Westminster News 10/26/17 by Westminster School

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Westminster School Simsbury, CT 06070 www.westminster-school.org

Vol. 107 No. 1

Fall 2017

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Armstrong Dining Hall

Martlet Mush Recap

The perfect addition to campus

BY A L B E R T G AO '18 & M I K E R I B E R DY '18 COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR & SCIENCE EDITOR

Westminster Instagram

All students, faculty members, and parents were invited to walk, jog, or run the 5K course.

INSIDE

On October 16th, a crisp autumn day, 168 people participated in the annual Martlet Mush organized by Mr. de Kanter and the cross country team. Students, faculty members, and parents were all invited to walk, jog, or run the campus 5K course, taking a break from their busy lives at school or at work. With a loud and exciting gunshot, dozens of martlets sprinted out of the starting line and enjoyed the afternoon

with a jog around campus, an exciting activity to replace a regular athletic practice. Liam Tucker '18, a new post-graduate martlet on the Second Boys’ soccer team, was first to cross the finish line at 19:44, breaking the Mush record that was set in 2002. The second and third finishers, Nate Pane '19 and Juan Jo Garibay '20, are both on the First Boys’ soccer team. Ms. Powel lead the female runners with a blazingly fast finish-

Autonomous Cars North Korea Missile Crisis Black Light Dance Student & Faculty Profile

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ing time of 22:19. The winner for each category of runners received a special T-shirt as a memento of this memorable event. Though the cross country team was unable to successfully set up the race clock, the team was able to guard the donuts and apples under the watchful eye of Mr. Briggs. As the protector of the donuts, Mr. Briggs mandated that every participant eat three or more donuts, and Curtis Brockelman '17 now holds the record for the most donuts eaten at the Mush -- a stunning twelve! At lunch the next day, Mr. de Kanter gave his second shout out of the year to Mr. Gritzmacher. While, in his first announcement, Mr. de Kanter congratulated Mr. G for turning 40 years old, the second announcement was focused on Mr. G’s dual talent as a guitar player and as the fastest male faculty Mush runner of the year. Overall, the run was fun, the food was fantastic, and Andrew Doucette '18’s tunes were classic.

BY E U G E N E K I M '19 STAFF WRITER

Westminster Flickr

Pictured above: students enjoying their meal at the Armstrong Dining Hall. There are many factors that to its construction, students dined determine a boarding school’s on campus. Despite its tradition, quality — its school curriculum, Cushing did not have the capacathletic programs, and dorm ity to fit four hundred students in qualities all help parents and addition to all faculty members students choose which commu- for all-school gatherings. Family nity they wish to join. A boarding style dinner did not obligate the school’s dining hall is especially attendance of day students, and important, as the meals it serves it was only held a maximum of to the students will fuel them in twice a week. Also, students tendboth their academic and athletic ed to dislike the idea of changing endeavors. As for Westminster, from classroom dress, to casual the construction of the new dress, then to exam, all within Armstrong Dining Hall is yet one afternoon. another characteristic that serves One of the biggest changes to attract prospective students that occurred with the new buildand enrich the lives of current ing was the origination of famMartlets. ily style lunch. Unlike its dinner The Armstrong Dining Hall counterpart, family style lunch was presented to students at the requires all students to attend, commencement of the fall season including day students. The of the 2017-18 school year. Prior Continued on page 6

Ask a senior: Zach Tarazi!

New Student Center Page 4

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THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Opinion Issue of Female Representation in Popular Media Why people are calling for a stronger female presence in popular media, and why it matters

Family Style Lunch Student pros and cons on the reinvention of a tradition

BY A B IG AY L E H OV E Y '18 & I N DI R A M A R Z B A N I '18 COMMUNITY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR

BY V E R N I TA Z H A I ' 2 0 STAFF WRITER

If an extraterrestrial being were to learn about us earthlings through a sample of modern-day films, it would most likely derive two worrisome and erroneous conclusions : that females comprise less than 30% of the human population, and that females exist solely to enable the success of men. Throughout much of civilised history, females have gone about their day-to-day lives as daughters and wives, as caregivers and child-bearers, unaware of their potential beyond domestic spheres and fallaciously mistaking the limitations imposed upon them by society as inherent limitations that come with being a woman. Abolishing the deeply ingrained gender norms that plague society is no easy task, but there is no better time than now : never before has the idea of female empowerment been as relevant, and never before has both the silver screen and small screen been so widely marketable. Popular media, as one of the most pervasive forces in the mod-

ern age, should rise above being a mere source of entertainment to become an agent of advocacy in transforming society’s perception of women. T he problemat ic nat u re of female presence in the media lies in both the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of female characters. Just under half (49%) of the world population is female, and so by simple transposition, there should be 4.9 female characters for every 5 male characters. This is simply not the reality. In 2014, a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film and appropriately titled ‘It’s A Man’s (Celluloid) World’ found that females comprise only 12% of all clearly distinguishable protagonists, and no more than 29% of all major characters. Even females who assume major roles are all too often underwritten in comparison to their male counterparts, and many, despite possessing immense potential in terms of character development,

are sadly reduced to space holders and plot devices. While at a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, Jessica Chastain, an Oscar-nominated actress who has numerous critically acclaimed titles to her name, expressed her hope that the industry will actively work towards including more female characters who are ‘proactive’, who have ‘their own agencies’, and who ‘don’t just react to the men around them’. In other words, it is not enough for films to mindlessly include women for the sake of it; there is simply no benefit in having passive, vacant female characters whose presence only furthers the disparaging stereotypes that surround femininity. Rather, we need female characters who are assertive and independent, who are unapologetically brave and outspoken, and even ones that are vulnerable, cynical or morally f lawed. The bottomline is that more attention should be invested in developing Continued on page 9

The End of Environmentalism

Could Trump’s political agenda destroy hope for a green society? BY C O N N O R S E E L E Y '18 POLITICS EDITOR

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The Paris Climate Accord represented an international movement in the green direction. Va l id ated i n 2015, T he Paris Agreement, or The Paris Climate Accord, was intended as a symbolic pledge against “Global Warming” and the problems that associate with it. The agreement required no specific or immediate action, but rather represented an international movement in the green direction. When first presented, the pledge was agreed upon and signed by every single one of the world’s countries

excluding Syria, who was too distraught with war and terrorism to bother, and Nicaragua, who believed the movement to be far from radical enough. R e c e nt l y, how e ve r, t he United States, the world’s second largest producer of carbon emissions, became just the third country to release itself from the pact. Since his inauguration, Trump has actively decreased the government’s involvement in green

movements. Early this summer, he went as far as banning the phrase “climate change” from EPA discussion. So what does this mean for the United States, the International Community and the human race? Fortunately, the nations that remain loyal to The Paris Climate Accords (192/195) have pledged to continue combating climate change without the help of the U.S. Several states have publicly promised to fund domestic initiatives, like public transportation, “with or without the support of Donald Trump”. In truth, Trump’s political agenda has the potential to seriously dent the progress that has thus far been made towards reducing global warming. Without government based incentives, like green taxes or tax reductions, it is unlikely that major corporations will opt for more expensive, environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuel combustion or waste management. Should such trends continue, and they likely will, increased importance will be placed on the individual citizen and their daily consumption patterns.

