Garden City Echo Summer 2020

ECHO Spring/Summer 2020

Table of Contents

Matthew Fiore, Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Kucich, Assitant Editor-in-Chief Ms. Skolnik, Faculty Advisor COVID-19 News (page 4): Matthew Fiore, Editor Student Spotlight (page 21): Lana Hess, Editor World/National News (page 22): Brandon Noll, Editor Community News (page 27): Mary Foxen, Editor Sports (page 28): Mary Foxen, Editor Reviews: (page 30): Melissa Ng, Editor

Staff Editors: Mary Grlic, Corinne LaFont, Nick Ragas, and Brendan Staub NOTE: The opinions expressed in the following articles do not represent the opinions of the administrative staff at GCHS, merely those of the writers themselves.

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A Note From The Editor Dear Reader, No justice, no peace. If you’ve been watching snippets of protests on the news lately, perhaps you’ve heard frustrated crowds chanting this phrase. Perhaps you’ve even chanted it yourself. Perhaps you’ve never heard it. No matter how familiar you are with it, it’s worth it to take a minute and examine what it means; personally, I couldn’t think of a better phrase to summarize what I’ve learned over my four years at Garden City High School. No justice, no peace. In my freshman year, I discovered just how many people I knew were gay, bisexual, or transgender. I discovered new truths about myself. I discovered that the whispered slurs in the hallway were just a small taste of what queer adults faced. I discovered the history of the Stonewall riots and the AIDS epidemic, and I discovered that while justice was denied to the LGBTQ+ community, its members couldn’t know the same peace and comfort as others. No justice, no peace. In my sophomore year, the Parkland school shooting occurred. I discovered just how unsafe students are in schools around the country. I discovered that some live in fear every day of having to scramble to text their parents a farewell text and an “I love you” from the darkened corner of a classroom, and I discovered the cruel indifference of government officials when it came to regulating guns around the minors that fired them and the minors that feared them. We didn’t have justice for the students murdered in their classrooms, and their families and peers did not know peace. No justice, no peace. In my junior year, the federal government shut down for thirty-five consecutive days. I discovered from the news the effects of temporary unemployment on individuals and their families, their homes. I discovered that for many Americans, those economic realities were the norm, and that survival was a challenge far greater than choosing flowers for the front lawn or a cruise line for the next family vacation. For poor or unemployed Americans, peace can be difficult to find while economic justice does not exist. No justice, no peace. My senior year is coming to a close, and it feels like the entire world has changed in just a few short months. But the truth is that nothing has changed; it has only been revealed. I’ve only begun to discover it. The coronavirus put our economic systems to the test and revealed that they had always been on the verge of collapse, already failing millions of Americans. It showed us the inability of our country’s unemployment benefits and services to function under pressure and the scarcity faced by those who couldn’t afford to shop in bulk. It showed us that we could not adequately equip our healthcare workers, while thousands of police officers had ready access to riot gear. It shone a light through the cracks of our hospital systems, our health insurance systems, and our tax systems that are meant to support and protect small businesses. Systems of racial injustice have always existed in this country, and as soon as black Americans ceased to be slaves, they began to be sharecroppers. Our system labeled them criminals. One in thirteen African Americans are unable to vote due to felony convictions, many of which are minor, many of which white teenagers commit with impunity. The death penalty disproportionately kills African Americans. Police disproportionately murder and arrest African Americans, and judges disproportionally incarcerate them. It has always been like this. The Civil Rights Movement didn’t end when our textbooks were published. It only took a crisis to reveal that to us. It is a luxury to learn about racism through books and the media rather than through experience, and it is a privilege to watch the events of 2020 unfold on a screen rather than in our own homes. It is a privilege to be faced with this choice: to be the generation that brings about an era of justice and peace, or to be complicit in a return to normalcy, where large corporations come close to monopolizing and small businesses and their employees struggle, where our black brothers and sisters continue to be murdered and their murderers walk free, and where we spend more of our Nassau County tax dollars on policing and control than healthcare, education, and social services combined. We must refuse adamantly and steadfastly to be complicit. We must continue to discover the truths of the world around us, the world that exists outside the bubble of our privileges, especially if those truths are uncomfortable. Confronting these truths is what I've discovered growing up to be. While there is no justice for others, we cannot allow ourselves to hide in the peace and comfort of our childhood ignorance. We cannot rest. This is not what I expected to learn from high school, but it is what I sorely needed to learn in order to serve my community, wherever that might be as I look ahead towards college. I hope that you take this year as an opportunity to learn the same, and that this summer is a reflective and productive one. Stay safe and stay healthy, and always refuse to let yourself be at peace with injustice. Sincerely, Al Kucich, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

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COVID-19 News

White House Response to COVID-19: What Went Wrong By: Nick Ragas

It was in late December of 2019 that the world first became aware of the novel coronavirus. Warned of an “out-of-control” virus plaguing Wuhan, China, public health officials were quick to realize the potential cataclysmic effect this virus could cause not only domestically, but internationally as well. Some claim the United States’ response to be among the best in the world; however, at the time of writing there are 1,779,873 confirmed cases, 104,091 confirmed deaths, and only 444,758 confirmed cases recovered of COVID-19 in the U.S.A. Comparatively, we lead with these grim statistics on a global scale. We may be the world’s number one in testing by quantity administered, however, per capita we’ve only tested about 4.5% of our population, and this statistic is derived from President Trump’s generous claim of 15 million tests administered. In other words, testing in the United States is no preventative or controlling means to get a handle on this virus. So, while the Trump/ Pence administration may claim to have the virus under control, the data may provide a less comforting truth. Even so, other nations have proved testing not to be the most effective means of handling COVID-19. South Korea, for ex-

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ample, a country which reported its first documented COVID case on the same day as the United States, has seen less than 300 related deaths (270 total, at the time of writing). For context, South Korea has a total population of nearly 52 million, while the United States’ total population sits at roughly 327 million. Even with South Korea having less than 16% of the United States’ population, the south-Asian nation boasts a COVID death rate .0025% that of the United States’, comparatively by population death ratios. It’s here that we pose the question: why? The United States and South Korea saw its first cases on the same day; this is where the similarities end. South Korea mobilized and began testing early on in the crisis, as well as established a system of tracing the contacts of anyone infected; the United States took six weeks to make an “easy-to-use, rapid diagnostic test” available to hospitals, and has yet to establish a definitive and quick system to track cross-contamination between the infected and their peers. Data indicates that South Korea’s measures were among most effective in controlling the virus; testing more plentifully early on and establishing a system to track cross contamination is much more effective than waiting for cases to spike and then to roll

out testing-- though, this should be a no brainer. It’s no wonder then, that while South Korea had the virus under general control by late March, the United States’ cases were still on the rise. It was only fitting that President Trump would be so scatterbrained, though, considering his impeachment trial remained active from December 18th to February 5th; notwithstanding, this doesn’t explain the following 24 days of indecisive action regarding response effort, as the testing system was put into place on February 29th, 2020. This being said, testing strategy isn’t the only way in which our nation lacks with regard to the novel virus. At a near 50 year low, national unemployment in February 2020 rested at just 3.5%. In March, the number rose to a relatively unalarming 4.4 percent; come April, unemployment saw a record spike at 14.7%, and this number only continues to grow. In fact, 43 states saw record unemployment highs; Nevada currently sits with an unemployment rate of 28.2%, while Michigan and Hawaii come in as close seconds and thirds at 22.7% and 22.3%, respectively. Though the federal government passed an initial 2 trillion dollar COVID relief package, the representative branches have, in recent weeks, clashed over whether to approve another stimulus package

for the millions unemployed nationwide, threatening a precarious situation in which our nation rests on the brink of further economic collapse. This provides some explanation for the United States’ rush to reopen the country, as it’s short-term economically simpler to find the loophole in which everyone is forced to go back to work and risk infection, than it is to pass a second relief bill and let non-essential workers remain safe from infection. Or, perhaps it rests more heavily on the president’s will to reopen schools. On May 24th, 2020, President Trump made the statement: “Schools in our country should be opened ASAP. Much very good information now available”. Perhaps he’ll be willing to join us for a grammar lesson, too, upon our return to non-virtual education. Misinformation also runs rampant in regard to proper precautionary measures, as the Trump Administration continuously clashes with the professional opinion of Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984. For example, while President Trump contests that hydroxychloroquine, a prescribed medication typically used to treat malaria, has coronavirus preventative powers, Fauci continues to contest that this respective drug is not effective in preventing the novel coronavirus. It’s in instances such as this that we see a rift in trust between the American public and scientific community, as the administration steps in the way of sound medical advice. Meanwhile, as the administration promoted this medication, an Arizona couple

chose to ingest a fish tank cleaner labeled “chloroquine”, mistaking it for the so-called miracle drug. The Arizona couple was not alone; incidents of this nature were on the rise come the late March period of 2020, the time frame thereafter Trump’s initial hydroxychloroquine claims. Had these individuals chosen to take the word of the scientific community over the administration, it is more likely than not they would be with us right now, and that their tragic deaths would thus have been prevented. By similar principles, it may be worthy to note that Vice President Mike Pence has been appointed to spearhead the COVID-19 relief bill; Pence is an individual who’s repeatedly denied scientific claim, among such being the internationally accepted and evidence-based fact that smoking kills. That’s right; though smoking cigarettes alone accounts for about 30% of all cancer deaths and is responsible for more American carnage than illegal drugs, car accidents, alcohol, HIV, and firearm violence combined, according to Vice President Pence-- it simply doesn’t. Meanwhile, licensed medical professional Ben Carson remains a sitting member of President Trump’s cabinet. To the president, I ask: Would it not have been wiser to appoint Doctor Carson as spearhead of the program? Though COVID-19 cases are thankfully on the decline in New York, cases continue to rise in other parts of the country, specifically those which chose to slacken social distancing measures with the onslaught of civilian backlash. Most prevalent among those ex-

COVID-19 News

ercising their right to dissent were individuals angry that they couldn’t enter their local Walmart without a mask, or get a haircut. Remember, cases continuing to decline in New York is no indication that it’s time to let our discipline fall. Just because we’re bored, or because the weather is suddenly nice, doesn’t mean we should go and see our friends, especially without taking proper precautionary measures. Social distancing guidelines on Long Island have been slackened so that we can partake in gatherings of up to 10 people. If you’re feeling sick, or suddenly experience a prolonged loss of taste or smell, it’s probably best you remain cautious and stay home. There’s not much point to going to Red Lobster if you can’t actually taste the red lobster, anyway. Further, remember to keep a distance of at least six feet between yourself and others when possible. For more information on social distancing guidelines and how you can better protect your loved ones and yourself as communities begin to reopen, you can visit www.cdc.gov.

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COVID-19 News

Home Life & Social Changes By: Iyaa Kalra

Whether it’s taking a walk outside with a mask on or talking to your neighbors six feet apart, the global pandemic has changed the way we all live. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, many people have been staying inside of their homes for extended periods of time. This stay-at-home lifestyle has led to an increase in creativity for many. People have taken advantage of having all this extra time by creating music and artwork, even if it's just a classic sidewalk chalk drawing. Many

children and adults are currently using online communication methods such as Zoom and Google Meet. These platforms have become very famous and helpful in a small period of time. Some celebrities have started hosting meet and greets with their fans due to social distancing rules. John Krasinski, a well-known celebrity, recently launched a new YouTube series called Some Good News in hopes of brightening everyone’s days amid the lockdown. Similarly, many people have been

watching Disney +, Netflix, HBO, and other online entertainment platforms to keep themselves busy. The lockdown has also given people the time to work out and develop a healthy, balanced diet during their extra time. More people have started going outdoors on walks, runs, and bike rides with their families, which are all great ways to avoid being a couch potato all day and get some fresh air.

Broadway Broadcasts By: Melissa Ng

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The coronavirus has taken a significant toll on the world; from the number of deaths to unemployment, everyone is struggling. As it is unsafe to gather in public places, Broadway has officially shut down until September 6th. However, some Broadway stars have taken it upon themselves to spread joy by virtually entertaining people in light of these hard times. Stars such as Brittany Mack, Samantha Pauly, and Krystina Alabado have turned to social media in hopes of bringing happiness into people’s lives. On Instagram, every day Brittany Mack and Samantha Pauly posts videos of themselves singing different songs. Pauly has especially done over 50 daily videos, ranging from Paramore’s “Misery Business” to songs from musicals like “Dear Evan

Hansen” and “Waitress.” Personally, my favorite cover is Pauly’s “Defying Gravity.” The song shows off her insane vocals with her silly acting; I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the whole song. The actresses are currently starring in “Six”, a musical about Henry VIII’s six wives, set to open the start of Broadway’s shutdown on March 12th. On YouTube, “Mean Girls” star Krystina Alabado has created her own channel. It includes fun videos of career coaching for aspiring actors, Zoom calls with fellow castmates, and even a cooking episode. The videos definitely represent the type of entertainment we need to help us stay positive in this pandemic. Along with personal videos, money is being raised for charities supporting performers and behind the scenes workers in the

industry. Seth Redusky and James Wesley created “Stars in the House”, which is a daily live stream series that supports The Actors Fund. The series has already had numerous theater and television stars appear such as the cast of The “Flash”, “Jessie”, “Glee”, “Beetlejuice the Musical,” “The Prom,” and many more. It’s incredible to see these stars utilizing their skill to spread positivity during hard times, and I am forever grateful for the small bits of joy each song and video brings each day.

