Edition 4
Friends Seminary
Coronavirus Special Edition
Art by Malik Figaro
June 2020
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Friends Seminary adjusts to distance learning CHARLES GORRIVAN ‘21
While students adapted to life away from 222 East 16th Street, the administration worked behind the scenes to move classrooms to computer screens. A team of faculty members grappled with how to bring teachers and students up to date on new software, change the grading system, accommodate and consider individual circumstances, and reimagine the entire fourth quarter. While time lost together will never be regained with digital fix-ups, Mr. Hassan Wilson, Assistant Head of Upper School, said he has been impressed with the community’s “willingness to go with the flow and be flexible.” At the crux of difficult decisions as COVID-19 evolved was the technology department; they worked through spring break to find the optimal way to continue learning. Scott Adamson, Director of Institutional Technology, said he was grateful to learn from other schools’ challenges and successes while they continued troubleshooting over our spring break. After deliberation and analysis, the team decided to move forward with digital learning via Zoom, a video conferencing software. The administration could only proceed, however, once every community member was equipped with wireless
connection and reliable technology. After those who needed support were sought out, Adamson and the technology team sent out hotspots and devices, and have continued to address repairs and tech requirements since. Adamson said the school’s unexpected closing meant “inventory is small,” and most of it is boxed up in his attic. “I’ve been running stuff to UPS as needed,” Adamson said. “Just to make sure that they [community members] can continue doing what they need to do.” Adamson remarks that through tough decisions and nimble workarounds, “the school has been thoughtful and supportive of the families and the tech department by providing what they can to help people maintain and operate in this new way.” The tech department is always available to support the community. “Technology is critical to your day to day, whether it’s just catching up with friends or, you know, doing your schoolwork” Adamson said. “When something just doesn’t work, it gets really frustrating, really fast.” Adamson said the technology department “understands that.” For teachers, learning to instruct online classes was a challenge in itself, even with the right technology. “Some teachers
didn’t even know what Zoom was,” Mr. Wilson said. To prepare teachers for their new environment, professional development training was offered over spring break. To plan the fourth quarter without in-person class or the ability to administer traditional assessments, teachers dealt with a paradigm shift. Many changed the end-of-year workload altogether. AP teachers attempted to prepare students for an unprecedented online format. Lower and middle school teachers brainstormed ways to hold their students’ attention. Ultimately, Wilson said, “I’ve been impressed with [the teacher’s] willingness to be graceful, flexible, and to try new things.” What had to be recognized both as a complication of digital learning and as the impact of COVID-19 – as it contributes to stress, aggravates mental health, affects loved ones, and introduces new responsibilities – was that the Friends community could not hold the same expectation of performance in the fourth quarter. Acknowledging the nuances of the changed environment informed the administration’s decision to shift to a pass or fail grading system. Year grades will now largely be a reflection of a student’s work from the first three quarters. Wilson said that they realized “teachers and students could not be at their best,” and that the complexity of the moment called for a uniform readjustment. It was similarly important not to burden students with excessive screen time, Wilson said. Given that most homework assignments were already going to be completed online, the administration decided to shift from an eight-day schedule to a four day work week. The change helped accommodate middle and lower school teachers and included a free day on Wednesday and a 9 a.m. start to address screen fatigue. While at first Meeting for Worship was not considered after stories of “horrific intrusions on Zoom meetings” at other schools, Wilson said it entered the discussion after he successfully attended an online meeting elsewhere. Wilson said the administration eventually decided it was important to include the Quaker exercise and continue bringing the community together. “We were really worried about students feeling isolated or lonely,” so it was important to preserve a valued tradition that brings us together, he said. To promote connectivity and encourage healthy discourse, the Center for Peace Equity and Justice (CPEJ) has also launched an initiative called ‘Some Good News,’ modeled after John Krasinski’s weekly report by the same name. On Wednesdays, CPEJ has brought in
noteworthy speakers, such as healthcare workers on the frontline, practicing journalists, and authors. The meetings have covered topics such as Asian American Heritage, healthcare, philanthropy, and journalism, among other issues. CPEJ’s discussions have continued valuable conversation and also helped to bring the community together while we are apart. Clubs have also been encouraged to continue meeting after classes on Tuesday. The Debate Team, Food for Thought Club, and newspaper, among other student organizations, have continued to meet digitally. Club leadership and committee affirmations have continued via digital elections; the confirmation and interview process for new clubs is continuing via Zoom. Responding to community feedback, decisions made early on have also been reworked. At the bidding of the agenda committee, parent and student letters, and in response to feedback taken from Advisory and class meetings, for example, Meeting for Worship and advisory changed from twice to once a week. A collaboration period to meet with teachers, and a period for class meeting and Meeting for Announcements, was added to the schedule. As the administration plans for the fall, Wilson said “we will continue to take feedback” from students that will inform their decisions. Student success through distance learning has been varied. “There is a bell curve,” Wilson said. “Some students flourished before distance learning and are continuing to now,” and some did not thrive before distance learning and “are now flourishing.” Wilson said the majority of students, however, “are just doing the best they can.” A survey conducted by the Insight found that among 77 students surveyed, 48.7% had been able to keep up their best work, 10.5 % had improved, and 40.8% had become less productive away from school. For students struggling with distance learning, Wilson suggests that you be “kind to yourself,” and be okay when “maybe things take longer, or maybe you’re more tired than usual, or maybe you’re not as engaged as usual.” While school may continue to be stressful, “give yourself the space to feel sad, to feel angry, to feel depressed,” but all the while “have some perspective on what’s good about your situation - you know, you’re still alive, and you can go on Zoom and connect with people.” While those sound like “opposing thoughts,” striking a balance, Wilson said, is critical.
