Volume CXXIII, No. 9
Spring Break Trips
Desi DeVaul '19 News Section Editor Over March break there will be multiple school led trips travelling both internationally and domestically. The Classics trip and the History trip will allow students to experience the cultures that they have been learning about in class, while the Community Engagement trip will allow students to give back to a community that is still feeling the longterm effects of Hurricane Katrina. The trips will be going to to Greece, Jordan, and New Orleans, respectively. The trip to Greece is the first of its kind for students taking Classical languages at Milton. While there have been exchange programs in place for a long time at Miton for students taking modern languages, no such program has been in place for students taking Classical languages, until this point. Milton offers Latin to all students and Ancient Greek to students who have completed Latin 3. Because of the prerequisite for Greek, most of the students taking Classics at Milton are taking Latin, a fact which would seem to make it confusing as to why the destination is Greece, and not Rome. Mr. Sawyer addresses this by referencing a famous quote by legendary Latin poet Horace, "Captive Greece seized her fierce conqueror and brought the arts to the rustic Latin lands." In other words, Greece served as the foundation for Roman culture. Because of the influence of Greece on Rome, students on the trip will get to see the places that shaped Rome and her own culture. On the trip students will travel all around Greece, exploring the area of Attica and the Peloponnese, while staying at various hotels. Mr. Sawyer is especially excited to visit the Pnyx in Athens, the place where "great Athenian statesmen and orators spoke and where the Athenian citizens voted, practicing what was considered at the time a very odd and radical experiment — democracy." By seeing this place, the students will see the birthplace of democracy itself. Mr.
THIS WEEK’S MEASURE
Friday, February 16, 2018
Eagles Upset Patriots in Super Bowl
Andrew D’Ambrosio ‘19 Sports Section Editor On Sunday, February 4, 2018, a frigid Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, hosted the 52nd reiteration of the NFL’s Super Bowl. In an exciting back-and-forth contest, Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33, to capture their first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history. In securing game MVP honors, Nick Foles, the Eagles’ backup quarterback, threw for 373 yards, three touchdowns and an amazing touchdown catch. In an improbable win, the upstart Eagles sent, what many believe, the greatest head coach Bill Belichick and football dynasty New England Patriots home with a Super Bowl loss. In one of the most exciting Super Bowl games, Tom Brady and the Patriots played from behind most of the game but never quit. Despite a menacing Philadelphia defense, ranked fourth in the NFL this season, Tom Brady threw for over 500 yards and the team’s running backs ran for over 100 yards. While held in relative check for most of the first half, Brady threw for three touchdowns
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Quarterback Nick Fowles poses with the Superbowl LII Trophy
in the second half - one to Chris Hogan and two to Rob Gronkowski. The second touchdown to Gronkowski came in the fourth quarter and gave the Patriots a comefrom-behind lead. Belichick commented, “I was proud of the way we competed.” The Eagles would not be denied however. With only nine minutes left in the game and losing 33-32, Nick Foles lead the Eagles on their most historic and unlikely offensive drives to push ahead of New England. Over 14 consecutive plays, Nick Foles orchestrated a masterful 75-
yard drive that culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Eagles tight end, Zach Ertz, to recapture the lead for the Eagles, 38-33. While Ertz lost the football on contact with the ground in the end zone, the score was affirmed by the referees after a long replay review. “If they had overturned that, I don’t know what would have happened to the City of Philadelphia,” said Ertz. Still, Tom Brady had a chance to bring the Patriots back. In a game that produced over 1000 yards of total offense, nearly an eter-
Nassar Sentenced for Sexual Assault Idone Rhodes ‘20 News Writer On Monday, February 5th, in an Ingham County court in Michigan, Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40175 years in prison for seven counts of sexual assault, and, during his Eaton County trial, Nassar was also found guilty of 3 counts of sexual abuse. Moreover, Nassar will serve 60 years in a federal prison on child pornography charges. Ultimately, Nassar is seemingly sentenced to over 100 years in prison. According to a New York Times article from January 2018, Nassar, who once worked at the Michigan State University Sports Clinic and for USA Gymnastics, was known as “the healer of gymnasts” and treated hundreds of female
NEWS
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Nassar was sentenced up to 175 years for sexual assaultl gymnasts over the course a gym for up-and-coming of his career. As a result of gymnastics stars. John Gedthe charges against Nassar, dert, coach and owner of the entire board of US Gym- Twistar, referred almost evnastics and the president of ery single injured gymnast Michigan State, Lou Anna Si- he came across to Nassar. mon, have resigned. Nearly 265 women, many of Nassar was affiliated with whom trained at Twistar at Twistars Gymnastics club, some point, accused Nas-
OPINION
A&E Milton Jazz - Page 13
Kailee’s Kolumn- Page 3
Tom Brady - Page 11
AMC competition - Pages 6
Community Service - Page 12 Dance Concert - Page 13
Class at Milton
Jack Weiler ‘18 Feature Writer Last Thursday, students and faculty sat in the ACC for an hour for Milton’s third community inclusion assembly of the year. This assembly did not focus on understanding racism and facing polarizing conversations headlong like Mr. Rodney Glasgow taught us earlier in the year. Frankly, I couldn’t quite find the point in this assembly; however, understanding the evolving ideas around gender and sexuality seemed to resemble the goal. Obviously, Milton should make sure everyone is educated on these matters — I think Mr. Glasgow’s assembly accomplished its goal extraordinarily. Yet I am left wondering: when are we going to talk about class? Inextricably linked to the “Milton experience,” class rears its head in and out of the classroom. For good or bad, Milton’s population is incredibly wealthy as a whole. I forget the exact number, but the majority of Milton students are in the 1% of wealth. Although race and gender may seem more unavoidable, Canada Goose jackets and luxury cars strewn across campus illuminate the wealth of students. As students go out to get food or coffee up to three times a day, class constructs students’ social lives — whether they participate regularly or abstain. This choice, or lack thereof, is real for many students. And many other students, myself included at times, are oblivious to their own class privilege and the varying experiences of Milton students. But Milton rarely talks about class. What’s worse, most conversations we do have relegate institutionalized poverty to distant, developing countries and communities — with other people. The effects of class present themselves at Milton, but, perhaps more importantly, class controls the lives of many people around us. Apparently, we have forgotten that systemic racism is primarily linked to class CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
SPORTS Squash Nationals - Page 12 Australian Open - Page 15
Friday, February 16, 2018
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The Milton Measure
Overcoming Fear of Conversation
The CXXIII Editorial Board
Let us begin this editorial by stating that the CXXIII Board of The Milton Measure disavows Charles Johnson (‘07), Co-Editor in Chief of the CXIII Board of The Milton Measure. We do this not because of his conservative beliefs, but because of his bigotry and dishonesty. Mr. Johnson does not in any way represent the values or beliefs of the Measure, and to our knowledge, has had no involvement with this publication since his graduation. With that said, we believe that although The Boston Globe’s article showed more than enough proof of Mr. Johnson’s mendacity and derangement, we must further address his take on his time at Milton. To hear Mr. Johnson tell it, he was something of a martyr. Johnson explains in the Globe article how he felt out of place at Milton, always opposing the liberal majority. And while he does bring up a valid point about the political polarization within Milton’s bubble, he is also plainly a troll. He speaks and writes to provoke the public. While the ability to share one’s own opinion is integral to an honest and strong community, the intentional sharing of racist and bigoted speech has no place in our community. Freedom of speech is a very nuanced topic. This issue manifests itself across the country, from college campuses to courtrooms. A simple ban on speaking critical opinions infringes on that freedom of speech. However, simply allowing hateful and racist speech that is unsubstantiated and untrue implies a conscious decision to accept the speech as fair and valid. We as a community must learn to foster a welcoming environment for honest and different opinions. Admittedly, Milton is a liberal leaning school. Many students vocally share left-wing opinions. However, we cannot pretend that students with different opinions do not exist. They do exist and we must at least be willing to listen. When perspectives are conflicting, we each have a responsibility to take the first step by demonstrating openness. Emphasized in last week’s assembly with the Glasgow Groups, purposeful conversation starts with understanding the other side. We must ask questions to better understand each other’s situations. Although asking questions is tough since one relinquishes a sense of control, that momentary sense of weakness offers an opportunity to grow and learn for all involved. Making mistakes is an inherent part of the process. However, if our fear of the consequences shrouds our willingness to learn, who will find the courage to do so? In every aspect of our daily lives, we can make incremental progress in the way we treat our friends and enemies. We must overcome that fear so that compassion and humanity prevail.
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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 Cameron Hoffman ‘19 Charles Leonetti ‘19 Alexander McEvoy ‘19 Kiran Biddinger ‘20 Ethan Furdak ‘20 Leydn McEvoy ‘20 Idone Rhodes ‘20 David Shaw ‘20 Jack Sullivan ‘20
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 Andrew Ma ‘20 Pari Palandjian ‘20 Olivia Wang ‘20
A&E Kelly Han ‘19 Michael George ‘19 India Claudy ‘20 Gracie Chiang ‘20
Sports Jack Pacheco ‘18 Will Bucci ‘19 Dylan Hickey ‘19 Zane Bookbinder ‘20 Ben Monnich ‘20 Kavi Shah ‘20
Humor Andriana Velmahos ‘18 Anthony Gallagher ‘18 John Minicus ‘18 Jack Sloane ‘18 Dylan Volman ‘18 Spencer Graham ‘18
Photography Cecilia Guan ‘18 Caroline Magann ‘18 Hannah Neri ‘18 Alex Paul ‘18 Lily Reposa ‘18 Arianna Bravo ‘19 Michael George ‘19 Kelly Han ‘19
THE MILTON MEASURE IS ONLINE Electronic Copies of The Milton Measure 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
Have a good weekend!!
News
Friday, February 16, 2018
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Kailee’s Kolumn: A Reflection on Community Day Kailee Silver ‘18 Head Monitor Thank you so much to everyone who participated in Community Day! Greg and I, along with the SGA, have been working on implementing self-care rituals and moments into the school year, and we are so excited to see Community Day come together. We wanted to find a way to improve mental health and decrease stress on campus while spending valuable time with friends and family. After discussions amongst ourselves, the department heads, deans, and the administration, Community Day came together. Our hope for the day was for everyone to find extra time to catch up on work or sleep, talk to someone new, and be fully present. I’ve decided to write about some of my thoughts about the day and what to do looking forward. Community Day meant a lot for me personally. Not only was it something Greg and I have been working on for a long time and were very
Kailee Smiles for a picture in the RSG
excited about, it also meant that I could share a moment with my school focusing on something that has been hard for me. I have a snapchat score in the 350,000’s and I’ll text you back within minutes. Ask anyone in the dorm and you’ll learn that I always have something to
Mikey George (II)
do and thus don’t take good enough care of myself and my mental health. So, Community Day was a day that I could benefit from personally but also hoped people would see the possibilities and positivity in it. I thought going without my phone for the school day
was going to be a lot harder than it turned out to be — the only hard part was not being able to check my phone for the time! I found myself without a distraction and being actively aware of where I was and where I was going. I saw more people in the student center and engaging in face to face conversations. After school, I had a teacher come up to me and tell me that one of her advisees said she had a great conversation with someone she hadn’t talked to before because she wasn’t on her phone. In the evening, my dorm all got together, ate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and watched Wonder Woman. Without stressing about academic commitments or other responsibilities, we got the chance to spend a Wednesday night together- a night usually filled with late lights and assignments. It was in this moment that I realized the importance of fully being present where you are and with whom you are. This year has already flown
by and I want to cherish all of my moments I have left at Milton. I realized how much more I can absorb by putting away my phone for a couple of hours and just being with friends. As someone who probably cries three times a week, this night was a great de-stressor and helped me realize how much my friends and community mean to me and what they can do for me, and what I can do for them. Looking forward, the SGA and I hope to do more for our community. We’re currently in the process of getting feedback from the day and will work to make improvements either to another Community Day or community/ selfcare event. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime with thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you so much for making this day the day it was and I truly hope you learned something from it.