COVID-19 News

The Future of Education By: Mary Grlic

For years, we have been accustomed to a normal school day where we go to a building filled with hundreds of students and staff, sit in the same desks, use the same supplies, bump into people in the halls: all without thinking of the consequences of these minuscule actions. However, the pandemic has brought some concern to something we once considered normal. The education system will probably see significant changes to prevent further spread of new diseases and ensure the safety of all students. Most schools are relying on online learning to finish out the remainder of the 2020 school year. In Garden City High School, we continue to use features like Google Classroom and Flipgrid, but also add virtual lessons through Google Meet and Youtube. These resources are great to continue learning when it is deemed necessary. There is ongoing concern about whether or not schools will reopen for the next academic year and how they will ensure the safety

of all students. This can especially be seen as a big issue for universities, where students from all around the world congregate in small dorms and full lectures. Public schools are also facing numerous challenges with reopening schools. Older staff members are very susceptible to the virus, raising concerns about maximizing safety for students and teachers. Social distancing is also challenging to manage in a school setting, especially while walking through crowded hallways and sitting close to others in classrooms. Public-health officials hope for schools to reopen in the fall of 2020, with moderation and safety clauses in place to ensure the minimal spread of COVID-19. As it may take 18 months for a vaccine to cure the virus, schools will need to follow the education system’s modifications into the 2021-2022 school year as well. Schools will need to plan for 14-28 day rolling closures in the event of another outbreak. Reopened schools will be modified to moderate social distancing,

frequently disinfect classrooms, and monitor temperature screenings. There will be accommodations for those who have a high risk of getting the virus. Students and teachers will likely have to wear masks, and desks will need to be as far apart as possible, preferably six feet. Students may not be able to congregate in large areas like cafeterias for lunch; instead, they would be maintained in smaller classroom groups. Schools may also stagger pick-up and drop-off times so that not too many kids are leaving the building at the same time. In the same realm, some school districts are considering new schedules that will limit the number of students in the building on a given day. They may alternate in-person days with online learning, only going into the physical building every other day. This can reduce class sizes and decrease the number of people in the building. It is unclear what the 2020-21 school year will look like, but many students and teachers hope to return to a normal schedule in the coming year.

Island Harvest Food Bank By: Isabel Taveras

The Sophomore Grade Council developed a fundraising campaign with Island Harvest to help those in need of meals. Island Harvest has been fighting hunger on Long Island since 1992. Due to the pandemic crisis, now more than

ever does this organization need help to reach out to those battling starvation. As of May 12th, 2020, Garden City High School has raised $7,125, initially starting with a goal of $1,000. With this amount, more than 1,000 meal packs will be served

to families who will very much appreciate them. Thank you to the Class of 2022 and all participants for taking into consideration those who are not as fortunate and are in need of assistance.

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COVID-19 News

College Unknowns for Seniors

Months ago, every college in the country closed and sent its students home out of fear of spreading the coronavirus to other students at the college. Students left almost all of their possessions there until recently when some were allowed to return to get all their belongings. Because of this, most college students had to finish out their semester online and college seniors did not get to experience an in-person graduation. Moving into June, still not much is known about what the future may hold for our high school seniors. Most colleges have released little to no information about if they are going back for in-person classes. However,

By: Brandon Noll

according to some colleges, they will be opening up for the Fall semester with some restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Larger lectures may be done online and then smaller lectures will be placed in the larger lecture halls so that the students may continue to social distance. However, colleges can only do so much to promote social distancing and most of the responsibility is on the individual student to social distance. Things like parties and events cannot be stopped by the college if they are off campus and it is near impossible for colleges to enforce social distancing with thirty thousand or more students on campus. Some colleges, like the Uni-

versity of California system, have announced that they will likely not be going back because it is just impossible to enforce social distancing between their students when everyone is on campus. A smaller number of schools are trying hybrid models of schooling where students would be on campus but also taking classes online to avoid all students congregating in the larger lecture halls, ripe for the spread of coronavirus. No matter what colleges decide to do for the fall semester, it is likely college life will not be normal for our seniors until a vaccine is released.

College Unknowns for Juniors

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The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on our everyday lives. From working and learning from home to not being able to see family and friends, routines have been thrown off and normalcy seems as if it will never once again be achieved. While it’s great progress to have gotten past the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak, the future is still a big unknown. For prospective college students, this is adding much anxiety to an already stressful college admissions process. High school juniors are some of the busiest students around. Taking AP classes, preparing for standardized tests, learning how to drive, and maintaining a social life leaves little time for relaxation. On March 16, however, most of those activities came to a screeching halt. While AP exams took place online this school year, SAT and ACT exams were cancelled for months. Juniors have been left guessing how they’ll get into colleges, whether

By: Matthew Fiore

classes will be online, and if it’s even safe to dorm. Many universities have been adopting test-optional admissions policies throughout the past decade, giving students the option not to take standardized tests. With these tests now cancelled throughout the nation, a vast majority of schools have followed this test-optional trend for the Class of 2021. However, there are still others who have not. Prestigious colleges like New York University and the University of Pennsylvania are still requiring submission of standardized testing (though their policies are flexible). This has left many juniors scrambling to take the SAT and ACT. With exams scheduled for the fall, students are currently registering for exam dates in August, September, and October in hopes that the tests will go on as scheduled. However, with social distancing plans in place, seats are limited and some schools are already filling to capacity. An announcement from the

College Board stating that an at-home SAT isn’t feasible just adds to the hectic nature of the college admissions process for many. While current juniors are just over a year away from starting school at the university level, many are wondering what the future will hold. Will admissions rates be different for the Class of 2021? Will classes still be held online? Is it safe to go away to college and share dorms? These are just a few of the unanswered questions that juniors have. While there are predictions of obtaining a vaccine for COVID-19 by the end of this calendar year, nothing is certain. Questions will remain unanswered for quite a while. While the Class of 2021 is certainly in a unique situation, colleges recognize this and are adapting to changes as quickly as possible. I wish the best of luck to fellow juniors across the country!

COVID-19 News

Appreciating Essential Workers By: Isabel Taveras & Mary Grlic

This pandemic has impacted every person’s life in more ways than expected. Everyday, there are workers putting their health at risk to combat this virus and provide communities with food and amenities that have been difficult to acquire. On behalf of the Garden City community, we greatly appreciate the doctors, nurses, and other very important healthcare workers. A few words from different meal providers on how they are assimilating to new changes: “Our mission at Kings continues to remain vigilant in the fight against the virus, keeping our Associates and communities safe and our shelves stocked. Our Associates wear masks at all times and we’re extending the plexiglass barriers at the cash registers for additional protection”. - Judy Spires, CEO of Kings Food Markets “As the coronavirus COVID-19 affects our communities, our work as your neighborhood grocery store continues. We are vigilant; heeding all federal, state and local health advisories; and where it makes sense, adjusting efforts to safeguard the health and safety of our Crew Members and customers, as always guided by integrity and focused on doing what is right”. - Trader Joe’s

“As more and more information has become available, Western Beef has been altering our operations to adhere to governmental standards and assure the safety of our team members and our customers”. -Western Beef

“As much as we hear about it on the news, we never really understand what’s going on until we see it in person. It is important to continue to protect ourselves as much as possible as we try to lower the curve”. Doctor from a Long Island hospital

Many Garden City and other local residents work on the frontline in hospitals treating the virus firsthand. They endure long days and nights wearing lots of protective equipment to prevent getting the virus themselves. On their feet for many hours, nurses and doctors are putting their full attention into treatment. It can be taxing for their families as well, as these workers have to be extra cautious once they are at home to protect their loved ones after being exposed to the virus for so long. Putting out their best efforts to keep the community safe and patients healthy, here a few words from local healthcare workers:

“It was shocking and unexpected… Hearing code blues every so often was stressful because we knew what it meant. We saw personality changes in even the most lighthearted people”. - Medical Provider from a New York City Hospital To show our appreciation for these frontline workers, it is important to stay home as much as possible, especially when feeling sick. When you are out, be sure to maintain social distancing regulations to prevent any further spread.

There are not enough words to describe how much we appreciate every person who has helped their “This is definitely unlike anything community, even when it meant we have ever seen before… It came putting their health at risk. They are on like a tsunami... unexpected. We our heroes! stood our ground and we were left standing”. - Local Nurse

https://www.rocklin.ca.us/news/thank-you-all-essential-workers

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COVID-19 News

Staying Healthy in a Pandemic By: Matthew Fiore

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a huge toll on the health of many people across the globe. Those who came down with the virus were obviously impacted the worst. However, the implications of stay-at-home orders and a worldwide lockdown has affected the health of thousands upon thousands of people who have not come down with COVID-19. Upon initial closure of the country (or at least New York State), fears of what was to come were unimaginable. People were scared that they would be trapped in their homes for months and that life would remain in an uprooted state for a very long time. With mental health crises already of significant importance in 2020, the pandemic has caused more of a need to focus on keeping our minds healthy. Many people have turned to mindfulness and meditation in order to help with mental health challenges resulting from the COVID-19 situation. Others have found oases in the

outdoors. Mental and physical health go hand-in-hand in this situation in particular. Many feel trapped at home and are sitting around all day. Some have gained weight because of a lack of exercise. However, as New Yorkers, we have been so lucky as to have tons of state parks open in our area. Through the worst of this pandemic, there have been places to hike, bike, and even just get some fresh air. By getting out and going for walks, not only are you keeping your body healthy, but you’re refreshing your mind as well. A vast majority of the world has referred to our current state of being as a “quarantine” despite our ability to get out of the house. The use of this word is completely and utterly wrong and its incorrect definition has led to much angst throughout the world. This has had a largely negative effect on the health of many because it tricks people into thinking they are completely trapped. That being said, while I’ve highly recommended

getting out and exercising throughout the pandemic, I’m not saying by any means to break social distancing regulations. We should all be staying six feet apart and wearing masks in order to prevent a new outbreak and a need to shut down again. However, getting out and staying active has clear benefits to many aspects of our health. Maintaining our bodies and minds in such a stressful situation makes life much easier and much more enjoyable. As we move into a phased reopening of our state, we all need to keep in mind the implications of our decisions. Continuing to maintain physical distancing of six feet or more and wearing masks in public are the most important ways to prevent a new outbreak of the coronavirus. Staying active and taking care of our mental health is also of great importance to stay healthy on a personal level. While we seem to be past the worst part of the pandemic, we need to protect the overall health of both our society and ourselves.

REMEMBER: Stay six feet apart, wear a mask, wash your hands, and take care of your mind and your body. 10

COVID-19 News

Changes to 2020 AP Exams By: Lana Hess

What is a student’s worst nightmare? Being unprepared for an exam. Well, this year, this exact scenario occurred across the country to thousands of students who had studied and prepared for AP exams all year long. This year, AP exams had a last minute change to be held online due to the global pandemic involving COVID-19. As a result, many of the formats had to be changed and all the exams were shortened to 45 minutes. This meant that, for some exams, like English, one essay would determine your entire grade. For the rest of the exams, two free response questions (FRQs) would determine the score on the AP. Part one would be one FRQ answered in 25 minutes and part two would be one FRQ answered in 15 minutes as opposed to a 3-hour exam. This drastic change really upset many students since they had practiced for a year with an entirely different format. These new 45-minute APs even eliminated multiple choice, which is supposed to determine half

the grade. Many students were understandably irritated at these last minute changes, since it seems unfair to expect students to adapt to an entirely new format. Many students were wishfully thinking that perhaps the questions would be easier, since they thought the College Board understood that there was a global pandemic happening and that there were many potential difficulties now facing students, such as Wi-Fi, access to computers/ipads and other distractions at home. For example, in the middle of my second AP the neighbor’s gardeners came and started mowing the law and using leaf blowers--not exactly an ideal, quiet test atmosphere! However, College Board not only decided to put difficult, obscure topics on some of the tests, they even added about 10 parts on each FRQ. This was more parts than the students could possibly hope to complete in the amount of time they had. Also, not only did it seem that the College Board made the questions harder

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and nearly impossible to complete on time, some students experienced trouble submitting their test. During the AP Calculus exam and the AP Chemistry exam students were unable to submit their tests to College Board and were given a makeup date to retake the test. Although College Board fixed this problem for exams that came after, the students that took the calc and chem exams and who were unable to submit were very upset and annoyed that this was even allowed to happen. In conclusion, while the idea of an online test was innovative, College Board should have given back everyone’s money instead of going through with previously untested online exams.