Westminster Instagram

The deans are making an announcement regarding dress code after lunch. As students came back to campus this fall, nobody was sure what to expect as Westminster changed its style from family style dinner, usually occurring two or three times per week, to family style lunch four days a week. It was a hard adjustment to make at first, especially for the returning students who were used to sit down dinner. Change is always a challenge. As with any break from tradition, there are many opinions about family style lunch. Some people have embraced it wholeheartedly, while others are less keen. Whatever side you find yourself on, there are pros and cons to the new lunch and some adjustments that might be considered. Being assigned to sit with d i f ferent people e ac h week streng thens our communit y. Westminster is already a close, tight-knit school, but sometimes it can be hard to reach out to students one doesn’t see as often in the sphere of one’s experiences. Emma Davis '18, commented, “I think family style lunch allows us to expand our horizons and meet new people that we wouldn’t otherwise run into during our normal daily routine. It’s all positive here!” Family style lunch allows students to have stimulating conversation with faculty members and peers that open minds to different perspectives and help push students out of their comfort zone as we are forced to spend one meal away from our friends.

Having mandatory lunch also frees up our evenings, allowing extra study time and a chance to get off campus and enjoy lunch with friends downtown or in West Hartford. In addition, family style lunch is a great opportunity to practice real-life scenarios. During college or job interviews, it is crucial to practice good manners, and carry on a conversation with whomever you meet. The ending of family style is overlooked, but every time we practice shaking hands with a faculty member, students are practicing for the many opportunities and interactions in our future. Despite some of the many pros of this new system, some students still feel as if sit down dinners were the preferable method. “Sit down lunches are a lot more frequent than the sit down dinners that we had last year”, Fiona Fan '18 commented, “and they take up time that a lot of people would otherwise spend studying”. Fiona, like many returning students, would spend the majority of her lunch block studying. Also, sometimes the dynamic at family style lunch can be quiet or a little frosty. Socializing with people of different interests, hobbies and experiences is not always easy. All in all, family style lunch definitely has its pros and cons, but it has been an enjoyable experience and will definitely add to our school’s strong community.

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THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Opinion North Korea Missile Crisis

Review of the New Schedule

Accelerated development heightens tension

How does the community perceive it?

BY Y U N A L E E '19 & G E E N A K I M ‘ 2 0

BY S C O T T L E E ' 2 0 & T R AV I S PAU L S E N ' 2 0 STAFF WRITERS

ASSISTANT LAYOUT & ARTS EDITOR

Daily Mail

Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea, has fired 22 missiles during 15 tests this year. Since Kim Jong Un’s inauguration in 2011, North Korea’s missile arsenal has progressed significantly from unrefined artillery to long-range missiles allegedly capable of striking international targets, including the United States. In recent weeks, the tension between North Korea and the United States has escalated with the success of North Korean

ballistic missile testing, the tempo of tests accelerating notably from those under the former chief Kim Jong Il. Kim Jong Un has fired 22 missiles during 15 tests this year already, numbers that far exceed those of his father and grandfather, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il. Although North Korea did Continued on page 4

For the 2017-2018 school year, Westminster shifted away from its traditional eight block schedule. For this academic year, Westminster decided to implement a new, seven block schedule with family-style lunch blocks to help accommodate some new changes. The biggest reason behind this change was to provide the students with more freetime and breaks during the school day and to implement family-style lunches. For the school day itself, this seven block schedule allowed Westminster to offer more breaks during the school day compared to the eight block schedule. For example, while in the previous eight block schedule some students had to endure the rigor of four consecutive classes without breaks on half-days, the new schedule only has three blocks which are interrupted with a meeting block on half-days. In terms of time after the school day, the seven block schedule allows more free time for boarders by

eliminating family style dinner. Eliminating this evening obligation permits boarders more free time during the evening, replacing family style dinner with family style lunch. In order to further evaluate the consequences of the new schedule, we interviewed a few members of the Westminster community. Two peers, Jack Murdock '19 a nd A lec Paro '19, have said they enjoyed the early dismissal on Tuesdays and Fridays, because it gives them more time between the last class of the day and their afternoon commitment. They both also mentioned that they have enjoyed the greater amount of time to meet with their advisors this year, compared to a short, twenty minute block in last year’s schedule. However, Murdock and Paro, both happened to say their least favorite part of the new schedule is the reduction of free time during the school day to do homework and to relax. This lack of free time perceived by many is the

unfortunate price of enjoying a free afternoon. We also interviewed a faculty member, Mr. Curtis. His favorite part of the new schedule was the addition of family style lunch to the school day. Mr. Curtis has enjoyed meeting new students at family style lunch tables, which may be due to the fact that day students, who hardly attended family style dinner, are now able to attend family style lunch. Mr. Curtis, however, has struggled with the part of the new schedule in which a class may not meet for an extended amount of time. This phenomenon occurs partly due to the rearrangement of Wednesdays and Saturdays depending on the specific weeks. A lthough this year’s new schedule has some flaws, students have been able to make some minor adjustments to their daily lives on the Hill. Overall, this new schedule appears to be a success in the start of the Fall 2017 term.

What if autonomous cars are a bad thing? Driverless cars, the environment, and the future of cities BY S E A N R Y A N '18 SCIENCE EDITOR

Editorial Board

Politics

Co-Editors-in-Chief Ryan Lee '18 & Teagan Stedman '18 Connor Seely '18 Jeevan Palani '19

Donatella Mancinone '18

Community

Albert Gao '18 Abigayle Hovey '18

Boys’ Sports Josh Cosentino '18 Matt Consentino '18 Vincent Wang '19

Arts

Girls’ Sports Justin Parsons '20 Annabel Bradley '19

Science

Sean Ryan '18 Mike Riberdy '18

Photo

SK Lee '18 Ilaria Quentin '18 Katie Kosior '18

Nick Wee '18

Layout

Geena Kim '20 Vernita Zhai '20

Assistant Layout Yuna Lee '19 Hannah Kaye '19 Student Life

Fiona Fan '18

Faculty Advisor Lawrence Court

Staff Writers Eugene Kim '19 Travis Paulsen '20

Scott Lee '20 Daniel Pinckney '20

Maddie Vanech '19 Liam Seely '20

Contributors Indira Marzbani '18 Katie Neilsen '18 Hudson Stedman '21 Stacia McBreen '18 The Westminster News prints between 250 to 500 copies, issued four times per school year. The News is offered for free to students (65 Third Formers, 110 Fourth Formers, 110 Fifth Formers, and 110 Sixth Formers), faculty and staff (150), and is also available online. The opinions expressed represent those of the authors, not necessarily those of The Westminster News or Westminster School. We invite all members of the community to share their opinions in these pages. Articles

