The Lion's Roar 38-3

VOL. 38 ISSue 3

A growing emergence of social media 'micro-trends' poses an imminent threat to the planet

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Newton South High School · Newton, MA Est. 1984 · September 10, 2021

R AR

the LION'S

Toxic Trends

By Matan Josephy Photo by Eva Shimkus

Global vaccine shortages

3

Toxic trends

11

Liberty or death

13-14

A day in the life at a summer job

16

Track success from Oregon to Newton

19

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September 10, 2021

NEWS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 3

Williams appointed to vice principal role Lily Zarr

News Editor After having an interim vice principal for the last two years, South has finally found a permanent vice principal. In an email sent out to students and families on May 14, Principal Tamara Stras announced that the position would be filled by Jason Williams.

A committee co-chaired by Goldrick Dean Marc Banks and Special Education Department Chair Melissa Gamble and made up of stakeholders in the South community narrowed the applicant pool down to three finalists from which Williams was chosen.

Stras wrote that Williams’ knowledge and communication skills were noteworthy. “[Williams] impressed us with his passion and knowledge of high school education, his analytic and organizational skills and his ability to connect with people in various settings,” she wrote in her email.

Williams graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science and later pursued his master’s degree in curriculum and teaching from Fitchburg State University and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in educational leadership and administration from Curry College.

During the last 10 years, Williams worked as a math teacher at Braintree High School. During his time there he also worked as an administrative intern, co-chaired a committee that created and managed his school’s advisory program and co-chaired the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, which investigated disparities in academic achievement between groups of students.

Through developing Braintree High’s advisory program,

Williams said that he gained a new perspective on how schools function and wanted to take on a different role to better support students.

“I really liked the ability to see the school from a bird's eye view,” he said. “I want to broaden my horizons and also be in a position where I can help students out more holistically and in a bigger way than I could do in the classroom.”

Williams said he wants to address the loss in community that has affected South after our mostly virtual school year.

“Hopefully, we can build [connections] through athletics, through our own community-building during assemblies and through being present in the hallway and asking how people are doing,” he said.

Moving into an in-person school year, Williams said that he plans to continue making use of some aspects of last year’s format.

“There have been times I've had to reach out to someone, and we do a virtual meeting instead of a phone call,” he said.

“There's a certain extra degree of niceness that comes with that, so I'm hoping the virtual meeting is something that we can keep as a tool.”

An area Williams said he plans to focus on in the coming year is continuing to integrate anti-racist curriculums into all subjects.

“Anti-racism is one of our tenants and one of the things that we're going to continue to advance as the school year continues,” he said.

Williams said that he will also focus on preparing students for life beyond high school.

“We need to put the students first and make sure that you folks are ready to go out into the world and not only be ready academically but also ready to handle a variety of social situations,” he said.

photo courtesy of Jason Williams

Looking ahead, Williams said that he is excited for everyone to be inside the school building and to support students this year.

“There is the opportunity for us to actually come back to school,” he said. “I'm looking forward to doing the best I can in this new role to support everyone in this building.”

New schedule and COVID-19 mandates Taban Malihi & Sarah Wei News Reporter, News Editor

This year, South will experience changes in both the school’s COVID-19 protocols and its block schedule.

This past spring, Newton Public Schools (NPS) formed an independent Medical Advisory Group (MAG) composed of eight medical professionals, who met over the summer and publicly released their finalized recommendations on August 18 for a safe return to in-person learning.

The group was guided by state-wide requirements set by the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE), which required schools to return to in-person learning five days a week, announced in an August 13 memo.

In its final report, the MAG strongly supported the

graphic courtesy of NPS

decision to fully reopen. The group also produced a set of guidelines for the district’s COVID-19 protocol, including weekly COVID-19 testing, strict indoor mask-wearing and a strong endorsement of vaccinations for all eligible.

The MAG and the Massachusetts Board of Health both have not yet mandated social distancing for the school year.

Principal Tamara Stras said that the decision to leave out social distancing from the guidelines was based on efficacy statistics when taking into account high vaccination rates.

“We are not going to be social distancing because we've actually looked at the numbers of the percentages of students who are vaccinated … [which] are steadily going up,” she said.

“The health board has decided that just the masks without social distancing should be plenty to keep any possible infections at bay,” she said.

Throughout the process of drafting a transition plan, School Committee chair Ruth Goldman said that the district’s priority was ensuring the safety of all.

“Our values [were having] the least amount of disruption for students being in school, meaning we don't want students getting sick … and also protecting folks who are immunocompromised or live with people who can't get vaccinated, our most vulnerable,” she said.

In addition to the new guidelines, another major change for South will be its new block schedule, which was released in late spring. It features two new elements that replace the previous flex blocks: a once-weekly Lion block and a thrice-weekly What I Need (WIN) block.

Vice Principal Jason Williams said that Lion blocks provide time for clubs to meet, while WIN blocks are flexible blocks for students to meet with teachers and catch up on work, among other options.

“It's going to give people an opportunity to pick what

they feel is best to do,” he said. “It's going to help teach students that they can make those choices, and when they go off to post-secondary school, they're able to make those choices and do better for themselves.”

Junior Sophie Strausberg said that she hopes the new structure will provide less homework as well as more time in the building to get work done.

Some students, however, like senior Jane Shen, a School Committee student representative, are not satisfied with the new schedule. Shen said that the weekly Lion block will not be sufficient in accommodating all club activities.

“We don't have any room for clubs,” she said. “Because the school is so club-oriented, [the new schedule] just makes it really difficult to find time for all the interests students have.”

Sophomore Kaveri Krishnamoorthy said that on top of an unsatisfactory new schedule, the school has not been transparent enough with the changes it has implemented.

“The administration hasn't communicated with us properly as to what we want in terms of scheduling. It just said, ‘Oh, here's the schedule now,’” she said. “I also don't think they’ve properly communicated about how [the schedule] actually works in terms of functionality.”

In response to student criticism, Stras said that the administration welcomes feedback, which, in their eyes, is essential to providing students with a positive experience.

“Part of launching something successfully is constantly monitoring it, constantly assessing it and then looking at the feedback to see what can make it better,” she said. “We're looking consciously and intentionally at what practices we have on hand on the social-emotional side of things and what we can do proactively to ensure that you have the right skills needed to be successful. That's not just academic, it’s social and emotional, [and] all of those things go along with it.”

issuu.com/thelionsroar

grap hic b y

news | page 3

Short on Shots

Elly ssa J eong

Low supply of vaccines leave families around the world in precarious situations

By Jaesuh Lee

T

he COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to citizens in 194 countries since its introduction in December 2020.

Despite manufacturers such as Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca having produced and sold billions of doses, disparities within access to vaccines remain between nations. Family members of South students around the world have been affected by these disparities, with limited access to vaccines slowing their return to normal life.

In May 2021, India, a country where many South families have ties, experienced widespread unrest as the second wave of COVID-19 cases surged into the millions.

Overcrowded conditions in major cities and under-equipped public health infrastructure contributed to one of the worst outbreaks of the pandemic.

South uncle Anindya Talukdar said that the abrupt arrival of the second wave panicked citizens and exposed how the government was not prepared for the situation.

“We were not even close to vaccination,” he said. “[The government thought] it would be under control very soon, but all of a sudden they realized that they're lacking in basic hospital facilities and medicine.”

The Indian government, despite failing to administer adequate vaccines and having reliable updates regarding the status of COVID-19, decided to reopen to almost full capacity. The result was a sharp and sudden rise in cases as people disregarded guidelines such as wearing masks and social distancing.

Poor government management and mixed communication displayed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration in India were far from an uncommon phenomenon around the globe. Like India, South Korea did relatively well in containing COVID-19 early on, but a poor vaccine rollout and poor internal coordination culminated

in an unprecedented wave in cases.

South aunt Lee Ji Young said that she was disappointed regarding the way that the South Korean government handled vaccinations.

“The Korean government started initiating the vaccination system too late. Due to disruptions in supply, the public's vaccination schedule continues to be delayed,” she said.

The situation in countries lacking abundant financial resources have been further devastating, and when describing the situation of health infrastructure in Pakistan and other developing nations, South parent Mehwish Hayat said that she was worried about Pakistan’s ability to adequately control the spread of COVID-19.

“Pakistan lacks healthcare infrastructure to contain a pandemic,” she said. “I was very worried for my family, friends, and the country in general.”

During this second wave, aid came much later than needed, and Talukdar said that once news coverage about the dire situation in India spread and gained attention, assistance was given.

“When everybody started reading the stories of India, the 400-500,000 active cases, hospitals running short of oxygen supply and PPE, wealthier countries started supplying oxygen,” he said.

Despite prioritizing vulnerable populations’ access to vaccines, countries that face shortages have slower rollouts compared to their better-supplied counterparts.

South uncle Chandrashekhar Singamsetty said that due to India’s high population in the 18-45-year-old group, there was immense pressure to quickly get many people vaccinated, despite the limited supply.

“This is the population [ages 18-45], which is the highest share in India's population and the working age,” he said.

“It's close to 45% if I'm not wrong, and 45% of 1.3 billion

is quite a high population and you can imagine the kind of rush.”

The hesitancy that some Americans display towards getting vaccinated has left impressions on people around the world. In Korea, where vaccine supply is low despite the high demand, people find it odd how Americans refuse vaccines, South parent Park Ji Ok said.

“In Korea, there are very distinct cultural differences compared to America, and it’s seen as a given that one takes steps to help contain the coronavirus,” he said. “Because of these differences I, alongside many other Koreans, are not able to understand why Americans refuse to take the vaccine.”

The United States is not the only country where vaccine supply has begun to surpass demand. During a trip to visit her family in Bulgaria this summer, juniorAdela Cronk said she observed that many there believed in the effectiveness of the vaccines but felt that the shot was unnecessary.

“Most people have already had COVID-19 and don’t feel the need to get vaccinated,” she said.

One of the most impactful consequences of the shortage of vaccines has been the high number of deaths associated with the surges of COVID-19, and South families have been no exception. Hayat said that she knew of four people who were infected with the virus.

Talukdar said that an elderly neighbor passed away from COVID. “He was in the hospital, and within a week he expired.

I was very saddened because he was near and dear [to me],” he said.

Although the effects of vaccine shortages do not have an immediate effect on vaccination within Newton and the South community, the shortages continue to impact the daily lives of the broader international community and family members around the world.

Percentage of Fully Vaccinated Population 49.6%

We were not even close to vaccination...

All of a sudden [the government] realized that they're lacking in basic hospital facilities and medicine."

28.3%

Anindya Talukdak 11.2%

Indian Resident

10.7% 7.5% United States

South Korea

Bulgaria

India

Pakistan Data from Reuters

page 4 | news

the lion's roar

South Spots Summer Reading ily Cheng graphic by Em

This summer, the English department offered students a variety of reading options.

Some students read from a selection of 18 books and joined a discussion with students and teachers, while those who wished to read their own book will participate in a discussion about their book during the school year. Students could also choose to read John Green’s “Looking For Alaska” and/or watch and discuss the TV show over Zoom with English Department Head Brian Baron. Additionally, students were encouraged to take the 10-book Summer Reading Challenge, and the school plans to celebrate those who accomplished the challenge with a party this fall.

Break-ins Stoke Fear Newtonians question whether the string of recent break-ins was racially motivated

South Stage Students began rehearsing for this fall’s play, “The Three Musketeers,” in August.

The play is adapted from French author Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 novel and is directed by fine and performing arts teacher Paige Perkinson. Performances will be held from Oct. 21 to Oct. 23.

Lion and WIN Blocks Lion and What I Need (WIN) Blocks have replaced previous years’ J blocks in the new schedule. Lion Blocks provide a time for clubs to meet, with weeks alternating between blue and orange so that students can attend different activities. WIN Blocks are flexible learning blocks for students to work on homework, meet with teachers or do other enrichment activities.

During Monday advisory, students will sign up to go to a specific place for each WIN Block, and attendance is required.

Free Lunches Continue South will provide free lunch and breakfast to students for the 2021-22 school year, as it did last year. The initiative is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture as a way to combat food insecurity, which has risen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meals will contain protein, carbohydrates, fresh fruit and vegetable choices and beverage options.

By Bella Ishanyan

F

ive house break-ins occurred in Newton from June 13 to July 10, resulting in the loss of valuable belongings. Locations and dates include: - 900 block of Walnut Street on June 13 - 600 block of Dedham Street on June 19 -Helene Road on June 20 - 700 block of Quinobequin Road on June 27 - C o u nt r y C l ub R o ad o n Ju ly 1 0 To Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, the number of break-ins was normal, but after the first few incidents Newton police noticed a pattern: all victims were Asian American homeowners.

“The number of break-ins [was] not unusual. In a typical year, we have 80-100 break-ins,” Fuller said. “What was interesting and disturbing was to see a pattern where each subsequent one was still another Asian family.”

Following the intrusions, Newton Police Department Chief John Carmichael said that the police took measures to investigate the crimes and communicate their concern to the affected residents.

“We did a lot of directed patrols, a lot of community outreach to the people that were involved, we started to do some walk and talks in the neighborhoods [and] we canvassed the area after each break to see if anybody may have seen anybody suspicious [or had] any type of additional information,” he said.

