The Horace Mann Record, Issue 5

The Horace Mann Record OCTOBER 13TH, 2017 || VOLUME 115, ISSUE 5

Check out our Homecoming Special Pull-out on pages 5 - 8.

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AP Environmental Science visits farm, learns about eco- friendly agriculture Caroline Goldenberg Staff Writer Last week, the AP Environmental Science class, taught by Dora Barlaz, took a trip to the Stone Barns Center in Tarrytown, New York to learn about sustainable farming.

Students toured the farm, learned about the center’s farming methods, harvested ingredients, and cooked with foods grown at the farm.

The trip tied into the class’ studies of world nutrition, environmentally sustainable cities, and forms of farming.

The Stone Barns Center works to decrease pesticide use, limit soil erosion, and use organic fertilizers, Barlaz said.

This “beautiful, sustainable place” moves away from unnatural methods of mono-

cropping, which is the planting of one crop on one field, overuse of pesticides, and crop rotation, a process which kills pests, but damages soil, she said.

Barlaz wanted the students to experience what a farm used to be like, where animals roam, and where crops are raised well, and to gain appreciation for where food comes from, Barlaz said.

Students in the class toured the center years ago, but then began to visit the Rainbow Ridge Farm in Bedford, New York. When that farm was unable to be run anymore, and Stone Barnes re-developed their program, Barlaz decided to set up a trip, she said.

Grace Hill (12 expected a smaller, “typical” farm, “but this farm was sprawling over hundreds of acres” and was “very modern,” she said.

Isabelle Banin (11) had been looking forward to participating in a trip involving hands-on work.

“I don’t know exactly where the food I eat comes from. I’m excited to see the whole process,” Banin said prior to the trip.

“It was fun and different to see these kinds of things firsthand and to see people actually making a difference,” James Baumann (12) said.

Banin hopes the trip will continue in the future because “actually seeing how sustainability is achieved on an actual farm has a much greater impact than simply learning about it in a classroom,” she said.

FARM TO TABLE Students learn about cooking with fresh foods at Stones Barns Center

Courtesy of Grace Hill

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ICIE organizes new initiatives Betsey Bennett & Katie Goldenberg Staff Writers

Beyond just changing its name, the Office for Identity, Culture, and Institutional Equity (ICIE) also hopes to increase its presence in the school community by creating new initiatives and continuing to build upon preexisting ones.

ICIE will implement a range of new initiatives throughout the year, from affinity groups to conferences and keynote speakers.

In February and March, Derald Wing Sue, a Columbia professor, will visit the school to speak about microaggressions, as well as race and identity within different constituencies, co-Director of ICIE John Gentile said.

A second initiative ICIE is pursuing this year is collaborating with the Horace Mann Theater Company (HMTC) to generate new interest in theater. The two groups will work to broaden the types of theater work that students engage in as well as collaborate with diversity clubs to generate interest, Director of ICIE Patricia Zuroski said.

“They’re exploring how to reach out into the community to students who are not already involved but are intrigued to jump in and try something out,” Zuroski said.

One of these collaborative efforts is the “Vagina Monologues,” a play linked to a global activist movement called “V Day” to end violence against women and girls, co-President of HMTC Ben

Rosenbaum (11) said.

“We want to allow a larger group of people in this school to express their feelings and emotions creatively and to hopefully help them find a place in HMTC,” Rosenbaum said.

Upcoming highlights to the calendar include the Young Men of Color Symposium and Redefining Power Conference at Riverdale on November 11 as well as the Young Womyn of Strength Conference at the Brooklyn Friends School on November 5, Gentile said.

In addition to new initiatives, ICIE looks to continue the pre-existing affinity group dinners as well. Over the past several weeks, faculty and staff members have had the opportunity to attend two different affinity group dinners organized by ICIE. According to a statement released

by ICIE when it first began offering affinity groups at the school, an affinity group is a space for people who share an identifier to come together and speak to the experience of being a member of the group from the “I” perspective.

“It’s about creating a space for people to come together, to feel comfortable and relax, to have opportunities for positive identity development, and to understand who they are to be better community members,” Gentile said.

On Monday September 25, ICIE hosted a dinner for faculty and staff of color at Carmine’s Italian Restaurant on the Upper West Side.

see ICIE on pg. 2

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THE RECORD NEWS OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

Independent Studies ICIE hosts annual

affinity group dinners

Each year, a class is offered to senior students that allows them to research on a topic of their choice. Every trimester, the 48 students enrolled in the course present about their topics and researh thus far.

Reporting done by Staff Writer Sadie Schwartz; Art by Staff Artist Spyri Potamopoulou; Photos by Staff Photographer Eva Fortunato.

From ICIE on page 1

Car Culture- Naren Beepat

For his independent study, Naren Beepat (12) is studying car culture. Last Friday, Beepat presented his research to his class, where he compared muscle cars from 1964-1967 to present day muscle cars.

Through a lecture with a Powerpoint and interactive activities, Beepat discussed the physical characteristics of the car models, and prompted the class to think about their relationships with their cars. He also displayed car advertisements, and concluded that most of the ads consisted of sexual metaphors.

“My goal was to give him a way to understand that cars can be seen as more than four motors and gasoline,” Director of Independent Study and Beepat’s Independent

Study Mentor Avram Schlesinger said.

“There was never something at Horace Mann that offered learning about cars, engineering or how cars work, so I wanted to study it more,” Beepat said.

Through reading books and articles on muscles cars, he learned about the different types of processes that cars go through, he said.

By studying car advertisements, Beepat learned where car stereotypes come from.

“I thought that Naren’s topic was really interesting, and I wasn’t expecting him to talk about advertising and the gender dynamic in car culture,” Ben Parker (12) said.

During the second and third trimesters, Beepat plans to study European and Japanese car cultures.

Educational reform & Learning Differerences - Zoe Mavrides

Photojournalism- Ben Parker For Ben Parker’s (12) Independent Study Project, he is focusing on photojournalism.

On Thursday, he presented photographs to his class and initiated a discussion regarding the ethics of photojournalism.

Parker introduced photos to the class and asked students to consider whether or not they were ethical.

One of the images depicted an emaciated South Sudanese child sitting in the grass.

Many members of the class were appalled by this photo, but Parker revealed that outside the frame was the child’s mother and a cargo plane filled with food. Parker then reopened the

floor for discussion of the class’ reaction to the photos with their new knowledge of the context.

“This made me realize that many photographers just manipulate the situation,” Annie Liu (12) said. Ben really highlighted how there are many difficulties when determining whether or not a photo is ethical and defining what photojournalism really is.”

Parker hopes that the students gain a better awareness of their news sources and he wants people to know that they should have all the context before believe everything.

“Hopefully in the future I’ll get a chance to do some of my own photojournalism in other countries, which would be very useful for my personal benefit,” Parker said.

Volume 115 Editorial Board Managing Editor Eve Kazarian Features Tiffany Liu Natasha Poster

Issues Editor Editor in Chief Mahika Hari Gustie Owens A&E Opinions News Jonathan Katz Seiji Murakami Sam Heller Joanne Wang Rebecca Salzhauer Yeeqin New

Lions’ Den Peter Borini Ricardo Pinnock

Photography Amrita Acharya Freya Lindvall Abigail Kraus

Art Director Ariella Greenberg

Faculty Adviser David Berenson

Middle Division Ella Feiner Sarah Shin Columnists Lutie Brown Amir Moazami

Design Editors Evan Megibow Nikki Sheybani Lisa Shi Online Editor Michael Truell

According to Middle Division Foreign Language Department Chair Valerie MatéHunt, the evening was a success.

“I loved how I got to meet faculty and staff of other divisions that I never get to see on a regular basis, and share our experiences in conversation or through the anonymous preplanned activities,” Maté-Hunt said. “The anonymous survey allows people to answer questions and share the results without attaching the response to the specific person who gave the answer.”

“I enjoyed getting to see everyone together,” English teacher Chidi Asoluka said. “It was such a comfortable and warm environment to get to know people.”

The dinner incorporated both informal conversation and an organized program, Maté-Hunt said.

“While we were eating and talking with people around us, there were activities being done in the background that were tools for facilitating conversation,” Maté-Hunt said.

“For example, there were post-its where we answered two specific questions separately and then placed them on charts.”

This past Wednesday October 11, ICIE hosted another dinner at Carmine’s, this time

for faculty and staff who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“LGBTQ identities, while they’re an important part of each of our lives, are not necessarily at the forefront of how we present ourselves here at school,” Upper Division Dean of Faculty Dr. Matthew Wallenfang, who attended the dinner, said. “So I think it’s an opportunity to to meet colleagues who share that identity and may share some of the same concerns in a fun setting.”

“I think it goes in mind with the affinity spaces that the ICIE have been setting up for students,” Foreign Language teacher Michael Dalo, who also attended the event, said. “It’s nice to be able to have an affinity space that happens every now and then for the adults in the community.”

