Volume 29, Issue 6

the LION’S

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

Vol. XXIX · Issue VI

Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper · Newton, MA · Established 1984 · February 1, 2013

METCO students face early mornings Shelley Friedland & Caroline Zola

Features Reporter, Sr. Features Editor 5:00 a.m. — An alarm clock rings in senior Selene Weekes’ bedroom.

6:33 a.m. — Weekes is standing outside, watching her school bus approach.

As a student in the METCO program, which is intended to increase racial diversity in Massachusetts suburbs, Weekes makes the journey from her Boston home to South each morning, sometimes missing her bus because she cannot wake up early enough.

Weekes said that waking up so early negatively impacts her physical well-being and academic performance. “My eyes always burn now,” she said. “I get more headaches, so I always doze off.”

Weekes and other METCO students said that while they appreciate the education METCO, 15

Upcoming events aim to bring to light the issue of dating violence at South

A

passing glance. A casual hello. A hallway conversation.

Kristen’s* relationship began as innocently as any other.

“Sophomore year I met this guy, and he was in my history class. He was really cute, and I thought he was really nice.

He seemed smart, and he had just moved here from a different school. We started talking, and in the beginning it didn’t seem like anything was up; for the first couple months of our relationship it seemed like everything was going fine.”

But things changed.

“He began taking advantage of me emotionally, saying things that are really not nice. We would break up on a regular basis, like every night, and then get back together. I just noticed that I started spending every night crying.”

The relationship began to take a toll.

“It was taking me away from my schoolwork and spending time with my friends, and [I was] just drifting away from everybody in my family … I didn’t want to acknowledge that something iffy was going on,” she said. “It kept on getting worse and worse and worse until finally my parents realized he was

the issue. But I didn’t want to admit it because I thought I loved him, and I thought he loved me.”

In response to cases like Kristen’s, members of the Newton community have teamed up with representatives from REACH Beyond Domestic Violence (RBDV), Journey to Safety (JTS), the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) and the Newton Wellesley Hospital to host a parent seminar at South on Feb. 11 and a series of student workshops during school on Feb. 13.

The events are aimed at informing parents and students of the dangers of teen dating violence, which is emotional or physical abuse committed by a partner in a relationship, but have also raised questions over whether dating violence is sufficiently acknowledged as a problem within the Newton community.

“Basically, the program in a nutshell is in education — to provide the parents with some information about healthy relationships, what to look for and how to help guide their children,” South parent Debby Belt said.

DATING, 2

Safety ISSUE

The

By Joe Joseph and Sasha Kuznetsova

In response to recent events around the nation and the globe, The Roar presents a series of perspectives on the issue of safety at South

Editorial 6 Opinions 9 Centerfold 12-14

photo illustration by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan and Ravi Panse

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Instagram

Lunch ban

The ban on lunch in the lobby has inspired action from South Senate

page

4

The Roar examines how the national trend has arrived at South

page

17

Track star

Senior Jung Park brings his passion for track to the next level

page

19

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

news volume 29

issue 6

page

february 1, 2012

2

Dating violence often overlooked DATING, from 1

South Spots compiled by Roar editors

Distracted Driving The wellness department will host a program on Feb. 26-March 2 in order to raise awareness of the dangers of using cellphones while driving. The program is open to students who have had their licenses for less than three years or who have their permit, and includes 45 minutes of instruction in a simulator and 20 minutes of online instruction.

Students interested in joining should see Prevention/Intervention Counselor Rich Catrambone.

NAEP test South has been chosen to represent schools across the nation through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a math and reading test administered by the US Department of Education. Select seniors will participate in the assessment, and the results will allow educators to compare student achievement in Massachusetts with other states in the country.

Belt helped organize the event along with Prevention/Intervention Counselor Rich Catrambone and Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Coordinator for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Erin Miller.

According to Catrambone, the events were first inspired by the Newton Crime Commission and have been timed to correspond with Teen Dating Violence Awareness month in February as well as Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14.

Julie Youdovin, guest speaker from JTS, said one of the main inspirations behind the events has been the denial of dating violence as an issue in Newton. “[The event is about] how we can make a community … that doesn’t think, ‘Oh, well this is Newton, so [dating violence] doesn’t happen here,’” she said. “The same way drinking doesn’t happen here and drugs don’t happen here and all those other things don’t happen here.”

Catrambone added that some of the lack of acknowledgement can be attributed to a need to preserve Newton’s reputation of safety. “We don’t talk about dating violence, and that’s a problem,” he said. “The fact is that this issue is in the closet and nobody is discussing it or feels that this something that is OK in our ‘safest city in the country.’”

Kristen agreed that a defensive mentality is pervasive at South. “ Whatever age they are, something could happen to anybody. It doesn’t matter where they live, what religion they are or what they look like,” she said. “I mean, I’m a white Jew living in Newton, and I never thought it could happen to me. I’m sure no one else thought it could happen to me, but it did.”

According to statistics from the official website of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, the majority of dating violence is aimed at young women, and one in three teenage girls reports being a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner.

As for the existence of dating violence at South, statistics taken from the 2010-2011 Newton Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate that 2 percent of South students (male and female) reported being physically or sexually abused by their partners.

While Catrambone said he recognizes that 2 percent might seem like a small number of students, he noted that many students are unwilling to label their relationships abusive. “Newton’s numbers are not at the same levels as some of the national numbers, but understand that this is a crime that’s underreported,” he said. “It’s a situation that many times kids don’t define themselves as in a destructive or abusive relationship.”

Catrambone added that in his time at South he has witnessed the existence of teen dating violence firsthand. “The truth of the matter is that these numbers are bigger than we can imagine,” he said. “A lot of us think that this stuff doesn’t happen in Newton, but it does. Over the years that I’ve been here, I’ve worked with a number of kids who have experienced destructive relationships” Despite evidence pointing toward the existence of dating violence at South, a survey of South students verified the notion that dating violence is not recog-

The Roar surveyed 237 students on dating violence infographic by Joe Joseph

41%

said not sure Do you fe dating el as thoug h viol issue a ence is an t sout h?

52%

32%

said no

ne o e om cted s e now n aff ce? k en you ee Do has b g viol o n wh y dati b

68%

said no

said yes

nized as a problem.

More than half said yes of the students surveyed denied that dating violence is an issue at South, though 68 percent of students said they do know a victim of dating violence.

According to Youdovin, the dearth of openness and conversation about dating violence could explain these results. “The nature of abuse is silence — that’s part of what holds it in place, the person that it’s happening to doesn’t feel safe talking about it.”

Youdovin said that a main goal of the events is to dispel common stereotypes about dating violence. “A lot of people assume that dating violence is about being punched in the face or pushed down the stairs or all the things you see in movies and TV,” she said. “We’re going to focus a lot more on controlling behavior and what it’s like to be in a relationship where somebody is taking away your power and your ability to make choices.”

According to Kristen, dialogue on dating violence is crucial in helping those in abusive relationships to accept the severity of their situations. “When you’re in a relationship and you’re being abused, you don’t realize it because you think that you love your partner and that your partner loves you,” she said. “You think that it’s just part of being in a relationship and overlook it and try to focus on all the good times.”

Colleen Armstrong, a guest speaker from RBDV, added that informing students is important because friends and peers are the people whom victims confide in first.

“What we know is that when high school kids experience dating abuse or sexual violence, they don’t pick up the phone and call someone like me first,” she said. “They don’t go to a parent or guidance counselor first.

They always go to a friend first.”

Armstrong’s claim is supported by a BARCC study finding that 50 percent of teens who have experience dating violence will turn to a friend first.

According Lee Doyle, a guest speaker from BARCC, friendship is integral to helping those affected by dating violence. “A big part of this is knowing how to be a good friend,” she said. “You know, even if you’re not inter-

7%

ested in dating or having a boyfriend, you might have a friend who is, and it’s also important for other students and members of faculty to notice warning signs of teen dating violence and abuse in relationships.”

Belt agreed that ultimately, the effects of these events are meant to extend beyond students’ time at South. “This education is something that can help kids while they’re at South, but it can hopefully help them when they’re in college or they’re in life to have the inspiration and the courage to say to their friends, if they see a friend in need, ‘What can I do to help you?,’” she said. “Hopefully we’ll have a good response, and hopefully this is something that we can carry on.”

Students have also expressed an interest in educating themselves for the future. “I think it’s good to stay informed about this,” sophomore Mira Li said. “Even though I’m not hearing anything directly about this issue [at South], I still think that it’s important to inform people so that if it ever presents itself, we know how to deal with it.”

Fortunately for Kristen, despite a lack of education on dating violence and a judge’s initial refusal to grant a restraining order, her story ended well. “We went back to court and finally we were able to make the restraining order. Then he ended up not coming back for junior year and I was able to refocus on school, getting good grades and you know my relationships with my friends and family.”

That said, her healing process is still ongoing and will be for years to come. “[This experience] is always going to affect me; it affects decisions that I make now. I’m more cautious of people that I’m friends with and of people that I date. I haven’t dated anybody since,” she said. “Even after my mom helped me get a restraining order, it still took me a lot of time to just sit and acknowledge what was going on. I really just didn’t understand. I had a lot of learning to do to understand this is what happened, that this is why my life is screwed up right now.

This is why I’m so sad all the time; It wasn’t me, it wasn’t anybody else, it was just him.” *Name changed to protect student’s identity

news

february 1, 2013

a

3

Celebration

of

Freedom

N

ewton held its 45th annual Martin Luther King Jr. community celebration at Temple Beth Avodah on Monday, Jan. 21. The celebration included musical performances by the North Jubilee Singers, the Newton All City Treble Singers and Myrtle Baptist Church’s Love Tones. Mayor Setti Warren and Superintendent David Fleishman also made speeches at the event, along with Newton students who read essays inspired by the life of Dr. King.

photos by James Wang

Newton examines achievement gap in MCAS scores

90%

The Newton Public Schools published a report on Dec. 10, 2012 about Newton’s MCAS results. The report followed the class of 2014’s MCAS scores in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics from 20052010 and 2012, organizing the scores by racial subgroups.

of low income students in the class of 2014 performed at or above proficient in ELA in 2012

African American students at or above proficient ELA: 33 percent in 2005, 92 percent in 2012 Math: 8 percent in 2006, 81 percent in 2012 Asian students at or above proficient ELA: 78 percent in 2005, 97 percent in 2012 Math: 75 percent in 2006, 93 percent in 2012 Caucasian students at or above proficient ELA: 84 percent in 2005, 98 percent in 2012 Math: 66 percent in 2006, 95 percent in 2012 Hispanic students at or above proficient ELA: 67 percent in 2005, 90 percent in 2012 Math: 40 percent in 2006, 84 percent in 2012

{

54%

of low income students in the class of 2014 performed at or above proficient in ELA in 2005

infographic by Ravi Panse

4

february 1, 2013

news

Senate seeks common ground on lunch in lobby Nathaniel Bolter & David Li News Reporters

South Senate members intend to work with administrators on a plan to allow students to eat lunch in the auditorium lobby after eating there was banned in late December.

According to Principal Joel Stembridge, the area had become dirty and overcrowded because over 100 students ate there each lunch period. “[The lobby] was never meant to be a second cafeteria, [which is] what it was becoming,” he said.

When students first began eating in the lobby last year, the Senate wrote a pledge to the administration, which students who ate there signed, promising to keep the area clean.

Junior and Senate president Jack Lovett said that when the area was shut down, he and other senators felt the responsibility to address this issue because “a lot of students feel strongly about [it].”

Lovett said that the Senate must revise its original proposal to open the lobby to fit the current circumstances. “Since more people eat there now, … [we need] a more complicated proposal,” he said.

The new proposal consists of multiple parts. The first is to create a pledge, much like the one from last year, through which students can agree to take responsibility for keeping the area clean. The second proposal is that the Senate put up posters in the lobby reminding students of their commitment to clean up after themselves.

The remaining parts include improving the cafeteria, placing two tables by the art rooms and reaching an agreement with the administration on putting small tables in the lobby.

Senior and Senate vice president Nicholas Hurney said the proposal aims to redirect students from the lobby to other places during lunch.

“I think by fixing up the cafeteria, we would draw people back to the cafeteria,” he said. “By putting some tables outside, some people would go outside, [which] would actually reduce the number of stu-

dents who eat [in the auditorium lobby].”

Junior Dylan Cloud said that he is pleased with the proposal and he believes the Senate is handling it well.