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June 2020
Friends students reflect on the black experience BRYSON BRUNSON ‘21, JULIAN ROMAN PHILSON REYES ‘23, & NYLU BERNSHTAYN ‘23
The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2012 with the murder of Trayvon Martin. He was an innocent Black teenager walking home with a bag of Skittles when he was brutally killed by George Zimmeran, an overly zealous vigilante no doubt motivated by anti-Black racism. Ever since then, the number of unarmed Black people murdered by violent racists has increased. We remember Eric Garner, Atatiana Jefferson, Sandra Bland, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and all of the other innocent Black people who have been killed. We remember that there are others whose names and stories we have not mentioned or do not yet know. In light of recent events, we honor George Floyd. He was a Black man who allegedly tried to use a counterfeit 20 dollar bill in a store on May 25th; whom a police officer killed by kneeling on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. For 2 minutes and 53 seconds of that time Floyd was unconscious – presumably dead. The killing and targeting of Black people in America is not a new issue. In 1619, the first Africans to arrive in British North America were enslaved to British colonists who had purchased them from Portuguese slavers hell-bent on robbing Africa of its
people. And ever since then Black people have been fighting for racial justice for over 400 years. The concept of race was constructed by White European colonizers as justification for the practice of slavery so that they could degrade Black people. So they could make it seem as if White people were the superior race. So they could make it seem as if Black people were not human at all. In the eyes of enslavers, these racist ideas justified Black people being overworked against their will for hundreds of years. As a result, enslaved Africans and their descendants died prematurely due to exhaustion, overwork, and outright murder. In the post-slavery period, this legacy continued through systems of racialized control and economic exploitation. In almost every sphere of American life, Black people have been put at a disadvantage. Thousands of Black people were lynched beginning in the 1830s solely because of racist perceptions of their skin color. The only thing that has changed today with the murders of innocent Black people is that they are being filmed; these are modern-day lynchings. Black people have had to fight for a very long time. We are tired of having to fight for our rights. We live in a country that proclaims that all
humans are born equal; that ideal has not transferred to Black and Brown people. Black people, both as protesters and rioters, have taken to the streets to show how tired they are of seeing innocent Black men and women being murdered by police and racist Americans. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, protests have occurred in all 50 states and in countries all around the world. Buildings and police stations have been burned. Businesses have been looted. Although some may have damaged property, protesters have worked hard not to do violence to other human beings. Yet people peacefully practicing their right to assembly have been attacked by police. Some people, especially those in governmental leadership positions, have condemned the protests and the damage of property, claiming that such damage is violence that cannot be justified. Yet they have failed to denounce racist violence. They have called protesters names and have discouraged them from standing up for what is right and condemning what is wrong. People continue to ask why protesters have damaged property as opposed to remaining completely peaceful. We have tried to protest peacefully, but that has not worked. Colin Kaepernick knelt at a football game during a song, the seemingly most peaceful way to protest, and he lost his job. We have tried to lobby for change in our government, but that has not worked. Some protesters have therefore chosen a different strategy to wake Americans up, to demand justice. It seems that Americans care more about property than people; therefore, some protestors have attacked property in an effort to show us all what really matters. No matter what protest occurs with the goal of ending systemic racism in America, it will always be criticised. The reality is, Black people are tired. The community has had to deal with inequality, police brutality, a disparity in jobs and educational opportunities, White supremacy, among other issues, for hundreds of years. Black people want to combat these issues more now than ever before. We are tired of being marginalized. We are tired of being the last to be thought of. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. The emotional impact of these murders on Black people is as great as the physical one. Having to watch the murder of a human being is sickening. When an innocent Black person is murdered, it is especially hard for another Black person to bear witness to that tragedy. When a Black person watches
a video of their fellow Black brother or sister being killed, they see themself in that person’s situation. They see their mother, their father, their sibling, their best friend. They see the anti-racism movement take 1,000 steps backwards. They see America oppressing the entire Black community. They see the color of their skin as a prison rather than a protection. They fear going outside and walking past police. Who can you call when it’s the police who are the ones hurting you? Who are the police supposed to be ‘protecting and serving’ when they are killing Black people day after day? Black people have been set back by the way this country is structured since the day the first enslaved Africans stepped off the first slave ship in Virginia. For years, Black people have tried to show that they are tired and want an equitable country for all. It is time for change. “How can I show solidarity and be an ally?” you may be asking yourself. White people play an essential part in fighting for racial equality. White people can start by learning about their privilege and how to use it in this current time of racial injustice. You can go to protests, while of course being safe. Use this time to learn from other people. Make space for Black voices to be heard. You can sign petitions, make calls, send texts, send emails, and donate. You can post anti-racism resources on social media to make others aware. Go to anti-racism workshops and talks via Zoom and engage in conversations that are uncomfortable and that you are not used to having. Talk to your White family members and friends about these critical issues. Ask your Black peers how they are doing and take the time to listen to what they have to say. We know this is an especially hard time for Black people. We want you to keep your head up and stay determined even while it may seem like the entire country has its knee on your neck. If you need mental health resources during this time, check out organizations like Therapy For Black Girls, Therapy For Black Men, Melanin & Mental Health, Ethel’s Club, Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM), and Black Mental Health Alliance. Remember that every Black life matters. Black is beautiful! #BlackLivesMatter
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Lower Manhattan unde
JUNE HARK
The Oculus, Manhattan.
Two Statues of Liberty outside a storefront, Manhattan.
Central Street Station, Chinatown, Manhattan.
Front door of a storefront, Tribeca, Manhattan.
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June 2020
er stay-at-home orders
KRIDER ‘21
Empty shelves in Duane Reade, Tribeca, Manhattan.
Souvenir shop, Tribeca, Manhattan.
ATMS in , Tribeca, Manhattan.
The Oculus, Manhattan.
Magazines in Duane Reade, Tribeca, Manhattan.
6 What do you miss most about school?
How worried are you that school won’t reopen in the fall?
