Volume 112, Issue 1

The Spectator The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper

Volume 112 No. 1

September 13, 2021 SCIENCE

stuyspec.com ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“The Second Stomach for Dessert”

“Lorde’s Sunny Return”

Ever find yourself guilty of feeling hungry for dessert despite not finishing dinner? Science writer Riona Anvekar explores the science of sensory-specific satiety, which is the driving force behind our second stomach for dessert.

After four years away, New Zealand pop star Lorde is back.

With her sunny third album, the musician created a piece of music that was created by Lorde, for Lorde.

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Shivali Korgaonkar and Ryan Lee: Leaders of the 2021-2022 Student Union

NEWSBEAT Vaccinations are required for all students and staff participating in high-risk PSAL sports, which include football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, stunt, and rugby.

The SHSAT is delayed for the second year in a row.

Students from social studies teacher Josina Dunkel’s AP Human Geography class won the Best Stealth Gerrymander Map in the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.

eventually decided to run together as president and vice president last year,” Korgaonkar said.

Korgaonkar feels optimistic about stepping into the role of president because of her experience as vice president, especially as the pandemic pushed her to learn how to accommodate and inform the student body on a new level. “Being the vice president required a lot of adaptability and communication with students. The reason I felt so confident in taking a position as president this year was because last year was one of the most difficult tests I think we would be put under,” Korgaonkar said. “Everything was kind of just a clean slate and we

ing what has always been the norm.

We’re entering a new year. New circumstances. New conditions,” Korgaonkar said. “We will also be adapting and changing based on what we hear from students [...] We want to be approachable people and an approachable organization that does more than just bureaucratic work.”

For example, in light of the mental health discussion during the 2020-2021 school year, the SU hopes to change the academic culture at Stuyvesant with regards to it.

“Something that we’ve been work-

9/11: 20 Years Later

continued on page 2

This year marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11, an event that had a tremendous impact on Stuyvesant, New York City, and the world. With Stuyvesant only four blocks away from the World Trade Center, the attacks would have huge implications for years to come. From talking to current Stuyvesant teachers to interviewing Stuyvesant alumni who were students during 9/11, we reflect on the attack and its long-lasting legacy 20 years later.

Content starts on page 12.

Stuyvesant Hosts In-Person Camp Stuy for Freshmen and Sophomores

By RUIWEN (RAVEN) TANG, JADY CHEN, ALICE ZHU, and REBECCA BAO Stuyvesant hosted a modified and in-person Camp Stuy to accommodate for COVID-19 health guidelines. Camp Stuy ran from August 31 to September 3 for freshmen, sophomores, and parents of incoming freshman students.

Traditionally, Camp Stuy is held in two sessions. The first occurs in June to administer placement tests, while the second in August provides bonding time for incoming students.

The school administered Camp Stuy for the 2020-2021 school year virtually, preventing last year’s incoming freshmen from acclimating to the school building.

This year, Camp Stuy was held in person over four days, with fourhour-long morning and afternoon sessions each day for freshmen and sophomores separately and with two sessions for parents of incoming students on the last day. Summer programs, including the Discovery

Program and Summer Rising, were held at Stuyvesant throughout July

enforced through masking, social distancing, and separate tour paths.

this year, postponing the in-person Camp Stuy. Due to the pandemic, COVID-19 health guidelines were

Though Camp Stuy was significantly shortened, the event allowed students to attend an information

Zifei Zhao / The Spectator

The Stuyvesant building will serve as a vaccination site to vaccinate students 12 years old or older from COVID-19 on September 13, 14, 15, and 17.

had to work from the ground up.”

Overall, Korgaonkar and Lee hope to implement a different approach than that of the past administrations. To do so, they emphasized the importance of student feedback in their decisions for the school year. “We didn’t want this year to be a continuation of what previous administrations and years had done […] Ryan and I are not just continu-

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Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

In the midst of a pandemic and a year of online classes, uncontested candidates senior Shivali Korgaonkar and junior Ryan Lee were appointed President and Vice President, respectively, of the 2021-2022 Student Union (SU).

As a vice president for the 2020-2021 school year, Korgaonkar elected Lee to succeed her based on his former experience and character.

“I had worked with Ryan last year when he was a Soph[omore] Caucus Co-President and [...] I was really looking for someone who’s vocal and someone who can work well with people,” she said. “I felt that Ryan’s personality would be compatible with mine and that we would both be able to create [a] welcoming environment in Stuyvesant.”

In conjunction, Lee chose to run as vice president because he wanted to directly help the students at Stuyvesant. “I felt as though there was a large gap between the SU and student body and realized that space was only going to get bigger. [...]

Hearing students and their problems and trying to find a way to help them was a really big motivator in my work and having future endeavors in the SU,” Lee said.

Prior to becoming president and vice president respectively, Korgaonkar and Lee both became involved in the SU during their sophomore years, with Lee as Sophomore Caucus Co-President, and Korgaonkar as Director of External Affairs, a department responsible for expanding and maintaining relationships between the SU and external organizations through initiatives such as newsletters and engagement courses.

Korgaonkar then became Vice

President with 2020-2021 SU President Julian Giordano, whom she had collaborated with in the past.

“I spent my first year in External Affairs, and Julian Giordano, who was then the SU vice president, [...] had asked me to join on this equity program that we worked on with the Department of Education, which I’m still in today, and that’s how I got to know Julian and how we

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Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

By JADY CHEN, ELAINE HUANG, and MAGGIE SANSONE

“The Pulse of the Student Body”

session in the theater, participate in homeroom tours, meet with Big Sibs and guidance counselors, and get ID pictures taken. Unlike incoming freshmen, sophomores were exempted from the swim test. Placement processes for advanced freshmen classes were altered and exams were not administered this year during Camp Stuy.

Many incoming freshmen and sophomores were glad to have an in-person Camp Stuy after a period of uncertainty. “We [had] been talking about Camp Stuy on Facebook, Discord, and Instagram. [...] We didn’t know [...] whether the current situations of the pandemic would allow us to hold this event in-person,” sophomore Mason Ng said. “However, it was then confirmed that Camp Stuy would be starting these few days and I was really excited.”

Since sophomores participated in Camp Stuy virtually last year, several expressed eagerness in congrecontinued on page 2

The Spectator • September 13, 2021

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News Shivali Korgaonkar and Ryan Lee: Leaders of the 2021-2022 Student Union continued from page 1

ing really closely with Principal Yu on is understanding [the issue of mental health], and [...] what mental health really means at Stuy,” senior and SU Chief of Staff Owen Yaggy said. “And we want to make progress that everyone is involved in. [...]

To improve things one step at a time is still really good in a school where not a lot has changed, so we’re going to try and be ambitious and make sure things get done.”

Another focus of their platform is altering Stuyvesant’s technology policy. Prior to online classes, students were generally not permitted to use electronic devices in the

classroom. Due to remote instruction, however, students have wondered whether they will be allowed to continue using their devices for learning purposes or not. “I know the technology policy is something students were interested in because it was something people reached out about, so it was something we pursued,” Korgaonkar said.

Yet another part of Korgaonkar and Lee’s goals is to bring back Stuyvesant’s pre-pandemic environment by rebuilding traditions at Stuyvesant and welcoming the incoming class. “[This means] bringing back traditions such as the Club Pub Fair and different events that we couldn’t do during the pandemic,”

Lee said. “We’ve been very collaborative and in constant contact with the Big Sibs and Camp Stuy and how the SU can be included in that.”

Members of the SU have commented on Korgaonkar and Lee’s cooperation, expressing their enthusiasm for the upcoming school year under the new leadership. “Shivali and Ryan have a really good partnership [...] I know that they’re both really really capable at doing SU things together,” Yaggy said. “We have a really great group in the Student Union this year, we have a lot of things we are really excited to work on, and we have a lot of opportunities in front of us, so I’m really excited.”

Stuyvesant Hosts In-Person Camp Stuy for Freshmen and Sophomores continued from page 1

gating at the school building. “Last year’s was really small, and nothing too important happened, [so] seeing my classmates, going in-person, and seeing the tour of the school was definitely a great experience,” sophomore Dawson Carlisle said.

For many students, this event was also their first time entering the Stuyvesant building and meeting other students. “It was my first time going in-person to be with a lot of kids,” freshman Malka Lubelski said.

“I was really excited to go into the school and see what the school looks like, the classrooms, and the people I’m going to be with for the next four years.”

Many expressed that the in-person spirit fostered a positive experience. “My expectations were that a lot of [Camp Stuy] would be really boring since it would be getting our student ID pictures and a tour of the school. I was also expecting the other sophomores to be very quiet and not want to talk or interact, but luckily everyone was quite vocal,” sophomore Eden DiLella said in an e-mail interview.

Big Sibs also expressed enthusi-

asm about being able to interact with other students after being physically isolated for more than a year.

“My favorite part of Camp Stuy was meeting my Little Sibs,” junior and Big Sib Lianne Ohayon said in an email interview. “After a crazy remote learning experience, to be back in the building with people was super fun and a rewarding experience.”

However, both the time crunch and COVID-19 regulations caused the omission of important components of Camp Stuy, such as the Big Sib and Little Sib picnic. “When I came to Camp Stuy, I remember having so much extra time and a large emphasis on homeroom bonding.

This time, everything was straight to the point. We covered everything we had to, but nothing more,” junior and Big Sib Isabella Chow said in an e-mail interview.

There were also scheduling difficulties and uncertainties on the first day in estimating the time allotted to each activity, such as ensuring that COVID protocols were followed and enough time was spent within homerooms. “For future Camp Stuys, we really do need to figure out how to balance the time that they take for the swim test versus the

amount of time that they take for the IDs, versus the amount of time that they take for homeroom and tours,” senior and Big Sib Chair Alec Shafran said.

Still, the Big Sib Chairs tried to preserve some significant features of a typical Camp Stuy. “Usually at Camp Stuy, just when freshmen walk through the doors, they see all their Big Sibs clapping for them, holding up a sign with their homeroom on it, and we really tried to emulate that in the best way possible [...] with social distancing protocols,” senior and Big Sib Chair Aaron Wang said.

As Stuyvesant prepares to transition to full in-person learning, holding Camp Stuy in-person was a first step in returning to a sense of normalcy. “Despite the year and a half of COVID, the Big Sibs and Little Sibs were able to come together, laugh, walk around the tours, lead tours, talk about different areas of the school building as if they were just here a day ago, as if they weren’t attending a year and a half of classes at their desks,” senior and Big Sib Chair Samuel Espinal Jr. said.

Staff members also emphasized the importance of Camp Stuy to help students acclimate to the

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and NASA

WORLDBEAT Afghanistan fell to the Taliban after the U.S. withdrew its military troops from 20 years of occupation.

Settling the long legal battle regarding the Opioid epidemic, Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma was dissolved. Its owners, who are members of the Sackler family, will pay $4.5 billion.

The Supreme Court refused to block Texas abortion law that prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

New York and New Jersey were hit by strong floods with the passing of Hurricane Ida. A Colorado grand jury issued charges against three police officers and two paramedics for the death of Elijah McClain in 2019.

Tina Tchen, chief executive of Time’s Up, an anti-harassment charity, resigned over ties with former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment scandal.

New York extended the eviction moratorium to 2022. environment. “I have to say how wonderful it is to see the students arriving at the beginning of their Camp Stuy day, being quiet, looking nervous, and then see them exiting their day, laughing with new friends, and walking with a different swagger.

That’s when we know this is an integral program for our incoming students and one we are pleased to have offered this year,” Assistant Principal of Pupil Personnel Services Casey Pedrick said in an e-mail interview.

Along with addressing safety concerns, the revised format of Camp Stuy could also carry over for future years. “Something that could influence the future Big Sib Chairs

when they’re planning Camp Stuy [is] if it’s possible to spread out the days and spread out when homerooms are coming instead of one day [when] 800 students come in all at once into the school,” senior and Big Sib Chair Syeda Zahan said.

With the return to in-person school, the Big Sib Chairs hope that Camp Stuy left an impression on the Little Sibs. “Hopefully, they’ll remember just how important or how influential their Camp Stuy was even amidst a pandemic. And they will try to carry over those values of hospitality and just welcoming their enthusiasm to the next generation of incoming students,” Wang said.

AP Human Geography No Longer Offered at Stuyvesant

By AIDEN ACKERMAN, SAKURA YAMANAKA, NADA HAMEED, and ALICE ZHU To minimize the stress on this year’s incoming freshmen, Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography will no longer be offered at Stuyvesant.

Taught by social studies teacher Josina Dunkel, AP Human Geography was one of the few AP classes offered to freshmen. However, due to the pandemic, the course will no longer be available. “We’re living through a really complex time,” Dunkel said. “The last full year [the incoming freshmen] had of school that wasn’t interrupted was sixth grade, so we just felt like asking them to show up on the first day [to] a college-level class was kind of a lot, so the decision was really a mental health and a sensitivity decision.”

Dunkel will now be teaching Global History.

AP Human Geography examined patterns of the human popula-

tion through geography and covered a range of topics from religious identities and beliefs to socio-economic structures in developing countries.

“It really is such a dynamic class with current events and real-world examples, and I think that that made it kind of popular,” Dunkel said.

The discussion of whether to continue to offer the course started in the late 2020-2021 school year when discussing the course’s difficulties. “The guidance counselors had meetings with assistant principals, and they were able to really convey some of the difficulties from the mental health standpoint,” Dunkel said. “I know that both [the biology and social studies assistant principals] did consider whether or not to have an AP for freshmen next year, and [Assistant Principal of Social Studies Jennifer] Suri was just very convinced that we needed to scale it back, and [that] maybe this is a decision for a few years.”

Common issues students encountered with AP Human Ge-

ography may have stemmed from underestimating the workload and difficulty of the course. “We’ve always had trouble with finding the right students to go into an accelerated social studies class in the first year,” Dunkel said. “We used to have an honors global studies class that I also taught, and it’s always just been tricky getting the students that understand that it’s going to be a lot of work and it’s going to be worth it if you like that kind of stuff, but if not, it’ll just be a lot of work.”

Sophomore and former Freshman Caucus president Unique Zhang found that according to many former freshmen, the class was at times draining. “Many said that the class was enjoyable, but that the homework load was way too much and led them to have sleepless nights at times,” Zhang said. “Allowing the freshmen to have time to transition into the school year would be beneficial, and having [AP Human Geography] no longer being an option for [them] seems like a good choice.”

Others who have taken AP Human Geography had a positive experience with the class. “I enjoyed every minute of that class and weaved the lessons I’ve learned into my conversations today. I would love to relive it if I had the chance,” junior Sarah Peter said in an e-mail interview.

Given the limited selection of APs for freshmen already, some believe that removing AP Human Geography now limits the range of AP courses to choose from.

“They should have kept it as an option. Now, there are no more nonscience-based APs for freshmen,” sophomore Carol Hon said. “Plus, kids coming from private schools may not have the regents credits to be able to take the science APs. If that is the case, they have no choice but to take no APs freshman year.”

Others felt that AP Human Geography helped prepare students for future AP courses. “Offering AP Human Geography freshman year is very beneficial because it gives freshmen a taste of what taking an

AP course is like. In my opinion, [AP Human Geography] isn’t as difficult as some other APs, but at the same time, it is an AP course, so it is still challenging,” senior Florence Lei said.

As AP Human Geography is not a prerequisite to other social studies classes, it may be offered to a different grade in the future. “[In] the first year it was offered, it was actually a sophomore or a junior or senior [class], and then it became a freshman class,” Dunkel said. “We’ve really moved it around because it doesn’t exactly fit, so we’re thinking of maybe offering it as a junior elective or maybe just returning it to the freshman year [in the future].”

While the class may be challenging, many students ultimately found learning the content to be worthwhile. “There were times when the coursework took up a massive amount of my time and energy, but I endured through that knowing that I was deeply passionate in what I was studying,” Peter said.

Stuyvesant Participates in Ecology Project International Programs

By JENNY LIU and MOMOCA MAIRAJ While both biology teacher Jerry Citron and Stuyvesant students both were in Yellowstone through programs offered by Ecology Project International (EPI), their programs had no correlation with each other.

Stuyvesant Students in

Yellowstone National Park “We faced a heatwave, so basically, there were a lot of us in a very small vicinity who were sweating profusely day and night and not showering,” senior Cameron Kluger said, reminiscing on his experience at Yellowstone National Park earlier this summer. “It was very gross learning not to shower.”

Kluger was one of 15 students, nine of whom were Stuyvesant students, who participated in a nineday student-organized excursion to Yellowstone from June 26 to July 4 through Ecology Project International (EPI). Other students were self-enrolled and were from across the country, including Baltimore, Michigan, and Tennessee. Students

were accompanied by several EPI instructors and a parent coordinator. The event was initially an official school trip for the summer of 2019 but was postponed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The delay prompted the trip to be studentcoordinated.

Prior to the trip, students completed readings and research on

three Yellowstone-related topics of their choice as preliminary work.

“That helped set us up for the mindset of doing research and being in the field itself,” Kluger said. “I chose wolves, bears, and the Greater Yelcontinued on page 4

The Spectator • September 13, 2021

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The Spectator • September 13, 2021

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News Students Share Feelings on 2021-2022 School Reopening

By THE NEWS DEPARTMENT As New York City public schools reopen for in-person learning, Stuyvesant students express their thoughts and feelings on returning back to school.

“I feel very nervous, mainly because I haven’t really socially interacted with anyone in a long time, especially with virtual learning. It’s just so much different. I think I’m also just really worried, just in general, about time management, commutewise, and how much sleep I’ll get, but I’m also a little bit excited because it’s different in a class setting when you’re in person rather than virtual. I’m definitely more nervous.” —Iris Lin, sophomore

“My major reservation is commuting to school as personally, my commute is quite long. Overall, I’m looking forward to returning back to the school building as long as everyone cooperates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at Stuy.” —Rayyan Bhuiyan, senior

“I wish [getting vaccinated] was mandatory as well. I feel very nervous when I think about how I could be going to a school with people that aren’t vaccinated, and when they’re endangering so many other peoples’ lives. I want to make my remaining years of high school as good as they can be, but I’m not looking forward to the normal lifestyle of a Stuyvesant student like waking up really early, walking tons of stairs, and taking junior-level classes. I feel like I’ve jumped from a freshman to a junior in a second.” —Chloe Peng, junior

“Something I’m not looking forward to is the extra work, something brought up by a lot of people, because you have almost double the amount of time, in two days, to work and study inside the classroom, than we have with remote learning in the 1-5, 6-10 schedule. So that’s gonna be a lot more work, a lot more homework, and it’s gonna be in such a condensed amount of time, because you’re having all your classes in one day, rather than splitting them into two.” —Allison Palisoul, sophomore

“As for vaccines, I don’t have too many worries because it would be a hassle to make sure every single student was vaccinated. I am more excited for school to start because I will get to see friends more often and learn directly, which is more effective for me to actually understand subjects in depth.” —Jinseo Hong, junior

“I’m happy that they’re not forcing people to get vaccinated, but at the same time, I am a little bit worried because COVID-19 is still a thing. I am also not very excited to be wearing a mask for seven hours a day for five days a week. That is going to be a struggle probably.”

—Benjamin Botnik, senior

“I’m [...] pretty excited about getting to learn in person again. I find it hard to not get distracted when I’m learning remotely and my phone and laptop are at my disposal, with no one to tell me I can’t use them. Being on Zoom for five hours a day can get exhaustingly boring too. Learning in person would probably be much more engaging and it’d be much easier for me to focus and take in material.” —Caroline Leung, senior “With the new wave of the delta variant cases, I’m not sure that fully reopening the schools is a good idea. I think a hybrid method of both in person and remote learning would be a better option. I’m more nervous than excited. The workload in high school will definitely be more than I’m used to from middle school. There are also aspects that I am excited about, like the free periods.”

—Vanessa Chen, freshman “I’m definitely more excited than nervous. I thought the energy at the building was great and it sure beats sitting at home all day.

I’m looking forward to seeing friends in person again and interacting in real life. I’m not looking forward to my one and a half hour commute.”

—Sirui Pu, senior

“I’ve only ever been for SHSAT day, Regents, and more recently, sports tryouts. I definitely got lost the first few times and still don’t know more than two floor layouts. It’s a really cool building though. I’m super excited to go every day to learn [but] it’ll be awkward if no one recognizes each other from the past Zoom year though.” —Eshaal Ubaid, sophomore “I definitely think a vaccine mandate would make me feel safer as it’s better than nothing, but the fact that remote may not be an option is worrisome as I know a lot of parents don’t want their kids going back full time. Mine, for instance, would definitely prefer that I stay fully remote.” —Mosammad Khanom, sophomore

Stuyvesant Participates in Ecology Project International Programs continued from page 2

Courtesy of Jerry Citron

lowstone Ecosystem.”

The trip involved hands-on activities as well, such as field surveys that revolved around the wildlife found at Yellowstone, which included wolves. “We woke up at 5:00 a.m. so that we could once again go to the middle of Yellowstone and look at wolves through telescopes,” ju-

the time and it was really hot,” Qin said. “If I [were] on that hike by myself, I would’ve stopped a couple of times, but when you are in the group, there are a bunch of people behind me and I thought that I really couldn’t let them down so I kept going.”

During their nighttime downtime, the students split up responsibilities: one team would cook, one team would clean, and another

nior Daphne Qin said. “It was really cool because the telescopes worked really well. After that, we talked to a wolf expert and he told us about the history of wolves and why it’s important to conserve the wolf environment.”

Bison was also a major focus of the trip. Students did a field count of how many female, male, and red dogs (young bison) there were and tracked their collars using radio telemetry. They also took poop samples to analyze migration patterns based on plants consumed. Other activities included bear readiness observation hikes, service work, and amphibian data collection.

Because most of the Stuyvesant students did not have prior experience camping and/or camping in Yellowstone, many faced learning curves and adjustments, such as eating camp food, setting up equipment, and exerting significantly more physical activity through hiking. “Instructors were going up really really quickly. There were barely any breaks [hiking]; [...] it was just nonstop going up, so I was tired all

would debrief on the day’s adventures and/or preview the next day’s outings. “Dinner was actually good.

Maybe some spaghetti, some taco action,” Kluger said.

Students enjoyed the trip for both educational and recreational reasons. “It sounded like a really nice opportunity to have a vacation at the same time as learning stuff,” Qin said. “You are going to be enjoying the views, but at the same time you are going to learn how the Yellowstone ecosystem works, [and] what the people there do.”

Others treated the trip as an opportunity to be exposed to new adventures and people. “When you’re living in such a big city, it’s very hard to imagine that there is other stuff that’s happening elsewhere. We zone in and get tunnel vision but going [to Yellowstone] and learning for so many days that there are so many problems happening in Yellowstone, even though it’s such a protected area,” Kluger said. “It’s like a wakeup call.”

Junior Claire Duguet added, “Everything is a takeaway from this trip.”

Biology Teacher Jerry Citron in Yellowstone Responses have been edited for clarity.

1.

How did you hear and/or receive this fellowship? How long were you there for? How did you choose your location?

Ms. Maggio went on this fellowship years ago and I thought it would be something that I would like to do as well.

I applied for this fellowship, which is somewhat competitive, and I got it to the same place that she went to. I was there for approximately 10 days.

2. Have you participated in other fellowship programs like this before? If so, what made you want to do it again?

I do this quite often, actually. I’ve been to Costa Rica several times. I also went to the Arctic through National Geographic, then to Yosemite, so I definitely am a big participant in these grant programs to do these kinds of teacher/ professional development projects. I teach AP Environmental Science, so I find that when you are in the classroom, you are essentially in a bubble of academic information. The way I get to experience what I teach is by going outside the classroom and doing what the professionals do.

I’m creating a YouTube channel where I document my experiences. There are several of my experiences in Yellowstone. There are some other videos of me doing stuff like discussing environmental science, how to live sustainably, how to calculate your carbon footprint, those sorts of things. Since everyone is so addicted to YouTube and TikTok, I find those kinds of videos fun to do and I think it connects me with students in which without this medium I cannot.

3. What does participation in the fellowship mean?

The intent of the project is to have teachers from around the country learn how to do these activities and skills that scientists would use and bring back to the classroom, creating lessons that are not just used in your classroom but that also you can share with teachers nationally. We did an invertebrate study, a tree and leaf diversity study, and we spent a lot of time observing, analyzing, tracking bison, and looking through their excrement, identifying what they eat and how much they eat. So the idea is to learn what ecologists and conservation biologists do and with those experiences then create lessons and have some perspective.

4. What was the most interesting thing you learned or saw?

I’ve never seen hundreds of bison before, with wolves looking at them lovingly, or not lovingly but looking at them like, “Mhm, this is quite a meal.” Seeing it in real-time is incredible.

5. What were your takeaways from this experience?

We are continuing to make some really bad land management decisions, nationally [and] locally, but there are a lot of really great people trying to use the science and the data to try to change people’s minds, particularly when it comes to wolves and the need for a healthy wolf population to maintain the ecosystem balance that will keep that environment healthy.

Biology Teacher Marissa Maggio in Costa Rica Responses have been edited for clarity.

1.

How did you hear and/or receive this fellowship? How long were you there for? How did you choose your location?

I was searching for some teacher summer programs a few years ago and Ecology Project International (EPI) was mentioned in a teacher Facebook group I am in. When I went to the website, the program sounded amazing and was a decent price!

2. Have you participated in other fellowship programs like this before? If so, what made you want to do it again?

Since I became a teacher, I have tried to find interesting teacher experiences like this to inspire for the new year, and if I get to travel to a new place to do it, even better! My all-time favorite spot was Little Cayman Island, where I did coral reef research. After a year of no travel, I decided to go to Costa Rica this summer for the Sea Turtle teacher fellowship.

3. Could you elaborate on your work with sea turtle nesting and conservation?

We stayed in the Pacuare Reserve, which is on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. we went out most nights from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. or later to look for females that had come ashore to lay their nests. We also walked along the “nursery,” which is the location the collected eggs are moved to. Every time we found a nest that had hatched, we would collect the hatchlings into a bin, and then randomly select 15 to measure the length and width of the carapace and weigh them. Once the data was collected the hatchlings would be released into the sea. We also met with researchers doing big cat studies on the reserve though we didn’t assist with any of that data.

4. What does participation in the fellowship mean?

Programs like these give me a chance to recharge and to get excited about science again after a year and a half of talking to a screen! I am reminded that there are people out there doing the work to protect this planet and the species we share it with. It felt really good to be a part of a program doing some good for the planet and helped me to connect with nature in a way that is difficult for us to do here in New York City.

5. What was the most interesting thing you learned or saw?

Too many to pick one. I learned so much about carpenter ants—they eat so much of the forest and can clear cut whole sections, but use the leaves they cut to feed fungus which they then eat for food. They are the world’s first farmers! I saw a red poison frog, which I have only ever seen on nature shows, and touch-me-not plants that close when touched. The response is regulated by osmotic pressure. Teaching about that one this year!

I also saw a sloth! In the flesh! I can’t even express how excited I was about that one.