“I think it’s a fine program. [The Senate has] been working hard to get the lobby up and running again,” he said.

Junior Anjali Oberoi said she strongly opposes the ban because the lobby had become a convenient alternative to the cafeteria.

“Most of my friends were there,” she said. “It was just the place where everyone went.”

Cloud said the administration’s ban on eating in the area has broken up the community aspect of eating in the lobby. “[The ban] forced people to condense into really tight packs where there are exclusive groups.The lobby was just a great place [because] you could sit there and everyone was welcome,” he said.

“Now it’s all split off into Goldrick commons and the cafeteria.”

Oberoi agreed that such divisions have made finding a place to eat lunch complicated. “Either [lunch is in] Goldrick commons or I just find a place to eat,” she said. “It’s been all over the place.”

Stembridge, however, said he would be receptive to the Senate’s proposal as long as certain conditions were met.

“If we have students eating there, there have to be far fewer students and that when they leave, it’s clean,” he said.

Lovett said that support from students would be critical in order to

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push the proposal into action.

“The Senate is going to vote on it, and then we will bring it to the administration,” he said. “If we feel enough of the student body agrees with this proposal, we’re going to put it in a bill.”

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Ha by

Oberoi said she is confident that the students will adhere to pledges and clean up after themselves. “I don’t think anyone wants to lose the [lobby] again. Everyone is kind of homeless and is trying to find somewhere to eat. I think this time will be different,” she said.

For a student perspective on eating in the lobby, turn to page 8

r e t s a m e s u o H e h k T s A What does South want to know about Goldrick housemaster Marc Banks?

graphic by Sophie Galowitz

en

Freshman Amanda Michel wants to know: If you were an animal, which would you be?

Sophomore Dezso Wyner wants to know: What types of books do you enjoy reading?

MB: I would be a hippopotamus because they laze around. I’m very busy in life, and that’s sort of the exact opposite of what I do.

MB: I enjoy reading all types of books, [but] my favorite is anything mystery. [I like] something that leads you, like a page turner.

Junior Walter Yang wants to know: What is the most interesting country you have traveled to?

Senior Gustavo Dantas wants to know: What is the most interesting food you have eaten?

MB: Spain. I was in Madrid and Northern Spain, in Bilbao. It was a gorgeous, beautiful place. I went to the Guggenheim.

MB: I’m not very adventurous when it comes to food.

My favorite is french fries, though. I could subsist on french fries for the rest of my life.

february 1, 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

7

1

2

3

2

9 6

4

4

7

7

3

2

1 8

4

4

9

5

10

3

8 2

5

9

1

6

1

4 8

4

18

24

2

2

8

3

7

2

5 4

1

7

6

6

7

6

1

7

3 9

4

18. Cornered as a wild animal would be; “to be kept ____” (2 wds.)

20. Vroom the engine(2 wds.)

22. Humble home, or sunglasses store 23. With problems, its far from the point, but fixes yours 26. Off the books; untaped 29. Coach on “Glee” or a good name for a lawyer 30. Half a ballet skirt 31. Sinuous swimmer;

1. Boutonniere site 5. Whoever’s in one is out of it 9. Helping verb that sounds like a letter 10. Utterence of understanding 12. “You go,” in Spanish 13. Bartleby’s scribe colleagues 16. Trapper; hunter 17. For ___ a jolly good fellow

2 3

27

ACROSS:

4

9

25

26

4

4

23

22

21

CHALLENGING: 5

3

M S B P L E F M A D I S O N

A I T Z V R C A K P F Q E D

D K J W K C N M L X I V Q J

A X N A H S U B O Z D A Q Q

E V N O C Y A X P W R B Y G

I P O M T K L Z I X D X K A

F H S Q R G S G S U G K L K

electric enthusiast 32. Means justifiers 33. Ungracefully thin 1. But not least 2. Storyline, or lob trajectory 3. Persisted 4. Magma on the move 6. Pile too much on 7. It follows leap day (abbrev.)

8. You might use a burette for one of these 11. Daughter of Cronus and Rhea 14. Guarantee against loss 15. Hell; ____ regions 17. First noble gas symbol 19. Location preposition 20. Stir from slumber 21. Agreement; Warsaw, for example 24. Motown music genre; precedes “mate” or “search” 25. Sit ___ by 27. Hebrew letter, or Mother Teresa 28. Interjection upon seeing a mouse, perhaps

Want the solution to this puzzle? Visit thelionsroar.com/crosswords!

day is in February! Search for the Word Search President’s surnames of past and present presidents below.

S T S E S P A S T I R B A J

20

19

By James Wu

DOWN:

17

16

7 1

7

15

4

8

6

6

12

11

13

2

5

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6

2

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5

K I L J M F N O H E I G M Q

E A I V Z D U I N H B Z F N

N M W A M W S D H C M Y I X

N A J N U H U H M S C R L N

E B W O I X M F W P A E B O

D O G T S A N H C N Z W D S

Y X D N F J D P I L R O M R

K P I I T D K G Z O O H U E

F N Z L E F A K X C O N D F

X N F C F Y K E D N S E S F

O G A H Y S T Q D I E S O E

V N U M X K A K L L V I E J

P O Q P U R P W Y N E E G T

D R Y T X R I T S D L J V N

S H K O E W T O O I T U E A

W K T P Z P N P X Q I Y L R

H G F Z L Q W D X J U B F G

1) Adams 2) Bush 3) Clinton 4) Eisenhower 5) Grant 6) Jackson 7) Jefferson 8) Kennedy 9) Lincoln 10) Madison 11) Obama 12) Polk 13) Roosevelt 14) Truman 15) Washington 16) Wilson

Embarrassing Roar Staff Photo of the Month:

Zola found her true love at an early age.

editorials volume 29

issue 6

february 1, 2013

The Cat’s

Meow

by Joe Joseph

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

Conflict over lunch spaces reaches boiling point Following the banishment of food from the main lobby and hallways at South, 15 students have been reported missing after being unsure of where to go during the 30 minute lunch period.

“I was so scared and lost,” senior Frenny Jiedland said.

“All my friends disappeared, and then I had to sit with a bunch of freshmen in the student center, so the next day I tried to find where my friends were.”

Jiedland was missing for three days before she was found under a table in the Mixed Media room, where she had assumed people would come to eat lunch. In addition to missing students, the designation of the areas as foodfree have resulted in mass protests, including an incident in which students egged the floor of the main lobby. When Newton police were called in to stop the students, they ended up joining in.

“I already did it to my boss’s house, so why not help out the kids?” officer Al Caw-Hall said.

Heated argument over heating reaches boiling point After a recent cold front during which temperatures dropped below absolute zero, several students have contracted hypothermia in classes in the science wing. “I was taking a physics test and all of sudden I noticed my fingers were stuck to my scantron,” senior Jack Frost said. “They had to detach me with a chisel.”

Science department administrators claim that the problem has been misidentified. “Actually, it’s not too cold, there’s just a lack of heat — simple thermodynamics,” geology teacher Iggy Neous said.

On the other side (of the school), students have complained about the sweltering temperature in classes on the third floor of Goldrick house.

“Sometimes I have to leave the room because I can feel my skin melting,” Heath Stroak said. “It doesn’t help that the air conditioner in the room is the gateway to the fiery depths of hell.”

Chemistry experiment reaches boiling point “It literally did,” junior Meg Nee-Sium said.

page

6

Safety measures emphasize installation of cameras and buzzers, lack focus on community Oikos University. Chardon actually South teachers, which High School. Sandy Hook Elcould potentially increase stuementary School. In 2012 alone, dents’ unease.

16 mass shootings occurred in Recently, Principal Stemthe United States, according to bridge said he was seriously The Nation magazine. Five of considering requiring all teachers these events took place in or near to wear name badges at school. academic institutions, resulting When asked how many students in the injuries and premature would feel comfortable donning deaths of children, teenagers and similar identification, about half adults. of The Roar’s editorial staff said In the aftermath of the that they would.

Sandy Hook shooting, schools One editor suggested across the country reevaluated elementary and middle school their security systems, scrambling students do the same. In addito implement a battery of safety tion, 11 Roar staff members said measures to keep students safe they would support some sort of inside and dangerous individuals electronic scan-in system should outside.

South implement one.

Some school administrators have opted to install door buzzers and locks.

We put forth out best efDuring schools hours, locked fort to keep danger out, doors would prevent potentially dangerous individuals but shouldn’t we examine from entering the building, the relationships going on they argue.

Recently, Newton inside the building as well? school and city officials announced plans to install buzzer and camera systems in all elementary and middle But as much as increased schools. physical protection in the forms Despite the initial installaof security cameras, door buzzers tion of security cameras at South and locks helps ensure safety, in 2010, some students have focus on mental and social forms expressed unease knowing that of security within South is equaltheoretically, anyone can walk ly as important. We put forth our through the building’s unlocked best effort to keep danger out, doors at any time during the but shouldn’t we examine the day. relationships going on inside the In a recent editorial board building as well? discussion, three Roar staff memIn the fall of 2011, students bers said they do not currently at South attended a schoolwide feel safe in the building. One seminar entitled “Rachel’s Chaleditor pointed out that at any lenge” and listened to an account given time during the day, there of the 1999 Columbine High are adults whom students do School shooting. This shooting not recognize walking through did not occur at the hands of a South’s hallways. Furthermore, stranger who wandered into the members of The Roar’s editorial building, but rather at the hands board said that students do not of two students. always recognize adults who are South administrators are

Editorial Policy

working to mitigate the chance of external threats entering the building, but we must also direct attention toward potential internal ones.

The anti-bullying program at South is one example of a schoolwide effort that encourages students to build better relationships with their peers. Given that anti-bullying discussions take place solely in students’ advisories, however, the lessons are not particularly effective because students are already well-acquainted with other students in their homerooms.

While The Roar commends the goals and activities of the anti-bullying program, other measures should be taken to create a safe and trusting community within the school.

Specifically, one editor said that more schoolwide presentations similar to “Rachel’s Challenge” and larger group discussions regarding gun violence would contribute to a better understanding of school safety. Sophomore Carly Meisel wrote in her centerfold article that guidance counselors and students work together more closely to discuss any issues students may have.

The Roar recognizes the importance of security locks and cameras in keeping outside dangers on the other side of the door, but locks cannot stop students from carrying concealed weapons, and cameras cannot provide much assistance should a shooter commit suicide after killing others.

On the other hand, bullying can be prevented. Making sure that every student feels mentally stable and comfortable at school is a goal worth working toward.

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.

february 1, 2013

desk

Editor encourages readers to express what makes them tick

FROM THE

EDITOR’S DESK

But when Oprah Winfrey sat down with Lance Armstrong last month, she set out with the same goal I keep in mind each time I pull out my notepad and switch on my recorder.

Armstrong’s admission of doping didn’t satisfy public curiosity. Indeed, Oprah’s television special ran long after that little piece of truth came out.

We kept watching. We listened as Armstrong explained how his son Luke spoke up when classmates questioned Armstrong’s credibility. We heard Armstrong’s voice waver as he said to Winfrey, “I told Luke, ‘Don’t defend me anymore.

Don’t.’”

Yes, we wanted to know the who, what, when and where.

But we really wanted to know the why, whatever it was that motivated Armstrong, and to understand the emotions that resulted from his poor choices.

As evidenced by the 28 million viewers who tuned into Winfrey’s interview, either on TV or online, humans are interested in the lives of other humans — thus,

Jenny Friedland Editor-in-Chief

“Tell me about yourself.”

I attend Newton South High School.

I’m eighteen years old. I live with my mom, dad and sister. And in case you haven’t caught my drift, I’m terribly uninteresting.

Tell me about yourself.

This statement has long been a go-to conversation starter for any interview I conduct for The Roar.

If the response I receive is anything Google-able, Facebook-able, phonebookable or otherwise easily searchable, I opt for the awkward pause. Without fail, interviewees eventually begin talking to fill the silence.

As that girl who keeps laughing when the room goes quiet and has more trouble remaining upright while walking than she’d like to admit, I’m not exactly begging to add more awkwardness to my life.

So opting for the awkward pause is a calculated choice with a focused objective; I’m hunting for stories.

I’m confident saying that pretty much none of the qualities of successful television talk show hosts apply to me, starting with poise and moving on down the list.

Opting for the awkward pause is a calculated choice with a focused objective; I’m hunting for stories.

