Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Westminster School Simsbury, CT 06070 www.westminster-school.org
Vol. 106 No. 4
Urinetown
Wonderful Winter Musical by H y eon j o j eong '17 CO-EDITORS IN CHIEF
MR. BERGEN
Snapshots from the musical.
From February 17th to 19th, the Westminster Dramat Association presented their rendition of “Urinetown: The Musical.” Urinetown is a black comedy about Bobby Strong, the town hero, trying to fight against the government’s absurd ban on private toilets. Isaiah Preyer ‘17, who played the lead role of Bobby, said, “My favorite part was the last performance. It was a majestic feeling to step out on that stage for my last musical, and I felt as if nothing was held back: everyone was on their A-game and the crowd responded well. I was proud of our product and of the cast and tech who poured so much time in it. I couldn’t have asked for a better send off.” Mike Riberdy ‘18, who played Mr. Cladwell, said his favorite moment was “When Hope Cladwell, played by Annie Ogden ‘17 says, “If you want to kill me, go ahead.” Brockelman says, “Okay, let’s do it.”” The tech crew did an amazing job once again. Co-president of Dramat, Cam Gould ‘17, proudly claimed that, “I am so proud of the entire cast and crew for putting on such a great show! It was a pleasure
to see so many new students both on the stage and behind the scenes. It was a really memorable show and I am very glad I was a part of it.” Last but not least, the man that helped put this show together, Director of Theater, Mr. A-men Rasheed, exclaimed, “I loved working on this show. From the audition, down to the last run, down to putting things away after the strike. This was one of the most cohesive groups across the board (cast, crew, musicians) -- I initially thought people would say, “Why that show?” I was amazed at the response and how much people loved the show! Easily one of my favorite productions during my time at the school.” As a clarinetist in the pit orchestra, I enjoyed the the juxtapositions of a slow waltz to fast-paced driving music, with ‘Follow Your Dreams’ being my favorite. The long and hard work of faculty and students unfolded beautifully on stage. Good job everyone! Make sure to support Dramat with their next productions: Cabaret and S.P.A.C.E!
Student Profile: Ilaria Quentin by E L E N A L I E-A- C H E O N G '17 & F I O N A FA N ‘18 ARTS & COMMUNITY EDITORS
ILARIA QUENTIN
Ilaria at rest in Argentina.
INSIDE
This past month, Westminster News was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to interview Ilaria Quentin, a 5th form boarder from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She joined the Westy community last year as a 4th former and loves all the fun experiences she has had during her time here. This season, Quentin is a manager for First Girls’ Basketball and, in the spring, she plans on joining the track team. Apart from participating in her afternoon activity, Quentin can be found working out at the gym, running the
Cross Country loop, or hanging out with her friends in her dorm, Gund House. Additionally, she is an avid photographer and fitness fanatic. Continue reading to get a sense of who Ilaria really is and find out her opinions on upcoming changes at Westy, cultural differences, and taking care of your body! Westminster News: What are you involved in outside of classes? IQ: Back at home, I volunteer at the local children’s hospital. I also enjoy helping out with Black & Gold and MFA here at Westy, and I spend a lot of my time in the photography department. Westminster News: What is your favorite memory of Westy so far? IQ: My favorite moment at Westy was at Lawn Ceremony last year. Seeing all the seniors graduate made me truly appreciate the
Media and Trump Women’s History Month Westy-Avon Basketball Game Ask a Senior: Ally & Tiger
page 2 page 5 page 7 page 8
friendships and bonds that I have made here. Westminster News: W ho inspires you the most? IQ: I am inspired by individuals who overcome their fears by trying new things and pushing their limits. I also really admire people who do their own thing and diverge from the social norm; being different is great. Westminster News: What do you do in your free time? IQ: During my free time at school, I relieve stress by running, listening to music while I do my homework, and taking pictures when I feel inspired. Westminster News: What are your thoughts on new changes for the next school year (new facilities and different schedule)? IQ: I believe that the new dorm and dining hall will be great additions to the school and
will help the community come together in new spaces. I think having longer classes on weekdays will be a struggle; however, anything is better than sit-down dinners! Westminster News: How is Argentina different from the US? IQ: In the Argentine culture, people are a lot more passionate than people here in the US. It is like we are one big, close-knit family. I consider all my friends to be family. Back home, there is a lot more emphasis on devoting your time outside of school to go on adventures and make memories, instead of focusing solely on school work and sports. In my opinion, the lifestyle of a high schooler in Argentina is similar to that of an adventurous American kid in college. Westminster News: What are your thoughts on health, nutrition, and working out?
CLOUD 9 DANCE Faces of Valentine’s Day Dance page 4
IQ: With regards to nutrition, I believe that a balanced diet should be a priority for every kid growing up. Eating less processed food and more fresh food changes the way your body functions. There is always a way to eat yummy foods that don’t include ingredients that are not beneficial to your body. My thought process behind food selection is to know exactly what I am eating. If something contains ingredients you can not pronounce, it is most likely not the best thing to put in your body. Whether you are playing on a rigorous Varsity team or on a relatively relaxed lower team, being active is a crucial factor of being healthy, because it produces endorphins and helps build a stable lifestyle. With all that being said, as long as you are happy with the way you look and feel then I would say you are on the right track!