6. What were your takeaways from this experience?

Nature is awesome. We need to do everything we can to protect it.

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Features Stuyvesant’s Summer of 2021

From simply exploring NYC to traveling to St. Lucia, Stuyvesant students had eventful summers despite ongoing COVID regulations.

Here is an overview of Stuyvesant’s summer of 2021.

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS SUMMER?

IF YOU STAYED IN THE CITY, WHAT DID YOU DO?

IF YOU TRAVELED ABROAD, WHERE DID YOU GO? Canada The Bahamas St. Lucia Costa Rica

England France Germany Italy

Estonia Latvia Lithuania Sri Lanka

STUYVESANT’S SOUNDTRACKS OF THE SUMMER ALBUMS “SOUR” by Olivia Rodrigo “Are You Alright?” by Lovejoy “After School Session” by Chuck Berry “Donda” by Kanye West “Yellow” by Kang Daniel

MOST TRAVELED TO PLACE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES: Northeast: New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts

HOW DID YOU STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR PEERS?

STUYVESANT’S READS “Snow in August” by Pete Hamill “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins “The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon “Living Dead Girl” by Elizabeth Scott “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah “A Revolutionary for Our Times: Rosa Luxemburg” by Stephen Bronner “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr “Chainsaw Man” by Tatsuki Fujimoto “The Overstory” by Richard Powers

MEMORABLE MOMENTS “The women’s photography exhibit at the MET was fantastic: lots of interesting framing, clever messaging, and excellent curation.”

—Levi Simon, junior “I met Isaiah Zagar, a famous mosaic artist, while I was on a tour in Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens!”

—Abigail Jin, freshman

“I got really into running (even though I suck at it) and am now motivated to improve my stamina and running pace, which is fun since it’s the first time I’ve taken interest in a ‘sport’ before.”

—Eman Sadiq, sophomore “Saw some Capuchin monkeys!”

“I went mushroom picking a lot in Pennsylvania this summer. There were so many mushrooms this year! I also jumped into an ice pool in Latvia, which was interesting (never doing that again).”

—Alexandra Ruinsky, freshman “Visited a very quaint store (in the small town of Denton, Texas) that sold various old/antique things like old records, old family photos, old military equipment (even pickelhaubes), old instruments, old knick-knacks, etc.”

—Nicolas Smulansky, freshman

ARTISTS Mitski Isaac Dunbar MF Doom Fleetwood Mac Lucy Dacus Lorde BTS

—Nora Archer, senior

“I spent three weeks at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive in Connecticut taking various dance classes from Bolshoi Ballet Academy staff.

I also took Russian language classes there. It was incredible to be immersed in that culture and learn about the Russian ballet technique while also adjusting to dorm life and connecting with other dancers.”

—Zoe Chun, freshman

HOW DID COVID-19 IMPACT YOUR SUMMER? “I spent most of it at a sleep-away camp, and that day-to-day routine was very much transformed by state COVID regulations, but still since it was akin to quarantining, we got plenty of social opportunities lacking in the city.” “​I was barely able to get “I couldn’t travel, but I outside very much, both took that as an opportubecause of COVID and nity to explore NYC.” because my parents simply were not as willing to have me leave the house, so I “We were going to travguess I didn’t get to have as el abroad, but the cases much fun as usual since I in that country were was cooped up at home so starting to rise again.” much.”

“I suppose it warranted more free time at home as we cannot necessarily travel. Subsequently, it warranted a lot of learning, such as [...] learning to cook and learning Spanish.”

Page 6

The Spectator • September 13, 2021

Features Into the Known: The Summer of 2021

By SHIVANI MANIMARAN

portation, but recently because of COVID and also because of all the hate crimes that have come up, I’m not really allowed on public transportation unless I’m with a large group of people,” she said.

Despite normalcy trickling back into students’ lives, the pandemic still left many such fingerprints on everyone’s summers. Talukder, for example, was unable to participate in summer programs. “I wanted to attend a summer program

also been going pretty well,” she wrote in an e-mail interview.

On the other end of high school, senior Aya Alryyes worked on her college applications and described her struggle to work on her Common App essay during the summer.

“It has been more difficult than I expected,” she said. “I love to write, and I had an idea in my head, but it’s hard to translate it to words on a page. I tried once, but I was really unhappy with what I wrote, and I haven’t really approached it since then.”

Despite the concern around college applications, Alryyes expressed that she enjoyed the summer and the amount of social interaction she was able to partake in. “The first thing I did officially this summer was spending a week in DC on a

ra of in-person activities with friends and family. Chow, for one, felt that this was a major improvement from 2020. “The previous summer I was mostly at home, but this year I was able to hang out with my friends and live that life everyone sees on TikTok. Everyone’s going out, having fun, and I was able to accomplish that,” she said.

Though she enjoyed the time spent with her friends, Chow was disappointed by the inability to go on vacation with her family. “My family is pretty strict about the whole COVID thing, so we weren’t able to go out on family vacation,” she said. She explained that this need to be cautious restricted her ability to travel not only to other places, but also within the city. “It used to be easy to get around with public trans-

over the summer, but because COVID was rising again near the area of the program, I couldn’t attend,” she wrote in an e-mail interview.

Yi expressed a very similar thought. “If the pandemic wasn’t a factor, I probably would have applied for more in-person programs rather than virtual ones,” she said.

Alryyes, meanwhile, had big plans to go to Jerusalem to visit her family, but these plans were spoiled by the continued closure of the Israeli border. “I was going to be working with my cousin, who works in an advocacy center in Al-Quds University documenting human rights abuses against Palestinians. Instead, I’ve been doing some remote work, which has been very good to do, even though I would have much pre-

2024, Jumping in Headfirst

By YASMEEN TOPIWALLA

looking forward to getting out of his apartment and into the building. After being stuck inside for an entire year, he can’t wait to get outside. “I’m looking forward to just being out-

made online learning a lot easier,” Allison Palisoul said in an e-mail interview. She hopes that teachers maintain a similar level of empathy during the upcoming school year.

However, many sophomores still have concerns about going fully in-person. Some students expect a heavier workload in-person than in remote learning. Palisoul is worried

“I don’t want to burn out before I get to fully enjoy Stuy[vesant]” ––Allison Palisoul, sophomore

Nelli Rojas-Cessa / The Spectator

Freshman year is all about transitioning from middle to high school, finding your way around the school, and forming connections with peers. But for the class of 2024, remote learning proved a major roadblock to this experience. In fact, many incoming sophomores have yet to even set foot in the building.

Missing out on the freshman experience has many sophomores excited for a fully in-person year––an unusually late first taste of high school.

One such sophomore who is looking forward to the upcoming year is Shyann Rampaul.

“I’m mostly looking forward to actually learning. I feel like I grasped nothing from remote learning, and that really took a toll on me mentally,” she said in an e-mail interview.

But that isn’t what all students are excited for. As sophomore Srejon Biswas explained in an e-mail interview, he’s most

global citizenship program,” she said. She described something she dubbed the “camp effect,” where summer campers become very close very quickly.

“On the first day, we were already completely oversharing with people we had just met that day. That was definitely a highlight,” she said.

She wasn’t the only one to bask in social interaction this summer. Thanks to vaccinations and loosened restrictions, the summer involved a pletho-

Sasha Socolow / The Spectator

Just like that, the summer of 2021 has come to an end.

The back-to-school buzz begins once again, and students face the return to in-person school after nearly two years at home. A cautious yet enthusiastic flurry of activity took over most students’ summers as they all tried to transition back to a sense of the pre-pandemic “normal.” Stuyvesant certainly made the most of the season.

Embodying traditional Stuyvesant ambition, many students chose to participate in organized summer programs.

Junior Joycena Yi completed a program at the Queens Zoo and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, despite it being completely virtual. “The program still offered really good content even through Zoom, so I was pretty happy with it,” she said. “There were two meetings per week. In one meeting, we’d work with two people on a project—something like a game or online poster—to educate the public about a certain conservation topic. The second meeting was scientific discovery day, where they’d talk about different scientific topics.”

Junior Isabella Chow camped with her all-girls Boy Scouts of America troop in upstate New York. As part of a wilderness survival class, Chow spent a night camping alone in the woods. “I had to build my own shelter out of wood and leaves. And then we had to spend the night alone, all by ourselves. It was kind of terrifying; kind of traumatizing.

Would I do it again, though?

Definitely,” she said.

Meanwhile, freshman Andy Xian worked to improve his athletic skills. “My goals were primarily with sports, because I was really interested in the sports teams at Stuyvesant, which I really wanted to join,” he said. Xian explained that he had been taking badminton classes and practicing on his own to prepare for tryouts. His preparations for the school year did not end there, however, as he also did some studying: “I wanted to review some infor-

mation academics-wise to have it fresh in my mind, so that at Stuyvesant I can be prepared to learn new information.”

This seems to be a pattern among many incoming students, as freshman Ayesha Talukder also focused on studying for her classes. “I wanted to improve in my French studies, since I love French culture, and I can hopefully take French when school starts. I also wanted to improve my math skills before school starts, and that’s

side of my apartment. People our age shouldn’t really spend most of their time at home,” Biswas said.

Incoming sophomores also appreciated a few things from remote learning that they would like to see incorporated into inperson schooling. “The amount of empathy and consideration teachers had for their students

Other students wish for tests and quizzes to stay digital.

Rampaul found Delta Math to be extremely helpful and appreciated taking her tests on a familiar platform.“I honestly think that Delta Math helped me so much, and having tests on familiar problems made me less anxious,” Rampaul explained.

about the workload being too much. “I don’t want to burn out before I get to fully enjoy Stuy[vesant],” she said.

Another concern for some are lengthy commutes.“I have two fears: that I won’t be able to keep up with all the classes and that my one hour and 10 minute long commute will make it very difficult for me to find some

ferred being there in-person,” she said.

In spite of disappointments and foiled summer plans, it seems to be commonly agreed upon that the summer of 2021 was a significant improvement from last summer. This summer was a relief from confinement within our homes. Chow attributed this feeling to the recent loosening of tight restrictions. “2020 was really strict.

The most I went out was to the park with my family. So, this summer kind of made up for everything,” she said.

To Talukder, the past few months also involved much more time to relax. “Last year wasn’t very eventful, and I spent most of my time cooped up in my room studying for the SHSAT,” she wrote. “I definitely had more fun this year and a lot less studying and much more free time.”

Xian also felt less restrained by pandemic-related fears this year, which helped him be more productive. “I feel like everyone was taking safety precautions, like my peers and family.

This summer I was still able to achieve my goals and achieve the things that I wanted to do, without having to worry about the pandemic as much as last year,” he said.

Alryyes described how this kind of worry was less significant this year after feeling the relief of knowing the upcoming school year would not be virtual. “This summer, knowing that [school] will be in-person has definitely given me something to look forward to. I think that’s what really made this summer much better, because I can point to an end of when I’m going to be at home,” she said.

The summer of 2021 has been a unique experience full of change and an enthusiastic, though slow, return to the sense of normalcy we held 18 months ago. It seemed to be the prelude to the upcoming school year, and hopefully, many students will be able to agree with Chow’s reflection when she said, “I would say this summer was probably my best summer yet given everything that happened.”

time in the day to just rest and not worry about homework,” Biswas said.

Many students are also skeptical that schools will stay in-person for the entire year. “I doubt school will [stay in-person] because a) most students in NYC are not fully vaccinated, and b) new variants keep popping up,” Palisoul said.

Biswas agreed, noting his concerns of going back to inperson schooling with the Delta variant on the rise. “When the building is at full capacity in September, infection is kind of inevitable,” he said.

Though sophomores have their fair share of concerns for the school year, including a heavier workload and what seems to some like an inevitable school shutdown, most are excited to get the Stuyvesant experience. And though that experience may include sleepless nights, long commutes, and constant masks, the class of 2024 is glad to finally have a normal(ish) year in the building.

Sadid Ethun / The Spectator

Sabrina Li / The Spectator

Sasha Burshteyn / The Spectator

Lucas Jones / The Spectator

Jingwei Liu / The Spectator

Aryaman Goenka / The Spectator

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

Zifei Zhao / The Spectator

Page 7 The Spectator • September 13, 2021

Photo Essay Summertime, and the Livin’s Easy

By THE PHOTO DEPARTMENT

Page 8

The Spectator • September 13, 2021

Editorials Dear Incoming Classes of 2024 and 2025…

The Editorial Board Has ADVICE

As a freshman or sophomore preparing to enter the classroom as a Stuyvesant student for the first time, you’ve certainly heard advice thrown at you from every direction.

Our first piece of advice? Read on!

1. Expand Horizons Though some find themselves entirely fulfilled by the drudgery of mindless schoolwork, others—strangely enough—will seek something more from their high school experience. Something to make it meaningful, enjoyable. The key to truly enjoying Stuyvesant is appreciating and making connections with the people around you. This could mean befriending peers in your classes, but taking steps to explore extracurriculars will often put you in contact with a wider range of people to grow close to. For the shy folks out there, don’t panic. Initiating socialization, whether in a class, club, or team, may be uncomfortable.

Recognize that the discomfort is temporary and that the people you meet may become the reason you look forward to coming to school.

2. You’re One Smart Cookie You are smart. You are the best of the best (you are at Stuy) and most of you have been getting straight A+’s for as long as you can remember.

We hate to break it to you, but this will change. At some point, you will not get an A+. Whether it is an 85 in English or a 72 on a math test. It will happen, but, that’s okay; t happens to the best of us.

To get through Stuy with your mental health relatively unscathed, you are going to have to rethink your definition of failure. While a 90 might have been unthinkable in middle school, it will be commonplace at Stuy. Though you might be disappointed for not getting a 100, a 90 is not a bad grade. We repeat, a 90 is not a bad grade.

By MAYA DUNAYER

No matter what your parents or peers might say, you will survive. Even if you receive an F, you will still survive. All of us have failed a homework, test, or quiz, and yet we are still here to tell the tale.

Instead, look at the larger picture. Even if you get an F or a D on a test, you must remember that it is just one test in high school. Your future employer will not ask you if you got an F on a test. All you have to do is pick yourself back up and try again. Remember, you are smart.

class is just what everybody needs, teachers and students alike. Barring anything truly graphic, your joke ought to be a great hit. It is difficult for all of us soldiers of Stuyvesant to shoulder our heavy packs and trudge down the long, dark road. A little brightness can only help guide the way.

3. Stuy or Die? As a Stuyvesant student, you will inevitably face long nights and immense workloads––this much is known. As such, it is easy to take pride in your sleepdeprived, zombified state, or the piles of homework assignments that await you at home.

Avoid this feeling at all costs.

The tight-knit community at Stuyvesant is partially built around our shared experiences getting through tough workloads, not relishing in them. No bragging rights can be attained by padding your schedule with unruly classes, flaunting your sleep-deprivation to classmates, or showing off your busy exam schedule for next week. Instead, find pride in settling into a healthy sleep routine, getting ahold of classes, and creating a productive school-life balance.

In short, don’t succumb to “Stuyvesant Culture.” Rise above!

5. Take Care of Yourself It is easy to get lost in the midst of our textbooks and laptops studying and working constantly, but that is not an excuse to neglect your physical and emotional health. Stuyvesant should not consume you as burnout is very real. Therefore, take breaks when you need them. Find something you enjoy doing and treasure it. Keep it tucked safely in your back pocket as something to turn to when you are feeling burnt out or as a reward for completing other tasks. Taking some time to recharge and focus on something you like will leave you feeling better and more productive in the long run. We all need breaks, after all, and constantly denying yourself of them will only exacerbate your hardships.

And even if you don’t feel like it, do eat your breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. Take snack breaks when you need them.

Hydrate. These meals provide the nourishment you need to pull through each day, even if it doesn’t feel appealing to eat in the early early morning.

4. Keep it Light Bleak place, this “Stuyvesant.” Let it be known that we students take the values of our founder, Peter Stuyvesant, to heart. Chief among these values? “Rigidity of religious belief ” and “draconian governance.” Ask yourself: is it in keeping with my school values for me to crack a joke? To smile? To laugh? NO. And yet, there are exceptions. Oftentimes, a joke in

6. See Points One Through Five!

Yes, you go to Stuyvesant.

Yes, you can be proud of that.

We’ll allow it. With that said, you should not feel as if you must go through it alone. Seeking advice is not a sign of weakness, personal or academic.

Your guidance counselor and your Big Sibs have been designated to assist you through any problems you may encounter, to the best of their ability.

The Spectator

SPO RTS

The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper

“The Pulse of the Student Body” ED I TO RS

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Whether it came from an adult, friend, health class, or school assembly, almost every child has gotten the talk about vapes, drugs, and other harmful substances. However, many children are woefully unaware of the adverse effects that weight loss, muscle building, and other dietary supplements can have, pointing to a clear lack of education on the subject.

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that side effects of dietary supplements were responsible for an estimated total of 23 thousand emergency department visits per year.

These side effects can include sleeplessness, kidney problems, rectal bleeding, liver damage, and more. These supplements, which are available over the counter and considered to be alternatives to prescription pharmaceutical drugs, are overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, no safety testing or FDA approval is required before a supplement

percent of youth respondents from Massachusetts, New York, and California, respectively, have used over-the-counter diet pills, detox teas, or other weight loss supplements. Across the respondents who reported use of these products, 48.2 percent started using them when they were under 18 years old. Evidently, this issue poses a great risk to youth across the United States.

In regards to education about the potential dangers of supplementation, we found that 91.2 percent of respondents have spoken with an adult about the dangers of tobacco, vaping, alcohol, or drug use in the past two years, whereas only 25 percent of respondents had discussed the danger of weight loss or muscle building supplements in the same time frame. It is essential to fill this gap through modification of curriculum in schools.

There are multiple pathways to address this issue. In New York State, all students are required to take Health Education, which adopts various forms in

E D I TO RS

* Managing Board ** Editors-in-Training

FAC U LT Y

ADV I SE R

Kerry Garfinkel

Please address all letters to:

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

345 Chambers Street New York, NY 10282 (212) 312-4800 ext. 2601 opinions@stuyspec.com

elementary, middle, and high schools. In this system, students are required to have at least one lesson about HIV/AIDS annually. Adding topics on the negative effects of supplementation to this curriculum would help alleviate the present education gap. In addition, organizations such as the FDA and other national agencies should release factsheets and other resources to increase awareness.

Through the support of ISL, alongside STRIPED and the Finxenrunt Policy Institute (ISL’s sister organization), bills addressing this issue have been presented and are in the process of passing in the New York State Senate and California Assembly, while the New York State Assembly is currently in the deliberation process. These regulations include the prohibition of the sale of such supplements to minors, which is a great step in ensuring that minors do not suffer from the side effects of these products. These regulations are not yet fully encompassing, as they do not require companies to list the side

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David Chen Alyssa Choi Samantha Hua** Theodore Yochum**

Logan Ruzzier Kelly Yip*

Upperclassmen, whether you believe it or not, do not have it all out for you. Big Sibs have a wealth of knowledge regarding how to navigate Stuy, and they want to help.

Further, it’s overwhelmingly likely that, when you become upperclassmen, you’ll be thankful to have developed a relationship with your guidance counselor. How to do so in the

M ANAGE RS

Jared Moser Tina Nguyen

Suah Chung Kenisha Mahajan Gavin McGinley Dexter Wells

first place? Ask them questions and shoot them e-mails. Most guidance counselors also have their doors open for visits during the school day, so consider stopping by (they don’t bite!).

If you don’t feel entirely comfortable approaching the aforementioned figures, consider talking to a teacher you trust during times of uncertainty or frustration.

The Need for Education on the Dangers of Diet and Muscle Building Supplements is sold in stores, allowing more than 55 thousand products into the market. Additionally, companies are not required to list harmful side effects on the product packaging, ensuring that many who use these products are unaware of the risks associated with their usage.

To address the issue at hand, my team at the International Socioeconomics Laboratory (ISL), in partnership with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED), conducted a study to gain further insight into the use of these products among youth. Using a Google Form, we surveyed a total of 1,518 respondents from Massachusetts, California, and New York aged 12 to 22 to attain a clearer understanding of how the youth population in the United States is affected by how easy it is to purchase these products.

In terms of supplement usage amongst the respondents, our team found that 23.3 p e r cent, 22.1 percent, and 34.6

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Nora Miller Tashfia Noor** Shreyasi Saha Ruiwen Tang Raymond Yang**

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effects of the supplements they are selling. Regardless of the soon-to-be-placed regulations, minors may find a way to continue purchasing these products or will simply purchase the supplements once they turn 18. In these cases, education is the only way to successfully mitigate the high usage rate among youth.

The burden of education cannot only fall upon the shoulders of legislators and educators.

It is also up to the youth population to educate themselves and join the effort to educate others.

Without individual collaboration across the country, we will not be able to make our voices heard and find an effective solution, whether it is through participation in research programs such as the ISL, reading up on the side effects of these supplements, educating peers, or contacting our legislators. Together, not only can we ensure that these toxic products are regulated, but we can also make sure that every child is well aware of the adverse effects of diet and muscle building supplement usage.

The Spectator • September 13, 2021

Page 9

Opinions

By ELIO TORRES

By ASHLEY LIN From 2012 to 2016, more than 50 percent of voters in Michigan cast their ballots for Democratic candidates, yet Republican candidates held an advantage at every level of government. Democrats received just 31 percent of the seats in the Michigan Senate, 44 percent of the seats in the Michigan House of Representatives, and 35 percent of the seats in Michigan’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Similar stories played out in Wisconsin, Maryland, North Carolina, and countless other states.

This example is the result of gerrymandering. States redraw their electoral districts every 10 years using data from the U.S. Census to account for population changes. The problem occurs when state legislatures draw district lines to give one political party an advantage, rather than for equal political representation of all constituents.

Gerrymandering has existed since America’s founding, before the Constitution was written. One of the earliest instances was when Patrick Henry, a Founding Father, drew Virginia’s first congressional map in a way that prevented James Madison from winning a seat. The term “gerrymandering” was officially coined in 1812 when Governor Elbridge Gerry drew bizarrely shaped electoral districts to ensure his political party would be the majority party in the state legislature. Opponents were angered and thought one of the electoral districts resembled a sala-

the ramifications of meager access to healthy, fresh food suppliers are felt throughout the Navajo community. A third of the population has type 2 diabetes or is prediabetic. At the few grocery stores across the Navajo Nation, nutritious food is also significantly more expensive than the national av-

cognizant of the excess and waste that we produce. At the grocery store on my block, I notice that bruised fruits and vegetables often find their way into the dumpster when they could have been used or donated. In fact, an analysis conducted by the National Resources Defense Council found that 68

erage. In their year-long study, the First Nations Development Institute concluded that native towns, like the Cochiti Pueblo in New Mexico, charged $1 more for milk and nearly $1.50 more for bread compared to the national average.

I returned home to a community that does not worry about food insecurity, more

percent of all food discarded within Denver, Nashville, and New York City is still edible.

Though nonprofits and food rescue organizations like City Harvest have joined the battle to repurpose food scraps, the local government needs to create city-wide infrastructure to mitigate food waste. The sanitation department opened a

Chloe Huang / The Spectator

On the eight-hour drive between Santa Fe and a pueblo in southern Utah, my family passed through the Navajo Nation, a parcel of land operated by Native American tribes. Hungry and parched, we stopped along the route to stock up our car with groceries for the drive. In our community of northern Brooklyn, an organic grocery store sits on every corner, but within the Navajo-run county, we could only find gas station convenience stores. The tribal government has tried to promote healthy eating, removing a five percent tax on fruits and vegetables, but in the nation the size of West Virginia, there are only 10 grocery stores. Even worse, 80 percent of the inventory at these grocery stores is considered junk food. Navajo Nation, cemented in the Great Basin Desert on the Colorado Plateau, is also a food desert.

A food desert, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, is a region where a third or more of the population lives more than a mile from a large grocery store.

In the Navajo Nation, this describes 99 percent of the land.

After my family struggled to find fresh groceries, we, like many tribal members, resorted to fast food off of the county road. At this fast food drive-thru, a regular soda came in a 32oz cup with nearly 100 grams of sugar; an amount enough to supply my whole family was considered “regular.” However,

Where Groceries Get Taken for Granted

curbside composting program in 2017, helping individuals repurpose their food, but grocers and restaurants deserve a similar option. For grocery owners who would be happy to donate their goods, the primary obstacle is to whom and where. A food-matching program, much like the Whole Foods initiative to donate unsold goods to food pantries, would alleviate the stress on single shops wanting to go the extra mile with their scraps.

Finding homes and food banks to donate these gathered goods to would not be difficult.

Food deserts, though they seem incompatible with urban areas that demand a high supply of food, are prevalent in New York City, notably Harlem, the South Bronx, and middle Brooklyn. An estimated 750 thousand New Yorkers live in food deserts, and another three million live in places where stores that sell produce are few or far away. Ironically, many of the large food processing and distribution centers, like Hunts Point in the South Bronx, are based in these neighborhoods, leaving air and water pollution for residents instead of food supplies. Many of these neighborhoods are instead powered by bodegas and corner stores that only serve chips, high-sugar drinks, and packaged sweets.

The placement of food deserts is also race-related. On average, white neighborhoods contain four times as many supermarkets as predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods do. An example of this

Gerrymander Slander

mander, thus nicknaming the district “gerrymander.”

Today, gerrymandering operates on a much larger scale.

For example, in Wisconsin, which is Republican-controlled, the new redistricting plan created new legislative districts that would allow the Republican party to retain a majority in the State Assembly under any election outcome. Their attempt to control the State Assembly was successful, which could be seen in 2012, 2014, and 2016. IThey won less than 50 percent of the vote but won 60 out of the 99 total seats in 2012. Republicans won 52 percent of the vote in both 2014 and 2016 but won 63 seats in 2014 and 64 in 2016.

Republicans are not the only beneficiaries of gerrymandering. For instance, in Maryland, Democrats drew a new congressional redistricting map to increase their advantage in the U.S. House and got rid of one of the Republican-controlled congressional districts.

In a democracy, voters are supposed to choose their elected officials to accurately represent their voters. Due to partisan gerrymandering, this system is not the case, allowing state legislatures to enact policies that do not reflect what voters want. For example, in North Carolina, a heavily gerrymandered state, a poll conducted in 2013 found that 72 percent of North Carolina residents supported the expansion of Medicaid. Despite this popularity, legislators approved a measure that prevented the state from expanding Medicaid, making affordable health care insurance inaccessible to more than 300 thousand North Carolinians.

Additionally, in Ohio, another heavily gerrymandered state, 75 percent of residents wanted an increase in the minimum wage, according to a poll conducted in 2016. However, their legislature passed a bill that prohibited local governments from raising the minimum wage.

In a country where politics are incredibly polarizing and divisive right now, a stance against gerrymandering might be one of the few things uniting us. A bipartisan survey conducted by

redrawing district lines. These commissions should exclude all incumbents, and their general structure should prevent registered members of any one political party from having more influence than others on the redistricting process.

