The Lion's Roar 40-4

Newton South High School · Newton, MA Est. 1984 · October 27, 2023

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VOL. 40 ISSue 4

the LION'S

By Grace Sousa & John Timko Graphic by Collage Club

High school athletes balance their drive to play and the need to take care of their bodies while dealing with the constant pressure to perform

photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

Ward 2 and 6 hold preliminary elections

04

Addressing our stigma of the South

09

Defend the Den

12-13

Honoring Hispanic heritage

15

Scandal to solidarity

21

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October 27, 2023

NEWS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 4

October in Review photo by Cameron Neghaban

By Irene González de las Casas

Passin' Time Returns After its cancellation in term four of last year in compliance with the Newton Teachers Association’s Work To Rule policy, Passin' Time has returned to South. The performance festival took place Wednesday, Oct. 25 during WIN 1. Showcasing their abilities for the rest of the student body, a vocalist, rock band, two acts with acoustic guitars, actors and many other performers filled South’s halls.

co-chair Repeal Parking Ban campaign & Ward 3 City Councilor via public meeting

Carol Moore City Clerk via public meeting

I think passing time is really cool.

It is an amazing opportunity for me to see people’s talents. Especially ones that I don’t get to see in the classroom.

Layla Kaunfer Class of '25

Parking Ban Uncertainty The campaign to repeal Newton’s overnight parking ban, except in the case of snow emergencies, was unanimously rejected by the Public Safety and Transportation Committee on Oct. 4. Supporters of the campaign believed the parking ban was outdated and exclusionary, citing the huge burden placed on households with more than one working member. The Public Safety and Transportation Committee supported their decision to deny the repeal, citing negative environmental ramifications.

photo byDavid L. Ryan for the Boston GLobe

Any action other than passing the initiative measure,or failing to act,will allow the petitioners to move forward with the process to place the initiative measure to the voters as a binding ballot question at the next city election.

Mia Dalzell Class of '26

photo courtesy of Jenna Fisher

The repeal ballot question is going in front of the voters, if not next month, then the next election.

Jim Cote

I really enjoyed performing with Children of the Candy Corn last year. It was a really nice experience.

graphics by Emily Cheng

Massachusetts Tax Cuts After more than 20 years since significant tax cuts, Governor Maura Healy has signed a $1 billion tax package into law to increase tax credits for caretakers, low-income earners, seniors, commuters and certain homeowners. The Boston Globe regards this bill as the most significant piece of legislation to come across the Governor's desk, and says it will help boost Massachusetts affordability and competitiveness.

We wanted to provide something that was a little more balanced and equitable across the board.

Aaron Michlewitz House Ways and Means Chairman via public statement

We're in a state whose future depends on the big dreams of our people. But people can't realize their dreams until the nightmare of high costs ends.

Maura Healy Governor via press release

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news | page 3

FamilyAid develops new family shelter Aria Chitty & Keira QuinlanNardela News Contributors On July 17, Boston-based nonprofit FamilyAid proposed to convert the former Chetwynde Nursing Home, located at 1650 Washington Street in West Newton, into a Family Navigation Center. The proposal sparked questions from the community about its impact on the city and Newton Public Schools (NPS) because of concerns relating to Newton’s abilities to help homeless families.

Family Navigation Centers are FamilyAid’s homelessness prevention and diversion projects that put temporary housing and resources like job training, financial literacy classes and housing search and placement help together in one facility. Their mission is to provide tenants with the long-term skills to prevent future homelessness, something traditional shelters do not address.

The proposed facility would include 42 units of transitional housing for homeless families, along with a variety of programs and support services to help residents prosper once out of FamilyAid’s care. President and CEO of FamilyAid Larry Seamans said he presented the idea of renovation to create a place where families can get the support they need.

"We want to create supportive services and educational programs to help [residents] get better jobs and get the training they need to support their parenting,” he said.

Seamans said that this facility differs from other temporary shelters because they

photo courtesy of Fig City News

put an emphasis on assisting parents.

“Unlike a lot of the other programs, this is really focused on supporting the parents and getting to help their children," he said.

The majority of children in these families will be between infants and preschoolers. A select number of school-aged children will be attending schools in NPS’s system or continuing to receive their education in their previous districts. NPS superintendent Anna Nolin said that schools are prepared for an increase in students.

“We've expanded our buffer zone to accommodate an influx of students for the two schools near the Family Aid property,” she said. “If we have a lot more students than we anticipated, we'll think about the ways we can distribute students to other schools.”

Nolin also said that NPS is prepared to help children in the facility who may have faced interrupted learning.

“We will work really hard on early intervention and making sure that families have high-quality childcare,” she said. "But NPS is

not new to dealing with homeless families, and we have a lot of experience supporting [them].”

Director of School Counseling Dan Rubin said that South has had a lot of experience dealing with homeless students.

"Homelessness looks like a lot of different things for different people, some people in their mind, they're picturing people on the street, they're picturing people in cars,” he said. “In some instances, we've had situations where different family members were staying in different places because they couldn't find temporary accommodations.”

Rubin said that the counseling staff tries to cater to students’ needs.

"Yeah, I think we would be doing our very best to make sure that in a way that was respectful of everyone's confidentiality, that we would adapt whatever services we're providing to meet their needs," he said. "So, when someone is faced with a situation like homelessness, my experiences have been that they are typically willing to accept whatever support is available.

That's not always the case."

NPS stated that this expansion may require another bus or extra stops on already existing bus routes. Sophomore Charlotte Maehr said that she doesn’t think South students will be greatly affected by the changes.

“There will be that big of an impact because there are not a large number of students,” she said. “Even if in the future there are more students, it won't really affect existing students because there are a ton of other children who are also being integrated into the school system."

Freshman Hannah Alexander said

NPS hopes to be one of those employers that helps to accelerate the family's integration into the community by providing opportunities to not only the children in the facility but also their parents.

Anna Nolin NPS Superintendent students routes to school might take longer.

“It might take longer for students to get to school,” she said.“And if bus stops get added, [students] might be switched to different stops, which can be really confusing.”

Nolin said that NPS wants to support all of the family members in the facility, not just kids.

“We're trying to simultaneously support the children and support the parents while they get job training. They need to move to the next level of support for their own families,” she said.

“With the family shelter, NPS hopes to be one of those employers that helps to accelerate the family's integration into the community by providing opportunities to not only the children in the facility but also their parents.”

Meet Caitlin Brown, new Goodwin dean

Q&A Jordyn Clark, Juliet Munn & Joya Tendulkar News Contributors

Goodwin House’s new dean, Caitlin Brown, began her first year at South this September. She has worked in education for 18 years as a social studies teacher, coach for soccer and track teams and an athletic director at Foxborough High School. She then became the assistant principal at Andover High School, becoming the principal four years later. She is looking forward to working closely with students and joining the South community.

What's your philosophy on learning and how do you plan to implement it at South?

“My philosophy is about being inclusive and making sure everyone is heard. We all walk into this building carrying our own background, our own history, and what my goal is, is to understand that and acknowledge it and then help them be the best version of themselves […] I've never in my 18 years met a student who was a bad kid. There's always a story behind anything that happens […] I spent a lot of time doing […] work around social emotional learning, and that was really something I've enjoyed doing about making sure students emotionally were available to learn.”

How did your family influence you to get to where you are now?

“My father growing up was a district attorney […] his work was restorative work, supporting students, especially around juvenile justice. My mother was a social worker, so she likes to talk about feelings. My father is a leader and knew how to work with people, how to manage people, and understand different people's backgrounds. My mother knew how to listen to people and understand their emotions. What makes them up, kind of made me.”

What motivated you to pursue a career in education and ultimately become a school dean?

“When I was your age, I did not think I was going to be a teacher, but I realized the impact a teacher can have on a student […] I'm so grateful I took this career path because it really is about students and I think it gave me a unique perspective on how to work with people and see them in different ways.”

How do you plan on fostering a positive and inclusive school community for students, faculty and staff?

“My goal is to be present, to smile, to be welcoming, and to make sure people can be heard. Listening is a really important part sometimes and administrators can forget, but the listening piece is really important to me […] I think finding that worklife balance and finding a way to still connect with students is what I'm looking forward to doing here.”

What is your message to South students?

“This is a very caring community and a very kind community. And the rest of the staff from all of the custodians to the secretaries, everyone here is really looking out for your well being.

You are all an amazing group of individuals collectively. So I'm really honored to be here […] and learn from the people here.”

What about your high school experience encouraged you to pursue education?

“Everyone is coming into high school with different backgrounds and experiences, and it was important for me to have a person that would be there to listen to people and not be judgmental about whatever you are experiencing.”

photo courtesy of Andover Townsman

the lion's roar

page 4 |news

NTA contract negotiations remain halted Hana Futai, Justin Liu & Ellie Shim News Reporters

ra bre Ca

The S c h o o l Committee and NTA have not yet settled on the financial aspect of the contract. History teacher and member of South’ Contract Action Team Jamie Rinaldi said that the NTA’s asking price is reasonable.

“What we’re asking for is within the range of what other districts have received in recent contracts,” he said. “We don't think that we're asking for an exorbitant amount of money.”

While the NTA argues that the city of Newton has over $30 million in unused cash, School Committee Chair Tamika Olszewski

said that to maintain the teachers salaries, the city must balance these one-time funds that may not be available in the future.

“It's a matter of making sure that these funds are year over year, that they're there and available,” she said.“When those funds dry up, those positions will have to disappear.”

NTA member and transition specialist John Curley said that the city is using the onetime funds as an excuse to underpay teachers. “ They’re setting themselves up for a fiscal problem,” he said. “The money is there, and the city's priorities are upside down.”

Junior Amelie Hirst said that finding academic support within teacher’s contractual hours has been tedious. “[Students] are busy and need to talk to teachers. We need some other time to get the help that we need,” she said. Abiding to work-to-rule action, many teachers have stopped advising clubs.

Hirst is co-president of WaterAid International Club (WAI), and said that the negotiations are causing a lack of opportunities for iley yR ic b ph gra

Aug. 31 marked the end of a three-year contract, but the Newton School Committee and the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) have yet to finalize a new one.

On Sept. 5, the School Committee filed a petition with the Department of Labor Relations to investigate the NTA for possible strike actions.

The Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) conducted an investigation and found the NTA’s Aug. 30 boycott of an opening day event at South violated Massachusetts’ no strike policy; however, they found that silent meetings and other NTA-led practices were compliant.

After the CERB announced their decision, NTA President Mike Zilles said that they will continue to push back against the School Committee and focus on raising more community awareness.

“We're going to continue asking members to not volunteer for voluntary activities in the schools,” he said. ”We are going to continue reaching out to the public by attending School Committee meetings.”

School Committee member Chris Brezski said that he hopes both sides will move past the complications to settle on an agreement. “[We need to] recognize that this institution exists to educate kids. We have to put whatever hard feelings are behind us and move forward towards that mission,” he said.

Zilles said that the NTA's boycott should not have been considered a strike, and that it was an effective way of bringing NTA members together.

“It shows that our membership was united and willing to engage in an action on the turn of a dime, and it shows the solidarity and the organizational strength of the N TA ,” he said.

students. “[Clubs] are struggling to find teacher advisors,” she said. “It's taken away the ability for students to be a greater part of the South community.”

Superintendent Anna Nolin said that teachers and students need to support each other to make the schools run smoothly.

“We have to teach the academic portions and every kid needs a teacher in front of them,” she said. “It's not just that teacher that makes the school run, it's the kids as well.”

Senior Kevin Yang spoke at a School Committee meeting on Sept. 27 to support the NTA. He said that other students should also express show support for their teachers.

“Students should show up to School Committee meetings and converse with their parents about the contract,” he said. “It’s only natural to give back the care and attention that the teachers give us.”

Senior Leah Vashevko said that she has stayed informed with the contract because of the impact teachers have had on her.

“Teachers have been crucial in shaping my life to this day,” she said. “I spend most of my day at school and teachers have shaped the way I feel about the world.”

English teacher and co-chair of the NTA’s Contract Action Team Kelly Henderson urges students to speak out. “[Teenagers] assume they don't have any political power because they can't vote,” she said. “I hope that young folks realize that any kind of change in the world starts with them.”

Ward 2 and 6 hold preliminary elections Jenny Lee & Maya Hayao News Editor, News Reporter

On Sep. 12, Newton citizens voted in preliminary elections for the two open City Council seats, narrowing down the candidates for each seat from three to two. Of the pool of 15,487 registered voters, only 3,647 voted.

Candidates Dan Gaynor, David Micley and Peter Bruce ran for the ward two seat, receiving 806, 680 and 548 votes, respectively.

In the Nov. 7 election, Micley and Gaynor will face off for the vacant seat previously held by Emily Norton, who has decided to not run for re-election.

Ward two candidate David Micley has been involved in numerous local groups and served as a town meeting member in Brookline. He said that his interest in local politics is motivated by a desire to make connections within his community.

“Local politics is where you can make real change and improvements that you can see while connecting with neighbors and helping to advance and advocate for issues that they care about,” he said.

Newton parent and English teacher Jenny Robertson said that she admires Micley for acquiring feedback directly from residents.

“Micley’s approach is more of a mom and pop, knocking on doors and talking to and meeting people,” she said. “I like that because, to me, it's more neighborly, even though it may not be as politically savvy as getting all of these endorsements.”

Ward two candidate Dan Gaynor was born and raised in Newtonville. He previously served in the Obama administration as a presidential appointee for national security and foreign policy. He said that his goal in Newton is to make a valuable contribution to the community that he and generations of his

family have called home.

“I want to give back to the community that shaped me into the person I am today, and gave me the values that I hold dearly,” he said.

In the race for ward six, Martha Bixby, Lisa Gordon and Mark Holt received 888, 586 and 124 votes, respectively. Bixby and Gordon emerged as the remaining contenders vying for Brenda Noel’s vacant seat, who also opted to not run in this year's election.

Newton’s ward six Councilor-at-Large Alicia Bowman said that she endorses Bixby because of her emphasis on community and compassion to help residents. “ From the moment I met [Bixby], I recognized that she was a person who was looking to become involved and embrace the community and see how she could help Newton,” she said. “She immediately became sort of a resource.”

