Volume 112, Issue 2

The Spectator The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper

Volume 112 No. 2

October 1, 2021 OPINIONS

stuyspec.com SPORTS

“Abort the Texas Abortion Law ”

“The Breaking Point for Naomi Osaka”

Following the passing of Texas’s abortion law, Opinions writer Erica Li comments on the scary implication of the law to the landmark Supreme Court Case Roe v. Wade and the rights of women across the United States.

Despite her meteoric rise to tennis stardom, Naomi Osaka has faced a rocky 2021. Her facing the challenges dealt to her has both sparked a global conversation, and made her future in her sport uncertain.

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“The Pulse of the Student Body”

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STUYVESANT RETURNS IN-PERSON

Zifei Zhao / The Spectator

Sabrina Li / The Spectator

Zifei Zhao / The Spectator

Sabrina Li / The Spectator

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

AFTER 18 MONTHS AWAY, STUYVESANT RESUMED IN-PERSON CLASSES WITH UPDATED COVID-19 RULES AND REGULATIONS

NEWSBEAT

FALL 2021 REOPENING UPDATES

The Student Union hosted the annual Club and Pubs Fair on September 20, 22, and 23.

Students are required to complete the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) Health Screening daily before entering the school building in the morning.

The SHSAT is scheduled to be administered in December 2021.

Social studies teacher Robert Sandler was awarded MIT’s Influential Teacher award.

English teacher Annie Thoms was featured in a 9/11 Remembrance Interview by Spectrum News NY1.

All school visitors and volunteers must be vaccinated with at least one dose and show proof of vaccination to be allowed into schools.

The NYCDOE is offering vaccine clinics across the city, and families are encouraged to get vaccinated so students can protect both themselves and others.

Students are required to be vaccinated to participate in high-risk PSAL sports and extracurricular activities.

All students, staff, and visitors must wear masks while in the Stuyvesant building. Additional masks and supplies to sanitize equipment are provided.

The music department has ordered specialized masks for the chorus and band classes.

Physical education (P.E.) classes will be using outdoor spaces if the weather permits.

Students are currently not required to change into their uniforms for P.E. but will be expected to use the locker rooms to change beginning in early October.

Hallway and P.E. lockers are free for all students this year.

All elective gym courses are offered with the exception of Ballroom Dance.

Stuyvesant has adapted IO Classroom (Skedula) as the school’s primary grading resource, as opposed to Jupiter Ed.

Stuyvesant Parents Organize Private Bus Service for Students

By REBECCA BAO, ISABELLA JIA, and MOZEN KALEFA

With in-person school starting, a group of Stuyvesant parents organized a private coach bus service with S&J Tour & Bus Inc. (S&J) to offer an alternative commute option for students.

The service is not affiliated with Stuyvesant or the Parents’ Association.

Stuyvesant parent and coordinator of the private bus service Ting Yu was initially motivated to contact S&J to organize a safer commuting environment for students. “Last year, we encountered a lot of Asian hate in the subway, and most parents are worried about the safety of our kids, especially when they have to wake up early in the mornings [to take the subway] and sometimes late in the afternoon,” Yu said.

“In Stuyvesant, there is a large percentage of students who are

Asian.”

Currently, the S&J bus service offers three routes for students living in Queens and one for those in Brooklyn. These routes run from Little Neck, Forest Hills, Flushing, and Sheepshead Bay to Stuyvesant. Students are picked up from one of these lines based on a common stop in their route and all students in the same route are picked up and dropped off at the same location.

“It depends on the needs of the parents [and] students signing up,” a representative from the S&J Tour & Bus Company said.

“For the number of students, we have a variety sized pod, different sized buses, so really it depends on the needs of each route that will affect the different sizes we use.” The Queens line currently services an estimated number of 70 students while the Brooklyn continued on page 2

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News Stuyvesant Parents Organize Private Bus Service for Students 6:30 p.m., so S&J settled at 6:15,” sophomore Swumon Chow said in an e-mail interview.

For those riding the bus, many feel that S&J provides a better environment for their daily commute than other methods of transit. “It’s safer than public transportation, and it’s very comfortable to sit in, and I have made a few friends through the bus who live in my neighborhood as well,” Janine, who preferred not to disclose her last name, said in an e-mail interview.

Since the organization is independent of Stuyvesant, S&J is not responsible for lateness due to being late to the bus sta-

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Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and NASA

WORLDBEAT Over 14,000 Haitians are gathered under a bridge at the southern border of the United States. The Biden administration has scheduled several flights to deport the refugees.

The Pentagon publicly apologized for the drone strike in Afghanistan that caused the death of an aid worker.

The U.S. and Britain announced a plan to help Australia mobilize nuclear-powered submarines to unite allies against China.

Apple issued emergency updates after an error permitted spyware from an Israeli company to infiltrate iPhones and Macs.

The FDA approved Pfizer’s booster shot for fully vaccinated individuals who are either 65+ years or belong to a high-risk group between ages 18 and 64.

Courtesy of Rainie Sun

line services approximately 10.

The bus service registration is open to all Stuyvesant students and currently costs $4,850. Parents must sign the S&J’s Terms of Agreement, which states that services are non-refundable after July 10, 2021, so that if school closure occurs, refunds are offered based on the number of three-month periods of the school year left when bus service cannot be offered due to remote learning.

To assemble a private bus service, Stuyvesant parents obtained contact information from parents of Bronx High School of Science, which has an established private bus service for students for several years. “When we first started, it was one of the Asian parents who contacted the Bronx Science parents, and we got some of the bus companies’ information and started calling [them],” Yu said.

The morning bus consists of multiple stops with varying arrival times. “There are usually around [five to six] bus stops per bus. The bus arrives at the first stop at 6:12 a.m. in the morning,” sophomore Rainie Sun said in an e-mail interview.

For the afternoon, S&J has a fixed pickup time at 3:50 p.m.— 15 minutes after the end of 10th period—but also provides limited accommodations to students who leave later due to extracurriculars. “[The company sends] out a [survey] every weekend to see what times people prefer the late bus to come at. For instance, this week, the majority of voters voted for either 6:00 p.m. or

To prepare for such potential lateness, parents have been working with the administration to establish an official code to excuse any lateness caused by the bus. “[Director of Family Engagement] Dina [Ingram] already said there will be a special code if kids will be late,” Yu said.

Others are also concerned about the lack of time efficiency in taking the bus compared to taking public transportation.

“The worst thing about taking the S&J is coming home because [...] there’s so much traffic on the road,” sophomore Aiden Tan said. “Most of the time it takes two hours to get home, while on

A New York City Board of Elections glitch revealed mayoral ballot choices of 378 New Yorkers.

tion or lost items left on the bus.

Because of this, those taking the bus are concerned about being late to school. “[The bus] gets me to school and I won’t get stranded,” sophomore David Cai Liang said. “[But] to be honest, I dislike the [private bus system] because who is the liability? It’s us, the students. We’re late. We’re still liable for it at the end of the day.”

the subway it takes 40 minutes to an hour.”

Some also note the social limitations of taking the private bus. “There is something irreplaceable about the freedom that comes with taking public transportation with your friends,” Janine said. “I really hope I’m able to experience that at some point during my high school career.”

Additionally, the timing of

the bus after school has also conflicted with some students’ priorities in participating in afterschool activities. “The scheduling [...] definitely affects my mom’s perception of how much time she wants me to be spending on extracurriculars, so I have to find a way around that so I can participate in all of the extracurriculars that are important to me,” Janine said.

While students are currently

taking the S&J bus service, many are relying on it temporarily and hope to transition to taking public transportation in the future.

“I have no idea if this bus service is permanent or not, but I’m probably only taking it this year because of the pandemic,” Sun said. “Next year, I’m probably going to take the subway/MTA buses again because the price for taking a private bus service is pretty steep.”

Stuyvesant Introduces Garden to Cafeteria Program With the help of biology teacher and faculty advisor Marissa Maggio, the Stuyvesant Environmental Club (SEC) recently acquired several grow walls in hopes of creating hydroponic units that generate fresh and healthy produce for Stuyvesant year-round. These hydroponic units will be placed in several locations throughout Stuyvesant, including Room 739 (Maggio’s classroom) and the cafeteria.

This program is an opportunity for school-grown produce to be included in the cafeteria’s lunch service.

These hydroponic units will introduce a new type of gardening to Stuyvesant: hydroponic gardening, a form of growing plants in water rather than soil.

Nutrients that the plants require are dissolved in the water, allowing the plants to sustain themselves. This allows the plants to be placed vertically, minimizing space and providing a new aesthetic to gardening. The specific type of hydroponic units SEC acquired is grow walls, or rows of plants grown in stacks atop one another on something similar to shelves adapted to a water system.

The SEC received funds for three grow walls through grants from various organizations such

as Donors Choose, a platform where teachers can fund proposals by other teachers, the Stuyvesant’s Parent Association (PA), and EcoRise, an organization that provides and creates environmentally-conscious curriculums for leaders and educators.

While money from Donors Choose covered the cost for one grow wall, additional grants and additional money from the PA intended for Stuyvesant’s rooftop garden contributed to two/three more growth walls with a total cost of $1,800. Senior and SEC president Nour Kastoun and junior and Green Team director Calista Lee were awarded an additional $500 from EcoRise. “We applied for an eco-audit public spaces grant [and] approached the hydroponics project from a new angle,” Kastoun said in an e-mail interview.

This will not be the first garden SEC will manage—Stuyvesant also houses a rooftop garden.

Since 2015, the garden is used not only to grow vegetables but is also part of the school’s mission to expand environmental education. Following traditional gardening practices, students maintain and care for the plants.

“The rooftop garden lets students learn how to grow plants, offers students access and exposure to fresh food, nature, and farming/gardening,” Kastoun said.

The hydroponic units involved in the Garden to Cafeteria initiative are a supplement to the rooftop garden and fills a different niche. Unlike the rooftop systems, the hydroponics units are kept indoors, allowing for vegetables to be grown year-

The grow walls will require daily check-ups and maintenance and will need to be tested daily for pH levels and nitrogen levels, which are important factors in plant growth. They also need to be replenished with water consistently.

round. “The [rooftop garden’s] harvest season is super small; it’s basically from mid-summer [un] til early fall, and so we’ve been wanting to grow veggies and herbs that we can use and harvest all year long,” Maggio said.

Because of the high level of maintenance, SEC members are responsible for caring for the vegetables. “[SEC] students will be involved in setting up the grow wall, choosing the herbs and vegetables to plant, and tak-

Zoe Buff / The Spectator

By NADA HAMEED, ZIYING JIAN, and RAJHASREE PAUL

ing care of the plants throughout their growth process,” senior and SEC Vice President Jingyu Zhang said in an e-mail interview.

While the grow walls in the cafeteria are currently under construction and being installed, it is anticipated to be functional by mid-October and arranged in the cafeteria and classrooms for easy viewing.

One of SEC’s main objectives is to use the produce grown from these hydroponic systems in the school’s lunch service. “Whether it’s making some kind of fresh salad or tasting vegetables you’ve never had before, or learning how to prepare a vegetarian meal and taking it home with you and cooking it at home—I’d love to be able to do stuff like that. We just have to figure out how much we’re capable of harvesting,” Maggio said. The idea is still in the early stages and the set timeline is unclear as of now.

Before harvesting and using the vegetables grown, health, safety, and certification requirements must be considered, especially due to the pandemic. “Before the produce is allowed on a lunch tray, the whole system must undergo an authorization process,” Zhang said. “For example, the hydroponic labs would need to be set up and certified, and the continued on page 4

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The Spectator • October 1, 2021

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News Stuyvesant Introduces Garden to Cafeteria Program continued from page 2

full hydroponics and aquaponics, which uses fish water to fertilize and grow the plants,” Maggio said. “That’s the plan right now, but we’re seeing what we can actually do.”

first heard about this new program, I was kind of surprised, but in a good way. It almost seems like a thing of the future, for schools to grow their own food for school lunches [...] If

placed. “We’re [hopefully going to] have an environmental science suite, so it’s going to be a classroom and a lab. We’ll have

Students express a positive outlook on the Garden to Cafeteria initiative and what it suggests for the future. “When I

it works out as expected, it’ll be pretty amazing,” junior Nicole Chen said in an e-mail interview.

“I hope that [the program] can

Justine Kang / The Spectator

food harvested would need to be federally approved for consumption in school as well.”

SEC hopes to use the hydroponic systems as a way to further environmental awareness and participation at Stuyvesant. “We will send out a survey asking what sorts of information they’d like to see, and we will most likely create posters. Some of our ideas include [...] facts about the systems themselves, the plants/ herbs we’re growing, the environmental impact of hydroponics, and recipes,” Kastoun said.

“A lot of people are unaware of the various methods of food production and/or lack exposure to environmental education. One of our main goals with this project is to raise awareness about various methods of food production and the environmental impact of methods like hydroponics.”

While it is not solidified, there may also be a possible construction of a new environmental lab, which would replace the third-floor photography lab, where the grow walls would be

open up more discussion about ways we can all go green.”

Others are eager to see these systems live. “I’m particularly excited about the hydroponic units; I’ve learned a bit about them before but have never seen them in action. I’ve also heard of some pretty amazing environmental benefits that come from using vertical gardens and hydroponic units, and I’m excited to see all of this develop in our school of all places,” an anonymous junior said in an e-mail interview.

As the Garden to Cafeteria initiative is underway, many expect it to be a slow but rewarding process. “To achieve the ultimate goal of creating a smooth pathway from the grow wall to the Stuy[vesant] student’s lunch tray, there is still much work to be done,” Zhang said. “As long as the project keeps going, I’m sure that one day Stuy students can have access to their personal vegetable garden.”

Student Union Receives Backlash about New Club Policy

By JADY CHEN and SARAH DIAZ

chance [through a friend],” junior Jerry Yang said. Yang is the founder of Stuyvesant’s RealTime Strategy Games Club and the Stuyvesant Public Speech and Action Club, both of which are recently established clubs.

Many club leaders were also not contacted by the SU and instead found out about the new policy when rechartering their club. “There was an option that said you had to have a faculty advisor by October, but I probably would not have known that if I didn’t resubmit the charter,” sophomore and UpStuyCycle

that are upset—even clubs that do have faculty advisors, they’re upset about [the lack of transparency] too, because seriously, they’re not even communicating to Robotics, which I assume, a lot of other major clubs,” he said. “They’re just pushing stuff out without talking to us.” Brovender formerly led the Stuyvesant Minecraft Coalition and is also a co-leader of Stuy DnD. He is currently waiting for his charter for a new digital animation production club to be approved.

The Clubs and Pubs De-

went seeking a staff member if they did not need to host external events from Stuyvesant. Faculty advisors of clubs are mostly responsible for the legalities and supervision. “These students run these shows, I just sign off on things,” computer science teacher Topher Mykolyk, who is the club faculty advisor of Girls Who Code, Model UN, and the Science Bowl, said in an e-mail interview.

However, the sudden and recent reinforcement of this policy left students concerned with the lack of communication between the SU and the student body. “I’m not necessarily opposed to the policies. I just think that it was snuck up on us [...] I found out about the policies by

President Olivia Woo said.

One student also unintentionally discovered the reinforcement of the faculty advisor policy through GitHub, a software development program used amongst the SU. “I was made aware of the changes on StuyActivities on GitHub, [which gives you] a list of changes and one of the changes was the rule about faculty advisors,” senior and Stuyvesant Robotics President Sam Belliveau said.

Senior Ethan Brovender, who also found out about the policies through a friend, felt that it is the SU’s responsibility to inform all students of any changes. “The least they could do is [...] talk to club members.

It’s not [only] small little groups

partment claimed to have shared tentative updates with returning club leaders only rather than all Stuyvesant students due to uncertainty surrounding school reopening, which may have contributed to the miscommunication. “Once we were ready to share preliminary updates, we reached out to returning club leaders and members and received feedback surrounding our plans. Since receiving feedback, we have amended our expectations for clubs,” Ji and Yue said.

Students hoping to create new clubs this year, on the other hand, voiced that it was essential for the SU to tell everyone, not just returning club leaders.

“There needs to be a bit more

Rachel Chuong / The Spectator

After a year and a half of online classes, students have been eager to participate in their extracurricular activities in person.

Many activities had been altered due to the pandemic. Productions such as SING! moved to a virtual format, while most athletic and competitive clubs had to cancel practices, games, or seasons. As extracurriculars are starting again, the Student Union (SU) emphasized on behalf of the administration the recent reinforcement that all clubs must now have a faculty advisor, prompting backlash from students.

While the Clubs and Pubs Department of the SU is responsible for overseeing the student-led clubs and activities at Stuyvesant, the decision to mandate a faculty advisor for all clubs has been an official rule for New York City public schools for 12 years. According to the New York City Department of Education’s (DOE) Chancellor’s Regulation A-601 issued in 2009, all student clubs must have a faculty advisor who is licensed under the DOE to receive a charter.

However, Stuyvesant has not strictly enforced this rule until recently. Because Stuyvesant has more clubs than staff members, certain clubs, especially smaller ones, would not be able to resume if they could not find a faculty advisor.

The SU did not expect all clubs to have a faculty advisor until there was confirmation that there are enough staff members eligible to be an advisor. “While clubs have always been encouraged to have faculty advisors, administration has asked the SU to enforce this rule more strictly,” SU Clubs and Pubs Directors and senior Jennifer Ji and junior Larissa Yue said in an e-mail interview. “We understand that this adjustment is a big one for club leaders, so we will not expect them to list a faculty advisor until we can ensure that there are

enough faculty interested in supporting Stuy’s extracurriculars.”

In previous years, clubs could submit a charter on StuyActivities without a faculty advisor. While clubs could still hold meetings for their members, they were not allowed to raise money or invite guest speakers without a faculty advisor. “The primary reason for having faculty advisors work with student leaders is to allow clubs to have a source of reliability, whether that be for planning trips or hosting fundraisers,” Ji and Yue said.

In the past, many clubs for-

involvement between us and the administration. Where’s the student input? I don’t see it,” Yang said.

To support the clubs, the Clubs and Pubs Department stated that they would create a list of possible faculty advisors for student organizations to reach out to. “We are currently working with administrators to gather faculty interest and set explicit expectations for these advisors,” Ji and Yue said.

Despite this, Yang felt that the SU did not do enough to provide every club with a faculty advisor. “The SU did try. I appreciate that they tried to find a list of teachers who could help faculty advise clubs, but I just don’t think that it’s going to be enough,” he said.

Yang later shared that the SU did not share a list of possible advisors.

