April 2018 Paper

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Staples High School

April 2, 2018

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Volume 86, Issue 8 inklingsnews.com

Proposed AV1 robots may connect homebound students to school Nicky Brown ’19

estport Superintendent Colleen Palmer is considering a trial period for AV1, a telepresence robot designed to help children with longterm illnesses stay connected with their peers. The robot was developed by the Norwegian startup company, No Isolation.

Sick students who are homebound longterm can use the robot to interact with classmates, participate in class discussions and stay up-to-date on lessons and work.

The robot becomes the student’s eyes, ears and voice whenever he or she cannot be physically present in the classroom.

Using the AV1 app on an iPad, users can signal when they want to speak.

If they wish to participate, they can instruct the top of the AV1’s head to blink, and they can turn the robot 360 degrees so that they can see all of their classmates. There is also a microphone with “speak” and “whisper” settings. If the child does not want to participate, he/she can turn on a blue light on the robot’s head.

For some teachers, having a robot represent a student could change the class dynamic from the usual teacher student relationship. “As to how I would feel with a robot in class? I think it would take a little getting used to because I love my human students,” English teacher Ann Neary said. “But if it would help a child in need, I would be willing to try it.”

According to the No Isolation website, “AV1 is the world’s first telepresence robot specifically developed for children and young adults with long-term illness. With AV1, the child can participate in class, and maintain contact with their school friends from the com-

INSIDE

Photo dramatization by Melanie Lust ’19

FLEX week displays renovated library

Julia Rosier ’18 The Westport Public Library hosted a five-day series of events from March 2125 to showcase the future of the library as it undergoes construction that will be completed in 2019. The events included a mixture of art, cinema, food, literature, music and dance that took place within the library and other venues.

“The centerpiece of our building project, our renovation project, our transformation project, it’s really all about flexibility,” Bill Harmer, Executive Director of the Westport Library said. “So we’re using these FLEX week experiences to kind of showcase what the future library is going to be and what the possibilities are in terms of what we’re going to be able to do with the space. FLEX week is just giving people a taste really of what’s to come.”

This series of events at the library was kicked off on March 21 with a celebrity lunch. Sam Kass, keynote speaker; Jane Green, author; and Elissa Altman, James Beard Award winner all spoke at the event.

fort of their own home or hospital bed.”

The robots can be leased for a year or purchased as a whole. They are small in size and have a battery life of approximately one school day (eight hours).

Students like Caroline Zogheb ’18 said the robots could be a positive solution for a student who is required to miss school for a considerable duration.

“If a student is absent for a few days, they should be focused on getting better,” Zogheb said, “but if it is a longterm absence, then these could be beneficial to keep the students caught up.”

Palmer also believes the robots can help build social connections, especially for younger students. According to Palmer, a child may feel left out from the class or jealous of their friends if they were to miss several weeks of school at a time. She said that the AV1 robot would help to maintain connections with peers when students are absent for long stretches of time.

“I think that everyone deserves an equal education,” Sami Levin ’19 said.

“No one should be put at a disadvantage from a sickness they cannot control. I’m glad things like that AV1 robot exist.”

Continued on page 2

Photo by Amelia Brown ’18

BOE hires SRO, implements email monitoring to increase school safety Eddie Kiev ’20 In light of the threat made to Staples on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in tandem with previous national school shootings, the Board of Education have taken steps to increase school safety. They have hired school security guards and purchased new security cameras. But the newest editions to the

security plan will be in hiring a School Resource Officer [SRO] and implementing a student email-monitoring system.

In the fall of 2017, Superintendent Colleen Palmer proposed placing an SRO in the schools of the district. On March 26, the Board of Education passed the initiative in a five-to-two vote.

“An SRO is a specially-trained police officer who strives to develop relation-

ships with students and offer support based upon his/her training and expertise,” Palmer said. SROs would “take initiative to develop relationships, programs and activities to lessen the likelihood someone at our school would be in harm’s way, and also, if there were an intruder, take action to neutralize that individual.”

Palmer expects that SROs will be considered as part of the discussion

about the 2018-19 school year budget.

Security guard Thomas Bassett sees an SRO as an asset to school safety. “I believe it would greatly help us because it is an extra set of eyes and ears, somebody with a radio in case of emergency that can get help here right away and I believe that it’s nothing but beneficial,” Bassett said.

Continued on page 5

INSIDE THE ISSUE

page 9 Youth must engage in democracy Zach Strober ’19 believes our generation can end gun violence.

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page 18

March for Our Lives | Photostory Shondaland introduces new show Students fight for stricter gun “Station 19,” a new “Grey’s Anatomy” control legislation in Washington, D.C. spinoff, debuts on ABC.

70 North Ave., Westport, Connecticut, 06880

page 22 Kevin Love on mental illness

The Cleavland Cavaliers player suffers from anxiety and panic attacks.

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April 2, 2018

FLEX week showcases renovated public library Continued from page 1

“I really enjoyed having the Obama White House Chef here, Sam Kass, who spent eight years in the

White House [...] so that was really fun to listen to him,” Harmer said.

On Friday there were a series of local authors that presented about their novels and answered questions from the audience.

Lynne Perrigo, Children’s librarian, stated that this was one of her favorite events.

According to Harmer, the planning for the FLEX week event began over a year ago. “It was really just germinated from this need for us to get the community excited about the new library and get them thinking about how the community sees themselves in the library as well,” Harmer FLEX WEEK Events

included explorations of art, cinema, food, literature, music and dance. They took place at the library and other local venues. (below) Twice Around, a Milfordbased band, performed.

Photos by Amelia Brown ’18

said. “Our goal is to increase participation from our community members because this is your library and we want to create an invitation for people to participate here and work with us and collaborate with us.”

During the evening, the Rock & Roll Stories event showcased rock and roll storytelling by Rob Fraboni, David Bennett Cohen, Mark Naftalin, Crispin Cioe, Michael Friedman, Bari Alyse Rudin, Roger Kaufman, Wendy May, Cassie St. Onge and Rusty Ford which occurred at the Friedman Gallery.

Some of the events during FLEX week were free, such as the dance classes, movie screenings, author talks and the musical performances. The family events and events, such as the gala dinner, were ticketed and the proceeds contributed to the Library’s Transformation Project.

One of the surprise events on March 25’s family day was a flash mob by Westport’s Academy of Dance’s dancers and parents. Carolyn Cassell ’20 was one of the dancers who participated in the flash mob. “I thought it was just a fun experience getting to dance all as a unit and dancing with all different ages,” Cassell said. “My favorite part was dancing with my mom and sister because I’ve never got to do a dance with members of my family before.”

Carly Beeler ’20 also participated in the flash mob and agrees with Cassell about the experience.

“It was a really fun experience,” Beeler said, “because it was a very low pressure venue so you could just have fun with it.”

Rail fares increase as transportation budget decreases

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Jack Dennison ’21

s a result of a lack of money, the state Department of Transportation has proposed to raise the fares on Metro-North train system by 10 percent starting in July.

Currently, for a year’s worth of round trips between Westport Train Station and Grand Central Station, the fare is $4,692. With the proposed fare hike, the cost would be $5,161. The hike in funds make up for the shortage of mon-

ey coming from the General Assembly of Connecticut, and cover expenses due to the lack of tolls in Connecticut.

James Gikas ’19, who takes Metro-North to and from Grand Central every Sunday, is against this change.

“A 10 percent increase in the price of tickets would be terrible,” Gikas said.

“Seeing as how a round trip ticket from Westport to Grand Central and back is already pretty expensive, the fare increase would be incredibly disadvantageous for people who commute regularly.”

METRO NORTH The fare for one year’s worth of round trips between the Westport Train Station and Grand Central Station is currently $4,692. The proposed new fare would be $5,161.

Metro-North’s annual rail ridership was 86.6 million as of 2015. Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe opposes this proposal, saying that it would “threaten Westport’s ability to retain its status as a vibrant suburban community of choice.”

While Matthew Rowan ’19, who takes Metro-North often, doesn’t like the change, he recognizes that it benefits Metro-North.

“I don’t like it, but Metro-North has full control over prices because people need to get [to the city] so they can charge whatever they like, and we will

still need to use the train,” Rowan said.

“So from a business perspective, it’s a good idea also considering Metro-North loses a ton of money from trains.”

Michael Goodman, a Westport parent, has mixed feelings about the price increase.

“On one hand, a 10 percent increase a year seems like a lot,” Goodman said, “but on the other hand, I think that despite what many people say, it’s incredible that [the train], 98 percent of the time, takes thousands of people 50 miles back and forth on time, every day, rain or snow.”

MORNING COMMUTE Businessmen wait

for their trains to take them to work. Metro North serves 15.3 million people, including 658,320 Westport Train Station commutes and 150,540 Greens Farms Train Station commutes a year, as of 2006.

Photos by Samantha Taylor ’21

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April 2, 2018

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Photo contributed by Dave Matlow

Photo contributed by the Asher Laub Ensemble

LOCAL BRIEFS

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Elliot Kaufman ’19

April 8

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April 12

Violin Through the Ages

Rediscover Connecticut

The Asher Laub Ensemble will perform decades of violin music, from Bach to modern pop and hip-hop songs, at the Saugatuck Congressional Church on Sunday, April 8 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Laub has played venues such as Madison Square Garden and the Jacob Javitz Center.

Charles Monagan, a former Connecticut Magazine editor and Connecticut resident since birth, will speak about his favorite things to do and places to go in Connecticut, on Thursday, April 12 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The talk will be held at the Westport Historical Society.

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April 9-13

April 21

April Break

Westport Maker Faire

Staples High School will be closed from April 9-13. This is subject to change if more snow days are called. Excluding Memorial Day, this is the last vacation that Staples students will have until the end of the school year.

The Westport Maker Faire will be held at the Westport Library on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Maker Faire is a combination of a science fair, county fair and technology expo. Artists, musicians, students, entrepreneurs, comedians and business people will all be represented at the maker faire. This has been an annual tradition in Westport since 2011.

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April 22

The Community Table: Living with Guns

Minute Man Race

The Community Table, a conversation series hosted by TEAM Westport, will discuss what it means to live with guns in the community on Tuesday, April 10 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This conversation is intended to help people dig deeper into the gun debate and figure out how they feel about living in a society with guns being so prevalent. This discussion is open to residents of all ages.

The Westport Young Woman’s League is holding the 40th annual Minute Man run at Compo Beach on Sunday April 22. There is a 10 kilometer run, five kilometer run and kids fun run for children between the ages of five and 12. There will be prizes for each age group in the five and 10 kilometer runs. The races and donations help the WYWL support charities and people in need. Events begin at 8 a.m.

