TMM 11-8

Monday, November 8, 2010

Inside This Issue

NEWS

Cholera in Haiti, pg. 3 Dr. Eyster, pg. 4 Election Results, pg. 5

Vol CXVI Num. 7

OPINION

Midterm Elections, pg. 6 Wikileaks, pg. 10 Going Green, pg. 10

Amy Hempel Visits Milton 2010 Bingham Series Speaker

by Sam Shleifer ‘11 and Erin Yang ‘12 Editor-in-Chief and News Writer Amy Hempel, this year’s Bingham Speaker, is an award-winning author of short fiction. In preparation for her visit, many students read some of her work, including the stories “The Harvest” and “In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried.”

She currently teaches creative writing at Harvard University and Bennington College. On Wednesday, November 3, Ms. Hempel spoke to upperclassman and spent the day meeting with Ms. Baker and Mr. Connolly’s creative writing classes.

The author of multiple short story collections, Amy Hempel has seen her work appear in magazines such as, Harper’s, GQ, and Vanity Fair, as well as The Best American Short Stories and The Norton

Anthology of Literature anthologies.

For her fiction, she has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the United States Artists Foundation, and the Academy of Arts and Letters; in 2009, she received the PEN/Malamud Award, which honors “excellence in the art of the short story.”

In 2007, Hempel published her Collected Stories, which was named one of the ten best books of 2007 by the New York Times. This collection of short fiction won the Ambassador Award for Best Fiction of the Year and the REA Award for the Short Story in 2008. The first story she wrote, “In the Cemetery where Al Jolson is Buried,” has now become one of the most-often

SPORTS

A&E

Wade Aaron, pg. 11 Beatnik, pg. 12 Dance Team, pg. 13

Boys Soccer, pg. 14 World Series, pg. 15 Zenyatta, pg. 15

anthologized stories in the past quarter century. In an interview with TMM, Ms. Hempel said “The After Life,” the final story of her collection, is her favorite.

The Bingham Visiting Writers Series, which annually invites emerging or already-established, award-winning writers to read and visit classes, sponsored Amy Hempel’s visit to Milton. According to Ms. Baker, we “try to get writers who are also teachers” because they are more able to impact a younger audience, as well as connect and teach students about the art of writing. Historically, Ms. Baker says, the goal has been to “get a poet and a fiction writer” to come to creative writing classes, talk to the students, workshop student work, and answer questions about life as an author.

Many of these writers either have a personal connection to Milton or live locally; others have just won an award, are in the midst of a book tour, or are part of a university’s creative writing department.

For example, last year’s fiction writer was Jeffrey Eugenides, who won a Pulitzer Prize

Hempel continued on page 3

Milton Academy Republicans Roll to Annual and Parents Fund Victory Class I Gift

A Message to Washington

by Mallika Iyer ‘13 News Writer

Aside from our famous motto “Dare to be True”, Milton instills various ideals in our individual lives and in the community as a whole by exposing the value of lending support. The importance of these ideals expands far beyond the students; these same principles of giving also serve as the foundation for the Annual Fund.

When considering the significance of the Annual Fund, one must consider the cost of maintaining a school as vibrant as Milton Academy. Although Milton student tuition appears to be high and costly, it does not sufficiently cover all the expenses of our operating budget. This year, the school Board expects that 10% of the budget— primarily used for financial aid, student programs, endowment support, and faculty benefits—will come from the Annual Fund.

The Annual Fund receives 25% of its donations directly from The Parents Fund. The philosophy of The Parents Fund is such that it simply encourages each family to donate. According to the Milton Academy website, the 2009-2010 school year set a record with donations amounting to $1,203,000, contributed by 348 families. The fund welcomes every amount, recognizing the School’s need for every member’s support in order to ensure the excellence of the Milton Academy experience.

The Class I Gift has been a particularly successful method of raising money. Now in its 26th year, the Class I

gift provides parents an opportunity to recognize Milton in their child’s graduating year. Last year, 72% of Class I parents donated, resulting in a total donation of over $1.5 million. However, Mrs. Beaudoin, cohead of the Class of 2011 Gift, wants “to make every family feel comfortable with contributing and showing their support for Milton, no matter what the amount,” and feels that “all donations, regardless of size, send an important message of appreciation to Milton.”

Mr. Sewall, Assistant Head of School for Alumni and Development, verified that Milton set this year’s goal, like that of previous years, at $1 million. He stated, “this goal has been achieved in most cases, and we see enthusiasm surrounding this gift effort, as it is a celebration of the Milton experience.” For the last five years, an average of 75% of Class I families have participated, with the highest being at 82% from the Class of 2009. This year, the organizers of The Parents Fund hope to attain 100% parent participation.

Nevertheless, Milton encourages each family to donate to the Parent Fund based solely on comfort level. Mr. Sewall clarified that the Business Office does not research parents’ professions in order to tabulate appropriate donation amounts, but says that they rather, “thoughtfully align our solicitations with a donor’s capacity, whenever possible. We (the Business Office) do our best to get to know our Parents Fund continued on page 4

Photos:

by Jack Mitchell ‘11 News Section Editor In the elections last Tuesday, November 2, the Republicans took the House, while the Democrats retained a slim majority in the House. The Republicans gained six seats in the House for a total of 46 to the Democrats’ 52 (the remaining two races are undecided). The Republicans gained sixty seats in the House, giving them a total of 239 seats to the Democrats’ 185.

Big wins for the Republicans included the G.O.P. candidate Pat Toomey beating Democrat Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania, Democrat Russ Feingold losing his seat to Republican challenger Ron Johnson in Wisconsin, and Republican Mark Steven Kirk beating Alexi Giannoulias in Illinois. The republicans even reached NY-19, where Incumbent Democrat John Hall lost to Nan Hayworth.

Analysts had largely predicted this outcome, but disagreed on what kind of political climate the Midterm elections would create. The question remains as to what the future holds. Obama himself acknowledged that the defeat was “humbling.” Leaders of the new Republican majority in the House have agreed that compromise will be necessary, as Obama has said. But leaders of both parties acknowledge that there will be certain issues for which they will be unwilling to compromise. One possible strategy outlined by prominent Republicans is to do everything possible to stop Obama from getting reelected in 2012. John Boehner,

who will probably replace Nancy Pelosi as the new Speaker, said, “We’re going to do everything – and I mean everything we can do – to kill [Obama’s agenda], stop it, slow it down, whatever we can.” Mike Pence, the No. 3 Republican, actually used the words “no compromise.” These comments would suggest a gridlock much like what happened in 1994, when Newt Gingrich decided to shut down the government by derailing virtually all major legislation. In that example, the public reacted negatively and the Republicans ended up losing the majority in the next election.

The new landscape presents both parties with different options. The Republicans need to decide whether to work with the Democrats or to defy Obama and overturn his agenda; they need to decide, more importantly, if they are trying to energize the base so exemplified by the “grass-roots” Tea Party movement, or if they are trying to fight liberal ideology with their own conservative small-government ideology that goes back to Jeffersonian ideals. The Democrats also have choices to make – on legislation they want to try to get passed, on how they communicate to their own dwindling base.

This Midterms election represents the biggest party swing since 1948 under Harry S. Truman. Most analysts attribute this shift to voters’ concerns with the economy. Republicans criticized Obama’s response to the recession, and large Midterms continued on page 4

Editorial

page 2 | November 8th, 2010

The Milton

MEASURE est. 1894

Editors-in-Chief Chelsea Mehra ‘11 and Sam Shleifer ‘11 Managing Editor Sidney Chiang ‘11

Senior Editors Sarah Alliegro ‘11 Lauren Kee ‘11 Reed Palmer ‘11 Daniel Schwartz ‘11

Layout Editor Andrew Beaudoin ‘11 Copy Editor Jackson Tse ‘11 *

John Mitchell ‘11 and Gina Starfield ‘12, News/Feature Editors Nicolette Gendron ‘11 and Benjamin Scharfstein ‘12, Opinion Editors Christopher Chu ‘12 and Joycelyn Yip ‘11, A&E Editors Audrey Keathley ‘11 and Matthew Lebovitz ‘12, Sports Editors Brian Krantz, Humor Editors * Larry Pollans, Faculty Advisor

News/Feature Rachael Allen ‘14 Amanda Beaudoin ‘13 Ashley Bae ‘12 Matt Chen ‘12 N’dea Hallett ‘11 Mallika Iyer ‘13 Joseph Reynolds ‘11 Xiaoyin Qiao ‘11 Sophia Sopuch ‘11 Akanshu Srivastav ‘12 James Yan ‘13 Erin Yang ‘12 Lisa Zhou ‘13 Opinion NIcole Acheampong ‘13 Nelson Barrette ‘13 Ilve Bayturk ‘14 Robert Bedetti ‘11 Sarah Costello ‘11 Brandon Daly ‘12 Stewart Pollock ‘12 Charles Wang ‘13

Sports Katy Bean ‘11 Thomas Englis ‘12 Edwin Hamlin ‘13 Paul In ‘12 Isabel Lester ‘11 Eric Nesto ‘12 Brighid Noone ‘12 Edward Nwachuku ‘13 John Platts ‘12 Andrew Strang ‘11 James Wang ‘12

A&E Benjamin Bosworth ‘13 Emma Borden ‘11 Elana Golub ‘14 Louis McWilliams ‘12 Louisa Moore ‘14 Madeline Thayer ‘11 Mary Devins ‘11 Dylan Brennan ‘12

Photography Patrick Burke ‘12 Natalie Chaves ‘11

Alexander King ‘13

Matthew Lebovitz ‘12 Sean Leo ‘12 Nicole Meyers ‘11 Yemisi Olorunwunmi ‘14 Alexandra Aulum-Pedersen ‘13 McKean Tompkins ‘12 Andy Zhang ‘12

Electronic Copies of the Measure Are Now Available Shipping a copy of the Milton Measure to our subscribers is not environmentally friendly.

So in an effort to cut costs, produce a better issue, and get the news to you faster, the Milton Measure will be sending out its issues via the email.

The Milton Measure will be collecting email addresses of alums, parents, and anyone else who would want a copy and we will send you a pdf of our issues.

If you need a back copy, we will also start providing that service.

If you would like to begin receiving copies via email, please send your email adress to Chelsea Mehra or Sam Shleifer at: chelsea_mehra@milton.edu OR samuel_shleifer@milton.edu

The Milton Measure

Grades at Milton Milton is a community founded on learning. We are taught to scorn grades, scores, rankings, ‘honors’ classes—anything that clouds the ultimate objective of developing a broadened consciousness of the world around us. We don’t go to class to learn facts, but instead, we go to learn how to learn. Clustered around Harkness tables, we seek to expand our intellectual horizons, escaping from the menial rote memorization that stifles our rivals. At Milton, discussion precedes question-and-answer, essays trump tests, and if comments could replace grades…well just look at the lower school. GPAs don’t exist and please don’t even say the words ‘class ranking’. The only sort of academic award system at Milton is the Cum Laude Society, and the very process by which students receive this honor is shrouded in secrecy.

Milton’s prioritization of learning separates it from the wide majority of schools, public and private. At Nobles and Greenough, for instance, GPA is calculated on an 11 point scale, and students receive letters of distinction, honorable, high or highest, for each academic semester in accordance with their respective GPAs. Milton is far from such a system, but are we as students truly free from the grade grubbing rat race? Perhaps senior fall lends a certain bias to this question. In place of the Milton faculty’s trusted refrain, “it’s not about the grade”, our college counselors tell us that those very grades will determine where we spend the next four years of our lives. Reason enough for the fervent grade frenzy that ensues.