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COVID-19 News

Sourdough: An Art & A Science By: Alex Kucich

The school year is coming to a close, and you’re either searching for new quarantine hobbies to fill the homework-free hours or you’re in need of some serious stress relief. Perhaps both. As the stress of living through a pandemic catches up to us, and as we find ourselves oftentimes with limited motivation to function in a world turned upside down, many turn to creating. Creating music, creating literature, creating home-cooked meals and new ways of connecting with loved ones. Making something from nothing can boost our confidence and strengthen our sense of purpose in difficult times, as well as provide us with a welcomed distraction and an outlet for our emotions. For many, making something out of the humblest materials–flour, water, and salt– is the chosen therapeutic activity. If you think that taking out your aggression on a kilogram of dough might be for you, then keep reading. Your sourdough loaf will rise and so will your spirits! Step One: Make a starter. A starter is a fermented mixture of flour and water that houses a culture of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria, the same kind of bacteria found in cheese and yogurt. As you cultivate these desirable cultures, they’ll overpower unwanted bacteria and make sure that your starter is a healthy home for helpful microorganisms only. The bacteria give sourdough its distinctive tangy flavor, while the wild yeast allows the bread to rise. Can’t find yeast at the store? With sourdough, you simply cultivate your own!

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To build a starter, mix equal parts flour and water by weight, not volume, preferably using either whole wheat or rye flour. But whatever you use, make sure it is unbleached. This will not work with bleached flour, as bleached flour lacks the microorganisms that will start your culture. Wait 24 hours, storing your mixture in a glass container in a warm area. The next day, discard half the mixture and add equal parts flour and water relative to the remaining amount of starter. For example, if you have 50 grams of the previous day’s mixture left after discarding half, then mix with 50 grams of flour and 50 grams of

water. Mix and leave for another 24 hours. Repeat this for five to seven days, until your starter doubles in volume reliably within six to eight hours. Don’t be alarmed if it takes longer! Your home’s temperature or the microorganisms in your environment may differ. The trick is to keep going. You can find many more indepth guides to building a starter with a simple internet search, but this is the most crucial step. The strength of your starter will determine the rise, taste, and texture of your final loaf. The starter is the life of sourdough!

An active starter full of bubbles and life

Step Two: Autolyse An autolyse is a fancy term for a period of time when you leave your dough alone and let nature do the work for you. Mix bread flour, which has a higher gluten content than normal flour, with 75% water relative to the weight of flour. So, for example, if you have 1,000 grams of flour, you’ll add 750 grams of water. 1,000 grams of flour will produce two large loaves, but you can scale this recipe easily as needed using percentages. 75% water relative to flour, or 75% hydration, will make the dough relatively easier to work with if this is your first foray into sourdough baking. Higher hydration doughs will have a more open, airy crumb, but they will also be much more difficult to work with if you aren’t accustomed to handling sticky doughs. After you’ve mixed your flour and water, leave it be. There can be dry spots; it doesn’t have to be smooth. But leaving your dough alone for about an hour, or giving it an autolyse, allows the flour to become hydrated and the gluten to begin forming. Have you ever seen a no-knead bread recipe and wondered how it produced such impressive bread with such little work? The secret is an overnight autolyse, which allows gluten structures to form over time on their own. Gluten allows the dough to stretch without tearing, so as the yeast produces gas and causes the dough to expand, it can contain little pockets of gas and maintain a strong structure. Without strong gluten networks, dough would collapse in the oven and fail to rise. Step Three: Add salt and starter. For the best flavor, sprinkle 2% salt over your autolysed dough. That is, if you have 1,000 grams of flour, add 20 grams of salt. Next,

add 20% starter, or 200 grams of starter for every 1,000 grams of flour. Since both salt and starter have a texture wildly different from that of the dough, it will take some effort to get them mixed in. But using your hand like a claw to combine everything will eventually create a homogenous mixture. All the dough needs is time, persistence, and patience. Step Four: Knead If you own a stand mixer, this is the easy part. Simply add your dough to the mixer with the dough hook attachment and let it run until the dough passes something called the windowpane test. If you can stretch your dough so thin that you can see light through it, then it has passed the windowpane test. Without a stand mixer, this takes a lot more elbow grease, but I recommend that you use your hands to mix the dough either way. This way, you learn with time and experience how dough feels at different stages of its development; you learn to tell by touch whether it’s ready.

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To knead dough by hand, place it on a flat flour free surface. Press the heel of your hand into it and push, stretching the dough out, and then let it relax again. Rotate it slightly, fold the dough back over itself, and repeat. As you repeat this motion, you will develop a rhythm. The dough may start to offer more resistance, but that means that you’re on the right track and that the dough is developing gluten. Alternatively, you can use something called the slap-and-fold method. Pick the dough up, slap it down against your work surface, and fold it over itself. Pick it up by the top and bottom, let gravity elongate it slightly, and slap it down again. Repeat. You’ll want to develop a rhythm quickly with this method, since the dough will stick unless you work quickly. With either method, if the dough sticks to the surface, use a bench scraper to gather it up so you can try again. Do not add any flour at any point, as it will cause your final loaf to be dense.

The dough is so elastic and can stretch so thin that you can see my fingers through it; it is said to have passed the windowpane test.

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Step Five: First proof To proof dough is to let it rise. For this first proof, place your fully kneaded dough in a greased, airtight container so it doesn’t stick or dry out. Leave it be for about three hours, or until it has doubled in volume. This rising time will vary based on ambient temperature and the strength of your starter. Step Six: Shaping Start the shaping process by degassing your dough, or knocking out the gas that the yeast has released during the first proof. This will return your dough to its original volume, but it will have developed fantastic flavor. Get your anger out. Punch that dough. There are many methods of shaping a boule, or a round loaf, but this is what works for me. The most important thing in this step is to create surface tension so your dough can maintain its shape and structure in the oven. If you’ve been following this article’s recipe based on 1,000 grams of flour, divide your dough into two pieces, each weighing about 985 grams. Lay half your degassed dough back on a lightly floured work surface and gently spread it out with your fingers until it’s about an inch thick. Try to keep it circular if you can. Pinch a section of dough from the rim of your circle, stretch it slightly, and drag it back to the center, pressing down so it stays. Repeat around the whole perimeter until the outside of your dough circle has been secured on the inside. It should start to form a taut ball. Now, turn your ball of dough over so the smooth side faces up. Cup your hands around it and pull it towards you. It will take some practice, but this motion tucks the dough underneath itself, creating more tension. Repeat around

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the perimeter. You should end up with a round ball of dough that has a taut surface. Repeat the shaping process with the other half of your dough. Step Seven: Final proof Find a bowl or some other round container to use if you don’t own a banneton, or proofing basket. Keeping your shaped dough in a proofing vessel will help it rise upwards rather than outwards so it can maintain its shape that you worked so hard to create. Line your proofing vessel with a clean, heavily floured dish towel and then transfer the dough into the vessel, seam side up and smooth side down. Cover so that the container is airtight and leave to proof for about another three hours. At this stage, we aren’t looking for an increase in volume so much as a dough that passes the poke test. For the poke test, simply flour your finger and gently poke the center of the dough. If it slowly springs back about halfway, it’s ready. If it springs back completely, it needs more time, and if it doesn’t spring back at all, then it has overproofed. Knock your dough back, reshape it, and try again. Overproofed or under-proofed dough will result in a loaf that doesn’t rise properly, making it dense and gummy. Step Eight: Prepare your oven Preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. High heat will allow the yeast to become active and the water in the dough to evaporate, resulting in an impressive final rise, or oven spring. Most home ovens aren’t fitted with steam. Steam prevents the crust from forming and hardening before the dough has fully risen,

so adding steam allows for a light, airy loaf and a thin, crackly crust. If you own a Dutch oven, simply line the bottom with parchment paper, place it in your cold oven, and allow it to preheat along with your oven. When the oven has preheated, carefully place your proofed and scored dough in and cover with the lid. About 20 minutes into baking, remove the lid and allow the loaf to bake until the crust is deep golden brown. As the water in the dough evaporates, the lid keeps it trapped, resulting in a system that steams itself. If you don’t own a Dutch oven, place the proofed and scored dough on a parchment-lined baking tray. While the oven preheats, boil water and empty it into a separate baking pan. This can be any cake tin or tray that fits on the lowest rack of your oven. Keep the hot water pan in the oven for the first 20 minutes of baking and remove it while the crust becomes deeply golden brown. Step Nine: Score and bake To score your loaves, use a baker’s lame; if you don’t own one, a razor blade or very sharp knife will do perfectly. Holding the blade at a 45 degree angle with the surface of the dough, make a confident stroke across a diameter of the dough. Your slash should be between a quarter and a half an inch deep. Once you’re more comfortable with scoring, you can experiment with more shallow, decorative cuts, but for easy and reliable results, a single, decisive slash is the way to go. Place your scored dough onto a baking tray or in a Dutch oven as described in step eight. Bake for 20 minutes with your chosen steaming method and about 20 minutes without steam, but ultimately, make

sure you develop a deeply colored crust. Darker color means deeper, nuttier flavor, so long as you don’t burn your bread. Step Ten: Cool and enjoy! The hardest part of making sourdough is waiting for it to cool, but this step is a necessary evil. Wait at least an hour before slicing

into your bread, or else moisture will escape as steam, causing your loaf to dry out for quickly and possibly even develop a slightly gummy texture. It’s torture, but you’ll thank yourself for it later when you bite into perfectly chewy, crunchy, airy bread. While you wait for your bread to cool, you can gently

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squeeze it and listen to the crust crackle. One of the pleasures of fresh, crusty bread is the sound it creates. Fans of Ratatouille especially will appreciate the way their bread sings to them. Once your loaf is cool, use a serrated knife to cut yourself a slice. Enjoy!

An example of a loaf made using this article’s method. It certainly isn’t perfect! I’m still a beginner myself. But the inside was airy, the crust was crispy, and the flavor was spectacular! Sourdough doesn’t need to be perfect to feel incredibly rewarding.

There are many methods of making sourdough; this is simply one of them. Over time, as you learn the language of your dough, you can start

to experiment with different methods, shapes, scoring techniques, and more. But this easy guide is sure to start you off on your journey with con-

fidence! It’s remarkable what you can create with just flour, water, salt, and patience! Happy baking!

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George Floyd and Systemic Racism, Explained By: Nick Ragas

On May 25th, 2020, tragedy struck Minneapolis, Minnesota; 46 year old George Floyd, a local bouncer and father of five, was unwarrantedly killed by law enforcement during his arrest. On the evening of May 25th, Minneapolis police responded to a call made by a teenage grocery store worker who alleged that Floyd had used a forged 20 dollar bill to pay for cigarettes. Soon after, officers arrived on scene to apprehend Floyd, who was sitting in his car; despite what the filed police report suggests, eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage from a nearby restaurant confirm that Floyd did not resist arrest as officers had claimed. Not long after initially being apprehended by Officers J. Alexander Keung and Thomas Lane, Officers Tao Thou and Derek Chauvin arrived to act as back up on scene, at which time circumstances quickly escalated. Officer Chauvin pulled Floyd from the back of the car and onto the pavement, at which point Chauvin took it upon himself to kneel on George Floyd’s neck for a total of 8 minutes and 46 seconds while Officer Keung applied pressure to Floyd’s torso and Officer Lane restrained Floyd’s legs. About 5 minutes into the video, after having yelled to the responding officers 16 times that he was having difficulty breathing, Floyd appears to lose consciousness; yet, despite Floyd’s becoming unresponsive, Officer Chauvin continued to kneel on his neck until after paramedics arrived. Despite a plethora of bystand-

