Volume 29, Issue 3

the LION’S

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Vol. XXIX · Issue III

Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper · Newton, MA · Established 1984 · October 10, 2012 Nathaniel Bolter & Hyunnew Choi

Class sizes in higher curriculum courses have increased, prompting discussion on how larger classes affect students at different levels photo illustration by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan and Ravi Panse

challenging and that students taking Honors and AP courses are not as heavily affected by the presence of additional News Contributor, Sr. News Editor students in their classes.

Although the average number Sophomore Matia Whiting agreed of students in each class has remained with Scott that students in higher-level the same this year, lower curriculum classes would be less impacted by large classes have maintained smaller class class sizes because of their willingness sizes whereas higher curriculum classes to take initiative and to learn indepenhave not. dently.

The stagnation in average class “It is easier [to have large class sizes size comes despite the addition of three in Honors classes] because the students full-time faculty positions for the 2012- would be more interested in the subject 2013 school year. in a higher-leveled class and therefore According to the January 2012 would be more interested in learning Class Size Report, this year there are the subject,” she said.

10 more classes Junior with 30 or more Alekhya Chastudents than parala, who has The kids who do well last year. over 28 students Principal in three out of with school and kind of Joel Stembridge her five core learn on their own are said that “the classes, said, calculus of class however, that not as impacted. sizes is very comlarge numbers - Joel Stembridge, Principal plex” because of students in each class and Honors and AP each student has courses are still specific needs, which has led to the problematic. She said that students difference in class size in different cur- face the challenge of being unable to riculum levels. ask questions in large classes. “Smaller, “When you make these kinds of clarifying questions go unanswered, budget reductions, the students that are … and when a lot of those questions impacted most are the students who go unanswered, it begins to affect your struggle in their classes the most,” he learning,” she said. said. “The kids who do well with school Junior Alex Cohen said he is less and kind of learn on their own are not as concerned about being unable to ask impacted by large class sizes as those who questions in a large, difficult class than are really working at their maximum he is about getting to connect with all capacity, so we try to keep our Cur- of his classmates. riculum 2 classes small in comparison.”

Cohen’s AP Biology course has Vice Principal Mary Scott agreed about 30 students, and he said that the that the individual attention that one re- large class size hinders his ability to ceives in a small class is especially useful for those students who find schoolwork CLASS SIZES, 4

“The Makeover” filmed in Newton Joe Joseph

Editor-in-Chief A portion of the TV movie “The Makeover” starring actress Julia Stiles was filmed at Newton City Hall on Oct. 8-10.

The movie will air on ABC next year and is based off of George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion.”

Newton Citizen Assistance Officer Aaron Goldman said in an interview with The Boston Globe that filming began with setup on Monday, which was followed by actual filming on Tuesday.

The filming took place specifically at the Newton War Memorial, the Inspectional Services counter and inside City Hall’s main rotunda. These locations were closed on

filming days, though City Hall remained open. Goldman said that approximately 150 crew members were present.

In an interview with The Boston Globe, Mayor Setti Warren said he is excited for the movie to be filmed in Newton. “It’s great for our city and certainly for our local businesses,” he said. “We get a chance to highlight what Newton has to offer.”

Check out The Roar’s photos of the movie site at www.thelionsroar.com or scan the QR code with a mobile device

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Trick-or-treat

Students reflect on the appropriateness of trick-ortreating in high school.

page

8

Allergies

The Roar looks at the way South students handle their allergies.

page

12

Farmers’ Market The Newton Farmers’ Market has evolved over the years.

page

22

NEWS 3 EDIT 6 OPINIONS 8 ARTS REVIEW 11 CENTERFOLD 12 FEATURES 14 SPORTS 18 FUN PAGE 21 COMMUNITY 22

2

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news volume 29

issue 3

the path not taken october 10, 2012

compiled by Roar editors

“Avenue Q” South Stage will present “Avenue Q” at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11-13. The show has been adapted from the Broadway version to be more appropriate for high school audiences.

Newton Youth Summit Mayor Setti Warren will be hosting a Youth Summit from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11 at Oak Hill Middle School. The event will focus on discussing the challenges that teenagers face. Warren and high school students will give speeches, and there will be small group discussion sessions.

PSATs PSATs will be administered at South on Saturday morning, Oct. 20.

South Stage Mattress Sale

Yoonchan Choi & Sasha Kuznetsova

News Reporter, News Contributor The City of Newton collaborated with local businesses and volunteers to host Newton’s first Walk/Bike Week from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 in order to promote safe, alternative methods of transportation. The event encouraged residents to bike and walk more within the city.

Members of the South community did not receive sufficient notification about the event, however, resulting in low student and teacher participation.

Bicycle Coordinator Lois Levin and Pedestrian Coordinator Alicia Bowman organized the various events that took place across the city.

According to Levin, one of the main goals of the Walk/Bike Week was to teach bikers and pedestrians about road safety.

Levin said that many anxious high school parents do not allow their kids to bike to school because they do not believe that it is safe enough.

“We need to demonstrate through these kinds of events that you can bike safely in Newton, but that we’re going to have to work hard to make it safe,” Levin said.

President Helen Rittenberg of Bike Newton, a local organization aiming to make biking in Newton “safe and convenient for all,” said that informing Newton residents about bike safety was a key component of the weeklong activity.

“A lot of people that I meet at these events tell me that they used to ride when they were kids, but their bikes are sitting in the basements unused because they’re afraid of the road,” Rittenberg said. “The purpose of the Walk/Bike Week is to address

people’s concerns and make them more comfortable with biking by teaching them the rules of the road that will keep them safe.”

History teacher Andrew Thompson said he felt the event was not promoted at South as much as he would have liked.

“There certainly seemed not to be too much outreach at South,” Thompson said. “I did know about [the Walk/Bike Week], and I did mention it to my Sustainability class. Some of [the students] had heard about it from other places, maybe from the Environmental Club, but a lot of them didn’t know what it was.”

According to Environmental Club adviser Sally Rosen, however, her club intentionally purposefully did not address the Walk/Bike Week. “[Environmental Club members] were not involved in this event because they’re involved in so many different projects already,” Rosen said.

Senior and Environmental Club member Keegan Stricker said that South students would be more engaged in alternative transportation if there was more emphasis placed on advertising and promoting ecofriendly initiatives like Walk/Bike Week within school.

“I think there’s a huge number of people that would love to bike or walk to school. It’s just they don’t do it yet,” he said.

Thompson said that one of the difficulties of promoting this event at South was getting the word out to students and getting them to participate.

“Students are always bombarded by information from clubs and teams already,” Thompson said. “When talking about alternative transportation, people often opt

graphic by David Gorelik

for the more convenient option. I’m a little pessimistic about students changing their habits.”

Freshman David Tandetnik agreed with Thompson that people usually value convenience when choosing means of transportation.

“I don’t think [the city will] get the result that they’re hoping for,” he said. “[People are] not going to spend an extra hour or more to bike to their jobs if they work in Boston.”

Junior Dylan Johnson said that though the intentions of Walk/Bike Week were positive, the week’s events most likely will not spur any significant change.

“I think it’s a noble attempt and a great idea, but I don’t know how you’re actually going to be able to encourage all these people to walk, bike, ride the T or commute in some other way than a car,” Johnson said.

Stricker said he was frustrated by the lack of promotion of the event at South but ultimately appreciated it as a step in the right direction.

“I just wasn’t aware of [the Walk/Bike Week],” he said. “There are so many benefits to substituting driving with walking and biking, and it’s about time our community started recognizing that.”

Wheel Talk

On Oct. 4, The Roar asked 131 students whether they had previously heard of the Walk/Bike Week

% YES 9 .

2 77

% 2.1

South Stage will be selling mattresses at 30 to 60 percent below retail price for a fundraiser.

The sale will take place in the Student Center on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3

The city’s efforts to promote greener transportation through Walk/Bike Week remained largely unnoticed

NO

South Spots South Spots

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4

news

october 10, 2012

The Language

BARRIER

After the cancellation of AP Chinese at South, students can now take the course at North or participate in an independent study program, Chinese 6 photo illustration by Joe Joseph and James Wu

James Wu

Managing Editor To better accommodate students unable to take the canceled AP Chinese class at South, the World Language department is sending students to North to take the course.

For students who cannot make the commute, administrators have created the option to take Chinese 6, a course new to South this year.

According to World Language department head Suzanne DeRobert, AP Chinese could not be offered at South because the school budget could not accommodate classes with small numbers of students.

“Sometimes, when I can see that we are not able to offer a course, I will talk to the department chair at North and see, if I know she is going to be running something, if there is a possibility for our students to join that class as well,” DeRobert said.

According to senior Ben Eisenberg, commuting to North has benefits and negative consequences. “On the one hand,

it’s kind of nice to branch out to a different school that isn’t the same one you’ve been going to for three years,” Eisenberg said, “but it’s also kind of a minus because we have to drive all the way across Newton to take one class. We’re pretty motivated to learn, so that helps.”

Senior Jenny Kaufman agreed that transportation is the largest logistic problem with taking AP Chinese at North.

“Providing a bus back and forth instead of having to take the METCO bus would be a lot easier,” she said.

Senior Eric Dai, who also takes the course at North, said that although the class itself is excellent, it generates significant inconveniences for him and other students.

“I miss all through B block [to allow for travel time between North and South], so I have to have four mandatory free blocks, which I could have used for other classes,” Dai said.

Because of these inconveniences, some students, such as senior Tony Yao, are unable to take the AP course at North. Yao

said he first suggested a Chinese 6 curriculum to South teachers and originated the plan with a group of students who did not get into AP Chinese at North this year.

Over the summer, Yao contacted Vice Principal Mary Scott and DeRobert. DeRobert said that students and the World Language department developed the most workable plan for all involved, and Chinese 6, a special full-year course running one period a week for Honors credit, is the result. Students meet with Chinese teacher Lijian Zhao once a week to have class and study independently the other three blocks of the week.

DeRobert said that there are significant differences between the AP course and the new Chinese 6.

“It’s not an AP course. I wouldn’t be able to tell you that they’re doing what the AP course is. There’s just no way that they can do that in that amount of time,” she said.

Senior David Nelyubin said he was promised a spot in AP Chinese when he moved to

Newton from Brookline this year but ultimately enrolled in Chinese 6.

“My mom [was told] that I would be able to take AP Chinese,” he said, “but even though AP was on my schedule, it was changed because they told me the class was full.”

Nelyubin said he has enjoyed the class so far. “I like how the class focuses on vocabulary usage,” Nelyubin said. “I feel like I learn a lot [from Chinese 6] instead of just memorizing words.”

According to Zhao, regardless of the differences, Chinese 6 is a sufficient alternative for students truly interested in Chinese.

“Usually, we stopped at Chinese 5 [with] no further continuation, but since a lot of students are interested in continuing with Chinese literature and culture and they could not get into AP Chinese, we decided to offer a Chinese 6 to meet the demands of the students’ thirst for Chinese culture.”

Additional reporting by Hyunnew Choi and Derek Nie

Higher curriculum class sizes increase

CLASS SIZES, from 1

form diverse study groups, which he believes to be essential for fully understanding the material in rigorous Honors and AP level courses. “The best study groups are the ones with people that you don’t know that well because you have to convert information into ways that everyone can understand,” he said. “The problem with a larger class is that you’re less comfortable forming those study groups because everybody sort of naturally clumps into [groups] with the people that they know.”

In addition to the differences between higher- and lower-leveled courses, Spanish teacher Roberto Gessa said he recognizes the importance of having fewer students in language classes. “Specifically for language instruction, 15 or 16 [students in a class] is already too much,” Gessa said. “[Working with] 24 students in 50 minutes is not enough to properly address the language needs of each student individually. Students get more air time in smaller classes.”

As well as detracting from the quality of students’ education, Whiting said that

students also feel overwhelmed in a packed classroom. “Participation is important in a classroom, so it’s better to have a class in which everyone participates instead of a big class where fewer people participate,” she said.

Chaparala said that large class sizes could also become a source of stress for teachers, who feel the pressure of having to cover a large amount of material with so many students. “If [the teachers are] stressed about moving to the next material and move too quickly, that affects the students,” she said. “[The students] are all stressed out because they don’t know what is going on, can’t ask questions and the class is moving too quickly.

It all kind of spirals.”