The reality is that in the college admissions process, grades do matter. Despite Milton’s efforts to convince us that school is more than grades, when it comes to college, the simple fact is that each and every student is reduced to little more than a number on a plot of his or her peers. It may not be just and it is certainly not fair, but it is reality.

The idea that learning and success are inextricably linked is profoundly false. It is upon this foundation that Milton seeks to impart us with a unique perspective, encouraging us to learn for the sake of learning rather than recognition, and broadening our view of the world beyond the confines of our own personal interests. That said, why is it that college bears so much more weight than high school? Who said the next four years are any more important than the four years we spent at Milton? If anything high school is a time of more profound growth, a time during which the adolescent develops a lasting sense of individual attitude, character and purpose. Milton’s focus on learning doesn’t aim to make us hopelessly idealistic, unprepared for the harsh truths that lay ahead, instead it strives to teach us what really matters in the grand scheme of things, that we might carry this invaluable knowledge with us far into the future.

If Milton has taught you anything, it should be that high school is not simply the waiting room for college. You didn’t come to Milton just to get into a better college, or if you did, you shouldn’t have. Ultimately, Milton is what it claims to be: “a school that imparts its students with the ability to absorb the world around them, to think critically, to understand, to challenge, to develop lasting opinions and passions that will continue with them into the future.” Ten or fifteen years from now, when high school report cards are far from our minds, we will still have these skills. Work not for a letter, score, or envelope, but for those passions.

The Milton Measure

Hempel continued from page 1 for his novel Middlesex. Amy Hempel was invited to speak at Milton after David Smith, Milton English teacher, stumbled upon her work at a reading in Boston.

Ms. Hempel describes her journey through writing as an “accident”.

She never intended to be solely a writer.

In fact, her dream was to become a writer and a veterinarian. Her love of animals comes through in her stories; a dog shares the cover of The Collected Stories, and to this day Hempel trains guide dogs for the blind. Hempel sees “a purity in animals” that contrasts with humans, and “has seen dogs perform incredible feats of intelligence.”

After deciding to study pre-med in college, she quickly changed her mind when she was studying organic chemistry.

Writing, on the other hand, came naturally.

She has always been an avid reader and claims that her favorite book is Jane Eyre

by Charlotte Bronte. Her professional writing career began in her mid-twenties.

Noticing the “smaller things” and not the bigger picture influences her decision to write short short stories instead of long novels.

Hempel’s stories are some of the shortest in American literature. They “graze on a moment, or image,” rather than rely on the traditional goals of plot and character development. Though her brevity risks leaving the reader with a compromised literal understanding of her words, Hempel’s language, poetic and full of intention, leaves the reader slack jawed after a powerful last line.

Hempel’s writing process “never starts with an idea, but an image or something I overheard.” She then writes the first line, last line and title, saving the bulk of the story for later.

Hempel’s writing style, she says, could be compared to that of

News November 8th , 2010 | page 3 Cholera in Haiti

“Raymond Carver, Mary Robison, and Barry Hannah”; she characterizes them as “funny, inventive, and unique in that they don’t sound like anyone else.” Surprisingly, Hempel reads “more poetry than fiction, because in some ways that’s closer to what I do.” Hempel’s tone and efficiency set her apart from other writers, “I don’t use many adjectives,” she explained.

As a writer, Amy Hempel strives to be different from other writers. Her precise style is her distinction. Before writing down a sentence, she runs through many edits in her head. “I’m afraid that one day I’ll be hit by a bus and the last sentence I wrote down isn’t the best I can make it, and people would think, ‘is that all you have?’” Indeed, she edits her work, “but the majority of (her) editing process happens before any words are on the page.”

At the moment, Hempel is working on two different projects. “A length short story, or potentially novella, and a collection of stories” as short as the one she read in assembly.

The “real live, breathing writers,” that we hear from, as Ms. Baker says, are people whose names we will grow up and become familiar with. We will continue to see, read, and study the names of these emerging and established authors.

The purpose of this remarkable experience is “to have English students appreciate the people they will read, who are presently impacting the literary world,” Ms. Baker says, and to be an exciting and informative experience for writing students and their cultivating creative processes. Having speakers, like Amy Hempel, come to Milton arouses the option of being a professional writer. In the spring of this 2010-2011 year, we will have the opportunity to witness the poetry and work of Mark Doty, another speaker sponsored by this Bingham Visiting Writers Series.

Mitigating its Spread in Port-Au-Prince

by Akanshu Srivastav ‘14 News Writer Vibrio cholerae is a noxious bacterium that has recently caused a cholera epidemic in Haiti. As Haiti struggles to recover from its devastating earthquakes, the country is now receiving more international aid to battle yet another hurdle on its journey towards relative stability. As of October 27, 2010, 4,733 cases of cholera infection have been reported, of which 303 have resulted in death. This epidemic is slowly beginning to spread to the most densely populated areas, further decimating the population of Haiti.

Cholera has already affected the northern and central departments of Artibonite, Central, Nord-Est, and Nord.

The Artibonite Valley, in particular, has the highest concentration of cholera victims per district at a high 76.5%. This valley houses a great number of earthquake refugees, and thus the cholera bacteria can spread easily through the population toward Port-auPrince, the capital, and other surrounding areas. Dr. Michael Thieren, a member of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), commented on the portability of the bacteria, stating, “Haiti is so crowded and the people are so mobile, the disease will almost inevitably spread.” The World Health Organization (WHO) has also declared the imminent spread of bacteria.

The first documented cases of cholera were in India in 1816. Since then, there have been seven pandemics of cholera, with the last one originating in Peru in 1991.

For the past fifty years, Haiti has remained almost completely Vibrio cholerae free.

Those suffering from the disease experience severe dehydration, diarrhea, and vomiting. The prognosis of death for victims of cholera is approximately

Media as a Medium

Beth Murphy’s Straus Dessert

by Rachael Allen‘14 News Writer

Beyond Belief Documentary www.imageinpeace.com

Straus Dessert series have been a Milton tradition for decades. Held in Straus Library and run by the Public Issues Board (PIB), gatherings focus on a particularly recent issue by inviting a speaker to present or discuss the topic at hand. On Tuesday November 2, Beth Murphy spoke about using media to affect social change.

The PIB chooses a topic they feel is current, central, and controversial. Then, through professional and social contacts, PIB selects a well-versed person in that particular issue to speak at an impending event.

Many prominent speakers have come to Milton Academy in previous years. In 2008, Dr. Kerry Healy spoke of her work in Afghanistan, involving the Public Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan, which trains and educates female judges, lawyers, and public officials. Francisco Flores, the former President of El Salvador came to speak in 2007 on the leadership and history of El Salvador. Ursula Pawel, a Holocaust survivor and author of My child is black!, spoke in 2006 about her time in Auschwitz as a 16 year-old. During a 2005 dessert, Myron Stachiw, who witnessed the “orange revolution” in Ukraine, spoke of its historical and cultural implications.

The most recent Straus Dessert took place this past Tuesday, November 2 at 6:30PM. Beth Murphy, a documentary

10% in Haiti, a weighty extrapolation when compared with statistics for similar infections. One can obtain the bacteria through contaminated food and water sources, but especially through shared lavatories.

Typical scenes inside and surrounding the hospitals and relief tents in Haiti display numerous women and children lying outside in bed-sheets, wallowing in their own feces while doctors force feed them water with salts and sugars. To combat further spread of disease, medical organizations are campaigning to promote and ultimately increase hand washing, the drinking of clean, chlorinated, and filtered water, and the emptying of latrines on a regular basis. Many doctors have also employed antibiotics to help mitigate the domain and symptoms of cholera, though their methods are still being researched for validity. Relief organizations such as World Vision and Partners in Health have been prudent about providing clean drinking water.

Although several organizations are currently attempting to construct more medical units around Haiti, no one is making significant progress. Many have protested the construction of these units. The Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) were met with violent opposition, as protestors burned and destroyed their tents in St. Marc. Demonstators claimed that the construction unit, which was near a school, would endanger the nearby children by infecting them with cholera. This protest directly speaks to the lack of effective communication between the relief agencies and the general public.

Cholera continued on page 4

film producer and director, founded Principle Pictures in 2000. Murphy has directed many feature documentary films, television documentaries, and more. Some of her films include “Beyond Belief”, Discovery International’s special “Flu Time Bomb”, History Channel’s special “Flying Pyramids-Soaring Stones”, Discovery Health Channel’s “Breast Cancer Legacy”, “Heroes of Hope: Crisis in Kosovo” (nominated for an Emmy), and Lifetime’s television documentary “Fighting for our Future”. In 2003, Murphy won the Gracie Allen Award and has twice been nominated for Emmys.

After introducing herself and her company, Murphy proceeded to explain her career as a journalist. Starting her career on the radio and television news, she quickly realized that so much information is left behind during, for example, 30-second blurbs of newsflash; a news story is not given the justice it deserves in snippets of information and time. Consequently, Murphy left the news business and established her own company. Her first film focused on slavery in Sudan, setting the tone for the type of films her company would later produce. When choosing the topics of her films, Murphy said that the “accessible subject matters from which to choose are very broad.” However, she must feel passionate about the characters and subject if she’s going to devote “years of her life to their cause.”

Her films tend to focus on people overcoming adversities; for example, her film, “Beyond Belief” told a slightly conventional story from a less conventional

perspective. At the heart of this film are two women from Needham and Milton, whose husbands died in 9/11, leaving them widowed, pregnant and with children. After meeting, the women strive to understand their own tragedy and to reach out to other Afghan widows, halfway across the world in similar positions. This inspiring film sparked global fundraising for Afghan women’s centers.

Murphy’s films are designed to display the entire journey and truth of an inspirational news piece. She feels strongly that documentary films have an immense power to create social change, for they instill emotion. Though Murphy’s films could go in a much darker direction, she believes there should always be hope.

Murphy is directly contributing to social change through media by drawing emotion from her viewers, and then using that emotion and knowledge to help people look outside their bubble. She is currently working on “The Promise of Freedom”, a film about one American man’s mission to help Iraqis in danger because they helped the United States.

The goal of Straus Desserts is not simply to learn more about current events, but also to hear about the work a speaker has dedicated to his or her particular subject matter. Inspiring and educating, Straus Desserts provide us with an opportunity to hear another’s perspective about and history of an issue, thereby allowing us to formulate our own opinion of an event outside the Milton community.

page 4 | November 8th, 2010

News

Junior Statesmen of America New Club on Campus

by James Yan ‘13 News Writer On October 17th, Milton Academy attended its first Junior Statesmen of America (JSA) Convention, sweeping a quarter of all trophies in an impressive performance Hosted at Boston University School of Law, three members of Milton’s JSA chapter, Celeste Young (III), Maximos Nikitas (III), and Kitty Lan (III) placed in the top sixteen out of 150 total participants, each receiving a Best Speaker Award.

JSA has recently gained popularity; just two months ago, four Class III students: Duncan Bowden, Josh Ellis, Kitty Lan, and Lisa Zhou founded Milton’s JSA group.

Zhou commented, “We founded JSA at Milton in order to promote our students’ understanding of politics and its role in American society. We want to provide a stress-free environment where students may practice their public speaking skills.”