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ers watching and filming what’s been described as a “modern lynching”, they were unable to intervene as Officer Tou Thao acted to keep bystanders at a distance as tragedy unfolded before onlookers’ eyes. At 9:25 pm the same day, Floyd was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center; however, a pathologist who conducted an autopsy on Floyd has claimed that he died “many minutes” before being taken to the hospital, alleging that Floyd died before even being placed on the stretcher. Autopsy reports confirm that George Floyd’s cause of death was asphyxiation, the process of being deprived of oxygen, which can cause a state of unconsciousness or death. It is widely believed that Chauvin’s kneeling on Floyd’s neck caused his tragic death, and as of June 6th, all four officers involved in Floyd’s killing have been fired, arrested, and charged to some extent. Floyd’s death has caused a mass outcry for criminal justice and law enforcement reform and calls to bring an end to systemic racism not just in the United States, but around the world. All 50 states have been the sites of protests in outrage toward the unjust nature of Floyd’s death; 40 countries have also shown solidarity with their own protests. Spearheading the movement is Black Lives Matter, an international human rights coalition; the movement has gathered support from numerous others, of which include hacker group “Anonymous”, and

anti-fascism group “Antifa”, among others. Though Floyd’s death has provided the spark for a resurgence in the Civil Rights Movement, it has also brought greater divide among political ideologies in the United States, of which are detailed hereafter. Among the greatest outcries following Floyd's death is to end systemic racism, which, despite what networks like FOX News and political commentators like Ben Shapiro might say, still runs rampant throughout United States society. Data provided by NowThis Politics’ partner, Act.TV, may provide some context to why systemic racism remains a piece of our society. Decades after the Civil War, government agencies began to draw maps dividing cities into sections which were deemed either “desirable” or “undesirable” for investment, in a process called “redlining”. Redlining often sectioned off entire Black communities, preventing these neighborhoods deemed “undesirable” from receiving private and public funding, and for decades, banks and insurance companies used these redlined maps to unfairly deny Black individuals loans, among other services. Because of the process of redlining, many minority-based communities were collectively unable to acquire loans needed to buy homes or to receive higher education, thus keeping these communities at a disadvantage as compared to the predominantly white com-

munities deemed “desirable” for generations, specifically by means of generational wealth. Consider that historically speaking, owning a home or obtaining a college education is the easiest way for an American family to build wealth; however, because of redlining, black families in the deemed “undesirable” environment have historically had greater difficulty obtaining loans to buy a home. Further, because of segregation’s former legality, black families had difficulty obtaining college educations as the higher education available was legally limited and scarce. To give example of loan-securing difficulty, studies of the Atlanta Real Estate Market have found that even into the 1980’s, banks were more willing to lend to low income white families than to middle or upper income African American families, a practice which is objectively discriminatory and a direct example of America’s double standard when it comes to the co-ordinance between race and socioeconomic perception. To a similar extent, in prior decades, white Americans had a much easier time in securing a loan to buy a home, and had a greater pool of available prestigious universities, as well as an easier time being admitted. In this we see a gap in potential for generational wealth. While the white family could gain equity on a home in a redlined area deemed “desirable”, and thus raise their children in an area with better school districts, all afforded by the high salary made available through the prestigious education received, black families did not see this luxury. Instead, through redlining, African American families have been kept in the same low-income areas for generations, while having difficulty obtaining the same jobs as their white peers-- even with higher

education. To an extent, success carries on generationally, as is exemplified in the United States’ system remaining unforgiving to historically black communities, a major contributor for the lack of accumulated wealth among African Americans. Consider that if one’s parents struggle financially, that individual is more likely to struggle financially later in life for a variety of reasons, including a lack of inherited resources. Though our system has legally and socially adapted to become closer to equal, we still see the effects of redlining throughout American society. A 2016 report by the United States Department of Education notes that among individuals 25 and older, white individuals are more than twice as likely to hold a bachelor’s degree as opposed to their Hispanic peers, and almost twice as likely to hold a bachelor’s degree as opposed to their black peers. The Department of Education also notes that students of color are more concentrated in community colleges and less selective four year schools, institutional establishments that receive lower annual funding than their prestigious counterparts. To an extent, this is a modern day effect of redlining; since public school districts are in large part funded by property taxes, the same white-based communities deemed “desirable” decades prior are more likely to have higher property taxes due to their greater concentration of investment. Because property taxes are higher, the school’s respective budget is also higher than that of their minority-based counterpart. Thus, the former school system is able to provide students with greater access to resources such as extracurricular activities, and to better prepare its students for college. By the same logic, the opposite stands

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for many black communities and school systems around the country, and so though segregation may be outlawed, we still see its effect in modern society today. If you still don’t believe me, I invite you to take a look at Long Island. Though both legal and systemically institutionalized segregation is stereotyped as a practice of the South, the North is not without fault. Here, in Garden City, we are a predominantly white community with high property taxes and a plethora of opportunities provided within our school system. We’re lucky enough to bear a number of nationally regarded sports teams, dozens of clubs, a high school graduation rate sitting at almost 100%, and a college attendance rate sitting at the same bar. We have a plethora of students taking and excelling in AP Courses, and we subsequently consistently rank high among lists of the United States’ nationally regarded schools. Further, million dollar homes are not uncommon throughout Garden City, yet this is no means of bragging or inflated pride, as we often forget that Hempstead sits right on our border. Contrary to Garden City, Hempstead is a community predominantly made up of black and other minority-based demographics; Hempstead’s property taxes remain low, at least in comparison with the rest of Long Island, and bears a student population of which 63.5% are eligible for free lunch, well above the national average of 48.3%, historically indicative of a poverty-stricken area. For comparison, Garden City’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch sits at 2% or less. In 2018, CBS News aired a news special titled “37%- What Went Wrong in Hempstead’s Schools”, the thirty seven percent referring to Hempstead High School’s gradu-

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ation rate. Consider that in Garden City, we’re lucky enough to have resources contributing to a graduation rate of nearly 100%, yet 3 miles down the road sits a school district in crisis, with a graduation rate of 37%, nearly 3 times less than that of its next door neighbor. This system in which two neighborhoods could sit directly side-by-side, one predominantly white and rife with opportunity, the other predominantly minority-based yet in unfortunate peril, did not appear overnight, but rather is a byproduct of years of different strains of systemic racism, be it redlining, its respective outcomes, or proprietary segregation. It is because of this system that protestors call for an end to the widespread socioeconomic injustice we’ve seen for generations. Unfortunately, though, systemic racism doesn’t stop at a financial standpoint; in reality, it extends to implicit bias. Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. To an extent, implicit bias provides context as to why African Americans make up 13.4% of the United States population, yet nearly 40% of the domestic prison population. Though African Americans are reported to be statistically more likely to commit a crime, understand that higher police presence in black neighborhoods than in white neighborhoods, especially with a law enforcement system hierarchically fueled by arrest quotas, is the driving force behind black committed crimes being reported more frequently and in greater quantity than white committed crimes. The tragedy done unto George Floyd is widely regarded as an exemplification of this implicit bias; select white individuals on social media were quick

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to note that after having committed the exact same crime as George Floyd, using a forged bill, they were never apprehended by police, some even noting that their respective experience was an “interesting” story used to break ice at parties. One white man, Southern Methodist University Professor Mark McCoy, recounted his experience with the same exact crime in 1994, down to the alleged forged dollar amount; contrary to Floyd, McCoy was not murdered, but instead spent one night in jail, and the charge against him was dropped after a 6 month probationary period. George Floyd will never have this luxury. For each individual to have committed the same crime yet been treated so differently for no apparent reason other than the color of his or her skin is a crime in and of itself, and is exactly why George Floyd’s story has become the staple of the resurgent Civil Rights movement. In recent time, I have witnessed individuals make the claim that though George Floyd did not deserve to die, he had 17 prior offenses to his record, seemingly satisfied with themselves as though claiming this information would shed some light on a means of justification to the tragedy; this line of thought is dangerous, as it implies that one may forfeit their right to life by breaking any number of the state’s even most arbitrary laws. If this were truly the case, the death penalty would have been applicable to any one of Floyd’s prior offenses, yet by logical standards it was not, which more or less speaks for itself. I can’t exactly remember a time in United States history in which trespassing warranted execution. This said, if nothing else, I implore you: please, take time to consider any implicit bias you may hold, and make a legitimate effort to undo it. Societal

acceptance begins with the individual, and the scope of the individual includes you. On a less statistically oriented note, peaceful protests across the country were quick to sour upon wrongful and even violent police intervention. This is not to say that all police are at fault, or that all police reaction is unwarrantedly violent; however, the police who choose to violently apprehend peaceful individuals should be condemned for their actions, as they have been in recent weeks. Time and time again, we see footage of this uncalled for brutality: Buffalo Police shoved Martin Gugino, a 75 year old man battling cancer, to the ground as he tried to speak with them; news crews and medics in Minneapolis found themselves stranded after police slashed the tires of these workers’ cars; a CNN crew reporting on live television was arrested at a Minnesota protest, after expressing willingness to comply with police requests, despite what Minneapolis police claimed. On a more general scale, peaceful protestors continue to lose eyes to rubber bullets, and police continue to spray tear gas on peaceful protestors across the country, some of which are small children. It is worthy to note here that tear gas is a weapon banned in international warfare. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and the well documented use of excessive force by police in recent weeks is what’s caused the onslaught of calls to defund police departments. Minneapolis’s own police department, the same which has come under fire in recent weeks for its long history of corruption and systemic injustice, among which includes George Floyd’s own case, has been set to be disbanded after the Minneapolis public school district set to sever

ties with the department, and the city council voted a veto-proof 9-3 in favor of disbanding in favor of a new, community oriented emergency response system. The NYPD’s rough handling of peaceful protestors in recent days has also prompted calls to defund the department by up to one billion dollars, though Mayor De Blasio denied defunding up to that dollar amount, despite the NYPD bearing an annual budget of 6 billion dollars. Here, it is worthy to note that the mayor’s own daughter was arrested at a peaceful protest, which he later addressed, claiming that though surprised, he was proud of his daughter’s joining the fight for civil rights. This said, all protestors are not without fault; looters came to take advantage of the tumultuous situation in Minneapolis, robbing some small business owners of their store merchandise and some of their entire life savings, in select cases right before the store owners’ eyes. I do not condone looting of any sort, and as President Obama put it in years prior, it is an entirely counterproductive and destructive measure taken. This said, in totality only about 2% of protestors participate in looting, while the vast majority of protestors around the world protest peacefully in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, in an attempt to better the situation at hand. To conclude, I would like to bring attention to George Floyd’s life in a holistic manner. Described by friends as a “gentle giant”, George grew up in Houston, Texas, and at seven years old claimed to want to one day become a Supreme Court justice, wanting to leave his mark on the world-- and leave his mark he did, though not in any way he could have anticipated. Later, at Yates High School, Floyd played basket-

ball and football, one year leading his football team to the Texas state championships. After graduating high school in 1993, Floyd played two years of basketball for South Florida Community College, and later attended Texas A&M University at Kingsville, also playing basketball there before dropping out. Later in life, Floyd returned to Houston, where he played club basketball and joined a hip hop group known as “Screwed Up Click”, under the name “Big Floyd”. After having spent time in prison for offenses committed in the late 2000’s, Floyd became involved with a Houston based ministry in which he mentored young men in a Christian community, and later became an outspoken advocate against gun violence. In 2014, Floyd moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in search of a fresh start and new career opportunities, eventually taking occupation as a truck driver and bouncer, though in recent months Floyd lost his security job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, joining millions of other Americans in

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a sudden unemployment. George Floyd was a father of five, who is described as having loved his family; 6 year old daughter Gianna, at a recent protest is filmed as having said, “Daddy changed the world!” a claim which resonated with individuals worldwide. And, tragically, on May 25th, 2020, George Floyd lost his life at age 46 at the hands of Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Keung, and Thomas Lane, the same individuals who swore an oath to protect those under their authority. My point to highlighting Floyd’s life is to show that he, too, was an individual with aspirations. He was an individual who made mistakes, sought to make amends, and sought to create a better life for himself. Above all else, George Floyd was a human being, and as a human being Floyd did not deserve his life taken in those tragic 8 minutes and 46 seconds. May George Floyd rest in peace, and may his legacy remain--a legacy of social empowerment and true, equal civil rights for all.

By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64103075

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Student Reactions to COVID-19 School Closures

So much has changed in such a short time. While we may have wished for more sleep, less school and to be free of the demands of our regular routines, we here at the ECHO have noticed a change in students' attitudes towards going to school. We thought we'd check in with some of our classmates to hear what they had to say about the changes wrought by the novel coronavirus, and exactly what they miss about the halls of GCHS.