Emma Alpaugh '18 Porter Girty '18 Jimmy Zhang '18 are published at the discretion of The News which reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, clarity, or factual accuracy. Anyone interested in contributing to The Westminster News should contact Ryan Lee '18 or Teagan Stedman '18, or any member of the Editorial Board for information on how to submit writing, photographs, etc. The Westminster News is associated with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Google

A self-driving car developed by Google. The rise of autonomous vehicles, widely considered the cutting edge of technology today, will have serious consequences on the planet and the way we live. Simply put, these cars will revolutionize our society; however, whether or not these changes are beneficial will be up to us. The fate of this technology ultimately lies in the hands of policymakers, engineers, and even consumers. I don’t need to discuss the obvious benefits of autonomous cars, such as the marked decrease in accidents caused by eliminating

human error. The grave, largely overlooked issue that autonomous driving presents is an environmental one, and has to do with cities, urban sprawl, and the growing ecological footprint of humans. When people think of autonomous driving, many think of being able to sleep or do work in the car during their daily commute. The appeal of these vehicles encourages people to live farther away from their jobs, to move out away from the city and into the suburbs. For example, those who

live in a city and used to bike and take the subway instead opt to live in a suburban neighborhood, where the long commute can be handled by the self-driving car. The problem is that this kind of lifestyle, which may emerge in an autonomous future, jeopardizes the condition of our environment. This huge increase in vehicle miles may cause huge increases in congestion, unprecedented urban sprawl and blight, among other undesirable effects. The appeal of autonomous driving, and what it entails for the passenger, may very well kickstart a mass exodus away from urban areas. Biking, transit, and multiuse development are what make cities thriving areas. And autonomous cars may disrupt sustainable urban development and other environmentally-friendly trends that have improved life in cities and decreased their negative impact on the environment. As with all technological advancements, the specifics of implementation, regulation and human usage will determine success and sustainability. That being said, consumers need to be mindful of lifestyle changes that may increase their ecological footprint.

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Community A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Fall Production

New Student Center January 3rd — The date we are all waiting for

The Captivating Play

BY H U D S O N S T E D M A N ' 21

BY M A D DI E VA N E C H '19

CONTRIBUTOR

STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Werner Centennial Center, Westminster School's theater. We s t m i n s t e r ’s D r a m a t Association is excited to present our rendition of Shakespeare’s famous A Midsummer Night’s Dream on November 9th, 10th and 11th. The comedy was written in 1595/6 and explores a fantastical world of fairies, magic and love. In the show, the Duke of Athens, Theseus, is about to marry Hippolyta, a former Amazonian queen, when an angry mother, Egea --textually, a father named Egeus-- appears in his court fuming because her daughter, Hermia, fights against her arranged marriage to Demetrius in pursuit of another man -Lysander. “I play Lysander, who is one of the four Athenian lovers,” says Curtis Brockelman '19, “He’s in love with Hermia, and Hermia loves him, but they can’t get married because of her parent’s wishes.” To complicate the situation further, Demetrius is constantly courted by a distraught Helena, an Athenian woman with whom he once had an affair. Julia Krys '19 (Hermia) lightheartedly

describes this as a “love quadrangle”. Two more subplots intertwine with that of the lovers -- an eclectic band of “mechanicals” (actors) attempt to put on a play under the direction of passionate Quince and narcissistic Nick Bottom; and Fairy King Oberon, through the actions of his servant Puck, plots to humiliate his wife, Titania, who has cheated on him. Surprisingly, these worlds come together quite coherently. In the context of challenging text and precise storytelling, the cast and crew have bonded as friends and artists. Fiona Fan '18 (Titania) ref lects that she, “thought the Shakespearean language would be a challenge, and it is; but everyone is making it come together very well, and it’s been great getting to know all the cast members, both new and old to dramat.” Rehearsals are full of laughter, especially when Shakespeare’s crafty jokes are understood. But practice yields more than an exciting way to enjoy an afternoon. Jordan Clapprood '18 and

Celenah Watson '19, the beloved dramat Presidents, work each day as stage manager and assistant stage manager, respectively, to keep actors, and occasionally our perfectly eccentric director, on track. The tech shop, which creates the beautiful set for each production, is also abuzz with creative energy thanks to Ozzy Kutluel '18, Donatella Mancinone '18, and Jean-Claude Lane '21, and our resident Wizard. From the combined effort of cast and crew, a solid piece of theater emerges. Dylan found it “amazing to watch people grow and understand these complicated and silly characters through what many think is confusing language. I hope lots of people will come to watch the outcome!” Jack Detwiler '19 (Theseus/Oberon) is also enthralled by the progress that extensive rehearsal has created: “Ever since we all got a handle on the the language of the show we’ve really gotten a chance to explore our respective characters and add a lot of personality and depth to each of our performances. I think that’ll really be a stand out part of the show as a whole come opening night.” So, consider this a formal invitation! Ozzy promises a magical world through set, sound and light; Kaitlyn promises some killer physical comedy; and Celenah promises that our lines will be memorized. But, perhaps most importantly, Curtis promises that the show is “definitely worth seeing even if you’re not super into Shakespeare.” Though it is hard to be objective, as I am a member of the cast, I find our show captivating and would strongly encourage anyone to come see the beautiful accumulation of our hard work.

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Proposed interior rendering. Along with the start of the 2017-18 school year came the opening of a state-of-the-art dining hall that accommodates all 397 students for the introduction of family style lunch. Moving the dining hall from its original location in Cushing to an all new facility meant opening up a large area for a different purpose. As many of you have heard or seen, this space will soon be home to the Brockelman Student Center, replacing the Timken Student Center adjacent to the Kohn Squash Pavilion. Tom Earl, CFO, confirms that the new Brockelman Student Center has a planned completion date of January 3rd, 2018 — the day students return from winter break. As a very anticipated central hangout location, the new student center offers quite an upgrade in terms of facilities and amenities. In addition to a TV area complete with sound systems, there will be a grill serving burgers, fries, sandwiches, milkshakes, and more — that sounds like anything a stu-

dent could ask for. However, the list goes on: there will also be a room with a pool table, foosball, air hockey, and more. Mr. Earl has also informed that they are hoping to bring Brookside Bagels here as well. Take a moment. You may cry if you need to, though it is still in the works, so we cannot become too prematurely ecstatic. Aside from this, the Westminster community is extremely eager for the opening of the Brockelman Student Center and the memories it will bring. To those who have accidentally walked into the temporary wall while navigating through Cushing, or those who hear the non-stop sounds of machinery, the day-to-day construction you witness will only be in effect for a few short months now, and in its place will be the new social space of campus, with everything one could wish for.