Carmichael said that footage provided by the affected homeowners shows the intruder, who committed the first and fourth break-ins, holding paperwork that read “missing.” They suspect this perpetrator went

door to door looking for an empty house, potentially using the flyers as a cover story.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said she and her team are working to determine whether the break-ins will be charged as a hate crime, though as of August 16, they are not being considered an act of Asian targeting.

“We don’t know what's going on yet because we don't have all of the evidence we would need,” she said. “There's certainly suspicion when every break-in that happens over a period of time, where the victims are Asian American families, it certainly suggests to you that people were being targeted.”

Like Ryan, Carmichael said there may be more to this case, but that the police do not have enough proof to officially conclude that the break-ins are a hate crime.

“I'm very much on facts. Definitely a theory is that these Asian families all seem to have been targeted, [but] I just can't support that with anything yet until I'm able to prove it,” he said. “I want to be able to say this theory, but I also want to be able to prove it in court.”

‘21 graduate Stephanie Tian said that this incident and the fact that it isn’t labeled as racial targeting has become a trend among crimes against Asian Americans.

“When something first happens, like with the shooting in Atlanta, people almost try not to title it a hate crime or to say that it's focused on one specific group,” she said.“People seem to be a little more hesitant to label things as racially motivated when it's towards Asians.”

After noticing a change within her family, senior Cat Lu said that as an Asian

resident, she has felt a change within the Asian American community following the break-ins.

“The difference that I saw in my parents was really shocking to me,” she said.

“It was really alarming for me when my mom would say, ‘oh, make sure you lock the doors.’ Yes, she always said that before, but it raised more concern afterwards.”

Mayoral candidate, former City Councilor-At-Large and active member within the Asian American community Amy Mah Sangiolo said that the lack of publicity surrounding the break-ins has been problematic for the victims and those in the community.

“I was upset that there was not enough publicity about it when it first happened,” she said. “After the third incident, it should have been evident that people needed to hear what was going on, and there was not enough attention until there was an outcry by some of the victims about it not being made more public.”

After the case gained more publicity, Fuller said that residents should stay cautious while the perpetrators remain uncaught.

“We have a strong and supportive police department here,” Fuller said. “Despite these break-ins, overall, we still are a really safe community, but look out for each other [and] help each other, and together, we'll take care of each other.”

To combat burglaries, police advise homeowners to safeguard their properties, communicate with neighbors before leaving the house and report suspicious activity. If you see unusual behavior in your neighborhood, report it to the Newton police at (617)-796-2100.

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news | page 5

City Elections to be Held Nov. 2 The Roar spoke with candidates running for Newton's Mayoral, City Council and School Committee positions

By Bella Ishanyan

C

ity-wide municipal elections will be held for Mayoral, City Councilor, Councilor-at-Large and School Committee positions on Nov. 2.

Although all seats are up for election, few races are contested, with many candidates running unopposed. Ward Two City Councilor-atLarge incumbent Tarik Lucas said that running unopposed is a pleasant change after the chaotic special elections last winter.

“I am grateful for the support that I received in the last election, and I'm still out there trying to earn the votes of the many residents of Newton,” he said.

During his campaign so far, Ward Six School Committee candidate Paul Levy said that he has met with families in the Newton Public School system, which has helped him determine clear communication as one of his priorities.

“I've talked to 400 or 500 families since I announced I was running, and [these] parents in all levels — elementary, middle and high school — [have] been expressing great frustration on issues to me,” he said. “The School Committee should communicate well with [families] and also be responsive and respectful and hear what they have to say.”

Outside of the School Committee, many candidates, including Meryl Kessler, who is running for Ward Three Councilor-at-Large, have said that the lack of communication between governing bodies and residents is a consistent problem in Newton.

“I believe strongly in governmental

transparency, governmental accountability and governmental responsiveness,” Kessler said.

“We need more councilors on the Council who are accessible and who communicate frequently with all of their constituents, not just a select group [nor] just the people they feel [will] support them on one issue or the other. [They need to] really reach out to all the people they represent.”

Former Ward Two Councilor-at-Large and second-time mayoral candidate Amy Mah Sangiolo said that if elected, she would bring transparency and diversity to the mayor’s office, which she believes don’t exist currently.

“I want the government to be much more responsive than it has been, [and] I want it to be much more inclusive,” she said. “One of the things I’d really like to have high priority is a diversity, equity and inclusion person in my executive office so that when we say we want to be a diverse community, we actually mean it.”

Regarding transparency, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said that she feels she has been successful communicating with the community since she was elected in 2017.

“I provide frequent good information, I’m a public servant leader, I listen carefully, I'm accessible, I've had open office hours every week or two my entire time in office, I'm in touch with people and I depend on that input to make good decisions,” she said.

As for within Newton’s government, Parliamentarian of the Newton Republican City Committee and second-time mayoral candidate Albert Cecchinelli said that there is

a lack of diversity of thought.

“Diversity of ideas doesn't seem to matter. It just seems to be about diversity of backgrounds, ethnicities, races and things like that,” he said.“There are two voices on the City Council, liberal Democrats and ultra-liberal Democrats, and we need to work on getting a voice in the city of centrist, which I consider myself [to be].”

The primary election for the mayoral race will be on Sept. 14, and the top two candidates with the will proceed in the race and appear on the municipal election ballot.

Fuller said that she predicts her experience as Mayor of Newton will give her the upper hand in the upcoming election.

“I would say having four years under my belt as a mayor turns out to be a huge advantage in a number of different ways,” she said.

“I've been through the crisis of a pandemic, an economic meltdown and a racial reckoning,

[and] people know who I am and see how seriously … I delved into police reform, gathering Newtonians together to help me think through what we needed to do.”

Cecchinelli said that campaigning against an incumbent mayor is more difficult than in 2017, when seven candidates competed for an open seat.

“It's an uphill battle when you have a mayor that's in office right now who can use the office to make it look like she's doing things for the community, which would be things that any of us that were in office would be doing,” he said.

As the mayoral candidates prepare for the primary, Fuller said that she is hoping for a clean and productive race.

“I'm expecting that we'll talk about a lot of the important issues facing Newton and our region [and that] we'll have good dialogue,” she said. “I'm hopeful that all of us will be like that as candidates.”

We need more councilors on the council who are accessible and who communicate frequently with all of their constituents, not just a select group [nor] just the people they feel [will] support them on one issue or the other. [They need to] really reach out to all the people they represent.

Meryl Kessler Ward Three Councilor-at-Large candidate

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

page 6

September 10, 2021

EDITORIALS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 3

A climate call to action 6 years, 112 days, 15 hours, 58 minutes, 16 … 15 … 14 … seconds. The Climate Clock in New York ticks down, the time of our due action disappearing steadily and rapidly.

As Hurricane Ida ravaged parts of the Southeast, leaving battered and devastated communities in its path, 1 million Louisiana residents have been without electricity since August 29, 14,000 have been displaced and 49 bodies have been found in flooded basements and apartments in New York.

Everything from this summer’s recordsetting heavy rainfall and extreme heat to droughts and wildfires have one main force to blame: humans. 17 million tons of clothing are dumped into U.S. landfills annually, where one piece of polyester will take hundreds of years to degrade. In addition, one third of produced food ends up in landfills, leaving a carbon footprint larger than that of airline services in the U.S. The wasted food rots in the landfills, putting the energy and resources poured into cultivating and producing the individual ingredients to waste.

As global temperatures increase, larger and stronger storms will form. 90% of the heat trapped in our atmosphere will make its way into the ocean. According to the United

Nations Climate Report, no matter what we do right now, the intense natural disasters and the ocean’s temperature warming three degrees is inevitable. This increase in warm water only serves as extra fuel for more hurricanes, allowing them to spiral out of control more quickly as the evaporated water creates additional moisture. This unnatural increase in water vapor will cause dangerous and more frequent downpours, leading to mass destruction not only to man-made infrastructure, but also to natural settings such as forests and coral reefs.

Even if the public were to start pursuing an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, there's only so much we can accomplish; currently, 100 investors and state-owned fossil fuel companies are responsible for approximately 70% of the world’s historical greenhouse gas emissions.

Large corporations such as Amazon and Chevron and popular clothing brands like H&M and Zara, have integrated their products into our daily lives in an unethical and environmentally unhealthy manner. While consumers play a critical role in driving this destructive cycle, corporations — putting out the line of products we choose from — should follow more sustainable practices and be held accountable for the damage created through their products. It’s

crucial that an effort to be more environmentally conscious of their output be made.

In regards to our government’s role in mitigating the effects of climate change, the U.S.’ efforts have not made as much progress as promised. In 1993, the Clinton Administration commissioned the Climate Change Action Plan, an initiative that lacked governmental support and sufficient funding, and without mandated enforcement, was a failure. More recently, on President Biden’s first day in office, he rejoined the Paris Agreement, an international treaty which, among other goals, aims to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global temperature rise. However, many climate experts say that most countries’ pledges to the Paris Agreement are not ambitious enough to achieve their goals.

On a smaller scale, Newton can also do more – though we must recognize our victories and efforts. Newton adopted a five-year climate action plan in 2019, which primarily focuses on switching to renewable energy, ensuring lowemission transportation, improving buildings and reducing emissions from consumption and disposal. To make Newton a carbon-neutral community by 2050, milestones to hit throughout the duration of the plan have been planned.

In any case, actions speak louder than words; for years, politicians and corporations have given their word for a lower-emission future through proposals, but not many steps have been taken towards these goals. It’s easy to make promises, but following through is another challenge we must work on.

While the city-wide implementations are pushing Newton in the right direction, we hope to see a more collectivized community effort. Whether that be by having frequent, mandatory panels on the causes and effects of climate change in middle and high schools in Newton or by offering focus group projects for residents to get involved like the 4C Tree initiative, incorporating climate change into education and community opportunities will help spread wider awareness to members within our community. After all, climate change is everyone's problem.

Newton should install solar panels on their public buildings; Newton should create a system of composting; and Newton should incentivize switching to a greener mode of transportation. With an upcoming mayoral election, we must prioritize our climate when choosing our leaders and take steps towards affirmative action in such pressing times.

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

Editor-in-Chief Ellyssa Jeong

Managing Editors Siya Patel

Editorial Policy

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 funding comes from advertisers and subscriptions.

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.

Emily Schwartz

Eva Shimkus

Section Editors News

Bella Ishanyan Jaesuh Lee Sarah Wei Lily Zarr

Features Sanjana Deshpande Sarah Feinberg Emma Zhang

Danielle Berdichevsky Matan Josephy Melinda Yung

Freelance

Joyce Lee Rebecca Stotsky Clare Tourtelotte

Ahona Dam Julian Phillips

Aidan Lieberman

Sports

Graphics Managers

Photo Managers Maureen Caulfield Becky Dozortsev

Opinions

Centerfold

Media Manager Ari Gordon

Faculty Advisor Ashley Chapman

Emily Cheng Amanda Fu Julie Wang

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editorials | page 7

LETTER from the EDITOR Emily Schwartz Managing Editor

It’s been easy for me to see a post on someone's Instagram and immediately adopt their opinion. Or, I’ll hear my parents talking about an issue and parrot their words in a political discussion. But I’m left with no opinion that I know is truly mine. Whether it’s a campaign I half-heartedly worked on last summer because a good friend encouraged me to, or this summer’s Boston mayoral campaign in which I chose to support the candidate an organization I work for endorsed, I’ve realized that I don’t know how to form an opinion in a space that begs for one.

As the school year begins again and discussions about Texas’s new abortion and voter suppression laws, climate change and mask-politics are ever prevalent, recent conversations have made me question the sources of my opinions.

There’s a pressure to be right, of course.

Before I say anything, I mull it over in my head, to make sure my opinion is fully put-together, politically correct and intellectually sound, and in the end, I don’t speak up as much.

Maybe these feelings are a part of getting older, or maybe they’re a result of growing up a quiet kid. But really, I think my opinions are influenced and based on so many things other than my own experiences and identity.

Forming my own opinions

At home, we discuss politics a lot. So, it can be hard whenever I hear my dad’s perfectly reasonable view about Afghanistan, or Biden’s performance, or even just his opinion on what happened to him on the T that day, to understand that it’s not fact. My environment has impacted so much about me — how I act, how I talk and how I think.

Likewise, where you grow up — where you live, where you go to school — also influences what you think. Take Newton, for example. In this mostly progressive, wealthy city that can sometimes feel like a bubble, it can be hard for our student newspaper to find a single conservative voice willing to be interviewed, which goes to show the homogeneity of thought that exists in our community.

Try the other end of the spectrum — my grandparents live in a tiny rural town in Texas, and I visited them this summer. Everyone from Massachusetts whom I told about the trip warned me to wear a mask. In Texas, they said, people didn’t believe in masks … in the pandemic.

That assurance, which certainly has some truth to it and is rightly cautious, that everyone in Texas is an anti-masker, is exactly the problem. The belief that your opinions have to align with those of where you live proves that it's widely accepted, even expected, to adopt the belief of your environment.

I want my opinion to be more personal.

I want it to be based on my identity, my expe-

riences and the people I choose to surround myself with. But I don’t know who I am yet and how I identify. Am I a person of color?

Am I white? Am I Asian enough to experience discrimination? Does that matter? Can I pass as white? But then how do I identify?

If there’s anything I’ve learned over the past year, it’s that your opinion is your voice; it’s your power. However preachy or uppity that sounds, if you believe in what you’re saying whole-heartedly, then you have achieved consistency and power.