“I think that the school is handling it the best that they canclosing schools is for our safety and I believe that health and family comes before school” - Molly Psaki, Grade 10

“I miss the whole routine. I miss waking up early, seeing my friends in the morning and throughout the days. I miss going to class and taking notes. I never thought I would but I miss actually learning but I do because I can’t do it online.” - Ashlyn Mullan, Grade 12

“I miss seeing everyone. Especially those people who you don’t typically see outside of school, the ones where when you saw them in school on a Friday and you would say have fun “I miss the classes, the passing through halls talking to friends, this weekend! And you’ll chat with them on the rush in the cafeteria to finish last minute homework, and Monday about it. I miss my teachers, especially actually seeing my friends. Really miss that last part, and I rethe gym teachers, and of course Karp. Although ally gotta not take that all for granted.” - Dan Butt, Grade 9 yes they were my teachers they were also my “I think that it was a smart decision to close schools. friends. They always put a smile on my face. The virus was getting worse and people were getting Yes I understand these are uncertain times but I very sick. We didn't know alot about the virus so would do anything to have one more gym class it was hard to determine what was good for us and and one more Monday morning weekend chat.” what was bad. Now that we know more about the vi- Lizzie Phillips, Grade 12 “There are quite a few things I miss about Garden City rus, being in school at that time was very dangerous, High School. I miss being able to see all of my friends especially since we were in such a big group of peoand interact with each other. I feel stuck at home with so- ple. There were so many people who could be carcial distancing and I am more eager everyday for the end rying germs and we wouldn't even know it. I think of school. I miss all of my dedicated teachers and I miss the school did a good job with switching to online our socratic seminars in English. Most of all I miss my classes. I think it was definitely a hard adjustment period 8 gym class because I find that class the most fun at first but living in the 21st century many students and entertaining. I get to exercise and stay in shape while were able to figure out the technology very easily. seeing all of my best friends. I miss the creativity flowing It was also very hard to leave school and not know in Mr. Fediw’s class and traveling back in time with Mr. that it would be your last day you would see all your Finnell. I am grateful for all I learned in my first year and I teachers for that school year. Being a sophomore i miss everybody very much. I am excited for next year but felt that we didn't miss too many activities at the end disappointed that I wasn’t able to complete my first year in of the year, unlike seniors. Having a sister that is a senior made me realize how many activities they full.” - Ryan Sapuppo, Grade 9 missed, such as graduation, prom, yearbook signing, “Most people my age before this pandemic would love to and their last day of classes going to the amusement do school online and not go to school but it is terrible. We park. Although it’s not ideal for the seniors, I think are in self quarantine and we have been in self isolation that the school is doing a very good job about trying for weeks staying six feet apart from everyone we meet. their best to still include all of these senior activities Students all around the world want to go back to our old to the best of their ability. Overall I think the school lives and will never take school for granted again. Life has made the right call and has done everything they throws you a lot of curve balls but this is one we never saw can to accommodate all the students at Garden City coming.” - Mckenzie Wehrum, Grade 9 High School.” - Emily Besendorfer, Grade 10

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Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Sarah Fetherston and Ryan Murphy By: Lana Hess

Have you ever wanted to direct and star in your own movie? Well, juniors Sarah Fetherston and Ryan Murphy have done exactly that. Sarah and Ryan wrote, produced, and starred in their own web series filmed at Garden City High School. Their web series, called “Lockdown”, explores different situations and challenges facing teenagers in this new modern era. It focuses on such topics as gun control, LGBTQ+ discrimnation, abuse, abortion, and much more. The two got their inspiration for this web series when they were in a lockdown drill at the school and Sarah said “what would I do if this happened here?” They started to imagine what would happen if the lockdown was actually real. From there, they decided that they would explore what they thought would happen in an active shooter situation. The web series is meant to spark debate about

these topics. Sarah and Ryan have seen the disconnect within the community about what teens are going through and wanted to bring more light to the topic. Sarah said “We especially wanted to foster an environment where teens feel comfortable talking to their parents or peers about these issues.'. Ryan also made the point that their series “is not meant to romanticize or sensationalize these very real issues.” Sarah and Ryan have been writing with each other for a long time and they felt that this topic needed more attention and that they were the perfect ones to do it. Both juniors admire Gretta Gerwig, the director of films such as “Little Women'' and “Ladybird” for her ability to produce and star in her own movies. They also enjoy watching Noah Baumbach’s movie, “Marriage Story.” Both juniors draw inspiration from these incredible directors and movies. When

asked if they could recast the movie with any Hollywood actors, Sarah and Ryan both agreed that they would want teenagers playing teenagers and also that they would want to star in it. They stated that “there is not enough representation of real teenagers in movies and T.V.” In other words, they do not want 20 year olds playing 15 year olds and that is why they would want to act as themselves. Both juniors plan to continue filmmaking and hope to major in musical theater in college. Look for future viewings on YouTube or other video platforms! Sarah and Ryan pulled together a group of strong actors from the GCHS student body: Julia Bedeian, Susan Bernhard, Andrew Braun, Enzo Cupani, Dami Dawodu, Sarah Fetherston, Ioakim Marinos, RJ Murphy, Jordan Pearn, Paige Sanossian, and Millie Scheibeler.

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World/National News

The Death of Soleimani

If you have been watching the news in the past few months, then you probably have heard the name Qassem Soleimani. However, information surrounding the former leader of the foreign wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and his death has been difficult to distinguish as accurate or not. It is especially crucial to understand how the killing of General Soleimani has implicated the US. Since the 1980’s, Qassem Soleimani was involved in extraterritorial military operations and was largely considered the second most powerful person in Iran, the first being the country’s then president and supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Many Western nations, including the US, suspected that General Soleimani was associated with the Iranian Shiite terrorist organization, Hezbollah, which is known for aiding the chaos that ensued during the Lebanese Civil War, targeting Israel, and antagonizing Western governments involved in Middle Eastern affairs. Soleimani was also a supporter of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president. Assad, most notably, is responsible for war crimes against his own people. In 2016, President Assad’s regime deployed chlorine gas weapons against civilians during the Syrian Civil War. The regime has denied any aggression; however, the overwhelming influx of Syrian refugees into Europe, the US, Turkey, and neighboring countries suggests the contrary. For his involvement with the aforementioned organization and individual, Qassem Soleimani has been sanctioned by both the United Nations

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By: Emily Kerimian

and the European Union. However, neither the UN or the EU considered assassination as a verifiable option, because both feared the unintended consequences, including Iranian retaliation, increased international terrorism, and/or a power vacuum that would lead to the selection of a more radical military leader, that a sudden assassination could yield. The killing of Soleimani took place on January 3, 2020 in Baghdad, Iraq, while the General was being driven near the Baghdad International Airport. President Trump ordered a drone strike because, in his own words, “He was planning a very major attack and we got him.” Many of our allies condemned this action because they believe President Trump’s reasoning to be faulty. It is also important to note that the strike took place on Iraqi and not Iranian soil. Foreign affairs experts point out that the strike could have been conveyed as a breach of Iraqi territorial sovereignty. If Iraqi officials reacted angrily and decided to exact revenge by supporting Iranian counterstrikes, the US could have found itself embroiled in a regional war. While the impact in Iraq may not have been catastrophic for the United States, in Iran, despair and anger have overtaken both officials and civilians. The funeral for General Soleimani in Tehran is said to be the “largest in Iran since the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.” The body was paraded through five of Iran’s holiest Shia cities over a course of four days. In the midst of the funeral, protests arose that startlingly reminded historians of those that occurred

during the late 1970’s, after the US refused to return Iran’s pro-Western autocrat, Shah Pahlavi, to Iran. Iranians responded by rioting, burning American flags and effigies of President Jimmy Carter, and worst of all, storming the US embassy and taking 52 American diplomats hostage for 444 days. Shortly after the killing of Soleimani, furious protesters stormed the streets, burning American and Israeli flags, carrying mock coffins of President Donald Trump, and bearing signs and banners that mourn their beloved General and condemn the US. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced the assassination by labeling it as an act of “ both terrorism and war.” While the events above seem to point to conflict, panic is not necessary. Many of the memes circling the internet warning of a possible draft or worse, a third World War, are just that, memes; they are intended to be sarcastic and comedic in nature. The US-Iran relationship has always been tense, especially after the Iran Hostage Crisis and Iranian Revolution in the 70s. The Iran Nuclear Deal, while not perfect, was designed to reduce tensions by eliminating sanctions and in return, Iran would curtail its nuclear capabilities. Even without the deal, Iran’s nuclear facilities are far from being able to produce a weapon. War strategist experts on both sides also recognize the risk of regional conflict. The Iranian decision to strike near US military bases was to project strength and to legitimize Iran’s power, and not to provoke the US or cause a war.

World/National News

The Australian Bushfires: A Country on Fire By: Mary Grlic Climate change has become an increasing concern in recent years. In 2019 alone, the Amazon raged with detrimental forest fires, Antarctica has started to melt away, California wildfires have harmed homes and animals, along with an overall climate crisis. Climate change is reaching an all-time high as it destroys Australia. Bushfires are not a new phenomenon in the area and are common in the summer. However, the ferocity and longevity of these fires is a new issue. In September 2019, bushfires started to engulf wildlife and nature in northern New South Wales. The issue has persisted into the new year of 2020, only worsening day by day. These fires have harmed people and their homes. In New South Wales alone, 3,000 homes were destroyed. Nearly thirty people

have died as a result of these fires. Bushfires have destroyed wildlife as well, leaving species endangered and killing off large populations. As of December 2019, the koala population decreased by 30 percent and experts warned that marsupials are moving towards extinction. A “humanitarian crisis� occurred on January 1, leaving many famished Australians desperate for food, water, and fuel. As thick smoke covers much of the continent, the air quality is deteriorating at a hazardous rate. Australia started to see heavy rainfall in early January, but no signs of hope have been indicated since then: fires still continued at an unimaginable rate. The lower temperatures have not lasted as long as hoped for either, as meteorologists have warned that by late January, the high-tem-

perature conditions would return. The crisis is extreme in Australia; the country is in need of serious help to restore its environment and prevent future catastrophes like these bushfires. Volunteer organizations are aiding firefighters in affected communities. Fire services all across Australia are accepting donations to help the cause. The Red Cross has assisted with evacuation and a relief fund has been started on GoFundMe, among many other efforts. The RSPCA bushfire appeal protects wildlife as other organizations, like the World Wildlife Fund, are accepting donations to save nature and the animals, especially the decreasing koala population. As a school, Garden City has been collecting funds to help animals in Australia, such as with Valentine’s Day Candy Grams.

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World/National News

“It’s time to rebel!”

The Seventeen Year Old Who Is Taking The World By Storm By: Corinne Lafont “So, we can no longer save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed. Everything needs to change, and it has to start today.”-Greta Thunberg. I got a notification from YouTube about 6 months ago from my favorite band-The 1975-for their newest song: “The 1975”. I was excited to listen, but upon doing so I was surprised to hear a small voice layered over an otherwise instrumental track, speaking about climate change. It wasn’t a song, it was a plea for help. That voice was Greta Thunberg’s, the seventeen year old activist who is taking the world by storm. So, who is she? Born to a famous opera singer, Malena Ernman, and actor Svante Thunberg, it is unclear who in her family influenced her political beliefs. She is a descendant of a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Svante Arrhenius, who came up with a model of the greenhouse effect. This is most likely who she got inspiration from, as she tends to discuss the environmental impact greenhouse emissions have on the world. Born with Asperger’s Syndrome, Greta has described it as a “gift and a superpower”. The teenager was interested in climate change since she was 8, constantly wondering why the public was apathetic about their environment. With even her parents against her protests, the odds were clearly against her. Carrying a sign outside the Swedish parliamentary building, she became viral, and over 20,000 students joined her protest.

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She has traveled to several strikes in Europe contributing to the climate conversation. Recently, in September 2019, Greta became more well known by the public when she spoke at the United Nations Climate Summit. Though some criticized her speech, it certainly gained both Greta and her cause more attention. Her quote, “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,” became the most memorable line of the Summit, condemning the world leaders for their apathy. Although not many governments changed their climate policies, she did rally support in the form of viewers. Greta has stressed the importance of action, small or large, in order to cut down on our carbon emissions. She says in “The 1975”, “And yes, we need a system change rather than individual change, but you cannot have one without the other. If you look through history, all the big changes in society have been started by people at the grass-

roots level—people like you and me.” The United States alone contributes to about 4833.1MT (metric megatrons), which left the country responsible for the second highest amount of carbon emissions in 2016. Ms. Thunberg is trying to inspire every person to contribute to the lowering of such emissions: for example she has become a vegan in order to help save the environment, with the understanding that animal agriculture is responsible for about 14-18% of global greenhouse emissions. Greta won Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, and has continued to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize again, perhaps following Svante Arhenius’ path. “So, we can no longer save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed. Everything needs to change, and it has to start today. So, everyone out there, it is now time for civil disobedience. It is time to rebel.”-Greta Thunberg, “The 1975”.