North Korea Missile Crisis Continued from Page 3

not launch any missiles for two months during Trump’s inauguration, they have tested at least one missile per month since February 12. Speculations abound concerning the motives behind these missile programs. Considering that Pyongyang has fired an average of one missile per week since the election of President Moon Jae-in (following the impeachment of former President Park

Geun-hye), it is likely that North Korea is seeking political presence over not only South Korea, but also China and the United States. The May launch coincided with the One Belt One Road summit in Beijing, while the February launch occurred simultaneously with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to the U.S. The ultimate goal of these tests is to perfect a missile capable of reaching the United States, ana-

lysts say. North Korea believes that President Trump will eventually try to remove Kim Jong Un from power. Indeed, Michael Hayden, the director of the CIA from 2006 to 2009, speculates that North Korea could develop a long-range missile capable of reaching Seattle before the end of Trump’s first term. With the crisis rapidly accelerating, President Trump’s recent activity in social media, publically

provoking the “rogue regime,” has intensified the tension between North Korea and the United States. Trump has been overtly denouncing Kim Jong Un, referring to him as “the little rocket man” and even as a madman. In response, Kim Jong Un reciprocated the derogatory comments, insulting Trump with the phrase “mentally deranged” and issuing a threat against Guam -- a “salvo of missiles,” should Trump continue

his “provocations.” Mo s t re c ent ly, i n Ju ly, P yong ya ng launched a missile over the Hokkaido island of Japan. In response to the escalating crisis, South Korea has been preparing for a possible nuclear attack by running drills, while Hawaii is busy establishing an air siren warning system as well as notifying the public to store emergency food and medical supplies.

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Community Black Light Dance What else could we ask for? BY A N N A B E L B R A D L E Y '19 GIRLS' SPORTS EDITOR

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

We kicked off the year with an awesome first dance filled with dance circles, glow-in-the-dark face outfits, and crazy dance moves. Many girls wore neon outfits, shiny sunglasses, or vibrant body paint, and some even had glow-in-the-dark shoes. “The first dance of the year is always exciting and fun!” said Ondine Finley '19. The dance had a great playlist that kept the mood high and everyone enthusiastic. Nate Swift '19 commented, “the music was awesome!” Also commenting on the exhilarating song choices is Alex Wolf '19, “the DJ was good and I liked how they provided us with water; it was a refreshing break from the hot dance floor!” Many were excited about meeting new students and reconnecting with returning students. “It was fun to see a lot of familiar faces but also to meet a lot of new people I hadn’t seen before,” said Tori Kline '19. The freshmen and new students felt right at home with a dance that brought everyone together: “It was a nice way to meet people and feel welcomed to the community within the first few weeks of school.” said Campbell Swift '21. As everyone had a great time, the black light dance created a vigorous atmosphere with great music, refreshed everyone on the dance floor with chilled water, and, above all, brought people together on the Hill.

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Community Westminster Sage

Start-of-year advice from some relatively new students BY H A N N A H K AY E '19 ASSISTANT LAYOUT

If you’ve reached this part of the newspaper, congrats! During the first month on Williams Hill this year, I was able to ask some new and returning students who were new last year what advice about adjustment they had wished they’d been given before arrival. Below are some memorable quotes of the wisdom they had to offer. “Be outgoing; say ‘Hi!’ to everyone. Worst thing is that you are known as the person who says ‘Hi’ to everyone. Not a bad thing!” - Sarah Levine '19 (Sarah joined our community in 2016)

times hard to catch your breath here at Westminster, especially during the beginning of the year when everything is so new and exciting, but it is almost essential for you to take a moment to realize and actualize the situation that you’re in.” - Nat ha lie Cha rles '21 (Nathalie joined our community in 2017)

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Pictured Above: Sarah Levine '19 “Indulge in some introspective thought and process what you’re actually doing. It’s some-

ing on the Hill, that finding your place is easy. Do not try and be someone you are not to try and fit in because it does not help you in life. Be the person you were meant to be and someone will appreciate it to the fullest. It never is easy to adjust to something, but here it’s easy.” - Jackie Autorino '20 (Jackie joined our community in 2017)

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Pictured Above: Nathalie Charles '21

Pictured Above: Jackie Autorino '20

“Before arriving on the Hill in the fall, my sister graduated last year with four years in tow. I will only be at Westminster for three. The piece of advice I wished I had received that summer when my acceptance came in the mail was that no matter how hard you think it will be, it will always get better. I know now, since arriv-

“Be open to everyone because you don’t know who will be your friend.” - Natalie Fay '19 (Natalie joined our community in 2016)

Armstrong Dining Hall Continued from Page 1

substantial dining room is now capable of seating over four hundred people. Additionally, daily announcements now occur in the dining hall on a daily basis, rather than solely on Mondays in the atrium. Although the preference for family style lunch is not unanimous, it is safe to say that plenty of students and faculty prefer it over family style dinner. There are other benefits of the new dining hall that improves the dining life of students. The Earl Servery, larger than it was at Cushing, allows for much more variety of food for all to enjoy; the Brewer Dish Room provides extra space and convenience for dishroom duties; and the Adams Dining Hall is a great place for club meetings and other gatherings. The Ekholm Terrace has a firepit that will allow students a warm socializing space during colder days; the Hwarang Lobby is extremely spacious and allows

New Faculty Ms. Powel

BY DA N I E L PI N C K N E Y ' 2 0 STAFF WRITER

A Fall update from the English Department BY M R . C OU R T FACULTY ADVISOR

Mr. Court

Mr. Court visiting New York on behalf of the English Department. The English Department was delighted to host novelist Monica Wood as part of the Friday Night Readers program. Every year, six or more writers visit campus for a Friday evening reading and a series of workshops the following Saturday during morning classes. Ms. Wood spoke passionately about her acclaimed novel ‘The One in A Million Boy’, reading beautiful passages to a packed house in the Gund Reading room of the Library. Ms. Wood showed

a fascinating series of slides on Saturday morning in Werner Centennial Center: each slide presenting a different country’s choice of front cover for her novel. The image choices were often indicative of different cultures and traditions, but, equally interestingly, the way that different publishing houses created different titles for their target audiences gave insights into the international nature of literary culture. Ms. Wood’s visit was another wonder-

more students to place their bags without disrupting people entering the dining hall; and the Sixth form lawn is now more relevant because Sixth formers are now presented with a shortcut, while under-formers have to wait for the time-honored privilege! Moreover, thanks to the large windows, students can now enjoy the beautiful scenery of Farmington Valley both on the inside and on the balcony outside. The dining hall in Cushing was full of traditions and memories; however, the new dining hall successfully replaces our old one as it provides more space and convenience, consolidates the community during lunches, adds to the lives of everyone who dines there, and more. There is no doubt that the Armstrong Dining Hall is a phenomenal addition to Westminster’s campus and to the lives of its community.

ful opportunity for Westminster students to speak to a living writer and to enter into a dialogue about authorial craft and intentionality. The Third Form were fortunate to have a day off of regular classes with a great fun, all-form trip to The Hartford Stage to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. The set was aesthetically luscious, with the pastoral and magical worlds of the forest and the fairy kingdom presented in mixtures of verdant, leafy greens and lush, fruity neons. The set, centered on an audibly breath-taking, revolving centre piece, allowed quick transitions between imagined worlds and provided a platform for a light-hearted and witty interpretation of the play that appealed to the young audience from a number of different schools. This opportunity for the Third Form represented the English Department’s commitment to the importance of Shakespeare and theatre in the lives of young learners.