My goal as I enter another year of high school is to be proud of what I believe, and the first step in doing so is by recognizing my true beliefs, by questioning the sources of my beliefs.

The belief that your opinions have to align with those of where you live proves that it’s widely accepted, even expected, to adopt the belief of your environment.

page 8

September 10, 2021

OPINIONS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 3

SHOULD SUMMER READING BE A THING? NO

YES

By Yana Kane

Yana Kane class of '24

to participate in the 10 book challenge. For students who may have difficulty reading or prefer to watch something, there is an option to watch a show based on a listed book.

Summer reading is helpful in getting motivated for the school year. Doing nothing all summer makes it hard to cope with the amount of work given at school, and reading during break can help ease students into a more studious routine. This gives students something to look forward to and a sense of completion once they accomplish an individualized goal.

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Reading an engaging book provides an incentive to find more pieces with similar themes or narratives.

Reading also helps students explore new genres and interests, and reading an engaging book provides an incentive to find more pieces with similar themes or narratives. For me personally, summer reading guided me out of a reading slump. During the school year, I was mentally exhausted, and I did not have the energy to read the books that I had been wanting to for a long time.

I kept telling myself that I’d read them soon, but nothing changed. Seeing this as a chance to get started on my growing list of books, I chose Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”— an unlikely choice as I usually do not enjoy reading classic novels. However, knowing that it was for summer reading made me challenge myself and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I recently finished the book, and I loved it. If it hadn’t been an option for me to read a book of my choosing for summer reading, I probably would have never gotten to it.

Summer reading is one of the many ways South shows the value of our education in and out of school. Reading is supposed to be an enjoyable activity, and trying a new book over the summer helps prove that.

Losing track of time because you’re so captivated by a book is one of the best feelings in the world, and summer reading allows for more people to experience this euphoria. grap hic b y

R

eading is a major part of our mental development — after all, it’s one of the first skills children are taught.

While most students primarily read for school classes, reading just the assigned books purely for a grade presents reading as a stressful and tedious task, often preventing students from developing an interest in books. In that sense, summer reading gives students the time and opportunity to find books beyond the walls of a classroom and understand that reading can also be for enjoyment.

This year, South offered students multiple pathways to complete their summer reading, making it feel more voluntary. One option allowed students to pick any book of their choice — the only requirement being a group discussion when school starts. Encouraging students to read for pleasure will benefit their mental health because students will be able to fully immerse themselves in their reading experiences without having to worry about how it will affect their GPA. Another positive aspect of this year's summer reading model is the flexibility in choosing the challenge level of a book; students who want to push themselves have the option

By Dana Berdichevsky

I

have yet to meet anyone who genuinely enjoys summer reading. In previous years, the assignment was especially irritating because the school assigned books. Though the new structure may sound efficient in getting students motivated to read, it doesn’t give students the excitement to actually complete the reading. The only thing that assigned reading achieves is diminishing the love and euphoric feeling that students should feel when entranced by a book.

The point of summer is to relax. I value taking a break from academics to refresh my mind and prepare for the year ahead. Many high schoolers also use this break from school to focus on a job, camp or themselves. I remember heading into eighth grade when the book “Losing It” by Erin Fry was assigned.

I had spent my summer at camp, hanging out with friends, spending time with my family and not thinking about school. Yet, it still lingered in my mind. Every time I stepped into my room, “Losing It” lay on my dresser, untouched, making me feel a pang of guilt. Thus, even for a simple assignment,

my academic hiatus is intercepted every year when summer reading is assigned.

Despite my negative sentiments, I am surprisingly an avid reader. Summer reading should seem enjoyable for a person who likes to read in their free time, but the reality is the opposite. I typically read a book every week, but I have found myself reading a lot less since the beginning of summer. This is directly correlated with the mere idea of summer reading because rather than being an enjoyable pastime, these assignments feel like a nagging burden.

My academic hiatus is intercepted every year when summer reading is assigned.

Dana Berdichevsky class of '23

You could compare summer reading to a common chore: washing the dishes; you stand up, ready to get it over with, just as your mom walks in and tells you, once again, that you have to do the dishes. Suddenly, all of the previous motivation you had to do the dishes dissipates and is replaced with irritation. This is because another person can take credit for your accomplishments, diminishing the pride that you could have felt after making an independent decision.

The same goes for summer reading.

When the school tells students they have to read, it makes many less inclined and excited to do so and replaces what could have been an independent and pleasing choice with one of utter laziness and boredom. In other words, picking up and reading on our own is half of the enjoyment, and summer reading takes that decision away.

In the end, many students choose not to or are unable to complete the summer reading, proving it the wrong method of encouraging high schoolers. The assignment’s only achievement is driving students farther away from books and seeing reading as an obligation instead of a choice. Whether a person likes to read or hates it, summer reading is a chore that students should not have to add to their list.

page 9 | opinions

the lion's roar

Driving during COVID-19? We got you!

By Jane Shen Learning how to drive can feel daunting. But learning during a pandemic … well, that is a challenge on another level.

Here are some tips from a rising senior who somehow got their license amidst the chaos of this year.

STEP 1: DRIVER’S ED Last summer, under the false impression that the pandemic would be over by fall, I signed up for driver’s ed, expecting to get my license by the end of the year. I ended up taking driver’s ed class from my computer. Although I tried to pay attention that week, it became hard to concentrate on the eight hour Zoom classes. I tried to take notes and stay focused, but eventually, I got lazy and began screenshotting the important facts. We learned about how much you’d get fined for speeding once, twice, three times … too many times. Other lessons included which way you should turn your wheels when you’re parking up a hill with a curb and down a hill with a curb. Despite having been taught many street signs, the only one I can remember is the stop sign. But nonetheless, drivers ed is an essential part of learning how to drive in high school, so make sure you try your best to pay attention during class, no matter how difficult online class can be.

STEP 2: PERMIT TEST

so I studied for the exam by taking many online practice tests.

I was stressed at the start, but you honestly have all the time in the world to take the test, which is 25 minutes. Questions ranged from the meanings of certain road signs to how much you can be fined for speeding 5 miles over the speed limit.

When I passed on my first try, my breath of relief could be heard a mile away! If you’re going to take the permit test, take a few practice tests, and always remember that you can take it again, even if it means you have to wait a few weeks. P.S. You have to get your picture taken at the RMV for it to be used on your permit and later your license, so make sure it’s a good one! Mine is so bad — I look scared.

STEP 3: DRIVING LESSONS This was where the actual challenges arose: signing up for driving hours. I called my driving school to sign up for my first driving lesson about two months after getting my permit in July, and secured my first lesson for the end of September. Due to the pandemic, my driving school had suspended its driving lessons until late August. This left me waiting months between my driving lessons. I had my first lesson in September and my last one in mid-March. Driving with an instructor was a really good way to practice things like parallel parking, switching lanes, three-

About a month after I finished driver’s ed, I finally booked an appointment at the RMV to get permission to take my permit test online. The RMV website was incredibly difficult to use so I had to ask my friends how they signed up for their appointment. I went to the Watertown RMV website and somehow navigated my way to make a reservation, only to find the only available appointments weeks from then. I knew that if I did not pass my permit test on the first try, I would have to wait weeks until I could register for another attempt,

graphic by Emily Cheng

point turns and learning the basics of driving, which ultimately prepared me to not jeopardize my parents’ safety first thing after getting my license. Overall, driving lessons helped me feel safe and comfortable behind the wheel before I started driving on real roads with my parents, which is definitely terrifying. If you take away anything from these tips, it is to make sure you register for lessons early, be patient with getting experience on the road and that driving instructors will help you a lot when learning the basics of driving, but you still need to practice on your own before the road test!

STEP 4: DRIVING TEST Finally, six months after my first lesson, I had my last lesson and called my driving school to register for the test. They said that the next available test was in mid-April, which was over a month away. I was worried that I would forget how to drive by then, but I practiced a lot with my parents and ended up being okay — I passed! I remember driving after school with my dad a week before my test and trying to parallel park on Brandeis.

Let’s just say that it did not go well, and I still cannot parallel park on Brandeis. My dad and I went early to where my road test was going to be to practice parallel parking, and I was just so nervous that I messed up the first few times. For the actual test though, it all ended up being ok. Remember that you can always take your road test again, so not passing it on the first try isn’t the end of the world!

At the end of the day, getting my license during the pandemic proved long and tedious, but I am happy I got it before the summer because I was able to drive around, have fun and try to revive some normalcy that I lost during the school year. In fact, being able to drive has allowed me to hang out more with friends that do not live in Newton! In the end, it is so worth it.

What I DON'T Need

By Annika Engelbrecht On June 16th, I was greeted by a post from Denebola with the new school schedule on my Instagram feed. I glanced over the new schedule’s graphic and read their article before feeling a pit of dread settle over me. It was obvious my peers felt the same way; within the hour, angry and annoyed sentiments littered the comments section of the post.

Even today, months later, I have yet to see a positive comment amidst the 162 remarks. Every aspect of the new schedule was being picked apart and criticized, from the new start/end times to the notoriously heavily meme-d “What I Need” (WIN) blocks. So, where did Newton Public Schools (NPS) go wrong? I believe that the problem lies in the limited communication between the administration and South families and students.

The new schedule shifts the start and end times, which has been called for by opponents of the 7:40 a.m. start time; however, there are many complications that come with the delayed 9 a.m. beginnings. Similar to this past year, the new schedule’s late start means that school ends at 3:45 p.m.. Assuming athletics will continue to meet after school this year, the end times could directly translate to athletes having to practice in the dark, especially those participating in fall and winter sports. On top of regular practices, they will get home very late, providing less time for their school work. It also causes conflictions for students with part-time jobs, like me. The late end times mean I have fewer options to work during the week, which could force me to choose between my commitment to work and getting my homework done. The new schedule also affects parents, particularly those who work. 9:00 a.m. coincides with the typical start time for jobs, creating a hassle for working parents who had typically driven their kids to school. For students living too far from school to walk every day, taking the bus may not be a viable option due to the cost. The later

start and end times affect thousands of families, yet after six models of potential new schedules were drafted years ago by the administration, student and parent involvement lessened, and neither had an official part in the executive decision.

While later start times alone seem problematic enough, WIN blocks are the biggest problem with the new schedule.

WIN blocks are“assigned structured learning time with required attendance for all,” according to the district’s High School“Flex” Framework for 2021-2022. For the beginning of the school year, students will be designated a classroom for a directed study or help from a teacher. Although the people behind designing these blocks had good intentions, the execution is abysmal.

Making students partake in activities that they have no interest in can abolish the students’ sense of freedom in school. Forcing students to meet with teachers wastes the time of the student and teacher equally, especially when students don’t feel the need to meet with teachers. The attendance requirement is the main issue for upperclassmen, who feel that it takes away their open campus privileges. Not only does the concept feel off, but the logistics seem faulty as well. Currently, students sign up for WIN blocks, which occur on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, on a Monday. This process will make it hard for students to receive the help they require if a problem arises during the week, as they would be unable to meet with their teachers because they have already signed up for a different activity during WIN block. Not getting help in time can affect a student’s grades and performance. While the administration did consider students’ opinions by surveying families from 2017 to 2019, this was years prior to current high schoolers' enrollment at South, so a different group of students than those surveyed will feel the effects.

Another element in the new schedule that adds little benefit is the Lion block. Unlike prior J and flex blocks, the new

Lion block only meets once a week, which impacts students who are involved in more than one club. It calls for students to devote their time to merely one group or activity. It is unclear whether clubs can meet during other times like WIN blocks, because students have not received much information about this dilemma, reinforcing the overarching problem of the schedule debacle: a lack of communication.

While it is an administrative decision, students should have had some say in it — they are, after all, the ones who are affected most by the schedule. I have not spoken to a single student who has said anything positive about the new plan, and two petitions were created by students asking for change in the new schedule, with one garnering 186 signatures and counting.

Behind these signatures are unsatisfied students and families, and when the community sees flaws in nearly every aspect of the schedule, there is a definite need for change.

graphic by Emily Cheng

page 10 | opinions

CAMPUS CHATTER

the lion's roar

The Lion's Roar asked...

What was your favorite 2021 summer memory?

Kate Butts class of '22

Simran Khatri class of '23

Kira Yoshida class of '24

Adam Sheena class of '25

I woke my friends up at 4 a.m., and we went to the beach. We went swimming and watched the sunrise.

The beach was so peaceful.

Everyone was annoyed with me for the rest of the day because we woke up so early, but it was worth it.

I went to Newton Center with my best friends at night, and we went to Crystal Lake and just talked and listened to the train while it was raining. I danced in the rain with one of my friends, and we just sang songs at the top of our lungs.

As a CIT, I loved playing board games such as Candyland and Guess Who with the campers and teaching them how to make gimp.

Camp was cancelled last year because of COVID-19, so I’m glad it was able to happen this year.

I went to Iceland, and my favorite part was when we went to Skogafoss Waterfall.

It was so beautiful because you could see the glaciers in the distance that fed the waterfall. My family and I got soaked by the mist, but it was refreshing on a hot day!

Bubbling for boba

By Melinda Yung Remember the simpler times? When the school bell rang, students would race out of their classrooms to the field house, rummaging through their backpacks in search of crumpled dollar bills. Crowds formed, and people shoved to get their hands on a refreshing drink.