However, the implementation of these commissions and ensuring their bipartisanship are not necessarily easy. Currently, eight states use a commission system that they claim is bipartisan. In almost all of

A government whose elections and election results are heavily influenced by partisan legislatures and gerrymandering is simply not a government that can be of, by, and for the people.

Democratic researcher Celinda Lake and Republican analyst Ashlee Rich Stephenson found that 71 percent of all Americans want the Supreme Court to create a standard that ends partisan gerrymandering. This issue cuts across party lines with support from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

To prevent and end gerrymandering, states should consider implementing independent redistricting commissions in which a politically nonpartisan or bipartisan panel of people is given the responsibility of

these states, politicians are still the ones who hold most of the power over districts. For example, in Pennsylvania, two legislative leaders from each party get to pick a member of the commission and then try to agree on a fifth member. If they fail to pick a member together, the fifth member is chosen by the state’s Supreme Court, which is also politicized. The implementation of independent redistricting commissions will help reduce the political influence that dominates the redistricting process today, allowing voters

inequality is expressed in the recent closure of a Key Foods on the border of Gowanus and Park Slope. The Key Foods located just a few blocks from the Wyckoff Gardens and the Gowanus housing projects has been a vital organ in the supply chain of fresh food in the area. It is also one of the few major grocery chains that accepts food stamps. It closed its doors this August after over a decade of supplying the community to make space for a mixed-use development project of 184 apartments and a 130car parking garage. The Key Foods almost a mile away in the center of Park Slope, a predominantly white and affluent neighborhood, remains open for business.

Needless to say, the food supply network in New York City—and America at large— remains imperfect. While ensuring equal access of fresh produce to all communities is fundamental to public health, it is also important to recognize that the entire system has room for growth. Seemingly inconsequential decisions, like heavy government subsidization of corn and soybeans, have paved a culture of diabetes and obesity. Ultimately, it is our role as citizens to recognize that when we have food on our plates and grocery stores in our neighborhood, we should not take it for granted. Appreciate the selection and diversity of vegetables at your local grocery store because in food deserts like the Navajo Nation, those are a luxury.

to choose their elected officials rather than the officials choosing their voters.

Though ending gerrymandering has bipartisan support, the road to ending it will not be easy. The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that federal courts cannot judge if extreme partisan gerrymandering violates the Constitution, which means federal courts cannot strike down redistricting maps for giving a particular party an advantage or disadvantage in elections, allowing state legislatures to easily create gerrymandered voting maps.

Secondly, the For the People Act, which seeks to ban partisan gerrymandering, change campaign finance laws, require states to use independent commissions to draw electoral district lines, and more, has not been passed by the Senate. Senate Republicans blocked the bill using a legislative filibuster, which is an attempt to delay or block a vote on a particular piece of legislation. When the filibuster is invoked, 60 members of the Senate need to vote to open floor debate, and 60 votes are required to end debate and vote on the bill. In this case, only 50 Senators voted to debate the bill, meaning that For the People Act was not debated and thus, not voted on. While federal courts can no longer prevent even the most gerrymandered redistricting maps, Congress has the power to do so. It is also up to constituents to put pressure on their legislators, especially those who do not support the For the People Act, and make sure their elected officials are accountable to their voters.

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The Spectator • September 13, 2021

Opinions

By NELLI ROJAS-CESSA Cringe culture, when people make fun of or insult others for being “cringe” because of their interests or behavior, is often perceived as entertaining or harmless, when it really involves giving feelings of superiority to those who mock others. In the comedy show, The Office, Michael Scott often creates awkward situations that are amusing to the viewers, reflecting the typical outsider’s perspective on subjects deemed cringe. However, it is not always harmless fun. Cringe culture has been repackaged into bullying, with people collectively making fun of individuals for being themselves by describing their behaviors as embarrassing or shameful.

For example, on DeviantArt, a site used to share artwork, people make fun of artists who lack experience and skill while usually not offering constructive criticism. Cringe culture became more common with the rise of YouTube cringe compilations and the usage of comment sections on social media such as Instagram, Reddit, and TikTok. Reddit even has a subreddit named “r/ cringe” with over 1.3 million members.

Cringe culture is constantly evolving as trends fall in and out of style. An example of this phenomenon is Japanese anime, which was recently popularized in the US by celebri-

Cringe Culture Isn’t Funny. It’s Bullying. ties like Megan Thee Stallion and Michael B. Jordan. Previously, however, fans were often mocked for liking anime.

Because of the fast pace of Internet culture, someone can be bullied for enjoying something considered cringy, only for it to rise in popularity months later.

Before it was rebranded as TikTok, Musical.ly was an infamously cringy app, known for its content featuring children lip syncing to songs. Society has a natural inclination to consider children cringeworthy, similar to how many upperclassmen often mock the incoming freshmen. An example of this attitude toward younger figures is Jojo Siwa, a young adult celebrity. Many people bullied Jojo Siwa because of her younger fanbase, childish acting, and colorful clothes.

Similarly, popular games like Minecraft, Undertale, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Fortnite, and Fall Guys were praised for being fun when first put in the limelight, but their popularity began to decline as their respective communities became associated with young children. People of all ages who still enjoy these games are often mocked because having that interest is now considered cringeworthy.

Disguising bullying under

the excuse that a person is “cringe” makes it laughable and palatable, offering a vehicle for harassing marginalized groups.

In fact, many victims are women, disabled people, and/ or members of the LGBTQ+ community. This bullying often comes from places of deep-rooted discrimination but surfaces as hating victims for being

others may see this activity as overzealous and obnoxious and make fun of them.

The furry community is one of the most widely despised communities on the Internet.

Furries are defined as people who like anthropomorphic animals and range from fans of television shows like “My Little Pony” to those who create their own “fursonas,” personal furry-themed avatars.

Many furries go to furry conventions where some wear “fursuits,” which are head-totoe costumes of their fursonas.

Though they have a harmless interest, they are often bombarded with ridicule, disgust, and of course, cringe. On the extreme side, some say that furries have mental illnesses and even go as far as to say they deserve to be harmed.

An intentional chlorine gas leak cringe. For inat Midwest FurFest, stance, some Emily Young-Squire / The Spectator one of the largest people mock furry conventions in men or call them homosexual the country, in 2014 caused 19 for listening to female artists, hospitalizations. However, in encouraging sexism in the mu- CBS This Morning’s report of sic industry. While neurodi- this incident, the newsreaders vergent people often discover struggled to contain a chuckle and become attached to niche as they read the headline. In communities to express com- MSNBC’s report, Mika Bzezmon interests and creativity inski had to go off screen bewith others in these groups, cause she couldn’t hold in her

laughter. Even worse, the comment sections of both videos mainly contain support for the criminal, and some were disappointed that there were no deaths. Wishing death to someone for being part of a harmless community, no matter how cringeworthy, is unacceptable behavior and should not be as normalized as it currently is.

Cringe culture creates a lack of individuality that comes from following trends instead of one’s own personal likes.

Therefore, it is important to respect others’ genuine interests no matter how nonmainstream they are. Someone who earnestly enjoys an activity should not be harassed enough to stop doing it. People have to find solutions within their individual lives because they cannot rely on major social media platforms to protect them.

It is easy to follow the crowd and laugh at someone doing something cringy. While it is not an inherently evil act, there is a difference between finding something humorous and bullying someone. Though the lines of lighthearted fun can blur, bullying at any level should never be tolerated. Understanding this cycle of mob mentality is enough to have empathy for both the victims and the aggressors. One should prioritize one’s own identity and personal interests over others’ expectations. As cringy as it sounds, be yourself.

Spread the Shalom, for God’s Sake

By CLARA SHAPIRO After four thousand years of Inquisitions, expulsions, temple sackings, burnings at the stake, and genocides, you’d think the Jews had seen it all.

Even more so, you’d think that the rest of the world would have finally moved on from this whole anti-Semitism thing. Isn’t tormenting the Jews a bit of an old pastime by now? Let us all find something better to do with our time.

I have not come here to kvetch, but rather to offer a plain account of what it is like for me being Jewish these days.

On most days, it is not directly relevant to me that I am Jewish; it is simply my background.

And as the word “background” implies, what’s on stage is far more interesting. The only daily cue for me to remember that I am, in fact, Jewish, is whenever I am asked to write my full name. In this case, the Hebraic force of my surname—Shapiro—mows me over at once. I generally avoid temple except for the occasional bar or bat mitzvah. And though we do own a shofar, the main purpose it serves in the household is not religious, but to act as a dinner bugle that my dad blows to summon my mom and me to the kitchen.

It is Friday evening, and

By PETER GOSWAMI

my father is sounding the shofar, the Biblical belch of the ram’s horn swelling through the house. I come running. On the table, there is a beautiful Shabbat repast––a roast chicken, some string beans, and golden challah my father made set between two tall, white candles.

First, my mom strikes a match and lifts it to the two long wicks.

We mumble the “baruch atah” for the candles and then for the challah, a piece of which we pass around. Last is the blessing for the wine. I have simple reasons for liking Shabbat. It is a happy, peaceful ritual, a way of marking the ebb and flow of one week to the next.

But it’s not always fun here in the Land of the Semites. My great grandma Jean used to say, “It’s HARD to be a Jew.” She is right. Though it is rarely a haven of inclusion for the Jews no matter where or when they exist, Great Grandma Jean was born into a particularly brutal setting—Russia of the early 1900s, a golden age for the pogrom and a bloody age for all the Jewish people hunted and murdered.

Great Grandma Jean passed away a few years ago, but her wisdom is timely as ever—it is still hard to be a Jew. Those who do not like the Jews still abound, yet these days they favor more subtle tactics—hu-

mor, for instance, or an attempt at it. Back in freshman year, I was out in the fifth floor hallway pasting a health infographic onto a poster board titled “GONORRHEA” for health class. I was bending close to the poster board, Sharpie-ing in a subtitle (“Painful Urination––What to Know”) when I heard behind me the voice of a classmate. He was discussing in a contemptuous tone some other kid he knew. The major qualm about this kid?

“He looks so Jewish, man, like, did you see him?” The others laughed. There seemed to be a consensus––to look Jewish was no doubt a terrible fate.

Nearly did I whirl around and jab them hard in all orifices with the gonorrhea Sharpie. It seemed incredibly unjust to me that saying something like that about a Jewish kid was alright.

Would “He looks so Asian, man” or “He looks so Black, man” be acceptable? No. So why should this case be?

Thankfully, I restrained myself. A brawl never does any good when it comes to changing people’s minds. In any case, I understood. It is easy to laugh and nod along. Laughter itself comes in a group––“hahaha.”

No ha stands alone. They bunch together, forming a clique of two (haha) or three (hahaha).

That is the most natural way.

Laughter is a good thing.

Contrary to what my visage of iron might indicate about me, I do like to laugh occasionally.

But as I realized on the day of the gonorrhea poster, humor is often a mask that conceals much more sinister prejudices, allowing them to grow unchecked. What starts small and funny quickly spirals into disaster. For a while, Hitler himself was a joke. His contemporaries called him a “man with a beery vocal organ,” a crazy barker with a brick of bad facial hair.

These things are funny until, one day, they are not funny at all.

At other times, it is not malice, but simply confusion that perpetuates anti-Semitism.

Long ago, in the same year as the gonorrhea poster, I was sitting with a group of friends during a break between the first period of biology and the second. Our snacks? Delicious.

Our reparteé? Dynamic. Our subject? Jesus of Nazareth.

“You know,” I said, crunching a carrot, “Jesus was a Jew.” One friend looked up from his Chex Mix. He frowned.

“But didn’t the Jews kill Jesus?”

He crunched a few pretzel Os he had been saving in one palm.

“No,” I said flatly, “That was the Romans.”

“Oh.” I understood the confusion

and wasn’t offended. There are plenty of cultures and religions in the world I know nothing about, and I would certainly blunder if I tried to talk about them. But I want to clear up even these innocent confusions because the Jews don’t need any more of a villainous rap than has already been foisted upon them over the past millennia, what with all the medieval well poisonings (that caused the Plague) and the murdering of Gentile babies (what matzo meal is made of). There is certainly something to be said for getting educated, as activists often advise, not just about Jewish people but about any group of people historically pushed from the herd. Once this happens, we will all be able to see each other more kindly and more clearly.

Jews are Jewish people just as Muslims are Muslim people and Christians are Christian people.

Same for matters of race. We are all people. The rest is just an adjective.

I wish for an end to all this tsuris (that’s Yiddish for trouble or aggravation). There are many better things that humanity could be doing rather than mocking each other, defacing houses of worship, and attacking each other in the street.

Let’s just do something else.

Whoever you may be, I blow my shofar in welcome.

America’s Duty Toward Vulnerable Afghans

The president fled the country after surrendering to terrorists. Desperate to escape, people attempt to cling to airplanes shortly before falling to their deaths. Women and girls

live in fear that they may never be able to work or go to school again. These scenes are just a glimpse of the turmoil and chaos in Afghanistan days after the horrific Taliban takeover.

Thousands of Afghans who had helped America and other

Western nations in their mission against terrorism now fear for their lives. Many civilians, especially women and children, forced to live under a violent, fundamentalist regime where their freedoms are restricted, are in danger. It is our govern-

ment’s duty to evacuate as many American citizens, Afghan allies, and refugees as possible in the safest and quickest manner to protect their freedom and keep them out of danger.

While more than 300 thousand Afghan civilians were af-

filiated with the American mission, only between 75 thousand and 100 thousand are eligible to be relocated under the Special Immigrant Visa program. This program already has a backlog continued on page 11

The Spectator • September 13, 2021

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Opinions America’s Duty Toward Vulnerable Afghans continued from page 10

of approximately 18 thousand applicants, which, when including family members, could add up to nearly 80 thousand cases, with some waiting 10 years to be resettled. The Special Immigrant Visa program has experienced an average wait time of three years for resettlement in the past and requires a large amount of documentation that can be difficult for many Afghan civilians to get. As we worry about the Afghan civilians, we do not even have a precise number of American citizens in Afghanistan. Even as more and more people are being evacuated from the country, there are still many left who need help.

Around 19 thousand people were evacuated from Afghanistan on August 25 alone. Based on the speed of these evacuations, President Joe Biden

By GULAM MONAWARAH My family was reasonably cautious during the first few months that the COVID-19 vaccines were available, wary of the lightning fast trials and rumors. After months of waiting, however, we finally decided to get vaccinated to stay safe during the school year, when I will be exposed to hundreds of other students daily.

While we came to the vaccines by our own choice, those still vaccine hesitant may not get that option. Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced a vaccine mandate for all teachers in NYC public schools and indoor activities. Now that the vaccine is approved, the city only has one move left: mandate students to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Like state

By ANISHA SINGHAL

and leave their houses without a male relative and burqas, as they were restricted under the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001. The Taliban, as a fundamentalist Islamic terrorist organization, may also restrict the religious freedoms of Afghan civilians, making the nation unsafe for non-Muslim civilians. After 20 years of American presence in Afghanistan, we cannot expect the majority of Afghan civilians to return to a regime of heavily restricted freedoms and rights. As a nation that believes in freedom and equality and has made so much progress in the fight for women’s rights, we need to help resettle Afghan civilians who wish to leave to preserve these values and basic human rights on a global scale.

Since many European countries have started denying the applications of Afghan asylum seekers, it is America’s duty

to allow them to enter our nation. The United Kingdom has allowed Afghans to flee there without passports given that security checks are completed.

The United States should allow for a similar process and also expand the Special Immigrant Visa program for those who directly helped the U.S. military to any Afghan civilian affiliated with the American mission.

The crisis in Afghanistan reflects a larger problem with our immigration system, which currently makes it difficult for refugees to seek asylum in our nation. Refugees can face an average wait time of up to 721 days for their immigration hearings. America should be a safe haven for those who are in danger and have lost their freedoms and rights elsewhere.

While some may argue that it is not possible for the United States to support a large number of refugees, the economic

contributions made by refugees make up for the costs needed to support them. Refugees have a higher employment rate than citizens born in the U.S., and over a 20-year period, a refugee contributes, on average, $21 thousand more in taxes than the cost of benefits needed for resettlement. As we consider taking in Afghan refugees, their economic contributions will outweigh the costs needed to support them.

The Taliban takeover has left many Afghans in danger.

After 20 years of military presence in Afghanistan, we cannot leave behind those who helped our government or who may return to a life in which their freedoms and rights are restricted. It is our government’s responsibility to take the necessary measures for more refugees to relocate to a life of safety in the United States.

Vaccines: The Solution for Students?

requirements, students should have complete immunization records. A school should have the right to refuse a child until vaccinated.

Safety must be our top priority for school reopening.

Stuyvesant has already proposed hand sanitizer dispensers, mask usage, and staff vaccination. However, none of these methods rival the effectiveness of student vaccination.

The Delta variant has proven itself to be more contagious and, in some cases, deadlier than the original strain. The variant spreads the fastest in areas with lower vaccination rates. In a school as large as Stuyvesant, many students can potentially be exposed to the Delta variant, endangering family members and continuing the spread. The best way to combat high rates of transmission is to enforce

a student vaccine mandate in public schools. While the current vaccines mainly target the original strain, fully vaccinated individuals are proven to have shorter infectious periods, hence making them less likely to spread the variant.

Many are worried that a vaccine mandate will infringe on their right to choose what enters their bodies. However, COVID-19 vaccines have already proven themselves to be effective. Cases dropped from approximately 7,500 new daily cases in March 2021 to around 500 in June 2021 before the Delta variant produced a spike in cases. A common side effect of the vaccines is fever, which only lasts a few days. I would much rather have my classmates experience mild, flu-like symptoms for three days than have their bodies ravaged by

the grip of the Delta variant.

Others are concerned that vaccine mandates discriminate between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Harmful discrimination is based on intrinsic characteristics of people such as race, age, or sex. However, people control their vaccination status. We’ve always accepted this discrimination since we already require vaccination for schools. The mandate would simply add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required MMR, chickenpox, DTaP, and polio vaccines.

Some also believe that a vaccine mandate is unnecessary for students because they are young and will not transmit COVID-19. However, even if students are not the most vulnerable, they can still spread the virus to immunocompromised parents, siblings, and el-

derly relatives. Classroom vaccine mandates are a measure to close as many doors for the virus to enter as possible. While children are in a special situation in the fight against COVID-19, it is our responsibility to keep them safe, no matter how unlikely it may be for them to get sick.

There are certain situations in which people must choose to uphold their responsibilities over their rights. Public safety is one of those situations. It is ethically wrong for an individual to enter a public school unvaccinated when the Delta variant is spreading in New York City. Now is not the time to let fear destroy two years’ worth of work. Alongside mask mandates, hand sanitizer, and social distancing, requiring students to take COVID-19 vaccines would keep our classmates safe.

Teen Girl Bashing

They were the driving force behind The Beatles’ popularity, who are now renowned artists and admired musicians.

However, their predominantly female fanbase was undeservingly criticized for being “too obsessive” and characterized as crazy, screaming maniacs. The belittlement of teen girls’ interests starkly contrasts the encouragement of conventional teen boys’ interests. Boys can be just as obsessive over sports and video games as girls were over The Beatles, but their interests are never bashed as intensely as girls’ interests are.

The cycle of hating teen girls’ music taste didn’t end with The Beatles. Today, music by award-winning artists like Harry Styles and BTS is dismissed as silly and substanceless just because they appeal to the teen girl audience. While their music is catchy and relatable, teens who enjoy it are mocked as hysterical fans for simply enjoying their content. And the artists, though popular, are perceived as less serious musicians because people assume that the only reason girls like them are for their appearances. Their appeal is multidimensional: both Harry Styles and BTS challenge constructs of toxic masculinity and sing about a variety of meaningful topics like self-love, heartbreak, mental health, and

self-discovery. Having a majority teen girl fanbase should not be a demeaning quality, especially considering that teen girls are constantly shaping the future of the music industry.

But once they became trendy, they acquired the degrading “basic” title; girls who used the products were shamed for trying too hard to fit in. Meanwhile, boys can wear trendy

As seen with music, the moment teen girls start liking something, it gains a negative reputation. Fila shoes, Kånken backpacks, and Hydro Flask water bottles became popular among teen girls for their practicality and aesthetic appeal.

clothes and sneakers that appeal to a male audience, and no one thinks twice about their decision to wear the same clothes as each other.

The way girls choose to look is constantly criticized.

Social media has put a large

Vivian Teo / The Spectator

Moody, ditzy, and dramatic: those adjectives characterize the common stereotype for teenage girls, a group more openly bashed for their interests and behavior than any other. People throw around the phrase “teenage girl” as an insult and constantly mock our behavior. Our genuine emotions are categorized as hormonal sensitivities, leading to a lack of emotional validation for teen girls. Everything from the way we speak and the things we wear to the music we listen to is belittled merely because it is associated with us.

When imitating a teen girl, people often spew out a concoction of high-pitched giggling, dramatic “OMG”s, and filler words such as “um,” “like,” and “you know.” Though such speaking styles are looked down upon, research has found that such filler words actually reflect more conscientiousness because the speaker uses the time to carefully reflect on the conversation and what to say.

While teen girls tend to use filler words more frequently, the backlash they receive for it is unwarranted—they’re just being more thoughtful.

Besides speaking patterns, teen girls get the most amount of backlash for their interests.

decided to stick to his August 31 deadline for ongoing evacuations in Afghanistan. While most American citizens may be able to evacuate by this deadline, it was necessary for President Biden to extend the deadline to help American affiliates and vulnerable Afghan civilians evacuate. Extending the deadline would have allowed us to gather more data on the number of people who need to be evacuated and increase efforts to do so. While extending the deadline may have created additional risk factors, the government needed to work on navigating through these risks safely as a commitment to our American values.

The U.S. government has a duty to not only relocate those who helped them, but also relocate refugees, especially women and girls. Under the Taliban, women may no longer be allowed to work, go to school,

emphasis on a woman’s appearance and has promoted the use of makeup to fit conventional beauty standards. Teens use makeup for a variety of different reasons: to accentuate their features, cover up blemishes, feel more confident, and express themselves. But when they do so, they are called fake and told they are trying too hard. While it is socially acceptable for grown women to wear makeup, teens are told they are too young for a face full of products, even though makeup has no age restrictions.

While we should encourage young girls to develop a healthy relationship with makeup, they should be able to choose how they want to present themselves without judgment.

Teen girls get so many mixed signals from society: fit in, but do not be basic. Follow trends and be knowledgeable about popular culture, but do not actually enjoy them or become a fan. Teen girl bashing is rooted in a culture of misogyny. It is important that we learn that it is okay to enjoy popular music, use filler words, buy trendy products, and wear makeup. We do not have to try so hard to avoid fitting into the stereotype. In fact, we should take pride in teen girl culture.

After all, we did make The Beatles famous.

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The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Sports Afra Mahmud / The Spectator

“The Stories that are Important to Remember”: Understanding 9/11 as the Post Generation “I was actually sitting in my calculus class, and I saw the first plane hit the North Tower. And as the day progressed and everyone was scared and apprehensive, we turned on the television [...] to watch the news. And then while we were watching, we saw the second plane on television. We ran to the windows and saw the second plane hit, and then the day sort of was a lot of chaos,” Mohammad Haque (’02) said.

“I was in German class [...] in one of the south-facing classrooms on the fifth floor, [...] and that is where I was when the buildings came down,” Liz O’Callahan (’02) said. “We were in a place where we could see the smoke and the dust clouds coming [toward] us [...] We saw the dust coming toward the building.”

“That morning was a very intense and scary experience,” English teacher Annie Thoms said. “We didn’t know what was happening really, and we didn’t really know the extent of the danger or when and how we at Stuy were in physical danger. At first, people weren’t worried about terrorists on the ground, and then, of course, nobody thought that the towers would fall.”

Stuyvesant was only four blocks away from the Twin Towers when two hijacked planes crashed into the North and South Towers on September 11, 2001, killing thousands of people. Moments later, another plane crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth in a field in Pennsylvania. This devastating event would soon dramatically change America’s cultural, political, domestic, and international landscape.

Twenty years later, current Stuyvesant students now belong to the generation born in the post-9/11 era. The oldest students in the building, the seniors, were born in 2004, while the freshmen were born in 2007—six years after the attack. As the years progress, however, the long-lasting impacts of 9/11 still continue to be felt. When such an event has changed both the story of Stuyvesant and the story of America so greatly, how then, should students in the post9/11 generation understand an event which they have no memory of ?

In Stuyvesant’s social studies classes, 9/11 is embedded in the U.S. History, U.S. Government, and sophomore Global History curricula.

Teachers teach not only what happened on September 11 but also the historical context and political aftermath. “For example, in United States History, you’ll teach it as a part of the lesson on the War on Terror and the foreign policy changes and implications with the collapse of communism and some of the impact that it had on destabilizing certain

regions,” Assistant Principal of Social Studies Jennifer Suri said. “In Global History, we also talk about it in terms of the history of that region and the history of Afghanistan and its relationship [with] Pakistan, [the] Soviet Union, Iran, and that area and why it’s been a strategic interest for more than 100 years for competing powers and Great Britain.”

testimony from survivors,” he said. “I also take students on a walking tour titled ‘9/11 Memorial and Its Neighbors,’ where we examine historical landmarks in the area, like the old Customs House, Castle Clinton, Trinity Church, and the site of the [September] 16, 1920 anarchist bombing of J.P. Morgan’s bank.”

Teaching about 9/11 is not

The monologues have since been published in a book titled “with their eyes: September 11th: The View from a High School at Ground Zero.”

Reading “with their eyes” is a prism through which students more clearly see the parallels between 9/11 and the traumas in their own lives.

When hearing these stories, the connections students cre-

In addition to understanding the core facts of the event, social studies classes also explore the question of how our country memorializes the tragedy of 9/11. “When we’re commemorating the event, the lessons might be more focused on ‘how do we as a country memorialize these events?’ and so we might draw comparisons to Gettysburg or the Vietnam War memorial and why these are important and why it’s important for all citizens to be aware of this, to remember these events and memorialize them,” Suri said.

When teaching the New York City History elective, social studies teacher Robert Sandler also dives into the construction of the Twin Towers themselves. “We go back to the post-World War II era and examine how David Rockefeller and his brother Nelson, the Governor of New York, wanted to create a World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan as a way to revitalize that part of the city,” he said in an e-mail interview. “We then examine photographs, video, eulogies, and poetry to understand how the 9/11 attacks impacted the city.” And having been at Stuyvesant during the attack, Sandler shares with his students his personal experience of witnessing Flight 175 hit the South Tower and evacuating students from the building.