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

Joe Joseph

Managing Editors Andreas Betancourt

News

Hyunnew Choi Julie Olesky

Ravi Panse

James Wu

Section Editors Centerfold Editorials

Dipal Nagda Anastasiya Vasilyeva

Features

Kylie Walters Caroline Zola

Anqi Gao

Community Emily Ho

Carly Meisel Parisa Siddiqui

Graphics Managers David Gorelik Aidan Rose

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!

the human interest story.

Until recently, however, I hadn’t grasped just how hard it is to share my non-Google-able, non-Facebook-able, non-phonebook-able self.

In a single week last month, the storm that is college interviewing season hit me full on. For the first time in recent memory, I found myself in the hot seat.

Once there, I also found myself plagued by the feeling that I am utterly uninteresting — until, somewhere around interview number five, a new statement came into play.

“Tell me about what makes you tick,” the interview began.

In high school, perhaps more than in any other realm of life, we compartmentalize, seeking to place individuals into easily identifiable groups: students at that school in the upper-middle-class suburb, deceptively intimidating seniors, responsible older siblings.

When it comes down to it, though, it’s the next layer of information that we

Opinions Dina Busaba Sophie Forman

Sports

Yonatan Gazit Tony Yao

Business Managers Jordi Batler RJ Hayes Sam Heesch

Copy Editors Jenny Morris Emma Race

Monday J Block Room 1201

7

truly care about, the sort of anecdotes that separate me from all the other eighteenyear-old South students who live with their moms, dads and sisters.

I just needed someone to coax those stories out of me. During interview five and the ones that came after, I spoke of my inspirations, my passions and my perspectives with increased depth.

The best interviewees are vulnerable enough to share their emotions.

It’s risky to state that I lost a South Senate election freshman year. Teenage judgment can be harsh.

But it’s far riskier to move from fact to feeling and admit that my resistance to joining other extracurricular groups that year stemmed in part from a fear of failure influenced by my election loss.

Awkward pauses are great, particularly talented college interviewers make for enjoyable afternoons and I certainly wouldn’t refuse a chance to chat with Oprah.

Nevertheless, good stories don’t depend on any of these things.

Instead, storytelling depends primarily on a recognition that stories define us beyond labels and that as curious as we are, others are equally so.

So from now on, I’ve got a new goto interview statement: Tell me about what makes you tick.

opinions volume 29

issue 6

february 1, 2013

page

8

The ban on eating in the front lobby leaves students without a place to eat during lunch and negatively impacts the school community

photo illustration by Dina Busaba and Dylan Block

With nowhere to go, I would not be surprised to find a student eating in a bathroom stall. Yes, I just referSr. Opinions Editor enced “Mean Girls,” but that’s sometimes how I see this I am lost. It’s the beginning of my lunch experience ban playing out. Eating in the bathroom may be a gross and I am walking through a complicated maze hoping exaggeration of the isolation the ban has caused, but the to find a friend to sit with. As a junior, I’m pretty embarproblem is a serious one. rassed about that, but I don’t get physically lost so much A rift in the South student body came with the ban. as emotionally lost. I get lost because I often find myself Where before multiple grades could sit in the same area in wandering, searching for people who have the same lunch harmony, these grades are now territorial when it comes time as I do. to places to eat. Freshmen occupy the cafeteria, sophoLast year, my friends and I started eating in the mores stay in the photo room, juniors are in the library or lobby by the auditorium. The administration didn’t mind Goldrick commons and seniors just leave campus. so long as we and all the other students sitting in the There has been a detrimental change within the lobby cleaned up after ourselves. school community — students don’t interact anymore One could find students of all grades sitting in the outside of their friend groups. The ban encourages cliques lobby. The migration to the front was mainly started by at South, and with more cliques comes a disconnected those who were sophomores and seniors at the time. community. Sharing the front lobby forced the divisions Juniors ended of the student body up sitting in to disintegrate, but The ban created a disjointed school; where once there was harmony and pattern that the lobby as now the separacame with lunchtime, now there is isolation and anxiety. well, though the tions are stronger freshmen generthan ever. ally stayed away. More freshmen sat in the lobby this year, any of the commons. Many don’t feel comfortable or The administration and students have therefore and despite grumbles from the upperclassmen, no one feel too enclosed in the them; I am one of those people. reached an impasse. Granting students the privilege of really did anything to keep them away.

Lunch should be a time when students can be free from eating in the lobby once more would not teach us any lesDuring a typical lunch block, the lobby floor was classroom stress, but this new ban on eating in the lobby son about responsibility or respect for property. Keeping flooded with clusters of students. These students sat in makes me enjoy lunch less because I feel confined within this ban would prove damaging to the school community, groups, but groups became blended when enough people a certain space. though. To me, the negative impact on the student body were there. Cliques never seemed to exist in the lobby.

I don’t know where to eat anymore. South has never outweighs the students’ irresponsibility. Where can the Even if a teacher changed what lunch I took for schedulfelt stranger to me. The cafeteria, according to South’s soschool go from here? In my humble opinion, the admining purposes, I knew I could go to the front and always cial patterns, is mostly occupied by freshmen. The seniors istration should give us students the lobby back. Through find friends to sit with. The lobby was the place to meet have cars to leave with, senior commons to sit in or some its trust in us, the administration can inspire a motivation and have lunch — until the administration banned us other secret spot where they eat. Since the ban was imto treat the school in a proper way. Students will then feel from using the space. posed, I haven’t come across many seniors during lunch. accountable for any lost privileges or disgusting eating The ban is understandable. We were warned about Another problem with the ban is that students go areas, and that’s how it should be. leaving trash behind, yet trash still littered the floors folto the library to sit with their friends. That migration All I’m asking for is mutual trust and respect belowing lunch block. A few kids didn’t throw away their wouldn’t be a problem, but students aren’t allowed to eat tween the students and the administration. We as students lunches, and those kids ruined the experience of sitting in the library either. Thus, some students to choose not need to promise to do a task as simple as cleaning up after in the front for the rest of us. The ban created a disjointed to eat lunch at all. Although I’m sure the administration ourselves and to appreciate the privileges our school gives school; where once there was harmony and pattern that didn’t mean to discourage students from eating, students’ us, and the administration needs to be a little more aware came with lunchtime, now there is isolation and anxiety. decision not to eat will cause an uproar from parents that of students’ feelings when it comes to the school environFinding friends during lunch is almost impossible unless South neither tried to earn nor deserves. ment.

Dina Busaba

my friends and I discuss beforehand where we plan to meet. Still, we find ourselves grouped in the front before retreating to an obscure part of the school. Some students wait for class to eat their lunch, which ruins the point of having allotted eating time. The free time given for lunch is not being used to its full potential because students don’t know where to eat.

Now, South Senate has come up with an initiative to earn back the privilege of eating in the lobby. Although it is important for students to voice their opinions through class representation, students need to demonstrate that they are responsible to get back the privilege that they lost. We need to prove to the administration that we deserve to get our rights back.

Students are told from freshman year that eating in the commons is allowed and, in fact, encouraged. In my experience, however, few students actually eat in

opinions

february 1, 2013

question of Safety

a

Freshman discusses safety concerns in community Veronica Podolny Opinions Contributor

When news of the Dec. 14 attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. reached me, I was shocked. The thing I wanted most was to be young again, to be small and just hide.

Then I realized that being younger would only have brought me closer to most of the shooting’s victims, all of whom were taken far too young.

As I was sitting on the bus on my way home from school that day, I opened CNN on my phone and read about the events as information came in. My mind was flooded with questions about my personal safety as well as that of my community.

Newton is considered one of the safest cities in America. I know that the police in this city are ready at any moment for potential dangers at our school. All the people I know are warm and friendly. I know that none of the people with whom I am familiar would harm anyone. I avoid walking alone in the dark and getting into cars with strangers.

I’m sure the children of Newtown felt the same way.

photo illustration by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan and Sophie Forman

Can safety ever be guaranteed?

If I’m walking down the street, can a reckless driver hit me? Of course that would happen. Some dangerous occurrences aren’t planned or desired by anyone.

But some are. Studies conducted by the Bureau of Justice show that teachers have noticed an increase in youth violence as well as bullying and hostile behavior toward adults in recent years.

The Bureau of Justice reported that 87 percent of students said school shootings are motivated by a desire to “get back at those who have hurt them.”

I can be almost sure that I am safe, but not everyone shares that luck. Even if I lock every door and shut every window, nothing can ever guarantee me 100 percent security.

What can South do to increase to students safety?

Unfortunately, not much. Unlike some recently espoused student views, I think that having armed guards present at South would not help put my mind at ease because weapons should never be brought onto school property. A weapon could theoretically be stolen by anyone. A gun

locked away in a safe would not be much help either, since in the event of an emergency, it could take time to access. The safe could even be broken into. Therefore, having firearms in school would not help.

Locking doors with pin numbers would help, though a door would not entirely prevent danger, especially when coming from a fellow student. The halls in our school are largely unmonitored, which could be a problem. Anyone can walk in and out of the school without being questioned. Even though I’m sure nobody wants this, closer monitoring of students would add to our school’s protection.

Is there such a thing as safety in the modern world?

After all this thinking, my answer to that question is a resounding “No.” Many dangers in our world are beyond our control, and they range from reckless drivers to terrorist attacks. Chances of something happening to me in my current environment are quite low, yet tragedy strikes for someone all the time. Living in Newton, we are relatively safe. Nobody can be absolutely safe, however, since life itself is unpredictable; This is a fact we all must live with.

When I go to coffee with a friend who works at Peet’s but I want Starbucks #newtonproblems

I went to the nail salon without makeup. Of course I know more than half the people there #newtonproblems

I just skipped class to do homework #newtonproblems

My dog only drinks Poland Springs #newtonproblems

Winter Prom is on the North side of Newton #newtonproblems

Ruzzle crashed at a beginning of the round #newtonproblems

Weigh GPAs, not students

9

Jack Rabinovitch Social issues and me

Schools must not only educate children, but also prepare them for healthy, productive lives. To that end, schools across the country have enacted laws to monitor students health. Massachusetts General Laws require that public schools collect students’ height and weight measurements and use them to calculate each individual’s Body Mass Index (BMI), a supposed indicator of growth and development. In turn, these statistics often influence new laws related to obesity and student health.

Height, weight and BMI screening of the class of 2015 began in January.

Parents of students screened will receive BMI results stating their child’s “health” status. Unfortunately, the BMI is a terribly inaccurate health indicator that actually threatens students’ body image and sense of well-being.

Why do schools intervene in the health of their students? The Center for Disease Control states that approximately one-third of all U.S. adults are obese, though in Massachusetts the rate is lower at 23 percent. Obesity raises the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and increases students’ likelihood of suffering heart attacks and cancer later on in life, prompting school systems nationwide to provide preventative care.

One problem schools face is that obesity is formally defined using BMI. To determine whether patients are obese, nutritionists divide their weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters to calculate BMI, and anyone with a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese. Immediately we run into problems. By only considering the weight of a person instead of his or her body composition, how much fat, muscle, bone and water contribute to his or her overall weight, the BMI fails to account for a variety of body types and is liable to misdiagnose obesity. The National Institute of Health states that more than half of the football players in the National Football League are obese because the BMI can’t account for their large muscle mass. BMI is a largely arbitrary indicator; it’s based off of statistics rather than common sense.

Misdiagnosing or exaggerating health problems can be extremely damaging to student’s self-esteem and body image. Inflated reports of obesity or obesity-related problems play into insecurities many students have about their appearances, fueling unhealthy eating habits. The negative stigma of obesity, eating disorders, fasting, restricting and binge eating as well as a stigma associated with the overweight plague our city worse than obesity ever has.

What could be a solution? Obesity definitely must be dealt with, but the school’s approach is anything but productive. With doctors to check up on children and diagnose their health easily and accurately on a case-by-case basis, the school should focus on discussing what creates obesity as well as how to help those with eating disorders. If South really wishes to help students’ health, they should educate themselves and leave them to make life choices on their own.

10

opinions

february 1, 2013

Marriage not always desirable route Ariel Neumann Opinions Contributor

Many little girls grow up dreaming of walking down the aisle in a white dress to the notes of “Pachebel’s Canon in D”. Not everyone fantasizes about marriage, of course, but most expect to get married someday.

We live in a society that prizes marriage as the goal of normal, single people and the destination of any healthy relationship. We promote this attitude in books, movies and television; in popular culture, characters indifferent toward marriage are emotionally-stunted jerks who fall in and out of short, shallow relationships.