During her twenties, ward six candidate Lisa Gordon was a civil rights and anti-racism

activist in London. If elected, she said she will champion the interests of the community at large and is willing to tackle any obstacle that arises.

“I would like to be very active a nd propose things that I think will enhance ward six,” she said.“I have always been somebody who will advocate on behalf of others. So I feel there's no issue too small or too large for me to address, and to do the best that I can to come up with a good solution.”

Senior Nora Linssen, who worked on Bixby’s campaign, said that councilors hold a crucial role in dealing with local issues that impact the Newton community, including students. “ The decisions that the City Council m i makes are really K ynn yL important for funding b ic ph gra schools and for new developments in Newton,” she said. “They also have a really important role in things like environmental protection, zoning, bicycle lanes and things that can directly affect students.”

War two Councilor-at-large Tarik Lucas,

I want to give back to the community that shaped me into the person I am today, and gave me the values that I hold dearly Dan Gaynor Ward two candidate who endorses Micley, said that an appropriate candidate for the ward councilor role should be committed to fighting for the opinions of their ward.

“They have to take strong positions on anything that would impact that particular ward,” he said. “Whether it's development, zoning, flooding, transportation, traffic or open space, they have to be a strong advocate.”

Linssen says that youth involvement in local politics is essential because it promotes lifelong civic engagement.

“The voice of young people is valued to a certain extent because we hold a unique perspective on politics, especially local politics,” she said.“Us students can really make a difference.”

Lucas, however, said the results of the final election ultimately comes down to which candidate residents in the wards are most drawn to.

“So voters look at who has the best background, the best professional and work experience and the best education,” he said.

“Each of these candidates have incredible backgrounds, and they are not alike.”

The final elections on Nov. 7 will determine the new councilors for wards two and six.

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news | page 5

Crowded classes raise learning concerns Emily Han & Olivia Midden

News Reporter, News Contributor This September, South welcomed a freshman class of over 500 students, the largest in many years.

With an unexpectedly large number of new students and a shortage of teachers due to budget cuts, challenges continue to arise regarding the accommodation of large class sizes, with freshmen classes among the most affected.

Freshman Abby Shachmut said that having a smaller class helps students get more attention and become closer with their classmates.

“If the class size ever goes back down, people will realize that smaller class sizes make a difference in certain ways,” she said. “You get a little bit more airtime than when you're in a larger class. You get to know the people a little bit better.”

Freshman Hailey Yamagata said that larger class sizes can make it both easier and harder for students to socialize.

“It allows me to meet more people,” she said. “I remember when my sister was younger and had bigger class sizes, the class would divide into smaller groups, which made people interact less because it’s harder to get along with that many people.”

In addition to freshman classes, AP classes offered to upperclassmen are also overcrowded. Junior Jason Chiu said that large class sizes prevented him from enrolling in more challenging courses.

“I requested to take AP Chem and then AP Stats as a secondary, and I ended up getting neither,” he said. “I have a free block the entire

year now. I tried talking to the counselor and I can't really move up into AP at this point.”

Science Department Head Gerard Gagnon said that not being able to place students in the classes they want to be in is especially challenging.

“It's hard for me to tell a kid who's passionate about chemistry as a junior,” he said. “‘No, I'm sorry, you can't take AP Chemistry this year. There weren't enough seats.’ That's a conversation I've had with about 15 or 20 kids this year.”

World Language Department Head Suzanne Murphy-Ferguson said that language teachers are struggling to support the increasing student body.

“We are speaking with one another about noticing students who are starting to struggle. The teachers are saying that ‘I have so many kids who come during winter. I don't know how I'm going get to everybody,’” she said.

Murphy-Ferguson said that peer tutoring is one solution that language teachers have been using to help accommodate their students.

“I’ve sent out a few feelers to students for becoming a TA in a particular class with a whole lot of kids. This way students can see themselves as leaders and be part of the solution and support one another,” she said.

History teacher Andrew Thompson said that larger class sizes pose challenges for teachers to ensure every student’s needs are met.

“It can make it trickier to meet with and support each student as much as possible,

especially in a class like ninth grade world history where there's a lot of variety of abilities, interests and different skills,” he said.

“Some students may already be very interested in and able to do work at a really high level, other students need more support to get there and that can be harder if you've got 26, 27, 28 students in the class.”

Thompson said that he has been finding ways to adjust to larger classes by dedicating more time getting to know his students.

“It's been more pushing through and spending more time grading, but also spending more time making sure that I know

people's names and trying to understand their work and what their current skills and strengths are,” he said.

Gagnon said that ultimately, teachers’ dedication to their students will help them bypass the challenges of large classes.

“There is a real cost to the experiences that the kids are getting, and I can tell you that one of the reasons that this has always worked well is that teachers are willing to go above and beyond and invest their time and their energy to help a class that big,” he said.

“Teachers will always do the best for their students because that's how they got into the business.”

graphic by Clare Cho

9/11 scholarship awarded to local students Penny Fang, Seyoon Byun & Alison Sam News Contributors On Sept. 11, the city of Newton and the Newton 9/11 Memorial Committee held its annual commemoration of the eight Newton residents who passed during the tragedy.

Among the crowd gathered to honor the fallen were high school seniors James Dandrea, Nyla Sharif and Allison Wu, winners of the essay contest organized by the committee.

During the event, Wu, the first place winner, was awarded with a scholarship of $1000, and the second and third place winners were each awarded $500 scholarships.

The Newton 9/11 Memorial Committee, a non-profit independent of municipal government, launched the essay contest for the first time to encourage students to learn about the events on 9/11. Each scholarship applicant visited Newton’s 9/11 memorial and wrote reflections detailing their visit and perspective on the impact of the attacks to qualify for the scholarships.

First place winner and South senior Wu said that the memorial was a work of art and had a profound impact on her.

“I was able to connect with the steps as they all had details that indicated hour-by-hour events and what happened, and was touched by the information of the victims,” she said.

“It was very accessible even to people who aren't familiar with the event. There's so much symbolism you might not get on the first visit, but if you take the time to look into it, you can appreciate the memorial for what it's trying to do.”

Third place recipient and North senior Dandrea said that young people should have a general understanding of impactful events in history in order to create a more united society.

“It's really important for us as the next generation to know about [9/11] because we should all know about our history,” he said.

“That can help us influence the system in the future, and that's something that I feel holds this nation together.”

Wu said that the essay contest prompts students to think about how 9/11 affects us today.

“I think it's a really good way to keep it in students memories, especially since we weren't alive at the time of the 911 attacks,” she said. “The school teaches it to us, but it's surface level. This scholarship helps to dig a little deeper and find our own connection to it.”

South history teacher Andrew Thompson said the scholarship helps students develop an understanding of how 9/11 affected the country.

“It’s a great way to have a deeper understanding of what's happened,” he said. “How it has affected us locally, why it matters, what it's meant for different groups in our society, both the victims and people who were falsely accused and the ways that it's impacted our government.”

Despite the overall positive response regarding the scholarship, some students are unsure about applying in the future. Junior Kimmie Chan said she would be more inclined to apply if she could demonstrate her interest and spread awareness through different mediums.

“Essays aren’t motivating as much. Posters, blogs, podcasts, storytelling and a variety of other projects would seem interesting to do” she said.

Freshman Nicolas Yu said the committee should consider more active forms of community service. photo courtesy of Fig City News

Scholarship recipients Nyla Sharif, James Dandrea and Allision Wu

“Instead of an essay, the applicant could plan a fundraiser and spread awareness through social media, posters and protests,” he said.

Attendants of the event honored the eight 9/11 victims from Newton. Dandrea said the number of community members in attendance made the event more meaningful.

“A variety of people came together for the celebration,” he said. “Everything felt more real because these people were alive during the tragedy, and they are very close to it.”

Dandrea said that even though the memorial and the events are accessible to everyone, few people are informed about the memorial committee and their goals.

“They should make the committee more known because quite a few applicants were signed up, but not many people attended the event.” he said. “It made me wish I'd gone past years. A lot more people should know about it.”

South history teacher Julie Masi said that despite teaching US history, she was unaware about the existence of the scholarship.

“Partnering with the schools would be a great method to spread information,” she said.“Even though I teach US history, I didn't know about this scholarship, so reaching out directly to teachers and schools would get teachers to learn more about the scholarship and promote it to students.”

Masi said that teachers are responsible for providing a safe space for students to discuss the events of 9/11 — a responsibility the committee’s scholarship can help them fulfill.

“It is our job as educators to pass down this history, make sure students are aware of why this day is important to know about and give opportunities to students to recognize the lives that were lost because it was a truly tragic and horrific day.”

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October 27, 2023

EDITORIALS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 4

An open letter to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller In a close battle with Scott Lennon, Ruthanne Fuller emerged victorious from the 2017 election with 5,234 votes, Lennon coming in a very close second with 4,690. Four years later, she ran again as an incumbent, winning again with 10,796 votes and narrowly beating her opponent Amy Sangiolo by only 1507 votes.

Her priorities, as defined in her campaign website, are listed as such: zoning and housing, environment and climate change, older residents, COVID-19 pandemic, economic development and schools. In that order.

Of course, we take these priorityplacements with a grain of salt. Maybe Fuller listed these issues at random, or maybe the intern tasked with her campaign website made a mistake.

But intentional placement or not, there are discrepancies between her campaign and administration that her list defines.

Notably, the state of our school system accurately reflects our standing on her tiers of significance. Fuller publicly regards the Newton Public Schools (NPS) to be in a state of “excellence” and that her work has been effective in effort and resource allocation. This is not true.

Taking into account the fact that we are amidst contract negotiations, teachers are far from the only unhappy recipients of Fuller’s negligent treatment. Budget cuts resulting in unprecedentedly large class sizes, a decrease in

available social-emotional support programs and unusable facilities necessary to sustain basic human life are not going unnoticed by students.

These are not unfixable problems. We as a school community are constantly told that the municipal government lacks the monetary capacities to support these dire needs of the district. Yet, we store our sports equipment in a brand new unit, we sprint across the freshly turfed Winkler field and we slip on the new floors of the student center.

Fuller continuously invests in large and, ultimately, superfluous gestures that feel more performative than contributive. Grand gestures such as the rebuilding of Countryside Elementary School are, in this circumstance, necessary, but is broadcasted in such a way as if to prove something. If she truly cared about the wellness of the district, she would attack true problems and make an impact on the issues students and NPS faculty know are genuinely prevalent. But she won’t do this, because, to be frank, her interests do not lie in the well-being of public-school youth (her own children did not attend NPS), but in the elderly, her support base.

Her agenda reflects her target demographic. Her support is widely known to reside within senior citizens, most notably proved with her cash-down payment for Newton's new senior center. She focuses the majority of

her efforts toward supportive legislature and infrastructure rather than genuinely following her motto, “For all of Newton.”

Similarly, in 2019, Fuller launched NewMo, a city-sponsored ride-sharing service that offers a low, flat rate for all Newton Residents, in efforts to create“public transit that is efficient, accessible and sustainable”. This Sept., NewMo announced that it will only be available to senior citizens, riders with disabilities, lower income residents and a limited number of students with high needs in select NPS programs.

We aren't surprised by NewMo's sudden withdrawal. NewMo represented a promise, not only toward environmental efforts, but also to Fuller’s constituents and to young, car-less people who benefitted from the service. Fuller infringed on that promise for a few years of green-glory, just for it to fall through and, as always, conform to her agenda of exclusivity.

When we revisit her aforementioned tiers of significance, we expect her indicated top priority, zoning and housing, to be the most significant success of her administration. Especially since it is apparent that she is disinterested in thoroughly pursuing the other pillars of Newton. But alas, the pattern prevails.

During her first term in 2019, she halted a zoning ordinance created to increase housing affordability, postponing efforts into 2020.

However, to this day, projects up and down

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Washington street are stalled. Corporate developments in Riverside are completely paused or stopped. Fuller knows that development must continue in order to fuel city government, and with this infrastructure stoppage, not only is this preventing significant revenue from entering the city, but she is breaching the remaining agenda she holds onto: Economic development. The small businesses Fuller openly regards as the key components of our Newton community are dying, and it is the direct result of large developments that Fuller is inciting. The relationship between large development and local businesses are already fragile and divisive, as there is a well defined split between those who follow the theory of its success or the results of its practice, but it is perpetuated by Fuller’s rhetoric of trying to promise both at once.

And patterns like this are evermore common in politics today. On the national stage, great ideas and vows to make a difference cloud true interests of the electorate and blur lines defining a politician’s true intentions.

Thankfully, as students, we are taught to think critically of our government.

Fuller’s administration teaches us that phony and lackluster efforts are prevalent at all levels of government. Empty promises are one of the biggest fads of our modern era. Mayor Fuller, you are on top of that trend.

Risha Sinha

Section Editors News

Andrew Feinberg Irene González de las Casas Jenny Lee Alex Zakuta

Features

Opinions

Eden Levitt-Horne Jacob Lewis Angela Tao

Centerfold Grace Sousa John Timko

Sports Joey Giragos Julia Lee Sarah Schwartz

Alyssa Chen Ava Ransbotham Theo Younkin

Media Managers Graphics Denise Chan Lynn Kim Adrienne Lirio

Pawdcast Renee Lu Ashish Uhlmann

Photos

Social Media

Evan Ng

Levin Brenner Tate Slater

Faculty Advisor Ashley Chapman

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editorials | page 7

LETTERS from the

EDITOR Emma Zhang Editor-in-Chief

All immigrants are artists.

They create a life from a dream — art from a blank canvas. Thus, my parents are the most artistic people I know.

My parents moved to America from China two decades ago, leaving behind everything they knew and starry-eyed about all that lay ahead of them.

From a blank canvas and a dream, they created the life I’m fortunate enough to know now.

The sacrifices my parents have made for our family are not lost on me, and their dreams aren’t either.

I was too young to retain memories from when my family lived in Missouri, but somehow I picture my parents’ lives there with clarity — lives filled with uncertainty yet with enough courage to embrace it.