After significant criticism, the SU sent out an e-mail through StuyActivities to all club leaders on September 22. It stated that after discussion with the SU, Principal Seung Yu has decided to lift the faculty advisor mandate for clubs hosting meetings before 5 p.m. in-person and 8 p.m. virtually during the week.

From September 27 to October 1, a faculty advisor must be present during official club meetings since there is not enough security currently present in the building after school hours. Clubs must still have a faculty advisor if they plan to host meetings outside of Stuyvesant or at a later time, or host events, such as fundraisers, lectures, and trips.

Despite the repeal of these policies, many still feel it is important that future students will not be encumbered by the faculty advisor policy to create clubs that nurture their own interests.

“I just feel concerned that kids in the future won’t be able to [start their own clubs],” Brovender said. “My sister wants to go to Stuy, and maybe if these rules are there, she’ll have a harder time doing what she wants at school and having fun.”

The Spectator • October 1, 2021

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Photo Essay Back To School

By THE PHOTO DEPARTMENT A year and a half after all 3,000-plus Stuyvesant students last convened in the school’s halls, they’re back. From the Club Pub fair to the Cafeteria, see how students have been getting back in the groove

Dorin Flocos/ The Spectator

Francesca Nemati / The Spectator Francesca Nemati / The Spectator

Sabrina Li / The Spectator

Zifei Zhao / The Spectator

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The Spectator • October 1, 2021

Features “Paying it Forward”: An Interview with Amy Yin, CEO and Entrepreneur

By SUAH CHUNG It’s 8:00 a.m., and pushing open a clear door with espresso in hand, you arrive at the company office for the day. With rows upon rows of cubicles, the office’s muted color palette and the distant conversations of colleagues incite a calming but uniform atmosphere.

To some, this structured routine may seem monotonous, but Amy Yin is working hard to change the way the world thinks about company space.

Yin, whose parents immigrated from China, grew up in a town of about 15,000 people in Wisconsin. Her town was predominantly white, and, as the only Chinese American girl in her high school, Yin never felt like she belonged culturally. It was only after Yin started college, where there was greater diversity in the student body, that she really embraced her identity and heritage and no longer felt pressured to be similar to everyone around her.

Yin, who is currently visiting her parents in Wisconsin, graciously hopped onto a Zoom call with me to discuss her experience starting her own software company, how her identity as an Asian American woman intersects with her work, and everything in between.

SC: What sparked your initial interest in the career you’re in today? As you mentioned, you majored in computer science and later concentrated on software engineering and business–– when and why did you decide to make that change?

AY: When I went to Harvard, I left Wisconsin, where I had grown up, and in my first year, I thought I was going to do applied math economics. I really wanted to become an investment banker, since working in management and consulting seemed like what all [my] peers were doing at Harvard. Then, in my sophomore year, my boyfriend took an Intro to Computer Science class, and a lot of other people were doing it, so I said, “Okay, why not? Might as well check this out.” And I just fell in love with programming. I thought it really matched my way of thinking, and I found the class to be very engaging. And so I decided to become a more technical investment banker, and I could do M&A [Merg-

SC: I saw that OfficeTogether uses various apps or platforms and implements daily health checks to make hybrid or asynchronous work in the pandemic as seamless as possible. Could you explain more about how OfficeTogether works, and the impact you aimed to make through the software?

AY: OfficeTogether is here to help companies develop and manage the office of tomorrow. Instead of imagining rows and rows of desks to sit in every single day, we are reimagining the space to be more flexible and a place to see other people and socialize, which is a really big departure from how office work used to feel. People used to think that you need to be in an office to get work done, and the pandemic has proved us wrong. OfficeTogether does scheduling and reservations, so you know who is going to be in the office, since the main motivator of going in is to see your coworkers. The impact we want to have is that we want to make it easy to have a flexible workplace while still maintaining the best elements of in-person collaboration. We still think there’s magic in these in-person relationships, but it doesn’t need to be five days a week anymore.

SC: What do you think are the basic steps of starting a startup company?

AY: Number one, you want to feel mentally ready for the journey of an entrepreneur.

You’re not going to be making that much money at first, and there’s no structure, and no one to tell you what to do.

You have to write your own playbook. You have to be really excited about taking a blank canvas and not having any paint. It’s having to get your own blank canvas, figuring out whether you want paint or crayons, or whatever your medium is. And for some folks, that’s absolutely terrifying. For me, on most days, it’s absolutely terrifying, since no one is my boss and there’s no one to tell me what to do. But I also love it. So the number one thing is to want to have this experience of just creating from scratch.

And after that, the rest of it is just easy. You start to look for an idea, test some hypotheses out, you talk to customers, and figure out what actually has market viability, and at some point, you build a team and raise some money. All of this stuff is easy; the hardest part is wanting to have the experience of having no clue what’s happening every day.

SC: What is a typical weekday as the CEO of OfficeTogether like?

AY: It really depends. [In terms of] my job as a CEO, I see it as four things: 1) To keep money in the bank, 2) To build a really great team, 3) To set a vision for the business, and 4) To make sure the company is

operating at a high level. And whenever I can, I try to hire people to handle any specific issues happening. For example, when I first started, I was really focused on fundraising. And then, once we had money, I was really focused on building the product, and finding the initial customers. Then, I realized that I really need an engineering team, and so I just became a world class recruiter. I spent a lot of time hiring and talking to engineers, helping manage the product and the day to day, like a product manager. Once I built a really great engineering team, I shifted to sales, and I became a really great account executive. I learned how to close deals and pick new customers. And now this month, I’m really focused on marketing, because I’ve hired a sales team, so I can now focus on top of funnel and lead generation and getting OfficeTogether in front of more people.

And so the CEO’s job is very dynamic. Now my calls are all about marketing, but if you asked me a month ago, I was mostly talking to customers, signing contracts, and going through security reviews.

SC: What are some challenges and opportunities relating to recognition and sponsorship that you feel are unique to AAPI professionals?

AY: In Silicon Valley, there’s actually a lot of Asian founders and entrepreneurs. I don’t feel underrepresented as a founder in Silicon Valley. I do think that among successful Fortune 500 CEOs and founders, you see a lot less Asian representation, but because there’s such a heavy representation of AAPI [people] in software engineering and the tech industry, we’re not really underrepresented in terms of who gets funding in Silicon Valley. Some of the things we have done, for example, was that I really wanted to get more Asian Americans on my cap table–– more investors who are Asian American.

And so sometimes, I’ll find investors that invest in me because they want to support another Asian American in the industry, but I also have a lot of Asian Americans on my cap table already, so I don’t feel discriminated upon because I’m Asian; if anything, I feel more discriminated upon because I am a woman.

SC: So along that train of thought, have you ever encountered any restrictions or challenges that come with being an Asian American businesswoman particularly?

AY: I definitely feel that being a woman has made it harder. So, for example, even though I’ve been a software engineer for over ten years, I’ve had an investor tell me that they thought I was a marketing person. They said from my LinkedIn that I looked like I was from marketing, but no one would look at my resume if I were a man and think that I was a marketing person. I have a computer science degree from Harvard, I was a software engineer at Facebook

Courtesy of Amy Yin

Through the #StopAsianHate Essay Contest, an effort organized by NYU Stern alumna Gloria Li to raise awareness about anti-Asian violence, I was given the opportunity to talk with an influential Asian American entrepreneur who spotlighted her voice in order to uplift and represent the community. This person is Amy Yin, Harvard graduate and CEO of software company OfficeTogether, which she developed to facilitate the transition into a hybrid workplace for companies. She also previously worked as a software engineer at Facebook and Coinbase, and as a Girls Who Code volunteer instructor.

ers and Acquisitions] for software companies. So I decided to make the change, since […] computer science gives me the ability to build.

and engineering manager at Coinbase. And so I think that because I don’t necessarily fit that mold, that mistake is more easily assigned to me. People have an image of what an engineer looks like in their mind, and when I break that image, it’s hard for them to reconcile.

to drive better results.

SC: What are some tips you have for students who are considering pursuing business in college and beyond?

AY: I think your qualifications are not as important when you are a founder. A lot of it is swagger, and just going for it. For me, I spend a lot of time working with coaches, and I definitely have some imposter syndrome, and I don’t think that’s in just women or AAPI, but we may have it in larger percentages than our white, male counterparts. But I know for me personally, sometimes I just feel like I’m not good enough, or I’m faking it ‘til I make it. And everyone to an extent feels that way, so I have to just remind myself that we’re here for the journey, here to build an amazing team, and [to] lead with curiosity. That no matter what the outcome is, I will have had an amazing time.

Another thing I try really hard to do as a founder is to help other founders out. I always set aside a few hours a week, especially for women founders, to help them, because so many people have helped me along the way. Paying it forward is super important to me.

AY: I really recommend that everyone take some computer science classes. No matter what business you are building, there is going to be a technical or software element of it. And so by not understanding tech or being able to talk to software engineers, you could leave yourself behind. I used to teach for GirlsCode, and I built the Harvard Women in Computer Science program.

I really encourage people to not get your MBA in Business and study that in college, because you can learn all of that stuff on the job. The things you really need to learn in college: Learn some technical skills, and learn how to build something, because business is about building, not about just pushing numbers around.

We don’t even offer Accounting at Harvard, and people just learn it on the job or get a Masters. The most important thing from my classes is that I learned how to code. The rest of my learning was done on the job, through apprenticeship. I would really encourage you to take some computer science classes and recognize that you’re really not in college for the classes, but to learn how to learn and network and meet amazing people.

SC: What do you think are the most important skills that make a leader in your experience?

SC: What was the best advice someone has given to you about being an entrepreneur?

AY: The desire to be a leader. You see yourself, and you make your identity as someone who wants to uplift and support other people. So for me, leadership is all about doing through others, and helping scale yourself to other people.

I believe a lot in servant leadership, where my team is not here for me, I am here for my team. I elevate them so they can stand on my shoulders and do more on their own and also help limit me. You can also be a leader without a title, and the most important thing is the desire to lead. Doing it from a place of curiosity rather than a place of selfishness also tends

AY: Some advice from my coach that has really helped a lot is that if I take myself too seriously, I will end up with less creative results, since it takes out all the fun in life and dampers the ability to think outside of the box. It might seem serious, as you’re raising millions of dollars and people’s careers are on the line, but it’s actually not that serious. Whether my company fails, or someone gets fired, or I get fired, the world is here for my learning and my growth. And when I truly believe that, I light up. I feel superhuman.

SC: How have you addressed these situations of implicit bias toward businesswomen?

The Spectator • October 1, 2021

Page 7

Features Learn From The (S)Ages: What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self ?

“It’s not worth it to stress over the small things.”

—Aidan Look, senior

“Some advice I’d give to my younger self would be to enjoy and focus on my childhood. What I mean by this is that oftentimes as younger kids we find ourselves excited for the future, excited by the freedom of being older. I spent most of my youth studying long hours in middle school and doing extra work in elementary school, rather than just being a kid who goes outside to play with friends or neighbors. Instead of trying to grow up too fast, I would’ve wanted my younger self to know that there truly is so much to do in the different stages of life, and there was no need [to] rush.”

—Shyann Rampaul, sophomore

“I would tell my younger self to manage my time more efficiently. For example, by the time I get home, I usually am exhausted and don’t have the energy to work during the day, so I eventually started to do my homework during my frees, as they were later in the day, and it saved me a lot of time.”

—Andrew Hur, junior

“I would tell my younger self to take things one step at a time and it is completely okay to fall down as long as I can get back up […] a lot of freshmen, including me, when I was one, are bottled up in that idea of perfectionism, but you have to realize that life isn’t a straight road.”

—Allison Lee, junior

“Don’t pick your boogers. Don’t drop the rice bowl.

Don’t fall for free Robux scams.”

—Gil Zheng, junior “Do what you want to do and get good at the things you love.”

—Aaron Hsu, senior

“Try and stop seeking external sources of validation and just be more confident in myself. Also, […] be more grateful for experiences.”

––Sarah Cheyney, senior

“Start getting sleep during school days and finish all your work during the day.”

—Yarza Aung, sophomore

“To really focus on the good times so the bad [times don’t] seem overpowering.”

—Amy Gorreja, sophomore

“Try not to stress over insignificant things that may seem important at the moment. [Though] there are moments that you feel like might be the end of the world for you, that’s never the case.”

—Sasha Shifrina, junior

“I would tell my younger self to not beat myself over bad test grades, because test grades don’t define who you are, and one bad test grade isn’t the end of the world.”

—Mahir Riki, junior

“Now that I think of my freshman year, I’d want to tell my younger self to spend more time meeting new people and engaging in more friendships.”

—Savana Yeung, junior

“Just do it; do whatever you’re thinking of doing. Don’t wait for years like me. [It’s] really not worth the stress. Get it over with.”

—Kaitlin Ho, junior

“Do the things you want to do, and don’t listen to anyone else when it comes to the things that make you happy.”

—Fanny Yin, senior

“I would probably tell myself to commit and push myself more when doing things that I loved, because I took a lot of special things for granted.”

—Isaac Lageschulte, junior

“I highly recommend stopping playing video games, and instead starting studying for extracurricular topics like math or computer science.”

—Stanley Tung, sophomore

“Be more confident, because it doesn’t seem to hurt to try different things, and a lot of people are really nice and helpful.”

––Fanny Chu, senior

“Don’t underestimate the value of your friends. They can get you through a lot of things, so make sure you treat them well. It’s like an investment for later.”

—Kaiden Yeung, senior

“Making mistakes is alright. What matters is that you don’t let it get to your head and make sure to continue on with life and grow.”

—Unique Zhang, sophomore

“I would tell myself not to overstress, because it’s not worth it. It just makes everything worse.”

—Sajia Athai, senior

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Adrianna Peng / The Spectator

“I would tell my younger self to live in the moment a little more. Stop stressing about things that happened in the past or may happen in the future—just enjoy life in the present.”

—Rainie Sun, sophomore

Clara Shapiro’s Advice Column Querida Clara, How to stop thinking of an old crush?

—Anonymous, Junior Looking to hose the flame?

Looking to CRUSH your CRUSH? I understand. Cupid’s arrows wound deep, and at times, no matter how we tug at the shaft, we cannot pry the arrow loose from our hearts. So perhaps we ought not to try. Is it not far more painful to try and yank the arrow out before it is ready to be removed than to simply let the arrow stay lodged within our lovesick bosoms? By and by, when both you and Cupid are ready, the arrow will fall out.

Have I ever told you my Iceberg Theory of Love? Likely not.

I will explain it here. Whenever I contemplate the Mystery of Love, an image rises up in my mind—an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg is the part of love that can be seen, and this comprises all the examples of love that you behold each day—couples snogging on park benches, parents bending over strollers to kiss their babies, friends holding hands. All this is the love that we can see. But beneath the surface, hidden many fathoms deep, lies the rest of the iceberg. This part of the iceberg is the love that we cannot see, the love that lies beneath the surface, the love that exists only in our imaginations.

Here is the realm of “what if ” and “if only,” the rich realm of fantasy.

If love is an iceberg, then I think we seldom grasp more than the tip of it. When I behold young lovers hand-holding or smooching, I know that what I’m seeing is only the very tip of love, a hint to the expanse that lies leagues under, awaiting discovery. The iceberg of love is too enormous to be fathomed.

To seek to get rid of a crush too soon is to attempt to move the iceberg with your own two hands, an impossible feat. The best we can do is to let the throes of love throw us, to let Cupid’s arrow lodge itself as long as it will. We must behold the iceberg with wonder.

Page 8

The Spectator • October 1, 2021

Editorials The Spectator’s Approval Matrix

The Spectator

As we reacclimate to a school community now vastly different from where we left it 18 months ago, The Spectator reflects on the institutions that have already begun to shape this school year. In the style of New York Magazine’s Approval Matrix, each item is ranked on a scale from cruelty to kindness and assessed on the recency of their introduction to Stuyvesant.

The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper

“The Pulse of the Student Body”

Art credits to Afra Mahmud, Adrianna Peng, Sophie Poget, and Vivian Teo.

•

NEW STUYVESANT

A functional two to four escalator

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Instrument-specific masks for band class

Meeting teachers we had during remote learning in-person

A shuttered gym locker room

N EWS

Ventilation

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Underclassmen encroaching on the senior bar and atrium

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Chaotic program changes

O PI N I O NS

KINDNESS

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Carol’s candy jar

Hallway-waving

E D I TO RS

Angela Cai Christina Pan Clara Shapiro*

30-minute homework policy for AP classes

Freedom to wander the Stuyvesant building

Throat soreness from mask-screaming

E D I TO RS

F EATURE S

Free lockers

Reduced cell-phone confiscation

CHI E F

Isabella Jia** Jenny Liu* Momoca Mairaj Janna Wang**

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Daily NYCDOE Health Screening

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Morris Raskin* Karen Zhang*

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CRUELTY

ED I TO RS

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Maya Nelson Aaron Visser* S C I E NCE

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Gerard Lin Sonya Sasson ARTS

&

EN T E RTAI NM E NT E D I TO RS

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Entrance congestion due to health screenings and social distancing

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The Spectator’s printed copies by the second floor ID scanners

Four/five minute passing periods

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Broken escalators

Lack of enforcement of 30-minute homework policy for AP classes

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H U M O R

8:00 a.m. start time

By ISABEL CHING

Great teachers still great

OLD STUYVESANT

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In-person clubs, extracurriculars, and sports

* Managing Board ** Editors-in-Training Please address all letters to: 345 Chambers Street New York, NY 10282 (212) 312-4800 ext. 2601 opinions@stuyspec.com

Love and Marriage Must Divorce

combined into the way we know them today. Even then, a woman’s life was controlled entirely by her husband. Centuries later, America followed the same hierarchy. After gaining independence, the United States adopted English common law, which declared that a woman’s identity was stripped from her and given to her husband after marriage. Married women could not own property or control their income, and husbands were granted authority over children, properties, and residences. While the restrictions once placed on women have since been lifted after continued calls for equality, the patriarchal and sexist norms that drove the creation of the institution of marriage still define how society and individuals perceive it.

The meaning and expectations of marriage have not remained stagnant. Like any longstanding cultural and social institution, marriage has evolved over the centuries. Despite the centuries of human development, the same forces that once shaped the ugly beast of ancient marriages continue to roar. The ever present patriarchy manifests itself in gender

pay gaps, sexist cultural and political norms, and unequal opportunities. The same double standards persist. For example, women over 40 who choose not to marry are labeled undesirable “spinsters,” while older unmarried men are referred to as desirable “bachelors.” Children born “out of wedlock” were once considered “illegitimate,” and society continues to shame unmarried

Nada Hameed / The Spectator

Marriage has defined societal expectations of love since its inception. To not marry is to not love, and the capacities to love and to be loved are part of what defines humanity. For as long as it has existed, marriage has been synonymous with lifelong love and continued commitment. However, society needs to rethink that notion.

