The Spectator The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper
Humor
In Memoriam: The Beard of Polazzo Sports editor Max Onderdonk recalls how the beard of Matthew Polazzo captured the hearts of faculty and students alike. On behalf of The Spectator, he offers condolences during this sensitive time. see page 16
Volume 108 No. 3
NEWSBEAT Sophomore Julia Hart was named Staten Islander of the Week by the Leadership Council for her work in her local community garden.
The Stuyvesant Policy Debate team competed at the
Georgetown Day School Invitational. Seniors Jenny Han and Luola Chen won
the tournament and seniors David Doktorman and Isaac Segal were semifinalists.
“The Pulse of the Student Body”
OPINIONS
A Monumental Controversy: Deconstructing the American Legacy
The Opinions department tackles the complicated legacy of monuments to confederate and other controversial historical figures, offering nuanced analysis, creative solutions, and even addressing our own namesake, Peter Stuyvesant. see page 6
October 17, 2017
Genkina Leaves Stuyvesant to Work for Online Startup By Sarah Osman and Peter Tam Former computer science teacher Yulia Genkina left Stuyvesant on Friday, September 29, for a position on the data team of an online startup called Triptease. Genkina taught computer science at Stuyvesant for three years after completing a semester of student teaching. Genkina has been searching for a new job since the end of the 2016-17 school year. “I felt that in the education system of the city, it’s hard to make a structural change,” Genkina said. “When you work in a company, my [intuition] tells me that I will have more power, more of an ability to initiate change.” Triptease is a website that serves as a direct hotel booking platform. The website puts the customer in direct contact with the hotel, allowing him or her to book directly with the hotel,
rather than through an outside] website. Genkina will be working on the data science team, analyzing the data that goes into the website and organizing it. Genkina will miss teaching at Stuyvesant, but hopes to use this experience in the next stage of her career. “It was wonderful. I had the best colleagues I could have hoped for and amazing students,” Genkina said. Charles Kuang (‘09) will be teaching Genkina’s classes for the rest of the year. Kuang has been a student teacher in Genkina’s classes for the past month. Genkina believes that the transition will be smooth, as Kuang understands the Stuyvesant community well and has already known the students for the past month. Genkina is also planning on pursuing a PhD in Computer Science and hopes to return to teaching eventually.
stuyspec.com
Writing Center Moved to Room 615F By Sarah Osman and Peter Tam The Writing Center has been moved from the library to room 615F, following a joint decision by Principal Eric Contreras, Assistant Principal of English Eric Grossman, the English department, and the librarians. The decision to relocate the Writing Center was made to make the library a quieter place to study. “It was tricky to have two separate entities running in the same space when different rules apply to each,” said English teacher Holly Schechter, who runs the writing center. Room 615F is located just down the hall from the library and is adjacent to Grossman’s office. The room used to serve as a storage closet that was only accessible through the neighboring room 615E, but has since had a proper doorway cut out, connecting it to the hall. However,
the new writing center still needs a door and some refurbishment. Many students and teachers believe that this change is beneficial. “The change of location will hopefully bring more students in because there will be no more confusion related to waiting on the library line,” student editor and junior Julia Arancio said. Schechter agreed, and said, “Having our own space is a giant step forward for the Writing Center. It legitimizes the important work we are doing.” The Writing Center will remain open from fourth to eighth period and will have student teachers and volunteers working alongside Schechter. “We have a strong team of five student teachers and twenty students, selected by application, who devote their free time to helping other students with their writing,” Schechter said.
Julia Lee/ The Spectator
“The College Essay Guidebook:” A Look into Dr. Mandler’s Latest Book
By Sasha Spajic and Peter Tam with additional reporting by George Shey
English teacher Dr. David Mandler’s latest book, “The College Essay Guidebook,” was released on September 25. The book includes 30 activities that
help guide the reader to writing effective responses to the Common Application questions. It also includes a grammar section and essay draft progressions from former Stuyvesant seniors. Dr. Mandler has written other books in the past. He has written a nonfiction book titled “Arminius Vambéry and
the British Empire: Between East and West,” which has been mentioned in various journals, a short story, and numerous articles in the Budapest Times. He wrote his latest book to help his students, as well as others across the country, write an effective story about themselves. “I had to do something to guide people. It’s really in the spirit of alleviating much of the stress that students feel in creating an essay that I wanted to do this book,” Dr. Mandler said. The new book also includes student reflections from seniors who have gone through the college process. “I find that this book is very relevant, especially to Stuyvesant students, because the advice in the book comes straight from last year’s seniors,” Dr. Mandler said. “They allowed me to integrate some of their essays using their names and college affiliations. But the book is open enough to allow for any other high school senior to understand.” He also chose to create a publishing press for this book, the “Ergo Sum Press.” The name is derived from Descartes’s “I think, therefore I am.” “The major negative [of ] looking for a publisher is the time period,” Dr. Mandler said. “[It takes] at least a year or two for a book to run the course of selection. I wanted to retain control over what the book looked like. When you go with a publisher, you give up a lot of control of what goes into the book.” Dr. Mandler is also in the process of writing two more texts: a novel and a book of poetry.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and NASA
WORLDBEAT In America’s deadliest mass shooting in modern history, a lone gunman shot and killed 58 people attending a concert in Las Vegas before killing himself. Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the planned shooting. The incident has sparked a fierce debate over gun control
Puerto Rico has requested $4 billion in aid as the island struggles to recover from Hurricane Maria. Much of the island still lacks electricity and access to basic supplies. The Trump administration has been criticized for not doing enough to help and for the President’s flippant attitude towards the disaster.
The Spanish region of Catalonia has descended into chaos as the regional government prepares to declare independence from Spain. Separatists point to the results of a referendum held last week which showed overwhelming support for independence. The Spanish government has called the referendum illegal and has threatened to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy. Catalonia has a distinct culture and language from the rest of Spain and has a long history of separatism. The Trump administration has released its long awaited tax reform proposal. The plan outlines tax cuts across all income groups and a reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. Republicans argue that this plan will benefit the lower and middle class. Critics note that the elimination of the estate tax will ultimately benefit the wealthy and that there is no plan to recover the lost revenue from these cuts. On Monday, October 2, the Supreme Court returned for a new term and began hearing arguments in a case on gerrymandering. The case involves electoral districts in Wisconsin that have allegedly been drawn to favor Republicans. The Court’s decision could impact future elections by placing national restrictions on partisan gerrymandering for the first time in history.
President Trump set off a debate over the national anthem after he called on the National Football League (NFL) to fire athletes who would not stand during the anthem. Trump was referring to Colin Kaepernick who refused to stand to protest police violence. In response to the President’s comments, football players across the country have begun kneeling during the anthem.
The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
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Features Meet Stuyvesant’s Newest Teachers By THE FEATURES DEPARTMENT
At the start of every semester, walking into a classroom and seeing a new teacher can be daunting. But for some teachers, the first day can be just as intimidating because it is a completely new experience for them as well. This year, Stuyvesant has gotten many promising new additions to the teacher staff. Here are some of their stories, from when they were inspired to start teaching to their hopes for their Stuyvesant experience.
Stuzin, English
It had been eleven years since Kate Kincaid was a Stuyvesant teacher, and she couldn’t wait to come back. She started her career in English with a job in editing and proposal writing, and after attaining a graduate degree in creative writing, she decided that she wanted to teach. Her first teaching job was at a middle school in Spanish Harlem as an academic intervention teacher (individually assisting students with learning a new skill or building strength in a skill), while she was substitute teaching at Stuyvesant. At Stuyvesant, she met [Assistant Principal of English Eric] Grossman, who called her as soon as an of-
Elena Sapelyuk / The Spectator
Lindemulder, French and German
By Amara Shein For the first time in years, Miguel Ramirez is not the sole French teacher. With the addition of the new Level IV French Culture course, it would be against DOE regulations for Ramirez to be responsible for all of them. That’s where Rebecca Lindemulder comes in, carrying textbooks and papers while she enthusiastically waits outside Ramirez’s fourth period French III class. She is both prepared and eager to teach French and German. Lindemulder’s passion for foreign culture stems back to her own high school career. “I really liked [French] and I even went to France a couple of different times. I love it,” she explained. During her travels, Lindemulder fell in love with the culture, food, and the little things such as simple relaxation that France offered her.
“It’s just something that I really enjoyed. I liked being able to communicate in another language as well, so I wanted to be able to impart that ability to others and inspire others the same [way].” Lindemulder pursued her master’s degree by teaching German in Germany. Afterwards, she taught the language at a high school in New Jersey. However, she wasn’t able to spread her passion for French culture when she taught there. When she found an online posting for a French and German teaching position at Stuyvesant, her curiosity led her to learn more about the school. “I came here and was amazed to see how friendly Mr. Oliveri was and what a nice school this is,” Lindemulder said with a smile. As for the students, Lindemulder is in awe. “The kids here are phenomenal in how they’re engaged and attentive [during] the lessons. They really want to learn, and they’re really curious and want to show me what they already know,” she said. “I love what they’re bringing to the table. I think it makes a big difference.” By exploring foreign culture and food rather than solely teaching words and grammar, she hopes to make her classes fun for her students. “Everybody raves about Stuyvesant and how much fun it is to be here, and that’s exactly what I’m experiencing.”
Elena Sapelyuk / The Spectator
By VINCENT JIANG For some students, Lauren Stuzin is a comforting familiar face. Once a student teacher for English teacher Megan Weller, Stuzin has returned as a fulltime teacher, now with her own European Literature and American Literature classes. For most of her life, Stuzin
had been surrounded by English. Her father loved classical literature and often read Shakespeare to her as a child. Her love for English only grew in high school when her English teacher inspired her to read Shakespeare, which became her favorite period of literature. She then majored in English as a Cornell undergraduate, serving as the editor-in-chief of a student publication there, before pursuing her master’s degree at Columbia Teacher’s College. Aside from her love of English, Stuzin also gravitated toward working with younger students; from being a ski instructor to a camp counselor, every job she had involved working with kids. “Being with kids makes life better,” she said. Her first teaching experience was at I.S. 289, a middle school near Stuyvesant. Though it was fun, she discovered that she enjoyed the high school setting more. Stuzin had her first taste of Stuyvesant as Weller’s student
teacher, but when Weller unexpectedly went on maternity leave three weeks earlier than expected, Stuzin found herself thrust into leading the class without a guiding mentor. “First day, I was really overwhelmed,” she said. “I was just sweating the whole day, running around, trying to organize myself, and I think I started new books with all my classes that day; it was very hectic.” As she grew more comfortable, however, she grew to love the school and the students here, leading to her seeking a full-time position. On the first day of the new year, she admitted she was a bit nervous, but she quickly grew accustomed to the rush of running her own classes. Stuzin is looking forward to teaching “Macbeth,” her favorite Shakespeare play. “I would like to inspire any students that I have who may feel like English is not their thing, because I think it’s everybody’s thing; I think it’s relevant to everyone, reading and writing both,” she said.
Sunwoo, Chemistry By Senjuti Gayen Patrick Sunwoo is the newest addition to the Chemistry department here at Stuyvesant High School. Before coming here, Sunwoo taught at a high school in the Bronx for four and a half years. He taught various subjects, including Chemistry, Forensic Science, and AP Chemistry. “Pretty much everything science-related under the sun,” Sunwoo said. Sunwoo’s decision to come to Stuyvesant was largely influenced by his friends at college; they had graduated from Stuyvesant and had told him great things about the school. From what he had heard about
Elena Sapelyuk / The Spectator
By Maya Mitrasinovic
ficial teaching position in the department opened up. She stayed at Stuyvesant for a year and a half before going on maternity leave. Once her youngest kids entered first grade, she knew that she wanted to return, and was lucky enough to find a position open. “It feels like coming back home,” she gushed. Kincaid feels that though Stuyvesant hasn’t changed very much in the past years, she has changed, and that makes her experience as a teacher very different. She thinks that she is a better teacher now, due mainly to the facts that she is better with kids and is more comfortable in her abilities than she was eleven years ago. This is not to say that Kincaid’s transition has been stress-free. It’s hard to not be there to put her kids on the school bus in the morning, but she feels like she’s beginning to get into a routine again. She’s working on being more organized, but still true to herself. “I don’t try to pretend I’m organized. I come in as I am, like, ‘this is me,’” she said. Kincaid wants to make sure that all her students are engaged—not just the “superstars” and big participators. Her openness in the classroom helps to create a welcoming community, for both her bright-eyed, eager freshmen and her worn-out, but sophisticated, seniors.
Stuyvesant’s reputation, he believed that its students would challenge him as an educator. In the few weeks that Sunwoo has taught at Stuyvesant so far, he revealed, “I was blown away by how curious the students were and how much they already knew.” He recalled that at least two or three students already knew how to balance chemical equations before he even taught the lesson. He liked how students interacted with the teachers and how they were supportive of one another. “I guess you could say I like the vibe here,” Sunwoo summarized with a bright smile on his face.
Esposito, English
Elena Sapelyuk / The Spectator
Elena Sapelyuk / The Spectator
KINCAID, ENGLISH
By Maya Mitrasinovic Dan Esposito had an unorthodox English-related journey before joining Stuyvesant’s English department. Even before college, Esposito knew he wanted to do something related to the subject, but teaching wasn’t on his radar yet. He
became a food writer, doing freelance work and working in kitchens. Then, the perfect opportunity arose: a job as a taster for an import-export company. He stayed with the company writing flavor descriptions for a little over a year, until it began to feel like an average office job— but with more food. He felt that he had gotten so far away from his original love of words, and he wanted a job where he could see his work paying off. Teaching fit perfectly into that category, so he decided to change his career path and embark on this new journey. So far, Stuyvesant has lived up to Esposito’s expectations. He grew up in Westchester and was a member of Iona Prep’s Speech and Debate team, through which he competed with Stuyvesant students, so he already had experience with the school. The fondness stayed with him for all these years, so when the opportunity arose, he
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decided to apply for a teaching job here. The amazing things he had heard from Stuyvesant students years ago stayed true: his new students are excited and ready to learn, and as they engage with the material, Esposito can re-engage with himself. And he loves it. Esposito is excited to see how the rest of the school year plays out. He hopes that he’ll be able to build good relationships with his students and that they’ll learn things they never expected to learn. When prompted, Esposito described himself as “interested.” “I think a lot of people describe themselves as interesting, but I think it’s always more important to be interested in what’s going on around you,” he explained. He’s already learned so much from his students in such a short time, and with his interest in both their ideas and their success, he’s sure to have a great year.