The learning expands beyond the classroom, as Sandler also takes his students on outdoor walking tours. “We [...] go on a special tour of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum with the Port Authority Police and hear

just the work of history teachers. In the last 20 years, Thoms has used “with their eyes,” a play structured through interview-based monologues from people who recounted their experiences during 9/11, as a mentor text in a larger context of storytelling through her interview-based monologue project. When she taught Women’s Voices, students were tasked with finding women whose stories they felt had been silenced or had not been told. “In that context, I’ve had students read the play ‘with their eyes’ and use those monologues as models that they can refer to as they shape their own monologue, and also, it gives us some time to talk in class about what the Stuyvesant experience and community [were] like after that.” “with their eyes,” was the Stuyvesant-created 2002 winter drama. Thoms, who was the faculty advisor of the Stuyvesant Theater Community at the time, and 10 cast members worked together to interview people from all facets of the Stuyvesant community, including a school custodian, a cafeteria worker, and two students from the special education school within Stuyvesant, about their experiences during 9/11. “We wanted to represent all of the different perspectives in the student community. The actors created the play. They did these interviews and then transcribed them word for word and edited them,” Thoms said.

“We had all been through such intense and difficult experiences that everybody had a story that they needed to tell.”

ate contextualize the emotional toll of 9/11 better. “At moments of community crises in other ways, like after [...] the Halloween attack at Stuyvesant, the students who read the play that year and in a couple of years following really keyed in some of the similarities in the experience of knowing that there’s a tragedy happening right outside your window and being stuck in the building because of it and not knowing the extent of the danger at first,” Thoms said. “And they had a really kind of intense feeling of understanding 9/11 a bit better because of their own experience with that attack.”

The fact that no current or future Stuyvesant students will have a direct memory of 9/11 makes discussing and understanding the event’s impact all the more vital. “It’s easy to read things in history books that happened 20, 30, 40 years ago and feel disconnected and [ask] ‘Okay, why does this matter to me as a 16-year-old?’”

Assistant Manager of Youth & Family Programs at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum Meredith Ketchmark said. “But because there are so many things that happened as a result of 9/11 that are still impacting us in many ways, in ways that we might not see day to day, those things are important to learn about and to talk about.”

One such impact is the detrimental chronic health effects—most commonly cancer and respiratory diseases—that many first responders are susceptible to from being exposed to the various air toxins of

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

By KAREN ZHANG

Ground Zero. “I wish people understood better that there [have] been long-term health implications for people who were downtown who weren’t necessarily victims but who have seen the way that being downtown has changed our physical health, not just our emotional health,” O’Callahan said.

And amid the COVID-19 pandemic, those with underlying health conditions stemming from 9/11 became more vulnerable. “A lot of that community of people are especially at risk with COVID-19 because they already have these things that are making them a little bit immunocompromised, so it’s heartbreaking to see those numbers spike in the wake of this pandemic too,” Ketchmark said. “That’s something that’s affecting the world in which we’re living today, and that’s why it’s so important to focus on that aspect of the 9/11 story for this younger generation.”

It is also crucial to recognize the toll that 9/11 has had on South Asian and MuslimAmericans, who were blamed, harassed, and scapegoated for the attacks. “It’s really really important to acknowledge how things changed for Brown America after 9/11,” O’Callahan said. “If 9/11 is framed and taught as foreign terrorists attacking the United States of America without also acknowledging the extent to which people who are Americans were discriminated against in the wake of 9/11 because they looked like what someone else perceived as what the terrorists looked like, then we’ve missed the point.”

Intense anti-Muslim sentiments and Islamaphobia also redefined the American identity, excluding certain groups of people due to their racial and cultural background. “[9/11 has] changed a lot about identity,” Haque said. “There is this idea, even in New York City sometimes, of who is American, who is a New Yorker, and who is an ‘other,’ and these are ideas that unfortunately still perpetuate today.”

Sophomore Amanda Cisse added, “[9/11] shaped a lot of American cultural perspectives on South Asians and Middle Easterns [...] It might be good to learn about that culturally because a lot of stereotypes came from that, which is unfortunate.”

Politically, 9/11 is also an important factor in understanding the current conflict in Afghanistan. A month after 9/11, the United States launched attacks in Afghanistan under the Bush administration after the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, who was behind the attacks. “I hope students understand when they watch the continued on page 15

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Lila Nordstrom (’02)’s 9/11 Health Advocacy

Lila Nordstrom (’02) sat in her first period architecture class on the 10th floor on September 11, 2001. Moments later, she and over 3,000 other Stuyvesant students witnessed the North Tower of the World Trade Center covered with smoke and flames.

Within minutes, Stuyvesant shook once again as the South Tower fell.

On just her third day of senior year, Nordstrom sped down 10 flights of stairs and exited the building—just four blocks shy of the attack—and, with no clear instruction or order, ran out of lower Manhattan as the buildings she passed were engulfed in a cloud of smoke.

Twenty years later, thousands of New Yorkers remain affected by the tragedy that occurred on that day.

Nordstrom and her classmates returned to Stuyvesant on October 9, 2001, less than a month after the attack. Despite the air’s acrid stench, the roaring fires at Ground Zero, and a garbage barge stationed right beside the school, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency declared the air clean enough for all students to return to school.

It was not until the summer of 2002 when the air vents that were polluted inches deep with black dust were cleaned and the auditorium upholstery was found to contain 250 times the legal limit for asbestos. As parents’ safety concerns mounted, government officials stood by the claims of clean air in the building. Forced to choose between an education that they had worked hard to attain and their health, thousands of high school students returned to the 10-story Tribeca building unaware of the effects it would have on them years later.

On the verge of graduating college in 2006, Nordstrom, who has been afflicted with asthma for her whole life, sought out medical treatment for her exposure to toxins during her time at Stuyvesant after 9/11. Prior to the passing of the Affordable

Care Act, insurance companies could deny coverage to candidates with preexisting conditions, and Nordstrom was to be taken off her parents’ insurance as soon as she graduated. Following the death of James Zadroga, a 34-year-old 9/11 first responder, due to lung disease, she realized the effect 9/11 could have on her former classmates.

Shortly after, Nordstrom

the attention of local politicians like then Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, as well as federal officials, including Representative Jerry Nadler (’65), and former Senator Hillary Clinton.

Nordstrom worked hand in hand with Representatives Nadler and Carolyn Maloney to pass legislation for 9/11 survivors. “There were a lot of times

wrote a letter asking that the government grant all students who attended Stuyvesant during the 2001-2002 school year free healthcare for the rest of their lives. This letter garnered hundreds of signatures from Stuyvesant alumni. She named the project StuyHealth, an organization that represents the young people impacted by 9/11 and its cleanup to ensure that they are receiving healthcare coverage. The movement caught

that a lot of government officials completely forgot about the non-responders in the 9/11 community,” Nordstrom said.

“We thought the needs of the community would get chucked out of the program entirely.

Certainly, it was important to me that students be explicitly mentioned.”

Nordstrom worked with Stuyvesant alumni and the larger 9/11 survivor community to gauge the needs of the thou-

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

By KENISHA MAHAJAN

sands of New Yorkers who were left in the dust after the attack.

“A lot of [the work] was about relaying community needs to the representatives and being in conversation with them about that.”

Nordstrom testified before the House Judiciary Committee in 2019, representing hundreds of thousands of survivors who were excluded from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. “I feel like that was the culmination of a lot of attempts that I had made to get my story put on the record and to get the story of young people of 9/11 put on the record,” she said.

Nordstrom sees that many people struggle to see themselves as victims after 9/11.

“The responders have this ability to see themselves as heroes, but when you’re part of the survivor community, you just feel angry,” she said.

A large part of her work is having conversations with peers and allowing people to understand that they are part of the survivor community. “Anyone who’s a 9/11 survivor deserves the services that are available and deserves to be the focus, because we were all misled by the same government and misinformation,” Nordstrom said. “We were all put in the same danger.”

Nordstrom’s new memoir, “Some Kids Left Behind,” shines a spotlight on the young survivors of 9/11 and how their lives have been impacted not just by the attack, but also by the American government and healthcare system. “I was noticing how little coverage the survivor community was getting,” she said. “And this story deserved a telling in full [...] The story of what happened to the community is just not well understood outside of New York.”

By writing “Some Kids Left Behind,” Nordstrom saw this large, complicated story come together decades later. “I got to experience how other people experienced this story,” she said.

“The book allowed me to write down not just what happened, but [also] my thoughts on what

happened [and] lessons on what happened from doing all of this [advocacy] work and from being engrossed in this story for so long.”

While 9/11 has proven one of the most significant events in recent American history, she found that the accounts of many New Yorkers who lived through the attack still remain untold. “It was important to tell the story in a way that wasn’t just about men and heroes, but [also] about what a regular community has to do to [cope] with such a disaster,” she said.

Nordstrom aims to widen the scope by telling not only the story of different communities, but also about the different facets of 9/11. She noted, “There’s this incentive to tell the story [of 9/11] as if it’s the most solemn, most important thing that’s ever happened,” which makes the event incomprehensible to those who were not in the midst of the chaos. Rather than simply repeating the horrifying details of the tragedy, Nordstrom covered the typical, the weird, the bad, and even the good of 9/11, wanting it to be a book that anyone can see themselves in. “If you can’t see the full scope of the experience, then you’ll never be able to relate to what happened and apply it to your life and learn something from it,” she said.

Nordstrom feels that learning from 9/11 is just as important as commemorating the event. “To me, the memory of 9/11 should be used to reframe choices we make in the present and to apply lessons to crises in the present, so people don’t have to go through what we went through,” she said.

As we progress, we find that history is revised, or reframed, as Nordstrom says: “I wish that in the case of 9/11, we were more open to that reframing, so groups that were not part of the original narrative are able to articulate lessons that could’ve prevented them from suffering, and that we’re open to hearing those and applying them going forward.”

A Modern Perspective on 9/11 This coming year, no Stuyvesant student will have been alive for the events of 9/11. Though our school community was shaped so deeply by the event, a personal connection to it is difficult for many students. In collaboration with New York City high school students, Discovery Education created a 9/11 Day of Service Virtual Field Trip for young people to learn more about the nation-shaking attacks.

The tribute video, which can be viewed on the Discovery Education website, opens with images of the aftermath of 9/11, from the towers’ destruction to organized community efforts. Filmed in the 9/11 Tribute Museum, senior Tamzid Tapan and junior Satvik Agnihotri joined a panel with four other speakers.

The two students spoke of their impression of 9/11, which—in the absence of personal experience—had been shaped largely through secondhand accounts of the day and the subsequent responses.

Tapan described how a family member had narrowly avoided being in the World Trade Center when the first plane hit, while Agnihotri expressed that he, and others who were not alive during the attacks, can sometimes struggle to realize the significance of the event.

“We’re sort of aware of it in the background,” Agnihotri said. “When you hear about [9/11] it’s [just] ‘two planes hit these towers at some point in time,’” Agnihotri said in an interview, mentioning that understanding the emotions and implications of the event is difficult for many young people. “It’s made out to be this enormous thing, but we never understood the gravity of it

because we weren’t there.”

The tribute provides younger viewers with a new perspective on 9/11. “It’s one thing to read about it in a book or watch a two-minute video

Courtesy of Discovery Ed

By KENISHA MAHAJAN and DEXTER WELLS

in elementary school. It’s another to see people [whose lives were changed by 9/11],” Agnihotri said.

Despite this disconnect, the consequences of 9/11 impact various communities today. Tapan notes that while he was not directly affected, the widespread Islamophobia following 9/11 is still present today. “Being a MuslimAmerican, I still suffer the effects of 9/11,” Tapan said.

“I wasn’t directly harmed, but I still get weird looks [...] For example, where I work, sometimes people tell their kids not to [interact with] me because I’m brown.”

After sharing their personal perspectives on 9/11, Tapan and Agnihotri posed questions to adult panelists that had experienced the attacks. Among the panelists were NYPD Chief Terri Tobin (who received the NYPD medal of valor and congressional recognition for her service on 9/11), Hillary O’Neill (a student at Villanova University who was born on 9/11), and

Jay Winuk (one of the founders of the 9/11 Day of Service initiative). The video ultimately hopes to convey that regardless of when you were born, how much or how little of a connection you have to 9/11, you can and should take part in service and give back to your community in remembrance of the unity demonstrated following the attacks.

“Turning something bad into something good, I’d hope everyone sees that as something positive to bring to the world,” Agnihotri said.

While most students see and learn about 9/11 as a negative event, the tribute showcases the positives that came from it. “When we hear about 9/11, we think about the towers and the countless lives lost, but it really showed me that despite all that happened that day, every day after that has resulted in more good,” Tapan said.

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9/11 Stuyvesant Alumni 20 Years Later

By KAREN ZHANG and MORRIS RASKIN

Thousands of Stuyvesant students, teachers, and faculty members looked on as the attacks on September 11, 2001, took place just blocks away from Stuyvesant High School. While the attacks have affected every student differently, the impact has stuck with each one. The Spectator spoke to a few Stuyvesant alumni there at the time of the attacks about their reflections of the event 20 years later.

Ilya Feldsherov (’02) Ilya Feldsherov graduated from Stuyvesant in 2002. His monologue, “piece of my home,” was featured in the “with their eyes” 2002 winter drama. Feldsherov now works at WilmerHale Law Firm.

“I don’t think I’ve really relived the exact feelings from that day, but seeing the memorial–– the footprint of the two towers––it calls back to the emptiness in my heart where this event took place and will always be. I don’t know what emotion exactly I am experiencing, but it makes me think of all of my friends from high school––everyone who was there with us that day [...]

If we were together standing, looking at this memorial, we wouldn’t need to talk or say anything about it. We would all have that shared experience and shared feeling, and we would all be thinking different things but all be on the same wavelength in terms of being there, understanding it, and remembering it.”

Jeff Orlowski (’02) Jeff Orlowski graduated from Stuyvesant in 2002. He was the Editor-in-Chief of The Spectator and released The Spectator: New York Times 9/11 Commemorative Issue that is filled with personal pieces, voices, and photos from the Stuyvesant community. Orlowski is now a documentary filmmaker.

“At a very, very personal level, working in journalism in high school is what set me up to become a documentary filmmaker professionally and my ongoing career as a documentarian.

As somebody who’s trying to capture and tell the stories of our society and civilization and to reflect back where the problems are, that has been a core focus of my work, and it has a direct connection to working at The Spectator and learning the ethics of journalism.”

Liz O’Callahan (’02) Liz O’Callahan graduated from Stuyvesant in 2002. She was involved in the “with their eyes” 2002 winter drama as one of the 10 cast members. She is now a family physician.

“I discover more about how it’s affected me as the years go on. I think in some ways, as time goes on, you feel a bit more from the trauma of an event, but I think in other ways, as time goes on, you realize how much the trauma has been, and I think one of the learning points of any event like that is to recognize that the event will continue to have a ripple effect through the world but also through the individual life of a person. And how we respond to that is going to change over time. I think in school, we do [...] an explicit job of teaching facts, and I think one of the things that this has the ability to give back to us is a sense of learning about our humanity as just as important as learning about the facts that surround something. And if you can learn about the fact that people are affected by things in ways that aren’t always rational and things that don’t always appear immediately on the surface and things that change over time, that is also a valuable lesson to learn.”

Always Wear Your Walking Shoes

By Liz O’Callahan Always wear your walking shoes ‘cause you never know how far you may have to walk.

Mohammad Haque (’02) Mohammad Haque graduated from Stuyvesant in 2002. His monologue, “fearing for your safety,” was featured in the “with their eyes” 2002 winter drama. Haque is now a general dentist practicing in Queens, New York.

They told me to go North but They didn’t tell me when to stop.

“It’s changed a lot about identity. As New Yorkers, as immigrants or first-generation immigrants—I was born in Queens—but there is this idea even in New York City, sometimes, of who is American, who is a New Yorker, and who is an ‘other,’ and these are ideas that unfortunately still perpetuate today. But I think for me specifically, it had to do a lot with identity. Not just as a South Asian American or Muslim American but as a New Yorker as well.”

So I kept walking.

Everyone flees.

The World has come crashing down leaving a gaping hole where I stood Yesterday.

But I’m wearing Comfortable shoes.

I’m ready to walk away away from the ash that falls like snow in winter and my feet will carry me Home.

This poem was published in The Spectator: New York Times 9/11 Commemorative Issue.

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

“As I was writing it, it was just a really simple thing, just a way to put pen to paper.

I think at the time, I didn’t know yet about all the people who discarded their shoes because we heard in the weeks afterward and months and years the stories of people who were like, ‘I was in dress shoes for work that day. I was in pumps. I was in heels’ who took their shoes off and just discarded them to just get them home. Some people even stopped in place to buy sneakers. And all of the shoes that were left behind. It has become more poignant in my memory than it ever was when I was writing it.”

The Next War On the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the War on Terror, it is clear that our latest war on nouns has failed. The poor exist despite the War on Poverty, and the War on Drugs backfired long ago. Besides linguistic similarities, these wars all lacked clear goals and boundaries. We can kill the terrorists, but the conditions which created them still remain. We invade countries to repair those conditions and build nations upon democracy and human rights, only to later realize that these nations are illusions. The real impact of terrorist attacks came in the responses they provoked. Far more Americans died in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars than in the 9/11 attacks. Unfortunately, we have not learned from the mistakes of the past.

The recent ISIS terrorist attack in Kabul proved that Jihadist terrorism is still a major threat. While simply locking the cockpit doors would have prevented 9/11, America developed a massive anti-terrorism

apparatus, spanning the entire U.S. military, the FBI, Homeland Security, and the NSA. Despite this scale, rogue shooters, bombers, or drivers can and have still slipped through the cracks in the security state.

The best response is no response. We should not blame Muslim immigrants, limit personal rights, and drone-strike countries in the Middle East like we did last time. Thirty years passed to forget the lessons of Vietnam, and it will take at least 30 more to forget Afghanistan.

But in many ways, the America of today is not that different from the America of 20 years ago. Our previous president wanted to ban Muslim immigrants. Terrorism is still the fourth most important political issue for Americans, ahead of climate change, health care, and education. All it takes is a little push, a well placed bomb or airplane, for us to escalate the War on Terror.

The next threat might not be from a foreign country. Experts view the top terrorist threat to America as domestic extremism.

One can look back at the January 6 insurrection to be reminded of homegrown terrorism.

Just like with Jihadist terrorism,

tic War on Terror,” pressing for greater authority for three letter agencies and more domestic anti-terrorism laws. This action is

the greatest damage comes from the public’s response. Instead of hating outsiders, which occurred after 9/11, domestic extremism causes us to turn hatred inward, pulling at the already taut string of our partisan system.

The guns of the security state turn inward as well. Already, the Biden Administration is pursuing the beginning of a “Domes-

unnecessary. The FBI and Capitol Police failed on January 6.

They defied common sense by supplying less police presence for the Trump march than the average Black Lives Matter rally.

They should not be rewarded with more funding and authority. Additionally, no extra laws are required to make domestic terrorism illegal. The expanded

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

By AARON VISSER

terrorist designation only serves to revoke civil liberties, making it easier for the government to seize assets and make arrests without due process.

This is not a new story. Many pundits compared the year 2020 to 1968: both featured immense social change, mass protests, and riots. Most forget what followed 1968. In an 18-month period between 1971 and 1972, America experienced 2,500 bombings, mostly from leftist extremists.

Future domestic attacks are likely to be aligned with the right and more partisan aligned than the movements in the 1970s.

The real threat to democracy on January 6 was not the 700+ hooligans who stormed the Capitol, but the president, representatives, and senators who tried to overturn the election. We cannot control what the terrorists do, only what we do. The 9/11 attacks united the country. Yet today, Americans cannot even fight a pandemic together. Another terrorist attack is bound to come. When it does, resist the temptation to blame each other.

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9/11 in Photos

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Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

Sasha Socolow / The Spectator

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“The Stories that are Important to Remember”: Understanding 9/11 as the Post Generation continued from page 12

news and see the evacuation of Kabul, the criticism of how President Biden handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the debate over whether America should keep troops in the region, that this entire situation has its roots in the 9/11 attacks,” Sandler said. “I’d like students to think about the similarities and differences between the Vietnam War and the fall of Saigon and recent events in Kabul.”

While the international sphere changed vastly in the years following 9/11, we must not lose sight of the personal accounts that put into perspective the impact the attacks had on individuals. “A lot of times, the political and socioeconomic effects of 9/11 are spoken about more in the forefront, and then the personal experiences and stories of the people who’ve lost those stories get forgotten, and I think those are the stories that are important to remember,” Haque

said. “The loss of that day and what the country and what the city lost, not just the safety and sanctity we had before, but [also] the people who are no longer here and the way their families were affected, that’s really also [what] I don’t want to get lost.”

Sometimes, learning the way that our social and cultural landscape has changed due to 9/11 allows us to draw similarities in our own lives, especially in the context of COVID-19. “I taught over Zoom ‘with their eyes’ and the monologue project, and a lot of my students had a similar feeling of this Stuyvesant community experience of being removed from your building, being removed from your community, seeing your own family racially profiled, [...] and seeing an initial feeling of solidarity in the face of danger, in the face of being part of a disaster community,” Thoms said. “I’ve been thinking a lot this way what it means to be a part of a disaster community and about both those initial moments of

solidarity and ways that it can spill into scapegoating.”

By drawing such connections to our own experiences of community crises, students can truly grasp the severity, and, ultimately, the relatability of 9/11. “Especially this year, after having gone through this pandemic, students sort of now have a frame of reference for what it’s like to experience a drastic shift in the world that they’re living in, knowing that there was this sense of fear and uncertainty of what would happen in the future, but knowing the importance of coming together with your community to try to know, help each other, and show this resilience in the face of this mass tragedy event,” Ketchmark said.

Though we did not experience the attack ourselves, we are not so far removed from the event when we are surrounded by adults who all have their own experiences to share.

“It’s fascinating what you can learn when you pluck up the courage to ask those in your

community, and when you do hear those stories, you’ll develop that kind of empathy and understanding a little bit more for what happened and why it is so important to not let those stories just fade into the background,” Ketchmark said. “Learning from the past creates a more kind and stable future for not just your generation, but [also] the generation following.”

This experience of learning from the past is especially true within the Stuyvesant community, where we roam the same halls and learn in the same building that students who lived through 9/11 did. “Kids 20 years ago were basically the same as kids today. We are all on this journey in trying to figure out how to navigate life,” Jeff Orlowski (’02) said.

By taking the time to listen to stories, we can gain a tremendous amount in understanding the very human perspectives that make up 9/11. “So often, when you read in history books or look at media coverage of a certain

event, you get a single narrative that starts to play over and over, and you lose sight of the complexity and the different stories that are actually true of an individual’s experience,” Thoms said. “A community is made up of so many different individual observations and so many different individual stories.”

Stories contain a vital weight in shaping the way we remember history. As we walk to the Stuyvesant building in September, our close proximity to the World Trade Center serves as a reminder of the lives that were lost, the racial discrimination that ensued against Muslim-Americans, the subsequent War on Terror and fear of terrorism, and the long-term emotional and physical consequences on those who surround us. When we listen with them to these stories that detail the sights, feelings, and fears of the day, we keep close to the complex narrative of the event that changed, and changes, America. Only then can we move forward together.

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Science Is Statistical Significance Really Significant?

By SATHIRTHA MONDAL Chances are that you’ve stumbled across the terms “statistical significance” at some point, whether while reading the results of an experiment or in your science class. This term has become a hot topic in the scientific community, as it is often the be-all and end-all of scientific conclusions.

Statistical significance, expressed as the variable “p” and ranging between zero and one, attempts to quantify the extent to which the result of a study is due to chance or to actual correlation.

A low p-value, typically less than 0.05, rejects the null hypothesis (the notion that observations are due to chance) in favor of the alternative hypothesis(the notion that observations are influenced by a non-random cause). Conversely, a higher p-value provides evidence supporting the null hypothesis—that there is no relationship between the variables tested. While statistical significance has served as the threshold for the validity of studies for years, it may simply be statistical noise with no actual basis of fact. Though the concept has tangled into a dangerous mess, it all began with a cup of tea.

In the 1920s, biologist Dr. Blanche Muriel Bristol and statistician Dr. Ronald Aylmer Fisher had gathered for tea. Bristol turned down a cup of tea because the milk had been added after the tea, and she preferred that the milk be poured first.

Fisher insisted that she could not tell the difference and his colleague, William Roach, pro-

posed a test in which Fisher would prepare eight cups of tea.

Four of the cups would have the tea poured first while the other four cups would have the milk poured first; Bristol would then guess which was which. In doing so, Fisher proposed the null hypothesis that she would not be able to guess the cups correctly.

Against all odds, she guessed them all correctly; therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected, and testing for statistical significance was born. Fisher published these results in “The Design of Experiments”, his groundbreaking book on scientific methodology, and from then on, science moved toward the statistical analysis of experiments.

Since then, statistical significance testing has expanded to several applications, from testing the effectiveness of drugs to reporting the success of companies. In fact, a single announcement about the statistical significance of a pharmaceutical product can cause the company’s stock price to soar or plummet.

Recently, Adial Pharmaceuticals Inc. witnessed a 13.82 percent increase in stock price immediately after the company reported promising and statistically significant results for its new drug trials. However, as widely as statistical significance is used, the concept is usually misused and of limited scientific value.

In 2019, three scientists beseeched the scientific community to drop the use of statistical significance. Hundreds of other statisticians and scientists joined in to challenge the use of statistical significance to solely

determine relationships. These scientists emphasized stopping the use of p-values to refute or support hypotheses, and instead proposed being more thoughtful in interpreting data to reflect the complex and non-binary nature of the real world. Contrasting with the moderate opinions of these scientists, the American Statistical Association (ASA) has firmly pushed to end significance testing, stating that it has become “useless.”

Statistical significance leads to problems outside of data analysis as well. Scientific journals are typically inclined to publish statistically significant findings over equally important results that may miss the threshold. A recent study revealed that 88 percent of scientific journal articles contained significant data while a mere 12 percent reported insignificant findings. As a result of this bias, scientists may manipulate the data or selectively pick methods that would yield significant results. Statistical testing misuse has also resulted in findings in published papers that cannot be reproduced. This lack of replicability reduces transparency and consistency with the experiment, diminishing the reliability of statistical testing and causing inaccurate scientific conclusions to be made. One particular offender, Brian Wansink, allegedly manipulated the data for 52 publications with nearly 4,000 citations across 25 different scientific journals. Wansink only focused on “statistically significant” findings and omitted a majority of his data, possibly leading to dozens of inaccurate

claims. He was ultimately suspended from his university for his dishonest use of statistical tests and unscientific approach.

Despite vocal arguments against the usage of statistical significance, much of the scientific world is far from renouncing it. Many argue that banning it would remove accountability and allow scientists to trivialize negative results. Others contend that the concept is heavily entrenched in research where an alternative method would be inadequate.

In light of this controversy, the ASA released a statement to clarify the uses and misuses of significance testing. Hoping to stabilize the currently unclear relevance of statistical significance, the ASA suggested complete reporting and comprehensive analysis of the data to achieve a line of scientific reasoning. They also warned of random variation, which can account for substantial discrepancies in significance testing results.