Marriage was not designed to help a woman find a perfect love or beautiful relationship.

Rather, the institution’s initial purpose was opportunistic.

Marriage was intended to bring families together in a society that prioritized maintaining power over securing equality. As a result, marriage has been used to force women into submission and exploit their thoughts, bodies, and labor. Continuing to equate love with marriage ignores the institution’s origins and history and creates a rigid definition of how love can be identified and expressed.

The history of marriage is complex. The first recorded evidence of marriage between one woman and one man can be traced to 2350 B.C. in Mesopotamia as a way for men to guarantee the legitimacy of their biological children. Women were given to their husbands by their male elders and considered their husbands’ property afterward. Wives were regarded as dispensable objects only needed to bear children. They were exploited and treated as less than human. Only during the Middle Ages were love and marriage

E D I TO RS

Logan Ruzzier Kelly Yip*

Terry’s and Ferry’s

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Suah Chung Kenisha Mahajan Gavin McGinley Dexter Wells

mothe r s .

Even traditional wedding gar- ments and ceremonies remain a tangible reminder of the expected power dynamic between the two sexes—women wear long, white dresses meant to symbolize their innocence, virtue, and virginity and are “given” to their husbands by their fathers.

These subtle remnants of a society that once existed do not symbolize a past forgotten and a path forward. Instead, they are glaring reminders of the patriarchal and hierarchical culture and practices embedded in our way of life.

This is not to say marriage is wholly evil. Marriage offers protection and legal legitimization of a relationship. The emphasis placed on Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court

case that legalized gay marriage, exemplifies how deeply entrenched the idea that love means marriage is—legal rights are predicated on this idea.

In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, LGBTQ+ couples were twice as likely as straight couples, 46 percent versus 23 percent, to cite legal rights and benefits as an important reason for getting married.

Marriage affords LGBTQ+ couples the same legal rights—including the right to remain in the matrimonial home, the right to receive a spouse’s property upon death, and the right to file for joint taxes and bank accounts—as their heterosexual counterparts and provides legal documentation to acknowledge their union.

The love and commitment associated with marriage are not exclusive to the institution, though.

A couple does not need to “put a ring on it” or “seal the deal” to demonstrate their love for each other. Marriage is not necessary and does not define a relationship. Centuries of social conditioning have equated marriage with a successful love story. In reality, heterosexual marriage is a contract designed to irrevocably alter the paths of two people by binding them together.

SPO RTS

E D I TO RS

Krish Gupta Shafiul Haque** Sam Levine Matt Melucci PHOTO GRAPHY E D I TO RS

Alexander Lopez** Francesca Nemati Sasha Socolow Zifei Zhao** ART

D I RE CTO RS

Afra Mahmud Adrianna Peng Sophie Poget Vivian Teo** L AYO UT

E D I TO RS

Ezra Lee Amy Lin Susie McKnight CO PY

E D I TO RS

Nora Miller Tashfia Noor Shreyasi Saha Ruiwen Tang Raymond Yang BUSI NE SS

M ANAGE RS

Jared Moser Tina Nguyen WE B

E D I TO RS

David Chen Alyssa Choi Samantha Hua** Theodore Yochum** FAC U LT Y

ADV I SE R

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

The pervasiveness of marriage has generated stigma around singlehood. Being alone is seen as a failure, particularly for older women who are “drying up” as they age. As the public indicator of togetherness, marriage provides hope to those seeking to alleviate their loneliness and escape the societal pressures placed on single women. This compulsion to see marriage as a solution is the result of centuries of social conditioning and a society that views being married as a major milestone of adulthood. In reality, the opposite is true: people should not marry to escape loneliness.

Dissecting and redefining the idea of marriage is not enough. Even in the most equal of marriages, the origin, history, and purpose of marriage linger on. The continued existence of the institution itself complicates the problem. Marriage is a societal norm, something that must be done to avoid “otherizing” and polarization. Remaining unmarried must be seen as a socially acceptable option if marriage is truly going to be a choice—equality within a marriage is not the same as freedom outside one. Society cannot progress until we separate ourselves from the idea that love means marriage. While marriage can be beneficial as it provides joint legal benefits and a stable home to raise children, the idea that love must be validated through marriage harms both individuals and society. It is about time the two divorce.

The Spectator • October 1, 2021

Page 9

Opinions

By AYA ALRYYES Nowadays, it is virtually impossible to consume any form of media without coming across the term “trigger warning,” a statement of warning preceding a work that contains disturbing material with the potential to “trigger” those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They are most commonly used in two places: the Internet and college campuses.

Though the term retains the same meaning in both cases, there is an important distinction to be made.

When it comes to trigger warnings on the Internet—often shortened to “tw”—their use was originally limited to posts that mentioned topics like sexual assault, death, and abuse.

However, because there is no consensus on what constitutes a “triggering” topic, the definition has expanded significantly. The boundaries are murky: when a person posts a picture of a dessert enjoyed at a fancy restaurant, should “tw: food” be written in the caption for those with severe eating disorders? Should a person discussing the rate of failed marriages in the United States include “tw: divorce” for those whose parents went through a traumatic divorce when they

By ALEX CHO Empathetic people can agree that displacing people from their homes is bad. Therefore, the eviction moratorium, which New York City just extended once again until January, must be good. This thought process is the reasoning of those who repeatedly pressed federal and local governments to extend the moratorium past the two-year mark.

The idea of resuming evictions sounds so heartless that only a self-destructive politician would dare propose it. Simply banning them, however, does not solve the underlying problems in the housing market. Without additional policy actions taken at the same time, banning evictions risks creating as many problems as it solves.

While evictions may be barred, capitalism continues.

Mortgages have not been elimi-

By ANISHA SINGHAL

were young?

One could make the argument that the increased use or overuse of the words “trauma” and “trigger” dilutes the impact of the terms and is damaging to those who have been diagnosed and truly struggle with PTSD or similar disorders, causing their struggles to be taken less seriously. It is true that those terms should not be thrown around lightly or taken to mean “something that makes me sad.” Nevertheless, since it costs nothing to use a trigger warning and including one has the potential to spare someone from reliving trauma, it is better to “overuse” or err on the side of caution.

People should not be crucified for posting pictures of their pitbulls without first writing “tw: dog” for those who have suffered canine attacks, but if online trigger warnings make navigating the world just a little bit easier for those who have experienced trauma, the real benefits outweigh the hypothetical harms.

When it comes to trigger warnings on college campuses, the question becomes more contentious. In recent years, increasing numbers of professors, often at students’ behests, are including trigger warnings on syllabi or before lectures and class discus-

sions. This trend has resulted in discussion. The younger generaan enormous outcry from con- tions are, in fact, willing to conservatives, who point to trigger front the uncomfortable—cerwarnings on college campuses as tainly to a greater extent than we evidence of the dumbing down get credit for. The gun-control of education and the downfall movement, which does not shy of intellectualism in the United away from death and violence, is States. Trigger warnings, they largely run by youths like David say, encourage students to avoid Hogg and Naomi Wadler, as is uncomfortable the push to fight topics, resulting climate change, an in colleges comexistential threat posed of groups that qualifies as a of 20-year-olds difficult topic. engaging only Trigger warnwith works that ings have become have the intelan odd scapegoat. lectual value of A teacher inform“Dick and Jane ing students that Take Spot for a the assigned readWalk.” ing contains a vivMany who id description of take part in the a sexual assault, outcry against for example, does trigger warnings not mean that evsee colleges as eryone in the class bastions of libwill decide not to eral fragility. The do the reading. It education system, could mean, howthey believe, has ever, that one perNelli Rojas-Cessa / The Spectator been entirely takson who has been en over by “snowflakes,” a term through such an assault does not which refers to the stereotype of read that chapter unaware and a young leftist who is unable to suffer a panic attack. A friend of deal with opposing opinions, fly- mine, a professor, with whom I ing into a sputtering rage instead. was discussing trigger warnings It is simply false that young said that when she plans to show people are unwilling to engage films or read passages that porin any meaningful thought or tray graphic violence and the like,

A Solution for Some, a Crisis for Others

nated, and many small landlords who have let renters stay for free for months are now deeply underwater to banks. One building owner whose family has maintained units in New York City for years says that he owes $180 thousand in property taxes alone and is at risk of losing the last of his family’s buildings. Without relief for building owners, the eviction moratorium itself was never a solution to the COVID economy. Now that most of New York City is back to work, extending it only threatens to deepen another real estate crisis.

Besides troubles faced by indebted building owners, the moratorium also harms those entering the rental market. By allowing existing renters to continue to occupy their apartments rent-free, this moratorium unfairly reduces the amount of available housing for new renters and prices them out of the mar-

pen to be the most defenseless and impressionable. If a grown man hits his coworker or boss for any reason, he will be fired. If a woman tells someone that her partner hit her, she will immediately be advised to leave him. The same action done to a child is considered a disciplinary tactic to make them more obedient, and society clears parents to use violence and terror to enforce their will.

Though it has become less common in recent years, 81 percent of parents still support the use of corporal punishment in some capacity, and 67 percent of parents say they have spanked their children. Not only is corporal punishment damaging to the child, but it also fractures trust in the relationship between

ket. Not only is there that effect, but a third of landlords also stated that they would be forced to tighten standards for future rental applications, worsening conditions for new renters. The eviction moratorium has always been defended not only on economic grounds but also on public health grounds: those who are evicted will go to live with relatives or in shelters, crowding these locations and accelerating the spread of COVID-19. Though the vaccine is now available, this same reasoning still applies to those unable to enter the rental market in the first place because apartments are unavailable. They would be just as likely to crowd into shelters. Meanwhile, if small landlords, who have always been the most willing to rent to lowerincome individuals, are unable to keep their buildings, the stock of affordable housing will be further reduced in the long run.

Spare the Rod the child and the parents. While some parents may think the occasional slap keeps children in check, it has the inverse effect of making the child feel weak and helpless.

Beatings cannot come out of love.

Violence comes from a place of anger and breeds fear in the child.

The mentality instilled is that if you do not do what you are supposed to, such as get good grades or clean your room, then you will suffer physically. The child will not do the right thing because of a sense of responsibility but because of a fear of physical pain. This form of punishment teaches the child that violence is an acceptable means to solve problems. Kids who are spanked at home are more likely to hit other people and are more prone to develop-

Kaitlin Ho / The Spectator

No clear line exists between corporal punishment and abuse.

New York’s law states that parents can use physical force on their children “if the person in authority believes the force is needed to maintain discipline or promote the welfare of the person upon whom the force is used.” The definition is highly subjective and allows corporal punishment, which includes spanking, slapping, hitting with an object, choking, and even forcing a child to consume substances such as soap or hot sauce, which is simply child abuse.

“Spare the rod, spoil the child” is a popular phrase that people use to justify corporal punishment.

Proponents argue that it helps keep children in check. However, beating a child into obedience makes the child believe that violence is an appropriate way to assert power. Nowhere else in our lives is violence acceptable except toward children, who also hap-

On Trigger Warnings

she tells her students to feel free to step out of the classroom if they need to. No one ever does, but I know that if I were in her class, I would appreciate her care for my mental health and her implicit acknowledgment that there are people for whom these topics are more than an abstraction.

I am sure her students feel the same.

As we hear repeatedly about how sensitive and fragile today’s youth are, it is important to remember that this is just the latest iteration of the series of criticisms every generation receives for supposedly being soft and helpless. A new and healthy awareness, manifesting as trigger warnings both online and on campus, of how discussions of certain topics can affect people in real ways, has no negative bearing on intellectuality.

Conservatives have seized on trigger warnings, calling them the final nail in the coffin of the American educational system.

What they fail to realize is that a trigger warning is not the equivalent of a gag order; in some ways, it is the opposite. Trigger warnings have the potential to encourage meaningful discussion and allow students to enter difficult conversations with the promise of respect and compassion.

The impacts of the loss of rental income on small landlords have fallen disproportionately on minorities. Black, Hispanic, and immigrant landlords are more likely to own buildings with less affluent tenants, own fewer buildings, and have mortgages rather than owning their buildings outright. These factors place them at a higher risk of foreclosure, which has spillover effects on the economy of the nearby area. This impact threatens to economically devastate neighborhoods that have already been struggling during the pandemic.

While billions of dollars have been allocated for rent relief to building owners across the U.S., the process of applying is complex, and many small landlords are not eligible. The aid is often not enough to make up for the shortfall from rent losses. Selling buildings or leasing to real estate investors or larger management

companies is sometimes an option, but it is not clear whether it is a desirable one for small immigrant landlords. For many, their buildings have been handed down for generations and are the only assets their families have in this country. Punishing these communities and neighborhoods for better optics is politics gone wrong. Those who will suffer include not only landlords, but low-income renters as well.

In the long run, they will find it harder to find suitable apartments that will have been sold to management companies less favorable to poor renters or occupied by tenants unable to pay rent by then.

By itself, the policy of an eviction moratorium is not a sustainable one. Blanket eviction relief needs to be accompanied by corresponding protection for building owners, or the cure will be as bad as the disease.

ing problems such as substance abuse issues and mood and anxiety disorders.

Using violence on children should be prohibited. Multiple human rights organizations, including the World Health Organization, have outlined corporal punishment as a form of violence that violates a child’s rights to human dignity and physical integrity. It is banned in 63 countries, but United States laws on the issue are more relaxed. In Minnesota, a father was cleared for beating his son 36 times with a wooden paddle because spanking did not constitute abuse.

Similarly, a New York court ruled that a father’s repeated spanking of an eight-year-old child was a “reasonable use of force.” Meanwhile, such behavior (slapping, spanking, and beating) under any other circumstance is punishable as assault under the law, and perpetrators are routinely arrested for it. The state’s resolve to stay out of cases of corporal punishment means that parents can

legally abuse their children without repercussions. While some may argue that parents should be able to raise their children however they like, infringement upon basic human rights of the most vulnerable group crosses the line.

Behavior that would result in a lawsuit if directed toward anyone else should not be used on children. No child should feel unsafe or afraid at home. Instead of beating a child for wrongdoings, parents should employ positive and negative reinforcement, take away privileges, use grounding or time-outs, and mandate additional chores—all of which encourage children to learn from their mistakes rather than act out of fear of pain. Households are microcosms of our society. Banning corporal punishment at the federal level is a vital step toward a safer community all around. If we can begin to weed out violence during childhood, people will be less inclined to perform it as adults, stopping the cycle of violence at its roots.

Page 10

The Spectator • October 1, 2021

Opinions Abort the Texas Abortion Law

By ERICA LI

non-binary people. There are only six LGBTQ+ affirming health centers in the entire state of Texas, and most of them don’t specialize in LGBTQ+ health or provide hormones. Transgender care is particularly difficult to find, with people traveling hours to access health care.

Many clinics, such as Planned Parenthood, are now in danger of closing from a lack of funding caused by reduced services (such as abortions) and threats of lawsuits. This risk means that the LGBTQ+ community will have an even more difficult time finding the specific healthcare it needs and that many will turn to unsafe or illegal hormones to transition.

The Texas abortion law also does not give o f - ficials the power to enforce the ban on abortions. Instead, it authorizes private citizens to bring civil suits against anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion. A citizen can earn up to $10 thousand and get legal fees reimbursed as long as the case is won. Because the established procedure for challenging a state

Nelli Rojas-Cessa / The Spectator

The Texas abortion law, a law stating that abortions are banned once “cardiac activity can be detected in the embryo,” recently went into effect after the Supreme Court refused to block it. This law is a blatant insult to the long history of the women’s rights movement and is an indirect violation of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protects a pregnant woman’s right to have an abortion without excessive governmental restriction.

Cardiac activity can be detected in the embryo as early as the sixth week of pregnancy, even if there is no heart at this stage of development. In many situations, a woman does not even suspect that she is pregnant until the fourth week, when she realizes that she may have missed her period. This timing only gives women two weeks to figure out that they are pregnant, determine whether they want to continue the pregnancy, or get an abortion. This interval is an extremely limited amount of time, especially since before the law was passed, at least 85 percent of the abortions in Texas happened at six weeks or later. Now, if a woman figures out she is pregnant after six

weeks, she has no choice but to continue the pregnancy.

The Texas abortion law also fails to take into account that a large portion of the population consisting of teenagers, low-income women, women of color, and undocumented immigrants may not have direct access to abortions within the six-week deadline. As a result, many more may carry out illegal and unsafe abortions, causing serious mental and physical health consequences.

For example, women who are denied an abortion are more likely to have higher levels of anxiety, lower self-esteem, and an overall greater dissatisfaction with life, which can translate into major risk factors for their children. Additionally, the law makes no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The only exception the Texas abortion law does make is for “medical emergencies,” a term which is not defined. In fact, the law leaves it up to the doctor to make the final decision.

Furthermore, the Texas abortion law could mean the end of care for pregnant transgender and

law is to sue officials charged with enforcement, there is now no one for the government to sue to block the law since state officials are not the ones carrying out the enforcement. This loophole avoids judicial review, a process in which the judicial branch reviews legislative actions that may violate one’s civil rights and blocks any law that violates the Constitution.

The Supreme Court’s refusal to curb the Texas abortion law gives a frightening implication that Roe v.

Wade will fall after all these years. It takes five Justices to issue an order in similar situations, but in the case of the Texas abortion law, only four justices voted to block it. The other five Justices, who were all conservative, in the majority spoke about their decision in an unsigned order that focused more on the procedural aspect rather than the merits behind the law. They stated that the petitioners’ request to block the Texas abortion law did not meet certain procedural requirements. The Supreme Court insinuated that it will sanction states to create anti-abortion laws as long as the majority of the Court agrees with the objective of the law. By upholding the Texas abortion law, the Court also rejected 50 years of court precedent on the right to abort.

The Texas abortion law is not the only law that has come out recently in support of increased antiabortion sentiment. A Mississippi abortion law, aimed to ban abortions following 15 weeks of pregnancy, was created in 2018. Though the Supreme Court has until early next year to decide on the Mississippi abortion law case, Roe v. Wade may be overturned if it follows the precedent the Texas Abortion Law created. The reversal of Roe v. Wade means that 22 more states may ban abortion outright. Four different states—Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Louisiana—currently even have abortion “trigger laws,” which will automatically make abortion illegal the moment Roe v. Wade is overturned.

A ban on all abortions brings no benefit to the mother or the child, making it more important than ever to fight for women’s reproductive rights. Start by attending marches and protests in support of the prochoice movement, or write to your local representatives. Team up with pro-choice advocacy groups, such as ACLU, Planned Parenthood, or NARAL. It is time to stop the antiabortion sentiment before it is too late.