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Inklings

April 2, 2018 Photos by Jamie Orseck ’19

Nationwide protesters “March For Our Lives”

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Kaela Dockray ’20

undreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Washington, D.C. on March 24 in public protest, demanding stricter gun laws following the shooting in Parkland, Florida last month. Beyond the nation’s capital, over 800 cities and towns hosted sister marches echoing the students’ of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s sentiment that “enough is enough.”

For many students, this was their first time participating in a protest. Benji Malowitz ’18, who attended the march in D.C., had never experienced anything like it. “It was amazing to be surrounded by hundreds of thousands of like-minded people all there for the same cause,” Malowitz said.

The national protest was organized by the survivors of the Parkland shooting, with several speaking at the march in D.C. Emma Gonzalez, a student-activist from Parkland, stood on stage for six minutes and 20 seconds, the amount of time it took for the lives of 17 of her classmates to be taken from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas community. “Everyone who has been touched by

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the cold grip of gun violence understands,” Gonzalez said. “For us, long, tearful, chaotic hours in the scorching afternoon sun were spent not knowing. No one understood the extent of what had happened.”

The movement extended beyond just school shootings, as many of the student-speakers talked about gun violence in urban communities. Activists from Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore and D.C. described how this issue affects their everyday lives, as many of them have lost family members from firearms on their neighborhood streets. “I found the march to be extremely eye-opening,” Merel Kanter ’22, a student who attended the march in D.C., said. “I always associated the issue of gun violence with mass shootings; however, I never really thought about how kids and families in cities that are often violent, such as Chicago, are affected by this issue.”

Despite the large showing in Washington, with a crowd size of an estimated 800,000, many students participated in local marches. Kit Meszaros ’20, who attended a march in New York City, was initially hesitant about protesting. “I was just one person, and I didn’t know if my par-

ticipation would matter,” Meszaros said. “I realized, though, that if everyone thought about it this way, change would never happen and what we really need is change.”

There were groups who attended the march in an effort to oppose the gun legislation that the marchers were attempting to achieve. Many gun rights advocates came to defend the Second Amendment, carrying signs reading “Support Your Local NRA” and chanting “Preserve our Second Amendment.”

“Although I found this surprising to see,” Kanter said, “I knew that some form of opposition was inevitable. I really don’t think it took away from the true meaning of the movement and they don’t represent the change the majority of American people hope to see.”

Saturday’s event left much of the crowd in tears as the student-speakers recalled their experiences, sharing their stories relating to gun violence. According to Cameron Kasky, a Parkland survivor, if this day was about anything, it was about creating change. “This isn’t the climax of the movement,” Kasky said at the march. “It is only the beginning.”

Inklings

April 2, 2018

News

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Guidance counselors hope to expand beyond college talk Julia Lombardo ’20 & Marlo Von der Ahe ’20

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he guidance department plans to establish more personal relationships between students and counselors and offer students more assistance throughout the college process beginning this spring. The department hopes to alleviate stress and help students enjoy their high school experience.

“As counselors, we truly value the relationships we build with students over four years, and we’re continuously looking at how we can provide the best support possible,” Director of Guidance William Plunkett said. “This year, we’ve added several programs related to financial aid, standardized testing and the transition to college.”

With high hopes to limit stress, form tighter bonds and guide students through the college process, the guidance department took action and are implementing different programs and initiatives.

“We recently added a program which involves group discussions,” Patricia Howells, guidance counselor, said. “This allows kids to talk with one another as well as counselors about academic and social pressures and how they can best cope with them.”

Howells said the program will help kids recognize that they aren’t alone and that there are many other kids with similar stresses.

Not only that, but there is a hope that these programs will help students feel more comfortable and confident approaching their counselors and discussing any concerns.

“The hope is that these programs help kids realize their counselors are there for them,” Howells added, “to listen to and provide advice on any issue.”

The guidance department also plans to change the times of presentations on college and course selection information to best benefit the students and relieve any anxiety and pressures. In the past, these presentations have been in January around midterms for juniors. The department has moved them to April with high hopes the time change will prevent any unnecessary stress.

An initiative intended to guide students through the college and career process will also be added this April. “We’re really excited about an event coming up in April called the Exploring Post-High School Options Fair, where representatives from all sorts of career and technical colleges will visit Staples to share information about their programs with students in all grades,” Plunkett said.

The counselors have encouraged juniors to consider personal happiness when looking at and applying to colleges. “It’s important students understand the idea that they should apply to the schools that fit them and their interests versus college name or where their friends want to go,” Howells said. “When coming to the college process, we have definitely started to stress the importance of this concept more.”

Many students who have already undergone the college process mentioned they often struggled to truly look for the school right for them. “The college process is extremely competitive,” Timmy Liles ’18 said. “I often compared myself to my friends and classmates. It’s hard

to set aside what your friends’ aspirations are, what they are looking for in a college, and just focus on yourself.”

While many juniors start their college search, Liles admires the counselors’ efforts to steer their students away from applying to a college because of its reputation or applying where their friends aspire to go.

In addition to the department’s initiative to encourage tighter bonds between stu-

dents and faculty as well as to guide students through the college process, counselors aim to alter the mindset of students and parents when it comes to the high school experience.

“We are trying to change the culture of the thinking of what high school should be about,” Victoria Capozzi, Staples counselor, said. “High school for kids should be about adolescent development. It’s about figuring out who you are.” Capozzi, How-

ells and Plunkett all believe these new enhancements can help with this culture shift.

Along with the current initiatives, the department also has goals farther into the future. “In the future,” Plunkett said, “we’d really like the opportunity to work with students more in the classroom and through workshops, and we think that could be really beneficial in addition to meeting with students individually.”

NEW RELATIONSHIPS (left) William Plunkett talks to Cat Graham ’19 in his office. (above) Kimberly Curran talks to Claire Hague-Rogers ’19 in her office. (below) Guidance secretary Fran Geraci and special education secretary Susan Gannon speak at the guidance department front desk. (far bottom) The guidance department is developing programs related to financial aid, standardized testing and the transition to college.

Photos by Melanie Lust ’19

BOE hires SRO, implements email monitoring, to increase school safety Continued from page 1

However, some students do not like the idea of a resource officer. Caroline Vandis ’20 questions the effectiveness of an SRO. “An SRO means one too many guns in school,” Vandis said. “Bringing one to Staples sets a negative tone [...] we shouldn’t be preparing for the worst, but preventing it.”

Assistant Principal Meghan Ward has spent much of her career as a school administrator working in three other build-

ings alongside SROs, and remains optimistic about the idea of hiring one. “Students and staff don’t look at the school resource officer as a police officer in the building, they look at them just as another member of the whole school community,” Ward said.

SROs are not the only measure being taken by the Board. Natalie Carrignan, Director of Technology for Westport Public Schools, has been active in setting up a school Google monitoring system.

“Our administration is recommending to the Westport Board of Education

that we integrate the use of the Google Safety Management,” Carrignan said in a ConnectEd email sent out to Westport parents. “[Google] monitors student Google email and student Google Drive content (docs, slides, sheets, etc.) [...] for violations and threats to self or others in support of fostering a healthy learning environment for students and staff.”

According to Palmer, this precautionary measure is set to be implemented this spring.

Some students, however, question the initiative. “I feel like that could be a slip-

pery slope we’re going down,” Anna Sivinski ’18 said. “I honestly do not know if it is the right move, but they would just have to be extremely careful and forthcoming about their monitoring plan and how they are going to execute it.”

However, others support the increased security measure.

“Is it enough? I don’t know,” Bassett said.

“There [are] a lot of extra measures you can take. You could spend money forever trying to improve safety and security, but I think that’s a step in the right direction.”

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April 2, 2018

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OPINIONS

April 2, 2018 Editors-in-Chief Amelia Brown & Anay Simunovic

Managing Editors

Max Appell & Ian Bernstein

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Robot meant to integrate may alienate

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e are a generation consumed by technology.

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and even Schoology are not only commonplace in our daily lives, but also necessary.

The increased use and advancement of technology prompts an important question: how much can you truly connect

Inklings

EDITORIAL with others through electronic devices?

AV1 – a robot designed to allow chronically ill, home-ridden students to stay up-to-date on school work and to remain connected to their peers – forces us to confront this question.

We can understand why Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer is considering a trial period to implement the robots in classrooms across the district.

Those w h o are severely ill may go weeks–even months– without participating in a class discussion. They could miss out on dozens of jokes and hundreds of hours of classwork.

Even so, the problems of moving towards the implementation of AV1 robots seem to outweigh the benefits. The very concept of an AV1 reduces the emotional and physical being of a kid to something less than a human: a robot. This can only induce uncomfortable interactions — How can an emotionally immature seven-yearold be expected to pick a tiny robot over an-

other kid in the class to be his or her partner.

While AV1s are intended to increase social interaction for ill students, it may just make them feel more alone.

We recognize that it is a complex issue and maybe an AV1 robot could work for certain students. However, there are other less costly and more suitable alternatives. For example, teachers can film classes to keep children caught up on work. Friends can FaceTime the student during group activities or lectures. Tutors can provide students with both human interaction and professional material.

Active engagement with peers and instructors in the classroom is essential to a student’s education. Although the AV1 robot attempts to provide this for sick kids, we believe that their implementation will be ineffective. The trial period could show that there is a benefit for some students, but ultimately will create a degree of separation between the sick students and the rest of the class, hindering learning on both ends.

Our editorial board voted unanimously in favor of this editoiral.

Graphic by

Join the discussion.

Have an opinion about an Inklings article? Write a letter to the editor at inklingsnews@westportps.org

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

Web Arts Editors Molly Mahoney & Maddie Phelps

Web Sports Editors Elliot Kaufman & Ben Pearl

Advisers

Matthew Bohn, Joseph DelGobbo & Mary Elizabeth Fulco Gold Medal for Columbia Scholastic Crown Finalist for Columbia Scholastic

Hybrid News from Press Association 2017 Inklingsnews.com from Press Association 2015

Silver Crown Award for Newspaper from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2014 Pacemaker from National Scholastic Press Association 2013 All the opinions, news and features in this paper are those of Staples High School students. Inklings, a curricular and extracurricular publication, has a circulation of 1,800 and is uncensored.

All letters to the editor must be signed. The editorial board reserves the right not to publish letters and to edit all submissions as it sees fit. The editorial board determines all editorial opinions, which are authored faithfully by the Editors-in-Chief.

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70 North Ave. Westport, CT 06880 Phone: (203) 341-1994 Inklingsnews@westportps.org Decisions of Inklings and Westport Public Schools are made without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other discriminating basis prohibited by local, state or federal law.

[INKLINATIONS]

Tommy Wimmer ’20 “Yes, I think that they would be fine. Every student should have the right to learn, no matter their circumstances.”

WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH A ROBOT, USED BY STUDENTS ON SICK LEAVE, IN YOUR CLASSROOM?