Junior Statesmen of America is the country’s largest student-run nonpartisan political organization with more than 15,000 nationwide participants. Founded in 1934 by a UCLA professor, JSA inspires young people to actively participate in politics by helping high-school students develop effective leadership, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. Today, JSA has spread to over 500 U.S. school chapters and remains the only organization of its kind, completely run by students.

At a typical JSA convention, students debate on current political events and controversial social issues. Some recent

examples of discussed topics include: reforming welfare, banning handguns, and legalizing marijuana. Unlike Model UN and other forums, JSA conducts discussions in a relatively relaxed and informal environment. Because JSA is strictly governed by high school students, all debate topics are selected based on the interest of participating JSA members.

In addition to debate, students may join in informal discussions, mock trials, and speaker forums. At JSA conventions, students may speak up and state their opinion or just sit back and listen to others speak. According to the words of JSA participant Duncan Bowden (Class III), “JSA enables you to become more aware of what’s going on in the world.

At JSA conventions you will come into contact with kids from so many different backgrounds and learn new perspectives on different ideas.”

The next JSA Convention will be held at Boston Park Plaza Hotel on November 20th. Conventions are open to all high school students, not just JSA members. Overall, they provide an excellent opportunity for curious students with a passion for politics and current events to share their interest with fellow high school students who are eager to stand up for their deepest beliefs. If you are interested in joining JSA, please email the heads of the Club to sign up for conventions.

Members of Junior Statesmen of America

The Milton Measure

Cholera continued from page 3

Parents Fund continued from page 1

While no organization has attained complete prevention, a few small attempts appear successful. With new and developing technologies, such as the Short Message Service on cellular telephones, urban and young Haitians are being informed of precautions against cholera by text messages from local news networks. Yet, the obstacle of furnishing the appropriate precautionary information appears to be a challenge in rural areas where hand crank radios transmit all announcements. The most rural of areas may need information campaign delegates to visit their towns in order for their members to become more aware of the present dangers.

Relief organizations around the world are attempting to combat the inevitable spread of cholera to Port-auPrince, the capital and the largest city in Haiti. The squalid tent towns in Port-auPrince are most susceptible to the disease, and could infect a very large percentage of Haiti’s population if cholera arrives in one of the most populous and poorest cities in the Caribbean.

As students at Milton Academy, we must begin to raise funds to support Haiti once again in its time of need. We must remain aware of this issue in order to stem the epidemic from having worldwide implications.

donors.” The main way that Class I parents are encouraged to donate is through the huge network of parent volunteers, who spend time calling various families and sending emails throughout the year.

The funds from the Class I Gift always provide aid for vital school causes. The Business Office shared that money from 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010 Parent Gifts went towards supporting Pritzker Science Center; in 2008, the donations created the Class I Endowed Fund for Faculty Support. In addition, Class I Gifts have also funded the Schwarz Student Center, the Athletic Convocation Center, and the Cox Library.

This year, 25% of the Class I Gift will be directed to the Annual Fund, and the remaining 75% will go towards the previously mentioned Class I Endowed Fund for Faculty Support, a fund that specifically provides support for curriculum development and professional development for faculty. Mrs. Beaudoin stressed the value of contributing to this specific fund by stating, “the faculty make the biggest impact on the students. The relationship between student and teacher is important and provides a lasting impact on the student’s life after Milton.” She also expressed that the Class I Gift positively cultivates the relationship between student and teacher. The Endowed Fund for Faculty Support serves as an opportunity for families to donate in honor of a teacher who has made a meaningful impact on the student during his or her time at Milton.

The following year, that teacher’s name will be included in the 2010-2011 Milton Academy Report to Donors.

Overall, the Parent Fund provides a convenient vehicle to help the many Milton families who are eager to give back to the community. Not only does the Parent Fund offer opportunities for volunteering and comfortable donating, but also promotes participation and effort rather than donation size. Through the realistic goal-setting and humane approach, the success of the Parent’s Fund is a direct reflection of the exuberance and thankfulness that Milton families have shown and will continue to show for the Academy.

Midterms continued from page 1 spending measures such as the recently passed health care bill. The voters largely indicated their anger at Congress and Obama’s administration with the state of the economy, with unemployment rates at nearly ten percent. Incumbent parties in economic downturns have historically done poorly in elections. Now that Congress is divided, and both parties show reluctance to budge on core issues, the agenda will largely be determined by the American people. How do we fix our economy and reduce our deficit?

Should we prioritize having lower taxes or programs like health care and Social Security? How big should government be? These are the questions for the people to answer – and hope that our elected officials are listening.

Massachussetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators Dr. Eyster Honored

by Ashley Bae ‘12 News Writer

Milton’s very own Dr. Eyster was enshrined in the Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators (MHFSE). The MHFSE was founded in 1992 and since then has recognized 98 distinguished teachers. The only female of the three 2010 inductees, Eyster was “thrilled to have been nominated and inducted for this award.”

The Hall of Fame is permanently housed at Bridgewater State University and the induction ceremony was sponsored by the Massachusetts Science Education Leadership Association and the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers.

Since earning a master’s degree in biology from the University of South Carolina and a doctorate in biology from Northeastern University, Dr. Eyster has taught at Milton Academy since 1990 and currently shares her wisdom with the Honors Biology and Advanced Biology students. Dr. Eyster’s students describe the experiences in her class as “pivotal in their choice of science careers,” “challenging,” Photos: Google

and “rewarding.”

Dr. Eyster has also recently published an article titled “Encouraging Creativity in the Lab,” and published in the September 2010 issue of The Science Teacher, a peer-reviewed journal for secondary school teachers produced by the National Science Teachers Association.

In the opening passage of her article, she writes, “When students think there is only one correct way to do a lab, their creativity is inhibited.” Dr. Eyster’s teaching methods are founded on inquiry, relying on openended questions that galvanize curiosity for her students rather than “one-right-answer” type questions. And as her article suggests, she views work in the laboratory as crucial to extending curiosity and instilling creative passion.

In the past, Dr. Eyster was named “Science Educator of the Year for Norfolk County” by the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers for her many contributions to science education.

She was also the recipient of a Presidential

Dr. Eyster in the classroom Award for Excellence in Science Teaching middle and high school teachers held by and was also profiled in the publication, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship “Who’s Who Among American Teachers.” Foundation at Princeton. Having served Part of the reason for Dr. Eyster’s as Vice President of the Massachusetts induction is her passion for her job. She Association of Science Teachers, a believes “that everyone is inherently member of the National Science Teachers drawn to some particular field and that Association Committee on High School she believes everyone should pursue what Teaching and a reviewer for National they are intrigued by and excited about. I Science Foundation programs for teachers, was intrinsically drawn to being a biology Dr. Eyster has lots of experience working teacher because I loved biology and really with students and has authored a series of articles that appeared in scientific and also loved to teach.”

Dr. Eyster has presented science-education journals. To honor her multiple workshops at state and national accomplishment, Communications wrote conventions and even served as academic an article, which they featured on Milton director for a month-long institute for Academy’s website’s homepage.

News

The Milton Measure

November 8th , 2010 | page 5

Election Recap

by Sam Shleifer ‘11 Editor-in-Chief

Republicans Take House Keating and Frank Gain in Senate Though some races remain too close to call, the 2010 House Race was very clear cut. Republicans will be the majority when the 112th Congress is sworn in next January. Democrats currently control 235 seats, compared to Republicans’ 179.

CNN projects that after Tuesday’s results, the Republican majority will control an estimated 243 seats to the Democrats’ 192, indicating a 63 seat pick up. John Boehner (R-OHIO) will be the Speaker of the House.

Republicans were not as fortunate in the Senate, where Democrats will retain a majority. Depending on Incumbent Patty Murray’s result, Democrats will either control 52 or 53 of the upper chamber’s 100 seats. Republicans did, however, cut into what was, until January, a 60 seat, filibuster proof democratic majority by defending every one of their seats and making six pickups.

Only two incumbent Democrats, Russ Feingold (D-Wis) and Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), lost their races, while others survived close calls. In the nation’s most populous state, California, Senior Democratic Incumbent Barbara Boxer outlasted former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Though Sen. Bennet’s

Complete the Democratic Sweep (D-CO) opponent, Ken Buck, has not conceded, the incumbent appears to have won by less than one percent.

Democrats can breathe their biggest sigh of relief after their win in Nevada. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid bested challenger Sharron Angle 50% to 45% in the most expensive Senate race of the cycle. Republicans hotly pursued Reid’s seat not only for its legislative value, but for the symbolic value of taking down the most influential Democratic Senator.

The other four pick ups were open seats, vacated by Democrats either through retirement or primary. Mark Kirk won Barack Obama’s seat in Illinois after Democrat Roland Burris retired.

Former Governor John Hoeven is going to Washington after Byron Dorgan’s retirement left a blue seat open.

Dan Coats, previously a Republican Congressman, is back in the Senate after coasting to Evan Bayh’s open seat in Indiana. After leaving the GOP to avoid a primary challenge from ‘family values’ Republican Pat Toomey, Arlen Specter lost Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary to Joe Sestak, whom Toomey narrowly defeated on Tuesday.

President Obama and New Speaker of the House John Boehner

For the eighth consecutive cycle, Massachusetts will send ten Democrats to Congress. In a change from past cycles, eight of nine incumbents faced challengers, leaving only Rep. Michael Capuano of Cambridge and Somerville unopposed in the eighth.

In a race that attracted national attention and dollars, Democratic Incumbent Barney Frank defeated Republican Sean Bielat, a darling of the Tea Party and former Marine, earning reelection to Massachusetts’ fourth Congressional seat for the sixteenth time.

Rep. Frank won 54% of the roughly 230,000 votes cast, compared to Bielat’s 43%. As Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Frank’s role in the subprime mortgage collapse made him a target for national Republicans.

Frank has represented the fourth, one of the

most liberal, districts in the country since 1981.

The closest congressional election of the day, however, featured political newcomers. Democrat Bill Keating defeated Republican Jeff Perry 47% to 42%, though polls in the weeks leading up to the election predicted the call to be much closer. Perry became affiliated with the Tea Party movement after espousing conservative values on the trail.

Allegations that Perry oversaw and ignored illegal strip-searches of teenage girls while serving as a police sergeant in Wareham may have doomed his campaign.

Perry performed fine on Cape Cod, but was routed in Quincy, the largest city in his district. William Delahunt, who had represented the district since 1998, retired last fall.

Massachussetts Able to Surf the

Ballot

GOP Wave

Innitiatives

After more than twelve months of campaigning, Gov. Deval Patrick was reelected to another four year term. With 99% of precincts reporting, Patrick had 48.8% of the vote to Baker’s 41.7%.

Though recent polling showed Patrick’s lead expanding, his victory surprised many who thought Scott Brown’s election had changed the Commonwealth’s political landscape.

Former Democrat Tim Cahill finished a distant third with 8%. In September, Cahill’s running mate abandoned him to endorse Baker, costing Cahill’s campaign credibility.

The Republican Governors Association employed many forms of media, and spent millions of dollars to attack Cahill, who they worried was stealing centrist votes from Baker, ultimately handing Patrick the election.

In winning reelection, Patrick overcame tepid approval ratings that stemmed from the financial recession. During the campaign, Baker focused on the economy, using his experience in the private sector and Weld administration to justify his ability to “reform state government.”

Patrick’s supporters, however, rejected Baker’s claims of the Governor’s financial irresponsibility. Only 8.3% of Massachusetts residents are unemployed, compared to 9.2% nationally.