Weeks prior, you’d find fliers on almost every wall in South promoting some club’s bubble tea fundraiser. Through these fundraisers, many students experienced drinking bubble tea for the first time, with some even making it a part of their daily lives. Arguably, its best quality is the many tea, boba, jelly and cream options, which can be overwhelming for some.

As more bubble tea shops line the streets in Boston, it has become even harder to choose.

Opinions editor Melinda Yung visited four bubble tea shops in the area and ranked them based on the following criteria: drink selection, price and distance from South.

The bubble tea shop with the least total points has the top rank.

For each criteria, 1 is best & 4 is worst

1. Kung Fu Tea

From their classic milk teas to their sweet fruit slushes, Kung Fu Tea might have started

2. Gong Cha Drink Variety: 2 Affordability: 1 Proximity to South: 4 Overall Score: 7 Gong Cha is by far one of the best bubble tea shops to go to due to their authentic drinks, including their green and oolong teas, originating from Taiwan. With its closest location to South in Allston, Gong Cha has a wide selection of drinks, one of their most popular being the brown sugar milk tea with boba and lemon ai-yu pearl.

Gong Cha has a less unique milk tea taste compared to Royal Tea and Tiger Sugar as it is more watery, but their boba holds the right consistency of being both soft and chewy.

A medium milk tea with boba at Gong Cha costs $3.75, the cheapest price out of the other ranked bubble tea shops. My personal favorite is their milk foam green tea with boba because the tea is sweet and fragrant, with the toppings adding the perfect contrast. Gong Cha is about 18 minutes away from South, but their teas are definitely worth the drive.

3. Royal Tea Drink Variety: 4 Affordability: 2 Proximity to South: 2 Overall Score: 8 If you are on the search for a floral-tasting milk tea, Royal Tea is the bubble tea shop for you. Their milk tea is both fragrant and strong in flavor, and their boba has just the right consistency — not too gooey or hard. Unlike Kung Fu Tea and Gong Cha, Royal Tea’s menu has fewer drink categories and does not include slushes or seasonal specials.

A medium milk tea with boba costs $4.50, and the Brookline location is around a 14 minute drive from South. Royal Tea’s milk tea is definitely distinguishable from most bubble tea shops with its perfumed and sugary essence. Overall, I recommend trying their jade green tea with boba.

4. Tiger Sugar Drink Variety: 3 Affordability: 4 Proximity to South: 3 Overall Score: 10 Tiger Sugar’s brown sugar milk tea — a creamy delight — draws lines around the block.

Their boba is a perfect balance of soft and chewy and is even coated with a light layer of brown sugar syrup. The shop gives the option to have regular boba, mini pearls or both in a drink unlike most bubble tea shops.

Tiger Sugar has the smallest selection of drinks, as all are variations of the brown sugar drink. A medium brown sugar milk tea with boba is $5.66, being the most expensive out of the four bubble tea shops, and it is a 16 minute drive from South. It is a small shop located in Allston, so if you plan to go, make sure to arrive early to skip the long lines.

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Drink Variety: 1 Affordability: 3 Proximity to South: 1 Overall Score: 5

the bubble tea craze in Massachusetts. Kung Fu Tea’s Cleveland Circle location is just a ten minute drive from South, so naturally, it is well-visited by students. From reasonable prices, with the classic drink of a medium milk tea with boba costing $4.95, to a wide selection of drinks, Kung Fu Tea is ideal for many.

My personal favorite is their oolong milk tea with boba because it has the perfect ratio of rich milk tea to boba. Unlike the other three bubble tea shops, the label “consume within 2 hours” can be found on their cups which proves helpful. Despite the boba losing its freshness after two hours, the tea will remain excellent.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

opinions | page 11

A growing emergence of social media 'micro-trends' poses an imminent threat to the planet

photos by Eva Shimkus

Toxic Trends

By Matan Josephy

O

n August 9, people across the world woke up to concerning headlines.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations organ charged with providing objective information on the state of climate change around the world, had issued a report proclaiming a ‘code red’ for global heating. Due to the lack of action from global policymakers and worsening trends around the world, the IPCC declared that humanity is now locked into three decades of extreme climate and weather impacts no matter what we do.

To many, the IPCC’s assessment comes as no surprise. It doesn’t take much effort to realize that evidence of humanity fueling climate change exists on every level of global society.

Behind the glossy logos and constant sales lies a perfect case study in the dangers of putting profits over planet Matan Josephy class of '23

From sweeping policies dictated by governments and actions by multinational corporations to unending aspects of our lives such as our consumption of food, energy and material goods like clothes, elements of contribution to what has become the greatest threat humanity faces are everywhere.

However, there is one crucial caveat to

point out: the IPCC report is broadly focused, and the blame for global emissions should not be distributed equally between individuals and corporations. As has long been the consensus, it is modern power-brokers, corporate giants and economic systems who are the most responsible for the imminent climate-driven floods, droughts, cyclones and population displacements that scientists have been describing for years.

While an explanation of each specific industrial decision that led to this is impossible, what can be examined is how the products of these actions are seen in our daily lives. There is no better example of how the most fundamental aspects of our lives can be used to prop up industries that profit at the expense of our environment than the very clothes that we wear.

Enter fast fashion.

Coined in the late 1990s, the term ‘fast fashion’ refers to the large and ever-growing industry of fashion brands renowned for rapidly adapting and mass producing clothes thought to be currently fashionable. Whether corporate behemoths such as Inditex (Zara’s parent company), Benetton, H&M or today’s Shein dominate the industry, the bottom line stays the same: no matter how much labor exploitation involved or environmental damage caused, the only priority of fast fashion brands is to churn out clothes from catwalks to buyers as rapidly as possible.

With a business model so heavily centered around catering to the clothing considered ‘trendy’ at the moment, fast fashion brands exploit what many market analysts have deemed ‘micro-trends’: rapid weeks to months long cycles of what is popular or not. As clothes continue to rise and sink in popularity more

frequently, fast fashion brands are required to mass produce more clothing at a quicker pace, only for it to be thrown out just months after hitting shelves in favor of something new.

The cycle only perpetuates itself, faster and faster. Consumers can now move between styles at an unprecedented pace due to a recurring expectation that suppliers will meet their demands immediately — as suppliers move faster, so do consumers, leading to the immortality of micro-trends.

The result is an overconsumption of clothes unlike anything ever seen in fashion history.

To keep up with the changing trends, consumers have begun buying more clothes even as their actual need stays stagnant. The current global population amounts to just under 133% of that in the year 2000, yet as the World Economic Forum explained in a report just last year, global clothing production has doubled over the past two decades, vastly outpacing population growth. At the same time that clothing production has exploded, the time that people keep the clothes has been cut in half.

However, the ramifications of the rise in fast fashion are far worse than just an increase in waste; the excessive consumption culture that fast fashion promotes has led to extreme consequences for the planet.

The environmental effects of fast fashion are present in virtually every aspect of our planet. Clothing production, even for inexpensive brands, is notoriously resource intensive. As a result, greater consumption of clothes caused by fast fashion leads to critical overuse of vital resources at the planet’s expense. Take water, for example. An article from the Princeton Student Climate Initiative explains that due

to the large volumes needed to produce just a few kilograms of cotton, a key clothing material, the fashion industry consumes nearly a tenth of all industrial-purpose water and produces nearly a fifth of wastewater around the globe.

Most of this consumption comes from cloth production alongside textile dyeing, which in turn spills into oceans. With most companies utilizing cheap, outsourced labor in nations with relaxed environmental regulations and Victorian-era working conditions, governments have done little to fix the problem.

Beyond the problem with resource consumption, the worst effects of fast fashion come from the actual clothes themselves. To keep costs low and profit margins high, brands like Shein or Zara often resort to the usage of synthetic fibers. These fibers, including polyester and rayon, can be mass produced for very cheap, proving to be ideal for fast fashion brands keen to cut “unnecessary” spending.

Yet, there lies a persistent issue: synthetic fibers are almost entirely made from fossil fuels and contain large quantities of microplastics.

Consequently, brands’ gargantuan demand for synthetic fibers causes billions of tons of greenhouse gases released into the air as these materials are produced. Their ever-shortening life spans result in trillions of microplastics in landfills every year, taking hundreds of years to degrade.

Fast fashion is an industry that has dominated the world of clothing for decades.

For many, its brand of cheap clothing that can conform to the ever-shifting demands of modern trends as quickly as they come has become a staple. But behind the glossy logos and constant sales lies a perfect case study in the dangers of putting profits over planet.

Calling th

Despite the recent rise in COV continue to reject health guide

By Ahona Dam a Graphic by When psychology teacher Paul Estin heard that his fatherin-law would not be getting the COVID-19 vaccine, his first reactions were those of shock and anger.

“I haven't wanted to confront him on it, but it's like,‘really?’” he said. “His official reason is the development was rushed too much so it's not safe.”

Despite the rise of the Delta variant and COVID-19 cases around the world, some individuals, like Estin’s father-in-law, have decided against the vaccine due to a multitude of reasons. Some unvaccinated people hold an individualistic attitude towards the vaccine, fueling discussions of safety and freedom. For those who are vaccinated and looking towards a transition back to normal life, this mindset can be frustrating.

Senior Elias Guermazi said there has to be a drastic shift

Whether or not you wear a mask says how much you value [others'] thoughts and discriminate against people around you.

Elias Guermazi class of '22

from individualistic beliefs to a more collectivistic attitude if America is to recover from the pandemic.

“Whether or not you wear a mask says how much you value [others’] thoughts and discriminate against people around you,” he said.

The concept of individualism, a word often positively associated with independence and singularity, has evolved during the pandemic to the degree of holding personal freedom above the safety of others.

Liberty or Death The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated values of independence in American culture that can be traced back to colonial times.

In the 17th century, Europeans immigrated to the Americas, obtaining large tracts of land that allowed for a dispersed population. Systems like Spanish encomiendas or English charters allowed private companies and citizens to easily claim resources, leading to an increased focus on individual property and rights.

For the English, the rise of individualism led to antigovernment stances as crown control over the colonies grew.

After years under self-rule, many colonists were irate at the idea of a strong government.

Even before the Thirteen Colonies were founded, English

philosophical debates about individualism began to shape the present-day United States.

Philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke presented the idea of a ‘social contract,’ in which individuals give up some rights for other government benefits — for example, taxation for public infrastructure. However, Locke believed that it was the duty of the government to protect the individual rights of life, liberty and property. His philosophy contrasted with Hobbes in that he believed citizens had a right to rebel against the government if authorities violated their contract.

Colonists adopted these principles to fit their needs, arguing that Britain’s oppressive rule violated their social contract.

Revolutionaries further advocated for representation in communities, where representatives, exclusive to each community, would be democratically elected. These principles, combined with the emerging focus on private property, drove America’s individualism complex and transformed democracy and American politics.

While philosophers like Locke established individualism in American society, contemporary sources morphed it into its present form.

Russian-American philosopher Ayn Rand believed in a more radical form of individualism that allowed individuals to think independently and analyze their own desires. Objectivism, a theory proposed by Rand in the mid-20th century, rejects altruism and promotes selfishness. Rand said that objectivism “is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happi-

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VID-19 cases, many Americans elines in the name of freedom

and Julian Phillips Julie Wang ness as the moral purpose of his life.” Ethical egoism, one of the principles of objectivism, states that an action is moral if it is in one’s self-interest.

Locke and Rand’s philosophies have become increasingly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. While individualism can be harmful in many circumstances, some people, like English teacher Kelly Henderson, believe that it is largely to blame for the severity of the pandemic. Henderson said that the nature of a pandemic, in particular, exposes toxic elements of American culture.

“The pandemic revealed some of the ways that the hyperindividualistic worldview doesn't work in a crisis because the health and safety of my family depend on the health and safety of your family,” she said.“It's unfortunate that we've organized our society in such a way that we don't have systems that recognize that we need each other.”

Vaccination Viewpoints While the country’s founders emphasized personal freedoms when creating the skeleton of America’s governing principles, senior Gabriella Zaff said that the idea has been misinterpreted from its original philosophy.

“The country was intended to be founded upon freedom and liberty to protect people, but people have taken that extra step to think about just themselves,” she said.

Guermazi said that personal freedom should not interfere with safety measures because with regards to the pandemic, people should respect others’ boundaries of staying safe.

“If you want the personal freedom to not get vaccinated, you should stay home or wear a mask at all times because it’s not fair to other people in your community that you should both have the personal freedom to not take any precautions and also have the personal freedom to be in public and be in enclosed spaces with people,” he said. “At that point you're infringing on other people's health.”

Recent surveys suggest that there are two groups of unvaccinated people in the United States: those who firmly oppose the idea of getting the vaccine and others who are waiting to make a decision. According to the New York Times, 93 million people are eligible for the vaccine but have decided not to take them despite current trends in cases.

David Poles, a mental health counselor at the Newton Counseling Center, said that he has observed two major reasons for why people are hesitant against the vaccine.

“For some people, it's fear. They don't trust the science, and they don't trust that there's enough data to support the efficacy of [the vaccine] long term,” he said. “For some, they don't want to be told what to do or how to live their lives.”

In response to behaviors of distrust and defiance, society has become judgemental of those unwilling to take the vaccine or follow health recommendations. However, Estin said that

For some people, it's fear. They don't trust the science ... For some, they don't want to be told what to do or how to live their lives.

David Poles mental health counselor rather than their actions being rooted in defiance, it may be that people often follow local crowds and conform to their community’s norms.