Brendan Giolitto, English teacher “It will ensure that all students have equal access to education, no matter what issues they may have physically.

My only question is if it will be too intrusive to students or teachers within the class.”

Maisie Dembski ’20 “I think it would be cool to bring the robots into the classroom. I could see it being really helpful for a lot of kids.”

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8 Opinions

April 2, 2018

Inklings

The Artichoke * Inklings Satire

*‘HITEM’ strikes big with Staples parents Amelia Brown ’18 & Ellie Kravetz ’18

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any Staples High School parents partake in a cut throat, parkinglot game known as “HITEM.” This lengthy abbreviation stands for Home In Time for Early Meditation.

A mother pitched the idea for the game through the widely known “Westport Moms” Facebook page, and since then, it’s been a hit...literally. The ultimate goal of the game is for parents to drive their children to school as fast as possible so that they can get on with their lives.

The strategies to winning the game include cutting other parents off, racing through the parking lot and speeding around students walking in the crosswalk.

The only rule is that there is no rule.

“It’s great,” Phil Throttle said. “No rules gives us the freedom to drive without restraint.” Throttle recalled a particularly exciting experience of popping a wheelie to avoid hitting Ellie Kravetz ’18 in the crosswalk after the student bent down to tie her shoe. “The front wheel of my car just skimmed her pony-

tail!” Throttle said. “It was such a rush!”

But HITEM isn’t all about an adrenaline rush. In fact, many parents claim the game has helped them reevaluate their lives and appreciate the simple pleasures.

Westport mom, Portia Wrecker, said the game served as a wake-up call. “I decided to leave the stresses of work in the city to work from home. Now I have more access to the school grounds so I can perfect my

Graphic by Poppy Livingstone ’21

skids, spins and quick turns,” Wrecker said.

Though some parent drivers have received admonishment from the administration and even the police, most are not dissuaded from pursuing the most extreme driving moves. “I’m married to a lawyer,” Flip Hover said with a confident chuckle.

Other parents say that the kids are really responsible for the game getting so out of hand. “Staples students get out of the cars so slowly,” Joy Rider, mother of twin sophomore boys explained.

“If I didn’t use the speed bumps to get some air and fly over them, I’d never get home in time for my Zumba class.”

But it has not all been fun and games.

“Last week I was walking toward the building, and had to jump out of the way when a Wharton-stickered Range Rover almost hit me,” Lemie Cross ’18 said.

However, even though parents recognize the potential dangers of the game, most think the payoff is worth the risk.

“I mean, I know I probably should slow down a bit,” Ida Marriedrich said, “but I also need my Soulcycle at 7:30 a.m. So I drop the kids off swiftly because I have to.”

We should replace criticism with appreciation for administration Lili Romann ’19

a bit silly. But then again, studies prove that exercise and petting animals actually It has been a pet peeve helps to quell anxiety and may put you in of mine since the sixth a better mindset to ace your next exam. grade that my peers Even if you don’t accept these statishave consistently and tics as true, at the least you can acknowlunfairly criticized edge that it is a start. It’s an indication administration and that our school is behind us and wants teachers. We have an to help us build better mental health. amazing administration, The D’Amico administration has been and we have amazing teachers. And yet, as remarkably verbal in efforts to support their efforts to support us have increased, students, especially for the most recent students criticisms of them have only “walkout” on March 14. However, many grown. claimed that the adminisThe administraton has worked tration was overbearing.

The administraThey complained about tirelessly to maximaze our tion has it being held indoors; academic potential and worked they complained that the strengthen our ability to tirelessly schedule was changed to maxto avoid disruption; and navigate high school. i m i z e they complained that our academic potential and strength- administrators and teachers attended. en our ability to navigate high school.

I get where these criticisms are comThey’ve implemented wellness activ- ing from. I myself truly wished there ities between midterm exam periods, was a larger sense of protest in the they’ve held assemblies to educate us walk out, protest that did not include about harassment and bullying and as much administrative meddling. they’ve advocated for our absolute safety But for all of those who are complainin school zones. And yet, nothing they do ing, ask yourself this: Did you attend the seems enough to quiet the complaining. Social Activism Club meetings and voice Now, some of the criticisms are val- your opinions? If no, then I believe that id. Maybe swimming for 20 minutes or you have lost your right to complain. petting a Labrador between midterms is I am completely on board with ques-

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tioning authority. This negativity is nothing but counterproductive. If we want to move forward progressively, we must keep an open mind and appreciate the supportive

administration that we do have. Recognize the fact that we are more fortunate in this aspect than many other American public schools are. Otherwise, we’re just whining.

Graphic by Katie Howard ’19 & Melanie Lust ’19

Inklings

Opinions

April 2, 2018

9

Could ‘1984’be Our generaton must initiate change Zach Strober ’19 the future?

I knew the moment the students from Parkland, Florida faced their state representatives, who refused to even consider gun regulations, that the media attention surrounding the mass shooting would fizzle out like all the others. I knew when President Trump – whose personal fortunes should be a buffer between himself and the National Riffle Association. cash cow – backped-

Reece Keusch ’19

O

Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19 & Tomaso Scotti ’20

ne of our inalienable human rights is under a rapidly growing threat. Political correctness is an impending danger to freedom of speech in the Western world. This problem goes beyond diplomatic and sensible politics, and must be defined as an extremist movement.

This threat is not only found in society, but has found its way to the world’s governments and leaders. According to The Independant, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently interrupted a student at a Q&A after she had used the word “mankind.” He responded, saying, “We like to say peoplekind, not necessarily mankind because it’s more inclusive.” Not only is this mansplai... excuse me, people-splaining, but peoplekind isn’t even a word in the dictionary. The only thing incidents like this serve to do is further divide the regressive left from not only conservatives and independents, but even from many other liberals.

On Carlson’s show last month, journalist Cathy Areu explained Purdue University’s new writing guide, and how it would be against words like mailman, Manhattan, humanity, man-made, and even woman. The common theme: the word “man”. The argument made by Areu is that it’s not gender-neutral language, and is offensive to many people. While this could seem like a reasonable argument considering the previous history of the workplace being male-dominated, the origin of the word actually has nothing to do with gender.

Online Etymology Dictionary finds the origin of “human” to come from the Latin word “humanus,” or “humane, philanthropic, kind, gentle, polite; learned, refined, civilized.” It even defines the word man from Old English as “human being, person (male or female).” I personally can’t imagine anyone I know being legitimately offended by this language, whether they know the words’ origins or not.

In a Channel 4 interview with host Cathy Newman, Clinical Psychologist Jordan Peterson asked why someone’s right to not be offended trumps someone else’s right to freedom of speech.

The reason amendments, like the First Amendment, are in place is so that no one can take away our hu-people rights that have historically led to tyrannical and oppressive governments.

Yes, Americans should value respect, equality, and unity, but when events have been shut down because they’re offensive, and people have been banned from websites like youtube and twitter due to “hurtful language,” there is a clear issue with the basic ideals of people who support any sort of political correctness.

That’s not saying that you can’t think someone is callous, or that you can’t disagree with them, but to imply that their right to think freely is less valuable than yours is despicable.

The idea of hate-speech is very prominent in the US and Europe. The issue is that hate-speech is often equated to violence, in that people can be “hurt” by both. If this was hypothetically classified as “violence” it would justify taking legal action, or even using violence to defend yourself against so called “hate-speech. In this theoretical world, anything that goes against radical leftists’ beliefs can be considered hate-speech, as long as someone is offended.

Obviously we have the Constitution’s protection at the moment, but many people seem to interpret the First Amendment as “freedom from speech” instead of “freedom of speech.” A great example is Bill Nye the Science Guy, who, according to The Washington Times, implied that it would be reasonable to charge climate change deniers with a crime. Not only is this irrational and flat out immoral, but it goes against the unspoken scientific rule to question everything (also known as skepticism). So much for being the “Science” Guy. Anyways, there is a clear parallel between Nye and the rest of these peoples’ radical ideas and the cultural Marxism and censorship of communist nations such as Soviet Russia and Mao’s China.

We already have early warning signs in the USA of censorship when it comes to differing ideas, but the fact that the next generation is being bred into the thought police is quite worrying. There is already a struggle to keep saying whatever we want to say without censorship, and it is a truly special thing to be the only country with complete freedom of speech, discussion, and ideas.

These liberties are often taken for granted, and they are not something to be given up without a fight. George Orwell once said, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear,” and now that liberty is under fire by ignorance.

The issue is that for some people, ignorance is bliss.

aled over gun control, it was soon to fizzle. I knew just like I knew when the Vegas shooting just disappeared from the headlines. I knew just like I knew when the Sutherland Springs church shooting disappeared. I knew the fizzle would happen because America wants lethal killing machines – guns – to be readily available to the public. I knew the country would continue to allow countless Americans to die rather than implement common sense gun reform. I knew my government wouldn’t take action.

We don’t have a government that functions to protect people. We have a government that functions to protect profit. We have a government that is allergic to making tough and controversial decisions.

When Marco Rubio told the survivors of the shooting in Parkland and the parents of the victims that he would not change his agenda and would still take donations from the NRA, it was clear that we can’t change the minds of our representatives in office.

Many politicians currently in office and working in this country have become corporatized, greedy legislators who don’t care about the wants of the people. According to a poll from Quinnipiac University, 94 percent of Americans support legislation requiring background checks for all gun purchases, and 57 percent of Americans believe it is too easy to purchase a gun.

Yet, in the last 10 years, we have experienced the five deadliest shootings in American history, yet we haven’t had any concrete bill regarding gun reform become a law. Although over 100 gun safety bills have been introduced in Congress since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, no significant gun control bills have passed through both houses of Congress. Our representatives in Congress clearly aren’t getting the job done.

So what do we do? Trust me, it is not going to be easy because marches and protests are just not enough.

We need to take initiative to make change on our own.

I’m not going to say vote next time around. I know you will. That’s not enough.

We must run for office.

We must refuse to take money from certain interest groups.

We must refuse to listen to fear mongering and fanaticism. We must accept that this is our time.

We must follow Will Haskell ’14, who’s running for senate at age 21, and take control of our future by creating change on our own, rather than waiting for the government to do it for us.

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

10

Opinions

April 2, 2018

Inklings

SHOULD STAPLES HIRE AN SRO?

YES

A

Seth McCoy ’19

s students, we spend the majority of our time at school.

From the moment we drop our backpacks by our desks at 7:29 a.m. until the final seconds of last period, Staples High School is our home.

Unfortunately, across the country, schools have become targets of violence.

Here in Westport, installing bullet-resistant window covers and cement columns surrounding the front of school doors can only go so far. One thing is certain, however. The best way that Staples can protect students and faculty is by hiring a School Resource Officer (SRO).