I picture my father driving down winding streets on the way home from a late night at the lab. He grasps the weathered steering wheel of our gray sedan in one hand and a crumpled map in the other.

All the while, he’s listening to the static hum of John Denver’s “Country Roads” on the radio. I imagine him singing along to the lyrics — the lyrics about wanting to return home.

Where home feels like belonging, not bravery.

Still, he continues down the road toward

The art of beginning again

his new definition of home, one song at a time.

I picture my mother studying long nights in the university library, working for years toward a biology degree she did not want, then having the courage to take the leap and change her major.

She began anew, the way an artist can paint and repaint the same painting endlessly until it feels right.

portunities to exercise my creativity.

As a child, I doodled everything and everywhere, whether it was chalk drawings on the sun-baked pavement or sloppy crayon self-portraits. I wrote novel-long stories of myself going on outlandish adventures. I sang along to the Hannah Montana soundtrack at the top of my lungs, indifferent to whether it was in the correct key or pitch.

I wonder if my parents’ first step off the plane and into their new lives felt like the first stroke onto a blank canvas, a paintbrush in their hands, a dream in their minds and the courage to make their mark.

The other day, I found one of my mother’s old linear algebra textbooks, the margins peppered with intricate plane sketches. I admire that among the vectors, she found direction.

In his homesickness, my father sang a way forward. In her unfulfillment, my mother drew a new beginning.

My parents both had the courage to restart their lives — to dive headfirst into uncertain blankness, knowing that they had a dream in their hearts that could fill the void.

That, to me, is true art.

And so, my parents gave me endless op-

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Yet as time went on, I came to fear the act of creating. As the self-inflicted expectation of perfection crept onto me, my creativity waned.

I became paralyzed by the blank page.

I found myself staying up late on too many nights attempting to write, the cursor blinking mockingly and my string of thoughts tangled like a botched game of cat’s cradle I was afraid to unravel.

I played piano for years, but most of my practice was spent with my fingers twitching, fixated on all the wrong notes.

I didn’t realize at the time that it was

okay to make mistakes — to not feel satisfied the first time — and start again.

Having to go back to the drawing board is an inevitable feature of creating art; by encouraging my artistry, my parents were teaching me to be comfortable with starting anew.

It wasn’t until I took painting lessons that I understood my parents’ courageous art. In the same way most paintings have an underpainting, their creation laid the underpainting for my art and the foundation of my own life.

I’m not so afraid to create anymore. In fact, I like to think that I’m constantly creating — that there’s an elusive creative spirit brewing in me at all times. The desire to create is in my blood.

Unlike my parents who started from a blank canvas — multiple blank canvases, at that — I know now that I’m lucky enough to have their sacrifices and dreams as an underpainting to work off of. When I begin again, I will always have something to return to. And for that, I am grateful.

Each time I write, draw and make music, I wonder if my parents felt the same freedom in creating their lives in America.

I wonder if my parents’ first step off the plane and into their new lives felt like the first stroke onto a blank canvas, a paintbrush in their hands, a dream in their minds and the courage to make their mark.

I have inherited my parents’ desire to create and their eagerness to dream.

page 8 October 27, 2023

OPINIONS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 4

Sex.

Four students with different experiences and relationship statuses discuss sex I think sex can be whatever you want it to be.

S

I think safe sex is paramount.

ex. I don’t mean sexual activity, I don’t mean coitus, I don’t even mean the devil’s tango. Sex is far from the piercing screams of the Hub and are (usually) not limited to awkward positioning that feel like an unfortunate game of Twister.

Sex is whatever you want it to be.

My partner described it to me as such: “Genuinely, I think of it as another way to show affection. It’s just another piece of the puzzle that I enjoy.”

Because to us, that is what sex is: a means of showing affection. Obviously, it feels great, which is why we as humans do it; but at the same time, for those in strong relationships, having sex can be about intimacy with someone you care about, mutual understanding of one another and just getting to be really close to them. You literally cannot get physically closer than that.

I do not think many argue with that perspective, so I am here to advocate for the opposition. While intimacy and connection are important for some, sex ought not to be put on a pedestal of sanctity for those who are uninterested. Meaningless sex exists, and it is just as important as the kind with meaning.

I want to revisit my first subidea: sex feels great. The only two things that, truly, matter to living organisms is energy consumption and reproduction. In a similar way that we need food, water and oxygen to survive, our brains are neurologically hardwired to incessantly seek means of reproduction. This comes in the form of sexual arousal, aka, being horny. I don’t feel like getting into the specificities pertaining to the neuroanatomy of sexual behavior, but just know this: you are supposed to be horny. A lot.

And an important part of understanding arousal and sex is learning what you like. Although the male orgasm is scientifically not-difficult to achieve, the female orgasm is significantly different, in that it is-difficult to achieve. Of course, specific exploration can be confined between your own company and an ambiguous moving object, but that is a very specific niche of sexual exploration that people, especially women, should not be confined to.

But there is a hole in the way we perceive sex. Realistically, when a guy gets a lot of play, society daps him up, cheers him on and he achieves “dog” status. On the other hand, when a girl has similar goals, society is shocked. Society labels her as more open than a book, and projects an insecurity onto her that is fueled by an emasculated ego, defined by the incessant male need to feel sacred in the eyes of women.

Yes. Sex can hold a lot of meaning. But in the interest of those who are simply looking to explore the definitions of their own orgasm, why should sex be limited? Why are there different standards for what sex can be defined as? We don’t like to publicly talk about it anyways, so why are there public standards to define it?

It’s really not that deep.

S

ex is too often regarded as a task to achieve or accomplish, rather than a supplement to strengthen real connection. We have so many different labels surrounding relationships, and we shame those who are inexperienced sexually.

It's when you aren’t searching for love that it hits you the hardest. I fell in love by complete accident, creating the happiest relationship I have ever been in. We ought to be prioritizing romance-driven relationships, rather than purely physical ones.

Those who don’t want to have sex should not give in to social pressure to seek it out. Trying to force an idealized experience to happen only leads to toxicity and unfulfillment, because first times never go as imagined.

Sex is a fantastic experience, but it is not an accomplishment.

T

here’s a problem with how we talk about sex .

There have only been a few times that I’ve heard of kids in school explicitly discussing sexual intercourse, but sex seems to be at the forefront of many minds.

The main problem is that people feel like it is taboo to talk about.

In my experience, discussions around sex are mostly joking or crass, rather than thoughtful or productive.

At home, my parents only brought it up once: “Just don’t do it. We don’t need grandchildren this early. Abstinence is key.”

And while I see their perspective, I believe that sexual education and its de-stigmatization is of the utmost of importance. Personally, I have been almost too embarrassed to buy condoms, and I’m sure many of my peers feel the same way. Sex is a natural act that shouldn’t be so difficult to talk about. It is a real thing that is part of our lives, so we should act like it.

I think we need to talk about sex.

By Anonymous

I think sex expresses love.

I

’m a hopeless romantic. For the first 16 years of my life, my emphasis has been on hopeless, but the romantic is steadily there, a quickened pulse — or a throbbing headache.

Love fascinates me, but I’ve only loved theoretically. My lifelong bucket list has always had one item at the top: fall in love. And I’ve been preparing for the day I do like I prepare for a test. Romance novels are my textbooks, rom-com movies are tutorial videos and the sappy poems I scribble in the margins of my notebooks are supplemental reference material.

While amassing this theoretical database, I’ve come across a theory about Eros, one of the seven manifestations of love as understood by the Ancient Greek. Eros is the intersection of romantic and physical adoration, and this theory hypothesizes that Eros is achieved through a series of slightly heightening reciprocal actions that climaxes to the subject of this piece: sex.

I firmly believe that sex is just a physical expression of love — or at least it should be. In that vein, I’ve conflated the two; in my quest for love, I’ve embarked on a search for it’s physical expression.

I’m compelled to note two things here: first, I don’t believe that love is only valuable if it lasts forever. Second, physical expressions of love aren’t always sexual in nature.

And they certainly aren’t always pleasurable.

I don’t remember the first time a family member hit me. But when I close my eyes, I can picture exactly how it feels: a sharp sting at the point of impact and a flood of shame crashing into me right after. Throat closed, eyes stinging, an uncomfortable flush rushing across me as every blood cell in my heart threatened to explode, I’d stare up at them. Hours or days later, when the smarting faded, they’d pull me into their arms and tell me they’re sorry. “It’s my job to teach you lessons,” they’d say mournfully. “I love you.”

And I’d feel loved. They cared enough about me to teach me. They cared enough to hurt me. They cared enough to tell me the things they were told, to use the lesson plans their parents laid out for them. I love them enough to understand, but when their voice gets a little bit louder or their gesticulations get a little more wild, I still cower and flinch.

The forms of love I’ve experienced have taught me that love physically manifests itself as pain. But I don’t believe that. I can’t.

Maybe that’s why I clutch on to the idea that sex can be a physical expression of love that sparks joy like a drowning person clutches the last piece of drift wood after a shipwreck.

I want to fall in love. I want Eros, I want a relationship, I want sex.

I want proof that I can love and be loved without subjecting my body to pain. I want proof that love can feel good. photo by Evan Ng

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opinions | page 9

Two sides of a coin: the duality of mentorship

By Jessica Zhu I’m scared of asking for help. Not because I am afraid of admitting struggle, but because I am afraid of potential mentors.

I dislike that fact.

I was five years old at a dance class where this teenage girl worked as a teacher’s assistant.

We would call her “Jie-jie,” meaning “big sister” in Chinese. Each little girl took turns getting called from the larger studio to the dressing room, where we would try on costumes and practice performing in front of Jie-jie.

Like everyone else, I was excited to go; who wouldn’t want to dress up and have private sessions? The teachers had always talked about working hard to become just as great as they were. I wanted to be like Jie-jie.

But upon my first session, Jie-jie swatted my hand away everytime I tried to dress myself.

She over-tightened my dress and immediately put the music on, watching expectantly. I was thrown in too quickly and couldn’t remember the moves, so I could only stumble around, my nose stinging from oncoming tears.

Her scolding rang in my ears.“Everyone else remembered the dance, why couldn’t you?”

Jie-jie said. “Your mom paid a lot for these classes, shouldn’t you practice more to make her proud?”

I burst into tears. A lump swelled in my throat and the thumping in my chest pounded — I couldn’t explain that I did indeed know the dance by heart, that my mistakes were only because the dress was too tight and the music was so sudden.

All I felt was terror. It was scary, painful even, to have looked up to someone with admiration and been pierced with a scornful gaze in return.

Th e fear that sparked in me then.

It’s intrinsic now.

Now, I am reluctant to share my work. In the rare moments I do, the sight of a small, circular profile picture on the corner of my Google document makes me jump out of my skin.

They’re judging, I always think, and I would feel ashamed that they had to view the train wreck I’d created. I would feel guilty that I was wasting their time.

It’s a butterfly effect. Jie-jie had once shown me how power could be an

empty silhouette. She had made me afraid of my own shortcomings and the god-like figures who wielded the right of judgment.

But while some mentors possess hurtfully deep cracks in their “leadership,” I can’t forget about the existence of those who are indeed golden.

I had a teacher in middle school who showed me that these superb mentors do exist. Grades were the indicator of my worth for too long — every time a teacher marked my paper harshly, I would melt into a puddle of anxiety, somehow making my work worse.

I did not have anyone to guide me out of the seemingly bottomless seas I incessantly found myself in.

This particular teacher, however, was one I felt I could always talk to, even if the gradebook was not something we agreed upon.

The y were always cheerful and knew exactly what to say. I was happy each day of the rotating middle school schedule when I was in their extension graphic by Aleeza Amitan

block. They were the only teacher I trusted.

One day, fate decided to be funny, and I burst into the room declaring, “I’m actually so irked by my history teacher!” An awkward two seconds of staring followed before my goto extension teacher said, “Jessica … I am your history teacher.”

You could have heard a pin drop, but this time, the silence was not filled with the anger and fear of the dance studio’s dressing room. My teacher broke out in laughter before welcoming me over to discuss my grades and changes that could be made to their methods of giving feedback. It felt so validating. Here was a mentor who considered the feelings of their mentees, and did whatever they could to make them feel comfortable.

I await the day I can trust another mentor like that again. The way that teacher could turn any negative situation into a positive one is a trait I seek in the people I look up to.

Mentors are like two sides of the same coin: when you flip, you have no way of knowing what you’ll get. But what you can’t forget is that both sides are different, heads and tails, black and white. Not everyone with power over you will use it to help, but there will always be those who will respect and guide you in the right direction.

I am still scared of asking for help at times. But at least today, I am empowered by my understanding that the cruelty or judgment I face from those in power are reflections of their leadership skills, not my value.

Addressing our stigma of the South

By Eden Levitt-Horne & Ava Ransbotham As we move deeper and deeper into election season, the heat is rising in the South — and not just because of the record-high temperatures and our failing climate initiatives.

Living in a homogeneously liberal Massachusetts city, it’s easy to throw our hands in the air and look down our noses at the Southern states that are largely represented by conservative politicians. We assume this is because they are all uneducated, right-wing extremists instead of trying to understand the people behind the polls.

As a friend of mine quipped following the 2020 election, “Trump’s 500word vocabulary makes him relatable to Southern voters.”

But here’s the catch: the South isn’t a monolith, and to treat it as such is both reductive and harmful to Southern activism.

For example, Tennessee, where I’m from, is home to not only national treasure Dolly Parton, but also a rich history of environmentalism. In fact, their first state constitution protected the right for equal participation in the free navigation of the Mississippi River.

In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp and his administration chose to prosecute former president Donald Trump for attempting to overturn the election results and interfering with the election process. This was a historic decision: a Republican leader publicly going against his fellow Republican in the name of democracy.

It’s all too common for us to separate our-

selves from our fellow Americans, facetiously summing up Southern politics to illiteracy and ignorance. At their core, these comments are sanctioned ways to conflate poverty with unintelligence.

It’s undeniable that poverty is more rampant in the South than it is in the North; according to 2021 data from the United States

Department of Agriculture (USDA), nine out of ten of the states with the highest poverty rates were located in the South.