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Pictured above: Ms. Powel Q: What did you do in college? A: After graduating from Westminster in 2011, I graduated from Denison University (Gr a nv i l le , OH ) i n M ay 2 015. T here , I m ajore d i n bot h C om mu nic at ion a nd Environmental Studies and played lacrosse, captaining the team my junior and senior years, during which we won our conference tournament (and they haven’t lost the tournament since… go Big Red!). Fun fact: I actually attended Elon University for my first year, but transferred to Denison and had three amazing years there. Q: W hat is your favorite thing about Westy, and why did you decide to come back? A: Despite the risk of sounding trite, I’m going to have to say that my favorite thing about Westminster is the sense of community and pride that I felt as a student and continue to feel as a faculty member. In May 2016, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to address the Class of 2016 at their Sixth Form Dinner as the keynote alumni speaker,

where I spoke about the memories and genuine relationships Westminster holds. My firm belief is that relationships are everything — they dictate the way we communicate, make decisions, and, ultimately, live our lives. A community that fosters such relationships is supportive, successful, and cohesive because it values the differences among various ages, disciplines, roles, and passions. My Westminster classmates are not surprised I am back; I think one of my sixth form superlatives in the Spectator was actually being the student most likely to come back and work at Westminster… so I am grateful to be a part of it, this time in the role of a playmaker for the Martlets! Q: What is your favorite part of the day (meal, class, etc.)? It is hard to say what my favorite part of the day is, but my favorite time of day right now is around 7:00am. I am usually heading to breakfast then, and as I look to the left toward the Chapel, I am always tempted to take a photo. The sun rising above the mountain, the long shadows, the fog hanging in the valley, and the overall lighting, mood, and quiet environment is truly amazing. It’s a great way to start the day! The day just gets better from there (especially if there is oatmeal at breakfast!). Q: W hat is your favorite Westy meal? A: I am definitely a morning person, and I love when we Continued on page 10

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Community Sunrise at Westminster School

Interview with New International Student Noah Vieux '18

BY D O N AT E L L A M A N C I N O N E '18 , K AT I E KO S I O R '18 & K AT I E N E I L S E N '18 STUDENT LIFE EDITOR, PHOTO EDITOR, CONTRIBUTOR

difficult to do anything without being asked for an explanation. Katie K.: What do you miss most about France? Noah: The freedom and the food.

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Pictured Above: Noah Vieux '18 Donatella: What do you like the most and least about being in the United States? Noa h: W hat I like most about being in the United States must be the diversity and the fact that the American people are more kind. Something that does strike me is the lack of freedom that people have here. It is very

Katie N.: Did you have any culture shocks when coming to the States? Noah: No I did not. I would come often to the U.S., so I was accustomed to its culture. Donatel la: How do you feel about politics in the United States, today? Noah: Politics in the United States is something that is touchy. I feel like everybody should be able to express their opinion freely but with the current government,

stability and safety are two things that we can not guarantee anymore, in my opinion. Katie K.: Why did you want to go to boarding school in the States? Noah: I wanted to go to boarding school because I wanted to get accustomed to the American system before going into college. School is much easier but very different. Boarding school allows me to have the best of both worlds: the social aspect and the academic point of view. I am able to live with my friends and learn with them at the same time.

Kelter House The new girls’ dorm BY F I O N A FA N '18 STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Elisabeth Morin '18

Despite only having been lived in for a relatively short period of time, Kelter House has already become a home for its residents.

Ian Broadbent '18

Previously referred to simply as the “New Dorm”, Kelter House has started this year off with a bang, establishing a reputation for itself as fun, inclusive, and comfortable place to be. The building itself, as Daniel Pinckney '20 puts it, “really compliments the campus aesthetic and completes the circle of dorms around the quad, giving the campus a feeling of interconnectedness.” The rooms itself are bright and spacious, similar to those of

Gund House and Squibb House. Dylan Foster '20, who lives on the second floor of Kelter, after having lived in Edge House the previous year, voices her enthusiasm for “the incredible dorm parents [Ms. Danyliw, Ms. Walsh, the McGraths, and the Keoughs] and the luxury of being able to control the temperature of her room, something [she] won’t ever take for granted.” The environment of Kelter House, consisting of both new

and returning girls in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Forms, mirrors its architectural appeal. Despite only having been lived in for a relatively short period of time, Kelter House has already become a home for its new residents. Being a new dorm, there were several features that resident Emma A lpaugh '18 and Alex Wolf '19 found to be quite fascinating, such as the water fountains’ null displays and the temporarily free washing machine. Many new, enjoyable traditions have also already been established, one of which includes Dance Party in the Basement, otherwise known as #DPinB, which Tori Kline '19 describes as “themed dance parties, which act as a great stress-relievers and allow everyone to have fun and bond once in awhile”. Evidently and unsurprisingly, Kelter House has been extremely formative for numerous close friendships this year. Kelter House as a whole has proved itself to be a wonderful addition to the Westminster community and will surely continue to cement its position as one of the most desirable dorms to be in on campus, not only for the modern luxury, but also for its own internal community.

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Community Fall at Westminster School

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Sports Field Hockey

Issue of Female Representation in Popular Media

BY S TAC I A Mc B R E E N '18 CONTRIBUTOR

Continued from Page 2

RICHARD BERGEN

First Girls' Field Hockey practice under the lights for their win at Choate.

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Westminster field hockey teams have had outstanding starts to their seasons. Westminster field hockey teams have had great seasons so far. The First Team has an 8-3 record that began with their first game against Ethel Walker, bringing home a 3-1 win. This team is coached by Mr. Court and Ms. Cooper, led by captains Ashlee White '18, Emma Lange '18, and Lilly Holmes '18. The leading scorers on this team are Greta Baker '19, Maggie Kelly '18, and Emma Lange '18. The West minster f irst tea m ha s shown grace while bringing home eight wins against Ethel Walker, Choate, Miss Porter’s, Loomis, Williston, Deerfield and Kingswood Oxford. The grittier parts of their season were the close losses to Hotchkiss (1-0), Kent (3-2), and Sacred Heart (OT). The next games for this team will be against Greenwich Academy, Berkshire, and Taft. Sights are set on getting to the tournament at the end of their season!