According to Gentile, both of these affinity group dinners were hosted for the first time in 2011, but did not begin to follow a consistent annual schedule until last year. ICIE may host more of these dinners later this year, Gentile said.

“I think it’s important for people from underrepresented backgrounds to know that there is a support system in place,” Asoluka said. “It’s powerful that there is a collective of people cheering on your success.”

For her Independent Study Project, Zoe Mavrides (12) is researching education Policy Reform Surrounding Special Education.

She presented to her class on Tuesday.

Ever since Mavrides was diagnosed with a learning disability in 11th grade, she has been interested in the federal policy surrounding these disabilities and how environments with less resources than the school accommodate to these circumstances, she said.

Then, Mavrides passed out and led discussions on primary sources written during the late 19th and early 20th century. She also played a video of Willowbrook Mental Institution in 1972.

“The fact that this horrible treatment of

Staff Writers James Arcieri, Malhaar Agrawal, Betsey Bennett, Peri Brooks, Amelia Feiner, Elizabeth Fortunato, Leonora Gogos, Caroline Goldenberg, Katie Goldenberg, Surya Gowda, Will Han, Jude Herwitz, Edwin Jin, Solomon Katz, Janvi Kukreja, Madison Li, Connor Morris, Megha Nelivigi, Noah Phillips, Eliza Poster, Julia Robbins, Abigail Salzhauer, Nishtha Sharma, Sadie Schwartz, Tenzin Sherpa, Sandhya, Shyam, Becca Siegel, Charlie Silberstein, Lynne Sipprelle, Ben Wang, Jeren Wei, Robbie Werdiger, Simon Yang Staff Photographers Iliana Dezelic, Eva Fortunato, Miyu Imai, Abigail Kraus, Daniel Lee, Mimi Morris, Benjamin Parker, Tatiana Pavletich Staff Artists Elizabeth Fortunato, Sofia Gonzalez, Surya Gowda, Damali O’Keefe, Spyridoula Potamopoulou, Jackson Roberts, Zoe Vogelsang

these children was happening so recently was scary. It’s crazy to think that my parents were alive during the time that this was happening,” Clara Worrall (12) said. “But overall, I thought it was really good and informative.”

“I’ve encouraged Zoe to use her own reactions to certain ideas and readings as a gauge of how enthusiastically her peers might also react,” Psychologist and Mavrides’ Independent Study Mentor Dr. Liz Westphal said.

For the remainder of the school year, Mavrides will investigate current issues with policy and implementation in New York City and observe the issue of the disproportionality of minorities in Special Education within the city.

Editorial Policy ABOUT The Record is published weekly by the students of Horace Mann School to provide the community with information and entertainment, as well as various viewpoints in the forms of editorials and opinion columns. All editorial decisions regarding content, grammar and layout are made by the editorial board. The Record maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association.

EDITORIALS & OPINIONS Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the senior editorial board. Opinion columns are the sole opinion of the author and not of The Record or the editorial board.

NOTE As a student publication, the contents of The Record are the views and work of the students and do not necessarily represent those of the faculty or administration of the Horace Mann School. The Horace Mann School is not responsible for the accuracy and content of The Record, and is not liable for any claims based on the contents or views expressed therein.

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HORACE MANN FEATURES OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

CLASS REUNIONS

Among the classes that have reunions this Saturday after Homecoming are the classes of 1967, 1977, 1992, and 2007. They will be having their 50th, 40th, 25th, and 10th year reunions, respectively. Several alumni have thought back on their class’ legacy and the memories they’ve shared with their fellow classmates.

Sadie Schwartz Staff Writer Nowadays, the school’s hallways are not crowded with 7th to 12th grade boys wearing jackets and ties.

There is no strict core curriculum where students are only allowed to choose their language and science elective courses. However, the class of 1967 would certainly fit this mold.

Homecoming marks this class’ 50th reunion.

For Peter Benjamin ‘67, his high school education taught him to think, learn, and remember. It gave him

Courtesy of Mannikin

a foundation for learning for the rest of his life, he said.

“Everything I learned that’s important I learned at Horace Mann.

College is easy after Horace Mann. It’s a place of intellectual rigor as well as a rich diet of extracurricular activities,” Richard Warshauer ’67, member of the Homecoming Committee said.

“It was a very challenging environment, and the great thing that I learned was time management, which will help you throughout your entire life,” Fred Tauber ’67 said.

“I also learned that it’s really important to go to class, because what you gain from listening to your teacher explaining and interactions with other students is invaluable.”

Warshauer volunteered to make phone calls and send emails to track down some of his classmates from the alumni list; 25 percent of the class plans to attend, he said.

“I’m looking forward to the reunion

and seeing how people change. My reunion theory is that one-third of the people look exactly the same as when I was in school, one-third look like their parents did, and one-third look unrecognizable,” Warshauer said.

Benjamin plans to eat lunch with Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly and dine with his class on Saturday night.

“I am mostly just looking forward to seeing people I may not have seen in 50 years and what has become of them. It’s really about the people and the classmates,” Benjamin said. “The school is very different from the one I attended. I think a lot of us feel that [because] it’s so different from the school we went to, it’s hard to feel connected to it since it’s not the HM that we remember.”

Garrick Beck ’67, who has not visited the school since Homecoming ten years ago, is looking forward to seeing the campus. Over the years, he has stayed in close touch with eight to 10 of his classmates, he said.

During his time at the school, Warshauer was the Associate Editor of The Record and Editor-in-Chief of Mannikin.

“It certainly helped me with my writing and editing skills, which helped me with journalism. The Record was printed in a grungy garage in Yonkers and we would have to go up there for press night,” Warshauer said.

“The Mannikin was easier to deal with.

There was a great deal of camaraderie and it yielded very professional products.”

After attending Cornell University and writing for its newspaper, Warshauer wrote for the New York Daily News.

Benjamin has many fond memories of working long nights at the apartment of one of the Mannikin Editor-in-Chiefs. He also wrote for a publication called The Lions, which was a sports newspaper, he said.

Fred Tauber ’67 used to sell five dollar elevator passes to new students, but the school did not have an elevator.

“I guess I was a trickster,” he said.

During Beck’s time at the school, the Saturday Morning tutoring program came into being. It taught him that

Zoe Vogelsang/Staff Artist

Jude Herwitz Staff Writer This Saturday, members of the Class of 1977, which was the first to graduate with women, will come together once again, 40 years after graduation.

In an English class in 9th grade, Dr. Daniel Rothstein ’77, read a psychoanalysis of Hamlet written

by Earnest Jones, a follower of Freud. “I just thought it was the most interesting thing I had ever read,” Rothstein said. He felt that experience put him on the track of pursuing a PhD and his current position as one of the school’s psychologists, he said.

Dr. Dan Rosberger ’77 P ’18 P’20

enjoyed his science courses the most, because the teachers were committed to making the classes fun, especially chemistry, he said.

Both Rosberger and Rothstein remember Nathaniel Glidden, a 7th grade language teacher, fondly.

Glidden represented the much more “idiosyncratic” nature of most of the faculty members, Rosberger said.

“He was really eccentric, and it was a lot of fun,” Rothstein said.

One such example was his holding tryouts for a “dictionary catcher” by tossing baseballs and other objects at students in the class, Rothstein said.

“He would sit in the front row, and whenever anyone had a question about a word, [Glidden] would open up a drawer, take out a pretty thick

education is always the solution. “I always say: give me a nation full of well-educated 18 year-olds, and they will fix every problem we have. Give me a nation of poorly-educated 18 years-olds, and there is nothing that the rest of us can do to fix the problems they will cause,” Beck said.

One of Benjamin’s favorite activities was playing handball with his friends during lunch time and after school.

He was also one of the founders of The Searchers program for seniors.

“That experience during the last couple months of my senior year was quite memorable. We repelled down the back of the Gross Hall building, and I spent three days in the Vermont woods by myself,” he said.

Beck’s English teacher, Alfred Baruth, was a great inspiration to him. “He taught me about the depth and breadth of the language and that I needed to keep my writing simpler, not because my audience of readers might need it simpler, but I wasn’t up to expressing that well enough yet.

Whatever I knew, he told me there was something further that I had to reach for,” Beck said.

After graduating, Beck spearheaded a free festival that takes place in forests in order to promote environmentalism.

When faced with political resistance to the festival, he provided testimony and helped write briefs for the court case.

He credits his ability to win a number of these cases to his time on the Debate team, where he was trained in public speaking and articulating cohesive arguments, he said.

Beck ran for the Cross Country team, and Tauber played Varsity Soccer and wrestled. In fact, Tauber still keeps in touch with his soccer coach, Dan Alexander, and just recently went out to dinner with him, he said.

