ECHO Spring 2022
Table of Contents Editors-in-Chief Isabel Taveras & Melissa Ng Assistant Editor-in-Chief Mary Grlic Manager Corinne Lafont World/National News (Page 4) Corinne Lafont, Editor Emma Rathgeber, Editor Community/School News (Page 11) Iyaa Kalra, Editor Daniel Butt, Editor Student Spotlight (Page 12 ) Maria Santos, Editor Reviews (Page 13) Mary Grlic, Editor Nicole Russo, Editor
Faculty Advisor Ms. Skolnik
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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.
Dear Readers, It is now spring and we finally get to enjoy its beautiful blooming flowers and warm weather. To complement this transition into summer, we have put together this issue which has a plethora of topics to read about. The Spring issue covers a variety of topics ranging from the Winter Olympics, Russian and Ukrainian War. In the review section, we pay homage to musical icons, both saying goodbye and resurfacing. In the school news section, we address a new sustainable center and our school’s musical rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella along with other goings-on around the building. Little by little, the world continues to transition back to a sense of normalcy with masks now being optional and most Covid regulations being lifted. Thanks to our efforts in abiding by the rules, more and more people are now able to attend gatherings and events. However, lowering our guards may cause us to lose these privileges we have been fighting so hard to regain. Covid-19 still exists and the spike in cases continues to increase here at home. It is up to all of us to make sure we continue to be cautious and wise about our decisions when taking the pandemic into consideration. Thanks to our cooperation, we have been able to return to some normalcy and we have enjoyed the privileges that go along with following the rules. But even in the midst of recovery, some inexplicable things happen in the world that hurt us and confuse us. On May 14th, ten innocent people lost their lives due to a racially motivated shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo. Ten days later, twenty-one families lost their young children and parents to gun violence, an issue that surfaced ten years ago at Sandy Hook and now. The problem is clear. Our country has a weak spot for regulating weapon possession which leads to these events happening over and over and over again. It is imperative that we work towards creating a safer country where children can go to school or parents can go to the grocery store, and not fear for their lives. What we know for certain is that the solution starts with us, even as high schoolers. As Margaret Mead once said, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” Reform starts with you, because with our voices, we have the power to make our home a safer one. Sincerely, Isabel Taveras & Melissa Ng
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Our deepest condolences go out to the families who lost their children and parents on May 14th, 2002 and May 24th, 2022.
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School News
The Sound of Music is Back in Garden City By Mary Grlic
After two years, music concerts are finally back at GCHS! Music has been one of the many things disrupted by the pandemic, making it difficult for students to continue to sing or play their instruments. When school went into “hybrid mode” in the 2020-2021 school year, the restrictions made it quite challenging to make music. With safety measures like 12-foot spacing to bell covers, the conventional music class was completely altered. Nonetheless, music students at GCHS persisted, working their hardest over the past two years to achieve mu-
sical excellence. By taking proper safety precautions, audiences were able to gather in December and January to see all of the diligence and talent these students have to offer. The Winter Concerts at GCHS were an exciting venue for bands, orchestra, and choirs to perform.
Groups like Vocal Jazz, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band returned to normal musical rehersals and performances. At Stratford School, the fifth grade performed their rendition of Annie Jr. in early February. Students at the Garden City Middle School are also performing at their music concerts for groups In addition to music con- like band, chorus, and orchestra. certs, many other musical events We are grateful to see muhave taken place at schools across the district. In November, students sic events return throughout the with talents like singing, step-danc- Garden City district, and as long ing, and color guard took the stage as we continue to stay safe, we during Garden City’s Got Talent. hope to see them stay around.