According to Scott, teachers may also face difficulty managing their time while grading a large number of assignments. “It’s when you have five more students overall than you normally would. It’s just the increase in time for correcting papers,” Scott said.

“Teachers feel that.”

Science Department Head Gerard Gagnon said that in addition to having an impact on the load of grading for teachers,

large classes are hard to manage. “It’s just more demanding for teachers having that many students in a classroom, so there is less focus to skillfully deliver the content,” Gagnon said.

Despite the impact that large class sizes have on teachers and students, Scott said that current class sizes do not put South at a significant disadvantage. “I don’t think our class sizes are out of line,” she said. “Given the economic times, I think we are holding our own and doing pretty well.”

Gessa agreed and said he thinks these class sizes are “normal for high school standards.”

Neither Scott nor Gessa, however, denied that students would benefit from class sizes being reduced.

Scott said that she has seen a visible jump in the average number of students per class over the years and that in order to make improvements, the school needs to receive more funding for teachers. “I believe that Newton will do the best they can to support us,” she said. “With the turnaround of the economy and perhaps more state money coming in, we should do better.”

The many misfortunes of Mitt Eric Allegro

Stay classy, America

Mitt Romney’s campaign is unraveling. He is still trailing Obama by only a few points in the polls, but his chances of victory are slimming.

If he can’t win the presidential debates, then he will require nothing short of a miracle to propel him to the presidency.

Let’s begin with the conventions of last month. The GOP’s convention was good — for a few days. Although the main theme of the convention was based off of a misinterpreted speech by the incumbent, the screams of “we built it” became a strong and unifying message, backed by most in the GOP and helping to push the ticket ahead.

The convention ended with Paul Ryan’s speech, which has become the standard for campaign lying and misuse of context. In the speech, Ryan spoke of missteps that were, according to him, clearly the president’s fault.

His statements was accepted until the next day, when fact checkers found that many of Obama’s supposed blunders were actually caused by Republicans; Ryan himself was involved with a few.

Next came the overwhelmingly weird decision to put Clint Eastwood on the stage.

Don’t get me wrong; I am a huge fan of Clint Eastwood — as an actor. As a political speaker, he is quite the … I don’t even know.

His speech consisted of classic Republican ideals. He praised Romney, as expected.

Then came the unexpected.

He began talking to a chair, pretending it was the president. This bit tanked hard. It wasn’t actually funny, and it came as a very unwelcome surprise to the GOP, doing nothing to sway voters to the right. Instead, it left pundits and analysts in shock and general confusion and gave voters reason to question the GOP’s decision-making abilities.

A few weeks later, Romney received the worst blow to his campaign. This came in the form of a leaked video recorded in May in which he stated to a select few wealthy supporters that 47 percent of America’s population feel “they are entitled to food, to housing, to healthcare, to — you name it.”

He said he advocates for the 53 percent of this country’s voters who don’t believe they are “victims.”

This led to a drop in his approval rating, as well as a large number of conservative leaders publicly denouncing Romney’s statements. Earlier this month, Romney, already mocked for his history of flip-flopping on important issues, announced that he was “completely wrong” concerning his “47 percent” remarks.

I’ll give Romney this: He won the first presidential debate. He presented himself well and spoke very eloquently.

He came off as somewhat aggressive, but more in an assertive fashion than a bullying one. Obama, on the other hand, seemed a little out of it. However, take this with a grain of salt; many of Romney’s facts and statements were a little bit less than true — his “achievements” with Massachusetts’ public education were, in fact, Deval Patrick’s doing, not his, and what he said concerning Spain was utterly fallacious. Romney also never got into the specifics of his various “plans” and talked about Medicare for what seemed like forever. What will happen now, I don’t know, but what I do know is that you’ll stay classy, America.

news

october 10, 2012

5

Solar panels to be installed on four schools Andreas Betancourt & Anisha Dam

Managing Editor, News Contributor Solar panels will soon line the rooftops of several Newton schools, after the Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to pass the measure Sept. 19.

According to several aldermen, the city of Newton has entered into a long-term lease with Ameresco Solar, Inc., a solar photovoltaic firm that will install solar photovoltaic collectors on the roofs of Newton North High School, Brown Middle School, Countryside Elementary School and Memorial Spaulding Elementary School.

The lease, called a Power Purchase Agreement, is a public/private partnership between the City of Newton and Ameresco and is set to last for 20 years, according to Newton’s

Chief Operating Officer, Bob Rooney.

The city will buy 100 percent of the energy generated by the panels back from Ameresco, and NStar, the utility company that provides electricity to Newton, will credit the city for energy directed into the grid by the solar collectors.

“The beauty of this going forward ... is that they [Ameresco] have an incentive to keep these [solar arrays] maintained, clean and functioning, which really takes that pressure off the city,” Alderman Deborah Crossley said.

While utility services have constantly changing rates, the City of Newton will pay a fixed price for energy produced by the array, Rooney said in a Sep. 5 Public Facilities Committee meeting.

By the time installation is complete, the City Government will service five percent of its energy needs with the energy produced by the new solar panels.

A September presentation by Ameresco to the Board of Aldermen stated that the solar array will have generated more than 800,000 kilowatt hours of energy

after one full year.

According to Crossley, there is a small risk involved for the City of Newton, but Ameresco is responsible for all major material risks. “You have to guess what the cost [of energy] will be in the future,” Crossley said. “They [Ameresco] are able to sell [energy] back to us for less than we think we’re going to be paying, … but the gamble is that electricity rates are going to be same or higher.”

Ameresco representative Jim Walker said that even if utility rates remain the same over the next 20 years, the city will save $1.2 million. As rates go up, the city will save a larger dollar amount. For every one percent rates increase, the city will save approximately $300,000.

Crossley said that even if the city broke even, the project would have still been worth it. “Getting five percent clean energy for the city of newton, that’s still a win,” she said.

“We have the opportunity to learn about it [the system] without being physically responsible for it.”

Ameresco is North America’s largest independent energy solutions provider, according to industrytoday.com. Crossley, an architect who does “a lot of energy efficiency work in her practice,“ said that “Ameresco does everything

up front. They have an excellent record of accomplishment with other municipalities and other companies.”

The City of Newton had originally been in negotiations with another vendor, but “felt they weren’t getting a good enough deal,” Crossley said. “Newton has reputation for scrutinizing more carefully than some other communities, and we did.”

After being surveyed by Ameresco, the four schools set to receive solar panels were chosen entirely for practical reasons: their space, flat and structurally sound roofs and lack of obstructions. These schools’ roofs are also able to bear the additional four pounds per square meter of weight the solar panels would add, according to multiple sources associated with the project. “If city hall had a flat roof, [the panels] would have gone on there, too,” Crossley said.

Aside from producing clean energy, the solar panels bring with them a curriculum for the schools, which involves students tracking the solar panels’ energy production and the city’s savings, School Committee member Jonathan Yeo said during the Sept.

17 School Committee meeting. Ameresco will also install remote monitoring devices itself to constantly check on the solar array.

Construction will begin on Oct. 9, and the solar array will be fully installed by the end of this school year.

“I’m extremely looking forward to this,” Crossley said. “The Board certainly is, too. The plan was passed unanimously.”

photo by Chris Keo

South’s Field House already has solar photovolatic panels. Similar collectors will be installed on four other Newton schools by the end of this school year as part of a new program.

South Reacts: One School, One Book

photo courtesy of public domain

I loved hearing Jothy Rosenberg. It was so cool how he did so many things despite what he had to overcome.

I was pleased with how many people participated and had a lot of things to say about the book.

- Liana Butchard, Class of 2014

- Ashley Anderton, English Teacher

There was a lot to talk about: what we liked and disliked and the interesting relationships.

I liked how the panels were really mature topics, and they went really deep intellectually.

- Joseph Golding, English Teacher

- Carter Howe, Class of 2016

volume 29

issue 3

page

october 10, 2012

6

Administration should tailor classrooms, class sizes to needs of different demographics

by Joe Joseph

All the news that’s fit to print ... and then some!

ELMOs cause laziness Students have begun to express concern over teacher use of ELMOs, document viewing cameras that were installed in all classrooms this year.

“My teacher doesn’t get up from her seat any more,” freshman Cookie Monster said. “Whenever she wants to call on people, she just zooms in the ELMO camera.”

Other students have expressed similar concern over the abuse of new technology. “It’s not even funny anymore,” junior Bert N. Ernie said. “I fell asleep in class once and woke up to my drool-covered face projected on the screen.”

Senior Big Bird said this teacher bullying has escalated to an entirely new level. “My economics teacher, Mittens Romney, blew up my face with his ELMO and then typed ‘You’re next’ over it,” he said. “I was so scared.” Bird said he went to his counselor Jimmy Lehrer for help, but Lehrer could not seem to control Romney. Administrators said that in response to this outburst, instruction in proper ELMO usage will become a mandatory part of the anti-bullying curriculum this year.

North OSOB stirs controversy Newton North’s One School, One Book (OSOB) choice this year was “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, a dystopian novel about a game in which children fight to the death. As part of the OSOB program this year, North decided to reenact the novel, a plan that students said went horribly wrong.

On the morning of the event, South students were bussed over to the other side of town thinking they were heading over to take AP Chinese or AP European History as they usually do.

“I guess I should have noticed something was wrong when the bus driver started videotaping us shooting crossbows on the bus ride,” senior Katniss Everstein said. “Then he tried to light my clothes on fire, but by that time we had arrived at the school.”

The students were greeted by a full stadium of onlookers and then escorted into the center of the ring where the games began. By the end of the day, four South students had perished.

“My friend Peter Malarkey got lost amid the halls of North,” Everstein, who emerged victorious, said. “No one has seen him since.” In addition to the loss of lives, the event caused severe damage to North’s buildings, which, when combined with hundreds of lawsuits, resulted in a rebuilding plan that will cost nearly ten times as much as last year’s controversial renovations.

According to North Principal F. E. Trinket, plans are underway for next year’s OSOB program despite this year’s setbacks. “We’re thinking of ‘Curious George’ for next year,” Trinket said. “That should tone down the violence a bit from this year’s book while maintaining the same level of educational value.”

Can’t ask questions. Less are benefits to attending large academic support. Less time to classes. grade. Less feedback on writing One editor pointed out that assignments. a larger class size is ideal for a At the end of the year, class certain type of student, one who still composed of strangers. grasps material well but shies In any class with more than away from speaking in class. In 25 students, the list of grievances an environment with plenty of runs long. Several objections active speakers, this student can raised by both students and get something meaningful out of teachers are outlined in our front a discussion without feeling prespage story this issue, and still sured to participate in it. more were left out for brevity’s Another editor prefers sake. Were The Roar to detail evsmaller classes but admitted that ery problem with large class sizes, many college students are taught the article could easily fill this in lecture halls with hundreds page and the next one over. of their peers, prompting debate Debates over class size have over whether large class sizes always been divisive, and yet they prepare students for a univeroften fail to take into account the sity education. A third said she diversity of viewpoints among was locked out of certain senior students and teachers.

Is it really fair to assume that students in Regardless of how motiHonors classes are more independent than those in vated, all students need Curriculum 1 and 2? How adequate classroom space are we supposed to lift up students who have the hardto learn effectively. est time learning if teachers only have a minute to talk to them individually? Are larger class sizes actually bad? electives because of a cap on class The first question is size and that she would have prewell-articulated in our front ferred a higher cap if it allowed page story and elsewhere, and her to enroll. the second seems to dictate the It’s no wonder that The administration’s current policy of Roar’s editorial staff — which having fewer students in lowerconsists mainly of seniors and level classes. Much of the current almost entirely of upperclassmen debate around class size revolves — is more sympathetic to large around a balancing act, ensuring classes. By their junior year, most that lower and higher curriculum students fit into some broadlylevel classes have as many studefined social group, and they’re dents as possible while maintain- likely to stay within that group ing some baseline standard. for the rest of their time at South.

In that debate, administraThey tend to be more confident tors often assume that increasing in their beliefs and more used to class size necessarily damages their peers, making the task of the learning experience. Several speaking up in class less dauntmembers of The Roar’s editorial ing. By junior year, in other staff argue, however, that there words, having a small, close-knit

Editorial Policy

class is less important than just enrolling and being able to study the material.

Class sizes for higher-level upperclassman classes cannot, however, increase indefinitely.