Massachusetts voted “yes” on Question 1, repealing the 2009 sales tax imposed on alcohol and alcoholic beverages. 52% of voters approved of the initiative, which enjoyed the most support from the New Hampshire border towns that lose liquor business to “Tax free New Hampshire.”

The repeal will cost “$110 million in revenue” according to Governor Patrick, money that finances the state’s alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs.

Governor Patrick reaffirms his commitment to these programs, even with their funding eradicated by popular demand. “We’ll find the money somewhere else,” he said on Wednesday.

Massachusetts voted “no” on questions two and three. Question two would have partially deregulated real estate development, requiring only one state permit of developers, instead of myriad municipal and county documents.

Massachusetts also rejected the much discussed Question 3, keeping the sales tax rate at 6.25%. If adopted, the proposition would have more than halved that rate to 3%, costing the state a projected $2.5 billion dollars in revenue. In the months preceding the election, labor groups spent over $3 million dollars campaigning for the initiative’s defeat. Taxachusetts seems as blue as ever.

page 6 | November 8th, 2010

Opinion

The 2010 Midterm Elections The Election Process

by Charles Wang ‘13 Opinion Writer Undoubtedly, those not trapped in the Milton “bubble” have heard about the 2010 United States midterm elections that took place last Tuesday. Positions up for election this year included: all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 37 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, 38 state governorships, and seats in many state and local legislatures. Held two years after the presidential elections, these midterm elections are necessary tests to measure the success of the current president as a political party leader.

Consider two potential scenarios.

If the president is well-liked, he would be able to use his personal support to promote the campaigns of his party’s candidates.

On the other hand, an unpopular president would not have much positive impact and may even prove detrimental to his party’s reputation. So if the performance of a president and an individual party has an impact on the outcome of midterm elections, how did Barack Obama’s

administration and the Democratic Party in general affect this year’s midterm elections?

Overall opinions about Obama have gone downhill ever since he was elected in 2008. His $787 billion stimulus package has done little for our country’s econmy since it was approved by Congress in early 2009. Although the stimulus was meant to create 4 million jobs, keeping our unemployment rate under 8%, America’s unemployment rate was at 9.6% as of September 2010. As a result, Obama’s approval ratings have stayed below 50% since this spring, so it is no surprise that Democrats have lost seats in the Senate and the House.

However, midterms have historically not ended well for the incumbent president’s party. Over the past 17 midterm elections (beginning with the 1942 midterms during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency), the incumbent president’s party has lost an average of 28 seats in the House and four seats in the Senate. Even though change in Congress is meant to be a change for the better,

Israel-Palestinian

a Republican takeover in Congress will impede the Obama administration’s ability to pass bills or proposals, due to increased opposition. Yet this opposition could also be viewed as a good thing. Arguably this challenge by the Republicans will ensure that whatever bailouts or healthcare plans go through Congress are not just going to squander taxpayers’ money.

Then there is the individual candidate’s campaign for election, or re-election, to consider. The time and money spent on political campaigns is not necessarily worth it. A good example of a political campaign wasting money occurred during this year’s gubernatorial race in California between former governor Jerry Brown (Democrat) and former president and CEO of eBay Meg Whitman (Republican).

As of October 16, Whitman had spent an incredible $163 million of her own money to fund her political campaign, more than any other self-funded political candidate in U.S. history. Jerry Brown, on the other hand, who has already served two full terms as governor of California in the 1970s and now serves as the state’s attorney general, had not even spent a million dollars up until August. One would think that such an enormous spending gap might give Meg Whitman at least a slight lead over Jerry Brown; yet, Jerry Brown still managed to win the position.

These midterm elections are meant to help improve our country’s political and economic status during the middle of the

Settlements and Peace Talks

by Nelson Barrette‘13 Opinion Writer

President Obama successfully restarted Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on September 2, 2010. On September 23, however, Israel’s nine-month moratorium on settlement-building in the West Bank, which is technically Palestinian territory, expired. President Mahmoud Abbas, a member of the more moderate Palestinian party Fatah, has threatened to terminate the talks over this issue. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is refusing to back down as a result of his rightwing coalition, which strongly supports the settlements. Given their centrality to the conclusion of this round of Middle East peace talks, it is useful to reflect on

why the removal of Israeli settlements in the West Bank will, despite what critics say, foster peace, and why there is historical precedent for the removal.

It is crucial to understand that settlements in the West Bank are the result of the 1967 Six Days War when Israel, after launching a preemptive strike against Arab forces poised to invade, conquered the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights. In the war’s aftermath, Israeli settlers moved into the new territories to the great dismay of the Arabs already living on the land.

In 1982, Israel pulled out of the Sinai Peninsula as part of its landmark peace

deal with Egypt; while there was resistance from the settler communities forced to uproot, Egypt and Israel remain at peace to this day, largely because of the latter’s willingness to dismantle its settlements. In 2005, Israel unilaterally pulled out of the Gaza Strip, but that area is still less than peaceful; for three weeks during the winter of 2008-2009, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip, in response to Hamas’ continuing rocket attacks, and killed 1,300 Palestinians.

Granted, Hamas was previously a terrorist organization (and to some extent Israel continued on page 10

Possible, Probable, Already Happening Thoughts on Speaker Katie Koestner

by Sarah Costello ‘11 Opinion Writer Katie Koestner spoke to the Milton upperclassman community about internet reputations and how Facebook statuses or text messages, seemingly harmless, may never disappear. Rather, many return to factor in college admissions and future job opportunities.

Koestner stressed the permanence of our generation’s seemingly temporary brushes with technology, adding that sites like Facebook and MySpace indefinitely own any content uploaded to them, potentially even after users delete their posts or profiles. Therefore, a user who, for example, uploaded an incriminating photo to his or her Facebook could delete the photo immediately, but the photo would still be stored until the company decides a convenient time for deletion. \

Until that time, anyone willing to pay enough money can access

the photo from Facebook’s history.

Without a doubt, Koestner provoked Milton students to rethink their virtual activity. But did understanding the realities and dangers of Facebook, especially with college applications on the horizon for seniors, cause anyone to really adjust their behavior? Kasey Caine (Class I) found herself going through all of her Facebook photos multiple times “looking for anything terrible,” before realizing her own paranoia. Most students shared similar fears after the assembly, worrying about their entire social profile waiting eternally in some warehouse in Arizona with the potential to hinder them later. After scaring students with this possibility for most of her speech, Koestner did squeeze in one potential method of deleting content from the internet, which unfortunately went over many people’s heads.

Yet, current Facebook pages are far more relevant than these eternal warehouse records of online history. When students become upperclassmen and begin to look at colleges, many start to worry that colleges may also be looking at them. “Colleges might see this” has become a mantra for many Facebook users, as well as an explanation for tight privacy settings and bizarre name changes. In fact, a 2008 Kaplan survey found that 1 in 10 college admissions officers had looked at an applicant’s social networking site, proving what might seem like an urban legend; 38% of those profiles ended up negatively affecting the applicant’s chance at admission. For seniors who are well aware how subjective college admission can be, this is a frightening statistic.

Koestner continued on page 10

The Milton Measure

president’s four-year term. Although we certainly hope this to be true, when we step back and realize what is really happening to Congress and political campaigns, we may begin to question whether or not some these elections are actually beneficial.

Disorganization A Personal Story

by Mollie Welch‘12 Opinion Writer Walk into my room on any given day and you will notice a monstrous pile of clothes, a stack of papers strewn about, and a dozen To-Do lists. I admire those able to organize, color coordinate, and clean. Yet, for some reason, I am unable to do so personally. I have no trouble putting everything in order; my problem is with keeping it that way. I don’t feel the need to clean my desk or put a shirt back in my closet after trying it on; I wish I did, if just for my roommate’s sanity, but organization is simply not forte.

As an upperclassman, I have found myself embracing parts of my personality I used to be ashamed of; I am now coming out as a proud mess.

Milton promotes individuality, so I take pride in my messiness. As an active member of the disorganized community, I would like to point out some of the benefits of being a bit muddled.

Although the organized student often has the upper hand in preparation, the disorganized student can be more creative. Perhaps the latter’s brain is filled with so many excellent ideas that he or she has trouble putting them all together. Beethoven, for example, was extremely disorganized. Sometimes the smartest people are also the messiest.

Simply put, my days would be boring without the frustration and exercise that comes out of disorganization. Many girls in my dorm pack their school bags and plan their outfits every night to avoid morning confusion. I, on the other hand, wake up at 7AM, eat breakfast while working on homework, brush my teeth, and dance with Jessica Carlson (II) to the band Goatwhore. At 7:45, I get dressed, change outfits around 7:50, pack my bag at 7:55, help my roommate pack her bag, and hustle down to the lobby. I then realize that I left everything important in my third floor room, sprint all three flights of stairs around 7:58, speed walk to assembly, and arrive to check-in at approximately 8:01.

Though this process induces a great deal of avoidable stress, but it also provides me with an adventure every morning.

As an added benefit, being disorganized makes you look cool. Some people put a great deal of effort into looking like they just threw everything together, whereas the messy ones can do this effortlessly. We look messy, and therefore astronomically more suave.

Please don’t interpret this as me saying that it is better to be disorganized.

In reality, there is nothing greatly amazing about a haphazard lifestyle.

We’re constantly in disarray, and even when we look like we’ve cleaned up, we’ve usually just shoved everything into our drawers and crawl spaces. To the Type A’s, congrats: I’m really very jealous of your doodle-less notebooks and alphabetized spreadsheets. But to the disorganized creatures such as myself, think of yourselves as creative and lucky to be so! You’re kind of a big deal.

The Milton Measure

Academia

Why Republicans Won

November 8th, 2010 | page 7

page 8 | November 8th, 2010

Centerfold

The Milton Measure

College Essays Unveiled Excerpts from Class of 2011 “So there.”

“Bar hopping is just like duck hunting. As long as it smells right, you take it home.”

“Prison really helped my football career. I went to jail a tight end, and came out a wide receiver.”

“And I would like to reiterate, we are not defined by what we say, but rather, who we do.”

“I guess college just isn’t for me.”

“As my favorite math teacher always said, ‘if you’ve got big feet, you’ve probably got a real big…pair of socks.’”

“Is it really so bad to be an Uh-Oh Oreo?”

“I hope you will see that I really tried to avoid sugarcoating this essay: I don’t get that good grades and I’ve only dated two hockey players, but my cheerleading uniform totally has the same colors as your school.”

The Milton Measure

Centerfold

November 8th, 2010 | page 9

“Rob Woodhouse taught me to take it to the max.

Later, I learned that does not include hijinx after Thai food.”

“And that’s why I honestly believe O.J. didn’t do it.”

“Hey man, this is da fifth time I gon be late for work this week and its only Tuesday man.”

“As you can now see, community service is one thing, but to service your community (if you know what I mean) is entirely another.”

“Dude, I’m 33, give me a break.”

“Thus, Mexican-American elephants have pinto bean shaped ears, and are smaller and sneakier than both African and Indian.”