Why Social Media Shouldn’t Diagnose You

By MAYA NELSON Over the past several years, mental health awareness has found representation on screen, information has been made available on social media, and treatments have been destigmatized. Illnesses that may have been ignored are now properly diagnosed. However, many teenagers view mental illness as something “quirky,” relatable, and even desirable, leading many to self-diagnose themselves in order to fit in or simply because of misinformation on social media.

While the portrayal of mental health conditions in shows, movies, and music can have a positive impact when done right, inaccurate representation, in many cases, leads to the romanticization of mental illness.

For example, the TV show “Thirteen Reasons Why” portrays suicide as an act of revenge and fails to address the underlying mental health condi-

tions that are behind nearly half of all suicides. It glorifies the act, and there was a 28.9 percent increase in teenage suicide in the month after the show’s debut. In the music industry, Billie Eilish’s lyrics, such as “I wanna end me” and “the way I wear my noose, like a necklace,” portray suicide and depression as tragically beautiful. She claims that her goal is to raise awareness but encourages her young, impressionable fanbase to desire and glorify mental illness.

Social media takes this portrayal a step further with the abundant spread of misinformation. On TikTok, content posted surrounding mental health is extremely common. In the comment sections of videos describing symptoms and explanations of different mental illnesses, people claim to have discovered that they have the disorder discussed after watching the video.

Many accounts post videos depicting common human behavior, such

as occasional restlessness or zoning out, as symptoms of mental illness.

Impressionable kids and teenagers may watch a video saying that if you procrastinate a lot, you might have ADHD and diagnose themselves with it as a result. Additionally, many create content designed to be relatable to those with a certain mental illness. While this trend does allow for people to bond and make jokes about these topics, many desire to fit in with these groups since these videos often portray mental illness as something funny and relatable.

Teenage identity crisis and a desire to fit in with these communities can lead to self-diagnosis.

With widespread self-diagnosing, mental health issues have often been trivialized and made fun of.

People who actually have mental illnesses are often not taken seriously either because social media portrays the illnesses as less severe than they actually are or they are believed to be

faking. Teenage girls especially are victims of this consequence since the stereotype for people who selfdiagnose is young women, leading to harassment and doubt toward those who claim to have mental illnesses.

The effects can be even more harmful on an individual who has wrongly self-diagnosed. Mental health is extremely complicated, and symptoms are often misunderstood and can be attributed to many different disorders. When people truly believe they have certain illnesses as a result of false information they see on social media, they might self-medicate, which is especially dangerous because, unlike pills for headaches or pain, psychiatric medication often has side effects and is purposely prescribed for individual cases. Additionally, increased anxiety and stress can arise from worrying about a nonexistent health issue.

Social media platforms must do better to regulate content that pro-

motes false information and selfdiagnosing. Similar to how posts on Instagram and TikTok that mention COVID are tagged, information pages could be linked to posts that discuss mental health. This way, people who are considering diagnosis can be directed to a page with accurate information and mental health resources. Though schools are required to provide a health curriculum that covers mental illness, more direct support through guidance counselors and social workers would also be extremely beneficial since therapy can be expensive. In New York City, there is only a one to 381 ratio of guidance counselors to students across schools, but with a $38 billion education budget, the city can do a better job of providing mental health support to students.

When school and social media are the primary sources of education for teens, it is critical that the information provided there is accurate.

The Fairness Complex

By GULAM MONAWARAH Nearly every South Asian child is familiar with Fair and Lovely products. I remember first seeing the blush-pink ads on TV as a toddler. They depict a sad, dark-skinned woman who follows the advice of her work colleague, husband, or mother-in-law to use skin-lightening creams. Her skin experiences a sudden change from deep brown to pale white, and her smile blooms before your eyes. When she walks into work the next day, her boss compliments her, the men notice her, and the women ask how she pulled off such a feat. Sitting in front of the TV, I had a gut feeling that something was wrong.

At countless housewarming functions, a warm, welcoming auntie has grabbed me by the chin, turned my head from side to side, and asked my mother how I had become so dark. Was it the sun? Did I drink something darkly colored?

My mother has always chuckled and shrugged it off. I wish I could express how many people have made this exchange with me and how long it has been going on, but because of the Fair and Lovely ads and these accusations from my family members,

the memories are blurring together.

This experience has been passed down for generations of South Asian girls. My mother, cousins, and aunts were all accused of dark skin superstitions. Colorism is one of the largest problems plaguing South Asia and other communities because it ruins many opportunities for darker skinned citizens and can create unhealthy practices like skin bleaching.

We must let go of harsh, outdated values and create kinder ones instead.

Superstitions from ancient social disparities created the backbones of colorism today. Darker skin was associated with lower castes in Hinduism and with Indians who worked in the fields, where their skin tanned under the sunlight. Later on, British colonialism established a system in which white people controlled every facet of life on the Indian subcontinent. People were disrespected, discriminated against, and essentially enslaved because of their skin color. This way of life taught that the fairer one’s skin, the more the British would respect them, selling the idea that white skin was equivalent to power. These values carry on today when parents teach their children to appreciate fair skin by using superstitions to support their claims, al-

lowing colorism to be passed down through the generations.

Nowadays, film, television, and media across South Asia place heavy emphasis on light skin, making it harder for darker skinned people to find love, jobs, and opportunities.

The Hindi film industry, commonly known as Bollywood, often uses film and music to communicate desired Indian ideals through their actors.

Bollywood is notorious for choosing actors based on their connections and complexions, such as Alia Bhatt.

Many other actresses reportedly use skin lightening creams and surgical operations to lighten their skin, even after reaching astronomical fame.

For example, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has starred in commercials for skin cream. Celebrities who support skin bleaching and lightening have influenced their audiences for years, which is why approximately 61 percent of Indian women use skin lightening creams regularly. Young children idolizing these celebrities may form insecurities about their skin, further perpetuating the problem.

The film industry teaches girls that fair skin is what society wants, making colorism a serious issue.

Colorism is also toxic for adults since many people look for those

with fair skin for relationships. A 2012 survey from Jeevansathi, a popular Indian matrimonial website, found that 71 percent of women who use the site preferred men with fair skin while 65 to 70 percent of men on such sites claimed to have fair skin on their profile. Not only does this importance assigned to fair skin cause anxiety in prospective partners, but it also intimidates people already in relationships. Other times, families disapprove of dark-skinned partners, leading to many dark-skinned people being shunned and left behind. It is also difficult for people to find and keep jobs since being darker is associated with being “dirty” or “undesirable” in India.

Colorism has also led to an unsafe practice called skin bleaching, a medical procedure that lowers the concentration of melanin in a patient’s skin. While certain skin bleaching creams and injections are banned, they are still sold in international black markets where regulations are more relaxed and demand is skyrocketing. Countries like South Africa are hubs for these products. There are a multitude of potential side effects, such as mercury poisoning, dermatitis, and nephrotic syndrome, which is associated with damage to the blood

vessels in the kidneys. Despite knowing these possible effects, people continue to bleach their skin, hoping to open up opportunities.

Fair skin bias follows the South Asian legacy across borders and seas.

The struggle of having darker skin is scribbled between the lines of newspapers, scripts, and online messages, while the love for fair-skinned people is crystal clear in film, advertisements, fashion, and marriage. The best way to end this prejudice is to lead by example and show others how to let go of harsh, outdated values. Many of the efforts to reverse the fairness complex in countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have failed because they do not target the root cause: perception. From birth, we are taught to like fair skin based on what films, TV, and religion dictate. While we cannot target castes and religion since doing so would only fuel enmity and aggression, we need to educate people about the effects of colorism and implicitly change the perception of dark skin. One way we can do so is by hiring more dark-skinned, qualified people for jobs, especially in media, acting, and modeling. Eventually, people will look past skin tone and recognize others more for their intelligence and personality.

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

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Science SCIENCEBEAT

The History and Future of Antimatter

By OSCAR WANG While Newton’s Third Law famously states that for every action, there exists an equal and opposite reaction, the same is true for everything else in the universe. Every component of matter—protons, neutrons, electrons, and the subatomic particles that compose them—has an equal and opposite counterpart, like an evil twin. Antimatter atoms have antiprotons instead of protons, antineutrons instead of neutrons, and positrons instead of electrons, and the charges of each particle are reversed.

The idea of antimatter originated in 1928 when physicist Paul Dirac was investigating the electron’s properties and found two solutions to an equation he derived, one for the electron and another for a particle with a positive charge: the positron.

Dirac’s findings were proven in 1932 when scientists observed the positron while observing cosmic rays. Just like positive and negative numbers, the opposite charges of a particle and antiparticle cancel out, but instead of returning a zero, it results in a powerful burst of energy. Scientists theorize that the universe was created with equal parts of matter and antimatter, but an event following the Big Bang caused all the antimatter to disappear. As a result, scientists are investigating why we are living in an asymmetric universe composed exclusively of matter. In 1955, the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) used

the Bevatron particle accelerator to discover the antiproton, a subatomic particle that is identical to the proton but has a negative charge instead of a positive charge. This initial experiment sparked a series of investigations to solve the mystery behind the universe’s asymmetry.

Following a series of discoveries, including that of the antineutron, CERN announced in 1978 that it had successfully stored several hundred antiprotons for the first time for 85 hours, a monumental feat, considering how quickly antimatter destroys itself in an environment made exclusively of matter.

Then, a team of researchers at CERN’s Low Energy Antiproton Ring in 1995 collided antiprotons with xenon atoms and observed a burst of energy just billionths of a second after the collision. With this volatile reaction, the team knew that they had created the world’s first antihydrogen atom, a positron orbiting an antiproton instead of an electron orbiting a proton. Because hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, this milestone became a major step toward solving the mystery of matter-antimatter asymmetry. The next challenge was to find a way to study these antihydrogen atoms before they destroyed themselves. CERN accomplished this feat in 2011 with the Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA), which traps the newly created antimatter using a magnet that prevents them from coming in contact with regular matter. By trapping

these antiatoms, CERN unlocked a way to study them closely without the particles disintegrating immediately after creation.

Though antimatter research was originally devised to answer a question about the nature of our universe, it has also proved increasingly useful to humanity.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is one way that antiparticles serve a practical role in the field of nuclear medicine, which uses radioactive substances to diagnose and treat disease. After a substance known as a radiotracer is introduced into a patient’s body via injection, it releases radioactive tracer molecules which emit positrons. The interactions between positrons and electrons in the body generate gamma rays, which are then picked up by a machine. PET scans are essential to diagnosing and monitoring cancer and other conditions such as heart and brain disorders. In addition, new research on antimatter is constantly being applied to tweak the positron tracers to detect different metabolic processes. For example, PET scans are regularly used to locate areas of decreased blood flow in the heart, and can also monitor Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of a patient.

CERN’s Antiproton Cell Experiment (ACE) proved that antimatter can be used to eliminate cancer cells and may be a more effective alternative to radiation therapy, which kills healthy cells in addition to cancer cells in its target area. The team hypothesized that annihilating the matter

in cancer cells using antiprotons creates enough energy to destroy the nuclei of the cancer cells and create a sort of cellular shrapnel that destroys other cancer cells as well. The team tested their hypothesis by shooting a particle beam in each of two test tubes containing cancer cells: one encountered a beam of protons and the other antiprotons. The results showed that the antiproton beam took four times fewer particles to achieve the same effect the proton beam did, meaning that the antimatter therapy may inflict significantly less damage to healthy tissue. Though still in its infancy, the medical applications of antimatter demonstrated

by ACE are key examples of how valuable antimatter research is to us, even if these results are just a byproduct of nearly a century of theory crafting and experimentation.

While these discoveries are profound, we have barely scratched the surface of antimatter research. In March 2021, CERN announced that it had successfully cooled antihydrogen down to near absolute zero, an accomplishment that would open new frontiers of antimatter research. Namely, supercooled antimatter allows scientists to run precision tests to investigate how antimatter interacts with gravity and why there is an imbalance of matter and antimatter in our universe. While we are still figuring out ways to study antimatter in a stable state, new studies like this will undoubtedly pave the way for groundbreaking

An FDA advisory committee voted against distributing booster shots of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine to the general public, but still recommends those 65 and older or vulnerable to serious infection to get a third shot.

Scientists suspect that COVID-19 jumped from animals to humans numerous times, as analysis of viral sequences shows that many genomes are associated with two lineages, weakening the theory that the virus escaped from a laboratory.

Cosmologists have found evidence for a primordial type of dark energy pushing the Universe’s expansion, explaining how the Universe is expanding at a rate faster than expected. technologies, such as a new form of cancer therapy or antimatterguided propulsion. It is clear that CERN’s research on this subject will prove fruitful in many ways beyond just answering questions about our universe. Perhaps we may not live to see all the mysteries of the universe solved, but that does not mean we should discredit nearly a century's worth of work. While the ongoing quest to answer these questions may give us answers about the origins—and perhaps the end— of our universe, the byproducts of solving the universe’s mysteries are what really matter.

The Science of Language

By JENNA MACKENROTH

that all languages share a similar structure and syntax pattern. A universal device indicates that absolutely everyone is capable of learning and understanding language.

Some psychologists also believe in a concept known as lin-

guistic determinism, which was developed by linguists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf.

Whorf postulated that language determines the way we think.

For example, speakers of languages such as Arabic and Farsi, which have many more words than English, may be able to recognize and describe their internal and external worlds in greater detail than English speakers due to the capabilities of the

language they grew up speaking. Like Chomsky’s theories, Whorf ’s ideas about linguistic determinism are criticized by psychologists and linguists alike.

Empirical evidence fails to support the idea that language directly influences cognitive processes; however, the notion that language affects thought, known as linguistic relativity, has generally been accepted.

With the genetic, neurological, and psychological complexities of linguistics, the purpose of language still remains clear: understanding. As our linguistic capabilities evolve, so must our understanding of each other and the world around us. Our world has changed rapidly within the past few years, with words such as “quarantine” and “climate crisis” appearing more often in our everyday vocabularies than ever before. It will not b e long before n e w concepts emerge with fresh words to match, while other words become obsolete. In line with Whorf ’s and Sapir’s ideas of linguistic relativity, our perception of the world is reflected in our language and the understanding

Nelli Rojas-Cessa / The Spectator

Language is one of numerous ways that humans communicate with one another. It is behind the delights of song and poetry and the dismay of being yelled at by our parents. There is no exact timeline for when human communication evolved beyond whoops and grunts and into distinct words, and scientists are still unsure as to why we consider language so unique to humans. When we think about language, we often imagine words that we speak and read.

However, language is not limited to what is spoken and heard.

Pinpointing the exact origin of human language is difficult.

In a gross simplification of the science, much of its origin can be attributed to one key gene: the FOXP2 gene. This gene codes for a protein known as a transcription factor, meaning that the FOXP2 protein regulates the expression of other genes yet unknown. However, researchers believe this gene is present in both modern humans and apes, save for a slight mutation between the two species.

Researchers believe this alteration is responsible for the evolution of our linguistic capabilities. Mutations in this gene are associated with speech and language deficits, further strengthening the correlation between FOXP2 and language. FOXP2 is expressed in the basal ganglia, groups of neurons that are largely responsible for motor control and development. The basal ganglia are also responsible

for sequence processing and is possibly connected to syntax errors in speech and language.

The complexities of language are also explored in linguistics. Spoken language is broken down into two major structural components: phonemes and morphemes. Phonemes are the smallest sound units. For example, the word “cat” has three phonemes: “c,” “a,” and “t.” The word “chat” also has three similar phonemes: “ch,” “a,” and “t.” Morphemes are the second smallest components of a language, either distinct words like “you” and “I” or parts of words, like the “pre” in “prefix.”

From all of these small units arises a world of syntax, the structure of a language, and semantics, the meaning of a language.

Theories of language development and acquisition rise from the great linguistic soup of phonemes, morphemes, and syntax. One of the best-known, and most controversial, theories about linguistics is Noam Chomsky’s idea of a universal Language Acquisition Device (LAD), an innate capacity for learning language, which he developed in the 1960s. Not only does the LAD propose a neurological basis for language acquisition, but it also proposes

that arises from it.

Perhaps that is the greatest beauty of linguistics. Regardless of where it comes from and where it will go, we assign meaning and understanding to every aspect of communication. Our pursuit of understanding can take the form of creating new words and slang to describe new situations. Or it can appear as learning languages we are completely unfamiliar with—both spoken and signed—to assist ourselves and the people around us.

It can also appear as finding answers to the numerous questions that arise from the study of linguistics. What is the difference between being speech impaired and being languageimpaired? How do we develop technology to aid nonverbal communication between individuals? While physical analysis of languages, such as the study of the FOXP2 gene and the basal ganglia, allows us to understand the causes of linguistic diversity, understanding the psychological implications of language through theories, such as Chomksy’s and Whorf ’s, allow us to fully appreciate them.

It aids in the creation of assistive technology for individuals with language impairments. Through this, the goal of extending the communication of thought and understanding to everyone becomes more feasible. Regardless of how communication takes place, be it through a digital interface, spoken word, or gestures, opportunities to communicate should be made available to everyone.

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The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

Science Drawing the Line in Skepticism

By SUBAAH SYED Amidst the sprawling Greek state of Athens, the philosopher Socrates built himself a distinctive reputation, one that was not necessarily appreciated by all Athenians. To prove his belief that humans were ignorant, he went around the city questioning the most powerful people with an endless series of “whys?”

Eventually, these antics led to Socrates’s imprisonment, trial, and execution by the Court of Athens. Ironically, the reason behind Socrates’s unfortunate end is something that is highly valued in today’s society: doubt.

Doubt is part of human nature and is shown at an early age: toddlers are known to question many of the simple aspects of the world around them. Indeed, the scientific method is centered around the practice of asking simple questions and formulating hypotheses to answer them.

While doubt in science often leads to healthy conversations and debates and serves to deepen one’s curiosity, skepticism must be practiced in moderation.

Maintaining an open mind while performing research limits the impact of biases and helps to provide the most accurate results.

In some cases, though, scientists may subtly alter their data or even publish false results due to journaling pressure or personal opinions, a tendency commonly known as confirmation bias.

For example, 19th to early 20thcentury anthropologists claimed there was a correlation between the intellectual capacity of different races and skull size, a theory that favored Caucasians. Skeptics were largely overlooked because most were of the races and genders whom the theory did not favor, so it was not until the scientific community became more inclusive that this claim finally

became widely disproved.

Debunking long-held beliefs like these relies on being skeptical of results. An important part of a published scientific experiment is clear procedures, so it can be repeated by scientists who may be skeptical of the conclusions.