“There's probably a lot of people who, if their friends and neighbors are getting vaccinated, are going to get vaccinated,” he said. “If their friends and neighbors are not [getting the vaccine], then they're not going to [get] it, so in a sense, you don't have that many rebels.”

Herd mentality can also be seen at the national level with a correlation between low vaccination rates and a state’s dominating political party. According to Vox, there is a clear political divide in vaccination rates seen in“blue” and“red” states, with states that voted for Trump in the 2020 election having lower vaccination rates compared to states that voted for Biden.

Reconciliation The conversation regarding vaccination has made people react with anger and blame when addressing opinions that don’t align with their own. This division in the political sphere and in other discussions can further hinder progress in vaccination rates, so it is important to listen to all perspectives before assuming the worst.

In response to the backlash towards the unvaccinated population, Vice Principal Jason Williams said that it is essential to refrain from critical language that can blame unvaccinated individuals. He said that assuming positive intentions will create civil discussions and lasting outcomes.

“A lot of the narrative, unfortunately, puts anti-vaxxers or

people who don't get the vaccine in an automatic ‘well, they just hate everything, and they don't want to help make the world a better place,’” he said. “There could be other reasons, and we have to investigate, listen first and not just assume the worst.”

Sandra Nelson, a physician in the Newton Public Schools Medical Advisory Group, said that it is important to listen to the perspective of unvaccinated individuals, as they may have varying reasons to not get the vaccine.

“If I'm in a one-on-one situation with another person who doesn't want the vaccine, I always ask them why,” she said.

“Without understanding what someone's hesitation is, it's hard to know how to counsel them around what their concerns are.”

According to the New York Times, about 10% of Americans are tentative about the vaccine and are willing to be convinced to get it. This shows that conversations can help people assess risk

factors and make a decision that is right for them.

Senior Jake Levy said that despite various health guidelines and regulations put in place, the government can’t ensure that every citizen is taking steps to be safe.

“People aren't going to wear masks; you just can't force everyone to wear masks,” he said. “You can make it a law, but it doesn't mean people are going to obey the law.”

Despite challenges in mitigating the virus, Zaff said that if people rise above their individualistic outlooks, the country will be able to recover more efficiently.

“Personal rights and personal freedom matter, but the issue with COVID goes beyond yourself,” she said. “We aren't going to get anywhere unless more people start to care and more people start to realize that this is more than just them. It’s about the community, the country around them and the whole world.”

Political affiliations of people with the following views towards vaccination The pandemic revealed some of the ways the hyper-individualistic worldview doesn't work in a crisis because the health and safety of my family depend on the health and safety of your family.

data from Voice of America

21%

Kelly Henderson English teacher

24% 45%

45%

34%

If their friends and neighbors are not [getting the vaccine], then they're not going to [get] it, so in a sense, you don't have that many rebels.

18%

Definitely not getting

Wait and see

Paul Estin psychology teacher

Republican

Democrat

Other

Percent (%) of unvaccinated Americans with the following reasons for not being vaccinated data from the New York Times

Side effects

53%

Waiting to see if safe

40%

Don't trust vaccines

37%

Don't trust government

27%

Don't believe I need it

26%

Other 19% Think others need it more 11% Don't like vaccines 10% Doctor hasn't recommended

7%

If I'm in a one-on-one situation with another person who doesn't want the vaccine, I always ask them why.

Sandra Nelson physician

We aren't going to get anywhere unless more people start to care and more people start to realize that this is more than just them.

Gabriella Zaff class of '22

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features | page 15

An inexpensive way to get around Newton Aidan Lieberman Freelance Editor

As your phone buzzes, alerting you that your ride is here, you are greeted in your driveway by a green and blue striped van, which takes you to a commuter station near your destination.

Newton in Motion (NewMo) 2.0 is an expansion of NewMo 1.0, which launched three years ago as a mode of shared transportation for senior citizens. The senior service will continue to operate while the updated commuter service, NewMo 2.0, will also cater to the public.

NewMo is similar to Uber, except the service operates exclusively in Newton. Both versions of NewMo services are on-demand, meaning users request a ride on the app just minutes before they travel somewhere.

Director of the Newton Senior Services Department Jayne Colino said that spontaneous ride-requesting can be nerve-wracking for older residents because previously, seniors at the senior center had to book rides three days in advance with a taxi company. Despite that, she said she hopes NewMo will have a lasting impact.

“If people felt comfortable using this type of service, then maybe they would feel comfortable using Uber or Lyft ... and stay connected beyond their own neighborhood.”

On June 29, NewMo 2.0 opened to the public. Though the commuter service is cheaper than the senior service, costing $2 per ride instead of $5, it operates in a slightly stricter way. While the senior service is door-to-door, allowing users to travel from any location to any destination as long as both are in Newton, the commuter service can only make stops to and from city centers and designated T stops.

There are seven locations in the NewMo commuter service. Transit hub locations include the Needham Heights and Newtonville Commuter Rails and the Chestnut Hill and Newton Highlands Green Lines. City center locations include Newton Center, Needham Street and the Mt. Ida Campus of University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst. Commuters can travel anywhere as long as either the pickup or dropoff location is one of the locations.

“Newton’s great because we have the Green Line and we have the commuter rail, but the majority of people don’t live within [a] five minute walk of those places, so it becomes less useful,” Director of Transportation Planning Nicole Freedman said.“We wanted to figure out a way to get people to and from public transit.”

Brian Kerrigan, a partner success manager at Via (the transportation app that powers

NewMo), said that NewMo helps make public transportation more accessible for all Newton residents.

“Even in cities with robust transit infrastructure such as New York, it tends to be the poorest parts of the city that have the worst access to transit infrastructure,” he said.

“These services aren’t the solution to all transit needs, but they can be quickly deployed to fill in those gaps until a more permanent solution is employed.”

To mitigate financial barriers, the usual cost of $2 per ride can be reduced to 50 cents per ride for qualifying low-income Newton residents.

South senior Jessie Traxler said that NewMo's policies help make living in Newton more affordable.

“The idea of NewMo is great, especially

photo courtesy of City of Newton website

if we want to have more affordable housing,” she said. “One of the objectives of the city government right now is they want people to be able to live in Newton without owning a car … so having a car service is helpful.”

In addition to creating a more equitable community, NewMo’s shared vehicles have social, economic and environmental benefits, Kerrigan said.

“We are reducing the total amount of vehicle miles traveled,” he said. “Even a single car off the road makes some sort of difference.”

NewMo also offers businesses“organization partnerships,” which Kerrigan said a few local businesses and organizations are already utilizing.

“We’re working with local businesses, UMass Mt. Ida and William James College, so they can pre-purchase rides for their employees.

They’re able to pay for rides on behalf of the people who need them,” he said.

Freedman said adding the high schools as stations is in NewMo’s future.

“We want to look at focusing on high schools because it’s a good way to get to after school jobs or after school activities and even to school in the morning,” she said.

Kerrigan said that the commuter service may eventually become door-to-door like the senior service.

“With time, the goal is to open it up completely and allow people to take trips wherever they want from point to point in the city,” he said.

However the service develops, Freedman said that NewMo is a great transportation option for those living in Newton.

“We wanted a service that someone could use every single day that was affordable, reliable and sustainable,” she said.

Local artists open doors during COVID-19 Sanjana Deshpande, Paul Hong Features Editor, Features Reporter

North senior Natalia Sawicka had only ever painted on canvases before she got the opportunity to partake in a citywide display for Newton Community Pride’s art initiative, Newton Outdoors, which was planned with the goal to uplift the Newton community during the pandemic. For her, the experience was a unique chance to give back. “[The doors were] just something new and colorful, and they captured so much joy of the human experience in so many different ways,” she said.“Especially after such a long year of being inside and having everything virtual, to have something real that is tangible in front of you is wonderful. It brought me joy, and I hope the rest of the community feels the same way.”

‘21 South graduate Zoe Lister, one of five students who took part in the initiative alongside Sawicka, first heard about the project through school.

“My art teacher, Ms. Nichols, told our art class about the upcoming project,” she said. “I submitted a design proposal. I wasn’t expecting them to choose mine at all, so I was absolutely thrilled to find out that mine was one of the chosen designs.”

For professional artists like Amanda Beard Garcia, the experience of working on a door was personal, as her door featured a portrait of her grandmother.

“The area made me think of her because

she lived in Brookline for most of her life, which is very close by. At the same time, with everything we've been through with the rise in Asian racism, I wanted to explore my own Asian American identity and reflect on it through her, as she passed away a few years ago.”

Lister chose to portray a dreamlike version of the T in her door, as it remains a memorable part of Newton. She said she wanted to represent how the train connects our city in a way that many don’t usually realize. “[My door] represents all of the endless possibilities that taking the T gives the residents in the surrounding suburbs,” she said. “It really just connects people, and I wanted to give a new perspective because people don't always see the train system in that way.”

For senior Abby Zheng, Newton Outdoors was a way to bring together the community. Her door, titled "Corner Vending Machine," is a representation of how vending machines at South tend to bring strangers together for a brief moment of human connection.

“My goal with my door was to simply gather people together during COVID-19 and social distancing,” she said.“A lot of people weren't able to communicate nor were they able to find the spaces to do so, and Newton Outdoors gave that opportunity. My door was made to show how even the smallest things bring people together.”

On the other hand, Sawicka aimed to bring awareness to ocean conservation through her design. Her door, titled "Breath of Life," depicts the importance of whales in our eco-

Zheng said that this experience gave her a new perspective on how she views her own art.

“The difference between being an art student and being an artist for the community is that as an art student, you're focused on improving yourself,” Zheng said. “As an artist for the community, your goal is to help beautify the neighborhood you live in.”

Grey and Leslie Held's door, Let Me In system and the damage done as a result of ship strikes and entanglements. Sawicka said that beyond being a form of communication and self expression, art is a way of advocating for social issues she cares about.

“Art is a powerful tool for bringing people together and showing different perspectives,” she said. “It's powerful in activism because it can show different issues.”

photos by Maureen Caulfield

Howie Green's door, Creating in Nature

SUMMER SHIFTS

page 16 | features

The Artificial Heart: A Vessel to the Future Wasan Rafat Columnist

Science Team’s Take In the United States alone, over 107,000 people are currently waiting for essential organ transplants at the mercy of the unpredictable U.S. organ donation system. When deciding who should receive transplants, doctors prioritize healthier patients because of their increased likelihood of survival. As a result, the majority of donor recipients have to wait several strenuous years for a transplant — time that most do not have.

According to the Health Resources and Service Administration, more than 20 patients awaiting organ transplants pass away every day. Scientists have been trying to combat this devastating reality for decades, and with new technological advances, they might have cracked the code — artificial organs.

Artificial organs are human-made devices that are installed as replacements to real organs. By recreating the lifeline that so many need with organ reengineering, these substitutes could one day eradicate transplant shortages.

Take the heart, for example, which facilitates the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to cells, eliminating gaseous wastes like carbon dioxide from the body. Since 1969, 13 different artificial heart designs have been produced and used on patients. Surgically implanted in the body, the artificial heart acts as a pump, which is particularly critical for patients who suffer from heart failure.

Despite these developments, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH), created in 2004, was the only version to be commercially approved.

Its design is similar to that of a human heart, equipped with two ventricles and four valves, but it also comes with an external machine known as a driver, which imitates the heart’s pumping effect to transport blood around the body.

The TAH can pump up to nine and a half liters per minute, and this stable blood flow ensures the recovery of other organs in the body.

Whether a patient is a teen or a senior citizen, the TAH can support their recovery and ensure that they remain a transplant contender.

However, it is not a permanent solution; while some have survived on the TAH for more than four and a half years, the average patient spends around 130 days on it. In other words, the artificial heart is intended to be a short-term “bridge to transplant” device that replaces a failing heart until patients receive a donation.

Nowhere is this concept more evident than with the experience of Nemah Kahala, a patient at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Kahala, a mother of five, was diagnosed with restrictive heart muscle disease. Her condition was too advanced for traditional solutions such as surgery or mechanical assisting devices.

Had it not been for the artificial heart, Kahala would not have lived to receive a transplant. Even worse, she would not have made it onto the waiting list to begin with. But two weeks after her TAH heart surgery, Kahala was healthy enough to be placed on the list.

One week later, she was given a donor’s heart.

In a world where the leading cause of death is heart disease, claiming 600,000 lives globally every year, the artificial heart is a novel advancement. With the promising experiences of so many artificial heart patients, it is clear that we are pumping science to a future where no one will have to die on a waiting list.

the lion's roar

Juniors Noya Stessel and Dylan Yee share their experiences of working summer jobs

By Mia Dror and Sarah Feinberg

A

fter clocking in at 10:30 a.m., junior Noya Stessel’s workday begins. During her six-hour shift as a restaurant team member at Shake Shack, she frequents the shake station, chats with her fellow employees and takes a number of orders orders from the incoming slew of customers.

Unlike many other teens and adults who dread going to work, Stessel said that she appreciates her summer job.

“I generally want to go to work, and sometimes I want to go to work on days where I don't even have a scheduled shift or I just want to stay afterwards because it’s fun,” she said. “I’m talking to people I like talking to, and I'm feeling good and productive because I'm also doing something.”

Stessel said that Shake Shack’s environment fosters an inclusive community among employees.