Our culture regards marriage as the only course for any committed and loving relationship. Though there are valid moral and religious defenses of this belief, marriage has a number of flaws that most people overlook.

Although people say marriage is a partnership between two people, it is, at its core, a deeply sexist institution. While this sexism has diminished over the centuries, it is still present yet shockingly ignored.

The man in the relationship is expected to propose. The man almost always keeps his last name, while a woman must at least consider changing hers in addition to switching her title from “Ms.” to “Mrs.” During a wedding, a woman is “given away” by her father to her soon-to-be husband, a ridiculous practice in a society where women work, vote and serve in the military. Society should be beyond defining women by their marital status or treating women as objects to be

given from one owner to another.

In addition, weddings themselves are extremely expensive and impractical affairs. A couple has to spend an enormous amount of money on venues, food, entertainment, flowers and a wedding dress, which combined can cost several thousand dollars.

Friends and relatives of the engaged must also spend a lot of money traveling and buying gifts for the newlyweds. The spectacle and the large expenses don’t make sense; people spend too much money on a ceremony that lasts only a few hours and exploits a personal promise that is less meaningful than many assume.

While marriage is a promise of love, fidelity and commitment — crucial aspects of a long-term relationship — marriage itself does not guarantee any of those things. Even if people get married with the intention of being loving, faithful and committed, their feelings may change with time.

Married people still

have affairs and fall out of love.

Forty-one percent of all marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. Marriage does not magically eliminate problems in relationships between unmarried people, nor does it guarantee that either spouse will keep his or her promises.

Yes, marriage may encourage people to keep promises of fidelity and commitment that they might otherwise break.

A married person might be more motivated to refrain from cheating and stay in his or her relationship than an unmarried person.

But if a husband or wife would be willing to cheat on or leave his or her significant other if the two were not married, then marriage is limiting and therefore illogical. Marriage can keep two people together in a su-

perficial relationship, but it can’t force them to love each other.

Just as married couples often can disagree, a loving relationship can thrive without marriage. It is entirely possible for two unmarried people to have the kind of loving, committed relationship that marriage is supposed to ensure.

If two people love each other enough to want to spend the rest of their lives together, that devotion should be clear without their having to spell it out at a wedding ceremony. And should vows ever be broken, a married couple should be able to end the relationship without the messy, expensive process of divorce.

Marriage does give couples benefits in the case of health insurance and taxes. On an emotional level, however, these benefits can turn a relationship into a business deal. Marriage not only makes each party promise to feel the same way about the other for the rest of their lives but also makes the way out more difficult if they change their minds.

Society should admit that relationships change over time and stop having couples swear “til death do us part” if people are going to be married only so long as the marriage works for them.

Marriages and divorces make falling in and out of love more formal, expensive and public.

People don’t need a sexist and costly ceremony to have a happy relationship, and love shouldn’t be a business deal. Despite its prevalence in our society, the institution of marriage is largely unnecessary.

Our society needs to rethink what goes into a stable relationship. Marriage does not equate to love, and love does not necessitate that one get married.

graphic by Alisa Kuklina

United States should learn from Finland’s education system Nathaniel Fleming Opinions Contributor

The American education system is a mess, which is possibly the singular issue everyone in this country can agree on.

The Program for International Student Assessment is a test that ranks academic abilities of 15-year-olds in 65 countries.

In 2009, the U.S. came in 14th for reading, 17th for science and 25th for mathematics. These results are surprisingly low for the wealthiest nation in the world, but what is more surprising is which country ranked highest.

Above South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong stands Finland.

Forty years ago, Finland’s education system and ranking was comparable to the U.S.’ Now, its scores are consistently at or near the top. So what happened?

Finland’s education system underwent a complete reform built on principles so incredibly different from those present in the American system. Formal schooling doesn’t actually begin until the age of seven, and even then, elementary school students have an average of 75 minutes of recess a day. In America, on the other hand, students are stuck behind desks as early as kindergarten and have an average of 27 minutes of recess.

Allowing students to play and be physically active is considered an essential part of Finland’s education system, whereas in the U.S, it’s something that takes valuable time away from learning and should be removed as soon as possible. Another major difference in the Finnish school system is that students are required to take classes in music, visual

arts and crafts. A more hands on, active curriculum promotes problem solving, creativity and an attitude of learning by doing.

This methodology appears to be superior to America’s, where music and arts are being dropped from curriculums early on and students instead spend their school days sitting at desks and memorizing large amounts of information for a single test.

But perhaps the biggest difference between America and Finland lies with their teachers.

In America, teaching isn’t a high paying or extremely sought after occupation. Teaching, for the most part, is regarded as rewarding in spirit, but not in a large paycheck. Teachers are the people, however, who are educating the next generation and therefore have a massive impact on the future of the country. Teachers

in Finland have the same social status as doctors and lawyers and are paid higher salaries; after 15 years, Finnish teachers make 102 percent more than the national average, while American teachers make 65 percent.

Teaching in Finland is so appealing that in 2010, 6,600 people applied for 660 elementary school teaching jobs. After a teacher is hired, he or she is assigned to one class for several years, learning the best teaching methods for students.

Finnish teachers also have flexibility thanks to the broader guidelines of the national curriculum. And they spend less time teaching in order to spend more time creating curriculum and assessing the progress of their students. The shorter hours have the added bonus of creating a lower stress environment for

students and reducing overwhelming workloads.

If one compares Finland’s academic prowess with that of Massachusetts alone, however, the two are about equal. If higher scores are all we care about, then the systems in place in China and Massachusetts would be sufficient, but the Finnish system could be considered more appealing (if quite radical) because it is much less stressful.

Students would probably prefer the Finnish system, but the changes needed would take much time and effort to achieve. Some students might prefer to tolerate stress if it means avoiding a hard period of transition faster.

Ultimately, however, students and public officials must take into account not only what’s easiest or most convenient, but what will benefit our society as a whole.

february 1, 2013

arts review

ARTS REVIEW:

SCHOLASTIC KEYS

11

"YELLOW DRESS"

The Roar features a selection of South photographers’ winning work from the 2013 Scholastic Art Awards

GOLD KEY WINNERS

Sonam Shankar

SILVER KEY WINNERS "EASTER AFTER DYING" "TOPSY TURVY"

Francesca Sands

"LOST IN THE CROWD"

Louisa Warnke Ellie Goldsmith

"BAG IT"

"SHORE ENOUGH"

Jasper Barbash-Taylor

Maggie Whalen

In Good Hands New security measures and sense of community critical to school safety

The Student Factor

73%

said students can be a part of creating a safer environment at South

How safe are we?

Number of Responses

On a scale of 1-5*, how safe do you feel at South?

4

1

2

By Dipal Nagda and Anastasiya Vasilyeva

F

ollowing the shooting Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School last month, school safety has become a prominent issue at South. Although traditional security measures will mostly remain unchanged, a plan for a more communal environment among students should improve safety indirectly, according to Principal Joel Stembridge.

Superintendent David Fleishman wrote an update on safety in the Newton Public Schools on Jan. 1, discussing recent security updates for elementary, middle and high schools.

“There are sensible security measures that we can implement while preserving the sense of community that is a hallmark of the Newton Public Schools (NPS),” he wrote.

For elementary and middle schools, Fleishman proposed a new security system in which main offices can open and close doors based on a buzzer sound. “We plan to install a buzzer and camera system as quickly as possible in our pre-K-8 buildings

that will enable the schools to be locked during the school day through dismissal,” he wrote.

According to Stembridge, South will not lock its doors nor adopt a buzzer system. With students and faculty coming and leaving the schools multiple times daily, locking the doors would be impractical.

“Is locking the doors really a good use of our time and energy? Plus, is that really going to make us safer?” Stembridge said. “I think in my mind, the question is: ‘Are we safe enough?’”

South has, however, taken some measures to tighten security: The door near the preschool in Goldrick will now be locked during the school day. Stembridge also said that South has a safety team of secretaries, custodians, administrators and teachers who meet regularly to discuss future contingency plans and drills at South.

*students could select more than one answer

On Jan. 15, The Roar surveyed 213 students about safety at South

said South should take further action to improve its security

More Campus Aides

Guards

14%

19% More Cameras

Locked doors

*1=not at all safe, 5=extremely safe

graphic by David Gorelik

35%

5

3

According to Fleishman, safety protocol has always been stressed within NPS. “Our principals continue to ensure that all staff [members] are instructed and trained to respond to any crisis by implementing lockdown drills, shelter-in-place procedures and evacuations,” Fleishman wrote.

South’s administration is also discussing a plan for all faculty to wear identification badges. “The strongest safety precaution that we can take is to ensure that every student feels connected to South and that every student is known well by an adult,” Stembridge said.

Stembridge added that the security cameras around the school are a part of an overall safety plan that was created a few years ago. The original plan included a total of around 100 cameras in different areas of the school but is being implemented in steps. The first 25 cameras were installed a year and a half ago and 60 more were recently installed.

According to Stembridge, the cameras serve two main purposes: to prevent theft and to increase safety. He said that the cameras will create another layer of protection and a better sense of community. “If someone is intending on doing something they shouldn’t be doing, they will hopefully think twice about coming into the school because the cameras are there,” he said.

Security Measures

*

33%

South parent Lily Levine agreed that the cameras provide a sense of greater security in the hallways at South. “I’m pretty happy that they have the cameras in the schools,” she said. “I know that doesn’t prevent an intruder from coming in, but I’m not quite sure how you’d do that at a high school level where the school has open campus.”

In addition to focusing on physical measures, Stembridge said he hopes to also boost the sense of community for both students and faculty. For instance, following the incident at Sandy Hook, Stembridge expressed pride in the way South came together to reach out to Newtown. “I think that our [advisory] conversations after the moment of silence on that Monday were really thoughtful and heartfelt,” he said. “I know that a number of students felt moved to find a way to reach out to Newtown; some people were collecting teddy bears, some people were writing notes.”

Several students said the sense of community at South already provides them with a safe environment. Junior Jordy Cohen said South’s relatively united community is reassuring. “I feel safe at South,” he said. “The community is very tight, and I just feel like nobody is going to do anything harmful.”

Junior Izzy Shishko agreed that community creates a feeling of trust. “[South is] a pretty welcoming school,” she said.

18%

“Even though the doors are open all the time, it’s not like we see any strangers coming in.”

Despite this sense of community, however, some students expressed concern. Junior Anthony Fu said that although he is not personally worried, South’s many unlocked doors allow for possible dangers. “We have standard procedures for safety, but there could definitely be more security if there’s a real concern,” he said.

“For example, I know that the 9000s door [to the band room] is always unlocked. I definitely think that maybe the school could do a better job at looking at entrances to make sure random people don’t just walk into the school.”

Stembridge said he hopes that students and faculty continue to feel safe at South with a strong sense of community.

“Finding ways to ensure that all students feel accepted and comfortable here is a safety feature,” he said.

Cohen said that additional safety measures are not needed.

“We take enough safety measures with all the security cameras and all the campus aides that we have. I don’t know how we could prevent a complete stranger from walking in without having metal detectors and all that stuff, which I think is unnecessary,” Cohen said. “For a school, I think we are very well protected.”

In Good Hands New security measures and sense of community critical to school safety

The Student Factor

73%

said students can be a part of creating a safer environment at South

How safe are we?

Number of Responses

On a scale of 1-5*, how safe do you feel at South?

4

1

2

By Dipal Nagda and Anastasiya Vasilyeva

F

ollowing the shooting Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School last month, school safety has become a prominent issue at South. Although traditional security measures will mostly remain unchanged, a plan for a more communal environment among students should improve safety indirectly, according to Principal Joel Stembridge.

Superintendent David Fleishman wrote an update on safety in the Newton Public Schools on Jan. 1, discussing recent security updates for elementary, middle and high schools.

“There are sensible security measures that we can implement while preserving the sense of community that is a hallmark of the Newton Public Schools (NPS),” he wrote.

For elementary and middle schools, Fleishman proposed a new security system in which main offices can open and close doors based on a buzzer sound. “We plan to install a buzzer and camera system as quickly as possible in our pre-K-8 buildings

that will enable the schools to be locked during the school day through dismissal,” he wrote.

According to Stembridge, South will not lock its doors nor adopt a buzzer system. With students and faculty coming and leaving the schools multiple times daily, locking the doors would be impractical.

“Is locking the doors really a good use of our time and energy? Plus, is that really going to make us safer?” Stembridge said. “I think in my mind, the question is: ‘Are we safe enough?’”