Many higher curriculum courses get large enough to intimidate any student, regardless of his or her age, and others are so large that there are simply too many students to fit in the allocated classroom space.

For high-achieving upperclassmen, the main concern with large classes is that some are so tightly packed that sitting in class is physically uncomfortable and students struggle just to see the teacher.

After all, the university system of sitting in lecture halls only works provided that there are lecture halls.

A similar model is unsustainable in a classroom made to fit roughly 20 students. To that end, The Roar proposes that the administration try to put large, high curriculum classes in larger rooms that can better accommodate them.

This year, the Honors Neurobiology course has achieved a great deal of success by holding its class, which contains well over 30 students, in the lecture hall, with lectures given via projector.

The students were dedicated and resilient to the change; they studied just as hard as previous years’ students and did just as well.

The upperclassmen in these high-level courses want to be in them, and they are willing to accept large class sizes if there is no other way to fit everyone.

But in order to enable these increases, the school is responsible for providing the infrastructure and space in which they can learn.

The Lion’s Roar, founded in 1984, is the student newspaper of Newton South High School, acting as a public forum for student views and attitudes.

The Lion’s Roar’s right to freedom of expression is protected by the Massachusetts Student Free Expression Law (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 71, Section 82). All content decisions are made by student editors, and the content of The Lion’s Roar in no way reflects the official policy of Newton South, its faculty, or its administration.

Editorials are the official opinion of The Lion’s Roar, while opinions and letters are the personal viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Lion’s Roar. The Lion’s Roar reserves the right to edit all submitted content, to reject advertising copy for resubmission of new copy that is deemed acceptable by student editors, and to make decisions regarding the submission of letters to the editors, which are welcomed.

The Lion’s Roar is printed by Seacoast Newspapers and published every four weeks by Newton South Students. All of our funding comes from advertisers.

In-school distribution of The Lion’s Roar is free, but each copy of the paper shall cost one dollar for each copy more than ten (10) that is taken by any individual or by many individuals on behalf of a single individual. Violation of this policy shall constitute theft.

october 10, 2012

desk

Editor stresses the importance of failure as integral to introspection

FROM THE

EDITOR’S DESK Joe Joseph

Editor-in-Chief About an hour before a violin concert I performed in last year, I opened my case to find that one of my violin’s strings had conveniently split in half.

I hurriedly retuned a different violin and jumped into the car, already late for the 7:00 concert. I tried to go over the tricky spots of the piece in my mind, but found myself too distracted as stage fright twisted my stomach inside out.

I was first to perform, and my knees vibrated like out-of-control metronomes as I staggered up to the music stand.

Two minutes into the piece, my shoulder rest, the support that props the violin up on my shoulder, imploded.

Snap!

The sound reverberated in the cramped concert room. As I entered the final stretch of the piece, I remember speeding up tremendously, wanting nothing more than to finish the horrendous performance.

Without a doubt, that violin concert was a complete and utter failure. To this day, I can still remember the mortified feeling of having to walk to my seat and sit through the rest of the performances, my eyes locked in a staring contest with the floor.

So why bring up one of the worst failures of my life in an essay that will be distributed around the entire South community? Because I believe failure is the most defining aspect of our lives, so rather than avoid it, we should embrace it.

I’m not saying I enjoyed my ruined performance. What I am saying is that the performance itself is not what matters in the long run; the way I dealt with its aftermath is what makes it so powerful.

Needless to say, the positive power of failure was not the primary idea running through my mind that night, and I only really started to grasp it after a chance encounter with a YouTube video.

I found the video due to my tendency to pick up strangely specific Internet interests that disappear as quickly as they emerge (i.e. BBC documentaries on tropical birds or all 4 seasons of “Parks and Recreation”).

This time the topic of interest was college commencement speeches.

I know it’s quite desperate and sad that as a senior in high school I am already looking toward the final moments of college, but there’s something addictive about the humor, wit and thought that goes into a well-crafted commencement address. The specific speech I am referring to is one delivered at the Dartmouth College 2011 Commencement

by Conan O’Brien.

His speech came a year after his show had been kicked off of NBC, and his 16-yearlong career had been cut short in an instant (I can safely say that Conan’s failure was much

more dire and degrading than my bad violin concert.) In his speech, however, he does not simply acknowledge his failure; he highlights its transformative nature.

One quotation in particular stands out: “It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can be a catalyst for profound re-invention.”

After watching this video (which you all should do now; I promise it’s mostly funny and only sometimes philosophical), I immediately added Conan to my list of inspirational people on Facebook, which is a big deal in my socially-networked teenage mind.

His speech struck a cord with me because his words are not remotely comparable to the cliché advice, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Conan does not simply tell us to try again; rather, he stresses the importance of actually taking your failure and using that experience to re-evaluate what matters to you — which brings me back to the violin concert from hell.

I got home that night, devastated and thoroughly embarrassed, and went to bed thinking the next day I would quit violin forever. Sleep is a magical thing (which is why it’s a shame none of us get enough of

Failure is the most defining aspect of our lives, so rather than avoid it, we should embrace it.

Volume 29 The Lion’s Roar Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper

it), however, and overnight I underwent a change of heart.

I decided that I would not let my failure define me, but rather, I would take matters into my own hands and redeem myself. Playing the violin was something I had worked hard for, and I was not going to let an unfortunate concert ruin my outlook on something I knew was important to me. I signed up to play my piece in another concert the next Wednesday, and as the day of my second concert approached, I experienced a strange sense of tranquility. When I stepped up onto that stage for a second time, my knees were no longer shaking.

I’m certainly not an incredible violinist. I was never a child prodigy and I never really practiced as long as I should have, so my performance wasn’t perfect. I missed some notes here and there, and my intonation was off in places, but it didn’t matter.

There’s something triumphant about being able to move past failure, and I think the first step in achieving that feeling is acknowledging failure’s inevitability.

We will all experience failure at some point in our lives; it is up to us, however, to make sure that the way we respond to failure, not our actual failure, is what comes to define us.

Check out the YouTube video referenced in this article! Scan the QR code with a mobile device.

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opinions volume 29

issue 3

page

october 10, 2012

8

Perspectives:Are we too old to High schoolers are past trick-or-treating age Charles Zou

Opinions Contributor An adult opens his door on Halloween, expecting to give candy to a smiling little kid dressed up as Superman with a plastic pumpkin, but instead finds a 17-year-old towering over him, laundry bag in hand.

Adults enjoy seeing little kids dress up in cute costumes and walk around the street on Halloween. Seeing six foot five high schoolers compete with toddlers for candy, however, is a bit too much.

It feels weird to give candy to a “kid” who is taller than you and even weirder if he or she is wearing intimidating or gruesome clothing as his or her “Halloween costume.”

As students get older, trick-or-treating becomes more uncomfortable.

Unlike younger kids, many high school students don’t even bother to dress up. They simply throw on a coat and call it a costume.

This indifference shows that high schoolers go trick-or-treating primarily for the candy they would get, or that they are afraid to wear a costume because of their age. As a general rule, if students are too embarrassed to wear costumes, they

shouldn’t be trick-or-treating. It’s that simple.

Older kids sometimes bring their younger siblings along to make trick-ortreating less awkward, but the thing is, a younger sibling isn’t a ticket to getting free candy.

If students can’t get over their discomfort, they should just stay home and eat some popcorn.

Even more desperate high school trick-or-treaters attempt to look younger by stooping or sloucing to try and look shorter. Resorting to silly tricks like this suggests that it may be time to hang up the plastic Jack O’ lantern candy basket for good.

One motivation for older students to continue trick-or-treating is their desire for free candy.

When high school students have enough money to buy cars, however, it seems a little pointless to have to ask neighbors for free candy.

Is walking around a neighborhood for several hours really a productive pastime for the high schooler?

Are a couple of Hershey’s bars worth it when one can easily go to CVS and buy twice that number for a couple of bucks?

Students will be saving effort, and more

importantly, time.

There isn’t a high schooler alive who hasn’t complained about too much homework and sleep deprivation.

Instead of pretending to be Kermit the Frog for three hours, why not do homework? Rather than complaining about sleepless nights, why not take a nap?

Many could argue that Halloween is not only about the candy but also about the fun and the time spent with friends.

There are 101 better things for a highschooler to do with friends on Halloween night than to go trick-ortreating.

One can throw a Halloween party, go to a haunted house or just watch a scary movie instead of

going trick-or-treating.

High school students are too old to trick-or-treat, but can still celebrate and have fun in other ways.

Finding those fun ways will bring about an enjoyable night with friends that does not entail begging for candy.

Teenagers are young enough to trick-or-treat Winston Jiang

Opinions Contributor

graphics by Maggie Zhang

October is here, and many students are already looking forward to the last day of the month. Halloween is the one day in the year when all kids, ranging from elementary to high schoolers, can dress in costumes, stay out late and go door to door asking for candy. Of course, there is a certain age at which dressing up and going out for candy appears a little unusual, but high schoolers are far from being at that particular age.

I think that we high schoolers have just as much a

right to trick-or-treat as younger Costume support high school children. It is a relatively quick trick-or-treaters by selling adultand much-needed break from sized costumes. our normal, repetitive schedules There are also no downof going to school, procrastisides to trick-or-treating. Strangnating and ers give you free cramming for candy, which tests.

Halloween is for every- you can treat Some one, and to limit trick- yourself to on people claim any day. or-treating to younger that high In adkids is very unfair. schoolers are dition, many “too old to people love - Winston Jiang, Class of 2016 ask for free staying out late candy.” As and wearing two wise men once said, “You costumes; even more people love only live once” and “Having free stuff. Essentially everyone fun observes no age boundarloves candy. Put those three ies.” In fact, popular stores such things together, and boom, you as Walmart, iParty and Boston get Halloween.

Halloween is for everyone, and to limit trick-or-treating to younger kids is very unfair. To quote Jeremy Lin, “Youth only comes once a lifetime — enjoy it while it lasts.” Young kids enjoy trick-or-treating with their parents. Students are older, so they no longer go out with their parents, but with friends.

Before, kids had to be home at 8 p.m., but as high schoolers they can more or less stay out as late as they want. Halloween gets more fun with age, so high schoolers should enjoy the night, guilt-free.

Halloween remains, no matter how old someone is, a day to relax and have fun.

october 10, 2012

opinions

Technology’s prevalence should be embraced Zuzana Skvarkova Opinions Contributor

Naturally, as a self-proclaimed “independent teen,” I’m not too big a fan of commitment. Attachment means baggage.

In the midst of applying to what seems like every single university in the nation, trying to maintain a somewhat respectable GPA, training for a sport and staying sane, my life doesn’t have much time for distractions.

I’ve only recently realized, however, that today’s society relies completely on technology and that I, in fact, am included as part of the problem.

Obviously, I initially brushed off that absurd thought. I don’t need technology.

Who needs touch screens and high definition TVs? I would be totally fine with that old 2007 enV I once showed off in 6th grade, right? photo by Dylan Block I challenged myself to prove that Students look upon their increasing engagement with technology with unnecessary distaste. what I was saying is actually true. One day Instagram a picture of my feet? though everything in my day went just with no electronics. I was living life in the Enough, I told myself. Who was I to fine. Then it hit me — I was undergoing “old-fashioned” way. be denying myself the simple pleasures in withdrawal.

Facebook? I didn’t need that; I life?

I found myself wondering whether didn’t care that the Newtones auditions I live for sending three second selfies my friend had uploaded a new profile were postponed or that September 24 was to my friends as the first thing I do in the National Punctuation Day. Twitter? I could picture. I even wanted to know if people who weren’t my friends had uploaded new morning. I missed listening to my customlive without reading the constant subized Hilary Duff station on Pandora. tweets over an ex-boyfriend who “screwed pictures.

What I’m really trying to say here Were there pictures up from the up big time.” Netflix? “Gossip Girl” could football game the other night? I had to see is that we like to claim that teenagers are wait. above the latest trends, but we aren’t. We them. What if there was a terrible picture Lastly, my iPhone? I thought that of me posted on the internet that I needed feel guilty about being in relationships with Snapchat was beneath me, iMessage was our iPhones. I used to feel that way, but I over-rated, email was old news and emojis to untag immediately? don’t anymore.

I rationalized that all of these conwere not even that funny.

