Volume CXXIII, No. 10
Parkland Shooting
Derek Cui ‘19 News Writer Another shooting. Another #NeverAgain movement. Another round of thoughts and prayers from political leaders. Another wave of controversy, debate, and condemnation of the NRA and Congress. Political figures capitalize on the event and defend their own policies. Days later, the voice of advocacy fades out of the media. People return to their routines with just a faint memory of the tragedy, and survivors live with that blotted memory. Never again? Not so much. Egregious cycles as such have become an ordinary occurrence: wave after wave of damage, sympathy, uproar, and neglect. According to the CDC, from 2010-2016, an average of 2,300 high-schooler were killed by guns every year, more than the next twelve leading causes combined. Why does this heartbreak keep happening? Trump’s response was to call for increased focus on mental health care to prevent the attack from happening again, circumventing the real issue of gun control and Second Amendment rights. Is it possible to identify all the potential security threats among the sea of 327 million people that make up the U.S.? Is it possible to accurately predict something as complex as human behavior to stop gun violence? It’s been less than 111 days since Sutherland, 150 days since Las Vegas, and less than 630 since Orlando. Do we really need these constant reminders that make us feel a little less safe? How do the majority of other countries in the world establish gun safety? The NRA is dumping loads of money on lobbying: there are only six Republican members of Congress who have not received donations from them. There is a bright side to all this misery. As the national debate on gun control resumes, some members of the government are beginning to offer more than rhetorics. The Hill reports that Chuck Schumer, a long-time leadCONTINUED ON PAGE 3
THIS WEEK’S MEASURE
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Boys’ Basketball: A Historic Season and Cam Shockley (I) led the charge. In the highly anticipated championship game, Milton lost to Choate by a score of 59-56. In the first half, Cormac Ryan (I) sizzled, scoring a whopping 20 points. Ryan was virtually unstoppable in the half. Whether it was a deep three or driving layup, all of his shots seemed to be falling. Milton bigs played a huge role in stopping Choate’s penetration to the basket. However, as the game progressed into the final minutes of the second half, momentum began to swing. Choate guards caught fire from beyond the arc, eventually catapulting them to the lead. After a misplay on Milton’s part, Choate was able to capture a 3 point victory. From the exuberant fans to the remarkable competition, the NEPSAC playoff was a fantastic way to close out the winter season. Coach Reddicks was thrilled with his team’s participation, saying that, “I couldn't be any prouder of this group of guys. They battled each and every day and every play. I've been lucky with the group of guys I've been able to coach!”
Kailee’s Kolumn
David Shaw ‘20 News Writer Happy New Year! On February 16th, people around the world celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year and marked the beginning of the Year of the Dog. For many Asian countries, like China and Korea, Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday of the year. In China, preparations for the New Year started the week before. The holiday lasts until March 2nd, (January 15th in the Lunar Calendar), the day of the Lantern Festival. Many factories and businesses close during this period to allow workers to travel back to the countryside to visit their families. According to Forbes, 385 million Chinese people returned
home to the countryside this year. At Milton, Asian Society organizes a “day off” for students to celebrate the New
Year together as a community. “New Year is a time when you’re not supposed CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Kailee Silver ‘18 Head Monitor Thank you to everyone who donated to the SGA Can Drive this year! The donations will be delivered to the Milton Food Pantry and will go towards helping a lot of people. When sitting down to write my entry for this week’s column, I thought about focusing on a lot of different things: Parkland, the productive use of technology, and how our generation has literally gone from eating Tide Pods to organizing marches against gun violence, all over the course of a month. But I wasn’t able to work any of these because I could only think about how much I miss my family, the weird dream I had about Elon Musk trying to set my neighbor’s house on fire, and my U.S. History research paper. So for this week, I’m going to write about myself and something I’ve been trying to come to terms with and learn about. This is by far the most personal of my columns, and it’s honestly pretty scary to write about. Here goes nothing. On Mother’s Day my freshman year, I had my first full fledged panic attack. My parents had no idea what was happening so they took me to the hospital. I was diagnosed with anxiety. I still remember that I was wearing a blue shirt with gold on it, light green pants, and birkenstocks. My hair was short and the hospital room was too bright. I remember laying in the hospital bed and crying the hardest I had in a while because I didn’t think that I could be affected by a mental health disease. I thought I was immune to it, and I was so embarrassed to have something be “wrong” with me. I didn’t know what to do. I was mad at myself for having anxiety. I’ve obviously come to terms with it because I’m writing about it to the whole school. There is nothing wrong with me or anyone else suffering from mental health issues. It’s just a chemical imbalance in my brain that can
NEWS
OPINION
A&E
SPORTS
Boys’ Basketball huddles with Coach Reddicks
Andrew D’Ambrosio ‘19 Sports Section Editor Milton Boys’ Varsity Basketball shined in its NEPSAC playoff run, advancing all the way to the championship game where they ultimately fell in a nail bitter to Choate Rosemary Hall. The Mustangs battled ferociously in all three of their postseason games. Coach Lamar Reddicks said, “we had great contributions from all our guys.” In their first playoff contest against Phillips Exeter, Milton was able to pull away late, winning by a score of 7662. Although the game got close at times, Milton kept their composure and always maintained the lead. Cormac
Milton Academy
Ryan lead the charge for Milton on his senior night. He scored double digits along with playing stellar defense. In the closing minutes of the game, Dan Schlakman (II) rattled the rim with a monstrous slam. The crowd erupted after the play and the Stangs never looked back from their. Milton carried much of this momentum into the semi final game, defeating Belmont Hill by a score of 75-49. The game was never particularly close. The Mustang defense, lead by Thomas Urquhart (I), recovered many steals throughout the game. On the offensive side of the ball, Rhett Carter (II)
Asian Society Hosts Lunar New Year
Asian Society
Teachers and Parents make dumplings for the Lunar New Year
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
Bingham Speaker- Page 4
Year of the Dog - Page 6
One Acts - Page 10
MA Ski Team - Page 14
Onyx Speaker - Page 5
Criminal Justice - Page 7
Black Panther - Page 11
MA Swim Team - Page 15
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Page 2
The Milton Measure est. 1894
The CXXIII Editorial Board Editors-in-Chief Alexander Chen ‘18 & Nina Taneja ‘18
Managing Editor Patrick Huang ‘18 Layout Editors Charis Palandjian ‘18 Maya Thakore ‘18 Web Editor Anastasia Sukharevsky ‘18
Senior Editors Edward Sheehan ‘18 Soleil Devonish ‘18 Nina Subkhanberdina ‘18 Olivia Risoleo ‘18
A&E Editors Kalaria Okali ‘18 Jack Delea ‘19
News Editors Desi DeVaul ‘19 Nicholas Taborsky ‘19
Opinion Editors Eva O’Marah ‘19 John Albright ‘19
Sports Editors Caroline McCarthy ‘18 Andrew D’Ambrosio ‘19
Photo Editors Rebecca Karlson ‘18 Leo Jin ‘18
Faculty Advisor Liz Matson
News Leo Jin ‘18 Kailee Silver ‘18 Daming Cui ‘19 Maria Geroukos ‘19 Cameron Hoffman ‘19 Charles Leonetti ‘19 Alexander McEvoy ‘19 Samantha Bateman ‘20 Kiran Biddinger ‘20 Ethan Furdak ‘20 Ainsley Iwanicki ‘20 Leydn McEvoy ‘20 Idone Rhodes ‘20 David Shaw ‘20 Jack Sullivan ‘20 Cece Zinny ‘20 Eliza Dunn ‘21 Ian Glick ‘21 A&E Kelly Han ‘19 Michael George ‘19 Gracie Chiang ‘20 India Claudy ‘20 Katie Conn ‘20 Madeline Fitzgibbon ‘21 Photography Caroline Magann ‘18 Hannah Neri ‘18 Alex Paul ‘18 Lily Reposa ‘18 Arianna Bravo ‘19 Michael George ‘19 Kelly Han ‘19
Opinion Jeffrey Cao ‘18 Catherine Gallori ‘18 Jack Weiler ‘18 Alana Greenaway ‘19 Yunqing (Star) Hu ‘19 Cade Rose ‘19 Alexander Shih ‘19 Dariya Subkhanberdina ‘19 Ugur Gurol ‘20 Sophie Lachenauer ‘20 Andrew Ma ‘20 Pari Palandjian ‘20 Olivia Wang ‘20 Jana Amin ‘21 Shannon Kim ‘21 Sports Jack Pacheco ‘18 Steve Walker ‘18 Will Bucci ‘19 Dylan Hickey ‘19 Lou Barber ‘20 Zane Bookbinder ‘20 Blair Englert ‘20 Ben Monnich ‘20 Kavi Shah ‘20 Colin Baker ‘21 Humor Andriana Velmahos ‘18 Anthony Gallagher ‘18 John Minicus ‘18 Jack Sloane ‘18 Dylan Volman ‘18 Spencer Graham ‘18
THE MILTON MEASURE IS ONLINE Electronic Copies of The Milton Measure
Five Years Later: Gun Control Excerpt from “A Culture of Violence” by the Milton Measure CXVIII Editorial Board on February 12th, 2013 “December’s school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut has fundamentally changed the way 21st century United States looks at violence, just as the Columbine massacre over a decade ago made the country look at high school hierarchies, bullying, and harassment-prevention in a whole new light. Current proposals in Washington seek to implement new controls on gun purchase and ownership as well as to reform America's broken mental health system. That the United States has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the developed world as well as one of the highest rates of gun violence is no coincidence. The deinstitutionalization of America's mentally ill throughout the 1970s was a hugely important step needed to end the inhumane system of ‘madhouses’ and ‘asylums’ that confined hundreds of thousands of people under inhumane conditions. However, no equally comprehensive system has arisen over the past three decades to replace what came before — it’s a case of ‘out with the bed, in with neglect.’ Now un-monitored and often untreated, America’s mentally ill are often cared for as best as family members can, or else join the ranks of the homeless and destitute. We cannot stress strongly enough that mental health is a contributing factor to violence, but that it is not the sole cause, nor should we allow mental health issues to become a tool of the NRA and gun manufacturers to obfuscate the need for the universal background checks and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines whose purpose is military and not recreational. Gun control and other measures are not mutually exclusive, and a better grip on the flow of weapons in this country is an essential element of an effort to prevent tragedies like the loss of life eat Sandy Hook Elementary School.”
More than five years ago, the Milton Measure Board wrote about the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting and the lack of action by politicians and lawmakers. The sentiments felt five years ago are eerily similar to our beliefs now in 2018. On February 14, 2018, seventeen people were killed at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. And just like in 2013 when twenty children were shot and killed in an elementary school, no significant policies have been implemented address the epidemic of gun violence in America — it’s shocking, appalling, and heartbreaking. On March 4th, 2018, the Florida State Senate failed to pass an amendment temporarily banning AR-15 rifles, the assault-style rifle used during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the Parkland School shooting. Trump and several Republican politicians continue to attribute mental health to the staggering amount of mass shootings in 2018. Innocent American people have suffered tragic losses from violence which was enabled by the availability to access dangerous guns and weapons — the Sandy Hook shooting was not enough to convince lawmakers to change policies, and we are saddened to think that the Parkland shooting might be the same. Waiting for another mass shooting to occur is not an option. We encourage all students who believe in gun regulation to assert their beliefs to local representatives, and attend the March for Our Lives on March 24th. Youth have been praised for their activism in recent weeks, as thousands of students have advocated for gun regulation and dozens of companies have cut ties with the National Rifle Association. Let’s turn this activism into a tangible policy. Let’s leave for spring break mindful of the world around us.