One well-known experiment is Louis Pasteur’s rebuttal of the theory of spontaneous generation. When Pasteur had doubts on the long-held doctrine of non-living things arising from living organisms, he tested the theory on his own by building upon the experiment conducted

by Francesco Redi in the 17th century.

From it, he famously disproved spontaneous generation.

Skepticism is also important in the consumer world when it comes to purchasing new products and interpreting the reliability of advertisements and product r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s.

With some companies providing embellished claims to attract customers, many can fall into the trap of misleading advertising. Greenwashing is a type of advertising where companies give a false impression that they are environmentally friendly through irrelevant information, vague phrasing and claims without credible proof. For example, in 2019, SC Johnson claimed that their Windex Vinegar Ocean Plastic bottle was “non-toxic.” However, that statement was misleading and not backed up by evidence. Instead, the cleaning solution was

discovered to contain ingredients that were harmful to humans, animals, and the environment. This led to a legal dispute, and eventually, a lawsuit.

In other cases, people may be highly encouraged to purchase a certain product or shop

Christina Jiang / The Spectator

at a certain store. With pharmaceutical drugs, consumers are always looking for the most effective products to ensure good health. However, the growing demand for effective drugs can make consumers susceptible to misleading pharmaceutical marketing. Due to the increase in online platforms, consumers place a heavy amount of trust on the Internet without taking

time to research the validity of the advertisements’ claims. This lack of skepticism and excessive trust in pharmaceutical ads can go as far as endangering one’s health. Thus, being wary of these recommendations for products would be the safest approach.

Despite the value of skepticism in research and consumerism, people can misuse this attitude, to the detriment of their health and even society as a whole. It can be harmful to continuously doubt an established scientific claim, as skepticism turns into cynicism, a flat denial of proven scientific evidence. During COVID-19, skepticism led to people refusing to get vaccinated or wear masks due to religious beliefs or personal biases. A survey revealed that 58 percent of North Americans favor religion over science even when science disproves religious claims.

While those with extreme personal beliefs are often a minority, spreading skepticism not based on scientific evidence but rather conspiracy theories can hurt the community as a whole by risking the health of others.

In turn, unhealthy scientific skepticism negatively affects the scientific community as well. Especially for urgent issues such as

climate change, it has prevented scientists from taking more vigorous action in fixing carbon levels and setting stricter environmental guidelines. Increasing distrust in science leads to scientists having to pause research to reprove already established findings, significantly slowing down scientific advancements.

Distinguishing unhealthy cynicism from healthy skepticism is integral to making decisions and evaluating claims that we encounter. For example, when assessing the credibility of the claim that ivermectin, a drug used to treat parasites in livestock, can treat or cure COVID-19, we should first look for its source. In this case, ivermectin was not promoted by scientists, but mostly by media figures. The presentation of relevant scientific evidence is also a key factor to look out for. Here, almost no one provided evidence supporting the effectiveness of the drug. Another important question is if there is any scientific evidence supporting it at all, which would require research on credible websites, such as ones run by the government or scientific journals. In fact, the FDA stated that they did not approve this particular drug to treat COVID-19, and there is currently no available data to show that ivermectin helps against the virus. By asking questions and researching, we find that this claim is not reliable.

By incorporating questions and harnessing the value of skepticism into investigative thinking, we can take precautions against the spread of misinformation and refrain from unhealthy skepticism ourselves as well. Though ancient Athens may have not appreciated doubt all that much, in this age of constant new scientific discoveries, we can learn to use it to our advantage to enlighten ourselves and society.

A First Look into Artificial Neurons Despite the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) industry, there is one part of the body that still remains unique to humans: the brain. The day when our brain’s ability to retain memories and perform various cognitive functions in a matter of seconds is replicated synthetically has been thought of as a distant reality. A recent prototype of an artificial neuron developed by a team of French researchers has revealed that the possibility of a synthetic brain is more tangible than previously thought.

The objective of the study was to reproduce the brain’s efficiency into artificial systems.

Though the brain is responsible for carrying out complex tasks on demand, it actually needs very little energy to do so. This efficiency can be credited to neurons, brain cells that make use of the ion channels in their porous membrane to communicate information. These channels open and close in response to stimuli from surrounding neurons, and the resulting ion flow produces an electric current. From this current, action potentials are

released, which then enable the neurons to communicate with each other. While AI can match the brain’s performance of complex tasks, it requires a great deal of energy to do so. Therefore, researchers have been trying to develop artificial networks that mimic the brain’s use of ions, rather than electrons, to be as energy-efficient as the brain.

Interestingly, the most promising approach to achieving this goal lies in the field of nanofluidics, which studies the behavior of fluids within structures less than 100nm wide. A study by a team of researchers from ENS Laboratoire de Physique of the University of Paris built a prototype that uses a single layer of water molecules within thin graphene splits to mimic the functions of a neuron. This model parallels features of the neurons in our brain: the graphene incisions represent the ion channels where the ion flow is observed.

Furthermore, scientists have observed that when a neuron is exposed to the electric field, ions of the water layer arrange themselves into clusters and exhibit a property called the memristor effect, which is when the clusters are able to retain parts of

the stimuli they received previously. When the voltage was removed, the clusters were able to retain some of the stimuli. This is especially significant because it raises the possibility of artificial

in the field of nanofluidics that allowed water to exist in a single layer. These monolayer electrolytes open the door to attaining bioinspired functionalities through ion-based transport

Rin Fukuoka / The Spectator

By ARIN FARUQUE

memories, yet another way that AI can be advanced to further mimic our traits.

This prototype was largely made possible by advancements

systems. Next, scientists hope to apply these findings in their understanding of deep neural networks, which use artificial neurons connected by artificial

synapses to recreate the functions of the brain. This would allow them to produce systems that can recognize and process certain stimuli. Not only is this promising for future biological implementations in AI, but it also demonstrates the cooperation between different fields needed to make something like a synthetic neuron possible.

While this is exciting news for the AI industry, it is only the beginning. Scientists will continue their research on electronic memories and collaborate with a team from the University of Manchester, UK, to rule out the efficiency of ion-based systems.

The implementation of the artificial neuron in a larger artificial network or basic machine learning algorithms is also continuing to be explored. While AI has always been a step behind humans in energy efficiency, the possibility of the artificial neuron can allow researchers to focus on adapting other aspects of AI to match humans, such as the ability to store memories. The future of AI remains uncertain, but as AI is being developed to become increasingly comparable to humans, it is likely we will see some familiar characteristics.

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

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Science What a Shocker—These Microbes Breathe Electricity

By SATHIRTHA MONDAL The Flash can generate electricity, but can he breathe it? Surprisingly, there is a creature that can do both, and it is not some fabricated metahuman; it’s a bacterium.

Geobacter, colloquially referred to as “electricigens,” is a genus of bacteria that dwells in oxygen-deprived environments deep beneath the ocean floor. Researchers have uncovered two extraordinary abilities of the bacteria since it was first discovered in 1987: bioremediation, the ability to degrade pollutants into nontoxic material, and electrogenesis, the ability to generate electricity.

Like humans, Geobacter microbes produce waste electrons during respiration, the process in which food is converted to usable energy. Unlike humans, who rely on oxygen to remove leftover electrons, the bacteria produce nanowires and exhale the electrons to distances thousands of times their body length, generating an electric current in the process. These electrons are typically passed into iron oxide, a compound found in minerals in soil. Microbes extract energy from iron oxide minerals to power their activities. Until recently, the nanowires produced were assumed to be pili, appendages

commonly found on the surface of bacteria. However, in a 2019 study, researchers discovered that the nanowires are made of cytochromes, proteins that transfer electrons in metabolic pathways.

They also found that pili beneath the cell membrane function as an on-off switch that controls the extrusion of the nanowires.

The bacteria’s ability to thrive in hypoxic, or oxygen-deprived environments, may deem it effective in treating bacterial infections. Harmful bacteria like Salmonella are able to outcompete probiotics in the gut since they can continue to produce energy without the presence of oxygen.

Though this proposal is still in its infancy, scientists believe that probiotics that are equipped with nanowires like Geobacter may be able to outcompete pathogens like Salmonella, which can then prevent infection.

Since Geobacter obtains electrons from organic matter, scientists also speculate that the

bacteria may drive the future of recyclable energy by powering devices using waste as their primary food source. In a recent study, Geobacter bacteria were also found to be resistant to cobalt, a metal used in batteries that is extremely Mandy Li / The Spectator

toxic to living organisms. When e x posed, the bacteria coat themselves with cobalt nanoparticles through the efflux pump Cz-

cABC, which removes toxic substances to maintain a stable internal environment. This forms a protective shield and prevents the cobalt from permeating the membrane. As a result, Geobacter may soon be used to extract cobalt from discarded batteries for reuse, reducing metal waste sent to landfills and preventing toxic materials within batteries from contaminating the environment.

In addition to recycling waste, Geobacter are able to clean up radioactive waste through bioremediation.

A c c o r d i n g l y, many scientists have used Geobacter to clean up uranium waste and even extract it from water. Though this ability was discovered by Dr. Gemma Reguera and her team nearly 20 years ago, it was not until recently that they learned the mechanics of it.

Geobacter also produce protein filaments, or long chains of protein, to zap waste, trapping it in

a mineral form and immobilizing it. As a result, the waste cannot spread through the environment or dissolve in water. However, this did not account for the removal of the waste. Reguera found that the bacteria coat themselves in lipopolysaccharides, or molecules of fats and carbohydrates, to soak up the waste like a sponge.

Similar to its role in activating the cytochromes, the pili control the production and expression of the lipopolysaccharides. As a result, instead of killing the bacteria, absorbing the toxic uranium provides the bacteria with energy, prompting scientists to investigate what other toxic metals the bacteria can remove from the environment, specifically cadmium.

As time has progressed, Geobacter microbes have only opened doors to more possibilities and applications. Solely by performing their basic metabolic activities, they can become a valuable, sustainable, and efficient source of energy. They are also invulnerable to metals that are typically a death sentence for bacteria, allowing them to prevent and clean up waste while fueling themselves.

Due to their numerous abilities, these bacteria may soon form the basis of revolutionizing the production of energy, recycling materials, and freeing the environment of toxins.

How Has Embryo Research Changed?

By ANDY CHEN

differentiated state.

Both Zernicka-Goetz’s group and Brivanlou’s group experimented with human embryos with aneuploid cells, cells that have an abnormal number of chromosomes and are associated with at least half of pregnancy losses. Results from ZernickaGoetz’s experiment showed that embryos diagnosed early with some kind of aneuploidy could

oped. Her group analyzed 4,820 cells from 16 embryos from day five, when the embryo is usually implanted in the womb, to day 11, the stages of development that prepare for gastrulation. Gastrulation is the essential embryonic phase when the embryo is reorganized from a ball of cells, known as the blastula, into a multi-layered organism. Results from single-cell RNA sequencing revealed the inactive and active genes as embryonic cells transition from totipotency, when the cell type is undetermined, to pluripotency, a

still grow to be healthy. Similarly, Brivanlou’s group examined gene expression in the embryo from early developmental phases, discovering that aneuploid cells were erased. These cells either grew into supporting tissue or were selected for apoptosis, or cell death.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics assess aspects of an embryo’s genetic health, including aneuploidy, by examining only a few of its cells. But, discoveries from both groups indicate that the common practice of diagnosing aneuploidy in IVF embryos may have led

Jessica Mui / The Spectator

Growing a human out of a Petri dish might sound like a scene taken straight from a movie, but is it really? Dr. Ali Brivanlou conducted a 13-day experiment in 2015 that would change the fate of human embryo experimentation. His team at Rockefeller University placed several human embryos into culture dishes and observed their growth through the earliest phases of development. On the last day, however, Brivanlou was faced with a tough decision as to whether to continue the experiment or bring it to a halt. That day, Brivanlou ended the experiment, leaving the developments that occurred after a mystery.

Brivanlou followed the 14-day rule, which is an ethical guideline that limits further in vitro studies on human embryos 14 days after fertilization. Day 14 is when the embryo develops primitive streaks, marking the embryonic development of body axes, and begins distinguishing the head from the tail and the left from the right. In this phase, not only do the cells become specialized, but the embryo is individualized, meaning identical twins can no longer form.

First proposed over 40 years ago, the 14-day rule has acted as an essential limit for embryonic research. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) released its first set of guidelines for embryonic research in 2006, establishing the rule in the scientific world. However, on May 26, the ISSR updated its guidelines and relaxed the well-known 14-day rule, allowing embryos to be cultivated beyond two weeks.

Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz’s team at the University of Cambridge, which achieved the same feat as Brivanlou, set out on their mission in 2013 to grow human embryos for longer than seven days, the maximum duration re-

searchers could grow an embryo at that time. The researchers sought to understand what occurs beyond the blastocyst stage, characterized by the rapid division of cells around day five. ZernickaGoetz’s team perfected a mixture of hormones and growth factors in 2016 to do so.

Zernicka-Goetz’s group investigated gene expression in the cells while the embryos devel-

to many embryos in IVF clinics being incorrectly labeled as unhealthy.

As a result of these advancements, some ethicists and academics now argue that the decade-old rule is outdated and needs to be revised. Researchers express that extending the limit could provide a better understanding of human development in the third week and beyond, which is synonymous with comprehending the reason for some pregnancy failures. With the relaxed limit, researchers could study gastrulation, a stage between days 14 to 22, and gain insight into the body’s primary pattern and organ production. Brivanlou aims to reveal the genetics behind a fourchambered beating heart and to unveil the genetic blueprint that converts stem cells to brain cells, which occurs after week two. Understanding these developments is crucial to developing treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders and common congenital heart defects. These concerns and goals have led the ISSCR to loosen the 14-day rule but not completely replace or extend the limit.

Instead, embryos that reach this point would be monitored closely and subjected to many stages of evaluation to determine whether the experiment should be terminated or not.

The first 3D stem model of embryos developed by Jianping Fu, a biomedical engineer at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, only showed early evidence of a primitive streak. Since then, model embryos have become so complex that they can now imitate early embryonic phases such as implantation, gastrulation, primitive stages of the brain, and development of the heart and spinal cord. Not only may these sophisticated models be used to research embryonic development instead of actual human embryos, but they may also be used to produce functional cells, such as neu-

rons, that could be inserted into patients in the future.

However, as the models become more sophisticated, they are bound to spark ethical debates. What if their neurons begin sending messages or their heart cells start beating? What if they surpass simple imitation and function normally without any restraints?

The ISSCR’s decision to partially lift the 14-day rule was met with mixed results. Some critics say that the ISSCR was irresponsible in relaxing the limit without providing a new limit, as it could be seen as giving full approval for embryonic research. Some researchers also argue that removing the limit could break the trust between the public and the scientific community regarding embryo research. Meanwhile, others insist that research is progressing so rapidly that drawing another limit will be difficult and pointless because it will inevitably be overcome. Some scientists, including Brivanlou, agree with the decision and believe that research beyond day 14 provides enormous benefits, as it could save lives one day.

Additionally, relaxing this hard barrier is not unethical because it might reveal how miscarriages and birth abnormalities occur.

Moreover, many believe that the ISCRR’s new guidelines could pave the way for the genetic engineering of humans. Perhaps when these lab-grown embryos become more developed, they could be used to examine the consequences of genetically editing babies and creating human-animal hybrids.

Science is advancing now faster than ever, and rules from decades before are holding it back.

Changing the old ways and allowing science to run its course will prove advantageous for us. The future of embryo research, genetic engineering, and other fields depend on our success with removing these limits on research.

Page 14

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

Arts and Entertainment Television

By ROXY PERAZZO Over its eight-season run, “Brooklyn 99” has seen some ups and downs. Still, it has never failed to deliver some of the funniest and most endearing stories on television. Following a team of police detectives, the show has faced its fair share of criticism but still bounced back for a strong final season that tackles those critiques without losing its charisma.

“Brooklyn 99” centers around Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) who works in the NYPD’s 99th precinct.

Peralta and his team find themselves under the leadership of the stern Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher) and must learn to work together and see past their differences as the seasons progress.

Throughout the show’s run, it has never failed to successfully combine genres, setting itself apart from the majority of both comedies and procedurals by featuring a unique mix of the two, (though it definitely leans towards the former). While most of the episodes feature a specific case, the focus is often more on the character interactions than the mystery of finding the criminal. The competitive nature of the characters

Music

By LEVI SIMON UK rapper Little Simz has had a curious come-up. The confident, sibilant delivery and spacious productions of her 2015 and 2016 efforts were bold but jumbled and underdeveloped. Her writing was amateur and lacked subtlety. Simz’s big break wouldn’t come until 2019 with “GREY Area,” a smashing success among critics and fans alike. In “GREY Area,” she opted to change her approach, featuring sparser production, tighter flows, more overt feminist bars, and newfound self-assuredness.

However, something was still off. The percussion felt stiff and underweight. The synths were weedy whispers. The vocal processing was unnecessarily fuzzy, obscuring Simz’s explosive delivery. And, the writing was still too direct to amount to much, with little diving below surface level.

Even if Simz was showing off her talents, discovering herself, and navigating through a personal grey area, she wasn’t communicating her journey in a way that resonated to its fullest.

That brings us to Simz’s most recent endeavor: “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” (“SIMBI”). The title itself is an interesting microcosm of the album’s duality; Simbi is Simz’s real name, and the conflict between Simbi and Simz as both introvert and superstar, both person and artist,

Bye-Bye 99, for the Second Time and the differences in their personalities create a classic sitcom dynamic with many of the episodes featuring bets, team-ups, and the like, keeping the tone light in spite of more dramatic plot beats. “Brooklyn 99” also has a fantastic array of recurring characters. This talented extended cast never failed to bring a unique dynamic to the show, and some of its standout episodes can be credited to amazing guest performances.

Despite the success of “Brooklyn 99,” it was canceled

by FOX after the end of its fifth season, leading to an outpour of protest from fans and industry figures alike. Their efforts were successful in proving the popularity of the show, as it was picked up by NBC just a day later. In the last three seasons at NBC, the show has managed to maintain its classic formula while also evolving to include the innovations to storytelling and character writing that a long-running sitcom needs to stay lively and entertaining.

In its last season, “Brooklyn 99” emphasizes the personal lives of the characters more, focusing on their growth as people outside of their jobs.

During the first few seasons, most of the characters struggle

to maintain a healthy personal life, focusing mainly on their police work. Over the last few seasons, however, the characters have come to have more balance between those two aspects of their lives. Peralta and his now-wife Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) learn how to balance taking care of their baby with work. Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) and Holt, on the other hand, have both come to value their personal lives and beliefs over their careers, leading Diaz to quit the force because of her conflicting values and Holt to consider leaving because of his marriage problems. Despite character development being something that spans the entire show, the last season really puts it frontand-center in a new way.