In-person classes
Very worried
Sports
Worried
Clubs
Somewhat worried
Teachers
Not worried
Friends
Student Wellbeing by the Numbers How would you describe quarantine in one word?
Data was taken from 77 responses collected from a survey sent to the Upper School.
How have you dealt with being away from the Friends Community? Very well
Have you been able to keep up your work outside of school? It’s become better
Well
yes
In between
It’s become worse
Poorly Very poorly
Graphs: Google Forms (re-colored). Word Cloud: https://wordart.com/
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June 2020
COVID-19 as an immunocompromised person
Quarantine tips ALLEGRA TORRES-KELLY ‘21
JAMIE PALLADINO ‘22
Art by June Harkrider ‘21
Back in August of 2018, just a week before school began, I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL leukemia). My treatment started immediately after diagnosis; I plunged into a lifestyle I was not prepared to endure. I took high doses of chemotherapy daily and suffered through all the side effects, one of which was a much weaker immune system. Because of my weakened immune system, even the most minimal contact with an unknown germ or a sick person could have major consequences for my health. So, for the next nine months, I barely saw anyone aside from family members. There wasn’t a term for what I was doing back then (at least not to my knowledge). But now there is — social distancing. When I was social distancing during my first nine months of treatment, it felt like the rest of the world was marching on, and I was being left behind. People were living their lives normally, coming and going as they
pleased, while I was bound to the confines of my apartment. It was isolating and lonely and sometimes it felt like it wasn’t real. It felt unfair, and I resented the doctors who told me to stay inside and isolate myself. After those nine months, I never wanted to do anything similar again – ever. Then, the COVID19 pandemic forced not only me, but almost everyone across the globe into varying degrees of quarantine. COVID-19 social distancing is a different experience. It seems a little less lonely, maybe. All of the population is quarantined this time – but it’s isolating in other ways. We’re expected to limit in-person interactions, resigned to seeing and socializing with each other through a screen. During the first nine months of treatment, I was still allowed to see people face to face, albeit a limited amount of people. Eventually, I could take quick walks outside as long as I steered clear of sick people. Now, social distancing is a rule being enforced by the city, not a strong
suggestion by a team of doctors. I’m terrified. As an immunocompromised person, I get sick more easily and stay sick longer. I’ve only gone outside three times during this quarantine — once to get a routine spinal tap, and two other times for blood work. All three times, I left my apartment squeezed into three layers of clothing, a pair of latex gloves, and two masks: it was hard to breathe properly. As I walked down the street, the second I saw another person approaching, I crossed to the other side or, at the very least, moved to the edge of the sidewalk. If someone walked a little too close, I held my breath and hoped that they weren’t passing the virus onto me. I’m well aware of how paranoid I sound, but that’s the reality that I live as a person more at risk for COVID-19. When COVID-19 reached the United States, I became acutely aware of everyone who coughed, sneezed, or rode in a subway car with me. I turned down an invitation to a birthday party. I stopped going to school a day or two before it officially closed when the first case was reported in New York City. I wasn’t willing to take a chance. Every decision I made during the earlier days of COVID-19 in New York had me asking myself: Am I overreacting? Even as I sat in the Uber on the day of my spinal tap, with the number of COVID-19 cases multiplying, I asked myself the same question. I hate feeling like I’m overreacting or being too cautious. I just want to feel normal again. It’s as if my life has been broken into two parts — me before leukemia where I was healthy and worried less, and me after leukemia, where I have to be careful all the time. Especially during a global pandemic. It sometimes feels like the ‘before leukemia’ part of my life was negligible since it feels like I’ve been living the ‘post-leukemia’ lifestyle forever. Now, weeks into the COVID-19 quarantine, I feel validated in how vigilant I was. It’s not like I wanted to be right in my concern, but sadly, I was. As someone who has been through nine months of social distancing (though not to this extreme), all I can offer is that you carry on through this tough time, and that you hold out for hope.
I, like many other people in the world, have selfquarantined because of COVID-19. While protective and necessary to aid in public global health, quarantine brings up feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, and may even end up triggering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Most of us aren’t used to the drastic decrease in human contact. It is difficult to be in isolation, and I think it’s easy to feel confused. I have been in quarantine for about five and a half weeks and in that time, I’ve felt lost, drained, sad, and anxious, and lonely. Constantly looking at the news, spending hours on screens – it’s mentally draining for me, and it heightens my anxiety and loneliness. It’s been disrupting my sleep schedule. While it’s necessary to stay connected to the happenings of the world and keep in touch with friends and family, I have found it is equally important not spend my waking hours staring at screens. I’ve found that making some sort of to-do list every day keeps me occupied and makes me feel like I have a purpose; I feel a little less chaotic. I also try to practice a hobby (typically watercolors), which gives me a creative outlet. But I’ve also had my fair share of days spent binging TV shows. If you feel like you need a day to just lie in bed and do nothing for a while, do that. Listen to your body and do what feels right - what’s most important is to keep yourself feeling good and staying healthy. And remember: even though quarantine is a trying time, it is only temporary.