If there is one thing that my expericerns these were logical.

If you are wondering how my exence has taught me, it would be that our Remembering that my day was periment turned out, well, I was successful generation relies on technology, and I love supposed to be an experiment in living up until 8:30 p.m. it. unplugged, I resisted. I made myself a bag It was a Thursday, and I didn’t have I advise all teenagers to go read “The of popcorn as a distraction. When I came homework. Practice was over. Dinner was back to my bed, I stared at the food. I didn’t Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens on eaten. I had taken my shower. My day, their Kindles. You know you want to. Go although without any negative events, was want to eat. tweet about the fact that it’s sunny outside Sitting in my room alone eating an bland, boring and replaceable. entire bag of popcorn. How embarrassing. on a fall day because all your followers do I sat down on my bed and tried care.

I decided that I needed to get on to fall asleep. After a couple minutes of Don’t be afraid to admit that technolNetflix and watch past seasons of “Grey’s squirming and throwing my pillow across ogy is a part of who you are. Without it, the room, I got up again. I couldn’t under- Anatomy.” NO. I stopped myself again. you would be lost.

Oh no, but what about Twitter? Should I stand why I was in such a bad mood even

I have to buy all new USB cords and a new case for my new iPhone 5. #newtonproblems

Newton South’s average SAT score went down from 1843 to 1817. #newtonproblems

Whole wheat challah is being served at my Rosh Hashanah dinner. #newtonproblems

My 2010 Macbook Pro is too old. #newtonproblems

Where is all of the money I’m paying for my parking pass going? #newtonproblems

Tagging pictures of friends is so hard with all their new names. #newtonproblems

Is Sexual Education Actually Educational?

9

Jack Rabinovitch Social Issues and Me

The school system considers Sexual Education (Sex. Ed.) a necessary part of the ninth grade wellness curriculum. It teaches students about their bodies and helps them understand their maturing emotions and feelings.

Though Sex. Ed. teaches us what sexuality is, it subtly shames the idea itself. My Sex. Ed. class last year was a laugh for most of the semester. We learned, of course, but the class was mostly filled with stupid jokes and poorly filmed ‘80s and ‘90s educational videos shown to mask the awkwardness inherent in any discussion about sex. Sex is an uncomfortable topic; our teachers discussed it very little, and they put out the information in such a cliché manner that it was hard to take seriously. Most of the curriculum was intended to teach students to be comfortable with their growing sexualities, but I noticed that many of the lessons prohibited and demeaned that very goal.

American society is an awful brew of pressures to be both sexual and not so, both praising and shaming the ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ alike. Be it in the happy couple or the sexual person with low self esteem, external sexual pressure is found everywhere, pushing in every direction and affecting everyone differently.

Though Sex. Ed. was instituted to calm the pressures that come with sexuality, it only addresses them briefly. The teachers then put their own two cents in, and their opinion is simply another pressure to take into consideration.

The curriculum mainly focuses on abstinence; teachers not only emphasize that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way to avoid pregnancy, they also imply that it is the morally correct choice.

Videos that stress the problems with sex depict sexually active girls as uninhibited or immoral, while those who “wait for the right person” are often shown as saints.

Sex itself is treated more as a precursor to a disease than an act of pleasure.

Sure, we need to learn how to stay safe and understand the consequences of our actions, but this information should come without preaching about how we’re “not ready.” The truth is, most people aren’t, but saying so will not help in any way.

Sex. Ed. is even lumped together with the alcohol and drug unit, which gives the impression that having sex is an act comparable to drug use. Doing drugs is unhealthy and affects students detrimentally. Having sex is only detrimental when one does not use protection; the act itself is not something we want to avoid for life.

The Sex. Ed. part of wellness basically says, “Be comfortable with who you are; here’s how to be safe in case you have sex, but the best way to stay safe is to not have sex.” Although abstinence is the safest sexual practice, people should not have to feel uncomfortable about their urges. They do not need to feel immoral every time they even think even think about sex. Sex. Ed. should be based around an idea that the administration doesn’t care what students do so long as the students know what they’re doing, not that abstinence is the moral choice. We’re here for an education, not a sermon.

10

opinions

october 10, 2012

Self-motivation is the key to a better future Veronica Podolny Opinions Contributor

At some point in our lives, we’ve probably all suffered through parental punishment for earning a sub-par grade.

Whether you weren’t allowed to go to a weekend party or lost a month’s allowance, punishment stinks.

But even worse than the punishment itself is the bad grade. Parents create an environment that makes students feel like they are learning only to please Mom and Dad. Constant reminders to do our

homework make us feel infantile, as though we can’t remember to do something so simple on our own. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great to have parents who help and encourage.

However, parental assistance can become overwhelming; haven’t you heard the saying about “too much of a good thing?”

Parental assistance was necessary when we were 9 or 10 years old, but now that we’ve

entered high school, we should be able to take our future into our own hands.

Even if you’re okay accepting mediocrity and can’t wait to jump into the next 30 years of your life as a Burger King cashier, the grades you earn should be your responsibility.

Choosing not to do homework just once after getting home late may not seem like a big deal, but these small events can become habits.

I know people who paid no attention to their performance or grades in middle school but vowed to change their ways in

get you an excellent grade.

The positive side is, knowing the hard work it takes to pass in South, getting a good grade gives an even greater sense of accomplishment.

The pride that you get from succeeding makes you want to do it more and try even harder.

Not only will you learn a great deal, but you will also be paving the way toward a better life simply by putting pencil to paper.

Thinking about the consequences of your current actions when it comes to your future is a very strong source of motivation.

high school. Unfortunately, study habits don’t just change from one school year to the next; such a shift takes time.

Realizing that you need to change puts you in greater control.

This year has been a big transition for all incoming freshmen, including me.

We freshmen were all shocked when we found out exactly what being in high school entails.

Already I have written essays, taken tests, done projects and, least enjoyably, gotten back graded work.

The amount that the teachers expect here is somewhere close to three or four times those found in middle school, and most of us have not gotten used to this difference yet.

Before high school, doing work automatically lead to receiving an A. At South, however, just meeting the expectations doesn’t

When you’re trying to motivate yourself to do schoolwork, you can think of all the good that will come of your efforts. You’ll get better grades. Your teacher will appreciate your dedication.

Not only will you learn a great deal because of your motivation, but you will also be paving the way toward a better life simply by putting pencil to paper.

Putting yourself in a positive frame of mind will serve to highlight the benefits of hard work, and you will ultimately be invigorated by your new-found energy to focus on reading or math problems.

At some point, you’ll realize that your parents can’t make you succeed and that you determine your own future. From there, it is your move.

It is undisputable that everyone has the opportunity to do well in school. Whether you take advantage of your potential or throw it down the drain is completely up to you, so make the right decision.

graphic by David Gorelik

A comic from ... Kristen Magliozzi

Interested in drawing a comic for The Roar?

Contact us at srstaff@thelionsroar.com.

october 10, 2012

arts review

Arts Review

SHOW

This season of television has seen the premieres of many new programs, spanning every genre from thriller to comedy, each of which is vying for viewers’ attention

REVENGE Back for a thrilling second season, “Revenge” is sure to live up to the high standards set by its first season.

ABC’s criticallyacclaimed drama focuses on the life of Emily Thorne, played by former model Emily VanCamp, who comes to live in the Hamptons for the summer.

Although she seems normal at first, the audience soon finds out that Emily is actually named Amanda Clarke and that her father was framed and imprisoned by the wealthy and scandalous Grayson family. Emily moves next door to the Graysons, intent on getting revenge.

Her main enemy is Victoria Grayson, matriarch of the Grayson family and betrayer of Emily’s father. As she seeks reprisal, Emily attempts to climb the social ladder and eliminate those who wronged her father.

The actors and actresses play their parts excellently, creating engaging, threedimensional characters.

My personal favorites are Emily Thorne and Victoria Grayson. VanCamp’s Emily Thorne is stone cold, having embraced and internalized her goal of revenge.

Unlike most vengeful people, however, Emily has a loving quality about her that makes her personable. Her love for her father and her childhood friend, Jack, shine through and force the viewer to sympathize with her.

Outwardly cool and collected, Emily breaks down when she is alone and her life catches up to her. In these moments, the viewer feels the weight of the complex and difficult task Emily faces.

Madeline Stowe’s Victoria Grayson, on the other hand, is frightening; I can feel my skin crawl and my hair stand on end every time she

speaks. Like Emily, Victoria is calm and collected, but beneath the surface, she is harsh and maniacal.

Not only is she involved in the murder of Amanda’s father, but she also smiles as she plays a large role in her own family’s destruction.

Stowe’s performance earned her well-deserved nominations for acting at the Golden Globes and the ALMA awards.

In addition to great acting, “Revenge” has an intricate and ever-changing plot.

Although the thrust of the narrative is simple, the first season has numerous twists and turns that keep viewers interested.

Viewers learn more about the Grayson family, Emily’s adolescent years and ultimately, the factors that lead to the implosion of the Grayson family.

Season two started with a bang two weeks ago, revealing shocking information about the finale and Emily’s long-absent mother. Fastpaced and shocking, every minute of the show thrilling.

Although it has been airing for a while, “Revenge” never received the acclaim it deserves, so ABC took a risk and moved “Revenge” to the former “Desperate Housewives” timeslot.

This switch was a daring move on the network’s part, and “Revenge” is making the most of it. According to a recent article from TVFanatic. com, “Revenge” is the highestrated show on ABC, topping the record “LOST” hit a few years ago.

“Revenge” airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on ABC. If you like shows with complex motivations and plenty of intrigue, you should tune in to “Revenge” as well as “The Vampire Diaries”, “Mad Men” and “Burn Notice.”

By Marissa Vertes

ANIMAL PRACTICE One night over the summer, I was sitting on the couch and eating a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food, watching Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh dominate in beach volleyball.

Not long after I put the spoon in my mouth, an advertisement for NBC’s new comedy “Animal Practice” flashed across the screen.

I almost choked on my dessert.

A show that combined a snarky veterinarian, a monkey and a bunch of puppies?

It seemed almost too good to be true.

A week later, I stayed up to watch the first 20 minutes of the pilot after the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games and eagerly awaited the premiere of the full episode.

I want to be a veterinarian, so I was looking forward to possibly getting some substance out of this show.

Although slightly comical, the premiere lacked the depth I was seeking.

“Animal Practice” follows the day-to-day happenings of veterinarian Dr. George Coleman and his simian sidekick, Dr. Rizzo.

The first episode begins with Dr. Coleman at the Crane Animal Hospital asking Dr. Rizzo to get him some coffee. The monkey does a cute little trick and then hobbles away.

This show can only get cheap laughs at best.

Although goofy, other doctor shows like “Scrubs” taught me about Occam’s razor and sickle-cell anemia.

“Animal Practice,” on the other hand, only taught me how to pick up girls with a dog.

The acting is mediocre at best. Andy Kirk, who has been nominated numerous times for his acting in

11

“Weeds,” is tiring as Coleman.

The snarky, pessimistic doctor has already been done by numerous shows, namely “Scrubs,” and Kirk just isn’t that good at it.

In addition to lacking an effective male lead, “Animal Practice” also suffers from jokes that are not even very funny.

The funniest moment of the whole first episode happens when Dr. Coleman is in the park with one of his assistants.

As they’re walking, Coleman tries to teach his assistant the aforementioned method of using dogs to pick up girls. The assistant points to a pretty girl in a plaid button-up sitting with a Great Dane.

Coleman touches the assistant’s forearm and says, “The Great Dane is the Subaru of dogs. That woman is a lesbian.”

The assistant stubbornly replies, “No, she’s not!” Sure enough, the woman’s girlfriend soon comes over and kisses her.

That was the only scene that made me laugh, and it was 20 seconds long. The other scenes are riddled with flat characters, poor dialogue and an unwillingness to take themselves seriously.

According to a Huffington Post article, “Animal Practice” lost 7.6 million viewers between its premiere and its second episode, placing it at the top of the newspaper’s “Most Likely to be Cancelled” list.

If you are still not convinced, however, you can watch “Animal Practice” Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC. But if you like shows with a zany, surreal sense of humor, you’re better off watching “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “Modern Family.”

