their GPAs. It was a bundle of excitement the first time we got back our progress reports with number grades. People nosily asked how you did, and if you refused to answer, you were then swarmed with questions. I did not want to endure several interrogations, so when I was asked, I reluctantly answered. My friends, momentarily stunned at my low grades, jumped to the typical phrases: “Don’t worry, I’m sure it’ll get better.”

“Be sure to stay positive!”

“It’s not the worst you could’ve gotten...”

Every time I hear these phrases or other similar remarks, I want to scream. They do not add significant or solid advice to solve the problem.

In fact, they often magnify the tension tenfold by making me feel even worse. Phrases like these are an example of toxic positivity, which is the belief that no matter how terrible the situation is at hand, you should always keep a positive attitude and a “good vibe.” It stems from the idea that the best way to cope with a negative situation is only to focus on the positive parts and ignore the potential negative implications of the said situation. By pushing away someone’s negative feelings and telling them to stay optimistic, you are also denying their feelings, causing them to feel ashamed and guilty. It is a form of gaslighting, manipulating—whether

you actively realize it or not— someone into questioning their own thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

Additionally, this concept is a type of avoidance mechanism, a defense method used to consciously or subconsciously evade concerning yourself with a stressor. When

emotions while watching a video had significantly higher physiological arousal. Now imagine the consequences when already stressed people become even more stressed because they feel like their feelings are being invalidated.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting an optimistic attitude toward life, but it is not the same as putting on a fake smile, sugarcoating issues, and ignoring authentic problems.

Real positivity means actually acknowledging challenges, listening to other people’s feelings, and genuinely encouraging them to gain motivation and do better. The challenge now is how you can give genuine encouragement. The answer all depends on the circumstances of the situation. If a friend is dealing with a challenge, show that you are here for their emotions without putting pressure on them, and offer help the best way you can instead of insisting that it will simply get better. Set up daily goals or a clear plan for them to follow. If you have time, join them on the journey, and be each other’s accountability partners. Whatever you choose to do, do not use the same generic phrases to comfort them.

Not everyone can keep a positive attitude all the time.

Not everyone wants to be happy all the time. The more we continue to partake in toxic positivity, the more normalized it will become, leading to an overall negative effect on society. We all need to be aware of our actions and make sure that we are not unintentionally dismissing our friends’ and family’s feelings.

Page 12

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Opinions Don’t Let Bad-Faith Conservatives Refocus the Narrative

By JACOB STEINBERG Derek Chauvin was convicted on all three counts for the killing of George Floyd.

Floyd’s killing struck a nerve across the United States and the world, causing thousands of global protests over police brutality and systemic racism.

The conviction of Chauvin has reopened the controversy over the killing and reignited the push to change American police.

Many were elated by the conviction as they found it relieving to finally see a police officer held accountable for killing a Black man. Others did not match that joy as they expected a case this clear-cut to receive justice. Though it is undoubtedly fantastic that Floyd’s family received justice, this instance was as obvious of a police brutality case as there is. The murder was filmed with little ambiguity to the actions taken by any involved persons.

Though the result is justice, it is not progress. The goals of equality movements should expand beyond the base need of a functioning society: fair rulings under the law. However, many were unhappy for a very different reason, with prominent conservatives protesting the outcome of the verdict.

This reaction was preempted by many of the same conservatives claiming that there would be violence no matter the outcome of the case, a reference to the often exaggerated number of protests that ended up in property damage

during the Black Lives Matter protests. Regardless, people like Republican representative Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina were not dissuaded from stoking fears and predicting rioting and looting whether Chauvin was found guilty or not. Though violence as a response to an acquittal would surely not be unprece-

“mob justice” and said, “This was not a fair trial. No person can say this was a fair trial.”

Fox News’s Greg Gutfeld tied in the aforementioned pre-verdict narrative, saying, “I’m glad [Chauvin] was found guilty on all charges, even if he might not be guilty of all charges. I am glad that he is guilty of all charges because

the makeup of the jury and the jury having no ability to connect to outside factors, it is hard to believe that the jury had a fear of repercussions when making their decision.

If the deceit was not enough to condemn this line of attack as concerning, the stature of the people parroting this theory only makes it worse.

We should make sure to combat the dangerous allegations of mob justice by publically reaffirming the importance of a functioning and accurate justice system. However, it is also important to reengage in the important battle for equality when given such a clear and impactful opportunity to do so. dented, it is clear that no sorts of violence resulted from the guilty verdict.

Despite this lack of violence, conservatives continued the narrative of mobs affecting the verdict. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida slyly implied that the verdict may have come “because the jury is scared of what a mob may do” and that it’s “antithetical to the rule of law.”

Prominent media figure Candace Owens referred to

I want a verdict that keeps this country from going up in flames.” A stunning number of conservative figures in the media and government alike found themselves arguing against the carriage of justice.

This reaction is extremely dangerous. The thesis of mob justice by itself is purely ridiculous. The verdict was meted out by a sequestered jury that, by rule, could not be affected by outside forces. With nobody having knowledge of

When major names and loud voices come out against the carriage of justice, their bases listen. The accusation of injustice will ring with those who majorly favor the police in brutality cases, and the media perspective, as it so often does, will likely spill into the Republican party line, undermining the trust in the justice system and inflaming the already contentious tensions.

Conservative commentators and politicians who have

built a career on maligning equality movements should not be given the benefit of the doubt when they complain about justice being achieved for Black Americans. They are rooting against the people being killed, offering an explanation other than the confirmed guilt of the people who killed them and pulling their followers away from justice and toward an anti-protest, antiliberal, and pro-police mindset that offers police what amounts to free protection from a sizeable portion of the country. With hundreds of Black Americans being shot dead by police every year, it is important to hold police accountable for their actions.

By drawing attention away from the verdict and toward the fear of mob violence, these prominent conservatives are depriving America of the time to focus on how the verdict can be made actionable.

Though not revolutionary by itself, Chauvin’s conviction fed the momentum to relaunch the fight for more responsible and rethought policing. We should make sure to combat the dangerous allegations of mob justice by publically reaffirming the importance of a functioning and accurate justice system. However, it is also important to re-engage in the important battle for equality when given such a clear and impactful opportunity to do so. Though prominent conservatives are trying to muddy the waters on a crucial issue, we must push through and win improvements.

The Modern Apocalypse

By LAUREN CHIN

to the world’s climate. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been emitting an extremely large amount of harmful greenhouse gases, which then trap heat within the atmosphere. For the past few millennia, the propor-

Moreover, global warming damages Earth’s oxygen supply as trees disintegrate in wildfires and the ocean’s algae die out. Eventually, these changes may even threaten the existence of various species across the world.

Scientists have come to the almost certain conclusion that human behavior is responsible for these recent changes

tion of carbon dioxide in the air has rarely surpassed 280 parts per million (ppm), even in warmer eras. Yet, NASA reported in 2013 that carbon dioxide reached an all-time high at over 400 ppm. This increased release of carbon dioxide can be attributed to modern behaviors, such as burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, and increased

Ying Chen / The Spectator

When you imagine the end of the world, what do you picture? Perhaps you envision a zombie apocalypse, an asteroid hitting the earth, or an alien invasion. Considering how popularized they are in the media, these types of scenarios are easy to imagine.

However, many are still ignoring the apocalypse that is happening in front of us: climate change.

Obviously, a movie about climate change would not be quite as interesting as one about a zombie apocalypse, yet it is still important to raise awareness about the impacts and damage of climate change. Throughout the past few decades, Earth’s climate has changed greatly. Precipitation patterns have changed, sea levels have risen, ocean acidity has increased, and hurricanes have strengthened around the world. It’s predicted that sea levels could rise at least a foot by the year 2100. In the northeastern United States alone, increased heat waves and heavier downpours are already impacting our lives. Resources, especially crops, are diminishing since they are unable to adjust to the increased heat. More rain is causing greater contaminant concentrations in our water supply. Infrastructure is affected as the above impacts threaten the stability of roads and buildings, especially in coastal cities.

It is not just humans who are impacted by these chang-

es. As oceans become warmer and more acidic, marine life struggles to find new ecosystems to survive in. Thermal stress contributes to coral bleaching, endangering one of the most important marine ecosystems in the world.

livestock farming.

At this point, climate change will drastically change the way that we live. Nevertheless, some people still do not believe that climate change even exists. Many argue that momentary drops in temperature, such as the snowstorm that blew through Texas in February and March, disprove the idea of global warming. However, climate change isn’t just the rise in overall world temperature but also the increase in sporadic weather patterns such as the snowstorm.

Others also argue that scientists are merely exaggerating the impacts of climate change as a means of personal gain to capitalize on a sensationalized topic and thus make their names and research more well-known.

Certain organizations, often funded by fossil fuel companies, claim that dissenting studies often go unpublished.

However, this argument is a misinterpretation of how the scientific research process actually works as most scientific articles go through the same process of peer review to be published. Additionally, scientists do not gain grants simply by publishing studies that support a popular topic.

On the contrary, many studies that deny climate change are biased as they are funded by fossil fuel companies.

Another group of climate change deniers insists that the recent rise in temperature is neither a new nor humancreated problem. Instead, they

claim that this trend is merely in accordance with historical climate patterns as the Earth is prone to going through natural variations in temperature throughout the years. However, the rate at which temperatures are currently rising is completely unprecedented; natural processes cannot account for these changes.

Though some may attempt to discredit the existence of climate change, the human population is overall on the right track to slowing global warming. In recent years, governments have shown greater interest in protecting the environment from climate change. For instance, the Paris Agreement, a legally binding agreement between nearly 200 countries, encourages individual governments to reduce carbon emissions. In the United States, solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy managed to surpass non-renewable sources in electrical generation capacity this past year. Additionally, everyday citizens are encouraged to participate in more environment-friendly actions.

To more efficiently prevent climate change, people must raise awareness and spread information about the phenomenon itself. It is also important to educate our younger generations, ensuring that everyone is accurately informed about climate change. In this way, we can stop the modern apocalypse before it reaches the point of no return.

The Spectator • May 17, 2021

Page 13

Opinions Pipedown With the Pipelines

By ELIO TORRES

health and safety of our communities, especially when they threaten to restrain our access to the vital resources they control. As residents of the city that a new gas facility will pollute, we need to resist and boycott. Unfortunately, not many people in the path of the pipe-

hold gas from all new businesses if they did not receive approval. Despite the DEC’s original declaration that a new pipeline would hurt aquatic life, the government allowed the proposal to be resubmitted. In the case of the new fracked gas facility in Greenpoint, New York State has allowed National Grid to file for construction permits.

We cannot allow a company to dictate the public

line and facility even know it is happening. Apart from the times when the city uproots a street to conduct maintenance on the pipeline, they do not advertise what they are doing and keep it under wraps.

A group of North Brooklyn residents has pursued a legal avenue to stop National Grid by suing the company for the harm that the new infrastructure would do to the health of residents.

Julia Shen / The Spectator

We instinctively assume a news story about a gas pipeline refers to a far-flung place in middle America or the Middle East. We might know fracked gas reaches New York City— and our stovetops—but how it arrives is not something we need or want to confront. The ugly reality is that pipelines exist in all five boroughs, and their existence challenges the notion that our city is moving in a progressive environmental direction. The pipelines cut through our backyards, polluting and poisoning our breathing air and when done, freely deposit the byproducts in local bodies of water like Newtown Creek.

Right now, National Grid is seeking to expand its fracked gas storage facility in my neighborhood of Williamsburg-Greenpoint. The facility lies at the base of the North Brooklyn Pipeline, a sevenmile pipe that bores through eastern and northern Brooklyn and bisects predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods. There are about 150 thousand residents within the evacuation zone of the pipeline if it were to rupture, as well as 55 public schools, nine healthcare facilities, and three nursing homes.

While the government may deserve the blame for allowing the pipeline to be constructed alongside homes and business-

es, the National Grid company leveraged their demand within the city to force their way. When the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) rejected National Grid’s billion-dollar pipeline project in 2019, the company threatened to with-

As a Williamsburg native, I am reminded of our industrial history, which has left a permanent stain on our air quality: we have one of the highest concentrations of nitric oxide and black carbon in our breathing air. The fracking facility and pipeline, which are only a few blocks from my home, would exacerbate our already concerning air quality issues through carbon emissions and contribute to climate change.

These new constructions also hold a more symbolic weight: they indicate that the city is not moving in the environmental direction it claims it is. The city has been enforcing strict environmental benchmarks and instituting new programs, like the residential building energy rating, to reach its goal of cutting emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The New York City Green New Deal seeks to address the same problems that the National Grid pipeline causes. We cannot progress to an era of clean energy and sustainability when we do not hold corporations to the same standards. New York needs to take a strong stance against National Grid and the ultimatums that the company is offering.

The debate around National Grid draws question to the future of energy in the country, a concern that President Biden has made a priority of his presidency. Biden has made it clear that he wants the coun-

try to move toward green energy; one of his first actions as president was shutting down the Keystone Pipeline. He also made climate action a priority of his foreign policy and rejoined the Paris climate accord. Biden’s energy plan has ramifications for New York City: he designated part of the coastline between New Jersey and New York as an offshore wind zone, indicating a shift to renewable energy. For his actions to sow the seeds for an energy revolution, we cannot simultaneously invest in more fossil fuel infrastructure.

While we might rely on fossil fuels and pipelines to fuel our homes now, a gradual shift to sustainability might spell out a gas-independent New York City in the next few decades.

Of course, that hopeful reality is only a distant dream if we are complicit in gas corporations. The health of our communities, longevity of our climate, and gravitas of future sustainable policy are all at stake when National Grid gets its way.

We are not helpless in the fight against National Grid and its pipelines. Contact your city council member, and tell them you do not condone a pipeline in your city; continue to limit your individual gas and energy consumption; and write to or call National Grid to express your frustration.

Small actions, when compiled, create big change.

Taboo Means Menstruation

By ANISHA SINGHAL

ary Clinton ran for president, some men considered her biology as grounds for political incapability. They joked, “They call us sexist just because we are critical of Hillary Clinton and her health.

What if that time of month comes, and she is sick at the same time?” This concern was senseless for many reasons.

“It must be that time of the month” is a phrase commonly used to devalue women’s emotions and suggest that men are more rational.

they feature women frolicking through fields of flowers as though cramps are just a walk in the park. Concealment of accurate menstrual information in the media shields overall understanding of the complex female reproductive system.

For example, when Hill-

Not only does menstruation have no effect on logical reasoning, but Hillary Clinton was 68 years old when she ran in 2016 and had almost certainly hit menopause by then.

An incomplete understanding of female biology caused by the stigma surrounding women’s health paves a path for

misogyny and downplays the capabilities of women to basic hormonal tendencies. “It must be that time of the month” is a phrase commonly used to devalue women’s emotions and suggest that men are more rational.

Since open discussion around menstrual health is such a taboo and often con-

Tina Siu / The Spectator

Menstruation is the ultimate taboo. Quite literally.

The word taboo traces back to the Polynesian word “tapua,” meaning menstrual blood. It wasn’t until the 1900s that the link between menstruation and ovulation was understood.

Before there was a conclusive scientific understanding, people associated periods with the supernatural. Theories about the abilities of menstruating women ranged from bending swords and dimming mirrors with mere glances to killing crops with their touch.

Though theories alluding to witchcraft are no longer abundant, the taboo of menstruation persists today as misinformation continues to circulate.

If anything, menstruation is a testament to a woman’s strength, in that she can continue with her daily life in a state of constant bleeding and pain. However, the stigmatization of periods internalizes shame for this process. This shame is exemplified every time a girl walks down a hallway attempting to conceal a pad in the waistband of her black leggings or whispers to a friend about needing to go tend to her “monthly visitor.”

In Ghana, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, 20 percent of girls miss school because they lack period products or are afraid of someone finding out they are on their periods.

A great deal of this insecurity is invoked by the media. Multiple mainstream news channels refused to air an ad made by Thinx (a periodproof underwear company) that featured blood-stained sheets and a tampon string

hanging out from the side of underwear in 2019. The concept of menstrual health being photographed and discussed so openly is considered radical, revolting, and graphic. Advertisements that are allowed to air use blue dishwasher soap solutions to show absorbancy rather than red solutions that resemble blood. Often,

sidered radical and shameful, issues like the unaffordability of hygiene products frequently go unaddressed. Thirty U.S. states still have the tampon tax, a tax on menstrual hygiene products as luxury items.