A long-standing combination of unequal power resources, widespread income inequality and a lack of upward mobility continue to fuel this chronic inequity. But a person’s intellect is not a by-product of their tax bracket, education level or geography.

In fact, the 2016 presidential election exit polls show that the lowest income group made up the highest percentage of voters for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee.

And while those with more education did tend to vote for Hillary, college degrees are not an accurate measure of intelligence: the underlying factors that contribute to lower education levels, like inability to afford college, disproportionately affect poorer and marginalized populations, of which the South has a higher percent than the North. graphic by Aleeza Amitan Pop cul-

ture also serves to perpetuate these stereotypes, with songs like “Sweet Home Alabama” being manipulated to portray the South as a place full of cousin-marryin’, cowboy hat-wearin’, gun-totin’, uneducated people, when in reality, it is too big of a region with too much nuance in its society and geography to make such generalizations.

However, making generalizations the other way around — glossing over the hate and discriminatory legislation — is just as dangerous.

We must condemn the Florida lawmakers who criminalized children’s gender and sexuality expression and education in the bill commonly referred to as “Don’t Say Gay,” but we also must celebrate the thousands of kids who walked out of school and risked expulsion in protest of the bill.

These young people are on the frontlines, and their activism is the relentless drive for progress and celebration of diversity we should aspire to emulate.

I’m tired of feeling the compulsion to combat assumptions when I tell someone I’m from the South.“Don’t worry, they’re not crazy conservatives” should not need to be in the same sentence as “my family”.

In its purest form, the South I’m lucky enough to know is just that: family. It is not the reciprocal of the North; rather, it is a rich collection of intricate traditions, pertinent progress and individual identities. To place all Southerners into one bucket is embodying the ignorance we cast on them.

The Character of Your Costume

page 10 | opinions

the lion's roar

UPGRADES

Roar to NSPA!

Every Halloween costume says something about its wearer; here's what yours says about you

Collage Club Collabs

By Leah Greiner & Ava Tartikoff

Christian Girl Autumn

Bella got bangs

Field Trip Resurgence Sweater Season Mint Oreos & Peanut Butter New Roar Camera Fall Flings <3 Travis Kelce Caffeine Comeback

DOWNGRADES

W

hether you’ve been planning since Nov. 1 of last year or you prefer to throw your costume together at 2 a.m. the night before, your choice of Halloween costume says a lot about you.

Barbie will undoubtedly be the most popular costume among girls of all ages, an automatic giveaway that you’re consistently on top of trends. Despite this, you are alright with blending in with the other Barbies and Kens and don’t mind being called “basic”, even if that’s exactly what you are.

You’ve never hesitated to admit that pink is your favorite color, and you’re excited that others are finally embracing it. You find a way to wear pink every day anyway, so your costume won’t exactly be out of your comfort zone, but you’re still jumping at the chance to go all out with the frills. It’s a common misconception that you’re searching for your Ken: you’re actually perfectly happy to just be Barbie. Ken, on the other hand, is just happy to be included.

If you are dressing as Barbie as a part of a couples’ costume, it says a few things about your relationship: you probably call your partner “pookie”, sing to each other over the phone and only peck each other on the cheek.

If you plan on being Taylor Swift, you could possibly be the most annoying person in the world. This is your third time being her for Halloween, but at least now you’re on top of the trend.

If you didn’t go to the Eras tour, you

definitely cried about it for at least a week.

You will defend Taylor with your life, but you listen to Kanye in secret. It’s ok, we won’t tell.

You’ve absolutely used the phrase “She is the music industry” at least once, and we can’t argue with that. The glitter in every crevice of your room makes you feel at home.

If you are a strong believer in Halloween being dark and scary, but you still want to be fun and on-trend like your friends, Wednesday Addams might just be the costume for you.

You tend to gravitate towards darker clothing, specifically black; however, you’re surprising when you want to be.

If the Jenna Ortega version is your costume, you try to be tough and punk, but the most metallic music you listen to is Maneskin.

The intense black eyeliner you wear is barely masking the Barbie-like personality you contain within.

People who dress as older versions of Wednesday Addams are actually terrifying though. You probably will not be able to tell if their ‘fit is a costume or their actual style. If you get it wrong while complimenting them, beware, you might get electrocuted.

Finally, the classic (and probably lastminute) Halloween costumes: ghosts, vampires and witches.

If you are dressing as a ghost, you either are channeling your inner Phoebe Bridgers, or you merely have a sheet and marker to work with. This basic costume will definitely get

you candy if you decide to trick or treat. It will also ruin a perfectly good bed linen, so make sure you ask whoever does the laundry in your household before you start cutting holes in fabric. Otherwise, the next load of your white clothing might have a red sock thrown in.

If you’re a vampire, your costume is probably fake fangs from Walmart, a cape and some fake blood. Maybe you’re referencing a horror movie, or maybe you just couldn’t think of anything else. Nonetheless, anyone who has had a “Twilight” phase will enjoy this costume and probably get a few flashbacks to the Robert Pattinson posters that served as the wallpaper of their childhood bedroom.

Lastly, if you plan on being a witch, you are paying homage to your childhood costume that you were forcibly wrestled into at the ripe age of 3. This costume could either be cute and simple, or scary and creative. If you’re going for a cute look, you enjoy dressing up and feeling put together. If you’re going for scary and creative, try again.

Halloween is the day for dressing up a little more over-the-top than usual. If you plan on going all out, you don’t mind being the center of attention, even if you end up scaring the neighborhood kids who are trickor-treating. You love experimenting with your hair and makeup, and you’re more of a Cady than a Regina.

Whatever you end up dressing as, we’re sure you’ll slay. You do you! Boo!

College Applications PSAT & SAT season House of Representatives 2023 Breakup Szn Wack Classroom Temperatures Risha can't do a push-up Bella got 35% on her Latin test Emma keeping Mitski on loop Grace spending all her $$ on Starbucks

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opinions | page 11

Media & me: the personal impact of words

By Anya Kopinja & Grace Yang Harry Potter & Anya

Magic 106.7 & Grace

e Chan graphic by Denis

Rather than Drops of Jupiter, a blend of humidity and car airconditioning seeped into my hair and skin.

The family car, a third-generation Toyota Sienna, carried me through the world. Newton and Boston were encapsulated in a single frame of the right-side backseat window; they became the only cities I grew to know with intense familiarity.

Magic 106.7, a local radio station, always serenely played from the speaker next to me. These memories are slightly muddled, reflective of the car’s messy interior, but I never forgot Billy Joel’s crooning.

He daydreams through his voice. His yearning for love is articulated through words I mouthed as if they were my own story of affection, requited or otherwise — an undeniable step up from my own childish crushes at the time.

His melodies gradually melted into velvety hums. Similar melancholic voices preceded and succeeded his on the radio: The Police, Journey, James Blunt and Train. They all sang about comforting an unnamed girl, the woman without another and love’s ascendancy.

It didn’t matter that younger me never knew the names of the songs or artists because they were still my solace.

Restricted to the backseat, I was often left alone to stare out the window and lip-sync to songs I adored. Yet, once spit began to escape my parents’ arguing mouths and eyes dampened, I was expected to stay still or offer an opinion favoring one over the other.

The music would slowly drown out. I’d lean closer to the speakers in an effort to preserve the love-filled world described by Magic’s familiar singers and escape the household I was unwillingly fastened to tighter than my seatbelt.

Throughout the isolation enforced by the pandemic, my friends and I vied for the sacred connection to someone else.

Someone euphoric, someone to prioritize over ourselves. We wanted that unbreakable bond akin to first love, even if it was superficial.

Escapism was all we needed.

I was seven-years-old when my uncle gifted me J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” for my birthday. I can still remember the feeling of holding that copy for the first time, its crisp pages and fresh smell. The story itself was a magical adventure, with dragons, talking paintings and sweets beyond a second grader’s wildest dreams.

Today, that same well-loved copy sits on my bookshelf, its spine cracked, pages dog-eared and marginal annotations scribbled in hot pink gel pen — reminders of the days when my biggest problem was choosing a friend to play with at recess.

I was easily influenced by the story and its characters, particularly by Hermione Granger, Harry’s smart, overachieving best friend who was at the top of her class, a favorite of most teachers and a frequent visitor of the library. On top of it all, she was able to maintain a close friend group and help save the world. I was in awe of how one person could do so much and be so successful.

I resolved to be exactly like her.

But eventually, my dedication turned into perfectionism. When I reached middle school, I needed to get an A on every assignment so badly that I would often stay up until nearly midnight to achieve it. I would panic over the smallest inadequacies and request to redo assignments until my score was finally satisfactory.

Hermione was an unrealistic example of what it means to be a good student because in real life, there are no time-turners to let you take several classes at once.

I lived for the academic validation that came with getting A’s. Teachers would praise my work and use it as an example for the class; my peers would come up to me asking for extra help and call me smart.

But when I didn’t understand something, I felt like I couldn’t ask for help and break the expectations others had for me. Hermione never asked others for help and was still the best in her class. Why couldn’t I be more like her?

I wish I could go back and tell my seven-year-old self that success isn’t synonymous with perfection, that grades really are just numbers. To enjoy the magic of muggle life, I must stop comparing myself to words on a page. As much as I admire Hermione, her story disappears when I close the book.

My story opens at the close.

The iconic and impractical of New York Fashion Week

By Yasmine Burris-Khan, Jenna Kriensky, Katy Krintzman & Athena Vu

Marc J a co b s Marc Jacobs’ 1993 collection for Perry Ellis altered the course of fashion history forever. The Perry Ellis show during New York Fashion Week (NYFW) had a star-studded lineup including Kate Moss, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell and Shalom Harlow, but what stood out to the fashion community was the radical clothing each model sported.

Grunge style rose to popularity in the early 90s alongside the fame of rock bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. But no matter how big of a commercial success grunge was, it wasn't never accepted by the industry at large. Jacobs’ collection was so controversially grungy that it got him fired.

Evidently, it didn’t hold him back for long, considering his current popularity. Jacobs continued to dress his models in beanies, layered flannels, cargo pants and slip dresses, inspired by styles from the Californian 90s rock scene. The models donned Doc Martens and Converse on the runway, a challenge to the accepted image of luxury.

In 2019, Jacobs recreated the 1993s looks for his Resort Collection. Today, we see Jacobs' influence in the resurgence of 90s streetwear, and this year’s NYFW was homages to his controversial earlier collection is a testament to the everlasting cycle of fashion trends.

During this year’s NYFW, the Hadid sisters served once again while walking Tom Ford’s spring collection. Gigi and Bella Hadid showed up in sparkly, long dresses. They’re certainly in their disco era.

Gigi sashayed down the catwalk in a bedazzled green and silver gown, while Bella strutted in a similar rose gold gown.

Their gowns featured the same thigh-high slit but with slightly different cuts for the top.

This year’s NYFW is one of Bella Hadid’s first reappearances on the runway since she shared on Instagram in August that she has been privately struggling with Lyme disease for almost 15 years.

An inspiration to onlookers, Bella showed her strength with her long-awaited return to modeling. Together, the sisters worked the runway beautifully once again.

G i g

B e l l a

i photos courtesy of Vogue

Si

a

The most delightful surprise at this year’s NYFW was Sia’s splashy appearance during Christian Siriano’s show. She performed some of her greatest hits, including “Chandelier,” to commemorate Siriano’s 15 years in the industry.

Siriano custom-made her dress, which he has with most of her runway looks. Sia’s pink fluffy jellyfish-like dress was a fun addition to the show.

This dress did not disappoint. It both mirrored Sia’s typical style of huge ribbons and over-the-top skirts, as well as wigs covering her face.

This look was in keeping with other trends at this year’s show, such as the pastel colors, ruffles, tulle and ombre patterns.

Personally, while I’m not a fan of ruffles, I surprisingly liked Sia’s look: Her pastel palette was a personal favorite of mine, and her matching dress and bow were an especially fun combination.

Although ribbons are always part of Sia’s aesthetic, they were particularly popular this year. Ribbons were predominantly featured in many designers’ pieces across this year's NYFW, earning this trend the name “Ribbonisance.”

The pink and purple ombre tulle and the flowing skirt of Sia’s dress were fun and flouncy. Together, they made flamboyant additions to the show.

page 12 | centerfold

the lion's roar

High school athletes balance their drive to play and the need to take care of their bodies while dealing with the constant pressure to perform

By Grace Sousa & John Timko

I

njury was the last thing on Olivia Sousa’s mind as a senior and captain of American International College’s (AIC) Women’s Division II soccer team. Her team was on its way to New Hampshire for an away game against Franklin Pierce University; the weather was perfect, and the energy was high.

AIC was down 0-3 at the end of the first half, putting Sousa, the team’s starting goalie, in a key spot: she could not concede any more goals while her team fought for a comeback.

Amid the chaos of coaches shouting at players, parents arguing with the referee and teammates cheering on the sidelines, Sousa jumped up to grab the ball as it flew across the goal. She did not see an opponent running straight at her. “[She] ran and whacked the outside of my thigh, and I blacked out. It was one of the worst pains of my life,” she said.

After regaining consciousness, her immediate thought was whether or not the other team had scored, rather than thinking about her own injury.

“My first thought was ‘Oh my god, did the ball go in the net?’, and then I thought, ‘Oh my god, I can’t breathe’,” she said.

Later, Sousa learned that she had gotten a hematoma (extreme bruising) on her thigh that spread throughout her leg, and a careerending injury developed in a matter of seconds.

Despite this, Sousa tried to return to the pitch.

“I had to be on crutches for months,” she said. “I would’ve finished the season if my trainer let me. I even tried to come back for senior night.”

With high standards and a successdriven environment, athletes feel forced to play through injuries. When they do, they lose sight of the importance of their physical and mental health. They are fixated on playing the game instead of taking care of themselves.

American Sports Culture As early as five years old, children participate in a variety of highly competitive town and club sports, where the expectation is to win above all else. Later on, this expectation carries over, encouraging players to sacrifice their own physical health for the game.

The pressure to win and compete, even if it means toughing out the physical pain, is inevitable in high-level athletics and deeply rooted in our society. This pressure has plagued young, non-professional athletes with the idea that sport takes precedence over physical health.