Illustrations by Allegra Torres-Kelly ‘21
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The risk and the reward: When can students return to school? SAMARA FRIEDMAN ‘22
COVID-19 has prevented over a million students from attending school in New York City. Besides the risk of infection, underlying physical and emotional health crises are being exacerbated. Students across New York are struggling with absenteeism and a lack of accessibility to educational resources. Some students are stuck in abusive households and are suffering from malnourishment. As the coronavirus devastates over one million students in New York City, Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio struggle to make the hard decision of whether or not to return to school in the fall, or to continue online learning. New York City has the largest public school system in the United States, supporting over 1.1 million students. 750,000 of those children live in low-income housing and 114,000 of them are homeless, living either in shelters or unstable housing. For many students, school is their lifeline for hot meals, medical attention, washing machines, clothing, and other vital resources. According to the New York Times, “Around 75% of New York City public school children qualify for free or reduced-priced school lunch.” Because schools no longer are meeting in person, many students will suffer from malnutrition. According to the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, “balanced nutrition is crucial for endurance, physical growth, cognitive development and productivity. As well, malnutrition is considered a pressing problem that affects the ability of children to learn and causes them to perform at a lower level in school.” Therefore, with the lack of food, students both will falter academically and their health will be endangered, beyond the immediate risk of contracting COVID-19. Absenteeism is another problem. With school being handled remotely, more students are missing class and foregoing assignments. Absence rates are the highest among low-income students. The New York Times reports that fewer than half of regularly participating students now log onto school remotely. Some students who miss significant amounts of school will have to repeat grades. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, 178,000 public school students will need to continue school through the summer. Resources that are necessary for a successful experience in online-based learning, such as computers and stable access to the internet, are not readily available for
all students. Before public facilities were closed down, many students who did not have access to WiFi at home used libraries; now they are unavailable. The New York Times reported that the state will provide laptops during remote learning to students without access to a personal device. However, many students still are not connected to the internet at home. As of a month ago, 175,000 laptops, iPads, and Chromebooks were distributed; however, 125,000 children still lacked devices. As of May 24, the government was to continue handing out around 25 to 50 thousand more devices. These disparities show the problems that low-income homes face. In normal times schools can better level the playing field between families with different access to
session in the city, are unable to administer school-located vaccinations. Doctors worry they won’t be able to immunize children, and that, without vaccinations, we may see another health crisis. Abusive households pose threats to children, especially during the coronavirus. New York is experiencing an uptick in domestic violence. In normal times, concerns about children’s wellbeing are raised by teachers. Educators report up 20% of child abuse cases. Without educators checking in, many of these cases may go unreported. High tensions in the city have themselves contributed to an increase in substance abuse. Unemployment in New York City rose from 4.1% to 14.2% in the month of April. The stress from fear of
canstockphoto.com
resources, but online education deepens these issues significantly. Students at school have access to technological resources, but students at home only have the resources their families provide. Limited access to technology correlates with a more difficult experience with online-based education. Without schools, students also will struggle to receive vaccines, such as MMRV which prevents measles, rubella, mumps, and chickenpox. According to the New York Times, vaccination rates for preventable illnesses have fallen across the country by 40-73 percent, depending on the area. The Times also reports that in New York, families have been struggling to get their children vaccinated as physicians close office doors. Schools, being out of
infection as well as financial worries may contribute to an uptick in domestic violence. But how will returning to school affect rates of infection? According to studies, fewer children seem to be infected by COVID-19 than adults. Studies conducted in Wuhan, show that children were roughly one-third as susceptible to infection as adults. However, when the students went back to school, the opportunity for infection tripled with increased contact. Researchers in the Times have released statements that the closure of schools reduces the surge of infection rate by 40-60%. In New York City specifically, some students have also contracted PMIS, pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which has been
linked to COVID-19. Although COVID-19 is primarly a respiratory disease, PMIS is a syndrome that affects organs and blood vessels. There is also a strong divide between the options of private and public schools, specifically in New York City. Our city is one of the country’s three largest districts that does not require teachers to do live video instruction. Many private schools are providing video instruction. New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed a four phase reopening plan; schools would be opened in the last phase. For public schools some protocols for reopening would require testing for students and staff, daily temperature checks, deep cleaning after any possible infections, social distancing, and alternative times and days (different groups of children attending school at different times). There could be some students who attend school while the rest learn remotely. The Economist reports that many students and faculty question their return to school, for fear of the coronavirus. So even if schools were to reopen, there must be virtual options for students who wish or need to stay home. So, if the Friends Seminary students were to go back to school in the fall, what could it look like? In Bo Lauder’s email he talked about the Friends Healthy Fall Reopening Committee (FHFR) which will explore the options of a safe return to school. In order to return to school, we may have to start with staggering days. We could test out alternative days; a mix between some students receiving in-school education and others using at-home distance learning. Community breakfasts will likely be cancelled and lunch plans reimagined. No parent or caregiver may be able to visit (with the exceptions of emergencies). All students could be required to wear masks and gloves and maintain social distancing. Social distancing would be hard to practice in a school setting, classes and meeting spaces would have to be rearranged. If we return to school in the fall, it will look far different from what we considered normal. While school provides academic, social, and emotional support to students that might otherwise be unavailable, online school could help prevent the spread of the highly infectious and potentially fatal diseases. So, should we send students back to school come the fall, or do we continue with online education?
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June 2020
Olivia Kane ‘21 considers the college process OLIVIA KANE ‘21
College Board logo.
On the last day of classes before school closed early, I remember some of my classmates saying that it might be the last time we saw each other this year. At the time I laughed quietly to myself, believing this to be an overreaction, and perhaps the wishful thinking of students who hoped to avoid the grueling work that comes with being a high school junior. However, as the days passed and the situation worsened, SAT centers for the Mach test date announced that they would not administer the test. Many students opt to take a variety of standardized tests in the spring of their junior year and spend months preparing for these spring testing dates. A few weeks later the College Board and ACT announced that the May and June SAT and the April ACT test would be cancelled across the country. I suddenly felt unsure about what this would mean for my college process. Already all the colleges that I had planned to tour over Spring Break had announced cancellations. Although I worried about not being able to tour campuses and explore the environment of different colleges, I was far more concerned with the test cancellations. Many students take these standardized tests multiple times to get their best scores. However, with fewer testing dates available, that possibility is not as feasible. Additionally, in the spring of junior year, students often take a variety of subject tests and AP exams. As of this year no college requires subject tests; however, they are still recommended by many. Standardized testing can be one of the most stressful parts of the college admission process. The sudden anxiety of how I was going to be able to take multiple subject tests
and the SAT was crushing. I had been looking forward to finishing these tests in the spring of my junior year so I would not have to obsess over them during the summer. However, COVID19 has made it likely that many juniors will have to take the SAT for the first time in August and retest in September. Many will skip standardized testing altogether, especially after the UC system’s decision to go test-optional. Additionally, the change in AP exams this year was a disappointment. I was surprised that these exams were not cancelled as A Levels were in the United Kingdom. The College’s Board choice to administer the APs, although shortened to 45 minutes, has greatly frustrated me. I have spent all year working on hard and advanced material and I do not believe that a 45 minute exam can accurately reflect my knowledge of that material. Some of the quizzes that I have taken in my AP classes were longer than the actual exam will be this year. The college admissions process for the class of 2021 is going to be vastly different from those of previous high schoolers. Indeed, colleges have announced that they understand the unprecedented circumstances and have made decisions to work with students in this time, such as going ‘test optional’ or de-emphasizing the importance of subject tests. But how will juniors be able to take any standardized tests even if social distancing guidelines loosen up? If they cannot, will colleges be forced to rethink that aspect of the admission process? Without the option of tours for the foreseeable future how will juniors truly be able to come to the decision about wanting to attend a certain college?