Glasgow Group Revisits to Continue Conversation
Jack Sullivan, ‘20 News Writer Last year, students and faculty joined together to protest against the school’s oversight of racial issues on campus. The administration responded, promising they would hire outsiders to educate both the students and the faculty. True to their promise, the administration brought in cross-cultural dialogue facilitator speaker Rodney Glasgow, who led students in productive discussions about polarizing issues. In addition, Rosetta Lee and Kedra Ishop also came in to talk about diversity. Most recently, during morning assembly on February 8th, the school saw the most recent line of diversity speakers: Loris N. Adams and John Gentile. In their presentation, Adams and Gentile began the assembly with an eye-contact exercise. By providing useful terms, the two reminded the audience that people should not create expectations of one’s identity based on first impressions. They also discussed “intersectionality,” the concept that the overlap of a person’s identities can have an influence on a person’s level of oppression. While the assembly lasted for just an hour, it provoked discussions that continue even a week afterwards. Adams and Gentile are consultants working at the Glasgow Group, a company headed by the same Rodney Glasgow who visited our school for the second
John Gentile and Loris Adams from the Glasgow Group visited Milton on February 8th, 2018
time earlier this year. They are a group of twelve diversity practitioners who provide consulting services to schools, organizations, and professional corporations all over the country. The Glasgow Group tries to help people think about diversity in a new way. Rodney Glasgow stated that the heart of the group is, in his words, “about teaching people how to listen to themselves and each other in a way that fosters growth.” In addition to its consultant services, the Glasgow Group hosts a few diversity events, the largest being the National Diversity Practitioners Institute in Maryland. Glasgow describes it as an “intensive three-day professional development” for school teachers
and administrators. “Our most valuable message,” says Glasgow, “is that the work of equity and justice is crucial to any community; equitable and just spaces are safe spaces, and learning thrives in safe spaces.” This goal pertains especially to their work at Milton Academy. As a school, Milton’s core purpose is to be a place where learning thrives, and so, according to the Glasgow Group’s beliefs, Milton would do well by cultivating justice and equity. But how effective was the Glasgow Group’s presentation? One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, states that while she personally appreciated the Glasgow Group’s presentation and message, she knows
people who feel like the diversity assemblies are just “window-dressing” set up by the administration in order to improve the school’s public image, though she believes “no-one would actually say that.” She also wishes that rather than have a diversity assembly “once in a while,” we should try to “facilitate discussions in classrooms in connection to what we’re learning.” While the assemblies may seem productive, their effect might not extend beyond the ACC. Discussions about diversity continues to crop up on both a school-level and a global scale. With the commencement of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea, many are concerned about the US team’s
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underrepresentation of minority athletes, according to the Chicago Tribune. Additionally, according to movieweb, negative reviews of the almost all-black cast of the upcoming Black Panther superhero movie, which takes place in east Africa, are causing tension. Whether at school, in sports, or in movies, issues of diversity continue to appear, and they show no sign of stopping. Luckily, companies like the Glasgow Group are working hard to have communities confront this issue and are trying to make the world into a better place.
News Class at Milton, Continued
Friday, February 16, 2018 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
and the mass incarceration of poor, primarily minority-occupied areas; that the “racism” of natural disasters, about which Mr. Gentile told us, derives from the disproportionate damage to poorer communities with less resources, again primarily occupied by people of color; racism and classism are often one and the same. The community is uneducated. In affective ed classes, teachers tell us to understand our own perspective and privilege in discussion. Again, I have rarely dealt with class in any discussion, and we address the implications of class on perspective only situationally. And instead of taking the latest assembly to talk about class — even within the context of the ideas presented — the presenters ran us through some wildly disorganized exercises and told us that gender and sex are different (I guarantee every Milton student knows, or at least has heard, this principle concept already). They
even could have stuck with their theme of gender and sexuality and brought up the relationship between class and the LGBTQ+ community. These ideas are not mutually exclusive. We must stop treating them as such. Milton preaches diversity in race and class. Often touting their ability to bring in students of all different backgrounds with financial aid packages, Milton has committed to making itself accessible. Milton must commit to incorporating more class-based learning in diversity curriculum. In affective-ed classes, every discussion around identity should mention class’s intersectionality with that identity and topic. One of these Glasgow assemblies should focus on class and its relationship to the “-isms” about which we often talk. No one wants to talk about class — especially at a place with so much wealth. I get it. I get uncomfortable when class comes up. To discuss class and its implica-
tions makes no one feel good: rich people often feel guilty, and less-wealthy people may feel disadvantaged. However, if one abandons the flawed presupposition that discussion about class connotes a condemnation of wealth, he or she will understand the goal. If we make clear “calling out” the overwhelming privilege of class at Milton aims only to ensure every student understands his or her role in society, we can create a more educated community. In its current state, Milton’s motto, “Dare to Be True” is at loggerheads with the school’s practice. To be true to itself, Milton must remain true to its student body; class is a part of that truth. If students understand class and its role in our lives and society, Milton can begin to truly understand “diversity” and systemic oppression. Discussion can move past the banal vocabulary lessons for which we often settle. We could have tough conversations. We could come away with true understanding.
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Seniors Raise Over $14,000 Through Senior Showcase
Alex McEvoy ‘19 News Writer Every year, Milton Academy’s graduating class holds a Senior Showcase to raise money for its senior prom. On February 3, 2018, the Class of 2018 will host this year’s Senior Showcase, a talent show which will display many of our amazing Senior’s talents including singing, comedy, playing an instrument, and much more. The showcase also included a raffle for 15 different prizes. Generous donors, mostly Class I parents, will help provide raffle gifts to encourage Milton Upper School students to attend the Senior Showcase. This year’s prizes include Celtics tickets, assorted gift cards, and even a lunch with Mr. Bland. Anyone part of the Milton Community, students, parents and faculty, is able to buy raffle tickets. The Senior Showcase is a fun way to bring Milton together and help Seniors have a great
end of the year. This year’s senior showcase was hosted Zac Mustin, Liz Foster, and Sophie Clivio. Many Seniors were excited about the showcase, looking forward to seeing their classmates’ amazing talents. Last year, there was some worry that the raffle wouldn’t raise more money than the items raffled. This year, a record 2,800 tickets were bought, raising $14,000 directly for senior prom. Senior showcase serves as a great opportunity to bring Milton together and give students, as well as faculty and parents, a chance to win some cool prizes.
Winter Olympics Start in Pyeongchang, South Korea Samantha Bateman ‘20 News Writer The 2018 Winter Olympics have descended upon us. This year, Pyeongchang, South Korea is hosting 2,952 athletes from 92 countries competing in 102 events, according to the Guardian. Pyeongchang is a small town just over 100 miles east of Seoul with 40,000 inhabitants. The stadiums and other infrastructure surrounding the games will cost the government a whopping $12.9 billion, which is still much cheaper than the $50 billion spent by Russia in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Like any Olympic Games, this year is not without its controversies, including norovirus, North Korean participation, and Russian drug abuse. Norovirus, a highly contagious foodborne illness, infected 128 people as of Thursday, February 8, according to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee. While no athletes have been infected, the illness has caused a shortage of healthy security workers. In response, 900 military personnel have been deployed as a replacement. However, attendees and organizers are not just worried about disease: the tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world have troubled many. This year, twenty-two North Korean athletes accompanied by a hoard of 230 cheerleaders will compete under the shadow of their country’s growing nuclear arsenal,
Los Angeles Times
The Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies kick off in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9th, 2018
according to the New York Times. Despite these growing tensions, South Korean President Moon Jae-in seems to be putting aside the threat to focus on the games as a way to unify the two nations who have a long, broken history. The two countries will compete in a joint women’s hockey team, and both nations will march together under the Korean Unification flag. Kim Jong-Un’s sister will also attend, which will be the first time that someone from his family has set foot into South Korea. In a January post from President Moon’s Facebook page, he stated that “We are one” with the North. Unfortunately for President Moon, the response from much of South Korea has been less than enthusiastic. Coinciding with his pro-unification rhetoric, Moon’s rating fell 10
points in the month of January, according to the New York Times. In South Korea, feelings towards unification tend to be split between younger and older generations. A report by the Korea Institute of National Unification, which is a state-funded think tank, stated that about 50 percent of respondents who were 60 years or older said that there should be one state while only about 20 percent of respondents said the states should be unified. Meanwhile, North Korea moved a military parade usually held in April to February 8th, just in time to showcase their usual nationalistic spirit for the games. The parade is complete with its usual anti-American rhetoric and showcase of missiles. Some American viewers might also put off
the games since the International Olympic Committee, or the IOC, punished Russia in January for its state-sponsored doping scheme that allowed its athletes to cheat in the past two Olympics. In conjunction with the IOC’s investigation, the World Doping Agency, found that 12 urine samples from Russian medalists competing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics and 15 medalists competing in the 2012 London Olympics showed signs of tampering. Their punishment is unlucky for U.S. TV networks. In this politically tumultuous time, the Cold-War-era feelings that often arise during the Olympics would be present as always. Rob Prazmark, who negotiates corporate sponsorship deals for the Olympics, testified that “for the American viewing audience,
it is about Americans winning,” according to CNN in February, 2018. But this year, Russians are forced to compete under the label “Olympic Athlete from Russia,” or OAR, and are not allowed to display their country’s flag or colors. Any medals they earn will not count for Russia’s medal count, according to Vox. Instead, the OARs will wear drab, neutral uniforms, and Americans will lack a main rival to cheer against. Despite this controversy, viewers should look forward to watching athletes like snowboarder Shaun White, who has two gold medals and scored a perfect 100 at the U.S. Grand Prix to qualify, and skier Lindsey Vonn, American favorite and winner of 81 World Cup Races which is more than any other woman ever, according to ESPN. Team USA is also the most diverse of any U.S. winter squad, containing 45% female athletes, 10 African-Americans, 11 Asian-Americans, and its first two openly gay athletes, according to NPR. Ultimately, although the politics surrounding the event might be uncertain, viewers can be sure to expect gravity-defying turns, thrilling ski runs, and maybe even the occasional tumble-- the Olympics are back.