FEATURING Mr. JOHN SANDOVAL: ON BEING POSTHUMAN page 8
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Tuesday March 7, 2017
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Opinions The Media Coverage of President Trump’s First Month in Office
The New Macbook Pro
A review of the newest (and most expensive) Apple laptop to date by sean r y an '18 TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Trump’s rocky relationship with the Media by M att C osentino '18 NEWS EDITOR
Last week, President Trump spent his 77 minute press conferenc e ba s h i n g t he m a i nstrea m media (CN N, NBC , ABC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc.) for “very dishonest” media coverage. Yesterday, President Trump t weeted, “The FA K E NEWS media (fa iling @ny times, @ NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @ CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people!” W hile this statement crossed the line, it is true that the mainstream media is no friend of President Trump. The media and Trump have had disdain and disrespect for each other since the primaries began. While some television and radio talk show hosts such as Sean Hannity of Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, and right wing media outlets such as Drudge and Breitbart have given Trump favorable coverage, the vast majority of the media has not. While it is important for the media to hold any President accountable, there have been many instances in which the media has either falsely reported what the Trump Administration has done or has blown it out of proportion. Here are some examples. The day President Trump took off ice, Zeke Miller of Time Ma g a zine repor ted t h rou g h Twitter that President Trump removed the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. from the oval office, presenting it as a racist act. After being proven false, this post was taken down. On Friday January 27th, President Trump signed an executive order, intended to improve domestic security, limiting the total amount of refugees coming in the the U.S. to 50,000 per year, banning Syrian refugees from coming into the U.S., and temporarily pausing (3-4 months) the immigration of people coming from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, and Iran (seven countries that the Obama Administration declared as compromised by terrorism) until the U.S. can properly vet people from these countries. While many people disagree with this executive action (according to a poll from Public Policy Polling, 47% agree and 49% disagree with the executive action), some of the media has been pre-
senting it as a ban on Muslims. While President Trump did propose an unconstitutional ban on Muslims coming into the U.S. during the Republican primaries, that is not what this executive order contains. It is a temporary hold on ALL people coming from only those seven countries. Furthermore, if it were a Muslim ban, 87% of the World’s Muslims would not be unaffected by this executive action. The latest example of misleading coverage occurred last we e k a f ter M ic h a e l Fly n n, Pre sident Tr u mp’s Nat iona l S e c u r it y A d v i s or, r e s i g ne d because he had not been honest with Vice President Mike Pence. Flynn initially told the Vice President that when he spoke to the Russian Ambassador in late December, he did not discuss the recent sanctions that the Obama Administration had put on Russia because of their interference in the election. It turns out, however, that Flynn lied to Pence because he did, in fact, discuss those sanctions. While Flynn clearly did something inappropriate on his own accord, the media began to insinuate that Trump had something to do with Flynn’s actions. While Congress should and will investigate this, there is no evidence that President Trump did anything wrong in this situation. The media made the storyline more about Trump and Russia’s involvement in the election than about Flynn’s actions. The media seems to be accusing Trump of secretly collaborating with Russia during the election, trying to make it look like Trump was working with Russia to hack into the Democratic National Committee and to feed Wikileaks in order to influence the election in his favor. While you can argue that President Trump’s attitude towards Russia is troubling (acting as an apologist for Putin by saying that Russia’s murderous actions with its people and certain former Soviet states are somehow okay because the U.S. “has a lot of killers”), there is no evidence to suggest that Trump secretly colluded with Russia during the election. President Trump’s relationship with the media has worsened since the election, and a truce anytime soon is unlikely.
The newset Apple laptop has been revealed.
The latest installment of Apple’s flagship computer boasts a variety of new features, including a larger touchpad, an improved display, and most notably, the allnew TouchBar; a thin touchscreen at the top of the keyboard that replaces the function keys. This tiny strip of digital buttons can function based on the apps that
are being used: play and pause buttons appear when listening to music on Spotify, and it can be used to scroll through photos, to name a few functions. This technology, although innovative, has received mixed reviews, which is not quite the impression that Apple was aiming for when they implemented the TouchBar as a main selling point for the new device. So far, Apple’s response to the full-fledged touchscreens on recent Windows laptops has been a gimmick, hyped up by tech journalists for an entire summer before realizing that it has a very limited functionality and is a trivial feature at best. On the other hand, the 2016 MacBook Pro continues to build
on the strengths of its predecessors by having a higher resolution screen and an improved touchpad, which is widely considered the best in the industry. Also, the sleek profile of the laptop was somehow made even thinner, while simultaneously boasting performance improvements. For these reasons, it is expected that the MacBook Pro remains t he over whelmingly popu la r choice for students and professionals alike: however, whether or not these minor improvements are worth the hefty price tag is up to you: prices start at a whopping $1,499 for the 13-inch (without the TouchBar), and the top, 15-inch model will set you back $2,799.
Censorship of Media
How news outlets are restricted in the 21st Century by M i k e R iberdy ’18 and A lbert G ao '18 OPINION EDITOR & STAFF WRITER
I n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s , Americans pride themselves with how free their press is to report on anything it chooses, and many teach their children to take pride in it. With a press free from government restriction, people simply choose to consume sources they think are reliable, and, therefore, all news media outlets will constantly strive to present the most accurate information in order to create and maintain their own credibility. This libertarian ideal, however, is not reality. If you ask people where they get their news, you will probably expect to hear names like FOX, N Y Times, CNN, and MSNBC. A few companies are simply the accepted norm right now in terms of sources for news, even though each of them has their own reputation for leaning either right or left. However, traditional media outlets are losing their monopoly of news journalism. According to a survey conducted from 1/12/162/8/16, 27% of Americans in the age range of 18-29 years get their news by television, which is also where just over 67% of people 30 years old and older get their news. Also according to the study, 50% of people of the age range 18-29 get their news online, while only 26% of people 30 years old or older get their news online. As can be seen, getting news from social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as from content creation platforms such as YouTube, is more common in rel-
atively younger people. There are many reasons why younger individuals choose to get their news online more often than older individuals, including ease of access, comfortability, and technological fluency. Another reason that may seem less obvious, but is definitely at play, is the reliability factor. On sites like YouTube, there are plenty of trolls and many unreliable sources that push any narratives that seem convenient to them at any given time. Although it is nowhere near perfect, the current YouTube system and atmosphere more closely matches the ideal, free marketplace of news media for a few reasons. YouTube content creators simply do not work for youtube in the same way that journalists might work for Fox, or CNN. YouTube does have community guidelines that they selectively enforce based on circumstance, and it benefits from traffic to its site, just as television and newspaper platforms benefit from people consuming their content. What sets YouTube apart, however, is that its content creators can produce videos with sentiments against YouTube policy without getting fired, whereas an MSNBC reporter most likely will not get on camera and talk about how much they hate their employer without losing their job shortly afterwards. So, as it turns out, many people still do flock to sources that they consider most reliable. They like the idea of having a plethora of uncensored news
at their fingertips. From a historical standpoint, America has always upheld the freedom of the press, as seen in the First Amendment of the Constitution. Although the federal government may have attempted to issue acts and laws, such as the Espionage Act of 1917, in order to limit the constraints of the First Amendment during wartime, freedom of the media has largely been one of the proudest demonstrations of democracy that all Americans boast. As a nation based predominantly upon democratic ideals, America exudes unresistable appeal for immigrants and visitors from around the globe, who are eager to witness this grand establishment built on a basic principle of freedom. The propagated freedom of media has led to many forms of America’s prosperity, including the existence of a hodgepodge of culture and diversity. In some sense, the freedom of media has become an indispensable component of the national identity. However, Americans seem to have recently diminished the freedom of the news, particularly in topdown associations such as schools. A high-profile Supreme Court case involving Moon Valley high school in Glendale, AZ, saw the court decide that student newspapers did not have the same constitutional rights to free speech as other publications. In response, a bill giving student newspaper ediContinued on page 8
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Tuesday March 7, 2017
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Community News Participation in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC)
3rd Form Movie Night: Nerve The movie that really gets on my nerves
by Justin Parsons ’ 2 0 and S cott L ee ‘ 2 0 CONTRIBUTOR & STAFF WRITER
by A lbert G ao '18 STAFF WRITER
STEFANIE RIEFE
Westminster students taking AMC after school.