While it’s easy to love a good workplace comedy, it’s hard for many fans to stay on board with the implications of a show about cops in the current age.

The issue of police brutality is nothing new, but much of the accountability around it is. During the entire run of the show, the ideas of corruption, dirty cops, and police brutality have been continuously brought up but never as head-on as in the final season. From episode one, every character is included in

the discussion without this feeling forced—except when the show wants it to. The different takes on the issue from all of the characters definitely make for a better story, but it is still clear what the main characters’ stances are as a whole, especially through their season-long strain with higher-ups in the force’s bureaucracy. Overall, the season does well to address the problem while still blending in its usual antics.

Season eight of “Brooklyn 99” takes on a more serious approach to the lives of its characters and tackles difficult problems in the world today.

Though the discussion of police brutality is difficult, the show does its best to acknowledge and own the tension, addressing the complex issue by taking on a level of moral nuance surprising for a sitcom.

At the same time, it manages to balance both the work and personal lives of the main characters in a way that, though different from the rest of the series, works well for the show and makes the characters even more relatable than before.

With the success of its last season, “Brooklyn 99”’s memorable run comes to a close in a bittersweet but tasteful way.

Little Simz Goes Grand on “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” is prevalent in this project.

As she says in the excellent opener “Introvert,” “The fight between the Yin and Yang’s a fight you’ll never win.” The walls of strings, horn hits, chiming countermelodies, and marching drums set the perfect backdrop to bring Simz’s personal drama to life. Next on the tracklist is “Woman,” a timeless, classy, Lauryn Hillesque tribute to Black women.

Yet another highlight is “Two Worlds Apart,” which sports an addictive Smokey Robinson flip and relaxed flow, and “I Love You, I Hate You,” which displays a distinct percussive pattern, Broadwayinspired string sections and gripping lyrics that delve into Simz’s clashing feelings on her father; “Is you a sperm donor or a dad to me?” is one of the most striking moments in all of “SIMBI.” The highlights continue past the spotless opening stretch with “Standing Ovation,” a Kanye West “College Dropout” (2004)-inspired celebration of Simz’s success.

She stays poignant by critiquing the self-centered nature of stardom, honoring her friends and family that supported her to the top and looking towards the future by continuing her winning streak and inspiring others to rise to her level. Simz introduces a West African afrobeat flair on the composed “Point and Kill,” and the following “Fear No Man.” Her accent gives both songs a

unique place on the album, and the opening lines, “Family no go suffer, oh, inna my lifetime / Dey be fine, do am proper, no lie, lie,” give them a subtext of rising above one’s station commonly found in hip-hop.

The closing two tracks, “How Did You Get Here” and “Miss Understood,” are reasonable summaries of the album’s themes of duality and progression, and the tunes aren’t bad, but the phrase “I’m so misunderstood” is an instant repellant to nuance.

One of the project’s downsides is its overdependence on interludes to drive its narrative. “Gems,” “Little Q Pt. 1,” “The Garden,” and “The Rapper That Came to Tea” are all lengthy, mystic, string-kissed spoken word pieces that reveal inner truths about Simbi in relation to Simz, the roles in which she has been placed, and the rest of the world.

While the interludes may sound expensive and rich, they aren’t nearly as impactful as an actual song with a fleshed-out verse structure and vocal performance. It’s not as if Simz is saying something so complex that it needs space to draw focus—she’s simply reading out her inner monologue.

Besides the interludes, there are a few tracks that fall short of the others. “Rolling Stone” is a return to the stripped-back trap banger that Simz explored on “GREY Area,” and it desperately lacks sufficient emotional expres-

sion to connect to the listener.

It may be cold-blooded but not in a fun way––it instead comes off as sour and drab. “Protect My Energy” is a groovy detour that isn’t particularly unlikeable, but the refrain gets a bit repetitive, and the song would be an easy cut from the long tracklist. “Speed” covers similar thematic territory as “Standing Ovation” with a fraction of the impact. The cheap, bland production is an instant headache, and it is handily the weakest song Simz has ever released. Its presence on an otherwise solid tracklist is befuddling.

Despite the issues with “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” it has received Simz’s most critical success yet—and it’s not a coincidence. The prototypical introspective and introverted album is meek and restrained; “SIMBI” is grand, celebratory, and unique to Simz. Her explorations of race, gender, and the artistic process, as well as her ambitious framing of her own journey within those larger cultural institutions, keep the scope of the project long enough to feel varied but tied together with a personal string. The vast improvements in songwriting and production make “SIMBI” squarely her best project.

As she matures, realizes her place in the world, reaches for more ambitious concepts, and hones her skills, Simz will continue on her upward trajectory.

Playlist I Left Him at a Greyhound Station

By THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT Whether you take the 3 train downtown or roll on the ACE line, everyone needs a morning commute playlist. No matter how early it is, you’re going to want to be awake for this.

I Wanna Be Yours Arctic Monkeys Alternative Rock New Romantics Taylor Swift Pop Cigarette Daydreams Cage the Elephant Alternative Lazy Eye Hem Folk Amoeba Clairo Alternative/Indie Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang Silver Pop Sure Shot Beastie Boys Hip-hop HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS PawPaw Rod R&B Somebody Else The 1975 Alternative/Indie Happy Ending The Strokes Indie Rock The Jackie Bas Hip-hop Breadwinner Kacey Musgraves Country Pop South London Forever Florence + the Machine Alternative Another Day of Sun La La Land Cast Musical Theatre From the Ritz to the Rubble Arctic Monkeys Alternative Rock L.E.S. Childish Gambino Hip-hop Guerilla Remi Wolf Pop

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

Page 15

Arts and Entertainment Film

By KAEDEN RUPAREL “Endearing,” “compelling,” and “must-watch” are just a few words used by critics to describe Hulu’s pridemonth release, “Love, Victor.” Centered around Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino), a Colombian-American high school student struggling with his sexual identity, the show struck big not just among critics but among audiences too. The show’s first season introduces Victor’s imperfect world centered mostly around his relationships, whether that be with his family, new friends and girlfriend, or himself and his sexuality. Building on this, the second season, released in the summer of 2021, follows Victor as he fights for acceptance from everyone else. Through Victor’s many arguments with his parents, audiences learn that not every coming-out story is as easy as the one seen in “Love, Simon” (2018)—the prequel movie to this show. Victor, now dating his boyfriend Benji (George Sear), navigates the conflict between the traditional beliefs of his Colombian parents and his progressive boyfriend while also being the only gay kid on the basketball team. The second season not only opens up Victor’s external struggles with being gay but also sheds light on the importance of family and friendships, especially in a period of confusion and uncertainty.

“Love, Victor”: An Imperfect Story, Imperfectly Told “Love, Victor,” like many of today’s high school shows, is centered around moments in time rather than a strict narrative plot structure. The intent of the show is to focus on character development–– Victor’s especially, but also the entirety of the main cast––and dive deep into the conflicts between Victor’s identity, relationships, and social life. Because of the focus on character development, the audience is able to see Victor’s close friends not only as integral parts of his life, but also as individual characters.

The largest impact of “Love, Victor” lies in the uniqueness of its message.

The show’s second season displays that the coming-out process is often difficult and that immediate acceptance, as seen in “Love, Simon,” is not always the norm for gay teens. “Love, Victor” is symbolic of a major step forward in the entertainment world, as it thrusts LGBTQ+ narratives and characters into the spotlight, a significant development in an industry that has a rocky history with the LGBTQ+ community. Yet, “Love, Victor,” like Victor’s own world, has its imperfections.

Though audiences expressed primarily positive reviews of the show, there was one critique that continued to surface: “Love, Victor” is a gay show designed for straight people. Productions heavily featuring LGBTQ+

Though several mid1960s contemporaries were able to maintain their positions in rock’s front line, to this day, The Rolling Stones’s core drummer Charlie Watts, singer Mick Jagger, and guitarist Keith Richards has remained the genre’s most influential and long-lived partnership. So, fans were shocked when Watts announced that he was dropping out of the Rolling Stones’s upcoming tour to recover from a successful procedure, and when it was later revealed that the drummer had passed away on August 24, 2021.

As a child, Charlie Watts dreamed of jazz. He collected records by jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk (Stuyvesant alumni), Charlie Parker, and Jelly Roll Morton. After hearing Chico Hamilton’s drum on Gerry Mulligan’s “Walkin’ Shoes,” Watts was finally persuaded

a punk-rock band, has had relationships with other guys, and is completely out to his welcoming family and school.

Keeping in mind the intended audience, it makes sense that the producers opted to not overstuff the season with constant gay culture references. But in that effort, they ended up downplaying the significance of fashion, culture, and gay inspiration for Victor, all to maintain the straight audience’s comfort.

The show also falls short

Cimino’s performance was near flawless and garnered rave reviews for his portrayal of Victor, but, to no fault of his own, his performance was lacking in authenticity. passing, from their outfits to their general lack of gay culture awareness (the only major reference to gay pop culture in the entire season is a single reference to Grindr.) This is more justifiable for Victor’s character as he is still coming to terms with his identity throughout the show, but Benji’s character is fully comfortable in his sexual identity. He’s not Hollywood’s stereotypical gay character––flamboyant, broadway nerd, etc.––but he is part of

in terms of casting representation. Both Cimino and Sear, the actors for Victor and Benji, identify as straight. It’s long been a debate whether or not cishet actors should be able to play LGBTQ+ characters, and it was disappointing, to say the least, to discover that such an empowering show was weakened by its casting.

Cimino’s performance was near flawless and garnered rave reviews for his portrayal of Victor, but, to no fault of his own, his performance

was lacking in authenticity.

Presented with an opportunity to connect to LGBTQ+ youth, the casting directors of “Love, Victor’’ did the audience a disservice.

However, the second season does take some major steps forward from the first season. Not only did the racial diversity of the cast increase, the second half of the show also saw the introduction and growth of another character: Rahim. The most recent newcomer to Victor’s high school walks into Victor’s life the same way Victor entered the “Love, Simon” universe: simply asking for advice. Unsure of how to come out to his parents and of their reaction, Rahim comes to Victor looking for help. Rahim was an immediate favorite for audiences, especially LGBTQ+ audiences craving a lessstraight-presenting character, which is exactly what Rahim gave them.

“Love, Victor” isn’t perfect by any means, but it represents a massive step forward in terms of bringing attention to LGBTQ+ stories and characters. The show gave LGBTQ+ high school students the chance to see that our stories matter and that we deserve a chance in the spotlight. In Victor Salazar, LGBTQ+ students can begin to see someone who took the first step, who symbolized acceptance for Creekwood’s students and LGBTQ+ students all over the world.

In Memoriam: Charlie Watts

Music

By JAEIN KU

characters often need to walk a fine line between queer narratives and what straight audiences find acceptable. By overemphasizing a character’s gay identity, the directors would’ve done the LGBTQ+ community a disservice, contradicting the message of the show and perpetuating stereotypes. However, in an effort to keep their straight audience comfortable, the directors opted to have Victor and Benji, Victor’s boyfriend, appear aggravatingly straight-

to take up a new instrument: the drums. He created his first snare drum at home by removing the neck of a banjo and using brushes as drumsticks. Decades later, Watts was working as a graphic designer and making money on the side performing in various jazz ensembles around London. Though he wasn’t acquainted with the particularities of the blues, Watts accepted Mick Jagger’s offer to join his band.

However, his inexperience quickly became insignificant as Watts was able to incorporate his unique sound into the future Rolling Stones and create a foundation for rock by doing so.

Watts anchored The Rolling Stones with his sharp dressing and sub-

tlety even as musical chaos swirled around him on stage; he had a quiet mystique and a reputation as an oldschool gentleman. Charlie Watts, unlike his contemporaries, drummed in a unique, concise manner, and above all, his beats acted service to the other members. Though Watts was able to implement stylings that were genre-defying and authentic, he never did so in a flashy manner.

Richards even mentioned in “Life,” his 2010 memoir, “Charlie Watts has always been the bed that I lie on,

Yaqi Zeng / The Spectator

musically.”

The Rolling Stones’s 1968 album “Beggars Banquet” explicitly reveals Watt’s inventiveness as a musician. In the album’s top hit, “Sympathy for the Devil,” conga drums supported a hypnotic and malefic beat, but Watts was able to still flawlessly incorporate his own roots of the Jazz Latin style—a feat that was unheard of for other drummers his age. The tracks “Shake Your Hips” and “Exile on Main Street” also extraordinarily showcase the drummer’s one-of-a-kind talent. Watts’s decision to use percussive skittering with a seemingly accidental thump throughout the songs brilliantly created a sense of anticipation. This edging beat keeps listeners engaged and asserts Watts’ continued versatility.

Charlie Watts was just as solid offstage with his family. Though many expect rock and roll members to bask themselves in drugs, sex, and fame, Watts lived a relatively quiet life with his wife Shirley, and daughter Seraphina. He and his wife bred Arabian horses as a hobby and even continued his interest in jazz with his 32-piece Charlie Watts Orchestra.

Looking back at old Rolling Stones live performances, it is amazing how Watts was able to look so serene when he played—drumming performances are usually sweaty, exaggerated, and combative, but Watts rarely was. Even as an elderly cancer survivor, Watts was able to maintain his composure on stage. Charlie Watts was one of the greatest drummers of his generation and continues to inspire more generations of young musicians as his music and message live on.

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

Page 16

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

Spotify’s Been Watching You

recommendations the elves worked tirelessly to find.

With each passing day, the It all started on a partly cloudy, late afternoon. Your free Spotify number of restless elves grew. account thought nothing of your You were embodying the nature of the chorus of daily pop song streams with the ocKaty Perry's 2008 casional rap song thrown in the smash hit, “Hot mix. It was normal, nay, exN Cold.” Perry pected. Your ads displayed sings, “You're the same three artists you hot then you're had in six playlists, and cold / You're life was good. You yes then thought from time you're no to time, “Why not / You're in try something new?” then you're Yet you didn’t. Spoout / You're tify appreciated this. up then The less work needed you're down,” to compile your Daily and she sings Mixes, the better. Here true. The elves comes the infamous pangrew confused, even demonium, panorama, some might even say panini press… Ivy Jiang / The Spectator worried, that you’d find some other unthe pandemic.

The days rolled on, then the derground band to obsess over for months rolled on. Spotify grew in- 48 hours, then quickly abandon. creasingly anxious as you no longer As soon as these mystical beings found joy in the same few songs thought they finally had you figwith almost identical chord pro- ured out, you did a complete 180 gressions. You started venturing on them. The cycle continued, but into new territory, making Spotify’s they had no idea which deep, dark nook of the vast collections of job more difficult.

You shifted from pop to rap to Spotify you’d dub your latest craze.

The elves pulled countless allindie, country to instrumental, rock to lo-fi, EDM to Russian rap to nighters. They bit their nails to Belgian folk (don’t ask). The more stubs trying to crack your code to obscure the genres became, the no avail. You simply started lismore work the little elves working tening to Bears in Trees, and their inside the Spotify app had to do. whole algorithm disintegrated.

Alas, school started, and you They started clocking in double, triple, quadruple hours just to keep ran out of free time to concoct new up with whatever you were do- music-centric personas for yourself. ing on that app. All this work just Your music finally settled back into for you to completely ignore the the pop and rap you once knew and artisanally-crafted Daily Mixes and loved. The elves cried out in sheer other personalized playlists, full of relief and clocked out early.

By KRISTA PROTEASA

Whack Your Way to Victory

By KYLE HON CHAN and ALEXANDER CHU The 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympic Games are upon us, and the International Olympic Committee has revealed the four new sports coming to the Olympic Games.

Along with Toe Wrestling, Jousting, and Quidditch, Slapping will be added to the summer games repertoire. While the other three events are fairly well known in their rules and players (unless you never read Harry Potter), the sport of Slapping receives significantly less media attention than its fellow inductees.

For the common man who hasn’t heard of the noble sport of Slapping, the rules are quite simple: you and your opponent alternate between slapping each other in the face, for a total of five turns each.

Unless there is a knockout, the judge decides the best slapper, and he or she is moved to the next round. The Olympic qualification format for Slapping is an elimination bracket of 256 participants from all around the world. The first one-on-one matchup is determined by random draw, and after four elimination rounds, only 16 slappers advance to the prestigious Olympic Games.

Interestingly, all of these men came from the same country: Russia.

USA head coach Tommy Bazingus was outraged when he found out that all qualifiers were Russian.

“Those darned Russians. Why did their men make it into the Olympics and not our fine, All-American, Star-Spangled Patriots of this god-blessed country?” When interviewed about the all-Russian competitors, the Russian head coach Ivan Ivanov said, “The Olympics are for the best of the best, so who

cares if all the slappers are Russian? The steroids—I mean supplements––that our team uses are only to support the athlete after weeks of grueling training. I don’t know why the Americans are so peeved about our supplements! I mean, we’re not complaining about their Flintstone vitamins or their Monster Zero Ultra!”

A top-level athlete to watch in the first-ever Slapping Olympic event is Tomislav Petrov, who has won every Slapping event he’s partaken in so far. He’s been training for this sport since he was eight years old by bullying other children on the playground. Alexi Popov is yet another talented slapper. As a newcomer to the scene, he doesn’t have many competitions under his belt. However, he put on a stellar performance in the bracket by virtue of being 8’2’’ and won as his gigantic hand demolished his opponents' cheekbones.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach had this to say on the addition of these new sports: “Jousting, Quidditch, Toe Wrestling, and Slapping will bring a fun new dimension to the previously boring and dull summer games.

Who wants to see Michael Phelps win another medal and cash in on an Adidas sponsorship? Not me!

That's why the people and I want to see fun and entertaining sports like Slapping! Who doesn’t want to see some teeth fly after a man gives another a good, hefty slap?”

Critics are concerned whether or not the increased amount of violence will detract from the integrity of the Olympic Games. When questioned, Bach remained stern on the fact that “It’ll be a heck of a lot of fun to watch!”

Arguing with Some Loser on Twitter

By ESHAAL UBAID I crack my knuckles in preparation for battle. My glitchy Chromebook from 2019 glistens in the night, a taunting message radiating from the screen. “no i don’t get those of u who actually like carrots. celery is better. i have stated my case good night <3” How DARE they? How does anyone think CELERY, of all things, is a superior vegetable in any form? This is atrocious.