Senior and Division II football player at AIC Tyler Gardener said that having a victorybased mindset is crucial for success.

“The ‘need to win’ is a form of mentality you must have as a player,” he said. “If you push yourself through the pain, it can make you mentally stronger.”

However, guidance counselor, junior varsity girls soccer and girls track team coach Ariel Kenyon said that glorifying fighting through pain is a misidentification of bravery and strength.

“There’s this badge of honor you get if you push through really tough times, [but] if you are injured physically or having mental health challenges, pushing through and toughing it out makes it worse,” she said,“People get caught up in being resilient and tough, but you’re actually resilient and tough by taking care of yourself.”

Expectations Coaches, teammates and parents place excessive expectations on athletes to compete and win, especially those at a high level. Attempts to meet these imposed expectations play a large role in why athletes neglect their physical health.

Senior and varsity football captain Graham Tonkonogy said the greater the responsibility an athlete has within the team, the greater the expectations are for them to secure the win.

“A lot of the cases where people play through injury is when someone is scared that their teammates need them on the team,” he said. “If you’re a starter, then most of the time you don’t sit out because there aren’t backups.”

When backups do play, Kenyon said they can feel increased pressure in the limited opportunities they have to prove themselves as worthy players.

“Even for people that are not injured but High school athletes deal with a plethora of injuries during their seasons photo by Emma Zhang

issuu.com/thelionsroar and if they can’t contribute they feel unfulfilled.”

Parental hopes can help drive an athlete’s desire to get back in the game post-injury.

Football, basketball and girls softball coach David Foster said that as a parent, he recognizes how kids feel pressure to play certain sports that their parents enroll them in.

“A lot of parents think their kid is the next big thing and are gassing them up when in reality the kid thinks, ‘I have to play because my parents pay [for the sport],” he said.

Senior and varsity soccer player Juliana Gomez Reynoso said that she wants to return from injury as quickly as possible to reward her mother’s support.

“I just want to get back to playing to show her that I’m better and that she helped me get back to my full potential,” she said.

Tony Montiero, personal trainer for athletes with physical fitness goals, said that external pressures can pile up and cause athletes to lose sight of themselves.

“When everyone around is passionate about the sport, you tell yourself you love it too, but you have to ask yourself, ‘Do I really love it?’,” he said. “Then, because [athletes] are used to training for so long, there’s an aspect of people not wanting to stop and rest.”

Recruitment Season Athletes also push through injury as they jockey for positions, not only on their team but potentially for athletic opportunities to attend high-profile colleges.

High school athletes are competing for an extremely limited number of spots. According to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), across all sports, only 7% of high school athletes go on to play in college, and less than 2% go on to play at NCAA Division I colleges.

Sophomore and varsity soccer player Lindsay Glass said she wouldn’t take time off from playing if it could hurt her chances of being recruited.

“I love soccer, and I want to continue to play throughout college,” she said. “Players are trying to get recruited right now, [and] you’re trying to send applications, so taking time off would be really stressful.

Tonkonogy said that players can feel as if having an injury during recruitment season will drive coaches away. “[Injuries] slow everything down because instead of focusing on getting better, you have to focus on getting back to where you were and then you can get better,” he said. “[An injury] could drive a coach away because they think that you lost [your skills].”

Foster said that athletes who disregard their health and refuse to sit a game out could put their entire athletic careers in jeopardy.

“Don’t ruin your career over one game.

You have your whole career to play,” he said.“The

centerfold | page 13 scouts know you’re injured, so you’re not going to lose your scholarship, but you are gonna lose it if you keep playing on your broken ankle or your twisted toe.”

Loss of Identity Dedicating hours to their team and game, athletes often find their sports becoming their main focus and fusing into their identities.

Gardener said that his sport offers him an outlet to deal with stressors in his life. “[Playing] sports has helped me mentally because it allows me to express myself on the field and get away from problems for that amount of time during a game,” he said.

“It pushes me to keep playing because I love spending time with my teammates.”

While athletis can bring peace of mind and benefit mental health, tying identity to a sport can be risky because it can lead to dependence and consume somebody’s life.

Reynoso said that a concussion she got during her soccer season highlighted the fragility of her sports identity.

“On Monday I was [playing soccer] and now all of a sudden, there’s a Wednesday game and I’m out. It puts in perspective how quickly things can change,” she said.

Montiero said that sports become so integral to an athlete’s life and identity that taking time to recover from an injury is frightening. “[Athletes] get lost in that mindset, and it becomes who they are,” he said. “If they lose that, the identity that they’ve been w o r k i n g towards for the last months through grueling training, there’s a sense of ‘now what?’”

Sousa said that her identity assimilated with sports so deeply that once her soccer career ended after graduation, she struggled to understand herself.

“My sport was part of my identity. Still, when people ask me about myself and what I did in life, I always bring up soccer,” she said. “I don’t have an end goal anymore. I don’t know what to do with myself sometimes. My life is gone and my identity is gone.”

Value of Rest Although athletes may push through injuries and continue playing by choice, coaches and school systems must teach players about their bodies and how to take care of them.

South girls and boys freshman volleyball coach Jose Camacho-Hernandez said that high-pressure environments start with the level of training and competition that studentathletes endure.

“It’s totally irresponsible. We are putting these high school kids, with goals in life,

Along with caring for their body physically, athletes must work on their mental game, so that when pressures to play through injury arise, they can make

the conscious decision to protect their well-being.

Montiero said that part of the reason players don’t acknowledge that they need rest is because they don’t have the mental strength to put themselves first. “[Athletes] need a better mindset to curb the temptation of playing through injuries,” he said. “It all boils down to knowing when your body has had enough and not giving in to the urge to keep playing.”

Wellness teacher and former athletic trainer Patrick Jordan Quern said that while many athletes worry about letting their teammates down, changing the narrative and trusting teammates to step up can contribute towards a team’s overall success.

“You can flip it and say, ‘I’m not 100%, I should let the next person up’,” he said. “[They can] have an opportunity to

r late

Tony Montiero Personal Trainer

Mental Strength

fill that sp ot s o that I’m not a liability on the field, on the ice, on the court or on the track.”

Gardener said that to excel as a player, athletes have to first establish a mentality that can help them navigate the tough times of athletic journys.

“What it means to be an athlete to me is being able to handle the highs and lows of the sport you play,” he said. “Learning how to tune out outside noise is definitely a big factor. The first step in becoming a good athlete is having a strong mentality.”

If athletes, and their coaches and teammates, are taught how to protect their mental health, then they can also learn to protect their physical health.

“You need emotional and mental strength to have physical strength, and usually that’s going to change everything,” Montiero said. “Self-awareness and understanding that your well-being is way more important than pushing yourself is crucial. [Athletes] have to figure out why they are pushing themselves: for the glory or for something attainable to work towards. You have to be aware of the intangible things because they matter the most.”

S ate yT to b pho

What it means to be an athlete to me is being able to handle the highs and lows of the sport you play. Learning how to tune out outside noise is definitely a big factor. The first step in becoming a good athlete is having a strong mentality.

[into practice] every afternoon for two hours without rest,” he said. “Where is the recovery time?”

According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), athletes who engage in high-intensity exercise should schedule a rest day every seven to 10 days, and some athletes may need more frequent rest days, such as two per week.

Camacho-Hernandez said that in places with different sports cultures, such as his native country of Puerto Rico, the practice schedule operates so that teams only practice every other day, allowing players rest and time to keep up with schoolwork and familial responsibilities.

He said that American high schools ought to incorporate more athlete-friendly tactics.

“We are a top nation in the world, and we should be doing those kinds of things a little bit better,” he said.“Sometimes you have to look outside the box. What can other countries offer? What are they doing? Can we copy some of those good things?”

Montiero said that the overarching issue is that athletes need to recognize the value of longevity to avoid the temptation to play through injury.

“Athletes have to think about what’s going to happen next. Is it more important for them to keep training throughout the season or go really hard while they are injured?” he said.

“Longevity is important and most athletes won’t understand that until they have that ACL tear, broken ankle or fractured arm.”

page 14 | jump

the lion's roar

39.2% 34.0%

20.9%

7.0%

off

off

off data from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Based on injury data on 24 sports collected from 2005 to 2016 via the High School RIO (Reporting Information Online), of 78,005 injuries, data from Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

10.5% were recurrent injuries 89.5% were new injuries

photos by Evan Ng

page 15 October 27, 2023

FEATURES issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 4

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates Hispanic and Latine students, teachers and culture

By Anyssa Lin, Andrew Petrilla & Bethesda Yeh

c phi gra

A

stroll down the 2200s hallway reveals the progression of Spanish club’s newest installation: a mural depicting a collage of Hispanic and Latin American cultural symbols.

Whether through art, posters or Schoology updates featuring influential Hispanic and Latine figures, students and teachers have worked diligently in recent years to transform South into a place of inclusion and pride.

Spanish teacher Helena Alfonzo, a faculty advisor for the Spanish Club and the Latine Affinity Group, said that Spanish Club aims to include all cultures of Hispanic-Latine origin while planning events for Hispanic Heritage Month, which spanned from Sept.

15 to Oct. 15.

We are trying to celebrate all the richness of the Hispanic-American cultures.

Helena Alfonzo Spanish teacher

“We are trying to celebrate all the richness of the Hispanic-American cultures because, here in the US, there is a tendency to see that Hispanics and Latinos have the same culture and celebrate the same traditions, which is not true,” she said. “Many people come from different cultures and backgrounds, and the Hispanic-American culture is not just one.

It's many.”

Although South's Latine community only makes up 7.5% of the student body, through various student and faculty groups, many students and educators have found a way to connect with others who are also of Hispanic descent.

Junior Leonor Quessa, who is of Dominican and Haitian descent, chose to join the Spanish Club during her sophomore year. As a Spanish speaker attending school in a predominantly white community, she said that the club was a way to reconnect with her culture.

“I couldn't really find my people [at

South] because I live in Boston, [but] I felt like I really found my people in Spanish Club. I found a place where I fit in,” she said. “I remember in middle school, I didn't really have any Hispanic friends. I was losing my Spanish.”

Spanish teacher Cynthia Manthei, who began the tradition of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at South in 2020, said that progress is evident over the last few years.

“It’s been a dream of mine for years, and it’s finally happening,” she said. "I've done work on adding a little bit each year. Last year, we had dance classes, three Fridays during the month, which was phenomenal.”

As the tradition is still young, junior Keith Isaza Zapata said that outreach has proven difficult, with few people participating or taking advantage of opportunities to learn more about Hispanic culture.

“We weren't able to get the message out as much,” they said.

“We had somebody come and teach people how to dance for three minutes and then my mom came, and she did a talk about art in Hispanic cultures. But not many people showed up.

Not many people knew that it was happening.”

Manthei said another challenge was frontloading preparation to accommodate the early timing of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began one week after the start of the school year.

“We got some of the planning done in June, but not enough,” said Manthei. “You just can't get enough [done] that far ahead of time.”

Sophomore David Rosemberg, a copresident of Spanish Club, says that planning these festivities is a long process. “[It’s] a lot of emails. We have been communicating a lot with the South Human Rights Council,” he said. “The difference is that we're trying to do it during a whole day [during class] blocks instead of WINs. It's been more difficult to reserve the lecture hall for an entire day.”

Additionally, Spanish Club is in the process of painting a mural in the 2200s. It is collage of photos depicting images of Hispanic and Latin American cultures: a mariachi band, flamenco dancers and Afro-Colombian women

from Cartagena, to name a few.

“We've been working on this mural for three years and because none of us are artists, [we are] trying to understand what we can do,” said Rosemberg.“We've just been relying on all of each other. We've grown very close.”

Isaza Zapata said the club attempted to incorporate as much as possible in the mural to honor the fact that Hispanic culture has many other cultures within it, including Native Americans, African-Americans and AfroLatines who live in Spanish-speaking countries, as well as those with mixed Hispanic heritage.

“We had a really long discussion about what we wanted to put out there and what we wanted to be our mark on the school,” they said.

Mathematics teacher Javier Mendez, who is of Colombian

graphic by Sophie Song

o Liri nne drie A by

descent but not affiliated with Spanish Club, says his being part of the Hispanic community affects his everyday job.

“For me, to be Latino is to carry another hat besides being an educator," he said. “We always need good role models, especially for kids who are in the transition into a new setting.”

Alfonzo said that over the last 14 years that she’s worked at South, Hispanic and Latine representation in school has only significantly emerged in the past three or four years. As South’s student-body continues to grow, change and diversify, Hispanic Heritage Month is only part of the community’s ongoing commitment to represent all cultures.

“The original goal [of Hispanic Heritage Month] is to capture all those students who are Hispanic or Latino [and] felt invisible here to recognize their own heritage and want to celebrate [who] they are in this country,” she said. “[Representation] is a work in progress, and I hope that in the near future, we can have much more.”

page 16 | features

the lion's roar

1 in 2000: Timothy Te, "a staple to South" Angela Tao & Emily Wang

Opinions Editor, Features Contributor South class of 2007 graduate-turnedchemistry teacher Timothy Te goes all out for his labs: he’s exploded pumpkins, grown alum crystals and lit gummy bears on fire.

His instructing prowess manifests in both his engaging labs and the kindness he’s possessed since he himself was a student.

Chemistry teacher Marianne McChesney was Te’s mentor when he started teaching. She said that his approach to teaching encourages students to think critically.

“He runs a student-centered classroom where he tries to get the students engaged in the activities, the lessons and the discussions,” she said. “He creates the learning materials so that students can understand the concepts clearly and discover some of those concepts themselves, rather than just being flat out told what the concept is.”

Junior Shelley Wei, who was in Te’s class as a freshman, said that the engagement factor of Te’s class strayed from the typical emphasis on memorization. This later led her to enroll in AP Chemistry for her sophomore year.

“I was coming into the class already kind of science-oriented, but that was my

first time taking a formal chemistry class,” she said.

“But I came away from the class liking the subject a lot more and having my own interest in diving deeper.”