While soap, deodorant, toilet paper, and diapers are all taxed at the general merchandise

rate under the “necessary” category, tampons and pads are grouped with “luxury” goods like jewelry and perfume. This categorization insinuates that overcoming the discomfort and messiness of menstruation is not a hygienic priority.

Even without the tampon tax, menstrual hygiene products cost an average of $7 a box. Due to the high prices, one in four women struggles to pay for pads or tampons at least once in her lifetime.

The issue is most severe for homeless women, who do not have the financial capability to pay for menstrual hygiene products. Oftentimes, women must resort to layering toilet paper that is not nearly absorbent enough or cutting out cardboard and rags, which is unsanitary and extremely uncomfortable. Without proper menstrual hygiene, the risks of toxic shock syndrome and infections are high.

The shame surrounding menstruation restrains women psychologically. Ignorance around the subject has impacts ranging from misogynistic politics to the reduced availability and affordability of essential hygiene products.

Caring for one’s body should not be priced like a luxury, and a phenomenon that half the population undergoes monthly should not be a taboo topic.

To start chipping away at the taboo, we have to circulate education regarding both the biology of menstruation and the social impacts of menstrual oppression through schools and among family and friends.

Periods are already painful; no one should have to bleed in silence and shame.

Adrianna Peng / The Spectator

Nada Hameed / The Spectator

Susannah Ahn / The Spectator

Reya Miller / The Spectator

Afra Mahmud / The Spectator

The Spectator • May 17, 2021 Page 14

Art

“DIY Deities”

By THE ART DEPARTMENT

Cadence Li / The Spectator

Aryana Singh / The Spectator

Ismath Maksura / The Spectator

Ying Chen / The Spectator

Justine Kang / The Spectator

Sophie Poget / The Spectator

The Spectator • May 17, 2021 Page 15

Art

“DIY Deities”

By THE ART DEPARTMENT

The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Page 16

Science The Implications of Handwriting

By JENNA MACKENROTH

Though such an idea seems both credible and entertaining, graphology has been disproven as a science and is considered a pseudoscience.

Despite this, handwriting is not an entirely inaccurate indica-

Rin Fukuoka / The Spectator

Humans are distinct in the structure of our hands. Even the earliest humanoid, the Australopithecine Lucy, is recognized for her specialized hand structures, which include thumbs and an increased range of motion. This unique structure allows for human handwriting, with the visual fingerprint of every writer created through the size, shape, and slant of letters and punctuation.

Though handwriting is quickly losing popularity to typing, its digital counterpart, handwriting still holds cultural and scientific significance. From learning and writing at a young age to analyzing it in a forensic context, handwriting represents special neurological, physical, and possibly psychological aspects of humanity.

Educators and parents alike use handwriting practice as a means of developing children's fine motor skills, the coordination of the smaller hand muscles along with more detailed movements with the eyes. On a neurological level, handwriting is a unique activity because of the degree of participation it requires from the brain. Beyond commanding our hands to put a pen to paper in a coordinated movement, we are also forced to think about the content of what we write. The most involved regions in handwriting are the left gyrus and the left anterior cingulate cortex, located in the center of our brain’s left hemisphere.

The activity present in these areas of the brain differs depending on whether we are imagining writing or performing the act of writing, indicating further nuances in the brain structure and its relation to handwriting.

Writing and letters also have a unique relationship with functional specialization, which is the way specific brain structures process faces, colors, and move-

ment. Reading and writing seem to come naturally for many, but unlike colors and motion, the functional specialization of writing is not evolutionarily hardwired into our perception.

Instead, children’s brain struc-

tures specialize to recognize reading and writing around the time they learn to do so, indicating their exposure has a clear effect on brain structures. The link between specialization and children's exposure to reading and writing means that it may present itself distinctly in those exposed differently.

Because of the heavy neurological participation in handwriting, many believe that handwriting affects our personalities.

The process of analyzing handwriting and its correlation to ourselves is known as graphology. Proponents of graphology believe that certain aspects of our handwriting correspond to certain aspects of our personality. For example, neater, smaller scripts may mean that the writer is overly critical and has low selfesteem, while individuals with larger and more eclectic styles are thought to be more carefree.

tor of neurological conditions and identities. Handwriting can often differ between neurotypical and neurodivergent children.

Neurodivergence is a term used to refer to people with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children with ASD and ADHD may suffer from dysgraphia, a condition where those affected have difficulty or are unable to write coherently.

This disorder often interferes in neurodivergent children’s education as educators unfairly punish them for apparent “sloppiness” that is out of their control. Because it correlates with neurodivergence, students with ASD or ADHD are often tested for dysgraphia by copying sample texts as specialists assess their fine motor skills.

Handwriting analysis is also present in forensics, where ana-

lysts can piece together data about writing styles and apply it to crime scenes. Questioned document examiners (QDEs) analyze a given reference of handwriting and compare it to other documents to identify forgery.

They do so by observing details such as letterforms, line forms, and formatting. Though subjects may try to avoid this kind of observation through falsification of their handwriting, QDEs can still pick up on this by analyzing how many times a writing utensil was picked up from a stream of writing. Shaky lines and varying thicknesses are also indicators of forgery. This analysis is also useful in determining whether they were abusing substances that may have led to altered handwriting. Once QDEs have ascertained the identity behind specific handwriting, these documents can be used as physical evidence in court.

The importance of handwriting in education, psychology, and forensics has been called into question in recent years as typing and technology are beginning to replace manual writing. As a result, some believe that handwriting may evolve or even die out.

When referring to the switch from handwriting to typing, Audrey van der Meer, a neuropsychology professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) said, "Given the [technological] development of the last several years, we risk having one or more generations lose the ability to write by hand. Our research and that of others show that this would be a very unfortunate consequence of increased digital activity." On the other hand, students whose education is hampered by forced handwriting, such as neurodivergent students, may benefit from the gradual switch to technology.

From pseudoscientific graphology to the more practical applications in education and fo-

SCIENCEBEAT The US Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control, have resumed administration of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, determining that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the rare risk of blood clots.

Major depressive disorders have significant economic impact, with estimates showing that they cost $326 billion in 2018 alone, mainly due to worker absenteeism and reduced productivity.

Scientists recently unearthed Africa’s oldest burial—a child’s body—that was estimated to be buried 78,000 years ago, implying that the custom of burying the dead has roots possibly beyond Homo sapiens. rensics, the science behind handwriting still has a lot to offer. The observed effects of handwriting in children and their functional specialization introduce new questions about the brain’s structure and how different parts of our brains are fine-tuned to specific behaviors. The practical applications, such as those used by QDEs in forensics, may change as we move towards typingheavy environments. Though this seems to have negative implications for solving tricky crime scenes, the increased focus on typing may have its benefits for those hindered by handwriting-heavy environments. Despite this shift, it is undeniable that we will continue to be using our hands, pens, and paper for years to come. The popularity and usage of handwriting may change with the progression of the technological age, but for now, it still holds a great degree of significance both in and out of science.

A Patent-ly Bad Idea When I first heard about the COVID-vaccine, I sighed with relief. Metaphorically, I had mistaken it for a holy cure, a solution to ailment and alienation.

However, the outcome of the pandemic is as reliant on social structures as protein structures.

A vaccine ready for injection comes to nothing without the social structures that lead to its development, production, and distribution. A major factor is pharmaceutical policies, which can impede or support effective measures toward a shift to a pre-COVID society. Thus, there is an urgent need to scrutinize the role of the law in one of the major problems: vaccine inaccessibility.

So far, it’s not a pretty outlook. Over half of all doses administered have been in Europe and North America, while many developing countries have vaccinated less than one percent of their populations. In India, a second wave has paralyzed the nation. Some areas have 0.1 vaccines per 100 people while the U.S. has over 78 per 100. Over 80 percent of developing countries are lacking in vaccine sup-

plies. To say it’s grim, at least for poor countries, would be an understatement.

There has been recent scrutiny surrounding intellectual property (IP) rights, which not only provide the right to possess material through protections, such as copyrights, but also allow the material’s usage to be controlled by the owner. In the biomedical sector, this protection is granted through a shortterm monopoly given to innovative firms through patents.

Patents protect inventions for a designated time frame, usually 20 years, while at the same time allowing firms to set the invention’s price and decide if, when, and where it can be produced. Economically, IP rights are needed because companies invest heavily in research and development with a high risk of failure. If other companies could freely replicate a newly discovered innovation, the new invention’s price would quickly fall to the marginal cost of production, leaving the innovator unable to recuperate the costs of development. The existence of this monopoly ensures that generic medication, like those found in local pharmacies, are

produced after the reimbursed period expires.

There are two ways that patents disincentive widespread

enting being the first-takes-all framework. Regardless of how many research teams close in on a patentable discovery, the first

production. First, patent law discourages the disclosure of unpatentable information that might lead to a patentable development. This follows from pat-

group to the patent office gets all the rights in the development.

This deters researchers from sharing unpatentable insights, such as the genetic makeup of

Aryana Singh / The Spectator

By RANIA ZAKI

a virus, that could lead to patentable treatments with further development. Secondly, patent laws are unique to each country, meaning that many enforce their production in only the country of origin. Agreements like the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) can prevent data-sharing in countries due to the nature of policies implemented under sovereignty. As the rights under another country might be difficult to implement, many research teams do not patent under other jurisdictions.

Many have sounded the alarm: a proposal has been circulating for months to waive IP protections for COVID-19 vaccines. Though the U.S. holds most of the IP protections regarding vaccines, the Biden administration voiced support for this waiver, which would allow the production of generic vaccinations domestically and internationally. The waiver is vague but emphasizes that “negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the continued on page 16

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Science A Patent-ly Bad Idea continued from page 17

institution and the complexity of the issues involved."

However, this is not as simple as waiving all patents and vaccinating the unprivileged.

The accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines is dependent on both affordability and manufacturing capabilities. Such a waiver would increase manufacturing capability while reducing manufacturing effectiveness, risking an expensive failure. Vaccines are not drugs: while drugs tend to have a strict chemical makeup and are easy to synthesize through generic replication, vaccines are often created through proprietary recipes and specific cell lines. That means that even if a vaccine is developed, a specific process as well as the materials are required for production.

Though other manufacturers will be able to produce the vaccine, they will encounter a barrier of knowledge in doing so efficiently. As companies are not required to disclose such insights, we run the risk of companies dismissing any requests for information. Pouring money into other firms, who may not have the right equipment or tools to create these vaccines, would entail more time and effort in securing these specifications than using the patented manufacturer.

Many opposing the waiver have questioned the chain-effect of patents. A vaccine is made up of many components, from its biofillers to the machinery made to produce the vaccine; waiving ne IP right will not dismantle the many other protected processes used to produce the vaccine.

However, many in support

of the waiver prioritize urgency over that of IP rights for two reasons. First, COVID variants put an expiration date on vaccines: the more we limit vaccinations to increase long-term innovation, the more likely we are to allow the spread of variants that may become resistant to vaccines, such as the ones in India and California. As vaccines are specific to one or a few types of variants, over-enforcing these IP rights would obliterate the profits these companies seek and result in an obsolete product.

Second, many argue that a global pandemic was never a situation in which the patent system was supposed to function. IP rights are meant to prevent unfair competition that could limit reimbursement for research, such as otherwise unprofitable research into rare

diseases that have small patient pools. However, due to the widespread effect of COVID-19, this is not a factor to consider. Also, many vaccines received public funding directly or indirectly through previous phase trials under the SARS-research grants, meaning that sales have already recouped many development costs. Sales of Gilead’s Sofosbuvir, a hepatitis C drug used to treat COVID-19, have reached $58.6 billion, having received $880 million in funding from U.S. public agencies. Many technological sectors, much less one innovation, have never received so much money in such a short time.

The IP waiver isn’t the only option. A newly launched global COVID-19 IP Pool, under the control of the World Health Organization, allows organizations to voluntarily share their

IP rights, technology transfers, and other know-how relevant to vaccines and diagnostic developments. This will then be available for free or licensed “on reasonable and affordable terms,” thus improving the advancement, accessibility, and affordability of treatment measures.

As miscommunication and medicinal exclusivity curtail international access, we need to ensure that information sharing is done in a way that facilitates access for developed countries as well as developing countries.

Though the bedrock of moving with the IP waiver is on heavy waters, the predominance of medical inaccessibility requires us to re-analyze the frameworks that led to this. For once, there needs to be a shift from nationalism to internationalism and from exclusivity to inclusivity.

Earworms: The Melodic Parasite in Our Brains

By RIONA ANVEKAR

likely to repeat in your head. Music psychologist Kelly Jakubowski and her colleagues studied the reason behind this and found that catchier songs are faster and simpler in melodic contour, as the way in which pitch rises

Additionally, those with a musical background or who are open to new experiences are more prone to catching an earworm.

If you do get an earworm, it is hopefully not a terribly annoying one. However, some songs are scientifically more catchy than others and are thus more

and falls makes them easier to sing. Moreover, catchier music tends to have unique bridges between notes that make the song stand out. Some examples of these tunes are “Bad Romance”

by Lady Gaga, “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” (somewhat ironically) by Kylie Minogue,

Iris Lin / The Spectator

Do you ever find yourself struggling to focus during a test because a song is stuck in your head? Whether it’s a boppy song like “Levitating” by Dua Lipa Feat. DaBaby or an annoying but catchy tune like “Friday” by Rebecca Black, it is bound to get on your nerves eventually.

This is a common issue that up to 98 percent of people experience, called earworms. While two-thirds of people find that earworms provoke neutral or positive emotions, the remaining third find it disturbing when these songs wriggle their way into one’s brain and threaten their clarity of thoughts. If you are one of these people, do not fret. There are methods to disinfect your brain from these worms.

For a song to get stuck in your head, earworms rely on brain networks involved in perception, emotion, memory, and spontaneous thought. Certain mental states make you more susceptible to earworms. They are generally triggered when you hear the song itself, are in a happy state of being, or are in an inattentive state. They may also show up when you are stressed out as your brain latches onto a repetitive idea and sticks with it under those conditions. Additionally, certain personality

features may predispose you to be caught vulnerable by a catchy tune. Those who are obsessivecompulsive or neurotic, or those who often feel anxious, self-conscious, and vulnerable, are more likely to fall prey to an earworm.

and “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey.

Despite the distraction that earworms cause, they can actually be beneficial. Unlike your daily speech, music typically has repetition. Though repetition of speech is associated with regression and childishness, musical repetition is a process that becomes pleasurable when it is understood through such repetition. Each time music repeats, you notice something subtly different in the notes, scale, or harmonies, which may constitute one of the positive aspects of earworms. Furthermore, earworms are a form of spontaneous mental activity, and this mind-wandering state grants various advantages to the brain, actually contributing to, rather than detracting from, clear thinking and creativity.

While earworms are usually not worrisome, they may sometimes occur as a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychotic syndromes, migraine headaches, unusual forms of epilepsy, or palinacousis, a condition where you continue to hear a sound long after it has disappeared. If the earworm lasts more than 24 hours, it may be caused by a variety of illnesses, including stroke or cancer metastasizing to the brain. In this case, it would be recommended to see your physician.

While earworms are usually benign, many people seek methods to rid their brains of them. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to do so. Contrary to instinctual behavior, try to passively accept the song rather than block it out. A determined effort to block out the song may result in the very opposite of what you want, since resisting the song may make our brain repeat it longer. Another successful method is to distract yourself from the song with other “cure” tunes which interfere with the experience of the earworm but do not have the characteristics of an earworm.

Chewing gum may also help, as it interferes with hearing the song in your head. For those who are extremely distressed by earworms, other techniques include cognitive behavioral therapy to replace dysfunctional thoughts like, “These earworms indicate that I am crazy” with, “It is normal to have earworms.”

In severe cases, a physician may prescribe antidepressants.

Though they’re annoying, earworms may be a part of your brain’s creative process. So the next time you have a song stuck in your head during a test, don’t try to force it out as a sign that something is wrong. Instead, take it as a positive sign that the gears in your brain are working properly.

Neuroimaging Technology and the Future of Euthanasia

By OLIVIA ZHENG

Terri Schiavo, a 26-year-old woman from Florida, suffered a cardiac arrest that cut off oxygen supply to her brain in 1990.