The The Lost(Immune) Causes Response

On Oct. 2, The Roar asked 211 students about the effects of allergies on their lives

32%

47% of students said they have allergies

B owing A lergies Away

Students with allergies are persistent in adapting to their restrictions at school and in social situations

of students said their allergies affected their ability to complete schoolwork

32% of students with allergies said allergies influence their social lives

By Dipal Nagda and Anastasiya Vasilyeva

S

hortly after taking off on an early morning run this summer, senior Lauren Wong’s day took a turn for the worse. Wong’ s nose began to bleed, and by the time she had reached home, blood had spread across her entire face. “It was because it was almost fall, and there were a lot of [allergens] in the air,” Wong said.

Wong, like other South students, deals with allergy symptoms year-round. Whether they face nasal allergies or food restrictions, students said they find themselves making adjustments to compensate both at school and in social situations.

According to Dr. Javed Sheikh, an allergy, asthma and immune problem specialist at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, nasal allergies like Wong’s are the most common type of allergies, affecting 20 percent of the population.

Sinus trouble, a symptom of many nasal allergies, often distracts students from focusing on their schoolwork, Sheikh said. “Nasal allergies may make students feel lousy, almost like they have a cold all the time,” he said. “They may not be getting enough sleep.”

The effects of Wong’s nasal allergies can stretch into the school day but her reaction varies by classroom.

“There are certain classrooms where I get more allergic reactions than in others,” Wong said.

According to Sheikh, though, food allergies have the potential to be more restricting than nasal allergies.

“What [people with allergies are] able to eat may affect them socially as far as events and parties,” Sheikh said.

Due to the varying severity of students’ allergies, such social restrictions are not uniform.

For those with food allergies, specific foods

provoke immune responses like nausea or nasal congestion. Junior William Fleisher has a lifethreatening allergy to dairy products and said he feels restricted when going out for food. “I don’t go out to eat at common restaurants,” he said. “I have to find places that already have rules in place to avoid cross contamination.”

Cross contamination occurs when an unwashed kitchen instrument containing traces of an allergen is used to prepare a new meal. According to Fleisher, this is a constant concern for people with food allergies.

Unlike Wong, Fleisher said his allergies do not affect him in the classroom. Lunch time, however, can become uncomfortable. “I don’t like to eat in the cafeteria,” Fleisher said. “I just bring my own lunch and eat in some of my classes or in places around the school.”

Fleisher also brings an EpiPen, a medical device used to deliver epinephrine to treat allergic reactions or the onset of anaphylactic shock, to school each day.

Most students with allergies as severe as Fleisher’s must take similar precautions, according to Sheikh. “They have to have their emergency meds with them in case of an emergency reaction,” he said.

According to junior Jason Pollock’s mother, Allison Pollock, an allergic reaction can occur unexpectedly at any time, so students always have to be aware of risks. “It’s a concern when he goes somewhere without his EpiPen because you never know when he is going to need it,” she said.

Freshman Michelle Sandler, a student with nut, legume and garlic allergies said that adapting to a life with allergies is entirely possible, however.

Sandler said she does not struggle to maintain her dietary needs. “I had to become more aware of what I was eating,” Sandler said. “I just got used to explaining to people why I couldn’t eat certain things.”

Pollock, who also has nut allergies, agreed that altering his diet was not a difficult transition. “The biggest struggle is always having to check before I eat something, so I really don’t struggle that much,” he said. “I’ve adapted to always reading the ingredients in everything and asking people what’s in homemade foods. It’s really not a big deal.”

For other students, though, contending with allergies at school and in social settings is an ongoing challenge. Wong, for example, said that her allergies are unpredictable. “There’s really no way for me to get used to it,” she said. “There are times when my entire day is revolving around blowing my nose or trying to get rid of the headache I have.”

Allison said that as a parent, she has grown to trust her son’s judgment regarding his allergies. “We know that Jason is responsible with his food allergies, so we never get too worried,” she said.

Sheikh agreed that students are capable of controlling their allergies despite the struggles they may encounter in everyday life. “With the right attention and with kids knowing what they should do, for the most part people can get better and improve,” Sheikh said.

Sandler, for one, said she has learned to craft her life around her allergies instead of feeling constantly burdened by them.

“My allergies actually don’t tend to bother me that much,” Sandler said. “If I had my choice, I’d get rid of them, but they’re no big deal.”

features volume 29

issue 3

october 10, 2012

page

14

Senior founds, runs non-profit Act UP!

Maia Fefer & Caroline Zola

D

Features Contributor, Sr. Features Editor

riving around in an orange pickup truck throughout the summer months, senior Connor MacBain devoted his vacation to collecting used appliances for his charity. MacBain and his father, Len MacBain, founded Act UP!, a nonprofit organization that solicits donations from individuals selling used appliances on craigslist.org, then sends the collected refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and electric stoves to Benin, a country in West Africa. A friend of the MacBains living in Africa distributes the appliances from Act UP!, selling some to defray shipping costs and donating others to local charities.

According to MacBain, work experience with Act UP! has made him more business savvy and appreciative of his own advantages in life.

Act UP! began in May, 2012, following a dinner party conversation. “There was really nothing wrong with [the appliances at our friends’ house], but they were still looking to scrap them because they were just dated, ... so we started talking,” Len said. “Instead of scrapping perfectly working appliances like these, [the appliances’] lives could be extended, and they could be put to better use than just used for their metal. That’s really what started [the organization].”

The MacBains employ a man in the Philippines to respond to craigslist advertisements for used appliances.

A standard message describes Act Up!’s mission, asking people to donate their appliances to the organization instead of selling them.

For every 100 messages that Act UP! sends, the organization receives two or three responses, MacBain said. Those who do respond, however, typically express enthusiasm. “The people who first respond that they want to donate are very accepting and really want to donate,” MacBain said.

Once Act UP! has arranged a pickup, MacBain takes his truck to the donor’s home.

William Hallahan photos by James Wang donated tires to Act Senior Connor MacBain’s non-profit organization, Act UP!, sends appliances to West Africa.

UP! a few months ago and said that MacBain that type of opportunity,” senior Daniel Barabasi said. “It and his father bring a personal touch to their business. goes [with] his charitable nature.”

“Because Connor’s dad approached me and sent me an Senior Daniel Kaufman also said that Act UP! email explaining everything, I felt like they were legitiprovides an outlet for MacBain to do what he loves. “He mate. I mean, I might have donated them even if I saw it is always helping people. He is constantly giving, and he is online, but with Connor’s dad, I felt like I was getting a just this happy, proud guy who is sacrificing his own time good deal,” Hallahan said. “Connor’s organization sounds or his own resources,” Kaufman said. like a first-class, outstanding organization, and I would For now, Act Up! stores appliances in a rented Camdefinitely do it again.” bridge warehouse, and plans to send their first shipment According to MacBain, developing and managto Africa by the end of October. ing a nonprofit organization has had positive effects not Eventually, the MacBains would like to develop Act only for appliance donators and recipients, but also for UP! as an organization on the national scale. “What we do MacBain himself. “The skills that I’ve gotten [include] here in Boston, our intention is to replicate it in different negotiating, pricing, talking to people in person, going to places all around Massachusetts that I’d never been to and metropolitan areas across the United States,” Len said. “If it worked for me, there’s no reason that it can’t work in really just moving huge appliances around,” he said.

Len agreed that Act It’s exposed [Connor] to a lot of different people, UP! has given his son a new outlook. “One large way different cultures, different economic conditions, ... so I that I think this has benthink that it has been a very broadening experience. efited [Connor] is his exposure to all different parts of - Len MacBain, father of senior Connor MacBain geography ... [and] different every city and help a lot of people.” environments in the greater Boston area,” Len said. “It’s On a small scale, though, MacBain has taken away exposed him to a lot of different people, different cultures life lessons while working for Act UP!, according to his [and] different economic conditions, ... so I think that it father. has been a very broadening experience.”

“He’s come to see first hand that there is a lot of MacBain’s friends said that starting a charity was not out of character for him. “Connor is a really business- mutual goodness in each one of us, and each one he’s interacted with has been a positive experience,” Len said. minded person, so I think this a great chance for him for

october 10, 2012

features

Relationships:

LIVe TO

Boy recognizes risks of young dating

Experimentation with colored hair dye serves as a form of self-expression for students and faculty alike, as they move beyond a world of blondes, brunettes and redheads

photos by Yu-Ching Chang

Junior Rachel Klevan (clockwise from top), junior Jackson Fried and sophomore Audrey Hooker express themselves by modifying their hair.

Sophia Fisher & Parisa Siddiqui

Features Contributor, Features Editor When junior Rachel Klevan looks at her reflection each morning, shades of pink flash back at her. “I dyed [my hair] fun colors because it brightens up my day when I look in the mirror,” Klevan said.

“I’d say it’s a hobby — a hair hobby.”

Klevan is among the growing number of students at South who have chosen to abandon their original hair color in exchange for different hues ranging from hot pink to bluish-grey.

Klevan said the collection of personal essays, “This I Believe II,” which was the 2010 One School, One Book choice, inspired her to start dyeing her hair.

“There was this passage [in the book] about dyeing your hair, so I decided that junior year I was going to dye my hair pink,” she said. “I kind of liked it, so I continued dyeing it to see which colors look good on my hair.” Since then, Klevan has dyed her hair blue, red-orange, pink and purple.

Unlike Klevan, sophomore Audrey Hooker said she originally dyed her hair to show spirit for her sports team. “For cross country last year, we decided to dye the ends of our hair purple, … and I [liked] how it looked, so I kind of just kept redyeing it,” she said.

Hooker said she has experimented with colors but found the results were not what she expected. “It didn’t work out very

well at all,” she said. “I just think the dye just wasn’t all that good.”

Sophomore Joslin Pettingell said color experimentation has become a hobby of hers. “I’ve had pink, red, black, blue-black, orange, blonde, grayish-blue and now blue,” she said. “I love trying new colors — it’s actually really exciting.”

Hair dyeing can also be an outlet for students to express character, according to Klevan. “It really goes with my personality,” she said. “I have a really bright and colorful personality.”

Junior Jackson Fried, who currently has bright pink hair, also said he appreciates bright hair dye as a way to express his unique personality. “I don’t ever want to dye my hair a natural color because I feel that that’s boring,” Fried said.

Fried said his mother embraced his new hairstyle. “The first thing my mom said when she saw my dyed hair was ‘I had a punk boyfriend when I was 17 who looks exactly like you,’” he said.

Pettingell said her parents do not have many objections to hair dyeing.

“Well, they say ‘it’s just hair,’” she said.

“They’d rather have me [dye my hair] than get tattoos or piercings.”

Fried’s mother Evie Berne said the only concern she had over her son’s hair color was related to the Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting on July 20. “We didn’t want him to dye it orange, because that awful movie theater killer had orange hair, so that was our only restriction,” she said. “You can cut hair and it grows out. It’s

15

his hair, so I was fine with it,” she said Hooker said her parents were less receptive to her choice to dye her hair because of concern over how others would react but that her experience has been positive. “[When I started dyeing my hair], my parents were a little bit like ‘Oh, that’s not a good idea. You’ll be judged for it, I don’t want you going to high school like that,’” Hooker said. “I don’t think [anyone treats me differently]. It’s not as bright and obvious as some of my other friends’, so I just don’t think people are as judging about it.”

According to Pettingell, students are generally welcoming of bright hair coloring. “Usually [people] just say, ‘Oh, that’s a cool hair color,’ or ‘I love your hair,’” she said.

Fried said in his experience, some have not been as accepting of his hair color. “Sometimes when I’m walking down the street, people I don’t know will actually move their children away from me and people stare sometimes,” he said, “but I don’t really care.”

English teacher Jodi Daynard, who has a streak of purple dye in her hair, said that despite any negative response, people should not be afraid to be themselves through their hair color, which is temporary. “I think for me personally, I always felt there was something a little different about me,” she said. “I’m creative and a little bit zany in my personality, and the purple just kind of lets me show it. You get to express your inner self.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Every issue, The Roar publishes a different anonymous student’s perspective on relationships. The views expressed in the “Relationships Column” do not reflect the official views of The Lion’s Roar, nor are they intended as a guide or source of advice for others.

My first relationship began with dim lights shining and Flo Rida blasting as Lauren* and I celebrated the accomplishments of the bar mitzvah boy.