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School News
A Lightning Fast Boy’s Track Season By Dann Butt
This year, the 2021-22 season of Garden City’s Boys Winter Track opened not with the bang of a starter’s gun, or the throw of a hurdler’s weight, but instead, with a question: Can it even be done? With Covid restrictions still in place across the state and cases peaking in the height of the season, December and January, discussions arose regarding whether it could happen or not. Many aspects of the season would bring concerns, such as the runners’ proximity to one another, the open but still indoor tracks where meets are hosted, and athletes from different towns sitting with one another for hours, at times within six feet, waiting on their events. However, this season was surprisingly smooth. Instead of walking on eggshells, it could be better compared to a swift, but light and controlled jog. Under the guidance of several coaches, such as George Dreher and Brian McDonald, athletes would meet after school every weekday and Saturday
in the freezing cold, pushing themselves to their limits in efforts to drop whole minutes, seconds, and sometimes even mere milliseconds off their times. The fruits of their labor, nonetheless, did appear, such as at the Conference 3 Championship held at St. Anthony’s, where impressive times were demonstrated by the athletes. In the 55m event, James Raia came in 1st for GC with a 7.36, then Connor Escoffery at 7.45, and lastly Joseph ‘Joe’ Bonomi at 7.66. In the 600m (1 lap and a half), Alex Colletti came in at 1:27.81, followed by Jackson Phillips at 1:36.00, and an unscored time of 1:41.77 by Michael Power. To follow was the 1600m (1 mile, 4 laps), seeing a 4:54.52 from Tyler McAlea, then a 5:39.57 by Jeffrey Li, and ending with a 5:50.70 from William Morgan. There was also a solo competitor competing in the 3200m (2 miles, 8 laps): Ryan McAlea, who finished strong with an 11:43.71. In addition, notable field event achievements were made. Andrew Crescuiullo did 35-9
Courtesy of Lauren McManny, GCHS Athletic Department
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in the Shot Put event. Liam Pryor made counties in the Pole Vault event with a score of 9-0. Finally, in the Long Jump event, Andrew Rom would produce a 18-9.75 jump, earning him first place, followed by James Ullrich, earning fifth with a jump of 17-4.75. Additional results came forward at the County B Championship (an event attended by the fastest runners or most talented field event participants), Alex Colletti (600m + 4x400m), Andrew Cresculio (Shot Put), Andrew Rom, Connor Escoffery, and John Bynre (all for 4x400m) were recipients of All County Honors. The last three and Colletti would go on to State Qualifiers, where perhaps the most impressive contribution to the season- A 1:24.69 600m time from Alex Colletti, was made. This earned him not just 1st in his event but a ticket to States, where he represented Garden City honorably. All in all, a very quick Winter run for GC! Go Trojans!
School News
Dreams Really Do Come True! By Julia D’Aloisio
This past March, the Garden City High School held a performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s rendition of Cinderella, a story which most Americans are familiar with. This adaptation of a classic tale such as Cinderella presented many differences from the more popularized Disney version. Nevertheless, the time that the cast, crew, and musicians dedicated to this production was worthwhile, as the performance was certainly a memorable one. The production was led by Grayson Gardi in the role of Cinderella and Justin Koczko as the prince. In all areas, whether it be witty banter between Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters, visually stunning sets and costumes, imaginative choreography, or brilliant music from the cast and pit orchestra, this musical appealed to all interests. This ensured that no matter the attendee, viewing this performance would be an enchanting experience. The on-stage elements of
Cinderella were a spectacle for the eyes. The beautiful set and costumes brought the story to life in its truest form. The toil of the stage crew, who assisted in constructing this fairy tale, was certainly evident in attending this thrilling performance. This whimsical tale was told not only through the dialogue between characters, but also the exceptional score. The musical theme from Act I, “The Sweetest Sounds'', persists throughout the performance. This theme reminds the audience that although the protagonists’ lives may be filled with internal struggle and affliction, better, more joyous times are looming for both Cinderella and the prince. Rodger and Hammerstein’s composition also inspires all the children in the audience to seek inner fortitude while in the face of adversity. The pieces entitled “Impossible” and “It’s Possible”, performed by the fairy godmother, topple the notion that
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simply wishing for events or material items will not be sufficient in accomplishing one’s goals. In Cinderella’s case, the fairy godmother only provides her aid following her revelation that seizing control of her fate is more pragmatic than beckoning to the great beyond in hopes of fulfilling an unanswerable desire. In the wake of numerous COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, the auditorium was a bustling center of eager spectators. Compared with performances held during the years prior, like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, the auditorium had never looked as brimming with onlookers as it did on the Saturday night performance. This expansion of audience members is a trend that is anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future and ushers in an era of newfound hope. The timing of this performance could not have been finer, as it raised spirits of the community and provided an abundance of optimism for the future.