OP-ED: Liberty does not mean irresponsibility BEATRICE MOYERS ‘21
COVID-19 is obviously a very big deal. As of now, there are about 2 million confirmed cases in the United States, and that number is sure to be out of date by the time that this article is published. After almost three months in quarantine, there is no consensus on how we should proceed. Americans often define their country’s values using the word “freedom,” so it is extremely difficult to convince them that they don’t have the right to go out. In the past few weeks, many states have started to reopen, but we still don’t have a vaccine. There’s no easy answer to the question of when the country should reopen, and some feel that addressing the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 should be our priority. For example, Henry McMaster, the governor of South Carolina, has allowed gyms, pools, restaurants, and some retail stores to reopen, saying that “Our goal is to save lives, but also to save jobs and to save families and save the futures that are depending on these businesses that are so heavily hit and impacted.” It seems that people are so desperate to go out again, they’re willing to overlook the potential health risk involved. On May 21st, Disney World’s Disney Springs reopened, after being closed for over two months. Guests could go shopping and eat in restaurants, although all rides were still shut down. However, despite the extremely limited nature of the reopening, many restaurants and shops had long lines, as people flocked to come visit. As one Disney blogger wrote on Disney Tourist Blog, “Guys, do it and go! I went and it was okay, but worth it! You can hear the Disney music, and it does still feel magical!” If crowds will brave the possibility of infection to go to a Disney World with no rides that is just “okay,” they’re most likely willing to disregard the ongoing danger the virus poses. America has long been a country where people feel entitled to certain rights. At the beginning of the Declaration of Independence, it states that all men “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” From its creation, America has thought of itself as a country in which citizens have the right to pursue “happiness” and have exercise “liberty, ” regardless of how true that actually has been. This means (at
least ostensibly) that people can choose what they want to do with their lives. These words have also always been vague. What exactly does “liberty” entail, and what did the founders mean when they said that everyone should be entitled to pursue happiness? Many who have taken to the streets in protest of social distancing have taken the words of the founding fathers to express a sentiment that’s also been voiced countless times in the past: This is America, so we can do whatever makes us feel good, and no one can stop us. These sentiments are perhaps best demonstrated by the words of one man, who answered a Costco employee asking him to put on a mask by saying he wouldn’t wear one “because I woke up in a free country.” But problems emerge when expressing your freedom harms other people and defies policies put in place for community well-being. As we all know at this point, COVID-19 is extremely contagious. We practice social distancing to slow down the disease’s spread and to protect the most vulnerable people from getting sick. Since a vaccine is still a while away, some have expressed the opinion that social distancing shouldn’t be ending very soon. A research paper from Harvard’s school of public health has declared that “prolonged or intermittent social distancing may be necessary into 2022.” However, it’s important to note the precautions required by many places that are beginning to reopen. In Disney Springs, guests can only take off their masks while eating; this rule has been strictly enforced. Other places have seen similar restrictions, as reopened restaurants run at limited capacity in order to prevent the spread of disease between customers. If COVID-19 isn’t going away any time soon, initiatives like these are the only way forward. It’s also important to recognize that although social distancing protests may seem illogical, these protesters are at least partially reacting to the very real fears of a wrecked economy and massive unemployment. At some point, more places will start to reopen, and it will be up to individuals to determine how comfortable they are engaging with the outside world. But, while the question of when to reopen states is complicated, one thing remains certain: COVID-19 is serious, and things won’t be the way they were pre-virus for a long time. And if you’re asked to wear a mask? You should wear one.