South has, however, taken some measures to tighten security: The door near the preschool in Goldrick will now be locked during the school day. Stembridge also said that South has a safety team of secretaries, custodians, administrators and teachers who meet regularly to discuss future contingency plans and drills at South.

*students could select more than one answer

On Jan. 15, The Roar surveyed 213 students about safety at South

said South should take further action to improve its security

More Campus Aides

Guards

14%

19% More Cameras

Locked doors

*1=not at all safe, 5=extremely safe

graphic by David Gorelik

35%

5

3

According to Fleishman, safety protocol has always been stressed within NPS. “Our principals continue to ensure that all staff [members] are instructed and trained to respond to any crisis by implementing lockdown drills, shelter-in-place procedures and evacuations,” Fleishman wrote.

South’s administration is also discussing a plan for all faculty to wear identification badges. “The strongest safety precaution that we can take is to ensure that every student feels connected to South and that every student is known well by an adult,” Stembridge said.

Stembridge added that the security cameras around the school are a part of an overall safety plan that was created a few years ago. The original plan included a total of around 100 cameras in different areas of the school but is being implemented in steps. The first 25 cameras were installed a year and a half ago and 60 more were recently installed.

According to Stembridge, the cameras serve two main purposes: to prevent theft and to increase safety. He said that the cameras will create another layer of protection and a better sense of community. “If someone is intending on doing something they shouldn’t be doing, they will hopefully think twice about coming into the school because the cameras are there,” he said.

Security Measures

*

33%

South parent Lily Levine agreed that the cameras provide a sense of greater security in the hallways at South. “I’m pretty happy that they have the cameras in the schools,” she said. “I know that doesn’t prevent an intruder from coming in, but I’m not quite sure how you’d do that at a high school level where the school has open campus.”

In addition to focusing on physical measures, Stembridge said he hopes to also boost the sense of community for both students and faculty. For instance, following the incident at Sandy Hook, Stembridge expressed pride in the way South came together to reach out to Newtown. “I think that our [advisory] conversations after the moment of silence on that Monday were really thoughtful and heartfelt,” he said. “I know that a number of students felt moved to find a way to reach out to Newtown; some people were collecting teddy bears, some people were writing notes.”

Several students said the sense of community at South already provides them with a safe environment. Junior Jordy Cohen said South’s relatively united community is reassuring. “I feel safe at South,” he said. “The community is very tight, and I just feel like nobody is going to do anything harmful.”

Junior Izzy Shishko agreed that community creates a feeling of trust. “[South is] a pretty welcoming school,” she said.

18%

“Even though the doors are open all the time, it’s not like we see any strangers coming in.”

Despite this sense of community, however, some students expressed concern. Junior Anthony Fu said that although he is not personally worried, South’s many unlocked doors allow for possible dangers. “We have standard procedures for safety, but there could definitely be more security if there’s a real concern,” he said.

“For example, I know that the 9000s door [to the band room] is always unlocked. I definitely think that maybe the school could do a better job at looking at entrances to make sure random people don’t just walk into the school.”

Stembridge said he hopes that students and faculty continue to feel safe at South with a strong sense of community.

“Finding ways to ensure that all students feel accepted and comfortable here is a safety feature,” he said.

Cohen said that additional safety measures are not needed.

“We take enough safety measures with all the security cameras and all the campus aides that we have. I don’t know how we could prevent a complete stranger from walking in without having metal detectors and all that stuff, which I think is unnecessary,” Cohen said. “For a school, I think we are very well protected.”

14

february 1, 2013

centerfold

Student proposes preventative safety measures Carly Meisel Features Editor

Since the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook shooting, superintendents and administrators nationwide have been reviewing and changing safety procedures.

The addition of buzzers in Newton’s elementary and middle schools is an example of such changes. Sandy Hook had updated its security system shortly before the attack, though, and this is where the flaw in Newton’s thinking becomes evident.

An outsider coming in and shooting people is nearly impossible for South’s administration to predict or stop. Once an armed person is outside of a school building with the intent to shoot children, a buzzer system is not going to slow him down.

The attention must be turned away from outsiders hurting children and toward the people who have been the most common shooters in school shootings: students.

Out of the 387 school shootings in the past 20 years, nearly 70 percent have been committed by a student, as reported by the National School Safety Center.

South, or any other school, for that matter, should not let children slip through the cracks to the point where they might commit violent acts. Preemptive measures can be taken by our guidance counselors to detect troubled or unhappy students before a disaster occurs.

Every term, guidance counselors should call in each and every one of their students for a check-in. The guidance counselors should be trained to ask a few specific questions, or have particular topics to discuss with these students.

Frequently, these meetings will be nothing more than times to talk with and develop relationships with guidance counselors.

For the students in whom a problem or concern is noticed,, guidance counselors should pursue the issue more extensive meetings.

This plan will serve more than just the purpose of detecting students who are plotting to take dangerous action against other students.

Short conversations will provide an outlet for students to discuss suppressed issues such as depression, eating disorders, bullying and dating violence, or,

less extreme but still distressing issues, such as problems with a teacher, fighting with a friend or homework overload.

Our school administration will be taken aback at the number of people who are either concerned about the overall happiness or the safety of a peer or of themselves.

The caring and professional guidance department at South has been given neither the time nor the resources to give individual attention to each student at our school. I realize that implementing this system in practice may be difficult. Taking a few minutes for each student adds up to a lot of time for our already busy guidance staff.

It’s a necessary step to take, though, as protecting our students from each other and from themselves must be an absolute priority — nothing is more important.

Of course, some students will choose to lie about a situation they are in. This will not be a flawless system, but it will be a necessary and effective step in the right direction. You’d be surprised at what teenagers are willing to share when given the appropriate opportunity.

Talking it Out

Meisel presents a plan that promotes regular conversation between guidance counselors and students: Guidance counselors should have a conversation with each of their students at least once a term.

The conversation should be an outlet for students to discuss sensitive issues such as bullying, stress and dating violence.

features volume 29

issue 6

february 1, 2013

15

page

Early mornings challenge METCO students METCO, from 1 they receive in Newton, the early mornings and long commutes take a toll on their studies and on their bodies, a problem many METCO students said remains largely ignored by other South students and the faculty.

After waking up at 5 a.m., focusing during the day can be a challenge, according to Weekes.

“I sometimes fall asleep in class,” she said. “In psychology I’m just dead, so I don’t even really know what we do.”

METCO senior Robert Dixon agreed that being tired makes it harder to learn.

“Throughout the day, I feel like I have less energy to get work done and actually be an effective part of my classes ... and be able to pay attention the whole class and get the whole concept,” Dixon said.

Senior Chelsea Jones added that she finds herself growing more tired as the day goes on.

“Toward the middle of the day, I’m burnt out,” she said. “You can pull through the first couple of blocks, but when you get toward the end, it’s rough.”

Wheeler housemaster Josepha Blocker said that sleepiness continues to affect students’ education even after they leave school for the day.

“They have less time to do other things and less time to sleep than a typical Newton student would have,” Blocker said.

“It’s a big sacrifice that they’re making to be part of our system.”

Senior Shonda Davis, who lives in Newton and is friends with Jones and Davis, said that METCO students have to push through debilitating fatigue unlike anything students who live in Newton face.

“Most of them are doing good in their classes, even though it’s harder,” she said.

“Even if [Newton residents] have to stay up really late for a paper, we’re staying up even later,” Weekes agreed.

METCO counselor Katani Sumner said that all high school students struggle with late nights, distracted by electron-

Senior and METCO student Chelsea Jones waits for the bus to leave South. Jones spends up to an hour commuting to and from South.

ics or kept up by homework. Still, the Weekes, though, school breakfast options problem is more pronounced for METCO are “disgusting.” students.

Students said that because they find “The effects [of staying up late] are go- the cafeteria breakfast unappealing, they ing to be … exacerbated on a Boston student may skip the meal entirely. because they get “[Not up earlier,” she eating breakfast] said. “They may makes you just be staying up the tired, and you same, as late as a get a headache, Newton resident and you just student, but ... want to lay they’re losing an down, and you hour in the morncan’t,” Weekes ing.” said.

- Robert Dixon, Class of 2013 After losFor METing that hour, CO students, Weekes said the extracurricular issues continue once she steps off the school activities such as school sports or jobs can bus in the morning. add another layer of stress.

Because METCO students wake up “Playing football and knowing I so early, some choose to eat breakfast at have to come home and do homework school rather than at home. According to and knowing I will probably get less sleep [than a Newton resident] and have to do the same thing five days a week, its pretty stressful,” Dixon said. “It wears and tears on your body.”

When Dixon has football after school, he is often unable to find a ride home, so he must sleep at a friend’s or teammate’s house, which Dixon said affects his academic performance the following day.

“There have been a couple of times where I can’t get homework done because my friend wasn’t in that class, so he didn’t have the textbook,” he said. “Or, not gonna lie, just not being at home, [I] can’t really focus, can’t get the work done.”

Both Weekes and Jones said that while their lack of breakfast, long commute and early mornings affect both their ability to arrive at school on time and photos by Yu-Ching Chang to pay attention in class, many teachers The METCO bus departs South after sunset, leaving students little time for homework. ignore the problem.

I have less energy to get work done and actually be an effective part of my classes.

“[Teachers] don’t do anything, so it’s just not even worth trying to ask them over and over again,” Weekes said. “I’m just fed up with trying to tell [teachers how tired I am] ... when they don’t even want to listen.”

Davis said that observers often respond unfairly to METCO students’ complaints.

“I feel like a lot of staff and even students think, ‘Well, I mean, you go to a good school, so you should be grateful,’” Davis said. “They don’t really care when [METCO students] have a lot of things they have to do and have to wake up extra early, and I feel like [METCO students] don’t get treated right most times.”

Dixon added that many South students hold misconceptions about METCO students that only add to the problem of early mornings and fatigue.

“Some students think that as a METCO student we have certain privileges that teachers give us,” Dixon said.

“But the thing they don’t understand is we commute to school every day, we wake up a lot earlier than most students do and it’s a lot of stuff we have to deal with.”

Dixon said that fixing the problem will require widespread change within the school, not just efforts from individual teachers.

“It’s not like a teacher can give us a nap period or something like that,” Dixon said. “If there’s a solution, maybe start the day a little bit later, which I think would benefit not only METCO students but every student in that school.”

Despite his complaints, Dixon said he makes the best of his experience in the METCO program.

“You have to wake up early, and you get home late, ... but I think everyone in the METCO program tries their best and gives as much as possible,” he said.

16

features

Appreciating knowledge from people of all ages

february 1, 2013

ADD, ADHD pose difficulties Maia Fefer & Feli Kupperwasser

that their condition makes focusing in school more difficult. Therefore, they must work with their teachers in creative ways and persevere despite obstacles.

History teacher Faye Cassell said that she tries her best to make accommodations for students with ADHD or ADD by dividing longer lectures into smaller parts.

they all try to be entertaining to everyone,” Freier said.

For students with neurobehavioral Features Reporters Lili Kadets problems, the best solution to their inabilThe Quotation Collector While students around him take ity to focus and concentrate in school can copious notes and look attentively at their be prescription medication, according to “The most interesting information teacher, freshman Josh Freier said that he medical professionals. comes from children, for they tell all they often has trouble staying focused.