SROs aren’t typical cops. They aren’t at school with the intention of arresting teens for minor charges in the hallway.

According to the The New York Times, the reality of work as an SRO is fostering relationships with students and teachers to make sure everyone is untroubled and in a safe environment. When prob-

lems do arise though, SROs can save lives. had to stagger student arrival over 90 minOn March 20, when a 17-year-old stu- utes according to The Department of Justice. dent assaulted two students with a firearm Also, according to Protective Technolat Great Hills High School in Maryland, ogies International, metal detectors can the SRO on duty “responded to the scene be costly: models suitable for school sein less than curity purposes range Every day that we a minute,” from $4,000-$5,000 according a piece according to attend school without to Sheriff Mass Live. Most imthe security of an SRO, portantly, a metal deTim Cameron. The oftector cannot defend we role the dice. ficer was against aggressors the then able same way an SRO can. to prevent the assailant from When I get up for school, I plan on harming any more people. returning home at 2:15 p.m. My parents The idea of armed law enforcement in shouldn’t have to worry that they might school makes some uneasy and many advo- never see me again as I walk to the bus. Evcate instead for installing metal detectors. ery day that we attend school without the However, there are major flaws in this logic. security of an SRO, we roll the dice. When For one, screening takes forever since stu- the lockdown announcement comes on dents have to be screened individually upon the loudspeaker and it’s not a drill, I don’t entry. Schools that implement these mea- want us to be sitting ducks while we wait sures have often been forced to reconstruct for the police. I want to know that there school schedules and start times to accom- is somebody on school grounds doing evmodate the tedious process. Many schools erything in his/her power to protect us.

Graphic by Poppy Livingstone ’21 Photo by Samantha Taylor ’21

NO

Melanie Lust ’19

The school resource officer (SRO) of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida remained outside on Feb. 14., while inside, a gunman went on a shooting rampage that resulted in the deaths of 17 people.

In Alexandria, Virginia, the SRO of George Washington Middle School accidentally fired his gun inside the school on March 13.

A California high school was shaken after a student engaged in a physical altercation with the SRO on March 10. The student was aiming to grab for the officer’s gun.

The list goes on. All around the country, as the threat of school shootings rises, discussions of how to properly administer school safety intensify. More and more school districts are looking to hire armed, on-campus law enforcement officers to expel any possible threat. In fact, Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer recently proposed that $600,000 be allocated to hire four SROs for Westport Public Schools.

But despite being trained for active shooter situations, an SRO’s presence may be ineffective, and may actually create more harm. Allowing a gun carrier in schools at all times, trained or not, is not the solution. Nor is completely relying on

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

one officer to handle enormous, compli- er preventative measures would be more cated threats such as school shootings. effective as opposed to, or even in conThe fact of the matter is that as long as junction with, an SRO. The most importa loaded gun is present on campus, the risk ant security measure any school can use of accidental discharges and student access is proper education to all students on how to a lethal weapon automatically increases. each individual can play a role in keeping For the same reasons why there is backlash the school safe. Students must be educatagainst proposals to arm teachers, armed ed on how to spot warning signs on social officers should not be walking around our media that could indicate violent behavior, hallways and patrolling our classrooms. exactly how to report potential threats and Additionally, an SRO is a single human experience in-depth, detailed simulations who is capable of making mistakes. Such of lockdown situations. Bullet-proofing was the case with the Parkland tragedy, windows and doors, installing metal dewhere the to prevent guns from Allowing a gun carrier tectors SRO bebeing brought in school and in schools at all times, introducing minor punishlieved he heard ments for students who open trained or not, is not g u nshot s school doors to outsiders are the solution. c o m all examples of small steps toing from wards a more secure campus outside as opposed to inside and only re- that do not involve using guns for defense. alized his error when it was far too late.

As Staples students, we know from The thought of trained personnel protect- our own brush with a potentially traging students is understandably comforting, ic event in February that all we need to given our national environment and the prevent school shootings is an alert stuhorrendous increase in school shootings. dent body. Although it is the harder soluBut one person will not be able to prevent tion, reporting suspicious behavior has a lunatic with an AR-15 from shooting at proven itself to be effective in the past; random and murdering dozens of people. thus, encouraging vigilance should be When considering school safety, it is more prioritized over working to hire an SRO. important to be realistic and practical For the sake of the students who face the than jump to a seemingly easy conclusion. daily risk of being killed simply for attendThere is no real perfect “solution” to stop ing school, Westport Public Schools should school shootings from occurring, but oth- not rely on armed guards for protection.

Inklings

FEATURES

April 2, 2018

Photo contributed by Sophie Attkiss ’19

STAND TOGETHER Sophie Attkiss ’19 drove the five hour trek to Washington D.C. to participate in the march.

11

“IT MADE ME FEEL HOPEFUL THAT OUR GENDERATION CAN LEAD US TO CHANGE.” - SOPHIE ATTKISS ’19

“THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME SO WIDESPREAD AND SEVERE, I JUST CAN’T JUSTIFY BEING A BYSTANDER.” - NICOLE ARELLANO ’18

Photo by Bailey Blaikie ’19

EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS $1.05 symbolizes the amount of money Marco Rubio was given by the National Rifle Association in 2017 divided by the number of students in Florida.

Photo by Layla Wofsy ’19

Photo contributed by Sami Levin ’19

TIME FOR CHANGE Sami Levin ’19 was one of estimated 200,000 who marched in Washington D.C.

“[THE MARCH] MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A CHANGE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE STARTING TO HAPPEN AND THAT OUR GENERATION HAS THE POWER TO CAUSE IT.” - EVIE DOCKRAY ’20

RISING ABOVE Evie Dockray ’20 was able to hear a speech by Parkland student Emma Gonzalez at the Washington D.C. march.

Photo by Lily Kane ’20

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

12 Features

Gra phic

by M elan i

e Lu st ’1 9

April 2

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

2, 2018

Inklings

13

Gamers unlock tiers and new friendships with‘Fortnite’ battle pass

A

Anay Simunovic ’18 & Ava Simunovic ’20

s Saturday night unfolds, not a single high school boy is found.

The diner is barren, movie theaters empty and sports games unattended. Party invites are declined, plans are rescheduled and family outings are ignored. The lack of adolescent testosterone becomes alarming, until you open up Snapchat and receive an influx of boys’ stories showing off their “Fortnite” victory royale. It soon becomes apparent: Saturdays are no longer for the boys, nor for the girls. Saturdays at Staples High School are strictly for the video game, “Fortnite.”

With their eyes locked on their T.V.’s and computers, and with their ears confined to their headsets, many would jump to the assumption that “Fortnite” has driven teens into isolation. However, some students at Staples beg to differ.

“I have started talking to a lot more people, and not just in my grade, but the grades above me, below me and even kids in other schools,” Theo Gabor ’19, who plays “Fortnite” on a daily basis, said. “‘Fortnite’ has definitely connected me with a lot more people. It gives you something to talk about with other people that you may not have things in common with.”

“Fortnite” has taken the nation and that you create bonds with over these kinds our local community by storm, draw- of games, those bonds will never die.” ing in more than 45 million participants, A 2015 research report conducted by according to PC Games. The free game the Pew Research Center confirms the combines building skills and destructi- bonds developed between gamers. The reble environments with intense combat. port found that 52 percent of online-gam“To be good at ‘Fortnite,’ it takes hours ing teens feel more connected to other and hours and hours of play and practice gamers they play with online. That amounts and when you finally, finally get to that top to 28 percent of all teens ages 13 to 17. five, that number These findings “‘Fortnite’ has definitely are not surprising one, that win, all connected me with a those hours come to many Staples together and lot more people. It gives gamers, who recthey become the ognize “Fortnite” you something to talk most beautiful, a means of formabout with other people as beautiful thing ing friendships. that you may not have “I have become you’ll ever experience in your things in common with.” friends with a lot life, and it’s just a - Theo Gabor ’19 of my ‘Fortnite’ wonderful time,” mates,” Evan VishMatt Bidgood ’18, who puts in rough- no ’19 said. “I would say that we have formed ly four hours a day into the game, said. a bond because we are willing to drop cerThe video game stimulates a highly tain materials for each other. We just excompetitive environment between oppo- tend a helping hand when we need it, and I nents where they can play individually or think that’s important throughout life and with three other people to form a team. that we learn how to work as a team better.”

“It’s a much better time playing with Student Outreach Counselor, Ed Milyour friends. You get much better mem- ton, however, worries about the increased ories,” Brandon Adrian ’18, who spends use of video games resulting in friendships. roughly 25 percent of his time on week“I think there’s something really importends playing “Fortnite,” said. “The friends ant about the face-to-face, reading gestures,

reading social cues,” Milton said. “The emotional intelligence of this generation I think is less advanced than prior, and I think it has a lot to do with our lack of interacting.”

In addition to the lack of face-to-face interaction among video game players, some worry about the lack of participation among females in the gaming world.

“I notice more guys playing ‘Fortnite.’ I have seen girls play before but not as much as guys,” Casey Cohen ’19 said.

Gabor thinks girls may not “relate” as well to the violent nature of the game.

Bella Siskind ’19 disagrees. “Girls can like violence and gun games. Girls like action movies,” Siskind said. “I think what draws [girls] away is how obsessed with it boys are and so they think that it’s annoying and probably will just be turned off by the game.”

The obsession over “Fortnite” has become common place at Staples. For many, it is more than just a fun pastime activity, but rather a form of social life.

“You realize that you can trust and rely on someone,” Vishno said. “You can see that we are working together and therefore I can see that we will have a working friendship going forward.”

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

14 Features

April 2, 2018

Inklings

Koskoff expresses creativity through dancing

T

Bailey Blakie ’19

he curtains slowly rise as Henry Koskoff ’19 steps onto the stage. He gets in place just moments before the music cues. This is not like every other dance performance; Koskoff is about to perform an improvisational dance, which means he will think of his moves on the spot. But this is not the only type of dance you can see Koskoff performing. He practices ballet, jazz, tap and interpretive dance.

Koskoff has been taking dance classes since the age of five. He got into dancing because of his admiration for dance shows in New York. While Koskoff has performed ballet since he began dancing and takes classes four times a week, his passion lies in interpretive dancing.

“Modern dance, or what most people know as interpretive dance, is based around classic ballet technique, hints of other ethnic styles of dance and looser movements,” Koskoff said.

He takes seven classes per week at Norwalk Metropolitan Youth Ballet.

“What I love about dance is that it’s a form of exercise that allows one to be creative, which feels really good both physically and mentally,” Koskoff said.

This year Henry competed at the regional semi-finals in Philadelphia for the Youth American Grand Prix, which is the largest ballet competition in the world. He will be representing not only his dance studio, but the United States this April at the finals in New York City.