“Yes, California girls are easy, but no, that is not the only reason I’m applying to Stanford.”

page 10 | November 8th, 2010

Opinion

Wikileaks

Not So Secret Documents

by Stewart Pollock ‘12 Opinion Writer

Undeniably, information leaks to the media war crimes, do not have the same effect have changed the course of American they would have had a few years ago. Faith history many times. From Watergate to in military and government openness is My Lai, numerous “leaks” of government already at an all time low. documents have swayed pubic opinion and, Some argue that the documents in some cases, brought tremendous legal will incite further attacks on Coalition action. As leaks go, the recent release of forces, yet there is no evidence to support hundreds of thousands of Department of this belief. After Wikileaks released a Defense documents relating to the Iraq war 2009 video showing an American Apache by whistleblower website Wikileaks.org is helicopter killing twelve insurgents and certainly a big one. In fact, The Guardian has two unarmed Reuters journalists in Kabul, called this the biggest information leak ever. there was little uproar and no subsequent The documents are mainly incident reports retaliation. The Iraq documents do not recorded by the U.S. army, and range from show current troop movements, and the the mundane to extremely disturbing. CBS Iraqis themselves surely do not need reports that many, including former general Department of Defense files to learn of Stanley McCrystal, have criticized the American atrocities. release, suggesting that it could endanger The most apparent historical Americans still in Iraq. However, although parallel here is the notorious “Pinkville Wikileaks may have acted irresponsibly, its Massacre” during the Vietnam War. recent release A m e r i c a n was more or less soldiers attacked harmless. a small, unarmed Wikileaks village known was founded as My Lai in 2006 by and raped and Australian murdered over hacker Julian 400 innocent Assange.

Its women and goal is to provide children.

The uncensored Army suppressed information, the story, but Founder of Wkileaks Julian Assange. http://www.washingtontimes.com especially to a helicopter those who live under authoritarian regimes. pilot who had witnessed the massacre Wikileaks (which is unrelated to Wikipedia) eventually leaked it. Although an isolated has released everything from Scientology’s incident involving a rogue unit, the My classified religious texts to the official Lai massacre became a major focus of “interrogation guide” issued to guards at the antiwar movement, and was a turning Guantanamo Bay. Wikileaks servers are point in public opinion. However, there housed in Sweden, a country which has are several important distinctions; the Iraq strong laws protecting whistleblowers. documents do not provide as compelling Although governments in countries such as and painful a narrative, and have not stirred the People’s Republic of China have made up any significant military controversy. tremendous efforts to block the website, The media has chosen not to hype Wikileaks has evaded legal prosecution up the release of these documents. Most due to strong laws protecting freedom of of the news has focused on rather trivial speech. Wikileaks has no ‘official’ bias, but aspects of the story, such as the sheer the documents Wikileaks chooses to leak volume of files. As a result, the release has indicate certain left leaning sentiments. been overshadowed by midterm elections

In truth, Wikileaks’ decision to and the War in Afghanistan. This, however, release these documents has had little effect should not suggest that the documents are on public or political opinion. The war in irrelevant. They provide a comprehensive Iraq was already extremely unpopular, and account of the extremely questionable in recent months the focus of discussion motives and methods behind a complex has largely shifted to Afghanistan. The and somewhat mysterious conflict, but all Obama administration has made a point of in all, they are neither groundbreaking nor distancing itself from the war, and the most dangerous. appalling documents, detailing horrendous Israel continued from page 6 still is). However, Israel’s initial response to blockade the Gaza strip was ill-advised.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and a six-month treaty between Hamas and Israel began in June 2008; in return for Hamas’ end to rocket-fire, Israel agreed to ship goods to the beleaguered Palestinians.

Hamas did succeed in stopping most, though not all, of the rocket-fire, and Israel began sending some relief to Gaza, though not as much as Hamas had demanded.

When Israel unwisely launched a raid that killed Hamas fighters, the treaty fell to shambles. Hamas again increased rocket fire and demanded a permanent end to the blockade. The situation spiraled out of control and Israel eventually launched their invasion. Conditions in Gaza have not since improved; according to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, “more than 70 percent of Gazans [rely] on aid from international organizations to obtain food.”

Going Green

Attempts at Becoming Environmentally Friendly

by Robert Bedetti ‘11 Opinion Writer

The year 2012 has been in the hot seat lately, with extensive buzz in the entertainment industries about the supposed end of the world. While this Mayan prediction seems rather improbably, extremely pressing crises do have the potential to challenge life as we know it. Recently, we have begun to acknowledge and address the environment’s dire state, but we are still a long way away from the measures that need to be taken. And, unlike a mysterious virus that only Will Smith can fight or an unimaginably destructive earthquake that only John Cusack can survive, this problem is one that we can actually control.

Recycling is a good place to start. With a recycling bin next to nearly every garbage bin on campus, it is easier than ever to ensure that our paper, plastic, and cardboard make it to the right place.

Still, some prefer to bypass the ecofriendly movement, perhaps even the trash collection one too, and shamelessly litter.

Fortunately, thanks to the $11.5 billion price tag attached to littering each year in the U.S., we seem to be finally learning (www.kab.org). Over the past 40 years, littering has decreased by 61% according to a study conducted by Keep America Beautiful Inc. in 2009. At the same time, the amount of plastic litter has skyrocketed, now accounting for 19.3% of litter (www. sustainableplastics.org). However, we must also attack this problem at its root.

Reusing and recycling are only the very beginnings of developing a more environmentally-friendly society.

Reduction is often overlooked, or pinned as an unacceptable attack on our way of life. Well, the “inconvenient truth” (thanks Al) is that our way of life isn’t working. Food, not just material objects, is thoughtlessly wasted. According to the US Department of Agriculture, as much as one-fifth of America’s food is wasted in a single year. This is a shocking reality, especially when considering the poverty epidemic throughout the world and United States. America’s population is roughly 300 million, and the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 35.9 million are living below the poverty line. Do the math---we could eliminate poverty by eliminating wasteful behavior. What we do with our food is an essential question of the environmental crisis.

We must take personal responsibility for the care of our world.

It is easy to let others worry about it, but everyone must participate in a mass movement if we are going to overcome the business interests that are promoting a wasteful and destructive way of life.

Though for many the environment does not seem as dramatic a problem as some of its competing catastrophes. However, let’s not wait and see what drama might be in store!

Green Movement Supporter. http://www.wired.com

Koestner continued from page 6

The war in Gaza does not represent a failure of the settlement-withdrawal tactic.

Rather, it represents a stubborn Western attitude that forbids pursuing diplomacy with groups like Hamas. Although Hamas was once a terrorist organization, now elected to the government, it must be given a chance to reform.

The misguided and dogmatic policy of Israel and its American and European supporters of ‘not dealing with terrorist organizations’ destroyed a possible opening for peace. Israel’s decision to invade when its citizens were under threat from Hamas rockets was indeed an act of self-defense, but such a dilemma could have been avoided in the lead up to the hostilities. President Obama, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and President Abbas would do well to remember the lessons of the Gaza conflict in their current round of negotiations.

The Milton Measure

However, it is important to remember that some of these negative effects were brought on not by questionable photos or being in an “I <3 Boobies” group, but rather by flagrantly disrespectful posts addressed to colleges. On the bright side, 25% of the profiles positively affected the college’s view of the applicant.

This balance should reassure students, especially since most Milton students are relatively private on Facebook anyways. The sheer technological prowess and time required to investigate every applicant’s profile makes it unlikely that Facebook will become a deciding factor in a Milton student’s college application.

Nevertheless, it is still essential to consider Facebook an extension of your real self, if just because the potential exists for a school or employer to consider it as part of your application.

While students should definitely be aware

of their internet reputations and avoid any absurdly inappropriate posts, this awareness shouldn’t hinder anyone from participating in what is truly a great tool. As Elias Dagher (I) romanticizes, “Facebook is equal doses of pain and pleasure.”

In the ‘80s, when my mom graduated high school, she went to college and literally could not contact her high school friends. After senior year, it was expected that all your high school relationships dissolved. Now, with the ease of a Facebook message or wallpost, it is easier to keep in touch with your classmates than it is to lose contact. Additionally, Facebook is a simple channel to share videos of your a cappella group, pictures from vacation, or invitations to an event you’re hosting.

Keeping in mind Koestner’s 1984-esque perspective of this technology, many students still agree with Carolyn Lee (I) and “refuse to be scared off of the internet.”

Opinion/A&E

The Milton Measure

Wade Aaron

The Nesto Gallery Opening

by Sidney Chiang ‘11 Managing Editor

Wade Aaron Art Exhibition Pieces “A Work in Progress” Photos from Tufts University Art Gallery of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts

Milton Academy’s latest Nesto Gallery opening features the work of artist Wade Aaron, whose work is notable for pushing the boundaries of art. Titled A Condition of One’s Making, the exhibit opened on Tuesday, November 2. The exhibit will continue to be open to the public until December 11.

Wade Aaron lives and works in New York. His work has been featured at the Tufts University Art Gallery as well as Real Art Ways in Hartford, Connecticut.

He has also received a grant from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which allowed him to travel to Joshua Tree, California to help run High Desert Test Sites, an art event that focuses on “alternative space for experimental works by both emerging and established artists.”

According to Ms. Neely, Wade Aaron’s work attempts to “[explore] the question of how we hold the distillations of our own experience over time.” In this particular exhibit, Aaron hoped to “explore the ways in which an art object comes into being within the mind of an artist.” In addition, he stated that he was interested in how an object can be perceived, how it is understood, and comparing those to how it actually is. He attempted to investigate “the ways in which all three of these things (perception, cognition, and being) differ.”

In his drawings, for example, Aaron used multiple axes to represent something simple, but hoped that the combination

Aaron Goldberg

To Perform November 7th

by Matt Chen ‘12 Guest A&E Writer, News Writer

Following up last issue’s article about Aaron Goldberg’s new CD “Home”, Aaron is around Boston this week to teach and perform at various locations.

He has various major agendas for his visit to Boston, including the Aaron Goldberg concert on our campus, which will take place Sunday, November 7th at 1:00 pm in Straus Library.

He will be performing on the piano alongside bassist Bob Sinicrope and drummer Jon Hazilla. For students who are unfamiliar with the jazz program on campus, Bob Sinicrope is the head of the jazz department at Milton, which he founded in 1974 and has devoted his career to. The drummer, Jon Hazilla, is the associate professor at Berklee College of Music, where he specializes in teaching percussion, and, most notably, the skills of brushing on the drums. Aaron, a graduate of Milton Academy, will be the pianist of this wonderful trio combination. The concert will deliver extraordinary jazz, and will also serve as a fund-raising concert for Milton Academy’s March 2011 South Africa Tour.

Similar to the Orchestra and Chamber Singers, the Jazz program also tours biannually. The years of the jazz tours are separated by those of the Orchestra & Chamber Singers. Usually, all students enrolled in the advanced jazz program are invited and some students from the jazz improvisation class are invited as well.

According to Mr. Sinicrope “South Africa

provides such a great opportunity for the students to grow both exposure wise and musically.” The previous tours that the jazz program took have established many great connections between our Academy and many South African schools and musicians.

The South Africa trip itself is usually around 16~18 days long, and the students mainly travel to Johannesburg and Cape Town and perform at local educational institutions and jazz venues. “The trip is full of excitement. We not only develop great friendships with our peers, but the culture, the music and the environment Golberg continued on page 13

Aaron Golberg ‘91 on the Piano Jazz Rochester

November 8th, 2010 | page 11

would define something that was “complex, but unspecified.” The gallery features Aaron’s drawings as well as a new piece of art titled “No Sol,” which was designed with the Nesto Gallery in mind.

The piece was named after Sol LeWitt and pays homage to his lattice sculptures.

