Volume 29, Issue 5 by The Lion's Roar

the LION’S

R AR

Non-Proﬁt Organization U.S. Postage PAID Boston, MA Permit No. 54523

Vol. XXIX · Issue V

Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper · Newton, MA · Established 1984 · January 8, 2013

Debate arises over history curriculum Hyunnew Choi & James Wu Sr. News Editor, Managing Editor

Changing FACE By Nathaniel Bolter and Sasha Kuznetsova

photo illustration by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan and Ravi Panse

South looks to increase number of minority staff members

ewton Public Schools recently issued an initiative to hire more minority educators (educators of any race other than Caucasian) in response to the decreasing number of minority staff members in leadership positions. According to the Strategic Recruitment and Diversity Update presented to the School Committee on Nov. 12, there are 228 minority faculty members employed by Newton schools, and administrators are hoping to increase that number by one percent in both of the next two years. Teachers and students said they believe this ini-

tiative will improve students’ education, primarily that of minority students. “From the faculty perspective, we can learn from each other, being from different cultures ... and I think that the students will feel that the environment is much more inclusive if the faculty reflects them,” METCO counselor Katani Sumner said. Assistant Director of Human Resources for Newton Public Schools Gil Lawrence said that though Newton has a relatively high representation of minorities compared to other school systems such as Brookline and Wellesley, the main difficulty stems from the

Critics of South’s history department have recently raised concerns over whether its curriculum is anti-Semitic. The debate first arose when sophomore Shiri Pagliuso and her father filed a complaint about an excerpt of the Arab World Studies Notebook (AWSN) assigned in her ninth grade history class last year. Part of the excerpt claimed that a Palestinian woman had been captured and tortured by Israeli Defense Force troops. The history department then reviewed the curriculum and removed the AWSN, stating that the text presented outdated and/or redundant information.

DAVID FLEISHMAN

We do not teach students that they should agree with every perspective and point of view they encounter in our classrooms; we are focused on teaching students how to think, rather than what to think.

small supply of qualified minority teachers. “The biggest problem that we have is that there has been a steady decline in the number of people of color going into education in college,” Lawrence said. According to Principal Joel Stembridge, hiring minorities is also difficult due to the competition among different schools to obtain minority teachers. He said that many teachers want to teach in areas where they grew up. “More candidates of color will want to return to teach in an urban area than want to

Administrators have stood by the history department and its handling of the curriculum. “While much of our [history curriculum] material is factual, we also present a range of opinions and perspectives,” Superintendent David Fleishman said in a statement to the School Committee. “We do not teach students that they should agree with every perspective and point of view they encounter in our classrooms; we are focused on teaching students how to think, rather than what to think.” History department head Jennifer Morrill added that the issue was resolved quickly and effectively. “I think that

MINORITY HIRES, 4

HISTORY, 2

An Evening of Remembrance

To pay respect to victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, the City of Newton hosted a vigil on Wednesday, Dec. 19, featuring a performance by student singers from Newton North and South more photos

photos by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Drunk driving The Roar investigates attitudes on driving under the influence

page

ASL Club

Students learn about American Sign Language and Deaf culture

page

Girls basketball The girls basketball team played Needham in the first game of the season

page

NEWS 2 EDITORIALS 6 OPINIONS 8 CENTERFOLD 12 FEATURES 15 SPORTS 19 COMMUNITY 22

news volume 29

issue 5

page

january 8, 2013

South Spots compiled by Roar editors

s a t P e h t g n i t Presen

graphic by Hyunnew Choi and Joe Joseph

Following complaints last year over materials in the history curriculum, discussion has arisen over how to teach controversial issues at South

Luke’s Lights Fundraiser In honor of ‘10 graduate Luke Voss-Kernan, who passed away last spring following a climbing accident, the Voss-Kernan family held a fundraiser to raise money for the Unite to Light foundation on Dec. 21. Unite to Light is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing low cost lighting to those without electricity and also eliminating the health and environmental issues associated with existing light sources. Jazz Night All jazz groups will peform at Newton North from 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17. The program will include music by Duke Ellington. Orchestra and Chorus Concert The Newton North and South choruses and orchestras will combine to perform Haydn’s “Mass in the Time of War.” The concert will take place in South on Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

HISTORY, from 1 this [incident] is an example of the system working. A parent was concerned about a piece of curriculum and asked a question about it, and we reviewed it and agreed that we could find a better source,” she said. “Even though the teacher used the article well in the sense that she pointed that sentence out to the kids and acknowledged that it was a strong, biased sentence and the point of her lesson wasn’t that sentence, we decided that the article didn’t fit our needs.” Charles Jacobs, founder of the David Project, an educational organization created to combat anti-Semitism in schools, is among those with renewed concern over the curriculum. He said that his foundation, along with members of the Newton community and other non-Newton residents, has requested an apology letter to students who read excerpts from the AWSN last year, as well as access to curriculum documents as part of a thorough review of South’s history curriculum. “[The information in the article] was a lie and was brought into the class, so … now we want [administrators] to explain how Saudi propaganda penetrated Newton high schools. We want them to be the real educators here and educate the community on how this happened,” Jacobs said. “How it happened is that there is a well-funded attempt to poison people’s minds with propaganda in schools.” Although the community members have requested the public release of curriculum materials, Principal Joel Stembridge said that the school requires certain finances in order to adhere to those requests. “I think that the community has the right to review and see the curriculum we teach, but if [community members] are requesting every single worksheet any history teacher has ever used in this curriculum, there’s a certain cost associated with that,” he said. “We have to pay the teachers to take hours out of their day to make copies of their curriculum.” According to Stembridge, one request for the release of materials, which is allowed under the Freedom of Information act, amounted to a cost of around $4,000, which those requesting the document would not pay. School Committee Chair Claire Sokoloff added that because the excerpt was presented as a biased text, no further restitution is necessary. “I don’t think there’s

any apology needed,” Sokoloff agreed. “The School Committee stands by the school, because the piece [was given with] context when presented to the students.” School Committee Vice-Chair Matt Hills also said that the community members are targeting the wrong entity by raising concerns at School Committee meetings. He said that School Committee should not play a role in determining the actions of South’s history department. “Whether or not the curriculum should be revised should not be an issue for the School Committee, unless we at the School Committee think there’s a systematic problem,” he said. “If there is a specific issue with a specific text that member of the community is raising an issue about, it would be poisonous and dysfunctional for the School Committee to step in.” While such requests at School Committee meetings have begun to die down,

If you are to suggest that history is a story that will conform to your world view and will never be upsetting, then you’re not teaching history right. - Jamie Rinaldi, history teacher the incidents have sparked debate over how teachers should present historical information to students. Jacobs said that in order to teach history, teachers must be able to make the distinction between teaching contentious material and inaccurate information. “To say that Jews tortured and killed women in jails in Israel, that’s not controversial. That’s a lie,” he said. “If [teachers] don’t understand the difference between a controversy and a lie, they shouldn’t be teaching.” Sophomore Hannah Elbaum said that how teachers present controversial material is important to whether students perceive it as fact or opinion. “It is more about how the teacher presents the information and chooses to teach it,” she said. “We learned about the Holocaust, and we looked at Nazi propaganda. It is very anti-Semitic, but our teacher presented it by saying we should be aware of how anti-Semitic it is. With that in mind, we looked at it, and as long as [information is] presented like that, it’s fine.” Senior Juliette Glickman agreed that teachers must classify historical pieces correctly. “Throughout my history career at

South, there’s always been biased articles,” senior Juliette Glickman agreed. “But as long as it’s factual and we are presented biases from both sides, I think it’s okay.” Junior Andrew Cheung said that the critics do not recognize the context of the classroom. “Neither the curriculum nor the teacher [is] promoting any particular viewpoint, but they’re exposing us to different viewpoints and showing us what different people thought on a single topic,” he said. “We had debates in class, so if you didn’t like a certain viewpoint, you could argue your point of view.” According to Glickman, the issue with Israel-Palestine debates in the classroom is the lack of a Palestinian viewpoint, which may make such arguments sound antiSemitic. “The real problem underlying the situation is the lack of a Palestinian voice in the community in general. The fact that this was even made such an issue and considered by the school board is a reflection of that,” she said. “There is a very strong and vocal Israeli presence at Newton South that I feel is rarely countered by a Palestinian perspective. If anything, students need exposure to the other half of the argument.” Jacobs said that despite representation of differing viewpoints, there is bias when it comes to teaching Islam and Judaism in schools when compared to other heavy, controversial topics. “[The school] would never in an exercise allow something that was horrific about any other group or minority. [Teachers] wouldn’t allow racists to bring in a [racist] pamphlet about black people and wouldn’t allow that type of thing to come into the classroom and let the students figure out for themselves if it’s true or not,” Jacobs said. History teacher Jamie Rinaldi said, however, that understanding conflict is a key component of teaching history. “If you are to suggest that history is a story that will conform to your world view and will never be upsetting, then you’re not teaching history right ... conflict is at the center of the study of history and if you don’t understand that notion and you don’t make that central to the study of history, you’re not teaching history,” he said. “In almost every topic that I teach about, there are two, three or four sides of the story, and we entertain those [sides]. I understand if students aren’t happy, pleased or might even strongly disagree with certain perspectives, but that’s part of how we make sense of the past.”

news

january 8, 2013

Anonymous compliments page aims to improve South Julie Olesky Sr. News Editor

ANew Record Increased participation in annual CD exchange fosters holiday spirit

Sasha Kuznetsova & Rachel McVittie

News Reporter, News Contributor Student participation in South’s Annual Holiday Mix CD Exchange significantly increased since last year; a total of 336 students participated in the event on Dec. 20, while only around 100 students did in 2011. This year’s number of participants is the highest ever for the event, according to the event’s coordinator, senior Yoonchan Choi. The Annual Holiday Mix CD Exchange is a student-run event that gives students the opportunity to create personalized CDs for another participant. Choi said that the event spreads holiday spirit among participating students, which is what draws people to the exchange year after year. “The main reason [people participate] is simply to spread some holiday cheer,” he said. “Nobody expects that their CD will contain a perfect playlist of their favorite songs, but the element of mystery and the excitement of creating the mix itself are what draw people to this event every year.” Senior Alona Meirav said she is enthusiastic about the exposure and sharing of new music that the event promotes each year. “Everyone loves music, and I’m always open to finding and discovering new types of music,” she said. “I think it’s a really great way to ... give other people a chance to see what [genres of music] you are into.” The widespread appeal of varying types of music

photo illustration by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan

has motivated other students to participate as well. “Because there are so many different genres of music, a genre that I may not necessarily be into may end up on my CD, and I can fall in love with the artist that way,” sophomore Emma Spector said. According to sophomore Jasper Primack, the unknown identity of the CD maker adds to the appeal of the event. “It’s quite exciting receiving music from an anonymous source,” he said. Junior Leda Olia, who participated in the event for the first time this year, said, however, that underclassmen may find the event to be intimidating; in past years, she discovered that to be the case. “I was scared of it at first. I thought that my musical taste was not as good as everybody else’s,” she said. Spector said she appreciates that all grades are able to participate in a school wide event, one that allows participants to connect with students of different age. “Last year, I made a mix CD for a senior whom I had never heard of before ... but it was still really awesome that I got, in a way, to meet [an upperclassman].” Choi said that he hopes for this event to continue to attract a larger, more diverse group of students every year. “It’s rare that people from all grades and different social groups come together to participate in an activity like this,” he said. “I’m happy to see that this event got such a positive response from the student population, and I hope that this trend [of increasing participation] continues in the coming years.”

Two students created Nshs Compliments, a Facebook page where students can submit anonymous compliments about their friends or fellow peers on Nov. 27. Inspired by a similar page created by North students, South students Benjamin* and Kathleen*, who asked to remain anonymous, wanted to use social media to achieve good and to “unleash South’s great potential for kindness.” Since the page’s inception, Kathleen and Benjamin have posted compliments every day, and the page continues to gain popularity, accumulating over 500 friends in fewer than two weeks. According to Benjamin, maintaining his and Kathleen’s anonymity is important because they believe that is the only way students will trust the page. “The hardest part has been partaking in conversation about the secret identity of Nshs Compliments and pretending to not know,” Kathleen said. “Even my best friends are unaware, which makes me feel like I have a powerful secret. At first this was the worst part, but it has gotten easier as the page has become more ingrained in our school’s culture.” According to Benjamin, only six other students know their identities. Junior Sophie Cash said she agrees that it is important that the identity of the students behind Nshs Compliments remain unknown. “People like the anonymity of it. They like being able to compliment people without knowing who [Nshs Compliments is],” Cash said. “If people knew who was running [the page], then they would have reservations about saying that to someone they know.” Although senior Noah Rivkin likes the idea of Nshs Compliments, he said he remains skeptical about its anonymity. “You shouldn’t feel scared to compliment someone to their face,” he said. Junior Liana Butchard said, however, that the anonymity of the compliments allows students to feel more comfortable with complimenting students that they are not necessarily close with. “[Anonymous compliments are] good because people are able to say really nice things to people they normally would not talk to and make them feel good,” she said. Kathleen agreed with Butchard that the positive impacts of compliments outweigh any of the possible negative effects of the Facebook page. “A small compliment can mean so much more to someone than we often realize,” Kathleen said. “Based on the feedback we’ve gotten, the page seems to be fairly successful in making people’s days, which drives us to continue it. If we can make people happy, it has to be worth it. Everyone at our school has some redeemable quality and they deserve to know that.” * Names have been changed to protect students’ identities

Ask The Vice Principal

The Roar asks: What does South want to know about Vice Principal Mary Scott?

graphic by Joe Joseph & Ravi Panse

Freshman Miguel Alvarez wants to know: What is your favorite type of music?