In eleSouth nurse Gail Kramer said, howknow and then stop.” - Mark Twain mentary school, Freier was diagnosed with ever, that every individual reacts differently Birthdays are not only a time for dopamine attention deficit/hyperactivity attention deficit hyperactivto medication, so finding the perfect medicake, presents and piñatas. Birthdays mean distract ity disorder (ADHD), cation for a school environment is diagnosis that we’re gaining years, maturing and ADHD focus a neurobiological often a difficult process. growing. Our minds are sponges, every fidgeting emotional consequences work ADHD condition that “It is really hard to day subconsciously soaking up every fact young confusionhomework moods cortex can affect find the correct ... ‘cockthrown our way in preparation for what health a person’s tail’ of medications,” test will come in the future. science analysis attention ability to Kramer said. “It is a I am certainly no expert on the studying doctors concentrate long and difficult impulsive human mind. Fortunately, I did happen to social on one road to reach the behavior see an interesting “60 Minutes” segment on difficult disorder task for an right medication. the subject. struggle extended It depends on It turns out that babies, even the severity period of how they [stuactivity ADHDinattentive adorable five-month-olds we view as little time, acdents with ADD or lumps of drool and love, are smarter than cording to ADHD] react to the we think. brain neurological daydream the Center medicines. ” synapse According to this recent “60 Minbehavior for Disease Sophomore utes” story, infants actually know the differdevelopment Control and Ashley Wasilewski ence between right and wrong. hyperactivity disorder severity Prevention. agreed and went on to One cited study used puppet shows disorder difficult school medicine medication Like say that dealing with coursework to prove infants’ knowledge of right and screening docto trouble rs many students with ADD in tandem with wrong. If a baby sees one toy puppy acting challenge stress studying neuron attention deficit disorder searching for an effective child maliciously toward another during a pupsymptoms impulse ADHD thalamus (ADD) or ADHD, Freier said medication was stressful. challenge behavior pet show, the baby will often reach for the behavior active neuron difficult distracted ADHD that for him, long lectures are “It was really hard to fotreatment victim following the performance. HuADHD effort studying testing medulla impatient difficult to sit through and recovercus [in school], and I was always mans have an impressive moral code, even graphic by Kylie Walters daydream ing from setbacks can seem nearly imposreally stressed.

The medication made my at young ages. Having celebrated more neuron anxious sible.

“I like to try and keep focus worse, ” Wasilewski said. birthdays does not necessarily mean that axon “The only time [my ADHD] has my lessons in a sort of broken Kramer and Wasilewski agreed that listen one has become wiser, just that one has effects [at school] is when there is a longer up [format] and not do the same although finding the correct medication is developed a different kind of knowledge. lecture or talk and I have to sit through thing ... for the whole 55 minutes, ” Cassell often difficult, the end result can change a Young children are very similar to it, ” Freier said.

“When I get stuck or if I said. student’s life. adults. Mark Twain said that kids leave out Freier agreed that many of her teach“When you get the right medicine, superfluous information when they speak. were having trouble learning something, it would take me longer to get unstuck, ” ers try to engage their students to keep there are drastic improvements. The stuFrom a child’s perspective, it’s easy to get at Freier said. them focused. dents are happier. They can focus and get the heart of a concept.

Students with ADD or ADHD said “Some more than others ...

I think their work done,” Kramer said.

Some kids, for example, point excitedly at an airplane floating overhead and yell, “Plane! Plane!” The words “carbon emissions,” “crash” or “holiday ticket deals” aren’t yet in their vocabularies. Life is simplified for a child. He or she expresses Down syndrome [experience],” Nathanson Katie and her family also participate only the most basic, important, enthralling Carly Meisel said. in the annual Hyannis Port Best Buddies points: in this case, that people can fly. & Parisa Siddiqui Understanding kids with disabilities Challenge, a weekend-long event that Yet as teenagers, an uncomplicated Features Editors is treating them as one would any other includes bike races, 5K walks and runs world can become littered with dates and The bright sun and tinkling laughter child, according to Katie.

“I know some and events for families. The Dorans form equations, quotations and statistics, images of a perfect day at the beach faded into the people get awkward around people with a team called Team Dan and raise money and details. background the moment a stranger opened disabilities.

When I volunteer with kids to help those with disabilities.

“It’s a really Teachers even expect us to memorize his mouth to ask sophomore Katie Doran a with disabilities, I don’t have any issues good way for people to feel accepted in our and regurgitate all this information. What question.

“Do you know there’s something [because] I don’t see them differently.

I just society in a fun [way], ” Katie said. would life be like if we thought like young wrong with your brother?” he asked. see them as another kid,” Katie said.

Ultimately, however, it all comes children once again?

Initially, Katie did not know how to This perspective stems from Kaback to Dan, Katie said. She added that Moreover, as our lives become busier respond.

“I didn’t even know what to do. tie’s home environment, according to her according to those who know Dan best, he and more complex, our moral code starts I said, ‘That’s none of your business. ’ I felt mother, Beth Doran. is defined by his unique personality, rather to grow foggy. We skim over the heart of really upset, ” Katie said. “[Katie] never complains if I ask her than by his Down syndrome. the matter, and often do things simply to According to Katie, this incident of for help about something with Dan. She’s “If he notices you’re upset or there sound good. We lose our perception of prejudice on the beach was not an isovery perceptive when it comes to him, ” is something going on, he’ll come and try right and wrong. lated event.

Her 10-year-old brother, Dan Beth said.

“She helps him and will take to make you feel better, ” Katie said. “He’s I’m a firm believer in learning, readDoran, has Down syndrome, meaning that time out from getting her stuff done to help really social.

At parties with my parents’ ing and exploring. Knowledge enhances he was born with a third chromosome 21. him. ” friends, he’s the social butterfly who goes conversation and satisfies our curiosity.

The condition changes the body and brain’s Each summer vacation, Katie devotes around and tells funny stories.

He loves to But sometimes, we push too hard. Things normal development, often causing mental time to helping Dan learn math, so he can make people laugh. ” become exhausting and overly complicated and physical problems, as noted in materi- keep up with his schoolwork.

Katie has a special relationship with when we try to spit out as much informaals published by the Centers for Disease Katie seeks to provide similar supher brother, according to Beth. “He just tion as possible. The answer to a question Control and Prevention. port for other children as a volunteer adores her, and she can get the best out of is not always so complicated. Simplicity is Katie said that living with Dan basketball coach at a program for youth him.

He’s not a burden or a chore,” Beth refreshing. has inspired her to volunteer with other with disabilities.

She, along with fellow said.

“He’s her brother, and she’s proud of My challenge for you is to go back children with disabilities and made her feel coach and sophomore Claire McElduff, orhim as a brother. ” to the basics and give yourselves a break. compassion for individuals different from ganize drills and scrimmages for the kids.

Katie said that her relationship with Contemplate concepts plainly and do her.

McElduff said she has seen Dan’s influence Dan has shown her the importance of something because you believe it’s fundaSophomore Leah Nathanson, Katie’s on Katie’s work. treating all individuals with respect and mentally right. friend, said that Katie’s brother inspires her “She obviously wants what’s best for providing help to those who need it.

Listening to those who are younger to educate others.

“She wants to inform her brother, so she wants the best for any“It doesn’t matter if we’re different,” can be invigorating. Who doesn’t like everyone and make sure that people are inone like her brother.

I think that definitely Katie said.

“People should still give each pointing at airplanes and hugging stuffed formed about what families with a kid with motivates her, ” McElduff said. other a chance. ” puppies?

neurobiological adderall studying

research ADHD psychiatricADHD patientsimpatient ADHD attention deficit ADHD healthcare drugs

ADHD

ADHDADHD ADD ADHD diagnosis causes

ADHD ADHD

impatient ADHD

ADHD deficitchildhood

ADHD

distracted ADHD prefontal ADHD

ADHD

treatment

develop synapse

cortex

Down syndrome inspires sophomore

february 1, 2013

features

17

Kylie Walters ‘14‘

The number of students using Instagram, a photo editing app, soars to new highs

By Faith Bergman, Sophia Fisher and Kylie Walters

Alexi Reibman ‘15

:

This January, The Roar surveyed students about their activity on Instagram

Did you have Instagram a year ago?

NO 87%

YES

194 students answered

Do you currently have Instagram?

NO 67% YES 33% 33%

238 students answered

Emma Spector ‘15

H

ow much does a hipster weigh?

One Instagram, according to freshman Sasha Boroda.

Instagram, a photo editing and social networking application, allows users to take or upload pictures and then edit and apply digital filters to them. Edited images then appear on the newsfeeds of the user’s followers, who can “like” them or post comments.

Although Instagram was initially released in 2010, many students said they only began using the application within the last year. The app, available for both Androids and iPhones, has now become popular enough to warrant its own verb: “to instagram.”

In April 2012, Facebook purchased Instagram for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock. The deal tied the two social networking services together and offered a new option of sending Instagram photos directly to Facebook.

Instagram was caught in a storm of criticism in Dec. 2012 due to a proposed change to its terms of service. Nevertheless, Instagram’s user base has increased 10 percent since then, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The app currently has over12% 90 million monthly active users, and over 40 million photos are posted daily, according to Instagram’s press center.

In addition to winning users both internationally and domestically, Instagram has increased its user base within the South community.

Boroda said she just recently became hooked on the app.

“I’ve only had it for a few months, and I already have like 300 pictures,” she said.

Sophomore Zoe Beutel produces some of her Instragram photo collection during classes. “I ... find myself taking more pictures than I had before I had an Instagram.”

Users like Beutel have the opportunity to create their own photographic niches with Instagram, according to history teacher Jamie Rinaldi.

“Everyone has their own thing which they focus on. I tend to find something in books or magazines that I like, like an illustration or chart, in old

books I find that catch my eye,” he said.

“People have their focuses. Some document their lives. I have one friend that does a lot of close ups and details. I have some that do a lot of landscape shots.”

For Rinaldi, Instagram provides a welcome alternative to some of Facebook’s overwhelming social networking features.

“I like the minimalism of Instagram. It just captures moments in people’s lives, while Facebook is so many things — too many comments, and links that go to different things,” he said. “I get a better glimpse of my friend’s lives on Instagram more than Facebook.”

Junior Marissa Gropman agreed that Instagram’s popularity stems in part from its differences from Facebook. “[Instagram] is becoming more popular [because] people are getting sick of Facebook,” Gropman said. “It’s a different way to share photos and events. You can control who sees it a little bit more than Facebook. It’s less public.”

Gropman said one of the app’s best qualities is that users can follow famous people or organizations. “I like to follow National Geographic because they show really cool pictures of landscapes and animals,” she said.

Photos edited with Instagram filters can be considered legitimate art, Gropman said, but users rarely maximized the app’s artistic potential.

“People are using [Instagram] in the wrong way now and just putting on selfies,” she said. “People at South use it as just another social network.”

Senior and photo student Jonathan Stricker agreed and said the app has no inherent flaws, but that its users reduce his interest in using it.

“I was amazed [when I first used the app], and then it just went downhill,” he said. “A lot of people just take selfies and then put a filter on.”

Boroda, on the other hand, will continue to Instagram. “Sometimes you say you’re going to go on [Instagram] for two minutes, and you end up there for 20,” she said.

Emma Spector ‘15

Kylie Walters ‘14

Alexi Reibman ‘15

18

features

february 1, 2013

Relationships: Mary Levine is...

My “Same Love”

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.

The first time I watched the music video for Macklemore’s song “Same Love,” I was alone in the Newton Free Library studying for a math test. Very quickly I was in tears — tears that continued to flow as I watched the video over and over again.

Two weeks earlier, a drunken hookup with my best friend had surprisingly turned into my first serious relationship.

I didn’t know what to think, so I didn’t.

It was so simple and right being with her.

Although in the moment there was no confusion, the next morning she returned to New Jersey, and I was left trying to figure out what had happened.

She had come out to me as bisexual a few months prior, but I had always identified as straight.

She was the one who helped me through my boy troubles all summer long; how could my feelings toward her change so suddenly?

After she returned home, the trust we had built as best friends remained strong, and we discussed everything right away, deciding very quickly that we wanted to be in a relationship.

I knew I could count on her for anything: cheering me up, singing with me, commiserating about our intense dislike of running, crying with me or giving me advice.

I didn’t regret what happened that night because I knew that we could discuss everything with complete honesty.

Although maintaining a long distance relationship hasn’t been easy, we have managed to work it out. Traveling to visit one another is exhausting, but that’s how we make our relationship work — and it’s worth it.

We dream of similar futures and can’t imagine our lives without each other.

She’s my rock.

How many serious songs do you know that are about a girl falling in love with another girl? Very few. But as I listened to “Same Love” for the first time back in September, I finally felt supported, and that support allowed me to feel settled in the uncertainty of my sexuality and my long distance relationship.

I still don’t know what I identify as.

I’m in love with a girl, yet I’m still attracted to boys.

Does that make me bisexual?

Pansexual? Or maybe I choose to identify as queer, a term a camp counselor once described to me as a label for those who don’t like labels. I don’t think sexuality is straightforward, and I’m in no rush to make it simple.

At the moment I have an incredible girlfriend, and that’s all I care about.

In the future I could realize that I’m only attracted to girls or that I’m comfortable saying I’m bisexual, but for now I’m just trying each term on for size, hoping to find the right one.