Tauber remembers the immense amount of team spirit and support for sports games.

“The football team was always being supported against its archrival, Riverdale. All the schools in the Ivy Sports League were really interconnected,” Tauber said. “There was always a huge turnout to the games, and Buzzell was especially Webster dictionary, and throw it to the dictionary catcher, who caught it and looked up the word, he said.”

Another one of Glidden’s signature moves was taking out a rubber duck and hitting students on the shoulder while shouting “gluck” when they answered a question incorrectly Rothstein said.

One of the School’s most special aspects was its physical location, James Brown ’77 said.

“I lived in Manhattan, and going up to Horace Mann really was a different world where you were physically isolated from your home life. It really wasn’t a simple thing to communicate with people outside of the school,” he said.

When Horace Mann became coeducational in 1975, the graduating class of 1977 was in 11th grade, Rothstein said.

“There were 110 boys,” Rothstein said, “so these 20 girls were pretty brave.”

Both Rothstein and Brown agreed that there was a special bond between people who meet in middle and high school, which was part of what makes reunions so fun.

“Even if its someone I haven’t seen in decades, if its someone with whom

packed every year.”

The class of 1967 attended the school during a politically changing time: The Vietnam War was heating up, and the anti-war movement was beginning to get off the ground in the later 60’s. However, just as is it now, the student body was mostly liberal, and it was pretty unusual to encounter people who were far-right, Benjamin said.

Warshauer remembers the day Kennedy was shot. “A guy came running in, and we all thought he was joking,” he said.

Also, during this time, the hippy movement was on the rise.

“Clothing was starting to get more colorful, and people were growing their hair longer,” Beck said.

“According to dress code, hair was not allowed to be past the shirt collar.

Right before graduation, I was told I had get a haircut or I would not be allowed on stage to get my diploma.”

Zoe Vogelsang/Staff Artist

“We went off to college and all of a sudden drugs were all over the place.

1967 seemed to be just before the point the world changed from stable and predictable,” Benjamin said. “All of a sudden, politics were all different and drugs were out there. The world seemed to be poised on the edge of change.”

After college, Beck moved on to a community organic farm, where he lived for 13 years, growing vegetables and promoting the organic food industry, an unknown concept during this time, he said.

When Benjamin attended the school, the Gross building had just been built.

However, now that this building has been knocked down and replaced, he has really started to feel the passage of time, he said.

Courtesy of Mannikin

I was friendly… memories and jokes we shared as young people all come back,” Brown said. “That bond is indestructible and life-affirming. It’s a wonderful thing to go to reunions, and see what people have done with their lives,” he said.

Though the physical size and layout of Horace Mann has changed since his time as a student, it has remained similar at its core, Rosberger said. “The physical [layout] is very different now than it was,” he said, “but I think the same commitment to teaching critical thinking remains.”

Courtesy of Mannikin

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Megha Nelivigi Staff Writer More than 10 years after starting senior traditions, heightening school spirit, bonding as a class, and setting the foundations for a marriage, the Class of 2007 will reunite at Homecoming 2017.

Jessica Heidenberg Heyer ‘07 and PJ Heyer ‘07 celebrated their wedding in 2014, eight years after they began dating just after junior year. They finished senior year by attending prom together and later attended the same college as undergraduates.

The rest of their lives would have turned out very differently had the two not met at the school, Heidenberg Heyer said.

The Class of 2007 was a class full of spirit and energy, Sushil Raja ‘07 said.

To foster school spirit, Daniel Liss ‘07, Jonny Sirulnick ‘07, and Danny Childs ‘07, created Maroon Monsoon.

The idea behind Maroon Monsoon was essentially to “pick an event and turn it into a party,” whether it was a swim meet, a wrestling match, a soccer game, or anything else,” Sirulnick said.

“We created Maroon Monsoon as a

THE RECORD FEATURES OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

way to bring the school together through sports and invoke a sense of camaraderie when the school was experiencing some internal strife,” Liss said.

The trio handed out shirts and made it clear that there would be a game before any sporting event, Liss said. The first game they advertised was a home football game and “basically the whole school showed up. It was awesome,” he said.

The students certainly left their mark, as Maroon Monsoon still

Zoe Vogelsang/Staff Artist

exists today; this week is the Maroon Monsoon-organized spirit week. Each day has a different theme—Monday was pajama day, for instance—and school pride is encouraged with tattoos, food, and music.

The class was spirited in other ways as well, Justin Luk ‘07 said. Luk was involved in the Senior Council, a group of students who organized senior-wide events alongside Upper Division Chair

Caroline Bartels. The group held events such as a grade-wide color war and beach club night, Luk said.

“Our class really wanted to make the year as fun as it could be. We held so many events—we had a backto-school senior barbeque, senior movie nights, a pool party, a disco roller derby, and did so many other things to make the year more festive,” Heidenberg Heyer said.

The Class of ‘07 also started the tradition of Senior Dorr, where 12th grade students have the option to go to the school’s John Dorr Nature Laboratory as a sort of final goodbye, Luk said. The tradition still lives on to this day.

Senior Dorr, Luk said, was one of his fondest memories from high school.

“I just remember the entire weekend being incredible. I’d say more than half of the grade came. It was a great collection of students from a bunch of different groups, bonding, talking, coming together, realizing that graduation was just around the corner. Many of us had been a part of HM for at least half of our lives or more; it was an amazing experience,” Luk said.

The grade was tight-knit, Raja said.

“There was definitely a strong sense of community in our class,” he said.

“We were all friendly with one another, especially by senior year, and even after graduating, many of us are still close with others from our class.”

Although 10 years have passed, students from the Class of ‘07 participated in many of the same extracurricular activities that students participate in now. Heyer, for instance, was involved in a little bit of everything, playing in the orchestra and band, and participating on the soccer and golf teams. In terms of academics, Heyer described himself as “all over the place.”

“I really liked everything— math, science, history. One of my favorite classes was Dr. Schiller’s Senior Reading Seminar on mystery and spy books. I still remember it so clearly,” Heyer said.

The school played a major role in Heyer’s future, he said. “This didn’t dawn on me until five or 10 years after I had graduated but Horace Mann is a concentration of extremely talented and smart people in such a small geographical space. I have never come across anything like that since, including in college or anywhere that I’ve worked,” Heyer said.

Even after attending the University of Pennsylvania with a number of other students from the school “it was clear, to me at least, that the students from HM were way more prepared than anybody else,” Heyer said.

Liss shared a similar experience, he said. “Even after attending a serious college and grad school, the smartest, most hardworking people I know are from HM,” Liss said.

Ultimately, the class had a blast during their final year at the school, Sirulnick said. “It really was the best senior year,” he said. “The friends we made were for a lifetime.”

“If I could go back and do it all over again,” Heidenberg Heyer said. “I would, and I would do it exactly the same, because I loved the experience. I am a lifelong learner because of HM.”

Courtesy of Mannikin

Megha Nelivigi Staff Writer Almost 40 years after meeting the people she still considers her closest friends, Hayley Friedman Morrison ‘92 will be attending her class’s 25th reunion at Homecoming this Saturday.

Though the class as a whole has not seen each other much apart from the school-organized reunions, Morrison has sustained her 38-yearold friendships well into adult life.

As a student, Morrison enjoyed history and art history, particularly her 20th Century History class with history teacher Gregory Donadio, as well as a math class she took with math teacher Lynne Hirschhorn.

Outside of academics, Morrison participated in Mannikin, the school’s yearbook club. “I was very proud to be a part of the club,” she said.

“I made some of my best friends at my Wednesday Mannikin meetings.”

Allison Baer ‘92 participated in numerous extracurriculars, including Saturday Morning Tutoring, peer leadership, and taking photographs for publications, she said.

Baer also spent her time on the Varsity Soccer and Softball teams.

Her love of softball inspired her and her friend to create the Marathon Softball event, a 24 hour softball game that raised money for the Starlight Foundation, an organization for critically ill children, she said.

“I think for a lot of people high school is all about getting into college, but I appreciated the real intellectual experience that it was; I loved learning,” Baer said. She thrived on the high intensity and fast pace the school is known for and wanted to push herself as much as she could, she said.

Although the rigor of the school still remains, Baer believes the biggest difference from when she graduated is the integration of technology into

Zoe Vogelsang/Staff Artist

classes.

“We didn’t have computers or iPads or SmartBoards like current students do,” Baer said. “We went to the library

Courtesy of Mannikin

to research and wrote on chalk boards in class.”

Another difference may be that the size of her graduating class was only around 150 students, compared to the 180 or 190 in each class now, which Baer believes makes for a more competitive environment, she said.

Although the class of ‘92 graduated high school a quarter of a century ago, many of their senior traditions are ones current seniors participate in to this day, Morrison said.