She sustained severe brain damage and remained in what appeared to be a vegetative state for the rest of her life. In 1998, Schiavo’s husband wanted her feeding tube removed to allow her to die, as he believed that she would not have wanted to live in her current condition.

Schiavo’s parents disagreed, and the family’s ensuing legal battle spanned seven years. In 2005, Schiavo’s feeding tubes were removed, and she passed away

from dehydration 14 days later.

Technology reveals that brain structure and activity played an important role in Schiavo’s case. It can show the functions of different regions of the brain and identify neurological conditions in patients. Computerized tomography (CT), for example, produces images of narrow slices of the brain, functioning similar to X-rays but using an arc of radiation beams rather than a single ray. As CTs cannot indicate brain activity, electroencephalograms (EEGs) are used to measure electrical impulses on the surface of the brain. These impulses result from neurons communicating

with one another, which require changes to the potential of a cell’s membrane, or its voltage.

This has many uses in the clinical setting, especially for patients in a vegetative state like Schiavo and patients with locked-in syndrome. When a patient is in a vegetative state, they are awake but unconscious of their surroundings and unable to perform cognitive activities. Only functions carried out by the brain stem, like maintaining a sleep-wake cycle, breathing, swallowing, and other basic activities, are performed. With locked-in syndrome, all voluntary muscles, except for those that control eye movement, are

unable to function. Patients retain cognitive function and are aware of what goes on around them but cannot respond through speech and most movement. Patients with locked-in syndrome produce EEG readings identical to those of healthy patients, while EEG readings for vegetative state patients are flat, since there are no electrical impulses to be recorded on the surface of their brains.

CT scans and EEG readings played a critical role in the case of Schiavo. While Schiavo’s parents believed that their daughter was not in a vegetative state, most of the doctors who evaluated her disagreed. Dr. Ron-

ald Cranford, who examined Schiavo during a 2002 trial, said in an interview that her EEG readings showed no activity on the surface of her brain and her CT scans revealed that many regions of her brain had wasted away. At her autopsy, Schiavo’s brain weighed less than half the weight of a healthy brain, confirming what the EEG and CT scans had indicated.

Schiavo’s case was highly publicized and ignited a heated debate about euthanasia, a process where someone, often continued on page 18

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Science Neuroimaging Technology and the Future of Euthanasia H-NMR signals. Deoxygenated blood is magnetic and interferes with nearby H-NMR signals, causing deoxygenated regions of the brain to appear darker in fMRI scans while oxygenated regions of the brain appear brighter. fMRI’s ability to measure activity throughout the whole

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those with terminal or debilitating medical conditions, is put to death painlessly. In Schiavo’s case, some believed that she would not have wanted to die.

While EEGs and CT scans can generally reveal whether a patient is in a vegetative state or has locked-in syndrome, they cannot unveil activity deeper in the brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a more advanced technology, has been able to do this, providing another way to involve patients in their own life-and-death decisions. While the desires of vegetative state patients, like Schiavo, still cannot be recovered, this technology can benefit lockedin patients. fMRIs display different levels of activity in slices of a brain through blood oxygen level dependent contrast. There is increased blood flow to active regions of the brain, because activated neurons need an increased oxygen supply.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to detect regions of the brain with oxygenated blood. fMRIs send radiofrequency magnetic pulses, disorienting hydrogen atoms and causing protons in the atoms to emit signals called

respond to his questions.

For most people, thinking about tennis activates the motor cortex of the brain, while thinking about navigating from room to room activates the spatial regions. Thus, doctors can ask their patients questions and ask them to think of playing tennis to respond “yes” or to think

should not be presented with the choice to end their lives, especially because patients may feel that they are a burden to their families. Others, especially religious groups, believe that patients’ lives have value and should be preserved, regardless of their quality of life. Some also feel that being in a locked-

While EEGs and CT scans can generally reveal whether a patient is in a vegetative state or has locked-in syndrome, they cannot unveil activity deeper in the brain.

brain rather than just the surface sometimes reveals brain activity in patients who do not respond to EEGs. This can correct the diagnoses of some patients from vegetative state to being locked-in. fMRIs can also be used to more accurately communicate with patients.

Neuroscientist Adrian M. Owen significantly developed this area soon after Schiavo’s death, devising a yes-or-no questioning system that allowed patients to

about walking from room to room to respond“no.” Responses to questions like “Are you in pain?” could then significantly improve the quality of care for these patients.

However, this capability also raises questions about euthanasia and whether doctors and researchers should have access to patients’ thoughts. Opponents of euthanasia, particularly disability activist groups, argue that severely disabled patients

in state is not painful and does not warrant euthanasia. However, those in favor of euthanasia believe that patients should have the choice to end their lives peacefully instead of artificially prolonging their suffering.

Others also believe that death through euthanasia is more dignified to some patients than dying after years of life support.

Most locked-in patients only communicate through blinking or moving their eyes, using

devices, or using sensors, many of which require some level of movement. fMRIs provide a more accurate way to communicate. However, because fMRI machines are large and can cost anywhere from a few hundred thousand dollars to over a million, they are less accessible than other methods of communication and thus have still not been widely employed in caring for locked-in patients.

Removing the uncertainty about patients’ desires in euthanasia decisions may push for the legalization of euthanasia in more scenarios. This could pressure some patients into consenting to death and contribute to ableist ideas that the lives of disabled people are not worth living. However, allowing more patients to choose when they want to die could help those who are unhappy living in a locked-in state. Regardless, as technologies like fMRIs continue to improve and become more accessible, doctors and researchers will better diagnose and treat locked-in patients, improving the quality of life for those who would otherwise be unable to communicate. As for vegetative state patients, having a living will prior to sustaining brain damage could help avoid cases like Schiavo’s.

One Clot Is All It Takes

By SATHIRTHA MONDAL

Joanna Meng / The Spectator

As millions of joyous vaccine recipients flooded social media with their “I got vaccinated” stickers, relieved that their battle with COVID-19 was finally over, their celebration quickly turned to panic when scientists reported six cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), an extremely rare but harmful type of blood clot, in those who received the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine.

It was news no one wanted to hear—especially for those who had already received that vaccine. Once again, ongoing vaccine distrust heightened, obstructing the enduring battle to return to normalcy.

Despite the recent rise of concerns regarding vaccine safety and efficacy in the U.S., these doubts had already begun circulating in European nations, where the AstraZeneca vaccine, which shares the same technology as the J&J vaccine, was reported to have caused clotting disorders in over 30 recipients, 15 of whom died. While the U.S. boasted the vaccine’s success, European nations suspended its administration. Several scientists, including German clotting specialist Andreas Greinacher, pointed fingers at the vaccine, jeopardizing the keystone in the push to immunize the world. Greincacher named the condition vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT). It had a striking resemblance to an existing blood clotting syndrome called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), which leads to low platelet counts as an immune response to heparin, an

anticoagulant or blood thinner.

While low platelet counts normally cause bleeding since the body cannot form clots without platelets, HIT causes unstoppable clotting instead. In the case of CVST, the clotting prevents blood from draining out of the brain and leads to hemorrhage, a type of stroke. As the news disseminated, con- fidence

i n t h e vaccine decr eased, and concern that the vaccine could be potentially life-threatening was revived.

Nearly a month later in the U.S., similar cases of the disorder were reported in six women who received the J&J shot, leaving one in critical condition and another dead. The cases were all reported among women under the age of 50, within two weeks of receiving the vaccine.

Since the condition occurs in response to heparin, the main treatment of blood clots, the Centers for Disease Control strongly discouraged its usage.

Instead, intravenous immunoglobulin, an anticoagulation medication, was recommended to treat the disorder. Health officials also insisted there was no need to worry as the cases were extremely rare with less than a one out of one million chance,

and there was no clear correlation between the blood clots and the vaccine. Despite this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a temporary pause on the J&J vaccine administration to conduct an investigation.

The pause s p r e a d worldwide, from

Australia to South Africa, where a new deadly variant was ravaging the population.

It also sparked debate among health officials on potential risks introduced by the pause, including greater vaccine hesitancy, and whether the pause was necessary.

As more cases emerged, with over 300 among the 33.6 million recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 15 out of the eight million J&J shot recipients, scientists faced pressure to find the cause. Building off of Greinacher’s research, studies suggested that the adenovirus, a key ingredient in the J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines used to deliver genetic material to the cells, led to the development of antibodies targeting platelet factor 4, a protein responsible for coordinating blood clotting. By

contrast, the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use mRNA technology to deliver instructions to the cells. Though, in rare instances, the adenovirus triggers a harmful immune response that develops into a HIT-like disorder with low platelet counts and large blood clots, only a microscopic percentage of inoculated people develop this immune response. Scientists have also speculated that some vaccinated people who developed the clots would have developed them regardless of whether or not they were vaccinated.

Most importantly, a major finding of the studies concluded that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks, as it provides protection against getting sick or dying from COVID-19 and reduces the risk of hospitalizations. The risk of thrombocytopenia from vaccination is lower than the risk of developing thrombocytopenia in the general population. Moreover, the risk of VIPIT, one in a million, is diminutive compared to the chances of being hospitalized with COVID-19, which is one in 100. This reveals the issue of vaccine hesitancy, which leaves millions exposed to the risks while thousands of doses go to waste due to the vaccine’s short shelf-life after thawing.

While the cases appear to be more common in women, data suggests that this may be a mere coincidence.

After a brief but thorough safety review, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control lifted the pause on the J&J vaccine administration, reinforcing confidence in the vaccine’s safety.

Since then, the vaccine has returned to vaccination sites, now

with an added label for the potential risk of the blood-clotting disorder. Though overall vaccination has slowed down, over 50 percent of American adults have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, shy of the 70 to 85 percent needed for herd immunity. Many European countries have also lifted the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine, emphasizing that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Though there is no need to be concerned, it is important to know about the blood clot disorder. Learning the risk factors is the best way to decrease the risk of becoming susceptible to it. Such risk factors include contraceptives, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy, COVID-19, smoking, dehydration, and air travel. It is also important to look out for symptoms such as persistent headaches, a full-body rash, shortness of breath, pain in the leg or abdominal region, and swelling, and if any are present, one should immediately contact a doctor.

The world needs the vaccine. As necessary as it was to pause its rollout and study the illness, it was far more essential to lift the pause and resume the vaccine’s rollout. Studies have reinforced that the risks are vanishingly tiny and are not worth refusing the vaccine nor losing sleep over. Rather, a loss of sleep may increase your risks more than the vaccine. While this moment is precarious in a seemingly endless pandemic, it has once again been proven that the public should trust the vaccine, our only weapon to end the pandemic.

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Arts and Entertainment Do You Dare to Enter the Shadow Fold?

Television

By SUAH CHUNG and NICOLE LIU

Young adult (YA) fantasy show “Shadow and Bone” on Netflix was one of the most anticipated shows of the year, as a result of the hype surrounding the eponymous books series.

Though Netflix is no stranger to the fantasy genre, the streaming platform is very hit or miss when it comes to literature adaptations. However, with a diverse and talented cast, stunning set design, and gripping plotlines, “Shadow and Bone” is beyond exceptional—proof that Netflix can do YA fiction right.

Adapted from the best-selling novels “Shadow and Bone” and “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo, the show brings the fantasy world, Ravka, to life, where its inhabitants are separated based on their supernatural abilities (those who have them being Grisha). The Grisha hold a better chance against the Shadow Fold, a swath of darkness that splits the nation in half and is overtaken by Volcra, dark feral creatures. The show follows Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), a cartographer in the Ravkan Army who only realizes she possesses a special ability after she enters the Fold. As a Sun Summoner, possessing the power to summon light, Alina is valuable and is soon whisked away to the luxurious palace grounds where the Grisha train.

The show integrates multiple storylines from “Six of Crows” with great clarity, adding a cryp-

Music

By ZIFEI ZHAO

Kaz (Freddy Carter), acrobatic spy Inej (Amita Suman), and charismatic sharpshooter Jesper (Kit Young) that the interactions between the characters shine.

Their dynamic is perfect, as Jesper’s wit and carelessness bring a refreshing humorous note, balancing the more withdrawn and intense Kaz and Inej. Motivated by a fortune offered by a greedy

that complements Alina’s gradual adjustment to her new life.

The bond between Alina and Mal Oretsev (Archie Renaux), her childhood best friend, is another character dynamic that is masterfully highlighted by the plot. Through the flashbacks of their childhood memories at an orphanage, the viewers see how their friendship and loyalty

developed, which puts the easy banter and familiarity they continue to exhibit in the present into context. After Alina is later taken away, their emotions, communicated through letters, make their connection striking and the possibility of romance all the more believable.

The gripping depth that the storytelling creates is only possible through the meticulous detail of the sets, which is what truly transfers the Grishaverse world from the page to the live adaption with an intricate vibrancy. “Shadow and Bone” occurs mostly in Russia-inspired Ravka, and its setpieces reflect its occupants. With the Grisha, the nation’s elite, Alina encounters opulence at the Little Palace, an elegant castle with gorgeous architecture, which contrasts the military camp she was accustomed to. This aspect of Ravka exudes enchantment and magic as Alina struggles to find both her role and self. However, the dank Ketterdam is a much more grimy and dingy setting. A melting pot of different cultures, Ketterdam is chaotic, a bustling hub for commerce and illegalities. In conjunction with the alluring settings, the costumes of the show play an equally important role in immersing the audience into the “Shadow and Bone” universe. While the Ravkans are seen wearing beautifully embroidered keftas and sophisticated gowns and uniforms, the Crows wear darker clothing, complete with detailed objects like engraved pistols and crowheaded canes.

In addition to its fictional

worldbuilding, “Shadow and Bone” is notably diverse, with four out of six of the main cast as people of color and with one character with a disability, using a cane to walk. As a Half-Shu orphan (which is implied to mean of Asian descent) Alina’s experience with racism makes her continual sentiment of being ostracized from society, a quality a typical YA protagonist, valid.

Moreover, the show does not focus solely on Alina’s role as the main character, as Mal similarly encounters verbal racism during their time at the orphanage, addressing a more important issue of how subtle discrimination in our society exists for people of color. Though Alina originally in the books was not mixed race, the careful implementation of how race intersects with identity is just another way “Shadow and Bone” shatters precedence.

A true rarity among YA novel adaptations, “Shadow and Bone” is a captivating enhancement of its source material, managing to stay true to the core aspects of the main characters while adding its own distinct flair. With complex characters and storylines that weave together a tangible world, the show delivers action, fantasy, romance, and humor––a full menagerie. Filled to the brim with adventure and excitement, “Shadow and Bone” has engrossed die-hard fans and general viewers alike, inciting infectious popularity that is sure to escalate in its upcoming second season. to enter the Shadow Fold?

Rina Sawayama: The Big Sister You’ve Always Wanted at Cambridge, where she joined local queer communities and a hip-hop music group and finally allowed herself to explore and accept who she really was. A few years later, Sawayama released some singles and her debut EP, “Rina” (2017), which helped her gain traction in the music industry. The release of her debut album, “SAWAYAMA,” on April 17, 2020 officially labelled her as one of Britain’s rising pop artists.

From her instrumentation to her vocals to her lyrics, Sawayama shines through her versatility. On her studio projects, she spans a large range of genres, from electropop to rock to R&B, and even falls into early 2000s pop territory on certain cuts. Songs like “Tokyo Love Hotel” and “Lucid” tote a unique disco pop glitz, while songs like “STFU!” have clear rock influences. And although she frequently experiments with her sound, her debut album is a cohesive body of work––a true testament to her expertise. She also has an incredible range, and her talent speaks for itself on beautiful ballad songs like “Chosen Family.” But at the same time, she adds an edge to her voice, which helps create an amazing dynamic throughout her discography. Most importantly, her lyrics are incredibly raw and relatable. On tracks like “Dynasty,” she openly shares

her experiences with familial problems, asking her listeners to “Break the chain with [her].” On “XS,” Sawayama juxtaposes the words XS (extra small) and excess and intersects materialism, capitalism, climate change, and gender issues. Her wide range of themes of family, capitalism, sexuality, youth, and more reflect a complexity in her emotions and music. Sawayama uses her songs to highlight experiences, creating catchy music while also diving into deeper themes.