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Equality for Flatbush supports community with mutual aid
OP-ED: No handshakes in the Hamptons, please
CHARLES GORRIVAN ‘21
MIA GIGANTE ‘21
floundering government cannot. The people Nylu and her mom help, often low-income minority groups, have been among the hardest hit by the virus. Without the type of neighborly support provided by mutual aid, many would be without essential care and supplies. The aid that the government does supply is subject to partisan battles and stalling; it took two weeks, after all, for the House to approve a relief package in March. Rather than relying on government officials to cut red tape, neighborly support and mutual aid can protect vulnerable groups in the short term. The virus is indiscriminate in those it infects, but not in those it kills. Elderly and immunocompromised groups, to name two, are far more vulnerable. Therefore, while it is wise to follow stay at home orders, it is admirable to care for those who take a greater risk on their grocery runs. For Nylu, that means that though staying safe in grocery stores and on deliveries is a worry, she would not call the work scary: the payoff outweighs any risk. “It feels good to help people in need,” Nylu Bernshtayn ‘23 delivers essential goods as part of the she said, “thankfully we still #BrooklynShowsLove mutual aid project. have money coming in, and are healthy, but other people aren’t as fortunate.” And, Nylu Bernshtayn ’23, has stepped while the virus means that smiles must up in her local community of Flatbush, be hidden behind masks and interactions Brooklyn. Along with her mother, a are speedy, Nylu said “people have been practicing nurse at SUNY Downstate incredibly thankful.” Medical Center, Nylu has been delivFriends students looking to join mutual ering groceries and supplies to people aid groups should visit websites like who have been medically or economi- ‘mutualaid.org.nyc’ which can direct you cally disenfranchised. She works with to an organization in your NYC commuthe people-of-color-led group Equality nity. For anyone in the greater Brooklyn for Flatbush, which normally does anti- area, Nylu asks that they “check out this police repression, affordable housing, organization [Equality for Flatbush], and anti-gentrification organizing in the because they really need help. It’s all Flatbush and East Flatbush communities. hands on deck at this point.” When volThe nonprofit is applying their principles unteering, it is important to follow social to the current crisis in a mutual aid effort, distancing guidelines and be responsible. #BrooklynShowsLove. By supporting the But, while public health officials correctly community in ways that governments do encourage distancing and personal safety not – providing groceries and checking measures, we mustn’t forget those most in – Nylu’s effort shows the imperative vulnerable. “Now is the time to help,” of rendering mutual aid during crises. Nylu said. Mutual aid provides the direct support a
Fortunate Manhattanites have fled to the Hamptons to distance themselves from New York City, a COVID-19 hotspot. Some had already contracted COVID-19 themselves. However, many of these New Yorkers have forgotten the severity of a pandemic world. Their arrival has caused a litany of complaints that the newcomers are emptying shelves of local supermarkets, pretending they are on vacation, and treating locals unfairly. The Hamptons is largely a summer destination, and its communities were not prepared for a sudden influx of people – especially at a time of year when resources are scarce. Those who live in the Hamptons year-round are now forced to compete with Manhattanites, who enter supermarkets with doomsday instincts. They buy copious amounts of food and make it difficult for the people who actually live there to get provisions. Speaking to this issue, Southampton realtor Romaine Gordon said, “Think of all the older people who have to wait for their Social Security checks or food stamps. Then they get the courage to go, and there’s nothing to buy. Every person out here doesn’t have the luxury of laying down their debit card whenever they choose. I saw old people at King Kullen shell-shocked with their empty baskets. These poor people — they’re literally risking their lives to go to the grocery store, and you go home with what? It’s really upsetting.” Even in the early hours designated for senior citizens to shop alone in the supermarket, waits are ridiculous. On top
of that, many people working for summer residents (managing pools, doing landscaping, cleaning houses) are being asked to provide services even in the off season. Montauker James Katspis told the New York Post in an interview, “The weirdest, is they all want their pools heated. It was 28 degrees the other night, and they want them heated to 88.” Some New Yorkers also continue to gather in large numbers and end up transferring the disease to the locals with their carelessness. For example, one Manhattan woman who tested positive for COVID19 called Southampton Hospital and told them she needed treatment. They told her to stay home, but she instead got on public transportation, kept her condition a secret, and demanded treatment once she got to the hospital. The hospitals are not equipped enough to handle the onslaught of cases as it is, and the lack of social distancing makes it even worse. Southampton Hospital not only serves Southampton, but East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, Noyack, Amagansett, Hampton Bays, and Montauk as well. The hospital only has 125 beds, and just eight of them are in the Intensive Care Unit. The city has more hospitals and better resources to treat people who have tested positive. This has obviously been a trying time for everyone – some much more than others – but the most vital thing we all must do is stay home. If we forget to heed the guidelines that Governor Cuomo and our national government have outlined, there could be irreparable damage done to the Hamptons community, and to our country.
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June 2020
Colum McCann’s Apeirogon encourages conflict resolution AMNON SCHARIA ‘20 Throughout this extraordinary period of uncertainty, global cooperation has shown its necessity. People across the globe have been forced to work in partnership to halt the progression of the virus. People from all over have altered their daily lives for the betterment of others and the world, thus offering optimism, and a more promising future — a future that will stem from a global dialogue focused on connectivity. The importance of discourse in bridging social and political division is ever-apparent in Colum McCann’s most recent novel, Apeirogon, which explores how conversation can help transcend societal barriers and bigotry. In Apeirogon, McCann details the personal narratives of an Israeli and a Palestinian both impacted first-hand by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The book incandescently highlights the complexity and beauty of the relationship between Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian father, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli father. The division that Bassam and Rami must bridge is, of course, a bitter 100-yearold conflict. Despite immense historical differences, Rami and Bassam foster a rich relationship after experiencing utter tragedy: Bassam’s ten-year-old daughter Abir was shot in the back of the head by a rubber bullet from an Israeli soldier, and Rami’s twelve-year-old daughter Smadar was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber. Instead of using their grief to fuel the entrenchment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (as has been done for countless years), the deaths of their daughters allow Rami and Bassam to build to connection. Rami and Bassam’s relationship does not just develop through loss, but also blossoms from dialogue and personal connection. As McCann writes early in his novel, “It was an idea so simple that Bassam wondered how he had ignored
it for so long: [Israelis] too had families, histories, shadows” (McCann 28). After dialogue with Israeli peers, Bassam has a revelation, realizing that Israelis are humans too. Indeed, his realization contradicts the fundamental notions of dehumanization he has grown up with. Rami too, finds himself seeing humanity where he had been taught not to. As McCann con-
conflict resolution. McCann said, “After a roof over our heads, and food and water in our bellies, we need our stories. Our stories legislate us. And they survive us. They are the only things we have which actually, in the end, have the ability to cheat death. And while we are alive, the stories we tell – and the stories we listen to – make the world a bigger and more tolerable place.”