Sophomore Isa Mustafayev wants to know: What is your favorite character from a book?

MS: I love rock ‘n’ roll. Give me the Beatles, the Rolling Stones; that’s my type of music.

MS: Madame Bovary because of her strength. I like tough women.

Junior Destaye Bereket wants to know: What extracurricular activities were you involved in?

Senior Mika Gross wants to know: What was the craziest thing you did in high school?

MS: Well, in college I was on the sailing team and I wrote for the newspaper.

MS: I went to New York with my religious group, and they trusted us to stay in our rooms at night, [but] we went out every single night.

news

january 8, 2013

WHAT’S

EW?

The New Art Center in Newton recently held an open house and holiday craft fair, where visitors had the opportunity to view exhibitions and participate in art-related activities on Dec. 9

photos by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan

Students, faculty push for new hiring proposal MINORITY HIRES, from 1

come and teach in a suburban area,” Stembridge said. Lawrence, who plays a role in the hiring process for minority educators, said that he tries to reach out to a large number of people to show them the appeal of teaching in Newton. “I try to get [minority candidates] to think of becoming more diverse in the experiences that they have [through teaching] in an area like Newton.” History teacher Lily Eng said that though she recognizes the school system’s efforts to increase the number of minority teachers, there are still evident disparities within certain departments. For example, she said that the English department had never had a minority teacher until this academic year. Stembridge said that he would like to create a more diverse teaching staff. In order to do so, he and the administrative staff value individuality in the hiring process. “We take into consideration a person’s background and experience, ... who they are as an individual,” Stembridge said. Freshman Matthew Aviles, who considers himself latino, agreed that the student-teacher relationship is critical in education. “If you have a good relationship with a teacher, it’s easier to talk to them and get help,” Aviles said. Eng said that minority teachers are able to make a distinct connection with minority students that a majority of teachers cannot. “I think minority students feel like [nonminority teachers] can’t quite understand their culture and motivations for how they go about things,” Eng said. Aviles said that minority students like him indeed experience a certain understanding with minority teachers

of the same race as themselves. “[Minority students] sort of see where [minority teachers] are coming from because [they grew up] in the way that the students are growing up in now. So with a Spanish teacher, I’ll see the same teaching styles in the way I see my dad talking to me,” Aviles said. In addition, Eng said that because South has a highachieving atmosphere, those who she said do not typically conform to that model, specifically minorities, especially benefit from strong student-teacher connections. “I think for a lot of the kids who don’t fit the Newton South nice category box that we have laid out, this is a huge thing missing for them, ” Eng said. Senior Ashton Andrews also said that more minority teachers at South would affect minority students’ ability to engage in their classes. “I feel like having [a teacher] that may look like them may make [minority students] feel more comfortable in the class and more willing to participate,” she said. Eng also said minority teachers play a large part as role models for minority students such as herself. “In some cultures, it’s nerdy and not culturally acceptable to spend your time doing homework, and it’s cooler to hang out in the hall. So you [need] a role model that says, ‘Okay, you can do both.’ It’s striking the balance,” she said. Senior Samari Ijezie said that an increase in the number of minority teachers would give all students the insight into different perspectives and cultures. “There are many students that are diverse, so if we had diverse teachers [from] all types of cultures, we would learn more and get a different perspective,” Ijezie said. On the other hand, sophomore Dana Michlin said that a specific effort to increase the number of minority teachers

could make administrators unfairly favor minorities and that putting so much emphasis on diversity could sacrifice the merit of teachers. “If you come to the crossroads and you’re saying that this person is of a minority culture and therefore they should be valued more, then I think that would be a problem,” Michlin said. “If you are hiring someone [only] based on how diverse they are ... they may not be the better teacher ultimately,” she said. Eng, however, said that her “merit stood separate from [her] ethnicity” and that she believes the hiring process can remain unbiased; she maintains that her hiring was impartial. Stembridge agreed with Eng and said that he and the administration try to remain impartial and unbiased when hiring candidates, even while trying to improve faculty diversity. “We hire the best candidate from the pool,” he said. “So, we try to create a diverse pool to increase the likelihood that the person who is the best match turns out to be a person that provides additional diversity to our teaching staff.” Sumner said that greater diversity among faculty members would prepare the entire student body for future interactions with people who are not necessarily like them. “I think that Newton South is not very reflective of the country in general or the world,” Sumner said. “The more we can expose the students here to people that are not like them, the more comfortable they will feel as they leave this school and have to interact with people.” Lawrence agreed that ultimately diversity at South would reflect experience in the outside world more accurately. “I think it’s important to be a part of the world and see the entire world spectrum. The world is not all one shade and color, so it is important for your development as a student to be exposed to what the world has to offer.”

january 8, 2013

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: 6

9 6

8 2

4 8

CHALLENGING: 5

5 4

Search for these winter words and Word Search It’schillywinter! concepts to celebrate the season!

G B P O V S P I G N I I K S

N X Q V S U N N D S H Y N J

K V T M K T S O H M J T W I

C Z S Z A Q V Q W A I N Q F

J F L K T D B M I M I Q X S

M Q O F I R H J L O A C V W

I S R R N A G A K S F N E C

N N A V G Z E N X K W C T C

B O C H O Z X U P X N N R O

B W F P Y I I A Q N D O X C

W B U L J L P R Z N E U R O

C A G O N B G Y C Q V Z F A

U L M D S L O Y K Y O Z C F

W L A U H O C K E Y Z H R Z

By James Wu

25. Voltaire’s work, or “The Onion” 28. 17th century calculator (2 wds.)

DOWN:

1. Jefferson’s pursuit 2. Transcendental loga17 18 rithm 19 21 20 3. Air outlet 4. Discharge 22 24 23 22 5. ___ Aviv 26 27 6. Helping verb 25 7. Fortress, or military 28 college in South Carolina 8. Approached but never 17. SpaceX recently ACROSS: reached 1. Arial’s older brother docked at this 11. Mall in Watertown 9. The Joker, to Batman 18. Result of organism’s 15. Sponsor of Asian using energy 10. How Joel StemNight 19. Modern; can be con- 16. What happened to bridge makes his anservative, liberal, or pets nouncements Fahrenheit 451 or Huck 20. Impressionist, loves 12. 0 Finn 13. Maker of beanie ba- haystacks and lilipads 21. “see other side” bies, or digital gratitude 22. Modern lingua franca 23. Prefix, with wife or life 14. You could probably (abbrev.) 26. Producer of modern 23. Quicktime opens learn about 20-across 28-across; often precedes these files here 83, 84 or 89 (abbrev.) 16. Flintstone’s younger 24. Precedes “and behold,” 27. Administrator privior Spanish pronoun sibling leges, on command line

7 1

U W V R L A C A G G Q D F V

X I C I C L E T Q L J O X I

E W M J U E K A L F W O N S

M J B M E K X C H K C J K K

R C Q W I Z P Q P A Z F Z J

M V V X R T F K I U Q S R S

A D W L N G T R D R W B R O

R I O T Q O E E A C L A Z F

M I Z C C T W E N C W S Q M

A V D Y T S O R F S S Z W W

N Q H B J X R N B F P C K B

1) Blizzard 2) Carols 3) Cocoa 4) Frosty 5) Hockey 6) Ice 7) Icicle 8) January 9) Mittens 10) Rudolph 11) Scarf 12) Skating 13) Skiing 14) Snowball 15) Snowflake 16) Snowman

Embarrassing Roar Staff Photo of the Month:

Ravi Panse just wants to become a real boy.

editorials volume 29

issue 5

january 8, 2013

s ’ t a C e h T

Meow by Joe Joseph

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

Nshs Compliments spawns more Nshs-related pages After Nshs Compliments’ rapid success on Facebook, dozens of similar services have cropped up to address new demand from South students. “There may be too many different ‘Nshs’ brands now or there may not be,” a representative from Nshs Ambiguous-Statements said. “It could be a step in the right direction but then again, it could not.” Other pages that have emerged include Nshs Daily-SATQuestions, Nshs Vent, Nshs Teacher-Quotations, Nshs What’s-the-Homework? and, unfortunately, Nshs Insults. “I told everyone that I would filter out profane language and stuff,” Nshs Insults creator C. King Attent-Shin said. “I really don’t get why people were so mad; all I wanted was to help people be mean to other people.” When asked to comment on the explosion of new Facebook pages, the founder of the Nshs Compliments page remained positive. “I’m just happy that we were able to make a difference,” the anonymous individual said. “By the way, your outfit looks totally awesome.”

Bake sales take an unsavory turn Violence broke out last Monday J-block when 14 clubs held bake sales simultaneously around the school. “We thought it was a really creative, original way to make some money to support our club,” Seasons Club president Leaf Ericson said. “I was so surprised when I saw other groups setting up.” Bake sales have begun to gain popularity as a result of the economic downturn, especially after South officially fell off the fiscal cliff at the beginning of this year. Several club members were injured after falling off of the cliff during the fight on Monday, including innocent bystander Terri Aki. “I’ve been so hungry ever since they banished us from the lunch areas that I just needed food,” he said. “I was standing in line to buy a cookie from the Speech team and suddenly some people from Farming Club arrived with pitchforks.” Oddly enough, the Creating a Caring Majority Club was absent from the scene.

Hipster baby defies laws of nature The child of English teacher David Weintraub has been identified as the first baby in the world to be born fully clothed and capable of speech. Little Audrey was wearing a blazer and skinny jeans when she came into the world and apparently uttered her first words moments after she was born. “It was so incredible,” David said. “A normal baby would have started crying, but Audrey decided that was too mainstream and started quoting literature immediately.” According to multiple witnesses, her first words were “Two plus two equals five.” (In all seriousness, The Roar extends its congratulations to Mr. Weintraub on the beautiful new addition to his family!)

page

Debates regarding matters of curriculum demand that students voice their opinions From a young age, we hear ing the AWSN stemmed from about the multifaceted nature of concerns that the text served as world history. Our teachers urge propaganda, rendering at least us to educate ourselves about all one student and one parent sides of a story, not simply the uncomfortable. It is not the only ones that align with our own text that has sparked discussion beliefs. They prop up their classes concerning what ought to be with textbooks and primary required reading. sources designed to present hisAs part of the sophomore tory in an objective light. English curriculum, students But the point of learning read the Bible; they examine is not to merely encourage rote the text as a work of literature, memorization and placid reachowever, and not as a textbook to tions; a good education must also be read or set of guidelines to be expose students to perspectives internalized. that differ from their own and With that in mind, The encourage students to look critiRoar acknowledges that studying cally at the world around them in subjective texts that present opinorder to construct their opinions ions different from a particular in a holistic manner. student’s may be uncomfortable, In particular, conversations leading up to and following the removal of the The Roar’s editorial board has identiArab World Studies Notebook fied limited student participation in (AWSN), a text focusing shaping the curriculum as a concern on Islam, as an optional greater than a single debate about supplement to South’s history curriculum addressed the vahistory materials. riety of perspectives students encounter in their classes. During a staff discussion, many members of The Roar’s editorial board stated that but it is important to approach in their freshman or sophomore these works with an open and history classes, the information critical mind. Furthermore, given teachers provided about Islam the controversial — and possibly disproved some of the stereotypes inflammatory — nature of texts students had walking into class. such as the AWSN or the Bible, Members of The Roar’s the manner in which the texts are editorial board reflected upon an presented is just as critical as the introductory activity in which content itself. history teachers asked students For example, informing a which words or images came to class it will study the Bible solely mind when they heard the word as a work of literature is very dif“Islam.” One student said that ferent from saying nothing at all some words that came up were prior to distributing the text. “terrorist” and “9/11.” Members of The Roar’s Given the negative connoeditorial board stated that they tations that students might assowould appreciate and feel more ciate with Islam or any other mat- comfortable if teachers more ter, The Roar commends teachers consistently provided this sort of for leading well-balanced lessons. information prior to assigning a Controversy surroundsubjective document.