The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
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Features Meet Stuyvesant’s Newest Teachers continued from page 2
Elena Sapelyuk / The Spectator
Staley, English
By PAULINA KLUBOK Judd Staley, one of Stuyvesant’s new English teachers, decided to become a teacher because of an advertisement on the subway. Though he had always loved literature and excelled in English, majoring in it college, Staley didn’t know what profession to pursue after college. Since then, Staley has taught
Miner, Physics and Video Production
in four NYC Department of Education schools. His last school, the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx, where Staley had been for the last five years, had a very different atmosphere from that of Stuyvesant. “In the Bronx, I was dealing with a lot of severely underprivileged kids—not that the kids here are privileged, but it seems like their needs are different, and it’s a big adjustment,” Staley said. Despite the changes. Staley said his first week was great, citing his colleagues as his favorite part. “I really love the English department here and am enjoying getting to know everyone and learning a lot from what other teachers are doing,” Staley shared. Staley, however, is very aware of the pressures placed on Stuyvesant students and hopes that in his first year, he can help his students deal with the stress. Staley hopes to find his place at Stuy this year—to get used to the rhythm and expectations of the school— and he aspires to “hopefully next year, really know what I’m gonna do,” he said.
By CATHY CAI Students lounging on the eighth floor may see a younger, unfamiliar face walking down the hallway: it’s the new physics teacher, Thomas Miner. Miner’s interest with physics started long before he pursued teaching. “I had a great physics teacher in high school who was so inspirational,” Miner explained. “I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of physics and philosophy, answering big questions about existence—what we’re doing here and where we came from.” Prior to coming to Stuy, Miner taught at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn. “It was my third year teaching,” Miner explained, “and I was asked, ‘Do you want to do more AP Physics?’ and I said, ‘No, I’m done with all this leftbrain stuff.’” Although he loved
physics, he wanted to take a break. Thus, Miner went back to graduate school and looked for something that was creative or interesting. It was then that he found his passion in film. “I tried a film studies class, where we watched a film for every decade through American Cinema History and really loved it,” Miner said. His goal, however, when he graduated, was always to go back to teaching physics, and film, at a better school than John Dewey. The opportunity to teach at Stuyvesant as a physics teacher was an offer he couldn’t pass up. But Miner didn’t forget his love for film. In addition to physics, Miner is teaching a new screen studies elective. “It’s called ‘The Physics of Video Production,’” Miner explained. “It’s very much film theory, film history, and the analysis of film. How we get to where we are with technology
today? What is the progression of the medium from the technological base?” Miner was clear to draw the distinction between film and physics, however. “Everything is physics, right?” he said. “But it’s not a physics class necessarily. We don’t go in depths of how cameras or sensors work.” It’s more similar to art history, in which students learn the rules of shot composition and how the process of editing has been applied and changed through time. “It’s a lot of work planning [and] grading, but I’m happy to do it. It’s nice to see that students want to do it too,” Miner continued. “I get emails at two in the morning. I love how they care so much. I love how they’re constantly asking questions and seeking feedback. And I love the role I get to play in that.”
A Semper-ternal Beginning By AMY HUANG Posted on stairwells and on walls throughout the school are messages of clubs seeking out fresh faces, new names, and raw talent. Among the mix of different vocal groups and long-standing clubs is Semper, a newly-formed choral music club led by seniors Grace McManus and Alex Whittington. Behind its unique name are stories that propel the spirit of its members. Semper is Latin for “always,” and to Whittington, that word in a language that has transcended time describes music perfectly. “When I discovered choral music, it was this massive collection of the human experience over centuries and even millennia. [Always] defines humanity in a sense. It’s everlasting, it’s sempiternal, it’s ongoing, and I feel like that applies to the music,” he said. The members didn’t expect to develop a profound interest in choral music. Coming to Stuyvesant provided the opportunity of taking a chorus class. Whittington and member of the Semper board, senior Milo Rosengard, auditioned together, having been in the same art appreciation class. Rosengard has been playing the piano since he was four but didn’t express a serious interest toward singing until he started
chorus. “We meet every day, and the caliber of what we sing and the level at which we sing it were a lot higher than anything I had experienced before,” he said. Chorus, now subdivided into the groups Madrigal, Oratorio, and Concert, introduced a greater range of chamber music and singing techniques. Rosengard added, “I was very good at sight-singing and took several advanced theory courses. Being around Ms. [Holly] Hall and Ms. [Liliya] Shamazov definitely helped me improve because not only do they teach right notes and rhythms, they focus on posture and how to project your voice.” One of the transformative moments for Whittington was singing Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa de Requiem during the second semester of freshman year. Up until that point, chorus was mainly a way for meeting people. But to be able to sing music that required hours of work on just one measure but ultimately produced an astounding sound was what affected him the most. “I somehow got blessed with this amazing opportunity to perform possibly one of the greatest choral masterpieces that has ever existed. That altered me on an emotional and personal level,” he said. “The sentiments and the feelings that were evoked as a result of me forming
a part of the choir that went to Carnegie Hall—that launched me into my fascination with choral music,” he said. It’s amazing how the requiem carried raw human emotions over centuries to inspire people today. Before Semper became official, it was just McManus and Whittington performing in subways and plazas. They wanted to extend their passion and what they enjoyed doing to a more publicized and larger community. One memorable recollection was when they sang Verdi’s Dies Irae. They had attempted to condense a four-voice, polyphonic piece into a two-voice piece. The reduction from a full-sized choir to just two people singing might have appeared to others as odd and a bit sad, but in that moment, it was exhilarating. Whittington’s passion for music and desire to form a larger community are what motivated him to create Semper. He explained, “It’s definitely become something so near and dear to my heart, as a result of that one experience. I wouldn’t even put a label on it; it’s just something I enjoy doing so much and I love that it’s a part of me. I wanted to extend this feeling to a larger community, and as an individual, I also really like meeting new people and seeing what’s out there.” Every
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experience mirrored their earlier performances, even if they had to move to where no one could hear them and busy New Yorkers kept on walking. As they started to bring in more people, through recruiting chorus members and featuring the club throughout the school, what started out as a recreational activity grew into something more along the lines of a family. During auditions, the leaders conducted similar exercises to those done in chorus auditions. Rosengard said, “We looked for good singers. We did scales, arpeggios, and pitch matching where I play a short pattern or melody and the person has to repeat it back.” One exercise, called pitch integrity, was nicknamed “torture” because the singer had to sustain a note while other notes were being sung. Through these rigorous exercises, the board recruited several well-experienced members to kickstart the club off into the new school year. Rehearsals would most likely involve sectionals, where the different voice groups would divide and learn their parts of a piece. Tentatively speaking, the group plans on performing at Brookdale Senior Living across the street from Stuyvesant. McManus and Whittington plan on putting together a Christmas program for
the holiday season. Whittington revealed, “The Christmas music spans from the more pop songs, like Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, to traditional Latin songs that have been adapted for the 21st century. The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year, so we’re trying to create a program that is evocative of sentiments of peace, joy, and renewal.” Already, the seniors of the club are fast-forwarding to the future when they will eventually leave for college. There is an inexplicable and mutual understanding among the members that undoubtedly maintains and propels Semper. Whittington said, “I feel like the sense of family and community is something that is ‘always’ or will always last. I’m a senior, and I’m going off to college next year, but I feel like this is something I’ll always keep with me.” As for their legacy in Stuyvesant, there is no hint of doubt of what will happen. Taking into account several factors, Rosengard assured, “We’re going to have good people taking over for us when we leave. A significant percentage of the people we sang with before we created Semper is underclassmen. I’m confident that Semper will continue to thrive after we leave Stuy.”
The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
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Editorials Staff Editorial
Conforming to and Subverting the Stereotype Stereotype “We’re so smart”
Test-Oriented
Conform
Subvert
It is true that the Stuyvesant population lives up to many of society’s typical markers of intelligence: Our standardized test scores are much higher than average and the colleges attend are generally highly selective.
However, societal markers like these ignore the intricacy and diversity of intelligence represented at Stuyvesant. Not every Stuy student fits the mold of hard-working and academically high-achieving. Almost all of us have at least one weak subject and many of us don’t maintain a high average, or struggle on standardized tests. There are subjects and topics in which we flourish (though are sometimes undervalued, such as social or artistic intelligence), and subjects where we feel as though we don’t live up to Stuyvesant’s expectations.
Tests are known to be a big part of a Stuyvesant student’s life, but some go as far as to say we are defined by them. Of course, this is not a stereotype without merit; every day, the Dear Incoming Facebook groups are flooded with posts from students asking how to do well on so-and-so’s test and study guides shared by overachieving individuals. In fact, one of Stuyvesant’s biggest organizations, ARISTA, encourages its members to upload study guides for all students to use. This drive for doing well on tests is eminent throughout Stuyvesant culture.
However, tests are far from defining Stuyvesant students. Boasting over 200 clubs and pubs and 32 varsity teams, Stuyvesant encourages students to participate in extracurriculars that range from the Photography Club to the cross country team. SING!, one of the events students are most passionate about, shows we can enjoy school without being consumed by exams.
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A Note to Our Readers: The Spectator will now accept unsolicited Op-Ed pieces written by outside students, faculty, and alumni. These columns, if selected, will be published in The Spectator’s Opinions section. Recommended length is 700 words. Articles should address school related topics or items of student interest. Columns can be e-mailed to opinions@stuyspec.com.
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Emotionless
Students may seem emotionless, as seen by the lack of school spirit and the sense that we don’t care for each other outside of our friend groups. If a physics test fell on the day after a homecoming game, most students would choose to stay home and study; in fact, even if there were no tests, most students still wouldn’t go.
Still, students are often empathetic and supportive, as shown through organizations like Big Sibs, where upperclassmen advise underclassmen, and the Dear Incoming Facebook groups, which are full of support and advice.
Cut-throat Environment
Stuyvesant has gained a reputation as a cutthroat environment where students frequently aim to undermine each other to further their own academic success. While it may be true that almost all Stuyvesant students strive to academically achieve, this generalization ignores the fact that support can be found for all who seek it at Stuyvesant.
Class Facebook groups abound for students looking for guidance and homework help, and services such as ARISTA and the Writing Center offer further student-sponsored help. Students truly root for each other’s success and celebrate each other’s victories, as evidenced by the true sense of community following college acceptances.
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VOICES Would you like to share a personal narrative with the school? Whether it’s an essay you’ve written for class, or a piece you’ve been working on by yourself, if it’s in first-person and it is nonfiction it could get published in The Spectator’s issue-ly Voices column! Send your stories into voices@stuyspec.com, or email us with any questions or concerns you have.
The Spectator ● June 8, 2017
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Editorials Staff Editorial
Conforming to and Subverting the Stereotype continued from page 4
Stereotype
Conform
Subvert
STEM-y
On the first day of school, it is not uncommon to hear stories of summers spent volunteering at hospitals, coding, or working at labs from fellow students. This emphasis on STEM has become a key aspect of Stuyvesant’s reputation and is confirmed not only by the rigorous STEM related courses Stuyvesant offers, but by students themselves. In fact, according to the recent freshmen survey conducted by the Spectator, 52.1 percent of freshman currently want to enter a STEM-related field.
However, while in name Stuy might be regarded as a STEM-heavy school, in reality, the humanities play a just as important role in student life. One need only look at the English department, which is arguably the strongest at Stuy, to see the administration places a huge emphasis not just on STEM, but on creating well-rounded students. Even the students undermine this stereotype. From the intensity with which students commit to the arts during SING! to the fact that the four largest organizations at Stuy, Speech and Debate, The Spectator, Big Sibs, and the SU, are humanities oriented, it is clear that while Stuyvesant does provide ample opportunities for STEM-oriented students, humanities are taken just as seriously.
Condescending
Stuyvesant students are often proud that they are part of the top three percent of SHSAT takers. However, sometimes this pride manifests itself in the form of condescension. Stuyvesant students commonly joke about our next door neighbor, BMCC. On report card day, students can be heard lamenting that they’ll “only get into BMCC.” Students who gain admission to SUNY universities often denigrate their future school.
Unfortunately, this stereotype is largely true within the student body. However, we should keep in mind that the SHSAT was only one exam, and that we should avoid outwardly projecting our sense of superiority to students of other high schools and colleges.
“Everyone” is Depressed
Stuyvesant students are overwhelmingly conscious of Despite this, it only takes a day at Stuyvesant to see their mental health, often taking mental health days to that the average student finds something to love here. relieve pressure. Several students have been hospitalized There is a distinction between stress and depression. for emotional or mental instability, and some even transfer schools. The necessity of having extensive mental health support (SPARK, a social worker, etc.) is evidence of our community’s ongoing battle with depression.
Just Another Quiet Asian
Everyone knows the “quiet Asian kid.” The one who takes the back seat in the classroom, shuffles in and out wordlessly, and ducks his or her head when the teacher looks for volunteers. When these students walk across the stage at graduation, their peers question whether they even attended Stuyvesant. There is a hint of truth in the notion that Asian students seem to be meek, quiet individuals who get lost in the crowd, otherwise known as the “quiet Asian” stereotype. Many traditional Asian families do choose to emphasize values of respect and quiet reflection, which, when translated into a school environment, tend to manifest themselves in observant, but quiet students.
Yet attributing the stereotype to culture or upbringing alone is an incredibly parochial way of looking at Asian students. Look more closely at the 74 percent Asian population at Stuyvesant and you will see students actively subjugating the quiet Asian stereotype by pushing themselves to raise their hands, try out for the debate team, and apply for leadership positions. In this sense, the debilitating stereotype becomes a challenge that Asian students rise to meet and overcome. However, we should not devalue students who do “conform” to this stereotype. From the classroom where participation determines up to 20 percent of your grade, to a society that values who you know over what you know, the “quiet Asian kid” faces an uphill battle. At a school so predominantly Asian, we should be the first to take steps to not perpetuate this discrimination and acknowledge these students as valuable members of our community.
Cheaters
The cheating scandal in 2012 sent a shockwave through not only the Stuyvesant community, but through New York City public schools as a whole. As a result, Stuyvesant has received a poor reputation when it comes to academic honesty, and this year’s senior survey doesn’t help that stigma, as 70.9 percent of the class of 2018 has admitted to participating in some form of academic dishonesty.
However, Stuy is not alone when it comes to this fact. Students throughout New York City public schools routinely cheat, but it’s the academic prestige of Stuyvesant that makes it a larger and more publicized issue. The rigorous curriculum and competitive atmosphere at Stuyvesant bring out the worst in many, but that doesn’t mean 70 percent of seniors, or the entire school, are defined by this.