But beyond her incredible talent, the rising star also understands the lack of Asian and queer representation in music and actively strives to close that gap. As a pansexual and bisexual woman, Sawayama uses her platform to uplift the LGBTQ+ community. In her pop single “Cherry,” Sawayama opens up about her pansexuality, proudly representing her

identity. She signed an open letter to the UK equalities minister in 2020, demanding for a ban of all forms of conversion therapy.

More recently, Sawayama has worked to change music laws for British-immigrated artists.

Last year, Sawayama was told s h e Cadence Li / The Spectator

“Rina Sawayama.” She was everywhere—plastered over social media, in my friends’ playlists, and in music news, and yet I never took the chance to explore her artistry. But, as a huge fan of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, I jumped at the opportunity to spend 15 minutes and three seconds basking in Sawayama’s glory. The result? I was awestruck by her impressive voice, raw and smart lyrics, and range of styles.

In a quarter of an hour, she effortlessly transitioned from rock to pop to ballad and moved her audience, and me, to tears. After that video, I decided to take another hour to listen to her entire album “SAWAYAMA” (2020) (in lieu of my homework, which I only partially regret) and came to a conclusion as to why Sawayama is so highly praised: she’s simply the older sister you’ve always wanted.

Sawayama is a Japanese-British singer-songwriter. Born in Niigata, she moved to London at the age of five. Growing up between spheres of both British and Japanese culture, Sawayama, like many of us, struggled with fitting perfectly into two cultural boxes. As a child, she also struggled with her parents’ divorce, coming to terms with her sexuality, and keeping up with social and educational expectations. She later found her niche

merchant to kidnap Alina, the group makes a perilous attempt to cross the Fold, providing a much-needed fast-paced action

Chloe Huang / The Spectator

Do you dare

tic complexity to an otherwise generic plot. It is through the Crows, a gang of vagrants including criminal mastermind

could not compete for British music awards such as The BRITs or the Mercury Prize because she wasn’t a British citi-

zen, despite having lived in Britain almost her entire life and being legally allowed to remain in Britain indefinitely. Soon, the Internet blew up in support for Sawayama, especially after her interview with Vice, in which she called the rule “othering” while bringing up issues of immigrant assimilation. Later, Sawayama was able to meet up with the British Phonographic Industry, a music trade association that runs multiple awards, and convinced them to change the rules. Now, anyone who has been a permanent resident of the UK for more than five years is eligible for an award. Subsequently, Sawayama was nominated for the BRITs’ Rising Star Award and has opened doors for many other artists like her.

What makes Sawayama’s music so attractive is her raw portrayal and understanding of typical immigrant families and her individuality as a result.

Oftentimes, there are cultural and linguistic barriers that make it difficult for children of immigrants to open up to their parents––especially about sexuality and identity.

It can feel overbearing and lonesome, like you’re the only one struggling out there with no one to turn to. But Sawayama reminds you that you’re not alone and like a wise sister, tells you it’s all going to be okay.

Page 20

The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Arts and Entertainment Mortal Kombat’s Kareless Konformity

Film

chain—would have likely been a poor choice for grounding viewers in the film’s world. The problem with adding Young isn’t that he’s new, but that he’s boring and stands out like a sore thumb in the otherwise over-the-top universe

“Mortal Kombat” is, against all odds, worse than you might expect. Inspired by the famously violent fighting games first released in the early ‘90s, the movie is chock-full of cheesy writing, gratuitous gore, and hilariously out-of-place fan service. But, in all honesty, its self-aware camp is a lot of fun, even if it isn’t the most intellectual of productions. Instead, the film’s problems come from its adaptation to the big screen and its unwillingness to fully commit to the inherent stupidity of the franchise. The series of games is undeniably a difficult foundation to create a cohesive story. The lore is incomprehensible, its characters are obnoxious and poorly written, and its entire aesthetic can best be described as that of an angsty middle schooler. At the end of the day though, a true “Mortal Kombat” movie would have been at least entertaining and almost certainly more interesting than the formulaic action flick we got in its place.

The central plot of the film is similar to that of the games. The empire of Outworld, another dimension, wants to invade Earth, but the gods will only let them if they can beat Earth 10 times in Mortal Kombat, the titular martial arts tournament. Earth has already lost nine times, so our cast of (mostly) iconic characters has to defeat the champions of Outworld in order to save the planet.

The one massive revision to the lore is the introduction of Cole Young (Lewis Tan), the movie’s completely original protagonist.

There are clear reasons why a new main character might have been necessary: “Mortal Kombat” isn’t known for strong character writing, and it would have been difficult to make any of the games’ central cast members palatable for casual audiences. The franchise’s most iconic character—Scorpion, a ninja hell zombie who yells “Get over here” while pulling people toward him with a kunai on a

Television

By AARON VISSER Most people aren’t looking for more superhero content. After finishing their 22-movie run, Marvel is starting its third superhero show in just over five months. In March, DC released its overstuffed coda to their dark, moody universe, and is now preparing to pump out new reboots of the same overdone properties in the coming years.

Even the backlash to the Superhero genre appeared to be played out, with the dark and gritty Amazon’s “The Boys” (2019-), HBO’s “Watchmen” (2019), and the animated comedies “Harley Quinn” (2019-), “One Punch Man” (2015), and “My Hero Academia” (2016), all being released within the last two years. So there was good reason to be skeptical of Amazon’s new gritty, animated superhero comedy that had all the familiar DC and Marvel tropes.

“Invincible” quickly eased all those doubts. While the show doesn’t redefine the genre, it expertly tells a superhero story with likable characters, surprising twists, and sharp writing that’s a constant joy to watch.

“Invincible” follows high schooler Mark Grayson (Steven Yuen) whose dad just happens to be Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons), the most powerful superhero on earth.

insanity of the fighting games.

Another irritating problem with “Mortal Kombat” is that it’s paced so poorly that its story, based entirely in lightning fast martial arts action, gets strangely boring in a lot of places. The en-

Cindy Yang / The Spectator

By GAVIN MCGINLEY

of the movie. Young is the archetypal macho protagonist: a cage fighter with poorly defined powers, prophesied to save the world and fighting to protect his family.

It doesn’t help that Tan’s performance is flat and self serious, but more importantly, Young lacks the creativity and ironic edge that the original characters have. Despite the time invested in his arc, he still feels cliché and half-baked, just another symptom of the filmmakers’ failed attempts to force a traditional narrative structure on the

tire second act of the film is an hour-long training sequence that brings the escalating stakes to a grinding halt as the screenwriters struggle to give any of the characters development past “good at fighting.” For what it’s worth, some of the cast are charming in the quippy Marvel sense, but none manage to be well-written enough to justify how much the drop in tempo undercuts the film’s tension. No one in the “Mortal Kombat” games was designed with character depth in mind,

and the time the film wastes trying to change this aspect just feels wasted. With how poorly the script handles any complexity, this entire section would have been better spent actually progressing the main storyline, something only made more apparent by how rushed the climax ends up being.

Despite these flaws however, the moments when “Mortal Kombat” embraces its fighting game roots are genuinely enjoyable. The fight sequences are satisfyingly brutal, full of the gore and bloody explosions that freaked parents out so much when the games were first released. Past that action, when the movie stops taking itself seriously and starts taking advantage of its overdone, cheesy tone, the writing actually becomes pretty funny. Lines like “Perfect victory!” are delivered with almost a wink to the camera, and the references to the games, when aware of how poorly they’re integrated, serve as an amusing nod to fans without ruining the tension of the plot. It’s easy to see what “Mortal Kombat” could have been, and though a heavily ironic, excessively satirical film wouldn’t have been without flaws, it would have shown more creativity and willingness to experiment than the lackluster by the book tedium that was ultimately put out.

“Mortal Kombat” was never going to be an exceptionally good movie. The games on which it’s based are just too ludicrous of a starting point to make anything with any cinematic merit. However, it definitely could have been better. Though the film is by no means unwatchable—it certainly has enough bloody action and overt references to appease fans—it ends up feeling incredibly safe and uninspired. Had the movie leaned into the obnoxious ‘90s camp the franchise is known for, it could have at least failed trying to do something interesting, but instead we get the same story we’ve seen a thousand times before, just with the dressings of an iconic game.

A New Take On An Overdone Story Mark gets powers himself and has to balance superlife and high school, relationships and secret identities, great power and great responsibility—blah, blah, blah, you know the drill by now. The story is intentionally cliché, winking at the tropes, while occasionally subverting them to great effect.

While the show’s violence and dark comedy will draw comparisons to “The Boys,” its story and themes align much more with the mainstream superhero genre. It’s a parody that admires rather than mocks pop culture’s idealistic concept of superheroes. The lack of moral ambiguity or critiques of capitalism frees “Invincible” to deliver one of the most entertaining superhero TV shows in recent memory.

The credit for the worldbuilding and characters should all go to Robert Kirkman, writer on the series and author of the “Invincible” comics, as well as “The Walking Dead.” The tidbits of information that Kirkman provides the audience implies a larger universe that rivals Marvel and DC. And unlike those properties, “Invincible” is the product of just one mind. It is the closest we’ll get to true auteur superhero filmmaking, where one man has near-total control to create and adapt his vision.

“Invincible” fills this world

with dozens of characters made memorable due to unique character designs, a talented voice cast featuring too many stars to list, and most importantly, writing that establishes personalities, motivations, and personal relationships for each one. Even the minor characters possess their own lives with their own backstories and given the number of “Invincible” comic books they probably do. The most work is put into the protagonist Mark. He’s relatable and effortlessly likable, with the same wants and needs as any high schooler, except he’s got superpowers. If this sounds a bit like other superhero stories, that’s because “Invincible” uses a formula that works. A formula executed perfectly doesn’t feel formulaic.

That’s not to say it adds nothing new. The most obvious difference between “Invincible” and most superhero stories is the rating. The show features cursing, sex, and graphic violence, but never uses them gratuitously. The maturity arises from the actions of the characters to create realism in an unrealistic world. Mark isn’t a Marvel protagonist who can be beaten and thrown around endlessly with no discernable damage.

When he’s losing a fight, we hear the bones breaking and see the blood pouring out of his wounds.

We can feel the stakes because we see the damage. While Mark calls himself Invincible, he always feels vulnerable.

The few issues the show had really didn’t matter in the long run.

The subplots focusing on a group of side heroes felt slightly inconsequential, but the show moves so fast and each character is too likable for it to ever get boring. The show’s heavy use of licensed pop songs can feel trite and the seams of the animation occasionally show, but it can only work with the budget it has. A full score and beautiful animation is a lot to ask for a first season with this loaded of a voice cast. Not every episode is amazing, but that’s to be expected. Each one’s blazing pace rockets the viewer through to the riveting final two episodes, which have fight cinematic in scale and length that maintains constant thrills and emotion.

“Invincible” delivers a masterfully done execution of the hero story whose maturity and selfawareness should win over anyone fatigued by the cliches it employs.

In one season, Robert Kirkman gets the audience to care for his characters and universe and leaves them hungry for more. If nothing else, “Invincible” proves that the best superhero content isn’t coming from Marvel or DC anymore.

Playlist Songs to Drive Fast to

By THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT Here at A&E, most of us can’t (legally) drive. However, if we were to hypothetically find ourselves driving and hypothetically reaching high velocities, these are the songs we would play.

Vroom Vroom Charli XCX Pop Let Me Ride Dr. Dre Hip-hop/Rap Kiwi Harry Styles Pop Rock Campfire Aminé Hip-hop/Rap Zuccenberg Tommy Cash Hip-hop/Rap Down The Line Remi Wolf Alternative Turn to Stone Electric Light Orchestra Rock Hungry Like the Wolf Duran Duran Pop Girls & Boys Blur Pop Dreams and Nightmares Meek Mill Hip-hop/Rap Tongue Tied Grouplove Alternative/Rock North Memphis Pharmacist Hip-hop/Rap Getaway Car Taylor Swift Pop Nightcall Kavinsky Synthwave

The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Page 21

Arts and Entertainment Music

By THEO KUBOVY-WEISS Indie rock has long been plagued by homogeneity: singers repeat the same lyrics, melodies, instrumentals, and vocal styles over and over again. As a result, many artists of a given era, particularly the underground rock bands of the mid-to-late 1990s, have an almost indistinguishable sound. Bands like Pavement ushered in a decade-long trend of crooning vocals, while the prominence of grunge made it hard to get through an album without hearing a distorted guitar riff.

But occasionally, an artist is able to take the clichés of a genre and reinvent them into something new.

No album is a better example than The Strokes’ 2001 debut project “Is This It.” The album received immediate acclaim, heralded as both a step forward for rock and a nod

Music

By ADELE BOIS We’ve all tried sharing screenshots or album covers of our favorite music on Instagram, hoping for someone to swipe up and rave about how much they love our selections. Though this fantasy remains unfulfilled, hope should not be lost. Through the music-sharing app “Bopdrop,” users can both discover new music and share the songs they love.

I found out about Bopdrop while scrolling through TikTok (as one does in the middle of class) and immediately downloaded it. Though the app had been out for about two years when I discovered it, the interface still felt relatively basic. The design is straightforward, with a plain white background and various tabs, similar to Instagram, which allows you to see your notifications, edit your profile, and

Culture

By KENISHA MAHAJAN When it comes to pop culture, there’s no story more common than that of a talented artist revealed to be a horrible person.

Surely, you remember the scene from “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) where Toto draws the curtain to reveal that this frightening, allpowerful figure was a small, insecure man pulling levers and pressing buttons to create an illusion of a formidable sorcerer. As the light shines on him, he implores his audience to “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” a feeble attempt to conceal his identity. Usually, when the curtain is pulled back to reveal a celebrity’s appalling past, there is a multitude of voices urging everyone to close the curtains and gloss over their wrongdoings. This idea, used to defend the likes of Woody Allen, R. Kelly, Roman Polanski, and Bill Cosby, suggests that we can’t avoid a work of art just because the person behind it is a monster.

The concept is appealing. We’d all like to listen to “Thriller” without thinking of Michael Jackson’s sexual abuse allegations and molestation charges or flip through “Harry Potter” and overlook J.K. Rowling’s transphobia. While the idea is comforting and not lacking validity, separating the art from the artist isn’t as simple as it seems.

The Magic of The Strokes’ “Is This It” to some all-time classics. Critics quickly drew comparisons to the likes of The Velvet Underground and The Rolling Stones. While such extreme praise was controversial, the consensus was overwhelmingly positive. The album’s commercial and critical success launched The Strokes into the spotlight, peaking at 33 on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for 55 weeks.

The band’s origins were far from the heights of their eventual success. They began in an Upper West Side private school in New York City, started by frontman Julian Casablancas and his two friends and fellow classmates guitarist Nick Valensi and drummer Fab Moretti. The bandmates’ elite backgrounds did draw criticism for their contradiction of The Strokes’ iconoclastic lyrics, but not so much so that it weakened the album’s effect to any meaningful degree. The

band’s public perception wasn’t instrumental in their success: their work spoke for itself.

“Is This It” draws from a number of its rock predecessors. The Strokes borrowed grunge’s heavy guitar distortion while combining colorful melodies with strained, intense vocals. A standout feature of the album was its use of lethargy, a vocal style popularized by rock bands like The Velvet Underground. Nearly every song on “Is This It” juxtaposes fun, poppy instrumentals with cynical lyrics sung in an unenthusiastic tone. Songs featuring these mellow vocals are interspersed with others that erupt into explosions of energy and passion. These abrupt changes from song to song—even verse to verse—make “Is This It” a thrill ride of an album.

The album also ushered in a new era of garage rock, a style

which rejected the glossy production of early 2000s music and embraced a lo-fi aesthetic. The sounds of bands like The Libertines and Arctic Monkeys were heavily influenced by The Strokes’ music, and hints of The Strokes’ sound could also be recognized in other music at the time, like that of Arcade Fire and The National. The first major New York rock band to come out of the 21st century, The Strokes were also able to reenter rock into the mainstream at a time when gangsta rap, pop, and prog rock ruled the charts. Whatever you think of their music itself, their enormous and lasting impact on the music industry is undeniable.

After the release of “Is This It,” The Strokes never produced another album of a comparable caliber. “Room on Fire” (2003) came close, but those songs felt like little more than “Is This It”

B-sides and futile attempts at recreating the magic of their debut.