Editorial Policy

Students do not have the right to make such requests, however, if they do not actively participate in debates regarding curricula. This is not to say that students should issue complaints with reckless abandon about anything they find to be remotely bothersome. The Roar trusts our teachers and their judgment, but it makes little sense that when a discussion of the materials students read year in and year out arises, only adults participate. Currently, the only involvement the bulk of students have in determining course curricula is deciding either to complete an assignment or not to do so. The Roar’s editorial board has identified limited student participation in shaping the curriculum as a concern greater than a single debate about history materials. Administrators and School Committee members, not students, have dominated the discussion surrounding South’s history curriculum. Students should take it upon themselves to voice their opinions to these individuals when similar debates arise in the future by speaking at School Committee meetings or simply by sending e-mails to administrators, for example. Otherwise, debates begin and reach their conclusion without consideration of the opinions held by those most directly affected by what our schools teach: students. At the very least, when students come across sources or subject matter they believe to be contrary to their understanding of the world or current events, The Roar encourages them to share their thoughts with teachers and other faculty members.

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.

january 8, 2013

desk

In light of purported apocalypse, Editor contemplates his mortality

FROM THE

EDITOR’S DESK

mention that I’m not nearly as eloquent or humorous as Hazel is). Death is not characterized by a universal definition, so though I can’t tell anyone else how to think of death, I can say that regardless of any spiritual or religious beliefs, at some point we should all take a moment to reflect on the meaning of death. I realize this might sound dark and dismal, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. The immediacy of apocalyptic theories, however lurid and unsubstantiated, provides us with an opportunity to discover more than just the traditional perception of death. In fact, I think there is a gross duality in the way death is portrayed in our culture. On one hand, the classical, logical definition of death is one of finality and termination, a signaling point for the end of one’s life (and for some, the beginning of another). Many people, myself included, fear death because of its status as the permanent antithesis of what we all strive for in this world: life. On the other hand, as irreverent as

Joe Joseph

Editor-in-Chief On Dec. 21, we were all supposed to die (According to certain interpretations of the ancient Mayan calendar, that is). Obviously, the human race did not meet its demise on that day, but when I first heard of the 2012 apocalypse prediction about two years ago, I was absolutely terrified that it would. In fact, I would spend some nights unable to go to sleep because I was contemplating the end of the world. Depressing, right? Pretty soon, I managed to sleep again, but as the purported doomsday crept ever closer, thoughts concerning death and destruction waited to creep into my mind as soon as I had a moment to put down my pencil or close the computer screen. At the time, I tried my best to ignore them, but now that we are still here, I actually want to acknowledge death’s presence in a different, less traumatizing way. What do I mean by that? I have to preface this editor’s desk by saying that I’m not here to preach because I’m not at all qualified to do so. I’m nothing like Hazel Grace, John Green’s protagonist from “The Fault in Our Stars,” (#OSOB), meaning that I have no terminal disease to validate my opinions on the matter of death (not to

it might sound, death is a topic that has become somewhat cliché in our society. Every other song on the radio seems to be about how we should seize the moment based on death’s unpredictable nature (Case in point: On my drive home from school a couple days ago, I heard “Live While We’re Young” by One Direction and “Die Young” by Ke$ha on the radio — I’ve never had a more morbid car ride). There is, however, much more to death than phobias and pop songs. One of the means by which I have come to realize the multidimensionality of death was a novel I read in Spanish class this year, “Macario” by B. Traven. The novel follows the tale of a poor Mexican woodcutter whose greatest wish in life is to eat an entire turkey. When his wife finally conjures up the roasted delicacy, Macario runs to the forest to devour his prize, only to be approached by three characters who long to take part in his solitary feast. The first is the devil disguised as a charro, a rich Mexican cowboy, the second is God

Regardless of any spiritual or religious beliefs, at some point we should all take a moment to reflect on the meaning of death.

Volume 29

The Lion’s Roar Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper The Lion’s Roar - 140 Brandeis Road Newton, MA 02459 srstaff@thelionsroar.com

Editors-in-Chief Jenny Friedland

taking on the appearance of a tired peasant and the third is Death himself. Macario refuses to share his turkey with the first two characters, but when Death arrives, Macario offers a portion of his meal, entering into a bargain with the figure who Macario assumes has come to take his life. I won’t spoil the ending of the story, but suffice to say that the rest of the novel centers on the dynamic between the lumberjack and Death, a figure who rather than coming across as terrifying and ominous, takes on many human qualities, almost as though he is just another poor, hungry villager. “Macario” opened my eyes to a distinct way to perceive death, one that is indicative of Mexican culture and that remains very much alive today (pun slightly intended). Being exposed to alternate definitions of death shifted my focus from uninformed, insomnia-inducing fear to a more objective analysis of which definition I support. I’m not here to tell you that death is really just a sullen, humanistic figure who constantly craves turkey — I can’t tell you who or what death is. What I can say is that I’m grateful for having thought about what death means to me, even though we all woke up just the same on that December morning.

TOM’S TUTORING CO. $15/hour

We can provide help with: math, science (chemistry/Intro. to physics), history, English, Spanish and French

Joe Joseph

Managing Editors Andreas Betancourt

News

Hyunnew Choi Julie Olesky

Features

Kylie Walters Caroline Zola

Ravi Panse

James Wu

Section Editors Centerfold Editorials

Dipal Nagda Anastasiya Vasilyeva

Community Emily Ho

David Gorelik Aidan Rose

Opinions

Anqi Gao

Dina Busaba Sophie Forman

Arts Review

Sports

Marissa Vertes

Carly Meisel Parisa Siddiqui

Graphics Managers

Photo Managers

Dylan Block Jordan Cohen-Kaplan

Distribution Managers

Faculty Advisers

Laura Kessel Charlotte Levine Elena Ramos

Ashley Elpern Brian Baron Paul Estin Thomas Murphy

Join The Roar!

Aaron R. Heesch Attorney at Law

Yonatan Gazit Tony Yao

Business Managers Jordi Batler RJ Hayes

HEESCH & HEESCH

Sam Heesch

Copy Editors Jenny Morris Emma Race

997 Chestnut Street Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464

Tel. 617-969-6725 FAX 617-969-4315

Monday J Block * Room 1201

opinions volume 29

are we

issue 5

january 8, 2013

page

Student reflects upon the true meaning of happiness, emphasizes importance of changing one’s perspective and reality in order to achieve personal happiness Veronica Podolny

This happiness based on comparison is apparent in the classroom as well. There is a fraction of a second in between the time when my teacher hands back a test and places it on my desk and when I pick it up and look at my

“Oh, that’s good. Mine was all luck,” but I know that the hours of studying paid off. As wrong as it is to be happy at Opinions Contributor someone’s expense, this is one of the most common forms Flipping through the pages of the last issue of Time of happiness: happiness by direct comparison. Magazine one night, I came across an interesting article. Of course, there are other ways to be happy. A comThe article, titled “The Pursuit of Happiness” by pliment from a stranger, a smile from the boy you like or Jyoti Thottam, discussed how the nation of Bhutan a favor from a friend can make you happy, even if it’s only recently found a way to quantify happiness. Instead for an instant. of calculating how “well-off ” a country is by its People around you have a great influence on GDP (Gross Domestic Product), Bhutan started and can help contribute to your personal happiness. The Roar surveyed 150 students, asking them measuring the average prosperity by Gross That said, I realized my definition of happiness National Happiness, or GNH. Promotion of is too vague, so I turned to Jodi Picoult, one of to rate satisfaction with their lives on a scale of equitable and sustainable socio-economic my favorite authors, who defined happiness one to five, one being the lowest. development, preservation and promotion scientifically. of cultural values, conservation of the In her book “Nineteen Minutes,” natural environment and establishment Picoult wrote, “A mathematical formula of good government are all contributing for happiness: Reality divided by Exfactors to GNH. pectations. There were two ways to be At first, I was shocked — this happy: improve your reality or lower your measurement sounded ridiculous. expectations.” In most examples, it is the Wouldn’t happiness be directly tied to expectations factor that can make you wealth? I later realized that a country’s happy. Hearing about my cousins’ despair overall wealth does not determine its lowered my own expectations, which lead overall happiness, which means Bhutan me to appreciate what I had not before. may be taking a step in the right direction. Changing reality can work better and The article led me to think about what gives you more control in achieving a result. constitutes happiness. Thottam said that hapWhen you study hard and do well on a test, your piness results from comparison, a sentiment that reality changes, allowing you to raise your expectaresonates with me. A couple of weeks ago, Hurritions and do even better next time. Picoult’s formula cane Sandy hit my cousins’ house in New York. Their is not only effective in my life, but it can be applied basement was flooded, their car was totaled and because everywhere, from Newton to Bhutan. of the loss of power and heat, they had no choice but to Happiness is all around us, as are the things we can live with their friends. When I heard about their misforgrade. I hope for the best but expect the worst. Finally, I do to achieve it. Happiness — our happiness — is within tune, I felt sorry for them, but I was also appreciative of pick up the paper and see the grade. I don’t know what reach. We all just need to learn to recognize what makes the power, heat and warm bed at home. On any other day, to think: Is this good, bad, average? I ask my friend what us happy. So go ahead and give a compliment, study hard having electricity would not give me any satisfaction, but he received. I breathe a sigh of relief when he tells me he or hold the door open for the person behind you — whatat that moment it did. got a grade lower than mine. That’s when I tell my friend, ever makes you happy.

3.9

average student satisfaction

Resolutions for the coming year effect change Alex Cohen

Opinions Contributor I’ve never believed in the idea of a New Year’s resolution. This has less to do with many peoples’ failures to fulfill such resolutions and more to do with my personal opinion that people shouldn’t need some sort of excuse in order to start pursuing their goals. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, why not just call them resolutions and relieve yourself of the need to time them around the start of the year? Why should a New Year’s resolution carry any more significance than a regular resolution? With that said, I still appreciate that people are people. Sometimes it can be hard to really set sights on a goal without an excuse to, and I’m as fond of the sense of new beginnings as anyone else. Nevertheless, I believe the goals that have the most meaning and most significance are the ones for which you don’t need an external force to be your kick-starter.

So now comes the hypocrisy: the transition from has become a necessity. But the temptations of the media 2012 to 2013 is going to include my first New and Internet are great, and as 2012 becomes 2013, I Year’s resolutions ever. I tend to consider will dedicate a new effort to overcome them. myself more of a short-term thinker — The other resolution is less contest this Friday, essay due Monday crete but infinitely more significant: and notes due tomorrow. Junior optimism. year, however, carries more Junior year is a tough year, weight than previous ones, and and I feel that my spirits have a slightly longer-term mindset begun to buckle beneath new is appropriate. pressures I had not felt in previI have had two goals ous years. It is therefore of the in mind in the past months. utmost importance that I try to Perhaps, as the new year comes keep my head high and distinaround, injecting a new formalguish between what’s the end of ity into these goals could spark a the world and what isn’t. new vigor within me. Recently, I read a message One of my resolutions was on a Jell-O cup reading, “Frown is a quite concrete: efficiency. Junior year four-letter word.” Even though this is opened the floodgates to a new level of blatantly false, it is my goal for the new year graphic by Alex Cohen workload, and prudence in time management to pretend that it isn’t.

january 8, 2013

Take time to cherish the moment Kaela Meyer & Mel Gundersheim

Opinions Contributors

n the day after Thanksgiving, we got up at the crack of dawn like every other shopaholic out there and waited in the dark, freezing cold for the store doors to open. While searching the racks for good deals, we noticed that stores had already put up advertisements for Christmas. It had barely been a day since Thanksgiving passed and we saw the glimmer in shoppers’ eyes as they hunted for the best deals and most attractive products to give as holiday presents. Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day have become essential parts of American tradition. These holidays resonate with Americans of all cultures and generations because they focus on turning outward, on evaluating and reflecting on our relationships with friends and family and the community around us. Although it was nice that we bought sweaters and jewelry for friends and siblings for an approaching secret Santa extravaganza, stocking up for Christmas a month early doesn’t allow us to take a breath and truly focus on the importance of the current day. In fact, it shows that society today is more focused on preparing for the next holiday before celebrating the current one. We should take time out to be thankful on Thanksgiving, open presents from Santa on Christmas and confess love on Valentine’s Day, but we are often too preoccupied. We rush out our doors armed with big jackets and flashlights in the early morning the day after Thanksgiving, to wait outside stores and then to buy things that we don’t really need. We both are not the only ones who take this much time to prepare for the next holiday. News coverage for all of Black Friday revolved around the millions of

Americans spending millions of dollars shopping for the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day blend together into one big holiday season. Although there isn’t a huge connection among the four, by the time one rolls around, stores and advertisers are already offering deals for the next. As Christmas approached, we admitted that we were hoping Santa that would leave us a perfect outfit with which we could ring in the New Year. From hair and makeup, to shoes and dresses, everything had to be perfect for that special last night. On Christmas Day, many are already daydreaming about a special someone to be with while throwing that confetti.Will the outfits that Santa and Hanukkah Harry brought me land me the perfect date? Will the person who gave me my New Year’s kiss be the person behind that giant teddy bear and box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day? By the time Valentine’s Day arrives, we don’t actually care about it because we’ve spent the past month freaking out about it.

opinions South does not always live up to reputation for tolerance

Jack Rabinovitch Social issues and me

graphic by Fiza Ansari

Why should we even be focusing on the new year while we’re still celebrating one of our holidays in the previous one? Stores seem to think so, which leads us, the consumers, to also think so. We don’t mean to say that everyone is bad because they don’t celebrate every holiday down to the last second, but our society has slipped away from living in the moment. We can only live in one moment at a time, so we should spend our holiday season celebrating and enjoying every second instead of worshiping the hype and consumerism behind our favorite holidays.