Many of Koskoff ’s friends admire his work. “[Henry] has always been incredibly creative and gifted in the arts,” Isabel Handa ’19 said. “As someone who is not creative whatsoever, I am always in awe of how incredible he is at dancing and how dedicated he is to art.”

Cece Marino ’19, a close friend of Koskoff, mentioned how she also respects his dancing ability. “I love watch-

ing the videos he posts online of him dancing,” Marino said. “He’s so talented and dances with such emotion. He really pours his heart and soul into it.”

In addition to his daily classes, Koskoff has attended Bucks Rock Camp in New Milford, Connecticut every summer for the past eight years. He is a counselor-in-training, which allows him to choreograph pieces and teach classes.

When Koskoff is not dancing, you can find him drawing or writing, two of his other favorite hobbies.

“I love art, which I also do at my camp,” Koskoff said.

“I love to write poems and short s t o r i e s .”

FEELING THE BEAT Koskoff has been dancing since the

age of five. He participates in ballet, interpretive dance and other ethnic styles of dance.

He’ s currently enrolled in the Advanced Drawing course at Staples, where he furthers his interest. “Henry is a dedicated and sensitive student,” Camille Eskell, Advanced Drawing teacher, said. “[He] absorbs the material presented with interest, always willing to challenge himself to bring him to the next level.”

Whether Koskoff is drawing or dancing, he dedicates his time to pursuing what he enjoys.

“He’s so committed to dance and he works hard to achieve his goals,” Julianna Shmaruk ’19 said. “It’s inspiring to see him have such a passion and talent in dance because it’s something unique that he loves to do and has a gift for.”

Koskoff is widely admired by both his friends and his instructors. “Henry is an exceptional human being,” Adam Holms, co-founder and Artistic Director of the Norwalk Metropolitan Youth ballet, said. “There is a richness to his character, an honesty in the way he explores space and an honesty in the way he uses his body as an instrument.”

Photos contributed by Henry Koskoff ’19

Yearbook Club captures memories on pages Sarah Maybruck ’18 Imagine yourself years from now, pulling yearbooks down from the attic and showing your high school memories to your children.

You flip through the pages and remember the good old days when you played the clarinet for the band, were the captain of the team or just wore funny outfits on school spirit day.

These 300 page books that encompass the key parts of these four years are the product of the Yearbook Club.

This group of students and teachers spend their time going through thousands of photos, selecting and laying out the most significant events of the year.

“I like working to make something that students will hold onto for years to remember their time at Staples,” yearbook editor Sarah Acselrod ’18 said.

To create the yearbook the students have to place each photo and layout each section. According to club member, Alex Didelot ’19, the club uses HJ eDesign to create the yearbook.

Each year, the yearbook takes on a new theme. Last year, the yearbook was called “Impact.” These themes are created as a way to symbolize the year. “We try to come up with ideas that we think reflect the student body and Westport that we can develop editorially and visually,”

Yearbook Club advisor Liz Schaffer said.

The club gets the photos for the yearbook from various sources. According to Yearbook Club advisor Dan Woog, the club uses the company Lifetouch as their official photographer, however, club members, sports teams and students submit pictures as well.

“I think being involved in

INTO THE PAGES Yearbook editors Sarah Acselrod ’18 and Anna Ehli ’18 meet with the yearbook club every other week throughout the year.

Photos by Melanie Lust ’19

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

yearbook helps to keep me and the other members very active and aware of the Staples community because we literally need to know what’s going on

all the time,” editor Anna Ehli ’18 said.

There are several sections in the yearbook including music, arts, clubs, sports and photos of every student.

The Yearbook Club has deadlines to meet for completing certain sections. According to Acselrod, the club is currently working on writing the winter sports pages and putting together the senior section.

Matt Almansi ’19 is among one of the many students that purchase yearbooks. “I like being able to reflect on all the different moments that took place over the course of the year. And of course, tease my friends who had bad photos,” Almansi said.

Many people like to look back LOOKING BACK Yearbook club advisor Liz Schaffer works with students in order on their yearbooks. In fact, English to create a yearbook that is representative teacher, Mary Katherine Hocking of the student body. recently was looking back at her father’s yearbooks comparing them to hers, as they went to the same high school.

Her ten year anniversary is coming up so she will look more at her yearbooks, trying to remember people. “Things that people would sign in my yearbook that were like an inside joke at the time that now I have no idea what it means which seems kind of silly,” Hocking said.

As one of the 466 seniors at Staples, Jake Watzman ’18 is looking forward to flipping back through his yearbooks in the future.

“I think especially as a senior it’s great to CREATING MEMORIES Sarah have it for later in life,” Watzman said. “There Acselrod ’18 and Anna Ehli ’18 are obviously going to be good memories work with advisor Liz Schaffer to that I don’t remember and I’ll be able to create a new theme each year, use the yearbook to give myself a refresher. last years theme being “Impact.”

Inklings

April 2, 2018

Features

15

‘Students of Staples’ solidifies young voices

A

Lili Romann ’19

stern voice projects from the announcement system. “There is no direct threat to the school at this time; however, we are going to enact a ‘shelter-in-place’ procedure. Everybody please stay in your classes until we initiate a controlled dismissal at 1:15.”

Murmurs begin, tears slip down cheeks and anxiety overwhelms both students and teachers.

Drew Krulewitch ’18 can attest to the fear he felt on Feb. 27 when it was revealed that a student threatened to conduct a shooting at Staples. He decided that his fears, as well as his peers’, should not be concealed, and, in order to allow honest conversation among students, launched a Facebook page called ‘Students of Staples.’

“I started the group after the shooting threat,” Krulewitch said. “I was talking to a bunch of my friends and a lot of them said the same thing: ‘we don’t feel like there is a place to say how we feel,’ so I made the group in hopes for people to freely speak their minds.”

So far, students have utilized this platform as a way to maximize attention on school events regarding politics, one being

the ‘walk-out’ that occured on March 14, to protest the lack of productivity in congress regarding gun control laws.

“I think I would use it as a supplement to Superfans to try and make sure that whatever I’m posting reaches a further audience incase people check it more often,” Monique Øtsbye ’18, organizer of the event, said. “I think that this group could be beneficial to people that might not feel comfortable posting in [the] Superfans [Facebook group].”

Users feel that the page has been successful in establishing a feasible outlet for students to expose current happenings in the U.S. and around their community. Additionally, it allows them to find new acquaintances with similar viewpoints where they can feel supported.

“We trade articles with each other and just talk about how we feel on the issue of gun safety. It’s great that we have this place to express ourselves like that,”

Photo by Charlie Colasurdo ’18 Graphics by Melanie Lust ’19 and Tomaso Scotti ’20

Lydia Donovan ’19 said. “I found someone through it who I talked nonsense with, and it made me smile even though I felt like the world was crumbling.”

Some students, however, find virtual communication regarding controversial political topics detrimental to social media usage as it perpetuates feelings of anger among peers.

“I think it is pointless to start political conversations over social media because it is a way to ask for an argument or a fight to break out over the internet,” Jacob Maged ’18 said.

“Also, it is public, so people viewing your profile might misjudge you based on the words you used.”

Others see this sort of communication as a platform to induce respectful, supportive conversation and ensure feelings of safety and unity among students.

“I think that people still don’t feel safe in today’s society to speak their mind without being judged,” Krulewitch said. “I have been using the group as a place for positive thoughts, hoping that will spark another person to do something similar. I feel like it is a work in progress.”

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

16 Features

April 2, 2018

English classes unite with Bridgeport schools to read ‘The Hate U Give’

B

Allie D’Angelo ’20

ook clubs offer the opportunity to discuss themes often unnoticed when read alone. When members of a book club bring different perspectives to the discussion, new viewpoints to novels are revealed, which can allow for a deeper understanding of the book.

Sophomores at Staples High School will be reading ‘The Hate U Give’ in a book club with students at Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut in order to fully understand aspects of the novel from multiple angles.

English teacher Barbara Robbins believes that the book club between Staples and Warren Harding High School will offer insight on various perspectives of the book. “I hope it opens our students’ eyes a bit beyond Staples,” Robbins said. “I think it will offer a chance to talk to kids their same age but from a different school [and] community.”

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas follows Starr Carter, the 16-year-old pro-

tagonist who witnesses her unarmed friend ren Harding High School to discuss their being shot and killed by a police officer perspective on key points in the novel. from the passenger seat of a car. Readers “I think it’s about listening and seefollow the events that occur after the trag- ing how different our worlds are,” ic event, where prejudice and false head- Neenan said. “I think that’s where the lines defame her deceased friend, while real education is going to happen.”

Carter attempts to clear her friend’s name.

Robbins hopes that the book club will Librarian Colin accomplish more than Neenan helped cre- “I think it will offer a just providing the opate the book club to chance to talk to kids portunity to understand promote discussion their same age but the novel. “I think it will among students on from a different school help to open dialogue a wider level. “I saw [and] community.” across communities and this as a great opa shared respect - Barbara Robbins, create portunity for kids to and newfound appreciEnglish Teacher ation for each school retalk about what they deal with in their spectively,” Robbins said. lives,” Neenan said. “Given what’s going Maisie Dembski ’20, a student in Robon nationally with race in this country, it bins’ English class, is interested in the is really important for us to be talking to book club due to the different perspectives people who we haven’t been talking to.” students from Harding High School can Students will be given six weeks to read offer. “I think it’ll be really great to get to “The Hate U Give” and are encouraged to know some students from Bridgeport,” prepare questions while reading. Students Dembski said, “and to be able to comwill also participate in meetings starting pare the book we’re reading to their lives after April break with students at War- and hear the way that they interpret it.”

PAGE TURNER (left)

Hoping to open her students’ eyes to life beyond Westport, English teacher Barbara Robbins created the bookclub between Staples and Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport. (below) Students will be reading Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give,” following 16-year-old protagonist Starr Carter.

The novel has currently been on the New York Times Best Sellers List for 55 weeks.

Photos by Ellie Kravetz ’18

*photo dramatization

Inklings

National Merit Scholar Finalists share future plans Anay Simunovic ’18 As sleep deprived sophomores file into the front lobby with Dunkin iced coffees in hand, awaiting their seating placement for the PSAT, some question why their parents made them wake up before 8 a.m. on a Saturday. And while it may not have been worth it for some Staples students, Marshall Heiser ’18, Leya Luo ’18, Jessica Xhu ’18 and Nicole Arellano’s ’18 scores that day put them in the running to be a National Merit Scholar Finalist, which they later were awarded.

Heiser, Luo, Xhu and Arellano all achieved a top 1 percent score on the PSAT they took in the fall of their junior year and they have consistently maintained a high academic record since then. They have also had to write an essay, be endorsed and recommended by a school official and take the SAT to earn a score that confirms their PSAT performance, in order to be recognized as a National Merit Scholar Finalist.