Statistical significance has its merits, but only when used correctly. It is time to amend the question of “Is this statistically significant?” as, after all, the concept was never meant to replace fact; it merely highlighted patterns to discern between chance and a factor of interest. The binary thinking encouraged by the use of statistical significance is in no way reflective of the real world. Instead, it is important to consider the complexities and imperfections that make science meaningful when we use statistical significance. While it grants a level of certainty, it is just as

SCIENCEBEAT The search for extraterrestrial life may soon be widened as some astronomers propose expanding the definition of habitable planets to planets that have a global ocean contained under a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, not just planets that are similar to Earth with mild temperatures and rocky environments.

With a return to in-person learning, parents and school officials may be faced with a wave of influenza and common cold infections, as pandemic measures like mask-wearing have drastically reduced the number of cases of seasonal respiratory illnesses, leading to waning immunity to those illnesses.

Scientists at the National Ignition Facility in California released 1.3 million joules of energy through nuclear fusion reactions, nearly as much as was required to start the reactions, giving hope that nuclear fusion may be an energy source in the future. imperative to embrace the uncertainty that is inseparable from the scientific process. Though a significant portion of the scientific community has fought to abandon the p-value, the factual illusion of statistical significance continues to appeal to many, and for good reason: nothing can replace it.

The Psychology of False Confessions

By OLIVIA ZHENG On December 1, 2008, 16-year-old Nga Truong was interrogated following the death of her son, Khyle. During the interrogation, officers lied and told Truong that the medical examiner had determined that her son had been smothered to death.

Truong then falsely confessed and spent three years in prison waiting for her trial. A judge later deemed Truong’s confession inadmissible in court, and Truong was subsequently acquitted.

While adult suspects also give false confessions, minors are two to three times more likely to admit to crimes that they did not commit. According to Laura Nirider, director of the Center on Wrongful Confessions of Youth at Northwestern University’s Law School, the techniques that interrogators implement are intended for seasoned adult criminals and can too often lead to false confessions when used on minors.

Truong’s case is just one example of how dangerous using deception while interrogating minors can be. Martin Tankleff was interrogated for the murder of his mother and attempted murder of his father in 1988. During the interrogation, one officer told Tankleff that his father was at the hospital and had regained consciousness, implicating Tankleff as the perpetrator. This was a lie, as Tankleff ’s father had actually died without ever awakening.

However, Tankleff, who trusted his father, proposed a theory as

to how he could have committed the crime without remembering, that he blacked out when killing his mother. Though Tankleff did not sign a written confession, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison and was released only after several pleas for a reinvestigation. Tankleff had already served 17 years of his sentence by the time he was exonerated.

On July 14, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a bill that forbade investigators from lying to minors during criminal interrogations. The next day, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker signed a similar bill. Now, other states, including New York, are considering implementing this change as well. This new rule stems from the concern that allowing investigators to lie to underage suspects could lead the suspects to confess to crimes that they did not commit.

It is not only deception that contributes to false confessions, though. Often, interrogations are thoroughly planned, even down to the room’s seating arrangement. This is all done to psychologically overwhelm suspects and make them more likely to confess. The officers conducting Truong’s interrogation used the Reid Technique, which employs several strategies, including minimization. This is when officers pretend to empathize with the suspect and downplay the severity of the crime and the consequences the suspect would face if they admitted guilt. This can coax suspects into giving a false confession to get out of their

situation. During Truong’s interrogation, officers told her that her young age and dysfunctional family justified her crime, and if she confessed to killing her son, her brothers would be placed with a new family and she would face minimal punishment.

The two officers interrogating Truong also took on the roles of a good cop and a bad cop, which is a method separate from the Reid Technique. For this strategy, one interrogator is aggressive while the second is sympathetic toward the suspect. The interrogators take turns questioning, and the emotional roller coaster the suspect subsequently goes through wears them down mentally to the point where they confess to something they haven’t done. These psychological tactics put even more strain on the suspect when the victims were close to the suspect, as was the case for Truong and Tankleff.

Though notorious for its susceptibility to produce false confessions, the Reid Technique remains standard practice in the United States. The Reid company, which offers interrogation training, argues that it is only when law enforcement misuses the technique that the risk of false confessions arises. The company claims that as long as interrogators refrain from promising certain consequences or leniency, denying a suspect their rights, interrogating suspects for extremely long periods of time, or engaging in other improper practices, the Reid Technique is safe. Regardless of whether the

Reid Technique or the interrogators using it invoke false confessions, the fallibility of the practice needs to be addressed, as false confessions are one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions.

Potential solutions to this dilemma may lie in technology, but few interrogations use instruments beyond polygraphs.

Polygraphs, also known as lie detector tests, measure the physiological responses of a suspect, including heart rate, blood pressure, and perspiration. These physical reactions are not always accurate indicators of dishonesty, however, and polygraph tests are therefore inadmissible in court.

Other technologies similar to electroencephalogram machines may be able to more accurately determine a suspect’s guilt or innocence. These technologies measure a suspect’s brain waves as the suspect responds to images or other stimuli related to the crime scene. If the suspect recognizes a weapon found at the crime scene, for example, their brain is most likely to produce more activity in response to the image than it would in response to an image of a weapon that the suspect has no connection to.

The same techniques that push suspects to falsely confess also prove successful in extracting confessions from guilty suspects. So, as with other decisions in the justice system, choosing which psychological tactics are permitted in interrogation rooms is not simple. In the 2018 highprofile case of Chris Watts, for

example, interrogators pretended to be understanding of Watts as they probed him for possible motives as to why he would have murdered his pregnant wife and two young daughters. One of the interrogators suggested that Watts’ wife, Shannan, had been too controlling and had thus ruined their marriage. The interrogators also implemented Step Seven of the Reid Technique of presenting an alternative question. Interrogators proposed that Shannan had murdered the couple’s daughters and Watts had then killed Shannan out of rage.

Watts then admitted to killing Shannan and was placed under arrest. Watts was later convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, three counts of tampering with a deceased body, and a count of first-degree unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and will spend the remainder of his life in prison.

For each successful interrogation that uses the Reid Technique and other controversial strategies, there may also be one that has landed an innocent person in prison. Eliminating deception is only the first step in minimizing wrongful convictions, and maintaining the efficacy of interrogation techniques is important when considering reform. Using the increasingly advanced technology at our disposal may be a major step in determining guilt and innocence with more certainty, but even those techniques should be regarded with a degree of caution.

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Page 17

Science Stuttering Causes Anxiety, Not The Other Way Around

By ANDY CHEN Lee Reeves still remembers the frustration and embarrassment of being able to formulate words in his mind but being unable to get them out. Reeves, who stuttered from an early age, dreamt of becoming a veterinarian. However, Reeves’s stutter kept him from introducing himself when he was applying for a job at an animal hospital in high school. Today, Reeves is a veterinarian who also helps others as a national advocate for those with speech disorders.

Stuttering, a speech disorder characterized by involuntary repetitions and disruptions in the flow of speech, affects more than 70 million people worldwide. Though nearly five percent of children make up that number, a majority outgrow the disorder. The remaining make up one percent of adults, including President Joe Biden, actor James Earl Jones, actress Emily Blunt, and veterinarian Lee Reeves. Though these are all examples of successful people, stuttering often contributes to physical struggles and social anxiety as it attracts acts of discrimination and ridicule from others.

In the past, stuttering was associated with various causes, including tongue and voice box defects, emotional trauma, anxiety, and bad parenting. However, these misconceptions and myths have been disproven in recent years. Scientists have determined stuttering to be a neurodevelopmental disorder, and after years of studying the brains of people who stutter, they concluded that there are slight variations in the structure and function of the brains of those who stutter compared to those who don’t. These variations include neural connec-

tivity differences, modifications in the speech and motor systems, and alterations in the activity of dopamine, a critical neurotransmitter that regulates emotions and movements, including the muscle movements necessary for speech.

According to neuroscientist Soo-Eun Chang from the University of Michigan, people who stutter tend to have weaker connections between areas of the brain responsible for hearing and for movements that produce speech. Chang also dis-

messages— that connects the auditory and motor areas in the left hemisphere. Those who recovered from stuttering displayed better organized white matter integrity as time passed, which is why there are stronger connections over time between areas of the brain in kids who lose their stutter. Thanks to this discovery, future research may study how white matter integrity can be used to identify severe stuttering or even ways to improve the organization of white matter.

While both children and adults who stutter have weaknesses on the left side of their brain, adults often exhibit a pattern of overactivity on the right side.

The reason for this overactivity might be an effect of the brain adapting to the stutters.

Detor pecta c ove r e d spite this, much is S e h T am / L slight varistill unknown about whethie Ann ations in the er there are clear differences that structure of their corpora callosa, indicate who will continue stutthe collections of nerve fibers tering and who won’t. that connect the left and right However, research in the hemispheres of the brain. These field of genetics might provide discoveries revealed that stutter- explanations for the root cause ing might be caused by delayed of stuttering. Two decades ago, communication between differ- geneticist Dennis Drayna of the ent brain regions.

National Institute on Deafness Chang has also been trying and Other Communication Disto understand why 80 percent orders investigated the genes reof children who stutter recover lated to stuttering. He traveled to from stuttering while the other Pakistan, where intermarriage of 20 percent do not. To answer this, cousins is common. This pracChang and her colleagues began tice strengthens the influence of studying three year old children genes, making Pakistan the perfor up to four years. They found fect place for Drayna to observe that compared to people who did the effects of genes on stuttering. not stutter, those who did had In 2010, Dryna and his team weaknesses in the integrity of the identified mutations in three white matter —tissue in the brain genes responsible for stuttermade up of axons that transmit ing: GNPTAB (a gene related to

other severe genetic disorders), GNPTG, and NAGPA. Drayna also received an e-mail from a man from Cameroon that inquired if genetics explained the prevalence of stutters in his family. After investigating the family in Cameroon, Drayna discovered a fourth stuttering gene, AP4E1.

Drayna estimated that those four genes combined may account for 20 to 25 percent of stuttering cases. This high percentage indicates that these genes could be used to diagnose stuttering early on, allowing for proper therapy and a less severe case of stuttering.

Strangely, the identified genes are involved in transporting materials within the cell to the lysosome, where cellular waste is disposed of. In 2019, Drayna and his colleagues conducted another study and found that mice with the mutated GNPTAB gene had unusually long pauses when vocalizing, similar to stuttering. They identified fewer astrocytes, a type of brain cell in the corpus callosum, where white matter tracts connect the two hemispheres of the brain. This suggests that mutations in these lysosomal genes could connect genetics to the neurology of stuttering.

Recent research on the origin of stuttering is already providing the information needed for current and future stuttering therapies. Neuroscientist Gerald A. Maguire of the University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine, and his colleagues think that reducing dopamine activity in specific brain circuits can treat stutters. Maguire tested antipsychotic drugs such as risperidone, olanzapine, and lurasidone, all of which lowered dopamine activity and decreased the severity of stuttering, but none have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Sadly, those drugs also came with unwanted side effects such as impaired movement and weight gain.

Maguire is currently running clinical trials of another drug, called ecopipam, which targets a different group of dopamine receptors than the previous medications. Small studies also revealed that this drug had no notable side effects and helped improve the quality of life of its users.

While this drug is promising, a single pharmacological treatment approved by the FDA will not work for everybody. As stuttering is caused by more than one condition, developing personalized medicine should be our next priority.

Another promising treatment for stuttering uses an electrical current to stimulate the brain. One group of researchers combined this technique with traditional speech therapies and received promising results.

In the group that received the combination of treatments, the researchers found that stuttering decreased from 12 to 8 percent of their speech.

As we learn more about stuttering and its potential treatments, it won’t be long before people who stutter can live confidently, without stress or anxiety.

Even the goals of therapies are changing. Instead of trying to erase stutters, new therapy aims to make stuttering easier to manage and accept, so people know how best to respond in situations where they do stutter. While scientists are linking together the neurology and genetics of stuttering and developing cures for it, the public should break down its prejudice against stuttering. And those who stutter should know that, just like Reeves, they too can realize their dreams.

Perseid Meteor Shower 2021 Brightens The Summer Night Sky

By DONGNI (HELLEN) LUO

they hail from the direction of the constellation Perseus—hence the name of the meteor shower—in the northern sky.

Though the peak of the 2021 Perseid meteor shower was predicted to occur on August 12— when the Earth passes through

contains pebble-sized particles that are somewhat larger than those in the debris streams of other comets, the Perseids create much brighter streaks of meteors, called fireballs, as they burn up.

If we were to trace all the trails of any meteor shower backward on a star map, they would all meet at one point: the radiant, a point in the sky where all of the meteors appear to originate from. By tracing all the trails of the Perseid meteors backward, it seems that

the densest part of the debris stream—the celestial display actually began as soon as the Earth first touched the edge of the meteor stream on July 17 and ended as the Earth exited it on August 24. Throughout these days, the visibility of the meteor shower and the number of Perseids that could be observed varied greatly depending on changes in time, pollution, and the Moon’s activity.

While most individuals prefer watching meteor showers immedi-

Angel Liu / The Spectator

Imagine yourself seated in a rural landscape, gazing at the summer night sky. Out of nowhere, something bright and fiery streaks past your eyes. A few seconds later, more of these streaks zoom overhead. This spectacular display is known as a meteor shower—a celestial event that occurs when the Earth encounters many meteoroids, or small bodies of rock or iron revolving in interplanetary space around the Sun, through the fields of debris shed by passing comets.

Unlike the slightly elliptical orbits of the Earth and most other planets, comets usually have lopsided orbits, with the Sun positioned near one part of their paths. As a comet moves closer to the Sun, its extreme heat causes the comet’s icy surface to melt and vaporize, releasing numerous dust and rock particles into the inner part of our solar system. Therefore, every time the Earth crosses the orbital path of comets during certain times of the year, this cosmic debris collides with our planet’s atmosphere and burns up, resulting in what we commonly refer to as meteor showers, or “shooting stars.”

The Perseid meteor shower, in particular, is perhaps the most beloved summertime classic by skywatchers of all time. Every year between July and August, the Perseids speed toward the Earth

at a rate of roughly 133,000 miles per hour and consist of fragments originating from their parent Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a 16-mile-wide periodic comet that orbits the Sun in time intervals of approximately 133 years. Because the debris stream of Swift-Tuttle

ately after the sky becomes dark, the best time to view the Perseids is after local midnight in most parts of the United States (or after 11:00 pm where daylight savings time isn’t observed.). Moving closer to 3:00 a.m., even more Perseid meteors can be easily spotted with the naked eye. During this time period, the night side of the Earth will be facing toward the direction of the debris stream, which significantly increases the relative velocity at which the meteoroids collide with our atmosphere, increasing their luminosity, visibility, and abundance.

Besides choosing the right time to view the meteor shower, both light and air pollution play a crucial role in determining whether an area is suitable for skywatching. A 2016 study has shown that 83 percent of the world’s population live under light-polluted skies.

In certain areas with extremely high usage of artificial light, 99.5 percent of the stars that people can normally see are completely invisible without optical aids like telescopes or binoculars. As a result, skywatchers located in urban areas may have only been able to observe a few meteors every hour, whereas those who are far away from the cities and suburbs would likely have seen up to 40 Perseids an hour.

Meanwhile, environmental pollutants can also create haze and smoke that wash out fainter meteors from view. John Barentine, director of conservation at the In-

ternational Dark-Sky Association, and his colleagues have reported that when more aerosol particles are released into the atmosphere, more photons will scatter downward, which will, in turn, increase the brightness of the night sky as seen from the ground. Luckily, thanks to the initial brightness of the Perseids themselves, the meteor shower is visible from anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere and certain parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

Additionally, the Moon has always been one of the biggest concerns in previous meteor shower seasons. The amount of moonlight from different Moon phases can potentially block out dimmer meteors, which poses a common problem during other meteor shower seasons. However, this year’s waxing crescent phase set in the early evening, several hours before the main event begins, providing the best possible dark-sky conditions to allow an exceptionally high number of meteors to be seen by skywatchers all over the world.

With its dazzling fireballs and this year’s moonless sky, the 2021 Perseid meteor shower overcame several hindrances that would otherwise prevent such a remarkable display from being observed. If you had the chance to sit down in your backyard and watch the Perseids “rain” for more than just a few minutes, it was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime memory to be kept for years to come.

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Page 18

Science The Second Stomach for Dessert If you’ve ever found yourself guilty of not finishing dinner, yet feeling hungry for dessert, you’re not alone. Many people relate to the experience of having a “second stomach” for dessert. Why is it that you can finish half a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream when you thought you couldn’t fit even one more bite in after dinner? Studies show that humans might actually have a second “psychological” stomach for dessert.

One of the main factors that contributes to how much we consume is the variety of foods available. The larger the variety of food, the more we consume.

When humans are exposed to the same stimulus over and over again, they face habituation—getting sick of things. Habituation is a decrease in the response to a stimulus and can be described as food no longer tasting good or getting tired of eating. Among other things, it helps us terminate eating. Habituation theory

states that the presentation of a new food acts as stimuli to delay satiation, or the state where needs and desires are filled to a point of excess, not just satisfaction. This varied food effect can be attributed to sensory-specific satiety, which is a decrease in appetite for food already eaten relative to non-consumed foods with different sensory qualities, such as taste, texture, and appearance.

For instance, if you’ve already had a satisfying meal of vodka pasta, you would be more likely to reach for a helping of chocolate pie, a new food with different sensory qualities, rather than another spoonful of pasta.

A study conducted by the University of Oxford looked at the responsiveness of ventral forebrain neurons in monkeys in relation to sensory-specific satiety. When the monkeys were presented with food that they had already eaten to satiety, the response of hypothalamic neurons to the sight and taste of the food decreased. However, when the monkeys were presented with

food they were not satiated by, the response of the hypothalamic neurons remained unchanged.

This suggests that the responses of the neurons in the ventral forebrain are related to and sup-

to obtain the necessary amount of nutrients for the body. However, this behavior was nurtured in environments where food was scarce and can now be a risk in current environments filled with

port the theory of sensory-specific satiety.

From an evolutionary perspective, sensory-specific satiety developed to encourage humans to seek out a variety of foods

varied energy-dense foods like salty snacks, cookies, and candies. Instead of falling prey to sensory-specific satiety, however, humans can take advantage of it to achieve health and weight loss

Tina Siu / The Spectator

By RIONA ANVEKAR

goals. A study showed that children provided with a variety of healthier foods increased their intake of these foods. Additionally, people who enter weight control programs tend to be more successful if they reduce the variety, and thus consumption, of energy-dense foods.

Though sensory-specific satiety originally evolved to regulate eating habits, it now poses a potential health risk to humans, so it’s important to be mindful of what you consume. Remember that there is a difference between being full and feeling satiated, and that difference is controlled by your mind. Nutritionists suggest that the best way to control your second stomach is to carefully observe your satiation levels.

If you would not be able to fit in another bite of a nutritious dinner, then you probably shouldn’t be eating dessert. That being said, it’s okay to take advantage of your second stomach every once in a while to eat that cheesecake you’ve always wanted to try.

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The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

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Arts and Entertainment Music

By LEVI SIMON “Planet Her” by Doja Cat “Planet Her” has proven to be a smashing success on TikTok, but beyond 15-second soundbites, it offers very little of interest. Doja Cat’s personality and versatility have always been her greatest assets, but she chooses to mute the quirkiness that propelled her to stardom in favor of banal throwaways.

“I Don’t Do Drugs” features saturated 808s and distorted, liquidy lead melodies that clash horribly with Doja’s and Ariana Grande’s breathy refrains.

“Love to Dream” has a similar issue, but the stop-and-start bassline and twittering hi-hats sound even less calibrated to the vocals. The plucky MIDI guitar pickups on “Payday” don’t deserve a description–– they sound terrible. Thankfully, Young Thug’s verse is entertaining enough to save the track from being the worst on the album. That honor goes to “Been Like This,” which features pitched vocals and a leaden trap beat that was ripped straight from 2016. Its biggest crime is its absolute lack of identity; it’s a total non-starter.

There are a few moments in which Doja puts her best foot forward. “Woman” is a modern take on afrobeat, and the lyrics take a tasteful feminist twist during the bridge.

“Kiss Me More” with SZA is a shameless retread of last year’s “Say So,” down to the identical chord progression, but it’s fun and catchy enough to be absolved. “Get Into It (Yuh)” is a colorful, frenetic Playboi Carti-inspired rager, and it may be her best song to date. Her varied vocal inflections are infectious and add an irreplaceable personality that the rest of “Planet Her” lacks. Overall, “Planet Her” is extremely frustrating. It’s clear that Doja Cat has a lot of talent, but she’s

Music

By ZOE BUFF Ben Platt wasn’t always a pop singer. His intoxicating stage presence, incredible acting skills, and stunning vocals are what made him a Broadway star, but only recently did he take to the studio to start recording albums.

His fans primarily know him for his appearances in the “Pitch Perfect” films, his Tony-awardwinning performance in the musical “Dear Evan Hansen” (2021), and his starring role in the TV series “The Politician” (2019). He’s talented and lovable, and he’s proven to be quite versatile, but is pop music the right path for him?

“Reverie” is Platt’s sophomore album and consists of 10 tracks, split up in three 30-second interludes. In contrast to his prior LP, “Sing To Me Instead” (2019), which spotlights an acoustic sound with stripped-

The Summer in Review: A Selection of Album Appraisals uninterested in utilizing it. With several chart-topping hits and Platinum records, her current strategy is working just fine for her.

“CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” by Tyler, the Creator Tyler, the Creator takes some time to celebrate his journey from teenage edgelord to mature wavemaker on “Call Me,” and he achieves his goal to varying degrees of success.

The project suffers from some focus issues, as Tyler bounces from reflecting on his career to sharing his perspective (or lack thereof) on racism to love songs to flexing his financial and artistic successes in rapid succession. The production matches the thematic diversity by featuring everything from classy, soulful horn sections and vocal chops to blown-out bass and grimy drum breaks.

The only common thread between the myriad topics and sounds is hype man DJ Drama, who matches Tyler’s confidence and energy and adds a fun, lighthearted sense of identity to the project. His quotables lend themselves best to Tyler’s victory laps, such as “HOT WIND BLOWS,” on which Lil Wayne gives the project’s best feature with an impressive double-time flow, and “JUGGERNAUT,” on which Tyler shows off his love for Pharrell Williams with both a Neptunes inspired beat and a feature verse from Williams himself. Other highlights include the timeless charmer “WUSYANAME” and the exemplary braggadocio of “LEMONHEAD ” and “CORSO.” However, with the exception of “WUSYANAME,” most of the tracks off “Call Me” that don’t involve flexing are underwritten and unimpressive. “SWEET” doesn’t just sound recycled from Tyler’s last album, “Igor,” it reuses synth

patches and vocal melodies. “I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE” is a drawn out and uncomfortable foray into reggae. “WILSHIRE” is ambitious, but its writing isn’t engaging enough to sustain a runtime of nearly nine minutes, and Tyler’s decision to heavily pan the instrumental wears the song out even faster. Tracks like “MASSA” and “MANIFESTO” are initially interesting, but their lack of depth doesn’t reward repeat listens. “Call Me” isn’t a substantial artistic statement for Tyler like “Flower Boy” and “Igor,” but rather an enjoyable yet scattershot breather from Tyler, catching fans up on his perspective and keeping them sated until his next major release.

“Happier Than Ever”

by Billie Eilish Billie Eilish’s explosion into the mainstream and her antipathy toward her newfound fame has been profoundly interesting to watch, and as such, her sophomore release “Happier Than Ever” was one of the most anticipated of the year.

Strangely, the result bears many similarities to “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST”: Billie Eilish matures beyond her edgy, snarky teenage persona and lyrically captures her new perspective on the world and her place in it, but holistically, the album is unfocused and inconsistent.

Coincidentally, one of the best tracks on the album also takes inspiration from Pharrell Williams—in this case, “Oxytocin,” a tense, sensual, driving dance banger that delivers an unnerving atmosphere just as well as any track on Eilish’s first album, without the hackneyed lyrics and sound palettes that held it back. However, Eilish mostly pulls away from the sound that put her on the radar. She tries her hand at bossa nova on the aptly titled “Billie

Bossa Nova,” shuffling dance pop on “my future,” and jagged trip hop on “I Didn’t Change My Number.” Unfortunately, none of those experiments pan out very well. However, the most glaring issue with “Happier Than Ever” is the glut of inessential tracks that serve no purpose but padding time.

“OverHeated,” “Everybody Dies,” and “Halley’s Comet” are redundant and soporific.

They interrupt the meat of the project: Eilish flaunting her vocal chops over some beautiful and well-balanced production. In “Getting Older,” she ponders how she may be subconsciously kneecapping her artistic fulfillment to pay the bills, and in “Lost Cause,” she derides a schlubby ex over a warm and immediately catchy bassline.

The thematic pith of “Happier Than Ever” is brought to fruition on the album’s centerpiece, “Not My Responsibility,” which features spoken word over spacey chords and synth bass. Eilish touches on the attention she gets from the paparazzi and the Internet, the parasociality of their engagement with her, the discomfort she feels from her lack of privacy, and how she was forced to decouple society’s view of her from her self-esteem, hence her embrace of her sexuality. One of the strongest moments lyrically is the closer, “Male Fantasy,” on which Eilish confesses that her disaffected rejection of society’s mixed messages of overwhelming praise and inappropriate disgust hasn’t made her immune; she is still confused and hurt and infatuated with her new life, and all the dejected irony she employs is nothing more than a shield.

Eilish’s breath control ties the song and album together perfectly. While “Happier Than Ever” doesn’t fully tap into her potential, it is a big step forward for Billie Eilish.

The Missing Magic in “Reverie” down vocals, “Reverie” features heavier production and explores a synth-pop soundscape––a light disco atmosphere, punctuated by rising and falling ’80s dance beats. Every track transports the listener to a daydream. The uptempo songs have rhythmic dancing grooves, high-pitched beats, and smooth chords. The slower ones sound more soulful, focusing on simple melodies and acoustic-like instrumentals, like the piano accompaniment in “dark times,” a theatrical ballad similar to those Platt used to sing on Broadway. However, most tracks, such as “chasing you,” which uses electro-pop pulses to pull the listener in, and “leave my mind,” a song of syncopation and off-beats, rely on music production.

The album’s first single, “imagine,” initially released in May, gave fans a reason to look forward to Platt’s upcoming

album. The lyrics, though repetitive, are on-point, and the production manages to retain Platt’s signature soulful and melodic style while branching off into mainstream pop. Needless to say, the vocals are impeccable, showing off his impressive range and silky tone.

However, as a whole, “Reverie” doesn’t bring much to the table that the pop world hasn’t heard before. Halfway through the album, the songs become monotonous, and the sound grows tiresome and colorless. A handful of tracks like “I wanna love you but I don’t,” “dance with you,” “happy to be sad,” and “chasing you” don’t offer more depth beyond their titles, lacking potency, emotional intimacy, and overall artistry. The topics—heartbreak, once-ina-lifetime romance, the trials of love—simply regurgitate what countless other pop songs

have already expressed, with cliche lyrics matched to dull, two-note melodies and droning downbeats. In “dark times” and “childhood bedroom,” Platt’s lyricism improves, but—like the vocals—fails to achieve the same intensity that his debut album did. The songs, buried in a pile of excessive music production, don’t highlight Platt’s voice.