I can’t decide which picture to instagram for Throwback Thursday. #newtonproblems

My gas light is blinking on empty, but I have no idea how to fill it or which side that pump thing is on. #newtonproblems

I didn’t get a compliment from Nshs Compliments. #newtonproblems

My classmates are judging me for making snapchat faces in class. #newtonproblems

I own a MacBook Air, so I can’t make a CD for the Holiday CD exchange. #newtonroblems

I live in Waban. #newtonproblems

South takes pride in being openminded and accepting of people near and far. We cite diversity in our speeches and write the word on murals in the hallway. But what makes South such an accepting school? Diversity, by definition, is “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements: variety; especially: the inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization.” Already in the definition, diversity relates to schools. The definition also makes note of inclusion of races or cultures. Previous articles in The Lion’s Roar have discussed the racially homogeneous social groups at South, but these groups are not what I am concerned about. As a historically liberal city that provides quality education, Newton inevitably has had an influx of many cultures. Places like Newton are extremely attractive for immigrants, and in general, cities are bound to have more social groups, thus more mixing of the cultural melting pot. But here, our praise for diversity seems to ignore important contexts in which people are divided. The fact that I have never met a student from Maldives or Laos does not bother me. Nor does the fact that there is an ASO but no Sami Student Organization. That I can notice a visible change in people’s facial expressions when I mention the word “Republican,” is quite disconcerting. I have noticed little wiggle room when it comes to different outlooks on political and social issues and new ways of thinking about economics, math and the sciences. “Republican” isn’t the only trigger word, though it seems the most prominent. “Pretentious” is a word often thrown at Republican students, along with words like “elitist,” “stupid” and “wrong.” In debates when someone seems to take a conservative side, he is almost immediately shot down by other students as being just plain wrong. Because of the belief that anyone who follows any Republican ideals must be ignorant or simply following in their parent’s footsteps, the more liberal debater will often see right-leaning students as lost causes. The truth is, many conservative ideals have logic and reasoning behind them. I may be able to find someone of nearly every ethnicity at South, but on the political spectrum, I can only find the minority opinions drowning in a sea of blue. As well, when someone begins to think abstractly, his ideas are almost immediately cut down to fit into a box. Any new mathematical or scientific outlook is turned into bite-sized pieces, rearranged and molded into a shape that will look good on MCAS but will prevent a free mind that would result in true intellectual diversity. Overall, I am not convinced that South, as brilliant and academically superior as it is, is as diverse or as tolerant as its reputation suggests.

opinions

january 8, 2013

Everyone must face the consequences when teen drinking goes wrong Lydia Basque

Opinions Contributor I am not unique. Like most of my peers in the senior class, I have devoted the past four months of my life to completing college applications. I took the SAT three times, spent hours trying to differentiate myself on the Common Application and wrote draft after draft of personal essays. A few weeks ago, however, I almost let all of my hard work go to waste when I traveled to visit a friend at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. After watching “Breaking

Dawn” and spending some time with my friend in her dorm, we decided to attend an off-campus party. Not even five minutes had passed before I found myself speaking with a cop as he tightened handcuffs around my wrists. Inside of a flashing police car, I sat sobbing in the back seat, stunned at what had happened. It all seemed so simple. I had grabbed my friend’s hand as we tried to flee from the chaos of a busted college party, and I didn’t think twice when she handed me her Poland Spring bottle filled with alcohol. As I rushed out of the

party, a police officer pulled me aside and requested to see my ID. Before I knew it, my hands were on the hood of a cop car, and an officer was patting me down. That night, I had my mugshot taken, then sat alone in a jail cell for four hours. I stared at the cold cement floor, not actually believing that I had been arrested. Time dragged on until, finally, an officer accepted my bail money and released me to my parents. The reality of the situation didn’t set in until I got in the car to go home. I feared the many potential consequences of my

actions. My heart dropped when I researched the penalties for a minor charged with possession of alcohol. My driver’s license would be suspended, I would have an arrest on my criminal record and I would have to go to court. I could not believe my stupidity. I spent the following Monday at court nervously waiting my 10-minute arraignment. My parents and I sat for two and a half hours until the judge finally called my name. The judge offered me a second chance. Because I had no prior infractions on my record, the judge diverted the charge against me. Possession of alcohol

would not appear on my criminal record. I am on probation until March, and I have to attend Brains at Risk, a seminar promoting responsible driving, at some point this winter. Despite the awfulness of getting arrested, I learned from the experience. Beforehand, I had such a nonchalant attitude toward alcohol. I never really acknowledged that underage drinking is against the law, and I know that a lot of students at South still have that mindset. Just keep in mind that it’s all fun and games until somebody goes to jail.

School shooting must be a catalyst for change Carly Meisel Features Editor

I was three years old when the shooting at Columbine High School roiled our nation in 1999. I was 11 when Virginia Tech shooting became the most deadly mass shooting in American history in 2007. I had no knowledge of either of these events while they were unfolding or in the ensuing years. Maybe this ignorance is why I felt so greatly shocked upon hearing of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Or maybe my feelings can be attributed to the fact that murdering tiny first graders and dedicated educators, as 20-year-old shooter Adam Lanza did on Dec. 14, is just sickening. I don’t know if everything happens for a reason. I don’t know how to make sense of 20 sets of parents receiving word from the governor of Connecticut that their children were not among those ushered out of the school building to safety. I hope, though, that this event will be a turning point for American gun control policies. It is ludicrous that in some areas someone can purchase a gun almost as ca-

sually as he can other products in departcountry is grieving alongside Newtown, ment or sporting good stores. we look to those individuals who can Large-scale shootings such as the one advocate for and create change. at Sandy Hook Elementary School tend to Senator Frank Lautenberg of New get a huge amount of media coverage, while Jersey plans to introduce a bill in Conthe frequent shootings in urban areas do not gress to abolish the sale of high-capacity receive the same attention — they have be- magazines, as reported by the Huffington come comPost. Senamonplace.It tor Dianne is all too easy Feinstein of for people California to gain acannounced cess to lethal that she will weapons in introduce the form of legislation guns; our to progovernment hibit assault - Carly Meisel, Class of 2015 is implicitly weapons. stating that Nadeath by tional Rifle unprovoked violence is acceptable. Association (NRA) proponents argue that How have mass shootings become guns don’t kill people; people kill people. routine in this country? But without access to guns, people cannot This is not to say that shootings kill people, at least not as Lanza did. aren’t heartbreaking and terrifying and When violent and unstable individualarming each and every time — they als have access to firearms and are able are — but rather that these events have to unleash hundreds of bullets without continued to occur without our nation’s even having to reload, the carnage can be leaders taking meaningful action. unthinkable. At this time, while much of our I believe a realistic method to

Our government is implicitly stating that death by unprovoked violence is acceptable.

remove as many guns from America’s streets as possible is a buy-back program. In Prince George’s County, Maryland last week, locals turned 150 guns over to police and received gift cards in exchange. Efforts like this provide opportunities for family members of people who illegally (or even legally) have stored weapons in their home, to fix the gun control issue. In light of the events in Newtown, our nation must also focus on proper detection of and subsequent care for people with mental illnesses. If there are warning signs, we must recognize them before it is too late. The Second Amendment, which the NRA blindly supports, was drafted during an era when automatic rifles and Glock pistols were not a reality. Times have changed, and our laws must change as well. Opening fire on a classroom of first graders in Connecticut? Gunning down innocent movie-watchers in Colorado? Killing holiday shoppers in an Oregon food court? This is not what our Founding Fathers intended when they wrote the Second Amendment. The horrifying events of Dec. 14 must open our eyes because, as President Obama said following the shooting, “Surely we can do better than this.”

january 8, 2013

arts review

THE NEW FACE OF

UPERMAN

Both the film and comic book incarnations of Superman are starting over with a more fallible characterization

Marissa Vertes Sr. Arts Review Editor

A few months ago, I stumbled upon the following headline from The Washington Post: “Clark Kent leaves the Daily Planet.” My jaw dropped. How could this be happening? The author of the article, Alexandra Petri, proceeded to quote “Superman” author Scott Lobdell, who put Superman’s decision in the context of journalism today. “Superman is arguably the most powerful person on the planet,” Lobdell said, “but how

In Sept. 2011, DC Comics revamped “Superman” and “Action Comics,” its two series about Superman, with an entirely new storyline as part of “The New 52,” a re-launch of DC’s entire line of current monthly superhero comics. In this new tale, Martha and Jonathan Kent are dead, Kent never marries Lois Lane, and because of Superman’s alien nature, he feels isolated from society. Superheroes have only been around for the past five years. Through a series of flashbacks, readers learn that the police hunted the fledgling superheroes down when they first appeared.

graphic by Aidan Rose

government is trying to control society and harness the great powers of its heroes. By making the U.S. government the primary antagonist, DC Comics has set the stage for “Man of Steel.” “Man of Steel” is set to be

The Superman of today is more of a lost soul than previous versions of the character long can he sit at his desk with someone breathing down his neck and treating him like the least important person in the world?” Petri and I agree that Lobdell brings up an interesting question. Is it time for Superman to part ways with his past? The current media suggests that it may be and is rebuilding Clark Kent’s life from ground zero in the comic books while retelling his story in the upcoming film “Man of Steel.”

In the present-day comic book world, the heroes flee from the U.S. government as it tries to enlist them in the Justice League of America. These new plots shift the dynamic of a number of franchises, creating an environment where the public appreciates the heroes for their abilities and (obviously) heroic acts, but the heroes themselves are constantly struggling to protect their own freedom. These comics expound upon the idea that the federal

released on June 14, 2013, and, like the comic books, starts over the beloved hero’s story from scratch. Written by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan, creators of the highly acclaimed “Dark Knight” trilogy, the film intends to “try to bring the same naturalistic approach that we adopted for the Batman trilogy,” the screenwriters said in a recent interview. “We always had a naturalistic approach; we want our stories to be rooted in reality, like they could happen in the same world we live in.”

The trailer for the movie shows a new beginning for Clark Kent as a confused young boy who desires to aid those in need, much like Christopher Reeve’s 1970s Superman. Yet the trailer seems to place a new focus on who Clark Kent is and reinvents his story by portraying him as more of a lost soul; later in the trailer, the camera even cuts to soldiers escorting a handcuffed Superman through a military base. If this teaser is an accurate representation of the movie as a whole, it appears that Nolan, who also directed the film along with Goyer, has reinvented The Last Son of Krypton and crafted his story to cater to our modern age. By having Superman work alone against the U.S. government, our supposed protectors, Lobdell, Nolan and Goyer provide a more cynical take on The Man of Tomorrow that is closer to the tone of the recent Dark Knight Trilogy than previous versions.

In the 1970s versions, Superman was the government’s hero, and he worked closely with the government to trump evil. I am very curious about how this new, alienated hero will change our perception of Superman. The movie also appears to take cues from the comics by leaving out Clark Kent’s job at the Daily Planet and showing him doing more working-class jobs. All these changes pose bigger questions about the future of the Superman franchise. Will this new hero reinvigorate the dwindling franchise, or will he be its demise? We will not know until the premiere of “Man of Steel,” but we do know this new characterization is a massive risk on the part of DC Comics, Nolan and Goyer; they are reinventing a quintessentially American figure whom many grew up with. But for now, we can only wait and see what adventures Superman will embark on as he moves into the modern world.