On February 7th, 2017, several members of the Westminster c om mu n it y pa r t icipate d i n t he A mer ic a n Mat hem at ic s Competition 10 or 12 (A MC 10/12). Renowned for its focus on advanced problem-solving skills and mathematical knowledge, the AMC program seeks to enhance the presence of analytical skills necessary for an innovative society in high school students. The annual competition has grown from roughly 6,000 stu-
dents to over 350,000 students since its first contest in 1950. Each year, high scoring AMC participants are invited to participate in further, more selective contests, such as American Inv itat iona l Mat hematic s Examination (AIME) and United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). The A MC test -- aiming to test ingenuity and analytical skills instead of mere mathematical knowledge -- was given to students of all forms, and dozens of talented Martlets accepted the challenge and participated in the contest. Thanks to the efforts of the Math Department, the A MC became a sensation on campus. The results have yet to be published, but Martlets with a love of mathematics are confident and excited to advance through the AIME and USAMO.
Editorial Board
News
Co-Editors-in-Chief Hyeonjo Jeong ‘17 & Jackson Andrews ‘17
Sports Opinion Features Arts
Connor Seeley ‘18 Matt Cosentino '18
Technology Layout
Josh Cosentino ‘18
Assistant Layout John Rao ‘17
Nick Wee ‘18
Community Sarah Minella'16 Fiona Fan ‘16
Teagan Stedman ‘18 Mike Riberdy ‘18 Alex Aiello ‘17 Abigayle Hovey ‘18 Elena Lie ‘17
Sean Ryan ‘18 Ryan Lee '18
Katie Kosior '18
Photo
Faculty Advisor Lawrence Court Claudia Morgan
Staff Writers Geena Kim ‘20 Vernita Zhai ‘20
Albert Gao ‘18 Vincent Want ‘19
Scott Lee ‘20
Donatella Mancinone ‘18
Contributors Hannah Kaye ‘19 Justin Parsons ‘20 Alex Ellis ‘20 Annabelle Bradley ‘19 The Westminster News prints between 250 to 500 copies, issued six to eight 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
Liam Seeley ‘20 Porter Girty ‘18 Sulemann Khalid ‘19 John Sandoval 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 Hyeonjo Jeong ‘17 or Jackson Andrews ‘17, 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.
Contact Us: The Westminster News © 2016 Westminster School 995 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury, CT 06070-1880
Poster of the movie screened to 3rd formers. As a moviegoer who truly appreciates the artistic aspects of cinema, the Film “Nerve” is a slap in the face that will traumatize me for life. There are three aspects of a movie that determines its quality: the cinematography, the acting, and the story board. Not only is “Nerve” lacking in all of these three characteristics, but it sets a new low for film making. There is no way to talk about this film without being fueled with rage due to how bad it is. It is a giant middle finger to movies as an art form. The roughly 83 million dollars it grossed is in no way deserving. “Nerve” is an example of all that is wrong in modern film making and should be seen as nothing more than a cautionary tale of how not to make a movie. To explain more to why this movie is by far one of the worst pieces to come out of Hollywood, I will dive head-first into the many flaws that persist throughout the film. My first topic for why this movie absolutely fails will be the many shortcomings in its storyboard. The plot of the film is very shallow, almost comical. “Nerve” is about a high school senior who starts doing dares on a “dark web” social media app to prove to her friend that she is not a shy coward. To point out how much of an introvert she is the movie opens up with a cheesy animation of her trying to write an email denying her acceptance to her dream university because she is too scared to tell her mom that she wants to move away. As you can see, the writers for this movie have put lots of thought and effort in character development, leading the viewer to gain an almost emotional bond to the character. Also the girl’s broth-
E! NEWS
er is dead, but that is not crucial to the story in any way. Some of the scriptwriting is so horribly thought out that it can barely pass as a ten year olds fanfiction. “What is he doing?” “I have no clue.” “He’s singing to me.” “No, it’s a dare.” “It’s a dare.” “You got it.” “Thank you.” “Good job.” “You won your dare.” “Congratulations.” “Back at ya.” T he mov ie’s stor y boa rd shows all that is wrong with movies. Above is real, unaltered dialogue pulled out of the script. This movie is merely a Dave Franco love-fest that was made to pander to excited teenagers in order to trick them into thinking they are not watching a steaming pile of incoherent garbage. Take the ending for example. The final dare was that they had to shoot each other. When the the main protagonist and Dave Franco’s abs could not muster the nerve, all of a sudden the villain of the story comes and shoots the main character. But he was in on it? The big trick ending was that the bad guy shot her with a blank so that the watchers would realize that they are considered murderers. And so the lovable protagonist beats the system and once again is reunited with Dave Franco’s beautiful body. And they all lived happily ever after. The acting in Ner ve can only be described in one word: terrible. The expressionless faces mixed along with the fact that they probably didn’t even do second takes makes for a movie with
the acting of a middle school play. There were multiple occasions during the film where the actors looked as if they were holding back laughter in “serious” scenes. Even with the relatively good cast, the lack of proper execution and poor vision from the directors led to a movie that looked as if it were filmed as a joke. The excuse of the lack of budget is not one that can be used. The 20 million dollar movie budget of “Nerve” dwarfs films like The Imitation Game, which had a budget of less than 15 million and had far superior acting. A movie is supposed to immerse you into a new world, and help you forget the one you are in. That is what makes movies great, but when the acting of a film is so abysmal that the only thing you can think of is “when does it end?”, the movie fails its main purpose. If the storyboard and acting are both unsatisfactory, then it might be assumed that budget must be going into the cinematography. Well, it didn’t. Cheesy camera angles mixed with the horrific special effects, and one of the most bland soundtracks in movie history, can not be the cause for the 20 million dollar budget. The special effects were so bad that my eyes hurt from how much I was cringing. There was one scene in the movie that stuck out when a character falls off a crane into a foggy abyss. Everything about that scene was awful. The screaming sound effect sounded like something taken off partnersinrhyme.com. The visual effects looked like the green screen effects found in imovie. In addition, the continuity in Nerve is as inconsistent as cake batter mixed by a baby. In one of the more relatively climactic scenes, Dave Franco’s motorcycle tire is popped after having to brake in a short period of time. Whereas, in the next scene the bike was running perfectly fine. Though the movie itself was a letdown, the 3rd form activity overall went smoothly. Everything was executed in an orderly fashion by the 3rd from Presidents and Class Officers and plenty of people showed up for movie night with more than enough snacks and drinks for everyone. Next time, more students should vote for the movie that they want to watch as only a tiny fraction of the 3rd form actually did.