If you would like to begin receiving copies of the Measure via email, please send your email address to Anastasia Sukharevsky at:
anastasia_sukharevsky18@milton.edu Letters to the Editors Please either email our editors or mail to: alexander_chen18@milton.edu & nina_taneja18@milton.edu The Milton Measure 170 Centre Street Milton, MA 02186
Enjoy Your Respective ~Spring Breaks~
News
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Page 3
Mueller Continues Indictments Over Russian Investigation Ian Glick ‘21 News Writer Over the course of President Trump’s first year in office, few stories have dominated the headlines like the evolving investigation by Robert Mueller. Initiated by the FBI in 2016 in response to a massive hack of the Democratic National Convention computer system by Russian intelligence agencies, the investigation has undergone several significant updates over the course of the past several months. Beginning in 2015, there were several instances of communication between Russian figures and individuals tied to the Trump campaign. Communication continued into 2016, when individuals tied to Trump met with foreign individuals on the promise of damaging knowledge about Hillary Clinton. After the DNC hack in the summer of 2017, there were several updates related to the investigation including the resignation of Michael Flynn, Trump’s national security advisor, and the firing of James Comey, the FBI director at the time. October 2017 marked the beginning of what has become a slew of indictments in the Mueller case. On October 30, 2017, Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, his business partner, Rick Gates, and George Papadopoulos, one of Trump’s foreign policy advisors, were indicted by Mueller.
Robert Mueller continues investigation into Russian interference
Papadopoulos was accused of lying to the FBI, charges based off of the incident in April, 2016, where he met with Joseph Mifsud, a professor claiming that the Russians had acquired damaging information about Hillary Clinton. According to an article published on Fox News, Papadopoulos lied to the FBI about the details of the encounter and subsequently pleaded guilty. Manafort and Gates were both charged with using inactive foreign companies as vessels to launder millions of dollars. Along with those against Papadopoulos, the charges were the first of the investigation. While they did not directly pertain to collusion with Russia, they called into serious question Trump’s judgment in select-
Parkland Shooting, Cont. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
ing democratic senator, is urging Trump to reaffirm and take action on his own call for inter-party cooperation. According to CNN, Republican representative Carlos Curbelo advocated for bipartisanship when it comes to gun safety laws: “What we need is congressional leaders, specifically in my party, to allow some of these bills to come to the floor for debate.” If the president supports the bill improving the NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) reporting system, once the bill passes, federal and state authorities would be compelled to report criminal history to the NICS. Companies, on the other hand, are actively cutting ties to the NRA to show their stance on gun control. Companies such as the First National Bank of Omaha, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hertz, Enterprise, AVIS and MetLife are ending discounts for NRA members. Facebook
and Twitter became the driving factor behind this change, with people from both ends either applauding or pressuring the companies for their decisions or calling for boycotts. Schools across the country and Canada are organizing walkouts as acts of solidarity with Parkland. In addition, protests are being organized. On Wednesday, February 21st, Milton students gathered in the student center, wearing orange and black to stand up to gun violence and show their support for the Parkland survivors. The Cox Library has also made available the opportunity to send letters to the school. In these difficult times, we are once more reminded of the power of sympathy, unity, and love in our community.
ing officials. In December, Michael Flynn, pleading guilty to making false statements to the FBI, was also charged by Mueller. Attorney Alex van der Zwaan was charged for allegedly lying to federal officials about his involvement with Rick Gates. These charges were filed by Mueller’s investigation team on February 16, and van der Zwaan pleaded guilty. Van der Zwaan’s charges do not directly relate to campaign meddling; instead, they are derived from the special counsel’s investigation into a lobbying group that promotes Russian interests in Ukraine. Mueller has alleged that Manafort and Gates lead this group. February 16 marked the largest and, arguably, the
Washington Examiner
most significant set of indictments throughout the entire investigation: charges were filed against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian corporations. The charges originated after the exposure of a complex plan to promote the Trump campaign and undermine the authority of the presidential election. These charges directly related to interference in the 2016 presidential election, since those involved masqueraded as activists to promote divisive issues. According to an article published by the New York Times in February 2018, the conspirators “[wanted] to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy.” The Russians would often take to social media
to disseminate propaganda either with the intention of supporting Trump or defaming his political opponents. On the same day, Mueller also reached a plea deal with Richard Pinedo, a California who admitted to stealing the identities of U.S. citizens in connection to the indictment of the thirteen Russians. On February 22 and February 23 of 2018, a new series of indictments were filed by Mueller’s team against Gates and Manafort. The team accused the pair of acquiring fraudulent loans based on illegitimate reports regarding the income of their businesses. The recent indictments, namely the charges against the 13 Russian nationals and three Russian corporations, in the Mueller investigation are quite significant; the indictments reveal that, contrary to the stance that the Trump administration has taken, the Mueller investigation is not a witch hunt. While they do not prove any fault by the Trump campaign, the indictments verify that the investigation is substantive. Despite which side of party lines politicians and individuals fall under, the recent indictments make it important for all to acknowledge the significance of the investigation. In the wake of the recent indictments, how can lawmakers and citizens ensure that the 2020 presidential election will not be manipulated as was the election of 2016?
Lunar New Year Celebration, Cont.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
to be working, so we wanted to give students a chance to stop their work and prepare for the good luck of the new year,” says Ms. WuWong, the faculty advisor for the Asian Society. Before, Asian Society would hold “overnights” in which students would check in on Friday night, get takeout for dinner, watch movies and play games, and then sleep over at the top of Ware or in Straus. Now students gather, this year in Hathaway, to relax over the Lunar New Year. 60 students arrived in Hathaway House at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, February 20th. After a welcome by Ms.WuWong and Mr. Bland, who wore a traditional Chinese outfit in Milton blue and orange, the celebrations began. Students participated in a variety of activities. Students played card games and Mahjong, watched Mulan and a Japanese film called Spirited Away, played Just Dance, and sang karaoke. Meanwhile,
parent volunteers and faculty members — Ms. WuWong, Ms. Zhou, Ms. Otenti, Ms. Darling, Mr. Shi, and Mr. Lee — prepared the beef and pork fillings for dumplings. Students, with some assistance, wrapped hundreds of dumplings, which are traditionally eaten on Lunar New Year. “A few of them weren’t folded correctly so they were kind of ugly,” joked Tara O’Malley (III). Still Gracie Chiang (III) said “they tasted sooo good.” Dumplings resemble ancient gold and silver ingots, so they represent wealth in the new year. Along with the dumplings, students were treated to a delicious feast of shrimp fried rice and fried noodles, which symbolize a long life. On their way out, students received red envelopes, “hong bao” in Mandarin, with $1 inside. Parents and grandparents traditionally give their children these red envelopes containing money (though usually more than $1) on Lunar New Year to bring them good luck.
Additional activities provided other opportunities for students to celebrate the holiday. For instance, Asian Society decorated the Student Center, handed out cookies, and held a Lunar New Year chapel for boarders. Nick Choi (III) remarked that he liked the Lunar New Year celebration because “it [gives] us an opportunity to celebrate as a community.” Leo Jin (I) agreed, saying that the celebration “gave us time to bond over a common identity.” The appreciation for this celebration has only grown since the Asian community at Milton has increased in the last 25 years (from 8% to almost 24% today, according to Ms. WuWong). As Ms. WuWong states, “The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant times of the year for many Asian international and Asian American families, so Asian Society feels that it is an important event to celebrate with as many people as we can.”
Page 4 News Community Engagement Organizes Annual Blood Drive
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Charles Leonetti '19 News Writer The Milton Academy Community Engagement board can be found orchestrating countless events. From the annual Hunger Banquet to the plethora of fundraisers, one-time service opportunities like Special Olympics to weekly service sites, the Community Engagement program has grown to become a prominent feature of Milton culture. And while primarily working amongst themselves and with the students of Milton, March 1st is a special date where the Milton Academy student body has the chance to connect with something bigger. On March 1st, the Community Engagement program will be pairing with the American Red Cross to host the annual blood drive. The Milton Blood Drive has been going on for a number of years, and it presents students with the unique opportunity to donate blood to those who need
Milton Academy
Meghan Steck (I) donates blood as Chuck Leonetti (II) supports
or to the event; last year, the Blood Drive had a remarkable turnout, and the Community Engagement program is hoping for a similar turnout this year. Prior to the donation, each
regarding the donors past health. Red Cross representatives will then test the donors blood pressure, pulse and temperature checked. A new, sterile needle is used for each patient and then promptly
“There is no restriction as to what disaster the Red Cross will respond to; whether it be a house fire or an earthquake, the Red Cross is always on the frontlines of relief, ensuring that nearly every victim has clean water, food, shelter and clothing.” it. Students are able to sign up for the blood drive in the Student Center the week pri-
donor will have to go through a very brief physical. This usually included questions
discarded. Typically, donors give around a pint of blood. The
entire blood-drawing process takes somewhere between 8-10 minutes, and most donors say that the pain is very minimal — only a quick pinch. Once the blood is donated, it is shipped to a Red Cross blood component laboratory, where it is processed into several different components, usually red blood cells, plasma, platelets and/or cryoprecipitate. According to the Red Cross, one donation can help as many as three individuals who are in need of blood. In order to give blood, you must be free of any blood-affected diseases, and you must weigh at least 110 pounds. You must be over the age of 17, or 16 with parental consent, which means that freshmen cannot volunteer to donate blood. Yet there are still volunteering opportunities for freshmen and others who do not wish to give blood. Red Cross representatives need help moving blood and equipment as well as distributing certain snacks after donations; after the volunteers give blood, they are given water and food to help replenish their electrolytes. Giving blood can be draining on the body, so the Red Cross representatives always remind donors to relax and to not engage in any particularly strenuous activities.
The Red Cross’ blood donation process is just one of the many ways that this organization changes the lives of many individuals. This organization also prides itself in its disaster relief response. There is no restriction as to what disaster the Red Cross will respond to; whether it be a house fire or an earthquake, the Red Cross is always on the frontlines of relief, ensuring that nearly every victim has clean water, food, shelter and clothing. However, the Red Cross’ aid does not stop at the borders; the Red Cross is also a major international aid provider, reaching over 200 countries worldwide. They provide medicine for pathogen outbreaks, help to build safer and more stable communities, and provide much needed help during international crises. The thought of needles and giving blood can be a scary one. However every year, students brave these fears and give to an incredible cause.