News Amtrak Faces Safety Issues and Road Blocks
Friday, February 16, 2018 Derek Cui ‘19 News Writer On February 4th, an Amtrak train traveling from New York to Florida was derailed, killing at least 2 employees and injuring 116, according to CBS. Just five days earlier, MSNBC reported that a chartered train with GOP congressmen crashed into a Garbage truck in Virginia. In less than three months, there have been five Amtrak crashes, killing nine people in total. Travelling by Amtrak, once regarded as a safe way to commute, is slowly becoming an idea with plausible concern. Say a traveller wishes to travel from Boston to Chicago. Going by train would cost $218 for a regular, flexible coachseat ticket and take up nearly 22 hours, driving would take about 15 hours, and flying by plane would cost $60 and take less than three hours. Why would people still opt in for a train ride in the first place when there are clearly options out there that are both less time-consuming and more economical? People want the freedom, leisure, and scenery that come with a train ticket, and most working commuters on a train prefer a train because of the reduced baggage fees, added legroom, and the freedom to work in a relatively relaxed
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environment while in transit. However, trains are notoriously known for their poor punctuality. Consider the Acela Express train from Boston to New York, for example: amtrak.com states that the on-time performance was 76% in the last 12 months, which means more than one out of five trains is expected to be late. In an endeavor to maximize ontime arrival rates, engineers have felt pressure to push the train and the tracks to their respective limits. The
lack of high-speed trains and railways contribute to this dilemma. High-speed trains are not only fast but also more convenient for people who live far from their workplace. However, the current railway infrastructure cannot guarantee a passenger’s safety at high train speeds. While the Acela travels at an average of 87 mph, European and Asian trains travel at a pace of 186 mph on average or newer tracks. The Seattle incident in December 2017 occured due
to intentional overspeeding of the train. According to the New York Times, the train was travelling at a speed of 78 mph when the limit was 30. This momentum generated derailed the train, leading to multiple injuries. The same thing happened on February 6th when an Acela train travelling at 125 mph separated as it was heading into Penn Station, according to the NYPost. That’s three incidents in the same week. However, people generally pay less attention to train accidents
compared to plane accidents even though planes are statistically safer than trains. In 2016 alone, there were 8,050 injuries and 805 fatalities caused by trains in the US, according to Statista. Imagine if that were the case for plane travel. The factors behind these accidents are multifaceted. Lawmakers have advocated for a system called the Positive Train Control, which detects errors in engineer inputs and slows down the train when the human does not. The majority of the trains involved in these accidents did not have the system in place. Some blame it on the lack of funding; others blame it on the lack of action from lawmakers. With less Americans taking trains, the situation has deteriorated due to a lack of revenue. In 2018, the White House has cut grants to Amtrak by $630 million, or 45%, according to the New York Times. How can we expect the situation to get better when Amtrak faces resistance on so many fronts?
Super Bowl Commercials: Hits and Misses
Cece Zinny ‘21 News Writer On February 4th, 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII. CBS News stated that “An estimated 103.4 million people watched the… Super Bowl.” While many people watched the intense football game, others watched solely to view this year’s anticipated commercials.
successful commercial. Budweiser’s ad showed workers packing up cans of water and sending them to places that were affected by hurricanes this year, such as Texas and Puerto Rico. Eliza Dunn, a Class IV day student, states that most of “the other commercials in the Super Bowl were consumer-based and geared towards only business and profit. The Budweiser commercial, howev-
“Successful advertisements usually contain an element of comedy, inspiration, or connection to the audience.” Each year, there are many successful commercials that leave viewers feeling inspired. Successful advertisements usually contain an element of comedy, inspiration, or connection to the audience. Some successful commercials this year included Amazon’s ad where Alexa lost her voice, Budweiser’s ad that displayed it efforts in aiding those affected by 2017’s natural disasters, and Toyota’s ad that followed the journey of Lauren Woolstencroft, an eight-time paralympic gold medalist. Amazon’s ad in which Alexa lost her voice was a commercial centered around its humor, a factor many consider to be a crucial element of a
er, brought attention to the crises… caused by the recent hurricanes and showed what the Budweiser corporation is doing to help these affected areas. It was a genuine good deed that showed the company’s humanitarian side rather than… [their] commercial side.” Toyota’s ad was very inspiring because it showed that success can be achieved regardless of one’s disabilities. Lauren Woolstencroft was born without both of her legs below the knee and an arm below her left elbow, yet she overcame this and went on to become a very successful skier. The things all successful commercials have in com-
mon include humor, relevance to current world issues, and a connection to the audience. These three things allow advertisers to draw attention to their company in hope for an expansion of business while inspiring viewers at the same time. Along with successful advertisements, there are always the disappointing and frustrating ones, too. This year, there were a few controversial ads, notably including Dodge Ram’s advertisement for their cars. In an article published on February 5th, 2018, The New Yorker states that “The car company chose to juxtapose an excerpt from a Martin Luther King, Jr., sermon, titled ‘The Drum Major Instinct,’ against a montage honoring family values, rug-
on February 5th, 2018, NBC News states that to many viewers, “the advertisement seemed to co-opt the martyred civil rights icon in the service of crass commercialism … King loudly opposed the Vietnam War and argued for military expenditures to be redirected to domestic spending — particularly to serve the poor. Critics cited that as one of the ironies as they attacked the 30-second spot that … cost Dodge more than $5 million to air.” This major contradiction led to many frustrated tweets from spectators discussing their disgusted and discontented emotions towards the commercial. Ilan Rodriguez, the Director of Student Multicultural Programming, states that he did not like
“This commercial shows the thin line that companies walk when trying to make an inspirational commercial.” ged masculinity, and kneejerk nationalism.” This commercial received backlash from many viewers because they believed Ram was profiting off of King’s word by using them to make money. This commercial shows the thin line that companies walk when trying to make an inspirational commercial. In an article published
Ram’s commercial because he “felt they used an iconic civil rights leader to push forth their corporate agenda. I don't think they honored MLK — instead, they used his message as a marketing ploy and it was obvious.” With many mixed opinions, a controversial commercial can cause tension within social media and larger communi-
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ties. After fifty-two years, the Super Bowl is known for its hilarious and inspiring commercials, attracting the eyes of over one hundred million people. This overwhelming amount of viewers gives advertisers tremendous power, for they capture the attention of an incredible number of people. Published on February 6th, 2012, a Forbes article states, “So what makes the Super Bowl commercials different? … the answer is ‘anticipation.’ The commercials are part of the Super Bowl trifecta. Everyone expects [them] to be unique and humorous. Even the really bad commercials are talked about the next day.” One might wonder, though, why pay five million dollars for a commercial that might not even be successful? The answer is, companies know millions of people will watch their advertisements and talk about them, thus increasing their influence. Given the amount of power Super Bowl commercials have today, they can a major impact on viewers, whether it is positive or negative.
Friday, February 16, 2018
News
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Milton Students Participate in the American Math Contest Eliza Dunn ‘21 News Writer On February 7th and 15th, around 30 Milton students took the American Math Contest, also known as the “AMC.” The AMC is a math contest consisting of 25 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 75 minutes. It is administered by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), and, according to the MAA website, is designed to build the “mathematical capabilities of the next generation of problem-solvers.” The AMC was first given in 1950 by the MAA to select schools in New York. Over the next 68 years it expanded to over 6,000 schools and now has over 350,000 participants. The test also has a growing number of international groups.
ical Association of America, students who were in the top 5% of the AMC 12 or the top 2.5% of the AMC 10 are all invited to take the AIME. From there, students with the highest combined scores on the AMC and the AIME qualify for the United States
“Tests like the AMC ‘inspire that same sort of coming together to quest toward the creative spark that will open up the problem to you.’” There are three levels of the AMC: the AMC 8, 10, and 12. Each level corresponds to a certain grade; for example, the AMC 10 is for tenth graders and below and is limited to the curriculum of tenth grade math. The contests are open to students of all levels. According to Anne Kwok (IV), students take the AMC to “challenge themselves outside of the course material in class.” Students who receive top scores on the AMC are eligible to participate in the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). According to the Mathemat-
MAA
MAA Logo
of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). The top six students from the USAMO are eligible to represent the United States at the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO). The contest is extremely difficult. On the AMC 12 in 2017, the average scores for eleventh and twelfth grade were 55.86 and 58.24 out of 150 (respectively). Very few students earn a perfect score; a score of 150/150 falls in the 100th percentile, and, on the AMC 10 in 2017, only 28 students out of more than 52,000 earned a perfect score. According to Math Club/
Team faculty advisor and current AMC administrator Ms. bargar, however, the score does not matter as much as the attitude surrounding these contests. Instead of focusing on cramming, Ms. bargar hopes that students appreciate the “surprise, joy, and mystery [she] got out of experiencing these tests.” Tests like the AMC “inspire that same sort of coming together to quest toward the creative spark that will open up the problem to you.” Romain Speciel (I), co-head of the Math Club, remarked that even though competition math often limits creativity, the most important part is appreciating the magic behind the problems. The Math Club/Team is working to spread this creative spark and love of math at Milton by offering students the opportunity of experiencing the AMC here at school. This year, of the 30 students registered, over half are underclassmen. The increased involvement of underclassmen excites Ms. bargar. One of the Math Club/ Team’s main goals this year
is increased accessibility to both their club and the AMC test. By doing so, Ms. bargar hopes to encourage students to try “playing with and sharing the beauty of math.”
use curriculum material in new ways. AMC problems address topics such as probability, number theory, and trigonometry. Anne Kwok mentioned that the AMC pushed her to “employ the skills [she has] acquired to solve problems that are presented in an entirely new light.” AMC contests also require more creativity than normal math tests. Romain’s favorite part of the AMC is the satisfaction of solving a difficult problem and seeing the beauty behind the numbers. Others, like Ms. bargar, see an element of mystery in the problems; she loves problems that “lead you to even more questions about why the thing you found is true, revealing some deeper struc-
“Very few students earn a perfect score; a score of 150/150 falls in the 100th percentile, and, on the AMC 10 in 2017, only 28 students out of more than 52,000 earned a perfect score.” Milton students’ reasons for taking the AMC vary. Some students are interested in competition math like the AMC. Other students, like Romain, take the AMC simply because “although it may sound hard to believe, [they] actually love math.” For many people, remarks Mr. Kassatly, a Milton math teacher and former AMC administrator, the AMC “can be an eye-opening experience to see questions that are simply stated and extremely challenging… [and] this level of challenge is embraced in different ways.” The AMC is unique because it requires students to
tural insights into the process of exploration. Math tests as a path to transcendence? I don’t know, but math brings me joy and I love to see it delight others too.” There will be no more AMCs this year, but the AIME is scheduled for March 6. Students interested in contests like the AMC can also take the NEML, a similar test that will be held on March 26. Anyone interested in the AMC or the NEML should contact Ms. bargar or attend a Math Club/Team meeting (Fridays in Ware 208).