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THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Tuesday March 7, 2017
Valentine’s Day Dance Cloud Nine
by A nnabel B radle y '19 CONTRIBUTOR
COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER STUDENT
What did you think about the Cloud Nine theme? Sarah Levine: The theme was fitting for Valentine’s Day. It was a creative theme, and I loved getting ready for the dance and all the fun Valentine’s Day-themed outfits. There was talk about a possible slow dance; do you think there should have been a slow dance? Sarah Levine: No, I was happy there was not a slow dance because I think it would have been awkward. What did you think of the song choices at the dance? Lily Carrel: I thought the songs were really good for dancing, but there were a lot of songs like “Dynamite” that were hits from a few years ago. I would have preferred a few more current songs. Who did you enjoy dancing with? Lily Carrel: I had lots of fun dancing and getting ready with Martina, Sarah, and Reese. How does this compare to last year’s Valentine’s Day dance? Hamilton Stuart: This year’s dance was pretty fun, but I think the whole “no shoes” thing was weird. What is your favorite dance of the year and why? Hamilton Stuart: To be honest, it is not my favorite dance of the year, but this dance wasn’t bad. My favorite dance is probably the Blacklight Dance or Spring Formal. We need more dances. The Dance Marathon is also awesome.
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Tuesday March 7, 2017
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Community News Pros and Cons of Saturday Classes
Women’s History Month
The relative merits of school on Saturdays
This March we celebrate the role of women
by j ac k son andrews '17
by H annah Kay e '19
CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
CONTRIBUTOR
While typically considered a cornerstone of elite, boarding school education, Saturday classes have recently become a point of contention, especially within schools containing large populations of day students. At Westminster, Saturday classes are the norm, yet there is certainly the argument that they are more detrimental to a student’s brain development and focusingability than they are productive. Outlined below are the two sides of the argument: are Saturday classes good or bad for both the school and its students? Pro-Saturday classes: While they can be a hassle, Saturday classes are overall beneficial for numerous reasons. Primarily, they act as an excellent filler for the hours of class missed on Wednesdays, when the afternoon is allotted to athletic competition; without Saturday classes, the blocks that were substituted for sporting events on Wednesday would have to be replaced either with a longer class day, extend-
ed class-time, extra blocks, or a full day on Wednesday. Saturday classes also benefit students indirectly – if Westminster has class on Saturdays, therefore eliminating ‘free time’ Friday nights and Saturday mornings, students have literally half the amount of time to make the poor decisions that could be otherwise be tempting with a full, two-day weekend. Because Saturday classes prevent a longer school day, and because they keep students busy, it is easy to understand why weekend classes have been implemented and why they have been around for so long. Cons of Saturday classes: The most obvious and often-used argument for removing Saturday classes is that it eliminates half the weekend for both students and faculty. While free Friday nights and Saturday mornings would provide students with extra time to make poor decisions, they also could be crucial in allowing the vast majority of rule-abiding martlets to relax, prepare for the
next week and be more rested for important Saturday games. In addition, it would give students an additional day to complete assignments and studies, and it would give faculty 24 more hours to grade and structure class. If it is not feasible for every Saturday to be free of school, it would also be possible to compromise and have a mixed schedule. Several boarding schools in the area, like Pomfret and Deerfield, operate under such a schedule – either with selected weeks that have no Saturday class or with no classes at all on weekends – to resounding success. One could make the argument that eliminating Saturday classes would be beneficial in terms of both improving academic and athletic results and lifting overall school moral.
Why Edge is the Best Place to Live Senior Year
RICHARD BERGEN
Being a senior in Edge has many major responsibilities. Not only do the freshmen look up to the upperclassmen, which makes being a good role model imperative, but you also have to make an effort to reach out to the freshmen and be there whenever they need help. Every hall has senior proctors who are there to help the freshmen through the difficult transition of living independently at school. Edge seniors are always available - to vent or cry to, or just for a fun time. Although living in Edge holds many important responsibilities, it is worth it, as it is such a rewarding experience.
did not see scientists Ja mes Watson and Francis Crick steal the discovery of the DNA model from Rosalind Franklin, who died four years before Watson and Crick won the 1962 Nobel Prize for the double-helix image; however, a mere two years after Franklin’s research was taken, the world did see Rosa Parks stand up (or rather sit down). It is remarkable how fast women’s rights and representations have advanced in the last century. It is even crazier to think of the potential women will have in these areas a century from now. With each passing year, contributions women have made in history come to light, and each year new women make their own marks on the world. Maybe, a century from now, we will not need a Women’s History Month. T his mont h, one mig ht take some time to reflect on the women throughout history who inspire you. This year’s theme for National Women’s History Month is “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business”.