The Nesto Gallery serves to allow established artists to showcase their work

here at Milton. The goal of the Gallery is to “enrich and broaden the School’s collective perspective on art.” In addition, the Nesto Gallery hopes to “increase awareness and augment existing Visual Arts programs” and “[represent] Milton Academy within the greater public arts arena in the Boston area.”

Man in the Natural World English Class Thoreau Inspired Op-Ed

by Chris Chu ‘12 Guest Opinion Writer, A&E Section Editor

Governments and authorities across the world are designed to regulate order and uphold the highest standards of justice present in modern society.

Laws and regulations are models for just and virtuous lifestyles. Yet, we unearth imperfections in almost all aspects of government.

Many people feel that the same rules that protect our rights, safety, and civil liberties also bar us from free expression and lifestyle. Flawed administrations are omnipresent; they exist in governments, in judicial courts, and even in the bubble we call Milton Academy.

Over time, people have proposed polls, amendments, and improvements to government laws and regulations; however, humans are still conflicted about the authorities that govern us, raising the question: what defines a perfect governing body?

Ideally, a perfect government encompasses the values and virtues of the people it governs. A government is founded to guide people to the path of universal justice. However, there is an inherent flaw in that definition.

Every individual is unique and unclassifiable. One person’s sense of justice may not coincide with that of someone else’s. So how can we define a perfect bureaucracy? If no current government encompasses the ideas of a ‘perfect’ government, then what authority does?

I believe self-government is the only genuine form of virtuous and righteous authority. As Henry Thoreau once said, “It is not for a man to put himself in such an attitude to society, but to maintain himself in whatever attitude he finds himself through obedience to the laws of his being, which will never be one of opposition to a just government, if he should chance to meet with such.”

No person should feel compelled to alter his beliefs and attitudes for the sole reason of conforming to society’s restrictions.

By conducting themselves in a way that exhibits their true beliefs and senses of justice, people can live lives of genuine virtue and integrity.

While effective self-

governance is an ideal way of life, can individual beliefs and morals translate to a universal scale? Due to the diversity of human traditions and ideas, combining thousands of beliefs into one system is essentially impossible. Instead of judging governments by the flaws of their rules, one should examine the manner in which a government conducts itself.

Perhaps a government’s laws and guidelines cannot truly be ‘perfect.’ People will perpetually debate laws and restrictions because of differing opinions. However, if a government embraces attitudes that promote improvement, selfreflection, and progress, such a government represents an ideal authority.

A government truly invested in justice will never contest an individual’s honest notion of virtue and righteousness. A just government will never oppose a person who debates ethically or argues passionately for the improvement of his government. An ideal authority does not necessarily advocate perfect rules or flawless guidelines; however, an ideal authority does encourage self-reflection and the will to continually better society’s condition.

Perhaps what I describe as a ‘perfect’ government does not agree with others’ beliefs. However, constantly seeking to improve one’s government can never detriment a society. Through the desire for improvement comes tangible progress.

A virtuous government should not encourage idle conformity to the boundaries of society’s laws.

Instead, a virtuous government should encourage proactive debate in order to enact progressive change.

Each amended law, debated topic, and improved idea will bring people closer to the perfect government we idealize.

While we may never reach this ideal authority, each step towards perfection improves society as a whole. The importance in improving authority does not lie in a perfect government; the importance lies in the quest for a perfect government.

page 12 | November 8th, 2010

A&E

The Milton Measure

Beatnik

The Academy’s Open Mic Night

by Benjamin Bosworth ‘13 A&E Writer

Milton Academy Students Perform at Beatnik

Welcome to the Future Back to the Future, 25 Year Anniversary

by Louis McWilliams ‘12 A&E Writer Those who have seen the film Back to the Future know of its greatness. for those who have not:WATCH IT AS SOON AS YOU FINISH READING THIS! Back to the Future is a classic movie and trilogy Marty McFly’s spectacular time traveling adventures have garnered popularity from viewers across the world. Shockingly, 25 years have passed since Marty first came back to the future. A few days ago, the cast, including Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and musician Huey Lewis, reunited to reminisce on their time spent working on the film. The movie’s the anniversary will be marked by new Blu-Ray editions of the entire trilogy.

Although it is difficult to imagine anyone other than Michael J. Fox playing the energetic, guitar-wielding Marty McFly, Eric Stoltz was the original actor.

However, a few weeks into filming, directors decided to recast Michael J. Fox as Marty. Fox was the first actor chosen for the role but declined because he was working on the popular TV series Family Ties. When offered the role a second time, he eventually accepted after figuring out a way to work on both productions at once.

As filming began, Fox became sleep-deprived, working on Family Ties during the day and Back to the Future at night. During this period, Fox received an average of about 5 hours of sleep a night.

Consequently, Fox notes that there are chunks of the movie he forgets shooting.

Fox told the Today Show that due to his hectic schedule, many of the scenes he was in with other characters were shot at two different times: once with the other characters and again with Fox by himself.

These two takes were then combined during the production process to form a coherent scene.

One of these costars, Christopher Lloyd, acquired his role in a way similar to Fox’s byt first rejecting the offer and eventually accepting with persistence with help from his agent and wife. Lloyd played the eccentric Doc Brown, inventor of the DeLorean time machine which, with a little plutonium, could produce the 1.21 jigowatts needed to send someone through the limits of the present. When discussing the film, Lloyd says the movie changed life forever, for him and the cast.

Many will always know Lloyd as Doc Brown. Michael J. Fox adds, “I love being in Bhutan and the only English word they speak is ‘McFly.’” Back to the Future became a staple of pop-culture, and its popularity is still growing. The year after the film debuted, Ronald Reagan referenced it in his state of the union address, resulting in the movie’s popularity exploding.

The film connected with audiences on two levels: it acknowledged many people’s fantasy of time travel, and its message, that you should always have the courage to follow your dreams, was universal. Even today, these themes hold true, and what popularized the film 25 years ago has not changed.

While the irony in a movie regarding time travel being timeless is humorous, it is nevertheless true. Many can identify with Marty McFly, a character on the verge of greatness but unsure if he can take the next step. These movies teach us to believe in ourselves and pursue our passions.

Though much of the futuristic technology portrayed in the series, such as flying cars and hover-boards, clearly do not exist in society, if people absorb the messages in Back to the Future, we may be closer to the future than we think.

Four times a year, Milton Students gather in Straus Hall to hear music performed by fellow classmates at Beatnik, an event sponsored by Magus-Mabus.

Students perform comedy, poems and, most frequently, original songs or covers of existing songs of a wide variety. A typical Beatnik night consists of nearly 16 musicians performing well-rehearsed pieces, showcasing Milton’s vast musical talent. While play their music in groups or duets there are a handful of solo acts as well. Although the majority of acts feature live instruments and singing, there is no strict basis for performances.

Straus Hall holds three out of the four yearly Beatnik events. Straus’ intimate atmosphere provides an ideal environment for musical acts. Moreover, the Magus-Mabus staff enriches the events with food and drinks, contributing to Beatnik’s comfortable scene. Students watch the performances as they lounge on the couches and chairs in Straus.

The fourth Magus-Mabus event takes place on the Quad for the annual “Beatstock”. Emulating the 1969 concert Woodstock, an American icon, “Beatstock” trades the intimacy of Straus for the more natural setting of the Quad. Here, students perform on the back steps of Straus as their fans mingle on the quad. This event allows students to relax as the sun sets over the quad, and the musical art work of peers graces the crowd.

Magus also publishes artwork including poems, visual art, and short stories by students.

Bi-annually, the Magus board assesses and collaborates the work of students. The board is divided into two staff groups: literature and artwork.

In the winter, the Magus board produces a “Magette” that follows a specific theme.

Students can submit art and literature to any of the Magus issues throughout the year.

The Magus events and publications generate the self-expression of students and display their written, artistic, and musical work.

The publications are great for artists and writers who want to showcase their work for friends, teachers, and family. Beatnik is a relaxing, supportive environment that encourages all acts. Vince Kennedy, Class II legend, proclaims, “I cannot think of a good reason why anyone on or near campus on the night of beatnik would not want to attend the show. Personally, I can say that getting up on stage and performing in front of a bunch of friends is a lot of fun, and watching my friends perform is just as fun.” Beatnik is a great way for musicians, writers, and artists alike to present their work. Not only do these events and publications encourage submitters and performers to take pride in their work; Such artistic opportunities also allow students to enjoy the skillful and thoughtful talents expressed by their peers!

Disinterested Gleeks A Review of Glee

by Elana Golub‘14 A&E Writer Last week’s episode of the hit musical television show Glee consisted of the club performing a clean rendition of the scandalous Broadway sensation The Rocky Horror Picture Show., The dramatic roles, revealing costumes, and ongoing love triangle between the three adult characters Emma, Will, and Carl all contributed to the storyline. Despite this episode containing fantastic vocals and dancing, it failed to entertain the teenage audience. Glee captivates its viewers not only by the cast’s extraordinary talent, but by the entertainment of the music and plot as well. For example, teenage fans raved when Glee aired an episode celebrating the musical career of Britney Spears.Because most teenagers grew up during the climax of Britney’s music career, that episode was greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, Glee’s most recent episode featuring music from

GleeShow.com

The Rocky Horror Picture Show failed to present a soundtrack the audience could connect with. In addition to the disconnect between the excessively retro soundtrack and youthful audience, other aspects of Glee’s latest episode failed to live up to the success of past episodes. The romances of the adult characters provoked disinterest from viewers, who desire a plot similar to their own lives. Since most teenage viewers are drawn to the show because of its display of relatable issues, when an episode as last week’s airs, the lack of high school centered drama is unappealing.

Several weeks ago, Glee’s episode dealt with two heavy subjects: sickness and religion. This episode , followed by The Rocky Horror Picture Show episode, gives the impression that Glee producers fear the potential loss of their adult audience.

The content of these consecutive episodes was clearly directed toward a more mature collection of viewers. This sudden shift in subject matter could be a result of poor reviews from adult critics. This shift could also be due to the producer’s desire to cultivate a more adult audience, leading to more lucrative advertising on Fox. Without positive reviews and a steady stream of revenue, Glee could lose many viewers.

However, if the writers continue to produce shows appealing to only the adult audience, teens will soon lose interest. Hopefully the show will soon return to its relatable and consistent storyline

The Milton Measure

A&E

Taylor Swift

New Album: Speak Now

by Sloan Devins ‘11 A&E Writer

Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated third album, Speak Now, has finally been released and has lived up to the success of her first two. Country blends flawlessly with pop as Taylor sings of love, heartbreak, innocence, and friendship. Captivating the ears of both boys and girls alike, her voice is melodious on each and every track. Though her sound lacks variety, Taylor continues to please fans. A die-hard Taylor Swift fan, Matthew Lebovitz (Class II), was awestruck when he first heard the album, salty sweet tears flowing from his brown eyes. He said, “What makes Taylor’s album special is that she has put more slow songs that really tear the heart apart and f*** with your emotions.”

This album is very emotional for Miss. Swift and her fans are devouring it.

Although she is only 20 years old, Taylor has experienced a lot of heartbreaks, providing her with inspirations for her songs. People can relate to her feelings of love, lust, anger, and sadness. The hit “Speak Now” has a perfect balance of all of these emotions.

Taylor has had romantic relationships with a few elite Hollywood men such as Joe Jonas and Taylor Lautner.

She references these men in her latest album as well as alludes to losing her virginity to Hollywood playboy, John Mayer. Though ambiguous, the lyrics in her song “Dear John,” seem to be about Mayer; “Dear John, / I see it all now that you’re gone / Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with? /The girl in the dress,/cried the whole way home.” Taylor has been very vague in response to questions about her relations with Mayer.