Spring Break Trips, Continued CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Sawyer wants students "to have a better understanding of aspects of Ancient Greek and Roman culture, and how they have left their footprint on the nation of Greece." Up to the time the trip leaves, the students are having weekly meetings to learn about the places they'll be visiting, and to learn modern Greek. The trip leaves March 8th and returns March 18th. Seven students, under Mr. Emmott’s supervision, will set out to explore the culture of the Middle East. Although some of the students are enrolled in Middle Eastern history, not all are, and it is not required. These students, Mr. Emmott, and two instructors joining them in Jordan will begin the trip in Amman, working with Non-Governmental-Organizations in helping Syrian refugees, and
Past Spring Break trip to Belize.
"floating in the Dead Sea," as Mr. Emmott put it. Then the group will travel to Wadi Rum, and spend a few days there before flying back. This trip goes from March 7th to March 19th. This is Mr. Emmott's second time on the trip, the first being last year. He says that
his favorite memories of the trip from last year "were the many very late night discussions that the students had on the hotel rooftop terrace" and "sleeping outside under the stars in the desert of Wadi Rum." Mr. Emmott hopes that students will have an "immersion experi-
Milton Academy
ence where they better understand topics of language, gender, religion, culture, the environment, and the impact of refugees on a small population all in the context of the modern Middle Eastern state of Jordan." Ms. Geyling-Moore, head of the Community Engage-
ment program at Milton, is bringing 12 students down to New Orleans for the Community Engagement trip. Students on this trip will be helping out to repair homes for people who are still be feeling the effects of Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans back in 2005. Ms. Geyling-Moore hopes that students "will learn some useful physical skills as they do important teamwork" while also learning "about the related social issues, and the rich culture and history of New Orleans." This trip lasts for 8 days, from March 9th to the 17th. Community Engagement is also having a trip in June, after school ends, to do work down in the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.
Friday, February 16, 2018
News/Opinion
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Trump Delivers First State of the Union Address
Ainsley Iwanicki ‘20 News Writer On Tuesday, January 30th, 2018, President Trump gave his first State of the Union address to the 115th United States Congress in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives. A State of a Union is a speech delivered before a joint session of Congress where the president has an opportunity to highlight accomplishments in the past year and outline the administration's goals for the coming year. President Trump talked mainly about domestic affairs, including the success of the stock market, the low unemployment numbers, and immigration reform, with little mention of foreign policy. Trump proudly announced in his speech that since he was elected, the stock market value has increased by $8 trillion. However, by February 5th, 6 days after his speech, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,175 points, or 4.6%, according to Politico. In addition, President Trump stated, “African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded.” This is true, with the unemployment rate at 4.6%, but that number is a peak of a long-term trend. He added that the Hispanic unemployment rate is at a record low of 4.8%, a number which was also reached in October 2006. Trump announced that since his election, “we have created 2.4 million new jobs, including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone.” While these are accurate claims, this strong job growth is a continuation from President Barack
Heavy.com
Mike Pence and Paul Ryan applaud Trump at his State of the Union address on January 30, 2018
Obama’s administration. Finally, Trump laid out his four pillars of his administration’s immigration plan: A path to citizenship for 1.8
migrant families to join their relatives in the US. Trump invited fifteen guests to his speech, including parents of victims of the
emphasizing a bigger topic. Trump showed his support for troops and veterans, and called attention to 11-yearold Preston Sharp, one of his
“Finally, Trump laid out his four pillars of his administration’s immigration plan: A path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents as children, and who meet certain education and work requirements, a secured US-Mexico border, a merit-based immigration system that gives preference to skilled workers, and limiting policies that allow immigrant families to join their relatives in the US.” million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents as children, and who meet certain education and work requirements, a secured US-Mexico border, a merit-based immigration system that gives preference to skilled workers, and limiting policies that allow im-
MS-13 gang, veterans, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, first responders to hurricanes and wildfires, and beneficiaries of the GOP tax overhaul. He used these personal examples as talking points, and pointed to the affected families to show specifics when he was
guests, who won acclaim for placing U.S. flags and flowers at the graves of Northern California veterans since 2015. Many of these guests were chosen to amplify the main theme of Trump’s speech, which White House officials have said is ‘‘building a safe, strong and proud America.’’
Because he spent most of the speech discussing domestic policy, Trump did not speak much about international collaborations. However, he did speak about international issues including America’s success in diminishing ISIS controlled territory, his displeasure with the Iran nuclear deal, North Korea’s brutality, his executive order to keep the Guantanamo Bay detention camp open, and his wish to give more funding to American troops. In contrast, he did not speak about growing tensions with China and Russia, and he spoke little about the wars in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen. He also avoided discussing the growing US campaign in Somalia or increased US military presence in Africa. Overall, President Trump spoke little about how he would work with other countries to create a better world. A standout line from Trump’s State of the Union speech was “Over the last year, the world has seen what we always knew: that no people on Earth are so fearless, or daring, or determined as Americans. If there is a mountain, we climb it. If there is a frontier, we cross it. If there is a challenge, we tame it. If there is an opportunity, we seize it.” According to a Rasmussen poll, Trump’s approval rating rose to 49 percent, which is the highest approval rating the president has had since March 5th, 2017, with an estimated 75% of the 45.6 million viewers approving his speech.
The Dreaded DC: How Does Our Disciplinary System Work?
Alana Greenaway ‘19 Opinion Writer Many morning assemblies this year have followed a similar routine: a dean walks on stage with a large piece of printer paper in hand, proceeds to give a small disclaimer about making good choices and thinking before acting, and finishes by presenting an in-depth disciplinary statement that has students on the edge of their seats. Although disciplinary committee statements can make weekday mornings more interesting, the apparent magnitude of DC statements this year conjures up the following question: Is disciplinary action at Milton on the rise, and if so, what has contributed to its increase? In exploring this question, I asked many fellow students for their views and observations on disciplinary action and statements this year. The responses from students were mixed. Some be-
lieve that disciplinary action has remained relatively similar and others believe that disciplinary action has, in fact, increased from previous years. While there is not a solid consensus on whether or not disciplinary action has tightened over the last
tune with the actions of the administration. One student believes “the DCs generally have been more detailed due to the standard of transparency [the] administration set for themselves.” Similarly, another student believes that
increased disciplinary action, saying that the change in the handbook made it easier for social issues to be dealt with on a disciplinary level. Many students agree that there is a fundamental change in how disciplinary committee statements are disclosed to the
year, many students agree that the sit-ins that took place all throughout campus last spring played some role in the disciplinary action process, particularly in how DC statements are presented. By the end of last year, the administration vowed that they would approach the disciplinary process with more transparency in order for students to feel more in
following the lack of detail in the Disciplinary Committees last year,“ the administration seems to be trying to explain the steps they’ve taken and justify their ultimate decisions.” Other students, however, believed that the administration did tighten up on disciplinary action. One student believes that the events of last spring are the cause of
greater community largely due to the sit-ins last spring, but disagree on if disciplinary action has increased this year. Whether or not disciplinary action is on the rise, many students agree that the increased transparency of the disciplinary committee has allowed students to know more details around situations that ultimately led to a disciplinary committee
“One student believes that the events of last spring are the cause of increased disciplinary action, saying that the change in the handbook made it easier for social issues to be dealt with on a disciplinary level. Many students agree that there is a fundamental change in how disciplinary committee statements are disclosed to the greater community largely due to the sit-ins last spring, but disagree on if disciplinary action has increased this year.”
statement. It appears that the administration's efforts to bridge the discussions that take place in the disciplinary committee with the remainder of the student body are generally moving the disciplinary process in the right direction. Although the disciplinary process appears to be more transparent, it is important that students stay involved and connected to this process to continue improving and protecting the honor code of the community. As a community, it is important to insure that disciplinary process and action do not increase but improve, and that students have a chance to play an active role in this crucial process at Milton.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Centerfold
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Freshman of the Month: Jana Amin Zodiac Sign: Gemini Hometown: Cairo + Milton Favorite Food: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Goal for high school: Start an over-the-knee boot trend Phone wallpaper: Me in over-the-knee boots but no gold jacket Upperclassmen Crush: Charis Palandjian
How much do you care about school right now?
Friday, February 16, 2018
Centerfold
Senior of the Month: Jimmy Delano Zodiac Sign: Pisces Hometown: Quincy, MA Favorite Food: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Biggest regret of high school: Taking Latin Phone wallpaper: A picture of a golf course I played last year Underclassmen Crush: Devon Noble
Is there a noticeable diference between first and second semester?
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News/Opinion
Friday, February 16, 2018 Dariya Subkhanberdina ‘19 Opinion Writer For the past month, along with the rest of the Class of 2019, I’ve been trying to fill out a student response form that is described by the college office as a “mock application designed to get you thinking seriously about your college search.” Due to this array of thought-provoking questions like “what’s your favorite word?” and “what are three fun, quirky, unique, interesting things about you?” I think it’s pretty safe to say that in the recent weeks I’ve been doing some hardcore, deep self-reflection. Throughout this time of reflecting upon my life at Milton, my hopes for the future, and whether ‘moist’ truly is my favorite word, I’ve noticed that things aren’t exactly the way I envisioned them to be five years ago. In my elevenyear-old self’s mind, sixteen was meant to be a big year: the year when I finally wake up as a 5’11 blonde bombshell, casually bump into the love of my life, and find the time to solve a murder mystery with my friends who just happen to be 5’11 blonde bombshells too. Strangely enough, I can’t
Dariya’s Take: High School Relationships
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Milton Measure CXXII board!