I was dancing with her best friend until the dee jay announced the final “snowball,” after which I was with Lauren for the rest of the party. I made out with her before she left, but there was a mutual agreement that we would not make anything more of it. To our dismay, we ended up together for the following weekends until we became officially exclusive (as if we were not before). Nearly every day for a year, Lauren and I would visit the Newton Centre Playground and just do whatever “dumb shit” we could think of while simultaneously building an irrevocable dependence on each other. Then, we got bored and broke up.

Of course, Lauren and I were back together within 24 hours of our breakup because being separated was intolerable, but our previously impenetrable relationship had been breached. Before we knew it, the rush of being in a new recovering relationship faded, and we returned to the mundane routine of each other’s company.

Then, high school hit the two of us, and it hit us hard. I watched as Lauren became less and less like her middle school self: cutting her hair, changing her friends and losing who she was. After our second breakup, our relationship became significantly weaker. Lauren and I could no longer stand to be together for multiple months. Never before had we been angry with each other.

Our relationship dynamic had turned from on-and-off to a limbo-like feeling. Every time we had broken up I would run to her house, apologize and tell her how we could change. She would always accept what I had to say because we both knew that we were better together.

Then one day, Lauren didn’t feel like it anymore. I made it only two months before I started missing her. The threeyear anniversary of our first encounter approached, and I figured it was the perfect time to tell her how felt. I bought Lauren her favorite meal from Tango Mango, and we sat and talked for hours. I walked her back home and hugged her, when she started crying into my shirt. I told her how I used to think about her and how our memories at the playground will forever haunt me. Lauren rejected the thought.

I attempted to get her back for the rest of sophomore year until my realization: she was no longer in any way the Lauren I had dated. I still love the middle school Lauren, but that girl does not exist anymore and I have finally accepted that. I’ll always remember that the risks accompanying young dating are substantial because of the inevitable changes that come with growth. *Name has been changed to protect identity

16

october 10, 2012

features

Patience through the ages

The Avenue to

Opening Night

Lili Kadets

The Quotation Collector

“Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.” - Titus Maccius Plautus (254 – 184 BCE) Although Plautus spoke about patience before the Common Era, this virtue is still important today in a world of instant messaging, instant meals and instant prizes. So, despite the current fall weather, I’ve decided to reflect on what I learned about good ol’ fashioned patience this summer.

I spent my summer deep in the woods of New Hampshire as a camp counselor for fifth graders. I passed my days on the beautiful shores of Lake Potanipo as a swim instructor. I was immersed in the nuances of bunk life, the hum of the dining hall and the chirping of the crickets at night — the true essence of camp. That’s 7 weeks in a (very, very small) nutshell.

This summer, however, was different from previous ones. Not only was I in charge of other people’s precious children, but this summer was also my first without the happy-go-lucky attitude of a carefree camper and my first extensive adventure without the support of my twin sister. The tasks were demanding and exhausting, exhilarating and scary. Did I expect this pressure? Are my comments typical of a first year counselor? I think so.

Yet, I felt qualified for my job. I was excited to welcome young kids to camp life, to teach old songs, to eradicate home sickness and sadness, to share my appreciation for swimming and, above all, to enjoy camp for another two months. But, as prepared as I thought I was, I did not expect such an overwhelming need for patience.

Every day I asked my campers whether or not they had brushed their teeth and made their beds. I asked them whether or not the toilet was clean and the floor was swept, whether or not their shoes were tied, their shirts folded or their envelopes sealed. I always asked more than once. And when the answer was no, all I could do was ask again, offer my assistance and wait. If a camper was homesick, crying, upset or frustrated, all I could do was give a hug and wait for her to feel better.

If America “Runs on Dunkin’,” then camp runs on patience. And if camp is a little mini universe, a place where kids test out what life will be like in the future, then the world must run on patience too.

When a camper refuses to brush his or her teeth or pass the ketchup, responding with an act of frustration will end only in disaster. Tough situations are about keeping your cool and holding back that inner aggravation you’re dying to unleash.

So, now it’s October, and you’re annoyed at me for bringing back nostalgic memories of summer camp. But before you go and call up your camp friends in tears because you miss those late nights in the wilderness, remember that the patience you and I practiced at camp carries on into the school year too. Some things are out of our control, and patience may never fully resolve an issue, but it sure does help curb disaster.

Maybe Plautus learned about patience at some ancient summer camp.

Anything’s possible, right?

Briyana Willis ‘13 (left), Alex Lau ‘13

Student actors prepare for “Avenue Q, School Edition,” which opens on Oct. 11

Sam Fidler ‘15

Conrad Buys, ‘13 photos by Yu-Ching Chang

South welcomes freshmen with open arms Jill Oliver & Feli Kuperwasser Features Contributors

Walking through one of South’s many crowded corridors, Nick Koci said he often feels hopelessly lost but is comforted by the knowledge that surrounding upperclassmen will happily offer directions. “[The older students] are really nice to the freshmen,” he said. “On the first day of school, I got lost 20 times, and the only way I found my classes was because the juniors and seniors helped me out.”

History teacher Faye Cassell, who is new to South this year, said it can be difficult to adjust to South’s expansive campus.

“For freshmen, [the size of the school] might be a little overwhelming,” she said.

According to Koci, South’s upperclassmen and teachers make a clear effort to provide new students with much

needed social and academic support.

“I do feel safe [at South],” he said, “from what I’ve seen and … learned [South] seems like a good environment where people won’t reject me if I have something different to say.”

Freshman Brianna Rivers agreed that South offers just enough support to help students while letting them maintain their independence. “[In] high school, you don’t have the teachers always there [by your side],” she said. “You have more responsibility, but there are teachers there to support you when you need help.”

Freshman Jen Rosenthal said she is looking forward to her coming years at South. “I am excited to see what I’ll be like in four years — how I’ll change and how my learning

and my friends will affect me,” she said.

Koci said he is also excited to see how he will change.

“You come into high school looking for your way ... [and] you come out of high school having found your way,” he said.

graphic by David Gorelik

october 10, 2012

Isaiah Freedman is...

features

17

Every issue, The Roar randomly selects a student and explores what makes him or her unique.

Freshman Isaiah Freedman brings quiet passion to his interests in acting, animals and travel

By Caroline Zola photo courtesy of Isaiah Freedman

Freshman Isaiah Freedman starred in a play last year at The Park School in Brookline, and he is now acting in South’s freshman play, which will run from Nov. 15 to 17.

W

hen he was four years old, freshman Isaiah proached me and really made me feel welcome, so [he’s] a the camp. “Any time I see him, he’s just one of those guys Freedman spoke at his older brother, junior great guy.” who’s always pretty even-keeled, happy,” Lipof said. “He’s Jacob Freedman’s, sixth birthday party. “This This year, Isaiah said that he faced a similar tranalways interested in everybody having a good time and animal guy came in at my birthday party and had snakes sition, coming from The Park School, a small private getting along. He’s just a really positive guy.” and lizards [to show] to all the kids,” Jacob said. “Isaiah middle school in Brookline, to South, a large public high According to Isaiah, beyond his time at camp, nujust stands up and makes this comment about the crocoschool. The transition has been especially difficult consid- merous family trips have also influenced his perspective. dilian family, and he basically shocked the guy who was ering his quiet personality, Isaiah said. “[Being shy] made Since 2000, Isaiah has traveled to 10 foreign countries as giving the animal talk.” high school a little tough at first, and middle school hard well as destinations across America. “I really like going to Isaiah said that despite his shy personality, he at first [too]. After I made friends it’s been good.” foreign countries,” Isaiah said. “[Each country is] differhas maintained a positive attitude and outlook, gaining Jacob said that over time, Isaiah has broken out of ent. Costa Rica was great because there’s tons of wildlife. confidence and remarkable memories from his work with his shell. “He really wasn’t willing to try new things, but I Yellowstone was great because there was all that cool animals since that birthday party. Participaterrain.” tion in theater, years at summer camp and Cohen agreed that travel is an He’s always interested in everybody having a good time travels to foreign countries have also been important part of Isaiah’s life. “I do think and getting along. He’s just a really positive guy. among his formative experiences, according it’s important for kids to experience other to Isaiah. cultures and see other parts of the world, - Mark Lipof, director of Camp Micah Lisa Cohen, Isaiah’s mother, said that Isaiah has partly because it makes them appreciate always loved working with animals. “If he sees an animal think he’s gotten over that a little bit. At The Park School, what they have,” he said. “Most people don’t have what we suffering or in pain he always wants to help,” Cohen said. he took up wrestling for a year, … he joined the play and have in Newton.”

“He won’t kill a spider; he’ll take it outside.” For his bar also did tech theater for Park, and this year he’s doing the Jacob said that Isaiah’s travel experiences have mitzvah project, Isaiah volunteered at an animal shelter freshman play.” shaped his brother’s passion for wildlife. “He’s really into and two years later, still stops by occasionally.

His eight years as a camper at Camp Micah, a co-ed animals, and I think what really cemented that…[was] Isaiah’s friend, Carter Wilcox, a freshman at Milton overnight camp in Maine, have also opened opportunities trips to foreign countries,” Jacob said.

Academy, said that the compassion Isaiah shows toward for Isaiah to make both art and friends. “[Camp Micah It is Isaiah’s personality, however, that will be his animals extends into his relationships with other people. has] a really good arts programs … that I really like,” lasting legacy, Lipof said. “When your personality is such Wilcox was new to Isaiah’s school last year, and said that Isaiah said. “The counselors and the kids are really great. I that you are inclusive and friendly and not thinking the Isaiah helped ease his transition. “When I first came to have a bunch of friends there.” worst about everybody, but looking for the best, I think [The Park School], I didn’t really know anyone,” Wilcox Mark Lipof, director of Camp Micah, said that you just make a positive impact, and that’s really who he said. “Isaiah was one of the first few people who apIsaiah’s quiet personality has had a positive impact on is,” he said.

sports volume 29

issue 3

October 10, 2012

page

18

BLITZ

ALL

OUT

Football players seek a stronger showing this season

photos by James Wang

Led by quarterback Nick Heras, South’s football team defeated Boston Latin 28-26 in its second win of the season during a “Friday Night Lights” home game played on Sept. 21.

Ben Tuval & Brian Yoffe Sports Editor, Sports Contributor

By the end of its second game this season, South’s football team had already surpassed last year’s 0-11 record, and the team now stands at 2-3.

Sophomore and varsity starting quarterback Nick Heras said he felt cautiously optimistic.

“The team has potential, but we’re still not there yet,” Heras said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we have a lot of great players.”

Football players are aiming not just for improvement but excellence as they move away from 2011’s disappointments, according to Heras and his teammates.

Senior and football captain Sam Houston-Read said that any victories his team encounters this season will be due in large part to the efforts of coach Ted Dalicandro.

“Coach D. is great. Even if you mess up, he can tell you what you can do better,” Houston-Read said. “He makes it fun, [which is] the most important thing.

He makes you want to be on the field.

He’s a great guy [who] works harder than anyone else.”

According to Dalicandro, strong student leadership and a focus on team playing will ultimately determine the success of the football program this year. “[We have] … a great senior class, and our captains are fantastic,” Dalicandro said. “The focus this year is on the team above all else. I think that’s a huge step in

the right direction for this program. It’s about Newton South football, not anyone’s individual stats or what college they’ll go to.”

Dalicandro also said that coming away from last season, younger players will now be able to make greater positive contributions. “A lot of young guys played last year, so they have a lot of experience,” he said. Among these young players is Heras, who played on the junior varsity team last year.

[Nick Heras] can do so much. He can run. He can throw. He makes the offense click. He has a special talent, and he does a lot with that talent.

- Ted Dalicandro, football coach Heras spent his eighth grade year at IMG Academy, a Florida boarding school, training with Chris Weinke, the 2000 Heisman Trophy winner and former Carolina Panthers quarterback.

Despite Dalicandro’s emphasis on team playing, the coach said that Heras could be key to South’s football program coming off of a losing year.

“He can do so much. He can run. He can throw. He makes the offense click. He has a special talent, and he does a lot with that talent,” Dalicandro said.

Heras’ mother, Laura Heras, said

that her son will add to the pre-existing group dynamic necessary for a winning record. “Football is a team sport, but Nick can bring his enthusiasm, leadership and football experience to the Newton South football team,” she said.

According to Dalicandro, Heras represents the changes South’s football program has undergone since last season.