Te’s presence also transforms the learning environment. Senior Noah Li, a former student of Te’s, said that his uplifting personality encouraged students to speak up about any areas of confusion. “[Mr. Te] is a very friendly person, and that makes the class more interesting,” he said.

“When students asked questions that seemed more simple, he would still patiently explain that in a very funny way.”

Senior Kyrah Mar, who was in Te’s class as a sophomore, said that his genial personality also aids in building bonds that continue to reinforce learning.

“He was really understanding and relatable, and [that] changed how I approach relationships with my teachers,” she said. “To have that bond and learn how to have that bond with other teachers has strengthened how I learn.”

Chemistry teacher Suzy Drurey, another mentor of Te’s, said his experience as a student at South provides him with a deeper understanding of current pupils.

“He understands that students are coming from all different backgrounds, all different

sorts of experiences,” she said. “He recognizes that as a teacher, you can go up to students and [say] ‘Hey, what’s your idea on that?’ and let them feel comfortable expressing themselves.”

Te’s thoughtfulness as a teacher stems from his kindness as a student. When he first started teaching at South, English teacher Joe Golding had Te in one of his classes; he said that Te and his group of friends were memorable, but Te was unforgettable. “[Te] was the kindest of the four [friends],” he said. “I remember [him] being a lovely kid to teach and just a wonderful kid to talk to.”

Te’s own teachers made just as big of an impression on him. He said that the care he has for his students was inspired by the support he received from his own teachers when he was going through difficult times. “[My teachers’] impact on my life showed me how a teacher can be a role model and help kids, [especially those] who don’t really know where they are in the world or what they’re doing, figure out their own identity,” he said.

McChesney said Te’s return as a teacher gives him unique insight into positively transforming the South space for both teachers and students.

“He has a deeper understanding of the

graphics by Isadora Gimmelfarb

photo contributed by Timothy Te

cultural values of the community and how things work behind the scenes, which makes it a little bit easier for him to do some problemsolving when situations come up,” she said.“The fact that he came back to teach at the school he went [to] says something about the positive experience that he had here, and [something about] a sense of wanting to give back.”

Te said that although he’s now paying forward the help he’d received from his teachers, he feels like his students are the ones paying him back.

“When I went here, I didn't necessarily appreciate or realize all the things that my teachers did for me,” Te said.

“But one thing that I felt from students this year, especially with all the things going on around contracts and negotiations, is how much [they] also really appreciate their teachers. So yes, I'm paying it forward, but I also feel like I'm receiving stuff back.”

Don't sleep on Couch (the Band) Hanna Gurguri, Lukas Shrestha & Suvi Talvitie Features Contributors

Pop-funk band Couch is taking off.

With some members starting off in South’s Jazz Ensemble, they are now taking their collective talents to 20 cities across the country in their third tour.

The local septet (seven-member band) is set to release their new EP“Sunshower” in early November and embark on the accompanying tour, which opens in late October, right before the EP’s release.

Keyboard player Danny Silverston and lead vocalist Tema Siegel, Couch’s two South alumni, were taught by band teacher Lisa Linde.

Linde, who saw the band perform last year in Boston, said she could see parts of who they were as students in their current musical styles.

“Danny took the most incredible piano solo in the middle of one of the tunes, and I was screaming, but he did the same thing here

[The other Couch members are] incredible musicians and musical minds in their own right. They inspire me and push me to be better all the time.

Danny Silverston class of '18, keyboardist

as my student in a jazz concert many times,” she said. “[And] Tema is one of those singers that always had her sound.”

Having natural talent and a good teacher isn’t everything to achieving success. Silverston said he had to make certain sacrifices to pursue his passion for music.

“I ended up choosing jazz over sports and other things,” he said.”[But] Newton South

said she views performing in unconventional venues as a testament to the band’s growing popularity.

“It's exciting to watch the list of cities that we're playing grow to include non-major cities, places where it feels really validating to know that people are listening,” she said.

Benjamin Youngman, a music teacher who knew Silverston and Siegel when they

photo contribued by Couch

has a super vibrant [jazz] program that was somewhat formative in my jazz education, just engaging with that kind of music.”

The band members’ sacrifices paid off, as the band’s third major tour, coming to Boston on Nov. 10, has already sold out in some cities.

Having played at locations like Times Square and the Boston Calling Music Festival, Siegel

were in high school, said he cannot take any credit for their success, although he hopes he positively impacted them in some way.

“This isn’t about what I did or expecting somebody to buy me a Lambo down the road,” he said.“[Teaching] is just about you doing what was done for you. I had teachers who helped me to be a better musician, and hopefully I helped

[Silverston and Siegel] to be better musicians in some way, shape or form.”

The Couch members have already paid that inspiration forward: sophomore Gideon Lind, a member of band Solar Devastation, said bands like Couch are the reason he formed his own.

“If other people weren't doing this before us, we probably wouldn't be doing it,” he said.

While South’s jazz program in general is very robust, Lind said a formal class isn’t necessary to form a band if you have initiative.

“The jazz program itself, at least at the level we're taking it, is not particularly advanced,” he said. “I feel like we did this, this outside of school band thing, as our own project.”

Senior Hannah Lim, a violist at South, said Couch is especially inspiring given the challenges South’s environment can provide.

“When you think of Newton, it's more education-based, and it's a lot more rigorous with academics than with music,” she said.“It's really cool that [Couch] decided to make their own stuff up.”

Silverston said he encourages aspiring musicians to face their challenges head-on, no matter how far-fetched a career in music may sound.

“Don't be afraid to dream a little bigger because I did not consider that this would be a real thing, and here I am,” he said. “If you want to pursue music, it's hard, but that's not a reason you shouldn't do it, especially if that's where your passions are.”

Most of all, making music is not something that one can always do on their own, and Silverston said he remains grateful for his bandmates he shares his musical journey with.

“They're incredible musicians and musical minds in their own right,” he said. “They inspire me and push me to be better all the time.”

issuu.com/thelionsroar

features | page 17

THE COMMON APPLICATION The Roar follows four seniors with different interests as they navigate the college application process. Their identities will be revealed as they make their decisions

By Theo Younkin

A

I

nterested in pursuing softball in college, Lila* is continuing the process of reaching out to college coaches in hopes of being offered a spot on a team.

Recently, she’s been in contact with the softball coach at Emerson College, who has confirmed to her that although nothing has been officially finalized, she most likely has a place on their team.

“How much [money] I can get will probably be the deciding factor in whether I go there or not,” she said. “But the coach has said, ‘Yeah, you’re on the team, there’s a spot for you on the team.’”

Lila’s top priority has been expanding the list of schools she’s interested in. She said

fter submitting his application to the Berklee School of Music over the summer, Ben* shifted his focus to preparing his supplemental essays and portfolio for the other colleges he’s applying to.

As a music student, several of his applications require something most high school students would find terrifying: live auditions.

Ben said that the most gratifying part of the audition process is seeing all of the preparation and commitment he’s put into his auditions come to fruition.

“It’s a lot of work, so just seeing the final product at the end of it [is] really rewarding,” he said.

In addition to Berklee, Ben plans to apply to McGill University, the New England Conservatory of Music, UMass Amherst, Amherst College, New York University and the Manhattan School of Music.

He’s considering applying Early Action where he can, but the fast-approaching deadlines make it challenging for him to find time to record all of his audition videos.

Ben said that while devoting enough time to preparing college applications is important, it’s also essential to balance extracurriculars and academics on top of applications during senior year.

“I didn’t want my life to revolve around

that one of the biggest factors that help her decide whether a school is right for her is the programs and majors it offers.

“Some of the schools I like are more STEM schools, and I’m not trying to do a STEM major,” she said. “I want to have a good program for the majors I’m interested in.”

Right now, Lila’s top choices include Brandeis University, Emerson College, Bentley College and Wesleyan University.

She’s been finalizing the topics she’ll cover in her supplemental essays but has yet to begin writing them.

While brainstorming essay topics is difficult, she said the most challenging part

of the process is simply beginning.

“Getting the first sentence down is probably the hardest part for me,” she said.

“Once I pick the topic or narrow it down and just get a bunch of words on the paper, it’ll be a lot less stressful and a lot easier than it is in my head.”

Lila said that while the college application process is inherently stressful, it’s been exciting to contemplate and plan for her post-high school future.

“I have a lot of friends in college that I’ve visited and they’re having a great time, so I’m just excited to go to the next step in life,” she said. “[I’m] excited to be somewhere else [and] experience new things.”

A

R

ose*, who is hoping to attend art school, has been finalizing her supplemental essays and putting the finishing touches on the rest of her application.

After taking a deeper dive into some of the colleges on her list, she said that she reconsidered a few schools that didn’t feel quite right for her.

“I’m realizing that there are a lot of schools that I have on my list that I don’t actually want to go to after having done visits and [looked] more at the campus website,” she said. “There are some colleges that I’m just hearing about now that sound like something

fter contacting and visiting a few more college coaches and schools, Tom*, who hopes to play football in college, said that he feels like his applications are finally starting to take shape. He has finished his essays and is almost done assembling the rest of the application.

Tom said that the hardest part of coming up with topics for his essays is staying true to himself, even while trying to connect with admissions officers.

“If you play a sport or something like that, you automatically get put into a box [of ] a dumb football player,” he said. “Finding

something that really resonates with people was kind of hard.”

Recently, more coaches have been reaching out to Tom, and he’s been attending game day visits at schools he’s interested in almost every weekend.

For the most part, his list of colleges hasn’t changed, except for the addition of Franklin Pierce University.

Tom said that the key to balancing academics, football and his college application is being a clear communicator.

“There will be days when I’m exhausted, and I might not be able to go [visit

up my alley.”

Roe has expanded her list to include the University of Maine, the Rhode Island School of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Pratt Institute, just to name a few, and she’s planning to apply Early Action wherever she can.

She said that while it’s been disappointing to realize that she most likely will not be accepted into all of her top choices, she’s confident that she’ll end up attending a school that’s right for her.

“There are a lot of schools that I probably won’t get into, just considering the accepted portfolio and realizing that my portfolio might

not be the fit for them,” she said. “I’m realizing that if that school is not the fit for me, then there has to be another school out there that will accept me and be a pretty good fit, so it’s exciting.”

Rose said that the hardest part of assembling her application has been coming up with original topics to discuss in her essays.

“At the start of writing them all, I seemed to have a lot more energy and spirit about what I wanted to talk about,” she said. “By now, it feels like I’ve exhausted all parts of my identity.” *Names changed to protect students' identities

preparing for college, but I also know that there’s a balance that needs to be met,” he said.

“Outside of actual classes, I’ve been trying to keep my extracurriculars pretty consistent. It’s definitely tricky to maintain a good balance.”

Ben said that the upcoming deadlines have been a source of stress, but he’s looking forward to feeling the satisfaction that comes with finishing his applications.

“I feel like time is definitely running out. I really have to get my act together,” he said. “But probably when it’s all done, I’ll take a look backwards and see how far I’ve come.

It’s definitely a lot of work, but I think it’ll be really rewarding in the end.”

a college] this Saturday, but I’ll communicate and be like, ‘I can come next Saturday,’” he said. “Or, ‘I have a lot of homework, I’m really stressed, and I have a football game coming up, so is there a chance I could come on Saturday?’”

Tom said that he’s gained perspective over the past few months as he is seeing his application come together.

“I’m feeling good and a lot less stressed than I was a few months ago,” he said.

“Things are starting to take shape a little bit, so I know what it’s going to look like a lot more.”

graphics by Emily Zhang

page 18 | features

the lion's roar

Training the new generation of musicians Eli Scharf

Features Reporter

graphic by Makayla Gilchrist

Every Tuesday at 2:45 p.m., South becomes a space for middle-school and highschool musicians alike. More than three years post-pandemic, the Music Department is still feeling the effects of the changes: musical mentorship between musicians of different ages was lost, along with the growth and community that came with it.

Music teacher Lisa Linde said she still experiences the consequences of this age separation.

“We no longer have that spot for a younger but really serious kid to share space with the older, serious kids and understand what they need to work on,” she said.

These issues, combined with many students’ lack of access to private lessons, inspired students such as senior and orchestra leader June Kim to create accessible mentorship groups for middle school students. It allows them to come to South once a week to be tutored in jazz or orchestra music.

“We wanted to provide a free resource f o r students to come by and enhance their skills and techniques or just play music with their friends,” Kim said.

Music teacher Benjamin Youngman said that for many middle school students, having a high school musician to look up to motivates them to continue playing their instrument.

“When middle schoolers see the high schoolers playing so well, it inspires them. [They think,] ‘oh, I can be as good as [one of them],’” he said.

S e n i o r Ja re d Wang, one of the leaders of the jazz mentorship group, said he is

passionate about teaching the genre of music that has been so important to him throughout high school.

“Jazz is one of the single most influential art forms to American culture because a vast majority of American music is derived from jazz,” he said. “That's really important to understand our identity as a country.”

Similarly, senior Nate Scharf, another leader, said the program has helped to foster interest in jazz classes at South.

“It's been so cool to see that the people who were consistently at jazz mentorship last year are in Jazz Ensemble this year as freshmen,” he said.

One of those freshmen, Adrian Camacho-Diaz, transitioned from being a middle schooler mentee to now being a mentor.

Camacho-Diaz first joined the program in eighth grade and said that the direct exposure to jazz incited his interest in it.

“I'm not sure that many middle schoolers are getting much exposure to the genre on their day to day,” he said. “Having something where they can experience [jazz] in the moment by playing it is very cool.”

Even though it is challenging to teach students of different levels, Wang said he enjoys helping students grow as musicians.

“These kids act like they don't want to solo, but then when you're like, ‘Go, you have to solo now’, then they’ll play the most amazing thing that you've ever heard a middle schooler play,” he said.

Linde said that having her high school students teach music to younger students has

It's so cool to see that the people who were consistently at jazz mentorship last year are in Jazz Ensemble this year as freshmen.

Nate Scharf class of '24 given them perspective about what it is like being a teacher.

“They now have a different kind of respect for how hard it is,” she said.“It's broadened their understanding of what it means to change roles with anyone.”

Senior Hannah Lim, a student leader of the orchestra mentorship program, said she has noticed that students in the program have become close to each other through it.