She recently went on the Ellen Degeneres Show to promote her new album, and when asked if the song was about Mayer, she responded coyly, “it could be.” From this enigmatic response, Ellen concluded that the song, indeed, was about Mayer.

Taylor does not hold back in this album especially in her song, “Better Than Revenge”, where she sings of her trend of getting the ultimate revenge: singing a song about anyone who does her wrong.

Dance Team

Established by Class I Students

by Emma Borden ‘11 A&E Writer

With dance concert proposals submitted and auditions coming up in the next couple weeks, choreographers and dancers on campus are eager to begin preparing for the annual winter dance concert. On three evenings in March, family, faculty, and students turn out to support the dancers – ranging from ballerinas trained in rigid technique to athletes who have never set foot on stage – in one of the most highly anticipated performances of the year.

The winter dance concert draws a large crowd not only because it showcases remarkable student work as a result of months of rehearsing, but also because it is one of the only two times during the school year when students on campus perform dance for a sizable audience.

This year, the Milton Academy dance team is hoping to change the scarcity of dance performances. The team’s original members were students in last year’s Advanced Modern Dance Class, and in the spring the founders, N’dea Hallett and Ashley Bair (both Class I,) asked Ms. Rupley if they could establish a dance team on campus. Permission was given on the condition that there were students outside the Modern Dance course who were eager to participate; so in the in the last couple weeks of school, the first round of auditions were held. The second round of auditions took place this past month and the team is now comprised of twelve dancers, ranging from freshmen to seniors.

The group practices weekly and plans to perform mostly at class assemblies, sports games (at the request of coaches, etc.), and other school events. The goal of the group is to provide an outlet for dancers to move and perform (much like a capella groups), to make dance more accessible for those who are not enrolled in dance classes, and to have dance performances on campus more regularly.

Apart from the formal dance classes offered during the academic day and the winter and spring dance concerts, there is no opportunity for dance on campus besides school dances, thus limiting students’and, in particular, boarders’, opportunities to dance throughout the year.

The dance team will be practicing and performing mostly hip-hop, jazz, and lyrical types of dance as opposed to the more focused styles of dance taught in the classes, and will be doing more choreographing rather than actual instructing. Being on the dance team is a way for dancers to do what they love regularly, and to work with other dancers to create and alter material that their peers have produced.

The team hopes to perform short pieces, approximately one to three minutes long, about once a month at assemblies.

All of the dancers have had some kind of training or experience, and as a result, they can all pick up and memorize the movements quickly.

While N’dea and Ashley have done most of the choreographing so far, the group hopes that as the year progresses, other people will begin to choreograph and contribute more substantial ideas for the pieces. By getting everyone in the group involved in the actual creation of the dances, the seniors on the team hope that the younger students will be willing and prepared to carry on the team next year.

The group is also hoping to get those who generally do not think of themselves as dancers to consider taking up dance or participating in one of the two concerts. One hopes that next year a new set of students will express interest in joining the team (half of this years group will be graduating) and that there will continue to be an outlet for dance and dance performance on campus year-round.

November 8th, 2010 | page 13

You go Taylor! The most popular song on this album is “Sparks Fly”, an up-tempo jam. This happy song balances the more somber slow tracks.

The slow tracks are where fans are able to absorb the lyrics and relate to Taylor. Taylor sings about youth and growing up in her tracks, “Never Grow Up” and “Innocent. She is clearly maturing not only as a musician but also as a woman. She seems to cope with her breakups by producing songs such as, “The Story of Us”, “Mean”, and “Last Kiss”. It is apparent in her album title, “Speak Now,” that Taylor is writing her songs more candidly than in previous albums. The raw edge to her songs is what makes this album so special.

Taylor Swift RobotCeleb.com

Golberg continued from page 11 are just inspiring to develop our jazz playing,” says Adam Beckman (II), who went on the trip his freshmen year. Yet, in order to make this trip happen, a lot of planning must take place. One of the major tasks is to fund-raise for the trip.

Costs for such a long trip are not cheap, and the school tries its best to provide equal opportunities for all students.

Both students and parents have worked hard to fund-raise. This includes playing performances and hosting bake sales.

The jazz program will soon be selling a CD of the most recent Cannonball Adderley concert as well. The Aaron Goldberg concert will play a big role in the fund raising process.

Last week, Aaron served as a guest teacher in many jazz classes on campus. He is particularly inspiring for piano players, yet, due to his unique

approach to jazz, he also has a strong impact on students that play other instruments. A student said, “it is very pleasant how we have the opportunity to interact with Mr. Goldberg in person. His teaching allowed me to understand the music from a different dimension.”

Personally, as a member of the Milton jazz program myself, I appreciate Aaron’s visit to my jazz class and look forward to his concert on Sunday. I strongly encourage every music fan out there to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, and to attend Aaron’s concert on Sunday. The concert will undoubtedly be an inspiring experience as Aaron Goldberg’s trio presents the nuance of jazz music in the most exemplary manner.

The concert is free and the audience will be given the chance to support the Milton Academy’s March 2011 South Africa Tour if they wish to do so.

A Review of SNL 36 Years of Laughs

by Louisa Moore ‘14 A&E Writer

Jenny Slate ‘00, member of the SNL cast. www.laughstub.com

Now in its 36th season, Saturday Night Live (SNL) has become an immensely popular, late night comedy show. Maybe you haven’t watched any episodes, but you have probably heard of the famous Sarah Palin parodies or the digital short, ‘I’m on a Boat’. About 36 years ago SNL aired its very first season, and like clock work, viewers would sit down in front of their televisions at 11:30PM every week to watch a new episode; a generation later, ratings have increased from about 6.2 to 7.5, according to IMBD.

Following the development of technology, most people now watch past episodes and skits on Hulu, a TV viewing site, or on YouTube.

Most viewers watch for the humor, but also for the clever political references and spoofs. Case and point: the writers on SNL have been attacking Christine O’Donnell for her antimasturbation stance, fascination with witch-craft, and conspiracy theory about

mice and human brains.

The Milton community should be especially intrigued to tune in, for our very own Jenny Slate (Class of 2000) was an actress on the show last season. Her most recurring character was Tina-Tina Chaneuse, an infomercial pitchwoman who advertises personalized door-bells.

This new season is trying to garner a larger and more diverse audience.

By choosing Amy Poehler to guest host the season premier and by having Katy Perry perform two of her most popular songs, “Teenage Dream” and “California Gurls,” SNL hopes to attract younger viewers.

Poehler was a former cast member herself, but is now on the TV show, Parks and Recreation.

Carrying on with SNL tradition, the 36th season seems to be focused on current events and styles. Recent popular skits have been about “baby spanx,” discounted Halloween costumes, apps on the iPhone, and the mosque at Ground Zero. A skit on Facebook featured a new filter that would censor everything your mom would not approve; the skit got about 350,000 views on YouTube.

Reviews have been mixed about this new season. Most people feel that the first episode is never as good as it is expected to be. But hopefully SNL will get better throughout the coming year. There are still plenty of episodes left in season 36 before we can make such clear cut judgment.

page 14 | November 8th, 2010

Sports

NFL Week 9 Predictions AWAY Bears Chargers Cardinals Tampa Bay Jets Dolphins Patriots Giants Chiefs Colts Cowboys Steelers

HOME (Spread) Bills (+3) Texans (+2.5) Vikings (-9) Atlanta (-8) Lions (+4) Ravens (-5) Browns (+5) Seahawks (+6) Raiders (-3) Eagles (-3) Packers (-8) Bengals (+4.5)

Beaudoin 19-23-2 Bills Chargers Cardinals Atlanta Jets Ravens Patriots Giants Chiefs Colts Packers Steelers

Lebo 22-20-2 Bills Chargers Vikings Tampa Bay Jets Dolphins Patriots GMEN Cheifs Colts Packers Steelers

Shleif 27-15-2 Bears Chargers Vikings Atlanta Jets Ravens Patriots Giants Raiders Colts Packers Steelers

Reedo 22-20-2 Bears Chargers Cardinals Tampa Bay Jets Dolphins Patriots Giants Raiders Colts Packers Steelers

The Milton Measure

Noah Bragg 23-19-2 Bills Texans Vikings Tampa Bay Lions Ravens Patriots Giants Raiders Colts Packers Steelers

Jon Kitna of the Dallas Cowboys

Matt Ryan of the Land Falkons

Field Hockey Hijinx Win on the Road

by Brighid Noone ‘12 Sports Writer

Field Hockey 2010-2011 Team Photo

Girls Soccer

St. Pauls and St. Georges

by Isabel Lester ‘11 Sports Writer

On Wednesday October 27th, the Wolfpack trekked northward to the St. Paul’s School.

Because of the school’s size, SPS athletics are part of the Class A ISL division. Milton, a smaller school, is part of the Class B ISL division.

The journey north to Concord, New Hampshire was not ideal. The team initially left Megan Kim [II] behind in the locker room. The coach bus didn’t turn around to retrieve the team’s leading goal scorer until the entrance of I-93 North.

Inclement weather caused chaos not only before the game, but during it.

The field conditions were so bad, that after just a short team warm-up, every white, Milton away-jersey was plastered in mud.

“Everyone was slipping around and getting injured.” Said superstar midfielder Lauren Kee (I), “I don’t understand why people think mud wrestling is sexy.”

Despite the conditions and complications in travel, the Milton girls prevailed. In the first half, Nicole Meyers (I) fed a beautiful pass to Kee, who pushed the game’s only goal just past the fingertips of the home side’s keeper.

When asked about the game, coach Peter Kahn indicated he was satisfied with the win. “Considering the conditions, we were still able to play a fine style of soccer today. We are off for a week and we hope to be closer to full strength when we get back into the final stretch of our ISL schedule.”

In order to ensure his team’s

fitness is at its best, Coach Kahn put the girls through a rigorous fitness session last Friday.

Between sprints, speedy star forward Sophia Tsanotelis [III] saved enough breaths to describe the fitness as “pretty plentiful.” After the sprints, Tsanotelis elaborated on her sentiments, and commended the team as a whole for what it has accomplished. She stated, “We have to win our final games this year, and we have to do everything we can to win.”

The Wolf pack took the field Wednesday at St. Georges, hoping to show the BCS voters that they deserved a playoff slot. The 0-0 draw frustrated everyone, especially the rarely flustered Kee. “We had our fair share of chances, but just couldn’t get it in there.” “They are who we thought they were,” she added angrily “and we let the off the hook.”

Sources close to the commissioner’s office believe the Mustangs (7-1-7) need to win their remaining contests to qualify for a postseason berth. ““Nobles will be a tough game, but if we put our minds to it, we can do anything,” said Kee.

When asked the question on everyone’s mind, however, Kee responded incredulously. “Playoffs?? Playoffs?? Are you kidding me? We can hardly win a game!”

NEWPORT-Milton Academy Girls’ Field Hockey (5-4) traveled to St. Georges (26) on Wednesday, and slayed the dragons on their home field. Strong team defense and unbelievable goaltending form Sarah Evans (II), let the Mustangs return to Forbes Dining Hall victorious. No one could have foreseen the legal ramifications of what started as an innocent Wednesday afternoon.