As good as many of the songs were, the album lacked the originality and cohesiveness of their first project, trading in the distortion and mania of “Is This It” for a more polished sound. Their 2020 project, “The New Abnormal,” was a promising release after a number of disappointing records, but as reliable as The Strokes’ infectious melodies are, they lose their effect after two decades of little significant improvement. As the band members age and deal with not-so-private personal conflicts, it’s unlikely The Strokes will produce another record that rivals their 2001 masterpiece. Yet, we can always look back to their groundbreaking, unforgettable debut, an album that, after years of listening, has yet to lose its spark.

“Bopdrop”: The App for Music Lovers access the main page. The main discovery tab is basic: users can scroll through songs shared by random members, comment under and like posts, and even listen to a 30-second clip of the song itself. A standout feature is the ability to add a song to a Spotify or Apple Music playlist directly through the Bopdrop app. Though its features and layout are simple, as popularity grows, the platform is sure to see some new and exciti n g u p dates.

Christina Jiang / The Spectator If you want to share a song on the “Explore” page, there is a large selection of tunes to choose from: everything from the Billboard Top 10 to your favorite obscure eighties band. But pick carefully––only one song is allowed per day. Us-

ers can have fun narrowing down their current playlist to a choice that would be unique and interesting to share with the world.

When picking my first song to post, I spent a while perusing my library, trying to find the perfect pick that would set me apart from other users. I finally settled on my most-listened-to Fiona Apple song and wrote a brief caption about how much I love her. Once I posted it, I didn’t expect m u c h of a response, but to my surprise, people immediately started liking it and commenting on how much they love her too. I soon received my first few mutual followers, and we started interacting with each other’s posts more frequently.

While the one-song-a-day rule is somewhat limiting, it pushes users to carefully pick through favorites and find a song they are really passionate about. I generated a list of my all-time top picks and started looking forward to sharing them with the community. The time and care each poster spent selecting a song was obvious, and this sense of discovery and meaning was bolstered by comments about best moments from seeing certain artists live, cute anecdotes describing how a song made someone feel, and bittersweet memories people associated songs with. The diversity of music in each post is inspiring and distinctive, it encourages users to expand their music repertoire. However, many of the genres do emphasize Western and English music, and the user base is heavily English-speaking; a “global” genre or something

similar would further highlight unique music tastes from around the world.

With apps like Instagram and TikTok dominating the airwaves, it’s easy to get caught up in the number of followers or likes you receive, and while those features exist on Bopdrop, the app itself focuses more on music and bringing music lovers together.

It felt rewarding and validating to find someone who posted the song you’ve been listening to all week or discovered their new top track through your page.

Bopdrop is gloriously simple, a fresh take on social media that has been a long time coming. For music aficionados and beginners alike, Bopdrop is the perfect way to both share tunes you love as well as find your new favorites while creating a community of like-minded people.

The Fallacy of Separating the Art From the Artist This notion is largely based on the idea that, when observing a piece of art, all that matters is the work itself. The person who made the work shouldn’t affect our perception of it, for if two different people created the exact same song, film, or painting, they would deserve the same critique and praise. However, in practice, separating the art from the artist isn’t so black and white. As much as we value art as something transcendent and timeless, art is a reflection of the world around it. From Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist,” to Lil Baby’s “The Bigger Picture,” art is imbued with a countless number of external influences from the artist’s experiences, to the political climate, to the creative movements of the era. Artists clearly don’t separate themselves from their work, making the notion of divorcing the two nothing but a lofty ideal.

When considering what’s behind a work of art, just observing the contents of the work and refusing to consider its context limits our understanding of the piece. Those that wish to separate the art from the artist draw hard boundaries when considering what’s actually in the work, but ignore the fact that a piece of art isn’t just a collection of brushstrokes, a set of notes, or thousands of frames put together; it is a reflection of the creator.

An artist’s identity and their or rapper and the subject matter work are so deeply intertwined of their songs. Whether it’s Taythat distinguishing one from the lor Swift’s ballads about romance other is an impossible endeavor. and heartbreak or 2Pac’s tracks Look at Woody Allen’s films. about racial inequality and crime, One of Allen’s most famous lyrics are almost always inspired works, “Manhattan” (1979), cen- by reality. It’s tough to argue that ters around the relationship of Chris Brown’s derogatory lyrics 42-year-old Isaac, a television about Black women are unrelated writer, and Tracy, a 17-year-old to his sexual assault and abuse high school student. Allen’s re- convictions. Even if the knowlsemblance to Isaac’s character edge of these artists’ misdeeds is quite apparent; even more so doesn’t affect your perception of when considering Allen married their work, there are indisputable his ex-partner’s adoptive daugh- reasons as to why one shouldn’t ter, who is 35 years his junior. separate the art from Praising Allen’s the artist. The films—espepower dynamcially when ics in the entaking his tertainment molestation industry are charges rooted in into acc o m m e rcount—is cial sucwillful igcess, meannorance. ing that T h i s consumenmeshing art ment of created identity by bad and art is people simespecially ply grows prevalent their influin the music industry, Reya Miller / The Spectator ence and where most artists’ work makes it harder for suris a product of their personal ex- vivors to speak out. In the case of periences. While it can be argued R. Kelly, sexual abuse allegations that an actor is separate from the against him were not taken serirole they are playing, it’s harder ously until the late 2010s because to distinguish between a singer he was shielded by his chart-top-

ping tracks and widely-consumed albums. Even with several charges against him in 2002—namely sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, statutory rape, kidnapping, forced labor, and the sexual exploitation of a child—R. Kelly went onto release five platinum albums and multiple chart-topping hits until his acquittal in 2008. Kelly’s victims were only taken seriously when the #MeToo movement gained traction, despite the numerous allegations against him in the 1990s and 2000s.

Streaming someone’s song on Spotify, renting their film on Amazon, hate-following, or engaging in other forms of media consumption we easily overlook end up directly supporting the artist.

No, you’re not a bad person for playing “I Believe I Can Fly” on repeat or streaming “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968). However, on a large scale, this mentality feeds into a culture that excuses the perpetrator and oppresses their victims.

One person watching “House of Cards” (2013-2018) doesn’t enable celebrities to circumvent accountability, but this shared outlook does. Separating the art from the artist isn’t just a moral dilemma, it has tangible consequences. As much as we’d like to ignore the man behind the curtain, our shared ignorance breeds a far more pernicious culture.

The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Page 22

Humor These articles are works of fiction. All quotes are libel and slander.

SHSAT Tutor With Future Circus Clowns

By SANJANA YASNA

tions and shocked countenances like a mentally disturbed prick subject to exorcism. Finally tired f r o m the physically exhausting bystander act he tried so hard to maintain, he lets himself dramatically collapse onto his chair.

Apparently, Jason for-

suggestive groan? To my horror, I immediately feel the absence of my headphones, meaning my mom definitely heard it from my speakers. Unfortunately, that assumption was proven correct as she barges into

got that he had his armed chair replaced by an armless wheelchair only yesterday, hence the poor chap pushes his luck and hits the floor hard, his microphone capturing a brilliant thud. He mutters in pain and then lets out a…

my room to demand I show her all my tabs and search history.

The inspection yields nothing, so she continues to harangue me for trying to hide “that” again.

“Anyway,” Jordan The Illiterate remarks without reading the

Sabrina Chen / The Spectator

I never knew the public school system had failed so badly until I had to tutor Jordan, Devin, and Nafisa over Zoom. Those seventh-grade dorks were brought up expecting gifts like iPhones for passing a class. The only present I ever got was a Tetris for being the valedictorian of my middle school! And I got bullied for that too! Of course, I don’t harbor jealousy at all. I was raised to actually care about my classes.

The only similarity between me and those pea-brains is that the brightness of their futures matches the dark circles under my eyes.

There I go again! I can’t let my… distaste toward those morons tarnish my mood right before today’s tutoring session. I gotta loosen up, breathe in calmly, and open Zoom with ease. With Zoom open, I’ll just meditate for a few minutes since those dorks never come on time anyway.

Breathe in… breathe out.

Imagine a happy place. Ah, I am now in peace as I am reaching the peak of Mount Everest, basking

in the glory alone while all those losers behind me are huddled up on the lowest visible peak like mere mountain goats. Imagine the bone-chilling breeze that can’t even—wait, is that a helicopter hovering above me?

It’ll reach the peak before I do! And Devin’s piloting it?

The kid that said he values his waifu over his math grade?

Pfft, as if he actually can.

Ah, he’ll crash against the peak and instigate an avalanche that will kill me.

I break out of my stressful meditation trance to see Devin once again, this time headbanging to anime openings on my dingy computer screen. For my sanity, I respond on mic, “Stop being such a weeb. You wanna get bullied in high school?”

The remark was called for, but the astonished Devin plays the role of a victim with a “how dare you bully Saeko-chan!”

In the background, a second student named Jason, a complete drama king, complements our exchange with absurd gesticula-

The British Family Unveils Mecha-Prince Phillip

By ETHAN LAM

taxpayers,” says Ballisticmissile.

“Mecha-Phillip would bolster the economy by, um, we’re not sure exactly how the prince benefits this country or exactly what a prince does in general, but whatever he does it’s probably good for us. He’s the prince after all.”

He proceeded to elaborate how the mecha-prince was already benefiting the queen. “Its vibro-katana is already the perfect tool for preparing the queen’s lunch. There’s even talk about giving it access to the nuclear launch codes, which it could remember for the queen in case she ever forgets them.

Pressing ‘Forgot your password?’ and logging into her e-mail in order to reset the launch codes is always such a hassle for her.” With the perks it provides for the queen, it seems logical to conclude that Mecha-Phillip will benefit the country as well. The concerns that it will rebel against its human masters seem to be illogical worries generated by the ignorant masses.

In spite of the criticism Mecha-Phillip has faced, Queen Elizabeth has remained passionate about pressing forward with the project. Located below is a transcript of a statement the queen made in regard to her plans for the future of the mech.

QUEEN ELIZABETH: “You see… this world is imperfect. Will no one cleanse it of its impurities until it is as beautiful as me? Phillip was a being of imperfect flesh, but now… I finally have the sword I will use to bring judgment upon the wretched.”

Joann

ng /

a Me

tor

agrees with scientistwho-looks-suspiciouslylike-Jeff -Goldblum’s stance on the mechanical masterpiece. “There is absolutely no reason to believe that Mecha-Phillip would do anything but benefit the country and its

pecta

The S

Following Prince Phillip’s passing, the British royal family officially entered a two-week period of mourning in memory of the deceased prince, and the country collectively shed tears of sorrow over his passing.

However, it seems the grief expended over the man was completely wasted, as today, Queen Elizabeth unveiled Mecha Prince Phillip, a robotic duplicate of Prince Phillip expected to surpass its predecessor in every metric.

The mecha is built around the skeleton of the deceased Phillip and is equipped with a 3.6 GHz CPU, 8 GBs of RAM, a hypersonic high-frequency oscillator vibro-katana, the latest graphics card on the market, and cupholders. In addition, it is equipped with the world’s most advanced self-learning artificial intelligence algorithm.

These absolutely necessary enhancements are expected to greatly bolster his efficacy in his princely duties. It is able to prince with twice as much speed and efficiency as the previous model, rendering all prior Phillip-grade avatars completely obsolete.

“We’re looking at a level of prince-ing never seen before,” states technology expert Jamba Ballisticmissile. “I was skeptical at first, but this level of performance completely justifies the $30 billion building and operating costs.”

However, despite its obvious benefits, Mecha-Phillip is not without its fair share of criticism. A scientist who looks suspiciously like Jeff Goldblum has raised con-

cerns in regards to the technological marvel. “Life, uh, nature.

Uh, don’t mess with it or something. Or else the screenwriters will make you die an ironic death at the hands of what you created.”

However, Ballisticmissile dis-

EMPLOYEE: “Ma’am, this is a Wendy’s drivethru.”

room, or more like the Zoom, “you should end the Zoom meeting early so that you can explain to your mother that it wasn’t adult stuff.”

That’s the final straw. I am in shambles by then, so I wail without filter, “Great! You always screw me over like this! Heck, I even daydream about you guys messing me up [which, mind you, is an allusion to that completely innocent meditation episode.

Seek medical help if you don't remember]. I beg you, CAN YOU GUYS JUST SHUT UP SO I CAN GET SOME MONEY?” “Oh, s***…” all the kids say, thinking I really am a loon, a menace to society. I can only imagine what’s going through their minds, probably how they should report this to the guy who hired me. Of course, they leave the meeting without giving me a chance to clear up what I meant.

Though, how can I clear up everything when the evidence is all lined up against me? Is this God’s gift in exchange for my sanity?

Suffice to say, I was soon fired.

Disney to Remake More Disney Classics

By OLIVER HOLLMANN Hello, all! We here at Disney are proud to announce the release dates for an entirely new and original lineup of Disney film reboots! It is a known fact that our recent introduction of liveaction films based on Disney classics has been universally wellreceived by critics and fans alike.

Disney forum user #1goofyFan98 describes 2019’s The Lion King as “like Hamlet, but lions!” We hope that this will excite those who have been waiting patiently for news about our coming productions.

Please enjoy!

Pocahontas Coming August 2021, this spiritual adventure will go back to the heart of uncolonized America and fully immerse audiences in the rich culture of only partially whitewashed Native Americans. With the success of Mulan, our last live-action reboot, it has become clear to us that no one really cares that all of the direction and production of these minority-driven stories are white. Who would have guessed? This movie will be starring Megan Fox, Channing Tatum, and Cameron Diaz. Don’t want to watch this one? Don’t care! We know you’ll watch it anyway.

Peter Pan Coming December 2021, from the mind of James Cameron, this fantasy romp across the boundless Neverland comes to life for the first time (apart from Hook (1991), Neverland (2003), and Pan (2015))! Starring Willem Dafoe as Captain Hook and a digitally deaged Willem Dafoe as Peter Pan, this 95% CGI film will excite and amaze. Critics are already raving about it, with The Huffington Post noting, “Do we really need a halfhour alligator fight scene? No. But do we want it? Also no.” And don’t worry about digital limitations: the de-aged Dafoe face will be less bony, so we will use an overly airbrushed blur filter to ensure that

Peter Pan looks like one of the Thumb Thumbs from Spy Kids.

Snow White Coming June 2022 and directed by Tim Burton, the buzz has been going wild for this reboot of an 84-year-old film. Since Burton’s last two reboots of Disney classics, both panned by critics, the man has been begging for an even more historically sacred Disney movie that he could desecrate with his overly stylized garbage.

We finally gave in to his demands after he threatened to humiliate Colin Farrell again. Be prepared for cartoonishly disproportionate buildings and a color palette ranging from black to slightly brownish grey. The film will star Winona Rider as Snow White and Danny DeVito as all Seven Dwarves.

The Jungle Book Coming November 2022, The Jungle Book will be directed by Jon Favreau. Now, you may be thinking, “Wait, didn’t Disney already reboot The Jungle Book? They’re rebooting the same movie twice?”

No, actually. We’re rebooting it thrice. You see, the 1967 animated Jungle Book movie was remade most notably in 2016, but there was a lesser-known, earlier remake of the animated classic released in 1994. And come to think of it, the original 1967 film itself was an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s stories, collectively titled “The Jungle Book.” This makes the 2022 release a reboot of a remake of a remake of an adaptation of “The Jungle Book.” Sounds like a mouthful? Who cares? You’ll watch it anyway. The reboot will star Timothée Chalamet as Mowgli and Tilda Swinton as Baloo.

Until next time, this has been the Disney Production Team.

Thank you for your money, and we hope to continue to collect it for years to come!

The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Page 23

Humor Stuyvesant’s (Kinda) Got Talent!

By ERICA CHEN and ESHAAL UBAID To: classof2024@stuy.edu From: freshmancaucuspresidents@aol. com Subject: [Follow-Up] Stuyvesant’s Sure Got Talent!

Today at 8:07 p.m.

this was a shared sentiment. Bravo to a performance that made us all go “T^T.” A quick shout-out to the student who gave an awesome performance by being unmuted the entire time. Ahem, yes, they

nerves and put on a performance so epic that I’m guaranteed to win the cash prize! You eating my Pringles and yelling DOES NOT HELP!” Nonetheless, the entire performance was music to our ears. It was a pity that the student

ever seen. Unfortunately, the duo seemed to experience connection issues, but no worries, because they continued their performance in the chat! Ah… I don’t think we can forget that heart-shattering, “Romeo, oh Romeo, wherefore art thou Zoom frame?” or, “Ending the meeting is such sweet sorrow.”