Paul Yoon Visits Milton As 2018 Bingham Reader
Desi DeVaul '19 News Writer Paul Yoon, an acclaimed writer and a Briggs-Copeland lecturer at Harvard, spoke to Milton students and faculty on Wednesday, February 21st as this year's Bingham reader. The Bingham reader is an annual tradition, made possible by a generous grant from the Bingham family, in which a celebrated writer gives a talk to Milton students about his or her works and experiences as a writer. Paul Yoon is a nationally recognized novelist and short story author. He's written a novel, Snow Hunters, and two collections of short stories, Once the Shore and The Mountain. His first book, Once the Shore, garnered national success, including the title of Best Debut of the Year by National Public Radio, and it won Yoon the title of the National Book Foundation's 5 under 35. His novel Snow Hunters, the second book he published, won the Young Lions Fiction Award in 2014. All of these accolades, and more, are listed on his profile page on Simon & Schuster's website. At the assembly, Yoon began by talking about the premise of his most recent book, The Mountain, which
Paul Yoon is this year’s Bingham Reader
NPR named as one of its notable books of 2017. He said that he had been doing a lot of thinking regarding how technology has the ability to connect people from all around the world. Specifically, he thought a lot about technology in conjunction with violence and how a tragedy can quickly make its way across the world thanks to radio, television, and most recently, the internet. Taking that idea into consideration, he not only decided to order the stories chronologically but he also added a level of direction by starting in New York and moving eastwards
Boston Globe
across the world. At the Q&A session following his reading of the first half of his story "Galicia," he fielded a variety of questions from students. Questions ranged from whether he prefers writing short stories or novels, (short stories because he finds writing novels to be daunting), to what his writing habits are like, (he does not force himself to write daily, although he does spend time each day thinking about his stories and characters) and even to what a character in one of his books represented ("Nothing" — which received a burst of laughter from the
crowd). This last question and response highlighted one of the most striking things about Yoon: his aversion to thinking that his writing carried any innate meaning. After saying that his character did not stand for anything, he also went on to say that he believes a lot of students over-analyze stories instead of looking them at face value. This statement also reflects his approach to his own writing. In response to another student's question, Yoon said that he does not approach his writing with any particular lesson or meaning for the reader to glean from his stories. Instead, he develops his characters and sees where they take him. Yoon was born in New York City, where the first story in The Mountain takes place, and eventually went to Phillips Exeter as a teenager, an experience that he touched upon in the second, smaller Q&A session during third period. Yoon reminisced about his days as a high schooler where he dreamed of being a guitarist and had a penchant for wearing hemp jewelry. He also mentioned that he did not know he wanted to be a writer until he was 17 or 18. He did say that he always enjoyed to read, saying that he
was "bookish" in high school, but that the desire to write did not reach him until he was almost done with high school. Once he had a desire to write, he followed it tirelessly. He worked a variety of odd jobs in the twelve years that it took to get his first book published, as he told the small group gathered in Straus. He also recalled the three books that he wrote and discarded along this process to get published, and his lack of ability to stay in any one job for too long. He referred to himself multiple times as a "drifter," referencing the series of jobs he cycled through in those twelve years until Once the Shore got published, from working as a waiter to working in a publishing house. He said his family was not particularly pleased with this long stretch in which he never held a job for more than a few years, but he found a lot of support in his friends. Yoon also thinks that his personality as a "drifter" is what has inspired his books to focus so much on the idea of "the adventure."
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
News
Page 5
ONYX Speaker Rahsaan Hall Links Statistics to Mass Incarceration
Nina Taneja Editor-in-Chief The system of incarceration in the United States disproportionately targets marginalized groups. Two methods of thought can rationalize this statement: either one believes that these groups do commit crimes at higher rates, or one must accept that criminal institutions in the US are racist and flawed. This was Mr. Rahsaan D. Hall’s central argument during his speech at the annual Onyx Assembly on Wednesday, February 28th. Rahsaan Hall works as the director of the Racial Justice Program at the American Civil Liberties Union in Massachusetts. An expert on criminal justice and racial inequity, Hall works on “issues that deeply impact communities of color and historically disenfranchised communities,” according to a bio prepared by Onyx. Hall spoke to the student body about the implications of slavery in the US and the systematic mass incarceration of black and latino people throughout history and today.
Milton Academy
Rahsaan Hall Speaks on Wednesday February 28th
Hall began with an overarching discussion of inequities that exist in 2018 prisons, schools, and neighborhoods, and a definition of the term “liberal exceptionalism.” Residents of Massachusetts, a largely blue state, often falls victim to the idea that oppression and inequality don’t exist in our neighborhoods, Hall stated. The reality, Mr. Hall explained, is that Massachusettss’ rate of incarceration would be 11th highest if the state were a country. Additionally, Massachusetts’s own criminal legal system is comprised of inequities and
Kailee’s Kolumn, Cont.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
be fixed through medication and therapy. There have been relapses and good times, but I’m coming to terms with the fact that my mental health will be with me the rest of my life, so it’s important to take care of it. Senior year has undoubtedly been the busiest year of my life. I was captain of Cross Country, captain of the swim team, Head Monitor, a member of the Magus Mabus music board, and I have my own column (which you are evidently reading) in the Measure. On top of all that, I had to apply to colleges, stay on top of my grades, and still make time to be a normal 18-year-old girl, watch The Bachelor, and drink milkshakes with my friends. Sometimes I feel like it’s completely manageable, but other times I get insanely overwhelmed to the point where literally the only thing I can do is eat Cheez-Its under my bed. As someone who struggles with her mental health, finding a balance while remaining sane is really hard for me to do. I’m an overthinker and a worrier. I bite my nails and throw up when I’m stressed. I cry a lot, but I also laugh a lot and really loudly. I’ve fallen asleep standing up because I was so tired, and I get anxiety attacks. I used to not be able to go to restaurants or flush the toilet because it was too loud. I recently went on medical leave just before exams. At home I saw doctor after doc-
tor and shrink after shrink. I got pricked and prodded and had to sit through a lot of uncomfortable conversations. I returned to school two weeks later. I’m not telling you all this to feel bad for me, I’m talking about it because I want mental health to be something that is okay to talk about. I have a position at Milton where I’m able to make my voice heard, so I want to use my platform and tell people my story so others don’t have to shy away from their own. I’m so incredibly lucky to have the support system of friends that I do, and I want everyone to make sure they feel that way — and if you don’t feel that way, come find me, and we’ll figure things out together. I don’t want anyone to be hurting alone. At the end of all things, I hope you’re happy and at peace with yourself since that’s what I hope for myself.
prejudice at several stages. Milton students are often quick to attribute these notions of prejudice to other areas of the US, often failing to address the discrimination and systematic oppression that exists in our own communities and neighborhoods. Hall’s motivation to analyze and understand the mass incarceration in Boston itself shatters liberal exceptionalism, and pushes students towards the necessity of just practices. In fact, Hall also shared that the historic term “separate but equal”, a practice of segregation on a
racial basis beginning with Plessy vs. Ferguson,1896, was in fact coined in a Boston case (Roberts vs. Boston, 1850). Hall addressed slavery and Jim Crow eras, but also explained the link between slavery and mass incarceration. Citing Black Codes in former Confederate states during the Reconstruction and the wording of 13th Amendment, Hall illustrated how disproportionate crime rates are a product of racism and bias in the criminal legal system since the late 1800s. Practices like Redlining and lack of funding in disadvantaged communities continue to worsen inequalities in the US, whether it be Georgia or in Mattapan. Loreal Williams (I), the head of Onyx, appreciated Hall’s historical analysis, saying “we learn about slavery in history classes at Milton, but don’t synthesize this learning with current events”. Many also praised Hall’s ability to connect social problems effectively with statistics. Hall wove statistics and numbers into his presentation, both validat-
ing his speech and encouraging others to see the truth in his perspective. One such fact, that the average wealth of a white family in Boston is $247,000 while the average wealth of a black family in Boston is $8, particularly resonated with the audience. Loreal adds, “many people, especially at Milton, tend to think in terms of numbers…” which made Hall’s facts and statistics all the more useful. Hall presented “undeniable and factual information, but ultimately, it’s your decision what you do with it”, says Loreal, explaining “his specific facts created one direction and one perspective.” Ellie Baker (I) said, “it seems like everyone in the room walked away understanding inequities in the criminal legal system, regardless of knowledge or opinion before”. Hall’s facts and numbers contributed to this understanding.