For instance, Senior Absurdity Day, where seniors dress up in wacky costumes and parade on Alumni Field; and Senior Cut Day, where seniors cut school and go on a grade-wide trip one day in the third trimester, still exist, she said. Morrison and her class went to Six Flags on their Senior Cut Day. Since graduating, Morrison has continued her involvement with the school in a number of ways: she is a part of the alumni council and attends many of the school’s events, including Homecoming and other benefits, she said.

Ultimately, Morrison learned some of the most important lessons in her life during her time at the school, she

said.

“HM taught me how to be prepared for everything and anything,” Morrison said. “After graduating and in my job, I knew that if I made sure I knew as much as I could and prepared as much as I could, I would be well-equipped for any situation or scenario.”

The school also gave her many other skills, including determination, persistence, the ability to be outspoken without fear, and intellectual curiousity, Morrison said.

Baer looks back at her time at the school fondly as well. What she learned at the school helped her for the rest of her life, she said.

“Horace Mann pushes students to learn and expand our minds into things we might not always be familiar with,” Baer said. “I do that now every day: I use the research skills, the time management; the things you learn you use for the rest of your life.”

Overall, Morrison described her class as “a really great group of people.”

“Being at Horace Mann was one of the best times of my life,” Morrison said. “It truly is a great place, and I hope the next generation feels the same way.”

GAME SCHEDULE 11:00 a.m.

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Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Hackley Four Acres Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Hackley Alumni Field

Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Grace Church Prettyman Main Gym

Girls Varsity Tennis vs. Hackley Paul Hecht Tennis Courts - Van Cortlandt Park Varsity Water Polo vs. Hackley Prettyman Pool Varsity Field Hockey vs. Hackley Four Acres

Varsity Football vs. Dwight Englewood Alumni Field

Dan Alexander ’49 Alumni Soccer Game Four Acres Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country Van Cortlandt Park

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HORACE MANN LIONS’ DEN OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

Evan Buonagurio (11) William Han Staff Writer

Speedster striker Evan Buonagurio (11) of the Boys Varsity Soccer team is prepared to put on a show this Saturday at Homecoming--like he has been doing all season, Buonagurio said.

“Going into Homecoming, I’m super excited to get another win. I’m ready to give it my all, and I’m hoping

to score my tenth goal of the season,” Buonagurio said.

His speed truly separates him from the rest, Johnny Cohen (12) said. “No one can catch him, and he has an excellent ability to finish.”

“Evan’s a leader on and off the field: he’s the player we look to rally behind,” Cohen said.

“He makes scoring opportunities happen, and his presence on the field makes the team better as a whole.”

Furthermore, Evan is a team facilitator that looks to set up his teammates, co-captain Arjun Khorana (12) said.

At this year’s homecoming, instead of playing Riverdale like in the past, the soccer team faces a new opponent, Hackley.

But for Buonagurio, the new challenge changes nothing, he said.

“I’m treating Homecoming as any other game. I stay calm before, and when I take the field, then I bring everything I have,” he said.

For Buonagurio, this Saturday is just another obstacle on a much longer path.

“This is the year we are gonna make the playoffs and hopefully win the Ivy’s.

I really think we can do it with this group of players,” Buonagurio said.

Anna Yarosh (12)

William Han Staff Writer

Anna Yarosh (12) and the Girls Varsity Volleyball team are super excited to play in front of the large crowd at Homecoming this weekend, Yarosh said.

“Homecoming has a very different feel to it because there is such a large crowd compared to other games.

Everyone in the stands is so excited that it really makes playing so much more fun,” Yarosh said.

The team feeds on the energy of crowd, and it really benefits its playing, Yarosh said. Sometimes it can be nerveracking, but the excitement always overpowers the nerves, she said.

Yarosh is an adept defensive player that the team can rely on, Emma Kelly (12) said.

So far in the season, Yarosh has played well. While she has had games where she struggled, she has been able to shake it off, and come back stronger the next game, Yarosh said.

Beyond her athletic ability, Yarosh is a great friend and an amazing teammate, Kelly said.

LIO

“Anna brings great senior spirit and a strong understanding of the game to every practice and match.” Kelly said.

The Lions will face off against Grace Church, a team they have never played before, Yarosh said.

“We have to go into the game with a very open mindset and can’t assume anything about this team.” Yarosh said.

Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

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Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

Arianna Laufer (12) Victor Dimitrov Staff Writer

Arianna Laufer (12) has been having the best season of her high school career and has been improving greatly because of the boosted team atmosphere of Girls Varsity Field Hockey, Laufer said.

Laufer has been able to score more frequently than in past seasons, Laufer said. Laufer’s drive this year has come from her teammates, because they’re closer than in past years, Laufer said.

“Around my teammates, I always try to be an encouraging, positive, and motivating person,” Laufer said.

“She’s a great player, and she’s very nice and approachable,” Claire Griffin (10) said. Her strength this season has been being available to assist others on the field and staying close to the goal, Laufer said.

“Being a senior on the team has been a very different experience than in other years because there’s a greater sense that the team and coaches have higher expectations for you,” Laufer said.

Laufer is excited for Homecoming and knows that she will miss the atmosphere and team spirit, Laufer

said.

“I’m really going to miss the adrenaline before the game and getting the opportunity to spend the whole day with my friends,” she said.

Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

Kiara Royer (10)

Katie Goldenberg Staff Writer

Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

Although only a sophomore, Kiara Royer (10) is not new to the sport of soccer. This is her eighth year playing soccer and her fifth year as a member of the Manhattan Soccer Club.

“I started because my friends were playing, but I grew to love the game,” she said.

Royer was a starting freshman on the Girls Varsity Soccer team last year and continues to be a key component to the team’s defensive lineup.

“Kiara is an excellent player with strong technical skills and a really positive attitude,” teammate Sophia Fikke (12) said. “She is one of the most integral parts of our defense.”

“I think I’m good at passing as

Masa Shiiki (10) Victor Dimitrov Staff Writer

well as reading plays, such as where the ball will be played next so I can intercept it,” she said.

Skills Royer has been working on are her control with her left foot and dribbling, she said.

At Homecoming, the Girls Varsity Soccer team will take on Hackley on Alumni Field.

“Kiara anchors the defense and sets a great tone for the entire team,” Girls Varsity Soccer Coach Tim Sullivan said. “I expect her to play well at Homecoming because she has played well all year.”

Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

As a sophomore on the Boys Varsity Cross Country Team Masa Shiiki (10) hopes to continue improving as well as take on more of a leadership role on the team, he said.

This year, Shiiki’s training has increased and his stride has become better and more progressive, Shiiki said.

Hills have been a big strength for Shiiki; however, he needs to work on his sprints during the beginning and endings of his runs, Shiiki said.

Shiiki needs to work on pinpointing his weaknesses so he can work through them, Shiiki said.

As a junior and senior he hopes to continue pushing himself and others, Shiiki said. Shiiki also wants to mentor underclassmen and help teach them how to be the best versions of themselves that they can be, he said.

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HORACE MANN LIONS’ DEN OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

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Armand Dang (12)

Aurora Grutman (12)

Katie Goldenberg Staff Writer

William Han Staff Writer

Armand Dang (12) was recruited in middle school by his teammate and swim coach to join the Varsity Water Polo team.

As a member of the Middle Division Swim team, Armand Dang’s (12) teammate and coach recruited him to join the Varsity Water Polo team.

“Coach Moné told me it would help me to improve my swim times, so I joined the team and I haven’t looked back,” Dang said.

Dang plays a position called hole set, the equivalent to center in basketball, he said.

In the past year, Dang has worked to improve his offensive game.

“I think my strength would be my shot placement, which I’ve worked a lot on at practice,” he said.

“Armand has good accuracy and strength with his throws,” teammate Donny Howard (10) said. “He brings extensive knowledge of the game and knows certain areas teammates need to improve in.”

Dang has been working on his

stamina in the water during longer games, he said.

The Sea Lions will play Trinity at Homecoming, a team they beat in the first match of the season, but it remains a large threat, Dang said.

“I think my personal goal, since it’s my senior year, is to go all out and to give it everything I have,” he said.

“Armand is a hard worker and always puts the team first; I think he will do well at Homecoming,” Varsity Water Polo Coach Michael Duffy said.

Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

Aurora Grutman, captain of Girls Varsity Cross Country, plans to give it her all this Saturday at Homecoming pushing herself and the team past its limits.

“Aurora leads by example with her constant motivation and positive attitude,” Alexis Bolner (12) said.

“Her dedication to becoming a better runner is one of her strengths, and her motivation keeps the rest of the team focused.”

“This has been a great season so far. I put in a lot of miles over this summer, and I think it’s paid off,” Grutman said.

Grutman took third place in the Mayor’s Cup Varsity Division and beat the time she set last year by a minute and twenty seconds, she said.

“I’m really excited to run at Homecoming this year. We have a great team consisting of new and returning runners. We’ve all been training hard in preparation for the meet.”