“He’s got the alpha male instinct of wanting to win and to be the best. It’s rare to find, especially in football. We lacked that last year,” Dalicandro said.

According to Houston-Read, veteran players who are seeking to come back stronger from last season have also devoted significant time to skill improvement.

“Once spring sports end, you focus on football for the next school year,” he said. “That’s longer [time to train] than any other sport.”

Sophomore and varsity football player Liam Brandel said that with this dedicated training, victories are sure to come. “This team has a lot of potential and can win almost any game,” he said.

Heras agreed that his team’s early victories are an indicator of its abilities and said that he and his teammates intend to turn the reputation of South’s football program on its head. “[We want to] be a real contender, not have teams look at us and write us off as a win. Those days need to stop,” Heras said. “We need to start showing them they can’t just show up to our home field and walk all over us.”

WATCH THE

LIONS

COMPETE 10/13 Weston @Newton South 1:00 P.M. 10/20 Waltham @Leary Field 1:30 P.M. 10/26 Wayland @Wayland 7:00 P.M. 11/2 Bedford @Bedford 6:30 P.M. 11/10 Acton-Boxborough @Newton South 1:00 P.M. 11/22 Lincoln-Sudbury @Lincoln-Sudbury 10:00 A.M.

october 10, 2012

sports

UST Can’t get

En ugh Kim Desto, the new girls field hockey coach, has inspired her players to give it their all during practices, even when offered the option of days off

photo courtesy of the Newton TAB

On Sept. 21 the field hockey team defeated Brookline 1-0 for its first win of the season, improving their record to 1-1-5.

The prospect of down time elicits groans from South’s field hockey team. The players are practicing fervently and asking for more.

“We have kids asking us if we can have optional practices on days off,” head coach Kim Desto said. “That’s a huge compliment.”

Both the varsity and junior varsity teams put these extra practices to the test on Sept. 21, each winning games against Brookline, victories players said they hoped would be the first of many this season.

After a 0-17 season last year, field hockey players from both teams said they are looking to Desto, who is coaching at South for the first time this year, to continue turning the team around.

Although Desto coached field hockey at Assumption College in 2003, she said her core knowledge comes from the experience she gained playing field hockey.

“Almost all of my experiing abilities, Desto has also ence comes from playing, contributed to improved team which I still do, year-round,” chemistry. She said that the Desto said. team has become better at Since coming to South, working together during their Desto said she has been emgames. phasizing skill development.

“We’re a lot more close“[The new coaching staff] knit and positive during our really worked on fundamentals games,” Mount said. “It’s just because in the past we hadn’t overall a better atmosphere.” been Siltaught verman the right agreed You can tell this team is way,” with getting fired up, hungry sophoMount, to score goals and win more saying Emily that team some games Silverman dynamsaid. ics have - Kim Desto, field hockey coach Acstrengthcording ened. to Desto, Silverman also said the team only with sufficient knowledge has been growing closer over of the game can field hockey the season. players possibly hope to win “Everyone is a lot more games.“It’s important to master spirited this year, and we are all the fundamentals of the sport getting really excited,” she said. and be well-prepared,” Desto “We’re bonding as a team.” said.

Desto said she senses Sophomore Julia Mount her team’s eagerness to make said that beyond her teacha strong showing on the field.

“You can tell this team is getting fired up, hungry to score goals and win some games,” Desto said. “We back them up with this one hundred percent.”

Senior and field hockey captain Maggie Whalen said she is pretty hopeful that Desto’s leadership will help her team make positive strides this season. She also hopes that the changes the team undergoes this year will affect them for the seasons to come.

“We’re looking to get this program off to a better start for the future,” Whalen said.

Making a name for South’s field hockey team is an important goal, according to junior Melanie Gundersheim, who is the only junior playing field hockey. She said she believes in the team’s potential to rise to the top.

“We can rise to the top and actually be seen as a Newton South sports team,” Gundersheim said. “I hope our fans come out and see that.”

Returning to the gridiron

19

Brendan Duggan Sports Columnist

It’s that time of the year again. Football season, fantasy football and Sunday night dinners in front of the television have come back our way. We’re making sure to get homework done early to watch the Monday night football game.

For us New England Patriots fans, last year’s Super Bowl loss was depressing.

Watching Eli Manning pull off a last-minute touchdown drive for the second time in five years was sickening. As the new season rolls around, I’m expecting the Patriots to bring a high level of performance once more.

Aside from the NFL, college and high school football bring just as much excitement. The best thing about these programs is watching players give their all on the field without million dollar incentives. The players instead gain experience, memories and pride. College and high school athletes also have to stay clean and keep their grades up if they want to keep playing.

This summer, the NCAA increased student athletes’ minimum eligible GPA from 2.0 to 2.3. To South students, a 2.3 GPA may not seem particularly high, but some aspiring athletes do struggle to achieve grades high enough for NCAA eligibility.

Student athletes might not have had access to committed educators or sufficient resources in high school, and hours spent on the field take away from study time.

South football players must have a C average or above in all their classes to be eligible for sports. Like those on college teams, they also have to make some commitment to academics if they want to participate in athletics.

All of this behind-the-scenes effort is not lost on me as I watch football players run across my TV screen. But the perfect balance of a football game can be a distraction from just about any other thought. In football, scoring a touchdown doesn’t happen every 15 seconds like scoring in basketball, nor does it happen once or twice every 90 minutes like scoring in soccer. Unlike in other sports, there is no time for standing around in football.

America is addicted to this perfect game. People come from near and far to watch their favorite professional teams in harsh weather conditions. Entire universities come together as one to cheer on their football players.

The Super Bowl is the most-watched sporting event in our country. Even when the game itself is not on air, you will be watching hilarious ads. Companies know that millions of viewers watch the Super Bowl and take advantage of this American pastime to get the word out on their products.

Some say that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but I’d say that title goes to the start of football season. On all three levels — high school, college and professional — players are getting ready to put in serious effort on the field and, hopefully, in the classroom too. Die-hard fans will cry, players will jump for joy and Cinderella stories will come to be. So, South, are you ready for some football?

‘Cause I sure am.

20

sports

october 10, 2012

Making a Point P South fencers defend the legitimacy of their sport and explain its effects and its benefits in their lives Lizzie Fineman & Alexa Miller

Sports Reporter, Sports Contributor Junior Jason Meng’s first exposure to fencing was at the age of 9, when he watched sword fights in the movies “The Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Star Wars.”

Meng’s mother Sorenna Chen said that from the start Meng’s first fencing class he fell in love with the sport. “He thinks that is the sport for him, for his personality and everything,” she said.

According to Meng and other South community members, the high level of training and the positive environment of fencing help create a strong sense of community.

Senior Mika Gross said she started fencing in order to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, ‘11 graduate Sammie Gross. She said her fencing classes at Boston Fencing Club (BFC) in Waltham usually involve several different training exercises.

“We have a pretty solid workout schedule that consists of a lot of different

agility and mental training,” she said. “We do things called developmental exercises, which are things that seem like games that you play that train [your] coordination.”

Meng also said he keeps a routine that ranges from two to two-and-a-half hours per day. “I do a lot of footwork and a lot of fencing with my teammates. On the weekends I usually go running and do sprints and lift weights to keep my body in shape. I always watch what I eat and stay healthy,” he said.

Gross’s mother, Marina Gross, said that the skills gained from fencing could also be applied to other things outside of the sport.

“There’s a lot of strategy involved and so the mental development [has] been incredible,” she said. “As with many other sports, [fencing] teaches you other skills in life that come along with being an athlete: how to get your head in the game, how to stay focused in a tournament [and] how to control your nerves — all of those skills come together in a sport.”

Senior Jake Gitlin said he attributes some of his success as a wrestler to the training he received during his four-year career as a fencer. “[In fencing], you have to be accurate when you hit. But you also have to know what to do if someone tries to go for your lower torso or your chest or your arm. It’s a big mind game,” he said.

“You need to be athletic but you also need to be smart — [you have to] think on the move.”

Despite the strenuous training program, Marina said that she does think fencing has a very high risk of injury.

“Fencing is a very structured sport as long as you follow the rules and you do it the way you’re supposed to,” she said. “There’s always a slight chance of being hurt but it’s not something that I worry about.”

Meng said that after moving from Texas to Newton and settling in at Zeta Fencing Club in Natick, he has noticed a large difference in the quality of coaching and attitude toward fencing here.

“In Massachusetts and up North in general, fencing is a lot more popular,” Meng said. “My coach is phenomenal

compared to back in Texas where I barely got any training. I love it here.”

Marina also said that the coaches provide excellent training and a sense of community for her daughters. “The coach there is unbelievable. He is a multiple time Olympian and he is incredible at his coaching technique,” she said. “Aside from making it amazing in terms of building the skills, he makes it a lot of fun. The girls really love it and they feel like they have a community there.”

Gross and Meng agreed with Marina that despite the individuality of the sport, fencing clubs foster tight-knit relationships.

Meng said that when he travels internationally to compete in fencing competitions, he spends much of his time abroad with friends that he had previously met at various events.

Gross said that fencing and her club has helped her form meaningful connections with most her teammates.

“You rely on each other in your best and worst times,” she said. “It’s a really great community.”

South soccer team plays North in rivalry game Yu-En Chang & David Kim Sports Contributors

With supportive fans cheering on the sidelines, the varsity boys soccer team tied with North 0-0 while the JV boys soccer team won 1-0 at North on Sept.16.

Both teams look forward to the annual game against North each year and consider it a friendly yet intense rivalry.

Senior and varsity captain Robin Kurosawa considers pride an important part of the North-South game. “We’re looking to beat them every year, just like in every other game, and it is always nice to have the bragging rights [over] the only other team in Newton,” he said.

Sophomore Sam Detjen agreed and

said that a friendly rivalry exists between North and South’s JV boys soccer teams as well. “It’s my first time playing North, but I wanted to win and prove that we’re the best in town,” he said.

Glenn Brack, parent of sophomore Danny Brack, said that the game was mostly about bragging rights. “I think there’s [a] lower level of hostility but an increased sense of pride,” he said. “[The soccer team] wants to beat North to say they’re the best in Newton.”

Varsity coach John Conte hoped that South players wouldn’t treat the NorthSouth game any different than any other game, because many of them recognize familiar faces on North’s soccer teams. “I like to think our team is equally motivated

to play hard and play well in every game,” he said.

According to Conte, another important aspect of the game was the sideline spirit, which he said can be just as competitive as the game itself. “I think that North traditionally has better school spirit when it comes to ... athletic events, as far as boys soccer goes,” Conte said.

Sophomore Griffin Connolly said South fans, unlike in previous years, showed just as much spirit as North fans at the annual rivalry game this year. South fans cheered throughout all of both games, but their South spirit really shone through as sophomore Kostas Kokovidis scored the winning goal for the JV team.

“It was very intense. Every second

[felt like] a game changer, and the South fans were very good at cheering on the South team[s]. We were all very proud of being there,” Connolly said.

Despite the increased energy surrounding the North-South rivalry, Conte hopes the team’s motivation will remain high for other games in the season. “I hope our kids get out there on the field and look at every game the same way and fight and work hard to get the results the best they can,” he said.

According to Detjen, the players have just the mindset Conte had hoped for. “We want to win to become the town’s best,” he said. “But we also want to win in every other game to be the best in our league.”

photo by Yu-Ching Chang

South’s varsity and JV boys soccer teams played against North on Sept 16. JV won their game but the varsity game ended in a tie, the scoreboard reading 0-0.

october 10, 2012

fun page

Columns, rows and squares Each take a digit, falling Between one and nine.

ROSSWORD

bad haiku by Tony Vashevko & Rob Hass puzzles courtesy of sudokuoftheday.com

EASY: 9 9

6

4

2

6

7

8

1

1

6

3

8

5

4

6

7

1 3

8 9

6

8

1

9

5

6

5

DIABOLICAL: 6

5

8

6

7

2 8 2

3

2

7

4

4 5

9 7 9

3

6

5

8

Word Search B S S C V V F K A I Z E W A

N O L G T A R I G M X O K W

9

8

2

4

2

N T E V P G W V M H G H F P

1

R H S A R A J W P L R R I I

E G T R I C K O R T R E A T

T O Y T H G I N T U O J F C

N U U H U G P P H I G A X H

A O P T U E D O G E M V O P

L T I G C A M Z I I L A Y F

O P L J A B L K L A W E P Q

3

45

4

C R O H D F O V S M U U R B

A J W K Y R C D A Q T O T R

J Q C G S Q T M L J B H Y N

6

7

8

DOWN:

11

9

In the spirit of Halloween, The Roar invites you to take some ghastly guesses at our wicked word search!