“You have a table with everyone's food and drinks, and you can have full conversations with them even if you don't know their name,” Stessel said. “In less than a week, I was already friends with everyone.”

One of the traditions that bring the employees closer together are pre-weekend treats.

“Fridays are really nice … two people get muffins and croissants for everybody, and that’s really fun,” Stessel said.“It's the same thing for that afternoon, and the same people get ice cream for everybody,” she said.

In addition to conversations over shared pastries, Stessel said that her thoughtful coworkers have given helpful guidance.

“I’ve met a lot of different people, and a lot of them are also older, so I can ask them for advice for college,” she said.

All jobs come with challenges, and Stessel said that hers is no exception: rush hour quickly escalates with the influx of customers.

“When you're behind the screen or you have a lot of food or shakes to make and there are people yelling at you, it's a lot, and that's

photo contibuted by Dylan Yee

Dylan Yee works by the shoe and clothing aisles during his summer shift at Marshalls

part of the job,” she said.

Amid these daily stressors, Stessel said she can find some calm during her frequent visits to the milkshake station. While she has many tasks that involve cleaning, Stessel said that she finds washing the shake station to be particularly relaxing.

“Cleaning the shake station is weirdly fun,” she said. “The station gets messy really easily, so it's very satisfying.”

After getting home from work at 5:45 p.m, Stessel said she typically keeps herself busy with tasks for her journalism internship, for which she frequently writes letters and fundraises.

Since working at Shake Shack, Stessel said that she has gained a greater sense of responsibility and independence.

“It has made me realize how I'm actually growing up, and how I'm going to face responsibilities in the future,” she said. “I now know how much work you have to put in to earn that money.”

photo contibuted by Noya Stessel

Noya Stessel hands a Shake Shack take-out bag to a customer by the packaging station

F

or junior Dylan Yee, working as a sales associate at Marshalls has exposed him to new responsibilities. On an average workday, Yee spends hours tidying up the aisles, bringing in new shipments of shoes and interacting with customers.

“It's not that different from school. You just make sure you're there on time, you have responsibilities you're doing and you make sure you're kind to everybody,” he said.

Among the benefits of Yee’s job, some of which include its proximity to his home and air conditioning, he said that working for the first time has expanded his outlook.

“I like learning how a store works from a non-customer perspective,” he said.“It's really cool to go behind the counter and feel like I belong there, instead of just being a customer.”

From his many tasks,Yee said that he particularly enjoys interacting with the customers.

“I work at the front, so I'm usually the person people go to for questions when they first walk into the store. It feels pretty good to help people,” he said.

While Yee said that working with customers can be gratifying, his job can entail tedious tasks and occasional interactions with inconsiderate customers. “[The job is] not so tiring physically, but mentally,” he said. “Imagine sitting in the same part of a store for five hours straight and occasionally picking up the messes some kids make,” he said.

In addition to working a 25 hour week, Yee said that he has been productive with academic work and continues activities he enjoys.

“When you work five days a week and each shift is five hours, there can still be a lot of remaining time in the day to do other stuff,” he said. “Outside of just working, I'm running, doing prep for AP U.S. History, SAT stuff and hanging out with friends,” he said.

Yee said that he has learned memorable life lessons from working.

“It’s a good experience because it gets you thinking about how the working world works,” he said. “It's more realistic.”

issuu.com/thelionsroar

features | page 17

Four Core Values

New Crew

Alan Reinstein

South welcomes passionate, new faculty

English Teacher

By Emma Zhang

fter five years as a science teacher at South Boston High School, Michelle Caine will teach both biology and physics at South.

After having tried various career paths, she said that teaching made her feel at home.

“In the other jobs I’ve tried, I was surrounded by people who were super passionate about what they did, but I never felt that zest and fervor that they seemed to have. Teaching

was the place where I finally understood what they were feeling,” she said.

Caine said that she hopes that through biology, her students will not only learn science but also take away lasting life lessons.

“In biology, it’s evident how interconnected everything is,” she said.“Your impact will have far-reaching effects, and that’s something I wish more people would keep in their minds and hearts.”

photo contributed by Michelle Caine

MAZEN ABDALLAH

learn about people I didn't even meet,” he said.

“It opened the windows to a lot of different cultures, and I wanted to be able to share that.”

He said that he values diversity in the classroom and is looking forward to building lasting relationships with each individual student.

“It’s important to acknowledge that students are very diverse, and no two students are the same,” he said. "

A

ijie Li taught math in China and in various programs around Newton, including the Newton Chinese Language School. There, she heard about South and will be working as a math teacher this year.

As a woman of color, Li felt embraced

by South’s welcoming nature.

“It is a community that values diversity,” she said. “During both the interviewing and orientation process, it felt like a very welcom-

ing place.”

Li said that even before meeting them, she believes in the potential of all her students and is looking forward to uplifting them.

“Every student has their own shining side, no matter how well they perform in their academics,” she said. “As an educator, it is important to identify those positive elements in every student to make them shine both inside and outside your class.”

photo by Eva Shimkus

photo by Eva Shimkus

or the last couple of years, Fenton Pongnon taught math and science in Boston and other cities. He will be teaching physics at South this year, his first time teaching in the suburbs.

Pongnon said that he is a strong believer that teaching is always adapting, especially when it comes to technology. He said that this constant changing is what makes being a teacher so compelling.

“In my time, there were no cell phones or technology. There are a lot of things now that I didn’t have before, so how could I teach the way I had in the past?” he said.

He said that he is excited to meet his new students and adjust to their individual learning styles.

“You never know how to teach until you find out what kinds of kids are in front of you,” he said.

im Te taught science in Beverly, first biology and later transitioning to chemistry, which he will be teaching at South.

After Te graduated from South in 2007, he said that the support of his teachers resonated with him throughout his life, leaving him inspired to pay it forward at his alma mater.

“I was a student here and there were some teachers that made a really big impact on

my life,” he said. “I had some difficult circumstances, and they really helped me get through it. I would be a much different person without the support of my teachers here."

Te said that above all else, he wants to instill lasting curiosity in his students.

“There’s a lot of things we teach in high school that you’re going to forget, but one of the things I really want my students to walk away with is an appreciation for learning,” he said.

CAROLINE JOYCE

and I loved it because it’s such a rare and special experience,” she said.

Joyce said that her passion for teaching children came from her own interactions with teachers.

“Growing up, I loved my teachers so much and always looked up to them, so I decided that I wanted to be that person for somebody else,” she said. “I love working with young children because they see life in such a special way.”

L

ASHLEY VOLLARO

A photo by Eva Shimkus

fter teaching biology at Conestoga High School for four years, Ashley Vollaro left Pennsylvania to live closer to her family in Massachusetts. This year, she will be teaching biology and neurobiology at South.

Growing up in Massachusetts, Vollaro had heard about Newton’s reputable school system. Upon applying, Vollaro said that she knew it would be a great opportunity to

A few years ago, the South faculty came together and arrived at four “core values” to encourage greater civility among the members of our community. You’ve no doubt seen them on artful posters in the hallways or your classrooms: “Listen First. Choose Kindness.

Show Respect. Take Responsibility.” They’re not radical ideas; you saw these same phrases in other schools before and said, “Yep, that’s what schools are supposed to promote.” But I’d like to say here, at the outset of the school year, first, that these core values are meant for all of us, not just students, and next, that they are deceptively challenging.

Even though ours are meant to be aspirations that we’re all encouraged to strive toward, sayings on school posters always seem to come across as commands meant for only students, adults having already mastered them. Let’s reject that idea outright. These values — goals, not rules — speak to everyone here, and they’re just as hard for adults to become good at as for students. No one masters them.

Like all guidelines, they’re really easy to practice when the stakes are low and hard when the stakes climb even a little bit. For example, it’s a cinch to listen to someone you agree with and to be kind and respectful to them, too. Why wouldn’t it be? As for taking responsibility, if you offend the folks you like and respect, go ahead and apologize right away; they’ll forgive you.

But the posters are there for when the going gets tougher. See how difficult it is to be attentive, generous and civil to someone you disagree with. I mean really disagree with.

With such intense crises all around us — public health, social, political and environmental — we are bound to meet people in or out of class with opposing viewpoints on how to best approach or resolve them.

Listening well and practicing kindness and respect while also speaking out clearly and critically in passionate disagreement is a struggle for all of us. As for taking responsibility — for instance, owning up to an error or apologizing — it’s so much more burdensome if the person or group you’re speaking to may not forgive you, or wortoose, if you fear they’ll spew more angry words at you. Who wants to take responsibility with that in store?

So that’s all I’m saying here to open the school year: the four core values apply to staff and students equally, and it can be tough for all of us. Maybe the faculty should have chosen only a single core value, like“Just Do Your Best.”

That would have been easier, sure, but I like the ones we have. We’re lions; we can do this.

TIM TE

T

F

LIJIE LI

photo contributed by Caroline Joyce

aroline Joyce spent the last two years as an assistant teacher at South’s preschool and will now be working as one of the preschool’s lead teachers.

She said that South’s dual-purpose preschool, serving as both a school for children and an opportunity for high school students to interact and learn about children, is what initially drew her to South.

“I had a lab preschool in my high school,

FENTON PONGNON

C

MICHELLE CAINE

photo by Eva Shimkus

azen Abdallah worked in Newton’s special education program for the past few years. There, he was introduced to the Newton school system, one whose values aligned with his own. At South, he will teach English.

Abdallah said that his passion for teaching English and sharing culture stemmed from his childhood love of reading.

“I loved that stories gave me a chance to

photo by Eva Shimkus

work with passionate colleagues and grow as a teacher.

“When I got to meet the department, it was one of those immediate click moments because I knew that everybody wanted to provide a meaningful science experience for students,” she said. “Knowing the reputation of Newton, I appreciated that I would be held to high standards because I want to be pushed to be a better teacher.”

While we weren't able to feature all new teachers, The Roar excitedly welcomes all new faculty and staff members to South

photos by Emily Schwartz

M

A New Start

photos of South's core value posters

page 18 | features

the lion's roar

THE COMMON APPLICATION The Roar follows four seniors with different interests as they navigate the college application process and will reveal their identities and college plans as they make their decisions

By Sarah Feinberg

A

F

or Evan*, going to college means pursuing a combination of his passions in design and running.

After beginning the process of prescreening for a career as an athlete, Evan decided to focus on his artistic interests.

“There's just not a perfect school that is going to have a strong art and design program as well as a running team that would be not too big and not too competitive,” he said.“I still want to run in college but more as a club team.

That also allows me to look at a wider range of schools because schools that have that tend to have good art programs, lots of equipment and strong connections.”

Evan said that he is looking for a school

fter taking one class from a small theater in New Jersey at eight-years-old, Zoe* said she fell in love with theater.

“I've known for a really long time that I wanted to do this in college because it's just been accumulating over the years,” she said. “Some people will burn out with their passions, but I want to do this for the rest of my life.”

As an aspiring theater student, Zoe’s college application process entails much more; in addition to the personal statement and supplemental essays, she has to prepare acting, singing and dancing audition videos for prescreens, which are followed by live auditions if she is chosen to continue the audition process.

“Auditioning is super fun, but it's stress-

ful. I don't get to perfectly word my entry,” she said. “It's all live and in front of the people who are going to get me into the school or not.”

As of now, Zoe has completed her personal statement on the Common Application, is almost finished with her prescreens, which she started in May, and has been working on her supplements. Many theater programs don’t have options to apply early, but applications are typically due in September.

Zoe said that some of her current top school choices are New York University, Penn State University, Syracuse University and University of Michigan. She said that she is keeping an open mind with what every school can offer.

“I really want a big campus, a lot of

with social and academic opportunities and a strong art program.

Several of his top schools include Carnegie Mellon School of Design, Pratt Institute and Northeastern University.

“I'm looking for a curriculum that is going to teach me industrial skills, skills that are used by professionals. I'm looking for connections with real companies in terms of internships or co-ops.”

Evan said that he has mostly finished his personal statement and has started his supplement essays. He said that one of the most time consuming aspects of his application process is preparing a portfolio, which is made up of 10 to 20 artworks.

“[Your artwork] is your voice, and that's who you are. If you try to make something just because you think [the admission people] will like it, that's not going to show them who you are in the portfolio, so I'd advise you to approach the portfolio as a challenge in showing who you are through your art,” he said. “The best way to do that is by really pursuing what gets you excited, and not viewing the portfolio as work to do.”

Evan said that it’s important for students to take the college application process head on.

“It’s like Nike’s catchphrase, which is‘Just Do It.’ Just sit down and fill out essays and don't procrastinate,” he said. “Whatever comes out, you can revise later.”

F

A

n active member of many school activities, including LigerBots, jazz band and baseball, Jared* said that he hopes to attend a college where he can continue being active in the hobbies that have now become a large part of his life. He plans to pursue engineering in college.

“I would like to continue engineering, baseball and trumpet playing,” he said. “Since engineering will become part of my school instead of LigerBots, which is after school, I’d like to continue playing baseball and playing trumpet in my free time or in clubs.”

Jared said he is interested in specific fields of engineering and hopes to find a well matched curriculum.

or Heidi*, running has been a large part of her life since she started track and cross country in middle school.

Although the college application process has been stressful, Heidi said her teammates have helped her cope.

“Running is always there for me,” she said.

“My teammates are so supportive, and I love them, and that's always a nice stress reliever.”