The flatter, uncolored vocal mix, taking away any possible spark from the album’s sound, along with the unimaginative lyrics and hackney song topics, make for a disappointing second project.

Hopefully, the Broadway-film actor and pop singer will imagine new ways to surprise the pop world in the future. For now, the heartfelt, intimate tracks of his debut album remain his most successful musical endeavor, a testament to the talent and artistry of Ben Platt.

Playlist SummerAdjacent Songs

By THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT In anticipation of the existential dread of back-to-school and the prospect of forcing our atrophied muscles to lift us from the ground at six in the morning, wrenching us from our squalid bunkers through derelict city streets and packed subway platforms, only to sit in a concrete box for six hours, here are A&E’s favorite songs of the summer!

Black Cow Steely Dan Rock I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore Lucy Dacus Indie Rock Paprika Japanese Breakfast Indie Kids MGMT Pop California Love Tupac feat. Dr. Dre Hip-hop Anemone The Brian Jonestown Massacre Psychedelic Rock Dance In Room Song Sipper Indie STOOZY Dean Blunt feat. A$AP Rocky Hip-hop Not Allowed TV Girl Pop Candy Eyes Jack Stauber Indie Pop California Gurls Katy Perry Pop Moon Kanye West feat. Don Toliver and Kid Cudi Hip-hop

Page 20

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Arts and Entertainment The “Before” Trilogy and Love at First Sight

Film

stop at cafés, stores, and restaurants and converse about Popular culture continues numerous topics, including to maintain the omnipresent love, life, religion, and huromantic idea of love at first sight. It’s one of the oldest tropes of film and literature: our two protagonists fall in love the minute they see each other, and what follows is their passionate, lifelong connection. From Anna Karenina and Alexei Vronsky in Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” to the author Mark Twain falling in love with his future wife the second he saw her picture, this concept of love at first sight often seems fantastical. One particular film directed by Richard Linklater, “Before Sunrise” (1995), is a classic depiction of love at first sight, with a sequel “Before Sunset” (2004) building on the previous film’s depiction manity. Jesse’s witty remarks, in tandem with Céline’s inof love.

Céline (Julie Delpy), a trospective musings, add to student returning to uni- the notion of their destiny versity in Paris, and Jesse as soulmates.

The cinematography of (Ethan Hawke), who initially traveled to Europe to spend the “Before” trilogy is allurtime in Madrid, meet each ing and intimate, bringing other on a train and spark us closer to Jesse and Céline up a conversation. Jesse con- and immersing us in each vinces Céline to get off in moment, as though we are Vienna with him, and they an omniscient spectator obproceed to explore the city serving these two people enuntil the next morning. They gaged with each other. Cin-

ematographer Christopher the ethereal.

Doyle makes a keen obserThe last movie of the vation of the power effec- “Before” trilogy, “Before tive cinematography holds: Midnight” (2013), is far less romanticized than its predecessors. The easygoing Jesse and Céline have now grown up and face private problems. They have their first real fight and seem less romantic than before, a stark difference from the previous movies, suggesting that love evolves or may even devolve during the course of a relationship. In contrast to the nuance this movie portrays love with, the first two movies offer an innocent outlook on love at first sight. A similar movie, “(500) Days Of Summer” (2009), teaches an important lesson on love through the main protagonist, Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

“The point of cinematog- He meets Summer (Zooey raphy […] is the balance be- Deschanel) and completely tween the familiar and the falls in love with an idealdream […] It is being en- istic version of her. Howgaged and yet standing back ever, when they part ways, and noticing something that Tom realizes their love was perhaps other people didn’t far from perfect, as he had notice before.” Thoughtful overly romanticized their cinematography truly does relationship while failing bring the minute, often un- to realize its decline. With seen aspects of life to light, Céline and Jesse, one must giving meaning to these mo- ask if their relationship can ments while also contrasting thrive outside of their youth between the corporeal and and a scenic location. Were

Sabrina Chen / The Spectator

By SUBHA BHUIYAN

Lorde’s Sunny Return

During the era of her debut album, “Pure Heroine” (2013), Lorde topped the charts wearing all black and smoky eyeliner and with a voice that rasped her rejection of celebrity culture.

Following the massively successful album release, she escaped to New Zealand, her suburban hometown, for four years, explaining in a later interview that being in the public eye “can kind of [EXPLETIVE] with you if you’re a kid.” These spontaneous hiatuses to remote places and Lorde’s prioritization of the quiet moments in her life are reflected in her music. In her second studio album, “Melodrama” (2017), she continued to develop her sound with layered melodies, thumping synths, and grimy percussion, writing about secret love affairs, nights spent partying, and the insecurities that come with youth. Four years after “Melodrama,” Lorde’s return was met with great anticipation, and the expectations for her third album were sky-high, yet the release of “Solar Power” faced mixed reviews from even the most die-hard of Lorde fans.

At a glance, “Solar Power” doesn’t have the angsty

lyricism and broody nature that Lorde’s previous albums are known for; instead, it’s bright and breezy, and it subverts all expectations. The title track introduces a fanciful world where girls dance barefoot in sundresses and Lorde herself frolics around the beach, smoking a fennel bulb bong. As she dances to Jack Antonoff ’s strumming guitar and wispy vocal stacks, she invites her listeners to join her: “It’s a new state of mind / Are you coming, my baby?”

From the album’s first track, “The Path,” we’re reminded of Lorde’s craving for normalcy in her life. She’s got a “fork in [her] purse to take home to [her] mother” and hopes “the sun will show [her] the path.” This track nicely establishes the tone for the rest of the record, which continues to explore themes of appreciating nature and life at its finest.

Gentle guitar picking and hushed percussion drive the music along, but it’s Lorde’s lyricism that continues to set her apart. In “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” her music takes a darker, more introspective turn as she reflects on the passing of time and her decisions in life: “Got a wishbone drying on the windowsill in my kitchen / Just in case I

wake up and realize I’ve chosen wrong.” Even the most successful of artists aren’t exempt from feeling bouts of

of splendor where the apple trees all grew / You’ll leave us dancing on the fallen fruit.”

These lyrics are a reference

insecurity or uncertainty of being left behind. In this way, Lorde captures the transition into adulthood as a musician.

She concludes the track with “Maybe I’m just stoned at the nail salon again,” questioning the validity of her struggle to find fulfillment in life.

Much of “Solar Power” is about self acceptance, but Lorde also tackles broader issues like climate change with songs like “Fallen Fruit,” singing, “Through the halls

to the Garden of Eden and the fruit Adam and Eve ate, which created hapless consequences for future generations. Lorde recognizes that the abuse of “fruit,” or resources, caused “Eden,” or the environment, to suffer.

Now, current generations are left with the burden of the “fallen fruit” that our predecessors produced.

Many of the topics explored in this record are characteristic of Lorde; she

Iris Lin / The Spectator

Music

By ELEANOR LEUNG

they overly idealizing their relationship and forgetting about their life outside of it?

With the last movie of the trilogy, there’s a departure from that idealization and an emphasis on what their relationship truly is.

What “love at first sight” movies don’t show us are the problems that occur after the initial getting together and utter love phase.

Problems are bound to happen in any relationship, and the said “love at first sight” could be a short-lived and even foolish love depending on the people and circumstances. Media does not frequently depict the difficult components of fast-paced love. There should be an awareness of how love at first sight is like any love, prone to complications and drawbacks, with no certainty of perfection. Though Jesse and Céline’s love story through the first two movies of the trilogy is blissfully ignorant, the final movie does a better job of representing the flaws in their relationship. We experience the evolution of their relationship as they mature from their dreamy love at first sight moments to an imperfect but real relationship.

writes about heartbreak in “The Man with the Axe” and dismisses her celebrity status in songs like “California.”

However, she branches out on tracks like “Dominoes” and “Mood Ring,” choosing to satirically comment on modern wellness culture.

In an interview with Genius, Lorde mentioned her realization that wellness practices are often “[adopted by] white women [...] in a way which [...] can be pretty bad” for indigenous peoples and how it’s amusing that humans are so reliant on things like tarot readings and horoscopes.

Despite Lorde’s consistently poetic songwriting, some feel that the sparse production undercuts the album’s overall emotional intensity. In “Mood Ring,” the usage of chimes and the triangle adds to the light atmosphere. In “Secrets From a Girl (Who’s Seen It All),” Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn performs a spoken word interlude. Some listeners, though, critiqued the lack of direction within the album, faulting the overly long spoken portions and largely acoustic background instruments. Additionally, the lack of bridges throughout the continued on page 22

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Page 21

Arts and Entertainment Netflix Finds “Malice at The Palace”

Film

large-scale happenings preceding and following the November 2004 game.

“Untold” begins by introducing Jermaine O’Neal, Ron Artest (Metta Sandiford-Artest), and Pacers legend Reggie Miller. The interviews from each player provide viewers with an intimate understanding of the t e a m ’s success, their dynamic,

As of 2021, the NBA is one of the most-watched sports leagues in the world. With millions of viewers globally, there’s no doubt that basketball reaches people from all walks of life.

And given players’ statuses as large public figures and role models, the NBA works hard to maintain a squeaky-clean image.

But years ago, the league’s image could not have been more different. On November 19th, 2004, one of the most notorious events in NBA history took place: the Pistons-Pacers brawl.

After losing to the Detroit Pistons at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a fight broke out between Pacers’ small forward, Ron Artest (now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest), and Detroit’s Ben Wallace. What began as a scuffle between two players quickly evolved into a riot involving both fans and players that would go on to shape the NBA for years to come.

“Untold: Malice at The Palace,” the first of five installments in a sports docuseries, revisits that night through the lens of the players. The documentary narrows in on four Pacers––Reggie Miller, Jermaine O’Neal, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson––using their stories as the narrative framework for the film. From Miller’s quest to win a championship to Jackson’s beginnings with the Pacers, “Untold” doesn’t just chronicle the events of that unfortunate night, but widens the scope to look at the small and

Music

By SHIVALI KORGAONKAR, THEO KUBOVY-WEISS, and LEVI SIMON There’s a lot of mythology surrounding Kanye West’s creative process. A $3 million recording budget for the Hawaii-based production of “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (2010) and an eight day writing cram on a secluded Wyoming ranch for “ye” (2018) have added to the notion that West is an unparalleled, almost superhuman creative. Yet the specifics of his artistic process have been surprisingly opaque, especially considering he produces his music so meticulously and with so many collaborators.

Excluding “The Life of Pablo” (2016) and “Jesus is King” (2019), whose tweaks following their release were minor and sporadic, nearly all of the writing, mixing, mastering, and arranging has gone on behind the scenes.

With 2021’s “Donda,” we get a much closer look. Rolled out through a trilogy of listening parties in mega stadiums throughout the U.S. and with much of the studio time being broadcast via Apple Music, the development of “Donda” has been open and public. Fans watched as West transformed the lo-fi, haphazardly compiled

Nada Hameed / The Spectator

By KENISHA MAHAJAN

and how the dynamic would take shape in the coming years. Hearing the firsthand accounts of the players makes the documentary personal and engaging in a way that a more detached narrative structure simply could not.

The story then zeroes in on

Sandiford-Artest and the aftermath of the 2003-2004 series.

In this sequence, the player openly discusses his challenges with mental health, achieving a harrowing transparency that most sports documentaries lack. Interspersed with testimonials of Miller, Jackson, and O’Neal’s experiences with Sandiford-

Artest at the time, “Untold” effectively contextualizes the November 19 game by exploring key players’ feelings prior to the day.

The fallout following the night was brutal. Criticisms of

the Pacers and the NBA as a whole were fueled by claims of a “thug mentality” becoming a part of basketball, calling the game a “hip-hop” sport. Juxtaposing news clips with interview segments, “Untold” offers some much-needed insight into the drastic differences between the media’s and players’ reception of the events. However, the film fails to explore the larger issues underlying the narrative spun by

media outlets, leaving this segment feeling a bit anticlimactic. Though the players explain their reactions to being characterized as “thugs” and other discriminatory comments made by news outlets, “Untold” on the whole fails to address the racist culture at the root of these remarks. While

there’s only so much you can do in 70 minutes, given the large impact media perception had on this event and the players, the film would benefit from discussing these statements in greater depth.

Beyond retelling the story of The Palace, “Untold” reassesses the event by taking an analytical, investigative approach to the events of the night. Featuring interviews from a county prosecutor and a detective, the film walks viewers through the police investigation of the event.

The issue of racism, once again, underlies this segment—while the punishments doled out by the predominantly white NBA leadership, responding to a majority white fanbase and media, were more severe than those granted by the criminal justice system, the film makes no attempt to explore this.

“Untold” arrives at a time when athletes are beginning to speak publicly and candidly about their struggles with mental health. From Simone Biles to Aaron Rodgers, this trend of honesty with fans is necessary to humanize athletes, a feat that the film thoroughly achieves.

The film’s willingness to share these stories with audiences prompts discussions about racism in the sports industry, moral and legal culpability for public figures, mental health, the biased nature of media, and more.

Though there is a long way to go when it comes to breaking these stigmas, “Untold” proves that aiming for transparency and addressing these universal stories is the first step.

An Inconsistent, Telling Look into Kanye’s World tracks of the first listening party into something more refined for the second. Then, they sat back as he replaced and edited features between the second and third parties, many changes stirring up controversy. Even when the album was released on streaming services, West insisted the album was published without his permission and remained unfinished. “Donda” is a living, breathing project and is likely to stay that way. Or at least it certainly feels like it.

Each of these developments has allowed the audience to follow along, getting an unprecedented look into West’s creative process. It’s been telling: unpopular, unexpected, and uncharacteristic changes between listening parties have evinced West’s individuality as an artist, showing that his artistic instincts and preferences are unaffected by public opinion. It almost feels like West has beta tested this album, only to completely ignore any feedback that may have been sent his way.

As respectable as that direction is for an auteur like West, not all of his decisions have been in the album’s best interest.

Though watching “Donda” grow and evolve has, in some ways, allowed for a more personal connection between the music and the listener, any heightened value is diminished

by the fact that the final result isn’t all that impressive.

West’s erratic selection of genres and features might reflect his jumbled state of mind, but they also yielded a wildly inconsistent tracklist. The best moments of “Donda” balance West’s thoughts on his marriage, his faith, and the criminal justice system, but the worst are bitter, aimless, and trite. He even modulates between insightful and banal on individual songs. The album’s true opener, “Jail,” starts out as a thumping arena rock track in which West uses jail as a metaphor for his post-divorce life, claiming “God gon’ post my bail tonight.” Unfortunately, his apt lyricism is derailed by one of Jay-Z’s worst lyrics ever: “Made in the image of God, that’s a selfie.” After Hov’s verse, the electric guitars give way to dry percussion—the first of many pointless detours that drag the runtime of “Donda” to nearly two hours. “God Breathed” has some interesting and spectral production, but tacking two minutes of instrumentals onto the end of the track was another unnecessary runtime addition.

“Jesus Lord” is similarly protracted, padding its near-nine minute runtime with a lengthy Jay Electronica verse, on which he spews anti-Semitism and conspiracy. Roddy Rich and

Shenseea’s stellar performances on “Pure Souls” are wasted by the atrocious speaking on the outro. The production on “Praise God” is too skeletal and inessential to warrant a spot on the tracklist, and the features from Baby Keem and Travis Scott hardly make a case for their inclusion. The thin organs and overweight bass on “Junya” clash horribly, and the lyrics are completely off topic. While “Believe What I Say” is “very, very vibeworthy,” the upbeat, heavily compressed bassline feels like a cutting-room floor scrap from “The Life of Pablo” and feels out of place amongst the eerie, chorally-tinged second leg of the album that it transitions into.

However, the choral sections of “Donda” are some of its most impressive—West employs a wholly unique vocal processing technique that gives the ensemble vocals a washed out, unearthly timbre. “24,” “No Child Left Behind,” and “Lord I Need You” are centered around said choral vocals, and thus, they are some of the album’s greatest highlights. “Jonah,” “Keep My Spirit Alive,” and “Moon” feature fantastic, uplifting hooks, as well as stellar feature verses from Chicago natives Lil Durk and Vory, Griselda rappers Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn, Don

Toliver, and long-time West collaborator Kid Cudi. Lil Baby’s vocals are a tasteful inclusion to “Hurricane,” but The Weeknd’s heavenly hook steals the show.

“Off the Grid” is West’s futuristic take on drill; the features from Playboi Carti and Fivio Foreign both complement the production in completely different ways, keeping the song engaging for its entire six minute runtime. “Come to Life” features West’s best vocal performance on the album (and his best singing ever). The swirling pianos and guitar accents build a perfect stage for West to traverse the emotionally confusing and isolating fallout of his divorce, finally finding solace in both his faith and his promise to himself that he will manifest his ambitions to act selflessly in the image of God. In true West fashion, the journey leading up to the release of “Donda” was nothing short of unpredictable. The problem with this album does not lie in its unpredictability, but instead in the precedence this unpredictability took over the actual musical experience.

Listeners can appreciate creative buildup around an album release, but someone as iconic as West should not engage unless he is willing to live up to the hype he has created.

Page 22

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Arts and Entertainment The Gossip Girl 2021: Classy or Corny?

Television

teen shows like HBO’s “Euphoria” (2019) seems to have convinced producers that audiences want more R-rated content. But the excessive inclusion of “shocking” elements like partying, substances, and sex is almost boring in the way that it’s done—just

brilliant commentary on the performativity of the privileged but appears wholly out of touch.

The way that the adult characters are portrayed is especially unique. Though the original “Gossip Girl” featured villainous adults and

very obvious student-teacher boundaries that it crosses.

Initially, the pacing of the show is quite odd. The first few episodes create and resolve brand new conflicts in themselves, mainly Julien and Zoya fighting and making up over and over again.

By the fourth episode, the show becomes more enjoyable as several subplots come into play. With the introduction of some of the characters’ parents and real-world issues, the show heads in a more engaging direction. This is enhanced by its off-screen elements as well. In real life, each of the main teen characters has their very own Instagram, with Akeno “Aki” Menzies (Evan Mock) and Audrey even having their own Letterboxd and Goodreads profiles.

Fans feel as if they are spectators within the show itself, watching the drama go down in real time.

The show walks the narrow line between the relatable and outrageously opulent, as if they couldn’t decide on what they wanted it to be. The success of “grittier”

for the sake of it, not to drive the plot forward. It becomes even more concerning given the main characters are all minors, with Zoya turning 15 by the third episode. Similarly, the political bits in the show toe the line, raising the question of how substantive these comments can be when made by such a wealthy bunch; a

parents, the sequel differs by showcasing their effect on the general public as well as their kids. For instance, Otto “Obie” Bergmann IV (Eli Brown) can’t stand up to his mother while she’s building a project that would displace hundreds of homeless people. Aki is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality,

character could make statements about smashing the patriarchy and inclusivity, then turn around to deliver a classist remark. It could be a

and his conservative media tycoon father outs Aki on TV to dismiss homophobia claims sparked by a lawsuit to his company. Zoya’s char-

record was upsetting, given the already minimal production and instrumentation.

The only songs with bridges were “Fallen Fruit” and “Stoned at the Nail Salon,” creating unfulfilled potential and leaving audiences bereft.

Overall, many felt under-

acter serves as a refreshing comparison of the problems of the characters and those that plague the real world.

Being the upstanding activist that she is and coming from a less privileged background, her interactions with others point out their moral contradictions.

A positive aspect of the show is how diverse it is compared to the original, both racially and in terms of sexuality. Though it’s probably not realistic, the new diversity is quite significant, given that the original “Gossip Girl” could count its non-white characters on one hand.

The show is certainly visually appealing on many ends, with gorgeous shots of the New York City skyline, reminiscent of “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), and aesthetically pleasing set design, down to the designer pieces and tasteful decor. That being said, fans expected the styling of the sequel to measure up to the original, which was noteworthy in its influence on fashion.

Despite the higher budget and even recruiting the same costume designer Eric Daman, the looks on the show are far from groundbreaking, which is especially disappointing given Julien is supposed to be a fashion influencer.

The reception amongst the fashion community has been mixed, though Audrey certainly seems to have made a splash on social media with her pared-down vintage looks.

The original “Gossip Girl” is entertaining but far from a cinematic work of art. The reboot falls in a similar category: despite failing to measure up to its predecessor in many ways, it’s often more engaging in others, especially because of its contemporary setting.

It is clearly intended to be relevant to 2021, and with its commentary on topical issues, plus the cast’s diversity, it is definitely more in-touch than the OG. It not only builds on the legacy of the original, but also reworks itself to suit the present. For something that was so dreadfully anticipated by fans of the original, it surpasses expectations. And, at this point, many are curious to see what comes next.

Until then, XOXO.

Lorde’s Sunny Return

Music continued from page 20

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

Hey Lower West Siders, Gossip Girl here… again.

Yes, the beloved CW teen drama is back. Centered around ridiculously privileged Upper East side teens, “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012) gained a loyal following over its original sixseason-long run. The show follows frenemies “It Girl” Serena (Blake Lively) and “Queen Bee” Blair’s power struggle, while an anonymous, all-knowing blogger, Gossip Girl, reports all their troubles and, in some cases, creates them. A standalone sequel to the original, “Gossip Girl” (2021) aims to capture how New York City has changed while retaining the sheer absurdity of the original. The show focuses on a new batch of Constance Billard elites and highlights the influence of social media, namely Instagram. Outcry has poured out from the fans of the early “Gossip Girl” since the sequel was announced, questioning if another show could live up to the iconic original.

Influencer Julien Calloway (Jordan Alexander) and her friend group of seven are the most popular kids in school— but they’ve got their own problems. The arrival of new girl Zoya Lott (Whitney Peak) causes quite the stir, once it’s quickly revealed that Zoya is Julien’s half sister. Sick of wealthy students disrespecting them, the teachers—headed

by Kate Keller (Tavi Gevinson)—decide to take up the mantle of Gossip Girl, only on Instagram this time.

In an attempt to live up to the iconic original, the acting often falls flat, ranging from downright awful to moderately bearable. While the teen characters aren’t delivering Oscar-worthy performances, it’s nothing compared to how stiff the teachers sound most of the time. Monet De Haan (Savannah Smith), Luna La (Zión Moreno) and Audrey Hope (Emily Alyn Lind) are a choice few whose acting embodies the spirit of the original show. In all fairness, it’s difficult to sound convincing with some of the ridiculous lines written into the show.

Attempting to replicate the snappy one-liners and riveting back-and-forths of the origi-

nal, the sequel often comes off as clunky and awkward.

Some plot points have raised major eyebrows as well, particularly Gossip Girl’s immediate reveal. Having teachers act as this threatening force has also been criticized, due to how unrealistic it is and the

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

By ANIKA AMIN

whelmed by the emotional depth of “Solar Power” in comparison to “Melodrama” and “Pure Heroine.” Pitchfork went as far as to ask, “Shouldn’t an album about climate grief and puppy grief and social grief by one of the best pop songwriters of her generation make you feel something?”

The diversity of topics

mentioned within the album, from environmental crises to existential crises, lacks the cohesion to be properly developed. Her tracks commenting on topics like pseudo-wellness piqued interest but weren’t fully expanded on. It can be difficult to get the point, especially when the already strippedback vocals and instrumen-

tals expose every facet of the album’s structural integrity. Every track sonically belongs to “Solar Power,” but the themes don’t mesh as smoothly with one another.

The listeners are left floating in a textureless haze with no destination in sight.

It’s important to go into “Solar Power” with the understanding that it is Lorde’s

“full circle” album. She’s not trying to hammer nails into the coffin holding “Pure Heroine” (her “cherry black lipstick’s” just “gatherin’ dust in a drawer”). She’s no longer the girl who’s scared of “getting old.” She’s the girl “who’s seen it all.” In a way, this record is Lorde’s love letter to life, one that would do us all some good to listen to.

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Page 23

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

Oh God, Where’s the Exit?

By ERICA CHEN and ESHAAL UBAID

TOO.” Chaos. Panic. Fear. Whatever a parent feels when they see Reddit in their child’s search history. Both students crumble. The clock ticks closer to the start bell every second.

The answer shines in their mind like a glowing sign from the universe. Of course! Just give up your pride and ask for help! Look, hallelujah! Someone who looks older than me!

“Excuse me, uh, where’s room 1006?”

In classic horror movie fashion, the student in question turns around slowly. It feels like a reflection, really, because she’s also sweating, panicked, and hosting that familiar glow of confusion in her eyes.

“YOUNG ONE, I CAN’T HELP YOU. I HAVEN’T BEEN HERE ALL YEAR. I’M LOST

“I thought you were older and experienced or something. I’m so sorry.”

“I AM. I’M A SOPHOMORE. I ASSUME YOU’RE A FRESHMAN.” And together they weep. These 10 floors are so overwhelming.

Funnily enough, this is the closest thing to socialization that either had gotten in a very long time.

“Could we ask a junior?” the freshman cries in anguish.

The sophomore desperately nods. “GREAT IDEA.” Later…

“ALAS,” the freshman falls to their knees. “YOU HAVE CAN-

Aryana Singh / The Spectator

Whole Foods glistens in the distance. The city is alive. A middle-aged white lady jogs with her pet dog.

“Yes,” a freshman thinks, standing in front of the massive 10-story-tall building. “This must be the home of the fabled Stuyvesant High School.”

With a pull—no, it says push (why is everyone illiterate after Zoom school)—of the heavy entrance door, they enter the building. They panic, realizing that they don’t have a student ID, and crumble in shame as they watch the upperclassmen with IDs scan their own cards in superiority. Now everyone will know that this space houses a noob, an amateur, a mere child. Not the confident student they wanted to be.

At least the worst is over. They breathe a sigh of relief. Now to get to room 1006 because the programming department had a personal vendetta against them and granted them Art App first period to smite them like a Greek god.

It’s on the 10th floor—straightforward enough. They ascend with very loud, slapping footsteps because it’s been a while, and everyone’s calves are built like cooked ramen noodles. They almost sob at the sight of an escalator. Could Stuy really be this… amazing?

Oh whoops, never mind. They have no idea how to get to their first-period class that is so conveniently located on the highest floor.

They walk in circles thrice, passing by flocks of students who

likely possess better navigational skills. Not wanting to be that clueless kid asking for help, but also not wanting to be late to class, they panic. Beads of sweat accumulate on their forehead as they plan their next move.

YON DEEP EYEBAGS AND THE AURA OF BEING GENERALLY DISSATISFIED WITH LIFE. You must be a junior!”

“Why… why is that accurate?” the junior whispers to himself.

“Do you know where the art room is?”

The junior turns to face them, his eyes glassy just like everyone else. “What…? Sorry… I don’t know…”

“Aren’t you ancient and allknowing though?” The sophomore continues. “Please help.”