K W L T N F L Y H B O S A J

5

By Andreas Betancourt

1. ______ memory, aka photographic memory; referring to extraordinarily 12 13 vivid recall 15 14 14 16 2. Instant coffee packets, by Starbucks 17 18 3. Well-known tool, for cowboys 19 22 21 20 4. Hawaiian instrument 23 24 25 with four strings 5. One who lays rows of 28 25 26 24 27 hard material to cover various surfaces 29 6. A form of internet communication, abbr.

15.

Wintry mix ACROSS: 7. News article reporting on 1. Results in the develop- 17. 18th century Dutch set- an individual’s death, abbr. tlers in South Africa ment of new species 8. Conjuction, often pre19.

To vex 10. “Two,” for the ancient ceeded by “neither” 21.

A dove’s murmur Romans 16. A unit of Portugal’s pre11. With hand on hip and 23. Secular alternative to 28 Euro currency across elbow bent outward 17. McDonalds rival, abbr.

24.

Verb ending in “-ing” 12. Maiden, often in 18. Programs, verb used as a noun distress 20. A foul smell; to stink 13. The study of relation- 26. Gives birth to sheep 22. Suffix, for noble gases 28. Latin, “In the year of the 24. Maintains hair’s shape ships between countries, Lord,” abbr. abbr.

25. Long-tailed rodent; 29.

Physical support sys14. Country code for scoundrel tems for animals Spain 27. “I,” for Queen Elizabeth v

5

3

3

10

9

4

2

1

2

3 2

3

21

W R A L Q Y O Z F R O D I L

V P S G I L B I T S W E B Y

O U E Q E B E K D W P T V X

C E R Q Q H R N R P Z N F Z

M O B Q S L E C C G A U D F

O Y S V V I B F T Q A A R U

T H K T R B Y B C G C H O H

T I U F U X L A X Q F N Q C

K R J E H M L N I K P M U P

X C F G O G E F S I L U Y U

P G Q M T S J K A Z A C J U

1) Candy 2) Costume 3) Family 4) Flashlight 5) Friends 6) Ghost 7) Haunted House 8) Jack-O’-Lantern 9) Night 10) October 11) Party 12) Pillowcase 13) Pumpkin 14) Trick-Or-Treat 15) Walk 16) Witch

Embarrassing Roar Staff Photo of the Month:

Nagda is Bollywood’s latest star, gracing billboards across the globe.

volume 29

issue 3

怕planting seeds

october 10, 2012

for the

future

After 33 years in operation, the Newton Farmers’ Market continues to develop and branch out

The Newton Farmers’ Market promotes and supplies fresh and local produce while bringing together the Newton community.

Emily Ho

Sr. Community Editor Cars on their way to the Newton Farmers’ Market line the sides of Beacon Street every Tuesday. “I think it’s a social event for the city,” Market Manager Judy Dore said. “The customers come from everywhere, not just Newton.”

Although more than 30 years old, the Farmers’ Market continues to improve, according to its vendors and organizers.

At its inception in 1980, the Farmers’ Market was located at Newton City Hall by the War Memorial. After plans for a new Newton Library were made, Mayor Theodore Mann asked Dore to relocate the market.

“The farmers were very uneasy about moving,” Dore said. “They had their business, they had been there eight to nine years and they really were hesitant.”

After searching for a site, Dore and the Newton Parks and Recreation Department decided on Cold Spring Park on Beacon Street, only a quarter mile from City Hall.

Since then, the Farmers’ Market has expanded into two markets: one at Cold Spring Park on Tuesdays and one on California Street on Fridays. Both run from July to October.

The idea to open on Fridays has been part of the Farmers’ Market’s development, originating with Dore eight years ago. “There weren’t as many people coming from the different zip codes,” Dore said, “so I approached my boss, and I said I’d love to run [a market] on the other side of the city [on California Street].”

This second market runs on a smaller scale than the first. “I think we don’t get as many people because we’re on the edge of Watertown. Russo’s [a food market] is right up the street, and then we have a supermarket down the street, so there’s a lot of choices in that area,” Dore said.

History teacher Andrew Thompson agreed that the California Street market has room for future improvement. “I’d like to see that one as good as the one in Cold Spring Park,” he said.

Thompson said, however, that there is much to praise about both of the markets in their current forms. “It’s great to be able to get that fresher local produce,” Thompson said. “It’s tastier, it hasn’t traveled as far, it’s ecologically better and it’s nice to support local farmers.”

Farm owner and Farmers’ Market vendor Tom Ashley said customers appreciate what he does. “I think the people seem to appreciate being able to come here and get the freshest produce,” Ashley said.

“This market in particular has just about everything so [customers] can do almost all of their shopping in one place.”

Customers also get the chance to speak directly with vendors like Ashley.

“They may shop at Whole Foods, but they don’t know where the stuff is coming from,” he said. “They come here [and] they can talk to me. I grew all this stuff.”

According to senior Marlo Stein, though, farmers’ markets provide better atmospheres for shopping. “I like to try and get as much as our fresh vegetables as we can from the farmers market and not from a supermarket,” she said. “[The market is] incredibly important to me.”

Dore said that customers have grown attached to the Farmers’ Market.

“Usually if it’s raining, I don’t have as many people,” Dore said, “but customers are very loyal, and they know the farmers, and they do show.”

According to market vendor and coowner of Wally’s Wicked Goods Ice Cream and Treats, Anita Aldean, Dore looks for ways to improve the market every year. “[Dore] always seems to have great ideas about new vendors to bring in, new products and ways to position the market so that it will draw a wider range of people,” Aldean said. “The people you see here every day really value fresh produce and all of that, but by bringing such unique vendors like that vineyard and the cheese company this year, [Dore’s] actually appealing to a wider group within Newton.”

Just this year, Dore received permission to run a new indoor winter market in the Hyde Center on Lincoln Street.

“Indoor markets just started a few years ago, but looking around, we had nowhere in Newton where we could run an indoor market,” she said.

After finding the new indoor site in Newton Highlands, the new market will open from November until the summer market reopens in July.

According to vendors, the indoor site will further the Farmers Market’s past work in a new way. “[One goal is] to [educate more kids early] before they become long term consumers [to] support small farms, community culture and small businesses,” Aldean said. “[The market education is] starting now and educating the generation of consumers, so that’s great.”

photos by Emily Ho

community

october 10, 2012

23

ONE WORD, ONE COMMUNITY

D o UBT

Every issue, The Roar asks four members of the Newton community to expand upon a one-word prompt

Nancy Bauer

Sophia West

I am a philosophy professor, so it’s easy for me to write about doubt, since it has been the driving force of Western thought for the last half-millennium. The philosopher most associated with worrying about doubt is René Descartes, who wondered whether the science of his day was worth the name. In his time, there was no such thing as “the scientific method;” what counted as “knowledge” was often riddled with errors. So, Descartes decided he had to start from scratch: to figure out which of his beliefs about the world were actually true, he had to put all of them in doubt — even his belief that he himself existed.

What Descartes discovered, however, is that it’s impossible to doubt your own existence. Try it. Close your eyes and say to yourself, “I don’t exist.” In the very act of performing this doubting exercise, you will experience yourself as indubitably existing. Descartes used this discovery — “I think; therefore, I am” — as the basis for affirming many of his other beliefs. This affirmation, however, depended absolutely on his proof that God exists, which, notoriously, even committed theists find hopelessly weak. So, what Descartes inadvertently bequeathed to us is the doubt that perhaps only one of your beliefs is true: that you exist.

While it’s easy to get yourself in a skeptical mood, it’s hard to maintain it.

You’ve convinced yourself you can’t know whether anything outside of you exists, and then a text message dings in and you snap out of it. Doubt, however, is harder to erase when it comes to the existence of other people’s minds, which are fundamentally inaccessible to us. Descartes helps us to see how science alone can’t provide the antidote to this kind of doubt, which is, at the end of the day, blind faith and blind love.

As a writer and teenager, doubt is a constant in my life. I doubt whether my writing is any good, if I’ll ever be able to catch my latest flying trapeze trick and if my college essays will ever get better.

Doubt and anxiety are like sheets on a mattress; you don’t generally sleep on one without the other. But even without the added weight of anxiety, doubt is crippling.

While at Emerson College’s Creative Writers Workshop this past July, I realized that the only cure for doubt is to decide not to care about it. In my slam poetry class, my teacher, Regie, asked me to perform one of my poems. I felt really uncomfortable getting into my character because she was so unlike me, and I didn’t want to seem like an idiot in front of my friends. I didn’t think I could do it.

After a few awkward attempts, Regie told me to “try it like this” and read the first line of my poem in a seductive voice.

I figured, “Sure, why not? I’ll never read it like this outside of class anyway,” and so, for a joke, I put on the seductive voice that Regie had provided and just went for it. I thought people would laugh, and then I could get back to struggling with my performance.

But they didn’t laugh. My class thought my performance was fantastic.

So, perhaps I should revise my previous statement: the cure for doubt is laughter. If you can joke with yourself and use that humor to propel you forward, you’ll find new confidence within yourself.

Sometimes a lighter, more humorous atmosphere is all you need to expel your doubt and realize that you can do whatever you thought you couldn’t accomplish.

I take myself seriously, but now I don’t let that seriousness and doubt get in the way of my progress.

Member of NSHS Council

Class of 2013

Margaret Ford

Green Decade Programs Organizer Doubt is good. Without it, how would we learn anything beyond what others tell us? It is a key factor in all phases of our lives, although the cause or focus may change. Is the focus yourself? Others?

School? Marriage? Kids? Political candidates? Managing your money?

Doubt encourages you to seek more information in an effort to make the right decision. It can also become so overwhelming that you never reach a decision.

Think back to when you were younger.

How did you manage your doubt about your ability to ride a two-wheel bike? Or about petting a really big dog? Now, are you doubting that you’ll get into the college you want — or if you should even go to college? How will you handle jury duty decisions based on reasonable doubt?

I doubt that anyone reading this doesn’t have doubts; if you don’t, it’s time to change! Different people will always have different reasons for those all-toofamiliar feelings of uncertainty, distrust, disbelief or hesitation. The big questions deal with what to do about those feelings and the impact of your decisions on you and others: classmates, family, community and even the world. I think of doubt as a positive, providing an opportunity to learn how to judge people, situations and nature in a more informed and fair way. It’s not always easy. If I had the same doubts about myself now that I had in high school as a skinny, smart girl, I would not be the person I have become through the ups and downs that have been part of my life.

I’ve been lucky because of the friends, family, teachers, colleagues and others who have helped me with my doubts and decisions that allowed me to try things I would otherwise have lacked the confidence. For, as we all know, life’s a journey and finding answers makes it more interesting — no doubt about it!

Jack Lovett Class of 2014

Doubt is the interesting middle ground between fully believing and fully disbelieving, fully trusting and fully distrusting. Doubt seems to be a system built into our minds that prevents us from getting into sticky situations. Doubt is that mental wall that prevents us from standing on firm ground regarding a decision, an issue or a person. Doubt is one of those emotions built in by evolution to make sure we survive.

In my life, I have found that doubt certainly has a purpose and comes in handy. Doubt has prevented me from making some dumb decisions but at times has held me back from making better decisions.

One of the most important lessons I have ever learned in my life, though, is to never doubt myself. Never doubt who you are fundamentally, for that is not the kind of doubt that evolution intended to instill in us, but rather the kind of doubt that keeps us from achieving our dreams.

Self-doubt is the sort of doubt we need to trump with confidence in ourselves. We can only expect to achieve our dreams when we purge ourselves of crippling selfdoubt and replace it with true confidence and optimism. This concept applies not just to individuals, but also to our nation and world as a whole. If we plan on rising out of our current problems, whether they be economic, social or political, we must not doubt our ability to rise above. We must remove doubt from the American consciousness, so that we may do good and achieve peace and prosperity for ourselves and for posterity.

Next Issue’s Word:

Beauty

24

october 10, 2012

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