Pakistan Bans Valentine’s Day
Samantha Bateman ‘20 News Writer Last year, on February 13, the Islamabad High Court banned Valentine’s Day celebrations, ruling that, “no event shall be held at any official level and at any public place,” according to Al Jazeera. The original petitioner, Abdul Waheed, first protested the holiday in 2017, claiming that the day spread “immorality, nudity, and indecency.” On February 7th of this year, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority sent out a notice to broadcasters reminding them not to “promote” Valentine’s Day on their platforms. On February 14th, police in Islamabad continued to carry out the ban, looking out for anything considered a Valentine’s Day sale, ranging from red, heart-shaped chocolate boxes to red roses, which were treated essentially as contraband. In a majority Muslim country, some see Valentine’s Day as promoting Western ideology as well as premarital sex and gifts, which are considered taboo by some hard line conservatives. The holiday’s origins are Christian: it originally honored a martyred, third-century Roman priest. In a rejection of these Western roots, a conservative student group at Karachi University celebrated Modesty Day instead on February 14th. In addition to hosting conservative speakers on campus, the group also reportedly planned to demand to see the IDs of men and
women walking together to check if they were married. If not, then the group would call the university authorities in an attempt to publicly shame the couple. However, not everyone felt the same way about the holiday’s influence. At the same university, a master’s student, Shahzeib, disagreed with his peers’ conversative sentiments, stating that “some people think that Valentine’s Day crosses limits… but I think sex is natural, and it can’t be stopped” according to an NPR article in February 2018. Obaid Malik, a young Pakistani businessman, also felt that the government overstepped its boundaries with the ban, stating that “you can’t ban love,” according to the New York Times. Many rebelled against the ban, and some celebrations continued under the radar. Instead of going out for a traditional romantic dinner, some opted for an inconspicuous lunch or a more modest meal at home to avoid harassment from disapproving conservatives or law enforcement. Even some vendors rebelled against the ban: after the police warned him not to sell red flowers on Valentine’s Day, a florist hid the forbidden flowers in the back of his shop where he would discreetly sell them at the request of loyal customers. Other vendors rebelled more openly: a balloon vendor, Muhammad Akhar, sold balloons that read “You Are Mine” and stated that “if the people who are coming to
buy them are not scared, then why should I be?” according to the New York Times in February 2018. For those who oppose the ban, Valentine’s Day is a private holiday which the government should not interfere with. Unfortunately, in a country with strong tradition ingrained into its culture, standing up for the right to celebrate has been dangerous for some liberal activists. According to Al Jazeera, in 2013, activist Sabeen Mahmud held a protest, “pyaar ho jaane do” (let love happen), of the ban in Karachi, Pakistan. In response to her liberal protest, she received several death threats before being tragically shot dead by assailants on motorcycles in April 2015. By rebelling against the court order, the ban’s opposers put their own safety on the line for the sake of being able to celebrate a day of love freely. With more than 60% of Pakistan’s population now under 30, the nation has begun to experience a cultural shift with the growing influence of social media, according to Reuters. Valentine’s Day’s fate still remains uncertain as a final verdict on the original court case has yet to be issued even though it has been ongoing for over a year. Meanwhile, despite attempts to take back the holiday, it seems that Pakistani people hoping to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their loved ones will have to do so discreetly — at least for now.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
News/Opinion
Page 6
Laura Tierney Speaks About Social Media
Idone Rhodes ‘20 News Writer Social media is a huge part of the average teenager’s life. A student wakes up and immediately picks up her phone to check her Instagram feed. On the bus on her way to school, she responds to all her Snapchats, and in the student center at
an organization that “works with schools, parents and leaders, [to teach] students positive ways to handle one of the biggest drivers of their social development: social media.” Tierney has her own approach to talking about social media, or as she likes to call it, “social,” and encourages students to view social me-
“Tierney has her own approach to talking about social media, or as she likes to call it, ‘social,’ and encourages students to view social media as one giant sports game.” recess, she opens Instagram for what is probably the tenth time that day to show her friend something funny she found on the Explore page. For teenagers, social media has become a nearly constant barrage of information and updates from friends, family, celebrities, and anyone else who has a presence on the internet. With this infinite access to other people’s lives and experiences, the importance of staying conscious of how you interact with others on the internet has become, essentially, a “survival” skill. On Tuesday, February 20th, Laura Tierney, founder and president of the Social Institute, spoke with students during a special assembly. As described on its website, the Social Institute is
dia as one giant sports game. To start off the assembly, Tierney shared some interesting facts about social media. One fact she shared was that nearly 40% of college admissions officers will look at your social media when considering your appli-
tion really hit home. Tierney spoke about the importance of sharing your core values through your social media, whether you do so through supporting your friends’ posts or posting a picture of your soccer team to your own profile. To drive her point home, she asked that each student open his phone to his favorite social media app and then pass his phone to the person on his right. After about five minutes of looking through each other’s phones, students were instructed to share three words that described the profile they were looking at. The activity aimed to help students understand how others see their profiles and to make clear social media’s impact on personal image. While the point of doing this activity was clear,
more like a chore than a fun thing to participate in. For instance, Devon Noble (III) noted that while she appreciates the relevance of presenting oneself well on social media, she felt that there was too much emphasis on that idea, making social media feel more stressful than it should be. Tierney also lead what she called “social sprints,” an activity in which the audience is given a social media situation and, in ten seconds, must come up with a game plan to deal with it. One of the proposed scenarios was getting asked for nudes. Most students made light of the situation and came up with somewhat unreasonable solutions, but Tierney, reminding students that having nude photos of another minor is illegal, put
“Throughout the last two years, Milton students have turned to social media to vent their frustrations through posts and comments and by creating ‘finstas,’ private instagrams with few followers that many students use to rant and gossip about their peers. Recently, Milton students seem to have forgotten the impact and power that individuals have over social media, as they are the ones who decide whether it is a positive experience or not.” cation. In a room full of high school students, the majority of whom have applied to college or will apply to college in the near future, this informa-
which was to teach kids to be more aware of how they appear on the internet, many students found that this message made social media seem
a photograph of yourself literally taped to the inside of a bra. While this tactic would dismantle the situation, some students felt that her proposed solution neglected to comment on the power dynamic that could exist between the person asking for nudes and the one being asked, and others wished that strategies were discussed about what to do to keep yourself safe if you do send nudes. Throughout the last two years, Milton students have turned to social media to vent their frustrations through posts and comments and by creating “finstas,” private Instagrams with few followers that many students use to rant and gossip about their peers. Recently, Milton students seem to have forgotten the impact and power that individuals have over social media, as they are the ones who decide whether it is a positive experience or not. Hopefully, students, teachers, and faculty alike will take from this assembly the skills needed to look out, support, and care for one another through social media.
a humorous twist on the situation. She suggested that if someone asks you for a picture of yourself in a bra, you should send them a photo of
What the Year of the Dog Has In Store for YOU Olivia Wang ‘20 Opinion Writer Notice the exuberant, intricate red decorations around the Stu lately? Wondering why 60 Asian students were missing last Tuesday? If you haven’t heard already, it’s Lunar New Year! Unlike most new year festivities that happen on January 1st, the Lunar New Year is celebrated at different times every year,
house, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the year with a fresh start. Then, we decorate our home with all things red: lanterns, paper cutting arts, calligraphy couplets, and — my favorite — kumquats. Throughout the 16-day celebration, children receive red envelopes of money from family, friends, and relatives in order to ward off evil spirits
termines personality traits, compatibility, and fortune. 2018 is the year of the Dog. Known as a man’s best friend, dogs, or people who are born in the year of the dog, are loyal, friendly, and kind. Due to a strong sense of reliability and sincerity, they will do everything for the person who they think is most important. Probably, the majority of you reading this article were
“Before the new year, my own family usually spends hours cleaning the house, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the year with a fresh start. Then, we decorate our home with all things red” according to the cycle of the moon. This year, it began on Friday, February 16th, and millions of people all over the world, particularly in China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Singapore, are taking days off to reunite with family and to prepare for the upcoming year. The rich culture and exquisite detail of the Lunar New Year celebrations makes this holiday my favorite. Now that I go to boarding school, however, this month of watching and hearing about the all-too-familiar festivities happening back in China also becomes a period of homesickness. Before the new year, my own family usually spends hours cleaning the
with the auspicious color and to begin the new year with great fortune. Though I no longer receive red envelopes in person, the widespread use of WeChat, China’s most popular multi-purpose social media app, allows for family and friends to electronically send lucky money to users all over the world, bringing a key part of the celebration to students like me. What makes Lunar New Year especially unique is how different every year is. Chinese astrology relates each year to a Chinese zodiac animal according to a twelve year cycle. Millions of Chinese swear by the superstition that your year of birth, or assigned animal, de-
not born in the Dog year, meaning you were not born this year, twelve years ago, or twenty four. So, why should you care about the year of the Dog? Well, Chinese zodiacs also predict personality, career, love prospects, and fortune of all other animals for the coming year. The birth years of upper school students in Milton correlate with the following zodiac animals: 1999 (Rabbit), 2000 (Dragon), 2001 (Snake), 2002 (Horse), 2003 (Sheep), and 2004 (Monkey). According to thechinesezodiac.org, if you’re a rabbit, 2018 will be generally positive! At times marked by tense configurations, you must preserve your peace
by adopting a well-balanced lifestyle. Also, remember to live in the present moment as intensely as possible without being too enthusiastic about the future. Dragons: You will become more sure of yourself this year. By asserting your originality, especially in your career, your qualities will be acknowledged by your superiors and colleagues. For most Dragons, love will also blossom this year, whether you are already in a relationship or are not. Snakes: Be ready to discover things that interest you and to understand the direction of your destiny. While there will be quite a few “enemies” within your circle of friends of family members, you must tread cautiously and not lose your temper. Think twice before making hasty decisions. Horses: Though you likely hate the unforeseen and unpredictable, 2018 will be a year full of surprises. If you act quickly when something disrupts routine, these surprises may play in your favor. Don’t be doubtful of your abilities, because you’ll find the necessary resources within yourself to make the most out of challenges. Sheeps: The Stars are
throwing wonders towards your career and social life, as well as a few obstacles. You must be in tip-top shape to face this year, so pay attention to your health. As long as you continue to work hard at your job, your career will prosper to a much higher level within a short period of time. Monkeys: “Remain confident when you feel like sweating.” You’ll be making strenuous efforts to get what you want, while important changes take place, so be prepared. If you act instead of panic, you will triumph over your difficulties. The zodiacs may not be scientific truth, and you might not even celebrate the Lunar New Year, but there is no harm in opening yourself up to a culture that is celebrated by over a billion people and taking some advice along the way. Happy Lunar New Year!
Opinion Florida School Shooting: Ignorance is not a Solution
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Ugur Gurol ‘20 Opinion Writer On Wednesday, February 14th, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, located in Parkland, Florida, and killed 17 students while seriously injuring several others. The shooting has reignited a national debate about gun control, with a great portion of the American public calling on lawmakers to draft legislation which would ensure that an event of such kind never happens again. What has made the response to this tragedy so unique, in my opinion, has been the widespread #NeverAgain movement started by students to end gun violence. Unlike most mass shootings, the Florida school shooting has not faded out of the national spotlight of attention as the weeks have passed, in large part due to the students’ movement. I assume that the hope of the students is that their activism, and the national attention which
Florida families gather at shooting vigil
resume its old course of acting stagnantly on the issue of gun control, if it has already not begun to do so. Over the past week, both the Florida Senate and the United States Congress have begun hearing propositions meant to improve gun con-
fire more rapidly. It seems quite obvious to me that neither of these proposals do anything to address the root of the problem. Training teachers on how to react to a school shooter and banning bump stocks will not pre-
“While I definitely support the movement, I think it is important to realize that at some point the attention the movement receives and its prominence in the media will recede.” it garners, will eventually pressure government officials into taking legitimate action to solve this pressing issue. While I definitely support the movement, I think it is important to realize that at some point the attention the movement receives and its prominence in the media will recede. I fear that when this happens, Congress will
trol; however, I do not believe that the progress that has been made so far is at all encouraging. A CNN article reported that two proposals advanced through Florida’s Capitol on Monday, one that would train teachers how to act in case of a school shooting, and the other which would ban the distribution and ownership of bump stocks, devices that let guns
vent school shootings. These proposals could potentially lessen how deadly an attack would be, but the intended aim of students in Florida is stopping the attacks in the first place. What’s even more worrisome is that it seems as though none of the proposals in the US Congress regarding gun regulations will be passed. Some of these proposals required states to try
.New York Times
to file more and more records in the background check system and another attempted to raise “the required age for purchasing long guns.” Even though I believe these proposals could have slightly alleviated the problem, I still see many loopholes with them. But if Congress cannot even pass such measures, which are less extreme and wide-reaching than others, then I sense that it will be almost impossible to make any progress on the matter of gun violence at the national level anytime soon. A couple of months ago, I was reading a book titled “Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading.” In the book, the author identifies two different categories of problems that leaders face: technical challenges and
Page 7
adaptive challenges. Technical problems are essentially everyday problems that can be solved using known procedures that are well-established. On the other hand, adaptive challenges do not have established solutions and thus require people to reconsider—and in some instances change—their attitudes, values, and behaviors in order to solve the problem. What we, in America, are currently facing is, without a doubt, an adaptive challenge. There is no documented way of stopping school shootings, and thus, we are forced to try new experiments (potential solutions), see how these tests go, and makes adjustments as necessary. Facing and attempting adaptive change is an extremely difficult process, especially for those who are uncomfortable with the idea. The fact that those who try to make adaptive changes often end up failing is no more encouraging either. However, it is my firm belief that if we are to ever solve the problem of school shootings and gun violence in general, we will have to approach the problem as an adaptive, rather than technical, one. I know this will be very difficult, especially with the extreme political polarization in the US and the way it challenges some core American beliefs, namely the Second Amendment. Yet, we simply cannot afford to remain passive and ignorant towards this issue as innocent lives are being lost. Change may not be easy, but change is definitely necessary.