Heidi, who hopes to run in college, said she began the recruiting process last year and has been in contact with several college coaches.

The recruitment process typically entails filling out recruiting forms with times, emailing college coaches directly and doing pre screenings.

“Stay in touch — that's the biggest piece

of advice I've heard, and just keep on expressing that you're really interested in schools,” she said. “Even if the other coaches aren't great at responding, just keep on trying and show that you're interested.”

In addition to running, Heidi said that she is interested in environmental and marine sciences. She said she hopes to continue exploring this field in college.

“I want to be able to know that I'm in a school where I can explore all of [my interests],and not feel confined, through different cool courses and research opportunities.”

Heidi said she is attracted to smaller schools in New England with strong academics.

Heidi said that she hopes to continue running

“I really enjoy all aspects of engineering, so I would like to see the curriculum incorporate all sorts of areas of engineering, like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and other areas like that.”

Although he is mainly considering Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Michigan and University of Toronto for their strong mechanical engineering programs, Jared said that he cannot wait for the non-academic aspects as well.

“Carnegie Mellon and Virginia Tech are near national parks,” he said.“That's a key thing because I enjoy hiking and being outdoors in general, so having those nearby is perfect since I can walk around and relax a bit and kind of

get away from everything else.”

Jared said that he is also interested in the possibility of studying abroad in college, as exploration and nature is important to him. “[I would like] to get different perspectives on my major and learn from different people in different environments to get the full picture of it and get lots of experience, ” he said.

Although the process may be daunting, he would advise others in his position to get started on the college application process early.

“It's never too early to start the process,” he said.“If you start your research early it makes the process a lot easier.” *Names changed to protect students' identities

school spirit, preferably good sports [because] I'm a big hockey fan, a lot of clubs [and] a lot of opportunities,” she said. “Really just a full college experience beyond the program as well.”

Despite discouragement, Zoe said that she did not let anyone hold her back from following her passion.

“If you love theater and you want to do it professionally and do the college audition process, go for it. Don't let people tell you, ‘you're probably not going to get in’ or ‘you can't do this,’’” she said. “Go for your dreams and make sure you get the help and support and the training you need because it’s a difficult process and it's very competitive. It’s really about finding your network and support.”

in college, she has been looking at schools that are part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference, which are mainly D3 schools, allowing students to focus on both academics and athletics.

“I can't see myself stopping running after high school,” she said. “I want to try to be as involved as possible because I really like the sport, and if I know I want to run in college really badly, then I hopefully will keep that spark inside me alive.”

Heidi said that it is important to focus on what matters most during the stressful application process.

“It's all going to work out in the end. No matter where you go, you'll probably be happy.”

graphics by Emily Zhang

page 19 September 10, 2021

SPORTS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 38, Issue 3

College athletes can now profit from NIL Grace Grabowski Sports Reporter

In July 2017, Donald De La Haye, a kicker for the University of Central Florida’s football team, appealed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He had requested to monetize his YouTube channel, which he claimed would help him gain reallife experience for his marketing major. Under the pseudonym “Deestroying,” he posted vlogs about his life as a college athlete, earning a following of almost 50,000.

The NCAA told De La Haye that he could not profit off of videos that referenced him being a student-athlete, which was most of his content. When asked to choose between his football scholarship and monetizing his channel, he chose to continue making YouTube videos.

Stories like De La Haye’s highlight the effects of some of the NCAA’s rules around athletes' rights to make money. The NCAA allows collegiate athletes to practice for up to 20 hours a week on top of classes and schoolwork, making it hard for athletes to find time to make money.

After several states introduced laws that banned the NCAA from preventing athletes from earning money from their name, image and likeness (NIL), on July 1 the NCAA changed their policy to permit athletes to profit off of

their NIL. Now, athletes can profit from sponsorships and social media platforms: a start to compensating athletes for the time and effort they dedicate to their school’s athletics program.

Regarding the rule changes, ‘19 South alumni and current student-athlete at Trinity College Cassie Lee said the extra money will help student-athletes.

“Overall, it's good. My friends that have gotten endorsements are getting supplemental income, especially since when you play sports in college, you definitely wouldn't have time [for] a job," she said.

Now, college athletes no longer have to worry about whether or not they have time to get a job, and athletes with social media fame now have the opportunity to continue their online careers even after their athletic ones end.

The NCAA’s decision will also keep more athletes competing at the college level for longer, especially those who would go professional after a short college career to start making money. This will ultimately benefit both the college program and the athlete because colleges can keep their top players for longer and the athlete now has more time to develop in college and better prepare for success at the professional level.

Unfortunately, the new NIL ruling does not give athletes full freedom in all cases. Some colleges and states still restrict how athletes can profit off their NIL. As a result, colleges’ NIL policy may affect their desirability to athletes.

For instance, athletes who go to the University of Georgia aren’t allowed to use their school's logo for endorsements while rival schools like the University of Tennessee allow athletes to use their logos. Top recruits may prefer to go to schools where they can use their school's logo so they can wear their uniform or school merchandise in advertisements, helping them to book more jobs and make more money.

Haley and Hanna Cavinder are twins who play basketball for Fresno State University and have already taken advantage of the new rules by signing a deal with Boost Mobile, a wireless carrier, thanks to their large following of nearly 3.5 million on TikTok and 68,000 on YouTube.

Because professional women’s basketball offers smaller salaries than many other sports, the twins may have fewer opportunities to be financially secure through playing basketball professionally. But now, they can continue making money from social media, and the NCAA’s new rules will help them set up the foundation for their futures

while they attend college.

Now that collegiate athletes can make money independently from their NIL, the question turns to whether colleges will start directly paying their athletes, though it seems unlikely that this will happen in the near future.

The NCAA made its first set of rules over 100 years ago, and they must continue to modernize their rules and give athletes more rights as the sports world progresses.

graphic by Julie Wang

Track success from South to Oregon Rebecca Stotsky Sports Editor

31 years ago, when girls cross country and track and field head coach Steven McChesney arrived at South, there were not enough members on the girls and boys teams to even compete.

Today, there are over 100 members.

McChesney started coaching in Eugene, Oregon, first for two years at Churchill High School and then for six years at South Eugene High School, his alma mater. He then came to South, where he coached both the girls and boys teams for 20 years, 14 with his wife, Marianne McChesney, a chemistry teacher at South.

He then switched over to coaching just the girls cross country and track teams, which he has done for the past 11 years. Over his career, McChesney has led his teams to eight All-State titles, three at South Eugene and five at South, and had 64 student-athletes receive All-American honors.

This past outdoor track season, the girls team qualified for the Division 1 South Sectional Championship in several events, and junior Amelia Everett and her 4 by 800 relay team qualified for the Massachusetts All-State Championship. Everett placed first in the mile at both.

“I executed my race plan exactly like I wanted to. Placing first in the mile was a surreal feeling, especially because we didn’t even know

photo contributed by Amelia Everett

Amelia Everett (second from right) racing at the Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon we would have a states meet this year,” she said.

Weeks earlier, Everett secured herself a place at the Outdoor Nationals, which took place at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Hayward Field, located at the University of Oregon, is an iconic field in the track and field community and hosts elite runners from across the United States and around the world.

“Competing at Nationals was a really fun experience,” Everett said. “Hayward Field is such a historic and well-known track, and the facility is unreal.”

Sophomore Alexandra Martin, a member of Everett’s 4 by 800 relay, cheered Everett on with the rest of the team back in Newton, where they live-streamed the meet together.

“It was really cool because I watched her race at Nationals, and to see someone who I run with at home was inspirational,” Martin said.“It was really motivating to watch her run.”

Track and field captain senior Sofia Arboleda said that Everett is a supportive teammate to many.

“She’s really inspiring and she's a role model for a lot of people on the team. She sets a really good example, both on the track and off the track,” she said.

McChesney was also in Eugene to cheer on Everett at Nationals.

“It was really nice for me to have such a familiar face there and was very comforting because it was overwhelming at times,” Everett said.

While in Eugene, McChesney was named the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Coach of the Year. McChesney grew up in Eugene, making receiving the award there even more special. McChesney accredits his award to the countless people who have helped and supported him throughout his career. The award has allowed McChesney to reconnect with many people from throughout the years.

“I've gotten so many correspondences from so many kids of the past,” he said. “It's been a blessing just for all these people that I think about … to come back into my life, from the 1980s on, coaching friends and everything,” he said.

McChesney said that he is grateful for

all of the people, experiences and opportunities he has had throughout his career.

“I've lived a blessed life. I've been in the right places at the right time in terms of family, athletic directors who hired me, kids I've gotten to work with, parents, certainly with my colleagues on my Newton South, Churchill and South Eugene teams and my colleagues that I've gotten to compete against,” he said.

Everett said that the community of the track and field team has helped her grow as an athlete.

“Everyone is happy to be there and supports everyone, and being in such a supportive environment really helps athletes to thrive,” she said.

photo contributed by Steven McChesney

Steven McChesney (second from right) at Hayward Field receiving the NSAF Coach of the Year award in July

page 20 | sports

the lion's roar

graphic by Adrienne Lirio

Olympics Recap A review of the memorable moments of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

By Grace Grabowski, Joyce Lee & Marisa MacDonald

photo courtesy of Getty Images

Diver Tom Daley knits a cardigan as he watches his teammates compete

HIGHLIGHTS

photo courtesy of Getty Images

Karsten Warholm smashes his own world record in 400m hurdles

Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron, the first tennis player to do so photo courtesy of Getty Images

issuu.com/thelionsroar

sports | page 21

SWIMMING

SKATEBOARDING

GYMNASTICS

Winning two gold medals and two silver medals, USA swimmer Katie Ledecky gave one of the most memorable performances at the Tokyo Olympics.

Her first gold medal came from the 1500m freestyle, held for the first time for women in the Olympics this year.

Ledecky also won gold in the women's 800m freestyle, where she broke her own world record. She currently holds the top 23 fastest times in this event.

Ledecky won her first gold medal in the 2012 Olympics at only 15 years old. Nine years later, she is still going and regarded as one of the best swimmers in the world.

Going into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Ledecky had already won six medals and held numerous world records. Now, she is a household name and one of the most decorated female swimmers of all time.

Despite her many wins this year, in the women's 200m, Ledecky placed fifth: the first time she hasn’t been on the Olympic podium in an event.

Ledecky stood out in Tokyo for Team USA, and fans of the Olympics are looking forward to seeing her add to her legacies in 2024.

For its Olympic debut, the skateboarding competition consisted of street and park, with each discipline holding both men's and women's events. The street competition took place on a course featuring stairs, handrails, curbs and benches, focusing on tricks like ollies and grinding, while the park course was held in a curved skate bowl, encouraging mid-air skills.

A stand-out star from the games is Team USA’s Cory Juneau who came home with a bronze medal in men’s park. Prior to his Olympic debut, Juneau predicted his success, telling the Dew Tour, which served as the final U.S.-based Olympic Skateboarding qualifier for the Tokyo Games,“Not many people will get this opportunity. I know it will be a life-changing experience for me just to go, and I believe I can win.”

Japan won the gold medals in men’s street, women’s street and women’s park, while Australia’s Keegan Palmer took home the gold in men’s park. Momiji Nishiya, who competed in women’s street, triumphed at only 13 years old to become Japan's youngest-ever gold medalist. The inclusion of skateboarding in this year’s Olympics allowed a new generation of young athletes to showcase their skills and spirit of camaraderie during the competition.

For months, all eyes were on USA gymnast Simone Biles, whose unmatched strength and complex moves earned her 30 Olympic and World Championship medals.

The pressure to dominate the Games led her to doubt her abilities, Biles said in an interview with the “Today Show.”

She felt something gymnasts refer to as the ‘twisties,’ where she suddenly lost the awareness needed to complete her routine mid-air. With such difficult moves, she decided for her own safety to put a hold on competing. After qualifying for every event final, she only returned for the Beam Finals, where she placed third.

Although Biles’s departure was disheartening, the rest of her team, athletes who entered the individual competitions expecting to place second at best due to Biles’s impressive record, could compete for gold. Teammates Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey took this in stride, taking home the gold in the Individual AllAround and Floor events, respectively. Mykayla Skinner performed impressively as well, and despite not originally qualifying in Vault, won silver in Biles’s place. Athletes’ victories across the events highlighted their individual skills, even without the star athlete.

VENUES

SOCIAL MEDIA

SEX TESTING

The Tokyo Olympics cost Tokyo roughly $15.4 billion, according to Time Magazine. The high price tag is partially attributed to the eight venues the country built, which cost about $3 billion.

Now that the games are over, the National Stadium, which seats 68,000, will mainly be used for soccer and rugby matches, while the athletes’ village, which cost about $490 million to build, will be converted into private housing.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the Olympics to be held a year later with no spectators at events, contributed to around a $2.8 billion loss.

An additional contributor to the high costs was efforts to make the Games more eco-friendly, including cardboard beds and podiums made from recycled plastic. The metal used to make the medals was also recycled from electronics.

Unfortunately, these efforts fell short, leading to one of the worst environmental impacts of any Olympics in history, due to the construction, air travel, resources and food that were necessities for the games.

Hopefully, future host countries will find better ways to make the Olympics more sustainable without adding to the already high costs of hosting.

To the public eye, Olympians are the picture of dedication and hard work. Being the most serious athletes in the world comes at the cost of the world viewing them as such. However, with the rising popularity of TikTok, a social media platform whose appeal is based on its informality and convenience, athletes have taken advantage of showing what's behind the scenes.