We almost got heart attacks from the sheer amount of emotions we felt! And judging by all the “:(,“ “:”(,” and even “D:” emoticons that the audience members sent,

forgot to mute themselves. But all is well, for they were still able to put on a magnificent performance, though it strayed well away from the description that they submitted in the Google Form. What was supposed to be “ballet dancing to Swan Lake” turned into the screaming of a furious sibling toward her younger brother for eating all of the Pringles, and without asking too! The most iconic line was, “SHUT UP! I need to calm my

did not turn their camera on, or our eyes would have been blessed as well.

And a quick acknowledgment of our unexpected guest appearances!

Whether they meowed, barked, chirped, buzzed, or questionably screeched, it was a delight to see that our participant turnout was made higher by the furballs who live in your home.

Thank you to the grand total of four people who had their cameras on for that!

Jessica Mui / The Spectator

Hello, fellow students!

It is our pleasure as the most swagalicious caucus duo ever to say that the “Stuyvesant’s Got Talent Showcase” was a success!

Many of you presented a myriad of different skills and talents, and they were breathtaking! To the rest of you, it’s okay! Not everyone is born gifted. Anyway, in this email, we will recap some of our favorite parts of the show, and at the end, we will announce the winner. Stay tuned!

Now, on to our most unique performances of the evening, as they were far too amazing not to talk about more. If your act isn’t listed here, don’t feel bad! We’re legally obligated to appreciate you all equally, no matter how disappointed we may or may not be.

First, we thoroughly enjoyed listening to the original song piece “If You Think You Know This, You’re Wrong. And There is No Autotune,” sung by a talented sophomore. We’ve heard people saying that it sounded suspiciously similar to the hit song “Dynamite” by BTS, but this act sounded way too computerized for it to be “Dynamite.” This was obviously a result of the vocal training the singer had to endure to achieve such a robotic voice.

How admirable! There can't be voice editing either, as the title of the piece literally tells us autotune was not used in the production of

the song. Come on guys, is there no trust anymore? This was an incredible performance and will be regarded as such! Bravo!

The caucus was also moved by the most dramatic interpretation of Romeo and Juliet we have

And last but not least, the final winner of the Talent Show is…

Drumroll please… dun dun dun!

Principal Yu! Please give a big round of applause! Now, we understand that this Talent Show was meant for students, but we really couldn’t refuse our very own principal!

And we are certainly glad that his performance was included, for it was the highlight of the show!

Our Principal acted out some of the much-awaited SEUNG! scenes, even beyond those that were included in the “SING!?

More Like SEUNG!” article.

Though the performance took over an hour, which resulted in the Talent Show being more than an hour and fifteen minutes long, it was definitely worth it.

I’m sure we all agree with the result because everyone voted for him! Yes, this unanimous decision is a first in history. This was definitely not rigged at all because “corruption” is not in our dictionary! He definitely did not threaten all of the staff and student leaders who organized this event and counted the votes.

We just know that the $50 cash prize will be put to good use!

Sources say that he wants to spend it on wishes in Genshin Impact so that Kazuha can come home sooner (he is secretly Kazuha’s most devoted follower and simp, but you didn’t hear it here).

As expected, this was another perfectly executed event by the freshman caucus. Be sure to keep up with our future emails and events, and as usual, continue being the beaming rays of sunshine that you are!

With lots of gratitude, Freshman Caucus

Dead Art

Susann ah Ahn / T he r

Specta to

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The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Sports NFL

A New York NFL Draft Review

By AIDAN FINGERET and YAQIN RAHMAN On the last weekend in April, the NFL draft was held. It was a three-day spectacle that provided countless moments of intrigue, especially for the New York teams. Here are our takes on the Giants and Jets NFL Draft hauls.

New York Giants: B+ The Giants draft may only be getting a B+, but Dave Gettleman, the general manager (GM) of the Giants, gets an A+++ for looking like a good GM and actually trading back (this was his eighth draft as a GM and his first time trading back). Once the Eagles traded ahead of the Giants, up to pick 10, to take DeVonta Smith, a receiver from Alabama, there was no need to overdraft a player at 11. Since the players at the top of their draft board were not available at pick 11 and there were still two good quarterback prospects available, Justin Fields from Ohio State and Mac Jones from Alabama, trading back appeared to be the smart move.

The Bears have still never had a good quarterback in their franchise’s history, and they continued their search in this draft, so they traded up to the 11th pick.

In return for the 11th pick, the Giants received an impressive haul: the 20th pick this year, the Bears 2022 first round pick, 2022 fourth round pick, and 2021 fifth round pick. The Giants used that 20th pick on Kadarius Toney, a receiver out of Florida. While Toney was not the consensus fourth receiver in this draft class, he did fill a need for the Giants.

They needed a player who could create after the catch, and Toney was the best at that in the draft.

His shiftiness and ability to cut back make up for his lack of top end speed, and he should be another weapon for Daniel Jones.

In the second round, the Giants traded back again, picking up a 2022 third rounder, and were still able to get arguably the best edge rusher in the entire draft in Azeez Ojulari out of Georgia. Ojulari was a first round talent, but injury concerns led to him falling all the way to pick 50, so the Giants may have gotten a steal.

In the third round, they picked Aaron Robinson, a cornerback out of UCF, to add to their already stacked secondary.

On day three, the Giants drafted a rotational pass rusher with a lot of athleticism in Elerson Smith in the fourth round. Then, af-

ter waiting 80 picks, they picked Gary Brightwell, running back out of Arizona, who will provide backfield depth and be a special teams ace. Finally, five picks later, they picked up Rodarius Williams, cornerback out of Oklahoma State, to add depth at the position. The Giants made a lot of good moves this draft, but the lack of resources put into their bottom tier offensive line, especially after they parted ways with their best offensive lineman, Kevin Zeitler, lowered their grade.

Wilson can throw the ball accurately, has good decision-making skills, and is able to throw on the move. Wilson has a lot of potential to succeed in the NFL, and the Jets made the right decision to invest in his future.

With the Jets’ other firstround selection, they traded up with the Minnesota Vikings to select offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC. As an offensive guard, his footwork and athleticism make him one of the top offensive lineman of his class. He’s a great pass blocker and moves fluidly, and he has enough athleticism to move to the second level and block linebackers. The Jets made the correct choice in moving up the draft to fill a need at interior offensive line.

In the second round, the Jets selected wide receiver Elijah Moore from Ole Miss. He had a 1000-yard season in 2020 and was a notable receiver in his sophomore year among future star receivers A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf. He’s a great slot receiver who can run crisp routes, a deep threat, and quick with a 4.35 second time in the 40-yard dash.

He’ll make a fine addition to the Jets’ future receiving core and can prove to be a valuable piece

New York Jets: AThe Jets had a solid draft this year as Joe Douglas continued to prove he’s the GM this franchise desperately needed. The Jets obtained their new franchise quarterback in Zach Wilson with the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. After a rough 2019 season during which he required surgeries on his throwing shoulder and a fractured right hand, Wilson overcame adversity and saw a meteoric rise in 2020. He led the BYU Cougars to an 11-1 record with 3700 passing yards for 33 touchdowns and only three interceptions. An athletic quarterback with elite arm talent,

in a revamped offense.

The Jets also decided to solidify their run game in the fourth round by selecting running back Michael Carter out of North Carolina. Though his teammate, running back Javonte Williams, was selected before him, it doesn’t diminish the skills and production he has shown during his time in North Carolina. He posted backto-back seasons with 1000-plus rushing yards, possesses good agility, and is able to make quick cuts, which the Jets can use to their advantage.

Overall, the Jets had a stellar draft in terms of drafting offense, but they got points deducted for only addressing their need for a cornerback in the later rounds and not picking up any edge rushers. However, the Jets did a great job building a team for the future, with young players taken from the draft and free agency with a lot of potential.

With newly hired head coach Robert Saleh, a former defensive coordinator who saw a lot of success in the San Francisco 49ers, and general manager Joe Douglas, who was in charge of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl winning team, the Jets have an opportunity to finally turn their losing record around.

Sports Editorial

To Mandate or Not To Mandate one.

Still, while athletes may have their personal opinions on the shot, they must also think about their influence on the general public. To vaccinate a whole league is to vaccinate hundreds of respected role models. This action would be not only a step in the right direction toward more widespread immunization, but also an inspiration for the general population. For an individual who is considering getting vaccinated, seeing the entire NFL get the shot could be nothing but encouraging and a reason to say yes. In general, the more people vaccinated, the better. St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak agrees with this notion, saying, “The more vaccines that go into arms, ultimately, I think, the more freedom or normalcy we’ll be able to experience.” Especially because professional athletes travel a lot and interact with so many people, knowing that safety is less of a concern would promote so much more freedom.

Bear in mind, however, that when athletes chose to play the sport they love, they never explicitly sign up to be social advocates. Charles Barkley went so far as to say in a commercial, “I’m not paid to be a role model [...] Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” Athletes’ social influence shouldn’t be used to pressure citizens into doing something they are hesitant about,

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and distrust in the system. The common distrust in vaccines is likely caused by the recent road bump for two of the vaccine corporations. AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson have already been shut down and questioned because of the blood clots seen as correlated side effects, which is only more damaging to athlete morale regarding the shot. As a result, athletes who are hesitant or strongly against the vaccine could potentially opt out of the remainder o f

ch e

In every field of modern life, there is a lot of conversation about whether or not vaccines should be mandatory, and the sports world is no exception.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a completely unprecedented effect on professional sports for the past 14 months, and the lack of fans, consistency, and healthy players has profoundly affected sports worldwide. Now, with proven and accessible COVID vaccinations, there’s no question that mandatory league-wide vaccination would prove incredibly beneficial to sports in many ways.

Currently, none of the five major sports leagues (the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS) require athletes to be vaccinated to play.

Organizations have taken stances though. The NFL recently released a statement that explicitly says that it expects staff members to be vaccinated and limits the access of staff members who don’t comply. Incentives like less frequent testing, training without masks, and traveling with family have been offered for vaccinated individuals.

Overall, the current stance from sports associations is: “We support the vaccine, but we aren’t forcing it upon players.”

Clearly, mandatory league vaccination would make for a quicker return to a normal playing schedule and routine. The effects of the pandemic have decimated the amount of sports played––COVID protocols have forced the NBA to lose or postpone 31 games so far this season, and the MLB, NBA, and

NHL played shortened seasons in 2020 because of the pandemic. Players who opt against the shot are actively hurting their teams’ abilities to function and perform safely by increasing risk of a schedule change. Therefore, if entire leagues were immune to the virus, seasons could return to something very close to normal.

And with time, fans could attend games in person at stadiums and arenas with less risk. Sports fans are sorely missed, so why wait and protract the ultimate goal of a safe return to normalcy?

T h e inconven i e n c e caused by athletes o p t i n g against the shot, however, would only be perpetuated by a vaccine mandate.

Mandates change the eligibility factor for participation in seasons, but they have no impact on a specific athletes’ beliefs. The most common reason for vaccine opposition regards the distrust in pharmaceutical corporations and more generally the government, where people tend to gravitate toward the notion that corporations produce ineffective vaccines simply to generate profit. An NBA player agent has stated that “at least half, if not more” of the league’s players are reluctant to take the vaccine, and athletes such as Kent Bazemore and Dwight Howard have expressed their personal hesitation, citing a lack of knowledge

Ra

By KAEDEN RUPAREL and AVA QUARLES

t h e season, thus leaving certain teams without key players and, in some cases, without stars. Leagues are dominated, especially in the NBA, where superteams are common, by world-class athletes. If they were to drop out of the remainder of the season so as to not infringe on their personal beliefs, the league could lose a substantial amount of their profit from a generally lackluster season to finish off an already financially debilitating

especially if they aren’t getting the full knowledge they need regarding the shot. This responsibility should be bestowed upon those with the full knowledge, such as medical professionals and nurses who are much more credible regarding the facts and risks of vaccines than athletes are.

The dominant issue preventing a full mandate is the ethics behind limitations on athletes’ freedom of choice. Players have expressed their belief that each athlete should decide for themselves whether or not to be vaccinated, and many athletes have varying reasons for avoiding the shot. As all people are, athletes are entitled to their opinions, and a mandate would forego the opinions and the predispositions of specific athletes. By mandating a vaccine, leagues would make the false generalization that all athletes are able to take it and limit their freedom of choice, an ethical concern that could warrant substantial backlash from athletes and staff alike.

Many players, however, have been vaccinated or are ready to.

Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer said, “For me, I see a benefit in it, and I can’t wait to get it.”

On the other hand, an NBA player who chose to remain anonymous claimed that while he was in support of it, getting vaccinated is the “dissenting point of view in the NBA.” It comes down to a matter of unity and compliance, beyond individuality. Leagues now have a choice to make. Are they willing to sacrifice athletes’ personal freedoms at the expense of returning to a state of normalcy?

The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Page 25

Sports Sports Editorial

A Historic First, a Gambling Mastermind, and a Hall of Famer: Meet Three Stuyvesant Ballers Who Made It to the NBA

By KRISH GUPTA Stuyvesant isn’t necessarily known for its athletic ability.

While many impressive athletes have come and gone, it’s a school more known for academics than for sending players to play at Division I schools. However, that’s not to say that there haven’t been any great athletes to come out of Stuy; a few have actually made it very far. There have been three Stuyvesant alumni who made it to the NBA, each of whom graduated in the mid1900s and with unique careers.

One, Nat Militzok (’41), had the first assist in the history of the NBA. Another, Jack Molinas (’49), was an NBA All-Star and third overall pick whose career was limited to one season after he was busted as the lead conspirator in one of the biggest scandals in NCAA history. The third, Charlie Scott (’67), was the real deal and an NBA champion, has an Olympic gold medal to his name, and is now in the Hall of Fame.

Here’s a look at each of their stories and careers: Nat Militzok (Class of 1941) Nathan Militzok, born in the Bronx on May 3, 1923, recalled that he started playing basketball to avoid getting into trouble.

What started as an escape became a career. Militzok played forward for the Stuyvesant basketball team until he graduated in 1941.

Fresh out of high school, he attended the City College of New York (CCNY), where he spent his freshman year and began his college basketball career. His CCNY team attained a 16-1 record, but in order for Militzok to get a chance to play at the next level, he transferred to the bigger name Hofstra University. It wasn’t all smooth sailing from there as World War II erupted and Militzok enlisted in the navy. He was stationed in Ithaca, New York at Cornell University, where he joined the school’s basketball team.

Once World War II ended, Militzok, who went undrafted, joined the 1946 New York Knicks for his rookie season in the Basketball Association of America (BAA). (The BAA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form

the NBA we know and love today.) Militzok featured in the first NBA game in Knicks history and is credited with having the first assist in the history of the league.

After his rookie season with the Knicks, Militzok was traded to the Toronto Huskies in its only season of existence. Once the Huskies disbanded, Militzok joined the Scranton Miners, where he remained for three seasons. His final season was with the now defunct Saratoga Harlem Yankees.

Listed at 6’3” and 195 pounds, Militzok averaged 4.3 points per game and 0.7 assists per game in his 56-game career.

The best performance of Militzok’s career was likely on March 13, 1947, when he scored a career-high 16 points and had six field goals.

After retiring from the NBA, Militzok was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also inducted into the Hofstra University Athletics Hall of Fame after he graduated in 1949.

Militzok passed away on May 14, 2009 at 86 years old.

As the first student to turn his Stuyvesant experience into a professional basketball career, he should not be forgotten.

Jack Molinas (Class of 1949) Jacob L. Molinas, born on Halloween 1931, was raised in Brooklyn and attended Stuyvesant from 1945 until 1949. After graduating from high school and playing on the basketball team, Molinas went to Columbia University, where he was the captain of the men’s basketball team during the 1952-1953 season. He set a Columbia record at the time for points in a game in 1953.

Molinas was drafted third overall in the first round by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1953 NBA draft. Listed at 6’6” and 200 pounds, Molinas appeared in 32 NBA games, averaging 11.6 points, 7.1 total rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. He was also selected for the 1954 AllStar game. However, his career and legacy would be marred by some shady dealings. After 32 games, he was suspended for betting on Pistons games. He was banned from participating in the All-Star game and sued

the NBA for $3 million. He would never appear in an NBA game again. Molinas only played in the NBA for one season as he was implicated in the 1961 point-shaving scandal.