As for the pressure to succeed, Grutman summed up her mindset with a quote by women’s tennis star Billie Jean King, ‘Pressure is a privilege,’ Grutman said.

“I really see it as having a

wonderful opportunity to run outdoors in a fantastic park with amazing teammates,” Grutman said.

The Homecoming meet is a fun one for the team, and she hopes to see a lot of Lions’ fans in Van Cortlandt Park, Grutman said.

Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

Rachel Okin (12) Katie Goldenberg Staff Writer

For Rachel Okin (12), a love for tennis runs in the family.

“I started playing when I was three because my dad played on the Horace Mann team; he loves tennis, so he taught me how to play,” she said.

Since her early start, Okin has risen through the school’s tennis program, moving from the Middle Division team into the Girls Junior Varsity Tennis team as a freshman.

“Rachel is a steady, consistent player,” Girls Varsity Tennis Coach Rawlins Troop said. “Over the four years she’s been on the team she’s grown into a terrific leader.”

Now, Okin takes the court as one of five seniors on Girls Varsity Tennis, and partners with Isha Agarwal (10) as the first doubles team.

“Since this is our second year playing together, Isha and I are really comfortable together,” Okin said. “We have a lot of strategy, and we know how to keep each other positive if we’re down.”

“I really enjoy playing with Rachel,” Agarwal said. “She’s always smiling and keeps her head up, and she’s a well-rounded tennis player,

Jahmire Cassanova (12) Victor Dimitrov Staff Writer

Jahmire Cassanova (12) strives to improve the Boys Varsity Football team and his teammates on and off the field through his leadership as a captain, he said.

“All the captains are very different.

I like to lead by example,” Cassanova said.

Cassanova tries to give the team energy and motivation through the energy of his play and always tries to push the members of the team to do their best during practices and games, and keep practices as efficient as possible, he said.

Cassanova always runs hard and strives to put the team as close to the end zone as possible, Koby Ginder (10) said.

“I’m a hard runner but one thing I could work on is becoming a more

well-rounded player through my pass blocking,” Cassanova said.

“Jahmire always goes hard in games and practice,” Ginder said.

“He manages to hype us up and get us motivated while setting a good tone for the team,” Ginder said.

After this year Cassanova’s never going to play organized football again, let alone at Homecoming, so he is very excited to give the crowd a good show, Cassanova said.

which makes her a great asset to the team.”

At Homecoming, the Girls Varsity Tennis team will take on Hackley at Van Cortlandt Park.

“I’m so excited, because I think Coach Troop will have all the seniors start,” Okin said. “I’ll be with the girls that I’ve been playing with for the past four years against Hackley, who we’ve played against forever.”

Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

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Abigail Kraus/Photography Editor

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Download the app “QR Reader” and scan the code to be taken to the Lions’ Report Youtube Channel.

8

OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

The advantages of playing on home turf Jeren Wei & Griffin Smith Staff & Contributing Writers For many athletes, competing in home games is an integral part of being on a sports team; the support of their peers gives athletes the motivation and encouragement necessary to win. Many athletes believe that playing on school grounds gives them a “home advantage.”

Jane Frankel (12), Girls Varsity Soccer’s senior goalie, believes in the perks of home advantage. “Home advantage is definitely real.

We feel most comfortable at HM and therefore get a natural boost of confidence,” she said.

“The difference between playing at home versus away is definitely the atmosphere and the energy that you get from the people watching,” starting setter on the Girls Volleyball Team, Kyra Kwok (11) said.

Homecoming ignites teams with a sense of pride and provides an encouraging atmosphere, so teams feel a stronger drive to win. “Playing at Homecoming translates into awesome energy. The excitement of the crowd is palpable and motivating,” said Honor McCarthy (12) said.

Although the Sea Lions may benefit from more attendance and attention overall, Homecoming usually has a strong turnout, McCarthy said. Water Polo is an “easy game to understand and fun to watch,” she said.

Joshua Doolan (12), one of the captains of the Boys Varsity Cross Country, encourages student support at cross country meets. “In cross country, the biggest thing that can pull you ahead is someone yelling your name or

yelling ‘go Horace Mann,’” he said. While there was no Homecoming meet during his first two years on the team, there is one this year, and he hopes that students will come and support the team.

Watching home games also sparks pride in spectators. I enjoy watching and supporting my friends while they are playing on the field,” Eunice Bae (11) said.

Spectators provide motivation for athletes “Home games make us appreciate the people who actually are there so much because knowing those people set aside their time to watch us play, no matter how many people there are, having spectators is still extremely special,” Frankel said.

However, some teams do not have their home games held on campus. Both Boys Varsity and Girls Varsity Cross Country meets are held in Van Cortlandt Park, which makes it difficult for students to attend, Euwan Kim (10) said. When students do come and support, it is very motivating and helps athletes finish races through the pain, she said.

Similarly, playing home games for the Girls Varsity Tennis team is a challenge, as the tennis courts are currently under renovation.

“Not having our courts definitely makes us all sad, especially the seniors who won’t be able to play on our courts at their last homecoming, but we are making it work and still having a lot of fun and doing really well,” Gibby Thomas (11) said.

For some athletes, having spectators for games may cause players to feel anxious during games. “I definitely feel pressure when

people watch me, and I get really nervous.

When we have home games usually a few parents show up but it’s definitely more fun when other teams or friends come too,” Kwok said.

Although some athletes may be nervous or overwhelmed on the day of Homecoming, many others feel excitement. “I don’t feel very anxious when people watch me,” said Josie Alexander (12), co-captain of Varsity Water Polo team, “home games are so much fun because there are friends and parents cheering for us.”

“Due to Maroon Monsoon and the upcoming pep rally, I expect there to be a huge home field advantage,” Gavin Delanty (11) said. Homecoming creates an atmosphere that pushes athletes to play harder, he said. “There is definitely more pressure at a home game,” said Delanty. Seeing classmates at games is a huge motivation, and the home field advantage is only amplified at Homecoming because there are so many supporters, he said.

For many athletes, Homecoming and home games are an opportunity to exercise their athletic abilities, while kindling pride and team spirit in their peers. “It’s so amazing to feel support from the crowd,” Julia Roth (11) said. At home, everyone knows the field and that gives them a step up, she said, but “there’s also an intense pride in HM students, which makes everyone want to play their best at home, especially on Homecoming.”

Courtesy of Sarafina Oh

Spotlight on Junior Varsity sports Field Hockey

Boys Soccer

Volleyball

Charlie Silberstein Staff Writer

Nelson Gaillard Contributing Writer

Mark Fernandez Contributing Writer

Although falling to Fieldston in two consecutive games to open the season, Head Coach Caroline Surhoff and Girls Junior Varsity Field Hockey team remain optimistic. “I’m pleased with the JV field hockey team and all they have accomplished this year,” Coach Surhoff said, “They come to practice willing to learn, and work hard to improve.”

“During games, we get very excited and passionate about doing our best to win, but we have always kept a positive attitude after losing,” Kate Bown (9) said. While the team has yet to win a game, learning is more important than winning in Junior Varsity sports because they teach and prepare young players for Varsity, Surhoff said.

Even though the team has lost both their games, the healthy competition has still been enjoyable for the girls and pushes them to do their best. “We are able to accept whatever the outcome of the game is and just be proud about how well we played,” Bown said.

“As a team, we have gotten better at passing together and being open for each other in order to score and play more effectively,” Nora Balidemaj (9) said.

Bown attributed much of the program’s success to the coaching staff, saying: “Surhoff and coach Jozann Jackson both are extremely helpful in correcting or teaching skills, so we always improve from listening to their tips. They truly want us the get better and try our hardest which definitely motivates everyone.”

As for the future of the program, Surhoff said: “I know good things are to come for these girls and the field hockey program!”

Having tied their most recent game this past Wednesday, the Boys JV Soccer team hopes to push forward and win more games.

With a record of 3-3-3, the team is well on its way to a positive outcome at the end of the season, Noah Fawer (10) said.

Losing two out of the team’s first three games of the season--1-7 against Fieldston and 1-5 against Collegiate--came as a bit of a shock to player Craig Murray (11).

Murray believes that the losses at the beginning of the season were due to a lack of communication on the field “giving our opponents multiple opportunities to score on us,” he said.

With more practice and drills focusing on communication among the defensive players, the team stepped up their game, winning their most recent two games against Trinity and Fieldston. “We became much more organized, and this allowed us to become much more of a threat offensively,” Murray said.

The attackers have gained more confidence and have been taking more shots on goal, adding to the team’s previous two victories, Jake Federman (9) said.

“I think we’ve improved a lot so far this year,” returning player Noah Phillips (10) said. “Our freshman goalie, Jake Federman, has started to play really well, and we’ve generally seen improvement on the defense.”