The app’s short and impersonal video style has given the world a peek into athletes’ less serious sides.

USA women's rugby player Illana Maher, whose videos on TikTok have earned her more than half a million followers, said in one of her posts that in addition to giving the public a look into her personal life, social media has been an outlet for her and many other athletes to relax.

Through videos and posts, the public has found relatability in the world’s elite. The ongoing support for athletes on social media testifies to fans’ excitement for athletes’ lessprofessional aspects. Not only does social media serve as a crucial step in mitigating the barrier between the athletes and their audience, but it also allows for athletes to pursue their dreams without the weight of the world’s unattainable expectations scarring their experiences.

A policy in the Olympics and sports world at large has recently sparked much controversy – sex verification, specifically testosterone regulations in women's athletics.

From its creation by the International Association of Athletics Federations, and later adoption by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the sex verification policy has greatly evolved.

Although it was originally fueled by fears that male athletes might pose as women to compete in women’s sports, scientists have not been able to prove a causal relationship between intersex athletes and a significant competitive advantage.

Female athletes currently have to fall below a certain threshold of testosterone to compete on women’s teams.

Multiple female runners were prevented from competing in Tokyo due to their naturally high testosterone levels, including South African runner Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who refused to lower her testosterone levels after saying that it would make her more prone to injury.

For future Olympics, IOC President Thomas Bach said that the committee will continue to review these rules to better fit its understanding of sex and gender, even if it means changing the way sex is determined from sport to sport.

photo courtesy of Getty Images

photo courtesy of CBS News

Skateboarder Kieran Woolley wipes out a cameraman

High jump athletes Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi share the gold

photo courtesy of Getty Images

Allyson Felix becomes most decorated U.S. track athlete in Olympic history

issuu.com/thelionsroar

sports | page 22

Shorts vs. Skirts Clare Tourtelotte Sports Editor

graphic by Julie Wang

What's the big deal?

As female athletes, when we receive uniforms for the season, we often notice how tight the top is, or how short the bottoms are.

However, short, revealing clothing for girls is so baked into everyday society that we might not look twice. Moreover, many female athletes fail to ask themselves: “Do I feel comfortable in this uniform?”

Society wants to reveal womens’ body shapes, and a key example of this is women's sports uniforms. In fact, the International Handball Federation (IHF) requires female athletes to wear small tank tops and bikini bottoms,“with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg.” The men, on the other hand, wear loose shorts and long tank tops. When the Norwegian women’s handball team wore spandex shorts during a match in the Euro 2021 tournament to protest their sexist uniform, each player was fined approximately $150 for “improper clothing,” according to the IHF. The IHF’s insistence that handball players wear bikini bottoms reinforces the constant sexualization that female athletes face. This dress code is one of hundreds that illustrate the traditional beliefs surrounding how female athletes are required to present themselves.

South’s girls sports teams wear a range of uniforms, most of which include a shorter and tighter alternative to boys athletes’ uniforms, and for some sports, female athletes wear skirts. Female sports uniforms are more revealing than those of males because the patriarchy prioritizes showcasing women’s bodies rather than their athletic abilities.

For example, girls volleyball is a sport at South in which short spandex is the norm.

These tight, short shorts contribute to a toxic headspace for female volleyball players not only because the tightness makes girls conscious of their body, but also less focused on the game.

Additionally, the athletes on the girls lacrosse team at South wear skirts, while the boys team wears loose shorts. There are technical differences between girls and boys lacrosse, but none warrant girls wearing a completely different uniform.

Some female athletes prefer wearing skirts and short shorts, and if that is what makes them feel most comfortable and confident, then they have the right to make that choice. However, many female athletes are handed uniforms without a choice. This is unacceptable.

Athleticism and strength are qualities that society has deemed “masculine,” while kindness and weakness are considered “feminine.” These traits are ingrained in society through traditional gender roles, even in sports.

When female athletes show strength, society deems them less feminine. As a result, the uniforms forced onto girls perpetuate the idea that they have to show their femininity.

Women are strong, fast, muscular and tall, and as a society, it’s time to embrace that.

We must stop following traditional gender roles and start normalizing female athletes wearing what they feel comfortable in, as all athletes should have the right to do what they love without their gender defining it.

Late start is a challenge for athletes Clare Tourtelotte Sports Editor

The late start this year will likely turn student athletes' lives upside down. Everything will be shifted, from the time practices start to the time athletes get home after away meets.

Unlike the return of pre-pandemic homework and rigor in classes this year, the previous start time of 7:40 a.m. is gone for good. Similar to last year, school will start at 9 a.m and while some may benefit from this model, the late start will deteriorate athletes' sleep schedules, as they come home late and stay up late doing homework.

Senior Amanda Hart, girls cross country captain and member of the girl’s track and field team, said that the administration

graphic by Caitlyn Ang

doesn’t understand that hundreds of athletes were negatively affected by the late end time this past year.

“We had to leave school earlier for meets, and that made us miss larger chunks of class than we did in the past,” Hart said.“It feels like [the administration] doesn’t realize how hard it can be for athletes.”

South’s alpine ski team practices and competes at Nashoba Valley in Westford. Last year, the 4 p.m. end time made senior Logan Flannery leave for his 40 minute bus ride to Nashoba right after class, and sometimes before it ended. Student-athletes should not have to choose between missing class and getting to competitions on time. We must promote sports as a healthy exercise rather than create stress for athletes.

Sammie Lu, senior captain of the girls volleyball team and member of the studentathlete committee, said that the committee wants to make away games happen on a day with a WIN block at the end of the day so students miss the least amount of class time.

However, according to the boys and girls cross country schedule for this fall, many meets will take place on Wednesdays, when G block is the last period of the day.

Girls junior varsity softball and basketball coach David Goose said the late end time combined with the lack of daylight could prohibit teams from holding practice.

“In the fall, when it's darker earlier, will there be enough space outside to have practices?” he said. “There are going to be a lot of teams

competing for daylight.”

Lack of daylight was a major issue for many fall and winter sports last year and will continue to be a challenge for teams this year, captain of the nordic ski team Junior Mariel Shapiro said.

“When we were doing land training and running on the street, it was fully dark, and we had to make sure everyone was wearing lights,” she said. “When we wanted to use the track, a lot of times the lights were off, and we were in the dark.”

For athletes like senior Daniel Stevens, captain of the boys soccer team, the late end time adds additional stress because of other responsibilities, like his job and college applications.

“Everything's just getting stacked up, and I'm not going to have time for homework until really late at night, so I'm definitely not going to get as much sleep,” he said.

Shapiro said that in the end, the new start time will have the opposite effect as what was intended for student-athletes.

“Even though the time is pushed back an hour and a half, athletes aren’t actually going to get that extra hour and a half and sleep. We're just going to end up staying up an hour and a half later,” Shapiro said.

This year is going to be unpredictable and the new schedule is going to be an adjustment for everyone, but Goose said that he believes student-athletes can still be successful.

“We can overcome this. It will take some getting used to and some scheduling, but I hope it'll be okay,” Goose said.

Field hockey rises above disrespect Marisa MacDonald Sports Reporter

Every fall, athletes on the field hockey team have to stomach bouts of disrespect from other students. Despite snide comments that linger in hallways, the field hockey team is training hard to improve this coming season and continue enjoying their sport.

Captain senior Brooke Lieber said that the team has been steadily improving for years, and their record and game scores serve as proof.

She said that the continuous losses from years past have only fueled their motivation.

“Last season, we saw a lot of growth, especially against Lincoln-Sudbury. They used to be a really difficult school for us to play, and we actually held our own against them last year,” Lieber said. “It was a real wake up call and forced us to be aware that we, as a program, are getting better.”

Despite the tremendous progress they’ve made, the field hockey team still enters seasons with a major handicap, captain senior Celia Remis said.

Unlike their competition, there is no middle school field hockey team to teach beginner athletes how to play before they reach high school.

This means that rising freshmen are newly introduced to the sport upon entering the program, putting them at a significant disadvantage in skill level. To counteract this, the program has begun to run clinics for middle schoolers to expose them to the sport earlier on.

“Running the clinics, even just twice a year, is super beneficial, and it really encourages kids to give it a try,” Lieber said. “From there, they could possibly go and do a clinic over the summer, or even just consider trying

out for the team.”

Field hockey is an internationally played sport with both male and female teams. At South, though, there is only one team, which is co-ed but mostly made up of girls. The lack of male teammates repels potential male teammates from joining, junior Hadley Conroy said.

“With soccer, for example, there's a girls team and a boys team. So boys understand what soccer is like,” Conroy said.“With field hockey, it's just one sport, and while we do have boys on our team, it’s not many. Most of the boys don't know anything about field hockey. The fact that they don't understand it and see it as a girls team means they just jump to conclusions and make negative comments.”

Another factor that could potentially keep male athletes from joining is field hockey’s history of being a “feminine sport,” because it is mainly played by female athletes who wear skirts, Remis said.

Though the field hockey team trains the same amount and puts as much hard work into

their sport as other teams at South, Lieber said that some students have preconceived notions about the program.

“We have the same two hour practices as everyone else,” she said. “A lot of people are just surprised that during our tryouts and everything, we have a time trial, a long run [and] all of the same stuff that the other teams do.”

Despite the outside scorn, the program remains a close-knit community. “[The] one thing that field hockey has always prided itself on [is] that everyone just loves to be on the team,” Lieber said.“We always ask to have practice even when it's pouring rain, which really shows what we're all about.”

The team has been hard at work all summer, hosting clinics for middle schoolers, Conroy said, so she is looking forward to an even more competitive team this season.

“I'm really excited to be with the team,” she said.“We have some new freshmen coming and a new coach for the JV team, so the whole program is going to be updated.”

The field hockey team huddles before a game at Lincoln-Sudbury

photo contributed by Brooke Lieber

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

fun | page 23

A positively perplexing puzzle to peak your interest as the pedagogical year proceeds

DOWN

3. Rapid trend cycles popularized by social media.

5. Bakery-style coffee shop chain opening a new location in Newton Centre.

6. Bubble tea chain with locations in Cleveland Circle and Chinatown.

7. Top reason for remaining unvaccinated in the U.S. 8. Closest RMV to South.

10. Thrice-weekly block recently incorporated into the new schedule. Opposite of lose.

12. Former ward two councilor-at-large and second-time mayoral candidate. Amy _____ 14. Team USA female swimmer who won two gold and two silver medals in Tokyo this summer. Katie _____ 15. First name of the new vice principal.

1. Store on Needham St. that is part of the TJX corporation. Many teenagers, including Dylan Yee, worked there this summer.

2. The NCAA has recently begun allowing athletes to earn money off their _____ 4. Newton Community Pride’s art initiative in which local artists painted doors.

7. New Olympic event which involves a park and a street course. Australia’s Keegan Palmer took home gold in this sport.

9. Newton’s new Uber-style transportation system.

11. Kanye West’s new album.

13. The hurricane that triggered tornado warnings in MA this summer.

16. New Marvel superhero. _____ and the Legend of the Ten Rings

DEAR

FRESHMEN,

ANSWERS: Marshall's, NIL, micro-trends, Newton Outdoors, Tatte, Kung Fu Tea, side-effects, Watertown, NewMo, WIN, Donda, Mah Sangiolo, Ida, Ledecky, Jason, Shang-Chi

ACROSS

FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY @THELIONSROAR

Only a few short years ago, we were in your position, full of excitement and blissfully unaware of what was to come.

Here are our tips for making the most out of your first year at South.

Ahona: Don't be afraid to speak up and use your voice for things that you're passionate about.

Clare: Don’t worry about getting lost in the hallways. Before you know it, you will know your way around!

Ellyssa: Be bold! Do everything you want to do, especially if it's out of your comfort zone.

You're a minor, which means other people are partially responsible for you for now :) Eva: Dress to impress in as much Among Us drip as you can get your hands on.

Julian: Focus on your freshman year and not on what you're going to be doing your junior or senior year. Don't worry about the SATs or college applications or anything like that.

Lily: Don't let work pile up, and take classes that are the right fit for you. It is pretty basic but also important.

Siya: If you're planning on asking seniors for directions, please don't. We have no clue.

Bella: Join a ton of clubs and extracurriculars that you're actually interested in.

Dana: Thanks to COVID-19, we're all basically freshmen, so you're not alone.

Emily: Stop and smell the flowers. Enjoy the journey, but NOT in the hallways — keep it moving.

Jaesuh: On the first actual class you walk into, it's actually an unknown tradition to scream as loudly as you can at the teacher. Your teacher is really going to like you for that. And make sure to run at lunch times because the food is limited and you want to get there early, so sprint as fast as you can.

THE ROAR PODCAST

Joyce: "Excitado" does not mean excited in Spanish.

Matan: Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Sarah F.: Use the opportunity to try some new things. It's OK to get out of your comfort zone to find what interests you and meet some new people.

Join Media Manager Ari Gordon on the two latest episodes of The Roar's podcast where he discusses vaccination and the behind-the-scenes of the paper

On the cover

Fast fashion's devastating impact

(Page 11) Opinions Editor Matan Josephy delves into the global market's obsession with planet-harming 'micro-trends'. "Behind the glossy logos and constant sales lies a perfect case study in the dangers of putting profits over planet." (Cover photo by Eva Shimkus)