“While we are alive, the stories we tell – and the stories we listen to – make the world a bigger and more tolerable place.” -Colum McCann
tinues to explore the depths of their minds, he emphasizes the importance of dialogue in fostering connections and humanity. In an interview with Colum McCann, I asked him about the significance of dialogue in
McCann is a firm believer in the power of dialogue, and in 2013 he co-founded Narrative 4, a non-profit which builds empathy through stories and dialogue. McCann believes in programs such as Narrative 4,
Seeds of Peace, the Parents Circle Family Forum (cofounded by Rami and Bassam), and Combatants for Peace, (founded by Bassam Aramin). He thinks they will shed light on personal narratives and dialogue. When implemented on the global level, these practices are the key to conflict resolution. As McCann noted, “We need young people flying in directions nobody thought they could ever go.” Just as Rami, Bassam, McCann, and members of their respective organizations continue to advocate, raise awareness, and converse their way towards peace, now it is everyone’s turn to take a leap of faith. We should attempt to engage in dialogue, write stories, and post on social media, to make a difference in not only the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but more generally in disputes throughout the world. McCann said, “It has to be random and it has to be crowdsourced and it has to be so full of passion that the world has never seen anything like it before.” As we carefully navigate through nuanced times, and as COVID-19 continues to run rampant, we must be grateful for the people putting their lives on the line to improve the world. We too must continue to try and create conversation, whether it be on social media, blogs, or anywhere on the internet. If we instead choose to stagnate in our bubbles we risk the fatal symptom of isolation: misunderstanding. Apeirogon and Rami and Bassam’s narratives shed light and spread optimism onto a seemingly bleak and endless loop of doubt. If we elect to draw strength from and follow in the footsteps of heroes such as Colum McCann, Rami Elhanan, and Bassam Aramin, who work tirelessly to promote dialogue, we can ensure that the expedition towards peace may not be as arduous as we might think.
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COVID-19 affects journalists and newspapers CHARLES GORRIVAN ‘21
A television journalist covers their microphone in plastic to protect against Covid-19. Photo by Frank Rumpenhorst
COVID-19 has changed how newspapers operate. Plans to cover sports, culture, and business have all been uprooted. Instead, as it is during natural disasters, war, or any crisis, journalists must serve as the crucial disseminators of information, truthfully relaying public risks, the government’s reaction, and guidelines for safe conduct. Reacting to the imperative of their responsibility, papers like the New York Times, among many others, have dropped the paywall for their Coronavirus coverage. Monica Drake, an Assistant Managing Editor at the Times, explained their decision in an interview. Information about the pandemic, she says, is “public information that is essential.” To tell stories, however, reporters must learn to work within social distancing guidelines, wrestle with finding the most effective narratives to tell the story, and cope with the shortcomings of a virtual workplace. Editors must downsize and cope with lost revenue from advertisements. On the other side of this mess, smaller publications will be lost and newspapers will be reshaped – the landscape of journalism will be indelibly altered. Telling the story of Coronavirus is a challenge in itself. Reporter, author, and Friends parent Lauren Sandler, who has always worked in person, says her work has shifted from “old fashion shoe-leather reporting,” to “phone calls, emails, and aggregation.” Having had to deal with COVID-19 symptoms herself, sickness has also been an obstacle to her work. Finding the right story is also a difficulty. People are inundated with statistics
and doomsday scenarios. That makes telling an original and refreshing story paramount. For Justin Lane, Friends parent, photojournalist, and the European Pressphoto Agency’s New York Bureau chief, making that distinction can be hard. “Everyone is being affected on one level or another,” Lane said. “That makes covering the story extremely overwhelming. There isn’t one place where you have to go to just exclusively get access to tell the story.” Monica Drake says the New York Times also makes hard decisions as they try to identify their role in the pandemic world. Should they report an unbiased reflection of society or promote healthy public health behaviors? Grappling with that question is difficult when they decide whether to cover “Reopen America” protests, or conspiracies that assume COVID-19 was created in a Chinese lab. Reporting on these stories risks promoting misinformation and dangerous behavior. At the same time, however, Drake acknowledges that if enough people have a dangerous mindset, it must be covered. Drake says that “as our mandate is to cover the world, we have to cover that too.” To provide a fuller picture, Drake says they try to be “deliberate and not overcover things because they seem tempting.” Instead, Drake says the Times tries to “get to the heart of the issue” rather than report unaltered quotes that may amplify misleading reports. In practice, however, ethical reporting remains difficult, especially with endless unsubstantiated reports fuelling damaging fallacies and encouraging harmful reactions. The economic impact of COVID-19
on newspapers is also integrated into the challenge of covering it. For freelancers like Sandler, “it’s a very intense time at the moment to be making a living as a journalist and frankly to be moved to report as a journalist,” as “there’s no money to pay you and there’s very little bandwidth for acceptances.” Larger publications that rely heavily on a subscriber base will likely compensate for their losses with a spike in readership. The pandemic has “resulted in web traffic increases of 60 percent for online news publishers,” says the report by technology company Parse.ly. While that is reassuring news for subscriber based publications, traffic is difficult to monetize for a publication that relies on advertisements. With ad sales falling off as the travel industry and other services languish, lost advertising revenue may outstrip any gains in subscription fees. Specifically smaller publications that depend on print models and advertisement revenue are going to be stuck in the mud, says Rick Edmonds, Media Analyst and Leader of News Transformation at the Poynter Institute. “A small newsroom, a struggling newsroom,” Edmonds says. “Yeah, those are really imperiled and I think we’ll lose a number of them.” That means that COVID-19 will contribute to the rise of ‘News Deserts’ in the United States. Already, 225 counties are without a paper, and half of all counties – 1528 – have only one. Many remaining papers are understaffed and fail to provide adequate coverage. That number may grow exponentially due to the economic impact of the virus. Local newsrooms, which often speak truth to power and increase cohesiveness in local communities, grapple with a difficult future. Also, local papers are responsible for increasing necessary dialogue and voter participation. With a divided country entering an election cycle, civil discourse is imperative in order to elect a candidate that represents a broad American consensus. It is similarly impossible to tell the full