Their receival of this award can potentially ease the financial burden their families will incur as a result of their college tuition. “I think definitely wherever I end up I’ll be able to get some sort of scholarship [...] every little bit helps,” Heiser said.

While they recognize the importance of a possible scholarship, many of the recipients hesitate to assign a great amount of value to their accomplishment.

“I’m just good at standardized tests. I don’t really think that’s something to brag about,” Xhu said.

While Arellano understands why some recipients do not hold the award to such a high regard, she sees it as proof that her hard work paid off, even if she did just spend one night cramming.

“I knew about this scholarship and I was looking to do that, to get more money for college,” Arellano said. “It was surprising but I was content, my hard work paid off.”

While Heiser, Luo, Xhu and Arellano are united by their status as National Merit Scholar Finalists, they all have fairly different interests and plans for the future.

When he’s not playing golf, Heiser can be found participating in economics and finance clubs such as the Staples Economics Team. For his internship, Heiser will be commuting into the city to work at J.P. Morgan.

“That’ll be a great experience to really get the hands on experience with finance and really seeing what it’s like on a daily basis to see if this is truly something I want to do,” Heiser said.

In addition to playing the viola, Luo likes to read and write and she’s considering double majoring in math and neuroscience at the University of Chicago, where she will be attending.

“I think people are really interesting and I just want to understand [...] how different people see the world and what factors lead to that,” Lou said.

Similarly to Luo, Xhu plays the viola and she also plays the violin. She is a member of the Staples Symphonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Norwalk Youth Symphony and plays in a quartet outside of school.

Arellano is interested in studying either biology or law. “I’ve always sort of been very intrigued by the human body and just loved science,” Arellano said. “I became an EMT last year and just sort of working in that field has definitely confirmed my desire to continue working in that field.”

While they may have individual interests and plans for their future, their being named a National Merit Scholar Finalist will at the very least be a resume builder, and for some, a recognition of their academic achievement.

“As we reach the end of our high school careers it’s nice to have something that kind of wraps it up a little bit,” Heiser said.

“It’s great to have such an awesome accomplishment and be recognized along with such other accomplished students.”

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

Inklings

April 2, 2018

ARTS

17

Westport Arts Center showcases student art Photo by Charlie Colasurdo '18

Abigail Fleming '20

above Prince’s work was a close up of a human eye, done by Sophie Dinitz ’18.

Charlotte Tirola ’20 was one of the many people at the WAC that night for the Student Art Exhibition lookhe walls of the Westport Art Center ing at her peers' work. “I think that it (WAC) are lined with student- is beautiful how emotion and life can produced artwork from top to be brought out by the creativity and thoughts of a student's mind,” Tirola said. bottom from March 23-June 2.

Liz Leggett, the visual arts director at This was the fourth annual High School Student Art Exhibition put on the Westport Arts Center, thinks the stuat the WAC. Students from Stratford, dent exhibition is a great way for young Redding, Derby, Old Greenwich, New artists to experience the world of art.

Canaan, Fairfield, Shelton and West- “It’s very important for young people to port will have their work displayed. have an opportunity to put their work Emerson Kobak ’18 was encouraged in an exhibition experience and know to submit her artwork by her AP Studio how an art gallery works,” Leggett said.

Three awards Art teacher, Camille "I think that it is beau- for the exhibition Eskell. “It’s a really cool opportunity,” tiful how emotion and will be given out in April: The Tracy Kobak said. Her life can be brought Sugarman Award, submission was a out by the creativity The Sontag Award framed image of a girl looking in a and thoughts of a stu- and the People’s Choice Award. mirror. She incordent's mind.”

While judges will porated real pieces - Charlotte Tirola '20 determine the winof a broken mirror ners for the Tracy and used a combination of markers and colored pencils. Sugarman and Sontag awards, the pubMaisie Prince ’20, also had work lic can vote and select the winner for the on display. Using charcoal, she drew a People’s Choice. The winner of the Peoblack and white image of Dereje Tar- ple’s Choice will be awarded to the artrant, '25 a student at Saugatuck Elemen- ist with the most votes on the Westport tary school and young actor. Directly Arts Center website and receive $250.

T

EYEING HIS EYE Sophie Dinitz's '18 was an artist featured in the exhibit. The piece is called, “He Was Eyeing His Eye” and will be showcased until June.

Photos by Abigail Fleming ’20

PRINCE'S PIECE Maisie Prince '20 decided to draw Dereje Tarrant '25 for her submission and titled the piece, "Fro."

KOBAK PORTRAIT Emerson Kobak '18 standing

with her artwork, “Self Image - From The Inside Out.”

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

18 Arts

April 2, 2018

Inklings

‘Station 19’ continues 'Grey's Anatomy' female empowerment Camryn Ragland ’18

T

hirteen years ago, millions of fans were sucked into Seattle Grace Hospital to watch the weekly drama between surgeons, boy troubles and the rise of a strong female lead, in “Grey’s Anatomy.” But on March 22 at 9:00 p.m., these fans tuned back in to a place just three blocks down from Seattle Grace: the Station 19 Firehouse. Here, fans were let into the action-packed world of firefighters and all of their drama.

Shonda Rhimes, screenwriter and producer for ABC, expands her empire of female-empowered TV series by adding “Station 19.” The show follows Andy Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz), a firefighter at Seattle's Station 19 and her dayto-day life. The show is a spin-

off of Rhimes’ hit show “Grey’s Anatomy” Rhimes has produced several other hit and features former Grey’s doctor Ben shows like “How to Get Away with MurWarren (Jason George). der,” and “Scandal,” that “I’m really excitinclude strong female “I think choosing a leads in male domied for the new show,” female firefighter Catherine Sprouls ’19 nated workplaces. In will have a large said. “I have loved “Station 19,” Herrera ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ for a is the lead of the show impact, especialand is a confident firelong time and I’m haply since all of the fighter and daughter py to see it expanding leads of Shonda Captain Pruitt Herinto what will probably Rhimes’ shows are of rera. The trailer of the become another female.” show begins with Hergreat show.”

- Ava Glick ’19 rera’s father stepping down as captain

and giving her the choice to rise to the top.

“I think choosing a female firefighter will have a large impact, especially since all of the leads of Shonda Rhimes’ shows are female,” Ava Glick ’19 said.

“It’s important to see strong females taking charge, and I think that is exactly what a female firefighter will convey.”

Casting Ortiz as the lead also breaks a racial barrier: she is a second-generation American with parents from Puerto Rico.

While “Station 19” is not the first Rhimes show to feature a minority in the leading role (“How to Get Away with Murder” stars Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis as hot-shot lawyer, Annalise Keating), it will be one of only a few shows on prime time television with a Hispanic lead character.

The show promises not to shy away from embracing current political topics in their plot.

“If there is a story that happens to tap into what we’re dealing with politically right now, then of course we’ll tell the story,” Stacy McKee, the “Station 19” director said in an interview with Variety. “We’re not going to shy away from that. But that has to be grounded and appropriate for those characters and what they’re going through.”

The show premiered on March 22 with a 2-hour special from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. and will continue to air on ABC from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday nights.

Graphic by Cat Graham ’19

Mariella Alderucci ’19 Nicole Dienst ’18

For Mariella Alderucci ’19, art is not a task, rather an outlet for self-expression.

Alderucci said she grew up surrounded by the art found in her father’s many comic collections but said she really caught the art bug in middle school. “Honestly,

a lot of people have this one movie or activity that gets them really into art, but I kind of just had this friend who was really good at drawing in middle school, and I was like ‘I wanna do that,’” Alderucci said.

By creating her own art, Alderucci attempts to both evoke emotion in the viewer and express her own emotions. “I want people to be able to derive some meaning from it even if it’s not

the same thing [I feel],” Alderucci said.

She gets her art inspiration from mentors, friends, family, comics and from other artists.

“Her style and personality has always been very creative and imaginative and she’s always seemed interested in art,” Addie Hogue ’19, a friend of Alderucci, said.

Alderucci hopes to continue exploring different art platforms and ex-

panding her potential as an artist.

“I think in terms of the big picture, if I were to do art as a job, which is the end game, I would want to communicate social ideas because art is something everyone experiences,” Alderucci said. “[Art is] almost sort of a passive teacher: if you see art, you’re going to derive something from it, but it’s not an intensive lesson or someone drilling anything into your brain.”

Photo by Katie Howard ’19

WELL-ROUNDED ARTIST Alderucci's art surrounds her, showcasing some of her favorite pieces. When asked what her favorite type of art was, Alderucci couldn't choose. "Honestly, I like anything that has texture or gestural strokes."

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

April 2, 2018

Inklings

Arts

Student directors and actors join forces in One Act productions Megan Doyle ’18

W

e all know about the two big Players productions in the fall and spring, but One Acts offer the opportunities for more theater kids to shine. On April 21 and 22, juniors and seniors of the directing class will showcase their scenes to a general audience in the black box.

“I would describe One Acts as an opportunity for all directing students to put what they’ve learned to the test by working with other actors and creating a mix of funny and serious scenes,” Jake Watzman ’18, one of the directors, said.

Each student chooses a 10 minute scene to work on, where they have to rehearse with actors, create blocking and determine the sets and costumes.

They perform all the duties of a genuine director, but on a much smaller scale.

The scenes are extremely varied, from amusing to somber and everywhere in be-

tween. Watzman’s play, for example, is a ership skills,” Watzman said. “If you’re a comedy about parents trying to get their director, [it tests] how well you’re able to children into a prestigious pre- work with other people and have them enschool. It centers joy the process.” around them being “This year has been Actors find interviewed and One Acts to be really cool to be on makes fun of the beneficial, too, the other side of things as they’re givstereotypes of overas a director and truly bearing parents. en the option Juliette Berger understand how much to perform in ’19, on the othfeatured roles. work and effort is put er hand, chose a “It gives into the process before freshman a more serious topic. Her play focuschance to have we even start with the es on a couple in a speaking actors.” a fast food drive role, which is -Juliette Berger ’19 an opportuthrough whose argument gets nity that they out of control. With only two actors, don’t get in main stage productions,” they’re able to create a whole backstory. Tobey Patton ’20, an actor, said.

“This year has been really cool to be on Working with a student instead the other side of things as a director and of professionals is a different experitruly understand how much work and ence socially as well. In main stage effort is put into the process before we productions, students usually work even start with the actors,” Berger said. with 35 to 80 others, but each One Although it’s a difficult project for the di- Act scene has usually less than five. rectors, Watzman thinks it’s not only useful “My favorite part has been workin their immediate future, but in the long run, ing with such a small group of people,” too, because of the valuable lessons learned. Maizy Boosin ’21, an actor, said, “be“It tests your collaboration and lead- cause you get to know everyone so well.”