“I’ve… only been… in the school… for half a year… I’m also… lost…” he mumbles slowly.

“Oh God, is this what teachers feel like when no one did the homework? What do we do?”

After what seems like forever, a Big Sib comes up to the trio.

“Hey! Are you lost? I can help you.

What room are you looking for?”

They all brighten up, slightly.

“THE FRESHIE HERE NEEDS TO GET TO ROOM 1006. WE WANTED TO HELP, BUT WE ALSO DON’T KNOW WHERE IT IS,” the sophomore explains.

“That room! Right! I can take you th—wait. Where is room 1006? Do I know where it is? I only know it’s on the tenth floor...” the Big Sib mutters to themself.

“So… can you help or not…”

“Ah, well, I- I’m sorry, I have to go somewhere real quick. Bye!” The Big Sib quickly runs away without looking back. “…” “…” “…”

“Uh, y’know what? Screw it.

Screw school. Let’s just leave. Ev-

eryone’s clueless anyways. No one will know we’re gone,” the freshman declares with mock confidence.

“YES. WHAT’S THE POINT OF SCHOOL. LET’S GO!” The sophomore exclaims.

“ANARCHY!” they cry in unison. ***One Eternity Later*** “Ms. Teacher, uh, could you direct us to the exit?”

“Sorry, I have to get to Principal Yu! Wait, where is he? Where is the principal’s office? Where do I go?” the teacher mutters to herself as she frantically looks up and down the hallways, seemingly unaware of the hundreds of students looking around in a daze in the same hallway with her, and even more unaware of the trio standing right in front of her. “So much for my first day being a teacher here.

This school is like a maze!”

“Huh, so teachers… are lost… too…?"

“I BET THE PRINCIPAL IS LOST TOO. HEY, HE’S ALSO A SOPHOMORE! A SOPHOMORE PRINCIPAL,” the sophomore declares.

“I think you can just walk straight for the lobby down there," the teacher points.

The students dash for the exit.

Freedom. They can just taste it!

Finally, some semblance of reality!

No more aimless wanderi“I think. Wait, no. Not that way. Where…?” She trails off. “...” “...” “...”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

My Little Pony: Is Friendship Truly Magic?

By ALEXANDER CHU The 2010s was truly a great era: MarioKart Wii was a game, Minecraft was launched, and the hardest homework I had was coloring within the lines. Though there are many games or shows that I could write about, “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” is a staple of this era and will truly never be forgotten. From the endless McDonald’s toys, the numerous spinoffs, or even the mobile games, you probably remember My Little Pony one way or another. Today, we’ll be taking a My

Magic School Bus-ish trip back in time to revisit one particular aspect of “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”: the theme song.

The catchy beat, the nearly angelic chorus, and the maddening guitar riff make the theme song one that is near impossible to forget, no matter how hard you try.

The beat drop does nothing to help with the onslaught of melodies too pleasant to forget, with lyrics like, “I used to wonder what friendship could be.” With lyrics like this, it's no wonder that My Little Pony made over $1 billion in toys alone,

“having none of the violence or sexuality of other toy franchises,” (thanks, Wikipedia).

“My Little Pony, My Little Pony / What is friendship all about?” does a great job introducing the theme of the song: friendship.

Throughout the song, the unnamed narrator discovers the magic of friendship and what a “wonderful wonder” it is. My Little Pony displays this perfectly through the colorful cast of ponies that go along with Twilight Sparkle, who add personality and charm to a show that is otherwise a reboot of a reboot.

With a series of puns my dad would be jealous of, the heroines of the shows are introduced to us, consisting of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack. Though these are a bunch of one-liners, they do a great job of introducing the characters’ traits.

“When danger makes me wanna hide / You’ll Rainbow Dash to my side” is a great example of this, for Rainbow Dash’s main attribute is bravery. The music video displays this well, with Rainbow Dash bravely kicking away a Changeling.

It’s no question that My Little

Pony touched the hearts and spirits of millions across the world, even the ones not in the intended age group. It shows the magic of the song as it can span across generational gaps, all through impactful lyrics and relentless guitar riffs.

The “My Little Pony” theme song introduces the show strongly, exemplifying friendship in such a way that I could understand even in my perpetually sleep-deprived state.

Even if Netflix decided to reboot the show, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic will hold a place in all our hearts, special or not.

Are You Socially Inept?

By KYLE HON CHAN It’s the day everyone has been waiting for. Foxy News Headquarters is filming in person for the first time since quarantine started, where the two fan-favorite reporters, Patrick Billingsby and Jan, are given the go-ahead to start filming the seven o’clock primetime news.

For their first day back, they’ll be reporting on what schools will do to stop the spread of a new virus: social ineptness. Little do they know that everyone, including themselves, is victim to this new disease that has been plaguing the Earth after months of isolation.

Here is a transcript of the behindthe-scenes: Patrick Billingsby (PB): Hey Jan. Jan (J): Hey Pat. Good morning.

PB: How are you?

J: I’m good, you?

PB: I’m good. I just can’t believe we’re back at Foxy News Headquarters shooting together again.

J: I know, right? I can’t believe we’re finally at Foxy News Headquarters together again!

PB: That’s what I just said.

J: Oh yeah! Whoopsy doo!

Producer: Okay, we’re going to go on air in a few minutes. Just a heads-up in case you didn’t go over your script like you were supposed to, but we’re talking about social awkwardness after quarantine due to COVID. PB: What’s COVID? Oh yeah, that virus, right? *chuckles* J: Very funny, Pat. Producer: All right, we’re going live in five… four… three… two… one… Action!

PB: Welcome back to Foxy 5 News with PB and J. It’s Patrick

Billingsby and today, we’ll be covering social awkwardness after the pandemic.

J: Hi everyone, it's Jan from Foxy 5 news. We have received reports from the Department of Education that students will be required to attend “Socially Distant Touching Classes,” where students will gain new connections with classmates via skin-to-skin contact, but still follow the Center of Disease Control guidelines.

My fellow reporter will go into more detail about what will happen in these classes. Socially Distant Touching Classes will be two hours a day and mandatory for all students. NYC DOE Chancellor Peisha Morter says, “Many students have not had the luxury of feeling any sentient being within the quarantine, and with this new class, students will be able to forge deeper bonds with one another, breaking through the ice of previ-

ously taboo acts.”

PB: Jan, you stole my line!

Jeez, can you even read? AND you literally just repeated what I just said. Oh my god, how did I get assigned such a dimwitted partner? You weren’t good before the pandemic, and now you’re even worse!

Producer: Um, Pat, we’re still live, so you might want to just stick to the script and dial it down a little. Just go to the next part.

PB: Fine. Uh… schools are also mandated to remove all free periods, including lunch, from students’ schedules so they can spend more time having supervised social interaction. Students will not be permitted to eat lunch during the school day, as Chancellor Morter states that it is “a waste of school time.” Thank you all for tuning in to PB and J news. This is Patrick Billingsby for Foxy 5 News.

J: And this is Jan, from Foxy 5 News. Have a great night.

Producer: And… cut! Alright, that’s a wrap. Great job today. See you next Monday!

PB: Bye. J: Nice seeing you.

PB: Nice seeing you too. Have a great weekend.

J: You too.

PB: Alright bye.

J: Yep see you next time.

PB: Okay, I actually have to go now, see you.

J: Bye. The two reporters then proceed to awkwardly walk away from each other only to realize later that they parked their cars in the same area and were going the same direction. The rest of the journey is filled with silence and awkward staring, here in the Twilight Zo— wait no, this is still Earth, never mind.

Page 24

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Humor Soda and Jeanine Rejoice!

By KRISTA PROTEASA

and frogs, not give you tea.

“Good morning, Soda!”

“Morning, Jeanine. Looks like someone’s cheery this morning.”

“Yes, I am! I remembered the children are gonna walk these

“I can’t with you.”

Yikes, this isn’t what I was looking for. I couldn’t keep recording this fight, so I turned off the mic until the next morning.

I’m so sorry. You won’t get your drama fix for the day. Go watch Entertainment Tonight or something. My job is to record mice

halls again!”

“Oh my gosh! I almost forgot… Jeanine, that makes me so nervous my kidneys could rupture! Wait, I should get tested for renal medullary carcinoma…”

“Soda, you don’t have RMC. Regardless, we’re gonna get our share table back! Aren’t you ex-

Joanna Meng / The Spectator

As the start of school approaches, our little school friends Soda and Jeanine have thrown party after party in the past two weeks. With the prospect of Stuyvesant students coming back to school in the fall, Jeanine has been over the moon. Since I am their best friend (after all, I wrote an article about them), they graciously let me record their interactions so that The Spectator can share their enthusiasm with the world.

“Soda, when was the last time you washed the dishes?” Jeanine asked.

“We don’t use dishes, Jeanine.

We’re mice.”

“Oh, right.”

“Jeanine, why are you talking about dishes?”

“Well, now that the kiddos are coming back, we need to get the fine china ready!”

“Jeanine, once again. We don’t offer any dishes. Ever. We would literally die if we did that. Our china are the size of their toes.”

“You’re such a party pooper…”

“For not wanting to die?”

“Yeah, Soda… You’ve always been like this.”

“Jeanine, I’m gonna need you to stop starting fights every time we talk. I’m gonna go clean the china.”

“Soda, apparently we don’t use china.”

cited?”

“Our? Isn’t it for the children?

You know, to share?”

“Soda, let’s be completely honest with ourselves here. I have never seen a single soul take something from that table.”

“Fair point. But oh my goodness, Jeanine, I am so inexplicably disgusted at the thought of the children roaming these halls again.

You know what they do in the Hudson. I can’t run into any more high school romances. Please.”

“While you bring up a good point, don’t you remember how they used to scream with joy whenever they saw us in their bio labs?”

“Jeanine, I hate to break it to you, but that wasn’t joy. They literally want nothing to do with us.”

“Then we should get them to love us. Should we throw a party for the kids?”

“Jeanine, please. I told you yesterday, anything we do to try to talk to those juveniles would get us killed.”

“Ugh, Soda, I’m so tired of this. You know what, I still wish the kids were here. Some of them left snacks in their lockers.

You don’t understand how good stale pizza bagels from Terry’s or a hardened baconeggandcheese from Ferry’s or three-week-old

iced coffee from that hearty cart in front of the A/C/E station are.”

“They’re so gross, oh my gosh.”

“Wait, Soda, what are we going to do once they actually get here?

No matter how much you don’t want them here, they’re bound to come eventually.”

“I think we should make posters in the computer labs and put them around the school during the night before they get here to tell them not to kill us. We’re just small animals, after all.”

“While that sounds futile because we can’t write, I think it’s an absolutely amazing idea. They’ll never suspect it was us. They’ll think it was an eccentric student with too much ink, unrestricted printing abilities, and tiny footprints.”

“Wait, Jeanine, are we being recorded?”

“Oh my gosh, Soda. You’re right. No one can know our relationship has faults!”

My microphone then magically lost signal. I’m still mad about that. Do you know how much bubble tea I had to abstain from buying to afford this little microphone? I want to cry. Actually, I will go cry. Be right back. Until then, toodles.

A Love Letter to Stuyvesant High School

By LIESEL WONG “I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.” —Shakespeare Dear Stuyvesant, It has been so long since our last correspondence. When the emerald trees metamorphose into the fiery red conifers of fall, I look forward to being forcibly brought back together. As a token of my gratitude, I write this letter to reminisce about the precious time we’ve spent together. My hope is that you understand my unyielding love for you and bestow upon me a schedule with first period free.

I must confess, quarantine has not been kind to me. As my living room (the only room in my apartment with windows) be-

came an overused home office, I slinked back into the dark corners of my bedroom. Like the unwilling prisoner in Plato’s allegory of the cave, I found myself dreaming of the translucent floor-to-ceiling windows on your fifth story. My recollection of the pale afternoon light led me to fantasize about the collection of evenly lit selfies taken near those heavenly portals.

After my hours of contemplation, I realized that you are beautiful, Stuy. Like the wooden heaters that melted the plastic cover of my freshmen biology lab book, you melt my heart.

The aesthetics of the fifth floor only enhance the beauty of your seventh floor. Though the large plants peppering the floor are currently the only truly living things in you, their luscious green shades and towering leaves

bring an air of precious contemplation to the bustling hallways.

Thank you, my love, for being kind enough to maintain this quiet sanctuary.

Yet, only recollecting our more peaceful moments neglects to characterize your dynamic personality. Your soul, or my cafeteria, continues to dispense muchneeded sustenance to us. With only a mere meal of mozzarella sticks, you managed to change my favorite day of the week from Friday to Thursday. The crispy exterior and cheesy interior, combined with the coveted marinara dipping sauce, still bring joy.

And when your coveted lunch period ends and passing time begins, your hallways are filled with students who appreciate you. As my friends and I speed-walk down your expansive hallways, we giggle

about the benches found in the boys’ bathroom and groan about the 50-page chemistry homework due the next day. When I push through mint-green doors and run past dust-bunnies in the Hudson staircase, I think of the kindness you show to the families of rats on the third floor. Stuy-Pie, I would give up an entire meal of mozzarella sticks for these moments!

As my letter comes to a close, I realize I must mention your ultimate expression of love: the morning announcements. Oh, how I’ve yearned to hear those quick-witted puns and uplifting messages! During my freshman year, I was sentenced to Symphonic Band where the lovely melody of the morning announcements was always drowned out by the awful roar of 50 high schoolers

practicing different pieces. But do not despair! When I was sent to third-period trigonometry due to a successful program change (a stroke of luck almost as rare as a seat in the library), I heard the loudspeaker for the first time. As the first pun of the year left the loudspeaker’s metal lips, a burst of pure love and serotonin rushed through my mind.

I can recall so many more invaluable moments from the dusty corridors of my mind, but I only have so much room to express my appreciation for you. Stuyvesant, our times together are irreplaceable. I can only dream of reuniting with you after dragging my dozy self to school at 8:00 a.m.

Forever yours (especially if I receive a survivable fall schedule), Liesel Wong

Top 10 Things NOT to Do as a Freshman

By ANIKET ROY

likes an imposter. Okay, that’s the Among Us reference out of the way. You thought you could escape old meme references. Well, you cannot!

6. Refrain from using the escalators. They’re known to break down and the school can’t deal with another set of toes lost. But then again, the escalators barely ever operate, so it’s not even a real issue.

7. Don’t brag about your grades or what classes you’re taking.

We get it, your life is starting to suck and the only way you cope is by overwhelming yourself with advanced classes in hopes of convincing yourself you can handle all the academic rigor, but in reality, you’re burning out. In short, bragging about school doesn’t help. It just makes you seem like a dork.

8. Don’t join dumb clubs that make you do even dumber things. If I knew people in The Spectator had to spew out content once every two weeks and perform depart-

ment (cult) rituals, I wouldn’t have joined in a million years.

Just join the track team. It’s important to get good at running so you can outrun Mr.

Justine Kang / The Spectator

Welcome, Class of 2025! I can’t believe there is already another class of awkward freshmen who have a sense of direction even worse than that of a headless NYC pigeon. As someone who used to be a freshman, I know a little bit about what you all are going through. I was once also the kid who thought wearing a gym uniform would look cool.

Lesson learned. However, don’t worry about repeating the same mistakes I did because here is a list of the top 10 things NOT to do as a freshman.

1. On your first day of school, don’t make eye contact with any of the upperclassmen.

You are not on their level.

Trust me. Instead, show respect to them by bowing down to them before engaging in any sort of conversation. Also, don’t call them senpai, onii-chan, or oneesan. Seriously, they aren’t into that kind of stuff. Or do— they might be into that.

2. Don’t fall asleep on the halffloor. You’ll become infamous for being the person who fell asleep on the halffloor. In fact, just don’t go on the half-floor. Freshmen have a distinct smell to them that can be really intoxicating to others. Disclaimer: I don’t even know where or what the half-floor is. I assume it was once a floor that developed dual personalities and had to be halved with a chainsaw because the two couldn’t share the spotlight anymore.

3. If you have Swim Gym, I shouldn’t even have to mention speedos. I beg of you, no one needs to see that much of you. If you are looking for an alternative, consider a Thanos one-piece swimsuit.

4. No one should catch you doing the devil’s tango with anyone between the staircases. It’s a staircase, not the McDonald’s bathroom. Do all your dirty deeds at home.

Anywhere but in school.

5. Don’t be suspicious. No one

Moran, who is just itching to snatch that new iPhone 12 Pro Max you got there.

9. If you don’t know where

your class is and you’re lost, please don’t have a breakdown in the middle of a hallway. No one wants to look at you sobbing your eyes out.

Just suck it up. You’re not the only one lost. Literally threefourths of the school has no clue where they are going: all of us just hope that where we end up doesn’t involve dressing up as a furry.

10. Finally, don’t go to Stuyvesant. Seriously, what were you thinking? You could have had a normal life with a good sleep schedule and social life. Why trade all that for endless misery? Nah. I’m kidding. Come to Stuy. The upperclassmen are friendly… sometimes.

Hopefully, this Not-To-Do list prevents you from being an embarrassing freshman, but instead one with swag. Remember not to do any of the things mentioned, and I pray some of you survive and make it to your sophomore year. Good luck, Class of 2025.

You’re going to need it…

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Page 25

Sports Athlete of the Issue

How This Volleyball Duo Defends to Contend Co-Captain Name: Jenny Liu Grade: 12 Height: 5’4’’ Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Date of Birth: 01/07/2004

Co-Captain Name: Leila Ferguson Grade: 12 Height: 5’9’’ Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue Date of Birth: 04/29/2004 1. How long have you been on the Stuyvesant volleyball team?

J: We both had experience going into Stuyvesant, [...] started out on JV freshman year, and joined the varsity team sophomore year.

I’ve played with a rec team since freshman year.

L: In addition to playing for Stuy, I’ve played with a club team called Brooklyn Elite since eighth grade.

2. What position do you play, and what skills/strengths are involved?

J: I play libero, which is the main defensive position. Skills needed include communication with other players on court, consistency with passing, a certain level of athleticism to, for example, chase after the ball out of the court, and good court awareness.

For example, I make sure not to jump over the 10-feet line when hitting because liberos cannot do that. Occasionally, I am substituted for an outside or opposite.

L: Keeping yourself fit and improving your skills are two different things. I do yoga to keep myself fit. To improve your skills, I would say do the reps and really think about the advice given by coaches.

3. What inspired you to join the volleyball team? What motivates you to continue to lead this team?

L: I started playing after I noticed a travel team practicing at my middle school. I tried out for the team, and I made it (which was a surprise as I was not very athletic at first). I stuck with volleyball because I loved the sport and feel that girls’ sports teams are really empowering. Teams provide a welcoming space.

J: I started in middle school at Lab Middle School. Funnily enough, a lot of the previous members of the Stuyvesant volleyball team started at Lab, so I thought joining the team here would be a nice progression. Even before coming to Stuy, I knew I would want to play for the team.

I think it has turned out well. The nice thing about playing for your school team is that it becomes a part of your school experience beyond academics [...] Being on a sports team makes your eyes a bit more open to being physically fit and fitness culture in general. It develops a good routine beyond just volleyball practice.

4. From your years on the volleyball team, do you have a most memorable moment/ experience?

L: Most memorable moments are not always on the court. Even when you win a really competitive game, most of the time you end up forgetting the details. Volleyball lets you make friends and meet new people.

J: Middle blocker and Libero go together quite well!

J: Our first scrimmage of the season was against Hunter, who was very competitive with us, and we actually won. There was also one week in our sophomore year when we had a practice, game, practice, game, practice, and [...] tournament. It was an insane week. I don’t remember the exact plays of these games, like Leila mentioned. You just remember that you won and the good feeling that comes with celebrating with your teammates […] Also, this is just a funny thing, but we’re also the only team at any game that does homework on the sidelines when we’re not playing.

L: They’re at the same position on the court. A libero fills in

5. What is your strategy for constantly improving yourself

L: I’m a middle blocker, the hitting position in the middle.

We do the most blocking out of anyone on the court, so we have to be able to jump high and track the ball. For this position, you also need court awareness because you need to make sure that you’re not in the way of passers and hitters.

(specific routines, drills, etc.)?

for the middle when they go back row.

in all of these areas, am I fit to be captain? I think being a captain is a matter of always having a good mentality. If I make a mistake, it’s fine and I will correct it next time.

Recognizing my weakness in serving motivates me to work harder and humbles me as a player.

Courtesy of Leila Ferguson

By AIDAN LOOK

J: I also picked up yoga earlier this year, not to get particularly good at yoga but for stress management. I do go to the gym occasionally, and I think that’s something I picked up as a result of playing volleyball and realizing that it could help me become stronger. From playing volleyball, I’ve also learned that I can work on specific things by doing certain workouts outside of the gym. For example, because volleyball involves so much jumping and I’m a shorter person, I do plyometrics.

On a more general note, I have incorporated more sleeping into my routine because sleeping at 2:00 a.m. isn’t cool anymore.

6. What’s one of the biggest obstacles you’ve faced while on the volleyball team?

L: Playing through COVID, especially last year when our season coincided with the boys’ season. Mr. Choubaralian chose to coach the boys instead of the girls, and Mx. Stuzin was our coach. Although they didn’t have much experience, having them as a coach was very fun and a great experience.

J: A specific skill that I’ve struggled with and continue to struggle with a bit is my serving. It is a weaker area compared to other areas of mine. I also think there’s a sense of imposter syndrome with being captain: if I’m not amazing

7. How do you think the Stuyvesant volleyball team has changed you as a player?

J: If it weren’t for school teams, I would not be here and have my skills improved the way they [have been]. I don’t play club because it’s financially unfeasible for my parents. Being able to play on the school team, getting an opportunity to practice here, and now serving as a captain [have] changed me, and I’m very grateful for this opportunity. With tryouts coming out, I’ve had people reach out to me really scared because they’ve never played club before.

I think telling them that I’ve never played club before might comfort them. There are also [amazing] players on our team [who] have never played club before.

L: School volleyball is very different from club because there is a captain (clubs usually have a full-time coach). As a captain, you learn how to navigate this dynamic of being friends with people on the team but also having to be an authority figure. It’s not something that I’ve had to deal with before (because I’ve never been a captain of a sports team before).

You have to be hard on yourself and have self-discipline.

8. In that sense, how do you think your experience this year as a captain will be different from your three previous years?

L: You have to be a lot more organized and on top of everything. There will be a lot of communication, whether that’s with Mr. Choubaralian or your teammates. When I was a player on varsity in sophomore year, I remember the captain and I had a big sister-little sister dynamic because she was always reminding me of things. As a captain, I will have to fulfill a role that I don’t have much experience with, and I will need to be responsible.

J: Adding on, you have to show up a lot more. When we’re leading a cool-down at the end, you can tell everyone is not super into it, but you have to do it to reinforce it. Last year, we didn’t have an official season, so this year is more about rebuilding a team culture because a lot of people here are new because we didn’t have tryouts last year. Having everyone acclimate to playing more competitively will be a responsibility for us.

9. Funniest teammate?

L: Isabel Leka (’21) J: Venus Wan (’23) 10. Favorite drink?

L: Iced cappuccino J: Bubble tea 11. Favorite food?

L: Cake in general J: Ben and Jerry’s Americone Dream and poke bowls 12. Favorite class?

L: Watercolor Painting with Ms. Leo and Global History with Mr. Badgley J: Ms. Maggio’s Urban Ecology and AP Environmental Science with Mr. Citron 13. Favorite movie/TV show?

L: “The Office” J: “BoJack Horseman” and “American Splendor” 14. Hobbies besides sports?

L: Depop J: Reading, student newspaper

Tokyo 2020

Tokyo in Review

By AVA QUARLES The Olympics have had their fair share of unforgettable moments over the years: miracles on ice, Derek Redmond, Jesse Owens, and Michael Phelps to name a few. Adding to that list, the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games concluded nearly a month ago, marking the end of one of the most memorable Olympics in recent history. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was the source of much uncertainty going into the competition, the Games ended with incredible performances, heartfelt emo-

tions, and unity.

Of course, this Olympics was not without its fair share of disappointments. The Tokyo Games recorded the lowest television ratings of any summer Olympics since NBC began broadcasting the Games.

Averaging 15.5 million viewers, this year’s ratings dropped to nearly half of the 2012 London Games. This contrast stems from the many adjustments to the Olympics that were necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The one-year delay and lack of audiences at events took away from the typical ex-

citement the Games offer.

Without fans allowed to spectate, many events took place in empty warehouses or arenas, which may have felt eerie and anticlimactic to viewers used to the enthusiastic crowds. To add insult to injury, Tokyo held the most expensive Olympic Games on record, with estimated total costs coming out to more than $20 billion.

A couple competitive low points included Team USA’s atypical failure to qualify for the men’s 4x100m relay, Japanese tennis icon Naomi Osaka’s loss in the third round, and Ameri-

can BMX racer Connor Fields’s terrifying crash, in which he suffered a brain hemorrhage and memory loss. That said, the high points of the Olympics certainly outweighed the lows. Team USA topped both the overall gold count and medal count, with 39 gold and 113 total medals. A few prominent American athletes who contributed to the count include gymnast Sunisa Lee, who won gold with her allaround performance, swimmer Caeleb Dressel, who impressively earned five gold medals, and sprinter Allyson Felix, who not only secured a gold in the

4x400m relay but also became the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history.

There were also four new sports added to the Olympic Games. Skateboarding, surfing, karate, and sport climbing (rock climbing) made their first appearances on the world’s stage.

The additions proved entertaining, with Japan’s Momiji Nishiya winning gold in women’s street skateboarding at only 13 years old and Team USA taking first place in both women’s surfing continued on page 26

Page 26

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Sports Euro 2020

A Tournament of Excellence

By SHAFIUL HAQUE and BEN PAN

r ato ect Sp

Center Back: Harry Maguire (28, England, Manchester United)

T he

Center Back: Leonardo Bonucci (34, Italy, Juventus) Leonardo Bonucci is arguably one of the best defenders of this generation. Despite his faulty form and defensive mistakes at Juventus last season, he helped showcase what the Italian national team is capable of. The 34-year-old center back formed a strong partnership with his Juventus and Italy teammate Giorgio Chiellini, and the duo went the whole tournament without being successfully dribbled past.

Bonucci himself started all seven of Italy’s Euro 2020 games and scored Italy’s equalizer in the final against England. Bonucci was subsequently named Player of the Match and included in the Team of the Tournament.