Molinas was the mastermind of the NCAA’s 1961 pointshaving scandal, a gambling ring that went on from 1957 to 1960, involving 50 players from over two dozen colleges. Molinas bribed players to fix games during that span and roped in dozens of college basketball players around the country, including Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins. His actions resulted in the arrests of 37 college players.

Molinas was blackballed from professional basketball and convicted in 1963, sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. Molinas was even allegedly in cahoots with NYC mobster Thomas Eboli. Molinas was paroled in 1968 after serving five years, but in 1973, he was arrested and charged again, this time for the interstate shipment of pornography.

A New York Times article proclaimed Molinas as “probably the greatest fixer of basketball games in history, the Mephistopheles of college sports.”

There was even a novel written about Molina’s “bent” nature, titled “The Wizard of Odds: How Jack Molinas Nearly Destroyed the Game of Basketball.” Another Times article declared that gambling was Molinas’s life. “Much of it sounds out of place from someone who qualified for Stuyvesant, one of the highest-rated high schools in New York. He was also considered an excellent student at Columbia and became a successful lawyer.”

While Molinas was in the thick of his investigation for gang involvement, two hours past midnight on August 3, 1975, he was murdered in a gang-related incident. Eugene Connor fired five shots at Molinas while he was in his backyard.

The alum was just 43.

Charlie Scott (Class of 1967) Charlie Scott was undoubtedly the most successful Stuyvesant alum in the NBA. Born on December 15, 1948, Scott grew up in Harlem. The 6’5” guard attended Stuyvesant for one year before transferring

to Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina.

“I went to a school called Stuyvesant in New York City,” Scott said in an interview with NBA.com, the official website of the National Basketball Association. “I was one of the top AAU players in New York City, and I went to try out for the [Stuyvesant] basketball team, and the coach would not let me try out because I was Black.

Their team was 1 and 27. I made up my mind then that I was not going to let people hold me back anymore.”

After three years playing high school ball in North Carolina, Scott was recruited by the University of North Carolina (UNC), one of the best basketball programs in the country, as the first Black scholarship athlete in university history. The two-time All-American had a legendary college career as he averaged a stat line of 22.1 points per game, including an incredible 27.1 points per game senior season. He led the Tar Heels to the Final Four in two consecutive years. During college, he was also selected by the Mexico 1968 men’s Olympic team, in which he helped the United States to a gold medal and was the team’s fourth highest scorer. One article from the Charlotte Observer proclaimed Scott as “the closest thing UNC ever had on a basketball court to Michael Jordan before Jordan himself arrived more than a decade later.”

In his professional rookie season with the ABA’s Virginia Squires, Scott averaged over 27 points per game and won ABA Rookie of the Year. In his sophomore season, he averaged 34.6 points per game, an ABA record. He was traded to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns in 1972 and was an All-Star in all three of his seasons in Phoenix.

He was then traded again, this time to the Boston Celtics. Scott reached the pinnacle of the basketball world as his Celtics won the NBA Finals in the 19751976 season.

After two more seasons with the Celts, Scott rounded off his career with the Lakers and the Suns. Upon retiring in 1980, Scott finished his career with a 20.7 points per game average.

He was inducted into the Nai-

smith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Even more than his playing legacy, Scott paved the way for future generations of Black players at UNC, contributing to building one of the best college basketball programs the country has seen. In an interview in April of this year, Scott said, “I look at football, I look at basketball, and I think of course there should be more coaches [who] are Black. Because there are so many Black players in the sport itself. I know for one thing that, especially with today’s athlete, there’s got to be a communication of understanding amongst each other, especially with what is going on in our society today.”

However, being an activist player in the 1950s wasn’t smiled upon, so Scott had to keep his head down and play. “I hope I would’ve been more like a LeBron James-type of character,” Scott said. “I think his social standards and his social stance, I applaud very much. I would hope I would have those types of standards.”

Scott didn’t leave no impact though. As the first Black scholarship athlete in UNC history, he truly blazed a trail, including one for the GOAT Jordan, who entered UNC a decade after Scott graduated. Scott earned the fittingly named Tar Heel Trailblazer Award at a game in 2014. This year, UNC was in the news again as it just hired its first Black head coach in university history, Hubert Davis, to replace longtime legendary coach Roy Williams. Who was the first person Davis called after his introductory press conference?

Scott.

Now, Scott is 72 years old and lives around Atlanta, Georgia. He even had a book written about his glass-shattering legacy, titled “Game Changers: Dean Smith, Charlie Scott, and the Era That Transformed a Southern College Town.”

The final words of Scott’s Hall of Fame induction speech perhaps put it best: “I am very proud to be an alumnus of the University of North Carolina.

But more importantly, I am very proud to be standing up here as a Black man [who] took a path that wasn’t easy but was the right path to take.”

UEFA

The Lesser of Two Evils

By SHAFIUL HAQUE Many soccer legends have risen from different backgrounds and generations, but one thing is more or less the same: most have competed in one of Europe’s most prestigious soccer tournaments, the UEFA Champions League (UCL). The UCL is a European soccer club competition that has always maintained a stellar reputation in the sports world.

Ever since its inception in 1955, the competition has evolved nearly every decade with the ever-changing soccer climate.

With recent news of 12 top European clubs proposing a new competition called the Super League and the resulting protests by soccer fans, UEFA proposed an entirely new Champions League format that UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin believes will benefit soccer. Čeferin claimed, “This evolved format will still keep alive the

dream of any team in Europe to participate in the UEFA Champions League thanks to results obtained on the pitch, and it will enable long-term viability, prosperity, and growth for everyone in European football.” Though this new UCL system allows more opportunities for top teams to play each other, this proposal is further proof that UEFA’s focus is not on the players and managers, but rather on its profits.

The current UCL format

consists of 32 teams, split into eight groups of four teams, playing in a double round robin system. Each club plays the other three clubs in its group twice, and at the end, the top two teams of each group advance to the knockout stage.

The 16 teams that move on play in a tournament style competition with two-legged matchups, one home and one away.

The tournament goes from the Round of 16 to the quarter finals to the semifinals and ends

with the final, the one match for all the marbles, played in a neutral stadium.

The proposed changes that will take place in the 20242025 season will significantly alter the current format. The 32-club group stage will be discarded and replaced with a single league consisting of 36 clubs. In this new format, each team plays 10 different continued on page 26

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The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Sports Sports Editorial

Athletes, Politics, and Twitter example of this response was a tweet by LeBron James reading, “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY.” This tweet was in clear reference to the trial of Derek Chauvin, coincidentally on the same day as Bryant’s death, that ended with Chauvin being found guilty for the murder of George Floyd.

James’s sentiment was echoed across the country, where it was met with major backlash. Critics of the tweet were quick to point out that Bryant could have killed the other women, saying the officer is a hero, not a murderer.

More people were angry at the tone of the tweet, which some interpreted as a threat to the officer. The internet was ablaze as people debated the event.

While many of those responding with an opinion were average people, athletes also chimed in. Top UFC Welterweight contender Colby Covington tweeted, “Painting targets on the backs of innocent officers is so brave and courageous @KingJames! You’re a real hero… to the [P]eople’s [R] epublic of China.”

By MAX SCHNEIDER We live in a world of mass media, where ideas are spread in a matter of minutes and just about anyone can respond to just about anything. Platforms like Twitter are powerful enough for the average user, but when given to celebrities, their influence is magnified, reaching an audience of millions. Naturally, not everyone will agree with all of the posts they see on social media, which has led to a culture of arguing, lies, and insults that has penetrated every facet of modern life, sports notwithstanding.

This culture was evident this week as several athletes quarrelled over the shooting of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant, a Black woman from Columbus who was fatally shot by a police officer after brandishing a knife at other women. Many athletes took to social media to vent frustration and sadness regarding the event. Some players, however, took it a step farther, denouncing the officer and demanding justice. The biggest

Furthermore, former MLB player Aubrey Huff tweeted, “Hey @KingJames go [EXPLETIVE] yourself for doxing a police officer for just doing his job.

I’d bet if that was your son about to get stabbed you’d be singing a different tune you piece of [EXPLETIVE]! You’re a huge reason the @NBA is down 80 [percent] in viewership within the last year.” He added, “Today is the day when @KingJames[’s] legacy will be irrelevant to most all Americans. May want to move to China [EXPLETIVE] stick!” These tweets show not only anger about James’s tweet, but they also address another point made against James, his stance on China, as well as act as a personal attack. It should be mentioned that James has never explicitly said he supports China. However, he has been criticized because he has never clearly denounced China and its numerous human rights violations.

Covington’s tweet has over 8,000 likes and was viewed by his almost 300 thousand followers. Huff ’s earlier tweet was

liked over 23 thousand times and viewed by his 200 thousand followers. These numbers are huge but are dwarfed by James, who has 50 million followers.

The point is, athletes have massive platforms that influence the opinions and actions of many.

When used right, these accounts can be used for so much good.

James raises millions for charity and brings awareness to racial injustice throughout the country. Covington is an avid supporter of our nation’s soldiers, honoring them for the incredible sacrifices they make.

James’s tweet is now deleted, and in a later tweet, he said, “I fueled the wrong conversation about [Bryant], and I owe it to her and this movement to change it.” Covington and Huff ’s accusations about James are an unfair attack on someone for his employer’s actions. Huff has also spread a large amount of misinformation about COVID-19 and its vaccine, mild compared to his calling murderer Kyle Rittenhouse a “national treasure” for shooting two people protesting the murder of Ja-

cob Blake. Tweeting attacks and falsehoods is dangerous, and when done by prominent figures, can lead to events like the January 6 riots and the infamous Unite the Right rallies.

That said, Twitter and other platforms can also be a place where positive interactions occur. J.J. Watt used his social media platforms to raise $37 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey. Serena Williams has used the Internet to celebrate the impact of Black women in America. Megan Rapinoe has fought for eliminating the gender wage gap. All of these actions are only a tiny fraction of the great things these athletes are doing. These websites are important because social interaction is a crucial part of our society, and it is encouraged.

However, when things that should not be posted are, there needs to be action. Censorship is not the answer, but neither is having no accountability. Athletes, as well as other celebrities, have a responsibility to use their platforms for good, and we are straying from that obligation.

UEFA

The Lesser of Two Evils did not consider player fitness and competition scheduling.

Thirty-year-old Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan responded to the new Champions League format on Twitter, explaining how UEFA doesn’t care about the players or the staff. The German claimed, “More and more and more games. Is no one thinking about us players? [...] The UCL format right now works great, and that is why it’s the most popular club competition in the world for us players and for the fans.”

Gündoğan is right, considering how many games a soccer player in Europe would have to play according to the proposed changes. Players already com-

continued from page 25

clubs and advances to the 16team tournament phase of the competition depending on their position in the league. Teams ranked first through eighth qualify, teams ranked ninth to 16th play against teams ranked 17th to 24th for the other eight spots, and teams 25th or lower are eliminated from the tournament. The knockout stage of the competition is more or less the same, beginning with the Round of 16 and ending with the final.

Some players and managers spoke out against UEFA, claiming that their new plans

pete in their domestic league, cup games, friendlies, and national team matches throughout the year. Many soccer players have busy lives outside of the sport, and increasing their workload would pull them further away from friends and family.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp also expressed his doubts, claiming UEFA isn’t considering the effects the congested format will have on players and scheduling. The Reds manager stated, “UEFA showed me the idea, and I said I don’t like it––10 games rather than six. No idea where to put them in. The only people who never get asked are the coach-

es, the players, and the supporters. UEFA didn’t ask us.

The Super League didn’t ask us. It’s just always ‘play more games’––that’s not possible.”

Similarly, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola explained how UEFA is not concerned with player injuries. In agreement with Klopp, the Catalan manager proclaimed that the managers and players are not in charge of the format, and there isn’t a way for players to play the proposed number of games across all competitions without fitness issues.

Considering the detrimental effect the new Champions League format will likely have on players and teams, it isn’t a good

idea to go forward with it. The only reason UEFA is proposing a new system and increasing the number of matches is to boost ticket-selling and profits from a greater television audience for their sponsors. UEFA has to understand that soccer players play matches week in and week out, with their only break falling in the summer. Many fans, such as myself, are not happy about UEFA’s plan. We want to see the soccer superstars whom we admire play at their best, instead of playing fatigued match after match. Hopefully, there will be many more players to follow Gündoğan’s, Guardiola’s, and Klopp’s footsteps in addressing the current situation.

Athlete of the Issue

He’s a Runner, He’s a Track Star made it on even though I was really slow back then, but joining the team was one of the best decisions I’ve made at Stuyvesant.

By AIDAN LOOK

1. How long have you been on the Stuyvesant track team?

Nearly all four years.

2. What inspired you to join the track team?

I was looking for a sport to join in freshman year, and my Big Sib suggested track. I also did track in middle school and enjoyed it, so I decided to tryout for the indoor team. Somehow, I

Courtesy of Olivier Pham

Name: Olivier Pham Grade: Senior Height: 5’10’’ Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Date of Birth: November 28, 2003

3. What events do you par-

ticipate in? Do you have a favorite one?

I mostly do sprinting and jumping events like long jump, triple jump, and high jump. My favorite event is probably high jump because there’s a lot of technique involved in getting your center of mass over the bar. It’s also one of the most satisfying events to beat your personal best in. Right now, my PR is 5’6’’, but I’m hoping to beat it this season.

4. What is your strategy for constantly improving yourself ? Do you have a specific workout routine to stay in shape?

There’s a lot more form involved with sprinting than people think. One of the things I do is have teammates take slow motion videos of my jumps or

starts so I can see what I need to improve on. I don’t really have a specific workout routine, but being consistent with going to practice is a great way to stay in shape.

5. What’s one of the biggest obstacles you’ve faced while on the track team?

Over the last four years, our team cycled through six coaches, so most of the organization and training has been managed by the seniors. In junior year, we had upperclassmen meetings to plan out meets, practices, and equipment, and I think working together to lead the team brought us a lot closer together.

6. What skills and strengths are involved with being a part of the track team?

Honestly, just being naturally fast is a huge strength. Those who aren’t naturally fast, like me, have to be ready to work hard or work on technique in field events. Field events are a good way for people to specialize. If you jump higher, you might do the high jump. If you’re stronger, you might choose shot put.

7. Funniest teammate?

Max Fasano always gets the team laughing.

Favorite drink: Arizona Iced Tea or any sodas Favorite food: Pizza Favorite class: Probably Drafting. It was really relaxing to just draw for an entire class.

Favorite movie/TV show: “Attack on Titan” or “Breaking Bad”

The Spectator ● May 17, 2021

Page 27

Sports NBA

A Season Plagued by Injury

By TAEE CHI Why has the NBA been so boring lately? With the exception of New York Knicks fans, who are ecstatic at finally having a winning record, most people would agree that this year’s season has been rather lackluster. Arguably, the primary reason for this phenomenon is the absence of star players, an issue that has been exacerbated by the recent onslaught of player injuries. Sure, these injuries may add a sprinkle of suspense to the upcoming playoffs, but without the presence of top players to spice up the league, something just doesn’t feel right.

Like all professional sports leagues, the NBA had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic by setting new regulations last year to prevent the spread of the virus and continue games. One such adjustment was the NBA bubble, an isolation zone created to protect NBA players during their postseason play. As a result of the delays caused by the pandemic, the 2019-2020 NBA season became the longest basketball season in league history, finishing on October 11, 2020. In order to deal with the shorter time frame left behind

by the previous season, the league decided on a 72-game season for 2020-2021, which is 10 fewer games than usual. However, these games have been crammed into a tight four-and-a-half month schedule, which is coming off the shortest offseason in league history of just two months. With such an uncompromising timeline, it is no wonder why so many players are getting hurt this season.

After Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets suffered a torn ACL during a game, New Orleans Pelicans’ guard Josh Hart took to Twitter, saying, “Too many players getting hurt with this shortened season. [Let’s] not do this one again.” Like Hart, many players and coaches around the league are concerned that the season’s combination of a compact schedule and travel demands has increased injury risk for players.