“We all support each other,” she said.“For new kids, it’s often one of the better places to create friends. It’s a fun environment.”

Camacho-Diaz said the jazz and orchestra mentorship groups have made the South Music Department stronger and strengthened middle school players’ skills.

“There's a sense of community there,” he said. “It's really great to feel like you're a part of something.”

Freshmen take center stage in Frosh play Andrew Lindsay & Leila Mostaghimi Features Reporter, Features Contributor

Cast and crew members share their experiences in the program photos by Evan Ng

T

he two-hour rehearsals three days a week are not a deterrent for freshman Rebecca Ingernman, an actress in three of the nine individual scenes that make up this year’s Frosh production.

Ingerman said that the low-stakes audition process helps ease the transition into high school theater and provides an opportunity to try something new.

“It's helpful for people who may have not done theater before and then come into high school like, ‘Oh, I kinda want to try that,” she said. “In Frosh, you're guaranteed a part, and so you get the theater experience, and you get to know whether or not you like it.”

Ingerman said that the friendly rehearsal environment is one of her favorite parts of being in the production.

“It’s really nice because everybody there is also a theater person,” she said.“They're all your people, and you know everyone there, and you get to know everyone really well.”

Whether on or off the stage, Ingerman said it has been enriching to surround herself with a dedicated group of people also interested in acting. “[Frosh] puts you in this community [where] you aren't just doing theater while you're in it,” she said. “It's getting you in the theater community for the years to come when you're actually working on a [non-Frosh] production.”

F

reshman Pip Jaramillo plays a wide variety of roles across their three scenes in this year’s Frosh Play. Jaramillo said that participating in the play has helped them feel more comfortable in the high school theater environment.

“I knew I wanted to do some sort of theater program, and I heard that [Frosh] was the one that freshmen did,” they said. “There's no auditions, you just show up and get a part, so that was pretty great because it's less nerve-racking.”

Jaramillo said that while the Frosh Play has been more of a commitment than their past experiences with middle school theater, they’ve enjoyed performing with other students equally passionate about acting.

“Not everyone in the middle school plays actually cared about theater. Some of them were just doing it because they had extra time or their parents made them,” they said.

“Everyone in high school is doing theater because they are theater kids, and they want to be there.”

Jaramillo said the play’s accepting community has given them a place where they feel free to be themself.

“Theater kids are great. It's just such a fun community, no one judges anyone because we're all outrageous,” they said. “We’re all stupid and silly. It’s just a lot of fun.”

W

hile acting may be the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “theater,” freshmen like Ruthie Holzer, who work behind the scenes with tech crew on carpentry, costume design and lighting, play an essential role in South’s annual Frosh Play.

Holzer said the Frosh stage crew lets freshmen do hands-on work on a production while learning more about the technical aspects of theater.

“They allow you to come in with no experience whatsoever,” she said. “I was thinking about doing this as a career, so it's really nice to learn basically all about tech.”

Since Holzer learned about tech crew through word of mouth, she said that she has been motivated to spread the word about the programs South Stage offers, especially Frosh.

“I've heard such great things about it. I came on the first day of school because I was so excited,” she said. “I've been telling all my friends about it.”

Holzer said that Frosh builds a welcoming community of people with common interests.

“We're all here because we really like doing tech, building stuff, doing costumes or designing lights and sets, and because we all share a common trait,” she said.“It's really welcoming, and we all just have fun.”

page 19 October 27, 2023

SPORTS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 4

FIELD HOCKEY: A FEEL-GOOD FAMILY With strong senior captains, a new coach and a close familiarity with one another, the field hockey team has cultivated a uniquely positive environment

By Sarah Schwartz

I

t’s hard to miss South’s field hockey team on their lighthearted“competition day” team bonding when they’re decked out in blorange as if they had just raided a Party City. If you are anywhere in Newton and listen close enough, you just might be able to hear the team on their way to and from away games, as the group screams along to songs at the tops of their lungs.

The closeness of this year’s field hockey team and the positive culture they have cultivated has shone through in a unique way that exemplifies the great experiences school sports can create.

Although match results don’t always always turn out in the team’s favor, senior Alex Laurie said the team has continued to have a blast while helping each other grow on and off the field and creating lasting memories.

“We may not be the best team out on the field playingwise, but I think we have the best team in terms of our ability to play the game and have fun doing it and not making it such a competitive environment that it becomes toxic,” she said.

A large part of the close bond the team shares has been because of this year’s senior captains, who have been able to stoke an excitement within the team that keeps morale up.

Senior captain Abby Ustayev said that keeping spirits high during practices and games is a key component to the team’s fun energy.

“As captain, we're really focused on just making the environment be positive and supportive for everyone,” she said. “If

the score isn't in our favor, it's up to us to make sure our team is still putting in full effort and not looking back or looking at the score and feeling down on themselves.”

The familiarity that many of the players share with one another is also a major reason for the team’s tight-knit community. Last year’s team graduated 18 seniors, so the majority of the current roster is composed of players who have already played side-by-side on last year’s junior varsity ( JV) team.

Junior Megan Tarmy said that since much of the group has already played together, the team is able to play freely — this continuity shows up off the field as well.

“It's one of those things that if you know someone so well, everybody understands their part, and everybody can work with them and everybody's included,” she said.

Coach Colleen Francis, former JV coach of two years, became the varsity coach this year. Francis said that her time coaching JV has proven to be very helpful and effective in her work to build the varsity program.

Francis previously coached all but one player on this year’s roster, which has allowed her to strengthen connections with her players and push them in areas she knows they are able to grow.

“It’s been very helpful that we can use the progressive techniques where I can go in and say, ‘I know you know how to do this. We went over this last year, two years ago, here's the next step to build up your skill set, to build up your decision making,’” she said. “So that has been very helpful as far as the photo by Sofia Kekalainen

The field hockey team celebrates after a tough September 8 game that ended in a 0-4 loss to Newton North.

If the score isn't in our favor, it's up to us to make sure our team is still putting in full effort and not looking back or looking at the score and feeling down on themselves.

Abby Ustayev class of '24

transition from JV to varsity for me.”

Sophomore Cecily Farrow said the activities Francis has the team do, even during preseason, has really helped the group create a community and a great bond with one another.

“One thing that Coach Francis did during tryouts this year was we had the upperclassmen pair up with freshmen,” she said. “ When we ran the mile, we split into two groups, and you would cheer on your partner who was running. So all the freshmen had seniors cheering for them as they ran the mile, which was a really nice way to get to know people.”

Ustayev said the team does“shout outs” at the end of each game. The team goes around and highlights a good play or skill or something they noticed someone did well, demonstrating the inclusion and appreciation for the whole team.

“No matter the score, if we're losing really badly, whatever. We always shout out people and it just makes everyone feel good about themselves,” she said. “That's a great part of our team and a great tradition that should be continued on.”

The team’s constant support for each other creates an environment where players feel comfortable growing and learning. Sophomore Jane Tremaglio said the tight-knit atmosphere this year has helped her feel less timid. “[Field hockey] is not cutthroat to the point where it feels suffocating,” she said.“We're able to have fun and support each other and we're able to let each other make mistakes, which is so important.”

Ustayev said the team’s uplifting and positive environment offers a safe space where everyone is there for one another.

“Field hockey is definitely a very, very encouraging and supportive place,” she said.“I don't think there's ever a moment where we get mad at each other or have anything bad to say about each other.”

page 20 | sports

the lion's roar

Recapping the U.S. Open: a historic love-fest Ria Santhanam & Olivia Whitaker Sports Contributer, Sports Reporter

Every year at the end of August, tennis fans sit in front of their televisions to witness two action-packed weeks of high-level tennis.

Taking place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, the US Open is one of the most important and prestigious tennis tournaments of the year, hosting 128 elite international female and male tennis players.

This year, attendance at the US Open soared, increasing by nearly 8% above 2022’s tournament with 799,402 people in attendance during the main draw. This year’s US Open had many exciting storylines, such as Novak Djokovic (Serbia) winning his 24th Grand Slam title, Ben Shelton (USA) reaching the semifinals and Coco Gauff (USA) achieving her first Grand Slam title.

36-year-old Djokovic, the men’s singles champion, reclaimed his spot as world number one by winning the final over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in three sets. With his 24th Grand Slam title, he is now tied with Margaret Court for the record of the most Grand Slam titles.

This was his fourth time winning the US Open, tying Rafael Nadal and pulling within one win of Roger Federer, two of the other all-time greats of the tennis world.

21-year-old Shelton reached new heights at the US Open, creating one of the most exciting narratives of the tournament. He reached the semifinals and only lost to eventual champion Djokovic in three sets. Although Shelton didn’t win a set in the match, he was able to take the third set to a tiebreaker and played well.

Shelton’s rapid rise included wins over

graphic by Collage Club

world number 10 Frances Tiafoe and world number 14 Tommy Paul. Four out of the five matches he won were in only four sets. Since men at Grand Slams play best out of five sets, this means he glided through most of his matches quickly and without stress. Although his run during the tournament was unexpected,

the fact that he set a record for the fastest serve of the tournament proves that his success was far from an accident.

While the men’s portion of the US Open ended as one of the most iconic yet, the women’s side also had incredible moments. 19-year-old Gauff won her first major Grand Slam. Gauff ’s

first US Open win put her in elite company and made her the youngest American to win the tournament since 17-year-old Serena Williams’ historic 1999 victory.

Gauff won six major Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour singles awards this year and claimed her three biggest titles in August. Her victory catapulted her to a new career high, moving from number six in the world to number three.

Although she played in the French Open final last year, Gauff has spoken about the extreme pressure she has felt to win a slam at a young age since her WTA debut at 15.

It wasn’t an easy final for Gauff, as she was up against new number-one and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. The thrilling final was full of ups and downs, going to a deciding set and lasting 2 hours and 7 minutes.

The match was viewed by 3.4 million viewers on ESPN, the largest ever TV audience for a women’s tennis Grand Slam final on the network.

50 years ago, former number one ranked tennis female player Billie Jean King won the monumental “Battle of the Sexes” when she defeated formerly first ranked Bobby Riggs.

King’s victory was a major step in the journey for equal pay and women's rights in sports and her impact is still paying off today for this generation of women athletes.

Both the male and female winners of this year’s tournament received $3 million, while the runners-up both received $1.5 million. With the historic achievement of equal prize money, the tennis world is making many strides for the future, and with so many up-and-coming players, it's an exciting time for the next wave of tennis fans.

Mana Hayashida: South's iconic golf-her Sam McFarland & Cooper McFarland

The only thing that gets to me a lot is the fact that I obviously can't hit as far as the guys so it's a little bit annoying having to you know, adjust to that.

Q&A Sports Reporter, Sports Contributor

Mana Hayashida '25 Varsity golf team member

Q: How did you first become interested in the golf team?

A: My interest in golf stems from the fact that my grandparents on my father's side are very big on golf, so I've always done it recreationally. As a child growing up, there was one point where I was really into golf, but then I stopped playing for a while because I thought it was embarassing to play as a girl. And then sophomore year in high school, I decided to start playing golf and that's how I got my start on the high school golf team.

Q: What is your experience been like as the only girl?

A: Everyone's very nice and friendly to me. I don't feel excluded. I mean, there are times when it's like, oh, it's all guys, and I kind of like look back and [think], I'm the only girl.

Q: Have you encountered any misconceptions or stereotypes about girls? In Golf and how have you addressed them?

A: There's this idea that we're not as good. We obviously can't physically hit it as far. A lot of people often equate how good you are at golf to how far you can hit it. But being good around the green, like your approach shots, are equally as important. When you get to a certain level, that really differentiates who's good and who's better. Also, there's a common

misconception that a lot of the girls who do it are just doing it because they like dressing up in the outfits.

Q: What can do in South do to encourage more girls to participate in golf?

A: This was something I saw last year, but when you register for the golf team, it just says boys golf. If you look at that, as a girl, you're going to be like, 'Oh, it's only like a boy sport.' I think they've changed it to say 'girls and boys golf ', but I do think there needs to be more exposure to golf, whether it be like through different programs, or just like in wellness and stuff like that. But I understand that it's an expensive sport, but I grew up just playing on public courses, and a lot of people don't see how [affordable] it could be. photo courtesy Legacy Studios

Hayashida follows through on her swing in a home match against Arlington Catholic

Justin Feinberg '16 Varsity golf team Assistant Coach Q: What are your thoughts about Mana being the only girl on the golf team?

A: She fits in very well. I don't see anybody acting or treating her any different because she is the only girl.She's having a good season and she's been helping us get some big points on certain matches. ... She can play in the girls tournament in the spring as an individual, but for the fall, she plays with the boys. She's another person on the team and we just treat her like that.

Q: Why do you think only one girl has joined the team?

A: I'm honestly not sure. We advertise the same to girls and boys, and we don't make it sound like it's an all boys team ...There have been three or four girls on the team, so I'm really not sure why we've only had one girl try out, but we definitely enjoy having her on the team.

Q: What kind of energy does Mana add to the team? What makes her an interesting player?

A: As a golfer, she plays very simple golf.

Some people [are] out of trouble when Mona makes a par. It's usually fairway: green, two pots. Very simple, and that's good. That's the way she is. She hits it pretty straight, and usually doesn't do anything too fancy and keeps it simple. She just she's fairway green to pot sets, and that's good.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

sports | page 21

Scandal to Solidarity Unpacking the Luis Rubiales incident that overshadowed Spain's 2023 Women's World Cup win

By Charlie Bluestein

T

he Federation Internationale de Football (FIFA) Women's World Cup, hailed as the pinnacle of women's soccer, is one of the largest global sporting events. This prestigious tournament shines a light on the exceptional athletic prowess of female soccer players, who are making strides both on the field and in gender equality and empowerment.

This year, however, the athletics weren’t what sparked mass media coverage and publicity. Spain, the victors of this year’s tournament, had their celebration overshadowed by a sexual assault scandal that has dominated headlines all over the world.

President of Spain’s national soccer federation Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed Spain’s star player Jenni Hermoso during the celebration following the final whistle. The kiss sent shockwaves through the realm of sports, opening a floodgate of support for Hermoso and outrage towards Rubiales. The case is yet another instance of men in power taking advantage of women, and it further ignites the fight towards the equal treatment of women and men in sports.