Seconds field hockey has a 4-0-3 record, with ties against Kent, L oomis Cha f fee, a nd Hotchkiss. This team is led by Ms. Mann and Mrs. Phillip, with captains Lucy Noel '18, Sophia Gasser '18, and Katie Kosior '18. Leading scorers on this team are Eliza Polukhin '19, Rebecca Sargent '19, Katie Kosior '18, and Sophia Gasser '18. Thirds field hockey showed g rit a f ter a f ive g a me losing streak, when they won 2-0 against Deerfield Academy. The thirds team is coached by Ms. Danyliw, and has come a long way since the beginning of the season. Top scorer on this team is Celia Sotirhos '21. Westminster field hockey teams have had outstanding starts to their seasons, and we wish them luck as they continue to show grit and grace until their final games in early November!

the backstories and arcs of female characters so that they may come to possess the same level of depth as their male counterparts, because narratives centred around men are not the only ones that matter. From Batman to Superman, from Captain America to Iron Man, boys grow up with an inexhaustible reservoir of characters to look up to, but the same cannot be said of girls. Yes, there has been a surge in the number of female-centric franchises in the recent decade, but the reality is that the appearance of powerful female characters remains few and far between. Out of the combined number of superhero films that have been released as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe a nd DC E xtended Universe, and the countless more confirmed for release, only two feature a titular character who is a female (Wonder Woman, released 2017, and Captain Marvel, set for release in 2019). The long-standing fear among studio executives that female-centric films would be met with commercial failure has greatly restrained the presence of women in films, but fortunately, progress is being made. Perhaps the most recent, gamechanging example of progress is Gal Gadot’s portrayal of Diana Prince, better known as Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman is a fully-developed, three-dimensional character : she is naive yet confident; she is capable of emotion yet unwavering in the face of danger; she is appalled at the depravity of the mortal world, one torn apart by war, yet passionate in her love of humanity. Patty Jenkins’ direction of the film is almost trailblazing in that such

thorough realisation of a female character in a such a mainstream blockbuster has never occurred before. There are certainly numerous other female characters who possess just as much badassery as Wonder Woman, but few possess as much depth and substance. We need more films like Wonder Woman, films that are conversation starters as well as a source of entertainment. Although fictional characters are most certainly idealised, the vicarious experience of their adventures can serve to inspire and motivate in much the same way that real-life role models do. Just as a boy turns to his Batman, a girl needs a Wonder Woman. Simi la rly, poor por trayals of female characters can have an effect of discouragement on young girls. Four of the f ive highest-grossing children’s films to date are Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians, and The Lion K ing, none of which include any exemplary female characters : Snow White is renowned the world over for her ‘fairness’; Raksha, Ka and Shanti of The Jungle Book exist solely to serve Mowgli’s story; 101 Dalmatians’ most memorable female character literally has the name ‘Cruella de Vil’ (a pun of the words ‘cruel’ and ‘devil’); and, finally, Nala, who is from one of the most beloved animated films of all time, does nothing more than wait to be rescued. Those who expose or criticise the industry for its preferential treatment of male characters are too often dismissed as spiteful or hyper-sensitive, while their contentions are in fact very well-grounded : the overt disparity in the representation

of males and females onscreen speaks to a broader theme of sexism, endorsing the notion that only one of the two sexes is capable of greatness. The call for greater female representation in film and television is not just about endowing young girls with a sense of purpose: it is also about urging society as a whole to overturn the gender norms that have limited it for so long. There is a clear duality in the function of popular media in today’s society : it is a reflection of the status quo, and yet, as a force that penetrates almost every aspect of day-today life, can also be utilised as an agent of advocacy in changing said status quo. Storytellers and artists, whether it be writers, directors, or actors, have the responsibility to not only create for the purpose of entertainment, but to create for the purpose of inspiring positive change. When a film’s most memorable female character is a simpleton, or the living, breathing embodiment of pettiness, with no explication of a backstory and no sign of character development, it is perpetuating the misguided gender stereotypes that are already so deeply entrenched in society. Correspondingly, when a film features a strong, independent female figure, it is instead breaking down those stereotypes. We need more women in popular media, and specifically, more women of intellect, more women of courage and more women of substance. The idea of female empowerment, in the 21st century, goes hand in hand with media representation.

An Overview of the Fall Tennis Exemption BY J I M M Y Z H A N G '18 CONTRIBUTOR

The boys tennis program has gone through a major shakeup, entering a new season following the departure of former head coach Mr. Leathers. Mr. Doucette, for the first time in his Westminster career, will be taking on the role of head coach for the boys’ varsity team. Mr. Wood, the former coach for the thirds tennis program, will now be leading the JV boys for another season. The fall has been a busy season for the boys. Azat Mukha

'19, Carl Ekholm '19, Ethan Na '19, James Chun '19, and Jimmy Zhang '18 decided to pursue an exemption for the fall term, in order to sharpen their play for the upcoming season. The group of five talented players held practices three times a week down at the tennis court, in addition to weekly fitness session in the weight room, as well as a one hour lesson every week with USTA coach Mr. Tyler Gibson down at Simsmore Tennis – an indoor tennis Club

just a few minutes off campus. With hard work and dedication for the past month, the five players with exemption all consented that they have seen significant improvements in their match play. “I didn’t get to hit as often as I hoped for during the summer,” says Azat Mukha, the No.1 seed on the varsity ladder, “which is why I’m glad to have the opportunity of extensive practice for as long as the weather permits.”

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Sports Boys’ Soccer BY L I A M S E E L E Y ' 2 0 STAFF WRITER

Elisabeth Morin

Pictured above: Paul McNamara '18

Elisabeth Morin '18

Pictured above: Travis Paulsen '18

Pictured above: Ian Dardani '18

First Boys’ soccer, coached once a ga in by Mr. Grif f it h and Mr. Keough, opened the 2017 season with a tie against Kingswood-Oxford. With a chal-

lenging early season schedule, the team has been quite competitive but came up short against several strong Founders’ League rivals. Building on the momen-

tum left them wanting more after a 1-0 loss at the hands of Pomfret. They found their stride in their next game, notching their first win against Williston

Northampton School with a score of 2-1, and then following that up with another 2-1 win against Kingswood-Oxford School. Less than halfway through the season, there are still numerous home games left for spectators to watch as Captain Chanler Miller ’18 and the First Boys’ team try to climb the ladder against some of the most talented teams in New England. The Second Boys’ soccer team started off the season with a record of 5-3-1, winning four out of their last five games. They opened their season with a solid win against local rival Avon Old Farms, and have kept the intensity turned up high ever since. T he T h i rd B oy s’ te a m, coached by Mr. Jeremy Stump, has started the season strong as well, currently sporting a record of 5-2-2. If recent wins against Loomis Chaffee and Avon Old Farms are a sign of things to come, they should be able to fin-

ish the season strong. The Fourth Boys’ tea m, coached by Lee Zalinger, started the season of with a win against Salisbur y School. The Quad Squad has fought hard, with a tie and several close losses providing encouragement for the remainder of the fall season. With so many different players contributing to the scoring, and amazing stops coming from each of the team’s goalkeepers, the Westminster Boys’ soccer program has represented the school well and seems to have a promising future. New additions from underclassmen of all levels, coupled with the efforts of the experienced coaching staff, should keep the program strong for years to come.