Right Back: Joakim Mæhle (24, Denmark, Atalanta B.C.) One of Denmark’s standout players during its semifinal run, Joakim Mæhle certainly turned heads during the Euros. The Dane currently plays for Italian team Atalanta B.C. and hasn’t previously played in a tournament for his country. However, the wingback displayed his impressive abilities after the sudden collapse of star midfielder Christian Eriksen in Denmark’s first match. Mæhle played every single minute of Denmark’s Euro 2020, with 41 total ball recoveries. He scored in a 4-1 win over Russia to send Denmark to the knockout stage. In the knockout stage, Mæhle scored in the Round of 16 match against Wales and provided an outstanding assist in the next quarter-final match against the Czech Republic. / Tan

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (22, Italy, Paris SaintGermain) Gianluigi Donnarumma is known as one of Europe’s best goalkeepers, and the Italian is only 22 years old. The keeper earned a call up for the Italian national team as a teenager, and since then, he has established himself in the first-choice squad. Donnarumma kept a clean sheet in three consecutive group stage games, helping

Left Back: Luke Shaw (26, England, Manchester United) Luke Shaw was a pivotal player in England’s Euro 2020 run to the final. The Englishman has had many drawbacks in his career, suffering injuries including a leg fracture in his initial years at Manchester United. However, Shaw’s impressive form as of this season has cemented him a starting spot at left back for England. He played six matches for England in the tournament, and he scored England’s opener in the final against Italy. Despite the match ending in a penalty shootout win for Italy, Shaw was impressive.

His former coach, José Mourinho, spoke about his performances: “I have to say: amazing tournament, fantastic final, [and] no defensive mistakes.”

As the world’s most expensive defender of all time, Harry Maguire certainly justified his price tag in the European Championship. While he wasn’t the fastest player on the pitch, his positioning and natural strength allowed him to dominate most elite attackers he faced throughout the tournament. With Maguire on the team, England kept a total of three clean sheets. The Englishman scored from a Shaw corner against Ukraine in the quarterfinal. Maguire also converted his spot kick during the shootout in the final against Italy, despite England’s eventual defeat.

Emily

It was the 89th minute. Switzerland found itself a goal down against World Cup champion France. Fans were devastated, heads in their hands, as they were waiting for the inevitable final whistle. But then it happened.

After receiving Granit Xhaka’s swift pass, Swiss forward Mario Gavranović dribbled the ball away from the defender and scored precisely into the back of the net.

He tied the score 3-3, and the fans went out of control. Switzerland later went on to win the game in the shootout, after the brilliant penalty save of goalkeeper Yann Sommer against Kylian Mbappé.

It was moments like these,​​ filled with anticipation, excitement, and misfortune, that defined the ​​2020 UEFA European Football Championship. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UEFA pushed the Euros to this year and set restrictions and precautions in preparation for the matches.

The first Euros match, Italy vs.

Turkey, kicked off on June 11 in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, with Italy enjoying a 3-0 victory.

Fans absolutely loved the tournament’s several heroic comebacks.

Many nations expected to excel during this tournament were surprisingly eliminated before they could make it into the final. After a month, the tournament concluded with the Italians claiming a 3-2 penalty shootout victory over the English in the final, following a 1-1 draw in extra time. Another European championship has ended, but who were the star players throughout the tournament?

Italy top Group A. In the semifinal against Spain, he saved a penalty in the shootout to help Italy advance to the finals, and in the final against England, he saved two penalties to win the tournament for the Azzurri. His heroics throughout the tournament earned him Player of the Tournament and a transfer to Paris SaintGermain from AC Milan.

Midfielder: Jorginho (29, Italy, Chelsea) An integral part of Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League win, Jorginho enjoyed another successful tournament with Italy. He was the beating heart of the team and operated as a regista, or “director,” for the Azzurri. He dictated the tempo of the team and used his vision and passing ability

to initiate attacks. Jorginho was also active on defense, making a record-breaking 25 interceptions throughout the tournament. His impressive performances were noted, and on August 26, Jorginho was named UEFA’s Player of the Year.

Midfielder: Pedri (18, Spain, Barcelona) The Spanish wonderkid has featured in 76 matches for club and country, an astonishing number for an 18-year-old. Touted as the next Andrés Iniesta, Pedri lived up to the expectations and led Spain to the semifinals.

Against the eventual champion, Italy, Pedri misplaced only two of his 67 passes. After Spain’s elimination that night, manager Luis Enrique praised the youngster: “Have you seen the tournament that Pedri has played?

I’ve never seen an 18-year-old kid play like I’ve seen Pedri play in this tournament, not even Andrés Iniesta. It’s crazy.”

Midfielder: Paul Pogba (28, France, Manchester United) Paul Pogba’s €105 million transfer from Juventus to Manchester United in 2016 broke the world record at that time. Most Manchester United fans would agree that Pogba has not consistently produced world class performances for the club, but nobody can doubt his brilliance when playing for France. In the Euro 2020, he scored a beautiful 25-yard curler against Switzerland and consistently created promising chances for teammates Karim Benzema and Mbappé.

Despite France’s elimination, Pogba proved once again that he is one of the best midfielders in the world.

Left Winger: Raheem Sterling (26, England, Manchester City) Raheem Sterling was by

far England’s best player in the tournament. Before Euro 2020 started, soccer fans mocked Sterling worldwide for his infamous open-goal miss against Lyon and invisible performance in the 2021 Champions League Final. Nevertheless, Sterling silenced his critics with his performances for England, scoring three winning goals against Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Most importantly, he won the penalty against Denmark in the semifinal to send England to their first ever final since 1996.

Right Winger: Federico Chiesa (23, Italy, Juventus) Federico Chiesa is a fast, skillful winger full of flair. Interestingly enough, the young talent was not even first choice in the group stage, as his competition Domenico Berardi was in excellent form before the tournament.

Chiesa impressed when he came on against Austria and completely changed the game for Italy.

His change of pace and trickery left defenders struggling and allowed Italy to break down a tight defense. Against Spain, Chiesa dribbled past Spanish center back Eric García and put Italy ahead with an exquisite curler. In the final against England, Chiesa was threatening again but was substituted early due to an ankle sprain.

Striker: Patrik Schick (25, Czech Republic, Bayer Leverkusen) Patrik Schick has had an upand-down career in the Bundesliga and Serie A. He is certainly an unknown name to many, but he introduced himself in a sensational fashion. In the opening game against Scotland, the striker lobbed over the Scottish keeper from the halfway line. His strike was later voted the best goal of the tournament. Schick kept up his performance, scoring five goals in five matches before being eliminated by Denmark in the quarter-finals. He finished as the joint top scorer of the tournament, sharing the glory with Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Tokyo 2020

Tokyo in Review continued from page 25

and women’s 57kg taekwondo.

Another upside of the Games was the limited spread of the COVID-19 virus. While many around the globe were skeptical about holding the Olympics in this state of the pandemic, their fears were not realized. With strict safety procedures, no spectators in attendance, and a vaccination rate of over 70 percent among athletes and staff, the virus was kept in check within the Olympic Village. Over 50 thousand people were present in the Olympic “bubble,” but there were no serious cases. This result is not only a victory in terms of the Games but also a step forward universally.

The Olympics were also marked by political statements on women’s rights and athletes’ mental health. The German

women’s gymnastics team wore full-body unitards as opposed to typical, high-cut leotards, standing “against sexualization in gymnastics.” While these uniforms are compliant with the rules of gymnastics wear, other statements against sporting dress codes were not as well accepted.

Prior to the Games, the Norwegian women’s beach handball team chose to wear shorts instead of bikini bottoms to a European Championship in a similar protest. Despite an outpour of praise from the media and fans worldwide for their bravery, the team received a fine from the European Handball Federation for “improper clothing.” Though their battle is not over, the Norwegian team hopes to inspire a rule change with their active objection.

Additionally, gymnast Simone Biles, one of the most well-

known athletes in the world, boldly spoke out on the mental strain of being in the spotlight. Following an off-balance vault per-

Ying Chen / The Spectator

formance, Biles withdrew from the team final and individual all-around competition. She cited her mental health and a case of the “twisties,” and in an Instagram post, she wrote that she felt the weight of the

world on her shoulders. “My mind and body are simply not in sync,” Biles said. She received abundant support for her decision to focus on her well-being over competition. Her decision was a necessary reminder to the world of the stress burdening many of these high-performing athletes.

While the 2020 Tokyo Olympics proved an overall success, questions remain about the future. The 2022 Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in Beijing, China, beginning February 4. However, the Chinese government has faced international disapproval for their mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang province. On top of that scrutiny, the government’s treatment of protestors in Hong Kong, a newly imposed national security

law, and the current state of the pandemic have fans worldwide wondering whether it is a good idea to hold the Olympics in the country. So far, over 160 human rights groups worldwide have called to revoke China’s right to host. Though this demand has not yet come to fruition, the idea of a Beijing Olympics boycott is surely present in the minds of many. While the USA’s involvement remains uncertain, Dominic Robb, a British foreign secretary, said that he has not ruled out a UK boycott of the Olympics over China’s treatment of the Uyghurs.

Despite the questions surrounding the Beijing Winter Games, winter athletes around the globe are preparing to step onto the world’s stage in just six months. They hope for a return to the glory and excitement of the Olympics that unite so many people globally.

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

Page 27

Sports Sports Editorial

Is the Return of Home Field Advantage Important?

When you watch a sports game at home, you seem to have it all: a great view of the action, all the food you want, and a clean bathroom. Yet, thousands of people go to each and every game, cheering on their favorite teams.

Those people contribute to one of the most important concepts in sports: the home field advantage.

Home field advantage is exactly what it sounds like. It is the advantage teams get from playing at their own stadiums. That advantage comes from multiple factors. The first is the aforementioned fans. Whether it is cheering on players and bringing up the energy or distracting the other team, fans have the ability to change the course of a game and help their team get the result they want. The second factor is familiarity with the playing field. This aspect is especially apparent in sports like baseball where every field is different and has its own unique quirks. However, it is also apparent in other sports where factors like field quality and turf affect the outcome of the game. The last factor is the climate. This element could be the extreme cold of December football in the northeast or the brutal heat of Texas sum-

The Kansas City Chiefs, whose fans set the record for the loudest stadium of all time, had their only two losses in 2020 at home.

Detroit had four of its five losses at home. San Francisco had five of eight losses on their turf, while Las Vegas had six of eight.

The NFL is not the only league

arena’s actual capacity, it was still the most in the NBA. Considering their immediate exit from the playoffs and the lack of all-stars on the roster, it is fair to say that their higher fan count certainly influenced their performance in having the best record at home.

To support this claim, the Jazz

that has seen this trend in recent years. The NBA’s reduced crowd sizes in 2021 saw home teams turn in their worst winning percentage of all time, as well as the most teams with a losing home record in a single season. Again, however, teams across the league were not affected consistently.

The best team at home was the upstart Utah Jazz, who had a 31-5 home record. At the end of the regular season, they had a seating capacity of 13 thousand. While this number is far below their

had 10 more losses away than at home, despite playing the same number of games. In fact, of the 20 teams that made the playoffs, 16 had a better record at home.

Lastly, you can look at the MLB. As mentioned earlier, the MLB is unique due to the differing fields across the sport. A great example of this variety is Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium’s right field fence is 314 feet to right field. The fence is also very short, making hitting home runs to right field very easy. This construction

Sophia Li / The Spectator

mer baseball. It could also be the mile-high altitude of Denver, the Green Monster in Boston, or the 16 mph wind in Buffalo.

Throughout sports history, the home team has always had an advantage. In the MLB, home teams have won about 54 percent of their games in both the regular season and playoffs. In football, this number jumps to 57 percent in the regular season and 65 percent in the playoffs. It only gets more extreme in the NBA, where the home team wins 60 percent of games in the regular season and 65 percent in the playoffs, all according to FiveThirtyEight. For a long time, it was unclear how important the fans were to home field advantage. However, with all its uncertainty, the pandemic afforded statisticians the perfect opportunity to determine that significance.

As mentioned earlier, NFL home teams win about 60 percent of games. With either nonexistent or tiny crowds in 2020, home teams went 127-128-1, going below .500 for the first time in NFL history, per The Ringer. Considering the fact that home teams have gotten well over 150 wins before, it is clear that the fans had a huge impact across the league. However, the impact of fans is clearly not equal throughout the league.

By MAX SCHNEIDER

has led the Yankees to load their lineup with power hitters, making their playing style perfect for their stadium, which means that even without fans, they have a distinct home field advantage. This edge was reflected by their 2020 season when they compiled a 22-9 record at home and an 11-18 record away. This advantage is also seen in the Colorado Rockies’ stadium.

They play in Denver, also known as the Mile High City, which has an altitude of 5,280 feet. The air pressure at this height makes the ball fly farther than it usually would, which has allowed the Rockies to construct a hitter-first roster that does well in Denver but does not perform as well elsewhere. Consequently, the Rockies have struggled out to an 18-50 road record, a staggering drop from their 43-22 home record. In fact, if Colorado was 43-22 on the road, they would be the best team in the MLB. So, how can we answer the question of the importance of home field advantage? Well, the answer is that it depends. It can make a huge difference, or it can make no difference at all. Regardless, as fans refill the stadium, leaving their couches for the thrill of the game, they will again become part of the true sports experience we all know and love.

Boxing

Game Over for PacMan After a year of inactivity due to As the bell rang, two fighters from vastly different backgrounds met in the middle of the ring. One fighter was a boxing icon who began his career nearly three decades ago, and the other was an experienced fighter in his prime who sought to make a bigger name for himself.

The welterweight title fight that took place on August 21 between Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas ended in a unanimous decision victory for the Cuban boxer Ugas, but it was the 42-year-old Filipino legend who received a standing ovation during the post-fight interview. Standing in the ring with swollen eyes and several cuts on his face, Pacquiao hinted that the bout may be his last, stating that he was leaning toward retirement “60/40.” If he does choose to hang up his gloves, Pacquiao will end his 26-yearlong career as one of the most successful and influential boxers of all time.

Ugas, the 35-year-old Olympic boxer, was not initially scheduled to fight Pacquiao. He came in on an 11 days notice after Pacquiao’s previous opponent, current unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., was forced to drop out of the fight due to a torn retina.

The much anticipated bout between Spence Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) and Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) was expected to be one of the biggest fights of the year, with the young American champion a clear favorite and Pacquiao the underdog. These odds were reasonable to most, as Spence Jr. is arguably the best welterweight

in the division and has secured a spot on most top five poundfor-pound lists. Many believed that he would be too much to handle for the 42-year-old Filipino veteran.

The odds quickly shifted to

the head, Ugas employed these three simple yet effective strategies to claim the unanimous decision victory after 12 rounds.

Despite Pacquiao throwing double the amount of punches, Ugas landed more accurate

Pacquiao’s favor, however, when Ugas replaced Spence Jr. To the general public, Ugas was a relatively unrecognized fighter, being sixth-ranked welterweight

by ESPN and lacking Spence Jr.’s reputation. The reserved 27-4 fighter from Cuba utilized an orthodox, high-volume pressure fighting style similar to that of fighters who Pacquiao had already faced and defeated earlier in his career. Contrary to his very slim odds of victory, on the night of the fight, Ugas pulled off an upset and established himself as a major player in the welterweight division.

Blocking Pacquiao’s incoming shots with a high guard, landing cleanly with a looping right hand upstairs, and setting up the right hand to the body by repeatedly double jabbing to

shots at 37 percent compared to his Filipino counterpart’s 16 percent. The Cuban boxer also landed 34 body punches and 50 jabs compared to Pacquiao’s six and 42, respectively. Throughout the entire fight, he was able to utilize his superior size and reach advantage against Pacquiao, patiently picking his shots and overpowering his opponent.

Pacquiao still had his moments in the fight. At times, the Filipino warrior was able to back up the bigger man and land fast combinations to the head and body. He won the first couple of rounds on the judges’ scorecards, briefly tricking everyone into believing that he had not changed since his glory days.

But this wasn’t the case. Instead, the fighter we saw on Saturday night was a far slower and less

Reya Miller / The Spectator

By TAEE CHI

dynamic version of Pacquiao, one that lacked the dizzying speed and destructive power that were once his trademark features. Rather than attacking from different angles as he normally does, Pacquiao was flat-footed and one-dimensional, allowing the Cuban to easily pick off his incoming punches and counterpunch with his own shots. “I had a hard time in the ring making adjustments,” Pacquiao said after the fight. “My legs were tight. I’m sorry I lost tonight, but I did my best.”

He acknowledged that though his body is not able to keep up with boxing, he still has a fighting heart. “This sport is my passion,” Pacquiao said.

“That’s why I’m still here fighting at the age of 42. I’m enjoying it, but sometimes you have to think about the response of your body. [...] My mind [and] my heart [are] 100 percent. But my legs were cramping.” Considering all that he has already accomplished in boxing, it is time for the great PacMan to retire from the sport. If he does, he will leave boxing as one of the all-time greats.

Pacquiao made his professional debut as a junior flyweight on January 22, 1995, at the age of 16. His exciting all-action style and charming personality quickly made him a fan favorite, and he rapidly rose through the ranks, winning his first major title on December 4, 1998 by knocking out Thai boxer Chatchai Sasakul to secure the World Boxing Council featherweight title.

Pacquiao made his U.S. debut on June 23, 2001 against Lehlo Ledwaba, scoring a sixth-round knockout and winning the International Boxing Federation junior featherweight title. Over

the next several years, Pacquiao engaged in several high-profile fights against noteworthy opponents such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Márquez, and Érik Morales, winning title after title and becoming The Ring’s Fighter of the Year in 2006 and 2008. By this time, Pacquiao had become a complete fighter and was widely considered the world’s finest pound-for-pound boxer. His success did not end there, though, as he moved through numerous weight classes to welterweight, demolishing his competition along the way.

His most notable fights in this period were against Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Timothy Bradley, and Keith Thurman.

Feats such as becoming an eight-division world champion as well as the first-ever fourdecade world champion are legendary in their own right, but perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Pacquiao’s career is his willingness to take on the best fighters in the world, regardless of size or age. His resume is possibly the greatest of all time, and Pacquiao’s popularity in his native Philippines might exceed the national stardom of any fighter in the history of the sport.

If he steps away from the boxing stage, Pacquiao’s next fight will likely take place in the realm of politics. He is currently a senator for the Philippines and is expected to enter the Philippines presidential race ahead of the May 2022 election. Even outside of the ring, PacMan will continue doing what he loves most: inspiring others.

Page 28

The Spectator ● September 13, 2021

THE SPECTATOR SPORTS Sports Editorial

No Vax, No Season

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stunt team member Lorraine Li said. “I think random rapid testing beforehand would do good for high-risk sports since even with precautions you [can] still get COVID.” Li believes that had the PSAL implemented these changes earlier, the spring 2021 season would have been possible, potentially saving graduating seniors’ final seasons.

New York City’s vaccine and mask mandates are coming on the tails of cautionary tales from sports systems in cities like Memphis, Tennessee. The Memphis high school sports system remained open during the pandemic, and athletes and coaches accounted for over 80 percent of positive cases in the school community, which led to many school shutdowns.

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The PSAL, NYC’s public high school athletic league, has sent a clear message to the 20 thousand athletes in the high school system: get vaccinated and wear a mask, or don’t play.

This rule applies to athletes of all high-risk sports, which the PSAL defines as football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, stunt, and rugby. Bowlers will also need to comply due to the rules of certain alleys. Athletes will only be permitted to play if their first doses take place before the first day of competitive play.

This decision has proven to be a controversial one. It is difficult to wear a mask during physical activity, especially in sports with a lot of cardio like soccer, track, and basketball. Additionally, most professional and college athletes

that messes things up for other schools,” senior and boys’ varsity soccer co-captain Leo Rahn said.

“But with masks, it’s really hard to play sports, especially outdoor sports. I don’t find them as necessary but understand where they’re coming from.”

Senior Alejandro Alonso, also on the soccer team, agreed with Rahn’s sentiment. “Forcing players to wear masks in PSAL will prevent our reintegration into society as normal after the COVID pandemic,” Alonso said.

Other student athletes think the PSAL has made all the right choices and could do even more. “I think [the] PSAL’s mandates on vaccinations and masks are essential and are long overdue. They should’ve done it for this year’s spring season,” sophomore and Na

aren’t required to wear masks, so the decision to mandate that high schoolers wear them has puzzled some, especially considering that they are already at a lower risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Others believe that the vaccination requirement is a needed precaution, but the masks are not.

If all athletes are vaccinated in the field, the risk is already small, and most sports are played outdoors, where transmission is far lower than indoors. The CDC’s official website notes that masks are generally not required in outdoor settings. As per this guidance, it may be more reasonable for masks only to be required in indoor sports.

“I think it makes sense that it’s required to have a vaccine to play because of what happened last year [...] Games get canceled because schools have outbreaks and teams forfeit games, and

By KRISH GUPTA

One point of debate is that students at school are not required to be vaccinated, while athletes are required to in order to play. Students, unlike most athletes, will be indoors in close contact with their peers. No matter what social distancing guidelines are in place, there will inevitably be contact and risk for transmission.

“Sports help keep young people healthy, and vaccines will keep them in the game,” Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said in a statement. “This is a sensible approach to athletics that involve closer contact. We applaud the Department of Education for taking this step to protect young athletes.”

All controversy and politics aside, New Yorkers can agree on one thing: it’s great to have high school sports back.

Play ball.

Sports Editorial

Sports Analytics: How Athletics and Mathematics Are Merging The crowd in the Oakland Coliseum watched starstruck at the crack of the bat. As the ball soared toward the right field seats, fans descended into a frenzy. The Oakland Athletics’ Scott Hatteberg, who three years earlier had ruptured a nerve in his elbow, produced a miracle off of Kansas City Royals’ Jason Grimsley, granting the Oakland Athletics their record-breaking 20th consecutive win in 2002.

The win streak would not have been possible without the Athletics’ General Manager Billy Beane’s innovative approach to baseball. Faced with a team on a shoestring budget, Beane looked for new ways to make the most of the money available to him.

With the help of Harvard graduate Paul DePodesta, Beane used overlooked statistical metrics to identify inexpensive players who had great potential. Applying this “Moneyball” strategy of sabermetrics, Beane pushed the Athletics to the top of the AL West and made Major League Baseball history.

The data revolution in sports was officially underway after the Athletics’ 2002 season. Beane’s successful alternative approach to baseball contradicted scouting techniques that were utilized for decades prior, but it reverberated throughout the MLB and other sports.

Since Beane’s record-breaking season, the use of sports analytics in baseball has evolved with the rapidly advancing technology available. Using high-resolution cameras in games, teams have collected previously inaccessible data points, including a pitcher’s arm angle, the spin rate on a ball, the exit velocity of a home run, and more. Services like Statcast provide teams with this data as they can track information to the specificity of the angle and height of a pitch release point.

Data collection in baseball is only improving as MLB implements new technologies like Hawk-Eye cameras, used in video assistant referee systems in soccer, to track balls and PITCHf/x, which gathers velocity and movement information for each pitch. Systems

like PITCHf/x not only help data analysis teams but also transform the fan experience as viewers have access to much more specific details, like where each pitch lands in the strike zone.

The novel data collection softwares in baseball have led to new metrics in games as well. Statisticians have created ERA+, which improves the standard earned run

find undervalued prospects based on overlooked statistics. Benham was able to identify players from the third German division who were capable of performing in the Bundesliga at much lower prices than other prospects. As a result, after only one year with the team, Benham led Midtjylland to the top of the Danish Superliga as champions for the first time in the

average calculation by including ballpark dimensions. Other measurements include weighted runs created plus, a comprehensive offensive metric, and wins above replacement, which calculates how many wins a player produces for a team in comparison to the average player on a roster.

In soccer, clubs around the world have successfully introduced data analysis teams to the Beautiful Game, seeking to optimize scouting, understand fan behavior, and improve squads as a whole. Clubs have picked up on analytics companies like Smartodds, a betting consultancy that collects data from various games and sells its analyses to gamblers.

Smartodds is not only useful for gambling, however. Squads like Brentford FC have been able to utilize the data of Smartodds in their scouting processes to make the most of their budgets, similar to the “Moneyball” approach.

For example, Matthew Benham, owner of Smartodds and Brentford FC, expanded his mathematical modeling strategy by becoming a majority shareholder of FC Midtjylland, a Danish club, and used his analysis of players to

2014-2015 season. Midtjylland proceeded to win the championship again in the 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 seasons.

Statisticians like Benham have been finding innovative ways to extract data from soccer matches.

Rather than looking at counting stats like simple goals and assists, measurements like expected goals, expected assists, average expected assists per 90 minutes, total shot rate, expected points (xP), and others have come to define a player and team’s potential statistically. Using the gathered data from Smartodds, Benham created a “justice” league table in which he sees where Midtjylland stands based on its stats—especially xP—and performance rather than pure wins and losses that are influenced by the luck factor.

In the NBA, Daryl Morey has been the primary analytics trailblazer. Morey developed a “Moreyball” philosophy for basketball statistics that maintains a heavy emphasis on three-pointers and layups over mid-range shots on the court. The effects are obvious. The mid-range shot is no longer common in today’s game.

Morey has pioneered the tracking

Vivian Teo / The Spectator

By MATT MELUCCI

of players’ performance through data, cofounding the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference to bring together pundits from the field. Startup softwares like RSPCT, which was used in the 2018 All-Star Three-Point Contest to show the exact placement of shots, have garnered investments from stars like Dwyane Wade and attention from fans.

Other devices such as Kinexon, a wearable fitness tracker, provide coaches with a better sense of how players position themselves and perform on the court.

Within professional football, many teams in the National Football League (NFL) have formed data analytics teams for their franchises, employing sports analytics for their benefit. NFL teams have already adjusted their playbooks according to findings from collected data. Coaches have noticed that in most situations, it is better to risk “going for it” on fourth down instead of punting the ball to the opposing team. Over the past few seasons of the NFL, there has been a gradual downtick in the number of times a team has punted on fourth down.

Data services like Zebra Technologies have implemented radio frequency identification in NFL stadiums to track players’ movement. Services like Next Gen Stats—made by Amazon Web

Services—can take the data provided by Zebra Technologies to pinpoint which specific players would fit best on a team. Next Gen Stats also provides detailed information on the fastest sacks, longest tackles, fastest ball carriers, improbable completions, and other gameplay specifics.

The sports analytics market is quickly expanding across leagues and is expected to reach a value of nearly $4 billion by 2022. Many teams across different sports have recognized the importance of collecting and interpreting data and have started data analytics teams to optimize their performance.

Similar to an arms race, the sports analytics revolution has franchises quietly scraping for outside information to get an edge over other teams. While mathematics and sports have long been considered complete opposites of each other, the efforts of Beane, Benham, Morey, and others have brought the fields closer together than ever. The math team and football team are finally converging, and the use of sports analytics has become the predominant mark of success in various teams.

Soon, what will separate supergiant teams from underdeveloped teams will be the extent to which a franchise can embrace and utilize data.

SPORTSBEAT The 2020 Tokyo Olympics concluded on August 8, with Team USA topping both the gold medal and total medal tallies at 39 and 113, respectively.

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and star player Giannis Antetokounmpo was subsequently named Finals MVP. Argentinian soccer icon Lionel Messi joined French club Paris SaintGermain on a free transfer after talks with F.C. Barcelona broke down due to the club’s financial difficulties.

The New York Jets acquired outside linebacker Shaquille Lawson from the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick.

Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani is the first player from the Los Angeles Angels to hit 40 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season.