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Opinions A Monumental Controversy: Deconstructing the American Legacy By The Opinions Department In recent months, the ongoing debate over inclusivity and political correctness in America has focused on the status of monuments in public spaces. Statues commemorating controversial figures—Confederate generals, conquistadors, and our school’s namesake, Peter Stuyvesant—have been called into question. Many activists argue that these statues stand for oppression and dark periods of American history, while others argue that these memorials honor and recognize our heritage as a nation. In this spread, Opinions writers explore the arguments of both sides, and how this debate impacts the Stuyvesant community.
Replace, Not Erase By Eliza Spinna
Sarah Chen / The Spectator
In 1979, the Vietnam War Veteran’s Committee selected Maya Lin, a Yale undergraduate, to design the Vietnam War Memorial. Her plan was met with much controversy; it wasn’t a traditional depiction of valiant war generals striking proud poses or soldiers courageously marching into battle. Instead, Lin’s memorial is a simple black stone wall inscribed with the names of fallen soldiers who fought in Vietnam. The Vietnam War Memorial, rather than glorifying an unpopular war and a period of intense social unrest in American history, sought to acknowledge the war in subtle and multifaceted ways. Maya Lin succeeded in producing an extremely powerful experience for visitors in her tribute to fallen soldiers, and a recognition of the the brutality of the war. Many of today’s Confederate monuments lack this nuance. A large number of these statues were erected during the Jim Crow era as symbols of white supremacy and resistance to civil rights and integration. The Civil War was fought over slavery, and generals such as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson played major roles in an epic attempt to perpetuate a racist and brutal practice. Statues of Confederate leaders represent oppressive values and institutions and cannot remain in their current presentation. However, the Civil War is
part of American history, and not all statues commemorate constructive events. It is possible to memorialize the southerners who fought and died as Confederate soldiers while acknowledging that the cause these soldiers fought for was ultimately evil. Confederate statues need to be supplemented to imitate the complexity and nuance of Maya Lin’s masterpiece. Statues of Robert E. Lee posing proudly can be accompanied by newly installed plaques explaining the horrors of both the war and of slavery. In addition, municipalities can add monuments to fallen soldiers of both sides with explanations of the causes of the Civil War nearby, without whitewashing the fact that the war was fought over the future of slavery in the United States. Black Americans who played a role in the war—for example, slaves who were forced to fight or work as blacksmiths for the Confederate army— should be recognized in these memorials. Some monuments, however, are too difficult to contextualize with plaques and should be replaced altogether. One glaring example is the aesthetically dreadful statue of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest erected in 1998 and visible from Interstate 65 in Nashville, Tennessee. Forrest was a Confederate lieutenant general whose troops massacred Union forces, including nearly 400 black soldiers, at the Battle of Fort Pillow in 1864. After the war,
Forrest was an early member the Ku Klux Klan and served as its first Grand Wizard. A better replacement for this statue would be one of Confederate General James Longstreet. After the war, Longstreet endorsed black male suffrage and engaged in armed combat against white supremacists who wanted to seize control of the state government. Because Long-
street ultimately contributed to the advancement of black Americans, while Forrest left a legacy of oppression, municipalities should replace Forrest with Longstreet in monuments. Evil institutions and people should not be celebrated; we don’t celebrate the Holocaust or the Vietnam War. But we have sites like the Auschwitz museum and the
Vietnam War Memorial to acknowledge that these events happened, and that they should never happen again. The solution to the controversy surrounding Confederate monuments is not necessarily to tear them down; rather, it is to contextualize them and to transform them into historical memorials.
prime example of this. As a result of the violence and consequent political firestorm surrounding the statue, the real person commemorated by the statue has been overlooked. To half of the country, Lee is a racist Confederate who deserves to be condemned to a footnote in history. To the other half, he is an American hero. The nuance in the debate appears to be lost. Yet more often than not, history is a nuanced field. When judging Robert E. Lee, we should remember that he once branded slavery “a moral and political evil.” We should note that his primary reason for fighting on the side of the Con-
federates was loyalty to his home state of Virginia. Surely, it is unfair to condemn one of America’s finest commanders to a footnote in history. At the same time, we need to consider whether a man who fought against American interests warrants a statue. All historical figures had their own character flaws and behavioral idiosyncrasies. Nearly all of them had their beliefs heavily influenced by their time periods. As a result, if our modern society begins judging historical figures based on modern morals, it is possible to tarnish the reputation of any historical figure. Founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were slaveowners. Julius Caesar committed war crimes against the Gauls. Napoleon was opposed to the democratization of France. It is unfair to demand that
Judging the Past By Artem Ilyanok The debate over the removal of Confederate monuments has proven to be one of the most divisive and heated political issues in recent memory. While left wing protestors argue that the statues are symbols of racism and a darker time in American history, their right wing counterparts vehemently defend these statues, claiming that they are a part of American heritage. What both sides fail to consider is the historical significance of this debate, the outcome of which will set the precedent for whether or not it is acceptable to take down controversial statues, and will have major implications on public perception of the country’s history. It is sometimes forgotten that every historical statue commemorates a real person. The “statue removal debate” often divides the populace
into two camps, one of which sets out to ruin the historical figure’s reputation, while the other glorifies the same historical figure, often ignoring his or her wrongdoings. This dichotomy tends to avoid the nuance intrinsic to history. It is unfair to classify a historical figure as being purely evil, or having a purely negative
posite is also true. The debate over the statue of Robert E. Lee is a
impact on his or her society. The opAlisa Chen / The Spectator
continued on page 7
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A Monumental Controversy: Deconstructing the American Legacy Judging the Past continued from page 6
people who lived hundreds of years ago comply by morals
contradicted the dominant way of thinking present in their time period. While the “statue removal debate” currently revolves
ues, it clearly sets a dangerous precedent that can be used to justify the removal of any historical figure. Rather than advocating for the removal
It is unfair to classify a historical figure as being purely evil, or having a purely negative impact on their society. that not only didn’t exist during their lifetime, but likely
around low-hanging fruit in the form of Confederate stat-
or preservation of statues via partisan, angry, and often
violent mobs, we should ask ourselves about the overall impact the historical figure had on his or her society. In order to truly understand historical figures, one must take both their achievements and their mistakes into account. Without understanding this nuance, it is impossible to accurately interpret and draw lessons from history. When you apply such an approach, Washington and Jefferson become the founding fathers of one of the world’s leading countries, Julius Caesar becomes a legendary Roman general, and
Napoleon becomes one of Europe’s most accomplished leaders. Honestly evaluating a person’s historical impact will enrich our society’s culture and our understanding of who we are, and it will repair some of the harsh divides present in modern society. As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice that thorn bushes have roses.” In other words, we can bemoan that history can be ugly, or celebrate its achievements. It would be beneficial for our society to lean toward the latter.
What Do We Do About Stuyvesant? By Raniyan Zaman For all our talk about removing controversial monuments, as Stuyvesant students, we forget the ones in our own backyard. Stuyvesant High School is named after Peter Stuyvesant, New York’s Dutch governor during the mid-1600s. You might know that Peter Stuyvesant had a wooden leg, and that’s why our football team is called the Peglegs. You might not have known that Peter Stuyvesant was a bigot. Stuyvesant was opposed to religious freedom and notoriously anti-Semitic. He barred Jewish refugees from Brazil (then a Portuguese colony) from settling in New Amsterdam (now New York) and hoped to purge New Amsterdam of Jews. In a letter to the Dutch West India Company, Stuyvesant called Jews a “deceitful race,” “repugnant,” “hateful enemies and blasphemers in the name of Christ,” and insisted that they no longer “infect and trouble this new colony.” When the directors of the company ignored Stuyvesant’s wishes and allowed Jews to settle in
New Amsterdam, Stuyvesant disallowed the construction of a synagogue. Jews were by no means the only ethnic group Stuyvesant attacked. He feared that other persecuted minority groups, such as Roman Catholics, would be drawn to New Amsterdam if Jews were allowed to settle there. Along with ordering that 23-yearold Quaker preacher Robert Hogdson be publicly tortured, Stuyvesant threatened to fine and imprison anyone who offered refuge to a Quaker. The cruelty and prejudice fueling Stuyvesant’s crimes is clear. The question of how we handle his legacy remains. Do we start small by removing the painting of him on the second floor? Or do we go further and rename the school, as certain Jewish activist groups in New York City are pushing Mayor Bill de Blasio to do, and in turn scrub Stuyvesant apparel, sports teams, and lingo clean of his name? Fortunately, Stuyvesant has a sizable Jewish community of students, faculty, and alumni who are best positioned to decide what actions we should take regarding
the anti-Semite our school is named after. In recent years, college students across the nation have rallied to remove monuments of controversial figures from campus. A notable example is the statue of Lord Jeffery, a general who distributed smallpox-infested blankets among Native Americans, at Amherst College. Earlier this year, Yale University agreed to rename Calhoun College, named after John C. Calhoun, a slaveowner and infamous proponent of slavery. And, after years of contentious debate, UT-Austin is working on removing Confederate statues from its campus, including one of Robert E. Lee. Peter Stuyvesant is not part of Confederate history, but he is a name associated with religious oppression and bigotry. Stuyvesant students should demonstrate similar self-awareness and decide how
to appropriately address his legacy rather than neglect it. The best way to handle these monuments is to open up a conversation with those
most directly affected and historically oppressed by the legacy of the figure in question— and this should be practiced both within and outside of Stuyvesant.
Rachel Zhang / The Spectator
PC and the Confederacy By Mia Gindis Centuries after the abolition of slavery, cries for racial equality still ring clear throughout the United States. This embarrassing blemish in our history has left a rather physical mark on the modern landscape: from negligible plaques to larger-than-life statues, continental America is dotted with monuments dedicated to the Confederacy. A recent outrage from activist groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter has incited their removal, claiming they’re symbolic of regressive principles no longer embodied by the American people. Confederate monuments, erected during and immediately after the Civil War era (when Confederate values
were widely glorified), are undoubtedly emblematic of an era when most southern Americans proudly displayed a backward mindset. But skimming a textbook or attending a lecture in lieu of witnessing these relics firsthand, or at least acknowledging the certitude of their existence, doesn’t accurately convey the impression of the Civil War on American history. Younger generations of liberals, who have only experienced progressive environments, lose the opportunity to see the values people once held. Removing statues renders those few pages in a textbook as negligible, those few decades of total societal upheaval less real. Yet, the act of removing them does little to erase this mindset from the
past or even discourage its prevalence in the future. And as tense race relations continue to headline news, it’s more important than ever to address the evolution of America’s racial dynamic. Though not their initial intent, Confederate monu-
people face past adversities and unanimously condemn ideals upheld by the Confederacy. Past generations have witnessed monumental societal progress only to have it undermined through petty conflicts such as this one. It shifts
and an inadequate school system. The current racial tension in America will be all the harder to resolve if no one can accept the reality of the past and consequently learn from it. Forcefully removing Confederate monuments simply seems like a half-baked reso-
An offense taken with these monuments is truly irrelevant on the scale of threats to our democracy. ments are a means of promoting discourse and educating viewers on a world that seems very far removed. Unity is fostered when the American
the focus away from more pressing issues concerning the livelihood of our present minority population, such as police brutality, gun violence,
lution to the ideological clash pervading America. Virginia, continued on page 8
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in a recent incident, was ravaged by violent protests—34 people were injured attempting to forcefully remove a statue of Robert E. Lee. Many such towns are being irreparably stripped of their rich history, a fad which continues to diffuse toward local movements. The Shurat HaDin, an NYC-based Jewish activist group, is intent on re-
moving all references of our Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, a fervent anti-Semite who also happens to be our school’s namesake. As a Jewish individual attending Stuyvesant, religion continues to be an enormous part of my identity. My parents had to flee a country for my right to practice it. They, along with many, many generations before them, faced extensive hardships for me to have the opportunity to attend
the top public high school in NYC. It was necessary for them to endure a lifetime of blatant discrimination, while I’m encouraged to crumble at the thought of attending an institution with an offensive name. This underestimation of my character, and with that, the essence of the Jewish student body, is far more offensive to me than some hateful rhetoric spewed almost two hundred years ago. It’s also delightfully iron-
ic that a school named after someone who loathes my religion went on to promote a safe environment for Jews to attend, produce multiple Jewish Nobel prize winners, and even boasted a Jewish population of up to 90 percent at a certain point. That’s probably enough to spite Peter Stuyvesant. Instead of removing these monuments and therefore denying the existence of what they symbolize, it is impor-
tant that we justify them with context. The response to hate and intolerance must be voices that preach the opposite; a blatant succumbing to the PC movement will instead do nothing for the furthering of race relations in our country. History, while based on copious variables and circumstances, makes it essential we educate ourselves and prevent it from never, ever repeating again.
see every statue or memorial of someone who strode upon the rights of others demolished, including figures such as George Washington. Washington owned slaves, and yet his actions, though at the time not aimed to end slavery, directly lead to its abolition. He and the other founding fat h e r s w r o t e the documents of this country that would later be used as the historical and moral basis for the Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther King, in his “I Have a Dream” speech, said, “When the architects of our republic wrote the
magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” In many ways, even though he may represent the evils of slavery, Washington moreso embodies an American figure who not only fought for many of the basic rights we enjoy today, but also enabled the creation of the pluralistic society we are uniquely lucky to possess. This is a situation of weighing the good and the bad. For all his shortcomings, Washington will forever hold an almost royal position in American history for his role in shaping the destiny of the United States. Robert E. Lee, however, embodies an America that fought against progress and equality, and his ideas represent an America we never want to see materialize. American needs draw a line in the sand and realize that some of our marble monuments should never be taken down.