Photos by Charlie Colasurdo '18

"I would describe One Acts as an opportunity for all directing students to put what they’ve learned to the test."

-Jake Watzman '18

ONE ACTS

(top Left) Sophia Sherman ’18 and Gabriel Sargent ’20 rehearse for their One Act show directed by Avery Landon ’18. Sherman is the casting director and Sargent is one of the actors. (middle) Simone Barr ’18, Erin Lynch ’20, AnnaMaria Fernandez ’20 and Jamie Mann ’21 pose together during their rehearsal. (bottom right) Lexi Holoubek-Sebok ’18 walks down the hallway, carrying her script, towards the rest of her One Act cast.

19

'A Wrinkle in Time' fails to recapture magic of novel Adam Wenkoff ’18

When it was revealed that a new adaptation of “A Wrinkle in Time” was being created, the excitement was palpable.

Throw in a cast that features Oprah, basically the most popular person in the world, and the hype became undoubtedly real. The teaser trailer itself racked up more than 5.5 million views, and fans of the novel couldn’t wait for the film’s release. Unfortunately, “A Wrinkle in Time” was pretty much oatmeal. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but I definitely wouldn’t go out of my way to go see it again. “Eh.” The story centers around protagonist Meg Murray, played by Storm Reid, and her trans-universal quest to save her father, played by Chris Pine. She receives help from three celestial women (played

by Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Oprah) and together they fight the Dark Evil as they traverse the universe by jumping through the “wrinkles in time.”

After a TV-movie version of the beloved book received a decent, but not great reaction from crowds back in 2003, fans were clamoring for a new, blockbuster version to recapture the magic that the book so expertly crafted.

Unfortunately, the 2018 version of “A Wrinkle in Time” didn’t fare much better than its 2003 counterpart and fell short of its massive expectations.

A big issue that I had with the movie was that it seemed to really target a younger audience. This can be seen with the main villain, IT, never posing a real danger to the protagonists and with a plot that at times felt disjointed to more careful watchers. I think that a bit more of a thrill factor and more thorough following of the novel would have done wonders.

To be fair, the incredible feeling of mediocrity that “A Wrinkle in Time” gave me wasn’t necessarily all the filmmakers’ fault. Another reason why I didn’t love “A Wrinkle in Time” was because of my prior experience with the book. The main reason why I enjoyed the book so much when I read it was because it let my imagination run wild. Everything in the book was left up to how you interpreted it, and having someone else interpret it for me took away a lot of the magic that my fond memory of the title was tied to.

However, the movie did do many things well. The incredible CGI and color combinations made it a visual masterpiece, and the acting was very, very solid.

Additionally, the cast is pretty much ideal if you’re looking at it in terms of diversity and progressive empowerment. Also, the kids that were in the theater with me when I watched it seemed to like it a lot. I’d like to imagine that if I was much younger like them, I would have enjoyed it too.

Overall, I’d give “A Wrinkle in Time” a 5/10. Probably a great children’s movie, but not quite what anyone above the age of nine should go out of their way to see.

Graphic by Cat Graham ’19

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL | inklingsnews.com

20 Arts

April 2, 2018

Inklings

Readers trade basketballs for books An educational twist on ‘March Madness’ Bailey Blaikie ’19

W

hen you hear March Madness, you instantly think "basketball."

However, this year, English teacher Mary Katherine Hocking is taking a spin on the traditional basketball tournament. Instead of selecting college basketball teams, it is selecting books.

“The book bracket came about as soon as the NCAA Men’s and Women’s tournaments started this year,” Hocking said. “Everyone was watching and staying up-todate on that, so I figured we could apply the same competitive enthusiasm to books.”

For each round of March Madness (64-teams, 32-teams, Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final 4, Championship), Hocking sent out a poll with matchups, which were determined by an article on Business Insider titled “100 books to read in your life.” Once the poll was sent out to students and staff, everyone could vote on their favorite books for each round.

The book with the most votes in each matchup moves to the next round. The bulletin board with the bracket is located on the second floor near the English department.

There are both students and teachers participating in the book bracket.

“I love that there’s been a book version of March Madness this year,” Avery Smith ’19 said. “I’ve read a lot of those books and it’s fun to pick my favorites.”

Librarian Colin Neenan was very excited when he heard Hocking was creating a book bracket. “We were enthusiastic about it as soon as we heard about it,” Neenan said. “[Hocking] came up with a brilliant idea.”

Most of the books included in the bracket are ones that are often read by students in school. Hocking hopes that if students are familiar with the titles, then they may be more willing to take part in the fun.

“Please participate and read the books,” Hocking said. “Some of these [books] are truly treasures and remain with people for the rest of their lives.”

BOOK BRACKET English teacher Mary Katherine Hocking stands in front of the book bracket

Final Four

To Kill a Mockingbird

By Harper Lee

hanging outside the English offices which has attracted hundreds of student votes.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

By J.K. Rowling

The Great Gatsby

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fahrenheit 451

By Ray Bradbury

Inklings

SPORTS

April 2, 2018

21

College athletics drive undergraduate decision-making aturday is college game day. A typical morning might start bright and early, putting on a mini cheerleading skirt or large football jersey, applying face tattoos and taking a few duck face selfies; to many high schoolers, this is what they hope part of the c o l l e ge experience is all about.

T h e choice of where to attend college is one of the bigger decisions a person makes in his or her lifetime, and many factors come into play when deciding on a fu- Photos by Charlie Colasurdo ’18 ture school.

One of those factors revolves around the athletic program, even for the non-athlete. College game days are known around the world as days in which college students dress in colorful and spirited outfits to cheer on their school’s sports teams.

Many students feel that attending a school where sports teams are prominent is the perfect way to feel connected to other students and feel more unified as a school.

Jackson Dembski ’18 will be attending the University of Alabama next fall, a school with a large football presence. “[The] sports team has a huge influence on a school because no matter how many people in the school disagree, the football team will bring them all together no matter what other issues they have,” Dembski said.

While dressing in fun outfits intrigues some, others don’t feel the n e e d to get dressed up and cheer on the sports teams.

A b b y Najarian ’18 will be attending Lafayette College next year and believes having a successful team does not affect the college experience. “I think that there are other ways you can bring

a school together other than a school’s football game attendance,” Najarian said.

Charlotte Revelli ’18 agrees that sports teams should not affect one’s decision since students go to college to receive an education. Revelli will be attending the University of Delaware next year and is excited about the many aspects of the school besides sports. “The sports at UDel (University of Delaware) aren’t that big, so it’s nice to have the option to attend without feeling pressured to,” Revelli said Still, there is evidence to suggest that athletic programs can be valuable in higher education. Dr. Sabrina Prieur, an expert on education and health, explains the benefits in an article written on Classroom.

Synonym.com.

“Apart from academics, a sense of community and entertainment is central to colleges and student retention,” she writes. “Collegiate sport programs, just like professional sports, entertain crowds.

Students flock to games and contests on campus in their spare

Graphics by Melanie Lust ’19, Poppy Livingstone ’21 and Katie Howard ’19

S

Elle Fair ’19

time and cheer on the home team.”

According to Hannah Roseme ’18, who will be attending the University of Maryland, having sports teams on campus can allow students to develop passion for their school. “Having sports as a prevalent dynamic in the everyday life at a university causes a bonding effect,” she said. “Even if the teams don’t play well, you still have an excuse to show off your schools pride.”

LOGOWEAR LOOKS (from left to right) Jackson

Dembski ’18 will be attending the University of Alabama for his love of football. Abby Najarian ’18 will play lacrosse for Lafayette next season.

Hannah Roseme ’18 will be attending the University of Maryland next fall where she plans to support the school’s sports teams.

Tennis teams triumph despite lack of Superfan support Shane Rabacs ’18 Two of Staples’ most dominant and successful sports teams are looking to continue their recent runs of success. The boys’ tennis team has won 34 straight matches. The girls’ team reached both the state and FCIAC championship last year.

Yet, despite their accomplishments, both teams get little fan support at their matches.

“Honestly sometimes it’s frustrating that no matter how well we do people will not show up,” captain Ben Stein ’18 said.

The lack of fan attendance, however, hasn’t seemed to negatively affect their performance.

“I don’t think the lack of fans has impacted our success over the past couple years,” Alyssa Dimaio ’20, a key play-

er for the Wreckers, said. “We are still boys team, which hasn’t lost since April one of the best teams in Connecticut.” 2016, returns many contributors from the Boys’ tennis coach Kristoffer Hris- FCIAC and Class LL championship team. ovulos agrees that Among the while fan support returning BACKHAND SHOT might not be necplayers is essary, it would Evan Felcher Captain Evan Felcher be appreciated. ’18, who won ’18 warms up during a practice last season “I do not think Connectiin which they went it affects our team cut player of undefeated and won entirely because the year in both the FCIAC and state we bring our own 2017 and is championships. Felcher energy within our is ranked as the number c o m m i t t e d team for playing for to Oregon. one singles player in one another,” Hris“We try to Connecticut and number ovulos said. “But an go out there four in New England. increase of student and comfan base would cre- Contributed by staplesboystennis.com pete hard ate another great element to our matches.” and lock in mentally because that’s all we So why should students show up? The can control,” Felcher said. “From a results

standpoint, we try not to focus on that too much and just take it one match at a time.”

The girls also return most of the core of their team from last year that was a win away from both a state and FCIAC championship. Senior captains Olivia Foster ’18, Kristin Butler ’18, Hannah Bjorkman ’18 and Gabriela Vega ’18, along with younger players like Dimaio, will try to push the team over the hump and win a championship.

“Winning FCIACs is probably our main goal since we came so close to winning last year,” Dimaio said.

Due to the success of the teams, the fans that do cheer on the Wreckers find that it’s a good time.

“Tennis matches are really fun to attend,” Jake Thaw ’20 said. “I would definitely recommend that people check them out this year.”

OVERHEAD SLAM Olivia Gordy ’20 plays in a game from last

season, in which they were 15-0 in the FCIAC. The Wreckers lost in the FCIAC and state finals. Gordy played three doubles wtih Lily Smith ’19.

Contributed by staplesgirlstennis.com

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

22

Sports

April 2, 2018

Inklings

An open thank you letter to Kevin Love eyes glazed over the memes and settled on a headline and picture. It was a picture of you, looking up into the rafters in ear Kevin Love, Cleveland. Now on the Cavaliers, playing “Five ...four with the king, Lebron James. The head...” My friends line read, “Everyone Is Going Through who weren’t playing Something.” I clicked, and read your arlined up on the side- ticle, which was published on the Players’ line of the court count- Tribune. You wrote about your panic ating down the final tacks that have caused you to actually leave moments of the game. games, as well as your general anxiety.