Newest Member of the Westminster Community
The Edge Family
Welcome to Westminster, Kacy!
by A lexandra aiello '17
by L I A M S E E L E Y ' 2 0
FEATURES EDITOR
Seniors and juniors of Edge pose before the Video Dance.
Nationa l celebrations of women’s history date back to 1981, when Congress passed Public Law 97-28. This law made the week starting on March 7th of each year “Women’s History Week ”. In 1987 the National Women’s History Project petitioned the Congress to expand “Women’s Histor y Week ” to “Women’s History Month” for the whole of March. Presidents Clinton, Bu sh, a nd Oba ma have noted March as “Women’s Histor y Mont h ” in each of their respective terms. National Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions to culture, society, and history that women have made. Throughout history, women of accomplishment have faced exclusion, dismissal, and sometimes fear. At times, women have been explicitly written out of history, their efforts erased or claimed by men. As a result, there is a grave imbalance in how people, boys and girls alike, see their genders represented in history. The way women are recognised in history has changed and is changing. In 1953 the world
Living in Edge as a senior is a unique experience that allows seniors to become “big sisters” and role models to the freshman girls living in the dorm with them. This living arrangement creates bonds that make a big impact on both the freshmen and seniors’ experiences at Westminster. Sam Monte, a fouryear Martlet, stated, “I have so many amazing memories from living in Edge as a freshman. I remember becoming so close to the seniors in the dorm and them having a huge impact on my experience.” Thus, living in Edge as a senior is an amazing opportunity because it allows many seniors to come full circle with their time at Westy. Curious about other seniors’ opinions on why Edge is the best place to live as a senior, I asked around, and most of the responses centered around the unique transition that every Edge member udergoes as they transition from freshman through to senior year. Besides the fact that living with the freshmen is the most
CONTRIBUTOR
rewarding experience, Edge’s sense of community in the dorm is extremely comforting and close knit. This allows all the girls in Edge to come together and have fun times as a big family. Leta Giordano, reflecting on the fun times she has had living in Edge, says, “I love Edge . . . because it’s a trap house.” As we head into the final weeks of winter term, (Less than 100 days until graduation!), it is important for all seniors to see the value in Westminster because it will soon be coming to an end. Living in Edge not only makes this possible, but highlights the importance of bonds made within your community. Sam Monte stated perfectly: “Living in Edge allows you to ref lect on your growth at Westminster School. It’s also easy to relate to the freshmen because you were in the same position as them three years ago.”
RICHARD BERGEN
David and Stacy Pringle welcomed their daughter, Kacy, into the world on January 21, 2017. At birth she weighed 6.14 pounds and was 21 inches long. Mr. and Mrs. Pringle were inspired to name their daughter Kacy by using the same ending as her mother and aunt, Stacy Tracy. With a new baby in the
house, Mr. Pringle says that his daily routine has been completely rearranged. He is now devoted to tending to his child along with the Westminster students on campus. This has resulted in both late nights and early mornings, as Kacy abides by her own schedule. When asked how he feels about being a father, Mr. Pringle responded, “Every day is exciting, as you are taking care of someone you helped to create.” It is a special feeling to come home to another person in the house. With Mr. and Mrs. Pringle as her parents, there is no doubt that Westminster’s core values will be instilled in her at an early age. Make sure to welcome Kacy into the community when you see her around campus!
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Tuesday March 7, 2017
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Arts and Entertainment Review : BBC’s Sherlock, Season 4 After much awaiting, Sherlock returns with another riveting season by V E R N I TA Z H A I ' 2 0 & G E E N A K I M ‘ 2 0 CONTRIBUTORS
It is reasonable to assume that when the first detective novel featuring Sherlock Holmes was published in 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had no idea that one day, his most avid supporters would become teenage girls living in the 21st century. Arguably, this is indeed what has happened. Ni ne ye a r s a g o, Ste ven Moffat and Mark Gatiss began collaborating on what would soon transpire into perhaps the most iconic revival of Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved character. Set in and around 221B Baker Street in modern-day London, BBC’s “Sherlock” revolves around the lives of Sherlock Holmes, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, and Dr. John Watson, portrayed by Martin Freeman, as they take on a range of cases, some morbid, some eccentric, but all baff ling and exciting, with each episode featuring an individual case that is later revealed to be a single module that forms part of a greater, overarching plotline. Given the show’s highly-complex plotline and commercial success, non-viewers are oftentimes surprised to hear that the T.V. show, as of today, consists of only twelve episodes and one special. This structure, which is hardly seen amongst today’s top T.V. shows, works because each episode is packed with action, suspense, mystery, as well as emotion. Despite its limited content, BBC’s Sherlock has captivated millions of viewers from around the world with its well-written and well-portrayed characters. Another hallmark of the series that distinguishes it from other hit T.V. shows is its distinctive cinematographic approach. For
instance, through floating holograms and sequences of fast-paced shots, viewers are given glimpses into the complex and ingenious workings of Sherlock ’s mind. Additionally, despite the dark theme that permeates throughout the show, especially the most recent season, each episode is weaved with instances of humor and hilarity. The show’s 4th rendition takes off directly from where Season 3 left off. As a continuation from the previous season, Sherlock, along with his older brother Mycroft Holmes and John Watson, are attempting to unravel the posthumous legacy of Moriarty, the masterful criminal who tormented Sherlock throughout the first few seasons. Their endeavour in trying to decipher what Moriarty has planned leads them to uncover a discover y more thrilling than they could have imagined: before his infamous demise, Moriarty met with another deviant but brilliant individual to ensure the continuation of his schemes after his death, and this individual turns out to be none other than Sherlock’s longforgotten sister, Eurus Holmes. Through Sian Brooke’s skillful portrayal of the character, the show’s new antagonist is presented as a complex, multi-dimensional villain. Described by Mycroft as an ‘era-defining genius’ with an ‘incandescent’ intellect, Eurus orchestrates a series of callous games for Sherlock to tackle. Yet, underneath her heartless facade, Eurus is no more than a forsaken soul longing to be loved and understood. Eu r u s Hol me s not on ly proves to be another compel-
ling villain in terms of her sinister persona, but her appearance also provides an effective contrast to Sherlock’s humanity. When viewers were f irst introduced to the world of BBC’s Sherlock, the series’ titular character was portrayed as a highly-proficient, sociopathic detective who was completely detached from all forms of human sentimentality. Now, three seasons later, Sherlock has become so much more than merely logic and intellect, a fact that is manifested in his care and concern towards his best friend John Watson, his brother Mycroft Holmes, his landlady Mrs. Hudson, his other friend Greg ‘Giles’ Lestrade, and most of all, his love-interest-but-not-really Molly Hooper. From the death of John’s wife, Mary Watson, who sacrifices herself to save Sherlock, to the heart-wrenching phone call between Sherlock and Molly Hooper, in which Molly is manipulated to confess her love for Sherlock as part of Eurus’ devious game, critics and fans alike agree that Season 4 is the most emotionally potent season to date. Many viewers have pointed out the odd sense of closure in the season’s finale, ‘The Final Problem’, with John and Sherlock returning to their Baker Street home, playing with John’s daughter Rosie, and taking on more cases, just as before. If Season 4 truly marks the end of this T.V. show, then it serves well in bringing the beloved series to an end, but what is certain is that fans are not quite ready to say goodbye to the dynamic Baker Street duo just yet.