Lines in the Marble By Joshua Weiner Around the country, a debate is raging over the men of marble who stand on college campuses and name the avenues we walk and their place in history. Some are calling for the total erasure of the names of racist historical figures, while others argue that this movement marks the removal of important American history. But there is a middle ground, one where we remove the names of those who perpetuated a racist America from the streets, and we leave the rest of our statues standing. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Steve Bannon expressed his concerns over the removal of Confederate statues, sayin, “Does it end in taking down the Washington Monument? Does it end in taking down Mount Rushmore? Does it end at taking Churchill’s bust out of the Oval Office?” Bannon makes a point that is not unfounded. Voices around the country are calling, from college campuses to major cities, for the removal of all statues of historical figures who were racist or perpetuated a racial status quo, from figures such as George Washington
to even those such as Peter Stuyvesant. To respond to this possible slippery slope, consider this: Figures such as Robert E. Lee represent people who committed acts that are inarguably atrocities. Many defenders of the statues of the “boys in grey” claim that these figures were only the products of their times. But it doesn’t matter when the atrocities committed by these men occurred; these figures chose to fight against the rights of others. There is a significant impact of having these statues, such as those of Robert E. Lee, in many cities in the Southern United States. That region is home to large populations of African Americans, who bear the brunt of slavery and centuries of racism in the United States to this very day. Protecting statues memorializing the people who fought to oppress them is callous and ignorant of their history. The Confederacy is not being erased from history— just consult any U.S. history
course as proof of this. Some voices call out for more than the destruction of Confederate monuments: they want t o
Carrie Ou / The Spectator
Build Monuments We Can All Celebrate By Ben Platt There are 1,503 Confederate monuments across the United States, per the Southern Poverty Law Center, and this number excludes many monuments located at historical sites. While the majority of these monuments are located in southern states, many exist in places where the Confederacy did not reign. A Confederate Memorial Fountain remained in Helena, Montana, until the wake of the Charlottesville violence. A Memorial to Arizona Confederate Troops still stands in Phoenix, Arizona, and a Confederate monument still remains at a Los Angeles cemetery. These are just a few examples of the scarring racial divisions and troubled histories that
Americans still confront on a daily basis. The large number of Confederate monuments is especially concerning when compared to the relative lack of representation of historically significant minority figures. Consider the case of Charleston, South Carolina, and Union monuments. In 1862, Robert Smalls and seven other enslaved workers took over a Confederate vessel and sailed away from Charleston harbor through many harrowing checkpoints. Smalls then sailed himself and his formerly enslaved crew to freedom. He would go on to serve in the South Carolina state legislature, where he founded the Republican Party of South Carolina, and the United States Congress. He also es-
tablished the first free public school system in South Carolina. Yet there was no memorial to Smalls in Charleston until four years ago. Historic African Americans and leading figures of
Robert E. Lee. Erect a plaque for Jesse Jackson, the storied civil rights activist, not Stonewall Jackson. Honor the Latinos who, proportionally, were the largest ethnic group in the US Army dur-
the oppression of an entire race. In choosing which monuments to erect, we should remember what values and history Americans do want to uphold. The national de-
People like Robert Smalls deserve recognition and admiration above Robert E. Lee. Erect a plaque for Jesse Jackson, the storied civil rights activist, not Stonewall Jackson. all minorities continue to be underrepresented around the United States. People like Robert Smalls deserve recognition and admiration above
ing World War 2. Let’s honor figures that represent true leadership and courage, not affluent white men who divided the United States over
bate about the Confederate legacy in America is a perfect opportunity to discover who we do admire and who deserves a monument.
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Jessica Wu / The Spectator
Open House, Sealed Perspectives
By Matteo Wong
During the Stuyvesant Open House on Wednesday, October 11th, volunteers were explicitly told to be positive. Being truthful was mentioned as an afterthought — “truth” meaning, don’t give fictional accounts, but still omit Stuyvesant’s problems whenever possible.
Tour guides walked through the seventh floor, endlessly praising our biology program but neglecting to mention SPARK, along with the mental health issues and identity struggles many students grapple with. Big Sibs even removed Copies of Issue 2 of the Spectator, which featured unfavorable statistics (such as over 70 percent of seniors having engaged in academic dishonesty), from their stands on the bridge. Despite being far from ideological repression or labeling student journalism “fake news,” this hushing-up marks a frightening trend: prioritizing the Stuyvesant brand over the well-being of prospective students, to the point of restraining certain critical voices. Thousands of eighth graders across the city are making a difficult choice regarding the next four years of their lives, and Stuyvesant’s student body and administration have an obligation to help them make
the most informed decision possible. This means not censoring Stuyvesant’s dark side, but revealing it, whether that means academic dishonesty, the school’s racial composition, or what can become a very cutthroat student environment. Imagine applying to an internship or summer program, being accepted, and finding out on the first day that it requires twice as many hours as advertised; seniors, imagine applying to a college for its student body and never learning the school has a drug problem. You would feel cheated, misled, or even exploited. In a political climate in which journalism and the truth are under attack, Stuyvesant — which our Open House would have us believe represents the best and brightest in the city — should meet a higher standard. Similarly, we should not submit ourselves, as current students, to an echo chamber about a fairy land called
Stuyvesant. This is a great school, not a perfect one, and refusing to represent certain truths renders them invisible
of students whose emotional health has deteriorated due to Stuyvesant’s sometimes toxic atmosphere.
Stuyvesant’s student body and administration have an obligation to help them make the most informed decision possible.
and devalues their effects on the student body. The experiences of a bubbly Open House leader are no more valid than those of students who forego extracurriculars because they are struggling academically, or
Students who struggle with, or are honest about, Stuyvesant’s negative aspects are not trying to ruin its reputation; if Stuyvesant is truly deserving of our praise, then the good will outweigh the bad.
Being Attracted To Kids Is Not A Choice, It’s A Monstrosity By Jonela Malollari
Recent years have seen an increase in calls to reduce the stigma of pedophilia, borne from parallel movements of destigmatizing mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. However, not all disorders were created alike—unlike most common mental illnesses, pedophilia is inherently predatory and a danger to our society. Though pedophilia is a paraphilic disorder, phrasing it simply as a “sexual preference” is a colossal injustice to the millions of lives destroyed by pedophiles. A sexual preference is “I prefer bigger women,” or “I like men with beards”; pedophilia is the most severe atrocity known to man. Pedophile sympathizers argue that encouraging pedophiles to openly take part in society helps them avoid criminal behavior. This is an unnerving mentality, for the simple reason that pedophiles pose a greater threat in their potential proximity of children than when pushed to the fringes of society where they belong. The reputation of pedophiles as skilled manipulators of children is not an undeserved one. According to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report, three out of every four adolescent sexual assault victims knew their attackers well. This throws a wrench in the attempt to portray pedophiles as victims petrified by desires that take over and cause them to pounce on nearby children in the heat of their impulses. In reality, pedophiles gain access to their victims by integrating themselves into the lives of children close to them (through schools, churches, family friends, youth sports teams, etc.), and then by winning the trust of the child, who instinctively turns to the adult for support and attention. The adult then initiates the gradual process of sexualizing this relationship and desensitizing their victims to inappropriate behavior. Once successful, they continue to escalate their harassment until their victim is fully under their control, emotionally
isolated, and not likely to speak out against them. This system is carefully controlled, purposeful, and requires caution and patience from pedophilic predators—nothing about it is impetuous or “compulsory.” The fact that they blend in well with ordinary society, that they could be your next-door neighbor or local Little League coach, makes them more dangerous, not more sympathetic. The juxtaposition of gay people and pedophiles stems from the same foul logic as pedophile apologism itself. Yes, parallels can be drawn between the way gay people and pedophiles were and are viewed; parallels can also be drawn between the way pedophiles and kinksters are viewed, or the way pedophiles and prostitutes are viewed. However, none of these parallels are relevant or add credibility to the case for pedophile sympathy because they aren’t comparable to the inherent predatory nature of pedophilia. Correlation never implies causation: just because homosexuality and pedophilia were once reviled does not mean it was deservedly so for both, and just because society has become more tolerant toward the LGBT community doesn’t mean pedophiles deserve the same. Furthermore, considering the history gay men have had with being accused of being perverts and lumped in with pedophiles by virtue of their sexuality, another attempt to create a catch-all category with “sexual deviance” as the criteria—the only trait desperately straining to connect pedophilia and homosexuality—falls spectacularly flat. Not only is victimizing pedophiles misguided, it’s also actively harmful. Painting pedophiles as suffering victims imparts the wrong message upon impressionable children, especially when reporting rates are already at such an astonishing low. Even with pedophilia as widely stigmatized as it is today, only an estimated one in 20 cases of child sexual abuse, or CSA, are reported. Within that narrow margin, even with
definite proof of penetration, only five to 15 percent of child victims will have genital injuries consistent with recognized sexual abuse. This isn’t even accounting for the fact that CSA isn’t solely limited to physical contact; it includes exposure, voyeurism, and child pornography, which are much harder to expose and successfully prosecute without the testimony of the victim or video footage of the crime. Even in cases when the victim was not manipulated into staying silent, the odds are stacked against them. These facts form a grim image: in a world where pedophilia is chased in the shadows, shining a sympathetic spotlight on pedophiles drives their victims further into the dark. If pedophilia can indeed be curbed to an extent, our society’s heavy moral stigma is what is keeping those “hidden” pedophiles terrified to offend. Plenty of pedophiles already create justifications out of thin air for their desires and actions, such as claiming they were seduced by their victims or arguing that they were providing their victims with a higher level of spiritual education. Without the stigma attached to pedophilia, these pre-existing trends of rationalization will skyrocket—after all, destigmatizing pedophilia validates pedophiles’ acts of self-victimization. There are many who believe that pedophiles can be rehabilitated, and that the risk of allowing pedophiles to roam freely is well worth the reward of treatment that has supposedly proven to be successful. It’s important to remember that there is no way to measure the efficacy of a treatment of this kind with complete accuracy because of the high rate of unreported cases, and because in this situation, it’s impossible to ethically conduct an experiment to test if a treatment is working, as is done with other forms of treatment. That said, there are still a variety of methods used to attempt to treat pedophilia. One such method is the use of hormone treatments, such as An-
drogen Deprivation Therapy and progestogens as libido inhibitors—in other words, chemical castration. Though it was partially effective in reducing the libidos of participants, sexual desire cannot be completely eliminated by chemical castration, which led to rising doubts about the efficacy of the treatment and the potential risk of releasing sex offenders who still experienced sexual desire for children. The treatment is also unreliable by its very nature because the patient must be depended on to regularly take his medication. Additionally, sex drive is not the only factor involved in CSA; in fact, it’s not even the primary factor. Stemming from their emotional and mental attraction to children, some pedophiles often believe that they have a uniquely close relationship with their victims, and that they love and care for them in a special way. This denial runs deep; there are pedophiles who even believe their victims asked for their “bond.” For other pedophiles, sexual contact with children is a way for them to feel powerful and in control of their own lives while simultaneously fulfilling their needs. Neither of these issues can be touched by libido inhibitors. Another common treatment utilized for pedophilia is therapy. There are only a few therapeutical studies on patients with pedophilia, but the results those yielded are mostly negative or inconclusive. A group of researchers, published in the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, found that sex offenders who completed therapy weren’t any more likely to be empathetic toward their past victims than sex offenders who hadn’t completed therapy. One randomized controlled trial meant to evaluate the efficacy of a relapse prevention program showed that after eight years, sex offenders who underwent the therapeutical program and control groups who did not both experienced the same rates of recidivism. Some protest that the U.S.’s
mandatory reporting laws, which require that professionals who work with children be trained to spot signs of child abuse and report it, keep pedophiles from seeking treatment that would ultimately better them, but the evidence above illustrates the futility of such efforts. In fact, mandatory reporting laws need to be enforced, not relaxed. The dismissal of Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine and the arrest of Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky—both for sexually abusing young boys— demonstrates the need to seal loopholes in our child protection system. Though both men and their staff worked with college students officially, they regularly worked with kids of all ages in summer camps. Since the staff were officially employed at a university, they were not trained as mandated reporters. As a result, these tragedies quietly slipped through the cracks. The case for minimizing pedophilia in our society seems bleak, but if we look past our myopic emphasis on victimizing the child predators responsible, heartening news lies ahead of us. According to the records of law enforcement agencies, sexual crimes against U.S. children declined 53 percent between 1992 and 2006. The most likely causes were increased amounts of police and CPS workers and stronger efforts to prosecute child sex offenders. This demonstrates that what we need to crack down on child molestation isn’t misplaced sympathy, but the enforcement of our current protective laws and a firm emphasis on pedophiles’ status as monsters, not sufferers. Public education programs (such as stopitnow.org) educating bystanders on how to act on their suspicions of CSA have also proven useful. Instead of investing any kind of energy into caring about pedophiles, we need to band together and return to prioritizing child safety over pedophile feelings.
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The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
Opinions A Terrorist Attack Happened in Vegas By Michael Xu
For an impossibly long ten minutes, bullets rained down over the heads of the 22,000 people attending the packed Route 91 country music festival in Las Vegas. Bewildered concert-goers initially thought that the bullets were pyrotechnics. From the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort, Stephen Paddock used dozens of modified firearms to shoot down on masses of innocent concertgoers, killing at least 58 and injuring over 500. By the end, it was the worst mass shooting in modern American history. It is clear that this was a premeditated terrorist attack. Paddock deviously booked multiple hotel rooms throughout the Las Vegas area next to other high-attendance concerts. US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agent Jill Snyder revealed that Paddock had purchased 33 assault weapons in the past year alone, and Clark County sheriff Joseph Lombardo indicated that Paddock had an escape plan as well. Cameras were arranged throughout his hotel room, and a getaway car replete with explosives and additional ammunition was set up. Furthermore, tens of thousands of dollars in overseas transactions and gambling all within weeks of the attack raised suspicious red flags. Paddock senselessly attacked innocent civilians, meet-
ing the textual meaning of terrorism. The overwhelming fear and panic was captured by the videos of concert-goers. Human lives became the means to an end. In terrorism, the human lives lost become a quantifiable objective, a symbol for the progress toward violent and delusional motives. Paddock clearly demonstrated this; he did not attack particular individuals, but rather sought to kill scores of individuals—the greater the number, the better. That being said, the official definition of terrorist attacks by the government is set by the US Department of State, which has a comprehensive list of Foreign Terror Organizations that consists of groups that have committed or have a clear intent for orchestrating a terrorist attack; key within its parameters, however, is “foreign.” A domestic terror charge does exist and it allows for the in-depth surveillance of groups associated with attacks, but it is not a criminal charge. Because of the “foreign” label, domestic groups such as the Ku Klux Klan are conspicuously missing from the list of terrorist groups. Despite committing terrorizing atrocities throughout American history, these groups have maintained that they hold First Amendment rights and therefore cannot be classified by the government as a terror group subject
to special scrutiny. An example is Timothy McVeigh’s 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of a federal government building, which killed 168 and injured over 680. It had a clear and evidenced political motive in attempting to punish the US federal government. And yet, despite the terroristic characteristics of both the motive and the fulfillment, McVeigh’s attack was not charged under terrorism. More recently, the Charlottesville incident that involved the ramming of a car into a crowd of protesters, killing one, was even explicitly called an act of “domestic terrorism” by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The assailant had made neo-Nazi political objectives as a high schooler, and the Unite the Right rally that he was a part of during the attack was spearheaded by various alt-right groups, including former KKK Imperial Wizard David Duke. Yet, no charge of terrorism was brought up. Classifying these domestic incidents as terrorist attacks holds important consequences. Terrorism creates vast avenues for federal authority and special attention, which have successfully quashed foreign terror threats through drone attacks and covert military take-outs. Even the domestic terrorism charge allows terrorist attacks to become linked to groups and movements and grants the gov-
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ernment wide leverage to dissolve them. Even “lone wolf” attacks often have accomplices and a deeper net of sympathizers; for example, McVeigh had learned how to weaponize explosive trucks through other anti-government conspiracists. Paddock’s getaway car and his ability to acquire and transport his arsenal of weapons suggests the presence of accomplices. And much like with foreign terrorist groups, government watch lists and surveillance highlight suspected domestic terrorists before they can do harm. Had Paddock been profiled, his build-up of firearms over the past year would have likely placed him on a watch list.
justly, regardless of whether it was a political assassination or a domestic violence case. The act of terror, then, is the quantifiable use of human lives with the purpose of establishing fear. According to a 2016 CNN poll, over three-quarters of Americans fear a “lone-wolf” terrorism attack more than they do an attack from a foreign terrorist group. Labelling domestic “lone-wolf” attacks as terrorism is important to accurately reflect the fear associated. The great fear of terrorist attacks such as 9/11 has created symbols of terrorism in our mindsets, symbols that have driven us to the lengthiest war in American history; these symbolic connections
“The act of terror then is the quantifiable use of human lives with the purpose of establishing fear.” Though at this point it appears that Paddock did not have a politically-charged motive, it is important to note that terrorism in the modern world does not necessarily need to have a political dimension. An act of terror ought to refer to the act itself, much like how a murder is a murder and is prosecuted
need to be extrapolated to domestic terrorist attacks to have us adequately condemn them. Though thoughts and prayers are necessary for the victims and families of victims, action needs to be taken—labelling the attack as terrorism raises the stakes.