This incident of sexual misconduct is not isolated: it highlights problems that Spain has had with sexism and gender inequality going back decades. From the late 1930s to the 70s, Spain was ruled by a dictator named Francisco Franco whose regime was characterized by a culture of “machismo”, the belief in male supremacy. Male aggression and violence towards women was pervasive during the middle of the 20th century. During this period, women were denied the right to vote, lacked the ability to seek divorce from their husbands and were expected to fulfill traditional and domestic roles while their husbands worked.

Members of the Spanish government

graphic by Clare Cho

photo courtesy The Telegraph

Luis Rubiales plants a kiss on Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup awards ceremony saw the parallels immediately. The Minister of Labour, Yolanda Díaz spoke out to reporters after a meeting with leaders of the players’ union.

“On Friday (the day of the World Cup Final) we saw the worst of Spanish society, of the structural machismo of this country,” she said.

The country has modernized, but the women of Spain have not forgotten the abuse they suffered at the hands of men in power. The Rubiales affair has reopened these wounds, and women across the country were quick to support Hermoso and call out Rubiales’ conduct.

The ongoing situation immediately sparked fresh discussions regarding abuse within high-level sports and has reignited the #MeToo movement within Spain. The #MeToo movement, originally established in 2006 in New York, aims to empower women who have experienced traumatic abuse by fostering empathy, particularly among young and vulnerable women.

During the late 2010s, the movement swept through Twitter with women from across the world sharing their support and bringing the issue of abuse to public light. This was revitalized in Spain following Rubiales’ behavior and his refusal to take responsibility. For many people, the kiss was seen as an obvious attempt for a man in a position of power to take advantage of someone, and it would be a travesty of justice if he was allowed to get away with it.

Rubiales has gone on record to defend his actions and cast himself as the victim of far-left feminism. He initially downplayed his own actions.

“I made some obvious mistakes, which I sincerely regret from the bottom of my heart,” he said in a statement published widely in Spanish media. “The spontaneity and happiness of this historic moment led us to carry out a mutual and

consensual act, the product of great enthusiasm.”

Rubiales’ words did not resonate with the Spanish Women's National Soccer Team, particularly Hermoso, who reiterated that in no way was there consent for the kiss.

“I feel obligated to report that [Rubiales’] words explaining the unfortunate incident were categorically false and part of the manipulative culture that he himself has generated,” Hermoso said on her social media days after the incident.

Hermoso’s personal statement cleared up any confusion on whether the kiss was consensual or not, and levied the full blame on Rubiales. FIFA, the Spanish Football Federation and many people of the Spanish public began calling for his resignation.

The country, now fully demanding his resignation, was astonished when Rubiales continued to assert that he "will not resign" and claimed the inquiry into his conduct was a“witch hunt” in a speech. In his address, he criticized what he referred to as "false feminism" while simultaneously attempting to paint himself as a victim and reinterpret the incident as "a mere peck."

After weeks of refusing to step aside, Rubiales was finally pressured into resigning, but without after heavy personal pushback. His mother went on a hunger strike to try and prove her son’s innocence, but to no avail. Rubiales left his position as a disgraced public figure — a historic win for Spanish women.

The abuse Hermoso suffered is a symptom of the emotional and physical manipulation of female athletes, a deep-seated problem in women’s sports. Yet the commitment of feminist allies worldwide to advocate for Hermoso and the rights of female athletes demonstrates the power of the people to inspire real change in unjust situations.

Touchdown Torture Mitchell Lookner Sports Contributor

Having a raw egg dumped on your head or running a mile after drinking a gallon of milk may seem like something to avoid at all costs, but those are just a few consequences fantasy football players risk facing each season.

The game is called fantasy football, but the league’s format is akin to the NFL, and the game’s realism is what enraptures many.

But for some dedicated (or masochistic) team managers, fantasy football is not just a game; there are inventive and intense punishments if you lose, subjecting you to shame and humiliation in front of — or at the hands of — your friends.

While some fantasy football leagues consist of randomly-connected strangers, the leagues with the most dramatic punishments often consist of groups of friends or family members. For the participants, having fun is the most important aspect, but to spice up the game, leagues not only create an incentive to win but also impetus not to lose.

In recent years, fantasy football punishments have skyrocketed in popularity, sparking more innovative ways to torture the losers of the league.

Some of the printable punishments include: waxing particularly hairy body parts, getting an embarrassing tattoo, being locked inside a cage, or running around a track after eating copious amounts of food.

Nauseated running is more common than you may think, even outside of football season — the boy’s cross country team has a yearly tradition of running a mile on the track, drinking 16 ounces of chocolate milk after each of the four laps.

Extreme punishments happen at South too. An anonymous student revealed that as a consequence of their fantasy football loss, they were forced to spend twenty-four hours inside an IHOP restaurant, with an hour being shaved off their time for every pancake they ate.

They were trapped between a rock and a hard place: either suffer through twentyfour hours of mind-numbing boredom at a dingy IHOP or brave the bloating, nausea, or other pancake-related-ailments that come with stuffing oneself with a ginormous portion of the International House Of Pancakes’ premiere breakfast food.

As fantasy football season progresses and the possibility of being a recipient of a creatively cruel punishment inches closer, players tend to take the season more seriously. While it is unlikely that you will be the loser who must accept their fate with a stiff upper lip, there is always a possibility, so you must be on your A-game to solidify yourself as a real competitor, and not a chump on the bottom.

Otherwise, it could be you eating endless amounts of pancakes.

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page 22 | sports

the lion's roar

Get a whiff of this new sophomore league Jonny Giragos, Ronen Heimlich & Matteo Lee Sports Contributors, Sports Reporter

Last spring, freshman CJ O'Toole wanted to find a new way to bring a group of friends even closer together: the answer? Wiffle ball.

Although the concept of a student-run sports league is not new, the first-ever season of White Ave. Wiffle Ball (WAWB) knocked it out of the park. The group had over 30 dedicated participants, all from the class of 2026.

The league consists of six teams, each captained by one of O’Toole’s closest friends — Dylan Frassica, Wesley Moore, Ricky Morrison, James O’Connell, Connor Schofield, and Yoni Shavelsky — and named after a minor league baseball team: the Flying Squirrels, Indians, Mighty Muscles, Stripers, Trash Pandas and the Yard Goats. In an effort to make the league higher stakes, there was a ten-dollar buy-in for every player.

Measuring 80 feet to center field and 40 to left and right, O’Toole converted his family backyard into a stadium fit for high-quality wiffle ball. The strike zone was an elevated zone off the ground measuring about two by two feet. Strikes were only called if the ball hit the zone, so instead of having to argue over strikes and balls, there was always a definitive answer to the call.

A typical game day consisted of multiple six-inning games, filled with curveballs, grand slams and heated scuffles — all of which could be viewed electronically via Instagram Live. With a packed schedule of games, doubts

arose about the availability of all 30 players; spring sports schedules meant many students had numerous time conflicts.

To fit in all the games, players had to sacrifice after-school hours to finish the season.

For spring athletes like league MVP Nathan Feldman, the schedule was especially tough to balance.

“I had baseball practices six days a week, but I always had time for WAWB on the weekends,” he said.

To conclude the season, a wild championship series was played out on the last day of school, with over 30 people attending the final. Dylan Frassica, captain of the

Stripers, said the most intense moment of the season was the finals.

“A lot of people were watching, and money was on the line,” he said.

The five-game championship series went the distance, but eventually, the Flying Squirrels, captained by Wes Moore, prevailed.

Gavin McDonald, humorously awarded the league’s least valuable player, said his favorite moment from the season was when he hit his first home run, which was a grand slam.

“Everyone was counting me out,” he said. “They said I'd never touch the field. No one believed in me.”

McDonald got his retribution when he hit his debut grand slam.

“As I walk up to home plate, my theme

photos by James O'Connell

Fall Sports Scoreboard

song [Danza Kuduro] starts to play,” he said.

“The fans are chanting El Blanca, which was my nickname in WAWB.” Players all across the skill spectrum were able to participate successfully. Their experience ranged from varsity-level baseball players to those who had never held a bat before.

The unpredictability surrounding player performance made every game unprecedented and fresh.

The consensus among players is that WAWB is here to stay, and the sport of wiffle ball continues to capture the exciting, youthful culture of high school. More importantly, O’Toole said WAWB is an example of how sports can be used to bring people together.

“I wanted to start bringing my friends closer together and expanding our friend group,” O’Toole said. “It's a great experience to help people learn how to play wiffle ball.”

Stripers Team Captain Dylan Frassica said that it was the little things, like making homemade jerseys and having funny team names that made the league truly special.

“My team is successful in many ways, except for winning,” he said. “We were successful at staying committed to the league and we home-made the best jerseys.”

After a successful inaugural season, the second season of White Ave. Wiffle Ball will take place this spring. Players like Keshav Kollipara, a member of the Stripers, said he is excited for the reprise of the league this coming spring.

“I’m really looking forward to WAWB this spring,” he said. “The league is growing, and more people are getting involved.”

Infographic by Risha Sinha and photos by Tate Slater

Girl's Volleyball Q&A With captain Sasha Vorobyov #19

Q: The girls volleyball team has been arguably the best team at South this year. What have been the keys to your success?

A: One of the keys to our success is our team meshes really well. [The varsity team] is all very close friends, but we're also really close with the JV and freshman teams. Having that support system is really important for us to be able to keep a clear head during games and not get mad at each other.

Q: How have you guys grown and improved as a team throughout the season?

A: We didn't start off the strongest we can play. I think it's just healthy as ateam to see each other progress. We've definitely been getting better during the season. We haven't really had like a static season, which sometimes can happen. This year, I can tell that the team environment and the skill level have been getting better.

Boy'sSoccerQ&A With captain Kai van Beever #9

Q: What is the team atmosphere like and how has it impacted your season?

A: It's been pretty great. We all love each other. This year, everyone sort of loves each other in the same way. And so I think everyone really puts it all to this into this team.

It definitely suits the tone. I feel like it's tone is brotherhood Q: What do you think of the soccer team compared to other years?

A: I think we're really good. I mean, all individual players are really, really good.

We have a really good defense, a really good midfield and a really good offense. We've lost two games, but I think once we put the pieces together We'll be unstoppable. We'll just see how far we go.

Q: This is a second year in a row that the soccer team has been a top team at south.

How have you guys maintained this level of success?

A: I think what set the precedent was last year. Last year set what South should be as a soccer team. So I think a lot of that our drive is like we reached that goal last year. We made it to top eight instates [last year]. We want to go higher. The program has a new tone to the news past.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

fun page | page 23

CROSSWORD! A speckling of sundries for this spooky season DOWN 1) What do you call a wizard who’s good with ceramics? Harry _______.

2) “Leave the gun. Take the _______” - The Godfather (1972) 3) Kansas City Chiefs’ #87, tight end and brother to Jason 5) How James Bond prefers his martinis 7) One of the genres offered in the Music Mentorship program (page 18) 9) All Hallows’ Eve 11) Nickname for Luigi; name of a supermodel (page 11) 13) Not left 14) Band; place to watch TV (page 16) 17) Golfer who is breaking down South’s gender barriers one swing at a time (page 20)

ACROSS 4) Name of a middle school, color and dean.

6) South sports team with the most wins 8) What do you call a fish with no eyes?

10) What you do when the alarm clock rings in the morning.

12) The teeth that are often removed in adulthood 15) “Despicable Me” character with direction and magnitude 16) Gourds that are mutilated once a year in preparation for Oct. 31 18) Only House Speaker to require 15 elections to get the job and one to be removed.

19) Project that Spanish Club has been working on for three years (page 15)

ANSWERS: Pottery, Cannoli, Travis, Brown, Shaken, Volleyball, Jazz, Fsh, Halloween, Snooze, Gigi, Wisdom, Right, Couch, Vector, Pumpkin, Mana, McCarthy, Mural

Today's Roaroscope Look to the stars!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Embrace your mysterious side this Halloween. Your costume will be so subtle and enigmatic that nobody will quite figure it out.

k

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): You are too old to go trick-o-treating. Fine, fine, don’t cry, you can go. But just know, you are the teenage version of a Disney adult (not a compliment).

l a b

Aries (March 21-April 19): Try not to create a pulpy mess of the other jack-o-lanterns if you lose a pumpkin carving contest: use the mindfulness techniques you learned in wellness or math class!

Taurus (April 20-May 20): You correct your teacher's grammar and point out typos in the textbooks. Just remember, nobody likes a know-it-all... except your English teacher, maybe.

c d e j

Gemini (May 21- June 20): Your two-faced nature really shines in group projects. You're either doing all the work or vanishing into thin air. Your partners never know which they're going to get. You keep them on their toes.

Cancer (June 21- July 22): The master of last-minute cramming and acing tests, you’ve been nurturing your procrastination skills this year — don’t worry, we’ve noticed! We all quietly pray on your downfall.

g

Libra (Sept. 23- Oct. 22): By the time you finish editing your papers, the subject has gone extinct. Costume selection a is nightmare. You'll change your mind 13 times before settling on "Sexy Cat™." Hey, it's a classic!

f i h

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 21): You'll strut into class with all the confidence in the world, only to find out that your fly is down.

Happy Halloween!

Leo (July 23- Aug. 22): You lead your friends through the haunted house.

Your battle cry is "I'm not scared!", but secretly, you jump at every sound. If only you had this dogged fearlessness when it came to talking to your crush…

Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21): Pro tip: when you drive (or park!), try to avoid hitting other things and people. On Oct. 31st, try pretending to be someone who has their sh*t together. Who knows? Maybe it’ll stick!

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22): You insist on organizing a candy-swap spreadsheet for your friends. Ghosts don't faze you, but you'll let out a bloodcurdling scream if someone gets chocolate on your costume.

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 19): You approach school like a business venture, but that doesn't mean your classmates want to see your PowerPoint presentation on how to maximize efficiency in your pencil case.

Follow @nshslionsroar for 10 years of good luck – it’s your cosmic destiny!

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