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

Her own Direction Sophomore Mary Levine feels passionate about both British boy band One Direction and curing pediatric cancer

By Caroline Zola

Sitting with a poster in front of her and staring into the faces of the five young men she has analyzed and worshipped since April 2012, sophomore Mary Levine was nearly breathless, her voice vigorously animated as she described each boy: “Louis is like this very crazy guy ...

Niall, he’s from Ireland, and his thing is he’s a carefree ‘MOFO’ ... Zayn is ... when [he is] with the people that [he is] close with, [he is] completely [him]self … Liam is so overprotective ... and Harry is just my absolute favorite.”

Mary is a self-proclaimed “Directioner,” a fan and disciple of the British boy band, One Direction. The group, she said, is worthy of obsession because of its members’ relatability.

“Every member of One Direction has a little something that’s just like me, so it kind of feels like I’m a part of it even though I’m not,” Mary said.

Even when confronting prejudice and discrimination as a One Direction fan, Mary has remained positive.

“I’m very passionate about the band One Direction, and I don’t care what anybody else says about the band,” she said.

Mary said that her passion for One Direction is rooted in an appreciation for music and a broader desire to connect with others, specifically struggling pediatric cancer patients.

“I wouldn’t be able to be passionate about One Direction if I didn’t have other passions in my life,” Mary said. “For example, cancer ... and theatre. Those little things that I’m so passionate about and I have inside of me, it’s definitely the reason that I can be passionate about One Direction.”

Mary has been interested in curing cancer since she learned about cancer for the first time as a child.

“There’s never been a point in my life when I didn’t know someone who had cancer. I constantly connected [with cancer patients], whether it’s someone on the Internet who I don’t know or someone I can go to the hospital and visit,” Mary said. “When I grow up, I just have this mindset, and I’m so just determined to cure [cancer]. I think it’s something that I could do.”

According to Lisa Levine, Mary’s mother, Mary’s early interest in cancer

treatment has manifested itself in the form of involvement with South’s Community Service Club (CSC). “Mary got introduced to cancer and the terrible things it can do to families at an early age,” Levine said, “and she’s taken an interest in helping people with cancer, so now she’s involved in the community service club at South.”

This year, Mary is running the CSC’s annual Daffodil Days project, a flower sale to raise money for the American Cancer Society and donate flowers to hospitalized cancer patients.

Shauna Pellauer, Mary’s freshman English teacher, said that Mary is confident in all her passions and beliefs, be they vounteering or boy bands.

“She is not embarrassed by what she likes and by who she is,” Pellauer said. “She is really open to making her presence known in a way that’s not boorish, that’s not selfish, but just there’s a lot of

energy [in her], and she’s really eager to connect with people.”

Sophomore Ellie Yorke, one of Mary’s closest friends, added that though Mary often makes jokes, she is constantly aware of those around her and kind to everyone.

“She’s a great person because she’s got that hilarious side of her, but at the same time there are people who are really funny and mean, and she’s not like that at all,” Yorke said. “She’s very funny, but at the same time, she’s very kind and genuine.”

Mary said that while her devotion both to helping people affected by cancer and to One Direction sets her apart from her peers, she sees no reason to conform.

“People think I’m insane, but I’m not insane,” Mary said. “If there’s something that you love, you want to share [it] and you want to tell people about what you love.”

photo illustration by Jillian Marks

sports volume 29

issue 6

february 1, 2013

page

19

GETTING OVER THE HURDLES photo courtesy of Dave Fineman

Indoor track captain and senior Jung Park works to overcome disadvantages, setting a new record for the Dual County League men’s 55-meter hurdles Tony Yao

Sr. Sports Editor Both on and off the track, senior Jung Park has been confronting hurdles. After finding success running hurdles at the middle school level, Park has persevered against both stiffer competition and more challenging conditions in the world of high school track. “My hurdling technique has definitely improved over the years,” Park said.

“I’ve gotten faster and stronger over time.”

Now, as a captain of the boys indoor track team, Park seeks to overcome criticism regarding his height, focusing on posting solid times and helping his teammates improve as he does the same.

Despite growing into his frame over the years, Park’s height is still a liability for him when hurdling against his competition. “Height is critical for hurdles. Most hurdlers are

usually 6 feet 2 inches or 6 feet 3 more time into hurdling than Park is unsure about inches, but I’m 5 feet 9 inches,” I’ve seen anyone put time into continuing to run in college due Park said. “Since my height is a anything else.” to the time commitment and disadvantage, I work on my techPark’s hard work paid off the challenge that the increased nique and trying to be the fastest on Jan. 3 in the season’s third height of hurdles in college track I possibly can.”

Dual County League (DCL) would pose for him. NevertheIn order to move past his meet, when he ran the 55-meter less, he said he wants to finish off height disadhis high school vantage, Park track career with has developed a bang. “My [Jung] has a great coach, but it was really him. He a strong work goal right now would stay after practice for hours and would tape ethic, going beis to break the yond his coach’s state [55-meter himself hurdling. He put more time into hurdling requirements. hurdle] record than I’ve seen anyone put time into anything else “Every day afand I’m hoping ter practice, I to get first in all- Marini Lopci, Class of 2013 always set up state and New hu rd l e s an d England. My practiced on my dream would own,” Park said. “That’s how I got hurdle in 7.55 seconds. His time be to make it to nationals, which to where I am today.” of 7.55 seconds was not just a would be crazy,” Park said.

Fellow senior and indoor personal best, but also a school Even without those retrack captain Marini Lopci and DCL record. “My goal at the cords, Park has made an impresagreed that Park’s work ethic has start of the season was to break sion, according to Lopci. “He’s been his biggest strength. “[Jung] the school hurdling record. I consistently winning, and he’s has a great coach, but it was really didn’t even think that I would be always available to teach somehim. He would stay after practice able to break the DCL record, but one,” Lopci said. “He’s suffered for hours and would tape himself I broke both records simultanehis share of injuries, so he knows hurdling,” Lopci said. “He put ously, which is insane,” Park said. what it is like to not be able to

run after getting injured.”

Park’s track coach Ted Norton said he views Park’s accomplishments similarly.

“Jung does a lot of work by himself. His work ethic is incredible. You have to hold him back,” Norton said. “The team identified him as a captain and respects him. [Jung] showed that if you keep working at it, you can always succeed.”

Park’s dedication is unshakable, according to senior and indoor track captain Keegan Stricker. “Even if he is tired or sick, he still comes to practice, which shows his dedication,” Stricker said.

An underdog mentality serves as a motivating force, Park said. “Facing Asian stereotypes and a height disadvantage has definitely made me want to prove my critics wrong,” Park said. “I get everyone’s attention, which makes me even more motivated.

Everyone’s always surprised when I come out on top.”

20

february 1, 2013

sports

XC skiers choose to ski beyond South Lizzie Fineman Sports Reporter

Instead of playing soccer, football, lacrosse or basketball in elementary school, freshman William Rhatigan abandoned the fields and courts of conventional sports for snow-covered hills when he started cross-country skiing in fourth grade. Rhatigan has continued to cross-country ski at Cambridge Sports Union (CSU), a local club team located at the Weston Ski Track, ever since.

Students like Rhatigan who choose to cross-country ski at CSU or other outdoor ski clubs often choose not to join South’s alpine ski team or ski club, opting

“When you compare our program to other programs like Lincoln-Sudbury, Wellesley, Newton North or other programs, their programs have been running for more years, so there’s more continuity at the coaching level. [Also], there’s more commitment from the athletes over three or four years, which lets the [programs] develop a higher caliber of athlete,” Riklin said. “If South begins recruiting kids at the middle school level, the ski hopefuls will be ready to jump into the program the moment they arrive as freshman.”

Junior Sophie MacArthur, who participates in both South’s ski team as well as CSU, said that the environment at CSU is more

and to race for the team, but it’s not exactly serious and you don’t get pushed. But, in comparison, [CSU] gives a thorough workout and ... you get to ski with people on your level because on the high school team most of the people are beginners.”

MacArthur said that though all skiers at CSU do know how to ski, the emphasis at CSU is not on competition, and there is still significant diversity in skill level.

“There are some kids who are really amazing and have been doing it for years and there are a lot of kids who just kind of do it for fun,” MacArthur said. “Some of them go to college and some ski professionally, so there’s a huge range and it’s pretty self-

It was fun to start on [South’s team] and to race for the team, but it’s not exactly serious and you don’t get pushed.

- Sophie MacArthur, Class of 2014

for the rigorous and competitive atmosphere at CSU. Those who do choose to do both teams must balance their commitments, raising questions over what South can do to attract more skiers.

South’s ski team coach Jeff Riklin said that starting potential skiers off at an earlier age is part of the reason students like Rhatigan choose CSU over South.

formal when compared to that of South’s team. “[CSU] is ... kind of structured week by week very carefully so you get [a] much more ... thorough schedule ... there’s more extensive coaching … [the South ski team] kind of just changes every year and is kind of unpredictable,” MacArthur said. “It was fun to start on [South’s team]

directed.”

Freshman Joseph Carleo started cross-country skiing at CSU in eighth grade after starting off in a league in seventh and eighth grade.

Carleo initially considered becoming a member of both teams, but chose to keep his allegiance to CSU because of scheduling issues. “I was consid-

ering doing the school team as well as CSU ... but I stuck to only CSU because I didn’t want to give up any practices there because that was my initial commitment,” he said. “I was going to try to race for the school team but I was going to have to give up some CSU practices for that.”

Rhatigan agreed that skiing at CSU requires a significant effort. “It’s a pretty big time commitment,” he said. “There’s a ton of driving. You have to drive to Vermont every other weekend.”

MacArthur said balancing the time commitments of South’s ski team and that of CSU has been difficult. “The school team goes right after school, like they would with any other high school team. CSU is later on in the evening,” she said. “[The instructors at CSU] understand that if you have a high school commitment, you should go to it, but I go to CSU as much as I can.”

Riklin said that in addition to the time commitment, while South’s ski team conducts dry-land training, travels to the Weston Ski Track and races on Wednesdays, there are more resources for racing at the club level. “[The club team] also travels on weekends to participate in ski competitions out of state, so they have training on different

types of snow, probably better conditions than we do,” Riklin said.

MacArthur said that ultimately skiing at CSU still requires a high degree of selfmotivation on the part of the skiers. “Because [CSU] is a club, [not] going to practice is only detrimental to yourself,” she said. “[Advisers] won’t necessarily punish you for not going to practices and it’s entirely selfmotivated, [so] you push yourself as much as you want.”

According to Riklin, being a part of the CSU team has been extremely beneficial for those students on the ski team based on the extra practice and training. “[Outside ski club students’] level of skill is significantly higher than the average athlete at South because they commit more time and energy to their training than [kids from south] do,” Riklin said.

Riklin said he hopes that in the future, South’s ski program can become as respected as CSU in regards to competitiveness.

“We can start to develop a real continuity of the program, get some more energy,” Riklin said. “Once we get [the program] together, I think that South can certainly be more competitive than we are now.”

Olsson rock solid between the pipes for Lions George Morgan Sports Contributor

Along with suitcases and family mementos, sophomore Christopher Olsson carried his love of hockey across the Atlantic when he moved from Sweden to America last year. “Hockey is my favorite sport, and I wanted to continue playing,” Olsson said. “I really like the excitement I get from playing it.”

Olsson started playing hockey 10 years ago at the age of five. His father, Goran Olsson, said he did not push his son to begin playing the sport. “It was entirely his idea to start playing hockey. I took him to practice, and he really liked it, so he continued it,” Goran said.

After some time, Goran realized his son had a natural ability. “A few years ago when he was playing goalie, I realized that he was getting very good,” he said.

Today, Olsson is using his talent for South’s hockey team as the new goalie and according to teammates, he has the talent necessary to make it big. “He is one of the best goalies I’ve played with,” freshman Harrison Chebac said.

Olsson’s efforts to succeed reach beyond his personal performance. “He is a team player. He motivates us to work harder and encourages us,” sophomore Griffin Connolly said. “It really helps boost our confidence on game days.”

Freshman Owen Connors agreed with Connolly, saying he believes Olsson is a great motivator for the team. “During practice, he always works hard,” he said.

Olsson’s current dedication could allow him to progress as a team leader in the future, sophomore Paul Budge said.

“On the ice he works hard, and I think that maybe when he is a junior, he can become captain and really change the team,” he said.

But Olsson said that his contribution is not unique among underclassmen in this year’s hockey team. “There are lots of good freshmen at South this year, so the team has a lot of potential for future seasons. Mostly the underclassmen currently on the team are the ones with the most potential,” he said.