story of Coronavirus without those local papers. Sandler says “our media culture is ill-equipped to handle the incredible scope of the story.” It is told “differently between classes, regions, and different identities. The inability to have platforms to allow for a diversity of voices is incredibly sad.” Surviving publications will also face a different reality post-COVID-19. The virus may usher in the final collapse of print newspapers. Given that COVID-19 can be transmitted on surfaces, papers like the Tampa Bay Times have suspended their daily print editions. Edmonds, who works at Poynter, the organization that owns the Tampa Bay Times, says that he suspects that change may become permanent. Edmonds’ conclusion surmises that if a paper is trapped by advertisement income or a print model, it may have to find new footholds or risk being shut down. That will leave platforms well-adjusted to an online subscriber model, like the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Economist, to name a few, at the top in a post pandemic world. For those publications, there will also be more public health writers on staff. Recently the New York Times hired Apoorva Mandivilli, winner of the 2019 Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting, and the Washington Post has posted job listings for editors with a background in health and science. These employees will likely render the publications more prepared for a health crisis in the future. At the New York Times, the nature of the pandemic justifies their mission to cover stories globally. Papers like the Times have followed the story since it began impacting China earlier in the year. Drake says “this proves the case for the investment we made in international coverage.” The pandemic underscores the relevance of international problems as they connect to domestic stories; likely, other papers will also increase their global perspective. Another silver lining is that with online readership spiking, The Economist suggests young people are reading more news. Hopefully the increased readership will lend itself to a more informed citizenry after the virus. The future is opaque and the virus unprecedented; however, amid chaos and conflicting opinions, there is no fear of highly functional publications fading. Edmonds says “I do think that newspapers and organizations that are doing the job well, and exercising their muscles, will be able to come back when things open up.”
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June 2020
Songs for washing your hands IVORY WANG ‘23 & ABBY BERMAN ‘23
We’re guessing you have been washing your hands more than normal recently. It is recommended to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. To keep track of that time people have recommended you sing “Happy Birthday” while you scrub. But, why keep wishing yourself happy birthday when you could be singing “Baby Shark”? Here are some recommended songs to sing while you keep your hands clean. Go to the website washyourlyrics.com for more. On ‘washyourlyrics.com’ you can pick your song of choice and it will create an infographic with lyrics from that song. The infographic will line up each lyric with a step in the hand washing process. For example, if you were to pick the song “Hello” by Adele, this would be the infographic. An infographic, like this one, could be printed out and posted in your bathroom to make washing your hands feel like less of a chore. If you do not have quick access to a hand-washing sink, you can also sing your song of choice when you use hand sanitizer. Here are some songs on the top hits list to try!
1. “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa 2. “Roses - Imanbek Remix” by SAINt JHN, Imanbek 3. “Toosie Slide” by Drake 4. “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd 5. “BELIEVE IT” by PARTYNEXTDOOR & Rihanna 6. “Blueberry Faygo” by Lil Mosey 7. “death bed” by Powfu, feat beabadoobee 8. “Say So” by Doja Cat 9. “Intentions” by Justin Bieber & Quavo 10. “Sunday Best” by Surfaces So what are you waiting for? Get onto this link and make your hand washing more fun with different songs of your choice!
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Backpage
CROSSWORD Across
Down
1. Platform used for students and teachers to interact in real time during distance learning. 3. Artist who released “Eternal Atake” shortly before the lockdown period 6. Manager of Kwik-E-Mart in The Simpsons 7. For worship, announcements, business, etc. 9. What you would probably say if you got stung by a murder hornet 11. Joe ______, former owner of the GW Zoo. Nemesis: Carole Baskin 13. We cannot travel internationally when there is a travel ____ 14. The name of Carole Baskin’s animal rescue 16. Surrealist artist known for “The Persistence of Memory” 17. The time that meeting for worship, advisory, and collab starts for distance learning
1. Try to take some time for yourself. Meditate and feel ___. 2. “Host has ____d all participants” 4. Currently Gemini, but soon Cancer, then Leo 5. Stay at home, lockdown 6. Larry Carter’s specialty 8. When you’re home, it’s hard not to ___ all the time. 10. Like a seminar, but online 12. Another thing you might say if you got stung by a murder hornet 15. A popular tea bag brand often provided in the cafeteria 16. If you’re thinking about turning your video off during MFW, ____
18. Zoom group, aka
Email ‘newspaper@friendsseminary.org’ for the answers to this crossword. Crossword by Mia Gigante 21’
2020-2021
Contributors
Editors-in-Chief
Abby Berman ’23
Charles Gorrivan ’21
Nylu Bernshtayn ‘23
June Harkrider ’21
Bryson Brunson ‘21
Mia Gigante ’21
Senior Editors
Olivia Kane ’21
Olivia Kane ’21
Allegra Torres-Kelly ’21
Beatrice Moyers ’21
Julian Roman Philson Reyes ‘23
Junior Editors
Amnon Scharia ’20 Ivory Wang ’23
Samara Friedman ’22 Jamie Palladino ’22
Advisor Thomas Fagin
Edition 4
Friends Seminary
All work completed for the Insight’s “Coronavirus Special Edition” was done from home. Reporting was conducted virtually and editorial meetings took place on our screens. The cover art for this edition was completed by Malik Figaro. It shows our school mascot, Rutherford the Owl, on his couch eating popcorn and watching television. It is representative of our isolation during this time. While we are apart, the Insight believes it is still our responsibility to continue telling the story of our community. If you have any comments, concerns, or would like to respond to an article published in this edition, please reach out to ‘newspaper@friendsseminary.org.’ Please stay safe. We appreciate our readership.
-The 2020-21 Editorial Board
June 2020