A crime against humanity. Taylor Swift wouldn’t stand for this, which is why they will be the 827th person I prove wrong within the graceful bounds of Twitter. One Wikipedia search later (hey, always back up your claims), I hit reply. “@smoothlikejungkooksbutter LOL are you okay? please read that again… you’re really claiming that a vegetable that grows in a marshland is better than a carrot? grow up. ur mom probably had to pay the other kids to hang out with you growing up.”

I sit back, satisfied. With a grand total of one fact retained from second-grade science class that had to be reinforced with a Google search, I’ve managed to spin my knowledge into this brilliant argument showing that I’m educated. Selective punctuation and grammar are also some of my specialties, as is clearly demonstrated here. And that quip at the end? Ah, it’s so fulfilling that it almost makes up for the lack of attention I got as a kid.

Ding.

“@taylorsfacialpores no no no, if anything the marsh makes it better because shrek would approve. and also your veggie of choice grows in literal DIRT LOL and my besties and i are like family thank you very much. you do understand the concept of people actually liking you right? correct me if i’m wrong i’m just not sure <3” In a fit of rage, I scream in distress and swipe a decent amount of stationery off my desk. Oh really, K-pop stan? You’re going to be so cocky? This is outrageous.

Taylor would want me to fight back. “@smoothlikejungkooksbutter besties? more like followers who share your trash music taste. by the way, jimin is the best bts member” A sense of euphoria hits as soon as I tap the post button.

That’ll show ’em. I’m so clever, aren’t I? And I’m quite proud of it too. Could anyone even come close to dissing this person as well as I did? Their life is ruined.

They’re probably sobbing right now. Call that bad blood because I’m making Taylor so proud right now.

Ding. “@taylorsfacialpores honestly that tells me all that i need to know like ur a hypocrite (taylor fan??) AND you’re a solo bts stan? i’m done with this convo go rant somewhere else online in ur mom’s basement. fool.”

I look up and away from Twitter. I am FUMING. This isn’t working.

@smoothlikejungkooksbutter is going to be the death of me.

How can I best make them feel as awful as possible for no reason other than the fact that I disagree with them?

Lightbulb. It’s time to pull out my strongest card. “@smoothlikejungkooksbutter excuse me you CANNOT talk to me like that i am a MINOR. imagine being so sad and lonely that you have to bully a literal child for their username. i can’t. i’m going to need therapy for this.”

The clock ticks away as I await a response. A second turns into a minute, then a minute to an hour.

HA. What cowardice. And sure enough, when I open the app, I am blocked.

I scoff. That was too easy. So worth my 20hours of screen time.

“Dinner’s ready!” my mom calls. I smile. Another successful day on the virtual battlefield is coming to a close.

“Give me a minute.”

“Don’t give me a hard time. I just had to waste my time arguing with some idiot on the phone.”

I snicker. “Same, actually.”

She shakes her head. “No, you have no idea.”

I’m just about to turn away when I hear a faint “I made hazelnut celery salad. Can’t believe someone said carrots were better.”

My eyes widen. It couldn’t be. “But celery grows in a marshland…?”

She pauses, rage seething from her very being. “taylorsfacialpores?”

“MOM?”

Photographer’s New Slogan: All Humans Are Naturally Ugly

By ERICA CHEN Let’s face it: taking student ID pictures is our worst nightmare.

What’s more terrifying than taking an awkward mugshot photo to be used in front of the entire student body? One that we KNOW will end up looking terrible. What’s up with those photographers anyway?

They ask us to twist and turn our bodies in every uncomfortable direction and then proceed to take the picture from the WORST. POSSIBLE. ANGLE. EVER. Even my (sadly) nonexistent dog could take a better picture than they can.

Not to mention, they always manage to take the photo at the worst possible time too. They tell us to sit down, and before we’re even properly seated and looking at the camera, bam! It’s already time to leave. When did they take the photo?

When we receive our IDs, it’s clear that they took the pictures while we were still settling into the chair. Our faces are contorted, pained, our eyes half-closed, looking everywhere but at the camera, and we all have more chins than we should. Even the pictures of the few, extremely lucky people end up looking just about average (but still better than the majority of the student body).

So… why is this the case?

Why do all ID pictures look ugly?

Due to my amazing connections, I was able to kindly ask one of the photographers for an in-

terview. For privacy reasons (and because I don’t want to suddenly disappear), I will refer to her as “Ms. Pic.” Ms. Pic’s testimony shocked me to my very core. “It’s our goal, you see, to take bad pictures. We are secret spies sent from a photography mafia, and our leader, who goes by the alias of Mr. HeWho-Must-Not-Be-Named, pays us based on how well we do our job. Namely, how many ‘sub-optimal’ photos we take of students,” Ms. Pic explained.

Julia Shen / The Spectator

“Mr. He-Who-Must-Not-BeNamed doesn’t believe in good lighting or angles,” she continues.

“It’s simply not normal. Unlike those who think that everyone is beautiful, our president thinks that everyone is born ugly. That’s why he started his photography company—to take pictures of vulnerable teens and prove that no one is pretty.”

What a unique take on human beauty, right? Or should I say, human ugliness?

When asked if she liked her

job, she replied, “What’s not to like? Crushing students’ self-esteem by imprinting them with an embarrassing photo that will stick with them for the rest of eternity—or at least, for the rest of their high school career—is a great hobby. And I even get PAID for doing it. What could be better than that?”

Ms. Pic also added that the best part of her job is hearing stories from her staff friends when students receive their IDs. “There’s a lot of funny gossip. But the funniest thing is when students try to claim that they lost their IDs and request a new one, thinking that they’ll get to retake their picture. Ha! Their disappointment when they find out that the school just reuses their previous picture for their new IDs is priceless!

They get their hopes dashed and waste precious money that could have been spent on some snacks instead!”

Yikes. Well, you heard it here, folks. Getting a replacement ID does NOT mean that you can take a new picture!

As a parting gift, Ms. Pic wanted to share Mr. He-Who-MustNot-Be-Named’s motto with everyone: “There is no ugly and attractive, there is only ugly and those too weak to admit it.”

Dwell on that, my born-ugly humans. Don’t worry, there will be many more school photos to come. And when that happens, the photographers will strike again… just make sure you get that smile ready in advance.

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

Page 17

Humor Nightmares No More!

By KSENYA MULL Now that school is back in session, the little joy you once had has been cruelly taken away from you as you are confined to the halls of Stuyvesant High School. Returning to the building may have serious side effects including nausea, failing grades, unrequited love, chronic coffee addiction, death, and, worst of all, nightmares. This unfortunate side effect terrorizes students and steals the little sleep they can get And so, solely due to the fact that I love the Stuyvesant community, I have decided to help.

After extensive research and spiritual enlightenment, I have compiled a list of several very common Stuyvesant nightmares.

May these help you beat them in future nights’ sleep.

Head & Shoulders feat. Moran A disturbingly common dream among students features Dean Brian Moran in a lavender shampoo commercial. Students have reported that, after the shampoo is displayed with

an aesthetic picture in the background, a hand reaches toward you and takes away your phone.

If you have fallen victim to this nightmare, all I have to say is: How are you doing? I’m always here if you want to talk. Also, I suggest you stop spiking your coffee with those Five-Hour-Energy drinks. Seriously. Based on your caffeine intake, no wonder you’re having nightmares; it’s a miracle you’re still alive.

The Wrong Type of Chemistry Another popular nightmare involves students being forced into taking chemistry, over and over and over again. This nightmare comes in different forms.

For some students, a chemistry teacher yells at them for not understanding even the most basic of principles. Others have reported doing homework in their nightmare and waking up drenched in tears. I understand.

It was a rough year. I know that nothing your teacher said after the first lesson made sense, partially because you were halfasleep during most of class. But

it’s all over now. You passed chemistry. Instead, I suggest you start cramming for the physics class you will be taking this year rather than dwelling on the past.

There’s still hope left though!

Rather than sitting there, overthinking, take a proactive approach. Go to the campus every day and wander outside asking

Go to the campus every day and wander outside asking intelligent-sounding questions such as, “What is the value of x if y = 5+7?” or, “In what year was George Washington born?” (Answer: 1685. Trust me, I passed APUSH.)

C0llege R3jecti0n L3tter$ This nightmare involves Stuyvesant students getting rejected by their dream colleges.

While this one is a particularly ghastly nightmare, there is a very simple remedy for it. I understand that it can be really hard getting into your dream school.

intelligent-sounding questions such as, “What is the value of x if y = 5+7?” or, “In what year was George Washington born?”

(Answer: 1685. Trust me, I passed APUSH.) Everyone will be so impressed by your questions that your admission is practically guaranteed!

Disrespecting Your Elders Most common among seniors, this dream involves a situation in which an underclassman mistakes a senior for someone younger than them and subsequently reprimands the upperclassman. To this I say: it’s ok to be short. I know you’ve been chugging gallons of milk but still can’t seem to grow an inch above five feet. It’s important that you recognize that this situation is very commonplace; more and more seniors fall prey to the unspeakable interaction where an overgrown junior yells out, “Move it freshman!” as a poor senior tries to make their way to their class. But do not fret! We have a solution: peg legs! This will make you tower over even the most overgrown of underclassmen. If you used up all your money on Muji school supplies and can’t afford the surgery (amputation not included), don’t worry––we have a DIY option as well! Cutting off part of your leg may be difficult and slightly messy, but at least you no longer have to worry about getting yelled at by an underclassman!

U.S. Government Issues New Vaccine Incentives

By OLIVER HOLLMANN Since the release of the COVID vaccine, the greater American government has done its part to educate the public and encourage them to get the vaccine. This has come in the form of advertisements—on TV, in the mail, and basically anywhere you look in any metropolitan area. However, it seems that governmental vaccine promoters may have overestimated the effectiveness of their syndication, being that, as of late, there have been increasing reports of people who outright refuse the vaccine! As a result, the government has felt a need to introduce an abundance of incentives, offering exciting rewards for getting the shot.

The general population has deemed a number of recent vaccine incentives too specific, over-

ly general, or perhaps downright unusable. Some of these include: - Circa 1996 PVC pipes - Sticky hands - A ten-dollar discount for ‘Justin Beeber’ concerts (no relation) - A coupon for ‘Big John’s Hayride,’ a local attraction in southern Montana A local Virginia congressman stated: “We don’t know what to give them anymore. At this point, we’re literally going through our closets to find something these people might want.”

In New York City, the state mails free subway tokens to vaccinated individuals, being a surplus from the past incentives for the polio vaccine.

Furthermore, American schools have felt the impact of a new wave of in-person students, and with them a new wave of potential viral spread. To com-

bat the lack of vaccination in cent paper on the subject. The adolescents, the Department paper classifies these individuals of Education has partnered as a combination of: with state governments to - Self-called ‘Zombie Surbring in a new line of teenvivalists’ focused vaccination incen- Rant-prone uncles tives. The most advertised - High school students of which include: (during midterm season) - Tube socks - And finally, the entire - Assorted caramels celebrity population of Los - A one-time free pass to Angeles the “Disco Palace,” Due to the lattermost a roller skating rink section, the Departthat closed in 2005 ment of the Treasury - Plush syringhas devoted an enes tire wing of the U.S. What kind of Mint to produce Ospeople, you may cars, which have been ask, would outadded, en masse, to the right refuse a list of incentives. potentially lifeOn the topic of saving cure for the people who refuse deadliest virus in years? Stanto get vaccinated, ford’s Clinical Virology Departjournalists have uncovment may have answers, ered an online based upon their most re- Reya Miller / The Spectator ring of “Vaccine

Truthers” or “Vacc-Truthers” or “V’uthers” who subscribe to the belief that vaccines turn people into aliens that only they can see. Despite its blatant absurdity, this conspiracy has made its way across the globe, with the construction of V’utheran churches in Kamchatka, Central India, and London. This development has been recognized by data scientists as the foremost federally recognized reasons why people reject the shot, followed closely by: ‘planned for next week,’ ‘not home,’ and ‘overwhelmed by the wide variety of vaccine incentives.’

Finally, the latest incentive, or perhaps threat, of them all, issued by the Federal government of the United States at 8:00 a.m. today: “Listen, guys, if you keep refusing to get vaccinated, you leave us no choice. Prohibition’s coming back.”

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Page 18

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

Sports Boys’ Badminton

Birdies Set Their Eyes on the Prize Boasting a dominant 8-2 season, Stuyvesant’s boys’ badminton team, the Birdies, ended the 2019 PSAL season as runner-up in the city finals.

Shortly after, the world shut down in March 2020, and the Birdies’ chances at redemption were postponed.

However, the pandemic didn’t deter the team. While they’d normally practice at school, the Birdies tried to compensate by finding local badminton centers. Unfortunately, looking for locations wasn’t easy. “The badminton centers were mostly closed or highly restricted,” senior and co-captain Junhao Zhen said. As a result, the team was forced to cancel group practices entirely, and members were left to prepare on their own terms.

Such unprecedented times posed great uncertainty regarding when PSAL badmin-

ton would return. However, in March, Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced the reopening of schools, and with it, the impending return of PSAL. Practices were to resume in mid-April, and competitions were set to return by May. “We were in a bit of a hurry to recruit new people and to finalize our starters,” senior and co-captain Mark Zhu said. In addition to the narrow time frame, the virtual setting proved to be difficult in keeping members on the same page.

With many new recruits never having stepped foot in Stuyvesant, coordinating practices and tryouts was challenging. Furthermore, the return of PSAL sports was accompanied by a mask mandate, which proved to be a hassle to the team members during outdoor practices in the heat.

However, the team was able to overcome the obstacles set by lockdown through the use of technology to or-

ganize virtual workouts and scheduled training sessions.

“The veterans [also pitched in], teaching the new recruits

their team members and managers, they have overcome the hardships set by the pandemic. With an intense period of

and training with them to prepare them for exhibition matches,” Zhu said. Recently, the Birdies have resumed their practices in school, which has been extremely beneficial for the team.

As a result, the Birdies are optimistic about their upcoming season. With the efforts of

tryouts, managers and seniors Jennifer Lee, Ava Lu, Nicole Sin, and Fanny Yin have assessed the recruits’ abilities and look to finalize a winning team roster by the end of September. “We are in good shape and will confidently take on any competition during this season,” Zhu said.

Sasha Socolow / The Spectator

By SATHIRTHA MONDAL and EFE KILIC

Head coach of the Birdies Marvin Autry has nothing but the championship title set in his sights. “We are very optimistic about another run at the championship, and this time, we have playoff experience on the team, so we have a solid shot at winning it all,” Autry said.

This playoff experience may be credited to the two returning members of the team, junior Lukas Chang and senior and co-captain Zhu, who have not only played before but were also part of the Birdies’ recent playoff run. Autry anticipates that the return of Chang and Zhu can restore the culture on the team to what it was before lockdown.

Regardless of the hurdles set by the pandemic and the cancellation of the last season, the Birdies are back, and they expect nothing less than to return to the finals and win the championship once and for all.

Girls’ Cross Country

Greyducks Gearing up for Glory

By VERNON HUGHES The Greyducks, Stuyvesant’s girls’ cross country team, have seen a reasonable amount of success throughout their history and especially in recent years. The team competed on November 23, 2019 in the New York State Federation Cross Country Championships, an event they qualified for by placing in the top four at the PSAL City Championships. Heading into the first PSAL cross coun-

try season since then, just three out of the seven varsity members who competed at the State Championships are still on the team. Now, as races start up again, Coach Tony Kunin has been tasked with getting the group of both experienced and novice runners ready to race.

Kunin (’87) previously coached at elementary school P.S. 150. During the 2012 track and field season, his team won the District Two South Championship, and he subsequently

won the Coach of the Year award. This season, he has teamed up with the Stuyvesant boys’ cross country head coach, Carl Disarno, who also coaches the girls’ indoor and outdoor track teams. This collaboration between coaches has promoted greater unity between the two teams, smoothed the transition between seasons, and allowed Kunin to have time to integrate his own ideas as a new coach without discarding the team’s established practices. “I per-

sonally feed off of the energy of all of these young athletes and particularly moving to see newcomers progress. ​​I’m really looking to the captains and the seniors to be both recruiting and supporting the freshmen and sophomores, which I am seeing, and I am very encouraged by the mentoring that has occurred thus far,” Kunin said when asked about what he enjoys most as a coach and what goals he has for the team.

The energy and mentoring

Kunin spoke of have clearly been present ever since the team resumed its normal practice schedule in late August. This return to full-time preseason training has brought more newcomers in and strengthened the bonds between members of the team. “I think the team bond has never been stronger.

We’ve been able to talk a lot amongst each other now that continued on page 27

Football

How Modern Medicine Saved Three Quarterbacks’ Careers

By MAX SCHNEIDER “I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I’m not aware of anyone [who’s] done it.”

This is what Dr. Bruce Levy, an orthopedic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic, told McKenzie Milton in November 2018 on his chances of playing football again. Milton, the starting quarterback for the University of Central Florida at the time, had just suffered a severe knee injury while being tackled. It was at first thought to be a serious dislocation, but it turned out to be much worse. Doctors discovered extensive damage in the knee that was stopping blood flow to the whole lower leg. They had to remove Milton’s left saphenous vein and put it into his right leg to create a new place for blood to flow. Somehow, the procedure was successful, and the leg was saved. At that point, saving the leg was the only goal. But Milton had other plans. Over the next two years, he underwent more surgeries and rehab.

In the spring, he started to walk without crutches, and slowly but surely he started jogging, then running, then throwing, and then playing football. This arduous journey culminated on September 4 of this year, when Milton, now the backup at Florida State (FSU), finally got his opportunity to return to the field.

Milton came into a game against Notre Dame with Florida State down two possessions. He effectively led two scoring drives to force overtime, when FSU lost by a field goal.

Though the comeback game didn’t result in a win, Milton’s return is nothing short of miraculous and represents the strides both medicine and the sport have taken over time.

Consider the injury of Bo Jackson, who many considered the most athletic man on the globe at the time. Jackson dislocated his hip, and slow treatment led to avascular necrosis, meaning the tissue in his hip died, immediately ending his career. Tua Tagovailoa suffered the same dislocation in 2019, but quick

and effective treatment saw him back on the field before the end of the season with no necrosis to be found.

When Milton first got hurt, he was often compared to Joe Theisman. Theisman suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula while being sacked

by Lawrence Taylor in 1985. In other words, his whole lower leg splintered, and it was immediately clear he was never going to play again. In a similar accident, Alex Smith suffered a compound fracture in both bones in 2018. Smith’s injury became worse than Theisman’s when flesh-eating bacteria infected his leg. This bacteria made him septic, a condition that for a while was thought to be fatal. In order to clear away the bacteria, doctors removed so much of his leg that only his bones and calf muscle remained. Everything else was gone. They then went back in and replaced the missing tissue with tissue from his left quad, saving his leg. Smith’s journey also culminated in a comeback, when he returned to

the Washington Football Team and led them to a playoff spot.