World/National News

Presidential Although the 2020 Presidential Election is still about 6 months away, the race between the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden and the incumbent Donald Trump is still very much up for grabs. For perspective, let’s take a look back to the full Democratic field in the period before Super Tuesday and Biden’s ascendancy. After an Iowa caucus filled with error and uncertainty, it appears that two front runners emerged among the Democratic field, both surprising in their own way. Bernie Sanders, a far-left, anti-establishment, self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, and Pete Buttigieg, the openly gay, more moderate mayor of South Bend, were neck and neck coming out of the first real results. Perhaps most surprisingly, Joe Biden, who was considered a favorite when he announced his candidacy, fell to an embarrassing fourth after the caucus. Elizabeth Warren, a farther-left senator from Massachusetts, held at third place, a disappointing start for a candidate who began her campaign strongly. Although all these candidates had unique policies: Bernie’s adamant support of universal healthcare and college, Buttigieg’s support of gun control and elimination of the Electoral College, Warren’s extreme tax hikes on the rich, and Biden’s more establishment views on issues like abortion and gun control, the biggest question facing Democratic voters in the coming months is electability. If a candidate can convince the electorate that they can take on Trump and everything that comes with going toe-to-toe with this incumbent, that candidate will almost certainly get a majority of votes. The answer to this question plagues certain candidates and is a selling point for others. Many wonder if America, especially areas outside of the liberal

Election

By: Brendan Staub coasts, would elect a gay man as president. Others don’t know if someone as radical as Bernie is what we need after four years of Trump, going from the far-right to the far-left. On the contrary, Biden’s main selling point may be that he is the only one that can sway enough undecided voters to the Democratic ticket as a result of his impressive resume, and Warren is attempting to sell that she is the only one that can tie together the two divided factions of the party, the establishment and the radicals. Although Bernie and Buttigieg emerged early on, the results were skewed by demographics in the early states - less diverse and much more left leaning. This allowed for Bernie’s radical policies to gain traction and the stains on Buttigieg’s record of treatment of minorities to have less of an impact on results. However, after more primaries and especially after Super Tuesday, Joe Biden took over the nomination by uniting the majority of the left and capturing the vote of African-Americans and older voters. Seen as a centrist that can defeat Trump, his connection to Obama and storied history in politics help to overshadow the increasing scrutiny on his old age and consistent gaffes. The Republican side is much more cut and dry, but questions still loom over President Trump’s reelection. No Republican has the means or desire to challenge Trump in the primaries, and he will certainly have almost total support of his party, as he

Outlook has completely consolidated support within his base. In his first three years of being President, he has acted almost exclusively in the interests of his base, with decisions like pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, enacting harsher immigration laws, and choosing to be tougher on foreign powers like Iran and China. This group is in full support of their president, and almost nothing he can do will change that, but some wonder if this passionate base is enough to win another election. If the Democrats put forth an electable candidate and sway moderates to their side, will the gamble Trump has taken on supporting only his base and isolating others pay off? Further complicating things for the incumbent is his impeachment. Although he was acquitted of both charges, Democrats say that the shadow of these accusations and investigations will hang over him forever and make him unfit to lead our country. However, if spun correctly, attempting to impeach him could have backfired on the Democrats, as he tries to use it to inflame his base against the “petty, unfair” Democrats. Another recent challenge to his reelection is his administration’s largely bungled handling of the coronavirus and the economic downturn and potential recession the crisis will bring. Often his main selling point with moderates was the strength of the economy, but if that is out the window, moderate Republicans and Democrats alike may opt for the pragmatic and experienced Biden, with his experienced cabinet, to lead us out of crisis. Plus, Trump’s reactions to the murder ot George Floyd have caused major backlash against him and his ratings are currently plummeting. Even this far out, it is clear that the 2020 election will be complicated, divisive, and at times confusing, very fitting to the political climate of today.

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World/National News

Saying Goodbye to a Glacier: A Funeral for Okjökull

When one imagines mourning their loved ones in the most respectable and honorable way possible, they most likely picture a funeral. This is why it makes perfect sense that the people of Iceland would proceed with a loved one’s death in the same manner. However, unlike the perfect funeral previously pictured, this coffin held no corpse, nor even a casket. In its place lay an engravement, a writing addressing the children of tomorrow's children, and a sober mourning for a Mammoth of Ice. Plot twist; this wasn’t a normal, cliché funeral. At this funeral, Okjokull, the former Scandinavian Glacier, was paid her respects by several scientists, journalists, students, and activists. Her unfortunate decline as a Glacier was first noted around 1978, by which she had shrunk to three square kilometers from her originally recorded 16 square kilo-

By: Daniel Butt

meters from 1890. From there, it was a steady decrease in size until 2014, when she was recognized by scientists to resemble more of a post-drizzle puddle than an Ice Giant. While Okjokull was dwarfed in size to her siblings, she’s the first in line for a possible trend: the death of all glaciers worldwide from climate change. Jump to August of 2019 and the process begins 5 years too late with former Icelandic Presidential Candidate Andri Snear Magnason and a hundred others. They’re at the base of the mountain which formerly held Okjokull. In 2014, little notice or care was given to her death. Finding an article alerting English-speaking readers of her death was like a needle in a haystack. At this funeral, however, they sought to make good on the inappropriate mourning methods of the past. With this mourning came much fanfare, and more importantly,

acknowledgment and respect. Commemorating the funeral was a plaque inscribed at the base. Its message is the following: “Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow in the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what is to be done. Only you know if we did it” Holding a funeral for a glacier is an unusual decision, but one that screams out about the frightening changes wrought upon our environment and our world. Like the scientists who left their message on the commemorative plaque, we should all take note of the work that needs to be done to stem the tide of climate change--and then we should do it.

The 2020 Oscars By: Iyaa Kalra

Television's biggest night is finally here! The 92nd Academy Awards Ceremony, also known as the Oscars, is a globally streamed award show. It’s definitely recommended to watch for all of the movie fanatics out there. The 2020 Oscars did not have an official host, so instead there were presenters who had the joy of giving out Oscars. Janelle Monáe opened this year's Oscars with her performance which highlighted some of this year's biggest films. There were many other memorable performances

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this year including Elton John, Randy Newman, Eminem, Billie Ellish, and Idina Menzel, who sang “Into the Unknown” from Frozen II with other singers in multiple languages. On a comedic note, James Corden and Rebel Wilson, who were presenters, gave the award for best visual effects to the film 1917 while dressed up in catsuits as their characters from the movie Cats. Many audience members as well as viewers at home found this to be quite hilarious. Onto the awards: Joker is one of the highest

nominated films of the night with 11 nominations. This year's Oscars made history with the film Parasite. It is about a poor South Korean family who takes on a wealthy family living in an extravagant home in Seoul. This international film won 4 Oscars all for best original screenplay (writing), directing, international feature film, and picture. This was a proud moment for director Bong Joon-ho for being the first foreign film to win 4 Oscars, and was a great way to end the night.

Saturnalia 2020

Community News

By: Emily Kerimian

It is that time of year again! On Friday, January 10, 2020, the Garden City High School Latin Club held its annual Saturnalia party in the GCHS library. Even though the festivities fell outside of the typical Saturnalia period, the party was a huge success. Saturnalia is a festival to celebrate Saturn, the god of agriculture, bringing the Sun back to the Italian countryside.

It was typically observed for 5-7 days, beginning on the 17th of December. The Romans celebrated by playing games, hosting feasts, and exchanging small gifts. This year, Latin Club’s own celebration featured classic games such as the pool noodle javelin and discus throws, wheelbarrow "chariot" races, a toga creation and modeling competition, and certamen (a Latin-based trivia

game similar to Jeopardy), as well as introducing a brand new game: a gladiatorial sword-fight. Saturnalia is open to Latin and non-Latin students alike. Latin Club was also proud to host, for the first time, students from Mineola’s Latin Club. Latin Club hopes for and encourages more people to attend Saturnalia. Until next year, Io Saturnalia!

Quizbowl 2020 By: Brandon Noll

Quiz Bowl is an annual quiz competition run by our own Mr. O’Hagan. It is an intramural league beginning late January every year and there are three rounds, one beginning qualifier round, the semifinals, and the finals. Students must organize a team of three students and one teacher and then sign up with Mr. O’Hagan before a certain deadline. This year, twelve teams signed up for the qualifier round; there were four separate rooms with three teams in each room. In each room, there is a reader, a timekeeper, and 100 total questions that the teams are given. How it works is a question is given to one team and if that team does not get the question right, the question is passed onto the other two teams until someone gets it right. If no one gets it right, the next team gets another question

and no one gets points. However, if someone gets a question right, then they are given a bonus question, which is once again passed around the room if the team doesn’t get it correct. It sounds complicated, but it’s very easy to follow once you get into it. Now that I’ve explained how it works, here’s how this year went. With twelve teams starting the qualifying round, only nine teams would be able to qualify for the semifinals. The nine teams with the highest total points after three days of qualifying rounds would move on to the finals. However, as a team, you are not playing against those only in your room. Your score in your room is compared to every other room for the qualifiers, which makes it especially challenging. The qualifiers went as expected with several

front runners, Team McAuley and Team Slater, ahead of the pack. In the semifinals, you are no longer compared against teams in the other rooms. There were three rooms and only the winner of each of the three rooms would move on to the finals. Each room was a nail biter and, insanely, every room was decided in the end by one question. This has never happened in quiz bowl history according to Mr. O’Hagan. Only teams Dunleavy, Slater, and McAuley moved on to the finals. In the finals, these three teams answered 158 out of the 170 questions read by Mr. O’Hagan. In the end, Team Dunleavy, including GCHS seniors Mary Foxen, Analise Fressle, and Olivia Pappas, clutched the victory. This victory ended another successful Quiz Bowl Competition and congrats to Team Dun-

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Sports

Boys Varsity Basketball By: Brendan Staub

The Garden City boys basketball team ended an exciting season on February 15th with a playoff loss to South Side, one of the favorites to win the county. In this game, however, in front of a raucous GC crowd piled into the visitor’s gym, the team showed the same heart they played with the whole season. This team was led by no single leader, instead being captained by a group of juniors and seniors working together, without any one player demanding the spotlight. Even with this team mindset, some clear leaders emerged. 6’3’’ senior forward Gavin Paske-

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witz provided great defense and an ability to energize the team with a big three or charge taken. Another senior leader was Aidan Long, a scrappy defender who had the potential to change momentum with his passionate play. Senior Brian Wood, a varsity player since sophomore year, helped to facilitate the offense. In addition to these senior leaders, Tommy Franz and Luke Long were standouts as juniors on a young team. As two very accurate shooters from beyond the arc, they made up for in offensive skill and passion what they lacked in experience.

Additional support came from Jack Downey, a 6’5’’ center and players like Frankie Patrissi and Michael Deluca, two players who will be crucial next year. Finally, additional support was provided by the lone sophomore on the team, Joey Wood, who saw valuable minutes as the season drew on, and will certainly step into a bigger role next season. With a great season behind them and a bright future ahead of them, the Garden City boys basketball team will surely be exciting for years to come.

Winter Track & Field

Sports

By: Nick Ragas

In early March, just barely escaping COVID-19 cancellation, the New York Track and Field State Championship kicked off at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, in Staten Island, New York. This year, representing Garden City High School were two individuals: Alexander Mejia and Grant Krawiec. Mejia, a seasoned Varsity Athlete, placed tenth in the 600 meter run, and brought home a new 600 meter school record time of 1:23.24. The record was last set by former Division 1 athlete, Andrew Morra, in 2013 with a time of 1:23.60, placing Mejia in good standing for the upcoming seasons. Mejia is also the first Varsity Athlete to break a school record in almost 2 years. Grant Krawiec, a two-time Cross Country Captain and committed athlete to Division 1 Loyola University Maryland track, placed 11th in the 1000 meter run with a time of 2:36.08. This performance is not only a season’s best, but fast enough to place Krawiec on the All Time List for the 1000 meter run at Garden City High School. Congratulations to both athletes on stellar seasons! Not only the state ranked runners, but other athletes also performed exceptionally well in the Championship season, specifically at the Conference and Division Championships. At the Conference Championship, Alexander Mejia took first individually in both the 300 meter and 600 meter runs, and sprinted his way to a jaw dropping victory in the 4x400 meter relay. Mejia went all conference in both the 300 meter and 600 meter runs,

as did the 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Robin Mahabir, Grant Krawiec, Frank Patano, and Mejia himself. Further, Grant Krawiec took an all conference title in the 1000 meter run, and achieved Conference Champion in the high jump. The 4x200 meter relay team consisting of William Nugent, Max Genova, Nate Fridrich, and Christopher Roukis also took a Conference Championship title. Ryan Farrell, one of the team’s more versatile athletes, took all conference titles in both the shotput and the long jump; Farrell also took part in the 4x800 meter relay, which took a most unexpected third place. Having subbed in three of four alternates, the relay team consisting of Ryan Farrell, Alex Colletti, Nicolas Ragas, and Miguel Santos still managed to take third place. Ragas also went on to place fifth in the mile. Scott Henneberger also achieved all conference in the Pole Vault. Overall, the team performed very well in the Championship meet. Furthermore, the team continued to dominate at the County

Championship. Alex Mejia, imposing as always, placed 3rd for an All County Title in the 300 meter run, and another third place All County title in the 4x400 meter relay, consisting of the same Mahabir, Krawiec, Patano, Mejia quartet. Mejia also went on to take the County title in the 600 meter run. The 4x800 meter team also managed an All County title, at third place with Ryan Farrell, Jack Lasalla, Scott Henneberger, and John Sprufero. Farrell also went All County in the shotput. Here, Henneberger took the County Champion title in the pole vault, and Division 1 High Point University track commit, Jack Lasalla, placed fifth in the mile with a personal best of 4:47.7. Krawiec, again, took second in the 1000 meter run, however it is worthy to note that Krawiec later went on to win the 1000 meter at the State Qualifier with a time of 2:41.3. Krawiec also took County Champion in the High Jump, with a jump of 6’1”, thus placing himself on the Garden City All Time List for the high jump.