Goran said his son has more going for himself than he might admit. “He could definitely make it [onto college and professional teams], but whether to play past high school or not would be completely his decision,” Goran said.

Chebac agreed that Olsson’s future looks bright. “If he keeps playing as motivated as he is now, then he definitely has a shot at making it to the pros,” he said.

“He works hard in practice and should continue to improve.”

Olsson contributes off the ice as well, according to Connolly. “Once we move off into the locker rooms, he is still a team player, cracking jokes and keeping everyone in a good mood,” he said.

Budge said that no matter what the future may bring, Olsson is making the most of his time as a high school hockey player. “He is making great strides in becoming an extremely talented goalie,” Budge said.

photo courtesy of Christopher Olsson

Christopher Olsson’s statistics for South’s hockey team this year:

11

3

95

Goals Allowed

Shutouts

Save Percentage

sports

february 1, 2013

How

THe

S uper Bowl

outh Watches

The Lion’s Roar surveyed 197 students on Jan. 17, asking them how they will be spending Super Bowl Sunday

Will you be watching the game?

64%

said yes

25%

said no

11%

said not sure

What is your favorite Super Bowl snack?

W

35%

3%

5% Su b s

30% Other

ers g r Bu

Piz z

a

gs in

27%

graphic by Yonatan Gazit

21

The best way to spend the season that counts the most: offseason Jack McElduff Sports Column

Most athletes, even ones at South, know that when league tournaments are over, season records tabulated and uniforms tossed in the closet to collect dust for a few months, there is still work to be done. The last game of the season does not necessarily mark the start of a period of total inactivity. In the offseason, players can build up strength, tune their skills and recover from injury.

South’s football team, coming off an impressive season, is implementing a new program to ensure that players hit the gym this winter and spring. This will hopefully give them a headstart next season and keep up the progress. Having just completed my first season of high school football, I’ll be participating in the new program alongside my teammates.

Our coaches will be making sure that any player who does not play a winter and/ or spring sport in addition to fall football makes it into the weight room during his offseason. Although I was surprised to hear that our coaches will be tracking us, I am sure that their oversight will do nothing but good for South’s football program.

In my own experience, I felt overwhelmed at the first day of preseason practice this past August. Despite having done some lifting throughout the summer, I was lacking a lot of the necessary strength. Now I am more motivated to succeed with this added workout time.

Unlike me, some students attend sports camps during the summer. These players come back to school with a head start, not facing the same deterioration of skills that their teammates are suffering during the offseason. Even if students do not go to an athletic summer camp, they still should stay in shape and practice on their own if they are serious about their sport.

Over the course of an offseason, muscles atrophy and skills are forgotten.

Players then need to spend the beginning of their season regaining all the skills they lost. Thus, formal offseason systems like that of South’s football team could help high school players across the board.

Sometimes, though, the offseason is less about working out and running drills than it is about recovering from injury.

Take Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, for example. After tearing up his knee in just about every way possible on Christmas Eve last year, Peterson worked during the offseason to get back on the field. The result? An impressive 2,197 rushing yards, just nine yards short of Eric Dickerson’s all-time record.

Tom Brady tore both his ACL and MCL in the 2008 season opener, but he bounced back incredibly (We are still waiting for that fourth ring). For both Brady and Peterson, the offseason played a critical role in recovery from injury.

Between the buzzer of a season finale and the cheers of the next opening game, there is time to improve. The offseason is a time to refocus and get ahead of the opposition. Sometimes, it’s what a player does when the stadium lights go down and the fans go home that makes the biggest difference.

community volume 29

issue 6

february 1, 2013

page

22

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

Painting the Town Arts and crafts stores around Newton allow students to express their creativity

By Emily Ho

T

ucked away behind an Irish pub lies a classic family arts center, Plaster Fun Time.

A local chain, Plaster Fun Time has nine locations throughout the Boston area and provides an environment for kids and adults alike to explore their creative side.

Senior Alanna Milshtein went to Plaster fun time as a child and is now an employee.

“I began working at Plaster Fun Time because I loved going as a child,” Milshtein said. “Plaster Fun

R

ecently relocated from Newton to Needham Center, The Kid’s Place has been popular among kids of all ages since opening in 2001.

“Since I’ve started there, I’ve noticed we get a lot of repeat customers,” employee and senior Hannah Wayne said. “In school, kids have a very limited amount of art time. I think it’s really good that there’s a place that kids can go that isn’t always school related.”

Former employee and junior Mel Gundersheim has a long history as a customer at The Kids Place and recalls fondly her frequent visits to the small arts center.

“My experience was always a good time. It was like another Plaster Fun Time but with even more,” Gundersheim said. “There were so many different

O

ver on the north side of town, The Paint Bar offers painting classes six days a week.

Each day, the painting staff features a famous painting and instructs guests on how to mimic the piece with their own design. The staff is able to teach all levels

Time is important because it allows kids to paint pottery that isn’t just cups, plates or bowls. The pieces are more kid friendly such as superman, a princess or a letter.”

With family-friendly non-toxic paints, paint shielding smocks and cute plaster shapes and characters, Plaster Fun Time focuses its efforts on inviting children to explore art without limits.

Yet customers and staff members find that teens and adults continue to take advantage of the art center.

“The earlier we start kids on art and projects like that, the more likely they are to succeed,” long-time customer and senior Alex Conrad said. “But I think that everybody needs a place to have their creativity go to. I

projects to do that reached all ages, and you were never bored.”

Unlike other art stores, The Kids Place offers art projects in different mediums, including ceramics, mosaics, tie-dye and, of course, plaster.

With a range of activities at a range of prices, kids are able to pick and choose their creative outlet and create pieces of artwork all on their own.

“There was no intimidation or fear, and you can just go around doing any project you want at your own pace for a reasonable price. There was always fun music and candy, and the owners were really involved with their customers,” Gundersheim said. “The atmosphere [at The Kid’s Place is] always so friendly.”

Open seven days a week, The Kids Place is always

of painters and at the end of the session, guests walk away with their creation. Even a first time painter can produce an original rendition of famous paintings by Renoir, Monet or Picasso. “[At The Paint Bar], they give everyone the same painting and you can do it your own way,” freshman Ben Stern said, “but at the end you get to see everyone’s different variations on the same thing.”

In addition to the relaxed social atmosphere, Adult artists can also enjoy a glass of wine or a bottle of beer as they work.

Freshman Max Mackenzie said that the center’s unique atmosphere and art style contributes to its popularity. “It’s certainly a different activity from the usual,” he said. “It’s a solid place to be with friends and explore your creative side.”

think it helps a lot of teenagers as they get older to have a place to go or a thing that they like to do.”

Milshtein agreed that she sees a range of customers while working.

“There is no age group that I usually see,” she said.

“It can vary from a three year old to a couple coming in on a date to adults who have a passion for painting.

Plaster Fun Time appeals to everyone.”

Prices: $8.99-$35 Art Offerings: Plaster pieces to pick and paint as you wish, from small animals to wall mountings of all types.

Suggested Age: 4-12 years

open to offer space for large groups, birthday parties or walk-in customers.

“I would suggest it to elementary school kids, but I think even kids and adults can have fun there,” Wayne said.

Prices: $7-$20 Art Offerings: Everything from photos mounted on Ceramics to mosaics Suggested Age: Birthday Parties Ages 3+ Sleep-under parties Ages 7+

Aside from nightly painting sessions, The Paint Bar also offers private parties for all ages, including kids birthday parties with a minimum of ten guests and private adult parties.

“I would recommend the paint bar as a fun way to spend an evening,” Stern said. “I feel like it’s a good way to encourage young artists who don’t know their inner talent.”

Prices: Kids’ parties $25 Adult sessions $45 Art Offerings: Guided parenting session Suggested Age: Teens and up, Kids parties on Saturday mornings

community

february 1, 2013

23

ONE WORD, ONE COMMUNITY

RISK

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

Michael Costello

Robin Berk Class of 2012

South grandparent and alumnus

“Would you like to play Risk?”

I glance down at the unfolded board before me: a colorful map of the world, littered with the plastic armies of the previous game. I’ve heard of the game — in which players amass territories into “empires” and then invade others, seeking to eventually control the whole map — but haven’t actually sat down and played it. Nor have I spoken to the kids who sit on the grass surrounding the game, surveying me expectantly. They seem like a fine bunch.

Each day, we make another move in an endless game of Risk, expanding our own empires into new, unexplored territories. This pattern of expansion has been the story of the human race — ambitious men and women taking on the challenges of their day, risking their lives to push mankind forward. On a smaller scale, our personal risks define us. When we embark on a new course of action or try something new, we are stepping into terra incognito. For me, this is the meaning of risk: not the reckless charge into the darkness, but the steady, relentless march onward.

In eighth grade I decided that I needed something more than theater and tried running track for the first time. The experience of school athletics was (embarrassingly) new to me, and I knew neither my fellow runners nor proper running form. But the team atmosphere made me persist; I continued running when I got to high school and became not only a better runner, but also a better person. This winter, in a reversal of my previous actions, I tried theater again, for many of the same reasons that I had initially tried track — to meet new people and discover their perspectives. As with track, new challenges waited, and the experience has been refreshing.

Humans are fundamentally risk-taking. Whether by instinct or education, we always seem to strive for the new; we send our plastic vanguard on to the next region.

We can always remain in Kamchatka and be content with the territory we have chosen. But for me, satisfaction comes with new experiences. With each risk there come consequences, but ultimately the acknowledgement of the risks we take and the persistence to surmount them make us wiser and happier people.

So, would you like to play?

We all know the feeling: butterflies flit through your stomach and you fear you are setting yourself up for disaster.

You want nothing more than to curl up in a ball and hide from whatever it is you find perilously daunting over you.

Risk is more than just a popular board game; it is a part of life, something we are forced to face, usually at the least desirable of times.

I am a rock climber, a role that is almost always met by an expression of alarm and a questioning of my sanity.

People fail to understand why I would ever willingly put myself at such a perceived “risk.”

People tend to associate rock climbing with James Bond-esque intrepidness, the image of dangling hundreds of feet above the ground with no rope to keep them from falling to their deaths coming to mind.

In reality, climbing is a very controlled sport and, if you know the proper safety precautions, it is generally very safe.

I won’t deny that injuries happen — I’ve had my fair share.

But really, what sport doesn’t?

What we as people fear above all else is fear itself.

Being able to defy the odds, “living on the edge” while still maintaining full control and safety, makes climbing such an incredible and exhilarating sport.

It teaches you to take fate in your own hands and rationalize fear. And, as a result, I find nothing more peaceful and beautiful than sitting 500 feet up in the air, looking out at the miniscule figures below.

My life is a series of calculated risks. It’s about finding the balance between the extremes. Some call me insane; I’ll accept it.

Personally, I consider it living life to the fullest — pushing my boundaries while knowing exactly how many pounds your equipment will support.

And in reality, isn’t this really just a grander metaphor for life?

We must push ourselves and enjoy the challenge, grab life for all it’s worth and live it to the fullest without crossing the line.

As young children, we enjoyed our available free time: Let’s go out and play. I’ll climb the tree while you shake it to see if the apples will fall down; hurry down to the beach so we can go swimming before too many people get there; both of us can jump into the big pile of leaves before Dad sets it on fire; the snow bank can be made into a fort, and we can live in it. Perhaps Mom will bring our lunch out to us so we can eat it in the fort.

Little did we think of the dangers and risks inherent to the these adventures. They were part of our young life experiences and our way of enjoying the time we had.

As we got older, we had to take certain precautions for our activities. At football games, we were required to wear helmets. As baseball catchers, we had to wear masks.

When skiing, we had to stick to the groomed trails and avoid soft, new-fallen snow.

Growing up made us consider the factors and conditions that pose risks in our everyday actions. We began to give careful thought to each activity and the risk that it posed.

Why, then, do we not always adhere to diligent thought processes when engaging in behaviors that we know possess risk?

There are constant reminders of the consequences of excessive partying and drinking, yet the risk factors are overlooked. Too many lives are broken or saddened by the consequences.

We become adults and are allowed the privilege of driving cars, but the risks are everywhere.

For example, we take chances when we assume that other drivers will stop at an intersection or that we can speed through yellow lights.

Risk is a hazard or an exposure to loss. Only caution, proper consideration and knowledgeable thinking will yield long and worthwhile lives.

Class of 2014

Robert Mayer

Next Issue’s Word:

Time