In every game, the team is always on their feet and cheering from the sidelines, Fawer said. With the momentum that the team has been building, Fawer believes that the team should definitely be able to win today’s game against Hackley and future games, he said.

The Girls JV Volleyball team is in the middle of a winning streak.

Lead by head coach Michelle Amilicia and assistant coach Neven Skoblar, the team is currently 6-2, with its most recent win being against Poly Prep 2-1.

Amilicia has seen that the team is very dedicated. When Amilicia arrives to practice, the Lions often have already started peppering and warming up. “They are easy to coach. They listen well,” Amilicia said.

Daisy Wheeler (10) believes that the freshman have learned quickly and have earned a sense of responsibility, she said.

Rosy Arora (9), a new student to the school, believes that she has fully adjusted to the expectations of a high school team.

The team seems to genuinely care about how their teammates do and how they can win as a team. “Because they want to get better, everyone tries to give pointers and motivate each other to do their best in practice. If someone makes a mistake, they pick each other up,” Amilicia said.

“Even if we are down by a lot, teamwork never goes down” Arora said.

When asked what was a memorable moment during the season, Wheeler cited “beating Fieldston by one point at home.” Wheeler believes that this was a huge match for the team as it helped to cement their position near the top of the division, she said.

Working hard and earning your spot is a major point in Amilicia’s coaching philosophy, she said. “You play in games the same way you play in practice,” she said. Consequently, Amilicia treats her players like she would treat varsity-level players, so once they play varsity the transition will be seamless.

HORACE MANN OPINIONS OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

I’m an athlete, not a “female athlete”

Isabela Watson “Want to hear a joke? Girls soccer.”

Replace “girls soccer” with any women’s sport and you have a classic one-liner that every female athlete has heard in her lifetime, especially in the past week.

Although it may not seem evident, I speak for numerous female athletes at the school, particularly on Girls’ Varsity Soccer, when I say that we feel, now more than ever, the entrenched disparity between girls and boys sports.

It’s clear that the school has had a history of prioritizing boys sports over girls sports. For instance, the Girls Varsity Soccer Team was only given the opportunity to play alternating years on the main field for Homecoming after 2015, three years after they won the State Championships. This sequence of events reinforces the idea that as female athletes, we have to prove our

worth to get the same things that are guaranteed to the boys teams, and even when we do, it’s only after years of waiting.

After six away games, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team finally had our first home game. We were excited to know that the Lions Report would be there to film us, making sure that people who couldn’t be there in person could watch the game.

Unfortunately, this past Friday, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team felt another link added to the long chain of gender bias in HM athletics.

After beating Fieldston 3-1, we wanted to make sure that not only our first home game was filmed, but also the first win on the new field.

After we had asked Lions Report for the footage of our game, we received 24 small clips, some as short as four seconds, totalling 12.3 minutes, less than 15% of our 90 minute game.

While mistakes happen, I, along many other female athletes have noticed that when the videos are published, many of the girls sports games are reduced to at most, 30 second clips while the boys sports teams, like Varsity Football and Boys’ Varsity Soccer, get a minute or over of a three to four minute piece. These instances may seem insignificant, but when you are going to practice everyday after school until 6pm, putting everything you have into your games, and consequently winning, only to have a fellow student say, in

a condescending manner, that your accomplishments don’t count because you are “just playing against other girls,” you might be as frustrated as we are.

I’m not trying to say that the root of the problem is Lions Report.

The disinterest in women’s sports is evident throughout the community; from Lions Report to the athletic administration. Another glaring example is that Girls’ Varsity Soccer only has one coach while the majority of other sports have anywhere from two to five coaches. We have not had

an assistant coach for the past two years, despite our team’s repeated requests. Coach Tim Sullivan has led our team to win the Ivy Prepatory School League two years in a row, nearly undefeated. The added support from an assistant coach would give Coach Sullivan an extra set of eyes on the field that would shed light on things that he might not see during the game and help choose beneficial drills accordingly for practice.

One disparity that applies to all girls sports is the fact that the male athletes are allowed to wear just their practice

Jackson Roberts/Staff Artist

C

pinnies on hot days, while female athletes on other teams have been reprimanded by the administration for wearing only sports bras under their pinnies. Although the athletic policy states that all underwear, including sports bras, must be covered this policy presents an inequality. It is unacceptable to sexualize a teenage female for showing “skin” while in reality, by wearing sports bras, the girls are showing less skin than the boys.

This is not to say that there hasn’t been outstanding support for women’s sports from many of the coaches.

I acknowledge and appreciate that support. Coach Russo has asked that both his football and baseball teams stay and watch if a women’s team is still playing after they finish practice.

These small gestures really mean a lot because it fosters the mutual support that is essential to the school community. It reminds us that we can be just as respected, which can be easily forgotten amid the inequality that we, as a team, face.

I am not asking you to like the sports we play, there are sports I don’t find captivating, but I am asking to be respected regardless of my gender.

When I, one of my teammates, or any female athlete at our school makes a great play, surpasses a school record, or scores a flawless goal, we accomplish it as a talented, hard working athlete, not a talented “for a female” athlete.

I feel bad for the racist woman who screamed at me in.

Seiji Murakami Two weeks ago, I was getting out of a train station in Brooklyn Heights when a woman screamed at me, “get off the sidewalk, you oriental b****.” At first, I didn’t turn back, but a conviction to respond stirred inside of me. I was caught between standing up for myself or letting her be. I have been labeled as Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, said “Ni Hao” or “Konnichiwa” to, told I am yellow, or described in sing song and pulled back eyelids, but this time it felt different and I can’t seem to pinpoint why exactly that is. More than anything, I feel sorry for her.

I decided to turn back, asking her to repeat what she said so everyone could hear her clearly. When she said the same thing before starting to speed toward me, I ran toward the end of the block, where luckily I found a security officer of a nearby building.

When I told the security officer that this woman was verbally harassing me, she became physical.

As the security officer hugged me, trying to protect me from the woman’s hands violently reaching for me and spit that was hitting my face, I repeatedly asked her, “What have I done to make you upset at me?”

I didn’t know what to feel. I knew that it was the first time I felt endangered in the city that I grew up

She finished by screaming, “get off the f****** sidewalk. I don’t want you orientals walking on the same street and being next to me.” So she walked in one direction and I walked in the other even though it wasn’t the way I needed to go. The security officer told me, “there are a lot of crazy people around here who don’t take their medication, so she’s probably one of those people.”

And I took that statement at face value.

I wrote her off as a crazy woman who didn’t take her supposed “medication,” but I cannot be sure that she had a mental health issue.

Now, looking back, I am ashamed for just accepting what he had told me.

“

It was the first time I felt endangered in the city I grew up in.

I placed her below myself because I thought she was mentally ill. When she was screaming she said, “these people took my jobs away. They are responsible.” What if she was screaming those words because she really had been wronged by someone who looked like me? What if she has had to suffer in some way that I haven’t had to before? What if what she was saying was really coming from her heart?

I pride myself on solving family disputes when they break out, but I couldn’t do that here. By accepting what that security officer told me, I furthered the divide. I let her walk

away with more anger and hatred toward people who have an Asian appearance, and I initially let myself walk away with the idea that she was just “crazy.”

When I told my parents what had happened, they asked why I didn’t rebuke her more. Friends who I have talked to have asked why I haven’t been more angry. On the other hand, my sister questioned why I interacted with her in the first place because interacting would be a lost cause.

So then how does one engage if put in this situation?

My answer was neither to fight back with the same volume nor to completely let her run loose and disengage from this experience.

I don’t want to live in the anger that I should have had, and I think that ignoring her and walking away would be to comply with her comments and allow racial aggression to perpetuate. What it comes down to is listening openly, no matter how hard it may seem to endure.

Since that encounter, I have walked through the various communities I am a part of and all I can feel is fear. Fear that something I do will somehow offend someone, fear that I could be unsafe or that I am endangered. When I get on the train, I have formed a natural response to question my surroundings and what I usually do unconsciously– where I sit, how I look at someone, or how I walk. This is increasingly becoming a reality for minorities in America but it shouldn’t have to be. No one should have to question their right to take up space, with respect to how it will offend others.

This piece is not meant to be a pity party. My message is not to force you to feel sympathetic for someone who experienced what I did. It’s scary. It’s

confusing. It’s upsetting. That’s it.

Instead I want you to create a space in which your peers feel comfortable. After the election, according to multiple news outlets, hate crimes jumped nearly 20% in urban cities. I know that the city I walked through that day was not the place I have grown up in.

I felt an intense sadness as if I had let someone down. I felt like I let this woman down. I feel like escaping back to the solace of my home or

school only allows that woman and I to cut each other off from one another. I will continue to uphold my response to racism– not running away from the problem, not living in my anger, and not writing off every racist as “crazy” even as hard as that may be. I will only offer that person with my attention. By refusing to walk away and respond with vitriol, the offender might be able to understand how their hate affects the person it is directed towards.