Though there seems to be a correlation between the grueling pace of the shortened season and the increase in injuries, the numbers tell a different story. According to an article published by the New York Times, the difference between games played per week this year and last year is negligible, as teams are only playing 0.18

more games per week than they did last season. In addition, teams are taking 15 percent fewer flights, and the injury rate for this season is actually six percent lower than last season. It is also important to realize that many of this season’s notable injuries, such as LaMelo Ball’s fractured wrist and LeBron James’s high ankle sprain, have resulted from freakish accidents rather than overuse. Ball was injured on an awkward landing after he was fouled on a drive to the basket, and James suffered his ankle injury after an unintentional collision with the Atlanta Hawks’ Solomon Hill.

Yet so many high-profile names have made their way onto injury reports that fans can’t help but feel a sense of urgency. Two of the league’s top contenders, the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers, have had their star players miss valuable games due to play-related ailments.

The Nets’ talented trio of James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving has rarely had the opportunity to demonstrate its true capabilities this season as the three players have only played 186 minutes together across a span of seven games. In compari-

son, Durant played 1,442 minutes alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson during his last season with the Golden State Warriors in 2019. Durant missed 23 consecutive games earlier this season after straining his left hamstring, and Harden was recently sidelined with a similar hamstring injury just as Durant made his return.

The Nets have still been winning all season despite these injuries, but it’s difficult to gauge the team’s maximum potential when we have yet to see the full squad in action.

The Nets’ rivals in the west, the Lakers, started the season as the title favorites. Just two months into the season, however, they lost star forward Anthony Davis to an Achilles tendon and calf injury.

James followed suit in March, and the Lakers quickly found themselves without their two star players. Both James and Davis have returned to the court since, but the Lakers’ record took a hit, and they currently stand at the sixth seed in the Western conference.

The Lakers and the Nets aren’t the only teams to have suffered from their star players getting hurt. Reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the

Milwaukee Bucks missed seven crucial games during the latter half of the season due to an ankle injury. He came back strong against the Nets, scoring 49 and 36 points in two recent matchups, but the missed games proved to be vital for the Bucks in their efforts to clinch the first or second seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Philadelphia 76ers have also had their fair share of injuries as their star big man Joel Embiid suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss 10 games. Earlier in the year, Embiid was viewed as the clear-cut favorite to win MVP, but the injury has now shifted the focus to Nuggets center Nikola Jokić as the most likely to claim the award. Other notable injuries that have impacted the NBA this year are Ball’s fractured wrist, James Wiseman’s right meniscal tear, Myles Turner’s “turf toe,” and Victor Oladipo’s knee injury.

The rapid pace of the 2021 NBA season has put a strain on players’ health, and with the regular season drawing to a close, it is critical that the 16 playoffcontending teams make smart decisions about resting their star players. Maybe load management doesn’t sound so bad after all.

Sports Editorial

How Muslim Athletes Compete During Ramadan

By NAKIB ABEDIN During the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. This fasting is hard enough on its own, but for Muslim athletes, professional and otherwise, it is a major performance hurdle. They have to deal with the extreme physical demands that come with their respective sports daily, but on top of that, they are not allowed to eat or drink for the majority of the day. However, throughout history, Muslim athletes have risen to this challenge and succeeded with flying colors, showcasing their determination and perseverance to the world.

During Ramadan, athletes have to wake up before sunrise to begin their fast. Since their sleep gets interrupted, waking up at such an odd hour adds another dimension of struggle.

Instead of getting the recommended eight to nine hours of sleep, athletes may instead be getting six to seven. Though this difference may seem in-

significant at first glance, these small details can have a noticeable effect on performance.

Some athletes choose to rinse their mouths without swallowing the water, but this action isn’t enough to keep them properly hydrated throughout the day. Although it typically does help with quenching thirst, it still doesn’t nourish the players enough for optimal performance. When it comes to breaking the fast (called iftar), athletes may not even get the chance to have a proper meal. If they have a game a few hours after iftar, eating too much would make them feel too heavy. If they have a game during sunset, they may have to break their fast after the game or during a break.

Sometimes, opponents actually halt play to give the player an opportunity to break his or her fast. One example was a soccer game between Leicester City and Crystal Palace on April 26, 2021. The Crystal Palace team and the referee stopped play for a moment so that Muslim player Wesley Fofana could get a quick

sip of water and a small nibble on a snack. Fofana later thanked the sportsmanship shown by Crystal Palace on Twitter, saying, “That’s what makes football wonderful.”

The NBA was dominated by all-time great players including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing in the 1990s. Hakeem “The Dream”’ Olajuwon dared to face these legends all while fasting. Olajuwon led his Rockets past Barkley and his Suns, scoring 28 points and getting 11 rebounds during Ramadan in February 1995. Later in the month, Olajuwon would shine again for the Rockets, racking up 27 points and nine rebounds against Ewing’s Knicks. Olajuwon would eventually go on to win NBA Player of the Month for February 1995, which was a remarkable achievement for a player who was already at a major physical disadvantage. He would go on to have many more memorable performances in his career during Ramadan, including one against Jordan and the

champion Chicago Bulls. Olajuwon led the Rockets to a blowout 102-86 win over Jordan’s squad, with the Dream scoring 32 points and racking up 16 rebounds, outshining Jordan’s 26 points and 14 rebounds. Olajuwon showed the world that despite being without food or water for the majority of the day, his determination and work ethic were enough to bring about some of the most impressive performances of his career.

More recently, in 2018, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, two of the biggest Muslim soccer stars in the world, tore up teams across the world with Liverpool FC during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan coincided with the UEFA Champions League Final that year, and Salah and Mané both fasted during the game. They faced Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid, who were on the verge of their third consecutive Champions League trophy. Though Liverpool did not win this time around, Salah and Mané played on, with Mané going on to score a goal for the

Reds. The next year, though, Liverpool found themselves in another Champions League Final, facing off against Tottenham Hotspurs. The Champions League Final once again coincided with Ramadan, and despite losing the year before, Mané and Salah chose to fast again. This time, they were able to beat Tottenham and got the trophy they deserved. Their decision to fast during the two biggest games of their lives was inspiring, especially considering that they lost the previous year.

There is a lesson to be learned from the success of all these Muslim athletes during Ramadan. No matter how hard a challenge may seem, perseverance and determination can overcome that challenge. Despite fasting, Olajuwon, Salah, Mané, and countless others showed the world what Muslim athletes were made of. Their resilience is remarkable, and it is something that we should all, Muslim or not, strive to embody.

NBA

What a Time to Be a Knicks Fan! continued from page 28

in his abilities to select him in the first. While viewed by many as a reach (the pick received a D+ by CBS Sports), it has certainly paid off. Quickley’s ability to draw fouls and shoot from long range was exactly the spark that the Knicks needed off the bench. Obi Toppin, the Knicks’ earlier first round pick, has also shown to be a solid piece to the

young team. Despite the majority of the forward’s minutes being rightfully taken by Randle, the 23-year-old has been appreciative of playing alongside Randle and learning from him.

“Him being like a big brother to me, I’m learning behind him every single day, and I feel like because of that I’m getting better,” Toppin remarked.

This season’s Knicks have also been aided by many veterans. Acquired via mid-season

trade with the Detroit Pistons, 2010 MVP Derrick Rose has been integral in guiding the youngsters, mainly Toppin and Quickley, as well as providing valuable minutes off the bench. Thibodeau frequently utilizes the Rose-Quickley tandem during late game situations. Veteran Reggie Bullock has also materialized to become a 3-and-D player. Shooting 40.9 percent behind the three-point line, Bullock’s quick hands and

ability to move without the ball in his hands are well-liked by the team. Additionally, Nerlens Noel has been extraordinary in replacing promising center Mitchell Robinson, who has been dealing with injuries. The defensive anchor is averaging 2.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game, all while playing only 24 minutes a game.

For the first time in what feels like forever, the rejuvenated Knicks are fun to watch.

Their recent streak of winning nine consecutive games is the Knicks’ longest win streak since the 2012-2013 season. It is, by far, the most promising sign that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The foundation is certainly there for the Knicks to begin to chase their first title in about half a century. NBA fans should be aware of the Knicks and join the bandwagon before it’s too late. New York is here, and they are here to stay!

Page 28

The Spectator ● April 28, 2021

THE SPECTATOR SPORTS Sports Editorial

The Not So Super League Imagine the streets of the small city of Burnley, Lancashire, nearly empty as supporters turn out to Turf Moor to cheer on Burnley F.C. in the Premier League. Famous teams the likes of Chelsea F.C., Liverpool F.C., and other consistently well-performing clubs come in and out of Burnley, boosting economic growth in the small city and bolstering a sense of community among the Burnley F.C. fans, hoping for a breakthrough in which Burnley may succeed in the Premier League.

Turf Moor erupts in excitement every time Burnley faces the top teams of England, the entire city focusing on the match.

Now imagine Burnley’s stadium empty for months after the COVID-19 shutdown and only loyal supporters watching their team play against other smaller clubs around England as the top teams transition to a novel Super League. The fire of an ecstatic atmosphere around matches has been blown out, and the economic boost through team merchandise, broadcasting, food services, and more has died down as the big name clubs no longer pass through the city. Such is the threat of the creation of a Super League for the professional soccer clubs of small cities like Burnley.

The idea of a Super League, a continental tournament in which the top teams from Europe’s domestic leagues play against each other in an exclusive competition comparable to the UEFA Champions League, has long been floating around

in the soccer world. Recently, the idea took one step closer to becoming reality. Real Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus, and Manchester United extended an offer for F.C. Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan, A.C. Milan, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Chelsea to join the league, creating the 12 founding clubs. The leaders of the project, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, who would be chairman of the league; Liverpool president John W. Henry; Manchester United president Joel Glazer; Arsenal president Stan Kroenke; and Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, all had hopes that three more top teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund would join the league as well. The league was intended to have 20 teams in total, so five more clubs would be selected to join.

Ideally, the 20 teams in the league would split in half in two separate divisions and play until the end of a regular season, when the top four clubs from each division would play in a knockout round. The structure of the league is somewhat similar to the Champions League, except the league would only include predetermined top-performing teams right off the bat.

The announcement that club presidents would be going forward with the Super League plan quickly shocked the soccer world into protest and criticism, both online and in person.

Stadiums across Europe were crowded with fans putting up posters and signs against the Super League with messages

like “Give us our Arsenal back,” “MUFC / We adored you, and you sold our souls / RIP MUFC 1878-2021,” and “Created by the poor, stolen by the rich.”

top-performing team? It is especially concerning that some clubs have signed contracts binding them for up to 23 years in the new league, establishing

Such global outrage was understandable. The Super League would severely disrupt the financial aspects of soccer, a major economic sector, especially for European nations. The top teams that join the Super League would no longer play in the Champions League as the schedules would interfere, and there is no guarantee that the clubs would continue to play in their domestic leagues.

The Super League would solidify a rigid and virtually unmovable hierarchy among European clubs. How can a smaller club join the competition with the famous teams of Europe if they’re already separated in an exclusive, rich league? How can the chairman and vice-chairmen of the Super League define a

that current top-performing teams will remain dominant for over two decades. The new tournament would entirely eliminate teams’ mobility in leagues, one of the many beauties of soccer, as there would be no more chances for the underdog to defeat top teams. Lesser known teams occasionally defeat famous clubs, as seen in the 2019 Champions League Real Madrid vs. Ajax matchup, in which Ajax knocked out Real Madrid from the tournament. Even outside of large European competitions, matches like the 7-2 upset last year in which Aston Villa defeated the defending champion, Liverpool, are what makes soccer always exciting to watch.

Of course, top clubs in Spain and Italy like Barcelona,

Sophia Li / The Spectator

By MATT MELUCCI

Real Madrid, Juventus, and others would prefer to join a Super League. The main factor in the creation of the league is solely financial. The English Premier League (EPL) has taken the main stage in European soccer, and top clubs from other nations cannot financially compete with the English clubs that make more money from the EPL than they do from European soccer. The Super League would give non-English clubs a level playing field financially and take away the international focus from the EPL and toward the Super League. Smaller clubs, on the other hand, would lose the flow of money from domestic leagues as the money surrounding top clubs would be transferred to the Super League.

Is the financial benefit for top clubs worth the major detriment to smaller European clubs?

The presidents of the major European clubs have made a selfish misstep in attempting to follow through with the Super League plan. COVID-19 did take a toll, and these leading figures lost millions from the pandemic, but that loss does not justify a move that would potentially dig small clubs that also suffered from lockdowns into the dirt. Luckily, the Super League was suspended within the week it was announced as the “Big Six” of the EPL backed out of the agreement due to extreme backlash. Neglecting smaller underdog clubs and only focusing on finances, the Super League would destroy what makes the Beautiful Game so beautiful.

NBA

What a Time to Be a Knicks Fan!

By JULIAN DURAN After years of watching blowout losses, facing crushing disappointment over missing out on marquee free agents, and despairing over questionable personnel and player moves, Knicks fans can finally rejoice.

In what was supposed to be yet another rebuilding year, the Knicks have shocked the world with their play. Headlined by the fiery leadership of head coach Tom Thibodeau and the emergence of All-Star forward Julius Randle, the Knicks currently hold fourth place in the Eastern Conference. While Knicks fans may be reluctant to do so, it’s finally time to be excited. Even LeBron James tweeted, “The league is simply better off when the Knicks are winning.”

This shocking turn of events can be traced back to July 30, 2020, when the Knicks announced the hiring of the defensive-minded Thibodeau as their new head coach, replacing interim head coach Mike Miller from the year prior. Just nine months later, Thibodeau has the Knicks playoff bound for the first time in over eight years

with less than 10 games left in the season. Thibodeau’s impact is clear—the Knicks have ranked top five in defensive rating all season long with almost the same personnel as last year when they ranked 23rd in the same category. They also rank top 10 in each of the following categories: points allowed off turnovers, second chance opportunities, fast breaks, and points in the paint, making a great recipe for success. On the other side of the ball, the Knicks have prospered with the three-pointer, hitting the shot at a 38.7 percent rate, which puts them as fifth best in the league at doing so.

Spearheading this resurgence is forward Randle, who has blossomed under Thibodeau’s system. The seventh pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Randle spent four seasons with the Lakers and one season with the Pelicans before signing a three-year, $66 million contract with the Knicks before the 2019-2020 season. After struggling mightily in his first year as a Knick and being heavily criticized for his poor decisionmaking and high turnover rate, he has turned into the leader

that the Knicks desperately needed and a legitimate candidate for Most Valuable Player after just one offseason. Randle has averaged 23.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and a remarkable 41.3 percent behind the threepoint line so far this season. It has undoubtedly been the best single-season performance of any Knicks player since Carmelo Anthony’s legendary tenure. He attributes his rise to stardom to his former Lakers teammate, the late Kobe Bryant, who taught him valuable lessons about work ethic during his final years before retiring. “To get to the next level in this league, you can’t be putting in that next level of work only some of the time. [It] has to be all of the time. No such thing as sacrifice without sacrifice,” Randle wrote when describing Kobe’s mentorship.

At just 26 years old, Randle is the centerpiece of a young core that the Knicks ownership hopes can bring them success for years to come. Another essential piece of this core, RJ Barrett, continues to prove everyday why he was the third

overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. Only 20 years old, the Toronto native has established himself as a reliable number two option behind Randle, averaging just shy of 18 points a game. At 6’6”, the slasher is able to get to the rim with his strength and continues to improve his outside shot.

Guard Immanuel Quickley

has also asserted himself as a part of the team’s bright future.

Being the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, many consider Quickley as the “steal” of the draft. He was projected to fall into the second round, but the Knicks were confident enough continued on page 27

SPORTSBEAT Former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez has reached an agreement with Marc Lore to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves from owner Glen Taylor for $1.5 billion.

The Champions League Final is set for May 29 between two Premier League teams, Manchester City FC and Chelsea FC, from the Big Four.

YouTuber Logan Paul is facing professional boxing champion Floyd Mayweather in his next boxing bout on June 6. Mayweather was already involved in an altercation with YouTuber Jake Paul in a recent press conference for Logan Paul’s fight.

The New York Knicks secured a playoff berth, ending their postseason drought lasting since the 2012-2013 season.

Eight players on the New York Yankees, including shortstop Gleyber Torres, have tested positive for COVID-19.