The Flawed Criminal Justice System: Mass Incarceration
Pari Palandjian ‘20 Opinion Writer The criminal justice system is a very complicated thing, with many flawed and essential parts to it, one being the bail system. Bail is used for the temporary release of a person before their trial and returned after if they come to court. If the accused does not or cannot pay bail, they have to stay in jail for sometimes months until their trial, making their situation much worse. They will most likely lose their jobs, as they will not be showing up to work the next day, putting them in a poor financial situation while also threatening lost custody and safety of their children. The majority of people cannot come up with their bail in a day. In fact, according to a 2015 New York Times article called the “The Bail Trap,” “even when bail is set comparatively low — at $500 or less, as it is in one-third of nonfelony cases — only 15 percent of defendants are able to come up with the money to avoid jail.” How
does the bail system benefit the “criminal” (when they are not even convicted yet) by removing them from their life for months? Is there a better
showing the public what is right and wrong by example; and finally, “rehabilitation,” which aims to rehabilitate the criminal in prison, and
“We need to continue to search for other options that can solve the flight risk that certain criminals present without having to set bail at an often un-payable $500 for nonviolent, petty misdemeanors.” way to address the “flight risk” that is possible other than detaining those who are not able to gather a steep $500 in a day? Essentially, our criminal justice system serves to do the following: “retribution,” which makes the criminal serve time for their wrongdoing; “removal,” which separates the person from society in order to not only prevent them from committing any more crimes but also to ensure public safety; “deterrence,” which acts as a sort of warning or consequence, and aims to show that there can be massive ramifications for commiting crimes, thus
it is thought that they can be reflective in prison, take classes, and get better. The purposes that jail and prison present should affect the criminal, the victim, and society. How does the bail system accomplish these goals? It certainly can remove the person from society, but the part that is most difficult for me is that they may not even be guilty. We lock people in jail because they need to show up for their case, but in fact, it is more likely that they will if they are released and able to continue their life as usual. Bail certainly deters many people, as the punishment is
horrible, but I think that it also makes people lose faith in our system. When I read the story of a man named Tyrone Tomlin, who had to spend time at Rikers Island after being arrested for holding a regular straw mistaken as “drug paraphernalia,” it made me feel that our system was completely unjust. A man with a criminal record “for low-level nonviolent misdemeanors — crimes of poverty like shoplifting food from the corner store," according to an article from the New York Times, was going to have to put his life on hold for a crime that he was falsely accused of. I also do not see how rehabilitation of the criminal is taking place in this situation. If a man like Tomlin is in a rut of having to steal for lack of financial support, the worst thing to do to him is to prevent him from making money, which would erase his need to steal necessities. However, a non-violent criminal ends up getting put among violent criminals, an environment that cannot im-
prove their current mental state. Also, being unable to pay bail makes the accused feel powerless against their fate, most likely why they were moved to break the law in the first place. Overall, this system does not really affect the victim, if there are any, and the criminal is put in a horrible, inescapable position. Society is affected negatively, as the bail system perpetuates the wealth gap and does not consider how it affects people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, triggering an abundance of unequal opportunity to survive in our world, and to be able to overcome one’s past or even present actions. Overall, it seems that our current bail system completely counters the goals of our criminal justice system. We need to continue to search for other options that can solve the flight risk that certain criminals present without having to set bail at an often un-payable $500 for nonviolent, petty misdemeanors.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Centerfold
Page 8
Freshman of the Month: Ian Glick Zodiac Sign: Taurus Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts Favorite Food: The Blood of My Enemies Goal for High School: Make it to 5’ 6” Phone Wallpaper: My doggy Upperclassman Crush: Rishi Dhir Favorite Girl Scout Cookie: Samoas (Caramel DeLITeS)
What Are You Doing Over Spring Break? 160 Responses
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Centerfold
Page 9
Senior of the Month: Conor Greene Zodiac sign: idk Hometown: Norwell, Massachusetts Favorite food: Cheese Raviolis Biggest High School regret: Enrolling Phone wallpaper: Picture of me and two friends walking on boardwalk away from Scituate Beach Upperclassman crush: Charis Palandjian Favorite girl scout cookie flavor: Thin Mints out of the freezer
Does It Measure Up?
Does
Doesn't
Spring Weather
Fortnite
No more US History Paper
Choate’s Basketball Team
End of Freshmen Critical Essay
Senior Project Proposals
Senior Spring
Junior Spring
T-2 Days Until Sprang Breakkk Dance Concert
The Paper’s Humor Section Dance Concert Power Outages
A&E
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Page 10
Milton Hosts Student-Directed One-Act Plays
India Claudy ‘20 A&E Writer The Student-Directed One-Act Plays took place last week in Milton's black box theater. Although short, each of the three acts packed in strong characters, captivating story lines, and a lasting impact. The One-Acts present students with a unique way to become more involved in performing arts at Milton. Being Milton’s only opportunity for students to choose, cast, direct, and put on a show, this production allows for directors and actors alike to further explore and improve their abilities in the drama department. In having a smaller cast and space, the one-act production makes an often daunting task of directing feel more manageable. This series of short plays first came to Milton in 2001 due to student interest and has been an acting option for students each winter season since 2007. Mr. Parisi, who coaches the directors and puts together the show in its entirety, acts in the background, really allowing for the students to take control, try their hand at directing, and make their own choices. The production was meant to feel simpler to enable each director to create bonds with their actors and “experience the joys and frustrations of trying to direct,” as Mr. Parisi put it. Due to his availability in the winter, Mr.
Gracie Chiang ‘20 A&E Writer Every awards season, millions of people tune in to watch arguably the biggest night in the film industry: the Oscars. For the 90th annual Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel is returning to host, and even though people enjoyed Kimmel’s jokes last year, many critics find him to be a poor choice. To start, some people blame him for the infamous mix up when La La Land was accidentally announced as best picture instead of Moon-
Emma James (I) and Bri Lewis (III) peerform in student-directed one-acts
Parisi is involved with this production each year and enjoys aiding the student directors in “developing creative solutions...helping them develop that leadership role is a lot of fun.” The three student directors this year are Natasha Roy (II), Charlotte Morman (II), and Celena Eccleston (I). Directors of the production are usually upperclassmen who have a good amount of experience with Milton’s performing arts department, or have acted a fair amount outside of school. One must apply by submitting their chosen one-act play and an explanation for his or her choosing of such play. This production is designed for those with little to no directing experience who are eager to take a risk and try something new. Celena writes in the program that “as a director, what happens
challenges in a society where sexual assault is constantly overlooked and downplayed. Charlotte’s play, Driver’s Test by Don Zolidis, centers around a 16-year-old and her enthusiastic and insane driving test proctor. “Margie,” the driving instructor, hilariously lit up the black box with excitement and craziness. Her imitation of small children in the back seat to make teenage “Gail” understand a real-life driving experience had all members of the audience laughing, as did both actors’ dramatic escape from the police after breaking the speed-limit. The end of the act delivered the best surprise yet, when Gail finds out Margie’s craziness was all a part of the test to determine Gail’s ability to disregard dangerous drivers. Charlotte livened up the production with a light-hearted and en-
2018 Oscars Lack Diversity
equality are becoming increasingly prevalent in society. A Vogue magazine article asks him to step aside, saying, “Does anyone really want to hear a man try to joke about Harvey Weinstein and all the other resultant sexual misconduct and abuse scandals?” The article calls for more diverse hosts, mentioning how only one woman, Kristin Chenoweth at the 2015 Tonys, and one person of color, Chris Rock at the 2016 Oscars, have hosted for a major awards show in the past three
“A Vogue magazine article asks [Jimmy Kimmel] to step aside, saying, ‘Does anyone really want to hear a man try to joke about Harvey Weinstein and all the other resultant sexual misconduct and abuse scandals?’” light. Additionally, many people were offended by Kimmel last year, when he made insensitive jokes about mispronouncing people of color’s names. Furthermore, in the midst of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, many people think Jimmy Kimmel is a tone deaf choice at a time when ideas of diversity and
in this play is up to me; I’m used to acting in plays so it’s quite different to be in charge of one.” Natasha directed A Payment Unkind by James Chalmers, based around three women trapped in the basement of a building due to an elevator malfunction. The women begin a frustrated conversation due to their undesirable situation, eventually leading to more personal topics and experiences such as sexual assault and pornography. The director chose this play for her one-act shortly after the #MeToo movement and scandal surrounding Harvey Weinstein, making it both a timely and powerful piece. The discouraged and defeated emotions brought to life by each character enhanced the performance and reminded the audience of the realness of the characters’
years. Although Jimmy Kimmel may be a tone deaf choice for the host position, the nominations show slightly more diversity than past years. In the best picture category, three of the eight nominated films have female leads and two have one male and one female, as compared to two of eight last year. In addition,
Rachel Morrison became the first woman to get a nomination for best cinematography for her work in Mudbound, and Greta Gerwig became the fifth woman ever to get a nomination for best director for Ladybird. But, unfortunately, the Oscars are still lacking in diversity. This year, according to Variety, no Latino or Asian actors and actresses are nominated. Moreover, Daniel Kaluuya and Denzel Washington are the only people of color nominated for a best actor or actress award, and Get Out is the only movie nominated for best picture with a person of color as the lead. However, despite the controversy and lack of diversity, all of the nominated movies are truly incredible films. At thirteen nominations, The Shape of Water received the most this year, including best picture, best original screenplay, and best director. The movie follows the story of Elisa, a mute woman, who discovers an amphibian like creature that has been captured and trapped in a lab. In addition to The Shape of Water, other high scoring movies
Yearbook
include Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which got seven nominations and tells the story of a woman who uses billboards to question the police chief about the murder of her daughter, and Dunkirk, which nabbed eight nominations, telling the story of the Battle of Dunkirk in World War II. In addition to those three films, the other best picture nominees are Ladybird, Call Me by Your Name, Get Out, Phantom Thread, Darkest Hour, and The Post. The Washington Post called Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, a favorite for the category, but The Shape of Water has more nominations overall, offering some tough competition. All of these films come with high praise, but according to critics at Variety, some other movies, including Wonder Woman, The Big Sick, and I, Tonya, could have also easily received nominations for best picture. The Big Sick did, however, get a nomination for original screenplay, and I, Tonya received nominations for film editing, original screenplay, and lead actress Margot Robbie got a nomination for her
ergetic act which had the audience laughing throughout the piece. Finally, The Trip by Eddie Kennedy and directed by Celena Eccleston dealt with another important social issue of our time: mental illness. “Vicki,” suffering from mental illness, is visited by members of her family at an institution at which she stays. Tensions run high in this family, clearly torn apart by Vicki’s illness. Similar to Natasha’s play, the storyline of this one-act rings all too realistic and familiar in our time. Celena’s leadership and the acting of characters “Henry” and “Alesia” had viewers frustrated and fed up with these two characters’ inconsiderate way of treating Vicki. The important message of the act relates seamlessly to the discomfort, labels, and misunderstanding around mental health and brings awareness to the devastation it can bring when members of a family deal with it wrongfully. After watching all three productions, viewers are left with a range of emotions but undoubtedly a certain respect for the hard work of each participant, especially the directors. The Milton community can agree with one of Mr. Parisi’s reasons for being involved with this production: “I get to cheer on these directors as they make art at Milton” — art that the audience can definitely recognize and applaud.