Editoral

This week, leading up to Homecoming on Saturday, students have been encouraged to dress in different colors and themes for school spirit. The Editorial Board appreciates the efforts of Maroon Monsoon, however, school spirit is more than a few days of festivities leading up to each of the two widely attended sporting events of the year, Homecoming and the Buzzell Games.

School spirit is equally defined by seeing a dance concert, going to Asia Night, or heading to Van Cortlandt Park for a cross country meet. Often, we excuse ourselves from these events that our peers have worked so hard to plan, saying we have too much work and not enough time. In reality, supporting each other at extracurricular events is vital to fostering the community that our school strives for.

To boost student attendance at Middle Division events, the Middle Division does not assign homework on nights of concerts and athletic afternoons, a practice that not only eases the stress of students who are involved, but also encourages and allows other students to attend. The Upper Division, however, only refrains from assigning homework when there is a college night or during a testing week. One of the core values of our school is “A Balance Between Individual Achievement and a Caring Community,” but practices like these make us subconsciously emphasize the former.

When it comes to school spirit and fostering a supportive community, our school’s culture must change. In our final year of high school, we will make a conscious effort to treat others’ events as we do our own. We invite you all bring your “school spirit” beyond the homecoming tent.

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THE RECORD MIDDLE DIVISION OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

Middle Division Students Participate in Annual Hilltop Diversity Conference Peri Brooks Staff Writer

This Tuesday, the annual Middle Division Hilltop Diversity Conference took place at Riverdale Country school, where 26 of the school’s students had the opportunity to attend the conference.

The purpose of the conference is to make sure that MD kids are aware from an early age of problems pertaining to diversity that could potentially arise nationally or globally, former attendee of the conference Julia Hornstein (11) said.

Throughout the course of the day, the students listened to speakers and participated in workshops. The day began with speaker Joanna Bland.

In 1965 at the young age of eight, Bland was an African American marcher in Selma, Alabama. During her march, she witnessed the events of Bloody Sunday, Co-Director of Office for Identity, Culture, and Institutional Equity John Gentile said. In the assembly, she spoke about “similarities and parallels to that time now,” Gentile said.

Shaw was “particularly struck” by Bland’s speech, because she was, “a woman of color, who was my age and living in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. She told us about her activism as a kid, and the relevance to

our current day,” Shaw said.

Afterwards, the students attended workshops, which they were randomly assigned to. The workshops ranged from “The Roots of Queer Activism” to “Unpacking the Small Movements: Implicit Bias and Work, Gentile said.

The students then listened to afternoon speaker, Vishavjit Singh.

Singh spoke about his experience as a Sikh man living in America. Singh is known infamously for walking through New York City wearing a Captain America costume, with an “A” written

“Assumptions don’t define who that person is; it’s the character inside that matters,” -Benjamin Wu (7) on his turban. “Based on the outfit he was wearing, he observed people’s conscious of who could be a superhero,” Gentile said.

The students then split up into racial affinity groups. “Most important was

that children were not assigned into these groups; they self-identified,” Gentile said.

The students took away several unique experiences from attending the conference.

“I was amazed by the openmindedness and ingenuity of all of my fellow students. Most of all, I learned that action needs to be taken in our current society, and it needs to be taken now. I think that the conference, most importantly, gave us hope, with the many new perspectives and kids, and inspired us all to join fight for change,” Jacob Shaw (8) said.

“The experience at the conference was very inspiring. It was an environment where I felt that I learned something more than what I understood before about issues related to diversity,” Jiya Chatterjee (7) said.

In addition, the students learned a variety of lessons throughout the course of the day.

“I learned about diversity and stereotypes. Assumptions don’t define who that person is; it’s the character inside that matters. We learned to never insult how people identify and that being diverse is a good thing,” Benjamin Wu (7) said.

Seventh Graders head to Dorr for science lab

Ariella Greenberg/ Art Director

Simon Yang Staff Writer They splash in with boots up to their waists, reaching their hands in only for them to come out covered with sediment from the Shepaug river. The annual Dorr trips have begun, and seventh grade science classes are making their way up to Bethlehem, Connecticut to conduct lab experiments.

“This is a trip we have designed and done for more than twelve or fourteen years now. We want to give the students a genuine field experience, and also to let them have a seventh grade Dorr experience,” head of Middle Division Robin Ingram said.

Two seventh grade science classes visit Dorr each trip with their science teacher. This year, the seventh graders experimented with the river by determining its chemical composition and the pH level.

“I found the chemical testing of the water and pH testing the most interesting,” Louise Kim (7) said.

“We normally don’t do such unique labs, and I think that’s what made the experiment so much more memorable.

I also found it interesting to go into the

river ourselves to observe the different types of sediment,” she said.

In addition to conducting chemical experiments with the water, the students measured the width and depth of the river at designated points.

They then observed the different types of sediment at each point, even making a sketch of the river.

“It was fun when my group and I walked across the river to measure its width,” Emily Sun (7) said. “We had to cooperate, and everyone was soaked to the waist by the end of it as the bottom of the river was slippery,” she said, “The Dorr trip is about getting the students out on the river. It gives them a sense of what working out on the field is like. The students collect data by themselves like a geologist would, out on the field. It’s a very handson experience, and I think that is important,” Middle Division science teacher Walter Wagner said.

As this is the first time the students are out on the field, they must adjust to unexpected variables such as sudden weather changes, Ingram said.

Before physically going into the river, the students learned about the properties of the river.

“Learning about the river in a classroom environment and then actually going to a real river was definitely very special,” Kim said.

“I used to be under the impression that science was all lab coats and test tubes, but now I know it also requires venturing out to perform experiments in nature,” Sun said.

“This experience was very memorable because I spent time with people I hang out with and I did something I’ve never done before,” Sylvie Seo (7) said.

The trip functions to give students some time on their own and to let them explore whatever the task is, Wagner said.

“The trip also builds teamwork,” he said. “The students don’t work by themselves, and everyone has a job.

At parts of the river where the bottom was too slippery, the students would help each other. There really is a sense of camaraderie in that.”

As this year is his first-year teaching at the school, Wagner said that the trip taught him how the school sees that certain amount of freedom is necessary for learning.

“This is my tenth year of teaching.

But never have I worked for a school where this is one of the things that they do,” Wagner said. “So for me this is very exciting, because it stems away from the traditional learning environment by going outdoors,” he said.

“We also like to send middle school students to Dorr every year so that they don’t get nervous for the eighth grade Dorr trip,” Ingram said.

Courtesy of John Gentile

M-DIVERSITY MD students at the Hilltop Diversity Conference The lessons that students learned at the conference had a powerful impact on their everyday lives.

Chatterjee learned that “although race and heritage are important aspects of diversity, it’s actually more than that.” She gained this lesson through a workshop she attended about the “Natural Hair Movement,” which spoke about African Americans learning to embrace their hair over the course of decades. A simple thing like hair quality and hairstyles can make people appear different from each other and create a diverse group,” she said.

Shaw was “greatly impressed” by the culture created throughout the conference. “A recurring theme throughout the day was the notion that

race is an arbitrary social construct, and how we should let go of prejudices that define entire groups. I thought that was really cool,” he said.

Throughout the conference, the students gained memorable experiences through listening to the keynote speakers.

“I think it is important that we start having these conversations around identity, equity, and inclusion earlier and earlier. You can change the course of history if you increase understanding and awareness. Exposure to different identities, thoughts, and feelings help everyone become a better community member, a better listener, and a more thoughtful and engaged student,” Gentile said.

Eighth Grade Students Go To Mercy Center for Service Learning Trip

SLEARNING Students volunteer at Mercy Center

Julia Robbins Staff Writer This Thursday, 10 eighth graders went to the Mercy Center as part of the Service Learning program at the school, Service Learning Coordinator Caitlin Hickerson said. Going to Mercy Center was an idea pioneered by the Service and Leadership Class three years ago, and this was the second time that the trip has happened, Hickerson said.

According to its website, the Mercy Center is “a community center offering programs and services that empower women and their families to reach their full potential.”

In eighth grade, students can choose which projects they want to work on during the school year, and the 10 students that went on Thursday made the choice to go help out at the Mercy Center, Brandon Kuo (8) said.

Mathematics Department Chair Quentin Brooks was the chaperone for this trip and made sure that School students were actively engaging with the kids that use the Mercy Center, Brooks said.

The students that went to the Mercy Center “helped younger kids with their homework and hung out with them after school,” Samantha Blackman (8) said.

Students from school were divided

Courtesy of Caitlin Hickerson

into two groups, one that spent time with kids from Kindergarten through second grade, and one group that spent time with kids from third to fifth grade, Kuo said.