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School News
Big Plans for a New Sustainability Center By Dann Butt and Joaquin Seneque
In the past few years, the Garden City High School (GCHS) has undergone many changes to the overall structure of the school. From the Science Research room, the new Writing Center, added improvements to the cafeteria, and the new makerspace in the corner of the library, our school's administration has strived to constantly improve the quality of life. These gradual enhancements show no signs of slowing down as we anticipate the upcoming “Sustainability Center” which is in the works to begin construction over the summer of 2022. For years now, Dr. Kusum Sinha has been making a conscious effort to improve the school’s science research facilities. On February 14th, 2022, she announced the latest in an ambitious plan to introduce a new "Sustainability Center" to the high school campus. The center would entail adding certain ecological benefits to the school’s science research. There would be areas to exhibit scientific vegetation and other flora for science classes to use however they please. In addition to
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these changes will come similar architectural projects, such as a glass screen skylight and a multi-purpose outdoor amphitheater that may be utilized by English, Theater, and likeminded classes to lead discussions, lectures, productions, and more. The center would be located in the outdoor courtyard, where many students like to enjoy lunch when the weather is pleasant outside. If you are one of those students who enjoy eating their lunch outdoors, rejoice! New improvements will also continue to be made near the cafeteria, including more available seating areas outdoors, appropriate cover to shield against the elements, and added shade to guard against glare and rays. Construction would begin as soon as possible, commencing over an upcoming summer, and possibly continuing through a future school year, preventing use of the outdoor space for some. The money to fund this ambitious project will emerge directly from the school's "Capital Reserve".
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The Capital Reserve is used to improve the condition and quality of the infrastructure, technology, and buildings of the GCHS facility. The Capital Reserve is used principally for this reason, and not to compensate or pay wages of teachers or other employed staff. This project, first proposed with a price tag of $700,000, has grown to encompass a $2,000,000 budget, and has morphed from much more than a mere greenhouse. We here at ECHO are incredibly excited for all of these future adjustments being made to the high school and we hope you will be too. Lots of intense planning and research was put into place for this project by our school’s administration, but it will still take lots of time and patience before these dreams are finally realized. For now, all we can do is wait in anticipation.
World/National News
The China Intiative By Steven Scricca
Anming Hu, a professor of engineering for the last seven years at the university of Knoxville, is unemployed. Franklin Tao, a chemical engineering professor at University of Kansas, is fighting for his life in a federal courtroom. The research of MIT’s Gang Chen has been set back, and his faith in the state permanently stunted, by the Justice Department’s failed attempt to prosecute him. Started by the Trump White House Trade Office, the China Initiative seeks to root out spies and double agents capable of stealing intellectual property or trade secrets, and has quickly turned its sights on any Chinese person suspected of dual or insufficient loyalty. The Justice Department’s website provides a list of indictments intended to cast the theft of intellectual property– more effective and common in international trade and through piracy within China– as an effort to steal U.S. trade secrets primarily via domestic spies masquerading as assimilated immigrants. The government’s extensive record of Chinese people caught red-handed is made slightly less impressive and daunting by the widespread FBI misconduct which perme-
ates and scaffolds the trials. Multiple suits have been brought with insufficient or false evidence, which the Bureau has tried to fabricate by unlawfully searching documents, spying, and trying to coerce potential indictees to commit espionage. In Hu’s case, FBI agent Kujtim Sadiku ordered that he be followed and spied on for over a year without any evidence or real suspicion, having chosen his name essentially at random. Groping for a case, the definition of espionage has now been expanded to include undisclosed associations with Chinese institutions; the basis of the case against Gang Chen was his affiliations back in China, which he failed to include in a grant application and, fatally for the FBI’s efforts, didn’t have to. It’s difficult to pin down how effective the initiative has been– how many cases have been brought and how many resulted in convictions– because as MIT’s Technology Review explains, DOJ records have been inconsistent and fickle, preventing them from building a database of the trials. What is unquestionable is the impact it has had on innocent academics, both those who’ve fallen in the initiative’s sights and those
who’ve been disillusioned as they observe from the sidelines. It was easy before last November to dismiss the program as a manifestation of Trump’s anti-Chinese populism and xenophobia, an idiosyncracy with an on-the-nose name in league with the Space Force. The continuation of this and other latter-administration policies– such as the prosecution of Julian Assange– under Biden, however, doesn’t bode well for academic or journalistic freedom that many hoped would return with a more traditional administration. Crushing these hopes, the DOJ and FBI continue to scrape for evidence of widespread Chinese espionage, as part of a growing current of anachronistic Cold War sentiment which has been reanimated to alleviate the War on Terror of its burden as a filter of mass media. For now, Chinese-Americans will observe the China Initiative with growing angst, along with the more lucid members of myriad other groups who may next fall out of favor with the intelligence community as the United surveillance state, which has outgrown that of China, roots for internal enemies.