Number the Influence

percent of U.S teenagers reported that within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. *

By Dipal Nagda

percent of U.S teenagers reported that within the previous month, they had been driving after drinking alcohol. *

photo illustration by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan

The Roar investigates the issue of drunk driving at South and the educational system to raise awareness about its dangers

fter drinking alcohol earlier in the night, Junior Alex* was unsure of whether he was sober enough to get behind the wheel on a recent evening, so he asked two of his friends to test his ability to drive safely. One of them asked him to recite his Monday school schedule in order, which Alex did without faltering. The other told him to place his index finger on the tip of his nose with his eyes closed, switching off between his right and left hands. Once again, Alex completed the test successfully. He entered the car and drove his friends home that night without incident, and he said he often feels comfortable driving after drinking alcohol. “As long as I know that I need to drive and keep that in the back of my mind the whole night, then usually its not a problem,” he said. According to many South students, faculty and parents, teenage drunk driving is a national issue that has hit home in Newton, most recently in a Sept. 22 incident in which a South student under the influence was involved in a car crash with a parked car. As a response to the problem, some community members said they believe the educational system regarding drunk driving is adequate while others said that awareness of the issue should be increased, especially in junior and senior year. Education on drunk driving starts early at South, as all freshman are required to undergo Drug & Alcohol Abuse Resistance Education in ninth grade wellness classes. “There is only one term of education in

students’ freshman year,” South Prevention/ Intervention counselor Rich Catrambone said. “We do not have a comprehensive health education course here that goes K through 12 in Newton Public Schools.” According to Catrambone, many faculty members have voiced concern about the fact that drunk driving education stops abruptly at the end of freshman year. The school, however, lacks the resources to incorporate greater health education programs. “There is only so much money that the schools have available,” he said. Catrambone said that students are more focused on academic achievement and as a result, do not have as much time in their schedules for greater health education. “Teens have many pressures, particularly from testing, such as MCAS and SAT tests,” he said. Freshman Shira Abramovich said she believes that drunk driving is a problem for high school students but feels that she has been educated about its dangers thoroughly in school classes. “We were shown a really gruesome video in class of the consequences of driving drunk,” she said. “I don’t think drunk driving is okay.” Nevertheless, Abramovich acknowledges that she may hear more about drunk driving when students around her begin to drive. “I haven’t encountered it as a problem, but I don’t know what things are like later,” she said. Denise Joseph, South parent, said she also believes that South students are well-informed about drunk driving and its consequences.

“I actually think the schools do a good job of talking about that,” she said. Sophomore Karen Weinstock agreed that she feels educated enough about the dangers of drunk driving both at school and at home. She said that so far, she has not considered it as a major issue in Newton. “I guess around here, it is not as much of a problem because we are really educated about that,” Weinstock said. According to Alan Klevan, South parent and attorney who has represented families affected by the consequences of drunk driving, any education provided by South should be appreciated. “I’m not sure if the school will ever prevent students from drinking and driving 100 percent, but I do appreciate the awareness that they’re bringing to the students,” Klevan said. Senior Leah* on the other hand, believes that South does not address the issue of drunk driving at the right time. According to Leah, driving under the influence only applies to juniors and seniors, those who know how to drive, but South only provides education before students reach those grade levels. “They only teach its dangers to us in freshman year when its not that big of an issue,” she said. Leah said that as a result, she has created her own personal policy to prevent herself from driving drunk. “I wait anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half after drinking to drive to make sure that I’m totally okay,” she said. “If that

can’t happen, I make sure that I can sleep over somewhere.” Leah said she hopes that South increases awareness of the issue for upperclassmen, especially when students are more exposed to drunk driving. “They should do it a little bit more in senior year because that’s when it [drunk driving] actually happens,” she said. Alex agreed. He said that by the time students can drive, many often forget what they have learned in their freshman wellness classes. “I think it [awareness through education] is important, but the timing of it is irrelevant and worthless as a freshman,” he said. “If they were to teach it, they should do so later on.” Catrambone hopes that South’s faculty will soon be able to incorporate more education for all four years of high school. Though South holds a few assemblies every year, these events increase awareness of the issue rather than truly educating students. “It would be nice to increase education if the resources were there,” Catrambone said. “We need to live on education.” Klevan said that ultimately, the responsibilty to combat drunk driving lies not only with teachers but also with sources outside of school, such as parents. “I talk to my children about the dangers of drinking, and I talk to them about responsibility,” Klevan said. “Drunk driving is absolutely an issue.”

*Names have been changed to protect students’ identities.

On Dec. 4, 2012, The Roar asked 154 South students about their experience with the issue of drunk driving.

percent of South students said that they had gotten in the car with a driver who they thought was buzzed but not drunk.

percent of South students said that they had gotten in the car with a driver who they thought was drunk.

* According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention in a 2011 national survey

january 8, 2013

centerfold

In response to the cancellation of Safe Rides, which offers students safe transportation from dangerous situations, the South community fears for students’ safety By Anastasiya Vasilyeva

n response to decreased participation in Safe Rides, an initiative offering free rides launched by the PTSO to combat drunk driving, the program was canceled this past summer. The cancellation has elicited concern among some community members for the lack of a safe alternative to drunk driving. According to the Newton North PTSO website, “Safe Rides [offered] Newton high school students a free ride home on Friday and Saturday nights between 10:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.” and was developed by “the Safe Rides Task Force, comprised of school administrators, counselors, Newton police, The Newton Partnership staff, NNHS and NSHS parents and students.” Junior Ian Greer said he had been signed up for the Safe Rides program since freshman year, but has never felt the need to use it. “Wherever I was, I was never in a situation where I felt I needed to call them,” he said. According to a statement issued by the PTSO, a lack of student participation prompted the discontinuation of the program.

“While some students have used and and then more accidents [will happen], “Of course, when something goes benefitted from the program, utilization is away that provides a safety net, you didn’t and these could kill more people.” lower than anticipated,” the PTSO said. know it was there until something hapKlevan’s father, Alan Klevan, “This, combined with the fact that pens, and that’s the unfortunate thing,” echoed her concerns, noting that he The Newton Partnership is moving to a she said. “Certainly, I hope that parents believes the Safe Rides program was an new funding model, tell their kids they can has led us to the always pick them up, decision that effective and that kids are aware June 16, 2012, the Of course, when something goes away that provides a of how important it is Safe Rides program not to get on the road safety net, you didn’t know it was there until something drunk.” will no longer be offering Alan agreed that happens, and that’s the unfortunate thing. the free ride service to he, as a parent, would students.” provide rides for his - Denise Joseph, South parent Greer said the child in any situation. end of Safe Rides will “[In a dangernot have a tangible ous situation], I would impact on students. expect my daughter to call me,” he said. integral part of a larger effort to keep “[Its ending] kind of limits things, students safe. “Even with the Safe Rides “Even if my daughter was drinking, I but not significantly because I’ve never re- program, I’m concerned about children’s would expect her to call me, and I would ally heard anyone saying, ‘Oh, I’m going to safety,” Alan said. “However, the Safe come and get her.” call Safe Rides to get me home.’” Greer said. Rides program was one way to ensure the Despite parental warning, however, Junior Rachel Klevan, despite having safety of our children. Without the Safe Junior Elliot Martin, Joseph’s son, said that never used Safe Rides, said its end could without Safe Rides he sees drunk driving Rides program, I think that there would have dangerous consequences. as a viable last resort. be more dangers [for students].” “I think it was a smart thing to have “I’d have to drive [drunk] if there’s South parent Denise Joseph said, around,” she said. “Without Safe Rides nothing else to do,” he said. “It depends on however, that ultimately parents should helping out people, more people are going how drunk I am. If there was any chance talk to their children about what to do in to probably turn to drinking and driving, that I might be able to drive, I might.” these dangerous situations.

The Roar obtained statistics from Safe Rides about the percentage of registered students who called for rides over the past three years 3%

2009-2010

25%

2010-2011

2011-2012

Out of 283 registered

Out of 357 registered

Out of 216 registered

features volume 29

issue 5

page

january 8, 2013

Sign Me Up

The recently formed American Sign Language Club unites students during Monday J blocks to learn more about the language and raise awareness of Deaf culture photo by Yu-Ching Chang

American Sign Language (ASL) teacher Peter Hershon (left), and ASL Club presidents Jenny Kim (center) and Isabel Snyder, hold up the sign symbol for “I love you.”

Faith Bergman, Jill Oliver & Maia fefer

getting to know other people and another language,” Seiden said. In addition to allowing students to Features Reporters work around scheduling conflicts, having On Monday afternoons, room 6109, an ASL club on top of ordinary classes though filled with students, is often silent. makes students more eager to give ASL As American Sign Language (ASL) teacher a try, according to Seiden. “You … have Peter Hershon raises his hands, noise falls no requirements. You can come, and you away, and all eyes turn to watch his hand don’t have to come [every time]. It makes motions, facial expressions and body posiit a lot easier for people to try,” she said. tions. Junior Nicky Leiter, who took ASL Hershon has taught ASL at South for two years, agreed that the study of deaf for three years and now advises the ASL culture is important for students. “Along Club. ASL is a form of manual and facial with signs, [students in ASL class and communication used mainly by the deaf ASL Club] learn how deaf people funccommunity living in the United States and tion in everyday life and how to respect English-speaking parts of Canada. them and how to interact with them,” he After three years of ASL classes said. “There’s a whole other culture that being offered at so many people don’t South, students in The club is just an extension of not only my love for know about.” the combined ASL 2 Hershon agreed signing but [also for] anyone who shows up. and 3 class decided that it is important for to start an ASL Club as many students as -Stephanie Seiden, Class of 2014 this year to improve their communication possible to learn ASL skills in an informal setting while simulbecause he knows firsthand that living in “[ASL] changed my life in awetaneously raising awareness of the deaf a hearing world where most people do not some ways because before I hadn’t really community. know ASL can be aggravating. “I can’t go expressed myself and now I do,” Kim said. Hershon, who is deaf, expressed up to people and talk to them,” Hershon “It really helps me communicate with my through sign language that as he begins signed. “It puts a lot of pressure. Very frusfriends. It really changed my life.” to develop the ASL Club, he is focused trating. There are so many hearing people, Benefits, however, are not exclusiveon recruiting students and maintaining a and I can’t communicate with them.” ly internal, as students said that the ASL positive environment. According to Snyder, students at Club also spreads awareness of the deaf “The first day was crazy, very awkSouth and around the world should learn community around the school in a way ward. Now it is getting better. Progress, we classes cannot. Seiden said she credits the sign language to alleviate the effects of are making progress,” Hershon signed. “I the barrier between the deaf and hearing ASL Club with broadening access for stuhope the ASL club will get more people to dents who might never otherwise learn the worlds. “I would definitely recommend join. Then we can progress with ASL in the language. “People who can’t take the time other people [join ASL Club] because future.” there are a lot of deaf people out there,” out of their school week to take the class ASL Club co-president and junior can come during this meeting once a week Snyder said. “Being deaf is not a disability. Isabel Snyder said that Hershon creates It [just causes] a language barrier.” and start learning about the culture and a calm club environment. “When I walk into the room, I feel like it’s a break from the rest of school, and I can kind of relax and take a breath because it’s not as stressfilled,” Snyder said. Junior and club member Stephanie Seiden agreed that the camaraderie among Club members and the relaxing environment are some of the best things about the club. “I love sign language. I love everything about it. The club is just an extension of not only my love for signing but [also for] anyone who shows up,” Seiden said. “It is kind of like a family.” ASL Club co-president and junior Jenny Kim also said she reaps a multitude of rewards from her study of ASL.

LEARN SOME

SIGNS yes

stop

play

features

Relationships Girl feels liberated by single status

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. This may sound cliché, but breaking up with my boyfriend was completely liberating. My boyfriend and I dated for almost two years, and over that time, my group of friends changed drastically. When I started the relationship, I had a close-knit group of girlfriends who had a standing date every weekend night. These girls were all single, and we spent all of our time and energy on each other. After my boyfriend and I began dating, however, these girls grew less important to me, and my boyfriend took up most of my time. His ideals were very different from mine. I respected that he was against drinking and drugs because he cared so much about athletics. These ideals were different than my friends’ and my own. I worked to balance my relationships with my boyfriend and my friends, striving to maintain the balance of different values and work ethics weighing down on me. My boyfriend and I were raised very differently, resulting in disparate views about work ethic and consumerism. I was raised to focus on academics and studying, while he preferred to go to the gym and play basketball. I babysat and earned a small income to spend on myself, while he was content to not work and pay for a few rare dates and cheap Valentine’s Day and birthday gifts. For some reason, I accepted his outlook. Eventually, we began to fight about money. He would complain about not having enough, I would tell him to get a job and he would say, “It’s not that easy.” It was a constant cycle. We fought about money; he got annoyed by my prioritization of school and studying and I was annoyed by his disregard for the things I valued. The relationship was full of good things as well. My boyfriend was my best friend, and he was always tolerated my ups and downs in the nicest way he knew how. This lengthy relationship took over my life. In first few weeks after I broke up with him, we still hooked up, even though I knew I should get over him. Finally, I put an end to the mixed signals. I felt bad because he was still in love with me. It was not that I missed him; I just missed having someone there for me 24 hours a day. Finally cutting myself off from him left me nervous. I had nobody to text during my work breaks and no one to call when I finished my summer reading book. I had no one to cry to about my breakup. Over time, I became closer to my girlfriends and my parents. I expanded my social circle and threw myself into college applications and schoolwork. I focused on myself and my own well-being. I do not regret spending two years of high school with him. He was my first boyfriend and my first love. Our relationship was a learning experience, but now I have learned to be happy on my own.