Ale Gianino (III) scored in the first half to bring Milton into the lead, but St. George’s soon equalized. After the break, the real action started. Rhode Island State Policeman Wayne Kimball apprehended the Dragons goalie for unpaid parking tickets. While the net minder was reminded of her right to remain silent, among others, Milton regrouped.

When play resumed they appeared

rested and focused, quickly regaining momentum. The force that had stifled their attack would not return. “She’s in the slammer like M.C. Hammer” reported Sgt. Kimball from the precinct.

Barely two minutes into the half, Brighid Noone (II) threaded a beautiful pass to Kate Stazinkski (I). The team’s leading goal scorer then fired a shot past St. George’s emaciated substitute, giving Milton a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish. From there Milton prevented St. George’s from its goal like a friend date at boat dance.

If the Mustangs sweep their final three games, they will qualify for the postseason. Milton hosts Governor’s Friday at Voses Field. As one Canadian player who wished to remain anonymous put it “You play to win the game.”

Boys Soccer

Belmont Hill and St. Georges

by Eric Nesto‘12 Sports Writer

Coming off of a tie at the flooded St. Paul’s School, the Milton Academy Boys Varsity Soccer Team failed to get the strong week they needed to salvage their season, falling to a record of 1-8-3, second to last in the I.S.L standings.

Over the weekend, Milton came out against Belmont Hill (3-7-2) with determination. The first half was fairly even. The game was even through the half with great defensive play from both sides.

Yet after the intermission, The Mustangs seemed to control possession.

Despite mounting attack after attack, the Milton side could not find the back of the net. Unfortunately, the Belmont Hill side turned the tables with a swift counter attack. The Milton defense was caught out of position, and the opposing attack man took an open shot on goal. After ricocheting off three posts, the shot gave BHS a one goal lead.

Unfazed, Milton continued to command the pitch, rounding out the match with a ten segment that included everything a coach could want besides the equalizer.

When the whistles sounded, ending the 1-0 lost, Milton could not help but kick themselves at the missed chances.

On Wednesday the squad traveled to scenic Newport, eager to return to their winning ways against a lowly St. George’s squad. (4-7-1). It was not meant to be. The home team opened the scoring in the first half on a gorgeous cross. Fazed not even by Jon Karlson’s (I) yellow cleats, the boys clawed back.

The mustang effort culminated after the half, when Eric Nesto (II) fed Michael Cooke (III). Sure to remain onsides, Cooke broke through the defense, demonstrating both cunning, athleticism and the potential drag created by long hair. He beat the keeper with a chip to the left, equalizing the match.

The Dragons, however, wouldn’t be tamed, quickly regaining the lead, control, and Milton’s dignity.

The Mustangs frustration finally showed in the 83rd minute, when Matthew Lebovitz (II) lost control of his emotions.

“I just laid a dude out. Worst reffed game ever,” he said in a BBM to The Measure.

The reckless tackle merited a yellow card, but seemed to be a gesture of selflessness from the defender, who has repeatedly told media members he would “rather be on the tennis court.”

Boys Soccer will try to regain some of their lost respect Saturday when they host winless Governor’s (0-12-0), in a tune up for Nobles Day.

Sports

The Milton Measure

World Series Recap

San Francisco Emerges on Top

by Mathew Lebowitz ‘12 Sports Section Editor

After 56 years of heartbreak and loss, the San Francisco Giants have finally won the most coveted prize in all of baseball: the World Series. This self-proclaimed cast of misfits did what Barry Bonds or Willie McCovey could never do for the Giants.

They won a title.

The Giants won the championship with clutch hitting and fantastic pitching.

And they did it against a Texas Rangers team that––with pitcher Cliff Lee and hitter Josh Hamilton––was heavily favored going into the series. But when it was all said and done, the Giants proved to be the superior team, winning the series 4-1.

After clinching their spot in the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, the Giants beat the Atlanta Braves in the ALDS, and then defeated the favored Philadelphia Philly’s in the ALCS.

The Rangers had an equally tough path, beating the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees in their first two rounds.

Many assumed that after beating the teams that had held the league’s best two records for most of the season, the Rangers would trounce the Giants. But this Giants team had two very important things on their side: pitching and home field advantage.

In what was supposed to be a pitchers duel, both Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee were roughed up in the series opener.

In what ended up being a high scoring affair, the Giants prevailed for the 11-7 win. Lee––who up until that point was undefeated as a post-season pitcher––let up 6 earned runs. This game was a great sign for the struggling bats of the Giants,

and an indication of things to come.

Both starters pitched extremely well in game 2; however, the Texas bullpen fell apart late, and the Rangers eventually lost 9-0.

In Game 3, the series shifted to Arlington, Texas where the hometown crowd saw their Rangers get back to their winning ways with a 4-2 victory. At this point it seemed we would have a series.

But instead, the Rangers played poorly in game 4, and the Giants were able to capitalize and earn a 4-0 win, and take a choking 3-1 series lead.

In a deciding game 5, America was treated to the pitching duel it deserved.

In a repeat of the game 1 starting match-up, Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee both shined.

After 6 innings, the score was tied 0-0.

But in the top of the 7th, World Series MVP Edgar Renteria crushed a 3-run homerun over the left field fence. In the bottom of the 7th, Nelson Cruz responded with a solo-shot. But that would be all the Texas offence could produce on the night.

In the end, Lincecum out-pitched Lee. “The Freak” went 8 strong innings, letting up just 3 hits and 2 walks.

In the 9th, Giants closer Brian Wilson shut the door, cementing San Francisco’s Championship run.

After many years of defeat, the Giants team rushed the field in celebration.

After the game, Wilson was asked what he wanted to do now. The 31-year-old closer answered simply, “All I want to do is rage.”

Go rage, Giants. You deserve it.

Brian Wilson (left) and Cody Ross (right) celebrate their World Series Victory over the Texas Rangers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/nov/02/san-francisco-giants-win-world-series

Zenyatta goes for 20-0 this Saturday in the Breeders Cup Classic http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/03/777150/zenyatta-favorite-for-breeders.html

November 8th, 2010 | page 15

Zenyatta

The Greatest Racehorse Ever?

by Reed Palmer‘11 Senior Editor

(Note: this article was meant for Friday, and therefore, does not reflect the actual scores of the race). Tomorrow, Zenyatta could become the greatest racehorse of all time. In her final race, Zenyatta will put her undefeated, 19-0 record on the line.

Today marks the first day of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs.

The combined purse of this year’s Breeders’ Cup is more than $25.5 million, making it the richest sporting event in the world. The featured and final event, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with a purse of $5 million, is the world’s third richest horse race. Post time is set for Saturday at 6:45 p.m., EST.

In tomorrow’s Classic, two-time defending champion Zenyatta will start the 1¼-mile race from post position 8.

She is listed as the 8-5 program favorite against a talented field of thoroughbreds that includes 9-2 second choice Blame, 5-1 third choice Quality Road, and this year’s Preakness winner, Lookin At Lucky (61). Zenyatta will be the only female horse in the event; at age 6 she will also be the oldest. Owner Jerry Moss is an American music industry executive. In the late 1970s, Moss signed English rock band The Police to A&M records. Zenyatta is named after their hit 80s album, Zenyattà Mondatta.

In 2005, Jerry and his wife Ann purchased the thoroughbred as a yearling for the low price of $60,000. According to CBS’s 60 Minutes, Zenyatta suffered from a form of ringworm at the time of her sale, driving down her price. She has since earned more than $6.4 million, and risen, in the words of 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon, from “rash to riches.”

Zenyatta is a beloved, pampered horse. She is trained by John Shirreffs and has been ridden by hall-of-fame jockey Mike Smith for 16 out of her 19 starts.

When asked about Zenyatta’s diet on 60 Minutes, trainer Shirreffs said that if she’s been really good, the mare will get a Guinness stout for an afternoon treat–– ”usually just one.”

Crowds adore Zenyatta everywhere she races, and she seems to love them back. She is known for her prerace “prancing.” She seems to feed on the energy she herself inspires. According to an article in the November issue of W Magazine, “Zenyatta, with her towering presence, prima donna–like swagger, and patented ‘dance’ before each race, transcends the Thoroughbred as we know it.”

This weekend, Mike Smith will ride Zenyatta. The jockey feels a strong attachment to the charismatic mare. He has ridden many great racehorses, and has earned a career Triple Crown, but Zenyatta is his favorite. In his interview for 60 Minutes, he told Bob Simon that “she’s ready” for Saturday’s race. He knows she can win. And he contends that if she does win and thus finishes her career undefeated, “she could arguably go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest horse of all time,” surpassing even Secretariat in realm of all-time racing greats. When asked about his favorite filly’s future breeding prospects, Smith simply says, “no one is worthy…not even close.”

In December of last year, Zenyatta (then 14-0) suffered the first loss of her career as she finished runner-up in the AP voting for Female Athlete of the Year. Serena Williams took top honors by a wide margin; however, in the race for second, Zenyatta managed to beat out some convincing female sports superstars––the

likes of tennis star Kim Clijsters, Alpine Skier Lindsey Vonn, WNBA MVP Diana Taurasi and fellow racehorse Rachel Alexandra.

According to Oprah Winfrey, Zenyatta is “one of 20 women rocking the world.” O Magazine’s 2010 “Power List” of influential females ranked the supermare 19th, one spot after environmental activist and lobbyist Kelly Chapman Meyer, and one spot before the unnamed 13-year-old Pakistani rape victim who had the courage to publicly speak out against the five policemen that brutalized her.

As one of the “five things that make Zenyatta one of a kind,” Laura Hillenbrand (Author of 2001 best-seller Seabiscuit) discusses the mare’s “love of coming from behind.” The late race drama of Zenyatta’s victories only adds to her lore.

Zenyatta characteristically starts her races “lingering languidly” at the rear of the pack––she seems to cruise for the first half of each race, often settling ten or so lengths back from the lead. She is almost always dead last at the half way mark.

She begins her kick on the second turn.

She moves way to the outside and aligns herself with the pack. In the final 400 meters she flies. At the race’s close, she finds the gear that will allow her to win.

In an intense surge she overtakes her competition. According to Jockey Mike Smith, “in a matter of two or three jumps, she can make up close to ten lengths.” She will not be beat, moving into first place just milliseconds before crossing the finish post. She seems to want it more than any other horse in the field.

Watching and re-watching replays of Zenyatta’s nail-biting victories, one’s heart is always pounding. Knowing she will win, the viewer still holds his breath for the last 100 meters; and can’t help but wonder if this time she has left herself too much ground to make up, if her final opponent will avoid irrelevance and hold her off in the final strides.

Footage of her 19 victories illuminates the majestic quality that has inspired poetry, videos, even an eponymous hit country-western song. She is a stunning creature, thunderously gliding around the racetrack.

In tomorrow’s race, Zenyatta will be the clear favorite in terms of betting odds. She will also be the emotional favorite. Posters will fill the crowd, and millions will try to will her to victory for reasons beyond monetary gain. There is something special about this mare. As Steve Haskin for W Magazine writes, “The phenomenon is difficult to explain.” He suggests that her ability to take on nearly human traits evokes powerful childhood memories of characters like Black Beauty and Black Stallion.

There is something inexplicably American about Zenyatta. Horses are deeply embedded in American history and folklore, as are inspiring individual accomplishments. Americans want to see her go out on a high note. They want to relish in her victory lap, knowing that it is her last.

The stage is set for Zenyatta and for the best horseracing story in decades.

Watch this race. Expect the miraculous.

page 16 | November 8th, 2010

Humor

The Milton Measure