one can get over; however, my lack of boyfriend would serve as a harsh truth that would shatter the fragile walls of my familiar world. You see, if there’s anything that eleven-year-old Dariya was sure about, it was that by the time I’m sixteen, not only will I have a boyfriend, but I’ll be consumed by love so intense that Nicholas Sparks would have to dedicate his next novel to my relationship. Yet on the night of my sixteenth birthday, I came to the sad realization that there were no handsome young
me at night? Confounded by this serious scientific inquiry, I sent out a survey to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors asking the community four questions. The first being whether right now you would rather be in a relationship, casually hooking up with one person, casually hooking up with multiple people, in a “thing,” or living the single life? Out of the 161 total responses, 48.4% of people said that they would rather be in a relationship right now, 16.8% said they’d rather be casually hooking up
“I received a wide variety of responses that ranged from whole paragraphs sharing intimate details, to responses like ‘bc sex,’ ‘VALIDATION lolololol,’ and my personal favorite, ‘No I don’t, it sucks, just like her.’ However, as funny as some of these responses are, the terms that came up most often were things like intimacy, support system, and emotional connection.” say that this is precisely the way my life is going right now, but I still have six more months of being sixteen, so fingers crossed. When I imagine what it would be like to meet my eleven-year-old self, I can conclude that she would probably ask me two things: number one, “wow, you still haven’t hit puberty?”, and number two, “where’s your boyfriend?”. Although disappointing, the puberty thing
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
sar of sexual assault, with over 200 making personal testimonies during one of his many trials. The detail with which these women described their trauma was astounding, with one speaker, Jessica Thomashow, noting that Nassar first assaulted her at the age of 9, and another, Bailey Lorencen, stating that Nassar’s basement, where he frequently treated his patients, was a “dungeon.” Many of those who provided testimonies said that they did not speak out sooner because of the pressure they felt to increase their standing in the sports world. Although Michigan State officials received reports against Nassar as early as
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men waiting on my doorstep ready to declare their love for me. Let’s just say I was more than a little disappointed. As an eleven-year-old, I didn’t just hope to fall in love in high school, I saw no alternative, and so when reflecting upon the serious lack of male real estate in my own life, I soon started to wonder whether I really was the only one occasionally wishing there was someone to spoon
with one person, 15.5% said they’d rather be single, 10.6% said they would rather be in a “thing”, and 8.7% said they’d rather be hooking up with multiple people. It’s important to note that 161 students are not a representation of a 700 student body; however, when placed in juxtaposition with the conversations I hear on a daily basis within the Milton community, these results merely act as a
confirmation of what we already know: the majority of us truly would prefer to be in a relationship. In addition to the three multiple-choice questions, I was also curious to know why you would personally want to be in a relationship. Liberated by the freedom of an anonymous short-answer response, some of you decided to really lay your cards out on the table. I received a wide variety of responses that ranged from whole paragraphs sharing intimate details, to responses like “bc sex,” “VALIDATION lolololol,” and my personal favorite, “No I don’t, it sucks, just like her.” However, as funny as some of these responses are, the terms that came up most often were things like intimacy, support system, and emotional connection. When compared to the stereotypes associated with high school students, it’s clear that these results are contradictory to what the media and rest of the world want to believe. Teenagers are often portrayed as irresponsible, shallow, sex-addicted monsters when in reality the majority of us crave an intimate, committed relationship that serves as a support-system and paves opportunity for deeper emotional connec-
Larry Nassar, Continued
1997, the disbelief of both the victim’s families and the police allowed Nassar to go unpunished for nearly twenty years. Officials began taking allegations seriously once victims came forward in 2016 and more recently when the #MeToo movement catalyzed women to share their personal testimonies against him. The #MeToo Movement began trending on almost every social media outlet at the end of October 2017, with people using the hashtag to share their own experiences of sexual harassment, abuse, or assault and to show solidarity. In the past, women who spoke up were silenced, but now the #MeToo platform reveals the incredible magni-
tude of this issue and forces people to listen to the voices of the many women empowered to share their stories. When asked about the impact of #MeToo, Anna Murray (III) noted that, “the #MeToo Movement enabled...a worldwide epiphany among women that they're not alone and [that] their experiences with sexual assault are not their fault. Once these women [realize that] they aren't alone... they can finally address [their] abusers.” The power of the #MeToo Movement has rippled throughout professional sports and has led many to speak publicly about their struggles or report them. Since professional sports are extremely male-dominated,
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people must listen to what these women have to say, and the time to do so is now. In the professional gymnastics community, #MeToo has made huge waves, especially in the Nassar case. Even when Olympic athletes shared their accusations, they were ignored. USA Gymnastics forced Mckayla Maroney, a gymnast for the US Olympic team, to sign a non-disclosure agreement when she brought up allegations against Nassar, effectively manipulating her into silence; however, the unity created by #MeToo has enabled women to come together and to make people listen. Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Mckayla Maroney, all USA Olympic gymnasts, shared
tion. Do those sound like the priorities of sex-addicted monsters? Being in a relationship is hard work. It’s easy to let yourself get swept up in the illusion that love will always be chilling by the fire while you’re eating fondue, but what Justin Bieber failed to teach us is that fondue is messy. You have to consider whether letting that hot melted cheese drip down your chin is a sacrifice you’re willing to make. Relationships are messy; you’ll probably end up getting burned, and you might even realize that cheese fondue isn’t for you. And although emotional connection should serve as the base for any relationship, there’s a lot more to fondue than cheese and a whole lot more to a relationship than connection; just like you have to find the right combination of dippers like cured meats, sauteed mushrooms, or sweet gherkins in a fondue, you have to find the right combination of hard work, mutual trust, and openness. Bet you never thought you had so much in common with cheese fondue?
their testimonies at Nassar’s trials along with the many other women who chose to do so. Larry Nassar is finally paying his dues for the immeasurable pain he has caused his victims, but the problem does not stop with him. #MeToo has inspired people all over the world. As Amy Preston, a mother of one of Nassar’s victims, said in her own testimony, “You tried to teach our girls to be quiet and obey. We now stand before them and say, ‘Speak.’” Nassar’s trial must serve as a turning point in how we treat sexual abuse in professional settings and how we make sure people feel that in telling their stories, they will always be heard.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Opinion
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Tom Brady Remains the G.O.A.T Despite Superbowl LII
Sophie Lachenauer ‘20 Opinion Writer Last Sunday, as the Super Bowl wound down to its last few critical minutes, the Patriots seemed ready to pull their classic comeback and take their 6th Super Bowl win. But as the seconds ran out, the game ended in a disappointing, heartbreaking loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Marking his 8th appearance in a Super Bowl, Tom Brady undeniably stands as the most accomplished and decorated quarterback of all time. Even in crushing losses like these, Brady’s success as a football player seem immense compared to his failures. But the question remains: how much of Brady’s success has been influenced by his team and Belichick, and are his greatest moments behind him? Brady has the most career wins of any quarterback, is the only quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to 5 Super Bowl wins, and has been the NFL MVP twice, according to Patriots.com. These stats alone mark Brady as perhaps the most accomplished football player of all time. But, a quarterback’s work is not done alone — Brady has relied very heavily on Belichick and his team to get to where he is now. In the 2000 NFL draft, Tom Brady was drafted as the 199th pick, chosen by Belichick in the sixth round, according to a November 2016 article
Tom Brady and his team
on CBS Sports. Without Belichick’s faith, Brady would never had had the opportunity to make it where he is today. Though Belichick has greatly influenced Tom Brady and the Patriots’ dynasty, Brady himself has undeniably driven his own success with extreme dedication. From his intense ‘alkalizing’ diet to his bedtime of 8:30, Brady’s habits show how he has quite literally dedicated his life to the game of football. Furthermore, according to a CNBC article of February 2018, Brady himself believes that his successful career is a result of almost solely his mental strength. While Brady’s physical traits, speed, and strength do not distinguish him as the best athlete of all times, Brady seems to make
up for this with his extremely competitive edge, and he separates himself from other players in work ethic, mental-
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intense lifestyle gives him an advantage and he has clearly worked against the odds before, it is highly unlikely that
competitive mindset has separated him from those around him throughout his career, and there is no saying when it will stop. Ultimately, Brady’s accomplishments have proved him as one of the most accomplished football players of all time and arguably the most dominating player in any sports game. Brady’s rise to glory serves as an example of how intensity, grit, and mental toughness can drive a person to be the best of the best. While it is hard to say how the Patriots’ successes will continue, Brady has, with Belichick and his teammates, built the greatest sports dynasty of recent times. While Brady as a person may have his faults, his never-ending
“Ultimately, Brady’s accomplishments have proved him as one of the most accomplished football players of all time and arguably the most dominating player in any sports game. Brady’s rise to glory serves as an example of how intensity, grit, and mental toughness can drive a person to be the best of the best. While it is hard to say how the Patriots’ successes will continue, Brady has, with Belichick and his teammates, built the greatest sports dynasty of recent times.” ity, and poise. Despite his seeming immortality, Brady is 40 years old, making him the current oldest quarterback in the NFL. In spite of this, Brady hopes to defy the odds and play until he turns 48, according to an October 2015 CBS Sports article. While Brady’s
a quarterback could stay uninjured and skilled enough to play for over 25 years. However, this goal of Brady’s once again portrays just how dedicated Brady is to the Patriots as a team and further proves that Brady’s success has been driven by his own self-sacrifices. Brady’s never-ending
determination and successful career mark him as an admirable team leader who uses losses like this most recent Super Bowl as motivation for the greater successes of the Patriots’ dynasty.
Larger Tax Cut Benefits for Large Companies
Andrew Ma ‘20 Opinion Writer Last week, House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted about a high school secretary from Pennsylvania who “was pleasantly surprised her pay went up $1.50 a week [which will] more than cover her Costco membership for the year.” After facing much backlash on the naivety of his tweet, Ryan deleted it. The secretary gained a meager $78 a year as a result of Trump and the GOP’s new tax bill, a bill that Paul Ryan has inadvertently shown to be very stingy among the middle and lower classes. Instead, the bill focuses on large businesses. The biggest impacts of the plan will result from a corporate tax cut of 35 to 21 percent, the lowest since 1993. The plan is designed to stimulate growth in the market by letting companies keep more money and in turn reinvest it in overall growth, including jobs. Instead, Morgan Stanley analysts say only 13% of companies' tax cut savings will go to pay raises, bonuses and employee benefits. 43% of the money will go back to investors, only helping to inflate the market.
Many companies have already explicitly made statements that they will not use the money to make new jobs. Instead, the CEOs of Cisco, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, and the CEO of Amgen will use the proceeds to pay dividends to shareholders or to buy back shares of stock. Companies will also benefit from the bill’s doubling of the standard deduction, income money that isn’t subject to tax, to 20 percent for “pass-through” companies (companies that don’t pay corporate income tax, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, law firms, hedge funds, or private equity funds.) Furthermore, the new plan completely eliminates corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), taking away a minimum 20% income tax for corporations. Companies can use deductions, exclusions, and credits to sometimes allow them to pay a lot less income tax. Now, taxes can dip farther than the old 20% limit. The worst part is, many of the people that aided in pushing the new laws will directly benefit from them through their own companies. Sen-
ator Bob Corker and Trump himself are real estate investors, therefore qualifying as the “pass-through” entities mentioned previously. They will be subject to the special 20% tax rate standard deductions, giving them the same rates as other small businesses. Even Paul Ryan faces scrutiny as it was realized that
the $2.6 trillion dollars kept overseas by American multinational companies. The real question is what these companies will do with the money. A study by the Congressional Research Service shows that a similar tax holiday in 2004 barely helped the economy, and companies
“Still, while I wouldn’t agree with some people’s labeling the bill as a complete victory, I do recognize its potential and effort.” he was awarded $500,000 in campaign contributions by the Koch brothers. Still, while I wouldn’t agree with some people’s labeling the bill as a complete victory, I do recognize its potential and effort. One of the better aspects of the bill allows companies to make a one-time repatriation at a rate of 15.5%, instead of the old 35%, in cash and assets held abroad. This welcomes companies like Apple, who The New York Times says keeps 94%, or $253 billion, in cash outside the US to bring it back home. Tech and Pharmaceutical companies are set to follow suit, helping to bringing back some of
distributed the money only to shareholders, not the employees. I fear that America’s corporations will follow this pattern, but I also have some hope. Apple has pledged that with the money it brings back, it will invest $350 billion back to the US economy in a more domestic approach, creating 20,000 jobs and building a new campus. Some companies have also announced tax cuts gifts that include raises, benefits, and bonus checks. We also can’t be too optimistic either, as, according to the White House, only 3.5 million US workers will benefit from company “gifts,” an insignif-
icant number compared to the 125.5 million Americans in the company workforce. From what we’ve seen so far and from past experiences, it looks like the money is mostly going to shareholders and company owners. I think the tax money will mainly help to temporarily boost stock prices and the pockets of the elite. To me, these tax cuts could have been put to better use with the middle-class, who not only need it more, but are also much more likely to spend all of the money that they receive, driving demand and boosting the economy much more. The money could have also helped with Trump’s promised infrastructure spending, directly creating jobs. This plan is an experiment, something that can either really benefit the economy or really hurt it. The only course of action, then, is to wait and see.