New Faculty

Girls’ Cross Country

Continued from Page 6

BY F I O N A FA N '18

have oatmeal for breakfast — Food Committee: is it possible to have it every morning? — but I think my favorite meal time is dinner, since that is when many people are on campus in the dining hall after sports practices, games, rehearsals, etc. I like the vibe in the new dining hall, with the smaller tables, big fireplace, and beautiful vistas through the tall windows. It’s hard to narrow down a favorite Westy meal (the salad bar is 100%), but I’ve been very impressed with the spread of toppings at Sunday Night Sundae Bar. Q: How is dorm life? A: As a new fifth former back in 2009, I lived on the third floor of Cushing, and the residential piece of my Westminster experience was a huge part of why I loved it here. So, it seemed appropriate that I was assigned to live in an apartment on the third floor of Cushing this year as a new faculty member! I love my apartment and living in a building with such deep school history. However, what makes life in Cushing great is all about who I share it with! Team Cushing also consists of Ms. Ciarleglio, Mr. Moutenot, and Mr. Cahill — and they rock — as well as 14 fourth, fifth, and sixth formers. Our small group

STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

allows us to do feeds both together and as individual corridors (yeah, C2!) and really get to know each other. We can also bond over the loud pipes and erratic temperature, but, like the building, we’ve got character… and it has been a really fun start to the year. Q: How is family style lunch? I’ve loved Family Style Lunch thus far. It really is nice to be able to get to know people in our community with whom I may not be able to interact on a day-to-day basis. It’s also been nice to have a school-wide pause in the middle of the day where we can all be in the same place. I love that about Chapel, so it’s nice to have another time where we are all together… and in such a beautiful space. As a part of the Admissions team, we sometimes have interviews during the time of Family Style Lunch and it’s a bummer to miss time at our tables! For future table 35/36 students, I’ll give you a heads up that I always ask the question, “If you could only have one condiment for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?”. I am keeping a running poll in my head and, so far, BBQ sauce and ketchup are tied for first. Personally, I’m more of a honey mustard fan.

Max Torrez '18

The Girls' Cross Country team is off to a strong start. The girls’ cross countr y team has had a great season this year. This has been the largest group the team has seen in years, ranging from newcomers to experienced runners, and their hard work and determination have really paid off. Co-captains Abigayle Hovey '18 and Elizabeth Casey '18 have led the team extremely well with their energetic encouragement, especially towards the new, younger team

members, making them feel welcome to both the school and the team. Annabelle Smith '21 has begun to establish herself as a new power on the team, consistently earning incredible results and impressing many who have seen her run. As a Third Former, she has already won her first race as a martlet and the team has high hopes to see what she will be able to accomplish in the years to come. Many of the other run-

ners on the team have shown considerable improvement, including Michelle Wu '21, Bethany Winters '20, Jennifer Jerand '19, and Maggie Chaves '19, with Chaves running a personal best on the Westminster course this year. Gabi Drumm '18 on the Second Girls’ team also beat her personal best on the home course this year by over three minutes, which ref lects her consistent dedication to improvement. In addition to competing in races throughout the season, the entire team has bonded considerably, especially during practices that include aqua-jogging, yoga, and ultimate frisbee. Hovey says that “fall is her favourite time of the year solely because of cross country”, and she is going to miss her coaches, Ms. Heckman and Mrs. McGuigan, next year as well as being a part of such a wonderful group.

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Sports Football

Girls’ Soccer

BY P O R T E R G I R T Y '18

BY E M M A A L PAU G H '18

CONTRIBUTOR

Max Torrex '18

Pictured above: Emily Samar '18

Max Torrez '18

Pictured above: Emma Davis '18 Westminster School Girls’ soccer has thrived this year. With three teams in regular competition, there are a variety of skill levels, but the competitiveness and Westy pride remains the same.

First Girls’ soccer currently has a record of 3-5-1. While the team got off to a great start, they have had a tough stretch of games recently. A highlight was a 7-1 victory over Kent, in which Taylor Adams '20, Emma Davis '18, and Katy Maxon '18 all scored. The team worked together and hustled for 80 minutes. Under the lights against a talented Loomis team, Westminster fought hard. With everyone working hard, and some unreal saves from goalie Siena Sandridge '19, the team managed to allow Loomis only two goals for the game. Blake Cote '19 scored for the martlets with a beautiful shot in the upper left corner of the net. Firsts looks ahead to Saturday in hopes of getting a big road win against Kingswood Oxford. Blake Côté '19 says her favorite part of soccer is when there is a series of crisp passes, a nice goal and then a ‘sick’ celebration. Georgia Swank '19’s favorite part of soccer is the pre-game ritual, which includes epic dance parties and drawing martlets on our new smart board. Taylor Adams '20 loves how close the team is and of course the epic pre-game dance parties. There are many traditions

and rituals that continue each year. Coaches Ms. Kelly Boudreau and Ms. Whit Powel have bought great energy to the season: they push the team to always work hard, and teach them new things. They are both great additions to the Westy Soccer Family. Second Girls’ soccer has a record of 4-3-1. Kate Lovas '18 says that Seconds has a great balance of competitiveness and fun. Maddie Dwyer '18 says that her favorite thing about practice is how Mr. Ulrich practices with them. They have had a few big victories, including a 6-0 win over Kent, a 5-0 win over Northfield Mount Herman and a 5-0 win over Williston. Third Girls’ soccer has a record of 2-5-1 and looks to play Hotchkiss on Wednesday. Alex Wolf '19 says Thirds Soccer is ‘the littest team on Campus -- all we do is work hard and play hard.’ Isabel Von Bargen-Burke '19 says Thirds is a very spirited team: ‘we have a lot of fun, and it’s a great balance of sports and companionship.’ Thirds is currently on track to have a very successful season in comparison with past years.

Boys’ Cross Country BY DA N I E L PI N C K N E Y ' 2 0

Elisabeth Morin '18

STAFF WRITER

The Football team looks foward to competing against teams closer to their level. The football team has been competing as one team this year, without the JV team featured as in previous years. Our players had a tough start to the season, with some larger, physical opponents as well as several injuries within the first few games. The first game of the season was against Canterbury; our players put up a hard fight against many large players, including five postgraduates. Next on the schedule came King, which proved to be a good match-up but ended with a few crushing interceptions in the third quarter. Our team faced another good matchup against St.Luke’s, where we held a lead entering the second half but lost due to a few mistakes towards the end. Berkshire was the toughest team our players have faced this year, yielding a very large line. Their opponent came out hard, but our players were able to put only a few points on the board before injuries began to take a toll on the team later in the game. Berkshire offered an opportunity for younger players to get out on the field for the second half. Currently the football team has a record of 0-4. Despite the numerous setbacks, they look forward to competing against teams closer to their level. As some players have to play both sides of the ball, the team has also been doing cardio training to prevent further injuries.

read share recycle

Rick Ryan

Pictured Above: Daniel Pinckney '20

This season has been a special one so far for the boys’ cross country team. The team has put up impressive times and continued to work together, placing well at invitationals as well as dominating dual meets. With this team-oriented mentality, this group of martlets posted the

best ever recorded finish for the team at the Westminster-hosted Richard Miller Invitational, placing an impressive second place and losing to a much larger Deerfield team by a narrow margin of only five points. They have used that early season success as a springboard to maintain their

momentum and crush the competition at their dual meets, sweeping both so far. A number of runners have continued to improve throughout the season as well. Emmett de Kanter '19 remains the top martlet runner, setting a new meet record at the Richard Miller Invitational and at Kent, but Teagan Stedman '18, after running his lifetime best at the start of the season, has been dropping significantly faster times, with newcomer Kieran Haug '20 rounding out the top three right behind. The second boys’ team this season has also been doing extremely well; a deep and fast group of runners have been driving the success of the team as they aim for an undefeated season, especially John Kuzminskas '18, Connor Seeley '18, and Will Rizzo '20, who have all posted exceptionally fast times this season.

THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Thursday October 26, 2017

Features New Faculty

Ask A Senior

Mr. Moutenot

Zach Tarazi '18

BY DA N I E L PI N C K N E Y ' 2 0

BY R Y A N L E E '18

STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COMMUNITY

Pictured above: Mr. Moutenot Q: Why did you choose to teach at Westminster? A: When I chose to teach at Westminster, I was nearing the end of my time in college, and I felt like I was starting to fully appreciate exactly what an academic institution can do for a student. I felt so grateful for the growth that I had experienced during my four years in college, and I believed that I had a responsibility to help people grow in their own, unique, wonderful way. And it just so turned out that I was offered an opportunity to realize that responsibility in such an awesome venue — a boarding school in New England. Q: W hat is your favorite thing about Westy? A: The size. 396 might sound like a lot of students, but when you get everyone in the Chapel or WCC, you get a visual sense of the potential of a place like this. Ideally, everyone knows everyone — and I mean beyond just knowing each others’. Ideally, everyone can share a connection that is unique and meaningful, and I say “ideally” because I know that that’s hard. But, it’s something I’d like for myself, and I think Westminster’s wonderfully-small size makes that somewhat feasible. And if you’re reading this and we haven’t met, introduce yourself. I bet we have something in common. Q: How was college? A: This is a hard question — unfair, even. Anyone who has sat at my family style table can attest that I talk about my college (Williams College) a lot, simply because I really value the years I spent there. The clichéd, tour guide answer holds true for me… My favorite thing was, and still is, the people. I keep a folder with me that holds all of the significant letters that anyone

has written me. Many are from my parents, who often write me the sweetest notes on homemade cards, but the large majority of those letters are from friends at Williams — friends who wanted to say “thank you” for no particular reason; friends who wanted to celebrate me on my birthday; friends who wanted to help me through a crummy time. When I look at those cards, I’m stunned by the kindness I encountered there. I think the letters remind me of a few things: 1) Letterwriting and -receiving is really good for the soul; 2) Small kindnesses are always worth doing; and 3) Letting someone know that they’re appreciated can go a long way. Q: What is your favorite part of the day? (meal, class, etc.) A: My favorite part of the day is the morning. Living on the third floor of Cushing has only further cultivated my love of waking up. The east-facing windows in my apartment flood my rooms with light. In fact, I get my own little overlook, past Pratt House and way out into the Farmington Valley, with the sun just cresting the hills. From my bedroom, I see students walking to and from Armstrong as I prepare to go myself, and when I get to the dining hall, whether I’m sitting inside or out on the patio, I relish the smell of my coffee, the company of fellow breakfast-eaters, or, perhaps, the awesome solitude of a quiet, contemplative breakfast alone. There are few greater pleasures than starting the morning off right, however one might choose to do that. Q: W hat is your favorite Westy meal? A: What to choose? Chef Mark is a soup maestro. The salad bar always comes in strong with the roasted root veggies, but I’m going to keep it simple and give a shout out to the roasted sweet potatoes they served a few weeks ago. I’m a sucker for a simplyroasted sweet potato with salt and pepper – I could eat tons of them. Honorable mention to those magical breadsticks filled with cheese that one family style… And apple cider donuts, of course. Q: How is dorm life?

CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A: Dorm life is great. I love the Cushing lifestyle, and I think the students’ diligence and wit might be rubbing off on me, like I had hoped. No? Okay… Seriously — it has been a blast to hang out in the common room and to have feeds in Mr. Cahill’s or my apartment. In a lot of ways, I still feel like I’m getting to know some of the students in Cushing, but I’m really looking forward to the opportunities I’ll have to support the guys in any way I can. Just last week, Jimmy Zhang solicited my thoughts on an English assignment involving Sha kespeare. It was this awesome, humbling moment, and I was so excited to help — I never told him my knowledge of Hamlet is limited to the AP English course I took more than 5 years ago though… I just didn’t have the heart! Q: How is family style lunch? A: Honestly, I look forward to family style. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy the Wednesday and Saturday lunches — I like to keep things casual sometimes — but family style has been such an important way for me to meet students whose paths might not otherwise cross with mine. My first family style table had none other than Emily Samar and Mike Fiorini, and despite not teaching or coaching either student, I still feel very close to the two of them. I can’t imagine being part of this community without family style as a way to connect me with all of the awesome students in such a personal, non-academic, nonathletic way. Q: How are Saturday classes? A: Saturday classes are certainly a change of pace from college, where we had the weekends off, but I’m warming up to being in class on Saturday. I think having class Saturday balances the rest of the week, making each day more manageable, and I think it communicates the school’s priority clearly, which, to me, is having everyone be together. So, we have classes on Saturday, we compete or perform or do community service in the afternoon, and then y’all go and do whatever it is y’all go and do in the evenings… I think it’s called a STUD?

visit www.westminster-school.org/

Zach Tarazi '18

Pictured above: Mike Fiorini '18, Ashton Howey '18 & Zach Tarazi '18

A: I would like give a chapel talk, but the topic is disclosed at this time. I would also like to learn how to skate from my exroommate Michael Fiorini '18 at Jackson Rink.

SK Lee '18

Pictured above: Zach Tarazi '18 Zach Tarazi '18 is a boarding student from Bennington, Vermont who lives in Squibb with his roommate, James Plumb '18. Q: What is your best memory from third form year? A: My best memory from third form year would be being roommates with Justin Kooi '18 and playing Fourths soccer with friends, coached by Mr. T. Griffith. Coach T. Griffith was able to instill a winning mentality that led to great success in our season. Q: How is the JV Soccer team this year? A: The JV Soccer team is off to an historic start thanks to our senior leadership featuring Justin Kooi '18, who gets the boys going before each game. Also, our coaches Coach Cahill and Coach Gritzmacher are phenomenal. We have had quality wins, especially against Avon Old Farms. Q: What is one thing you want to do at Westy before you graduate?

Q: What is your opinion about Family Style lunch? A: I think the Family Style lunch is a great addition to our schedule. It allows the entire school to meet and to get to know each other as an entire school communit y. I feel like there is now a much better chance of people talking to others they typically wouldn’t talk to, compared to at Cafeteria Style lunch. Q: How would your family describe you, in three words? A: Funny, caring, and openminded. Q: What are some recommendations you have to underformers? A : D on’t b e s c a re d to step out of your comfort zone. Embrace all the different opportunities that are presented to you. Keep an open mind, as well.