role in the film. Yet, surprisingly, Wonder Woman did not receive a single nomination, even though it broke multiple box office records and earned major Oscar buzz, according to Forbes. On the other hand, Meryl Streep, for her lead role in The Post, earned a nomination that critics at the Boston Globe feel she didn’t truly deserve. But regardless of whether she deserved it, the nomination was her twenty first, a number that helps her continue to beat her own record of highest number of Oscar nominations. Still, critics at the Washington Post believe either Frances McDormand for her role as a tormented mother in Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri or Saoirse Ronan for her performance as a fearless teen in Ladybird will win the category. However, the Washington Post critics say Gary Oldman will almost definitely win lead actor for his performance of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. But, no one can be completely sure who will win until the envelopes are opened, so let’s just hope that this year they use the right ones.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
A&E
Page 11
Black Panther Movie has 5th Biggest Opening Weekend in History Kelly Han ‘19 A&E Writer After its long awaited arrival, Black Panther was released on February 16, 2018 as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 3 development, which is committed to introducing new heroes and continuing the adventures of previous fan favorites.The movie is centered around T'Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, king of Wakanda and protector of the Wakandan tribe as the Black Panther. Wakanda is a technologically advanced African civilization, hidden in isolation to protect their extensive supply of vibranium, a rare ore that powers much of Wakanda's technology. Besides its riveting plot, audiences praised Black Panther for its emphasis on addressing diversity. Black Panther signals a new era in the film industry for the black community, Hollywood, and the rest of the world. It was written and directed by black filmmakers and stars a predominantly black cast, who all worked to expunge Eurocentric misconceptions of Africa. Director Ryan Coogler set out to ensure that this black superhero will be respectable, imaginative, and
powerful, unlike portrayals of previous black superheroes. Wakandan dialect infuses language from Mali, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Ruth E. Carter, the head costume designer, and Hannah Beachler, the production designer, focused on accurately reflecting African style for the people of Wakanda. According to Wired, the little pyramid pattern on T'Challa's bodysuit comes from Mali. The top view of the Royal Talon Fighter, an aircraft in Wakanda, was inspired by an African mask. Some of the skyscrap-
Black Panther breaks movie records
ers of Golden City featured roofs similar to the rondavel tops of traditional thatched huts. The intricate beadwork on the neck rings and body armour of the Dora Milaje, T'Challa's personal guards, were based on designs from the East African Maasai tribe. Moreover, Camille Friend, the hairstylist, told the New York Times that she planned "a totally Afrocentric, natural hair movie." She told Us Magazine about the ways in which she considered how to incorporate the current state of African American hair, the natural hair movement with braids and twists, the Afro-
WNYC
punk movement of young people that emphasize wearing their hair natural, and a possible futuristic aspect for which she "drew inspection from old 'future films'" like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars. Many of the film's central characters are also female: Shuri, played by Letitia Wright; Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett; Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong'o; Okoye, played by Danai Gurira; and not to mention the Dora Milaje, an all-female royal honor guard. All of these women play important parts in the movie. T'Challa seeks out Na-
kia's support in the wake of his father's recent death and his upcoming coronation, and many times throughout the movie he turns to her for advice. On his missions, T'Challa brings Nakia and Okoye as his trusted teammates. The ideological debate starts between Nakia and Okoye, rather than with T'Challa. Nakia believes Wakanda should step out of isolation to help other countries in need, whereas Okoye, and Ramonda, believes Wakanda should stay in isolation and maintain its secrecy. Both of the characters' perspectives are the foundation upon which T'Challa builds his own ideology. Additionally, Shuri is a tech genius who produces many of Wakanda's most recent technological advances that eventually save T'Challa's life, as well as some other character's lives, on multiple occasions. All of these efforts to create an all-inclusive movie were well received by the public. It reached the fifth-biggest opening weekend in history, according to Forbes, and is one of the best-reviewed live-action superhero movies of all time.
The Incredibles Returns After Fourteen Year Break
Katie Conn ‘20 A&E Writer It may be nearly fifteen years for fans, but it seems that little time has passed for The Incredibles since the first movie was released. The lovable superhero family will be returning to theatres June 15th according to on Disney-Pixar. From all the available information, it appears that The Incredibles 2 will be very much a continuation of the first movie. The first movie, The Incredibles released in 2004, was a phenomenal success for Disney-Pixar, drawing in over $631 million globally, according to IMDb. The Incredibles begins with a flashback to 15 years earlier, highlighting a time in which Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl were at the height of careers for superheroes in the area. The movie then shows how the ultimate power couple’s lives have changed since superheros were banned and the pair settled down and faced a new challenge: raising a family. Through the government’s “Superhero Relocation Program,” Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl become Bob and Helen Parr and are relocated to Metroville, where Bob works for an insurance company and Helen is a stay at home mom. Though they enjoy hav-
The Incredibles return
ing a family, the superheroes struggle to find fulfillment in their normal life; even their children Violet and Dash are frustrated that they have to hide their powers. When the opportunity arises for Mr. Incredible to engage in superhero work, he jumps at the opportunity, and unbeknownst to him, pulls his family and friends into an adventure, unintentionally risking the lives of all involved. However daunting the challenges seem, the Incredibles use their powers — super strength, insane flexibility, invisibility, and lightning-like speed — to de-
feat Syndrome. The first movie left the audience with quite a few questions. After having returned from their successful mission, the Parr family lessened the restraints on their powers, as shown by Dash’s use of superspeed during sports. The movie ends with the Incredibles leaving Dash’s track event and being interrupted by a giant drill and a mole-like creature who calls himself “The Underminer.” Audience members can expect to see more epic takedowns of villains by the Incredibles family and hopefully the addition of yet another Incredible: little
MovieWeb
Jack-Jack. After the first movie concluded with no definite clue as to what exactly JackJack’s powers were, hopefully the second movie will bring fans some closure. Viewers can expect to see most of the same cast, and revivals of fan-favorite characters such as Edna Mode (voiced by Brad Bird, the director and writer of both movies) and Frozone (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson), according to the the movie’s IMDb page. Given Edna Mode’s appearance and her motto to “never look back darling, it distracts from the now,” there is speculation of
a possible costume change for the Incredibles, though the red suits are a staple for the family. The trailer for the sequel picks up soon after the last one ended, as it opens on Mr. Incredible celebrating the news that the youngest member of the Parr family does have powers, despite the first movie’s continuous dialogue about the probability of Jack-Jack being normal, and how “lucky,” as Dash says, Jack-Jack would be if he were normal. So far, Disney-Pixar’s official trailer seems to hint at the sequel being more focused on Jack-Jack, his powers, what they could mean for the super-family, and whether or not he and his family will learn to control them so that his abilities, such as shooting lasers from his eyes, becoming suddenly immersed in fire, and becoming a strange demon-like creature, won’t cause too much damage. The timing of the second movie has left several fans with the same message as the first movie’s wannabe-sidekick-turned-villain Syndrome: “it’s 15 years too late.” Even so, for many fans, the movie is a fulfilled childhood dream and a movie for which millennials and older Gen Zers will gladly return to despite its PG rating and current crowd of young children.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
A&E
Page 12
Drake’s “God’s Plan” Video Breaks Records
Michael George ‘19 A&E Writer It has been over a month since Drake released two new tracks off of his EP, Scary Hours, and, at the drop of his music video for “God’s Plan,” the rapper has already made several headlines. Breaking a record previously held by Taylor Swift, “God’s Plan” reached 4.3 million Spotify streams in the United States on its first day alone. Extending its own record, the song reached 75 million streams for the fourth consecutive week, according to an article from Billboard. It continues to dominate the Billboard Hot 100, currently at the number one spot. Additionally, Drake became the first artist to simultaneously debut two songs in the Top 10 twice, as “Diplomatic Immunity,” the second track off the EP, debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the past couple years, Drake has seemed to proudly, yet casually flaunt a disregard for hip hop conventions. In 2016, by explicitly calling the record a "playlist," he suggested More Life was more a collection of passion songs than it was a traditional follow-up album. Since then, he has attempted to open up the genre
Drake sings
of hip hop to softness. What makes the track “God’s Plan” so disappointing is its forgettable beat and its unabadeshly prosaic lyrics. Its message pertaining to the hate that comes with success is one that is exceptionally monot-
streak of unconventional acts is its music video. Here, he turns on its head the stereotype of taking over Miami to drink and party in a massive charity-spree. Directed by Karena Evans, the video chronicles Drake
“The ‘God’s Plan’ video serves as a positive transition away from many of the current trends in hip-hop. While most hot music videos are riddled with fashion flexes and drug use, ‘God’s Plan’ pins Drake as a more mature, self-aware artist and mogul” onous at this point in Drake’s as he tours around low incareer. However, what push- come counties in the Miami es the song back into Drake’s area and gives away the vid-
HotNewHipHop.com
eo’s budget of $996,631.90 to various families and organizations. From delivering toys to the children of Miami's Lotus House to approaching an unexpected family with a stack of cash, Drake’s acts of generosity leave many of his recipients in tears. "There’s nothing like seeing people experience a joyful moment when you can tell they need it the most," Drake wrote in the caption of a post on Instagram. Possibly prefacing a full length album set to drop later this year, the video somewhat serves as a campaign piece, adding to Drake’s un-
conventionality as a rapper with a soft side, distributing smiles and hugs with every donation. “I only love my bed and my momma, I’m sorry” is the most quotable line of the song, further attributing to the compassionate character that Drake has been trying to build. The video concludes with a series of clips that show Drake both announcing more of his donations and speaking to the families of the cash recipients. In one clip, Drake tells a boy, “[you] got to make sure you take care of your mom too no matter what you do” after giving them a massive stack of cash. The “God’s Plan” video serves as a positive transition away from many of the current trends in hip-hop. While most hot music videos are riddled with fashion flexes and drug use, “God’s Plan” pins Drake as a more mature, self-aware artist and mogul that puts him among the likes of Puff Daddy, Jay-Z, and Dr. Dre. He uses his fame and money to promote philanthropy as opposed to wasteful, self destructive tendencies that dominate the industry. Hopefully, Drake continues in this direction throughout the year.