Friday, February 16, 2018
A&E/Sports
Why Community at Milton Service is a Choice Pari Palandjian ‘20 Opinion Writer Many high schools have the custom of requiring students to fulfill a certain number of community service hours in order to graduate; however, Milton Academy does not. Why do we do this when community service undoubtedly benefits our society? I think that kindness and a giving nature are both deeply ingrained into Milton’s values, and that we have a culture of helping one another; therefore, many students will volunteer themselves to engage in the community, but forcing people to do community service would instead counterintuitively make this help an unenjoyable job, which is why Milton has made the wise choice of following the “free will” model when it comes to community service. I find that there are mainly two categories of students when it comes to community service at Milton, one being those who find it important and go during their free periods every week (and possibly over weekends). Katie Paul (III), a student who visits Randolph Elders weekly, claims that community service “helps [her] connect with others [beyond the Milton Community] and also with Milton students. It's a better way to spend time, rather than with the same people in the Stu — which I can do anytime.” Students like Katie are naturally compelled to spend a bit their free time helping others, which they find they will get much more out of
Jana Amin ‘21 Opinion Writer “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” For President Donald Trump, this proverb provides a serious paradox as he enters the second year of his presidency. On the campaign trail, President Trump drew in considerable support from citizens feeling that they had been robbed of their “American” status and values. A year later, however, President Trump, alongside his supporters and the GOP party have discovered that the roaring of crowds and the rising poll numbers is not enough to get something done in Washington. Trump has unified Republican voters, but he continues to fail at governing alongside Republican politicians. While President Trump was campaigning last year, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan issued a statement that said he would “no longer de-
than just relaxing with their friends (whom they have the opportunity to see everyday). This choice to participate in community engagement is quite an admirable trait, and one that we can find in most Milton students. Idone Rhodes (III), a Community Engagement board member, believes that “community service should be about choice. We want people to learn from their community engagement experiences and forcing them into ones they aren’t interested in won’t be beneficial for the site or the person, and most students participate in service anyways so the Milton community is still doing their part.” Milton values students with driving incentives to benefit the community, and the community, in turn, values Milton’s choice to participate. Both parties are able to reap the benefits of community engagement, and can also grow because of it. Sadly, Milton students are also very busy, which bring us to the other category of students: those who feel they do not have enough time. It is not necessarily that these students wouldn’t want to go to sites during the day, it is just that many have to use their free periods to complete work. I would expect it to be rare to ever come across someone who would denounce community service altogether and would be completely opposed to going. But many who may want to participate more simply struggle with finding the time. Dillon Brown (III) seems to
have found the solution as she “does community service over the weekends, but [finds it] hard to fit into [her] busy schedule at school.” However, not all students are willing to give up their weekends, want to use that time for friends and family, and also continue to be busy! While these students are unable to find free time, or are unwilling to give up their time, students who do engage in the community purposely find time, and since they are using their precious time with others, they make sure to make the most out of it. Community Service Day, on the other hand, is a day where our whole community gets to come together and goes out into the community to participate in the lives of others. This day is a nice break from conventional school work, and allows students to participate in community engagement without the burden of other commitments, and maybe even inspires some to carve out time for others. Nevertheless, Milton does not have to force everyone to partake in the wider community, as it would change the meaning and meaningfulness of community service. Luckily, we are fortunate enough to be in a community where most people individually and independently feel the need to join community service, thus staying true to Milton’s duty to the greater community.
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Milton Squash Shines at Nationals Louis Barber ‘20 Sports Writer From February 22nd through the 24th, Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Squash teams competed in their respective national tournaments. While playing at the Episcopal School of Philadelphia and other nearby schools, Milton Squash squared off against other elite programs. According to ussquash.com, the Philadelphia tournament is the world’s largest tournament with more than 1,300 competing players. This year, the tournament hosted 186 teams across the nation. Coach Morgan Poor led Boy’s Squash to a strong 6-1 record prior to nationals. Coach Jaye Locke, Varsity Coach for Girls’ Squash, carried the team to a respectable 4-3 mark. Boys’ Varsity Squash began the tournament with a tough loss in the first match against Lawrenceville. The guys battled through early struggles and refused to give in. Following the 4-3 loss, Milton retaliated with a 4-3 victory over Tabor. Oliver Eielson (IV) came up with a big individual win to secure the team victory in the second match. In the third match, Rory Hallowell (III) fended off elite competition. Rory’s individual win ensured a 5-2 Milton victory over The Shipley School. To close out the tournament, Milton narrowly fell to Andover by a score of 4-3. According to Andrew Willwerth (III), “We remained super supportive throughout the weekend and the bond between teammates cultivat-
One Year Later: The GOP’s Main Issue
fend Donald Trump and instead focus on preserving the party’s hold on Congress.” A year later, it’s not Ryan who is opposed to President Trump. While Ryan and President Trump seem to have made amends, Trump still faces criticism, backlash and friction from within his party’s leaders. President Trump’s ability to rally citizens together proved itself to be invaluable to the Republican party in the 2016 election cycle. However, his inability to unify his party leaders is continuing to be a major problem standing in the way of accomplishing many of his campaign promises. With midterm elections coming up, it is more important now more than ever that the GOP comes together in support of one another. Let’s analyze the party’s current status and President Trump’s role in the GOP in order to highlight what he needs to do to successfully unify the party
and act on major campaign promises. When the government shutdown at 12:01 on Saturday January 20th, it was the first time in United States history that a shutdown had occurred while the Senate and the House were controlled by the same party. Although the Republican party managed to sweep the 2018 elections, taking control of the presidency and of Congress, their ability to work together as leaders has faltered almost entirely. The impasse in Congress centers around two major issues that have been on the floor for way too long. The first issue revolves around the fate of the dreamers, while the second grapples with the funding of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that ensures child health care for low income families. Theoretically speaking, passing mainstream solutions for either
or both of these issues would be relatively simple. However, the Republican party’s inability to unite together as leaders has led to a counterproductive cycle of suppressing legislation. Republicans simply cannot win debate’s they aren’t willing to have. By refusing to debate, vote, or even act on any of the issues sitting in Congress today, they are setting their party up for failure. While they might have unified their citizens, they continue to demonstrate that their party is still fractured. Without legislation being passed and without tangible solutions to concerns their citizens have voiced, the Republican party is going to remain dysfunctional. While much of the responsibility lies on the shoulders of Republican senators and representatives themselves to make comprises and have discussions with each other, President Trump’s role in
ed a strong team chemistry, leading to an exciting, extraordinary experience.” Girls’ Varsity Squash opened up their national campaign with a strong 5-2 victory over HLM. In the matches that followed, the team faced intense competition. The squad fell 6-1 to Agnes Irwin in the second match, but rebounded with closer contests in the back half of their tournament run. In the final two matches, the team lost by very small margins. Caroline Spahr (III) performed especially well. She won all of her matches during the weekend and has served as the team’s number one throughout the season. As stated by Blair Englert (III), “All of my teammates were extremely supportive. Our team is really close so that helped in terms of team chemistry, and we can attribute our successes to the tight bond we share.” The National Tournament in Philadelphia yielded a strong result for both Milton Squash teams. The boys placed an impressive 26th out of 112 total teams at the tournament. The girls placed 40th out of 80 teams. The experience aided the squads in terms of team chemistry and will hopefully benefit the teams as the season draws to a close. In the upcoming matches, the boys battle Groton, Middlesex, and St. Marks, while the girls contend with Groton, Winsor, and Nobles. Hopefully the Philadelphia National Tournament exposure leads Milton to late season victories!
the counterproductive cycle is clear; he has isolated many conservative Republicans that refuse to veer to the far right, thus creating a tension within the GOP that has spilled over into congress. Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, complained that on many of these key issues President Trump’s position was unclear. If the president himself is unsure or unclear about the major topics being discussed on the floor in the Senate and the House, then it becomes really hard to ask Republican senators and representatives to support a common bill while the President’s position is still unknown. With no direction from the President, the Republican party is searching for an identity as leaders. Republican citizens have unified. Now, it's time for their leaders to do the same.
A&E
Friday, February 16, 2018
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Milton Senior Jazz Combo Wins Third at Berklee Festival
Nicholas Taborsky ‘19 News Section Editor There is no substitute for jazz. It’s free. It’s innovative. It’s exciting. It’s complex. And in the wise words of Herbie Hancock, “Jazz is about being in the moment.” On Saturday, February 10th, amidst the carpeted floors and cavernous spaces of Boston’s Hynes Auditorium, the Milton Academy Jazz Ensemble embodied Herbie’s sentiment as they took part in the 50th Annual Berklee High School Jazz Festival, which is the largest high school jazz festival in the the United States. This year alone, the festival attracted over 215 bands consisting of 3,000 high school jazz musicians. In addition, the bands came from all over the United States, including places like Washington, D.C. and California as well as U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico. Performing well at the fes-
but also Berklee program audition
tival not only entails honorable distinctions and awards
the Berklee undergraduate program.
Milton Seniors Place 3rd at Berklee High School Jazz Festival
scholarships to the five-week summer and invitations to for scholarships for
This year, Milton Academy’s jazz ensemble consisted of nine members from the senior class who played a vari-
Milton Academy
Jonah Garnick (I) on guitar, Will Goldberg (I) on cello, Vijay Karle (I) on bass, Danny
“This year, Milton Academy’s jazz ensemble consisted of nine members from the senior class who played a variety of different instruments: Alex Chen (I) on tenor sax, Jonah Garnick (I) on guitar, Will Goldberg (I) on cello, Vijay Karle (I) on bass, Danny Little (I) on baritone sax, John Minicus (I) on drums, Coalter Palmer (I) on soprano sax, Cameron Shockley-Okeke (I) on piano, and Jane Yang (I) on piano and alto sax.”