january 8, 2013

Romantic relationships improve students’ academic performance Carly Meisel Features Editor

In the past, senior Robin Kurosawa spent his time after school sleeping, looking at Facebook or avoiding homework. Now, however, Kurosawa sits with his girlfriend, Sara Clemente, after school and the two complete their work. “[My girlfriend] has a better work ethic than I do. She makes me look at [school] a little bit differently,” Kurosawa said. “I do my homework more [since we started dating].” For those like Kurosoawa, romantic relationships have led to improved scholastic achievement, despite misconceptions suggesting the contrary. According to junior Daniel Friedman, sharing classes with his girlfriend has been a major factor in his academic success. “I had two classes [with my girlfriend] last year. It wasn’t a distraction, and it actually helped me get work done,” Friedman said. “We worked together … and got [work] done a lot faster. We were correct more often than not because we would double-check each other,” he said. Sophomore Rebecca Houston-Read said, however, that juggling schoolwork and dating is not without challenges. “There were times where [my boyfriend and I] were supposed to hang out, but we also had homework,” Houston-Read said. “You learn to deal with it and work around it.” Houston-Read, for example, chooses to do her homework in advance of deadlines or stay up late completing assignments to make time for her boyfriend. To avoid choosing between seeing her boyfriend and completing her homework, junior Caroline Leong instead does homework with her boyfriend. “He helps me study, and it’s good to have someone who you can ask questions to,” Leong said. Some students said partners must make clear their priorities at the beginning of a relationship. Sophomore Gabryela Sinclair said that she and her boyfriend

have a mutual understanding that schoolwork takes priority. “[My boyfriend and I] discuss how if a conflict came up, that schoolwork does indeed come first,” Sinclair said. “It is not always that you get a boyfriend and then stop trying in school.” A similar understanding exists in freshman Herbie Floyd’s relationship, though it took some time to achieve, Floyd said. “At the beginning of our relationship, the priority was talking to each other because that’s when we really started building up our relationship,” Floyd said. “As things went on and we felt more comfortable with each other, our priorities changed and now it is focused on school much more.” Kurosawa and Clemente also agreed to focus on academics. If Kurosawa had an upcoming test but Clemente wanted to spend time with him, Kurosawa said Clemente would not be offended if he chose schoolwork. Since entering into a relationship, Kurosawa said his grades have improved. “My teacher loves the fact that [I’m] dating because I do my homework for her class,” Kurosawa said. Science teacher Sally Rosen has had Kurosawa as a student for the past two years and said she has noticed a drastic change in Kurosawa’s work ethic since he began dating Clemente. “He understood all the concepts … easily and was an excellent test taker [last year], but he wasn’t very good at bringing in his homework,” Rosen said. “[Now], he’s doing homework regularly and on time. When I asked him what was going on with him, he said that his girlfriend was making sure he was on top of things. He said it was

graphic by Aidan Rose

because his girlfriend was in the class.” Rosen said that Kurosawa’s newfound dedication to and consistency with homework completion has resulted in his earning better term grades in her class. According to Floyd, Kurosawa’s situation is not unique, though many students believe that being in a committed relationship detracts from scholastic achievement. “It’s a misconception that when you’re in a relationship, your schoolwork suffers,” he said. “It is true that sometimes you can do [even] better in school when you’re in a relationship and that’s what has been happening in my case.” Houston-Read said that though she has not noticed an effect on her test scores or study habits since entering into a relationship, the feelings that come with dating someone have increased her motivation. “Overall, [having a relationship is] worth it because it makes you really happy, and if you’re happier, then it’s easier to do homework that you don’t want to do.”

Students volunteer at local hospital I could learn how to talk and interact with [patients at the hospital and] help them along the way, so it’s basically a winwin situation. - Kevin Zhang,

Class of 2013 photo by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan

Parisa Siddiqui & Nicole Yu Features Editor, Features Reporter

Every Friday, senior Mark Litvak pulls on a black T shirt and steps into a pair of khaki pants, making sure his uniform fits regulation before signing into the day surgery department at NewtonWellesley Hospital. “I’ve been quite interested in neurology and neuroscience and how that could impact lives across America,” Litvak said. “I’m really hoping I can make a difference in that world.” For the past two years, Litvak has making a difference by volunteering at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where he helps clean patients’ rooms and escort discharged patients to their rides. Litvak and the many other South students who volunteer at NewtonWellesley Hospital said that volunteering provides career guidance and enriches volunteers’ lives as they give back to their community.

Senior Kevin Zhang, who has volunteered at Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s employee fitness center for the past two and a half years, said that he volunteers to gain communication skills. “I could learn how to talk and interact with [patients],” he said. “Obviously, I could help them along the way, so it’s basically a win-win situation.” Sophomore Rebecca McGarry volunteered over the summer in the hospital’s wellness center, where childbirth classes take place. Her responsibilities included stuffing envelopes, preparing flyers and cleaning the dolls used in the classes. McGarry said that volunteering at NewtonWellesley Hospital has influenced her thinking about pursuing a career in medicine. “At the time [that I started volunteering], I wasn’t sure if I wanted to have a job in the medical field, so I thought it be a good experience,” McGarry said. NEWTON-WELLESLEY, 17

january 8, 2013

features

My “Happiness Project”

The Roar speaks with alumni about their lives, professions and the impact their time at South has had on their lives By Shelley Friedland and Maggie Zhang

971

Roger Myerson ‘69 photo courtesy of Roger Myerson

2,983

ChiCago

‘69 graduate Roger Myerson is a professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Myerson earned his PhD in Economics from Harvard University and taught at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management for 25 years. In 2007, he won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. He received the prize in recognition of his contributions to mechanism design theory. “It’s an amazing experience. I’ll say, it actually seems more amazing now than it did before … I understood that I had done some very good work, and I understood that it was work that could be worthy of

a Nobel Prize,” he said. “I could certainly imagine winning a Nobel Prize, and I could imagine not winning a Nobel Prize. Either way could seem like a likely event.” Myerson said that since his days at South, he has always dreamt of working in social science. “I had a dream of doing work in contributing to social science because it seemed to me that was important in the means to understand society better and I had that dream when I was in high school,” he said, “and that dream when I was in Meadowbrook Junior High School, which I guess is now called Charles E. Brown.”

Los angeLes

‘82 graduate Emily Barsh has worked as a television producer in various cities across the country for over 20 years. After graduating from South, Barsh went to Simmons College, where she earned degrees in Spanish and Communications. After working as a Spanish teacher in Boston for one year, Barsh entered the world of television and media. Over the course of her career, she has worked at WBZ-TV, NBC, CBS, Warner Brothers, CNBC and MSNBC. Barsh now produces a talk show for HLN, a subdivision of CNN. Barsh said her time performing with the South theater depart-

ment sparked her initial interest in working in communications. As a producer, Barsh said that she uses the communication skills she developed at South every day. “One of my jobs as a producer is to talk to everybody,” she said. The diversity of South’s student body also helped Barsh to hone the skills necessary for work in communications. “Newton South had such a diverse population that you … learn a lot about people,” Barsh said. “Newton South’s diversity ... helped me have the ability to speak the language of the people who were my audience.”

Emily Barsh ‘82 photo courtesy of Emily Barsh

Students volunteer at Newton-Wellesley

NEWTON-WELLESLEY, from 16 from 16 NEWTON-WELLESELY,

Lauren Lele, director of volunteer services at the hospital, agreed that volunteering can support potential doctors or other motivated students in honing applicable skills. “[Volunteering] gives [students] exposure in an adult professional environment, so they understand commitment and composure and responsibility,” Lele said. “It’s also a good experience in terms of seeing health care in action [and] gives [students] opportunities to interact with the patients and to learn about different careers in working with staff.” Junior Saranya Ramadurai volunteered in Usen-4, Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s elderly care wing. Ramadurai retrieved mail for the floor and answered phone calls from doctors at the front desk, tasks that Ramadurai agreed improved her

communication skills. “I always had to pick up the phone and talk to these random people, who I had no idea who they were,” Ramadurai said. “Normally, I’d be a little bit shy, and this forced me to break out a little bit more.” According to McGarry, even the volunteer application process developed her career skills. “When you sign up, you have to interview with the supervisor, so you get some experience with ... going for a job interview,” she said. Guidance counselor Aaron Lewis said that volunteering is an important activity for students to give back to the community and gain real world experience at the same time. “There are a lot of kids that really value helping other people, and [volun-

teering] makes people feel good to help other people,” Lewis said. “It adds to the character of how people function. It’s just a nice opportunity to pay forward.” Lele agreed that volunteering has a multiplicity of benefits. “[The skills volunteers develop] can be applied anywhere,” Lele said. “Obviously, people with a health interest, it’s beneficial to them. But there is also volunteering at the hospital to give back to the community, to interact with other people, so it could really apply to anybody.” Litvak said that ultimately seeing the effects of his work at Newton-Wellesley Hospital has inspired him to continue volunteering in the future. “I get to see how my helping [patients] really works and how it affects them, which probably to me is the most rewarding experience,” he said.

Lili Kadets

The Quotation Collector

“Each morning when I open my eyes, I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” – Groucho Marx Recently, I began reading Gretchen Rubin’s New York Times bestseller, “The Happiness Project.” Besides the book’s high ratings, its jacket, with a vivid blue background and mellow, yellow font, initially drew me to check it out of the library. I guess one might say that I judged a book by its cover. But boy, am I glad I did. I didn’t put “The Happiness Project” down after I started reading. Rubin, an accomplished Manhattan writer, went on a yearlong quest to find greater happiness in her life. She devoted each month of the year to tackling one aspect of her life that she felt needed improvement: money, marriage, family, spirituality, energy and others. With specific, personal goals and determination, Rubin hoped that she would feel more joy after 12 months. Naturally, while reading Rubin’s book, I felt empowered to start my own happiness project. (I encourage you to start one, too!) Changing habits is no simple task, but Rubin argues that working on only a few, manageable projects at a time — like cleaning your closet, singing in the morning and remembering your friends’ birthdays — provides an incredible boost to happiness. If Rubin made such strides, why can’t we? Each page of Rubin’s book inspired me more than the previous, but one aspect of her story particularly intrigued me: Rubin’s set of twelve commandments. These commandments are a set of daily reminders Rubin used to bolster her selfawareness. My favorite commandment that Rubin proposes is, “Act the way you want to feel.” Here’s where Groucho Marx’s wise words fit it. Both Marx and Rubin argue that all humans, even teenagers, have the power to control their own happiness. Whether or not we trip down the stairs or fail a math test, we have to act the way we want to feel. Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? How can we be expected to overcome the bruises from the stairs or the confidence blow from the math test? Do we really have the power that Marx and Rubin suggest? With gusto, I say we do. I don’t know if it’s just me, but it often seems that homework and athletics and college applications determine our happiness at South. We stay up late, feeling miserable about late history essays, and no matter how much we smile or giggle, there’s no hope of our moods changing. But I’m here to say that we still need to try. High school doesn’t last forever. We’re young, spontaneous and definitely REMARKA13LE. Each day that passes is a day we can never get back, so we can’t let the small things define us. The next time you’re feeling overworked or overtired, do jumping jacks to reinvigorate. Chat it up with some neighbors (Rubin says that we are happier when interacting with others). Maybe even tell yourself a joke to brighten the mood.

january 8, 2013

features

THE

Dezso Wyner is...

APPLICATION

The Roar follows four seniors with different interests as they navigate their way through the college process over the course of the school year and will reveal their identities and final college decisions in June.

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

Emmy* submitted preliminary applications to all the Canadian schools to which she is applying, which she said was relieving. “Clicking submit on the Canadian [applications] was really nice,” Emmy said. “Having it sent in and knowing that the process was officially started for them was nerve-racking but nice to know it was happening, nice to be done with that step and not have to think about it anymore.” Now, Emmys submitted her MIT application and waiting for the Canadian schools to send her additional application documents to fill out. Tyler* was recently accepted to University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Vermont, which he said is both exciting and relieving. “I was super excited. Finally to know you’re going somewhere is a great feeling,” Tyler said. “It’s really nice to have confirmation in writing that some school wants you to go there.” Tyler recently submitted his applications to other colleges, including University of Virginia and Brown University and is awaiting a decision from University of New Hampshire. Greg* heard from the coach at Boston University two weeks before the school’s early decision notification date that he had been accepted to the school. Because Greg received no scholarship money, however, he is not sure if he can afford Boston University’s $59,100 tuition, which Greg said he found upsetting. “It’s less disappoint[ing] and more annoy[ing] that now I have to go do more of the college process,” Greg said. “Now it’s more work for me to do rather than just being done with it.” Greg is now looking at other Division I and II colleges that offer financial aid, including Arizona State University. Heather* is continuing to focus on preparing for auditions taking place in January and February. Heather said waiting until January to start auditions is a unique decision, but she is confident in her decision. “I’m definitely taking a very different course, even for actors,” Heather said. “A lot of actors already have their first auditions under their belt, but I chose to hone my speech skills … because I feel like I’d rather hold off on the audition and really take the time to really sculpt my monologue.” Recently, Heather was also accepted to the non-audition theatre program at Drew University. *Names have been changed

photo illustration by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan and Kylie Walters

Sophomore Dezso Wyner, who moved from Zurich, Switzerland to Newton when he was 12, identifies strongly as an American citizen.