The 59th Annual Grammy Awards All of the highlights you need to know about this year’s music award show by D onatella M ancinone '18 STAFF WRITER
Adele and Beyonce were awarded at Grammys.
E! NEWS
The 59th Annual Grammy awards ceremony was essentially marked by a contest between Adele and Beyoncé. Adele opened the ceremony with a stunning performance of “Hello”. Stealing the show, Adele managed to win all five of her nominations, including Album of The Year for “25”. James Corden, the host of this year’s award show, mirrored the many comical skits from SNL, with a “Hamilton”-style rap and political jokes towards President Trump, which set the tone for the upcoming award show. Chance the Rapper was then awarded a Grammy for Best New Artist. Nick Jonas later took the stage to present the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance won by Twenty One Pilots for their Billboard Top 100 song, “Stressed Out”. Queen B, introduced by her mother, sang “Love Drought” from her album Lemonade that was just as much of a movie as it
was a live performance. Dressed in a golden gown resembling a goddess, revealing her bulging four-month pregnant stomach, Beyoncé delivered an amazing performance that was far from subpar. Adele was the clear winner of the night as she captivated the hearts of the audience with her George Michael tribute performance. Due to her accidental use of profanity, Adele sincerely apologized and restarted her performance out of respect. Facing the crowd with tears in her eyes, she received a well-deserved standing ovation. Corden then introduced a beautiful tribute for Prince performed by Bruno Mars. Lady Gaga stole the show w it h her per forma nc e w it h Metallica, which then proceeded to her briefly crowd surfing the audience. Other celebrity singer match-ups included, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood, and The Weeknd and Daft Punk. Upon winning Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of t he Yea r, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album, Adele took the opportunity in one of her many colorful acceptance speeches to acknowledge the impact of Beyoncé’s work, describing her album as “monumental”, at the end both women were in tears. It is fair to say that this year’s Grammys were all about Adele and Beyoncé’s.
Chinese New Year
Origins and traditions of the New Year explained by V I N C E N T WA N G '19 & A L E X E L L I S ‘ 2 0 CONTRIBUTORS
Legend has it that the Lunar (Chinese) New Year originated from a monster known as “Nian”. Nian leads a secluded life in the sea and only comes out during New Year’s Eve, a time where he devours humans. Once the ferocious Nian goes ashore, villagers escape to remote mountains to seek refuge. One year, an old beggar came to the village. The villagers advised him to travel elsewhere so that the monster would not harm him. Surprisingly, the elder refused to leave and promised he could drive out Nian. At
night, the monster barged into the village. Different from previous times, doors were covered with red banners and rooms were ablaze with light. Consequently, Nian trembled and roared. As it moved closer to the gate of the house, fizzling sounds of firecrackers scared Nian away and it never returned thereafter. As it turns out, Nian is terrified by the color red and flames. On Lunar New Year’s Day, the day after Nian got driven away, returning villagers were astonished by the fact that everyone survived. They
later adopted the methods of the old man and spread it throughout China. From here on, families paste couplets onto walls, set off fireworks, lie awake all night to greet the New Year. This custom gradually popularized and evolved into one of the most solemn ceremonies celebrated in China. Va rious a rea s of China, as well as individua l households, have their own traditions. However, many traditions are typically followed by any family who celebrates the holiday. One of the largest ritual is the New
Year’s Eve dinner. As one of the most important feasts of the year, it is considered to be a feast of reunion; many family members living nearby or even overseas return to their homeland, gather with families and friends for some quality time. Fish and dumplings are two of the most common types of food, representing prosperity anticipated in the New Year. The release of fireworks, and cleansing of households serve to welcome the new and remove the evil. Another common custom is the preparation of Red Packets.
A Red Packet is a red envelope filled with money, ranging from hundreds to thousands of Chinese Yuan. Children are required to kowtow to the adults before receiving the packet.