Kalaria Okali ‘18 A&E Section Editor As the winter season comes to an end, students and faculty all across campus are getting excited for one of Milton’s biggest events of the year: Winter Dance Concert. Easily one of the most popular performances at Milton, Dance Concert offers exciting music and choreography as well as the opportunity for students to try something new or show off their talents. Anyone, regardless of experience level, is able to tryout for the student choreographed numbers, allowing for a strong amount of student involvement. This year, 78 students will be performing in a total of 16 dances. Dances this year include
Little (I) on baritone sax, John Minicus (I) on drums, Coalter
Spirits Rise for Winter Dance Concert
cussed the role of the audience’s energy in helping the performers build up the excitement around Dance Concert: “Performance is always a much higher quality than any of our practices and that has a lot to do with the energy we get from each audience. As soon as the tickets sell out,
which were inspired by topics that will surely resonate with much of the audience. On her two dances, Sophie tells, “The first is with Eva O’Marah and it is about the struggles many teenagers have with body image. It is about looking at your outsides and seeing it as a reflection of your insides.” She also remarked that she hopes “this dance will be inspirational for students to have a positive image of themselves,” a comforting and powerful message that will hit home for many students. Lucheyla’s dance “is about celebrating the Dominican Republic's independence through different styles that are danced in the country” and is sure to bring a fun and exciting flare to the concert. She explained how she “incorporated more traditional music to portray the beauty in the history of [her] culture” and “chose to ‘celebrate
the concert feels so much more real and it’s impossible to contain my excitement until several days after March break has started.” Sophie is choreographing two dances this year, both of
the independence’ to show our pride”. Lastly, Annie discusses her choreography as well which she put together with Shalimar Pujols (III): “The story is very much like
A modern dance in last DC 2017
is so in love with dance — whether a new dancer or have been doing it forever. Everyone wants to put the
“Everyone loves the Dance Concert, but no one loves it as much as those who are involved.” Irish step-dancing, hip-hop, modern, and dances with Caribbean, Dominican, and African influences. Everyone loves the Dance Concert, but no one loves it as much as those who are involved. Some of this year’s choreographers gave us a brief preview of why they love Dance Concert as well as what to expect for DC18. Sophie Clivio (I) explained, “I love the community around Dance Concert. Everyone
ety of different instruments: Alex Chen (I) on tenor sax,
Palmer (I) on soprano sax, Cameron Shockley-Okeke (I) on piano, and Jane Yang (I) on piano and alto sax. The group was instructed by Mr. Sinicrope and Mr. Williams. When it was their turn to perform, the Milton Academy jazz musicians performed four songs: Take the A Train by Duke Ellington, Mr. Syms by John Coltrane, Fingerprints by Chick Corea, and Footprints by Wayne Shorter. With incredible composure and expertise, the Milton Academy jazz musicians danced with ease through the four tunes. From experimental chords and bluesy riffs to funky cross rhythms and passionate solos, they managed to not only impress the Berklee judges but also distinguish themselves from the rest of the competing schools by placing third in the medium-to-large-sized high school combo category. In addition, Coalter Palmer (I) was deservedly awarded outstanding musician for his combo. Congratulations to the outstanding work of the Milton Academy Jazz Ensemble!
best possible outcome on the stage and is emotionally invested in it.” Lucheyla Celestino (II) spoke with similar enamorment about the performance, “I love how close we get by the end of it all. Although we go through some hard practices sometimes, looking around at the people around me and seeing how hard we have worked to put on a great show and work together makes me feel great.” Annie Auguste (I) dis-
Evan Scales
“‘Everyone is so in love with dance — whether a new dancer or have been doing it forever. Everyone wants to put the best possible outcome on the stage and is emotionally invested in it.’”
West Side Story where two dancers from very different worlds--the upper-class performers of Carnaval and the street dancers of the city--fall in love. We joined traditional Caribbean dance with Caribbean-inspired urban hip-hop to illustrate our story.” Despite all the fun and excitement that takes place in the few months leading up to the performance, the choreographers experience some challenges as well. Sophie recalled the difficulty in choreographing “couple parts” and lifts, while Lucheyla mentioned the difficulty in making a partner dance by herself and catering to what the audience will find enjoyable. Additionally, Annie mentioned the challenge in switching roles to become a choreographer after two years of being just a dancer. Evidently, Dance Concert promises to be a captivating performance and if you are able to make it, you will not regret it. Opening night is March 1st and there will also be performances Friday (3/2) at 7:30 and Saturday (3/3) at 7:00.
A&E/Sports Timberlake’s Man of the Woods Misses the Mark
Friday, February 16, 2018 Michael George ‘19 A&E Writer Justin Timberlake’s fifth studio album, Man of the Woods, debuted on February 2nd, two days prior to his Super Bowl halftime show, and has left Timberlake a bigger loser than Tom Brady. With Pharrell Williams as a main producer on the album, the marketed, woodsy acoustic licks paired with the electrosynthetic grooves seemed to promise an exciting blend between Timberlake’s Nashville roots with his contemporary pop sound, but Man of the Woods proved to be a misfire from its opening track. Between the vacuous lyrics to the awkward, wobbly baseline, the opener, “Filthy,” serves as an appropriately representative track to begin the album. "Filthy" is not dancy and barely tolerable, but I suppose it is more listenable than the clunky and disjointed tracks that follow: “Sauce,” “Higher Higher,” and the title track, "Man of the Woods". Admittedly, the songs “Midnight Summer Jam” and “Wave” provide the
Kiss 92.5
Timberlake poses for the release of his album, Man of the Woods
album with two fun beats, and “Wave,” in particular, is one of the only areas on the album that pleasantly fuses country with pop-soul. Still, the songs are not without their faults. “Wave” runs a little too long and is sprinkled with lazy lyricism, while “Midnight Summer” has an intro and interludes that glaringly conflict with the rest of the song’s tone. Following the more fun, sensual sounds of the tracks comes the album’s
7th song, “Supplies,” which offers nothing but to remind its listeners that the era in which Timberlake was one of the more exciting names in pop has passed. The tracks that probably frustrate me the most are the two features, “Morning Light” and “Say Something.” The stylish, coffee-shop instrumental along with the impressive vocals by Alicia Keys on “Morning Light” and the duet with Chris Stapleton
The Annual Gratwick Concert Featuring Sasha Cooke
Kelly Han ‘18 A&E Writer For the past eightyeight years, renowned classical musicians have graced Milton's campus for the annual Gratwick concert. The Gratwick concert foundation was established by Dr. Mitchell Gratwick, a former faculty member at Milton Academy, in the memory of his wife, Katharine Perkins Gratwick, who was a cellist and a graduate in the class of 1924. As the program states: “Great music greatly rendered in surroundings so beautiful is expressive of Katharine. She loved beautiful things and brought beauty into all that she touched.” This year's concert on Sunday afternoon, February 11, featured Sasha Cooke, a mezzo soprano. Cooke performed with pianist Pei-Yao Wang in the packed, antique hall of Strausa Library. Cooke has been singing the title role in the world premiere of Marnie by Nico Muhly at the English National Opera for the 2017-18 season. Cooke has also sung with San Francisco Symphony, the Reykjavik Arts Festival, the Melbourne Symphony, the Orchestra Métropolitain de Montreal, and the London Symphony Orchestra among numerous other symphonies with performances ranging from Mahler's Symphony No. 3 to Beethoven's Missa Solemnis to Mary in Berlioz's L'enfance du Christ. Besides her countless live performances, Cooke has also been featured in the DVD production of Hansel and Gretel at the Metropolitan Opera and the Grammy Award-winning production of Doctor
Atomic under the conductor Alan Gilbert, as well as in recordings found on the Hyperion, Naxos, Bridge Records, Yarlung, GPR Records, and Sono Luminus labels. According to her website, Cooke has been recognized for her "versatile repertoire and commitment to new music." After her performance as Kitty Oppenheimer in Doctor Atomic, The New Yorker praised her "fresh, vital portrayal [that brought] a lumi-
era. She also studied viola as a child. She credits her early experiences with music as "helpful to her musicianship" and "her ear for music's inner harmonies." She started singing lessons in group classes around age sixteen, and she initially studied voice to "excel in the choir competitions, but the teachers [she] came across said, 'you have something you should treasure and it's good to be different.'" Since
nous tone, a generously supported musical line, a keen sense of verbal nuance, and a flair for seduction." In an interview with Georgia Rowe of the San Francisco Classical Voice, Cooke said that she never imagined that she would have a life as a musician; she "didn't know it was possible." In her cover story for the summer 2013 edition of Classical Singer, Cooke said "I didn't know anybody who had a career in music. It seemed superhuman." Cooke was raised in College Station, Texas, and is the daughter of two Russian language professors at Texas A&M University. She had always assumed she would follow in her parents' footsteps and become a professor, but she fell in love with choir somewhere along the way. She enjoyed attending the symphony and the Houston Grand Opera from a young age, and she played piano for fifteen years starting from age four before studying op-
then, Cooke has treasured her voice and embraced being different after she "just wanted to sound like everybody else." Cooke believes that "lessons were not just about singing, but the composer, poetry, and music – not just technique." She cherished "the poetry and the connection to music" more than the singing. This belief allows her to connect to the music in unparalleled ways. Cooke said, "I'm happy if I'm making music in any way." Her love for music is undoubtedly reflected in all of her performances.
“She had always assumed she would follow in her parents' footsteps and become a professor, but she fell in love with choir somewhere along the way.”
on “Say Something” place the two songs in reaching distance of something very listenable, but the prosaic lyrics and lack of creativity instead make them both painfully dull. The “Hers (interlude),” which features spoken word vocals from Timberlake’s wife, Jessica Biel, is a break from the busy, bombastic first half of the album, but is just as ridiculous. Conceptually this interlude should work, but Biel seems to be reading from a cheesy and nonsensical script rather than to be speaking genuinely. The latter half of the album is a slight improvement from the beginning; despite remaining equally devoid of anything meaningful, the tracks become more passable. Most notably, “Hard Stuff” has its share of endearing lyrics, and “Montana” has an enjoyable groovy synth-funk beat. Nevertheless, what is so bothersome about the second half of the album is its seeming endlessness, coming to a halt at 66 minutes over 16 tracks. Overall, I respect Timber-
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lake for his attempt to interweave his Nashville funk roots with his electro pop sound, but Man of the Woods serves as more of a demotion from his projects than an interesting genre switch. This album is personal for Timberlake. It is named after his son, it features words and sounds from his family, and it acts as an intersection point between his upbringing and his previous musical success. Clearly, a lot of passion rings throughout the album for Timberlake, yet it pathetically failed to produce even a single memorable, fresh, or artistically impressive song and its incompetence is completely indefensible. Even as one of the most lauded artists in pop returning from a five year hiatus, Timberlake still produced an underwhelming record far from what he is capable of. From the mass of talented people behind project, I’m left confused as to why the final product was so musically and thematically shallow and often unbearable to listen to. Man of the Woods gets a 3/10.