The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
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Arts and Entertainment Rowell’s Best: Favorites from a Fan
Literature By Paulina Klubok Though a fairly recent name in literature, Rainbow Rowell has quickly secured her place as the voice of a generation. Originally a columnist and ad copywriter at the Omaha World-Herald, Rowell began writing as a pastime. Best known for her work in the young adult scene, Rowell is a versatile writer that tackles the messiness of life and people as they fall in and out of love. In her books, Rowell plays with time and structure to craft authentic characters. The simplicity and raw emotion of Rowell’s writing creates a profoundness and depth that feels genuine, rather than forced, like a more delicate John Green. Through pop culture references and a modern writing style, Rowell is able to connect to young and old.
Fangirl
“Fangirl” centers around Cath Avery, a Simon Snow fangirl and famous fanfiction writer, who heads off to college with her twin sister, Wren. Once inseparable, Wren decides she wants be independent in college, leaving Cath alone to find her way and figure out who she is. The journey is long and uncomfortable. Cath, for example, stays in her dorm room eating protein bars to avoid the possible awkwardness of the cafeteria and has dance parties in
Insights: Culture By Eliana Kavouriadis To gay, or not to gay? That is the question asked by producers and executives in the entertainment industry as queer representation in mainstream film and television becomes more normalized. While onscreen appearances of queer characters used to be considered groundbreaking, risqué, and highly controversial, they are now considerably commonplace and a popular way to “diversify” a cast. This summer alone, two blockbusters geared toward child audiences, “Power Rangers” and “Beauty and the Beast,” featured confirmed gay characters. Spy movie “Atomic Blonde” was led by queer female characters, and “Wonder Woman,” the origin story of America’s favorite bisexual superheroine, broke box office records. While this seems to be ample queer representation, most of it only appeared in the marketing of the films and not in the actual films themselves. The only movie of these four to truly portray a same-sex relationship was “Atomic Blonde,” and it was hypersexualized to appeal to the male gaze. Moreover, the main character’s same-sex love interest, brutally killed off in a careless manner,
her room. Because of this, Cath is utterly lovable in her relatability, and ends up triumphant because despite pressures to party and stop writing fanfictions, Cath embraces and holds on to who she is. A cast of quirky characters accompanies Cath: her confident, vulgar, but kind roommate Reagan, Reagan’s charming friend Levi, Cath’s lonely and mentally unstable father, and fellow English major Nick. “Fangirl” is interlayered with excerpts of Cath’s own fanfiction, the magical, Harry Potter-like world of Simon Snow mirroring Cath’s complicated life. The excerpts, though entertaining stories on their own, subconsciously reveal Cath’s frustrations and the lessons she learns. “Fangirl” shines in revealing a unique perspective on college life and is optimistic with the message that people will love you for who you are.
Landline
“Landline” is the story of an independent woman, Georgie McCool, who tries to have it all: a career and a family. Georgie, a successful comedy writer, gets a chance to write the show she’s always dreamed of writing, requir-
Since 2011, United Photo Industries has been showcasing photography from professionals and amateurs alike in a uniquely organized set of galleries called Photoville. It’s free, out in the open, and presents pieces that range from disturbing to inspiring. There are also various book signings, photography workshops, and nighttime movie screenings. For two weeks
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through on the eternal human desire of going back in time, using what we know now to fix our past mistakes. The question raised through Georgie’s inner conflict, if love is enough in a relationship, forces readers to reevaluate the choices that they have made in their lives. “Landline” also does well with making a mature love story ridiculously cute. Georgie’s
descriptions of Neal and his romantic gestures are sweet and moving: “Neal didn’t take Georgie’s breath away. Maybe the opposite. But that was okay—that was really good, actually, to be near someone who filled your lungs with air.” Exploring an older perspective than other Rowell books, “Landline” excels in making deep feelings warm and fuzzy and portraying the complicated but honest visual of a modern woman in an imperfect but real love story.
Eleanor and Park
Arguably Rowell’s most famous work, “Eleanor and Park” offers hope as two disconnected outcasts find each other, and themselves in the process. Eleanor is the new, immediately unpopular girl in town; bullied and from an abusive household, she buries herself in music and books. Park, quiet and with an overbearing father, mostly keeps to himself. Told from dual perspectives, “Eleanor and Park” slowly reveals how the two fall in love in a heartwarming
story. The character of Park strays from the typical, hyper-masculine love interest so often presented in young adult fiction. Instead, Park is a flawed but kind and brave person who enjoys comics and occasionally wears eyeliner. Park’s immigrant mother struck a chord with me because it’s so rare to see firstgeneration Americans shown in popular books. Throughout the book, Park struggles with his half-Korean identity. He learns to find solace in his mother, Mindy, who, because of her own status as an outsider, is able to understand what Park and Eleanor are going through. “Eleanor and Park” is a passionate, memorable story because of how deeply emotional it is and how it encapsulates the teenage experience. For Eleanor and Park, life is messy and hard, the way being a teenager is. However, despite hardships, Eleanor and Park have such a strong and heartfelt bond, solidified through mixtapes and ‘80s lyrics, that in both the giddy and the heartwrenching moments, a sense of hope underlies the book. It is the hope that you are worthy just because of who you are and that life, no matter how bad it seems, always gets better.
To Gay or Not to Gay: The Evolution of Queerbaiting was treated as a disposable object. Queer, especially queer female, characters are killed off in movies and television shows so frequently that there’s a name for it—the “bury your gays” trope. In the other three movies, there was little to no queer representation. In “Power Rangers,” there were only slight implications in a brief onscreen moment that the yellow ranger could be a lesbian. The flamboyant LeFou of “Beauty and the Beast” was not much more than a messy conglomeration of stereotypes; the only actual indication of his sexuality was located in his two-second-long dance with a man in the credits. Though Wonder Woman was confirmed as bisexual by DC Comics, the “Wonder Woman” movie does not acknowledge this aspect of her character at all. Yet, these movies widely marketed these subtle nods to the queer community as “gay characters,” “gay moments,” and “exclusively gay,” giving the impression that queer representation was a central aspect of these films. They primarily did this for three reasons: to pretend that they care about diverse representation, to be radical and groundbreaking, and to attract a large queer following. The act of marketing a movie or TV show to appeal to the queer
community without thoughtfully portraying queer characters is called “queerbaiting.” Queerbaiting has been a frequent practice in mainstream media for quite some time. It was coined on the internet by queer fanbases in the 2000s and has since evolved as the entertainment industry adapts to a rapidly changing political climate. The term was first widely used to describe the subtextual relationships between two male characters in “Sherlock” and “Supernatural” and the similarly subtextual relationships that evolved in television shows like “Merlin,” “Once Upon a Time,” and “Rizzoli and Isles.” These shows would acquire a queer following by purposefully portraying same-sex platonic relationships with slightly romantic undertones. Producers, directors, showrunners, and even actors would acknowledge the possibility of these relationships to keep fans on edge, but would never make them a reality. While these television shows have had no problem enticing fans with subtextual same-sex relationships, they have been averse to explicitly portraying them because of the potential controversy and lowering in ratings. They use the queer community for optimal viewer numbers and ratings,
treating them as a commodity. However, the growing desire for legitimate, thoughtful representation has compelled many people to speak out against queerbaiting, warning fans not to fall for these tricks. With queer subtext yielding less and less success, producers turned to the next trick in the book—the “bury your gays” trope—introducing queer characters, effusively promoting them, and then quickly disposing of them. The CW’s “The 100” advertised the relationship between two female characters masquerading as fervent advocates of the queer community in March 2016, and then abruptly and recklessly killed off one of these characters. The showrunner and writers were met with an overwhelmingly negative reaction from fans, and viewership plummeted. Since then, awareness of “bury your gays” and “lesbian death syndrome” have spread, and they have become less common—though not completely extinct—practices. That brings us to where we are now. In a sociopolitical climate more tolerant of queer media representation than ever before, gay characters are able to exist without dying, but they still don’t have any real onscreen presence. Lesbian couples are two women briefly shown standing next to a
stroller in “Finding Dory,” and if you look closely enough, you may see two men dancing in the background of the credits of “Beauty and the Beast.” Positive representation of the queer community becomes more prevalent each year, with movies like “Moonlight” and “Carol” and TV shows like “The Bold Type,” “Shadowhunters,” and “Orange is the New Black,” but queerbaiting is far from a dying practice. To treat queer fanbases as disposable commodities is demoralizing and dehumanizing and perpetuates negative attitudes and opinions of the queer community. I’m not going to be naïve and pretend that Hollywood cares more about making art than making a profit, but it wouldn’t hurt the film and television industries to tell a story that has not yet been told—the story of a queer person who is more than a one-dimensional character, the punchline of a joke, or a brief cameo. Better yet, tell the story of a trans person. Well-developed trans and nonbinary storylines are seldom present in mainstream media. If stories don’t involve the LGBTQ+ community, they shouldn’t be advertised as such. Instead of letting queerbaiting continue to manifest in new ways, we should end it altogether.
Photoville
Art By Jacqueline Thom
ing her to skip out on the Christmas family holiday. This creates tension in her already strenuous relationship with her husband, Neal. When calling Neal from her old childhood room, Georgie reaches Neal from 10 years ago, early in their relationship. Through the phone calls, Rowell pieces together an intricate story of Georgie’s past, leaving the future in question as Georgie struggles to decide if Neal would be better off without her. The paranormal aspect of “Landline” allows Georgie to follow
in August, Photoville premieres its pieces along the waterfront of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where outof-commission shipping containers are reused to showcase photography and the occasional painting. The containers are all darkly lit and each contains an exhibit that highlights Photoville’s main theme: to “discover” what the media doesn’t say and delve into the implications of the media’s silence. Besides the shipping con-
tainers, what stands out most is the content of the artwork. Each piece addresses problems that, though far from the safe confines of Photoville, are very real. In the photo gallery “Dual Shadows,” visual journalist Jake Naughton follows members of East Africa’s LGBTQ community as they try to escape persecution in their home countries. One subject, Javan, is a 19-year-old transgender woman from Uganda who fled to Kenya to escape abuse, but decided to
return to Uganda to set an example. A portrait of Javan reveals a woman clearly exhausted by the oppression brought on her by her country who, despite her suffering, remains defiantly elegant and strong. What makes Javan’s story so dynamic is the contribution of Naughton’s photographs; they include screenshots of death threats via text message, gatherings of other refugees fleeing their countries, and more moments that contribute to the harrowing
journeys of people who seem to be a world away but are brought closer through the photographs. In “China Through Chinese Eyes,” photographers capture the fighting spirit of China’s people in the face of their country’s social, cultural, and economic struggles.
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The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
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Arts and Entertainment To Eat Ramen in Peace
Food By Chelsea Cheung
A photo by Guo Xianzhong shows a mother trying to calm her son as he suffers from having accidentally taken one of many illegal vaccines released in China over the years. Another photo shows a young man crying of homesickness because he was barred from travelling back to his home province. There are many exhibits with work that documents the refugee crisis, but “Finding Home,” which follows the lives of three Syrian refugee mothers and their newborn babies, is a standout. Photos taken just minutes
after the children were born are hung side-by-side with photos of them years later where they remain just as youthful and innocent-looking despite living in environments devastated by war and conflict. Separation of family is intermingled with the joy of a baby’s first steps. In an excerpt from a documentary on refugee families, a mother banters lightly with her husband as they decide what to name their newborn girl. He insists they name their daughter “Heln” instead of “Helen” because it sounds cooler. This light-hearted content is intermingled with reminders of the brutal situations refugees often find themselves in. At the back of the shipping container,
“I like him, but he tries to be indie when really he’s just findie.” As my friend said this, I looked at her in disbelief. I had never used the word indie to describe something other than music, much less “findie.” When I further questioned my friend, Nora Grabcheski, a sophomore at Montclair High School in New Jersey, she described the word as, “Findie: fake indie. You know, the kids that wear indie clothes and listen to indie music but they’re just doing it because everyone in
die even mean? It is a shorthand word for “independent,” referring to independent artists or producers without a budget or big production crew. These productions were stereotyped as being things that not everyone understood, such as abstract films or songs with raspy vocals and a ukelele stringing together slow notes. Since then, indie culture has become mainstream. Now that technology is incredibly easy for most people to get their hands on and apps like SoundCloud and iMovie have allowed everyone to
In a society where Instagram and other social media platforms dictate which trends are acceptable, indie style breaks away from this confinement. their friend group does it. Findie.” Before a person can create a “fake” version of a word, they must know what the original word means. So what does in-
moment to ourselves and a room to be fully present with the food in front of us. For the people who may be hesitant to try Ichiran with the fear of eating alone in public, they can provide more than a good bowl of ramen—perhaps an opportunity to momentarily reconcile with ourselves in our fast-paced lives as Stuyvesant students. Innovative in its ability to allow us to truly pause and appreciate food, Ichiran invents itself as an emblem of culinary mindfulness.
in merely 10 square feet, are a thin mattress, some shoes, and a tiny shelf filled with bare necessities. The resemblance to actual refugee conditions in camps brings an onset of fearful apprehension. However, the photos full of childhood innocence and love remind us that hope can be a powerful thing. Photoville is more than just a couple of shipping containers pushed together. It’s a place devoted to bringing the kind of content that lies off the beaten path, which usually means subject matter that is not only thought-provoking but challenging to grapple with. One of the first containers visitors see as they walk in is “Char-
lottesville and Beyond,” a line of portraits of participants at the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally. Among the lineup is a black-and-white photo of Jason Kessler, the organizer of “Unite the Right.” It’s not work that promotes white supremacy or a Nazi mindset; instead, it’s a documentation of history that should not be repeated. None of the photos put the ralliers in a positive or negative light. Beneath each of the portraits is a simple label with the subject’s name, what they do, and who took the photo. Viewers are left to interpret the photos on their own, and because little information is given, are forced to think of the ralliers as actual humans
worth hearing out. Photoville boasts such a large visitorship because it’s always looking to promote thoughtprovoking content. In many containers, signs are posted warning viewers about violent and graphic images. There is no such thing as family-friendly in a world where blood, sweat, and tears are common occurrences. Photoville strives to present work that doesn’t only follow mainstream media but brings attention to what isn’t deemed “newsworthy.” It alerts viewers to a fast-paced world that needs attention, and the documentation of its history to prevent worse things from happening.