Conference Champion Meet - 4x8 Team Left to right: Ryan Farrell, Alex Colletti, Nick Ragas, Miguel Santos

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Reviews

The Poetic Landscape of Today: A Survey By: Alex Kucich

From transcendentalism and romanticism to magical realism, we learn about all sorts of literary movements in our high school English classes. But literature didn’t stop developing and changing where the curriculum ends; authors are still innovating, new movements are still arising, and history is still being written around us each day. So what literary movement, or movements, are we currently living through? The modern landscapes of poetry and prose are vastly different, and to analyze each would take more pages than I have, so in answering this question, this article will focus on literary movements only as they pertain to poetry. So, what common thread seems to be connecting the most celebrated poetic works of our modern day? The exact identification and naming of literary movements in the 21st century can be challenging. After all, if postmodernism follows modernism, then what follows postmodernism? There are two approaches we can take to answering this question: judging influence by popularity, and judging influence by scholarly acclaim. If we are determining the most influential current literary movement by popularity and public acclaim, then the rejection of traditional literary norms is what the writers of our day are embracing. Some of the last two decades’ most popular poets– though the label of “poet” for them is fiercely debated in academic circles– such as Rupi Kaur and r.H. Sin, write in a way that is shocking in its simplicity. These lauded “Instapoets” draw from experiences that they perceive the public wants to hear about, such as sexual assault and feminism, and they write with directness and unabashed clarity. The relatability of their poetry for many, as well as how refreshing it is for some to have

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these topics openly discussed on such a large platform, is what earns them their praise. Additionally, the simplicity of their work makes it more accessible to many who previously thought of analyzing poetry as too difficult or cumbersome. However, that simplicity is also the cause of the backlash against them; if true poetry is the economization of words, the layering of deeper meanings into concise lines, then “poetry” like Kaur’s shows absolutely no use of craft. If you search for literary criticism of her work, you will find none for the simple reason that there is nothing to criticize. One of the few devices it might be argued that Kaur uses is authorial intrusion, or the usage of a first person point of view to reveal the author’s thoughts as the speaker. She also employs enjambment frequently, and much of her work lacks any punctuation at all. These choices might create a feeling of brokenness between the lines, which may contribute to the overall tone of Kaur’s works. But the consistency with which she makes these choices across nearly all of her works gives the impression that they are more a stylistic choice than an expression of tone, alteration of pace, or anything else that would suggest some deeper meaning in her lines. Kaur’s “poetry” is accessible because it can be taken at face value; no critical analysis is needed to understand her poems. Therefore, while popular, it is unlikely that the Instapoetry movement will have lasting influence over the literary culture of our era, unless that culture is shifting towards a preference for stark simplicity and vapidness. And, if the latter is the case, then perhaps we will soon be redefining what literature means in our society. If we try to determine the most influential current literary move-

ment by scholarly acclaim, then our options increase. Perhaps you’ll have to dig a little deeper to find them, but groundbreaking works that reflect our cultural values, social climate, and modern moral conflicts are abundant. Many poets, similar to Kaur and Sin, find ways to write that reject long held literary rules. However, these poets maintain deeper meanings and skillfully use their craft in ways that replace the devices of the past. Anne Carson, for example, chooses to blend poetry and essay; her rejection of strict genre does not prevent her from creatively incorporating layered meanings. For example, her 2010 book Nox includes the cross outs and ink stains from her original notebook, as well as notes, dictionary entries, and translations of the Latin she sometimes writes in. Her dictionary entries eventually transform into their own narrative, and, combined with letters and photographs, this half-poetry-half-narrative style grants the reader the opportunity to come to one of multiple possible interpretations. Other poets, like Dawn Lundy Martin, reject the rules of traditional poetry by employing frequent line breaks in the middle of phrases. Kaur does this too, but the emphasis that might be placed on certain words does little to add to the subtext of her works; in Martin’s work, however, each short line and each blank space adds richness to a possible interpretation. Martin also writes about important, relevant issues, such as racism and the era of Black Lives Matter, but she does so in a way that leaves the reader with more questions than answers. Her vague and off balance style, which challenges the reader and then avoids conclusions or certainty, calls for much interpretive and analytical effort on the part of the reader.

The common thread between works like those of Carson and Martin seems to be a simultaneous rebellion against convention and a celebration of absence. The absence of text in places, the lack of punctuation, the stubborn refusal to lead the reader to firm and comfortable conclusions, and the usage of blank space are all popular among

modern poets who garner scholarly acclaim. The absence of elements that we are accustomed to speaks volumes. But if there is a name for the movement defined by absence, I have yet to find it. Call it avant-garde, call it post-postmodernist, call it what you will– but perhaps the absence of a name, much like the absence of other things– is part

Reviews

of this movement’s definition. Perhaps the very act of definition undermines the point of the movement. But in this era of poetic uncertainty, one thing is certain: there is no absence of marvelous and powerful modern poetry, popular or not.

1917

By: Joaquin Seneque 1917, by critically acclaimed writer and director Sam Mendes, is an intense, exhilarating, and powerful WW1 blockbuster. The film features two British soldiers, Schofield and Blake, crossing enemy lines to bring news of a trap set up by the German forces before sixteen hundred young soldiers run straight to their deaths. 1917 is excellent at putting the audience in the perspective of the soldiers in no man's land. 1917’s selling point is that the film is supposed to look like it's filmed all in one consecutive shot, a seemingly impossible task. 1917’s cinematographer Roger Deakins is able to perform this feat by cutting to the next scene while the camera angle is behind a tree or wall, making the whole film

feel like one smooth shot. Because of this “one-shot” style, the story of 1917 is told in real-time. Everything that happens to these characters, the audience experiences. There are no moments where the scene is cut to progress time. We are experiencing the whole adventure, every little detail, and every challenge. Not only is the camerawork a technical marvel but also the visuals as well. Each shot and setting makes the film look beautiful and gives an artistic feel to such a dark and grimy battlefield. The original music of the movie also adds to the dire tone of the situation. The music can be inspiring and mythical yet intense and dramatic at the same time. The action sequences in 1917 are of unmeasurable propor-

tions. Even though this movie contains amazing action scenes, the characters can feel static, as they don’t undergo substantial change. Besides the direct main point of the movie, we don’t exactly learn anything new or important about the characters. The goal to cancel the attack on the enemy doesn’t feel like enough motivation for our protagonists. Overall 1917 is an amazing war drama with excellent visuals and action sequences that could excite any moviegoer. Unfortunately, the film lacks characterization providing a quite dull experience if you enjoy movies focusing more on character than action. The disappointments of 1917, though, are minor, and overall this movie is a solid nine on a scale of ten!

Little Women By: Emily Kerimian

Little Women, by Lousia May Alcott, is a classic and beloved tale. The novel has been adapted several times, but never so vividly as Greta Gerwig’s version. Many went into the film with high expectations, which were set by the 1994 adaptation that featured Winona Ryder. Little Women (1994) was then the most accurate film with respect to the details of the book. Winona Ryder was praised highly for her role as the eldest sister, Jo March. However, thanks to Greta Gerwig’s excellent di-

recting, the 2019 Little Women movie defied expectations and delighted audiences, earning an amazing 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film brings new life to each of Alcott’s quintessential characters; Jo March, played by Saoirse Ronan, is inspiring in both her tenacity to become a writer and her vulnerability in admitting to her loneliness. Amy March, played by Florence Pugh, was the most dynamic character; she blossomed from a spoiled girl into an intelligent and determined young woman.

The other sisters, Meg and Beth March, played by Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen respectively, were no less important. Meg’s romantic nature does not impede her from being a loving sister. Similarly, despite being ill, Beth is a driving force behind Jo’s writing and a beacon of selflessness. As a whole, Little Women is a beautiful movie that captures the essence of sisterhood, female persistence, and familial bonds.

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Reviews

The Witcher By: Lana Hess

The newest binge-worthy TV show on Netflix, “ The Witcher”, will make you wish that you could watch it all in one sitting. The show is adapted from Andrezej Sapkowski’s book and a video game. With thrilling sequences of action and an interesting plot, the show does not disappoint. However, for the people who know nothing of The Witcher franchise the show is definitely easy to become obsessed with. Additionally, for fans disappointed with the “Game of Thrones” ending, this

show may be the next one to watch. The show follows a whole cast of characters, mainly The Witcher, Geralt of Rivia(Henry Cavill), a sorceress, Yennefer (Anya Cholotra), a princess, Ciri (Freya Allan), and many more. The series follows the journeys of the three main characters, their back stories, and how fate will play out in their lives. Sci-fi fans will be thoroughly entertained. The story is well told and intriguing right from the start. Henry Cavill, formerly of “Superman” fame,

is completely transformed into the stoic, blond Mountain that is Geralt of Rivia. This main character is the center around which the other stories revolve. Timelines shuffle and backstories are expertly interwoven into a complex tale that bends and twists to keep the viewer glued to the next episode. I highly recommend diving into this mystical world when you have a long weekend, for once you start viewing, you definitely won’t be able to stop.

Hadestown By: Melissa Ng

Recently I took a trip to the Walter Kerr Theater, home of the critically acclaimed show Hadestown. A trip to the Underworld is something everyone should experience as the show is filled with remarkable details providing a one of a kind experience. The show never failed to impress me; from the distinctive songs written by Anais Mitchell, to the incredible cast with an ability to evoke such emotions that captivate the audience. The musical is based off of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Traditionally, Orpheus and Eurydice are deeply in love, but sadly Eurydice dies and goes to the Underworld. Heartbroken Orpheus determinedly heads to the Underworld to bring back his love. He faces Hades, the god of the Underworld, and his wife Persephone. Orpheus is able to convince

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Hades to let Eurydice live again with his musical talent. In order to bring back Eurydice, Orpheus has to walk back to the world above without looking back at Eurydice to see if she was following, truly testing his love and trust. Sadly, before the couple could cross over the border, Orpheus turns around to be met with no one as he didn’t complete his task. Although many people go into the musical knowing this story, Anais Mitchell was able to create something unexpected that took the known myth down a different path. A character we all get to know well is Hermes, played by the great Andre De Shields, who is our narrator. Along with our Hermes is Hades, played by the amazing Patrick Page, and Persephone, played by the wonderful Amber Gray. Orpheus and Eurydice are played by the talented

Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada. The whole production has such an amazing cast as everyone brings their own unique voices into play. Going into the show, I thought I already knew what to expect as I’ve known this myth for so long, but nothing would ever prepare someone for what they are about to experience emotionally. Anais Mitchell, along with the director Rachel Chavkin, were able to make the story come alive and make it even harder to accept the ending whether you know it or not. Hadestown invokes unexpected feelings from everyone in the audience. This show pleasantly surprised me in the most unique way and I highly recommend checking it out when Broadway is up and running again.

Edgar Allen Poe

Reviews

By: Isabel Taveras

During the 1800s, many aspiring writers rose to fame because of their intriguing point of view on life. Among those writers was Edgar Allan Poe. Born in Boston in 1809, Poe had a difficult life and started to write to support himself financially. He wrote his most famous stories, “The Raven”, “ Annabel Lee”, “ A Dream within a Dream” and many more. Tales of Edgar Allan Poe is the combination of all Poe’s stories in one book. His many legacies are left to be enjoyed by readers to this day. Looking deeper into Poe’s reason for writing, it seems that it may have served as therapy for him. Due to the many deaths in his family, he longed for a place of resonance. Just like some people journal to express their feelings, Poe wrote stories. Many of those stories are dark, usually featuring terror, loneliness, or depression which could most accurately reflect on his emotions during this time period. Even though his main reason for writing was to make money, many people started to pick up on the fact that Poe was an amazing writer. Also known for being a critic, he had lots of expertise in writing a powerful story.