Milton Playoffs
Will Bucci ‘19 Sports Writer Walking into the ACC, one will see banners showing the accomplishments of Milton Academy Athletics in past ISL Championships and New England Championships. Milton Academy Boys’ Basketball team and the Boys’ Squash team are often a force to be reckoned with within the ISL. Every time a Milton athlete sees the banners in the ACC, a spark lights inside of them: the desire for another year, this year, to be added to the list. With the current basketball and squash teams, the feeling is no different. As of this Monday, the Boys’ Basketball team has a record of 13 wins and 5 losses, including big wins over New Hampton, Belmont Hill, Lawrence Academy, and Loomis. I asked member of the team D.J. Murrell (II) about his thoughts on the season so far about which he said, “the season right now has been great. We’re looking to finish the regular season strong.” With the postseason coming up soon, I asked what the team was hoping for, to which he replied, “Our overall goal is to finish the year with a championship.” With Athletics Director Mr. Reddicks as the head coach accompanied by a roster of talented players, Milton will be a contender for the championship, and fans should pity any team that underestimates them. The Boys’ Basketball home games are played in the front court of the ACC, and I encourage everybody who can make it to one of their games to watch
a few minutes. I have gone to a few, and I can say that the games never fail to entertain. In addition to the basketball team’s search for a championship, the Boys’ Squash team has had a historic season as well. Their 8 wins and 2 losses as of this Monday places them at third in the ISL and ninth in the entire country. Captain Quinton Crawford (II) noted that at nationals, “[they] barely lost [their] first round match 4 3.” In the consolation bracket, they won two matches 4 - 3 and 5 - 2 to reach the finals of the bracket, and eventually lost to Andover in the finals 4 - 3. He also wanted to commend Oliver Eielson (IV) for a “clutch match to clinch a 4 - 3 victory over Tabor.” The match against Nobles already occurred, ending in a 6 - 1 loss against what seems to be the dominant team in the ISL. According to Quinton, the squash season is “the best in many years.” The squash season is not over, however, so wish any squash players you know luck in the matches to come. Although Milton Boys’ Squash will not be adding “National Champions” to the pendant this year, they have played extremely well this year, and they will have another shot a year from now. Also, Milton Boys’ Basketball still has high hopes for the upcoming postseason. Hopefully everybody can make a game before the season ends to cheer on fellow classmates as they strive to win another title for Milton Academy.
A&E/Sports Roger Federer Wins His 20th Grand Slam Title
Friday, February 16, 2018 Colin Baker ‘21 Sports Writer On January 28th, 2018, Roger Federer stepped into Rod Laver Arena in Australia to face off against the sixth ranked player in the world, Marin Čilić. In the first set Federer won 6-2, but Čilić bounced back, winning 7-6 after a tiebreaker with a score of 7-5. Federer took the next set, winning 6-3, while Čilić again responded in the 4th set, winning 6-3. After 4 sets of hard-fought tennis, Čilić began to fade, losing game after game. Federer, for the 20th time, had won a Grand Slam: he finished Čilić off 6-1 in the 5th set. Roger Federer, the Swiss tennis powerhouse, has shown the world time and time again how to win over two decades. His remarkable career continues at age 36, in a sport where few players even compete into their thirties. Roger Federer has had an unbelievable run with a
tennis players ever to grace the game. Like Tom Brady, Federer established himself as the G.O.A.T. Through hard work and tremendous talent in the sport, he had immortalized his name.
players.” Defeating Marin Čilić 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, Federer, who had already been proven to be one of the all-time greats, completed an unheard of feat. Resilience was and is the measure of his career.
“Federer, clearly, was one of the best tennis players ever to grace the game.”
Open TV
Federer after winning the Australian Open, his 20th Grand Slam
er’s story began 25 years ago at 11 years old: at that age, he had already become one of the top 3 Swiss junior tennis players, per biography.com. Practicing 6 hours a day, Federer improved rapidly,
“Roger Federer, the Swiss tennis powerhouse, has shown the world time and time again how to win over two decades.” long history and hopefully, a long future. After going 4 years without a grand slam win, Federer erupted last year with three new wins, shedding the fears that he would retire because of injury. This feat has been in the making since Feder-
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becoming the Swiss junior national champion in tennis at age 14. In July of 1996, Federer joined the junior circuit of the International Tennis Federation, winning his first junior Wimbledon in 1998. Later that same year, Federer turned professional.
Within three years, Federer had made himself known. By beating reigning Wimbledon singles champion Pete Sampras in the fourth round of the 2001 Wimbledon, Federer established himself as a contender. Only two years later, Federer became the first Swiss man to win any Grand Slam by winning the 2003 Wimbledon. By the end of the 2005 season, Federer had won two more Wimbledons and three other Grand Slams, making him the best player in the world only seven short years into his professional career. He held the number one spot until 2008. Federer, clearly, was one of the best
In 2008, Federer’s game declined. Though he won one Grand Slam, he lost in the grand slam finals three times that year. Resilient as always, Federer won another two grand slams the next year. Little did his fans realize, this comeback would be short-lived: he would go on to win only two grand slams in the next 6 years. More and more often, Federer’s fans saw him lose in the early rounds of grand slam championships. He lost his youthful energy, and had taken a backseat to his rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Battling injury in 2016 during his mid-30s, Federer seemed bound to retire. After all, mid 30s is already a death sentence for most tennis players without injury. Even younger champions like Andy Murray looked as if their best days had passed them by. But then something astounding happened. In the 2017 Wimbledon, Federer proved to the world that he was not like “most tennis
After defeating Marin Čilić in the 2018 Australian Open, Federer’s plans for the future are unknown, according to The Atlantic. In 2016 and early 2017, Federer seemed likely to retire: he was old, injured, and not even close to peak form. Now, though, having proven himself, Federer seems likely to continue to play for some years to come. With Tom Brady returning from his eighth Super Bowl, are we in an era of generally longer careers? Or are these two athletes setting a longevity standard that can never be equalled? Personally, I doubt that Federer will make it past 40, but who knows? Tom Brady has plans to play to 47, and Federer, like Brady, is pacing himself, having sat out the clay court season in 2017. As Federer is one of the best tennis players the world has ever seen, I am sure his name is far from becoming part of the past, but like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, Roger Federer will eventually face the test of time.
An Unusual Rise to Fame: Rich Brian’s Story
Gracie Chiang ‘20 A&E Writer From being an “antisocial freak,” according to his sister, to breaking barriers by being the first Asian artist to come out with a number-one hip hop album, Rich Brian has quickly skyrocketed to fame. With his unique story and, according to Highsnobiety, “youthful” and “semi-ironic” music, he has captivated millions of people around the world and accomplished more in his eighteen years than some do in a lifetime. In 1999, Brian Imanuel was born into a rather welloff family in Jakarta, Indonesia. Because of his family’s wealth, Brian avoided the below average school system and instead was homeschooled. Being homeschooled left him with ample free time to explore his hobbies which included solving Rubik’s cubes. Through Youtube tutorials, Brian began teaching himself English and exploring other social media platforms like Twitter and Vine. Like any other kid, Brian quickly became enthralled by the internet and, according to Time Magazine, used his understanding of the “nuanced surrealist humour,” often referred to as “Weird
Twitter,” to make a name for himself as a comedian. In an interview with Forbes Magazine, Brian claimed that from ages twelve to fifteen, his whole life revolved around creating and posting funny content. Then, in 2016, after having spent years listening to artists like Drake and Kendrick Lamar, Brian decided to try rapping and released his first song: “Dat $tick”, under his stage name: Rich Chigga. The song instantly went viral, gaining over 85 million views on Youtube. While most enjoyed the song, many, as the Michigan Daily noted, were unsure “whether it was a joke.” Furthermore, a multitude of people criticized Brian for his use of the n-word and for his name, ‘Rich Chigga,’ which combines ‘Chinese’ and the n-word. So, in an attempt to be taken more seriously, he changed his name from ‘Rich Chigga’ to ‘Rich Brian’ and, just a few weeks ago, released his first full album Amen. Amen erased all doubts in anyone’s mind that Rich Brian might be creating songs as a joke. With hit tracks like “Glow Like Dat,” “See Me,” and “Arizona,” Amen has certainly proved to be a drastic improvement from “Dat
$tick.” Overall, reviews for Amen have been mostly positive. Highsnobiety called Amen “supremely confident” and “a triumph,” mentioning how throughout the entire album Brian maintains a “relentless flow” that pairs with his “unexpected” lyrics to provide an
the beginning of a successful career. And with the help of 88rising, his record label, Rich Brian will certainly try and continue to further his career as a rapper. Rich Brian’s record label, 88rising, was founded by Sean Miyashiro to, as he put it in an
also for all Asians looking to make their mark on the industry. In an interview with Vulture, Brian recalled seeing Joe Taslim act in Fast and Furious 6 and realizing for the first time that an Indonesian could be successful in Hollywood. This moment of re-
“Highsnobiety called Amen ‘supremely confident’ and ‘a triumph,’ mentioning how throughout the entire album Brian maintains a ‘relentless flow’ that pairs with his ‘unexpected’ lyrics to provide an ‘intriguing and incisive look into the goofy world of a famous eighteen year old.’” “intriguing and incisive look into the goofy world of a famous eighteen year old.” In addition, an article on Pitchfork admired Brian’s ability to “simply [be] himself” yet still retain the wit and snarkiness of a comedian. However, despite all the positive reviews that have come out about Amen, Brian’s inexperience still shines through. Pitchfork also called Amen an album of “replicas,” and the Michigan Daily noted some tracks were “disappointing” and “[don’t] grab” listeners. Yet, even though it has some lows, Amen definitely pushes Rich Brian for greatness, and according to Highsnobiety, Amen is a “wildly intriguing scene setter” for
interview with Forbes Magazine, “represent and celebrate Asian culture.” The company does this by discovering and helping to launch Asian artists in the West, hoping to expose Western audiences to Asian artists and diversify the Western music scene. 88rising truly accomplished their goal when they signed Rich Brian by helping Amen become the first album by an Asian artist to be the number one hip hop album on iTunes. This breakthrough not only represents the success of Rich Brian, but also the change 88rising is creating in the music industry. Amen’s success not shows a promising future not only for Brian and Miyashiro, but
alization helped push Brian to start pursuing his dreams in the entertainment industry. For Rich Brian, being a successful, famous, Indonesian rapper is an impossible dream that came true. Yet, in an interview with Forbes Magazine, Brian revealed he has no plans to slow down and will continue to break barriers, diversify the music industry, and create songs that people all over the world can enjoy.
Humor
Friday, February 16, 2018
Page 16
Rejected Senior Superlatives Fill in your friends!
1.
Absolute Worst Person on Campus
2.
Greasiest
3.
Least likely to be remembered
4.
The Harrison Smith Class of 2017 Award
5.
Most likely to die of a horse tranquilizer overdose
6.
Most likely to grow into Charles Johnson
7.
Dumbest idiot
8. Whitest DSG 9. Highest vape to oxygen ratio 10. Most likely to be mistaken for being relevant 11. Least likely to get in a relationship...ever 12. Least enjoyable student 13. Death of the party 14. Most in need of a makeover 15. Most annoyingly happy person