What has “Indie” Become?
Culture By LENA FARLEY
Tonkotsu ramen: their matcha drink, various Japanese beers, and matcha-almond pudding. The ramen comes at a minimum price of $18.90, and though it may be pricier than the average Stuy student’s budget for ramen, it is ultimately worth the price, as their dining experience rivals that of any other ramen restaurant. Ichiran reassures us that it is neither unusual nor disconcerting to have the desire to eat alone in a public setting. We are given a
Photoville
Art continued from page 14
a soup spoon and chopsticks. On a culinary level, it is simple yet visually stunning. Scallions are presented on the left side of the bowl, a dollop of red spicy seasoning is placed on top of the bed of noodles in the center, and char-siu slices are placed on the right, all of which float in a steaming pork-based broth. The ramen is rich and savory, teeming with umami flavor. Instructions on the plaque above my head tell me that in order to experience their ramen “the Ichiran way,” I should “carefully slurp three or four spoonfuls from the side of the bowl [and] then gradually incorporate the other toppings.” The scallions, charsiu, and Hidan no Tare (red spicy sauce) provide layers of brilliant flavor, adding to the underlying intense flavor from the broth. Among many, one innovative facet of Ichiran is the kae-dama system, or noodle refill. Should I desire a refill of noodles, I can easily press a call button that prompts the waiter to bring the kae-dama. Ichiran sells only a few other things in addition to their
Anna Yuan / The Spectator
Juxtaposed alongside nondescript warehouses and newly built luxury condos sits Ichiran Ramen, a haven for ramen-loving introverts. The renowned Japanese chain debuted its first U.S. location in Brooklyn’s Bushwick merely a year ago, but the bustling restaurant has garnered a popularity so large that it has begun to dominate ramen culture. To step into Ichiran is to step into another world, with Japanese music in the background, a plethora of posters with Japanese writing on the wall, and a string of red lanterns dangling from the ceiling. Though Ichiran is a chain that has been around in Japan since the 1960s, there is a tangible vibrancy and uniqueness within its walls that does not appear manufactured. The restaurant is split into two distinct compartments, one being standard table seating. The second compartment is what essentially drew Ichiran to its current state of fame and is where most request to dine; it’s
a procession of “concentration” booths that allow people to eat in isolation, with minimal to no contact with the restaurant waiters. I am seated at a concentration booth on a stool with wooden dividers on either side of me. In front of me, thin bamboo shades cover a wide slit in the wall. Hands of anonymous waiters then lift the shade to slide an ordering form towards me, enabling me to customize my own bowl of ramen, detailing the amount of seasoning and the firmness of the noodles. After I’ve filled it out, the same hands reappear from behind the shades to collect the forms. It is roughly a 20-minute wait for the food to come. In that time, I am free to read the signs and posters above my head, which detail the concept of these concentration booths: their purpose, they state, is to provide all customers with the personal freedom of having an intimate experience with their ramen and minimal distraction. After 20 minutes, the bamboo shades are lifted, and the noodles arrive in an oriental bowl with
produce media independently, the meaning has changed. People who produce music through Garageband and upload it to SoundCloud can still be considered indie musicians, but along
with music, they’ve seemed to create an entirely new culture that not only ties in music and films but fashion style and even a way of life. As I’ve seen from living in New York City, people who consider themselves indie generally dress and act a certain way. These are the same people who somehow know all the obscure new bands or go to Greenwich Village on a Friday night to watch a student film production. Though indie simply means “independent,” I have noticed a certain style attributed to being indie. Grabcheski described an outfit she would think of as being indie: “You gotta have some of your worn, loose-fitting green jeans, and then if you’re a girl, you wear no bra with some basic gray shirt or crazy thrift store shirt. Then maybe some Tevas or even some grunge boots, and you gotta carry your mini [...] Jansport. And of course, you can’t forget accesories. I would picture some funky, big, dangly earrings and a nose piercing.” As I thought about how she described this style, I realized I had been noticing these trends around New York City and in the hallways of Stuyvesant, especially in the past few months. I have also heard a lot more talk about newer, but less “pop,” musicians, with people spreading their personal musical style by posting on
their Instagram stories whatever song they’re currently listening to or going to hip warehouses and hole-in-thewall cafes to see indie bands. Indie style can be unique but mainstream at the same time. Though people still see trends such as baggy jeans or a nose piercing and wear them, it seems teenagers are finding ways to put their own personal twists on their outfits. Maybe they add a shirt they found w h i l e sifting through a thrift store or earrings from a stand on West 4th Street. Indie has always meant independent, and teens today are staying true to that. In a society where Instagram and other social media platforms dictate which trends are acceptable, indie style breaks away from this confinement. Though there is a vague template for the indie
style, it isn’t as defined as styles such as goth or hippie. Indie culture is spreading, and it’s only getting more popular. Apps like Spotify allow indie bands from all over the world to be heard by listeners from other countries. Even on Netflix, there is an “Independent” section, which contains many foreign films. Expect to see a lot more of the style t h i s y e a r, whether it be in class at Stuyvesant or on the subway ride home. This style doesn’t seem to be losing followers anytime soon.
Kristin LIn / The Spectator
The Spectator ●October 17, 2017
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Humor These articles are works of fiction. All quotes are libel and slander.
Stuyvesant Wins Extra-Crunky Memez For Funky Sephardim Contest By Benedict Ho
“We smart, we very smart. We the best. We geniuses. Win, win, win no matter what. Quiz Bowl, Reacc contests. Another one.” —DJ Khaled x Stuyvesant High School
In Memoriam: The Beard of Polazzo By Max Onderdonk The beard of social studies teacher and Coordinator of Student Affairs (COSA) Matthew Polazzo was pronounced dead on Monday, October 2. The
Sorry, we can’t hear your whining over these crunky M&M’s. You are all just sore losers. Tech, you couldn’t even rally behind Bronx to stop us from winning. Cuz’ all we do is win, win, win. Did we mention how we don’t cheat? And how we don’t try to DDoS the hosts? “We—oops, I mean Tech—did a lot of hard work, but those bots really paid—sorry, didn’t pay—off,” senior Andrew Chen said.
cause of death is still undeter-
mined, but neighbors of Polazzo claim it was “utterly traumatizing” and that they “never saw something like this coming.” Local authorities are interrogating a series of razors, but the deceased beard has yet to be found. Students have been seen in tears throughout the school, especially on
the second floor as the smoothskinned Polazzo strides through the halls. “It’s only been a few years, but I feel like I’ve lost a lifelong friend,” said teary-eyed senior Abie Rohrig. This tragedy has also caused a huge problem for programming, as too many students have dropped Western Political Thought. Meanwhile, Oceanography course requests are at an all-time high, as students praise the beard of biology teacher Stephen McClellan. “We truly lost something great today,” Principal Eric Contreras said. “The beard was right up there with those of Lincoln, Marx, and Christ; it’ll be a long time before we see another like it.” Contreras also remarked that the school would have to get by for a little while with “whatever [physical education teacher Vincent] Miller’s excuse for facial hair is.”
Christine Jegarl / The Spectator
Senior Ecstatic After Having Whole Conversation Without Mentioning College By Daniel Knopf Senior Eugene Thomas was beaming after managing to have an entire conversation without once mentioning college. “As we continued the conversation, I waited with
Janice Tjan / The Spectator
bated breath in anticipation of being asked where I was planning on applying early, but it never popped up,” Thomas said. “I’m not ashamed to say that later that night, I cried with happiness thinking about that conversation.” The conversation took place between Thomas and senior Gilvir Gill as they walked out of the Chambers Street 1 train station together. According to witnesses, the shocking exchange went something like this: THOMAS: “Hello, Gilvir! How’s it going?” GILL: “Hey, Eugene! It’s good, what about you?” THOMAS: “I’m good, I’m good.” [A full minute elapsed without any remarks from either Thomas or Gill, in what the witnesses labeled as an “awkward silence.”] THOMAS: “So, how about that weather, right?” GILL: “I know right!? Why is it so hot in September!?” THOMAS: “Damn global warm-
ing!” GILL: “Argh, yes, exactly!” At this point, the pair was joined by one of Thomas’s friends,
joy, tightly clutching onto memories of the happily interrupted interaction. “I have a deal with a publisher already to publish my memoir
was, and I automatically replied ‘Harvard.’” For many Jewish students, the recent holidays have meant a barrage of questions about college. “I
“I waited with bated breath in anticipation of being asked where I was planning on applying early.” —Eugene Thomas, senior
who was about to ask Thomas: “So, where do you plan on applying early?” only to be interrupted by the onset of a sneeze. Gill then raised his hand in a half-hearted attempt to convey that he was leaving and quickly strode ahead in euphoric
about the incredible occurrence,” Gill exclaimed. This isolated event reminds us once more of the current epidemic of college-itis. “It’s awful,” senior Amy Ren vented. “Last week a freshman asked me what time it
was just trying to enjoy my apples and honey, but all these schmucks kept asking me when I was getting into Brandeis. Oy vey!,” senior August Hochman seethed.
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Sports Boys’ Cross Country
Boys’ Soccer
Major Wins For Peglegs After Rocky Start By Lumi Westerlund Stuyvesant’s boys’ soccer team, the Peglegs, is sustaining a fourmatch winning streak after its loss to long time rival, Martin Luther King Jr. High School, in their first game of the season. The Peglegs are currently tied for second place with Washington Irving High School in Manhattan’s A1 soccer league, an improvement from the third place standing that the Peglegs have held for the past two seasons. In September, three of the Peglegs’ games were postponed due to high temperatures and unavailability of fields, a few out of the 27 other matches postponed throughout the city. This trend is likely to continue as the league directors struggle to find enough locations for the games. The Peglegs came back strong however, with a 1-0 win against Julia Richman Education Complex High School on September 22. This was followed by a 3-0 win against Washington Irving High School five days later. The Peglegs continued their successes with a 2-1 win in their second match against Julia Richman this past Sunday. The loss of their initial game motivated the Peglegs to change their tactics, optimistic for a different outcome against MLK in their match on Friday, October 6. “The fact that we were able to compete with the reigning champions just showed us the potential of the team, and we haven’t lost since,” senior and co-captain Michael Gillow said.
Since then, the team has been working on dominating the ball and keeping the ball in play. This motivation has led to an increase in focus among players during practice while preparing for the rematch against MLK. “After the loss, we practiced possessing the ball, communicating and passing the ball out of the backfield,” coach Vincent Miller said. Junior Robert Nava has played a crucial role in the team’s recent success and is currently leading both the team and the division in goals, having scored eight out of the team’s nine total goals in its past five games. Sophomore Jeremy Moller scored the other goal for the Peglegs. Other players have also been critical to the team. “Seniors Simon Carmody and Tymur Kholdynak have been aggressive players and true warriors on the field,” Miller said. Senior goalie David Power, with 36 saves in just five games, is the final barrier of the Peglegs. “The team is doing really well this year,” Nava said. “Most of the goals I’ve scored so far have been from through balls or long balls over the defenders. I think if [we] continue to do what we’re doing, then we’ll have a good chance to make it far this year,” he said. As the season has progressed, the team has progressively increased its shots on the goal. In their first game, they shot four attempts at the goal and have shot 18 in some of their more recent matches, a statistic potentially pointing to future wins for the Peglegs.
Greyducks Struggle in Mayor’s Cup to Start Season but Remain Optimistic By Noah Grenert As the championship race neared its end on a brisk, sunny day in Van Cortlandt Park, senior and co-captain Min Hein Htet, senior and co-captain Jesse Sit, and junior Justin Zhang crossed the finish line almost in unison, out of breath, but content. Despite finishing 11th out of 24 teams, the Greyducks met their expectations and were pleased with their overall showing. Heading into the meet, the prestigious NYC Mayor’s Cup, Stuyvesant’s boys’ cross country team, the Greyducks, was not expecting to finish in first or second place. Last year’s team placed 6th at the same event; however, its top three runners, Kiyan Tavangar, Gregory Dudick, and Harvey Ng, have graduated. This was the first race that the varsity team would be running together, so the team’s chemistry and game plan weren’t at their best. For example, senior and co-captain Matt Fairbanks was injured and did not run. Additionally, the team has not yet had enough practices to work on their speed training and hillrunning strength. “We’re aiming to peak in early November, so there are some aspects of training that we’ve only just started focusing on,” first-year coach Carl Disarno said. As a result,
race times for the Greyducks were slower than usual. Sophomore Baird Johnson’s time for the 2.5-mile championship race was 14:12.1, though Disarno said that “he certainly didn’t run as fast as he is capable [of running].” Htet placed 55th with a time of 14:50.3, followed closely by Sit in 58th (14:57.8) and Zhang in 59th (15:01.1). Sophomore Oliver Cai (67th), junior Caleb Hoo (68th), and junior Steven Zheng (97th) rounded out the varsity team. Susan Wagner High School won first place in the Mayor’s Cup, while Brooklyn Tech High School and Trinity High School earned second and third place, respectively. The team was satisfied with its performance and accomplished its goals for the event. “My goal for this meet was to have our second through fifth runners [be] as close to one another as possible, and we only had a 23-second gap between our second and sixth runners, which I thought was great,” Sit said. “Many of us ran PRs [personal records] which is a nice start.” The Greyducks’ captains are cautiously optimistic about the team’s future. “So far we’ve been doing a lot of mileage and not as many hard workouts, so in these next few weeks, we’ll
be moving towards more workouts to get race ready,” Sit said. He has already set goals for the next event, the Manhattan Invite, which takes place on October 15. He hopes that Johnson’s time will be below 13:30 and that the next three Stuyvesant runners will have sub-14:30 times. Other captains agreed with this: “By the end of the season, I’m confident we’ll become faster,” Htet said. “The only way our team is going to have a shot at making states is through a deep team, which means that we need a good quantity of guys who won’t lose to anyone except the stars of the rival teams.” A main concern for the Greyducks is injury, noting that Fairbanks and Johnson are both hurt. The Greyducks “need to improve on injury prevention techniques. They need to understand that taking days off to recover while the problem is still not critical is important,” Htet said. As the Greyducks look to improve in the next meet, Coach Disarno summed up the team’s 2017 outlook: “I think we have our work cut out for us in order to achieve our goals of winning the Borough Championship and qualifying for the state meet, but it’s not out of our reach.”