Black Panther: The Album Impresses Many
Madeline Fitzgibbon ‘21 A&E Writer Black Panther: The Album, the soundtrack for the wildly popular new film Black Panther, acts as a powerful accompaniment to what some, according to a CNN article, have called a “cultural movement.” Curated by Kendrick Lamar alongside Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Black Panther: The Album features a diverse range of artists and styles, from TDE veterans such as Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul to R&B newcomers such as Khalid and SZA to trap stars such as Swae Lee and 2 Chainz to South African artists including Yugen Blakrok and Sjava. Many have described the album as a victory lap for TDE, highlighting their top artists and acting as a crowning achievement for Kendrick. Though he has only five official features, Kendrick’s fingerprints are apparent across the album as he performs hooks and intros. Kendrick’s expert casting and production tie together seemingly bizarre combinations of artists for generally successful collaborations. However, despite his important role in the album, several other artists also shine, including Johannesburg artist Yugen Blakrok,
Black Panther album cover
who holds her own alongside Kendrick and Vince Staples on “Opps,” with her fast paced, clever verse. In stark contrast, the album also contained several songs, such as “All the Stars” and “Pray for Me,” singles released before
Black Panther, always wanted to work with Kendrick, and Kendrick’s style and message match perfectly with the story. Throughout his earlier albums, Kendrick explores his own identity as a black man along with the concept of
NPR
ing new heights.” He traveled to Africa and was moved by how beautiful it was, saying, “I felt like I belonged in Africa” in an interview with The Recording Academy in May 2017. His feeling of a strengthened connection to
“Though he has only five official features, Kendrick’s fingerprints are apparent across the album as he performs hooks and intros. Kendrick’s expert casting and production tie together seemingly bizarre combinations of artists for generally successful collaborations.” the album, designed for popular appeal rather than introducing large ideas. However, they are still enjoyable and do not interrupt the flow of the album. Ryan Coogler, director of
kingship and power. In addition, according to an NPR article from February 2018, after writing good kid, m.A.A.d city, Kendrick struggled with his “desire to remain true to his Compton roots while reach-
his roots increased the appeal of Black Panther for him, as the movie centers around both the divide between Africans and African Americans and the attempts to bridge that divide.
Both Black Panther and the accompanying soundtrack have been incredibly well received, with Black Panther making $520 million in the first week and breaking several records and Black Panther: The Album debuting at number one on the Billboard top 200. Praising movie and album, many critics agree that both the movie and the soundtrack are important cultural pieces. The talent of the African artists surprised many as they easily held their own next to popular American artists, though some critics, such as Lawrence Burney, argue that not enough African artists were present in the soundtrack for a movie about an African nation. Overall, the soundtrack is wildly successful and well received by all. Black Panther: The Album was a surprising, fascinating mixture of unexpected collaborations, talented artists, and Kendrick Lamar’s masterful production.
Sports
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Page 13
NBA Season Update: Eastern and Western Contenders Lou Barber ‘20 Sports Writer Heading into the NBA season’s second half, multiple trade deadline blockbusters will impact the already tight playoff hunt. The Rockets have outshined the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, up to the halfway point. In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors hold the first seed while the Celtics trail by two games. Heading into the action-packed second half, the new-look Cavs hope to emerge from the third seed under the leadership of the King, while the super team Warriors look to attain Western conference dominance once again. The Toronto Raptors club made no moves at the deadline but stand as the one seed in the East. The Raptors are led by the All-Star guard duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan. The team is also able to thrive with their skilled team bigs, Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas. For the Raptors to excel in the playoffs, according to Sports Illustrated, “Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan need to get over their playoff jitters in order to take the Toronto Raptors to the next level.” Kyle Lowry, averaging 6.5 assists a game, facilitates the offense by feeding the basketball down low and to the perimeter. The Raptors MVP, DeRozan, handles the ball down the stretch and is an elite penetrator and midrange shooter. Kyrie Irving’s Boston Celt-
Boston Celtics
ics enter the second half as the East's two seed. In response to the crushing early season injury of newly-added Gordon Hayward, Irving has put up nearly 25 points a game along with 5 assists, according to basketball-reference.com. Now freed from the shadow of Lebron James, Kyrie is the number one option and hopes to lift Boston over Lebron, his past mentor. Al Horford is the Celtics’ leading passer, averaging about 5 assists a game. The emergence of the young forwards, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, adds much needed athleticism and perimeter shooting to the Celtics. If Boston hopes to outmatch Toronto and Cleveland, Kyrie must act as the focal point of the offense by consistently knocking down
Celtics Blog
contested threes, midranges, and layups. Al Horford, usually outshone by Irving’s flashy play, will be monumental down the stretch due to his unorthodox playing style: a three point shooting, passing, and post dominant center. The C’s tough second half includes, “key matchups against the Raptors and Washington Wizards (4th place, 8.0 GB). Plus, they still have to play at the Houston Rockets on the first Saturday of March,” as stated by 985thesportshub.com. Nearing the trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers encountered team chemistry struggles due to Isaiah Thomas’ return from injury. According to ESPN, when Thomas returned, the team tallied a 6-10 record, but during Thomas’s absence
from the team, the Cavs went 24-12. In an effort to shake up the team, Cleveland’s management shopped Isaiah Thomas, along with Derrick Rose, Jae Crowder, Iman Shumpert, and Dwyane Wade, in return for George Hill, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance, and Jordan Clarkson. The Cavalier’s clearout of four newly acquired players demonstrates a desire to bring another championship to Cleveland. Now on a contract year, a 33-year-old Lebron James remains in the MVP conversation and is on a mission to secure his second championship in Cleveland. In the West, the Houston Rockets hold the one seed. James Harden, last year's MVP-runner up, has led the Rockets to an NBA best 4413 mark and leads the MVP race. As stated by ESPN, “[Harden’s 60 point triple double] seemed to solidify Harden, the runner-up last season for the second time in his career, as the frontrunner for the award.” Harden now has the help of the veteran, nine-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, and the two guards arguably comprise the best backcourt in the league. Heading into the 2017-2018 campaign, many questioned how two ball-dominant guards could coexist. Up to this point, Harden and Paul have shown incredible chemistry and an ability to toy with opposing guards. Paul, one of the all-time elite dimers, finds Harden with ease and vice-versa. Harden averages 9 assists per contest, while Paul
puts up 8 dimes. If Houston continues to sizzle, Golden State will have a tough time competing with them on the road. Surprisingly, Golden State trails Houston by half a game. The Warriors are the favorites to win the Finals for the second consecutive year under the leadership of Steve Kerr. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green arguably comprise the most talented team in league history and should have little difficulty making it to the Western Conference Finals. Golden State holds elite scorers in Curry, Thompson, and Durant, while Green acts as a dimer, rebounder, and the man who performs the dirty work. Although the Warriors’ starting lineup is almost absurd in its prowess, the bench is relatively weak. As the NBA’s latter half begins, Eastern and Western contenders must utilize their unique strengths. They must feature their stars while also playing as cohesive units. Will the Raptors continue their phenomenal start or will they be surpassed by Kyrie’s Celtics? Can the Rockets maintain a narrow lead over the super team Warriors? We shall see in the NBA’s second half.
Dorm Dodgeball Promotes Boarder Bonding
Zane Bookbinder ‘20 Sports Writer Dorm Dodgeball is a fun way for boarders to compete with each other while also relieving stress. The sport is structured into two tournaments: one for the girls’ dorms, and one for the boys’ dorms. During the regular season, each dorm competes against each other once. After the regular season comes the single-elimination playoffs, in which one loss will knock a dorm out of the competition. This also means that for a dorm to win the tournament, it must win all of its playoff matches. In each 30–40 minute game, all 30-40 students from two dorms attempt to hit the other team’s players with balls while also avoiding balls aimed at them. If anyone is hit by a ball, they are out, and if a thrown ball is caught, the person who threw it is out. Additionally, if the ball is caught, one eliminated player from the team that caught the ball is able to
reenter play. If all the players from one dorm are out at one time, their team loses. The sport draws a lot of excitement. Peter Marangos (I) says, “people get hyped. [He has] seen people wear everything from a speedo to a onesie.” Costumes are popular in all dorms, and students often wear their team jerseys, sunglasses, hats, and other items of clothing. Most dorms have pump up rallies before each game in order to get players hyped. The tournament is all about dorm pride and bragging rights. The winning dorms are able to boast their superiority for an entire year. While some dorms are very competitive, others are more laid back and just try to have fun. The most competitive dorms even have practices to prepare themselves for the playoffs. The seniors get even more excited for Dorm Dodgeball, both because this is their last year at Milton and because they are the leaders of their dorms. In Hallowell
House, according to dorm parent Ms. Pulit, “the seniors rally the whole house before every game.” Similarly, in Goodwin House, according to Tony Wang (III), “many of the seniors are our top scorers, and they help bring the team together.” The seniors also led the way in Wolcott House, which held an undefeated regular season. In the playoffs, Forbes is the clear favorite for the boys, but Wolcott has also played well. Hallowell House took a winning record into the playoffs, and thus has a good chance to win the tournament. While Dorm Dodgeball does provide a rather necessary escape, there is a lot of dread and stress surrounding it. Because most dorms mandate 100% dorm participation, students are not able to work on homework for that 40 minute game time period. Often times, this presents a problem for students with major assignments due the next day. Additionally, the competitiveness surround-
ing the sport can spiral out of hand. A few weeks ago, small scuffles broke out in a game between Forbes and Wolcott after the dorms accused each other of cheating. As a result, these two teams are not allowed to play each other in the playoffs. While Dorm Dodgeball further allows for student
procrastination and competitiveness, it still remains as a great stress reliever for boarding students. The games will always be celebrated as a way to build relationships within a dorm, promote upperclassman leadership, and boost dorm pride. Congratulations to all the dorms on a great Dorm Dodgeball season!
Congrats to Caroline Spahr (II) on winning the individual New England Championship in Girls’ Squash! She is Milton’s first recipient of the Demer Holleran Trophy!
Sports MLB Teams Make Moves During Offseason
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Dylan Hickey ‘19 Sports Writer This MLB offseason has been as eventful as ever; many teams have made great strides in improving their squads. While significant moves have been made by a number of teams, many other teams have lagged behind. Whether it is signing a free agent, re-signing a key player, or trading one or multiple players for others, this offseason has been full of excitement. In perhaps one of the most unexpected deals, the Los Angeles Angels picked up pitcher Shohei Ohtani in international free agency. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter said, “all eyes will be on Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani.” Although he is rated highly, Ohtani does have a minor UCL sprain. Questions arise on how long he can last with this sprain. In another move, the Miami Marlins traded all-star outfielder Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a top pitching prospect and two other minor leaguers. Jerry Dipoto,
Washington Nationals lightly jog at a moderate pace
the Mariners GM, said, “We want to be more athletic, we want to be faster and more dynamic on the bases.” Gordon’s veteran leadership will certainly lead his team in the right direction. The next trade was Evan Longoria heading to the San Francisco Giants. For the stud third baseman, the Rays received Denard Span, a center fielder, and three top 30 prospects. Daniel Kramer of
MLB.com reported that the Giants were, “seeking to bolster a lineup that they believed needed a significant power boost.” Some of the biggest moves came from right here in Boston. First of all, the Sox resigned first baseman Mitch Moreland out of free agency who, over the last three seasons, averaged 22 homeruns, 75 runs batted in, and a .252 batting average. Along with
SportsOnEarth
Moreland, the Red Sox acquired outfielder JD Martinez for $110 million in contract negotiations. When talking about Marinez, a NESN writer said that, “this guy is going to hit a lot of dingers.” The Yankees completed one of their most successful off seasons in franchise history. Many are now referring to the Yanks as the Golden State Warriors of baseball. First off, they re-signed star
Page 14
pitcher CC Sabathia. After that, they created quite a buzz in the world of baseball by signing Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com said, “no big leaguers hit the ball harder than Stanton and Judge (another slugger on the Yankees), and now the hulking power hitters will be part of the same lineup.” By having Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and a plethora of other big hitters, the Yankees lineup will be a nightmare to any opposing pitchers facing it. These are just some of the more notable moves made this offseason. Many other moves are causing heated debate among MLB fans. There are surely many more moves to come before the July trade deadline. The upcoming MLB season promises to be a good one!