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World/National News
Diplomatic Boycott at Winter Olympics By DJ McDonough
When the Beijing Winter Olympics were in full swing, you may have been able to see a few events on TV. You may have noticed that the U.S. President Joe Biden was not there, nor were any other U.S. politicians or dignitaries. The U.S. government executed a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. American athletes were not affected, and participated fully in their events and as part of the Opening Ceremonies for the Games. The reason for the boycott is to call attention to China’s alleged human rights violation issues. These actions put a spotlight on US-China relations and may have many repercussions for years to come. The boycott that the U.S. led was meant to protest human rights violations in China. The Biden administration was under pressure for many months to oppose the Beijing Olympics. The alleged human rights allegations include the oppression of the Muslim ethnic group, called the Uyghurs, in the Xinjiang region of China. This oppression has allegedly included detention camps and heavy surveillance as a part of forced assimilation to Chinese culture, as well as using forced labor to produce clothing. According to BBC News, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “U.S. diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) egregious human-rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang,” she said “we simply can't do that.” In addition to the
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U.S., countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, India, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Kosovo, and Lithuania participated in the protest and kept diplomats from the Games. In response to these countries´ actions, a spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations stated, “The U.S. just wants to politize sports, create divisions and provoke confrontation.” China also stated that Beijing respects ethnic diversity, and has denied the human rights allegations. Despite all this activity, it is important to remember that the Olympic Games are an athletic competition and its organizers and participants have their own views on the boycott. The Olympics has always been an apolitical event, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has historically been neutral on political issues. In response, the President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, has said that the protests are purely political and was highly against them. American athletes were advised to not make political
statements and mainly stayed neutral in the political debate. Exceptions have been the few who decided to skip the Opening Ceremony in protest, and U.S. pairs figure skater Timothy LeDuc, who called China’s treatment of the Uyghurs “horrifying human-rights abuses” shortly after being named to the U.S. Olympic team. It is hard to predict the repercussions of these actions between the U.S. and China, and future Olympics competitions. The United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which led to the U.S.S.R. boycotting the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. It could be possible that China could decide to boycott the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Regardless, hopefully these actions by the United States and its allies will provide needed focus on the importance of human rights, spread awareness of potential social injustices and prevent China from violating the rights of the people living there.
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World/National News
The War in Ukraine: Understanding the Conflict By Elaine Wang
On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine. As of June 1, 2022, the Russian invasion of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine has taken over the majority of the previously Russian-backed separatist-held areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk republics. More than 4,000 civilians have likely been killed, and over 30,000 Russian troops have been killed as well. How did we get here? Historically, Russia and Ukraine have had a tumultuous relationship. From February to March 2014, Russia invaded and then annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Pro-Russian protesters in Crimea surrounded the Sevastopol and Simferopol airports, and on March 6, 2014 the Crimean parliament voted to join the Russian Federation. Although Crimea is officially part of Russia through the Federal Law Admitting to the Russian Federation the Republic of Crimea, Ukraine and the West often condemn the annexation as illegal and a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. The 2021-22 Russo-Ukrainian Crisis has resulted in higher tensions and a revival of armed conflict in eastern Ukraine,
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and by January 2022, Russia had amassed over 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. In October 2021, Russia began positioning troops on the border with Ukraine. In November, equipment from Russia’s 4th Tank Division moved to Bryansk and Kursk, near Ukraine. In November and December 2021, commercial satellite imagery showed heavy artillery being positioned there, including tanks, missiles, and ground troops near the Russian town of Yelnya (close to Belarus). In mid-December, the Russian foreign ministry demanded an 8-point draft treaty, including a ban on Ukraine joining NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance between 30 countries, including the US and 27 European countries) and a removal of any troops or weapons deployed to most Eastern European countries. The reasoning was that since Russia views NATO as an extension of the United States’ interests in Europe, Russian security would be at risk if Ukraine joined it. The West was enraged, claiming that it was up to Ukraine and the members of NATO to decide wheth-
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er Ukraine could join the organization. Seeing this as a threat, many NATO members have sent Ukraine military aid. Turkey has shipped anti-tank drones to Ukraine (worsening Putin-Erdogan relations), and Great Britain has sent anti-tank missiles to Ukraine along with troops to help the Ukrainian army operate them. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the military aid sent to Ukraine was essentially Western "blackmail and pressure". Before the invasion, the United States had pulled out most of its embassy in Kyiv out of fear of a Russian invasion. Despite Moscow’s previous claims of wanting diplomacy and Putin’s refusal to call the conflict a war, the death toll continues to rise. Furthermore, Sweden and Finland have formally applied to join NATO for security reasons, despite Moscow’s discouragement. However, not all Russians are in support of the invasion and Leonid Vasyukevich, a member of Russia’s Communist Party, has publicly spoken out against the Russian war effort.