The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
Page 18
Sports Baseball
Girls’ Swimming
Baseball Culture: Time for a Change By Max Onderdonk As I stepped up to the plate, I already knew what was coming. It was the first inning of a scoreless game and I was leading things off for our side, but my outcome had been set in stone. I was ready to be drilled by the first pitch. Instead of going up to the plate with a mentality of “looking for the right pitch,” I approached hoping, “don’t hit a bone, please.” Sure enough, the first pitch made a loud thud on my quad, and I didn’t quite know how to react. I was initially pent up with anger, but charging the mound wasn’t an option considering my significant weight and strength disadvantage. So I settled for an angry stare back at the pitcher. Many MLB players, however, wouldn’t have taken such a path following the same incident. In my case, getting thrown at was retaliation for me unintentionally hitting the leadoff batter of the opposing team, so as both baseball and the mob dictate: “You hit us, we hit you.” While I never saw a single player on that team again, the same certainly can’t be said between Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista and the Texas Rangers, who have had an ongoing beef since the 2015 playoffs. In the do-or-die game five of the American League Division Series (ALDS), Bautista hit what would end up being a game-deciding three-run home run. At the crack of the bat, he and the 50,000 fans in attendance knew it was gone, so he did what any human being would do at that moment— he celebrated. The moment of celebration in a bat flip—not the fact that he gave up a series-clinching home run—didn’t sit well with Rangers pitcher Sam Dyson, who remarked after the game that Bautista needed to “calm that down.” Bautista was 34 years old when he hit the biggest home run of his career, and one of the most famous
home runs in recent baseball history. About 31 years of hard work— since tee-ball—had finally paid off and turned him into an icon in Toronto sports history. And he’s supposed to calm down? If you look around in other sports, “calming down” isn’t a common theme. Cam Newton and Odell Beckham Jr. celebrate for extended periods of time in the endzone, while James Harden and LeBron James have picked up signature celebrations following big shots. But in baseball, where tradition reigns, the same tradition that kept black players out of the league until 1947 and refused advancement in the form of instant replay for decades, Bautista is in the wrong. The Rangers would retaliate, as a bench-clearing brawl ensued on May 15 the following season, and Bautista took one in the chin from Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor. Yet, in the grand scheme of things, Odor wasn’t the villain for punching an opponent during a baseball game. No, it was Bautista who had it coming for his moment of celebration. He isn’t alone in being villainized. Carlos Gomez has been thrown at several times for bat flips, Manny Machado has thrown his bat at opponents after being thrown at, and Alex Rodriguez was thrown at by then-Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster for steroid use, despite already receiving a suspension of over a year from the MLB. For over 100 years, baseball has policed itself through bruises and insults at all levels. Back then, it may have been different, but today, it’s a bunch of players who are more concerned about their personal beef than winning. So, the next time I get hit, retaliation or not, I’m going to jog to first and happily take my base. Hopefully, MLB players will start to do the same.
Penguins Under Pressure, Continue to Outswim Opponents By Ariel Glazman and Jared Asch With the scoreboard already in Stuyvesant’s favor, junior Laura Saliy stepped up to her lane. She sprung off the starting block, jumping ahead of her competitors from her dive. By the time she finished her last lap, multiple swimmers from Hunter High School were two laps behind. Her win in the 500yard freestyle was one of many from Stuyvesant’s girls’ swimming team, the Penguins, who have extended a streak of decisive victories with its 57-43 win over Hunter High School on October 4. The Penguins have held a tight grip on the Bronx/Manhattan League for years. The last three seasons have seen a combined regular season record of 29-0 from the Penguins, a testament to
gineers once again. “There are a lot of tough teams out there this year, including Townsend Harris, Bronx Science, Tottenville, Cardozo, and Brooklyn Tech. We especially look forward to possibly racing Brooklyn Tech again [as they] beat us at finals to take the championship title last season,” senior and cocaptain Madeline Wong said. While the Penguins will not face the Engineers this year in the regular season, they have a tense rivalry with another team in their division, the Bronx Science Wolverines. Many on the team were anxious about their meet with the Wolverines on October 6. “Going into the meet [against Bronx Science], we were a little nervous about not winning, but we swam incredibly and won. We out touched them in three events,” Wong said. Narrowly winning multiple events, the Pen-
“Going into the meet [against Bronx Science], we were a little nervous about not winning, but we swam incredibly and won. We out touched them in three events.” —Madeline Wong, senior and co-captain their dominance in this division. Though their last championship came in the 2014-2015 season, every season since has featured deep playoff runs. In fact, the Penguins’ frequent entrance into the playoffs has caused a rivalry to develop between them and the Brooklyn Tech Engineers. During the 2014-2015 season, the Penguins were able to triumph over the Engineers and win the city title, but last year, Brooklyn Tech retaliated and defeated Stuyvesant in the championship meet. Many of last year’s swimmers are eager to compete with the En-
guins were still able to outscore the Wolverines 61-40 by claiming the top two places in many events, such as the 100-yard butterfly and the 50 and 100-yard freestyles. This year, the Penguins hope to maintain their preeminence in the Bronx/Manhattan League and the PSAL as a whole. However, there is a lack of seniority on the team this year, with only five seniors and nine freshman. Despite this, the team is optimistic for the underclassmen, with many of the new Penguins impressing the captains. “We have awesome additions to our team, including sophomore Arielle Aney,
who just broke 2:00 in her 200-yard freestyle during the recent meet against Bronx Science, and sophomore Emma Lee, who was MVP last year and made States in two individual events, the 50 free and the 100 free,” Wong said. Lee has already surpassed all expectations for this year, recording first place in all seven races she has competed in. This abundance of underclassmen talent will be something to note for the rest of the season. Another point of emphasis this year for the Penguins was a coaching change in the offseason, with Ms. Silvana Choy becoming the head coach as former coach Peter Bologna became the new athletic director. Mr. Bologna, or Coach B, as he was colloquially referred to, coached both boys and girls swimming for countless years. He continues to pop up when meets are at Stuy, determined to help the teams however he can. Nonetheless, his replacement as coach was very unprecedented for the Penguins, with many finding it hard to imagine a coach for the swim team besides Coach B. “When we first found out Coach B wouldn’t be our coach this year, we didn’t know what to think. We couldn’t imagine anyone except him coaching. However, Coach Choy quickly gained our love and respect. In the pool, she’s really tough on us, but that’s what makes us dedicated and fast swimmers. Outside of the pool, she’s such a supportive and amazing person, and you can really tell she cares about all of us as people, not just swimmers,” Saliy said. Coach Choy has been very successful in her first month as coach, with the Penguins beating each team they’ve swam against by at least 10 points. The Penguins are once again looking toward the postseason. The combination of a strong upperclassmen core, a rapidly developing underclassmen roster, and a new coach who has been highly effective early on makes a long playoff run highly feasible.
Boys’ Bowling
James Lee/ The Spectator
Spartans On the Roll to Victory
By Max Mah “We have the best overall team,” Stuyvesant Spartans coach Di Wu said. While this might seem like a pompous conjecture, considering the Spartans have won only their first two season games, they have good reason to be aiming high. The Spartans, Stuyvesant’s boys’ bowling team, won their first game against the High School of Arts and Design at Astoria Bowl on September 29. The A and B teams both won their respective matches; the A team bowled a total of 579 pins, and the B team bowled
a total of 538. Thus, the game was clinched best-of-three even before the C team took the floor. “It was a pretty normal game,” senior and co-captain Jihui Xue said. “We never lost to them last year, so it was an expected win.” Senior and co-captain Yongfei Zheng and sophomore Samuel Fang stood out in their performances. Zheng bowled an incredible 180 for the A team, easily beating his PSAL average last year of 101. He had five total strikes; three consecutively from the fourth to sixth frames, and then three more in the ninth and 10th. “I have con-
fidence in [Zheng in]setting the tone for others. He is consistent and brings the team’s spirits up,” coach Wu said. Zheng is one among the three juniors from last year’s B team who have stepped up to form the core group of the A team this year. Yongfei Zheng, Jihui Xue, and James Lee are co-captains and are all expected by coach Wu to bowl above a 160 average this season. He is one of the reasons Xue feels so optimistic about this season: “I feel like we’re a lot better than last year, and this time, we’ll definitely go further in the playoffs,” Xue said. “The real surprise was Samuel
Fang from the B team,” coach Wu said. Fang, who didn’t even bowl as a starter last year, is now a rising star. “He practiced during the summer on his own, and had the highest score [187 pins] among the A and B team on [September] 29.” Samuel is expected to join junior teammate Lingpeng Chen to form next year’s core group. The Spartans had their second victory against Beacon High School, again at Astoria Bowl, on October 5. Again, the game was taken by the A and B teams’ back-to-back wins. All members of the A team were solid and won by a total of 651-436. The B team won by a total of 525-412 and saw an incredible feat by senior Wesley Chen, who bowled a 189. Looking forward, Coach Wu expects the Spartans to repeat their performance as division champs this season. However, the team’s goal is not just to win the division, but also to climb higher on the PSAL ranking. “PSAL ranks teams based upon the highest number of pins scored each game,” Wu said. “If we can score north of 170 pins, we will be ranked in the top 16 teams in the NYC.” The Spartans will then once again make it to the playoffs, but ideally as a higher seeded team. With the higher seeding, the next step would be to avoid the superior Staten Island teams early in the playoffs, perhaps playing them in the quarterfinals while hosting home games.
“Though we’re good enough for our division, the whole team would have to improve collectively if we have any hopes of defeating the Staten Island teams,” Lee said. Coach Wu has emphasized to his players the importance of closing frames (a strike or spare), as the following throw after a closed frame is added bonus points. “If all frames are closed, players can pretty much score a 200 in every game,” Wu said. Fang is a prime example of this. In the first game, Fang closed all his frames except in the tenth, which accounted for his high score of 182. Composure and mentality are also vital, and coach Wu works to keep everyone’s temperature at a good level during game management. “All players have the capacity to bowl over 200, but they must stay confident and not get offset,” Wu said. “Players need to play their own game and not be affected by other players or their previous frames. In bowling, you compete against yourself. It’s you and the pin. So 80, if not 90 percent is mental.” “The strength is that the team is very close knit. Among them, there is friendly competition, and everyone drives each other forward,” Wu said. “We have the best overall team. Other teams may have a few good players, but we are the best, from top to down, one through eight. If other teams want to beat us, they have to beat us all.”
The Spectator ● October 17, 2017
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Sports Basketball
Girls’ Tennis
LaVar and the Ball Family’s Rise to Fame By Max Onderdonk Over the past year, LaVar Ball has become a household name in American sports. Through his outlandish statements, he has become the most famous father in the sports world. This newfound fame has trickled down to his son Lonzo Ball, who has made headlines without playing a minute in the NBA yet, and his younger brothers LaMelo Ball and LiAngelo Ball, who are in high school and college respectively. The Ball family even has a reality show on Facebook called “Ball in the Family.” Without LaVar’s presence in the media, the Ball family brand would not have become this prominent. To have a big brand, an athlete must excel in the sport but also have a charismatic personality. San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard may be widely regarded by fans as one of the elite players in the league; however, his quiet demeanor on and off the court hasn’t helped him grow his brand. Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin, on the other hand, has many commercial deals because of his high-flying dunks and marketability, even if he isn’t as talented as Leonard on the court. LaVar’s antics have proven to be successful in growing his
company. He has said
that he could beat Michael Jordan one-on-one. He has claimed that Lonzo is better than twotime league MVP, Stephen Curry. He came out with a $500 shoe for Lonzo, the ZO2, saying that the shoes are only meant for “big ballers.” Every time LaVar does something controversial, Big Baller Brand gets more attention. The NBA media loves controversy, such as with the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook feud last season after Durant left Oklahoma City, and recently with the Kyrie-LeBron drama. LaVar is more than a troll; he is a shrewd businessman. When he goes on First Take on ESPN, he knows that he is getting free advertisement. The shouting matches between him and host Stephen A.
Smith bring attention and press which lead to more people finding out about Big Baller Brand. “A brand is one of the biggest things you can have,” LaVar said in an interview with USA Today. “It’s a hard thing to attain, so nobody wants to attain it and not too many people think that far ahead.” It seems like LaVar’s marketing has gone according to plan so far. The Lakers are going to be on national TV a lot this year, and season tickets have sold out already. Lonzo Ball may be the most hyped rookie since Lebron James in 2003. Many argue that Lonzo should speak for himself, but he is usually blunt and nonchalant on and off the court, so LaVar is taking matters into his own hands. Without LaVar’s bold statements, Lonzo would be just be another promising young rookie. Lonzo was great in college, but his numbers of 14.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game alone would not have brought on anywhere near the amount of attention he has garnered. LaVar may be obnoxious, but it is hard to fault a man for trying to find s u c cess for his family.