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Tuesday March 7, 2017
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SPORTS SUPER BOWL LI The greatest of all time?
by N ic k W ee '18 & Josh C osentino ‘18 SPORTS EDITORS
NFL
The Patriots celebrate after their big win! For the first two and a half quarters, Super Bowl 51 looked like it was going to be a blowout. The Falcons led 21-3 at the end of the first half and 28-3 mid way through the third quarter. The Falcons converted two Patriots turnovers into fourteen points of their own, which included a pick six by Robert Alford. In the first half, Devonta Freeman ran in a touchdown and Matt Ryan threw touchdown passes to tight end Austin Hooper in the first half and to running back Tevin Coleman early in the second half. Nobody really noticed it at
the time, but the Falcons defense was slowly but surely getting tired. Even though the Patriots had not scored many points yet, they had the ball in possession longer than Atlanta did. Although Brady was not in his best form in the first half due to constant pressure by the gritty Atlanta defense, it was only a matter of time before the Patriots offense started to get into the f low of things and move the ball. Before the end of the third quarter, after a six minute drive, Brady found James White for a five yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was missed by Stephen Gostkowski, and the score was now 28-9. Early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots added a field goal to make it 28-12 after two sacks by Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett kept them out of the endzone. Jarrett was spectacular the whole night, tying the Super Bowl sack record with three sacks of his own. With about eight minutes remaining in the game, Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower strip sacked Ryan, and the ball was recovered by New England deep in Atlanta territory. This
served as a huge rallying point for the Patriots and was the turning point in the game and really gave the Patriots a shot, however slim. The Patriots did not miss out on this golden opportunity as just two minutes later, Brady threw a six yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola, with James White topping the play off with a successful two point conversion on a direct snap run to make it 28-20. With four minutes to go, Atlanta had a second down with the football on the Patriots 22 yard line, after an incredible catch by Julio Jones. In perfect hindsight, all they needed to do was to run the ball twice, kick a field goal and they would have been crowned Super Bowl champions. Instead their coach made the terrible decision to throw the ball twice, which led to a twelve yard sack and a ten yard holding penalty on back to back plays that pushed Atlanta out of field goal range. On the ensuing drive, Brady played perfectly, driving the Patriots an incredible and crucial 91 yards to tie the game. The highlight of the drive and entire game was an absolutely jaw-dropping catch by Julian
Edelman that will be played on highlight reels for years to come. The ball was tipped into the air by the Falcon cornerback, and Edelman, in a simply miraculous play, caught the ball in the middle of three Falcons defensemen, which was mere inches away from hitting the ground, and most likely costing the Patriots the whole game. The catch gained the Patriots 25 yards and moved the Patriots a lot closer to tying the game. James White once again came up huge and scored the touchdown, running it in from a yard out, and Danny Amendola topped the sensational drive off with a two point conversion, tying the game with under a minute to go. This touchdown completed the 25 point comeback, smashing the previous record by 15 points, but the game was not over quite yet. T he g a me t h at at f i r st seemed like another dull Super Bowl blowout turned into one of the most electrifying Super Bowl games of all time. This was the first overtime ever in all 51 years of Super Bowl histor y. With momentum on the Patriots side, having just scored 25 unanswered
points to force an overtime, it seemed that nothing could stop them. The Patriots won the coin toss in overtime, and their offensive outburst continued. The Falcons defense looked extremely ragged, being on the field for most of the second half (84 plays in total), while on the other side, the Patriots offense was locked in and executed to near perfection. The Patriots drove down the field in eight plays, with Brady completing pass after pass for first downs. A pass interference penalty on Atlanta set the Patriots up with a first and goal on the two yard line, and essentially sealed the game. On second and goal from the two, James White won the super bowl with a two yard run plowing through three falcons defenders on his way to the end zone and just barely breaking the plane of the goal line. In a thrilling victory and a game that would go down in history, Brady won his fifth Super Bowl, further cementing himself as the greatest of all time.
Avon Basketball Game and other Sports Highlights Never a dull moment in Westy Sports by porter girt y '18 CONTRIBUTOR
John Rao ‘17
Fans run on to the court to celebrate Varsity’s victory. On a cold night in February, the Martlets packed into busses and headed to Winged Beaver territory for a varsity basketball game. With over 100 students from both schools in attendance, it was bound to be an exciting tilt, and the boys did not disappoint. The game was back and forth from the first tip. The Martlets held a solid lead halfway through the first half, but as it neared halftime the Winged Beavers hit a few threes that put them on a run. At halftime, Westminster was up by
only six points. In the crowd, you could see the animosity between the two schools and teams. Safe to say, chirps were flying left and right on and off the court, and both crowds were trying hard to get into the other players’ heads. As the game drew to an end, Westminster had a slim lead of one point with about one minute left. An Avon Old Farms guard scored with close to 12 seconds left and put them up by one, but the Martlets did not plan on losing. The ball ended up in post-
graduate Devonte McCall’s hands at the top of the key. McCall did what he does best, dribbling and spinning his way through a swarm of Winged Beavers, putting up a floater for two points. The Martlets won the game and proceeded to have an amazing rally in the Avon Old Farms locker room. McCall ended the game with an impressive twentyfour points, followed by 5th former Josiah “Henny” Green who had eighteen, 3rd former Chris Robinson had an impressive fourteen, and the quarterback of the whole operation was 6th former Christopher “The Don” Swanson who had eight points and fifteen assists. In other sports, in possibly the most intense game in Westminster history, Thirds Boys’ Basketball had their first win over Loomis. The boys were able to comeback from a twenty point deficit with post graduate Jack Siebert putting up twenty points. First Boys’ Squash had a big win over Choate five-two, with Aly Tolba continuing his undefeated season. First Boys’ Hockey has earned another two wins over
Avon both at home and away, and Boys’ JV earned yet another win over Avon coming back from a three goal deficit to win.