“I got it, I got it,” I “Mental health isn’t just an athyelled out as I dribbled the lete thing,” you wrote. “What you do basketball up the court. for a living doesn’t have to define who “Three...two...” My friend Cameron de- you are. This is an everyone thing.” cided to announce the 2-on-2 pick-up basWith my jaw dropped, I felt for the first ketball game as if we were all NBA players. time a real connection to you. Not as a playI was you, Kevin Love, the star forward on er, but as a person. Never in a million years, the Minnesota Timberwolves at the time. would I think that you, a big time NBA star, “1…” I shot a long three. could be struggling with the same issues as “EHHH,” the buzzer Cameron cre- me, a teenager from a small town in Conated with his own voice sounded as necticut. However, you proved me wrong. I the ball found the bottom of the net. now connect with you on a level of under“Kevin Love,” he shouted, “from standing that I thought I could never reach. deep to win the game.”

I understand what A huge smile came across you are going It’s because my face as I celebrated. through and we of you that the Afterward I began to both understand negative stigma that everyone is think. “You must have the of mental health going through life. Multi-million dollar contract, fans from something. [...] is being all over the world, playSix days after proven untrue. ing the sport you love evreading your Playery day. What could you ers’ Tribune artipossibly have to complain about?” cle, I learned that the NBA is beginning to And that’s where I was wrong. On take steps to combat mental health. An inMarch 6, 2018, a day after your counter- dependent mental wellness program, which part Demar Derozan of the Toronto Rap- is being jointly funded by the league and tors tweeted about his struggle with de- union, will allow players to seek help for ispression, I scrolled through Facebook. My sues regarding mental health. The same ac-

Zach Horowitz ’19

D

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

cess players have to physicians, they will have to therapists.

This is because of you and because of Derozan.

It’s because of you that the negative stigma of mental health—whether it’s people thinking that anyone with a mental illness is crazy, or that anyone with a mental illness can not function—is being proven untrue. It’s because of you that kids around the country won’t feel embarrassed to reach out to their peers if they are struggling with something. So thank you.

Thank you for destigmatizing and normalizing an important issue.

In the future, when playing 2-on2 with my friends, I’ll continue to pretend to be you. Not just because of your skills, but because of who you are as a person.

From, Zach

Graphic by Katie Howard ’19 Photo contributed by Players’ Tribune Instagram

Love breaks the mental health stigma in professional sports

Sports

April 2, 2018

Inklings

23

The madness behind gambling in March: Students place bets on NCAA tournament Jack Shapiro ’19

Photo dramatization by Charlie Colasurdo ’18

W

ith the return of March Madness, students throughout the school filled out their brackets and began prepping for a month of college basketball. Many students join leagues and bracket pools when participating in March Madness, which brings up the topic of gambling.

When March Madness begins, brackets are completed and money is collected by the heads of certain leagues. Although it may seem harmless and inoffensive to some, according to the Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection, any type of gambling is illegal in the state of Connecticut unless the law specifically allows it. Exchanging money in school is also a restricted action.

“Gambling during March Madness is an issue because it causes kids of young ages to indirectly inherit poor gambling habits,” Jake Thaw ’20 said. “It can also take away from the enjoyment of some of the most thrilling upsets in sports.”

Laws that forbid betting include the Inte rst ate Wire Act of 1961, which Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This act outlaws sports betting in nearly prohib“Gambling during all 50 states. As a result, this techits online March Madness is nically means that NCAA Tourpay-to-ennament pools violate the act. ter NCAA an issue because “Gambling is actually a vioTo u r n a it causes kids of lation of the Code of Conduct,” ment pools. young ages to inPrincipal James D’Amico said.

Another directly inherit poor “[Gambling] is always an islaw that gambling habits.” sue when it comes up, and it prohibcertainly is a concern because its online -Jake Thaw ’20 it is one of those things that N C A A happens behind the scenes.”

To u r n a However, many people seem to think ment pools is the Professional and Amateur

that there is no problem with wagering on March Madness by creating a bracket. This is evident by looking at Staples High School’s annual March Madness challenge-The Big Dance where students pay $10 for up to two brackets.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s ok but it’s come to a point where everyone does it,” Dylan Honig ’19 said. “It’s almost expected of you to bet on these games because that’s the way it has been for a long time.”

Even though most brackets feature buy-ins, there are many challenges where instead of winning a large sum of mon-

ey, you are honored with a trophy. The winner of the Sports Literature Tournament Challenge is respected with his or her name engraved into the trophy.

“We make it very clear to students that this bracket challenge is not about gambling, and that we do not condone underage gambling,” Sports Literature teacher Brendan Giolitto said. “The challenge is all about fostering some friendly competition among students [...].”

That competition will end tonight as the two last remaining college basketball teams compete for the national championship.

Johnson and Moro’s long lacrosse legacy comes to an end Emma Rojas ’18

The special bond that’s created between teammates is like no other, but having your best friend on the team can help to improve the game and friendship.

Alexa Moro ’18 and Meghan Johnson ’18 are no strangers to this. Moro, who is the goalie for lacrosse and a midfielder in field hockey, has been on the same team as Johnson, who is a midfielder in lacrosse and forward in field hockey, since fourth grade.

“Our friendship makes playing so much fun, and you can tell we have a bond,” Moro said. “Being best friends brings teammates to a new level that not many people get to experience. I wouldn’t want to share it with anyone else.”

After playing together for so many years, the girls now get to experience being co-captains together.

Along with Christine Taylor ’18 and Abby Najarian ’18, Johnson and Moro are captains of the girls’ lacrosse team.

“Being a

captain means a lot to me because I grew up looking up to the upperclassmen both on and off the field,” Moro said. “I hope I can do the same for younger girls. [...] being chosen as a captain by my teammates is an honor.”

Along with the honor comes leadership and making the adjustments they see fit. “As a junior captain I learned a lot from the senior c a p t a i n s ,” Johnson said. “I took away what I want my se-

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nior year to be like and what I think the team should look like this year.”

Moro and Johnson both credit their dads and brothers for getting them started in lacrosse. “My brother and dad were a huge influence in how I started playing,” Moro said. “My dad has been playing [lacrosse] since high school.”

Johnson also credited her dad. “He really started everything for me by putting a boy’s stick in my hands ever since I could remember.”

Both players agree that their most memo-

Photos by Ellie Kravetz ’18

LAX SEASON (Left to right) Meghan Johnson ’18 does passing drills to warm up.The University of Delaware commit has 53 career goals, 21 assists and 53 caused turnovers as of March 22. Goalie Alexa Moro ’18 poses with Johnson prior to practice. The Villanova University commit led the Wreckers to an 11-5 record, with seven FCIAC wins.

rable game in high school was sophomore year when they beat Wilton 12-10. “It was such a team effort and the energy level was incredible,” Moro said. “It was so much fun.”

A win that Johnson has not forgotten was during a tournament in eighth grade. “It was overtime in the first game and you had to win the first game to get into the championship,” Johnson said. “So the whistle blew starting the five minutes of overtime and Christine Taylor won the draw, passed it to me and I ran down the field, did split dodge and scored.”

With the fun of the sport comes a more serious side. Johnson recalls her high school career on and off the field. “Through the four years of playing and balancing school you learn what works best for you. I found out that after practice,” Johnson said, “I am usually exhausted so the system that works best for me is doing a majority of my work on Sundays and using all my free time during school for work.”

Next year, both girls will continue their lacrosse careers, but they will have to adjust to no longer being on the same team. Johnson will be playing midfield for the University of Delaware and Moro will be goalie at Villanova University.

24

Sports

April 2, 2018

Inklings

Drbal looks to lead Wreckers to back-to-back state titles Jarod Ferguson ’18

W

inning a championship will make you a hero in the eyes of the fans. But if you can repeat as champion, you can become legendary.

As famous baseball player Babe Ruth once said, “Heroes are remembered, but legends never die.”

The boys’ baseball team is hoping to repeat as state champions this season. Chris Drbal ’18, a captain and center-fielder for the Wreckers, will be one of the main reasons if the Wreckers end up achieving this feat.

One might think that Drbal, as captain of a team who has won a state title, would be satisfied with everything he has accomplished so far, but he is hungry for more. “We must not take anything for granted this year, no matter how well we did last year,” Drbal said. “The boys on the team know this concept, and I know we are all working hard in order to produce to the best of our abilities this year.”

Drbal, who hit a triple in the state championship game against Amity last spring, is no stranger to pressure. On the 2013 Westport Little League team, he played in front of huge crowds on national TV on the way to the U.S. Championship Bracket.

Now, five years later, Drbal has to follow in the footsteps of past Staples Wreckers baseball players like Ben Casparius ’17 and Michael Fanning ’17, in order to defend their state championship.

While some players would not be able to handle that much pressure, Drbal is wired differently. Because of baseball, he is able to take what he learns on the field and translate it into his life off it. “Baseball has helped me stay humble, confident and excited about the games and life in general,” Drbal said.

This season will be Drbal’s first season as the captain of any baseball team he’s been on, but those around him feel that he is up for the challenge.

“Chris is a great leader,” Coach Jack McFarland said. “He is our lead-off hitter this year and he will be a tone setter for our team.”

Staples pitcher Alex Cheema ’18 also believes in Drbal’s leadership. “He is definitely a great role model for underclassmen to follow,” Cheema said. “He is the guy on the team you want to be in the future.”

Many of the underclassmen feel that having Drbal on the diamond with them makes them more comfortable.

“Drbal does a great job of making everyone feel like a part of the team and has a great work ethic,” outfielder Kevin Rabacs ’19 said.

“He’s everything you want out of a captain.”

Since this is his last year putting on a Staples jersey, Drbal knows that this year will be an important one.

“It is sad knowing that baseball is coming to an end, but it has brought me so many amazing things, and it has certainly helped me grow as a person,” Drbal said. “I am so grateful to be at the position I am at right now: winning a state championship, being a captain and playing with such an amazing group of kids.”

Photo contributed by David Goldstein

2017 Statistics Batting Average .439 On Base Percentage .475

HOME STRETCH (above) Chris Drbal ’18 bats at a game against Ludlowe on May 15, 2017. Drbal hit a single that secured the 5-4 victory for the Wreckers. (right) Drbal makes a leaping grab against Wilton in the second round of the CIAC playoffs on May 31, 2017. Drbal also hit a two RBI single in a 3-0 winning effort. (below) Drbal runs into third base during a game against McMahon on April 28, 2017. Their 13-3 win secured a .500 finish for the month of April.

9 Runs Batted In 17 Singles 7 Doubles Graphic by Melanie Lust ’19

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Photo contributed by The Ruden Report

Photo contributed by David Goldstein