Caroline Zola

Sr. Features Editor

hen sophomore Dezso Wyner lived in Zurich, Switzerland, he could step right outside his front door and into the heart of the Swiss city. “I literally could like go out the door and see the train stop,” Dezso said. “I was far more connected [to the city].” Exploring the city and developing street smarts were important to Dezso, Isaiah Wyner, Dezso’s father, said. “He knew all of the trollies in the city — where they would go and what the number meant,” Wyner said. Dezso said, however, that while he appreciates the worldly view and international experiences living in Switzerland allowed for him to have, his identity as an American citizen is more important. Dezso was born in Zurich and lived there until he was 12 years old. He has visited France and Italy many times and fostered friendships with children from Africa and Asia, experiences that Dezso said had a positive impact on his life. “There were a lot of different friends from around the world and ... it’s interesting to look back on,” Dezso said. “I gained a view that I not sure everyone else here has.” Dezso’s parents moved to Zurich, Switzerland, two years before Dezso was born, and then stayed for thirteen more years to raise Dezso and his older sister, Anna, and twin sister, Sarah. Though Dezso was born in Switzerland, his parents were born and grew up in America, so both the American and Swiss governments

consider him an American citizen. Dezso attended an international school taught in English but open to students of all nationalities. Dezso said that the diversity and fluidity of his class helped him develop social skills. “In an international school, people are always moving around because in their community people are staying there for two or three years and then moving on to another city,” Dezso said. “I was constantly making new friends, and that was an inter-

Any time you’ve lived in two different places, you pick up on elements of daily life. - Jamie Rinaldi, history teacher esting dynamic always.” Wyner agreed that living in Switzerland and attending a diverse school gave Dezso a refined set of social skills and progressive view on social issues. “[In Switzerland, there] was a pretty diverse European population, and there were really people from different backgrounds, different perspectives,” Wyner said. “I think that kind of upbringing helped him to see that there were always different points of views to consider — whether they were political, or religious or historical. In that environment and in

Switzerland people weren’t as quick to judge.” Jamie Rinaldi, Dezso’s history teacher, said that Dezso’s experiences in Switzerland have given him a unique perspective on European history that improve his class performance. “I think [having lived in Switzerland] definitely gives him a more worldly perspective,” Rinaldi said. “I think that he probably sees things in a context. I think any time you’ve lived in two different places, you pick up on elements of daily life and also just the way people think. I think certain differences are clearer to you.” Dezso’s twin sister, Sarah Wyner, said that Dezso’s experiences and background have fostered a truly unique personality. “I’ve never met a guy who is like him ... I don’t think I ever will,” Sarah said. Dezso said that his status as an American citizen is an essential part of his identity. “I identify myself as an American because I’m an American citizen, because both my parents were born here,” he said. “I do view myself as multicultural, but I’m first and foremost an American.” Ultimately, Dezso said his experiences in Switzerland shaped his personality, the cultural acceptance he feels in America overshadows that of his birth country. “[Being an American] means I’m trying to express who I am. It’s part of me,” Dezso said. “It’s definitely something I feel connected to, and that’s something that I don’t quite find in Switzerland.” Additional reporting by Kylie Walters

sports volume 29

issue 5

january 8, 2013

page

photos by Yu-Ching Chang and Jillian Marks

The girls basketball team lost to Needham 50-38 on Dec. 11 in its first home game of the season. The Lions were led by senior Kayla Burton and freshman Emily Chang.

Despite loss, girls basketball team remains positive Yonatan Gazit & Tony Yao

Maddie Connoly, junior Jessa Rubera and sophomore Roni Tami. The Needham players maintained control, but after alThe girls basketball team came up lowing South to score a three pointer, the short against Needham High School at Lions showed the first signs of a possible home on Dec. 11, losing its first game of comeback. Chang immediately drained a the season 50-38. That said, the resiliency three right back at Needham to close out South displayed after falling behind early in the second quarter, making the score at the game as well as the talent of newcomer halftime 26-13. freshman Emily Chang could prove to be South’s offense finally clicked during keys to success this season. the third quarter. After initial setbacks in At the end of the first quarter, South the quarter from a foul call and continued and Needham were tied at six points apiece. control by Needham, Chang shot a threeAlthough the game was fast-paced, senior pointer to bring the score to 32-22; a Needand captain Kayla Burton attributed the ham turnover then led to another threelow number of points to early-season jitpointer by Chang, cutting South’s deficit ters. “There are a lot of underclassmen and to just seven points. As Chang made this new players on our team, so the nerves, second consecutive three pointer, ecstatic anxiety and it just being a home game afroars from Lions supporters reverberated fected a little [of] how we played,” she said. throughout the gymnasium. After a barrage of 11 unanswered Burton said Chang’s presence on the points, South coach Sam Doner ended team was vital in those moments. “Chang South’s misery by calling a timeout at the is a key shooter on our team. I know Emily 4:41 mark in the second quarter. South’s loves to shoot, and she [can] score a signifierrors in handling the ball and inability cant amount of points,” she said. to box out Needham players allowed the Meanwhile, Chang believed her visiting team, led by number 15 Maddie baskets were a team effort. “I think a lot of Ganser, to slip past. Despite the 11 point it was because when they were guarding deficit, after the timeout Doner stuck with me, I moved around a lot and would get his original starters: Burton, Chang, junior good passes [from my teammates].” Chang Sr. Sports Editors

said. “So I think [my points] were all due to the rest of the team members, like Kayla. She’s a awesome point guard. She got a lot of good passes to me, and that’s where I got most of my points.” At the end of the third quarter, the score was 34-25. Despite South’s trailing Needham after three quarters, Coach Doner gave his players a fiery speech. During the fourth quarter, Needham neutralized Chang’s shooting prowess by having Ganser guard her. Ganser not only limited Chang from making any more threes, but also collected many rebounds. With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Ganser hit a three to make the score 37-25 Needham, but nine seconds later, Rubera responded with a three of her own to make it 37-28. When there were only about two minutes left, South trailed Needham 44-33, but then with 1:44 left on a fast break, Burton made a layup and got fouled. Burton then swished the free throw, completing the three point play and making the score 44-36 to the delight of Lions supporters. Despite this surge on South’s part, the game finally ended with a disappointing score of 50-38. Reflecting on the game, Chang

believed that the team did not play up to expectations. “We played with a lot of energy, but we didn’t do the things we said we would do in practices. For example, we didn’t box out or make good decisions during games, and I think that affected us as a whole. We learned that we have to make adjustments on the fly. Our coach called a time out and told us to start moving the ball more, box out and just rebound, [but] we didn’t do that,” Chang said. “Overall, we played hard, but we could have done a lot better.” Burton agreed and said that the loss would be instrumental as a positive force in shaping team dynamic for games to come. “We needed a wake up call. The best part about [the loss] is that it’s our first game. I’m glad we lost; I don’t really care about the scoreboard. The scoreboard says whatever, but the fact that we learned so much from that game is great because we’ve worked on [boxing out] and other things that we struggled with in the game,” Burton said. “If we had won, we would have been going to our next practice with the same motions. Instead, we’re asking ourselves what we did wrong and we can fix this now, rather than later in the season when it really, really matters.”

sports

An overview of the NBA’s most promising teams of this season Jack McElduff Sports Columnist

As the 2012-2013 NBA season progresses further, I cannot help but acknowledge that the entire league is changing, much like it does every year. For one, we can no longer ridicule Lebron James for his lack of performance in the clutch, as “King James” brought home his elusive first championship for the Miami Heat last year. Of course, Lebron still has a long way to go until he fulfills his promise to win “not 5, not 6, not 7” championships, but he could be well on his way. Not to mention, with the acquisition of Ray Allen from the Boston Celtics, this high-scoring team only improved from beyond the arc. That said, the New York Knicks have given Miami a run for their money this year, beating them both times they have played each other. The Knicks, surprisingly sitting atop the Eastern Conference, have been led by their trusty veterans Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. We shouldn’t be worried, though, as the Knicks will crumble once Stoudemire returns to the starting lineup. Another team worth talking about is the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets made the trek across the Hudson to Brooklyn from the Meadowlands this summer. This team picked up Joe Johnson, who had been a free agent, and with the addition of Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz last season, it has gone from an embarrassing 70-loss 2010 campaign to a title contender. Moreover, their play so far has justified the hype. Despite the big offseason in the Eastern Conference, the Western Conference has plenty to brag about this year as well. The Los Angeles Lakers made the biggest splash of the offseason, acquiring Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster trade that sent Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers. But L.A. didn’t stop there. The Lakers went on to grab Steve Nash from his seemingly perpetual home in Phoenix, converting him to a Laker. With these two pickups, this team has arguably the best starting five in basketball, though injury has kept Nash from playing. Another team ready to steal the spotlight is the Oklahoma City Thunder. They came within three wins of an NBA championship in June and made an impressive run through the playoffs. Despite trading the bearded phenomenon James Harden to the Houston Rockets, the Thunder are still sitting atop the Western Conference. And finally, the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce, entering his fifteenth season in the league, is yet again a formidable player. Kevin Garnett seems to be more aggressive and intimidating as he ages. Jeff Green has proven to be a spark off the bench. And who can forget Rajon Rondo? Once in the shadow of the Big Three, Rondo has emerged as a true star with a dazzling array of behind-theback and between-the-legs passes that have left defenders dumbfounded. While it might seem as though the crown indicating the Celtics’ reign of prowess has lost some luster, I believe that we have no reason to lose hope and that the Celtics can take home the hardware for the eighteenth time in their history.

january 8, 2013

South’s gymnastics team rebuilds George Morgan & Darren Trementozzi

recruiting people like crazy,” Zhang said. Junior Ado Moshe said he joined boys gymnastics during his freshman year, Sports Contributor, Sports Reporter when team membership was increasing. “The year I joined, there were only about Just a few years ago, the boys gymnastics team was a one man operation, kept 10 team kids on the team,” he said. alive solely by current Boston University sophomore Carlos Morales after the joint North and South team split in 2009. Since Who cares if we look bad then, the boys gymnastics program at South has been on a journey to rebuild. compared to the other Morales said that at first he felt kids? Who cares if we lose conflicted about how to proceed after the North team broke off. “I gave it a few every single meet? days thought, and three options came into - Will Zhang, Class of 2013 mind: call it quits there or join the Newton South girls gymnastics team or represent my school as its only team member,” he said. Boys gymnastics coach Tom Steeves Morales ultimately chose the last said his team has been improving since option. “Even as the captain of just myself, separating from North’s. “Now we’re in our I thought just maybe I could make a differ- third season of rebuilding the team,” he said. “We’re starting to gain some experience,” Morales said. “I could save Newton ence. We have some kids who are in their South men’s gymnastics. I succeeded.” third year of practice.” Senior and current boys gymnastics captain Will Zhang said that he remembers But according to Zhang, the boys Morales’ efforts in 2009 and 2010 to keep gymnastics team is still very inexperienced the team afloat. “When I was a freshman and has a long way to go. “At South, the back in 2009, Carlos was the only member. gymnastics team is still an infant team,” he In my sophomore year, Carlos went around said. “Most of our guys don’t have any ex-

perience outside of what they have learned on the team.” Zhang added that team members nevertheless maintain a positive outlook. “Who cares if we look bad compared to the other kids? Who cares if we lose every single meet? We have some guys who work really hard like they’re supposed to, and that is the way I want the team to be,” Zhang said. Sophomore Miles Welbourn said that one reason it has taken years for the team to rebuild is because it takes a lot of time to learn the basic skills. “Gymnastics requires really high levels of strength and precision for the minute or two it takes to do a given routine and a lot of practice for the skill portions,” he said. Zhang agreed with Welbourn that new gymnasts can become demoralized at the beginning of their training. “Can you imagine how it feels to struggle with a back tuck when you know that it’s only a basic skill?” he said. Steeves said that with time, effort and positivity, South’s male gymnasts will only continue to improve. “They are just generally improving … week to week in practice,” he said. “They are very enthusiastic and just excited about getting better.”