Milton Ski Returns Victorious From NEPSAC Competition
Ben Monnich ‘20 Sports Writer On Wednesday, February 14, the Milton Academy Ski Team travelled to Gunstock Mountain in New Hampshire to compete in the New England Class B Skiing Championships. This competition, commonly known as the NEPSACs, brings together all of the best teams in New England to compete in a single championship event. In this event, team members ski two runs across two different disciplines: two slalom, and two giant-slalom, or GS, runs. A slalom course is a very tight and twisting course, characterized by the skinny, closely-spaced red poles that stick from the ground and demand strong technique and balance. A GS course, on the other hand, is made of a series of two gates spread directly across from each other, thus creating a path to go down. GS is much
Milton ski team wins first at New England Championship
The Milton Academy teams competed in the “B” division — the girls against 12 other teams, and the boys against 13 other teams. This girls team at this event consisted of Caitlin Waugh ‘20, Emma Borggaard ‘20, Abi-
Charles Leonetti ‘19, Ben Pratt ‘19, and John Higgins ‘18. The team was captained by Karlson, Stephan, and Leonetti. Because the team won the NEPSACs last year, they were quite confident heading into the event. How-
“Coach Broome believes that next year ‘the team could very easily move up into the A division,’ which is the top division. Similarly, this confidence stems from the teams domination of the B division; As previously stated, the girls team won by 24 points and the boys won by 57 points.” more wide-open and encourages aerodynamics and fast speeds. In the NEPSACs, the three people on a team with the best three results are counted and added to that team’s total, and the team with the lowest score wins.
gail Borggaard ‘20, Katerina Stephan ‘19, Shayla Kelley ‘19, Sophie Kylander ‘18, and Rebecca Karlson ‘18. The boys team was made up of Jamie Fox ‘21, Matt Ryan ‘20, Cody Waterfall ‘20, Beck Kendig ‘20, Will Livingston ‘20,
ever, they were wary of both Taft and Loomis Chaffee, as those two schools had challenged Milton the previous year. After a long day of racing, both the girls team and the boys team finished 1st in the
Rebecca Karlson (I)
NEPSAC B division. Both teams dominated; the boys won by 57 points, and the girls won by 24 points. For the boys, Matt Ryan led the charge as he won both events — quite the feat. Similarly, Beck Kendig was instrumental in the boy’s success as he tallied a 2nd and an 8th in both slalom and GS, respectively. Coach Patrick Broome was quite impressed with the entire teams performance, but said that these two skiers were “a big reason for the success of the team.” The girls team, on the other team, did well mainly because of its depth. Kat Stephan, 1st place, Emma Borggaard, 6th place, and Shayla Kelley, 15th place, contributed largely in the GS discipline. However, when one
teammate fell in the slalom, the rest of the team picked up the slack. Emma Borggaard’s 6th place finish, Shayla Kelley’s 7th place finish, and Abigail Borggaard’s 10th place finish all propelled Milton to success in the slalom. Looking towards next year, Coach Broome is “very excited” about the team’s prospects. This excitement is due largely to the fact that all of Milton’s scores, which only come from the top three people, came from juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Thus, Coach Broome believes that next year “the team could very easily move up into the A division,” which is the top division. Similarly, this confidence stems from the teams’ domination of the B division. As captain Kat Stephan (I) pointed out, “both girls and boys won by almost 50 points each — that's pretty big since the margins between some teams were as little as one point!” Clearly, the Milton Academy ski team was quite dominant at the NEPSACs, and is likely to continue with this recent success.
Sports NBA All-Star Weekend Entertains Fans
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 Kavi Shah ‘20 Sports Writer NBA 2018 All-Star Weekend did not disappoint. The festivities kicked off in Los Angeles on Friday night with the All-Star celebrity game and the Rising Stars game. The All-Star celebrity game brings some of our favorite icons from music and TV to the basketball court. Notable names in this year’s edition included Justin Bieber, Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things, Paul Pierce, and rapper Quavo. Katie Nolan, the host of SportsCenter on Snapchat, coached team Clippers while Rachel Nichols, the host of ESPN’s, ‘The Jump,’ coached team Lakers. Team Clippers won by a margin of 75-66. Quavo dropped nineteen on the night and took home the MVP trophy. The fun in L.A. continued Friday night with the Rising Stars game. The Rising Stars game consists of the top rookies and second year players in the NBA. Team World beat Team USA in a 155-124 route. Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Sacramento Kings won MVP with 26 points for Team World and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics scored 35 for Team USA. The All-Star festivities resumed Saturday night with the skills challenge, 3 point contest, and slam dunk contest. The skills challenge featured eight NBA players
Blair Englert ‘20 Sports Writer The girls’ and boys’ swim teams recently returned from the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships, where they earned new team and personal records. The Easterns took place at Franklin and Marshall Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where some of the most elite northeastern private prep schools are given a chance to compete at the end of the winter season. The meet, beginning on February 16th and ending on February 17th, entailed two competitive days of swimming and diving. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams headed into the meet with winning records from the regular season. Mr. LaRochelle, one of the coaches of the swim team, explained that “the girls scored the most points ever by a Milton team and broke into the top ten for the first time with a ninth place finish, the highest finish by any Milton team.” The girls’ team was extremely successful at Easterns and broke several records. Caroline Magann (I), Leydn McEvoy (III), Mary Howley (III), and Madeline Fitzgibbon (IV) earned a new school record in the Girls 200
Glenn Robinson III at dunk contest
that were deemed the most well rounded. Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets won the challenge and became the first guard to win the skills challenge in the last four years. The three point contest took place shortly after. The NBA’s best shooters each had a minute to shoot twenty five threes from five different angles. Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns edged out Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Los Angeles’ Tobias Harris in the final round. The final event of the night, the slam dunk contest,
NBA
highlighted the NBA’s best, most polarizing dunkers. Donovan Mitchell, the rookie sensation of the Utah Jazz, took on Victor Oladipo of the Pacers, Larry Nance Jr. of the Cavs, and Dennis Smith Jr. of the Mavericks. Mitchell took home the trophy after scoring a perfect fifty on his final dunk. For his final dunk, he emulated the legendary Vince Carter who performed the same dunk nearly twenty years ago. The contest was judged by DJ Khaled, Julius Erving, Lisa Leslie, Mark Wahlberg, and Chris Rock. Sunday night fea-
tured the premiere event, the NBA All-Star game. The Staples Center hosted the game for the first time since 2007. Kevin Hart and comedian Rob Riggle kicked off the night with skits and player intros. Chance the Rapper, Migos, Beyoncé, and Justin Bieber all sat courtside for the game.The game consisted of twelve players from each conference with the most fan votes. In previous years, however, the All-Star game has been notorious for lacking competitive spirit and defence. Part of the reason the All-Star game isn’t competitive is because an NBA All-Star is very significant to the success of his team, so he would not want to risk an injury for a game that doesn’t have any purpose other than showmanship. In order to try to make the game more competitive, the NBA got rid of the old format of East All-Stars vs West All-Stars and implemented a draft. Lebron James and Steph Curry received the most fan votes and were named captains. The captains drafted all-stars from either conference to play for their team. Surprisingly, the new format fixed the game: at least for now. In the past, the point total from both teams was upwards of 350, but this year, the combined scores didn’t even break 300 points, meaning that players
Milton Swim Teams Compete at Easterns
Milton swimmers break records at Easterns
Medley Race. A medley race is a combination of four styles of swimming, which are butterfly stroke, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. The girls continued on this winning streak and brought home another new school record in the Girls 400 Freestyle Relay, won by Caroline Magann (I), Lily Wright (II), Leydn McEvoy (III), and Mary Howley (III). Additionally, Mary Howley (III) earned a new school record in Girls
100 Butterfly. The boys’ team also performed well; overall, the boys finished 19th and every one of the boys swam personal best times at the meet. When asked what he would miss most about the seniors on the team, Coach LaRochelle mentioned that he would miss “their leadership, enthusiasm, and support for their teammates.” Sophomore Leydn McEvoy expressed a similar opinion and described the crucial role
the seniors have had this season as leaders and supporters of the rest of the members of the team. She explained that she’d “miss the seniors’ energetic and spirited attitudes in meets and their advice and encouragement during hard sets in practice.” “[At Milton], I swim for the love of the sport and my teammates and I feel attached to these seniors because they helped the swimmers in some way become stronger and bet-
Page 15 defended. The game began as expected with a host of dunks and alley oops; however, as the game progressed, players showed effort on both sides of the court. Lebron James and his team came back from fifteen down in the fourth. Team Lebron was led by their captain who scored twenty nine points and grabbed ten rebounds. Demar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers lead Team Steph with twenty one points each. Team Steph had a chance to win with a buzzer beater, but the defence of Team Lebron didn’t allow team Steph to get a good shot off. Many expert analysts and fans alike agree that this has been the best All-Star weekend in a while. Fans were treated to amazing talent in the Rising Stars challenge, exciting dunks in the dunk contest, and most importantly, a competitive and close All-Star game.
ter on their own levels,” she went on to say. She continued to celebrate the role of seniors in unifying all the teammates despite the competitive nature of the individual sport. Leydn admires how “success is not determined by the number of points you scored but the friendships and bonds formed on this team. Camaraderie is the hallmark of the team and without the seniors we wouldn’t have that strong of a bond.” The seniors will obviously be missed next year, but there are many younger students on both the boys’ and the girls’ team that are looking forward continuing the legacy of the seniors both in attitude and in results in the upcoming season and at next year’s Easterns. Congratulations to the seniors and all the members of the swim team on their hard work and impressive achievements at the 2018 Easterns!
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Humor
Page 16
Top Things to Do During the Blackout 1. Flashlight tag with Campus Safety 2. Watch Dance Concert with no lighting or music or dancing 3. Organize a series of underground dog fights 4. Offer assistance in repairing the power line **gets electrocuted** 5. Make a list titled “10 Flavors of Air” 6. Campfire in the Dean’s Office 7. Get Blackout 8. Poop in the Milton Paper office 9. Reinvent your public image 10. Re-enact the Revolutionary War 11. Re-enact Fortnite 12. Make good decisions 13. Develop friendships that will last you a lifetime