Despite their dark nature, Edgar Allan Poe’s tales grew popular. Tales of Edgar Allan Poe contain many of his macabre stories that prove his fame and global popularity. Out of all the stories in this book, I’d say I enjoyed “A Descent into the Maelstrom” the most. This science-fiction tale describes the adventure of a man through the depths of a whirlpool. The narrator listens to the man’s story of how he was able to defeat nature and come out of the storm alive, even when it took the lives of his two brothers. This story’s theme focuses on fear but also overcoming this fear in order to accomplish the impossible. An additional theme is that nature’s calmness hides its destructiveness. The apex of the tale involves the man accepting the trade of his death with the knowledge of exploration through the whirlpool. However, the man is able to tell his story to the narrator of the story, who still continues to be skeptical of this unbelievable tale. The reason for my choice of this story as my favorite is the story’s suspense and creativity. The tale begins with the fact that the man almost dies in the storm but the ques-

tion of how he survives remained unanswered until the very end. When describing the whirlpool, Poe turned it into a beautiful fantasy. All this information came solely from Poe’s mind; he had never experienced such events. The creativity of this story was immensely detailed portraying the feeling of being there in the moment. This story is a true definition of Edgar Allan Poe’s talent. Poe’s life story and legacy was left behind in the art of his words and creativity. He painted pictures in our minds for readers to see his take on the world. His poems became his symbolic autobiographies. His unintentional effort to strengthen his talent became known and appreciated by people all over the world. Edgar Allan Poe became a famous and important writer by breaking through his distress and depression. On January 19th we celebrate more than 200 years of his life; we celebrate his legacy and impact on countless lives. “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”

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Class of 2020: College List LARA ABRUZZO University of Michigan JAMES ADAMS James Madison University KONSTANTINE ADAMS TBD JAMES AFFRONTI TBD CHRISTOPHER ALFAYA TBD EMILY ANDREUZZI Elon University THOMAS ANESER University of Vermont GEORGE ARIANAS Boston College JACK ARLOTTA Fordham University VICTORIA ATENIESE SUNY Binghamton University GIUSEPPE ATRIA TBD MICHAEL AVERSA SUNY Maritime College ADAM BAKSH SUNY Stony Brook University ALYSSA BARONE TBD CONSTANTINA BASSIAS TBD REESE BAUER Saint Mary's College RILEY BAUER Catholic University of America TREY BAUER Elon University FRANCIS BEAL SUNY Delhi ARMOND BEAUSOLEIL TBD JULIA BEDEIAN TBD JOSEPH BERESWILL TBD MICHAEL BERESWILL TBD SUSAN BERNHARD Sacred Heart University JOSEPH BERNIERI Elon University JAMIE BESENDORFER Catholic University of America JULIA BILY The Culinary Institute of America LILY BLAIR Villanova University KATHRYN BOCCAFOLA Clemson University MIA BONVISSUTO University of Rhode Island ANDREW BORZILLERI University of South Carolina ANNALISA BRACCIOFORTE Sacred Heart University ANDREW BRAUN Five Towns College JULIANA BRIVIO Bucknell University MADELEINE BROCK University of Delaware ALANA BROWN Fordham University JASON BROWN TBD GIANNA BUCKLEY University of Virginia ZACHARY BUCKMAN TBD EMILY BUTLER University of Scranton CHRISTIAN BYRNE Hamilton College LUKE CAPORICCI Clemson University KATHRYN CAPPELLO College of the Holy Cross CATALINA CAREW TBD JAMES CARNEY Babson College VICTORIA CARROLL Wesleyan University

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TERESE CASTELLANO TBD WILLIAM CASTORO SUNY New Paltz CHRISTOPHER CATALANO TBD MICHAEL CERENZIA Pennsylvania State University PAK HEI CHAN SUNY University at Buffalo RYAN CHAN TBD GRACE CHICCO Sacred Heart University JOLENE CICCARONE Stevens Institute of Technology MATTHEW CLARK SUNY Binghamton University LAURA CLARKSON James Madison University DANIELLE COEN Marist College KATHERINE COFFEY University of Richmond SARAH COLLETTI University of Southern California KATHERINE CONKLIN Loyola University JAMES CONNOLLY Cornell University MARY CONNOLLY Clemson University CAROLINE COTE Loyola University MARY (JULIA) COWIE Hobart and William Smith Colleges JAMES CROWLEY James Madison University KRISTEN CURLEY Loyola University ALEXANDRA DAVIDSON Hobart and William Smith Colleges CAROLINE DEALY Providence College GRACE DEANGELO Maryland Institute College of Art STEPHEN DEBANY TBD ZACHARY DEBLER TBD ELIZABETH DERDERIAN Emmanuel College AMANDA DEROSA Boston College TYLER DESENA New York University TALINE DEUKMEDJIAN Boston College JAKE DEUTSCH Fordham University CHRISTINA DIAGOSTINO TBD ANTONIA DIMAGGIO TBD SAMANTHA DIX TBD JOSEPH DONOVAN Loyola University SHANNON DONOVAN TBD TROY DORIZAS University of Wisconsin STEPHANIE DOROTHEOS Adelphi University PAIGE DOUKAS University of South Carolina CHRISTIAN DURAND College of Charleston CAITLIN ECKNA Bucknell University PEYTON ELLER Virginia Tech FARAH ELRAKHAWI Fordham University ALEXA ERVOLINO TBD NICOLE FERRARO The College of Saint Rose VICTORIA FERRARO TBD CAROLINE FERYO Indiana University AUDRA FITZGERALD Colgate University JULIA FLAHERTY Washington College CAROLINE FLANAGAN University of Virginia ERIN FLANAGAN Connecticut College KRISTEN FLYNN University of South Carolina

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KYLE FLYNN Vassar College JAYDA FOGARTY-CATRINA TBD JULIA FORNASAR Hamilton College ZACHARY FOWLER Northeastern University JOSEPH FOXEN TBD MARY GRACE FOXEN Massachusetts Institute of Technology ANALISE FRESSLE University of Virginia NATHAN FRIDRICH University of Maryland GABRIELLA FRISCO High Point University DYLAN FU TBD AMANDA GALIOTO Fairfield University LUKE GANNON TBD CHASE GARDI TBD JOHNSON GEEVARGHESE JR. TBD MAX GENOVA University of Florida ALEXA GERASIMOVICH Fashion Institute of Technology MICHAEL GIARRAPUTO TBD JOSEPH GISOLFI Purdue University NICHOLAS GIUDICE Springfield College CAITLIN GORMLEY University of Notre Dame JOSEPH GRIFFIN Bentley University JOSEPH GRIFFITH Marist College MARY HAGGERTY University of Scranton ERIN HART Sacred Heart University OWEN HEANEY Franklin and Marshall College KATEANN HENNEBERGER TBD SCOTT HENNEBERGER TBD LANA HESS Washington and Lee University AMANDA HOHENBERGER TBD CONNOR HOLFESTER SUNY Farmingdale State College CHRISTIAN HOLLOWAY TBD MICHAEL HOOVER TBD ALEXANDER HORN TBD JULIANNA INGRASSIA Connecticut College SALVATORE INGRASSIA Nazareth College JULIANO IZZO University of Nebraska BRADLEY JEFFREY Lehigh University FATIMA JIMENEZ Hofstra University KATHARINE JUSHCHENKO James Madison University MARYBETH KANE Georgetown University JOHN KARCHER Juniata College WILLIAM KARCHER Juniata College KAITRIN KARR Villanova University NORIKA KATSUYA TBD HUNTER KELLY TBD RYAN NICOLE KENNA TBD WILLIAM KEPHART Cornell University CAROLYN KIELY TBD JAMES KLEIN Boston College GRANT KRAWIEC Loyola University ALEXANDRA KUCICH University of Michigan

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JULIAN LARENAS Marist College JACK LASALLA High Point University CAMERON LEW TBD YANGMANLI LIANG TBD JESSICA LIBEROPOULOS Syracuse University EMILY LIBERTA University of Connecticut AIDAN LONG Catholic University of America XINYU LU SUNY University at Buffalo JAMES LYNCH University of Rochester LUKE LYNCH University of South Carolina BRYNN MADIGAN TBD RILEY MADIGAN TBD MATTHEW MAHER TBD AMANDA MALATAK Sacred Heart University KRISTEN MANGIONE Fairfield University VANESSA MARCHHART University of Delaware CHRISTINA MARCIANO Siena College CONSTANTINE MARINOS Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute DANIEL MASCOLA Marist College PAUL MATINA TBD MEGHAN MCCADDEN Gettysburg College RYAN MCCORMACK Boston College ALLISON MCDONALD University of Vermont DYLAN MCDONALD Cornell University MARGARET MCELROY Villanova University CLAIRE MCGUIRE University of Richmond DELANEY MCKENNA High Point University AIDAN MCKERNAN TBD CAROLINE MCLOUGHLIN University of Wisconsin DAVIE MCNALLY TBD JAMES MCNALLY Bucknell University KYLIE MCNEILL Fordham University JOSEPH MCNIFF Fairfield University JAMES MCQUAID University of Michigan DEIRDRE MCVICAR TBD SOFIA MEGALE TBD MARISSA MEHLING The Ohio State University DANIELLA MEJIA Adelphi University ALEXANDER MENOUDAKOS TBD OLIVIA MERINGOLO Wake Forest University ASHLEY METZ Villanova University PAIGE MEYER University of Pittsburgh STEPHEN MICHAEL New York University RYAN MICHEL Fairfield University LAUREN MISTRETTA Clemson University MALACHY MOHEN TBD MARIE MOHEN DePaul University MEGHAN MONACO University of Delaware JOHN MONGELLI TBD ISABELLA MONTANARO Savannah College of Art and Design CAITLIN MOTTO University of Tennessee

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COLE MULLAHEY Loyola University ASHLYN MULLAN SUNY Maritime College MARY MULVIHILL TBD JAIMIE MURRAY Villanova University DIANA MUSCARELLA University of South Carolina VICTORIA NASTASI Villanova University JACOB NEWMARK University of Wisconsin LAUREN NOLAN Southern Methodist University BRANDON NOLL Georgia Institute of Technology LISA NOODY Georgetown University BRIDGET O'CONNOR University of Michigan LIAM O'DONOHUE Pennsylvania State University LOGAN O'GRADY TBD BAILEY O'NEILL University of Richmond KEVIN O'SHEA Nassau Community College CHRISTIAN ORANTES SUNY Alfred State College ZACHARY ORTIZ Johns Hopkins University PAUL OSTAPOW Purdue University CHRISTIAN OTTOMANELLI Loyola University ISABELLA OTTOMANELLI Georgetown University HOLDEN OVERBECK Washington and Lee University LAUREN PALMER University of Rhode Island GEORGE PAMAS Drexel University LILIANA PAPACHRISTOS Boston College CHRISTOPHER PAPPACENA TBD OLIVIA PAPPAS CUNY Hunter College NATHAN PARINI University of Miami GAVIN PASKEWITZ University of Georgia JORDAN PEARN Boston College DEAN PETERSEN High Point University ELIZABETH PHILLIPS University of Tennessee JOSEPH PIERACCINI Molloy College GWEN POOLE Bucknell University KAYLA QUINN Fordham University ASHLEY RAIA Molloy College DANIEL RAMIREZ Cornell University JEFFREY RATHGEBER New York University BROOKE RICCI Fordham University MAYA RICH Villanova University PATRICK RIGGERS Coastal Carolina University SKYLA RIVERA TBD CATALINA RODRIGUEZ University of Wisconsin ANASTASIA ROUKIS SUNY Oneonta ANTHONY RUBIO Adelphi University EMMA RUCKH Lafayette College CARA RUMSEY Quinnipiac University JACK RYAN Coastal Carolina University TIMOTHY RYAN St. John's University MATTHEW SANTANTONIO University of South Carolina MARYKATE SAUNDERS Providence College EMILY SCHEIBELER University of South Carolina

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GIUSEPPE SCHETTINO Universita Bocconi CLAIRE SCHICK Clemson University CHRISTOPHER SCHWANTNER TBD CHRISTIAN SEEBRATH TBD ETHAN SENATORE Franklin and Marshall College SHAY SHAFRAN College of Charleston AIDAN SHEA TBD THOMAS SKAHILL University of Dayton BRENDAN SMITH Muhlenberg College TREVOR SOUTAR SUNY Binghamton University MATTHEW SPIRAKIS Fairfield University JOHN SPRUFERO TBD THEODORA STAMOULIS Loyola University CLAIRE STAPLEFORD TBD KATHERINE STAUB University of Virginia PAUL STEIN TBD TOM STRAUS TBD CARINA SUBA University of Pennsylvania CHRISTIAN SULLIVAN Franklin and Marshall College RUOXU TANG Boston University MARK TARIAN Pennsylvania State University JACK THOMPSON College of Charleston KYLIE TIERNEY Trinity College DEAN TRAPANI University of Georgia NOLAN TROTZ TBD JACK VALENTI TBD KATERINA VAN NOY Hofstra University CLAIRE VANWALLENDAEL Fordham University SEBASTIAN VAZQUEZ SUNY Stony Brook University SEAN VILLAPOL TBD ANDREW VINCI Nassau Community College KRISTEN VINCIGUERRA Marist College RICHARD VON SEELEN Molloy College LAUREN VONA Villanova University ANGELINA VOTRUBA Elon University GEORGE VUOSO Molloy College DEANNA WATKINS Rollins College ATHENA WEISENBURGER University of Rhode Island WILLIAM WIELAND Loyola University BRIAN WOOD Five Towns College GANGCHENG WU The Ohio State University GARY WU SUNY Stony Brook University SARAH WU Amherst College ZUER WU SUNY Binghamton University HANNAH YAN University of Michigan CHRISTOS YANNIOS SUNY Geneseo MATTEO YEPES Pennsylvania State University JESSICA YOO University of Scranton JILLIAN YOUNG Wake Forest University BROOKE ZAROU Long Island University JAMES ZHENG Carnegie Mellon University

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ECHO