Christine Jegarl / The Spectator
The Lady Lobsters Look To Close Out The Season With A Smash By Jooahn Sur and Sean Stanton As their season comes to a close, the Lady Lobsters, Stuyvesant girls’ tennis team, will attempt to finish strong after a couple of rocky games. The Lady Lobsters’ season started with two shutout wins, winning 5-0 against both Eleanor Roosevelt High School and Hunter College High School. A full team effort allowed Stuyvesant to dominate its opponents, as each player pulled her weight and dismantled her opponents in the process. As the season progressed, the team’s performance continued to improve. The Lady Lobsters won two of their next three games, 5-0 against the High School of American Studies and 4-1 against Eleanor Roosevelt, with its lone loss against Bronx Science, 4-1. This run was led by sophomore Alyssa Pustilnik, who has won 42 of the 50 total games she has played for the season, senior and captain Marie Ivantechenko, who had gone 27-12, and freshman Palak Srivastava, who went 40-18 in her doubles matches. In their past three games, the Lady Lobsters have gone 1-2, with two 5-0 losses. In their first match against Beacon High School, none of the girls were able to win more
than four games, but the Lady Lobsters were able to recover with another 5-0 win against Hunter College High School. Their latest game, an unfortunate 3-2 loss against Bronx Science, stopped any momentum that they were trying to gain to make a final run before the playoffs. With only two games left in their season, the Lady Lobsters are looking forward to the playoffs. The Lobsters lost to Hunter College High School in the second round of the playoffs last season in a close 3-2 defeat, and this year, the Lady Lobsters are looking for revenge. “We have a really strong lineup this year,” Ivantechenko said. “Hopefully, we’re going to get further in [the] playoffs than we have in recent years.” With strong leaders and standout players, the Lady Lobsters are a well rounded team. However, their fate may be decided by their final two regular season games. Two losses would not be good going into the playoffs, as they would be 1-4 in their last five games. On the other hand, two wins would set them up with great momentum, as they would be enter the playoffs on a winning streak. Either way, the girls on the team will have to step up if they want to become PSAL champions.
Football
Where Statistics Meet Football: The Fourth Down Dilemma By Ariel Melendez New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick made what was, to many, a “bad” call on November 15, 2009. On the fourth down, with two yards to go from his own 28 yard line and 2:08 left on the clock, the Patriots were leading the Indianapolis Colts 34-28 and Belichick elected to go for it. The attempt failed and the Colts scored just three plays later to steal the win in dramatic fashion, with Belichick being blamed entirely for letting a game that was all but won slip away. Historically, Belichick’s decision seems to be radical and out of place. However, with the emergence of new analytics and data science in the world of sports, we can reexamine this decision from a far more informed perspective, as I did at the Wharton Moneyball Academy, a sports analytics program for high school students. For now, sports analytics have not had nearly the same impact on football as on other sports like baseball. This is largely due to the nature of the sport. Unlike baseball, every football play involves contributions from multiple players from the same team. Thus, most statistics are representative of more than one player’s actions, making it hard to isolate and evaluate player performance. However, the fourth down dilemma is a rare area where statistical analysis has produced a concrete conclusion: coaches should be far more aggressive on fourth down. This idea has yet to have real
game impact due to resistance from NFL coaches. However, initial resistance has been common in most sports, even statistics oriented ones like baseball, and may subside as time passes and sports analysis technology improves. Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was quoted saying, “It’s easy to sit there and apply a formula, but it’s not always the easiest thing to do on a Sunday. There’s so much more involved with the game than just sitting there, looking at the numbers, and saying, ‘OK, these are my percentages, then I’m going to do it this way,’ because that one time it doesn’t work could cost your team a football game, and that’s the thing a head coach has to live with, not the professor.” However, what coaches like Cowher do not realize is that their ignorance and resistance toward the hard facts may end up costing them points, and even games. With several respected data analysts at Wharton, I studied in depth the simple question: What should coaches do on the fourth down? It is conventional for coaches to punt the ball on fourth down from most positions on the field. It’s a somewhat risk-free play, but studies suggest that it may be better to go for it in many situations. The majority of these studies revolve around the concept of net expected points. They examine how many points teams are likely to score or allow based on their decisions on fourth down situations. These expected points numbers are calculated by multiplying
the probability of one outcome by the amount of points lost or gained and adding that number to the product of the probability of the alternative outcome and the points lost or gained. This analysis takes into account factors such as fourth down conversion percentage based on field position and the number of yards left to go for a first down, as well as field goal percentage, average punt distance, and scoring percentage by field position. Looking ahead one or more drives, they do this analysis for every possible decision—punt, kick a field goal, or go for it—and with that data, extract the greatest net expected points. Whatever
into account in order to reach a more concrete conclusion. According to the New York Times, because it was fourth and two, the Patriots had a 60 percent chance of converting the fourth down. Given that a first down would have effectively won the game, you can start your win probability calculation by multiplying .60 by 1. Next, you must multiply the chance that they would not have converted, 40 percent, by the chance that even if they had turned the ball over on downs, the opposing team would have failed to score and the game would have been won in spite of the failed conversion. Historically, with two minutes left
punt from their own 28 yard line, the average punt nets 38 yards. This means that the opposing team, on average, would start their drive on their own 34 yard line. The chance of scoring from a team’s own 34 yard line in this situation is approximately 30 percent, giving the Patriots a 70 percent chance of winning if they had punted the ball. Evidently, going for it on that fourth down gave the Patriots the best chance of winning, which means Belichick made the right call. He’s somewhat of a maverick in his departure from the conservative fourth down culture in the NFL and was met with intense criticism after the
However, the fourth down dilemma is a rare area where statistical analysis has produced a concrete conclusion: coaches should be far more aggressive on fourth down. decision that number corresponds with is deemed optimal. So, let’s get back to Belichick’s controversial decision. The fourth and two at his own 28 yard line situation that Belichick found himself in is actually one of the three possible situations in which punting and going for it are equally effective according to the expected points model. Consequently, we must take factors such as time and score
on the clock from the opposing team’s 28 yard line and a touchdown needed to win or tie the game, NFL teams score 53 percent of the time. Therefore, you multiply .40 by .47 and add the product to the .60 that was calculated previously. The result shows that going for it on fourth down in that situation gave Belichick and the Patriots a 79 percent chance of winning the game. Alternatively, when teams
loss. But he made a statistically sound decision and maximized his team’s chance of winning the game. Ultimately, football fans, coaches, and critics alike may look back on this play in a different light as statistical analysis continues to become an increasingly important part of sports. .
October 17, 2017
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The Spectator SpoRts Coach Spotlight
Coach’s Corner: Meet Carl DiSarno, the Greyducks’ New Head Coach By Jooahn Sur and Sean Stanton As they do each fall, the Greyducks are practicing hard and gearing up for their upcoming cross country meets, but with one notable difference. The boys’ cross country team has a new head coach: Carl DiSarno. DiSarno has replaced the now retired Mark Mendes, the Greyducks’ beloved coach who was the boys’ head cross country coach from 2000 until 2016. “Even though Coach Mendes left some pretty big shoes to fill, I think I’m up to the task,” DiSarno confidently acknowledged. And DiSarno is certainly more than qualified for the task. DiSarno, who grew up in Brooklyn and moved to Connecticut when he was 10 years old, only began to run as a high school freshman because his mother thought he was too small to play football and didn’t want him to get hurt. As DiSarno noted, his mother made the “right decision” because he proved himself to be an all-star athlete in track and field. As a high school runner, he was selected twice for the All-State team and was placed on the All-New England team as a high school senior. DiSarno then attended Fordham University on a track scholarship. While at Fordham, he mainly competed in the 10,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs and was team captain as a senior. In addition, DiSarno was twice named to the prestigious In-
tercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (ICAAAA) All-East Team in cross country. But DiSarno remains humble about his accomplishments. “More importantly, the friendships that I made with my teammates at Fordham are what shaped me into the person that I am today.” DiSarno is much more than an accomplished athlete; he is also a sixth-grade social studies teacher and the cross country and track coach at Robert F. Wagner Middle School in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Though Wagner is a large middle school with a track team, it did not have a cross country team. However, in 2014, the principal at Wagner allowed DiSarno to spearhead Wagner’s first cross country program. In the short time DiSarno has been coaching Wagner’s cross country team, the Wagner middle school runners have enjoyed great success, which he hopes will also translate to continued success for the Stuyvesant cross country runners. Under his helm, the Wagner girls’ cross country team won three straight NYC titles and the Wagner boys’ cross country team won two consecutive titles. However, DiSarno considers Wagner’s win at the 2016 City Championship in spring track to be his “most satisfying accomplishment.” This win was very special to him because it was the culmination of three years of hard work for his eighth-grade athletes for whom he had started the cross
country program at Wagner. DiSarno’s pride for his athletes is apparent as he has followed their successes in their respective high schools: “That group of kids are now sophomores, and as freshmen, they won city championships, borough championships, county championships and two were even named All-Americans.” One such athlete who has enjoyed great success as a cross country runner at Stuyvesant is sophomore Baird Johnson, who had DiSarno as his cross country coach when he attended Wagner middle school and is proud to have him again. “Coach DiSarno is an enthusiastic, upbeat, even-keeled leader,” he said. “He meets each runner where they are and helps them get [to] where they want to be. He was a collegiate runner, and the experience he brings to Stuyvesant will help mitigate the loss of USATF Hall of Fame Coach Mark Mendes.” Remarkably, DiSarno has seamlessly been able to navigate coaching both the Stuyvesant and the Wagner cross country teams. In order to be able to focus on coaching one team at a time, he continues to coach the Wagner cross country team on the two afternoons the team practices and coaches the Greyducks the other afternoons. On the two days DiSarno coaches the Wagner team, the Greyducks practice with their longstanding assistant coach and Stuyvesant statistics teacher Bernard Feigenbaum. During those two days, the
Greyducks run downtown, where they are “running easy miles to strengthen their legs and build their stamina,” according to DiSarno. The Greyducks run the other three days in Central Park, where they focus on improving their speed and hill-running ability. The change in pace between training in Central Park and running downtown has helped the Greyducks gain further strength and agility. When asked about the difference between coaching the middle school and the high school cross country teams, DiSarno’s sense of humor readily emerges: “There’s a lot less whining with high school runners, but there’s definitely more enthusiasm with middle school kids.” Looking at the current team, DiSarno noted that because the Greyducks’ top three runners— Kiyan Tavangar, Greg Dudick and Harvey Ng—graduated in 2017, “matching last year’s success won’t be easy.” In addition, while the Greyducks have won two PSAL championships in a row, PSAL and Milesplit.com have picked the team to finish anywhere between fifth and seventh this season. DiSarno has “tried to use those predictions as motivation for the boys.” “I don’t know if we will have a front-runner this year, so it will be important to run as a pack and finish as closely to one another as possible. It’s not the easiest way to win a championship, but it certainly can be done,” he said.
But to the Greyducks’ new head coach, the team’s success this year will not be solely defined by attaining another championship. Rather, the team’s success will be defined by what DiSarno views as his coaching philosophy. “I’ve tried to let the boys know that I can only take them so far. They have to take ownership of their training if they are going to get faster and if we are going to have success as a team. Team goals aside, if every boy runs faster at the end of the season than he did at the start, then we can call that a success. And that will happen if we run as a team, pushing one another to do better.” Senior and co-captain, Minhein Htet, echoed that DiSarno’s goal is for the runners to “[b]uild a good base and then build speed.” Htet also noted that while DiSarno “is much less intimidating than Mendes,” he “allows the captains a fair bit of autonomy, just like Mendes.” For now, the Greyducks are training hard and hoping not only to continue the team’s winning streak, but also to improve their personal best with a faster time under the the guidance of their two coaches. While DiSarno humbly adds that he is “honored to take over such a prestigious program,” it is clear that the Greyducks are also honored to have him as their new head cross country coach.
NBA
Way too Early NBA Award Predictions By aryan Sharma This off-season was one of the most exciting in history as multiple big-name players were shuffled around. We saw the Minnesota Timberwolves add experienced players in Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague and the Oklahoma City Thunder get All-Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony for role players. The Cavs also got some steals by acquiring veteran Dwayne Wade and former MVP Derrick Rose as their backup point guard. And of course, there was the blockbuster Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade, and the Celtics have paired up Kyrie with Gordon Hayward. There were countless players switching jerseys as more and more teams are trying to build super-teams like the Golden State Warriors have. Super-team or not, every organization is going to be gunning for the championship trophy, and every player is going to be eyeing these awards.
Sixth Man of the Year: Derrick Rose
Most Valuable Player: Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has proven himself to be a superstar, keeping the San Antonio Spurs a contender year in and year out. Averaging 25.5 points and almost two steals, he showed himself as a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the court and helped the Spurs get the second seed last season. With no other superstars on the team, he will have free reign much like Westbrook did last season, and because the Spurs will rely on him heavily, he will win MVP.
Rookie of the Year: Dennis Smith Jr.
Yes, I think that the former MVP will be the best bench player in the NBA. It is safe to assume that Rose will become the backup point guard as soon as Isaiah Thomas is healthy, who has a hip injury and is likely to return by December. A seasoned player who was MVP not too long ago and averaged a respectable 18 points and four assists on a dysfunctional Knicks organization is sure to produce efficiently for the Cavaliers. He is, hands down, the best bench player in the league and will prove that this upcoming season.
Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green
Dennis Smith Jr. has an immense amount of natural talent with his explosive driving and finishing ability that I would compare to Westbrook’s. He also has a decent shot at 36 percent from the three-point range. He displayed his skills by averaging 18 points in the Atlantic Coast Conference and being named ACC Freshman of the year in his one year at NC State. But the biggest advantage he has over his competitors, like favorites Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum, is that he is playing on a team without any young talent to carry the team forward. Instead, the Mavericks have seasoned veterans like JJ Barea and Dirk Nowitzki that can help him improve his game. He is a dark horse, but he has enough talent and will receive enough playing time to win the ROTY race.
Green is one of the essential pieces of the Warriors. His most important asset is that he can run the floor and guard all five positions as a big man and does it with a force that can even be over the top sometimes. He averaged 2.0 steals and 1.4 blocks last season and was first in Defensive box Plus-Minus and second in defensive win-shares. He is more well-rounded than his competitors and will bring the same intensity he brings every year.
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich
Most Improved Player: Myles Turner
Coach “Pop” is one of the greatest coaches of all-time, with a streak of 20 consecutive winning seasons. He creates a great locker room environment for his players and runs a spaced out offense that gets every player involved. This type of offense led the San Antonio Spurs to 61 wins, clinching the second seed in the West with only one All Star on his team. He has a defense-first mindset that had the Spurs ranking third in defense last year. This year, his team has added Rudy Gay and still has veterans like Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Pau Gasol. His emphasis on defense with a solid offensive core will help the Spurs win and help Gregg Popovich claim Coach of the Year.
Though the Indiana Pacers might lose more games this season than last year, Myles Turner will have a chance to improve his stats. He averaged 14.5 points on 51 percent shooting on a team with Paul George. He has a nice jumper and can play the pick and roll well, so with George gone, he can flourish on a team where he is the primary offensive option. All of his numbers will go up, giving him a chance to steal the MIP award from some of the bigger names. Christine Jegarl / The Spectator