South On The Move The Roar conducted a survey of 98 students on Dec. 18 concerning their favorite athletic shoe brands

21% oF

38% oF

STUDENTS PREFER nIKE

STUDENTS PREFER Adidas

13% oF

STUDENTS PREFER New Balance

15% oF

STUDENTS PREFER ASICS

STUDENTS PREFER Other brands of shoes graphic by Yonatan Gazit

21 Ski Team and Ski Club provide outlet for interested skiers sports

january 8 , 2012

Lizzie Fineman Sports Reporter

The sharp taste of cold winter air. The crunch of fresh snow underfoot. The thrill of careening down the mountainside. Skiing and snowboarding have long been treasured pastimes for those accustomed to New England’s frigid climate, including many South students. Over the years, students have used both the ski team and the Ski/Snowboard Club in order to participate in these winter activities, and conversation has arisen over the differences between the two entities. South science teacher and Ski/Snowboard Club adviser Brandon Schmidt said that the club provides a more relaxed environment than the ski team. “A team is so competitive and there’s so many strict rules with the team ... whereas [in] the Ski/Snowboard Club, you go at your own pace. If you want to take a break, you take a break,” Schmidt said. “If you want to ski with someone else, you ski with some-

one else. There’s not a lot of rigid structure to it.” Senior and captain of the ski team RJ Hayes disagreed, saying he joined the ski team because it offers both an athletic and fun environment for its racers. Hayes said, “Before I got to high school I heard it was a very ... fun team, a very spirited team, and it would help to improve your skiing abilities, so I figured it would be a great opportunity.” Hayes added that the team only ventures out to Nashoba Mountain, where they practice a few times a week; during off days, they do dry land activities and exercises, despite competing with other high schools. “We try to bond during dry land practices so when we go to the mountain, we can be a successful and cohesive team,” Hayes said. Senior and president of Ski/Snowboard Club Mike Pezza, an avid snowboarder who has been participating in the Ski/Snowboard Club since he was a sophomore, said the club is different also in its emphasis on diversity and team bonding. “We have a

bunch of different spectrums of skilled riders,” he said. “One of the reasons why I like the club is that you go with a different mixture of kids ... who you wouldn’t otherwise spend time with and ... the bus ride [to the mountain] is really good for hanging out and meeting other kids.” Schmidt agreed with Pezza that the range of experience in the club varies from beginners to experts, creating a more open environment. “Some students are just really good; they go to the mountain and they know to meet back at a certain time.There’s other groups of students who are in the process of learning how to ski and snowboard ... they’ll go and get rentals and then they have a ski lesson,” Schmidt said. Hayes said, however, that although each player competes individually, the ski team is still close because of all the time they spend together. “We ride the bus to Nashoba Valley, so that’s like an hour each way [that] we get to spend with the team. We have a lot of team dinners,” Hayes said. “We spend a lot

graphics by David Gorelik

things you never knew about

Kayla Kee

Girls Ice Hockey Captain

By David Kim And Yu-En Chang

favorite author

favorite athlete

favorite movie

favorite game

Jodi Picoult

Mean Girls photo by Dylan Block

of time at practices with groups, so it’s not like an individual sport. It’s more like a team sport because we get to interact with each other on the team.” Freshman Kayla Freedman said that as a frequent skier, her decision to become a member of the ski team this winter came easily. “I chose to do ski team because I like the competitiveness, and I’ve raced a few times, and I’ve liked it,” Freedman said. “I wanted to start racing again.” Junior Eamon Keane said he chose to participate in the Ski/Snowboard Club because he loves snowboarding and does not engage in any other sport during the winter. “It’s not that much time because it’s only one day a week,” he said. Hayes said the ski team is less intense than the club. “Ski team is more of a commitment. The difference between the two is if you like more competitive skiing, then go to ski team,” he said. “Kids who are more looking to pursue [skiing] as a hobby do Ski Club whereas if you actually want to participate in a sport and be part of a team, you go to ski team.”

Milan Lucic

Bananagrams

volume 29

issue 5

january 8, 2013

page

Every issue, The Roar features an organization in Newton that makes a difference in the community

photos by Emily Ho

The servers and owners of Farmstead Table restaurant aim to promote simple recipes that utilize locally grown ingredients.

Farmstead Table restaurant brings locally-sourced food to Newton Emily Ho

Sr. Community Editor Delicious smells burst from the grey and lime green doors of Farmstead Table, enticing customers to enter the petite neighborhood restaurant. After a lifelong journey in the restaurant business, owners Chad and Sharon Burns opened Farmstead Table to customers in Newton Centre to customers this past August. Though they were originally looking for a spot in Needham, the restaurateurs settled on their Union Street location, replacing the India Paradise restaurant. A native of Needham, Sharon met her husband in 1996 while attending University of Michigan while Chad was working in a restaurant. According to Sharon, both of them had culinary backgrounds, but they never imagined being able to open their own restaurant one day. “It was always at the back of our minds to get a place of our own,” Sharon said. “We didn’t really think it would happen.” Sharon also did not think she would ever have a restaurant in Newton. “Chad convinced me to try Newton,” she said. “I was actually not that familiar with Union Street, so the first time I came out here I was like, ‘Wow, this

is really cute!’ There’s a lot of foot traffic, “I’m really glad to be working at there’s a lot of architectural detail, and we a place that’s not a corporate chain; it just thought we saw a lot of potential in is partnering with farms locally,” server this space.” Benjamin Bott said. “It makes my job a lot Farmstead Table joined a number easier because I feel good about the food of other restaurants already near Union I’m putting down in front of people.” Street, but according to customers, it offers Diners’ impressions also reflect a unique dining experience for locals. Bott’s good feelings. “[The restaurant was] “I don’t think it’s like anything else small, but it was also very homey,” senior in Newton Centre,” sophomore Emma Elizabeth Barnett said. “They very much Gomez-Rivas said. tried to make it “It had good food, a welcoming and good environment nice, and they sucWe find everything local that and good service.” ceeded.” According to Though we can, and we just bring out customers and staff Farmstead Table the really essential flavors of it. alike, the restauhas only been open rant’s simple dining for a couple of - Sharon Burns, Restaurateur style makes it stand months, customers out. have been quick “My family to welcome it to doesn’t really like the neighborhood. greasy food,” Gomez-Rivas said. “My dad South parent Jen Zola decided to stop in is into the whole local and grown closerecently. by [idea]. I think that’s good because it’s “It looked like a cute restaurant, healthy and better for the environment.” and it was definitely crowded,” Zola said. Sharon said she subscribes to a “There was a good buzz to the restaurant.” similar philosophy. “We find everything Despite the early buzz and business, local that we can, and we just bring out the some customers feel the restaurant can really essential flavors of it,” she said. “We make improvements to make it more atfind the best possible ingredients.” tractive in the future. Along with simplicity, the restaurant “It’s good to have, and I like the phifocuses on its environmental impact. losophy,” Zola said, “[but] I think when I

went, because it was new at the time, it felt like they needed to polish up. There were still some wrinkles in the restaurant.” Bott agreed that Farmstead Table could take advantage of opportunities for change. “I think that they could make their dining room bigger somehow,” Bott said. “If they could somehow get the property on either side of us or knock down a wall to turn it into a bigger [restaurant]. Despite starting small, Farmstead Table’s first few months have been positive overall, said Bott. “For right now, it’s kind of like, well if it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it,” Bott said. “It’s really working well right now.” Given its recent opening, Farmstead Table is indeed working well, Zola said. “I’m glad they’re there, I love the concept and I will definitely go back now that they’ve been around a little longer,” Zola said. Sharon said he hopes that other customers will follow Zola’s lead and keep coming back. “Our number one goal is to become a fixture in the community,” Sharon said. “We don’t want to be a special occasion spot where [people] can only come once or twice a year. We want to keep our prices affordable and keep close ties with [our customers].”

community

january 8, 2013

ONE WORD, ONE COMMUNITY

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

CONTRAST

David Stricker South Parent

Dark and light, soft and loud, bleak and colorful, bold and subtle. These pairs of adjectives describe contrast. Each pair comes from the same form of experience, and its members have similar qualities. It is the carefully designed implementation of contrast that determines the degree of enjoyment experienced by a listener, reader or viewer. Loud is not as loud without soft. Soft notes lose their subtle nuances if louder ones are not

Nikita Roy Class of 2014

When I think of the word contrast, I immediately think of differences. Then I think of comparing these difference in an attempt to find similarities. In many ways, my life as a first generation American in a 100 percent Indian family exemplifies the contrast between two very different cultures. As a child, I felt just as comfortable at home blasting Bollywood music as I did at my friend’s house dancing to Bieber. But as I grew older, it became more apparent that I had to choose a culture

mixed in. Loud notes lose their punch if they are not judiciously intertwined with softer ones. The impressionist composer Maurice Ravel used this philosophy in his piece, “Bolero.” With the contrasting component of progressive volume, he created one of the most captivating pieces of the late nineteenth century. The meter remains unchanged, but contrasting volumes heighten the listener’s experience. Colors in art and design cause the eye to perceive objects to be projecting toward or receding away from the viewer, depending on their placement relative to other colors. The twentieth-century painter Josef Albers used a pattern of squares within squares, with contrasting colors creating depth. Red “pops off ” of green and orange off of blue, no matter how subtle the shades. Contrasting colors are the only variable. Even foods benefit from contrast. Flavors stand out when savory is paired with sweet or spicy with bland. The taste buds of a lucky gastronome delight when just the right combination of flavors blossoms in each bite. Contrast can enhance every form of perception. In the hands of a master, contrast alone can transform the most basic components into a treat for the senses.

between what we see, hear and feel. We are aware of light because it contrasts with darkness. We are aware of joy because it contrasts with misery. Contrast draws our attention to everything that goes on around us. Contrast is what allows me to see the stars in the night sky. Contrast shows me how many shades and textures of black there are and how the night is darkest just around the edges of the moon. Without contrast, there is nothing over our heads at night but depressing homogeneity. Contrast helps bring me out of my own head. Whenever the house is dead silent, and I sit at my desk, doing the same kind Andrew Hardigg of math problem over and over again, I Class of 2014 gradually retreat into my own mind, drifting through my thoughts, thinking about To ever feel truly warm, some part empty space. of me always has to feel cold. If it weren’t for contrast, I would get As I lie in bed, the sting of the chilly lost in my mind, and I would never find air blowing through the window makes me fully aware of the warmth of my blan- my way out. Contrast is a voice that breaks the sikets. Cold creates warmth, and the chillier lence or a different kind of math problem. the cold, the stronger and the greater the Contrast makes the world diverse warmth. and dynamic. That’s the nature of contrast. It makes the world more vivid and It awakens us to the world around more exciting to observe. us because sensations are nothing but

with which to identify. My Indian heritage has meant attending Hindi language classes on Sunday mornings, constantly emphasizing earning good grades in school and, of course, avoiding boys until I’m married. But growing up in America has given me a completely different perspective: Sometimes, ignoring the rules and rebelling can be fun. I’ve been caught suspended between two completely different lifestyles. But as I learn more about Indian and American cultures, it has become clear that both are integral to my identity. There is no way I can choose just one. I’ve come to realize that differences are not always bad. Contrast can be frustrating to deal with but also very rewarding. My family, for example, throws both Super Bowl Sunday and Cricket World Cup parties. Ultimately, being put in a position to choose between East and West has opened up my mind to a variety of opportunities. Embracing the differences in these two contrasting cultures instead of trying to choose just one has made me a completely new kind of person, a hybrid of two worlds. To tell you the truth, I would not have it any other way.

Embracing differences and embracing diversity in a broader sense enables one to create incredible energy that we can harness to create new opportunities and new meaning. As an artist, I try to create and use contrast in my pieces with a wide range of opposing elements: light and dark colors, smooth and rough textures, large and small shapes, curved and straight lines, dull and glossy surfaces, clear and opaque coatings, etc. These contrasts enable me to create different meanings and a level of visual interest, energy, tension, excitement and drama, depending on what I am trying to say. From my perspective as an art teacher, contrast offers a richness of ideas and allows for immense breadth of interpretation and meaning when creating and looking at art. I believe the same is true in many other types of teaching. Beyond contrast in content and materials, the contrast of different teaching styles can also create a richer environment for all of us as we go through each school day.

Karen Sobin-Jonash South Art Teacher

Contrast is much more than just a difference. For me, contrast is the juxtaposition or overlap of differences in one moment or one space that creates constructive tension. This tension generates the dynamics and energy in both art and life.

Next Issue’s Word:

Risk

january 8, 2013

ads

SAT&ACT Services

One-on-One Private Tutoring Small Classes for Test Prep

Small SAT or ACT Classes 18 class hours for $600 2 classes per week for 6 students

Full-Length Real Test Practice Real SAT or ACT $40/student

Bagels • Challah • Bubka • Cream Cheese • Smoked Fish • Made fresh on the premises • • Orders are welcome • • Closed Mondays and Tuesdays •

Under Kosher Supervision of the Vaad Harabonim Baked Goods are Kosher and Pareve - Pas Yisroel Rosenfeld’s Bagels 1280 Centre Street Newton Centre, MA 02459 (617) 527-8080 Join us on Facebook! Search: Rosenfelds Bagels