The fact that the technology exists to pull off something so improbable is awe-inspiring and a testament to the power of both modern medicine and the will of Smith.

One of the more recent comeback stories revolves around Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. If you watch the NFL, chances are you remember the image: Prescott being carted off the field, tears streaming down his face as he entered the locker room. Those tears were both of pain—his ankle had just been crushed beneath him, shattering his bone and leaving his foot pointing perpendicular to his leg—and the sorrow of the clear fact that his season was over. At the time of the injury, Prescott had been having an MVP-caliber season, leading the league in passing yards and on pace to threaten the all-time record. But one freak play took both that season and nearly his entire career. Prescott suffered a compound right ankle fracture

and dislocation, which meant doctors had to completely rebuild the area. This procedure is very complicated, and it has only recently become viable. However, doctors successfully fixed the ankle, and Prescott was ready to return for Thursday Night Football against the Buccaneers.

Right from the first drive, it was clear Prescott looked good, with former NFL quarterback and the games announcer Cris Collinsworth repeatedly marveling at how comfortable Prescott was in the pocket. The Cowboys flew down the field time and time again, with Prescott racking up over 400 yards and three touchdowns. The team scored 29 points and lost the game 31-29. However, if not for key missed kicks by Greg Zuerlein and several drops, the Cowboys could have scored 40 points and won easily. As the season progresses, it will become clear just how good Prescott is, but based on this game, it seems like he has returned to an elite level, the kind that is only possible now.

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

Page 19

Sports US Open

The Breaking Point for Naomi Osaka

By ROXIE GOSFIELD and SUSIE MCKNIGHT An unseeded 18-year-old seemed like no match for reigning U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka, which is quite possibly the reason why Osaka’s loss was so heartbreaking––both for herself and so many tennis fans across the globe. Initially, Osaka seemed to have a year of opportunity and success ahead of her in 2021. However, this year has consisted of little else but disappointment for her both on and off the court, with this U.S. Open loss being only the latest in a series of letdowns.

Osaka rose as a major player around two years ago, young and unafraid to use her voice, particularly for the Black Lives Matter movement. Her success in tennis has even led her to mainstream fame as she cohosted the Met Gala with other young stars just this month. However, it seems Osaka has been suffering from the constant pressure put upon her as of late and wants to begin to prioritize her mental wellbe-

ing.

After winning her first two matches of the U.S. Open tournament, Osaka’s next opponent was Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez. Osaka was highly expected to best the teen and progress to the Round of 16. In the first set, it seemed that expectation would come to fruition as Osaka played both aggressively and with composure, beating Fernandez 7-5. Osaka’s playing remained steady throughout the majority of her second set.

However, a surge from Fernandez tied the two women up at six games apiece, leading Osaka to be thrown off of her game.

It was when Osaka slammed her racket onto the ground during the second set tiebreak that fans realized something was wrong. Clearly losing confidence and becoming agitated, Osaka made a slew of unforced errors, resulting in Fernandez dominating the tiebreaker 7-2 and making the third set win or go home for both women. Osaka made almost no attempt to hide her frustration, even letting out

a couple aggravated screams as tle kid.” She apologized for this she increasingly made mistakes. conduct, saying that her anxiety Osaka’s luck continued to has changed her mentality in the worsen in the third game, specifically when she’s set.

Fernandez up for challenges. On the pulled out to an other hand, Fernandez early lead while came out of the match Osaka strugwith confidence that gled more and she could win, which more, even was evident throughhitting the ball out each set, regardless high into the of Osaka’s behavior or stands once and the score of the match. receiving a warnThe teenager’s focus ing from the chair saw her all the way umpire. Ultimately, through to the finals, Osaka’s series of where she was demishaps culfeated by Emma minated Raducanu, anin a loss, other young, a n d rising tennis she left star. emptyIn addihanded from the tion to apoloEmily Lu / The Spectator Open that she was once gizing for her so victorious in. out-of-character actions during In the past, Osaka rarely lost the game, Osaka shocked tenfocus on the game and the vic- nis followers everywhere during tory in front of her. Showcas- a post-game press conference ing the opposite behavior in this when she said, “I honestly don’t game, she even said that her atti- know when I’m going to play my tude was similar to that of “a lit- next tennis match.” She went on

to discuss the pressures of the game, mentioning how winning no longer brought her joy––simply relief––and losing brought her great frustration. Her speech left many fans scared that she was indicating an early retirement from the game altogether.

While Osaka was in tears, the moderator attempted to end the conference, but she was adamant about getting her feelings about her future out into the open.

Osaka has consistently advocated for mental health awareness, even stepping out of the French Open to take some healing time for herself. She wanted to let the world know that she was struggling, which took an incredible amount of strength and helped to let fans know they were not struggling alone.

While it would be devastating for the game of tennis to lose Osaka, it must be acknowledged that athletes remain real people with real feelings, feelings that, if strong enough, may lead them to take a hiatus from or even leave their sports.

Premier League

Ronaldo’s Return to the Red Devils

By SHAFIUL HAQUE From Argentinian legend Lionel Messi’s move to Paris Saint-Germain to Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku’s move to Chelsea F.C., it has been a chaotic and unanticipated summer transfer window for soccer fans. In the midst of all this action, Manchester United fans have certainly had something to smile about.

Not only did they acquire centerback Raphaël Varane and English talent Jadon Sancho, but they have also brought in one of the world’s most renowned soccer icons: Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was a former Red Devil from 2003 to 2009, and it was these years that helped him grow into his own as a soccer player. He won three Premier League titles, one Champions League title, and one FA Cup at Old Trafford. Regardless of his connection to United, his return has certainly astounded his followers as many expected him to remain at Juventus F.C. However, the Portuguese superstar, with a desire to rewrite history yet again in Manchester, wants a

new challenge. Will Ronaldo lead Manchester United to glory as he did 13 years ago, or will his move turn out to be an underperformance like his time at Juventus was?

After Ronaldo’s initial emergence at Manchester United, he joined Spanish club Real Madrid in 2009 for a world record fee at the time. It was in Madrid where the Portuguese superstar began his legacy as one of soccer’s greats. In his nine-season stay, Ronaldo accumulated 438 appearances, with 451 goals and 132 assists. He won four Champions League titles, four Ballon d’Ors, and two La Liga titles. He became a Real Madrid club icon, amassing a huge, loyal fanbase worldwide.

Despite the enormous amount of success Ronaldo gained at Madrid, he transferred to Italian club Juventus in the summer of 2018, citing a lack of support from Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. Many Madrid fans were saddened by his departure, but they were excited to see how Ronaldo would perform in Serie A, the top Italian

soccer league. Ronaldo made a tremendous impact for Juventus with 21 goals and eight assists in his first season. The Portuguese striker won Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana, and was subsequently named Serie A MVP. However, Juventus was unable to make it to the Champions League final, facing a 2-3 aggregate loss and elimination in the quarter final by Dutch club AFC Ajax.

In the following 2019-2020 season, Ronaldo kept up his aspirations for European glory.

Juventus appointed former Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri following coach Massimiliano Allegri’s departure. The club also announced new signings, including center-back Matthijs de Ligt and midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

Despite these improvements and Ronaldo’s 31 league goals, Juventus lacked its dominance from the previous season. The Italian club narrowly won Serie A by one point, but Ronaldo failed to win the Serie A Golden Boot and MVP award. Additionally, Juventus was knocked out of the CL yet again by French club Olympique Lyonnais in the

Round of 16. Ronaldo dismissed claims of his disappointment with Juventus after the season ended, explaining in an Instagram post, “Personally, scoring 37 goals for Juventus and 11 for the Portuguese National Team is something that makes me face the future with renewed ambition and desire to keep doing better and better each year. But the fans demand more from us. And we have to deliver. We must live up to the highest expectations.”

However, Ronaldo’s problems piled up one after another.

Before the start of the 2020-2021 season, coach Maurizio Sarri was dismissed due to his underperformance the prior season, and key players Miralem Pjanić, Blaise Matuidi, and Gonzalo Higuaín departed from the club. Despite Ronaldo’s best attempts to lead a primarily new squad, Juventus struggled. Though Ronaldo won the Serie A Golden Boot with 29 goals, Juventus ended up fourth in Serie A, missing the top spot in the league for the first time since 2011. This performance was a huge disappointment to Juventus fans and players alike, including

Ronaldo, who was clearly frustrated at the lack of motivation and work from the team.

As a player of such high caliber, it’s no wonder that Ronaldo chose to relocate to Manchester United. Ronaldo wants to be at a club that consistently plays at a world-class level. While he’s done his best at Juventus to help motivate the squad and be an asset to the team, the club no longer seems like a viable option in this respect. Ronaldo’s move away from Juventus benefits both parties. It’s clear that Juventus was overdependent on Ronaldo, and with his departure, the club can focus on improving its squad slowly over time. On the other hand, Ronaldo has already made a splash at Manchester. He scored two goals in his Premier League debut against Newcastle and scored again in United’s Champions League match against Young Boys. It’s clear the Portuguese icon only has a few more years at the highest level of soccer, and hopefully he ends his career at Manchester United with trophies and a memorable legacy.

Girls’ Cross Country

Greyducks Gearing up for Glory

continued from page 26

we can see each other more,” senior and co-captain Alicia Yu said. “All of the captains have done a great job being inclusive [toward] every member of the team, so we really feel like a community. The energy is amazing, and I come to practice excited to see everyone and leave laughing from all the jokes.”

Along with the strong communal nature of the team, the talent of individual runners will

allow the Greyducks to challenge on all frontiers. At the forefront of these talented individuals is junior Isabella “Bella” Stenhouse. As a freshman, Stenhouse placed first in both the PSAL Freshman Championships and the PSAL Manhattan Borough Championships and second in the PSAL City Championships. Along with senior and co-captain Susan Zheng and junior YuLin Zhen, Stenhouse competed at the State Championships two years ago. With Stenhouse’s exceptional running ability, the

experience of other upperclassmen who have run at important meets in the past, and a batch of fast, new runners, the Greyducks could be in line for more success this season.

The first race of the season was on September 25, when the Greyducks competed in the PSAL Group Run at Van Cortlandt Park. After a couple of other meets, they will be back at Van Cortlandt for the PSAL Manhattan Borough Championships and PSAL City Championships. The stakes are always highest in these season-defining

races, and based on the Greyducks’ past successes, nothing short of the borough title and making states will satisfy them.

Yu, who stated that many athletes have already vastly improved since the beginning of the summer, feels optimistic about the team’s chances this year. “We are definitely looking at being one of the top contenders to make the state meet this season. Pre-season practice has been great so far. It’s been tough, but that’s what is going to make us better come postseason,” she said.

Yu isn’t the only one excited about the team’s improvements and prospects in races. Kunin shares this sentiment. “Preseason is going great. I see all of the athletes feeding off of each other in a way that couldn’t happen last year. I’m looking forward to seeing if that translates into success in the meets,” he said. The talent, mentality, and collaboration of the Greyducks are all present, and now it will be down to training hard and racing harder for the team to achieve the lofty expectations placed upon them.

Page 20

The Spectator ● October 1, 2021

THE SPECTATOR SPORTS Bowling

Spartans and Pinheads Look to Capture New Season After a lost season due to the pandemic, the Spartans, Stuyvesant’s boys’ varsity bowling team, and the Pinheads, Stuyvesant’s girls’ varsity bowling team, are eager to bounce back into their respective leagues strong. The Spartans ended a successful 20192020 season, placing first in the PSAL Manhattan I Division with a record of 11-1 and making it to the semifinals of the playoffs.

The Pinheads weren’t as lucky as they were eliminated during the second round of PSAL playoffs in both the 2018-2019 and 20192020 seasons, but they are confident that they too can emerge strong in the coming season.

Since most of the previous members of both teams have graduated, the Spartans and Pinheads are looking at entirely revamped lineups. The Spartan A team will be led by captains and juniors Shafiel Towhid and Joshua Chan, while the Pinheads will be led by captains and seniors Sabrina Chen and Yaqi Zeng. The captains for both teams hope to interest more players in the continuously growing sport. Chen has already held Pinheads interest

As for new protocols implemented due to COVID-19, the PSAL requires all members to participate in free COVID testing. The bowling facility at Jib Lanes in Queens requires that players wear masks and wash

newly implemented vaccination checking desk doesn’t even check players’ vaccination status. “The bowling lanes themselves naturally provide distancing, but that just means [there are] no extra safety measures taken for physical dis-

their hands before and after playing. Jib Lanes also provides sanitation stations and follows appropriate CDC sanitizing procedures. However, some players don’t think that Jib Lanes has done a proper job with their COVID-19 prevention efforts as the

tancing other than the mask mandate made by the city,” junior and player Juniper Chien stated.

Towhid’s goal for the Spartans this year is to defend their crown and defeat their close competitors, Hunter College High School and Beacon High School. “We’re

Courtesy of Stuyvesant’s Boys’ Bowling Team

meetings and no-cut tryouts for all grades, while Towhid has been helping new and veteran Spartans players at practices over the past five months.

The biggest challenges for both teams are filling the empty voids that the now graduated seniors left. Last season’s Spartans consisted entirely of juniors and seniors, with the exception of Towhid and Chan. Now, they have two teams of four players each, ranging from 105 points per game (PPG) to 190 PPG. The Pinheads are looking at a team of around 10 mostly junior and senior players, all of whom joined this year with the exception of Chen. Zeng sees this experience as a learning opportunity for all members, including the captains.

“Because of the pandemic, all of us haven’t had much experience in official bowling tournaments, but we’re excited to try and work together as a team,” she said. Another obstacle for both teams is the lack of coaches. In previous years, Coach Nieves and Coach Simon had taken up roles for the girls’ team, but after the pandemic, the Pinheads’ captains are struggling to find one for this year.

By YOONAH CHANG

looking to reach the Staten Island playoffs and get at least top three in the Manhattan I Division League,” Towhid said.

Chen’s goals for the Pinheads are geared more toward scores as she hopes that each player bowls at least 200 out of 300 PPG. Zeng also has high hopes for the team. “With our current situation, we’re hoping to first make sure that each player can hone [...] skills individually before setting expectations of our final ranking as a team,” she said.

Over the course of the pandemic and last summer, both the Spartans and Pinheads dedicated their time toward recruiting more students and practicing on the weekends. Players spent several hours each weekend at Jib Lanes, working to improve as a team and as individual bowlers, with the help of many bowling team alumni. Towhid and Chen are looking to use the momentum from their last season this year, with Towhid confident about their prospects. “[The teams] had an almost complete revamp,” he said. “We’re looking [toward] a bright future for the Stuyvesant bowling teams.”

US Open

The Next Generation of Tennis Is Here U.S. Open, and in the process, she became the first British woman to win a slam singles title since 1977. She didn’t drop a single set en route to her title, and the last person who com-

In the weeks leading up to the 2021 U.S. Open, big-name players dropped out of the tournament like flies. Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty, and Simona Halep are just a few names that didn’t make appearances at Flushing Meadows due to injury or COVID-19 concerns.

As the stars dropped out, they opened the door for a new generation of players to take center stage. On the men’s side, both Federer and Nadal dropped out, leaving Novak Djokovic on a clear path to the first Grand Slam (winning all four major titles in a calendar year) since Rod Laver over half a century ago. Spoiler alert––he was unsuccessful in joining the Grand Slam club. On the women’s side, a weakened draw left Naomi Osaka as a big fish in a small pond, but a final between teenagers sent shock waves rippling around the tennis world.

Here are the biggest breakout stars from this year’s U.S. Open: Emma Radacanu At the dawn of the U.S. Open on August 31, 2021, not even the most devout tennis aficionados had heard of Emma Radacanu. She was hovering at past 150 on the Women’s Tennis Association rankings and had never made the finals in any event, big or small, let alone faced a top 10 player. Two weeks later, she became a household name.

Radacanu made history as the first qualifier to ever win a

tion and fans at every step. This path included a sweep of the fourth-ranked Belinda Bencic for her first win against a top 10 player.

Oh, and she’s 18 years old.

champion Osaka, number two seed Aryna Sabalenka, and number five seed Elina Svitolina. She also faced former champion Angelique Kerber. Fernandez may not have had the straight set domination that Radacanu maintained, but it was possibly a more impressive feat to make the final given her schedule. The future is incredibly bright for Canadian tennis, and Fernandez will surely return with respect to her name in 2022.

Carlos Alcaraz The biggest story on the men’s side was undoubtedly Djokovic getting his Grand Slam denied by number two Daniil Medvedev in the title game. But next up had to be the improbable run to the quarterfinals of Spanish 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who many have now dubbed the heir to Nadal.

Premature? Probably. Exciting?

Without a doubt.

In a men’s field that has been dominated by three of the

Aryana Singh / The Spectator

By KRISH GUPTA

pleted this feat was Serena Williams in 2014. Radacanu jumped into the top 25 on the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, displacing Johanna Konta as Britain’s top player.

She had to defeat three players to even qualify for the first round of the U.S. Open, winning all three matches in straight sets, of course. She continued to cruise past her opponents into the first and second weeks of the tournament, gaining trac-

best tennis players of all time for well over a decade, it’s rare to see up-and-comers find success. Alcaraz, not even expected to make it out of the first round, conquered the odds and stunned number three Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set thriller in the third round. He proceeded all the way to the quarterfinals, in which he had to retire in the second set against 21-year-old Felix Auger Aliassime due to an injury. This retirement was no doubt a let down and a surprise, but Alcaraz won the hearts of tennis fans around the world.

The hype only built later as the older Spaniard fell out of the top five after the tournament and the younger Alcaraz rocketed into the top 30.

After many years of questioning who will come after the current generation of tennis G.O.A.T.s, if this U.S. Open was any indication, the sport is in good hands.

SPORTSBEAT Leylah Fernandez On the other side of the final between teenagers was Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who had a significantly more difficult path to the final. She ultimately lost to Radacanu in a game closer than the 6-4, 6-3 score indicates.

Fernandez turned 19 during the tournament, and in her run to the final, she faced three of the top five players: defending

The Minnesota Timberwolves fired General Manager Gersson Rosas, citing concerns over a toxic office environment.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao has joined the Philippines presidential race.

He already holds a seat in the senate.

Former Outfielder Anthony Gose made his return to the MLB for the first time since 2016, now as a converted pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He threw a 100 mph fastball in his first appearance.

Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer recorded his 3,000th strikeout last week, becoming the 19th player in MLB history to reach the milestone.