John Rao ‘17
Varsity Boys’ Hockeys faces Deerfield for their last home game of the season
John Rao ‘17
Daniel Kong ‘17 during the 3rd OT of the Gunnery Game
John Rao ‘17
Varsity Girls’ Hockey faces Kent for their last home game of the season John Rao ‘17
Aly Tolba ‘18 during his last home match of the season
THE WESTMINSTER NEWS, Tuesday March 7, 2017
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Features Snow Days
Ask A Senior
Westys ‘great divide’
Ally Lynch ‘17 & Tiger Zhang ‘17
by S ulemann Khalid'18
by Jac k song andrews '17 CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CONTRIBUTOR
Westminster campus blanketed in snow. At Westminster, snow days are a rare occurrence. When there is a heavy snowfall there is a great divide between day students and boarding students at Westminster. Boarding students are almost always required to attend classes and day students have the option, as per The W book, to “come to school if distance or improved
VINCENT WANG
conditions later in the day make attendance possible.” Many perceive this double standard as unfair -- I do not. The only reason that day schools have snow days is because the inclement weather makes it infeasible for students to travel to campus. Due to Westminster being a boarding school, this trav-
el requirement for most students is eliminated. This is not to say, however, that Westminster will never have a snow day. In fact, classes at Westminster have been cancelled for all students and a snow day issued due to the inability to clear the walkways and roads that lead to the armour. (Members of the maintenance staff were unable to travel to campus due to the inclement weather!) Truth be told, on days with inclement weather, classes with an even number of day students to boarding students place emphasis on review. On the other hand, if a class has a majority of boarding students the class will work at a normal pace. Although many boarding students envy the day students’ ability to miss school on days of inclement weather, there are very few justifiable reasons that school should be canceled for boarding students, especially because, as a school, we do not gain any days back in the year for missing days in the occurrence of inclement weather. For that reason and many others, the system in place to deal with inclement weather is the most efficient procedure for a snowy day on the Hill.
On Being Posthuman Redefining human nature by JO H N S A N D OVA L CONTRIBUTOR
Human evolution is poised on the brink of forming the perfect hu ma n being. Perhaps, though, creating the potential for perfection in a physical entity that may not be entirely human. In the trajectory toward “technological singularity,” humans will someday be equal with God and religion will be unnecessary. Science will be the dominant religion. Many in our population are not entirely, purely human, some have artificial hips, artificial knees, pacemakers, respirators or contact lenses. I have a titanium bracket in my ankle that keeps bones together and in numerous surgeries, I have experienced the effects of many chemical cocktails. Some ingest chemicals to regulate a host of conditions from high blood pressure and cholesterol to attention deficit disorder. To diabetes, depression, afib, HIV, and fatal diseases. I can now choose the gender of a child if I wish to have one, artificially of course. Someone can 3D print a new ear for me if I need one. I no longer
have to memorize the capitals of all of the states, I have this device in my pocket that will do that for me. If I want to know how to lead my life, I need only turn to TED. I don’t need to know how to add or subtract numbers, only how to punch numbers into a calculator. I can don a virtual reality headset to take me to new places. It may not be necessary for me to have an imagination -Google or more specifically Ray Kurzweil will do that for me. Happiness and being content will be guaranteed. The cyborg is I, or I am the cyborg. Some think we are entering into an era of posthumanism or least a period of transhumanism. Defining human nature is also under an evolutionary process. We say that some technology is dangerous; it alienates and de-socializes us, resulting in isolation and solitude. I need not communicate with others, I have Facebook to fulfill my needs. Many of my Facebook friends are electronic versions of people from my past and there
are some I have never met. The posthuman does not really need all of the old views of what comprises “normal” human nature, the posthuman is on his/her/herm way toward purity and perfection. Someday my brainwaves will be translated into code and uploaded to the cloud. I sat in the Werner Centennial Center watching the film “Screenagers” and I question whether the assumptions about human nature will remain intact, or even if we think those assumptions are still apt, and then later I read the “Transhuman Bill of Rights.” There is an element of dystopia in every society: Who is to say that Huxley, LeGuin, Lowry, Orwell or Bacon got it wrong with their systems? To what degree do we resist adapting to the advances that are on the horizon? If humans are to progress, we must invest more of ourselves into “screen time.” Why not just give in to what is obviously inevitable?
Ally: (JA) How would your family describe you, in three words? (A L)To sum it up in one word, and I’m sure many other people would agree, I am loud. (JA)What’s your favorite pastime at Westy? (AL)My favorite pastime is sitting at every meal from beginning to end. ( JA)W ho is your favorite teacher at Westminster? (AL)I don’t think there is one teacher that is my favorite because they are all amazing. However, I would have to give a shoutout to Mrs. Joncas! (JA)What would you change about dorm life? (A L)I would keep all the freshman in one dorm, all the sophomores in one, and all the juniors in one. I think it definitely makes a difference in the dynamic of the grade. Tiger: (JA)What inspired you to go by the name “Tiger” upon arriving to Westy? (TZ)The name Tiger is actually a reference to my very first e-mail address, which was set up by my uncle, who is a tech genius. He had an e-mail address titled Tigerman, so when he was nam-
ALLY LUNCH & TIGER ZHANG
ing my e-mail address he gave it the name Tigercub. But now I am independent and all grown up so I am just Tiger. ( JA)W hat is life like in America, from a foreign student’s perspective? (TZ)It’s quite the experience. This is a question that is impossible to answer without a lengthy thousand-words essay, but if I have to shorten it, I would describe it as invaluable and irreplaceable. (JA)The theatre is a big part of your Westy experience, what has been the best play you have been a part of? (TZ)I am glad and grateful for every single production I have been in, and am absolutely jealous of those who got to be in productions that I have missed out on. I love the people of Westy Dramat, VERY MUCH, and I think it is their collective effort that makes every single play the BEST play I have been a part of. ( JA)What are you looking to accomplish in your last few months before graduation? (TZ)Nothing dramatic or shocking, I think that just by living my daily life to the fullest would be an accomplishment on its own.
Censorship of Media Continued from Page 2 tors the final say as to what should be published in their papers, as long as the information published is not intentionally false, disruptive of school, malicious, and/or an invasion of privacy, has made it passed a Senate panel, with support from Sen. Kimberly Yee (R). Melanie Allen, the newspaper advisor at the school, said student writers from the school’s newspaper who receive vetoes on various stories will “start shying away from the controversial topics, [...] and they started censoring themselves.” The bill has gotten lots of support because it would protect the rights of students to publish
what they like, even if certain opinions are controversial, within reason. Ultimately, the reason for the Senate’s consideration of this bill is rooted in the idea that it is in the best interest of our nation to instill in our children the ideals that we preach, to let them speak intelligently on complex issues and share what they have to say, rather than to limit them.