Kids at the Mercy Center received help from students from school in topics that included math and reading, Kuo said.

Seeing what kids at the Mercy Center have to go through caught Kuo off guard and gave him insight into the lives of people less fortunate than himself, Kuo said.

The experience also made Kuo realize that it is unfair to make judgments about people before connecting with them first, he said.

Teaching the young group of students lessons that could apply to their work was a great experience, Blackman said. Students from School had to have patience and care in interacting with these young people that they had never met before, she said.

Students hopefully saw that “important work is being done around the city for communities, by communities,” Hickerson said.

“The students definitely enjoyed what they were doing,” Brooks said. “It was impressive to see how easily they interacted with the younger children,” Brooks said.

11

HORACE MANN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 13TH, 2017

HMTC performs “Bang Bang You’re Dead,” opens conversation In wake of recent shooting in Las Vegas and murder at R Bronx high school, the HMTC performed a staged reading of a play about a school shooting with a follow-up roundtable discussion.

Lynne Siprelle Staff Writer Surrounded by ghosts of the dead as the stage descended into darkness, the shooter cried, “I didn’t know it would be forever— is this the rest of my life? Oh God!” So ended the staged reading of Bang Bang You’re Dead, organized by the Horace Mann Theater Company (HMTC) this past Thursday.

The poignantly realistic play was told through the voices of a high school shooter’s relatives and friends, who come back to haunt him in jail in order to understand why he killed them. Although the play never completely clarifies the shooter’s motives, he begins by ignoring the ghosts and eventually becomes much more reflective and regretful.

“

school. She suggested the idea of a staged reading during a discussion about the Las Vegas shooting in her advisory, Salzhauer said.

“I think especially when huge tragedies happen, you can feel kind of helpless,” Salzhauer said. “But I know that at school, theater is a platform for my activism, and I can put on a play that will affect people’s beliefs.”

After receiving a positive response in her advisory, Salzhauer pitched the idea in a HMTC meeting with HMTC co-President Benjamin Rosenbaum (11), Theatre Arts teacher Alexis Dahl, and Manager of the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film Studies Jonathan Nye, who were all excited about holding a performance of Bang Bang You’re Dead as well.

“When I read the play, I tapped into emotions I hadn’t been expressing about what’s happening right now,” Dahl said. “Why is this such a common thing that we can go through our day and not halt?”

“I was so excited when Rebecca told me she was setting this up because I think theater is and has to be more significant than just for the purposes of entertainment,” Binah Schatsky (12), who played a role in

“I tapped into emotions I hadn’t been expressing about what’s happening right now.”

-Alexis Dahl According to “The voices of ‘Bang, Bang You’re Dead,’” the playwright William Mastrosimone hopes the play reaches out to potential killers in the audience and speaks to students by raising awareness through watching their own peers perform.

HMTC co-President Rebecca Salzhauer (12) knew of the play from her theater work outside of

the reading, said.

“I’ve never been able to serve a greater whole organized by someone else in this regard, and I think that will make me feel more like a diligent ensemble member working for a greater cause,” Schatsky said.

Salzhauer then sent out an email asking if people were interested in participating. “We wanted to get

Miyu Imai/Staff Photographer

ACTIVISM THROUGH ART Students along with faculty participate in reading of “Bang Bang You’re Dead.” the idea out to everybody, even the teachers, because this is something that affected not just the students; it affected the entire community,” Rosenbaum said.

The email also included an option to write what a student or faculty member loves doing now and looks forward to doing in the future. The answers were added to a section of the script where the murdered characters discuss what they long for after death.

Responses for things people love included “the first taste of coffee on a Saturday morning,” watching TV, and playing chess and video games, while people said they hope to someday decorate an apartment, publish a novel, travel more, perform in Pippin, or “be woken by my baby in the middle of the night and get to cuddle with her until she falls asleep.”

“It makes it very personal,” Salzhauer said. “The play is very powerful, and something really interesting about it is that it doesn’t have a solution. That’s why we’re

following it immediately with a discussion to talk about what we can do as individuals.”

In order to make the show feel more realistic, the adults are played by teachers at the school, Salzhhauer said.

Co-Director of the Office for Identity, Culture, and Institutional Equity John Gentile is one of the teachers participating in the reading.

One of the most important things about the play is that it complicates the shooter’s motives rather than simplifying them, he said.

In today’s world, violence like this can be perceived as okay, Gentile said. The issue is how to counteract that reality for young people while remaining a community and how to learn to hold people accountable but not be self-righteous, Gentile said.

“The work of ICIE and of equity and inclusion is that we’re trying to find better avenues to express discomfort and pain,” Gentile said.

“When people feel invalidated or unseen, there’s often other ways in

which they try to become seen or try to become validated.”

Priyanka Vorungati (10), who acted in the reading, hoped to take away a sense of closure and a sense of community, she said. “[The school] is a place we can feel safe,” Vorungati said. “Sometimes fear is just a construct of our own.”

However, the issues like mental health and gun violence that the play addresses are real and crucial to think about, Charlotte Pinney (11) said. Pinney played “The Shadow,” a sinister voice in the shooter’s head who eggs him on throughout the play.

“I know that immediately after the news of the shooting there was an email that went out acknowledging that there are always people at Horace Mann who are ready and available to talk, which I think is the greatest gift of our school,” Dahl said. “I would just hope to build off that and say if people need to tap into their emotions through art, this is a way to do that.”

SPOTLIGHT: LIAM BODURTHA (12)

Bodurtha prepares for fourth Carnegie Hall performance

Caroline Goldenberg Staff Writer This Saturday, Liam Bodurtha (12) will take the Carnegie Hall stage for his fourth time in the last ten months with his voice filling the Weill Recital Hall with the sound of classical German pieces.

As a second-place winner in the 2016 Golden Voices of America competition in the American Fine Arts Festival (AFAF), Bodurtha first performed at Carnegie Hall in December 2016, singing Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” He performed there once again this past June 15, singing the musical Diamonds’ “What You’d Call a Dream” for the 2017 American Protégé International Vocal Competition, and on June 25, performing the musical Company’s “Being Alive” as an invitee of AFAF. In addition to performing at Carnegie Hall, Bodurtha was awarded a partial scholarship to a music program in Germany.

Bodurtha had the opportunity to train and perform in a variety of spaces with other vocalists, he said.

While in Europe, the AFAF director and organizer of the Oct. 14 showcase chose several classical German pieces for Bodurtha to perform this week: “Im Wunderschonen Monat Mai” and “Ich Grolle Nicht.” The

to be challenging, he said. “They are two completely different styles of singing…. I had to work a lot to change the way I sing” in terms of technique, he said.

Bodurtha has been working

Courtesy of Steve Bodurtha

SING’ EM LIAM Liam Bodurtha (12) holds Zuzu and poses with friend for photo. other vocalists with whom Bodurtha traveled to Germany will also perform, he said.

For Bodurtha, transitioning from musical theater-styled singing to more classical singing has proved

especially on pronouncing words, accents, and vowels correctly with his voice teacher at the school, Jim Fredericks, to learn the songs for the October showcase, he said.

In sixth grade, Bodurtha first

discovered his passion for singing, he said. Starting out, he participated mostly in musicals but has since transitioned to more concert-based singing, Bodurtha said.

Bodurtha has gained inspiration from singer Raúl Esparza, who sings many songs composed by Stephen Sondheim and has inspired him to sing more Sondheim pieces, he said.

At the school, Bodurtha is currently playing baritone saxophone in the Wind Ensemble for his fourth year. “[Bodurtha] is very musical in the way he plays,” Director of the Wind Ensemble Michael Bomwell said. Over the years Bodurtha has played in the ensemble, “he’s become faster at picking things up and more intuitive in the way he interprets what’s happening,” Bomwell said.

Bodurtha has also participated in school plays “Cabaret” and “Gershwin in Blue” in addition to the a capella group, the HarMannics, since his sophomore year. “[Bodurtha] focuses so well and is always asking questions,” co-President of HarMannics Ben Rosenbaum (11) said. “He’s very conscientious.”

Bodurtha has also worked with Amir Khosrowpour at the school to record submissions for competitions.

“He has such a warm and beautiful sound throughout his range, which is quite expansive. It’s really smooth and gorgeous, and communicative with the audience,” Khosrowpour said.

For Bodurtha, the life of a concert-based singer can present its challenges, he said. Sometimes he can submit video applications for concerts, as he did in the past for the competitions that landed his performances at Carnegie Hall; other times, however, he must travel to attend auditions, as he did last year, traveling to Chicago to audition for the American Classical Music Convention, which he was not accepted into.

“There’s a lot of rejection,” Bodurtha said. “But you have to keep trying; you eventually win.”

Especially for Bodurtha, his passion for singing, especially its acting component, keeps him going, he said.

GUARD THE YARD

Courtesy of Lions Report