World/National News
The Crash-Landing of Falcon 9 By Emma Rathgeber
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In 2015, SpaceX launched a rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket, known as Falcon 9, was launched as part of a larger mission to help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Deep Space Climate Observatory send a space weather satellite to Lagrange Point 2. It would be at this point where the satellite would enter into a solar orbit on the opposite side of the sun. However, things didn’t go as planned. Bill Gray, an independent researcher in orbital dynamics, has been studying and tracking space junk and other objects for about twenty-five years. As he was tracking this rocket from his home computer software, Pluto Project, he noticed that the rocket’s orbit could not be projected beyond March 4th, 2022. It was then that he realized that on this date, the rocket was bound to collide with the moon. But, why did this mission fail? Well, there are two key components. Firstly, Falcon 9’s second stage burned all of its fuel reaching a transfer orbit, and therefore did not have enough energy to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. The transfer orbit was the orbit that the rocket
switched to in order to complete, what would have been, a transfer from a geocentric orbit to the Lagrange Point. The second cause of the dismay was that, although the rocket couldn’t return to Earth’s atmosphere, it also did not have enough energy to escape the Earthmoon system. This system embraces the idea that Earth and the moon are “locked” to each other as they orbit the sun. These two factors created a dynamic that caused Falcon 9 to follow a chaotic orbit around the Earth for seven years. The unfortunate case of Falcon 9 has brought up larger discussions regarding not just our creation and control of debris, but the junk we leave behind beyond Earth’s orbit. Space debris, also known as space junk, is any non-functional, artificial material that orbits the Earth. This can come in the form of old or broken satellites or other equipment. Space junk is a big deal mainly because it can interfere with space missions. For example, NASA was forced to call off a spacewalk this past November, as high levels of this floating litter jeopardized the safety of astronauts outside the International Space Station. Typically,
the best practice is to reserve enough fuel in a rocket’s upper stage for it to be able to return to the Earth’s atmosphere to burn up. However, in the case of Falcon 9, there will be no atmosphere to destroy the rocket, as it is destined to crash-land on the atmosphere-free moon. While the term “space debris” solely refers to objects within Earth’s orbit, there is also an undiscussed issue of space junk in deep space. While this is not a crisis at the moment, deep-space junk could easily evolve to become a bigger problem in the future. In the words of Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, “This SpaceX case is a marker that deep space is just starting to get busier, and it’s time to start thinking about our policies for deep space.” Although a space tragedy, the crash-landing of Falcon 9 has proven to be informational. The rocket created a small lunar crater, which will allow researchers to learn more about the surface of the moon, especially considering that they already understand the properties of the object that will create it.
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World/National News
Decorated Snowboarder Shawn White Retires by Iyaa Kalra
From Carlsbad, CA, the three-time Olympic gold medalist Shawn White retires from snowboarding at 35 years old at his fifth, and final Olympic games, and on his final run of the games. Although his final Olympic run didn’t give a storybook ending due to his fall while attempting his second trick, he rode down the halfpipe with his helmet raised up to the sky with a large crowd cheering for an amazing career. “I wanted more today but I’ll take what I can get. I’m proud, it’s been my life. I love you all”. These were Shawn White’s first words after completing his last and final run at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Shawn White started his journey in the sport of snowboarding at the young age of six and won his first competition the following
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year. By age thirteen, Shawn began professional competitions for both skateboarding and snowboarding and made his Winter X Games debut. He won five slopestyle titles between 2003 and 2009, and gold medals in vertical skateboarding in 2007 and 2011. Shawn became the first athlete to compete in both the Winter and Summer X Games and holds the world record for most X Games gold medals with 15 gold medals between snowboarding and skateboarding. Following this success, at 19 years old, Shawn competed at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympic Games and won his first Olympic gold medal for his stellar performance in the halfpipe. Fast-forward to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Shawn performed his signature trick, a Double McTwist 1260, known as
the “Tomahawk” on his victory lap and secured yet another gold medal for the 24 year old. Currently among the world’s elite snowboarders, Shawn White remains the only snowboarder to win three Olympic gold medals. “I started this sport as the youngest competitor and now I’m the oldest”, said Shawn White on 16-year long career. Looking towards the future, Shawn White plans to film a threepart docuseries featuring his career up until the 2022 Winter Olympic Games which is expected to release in late 2022. This is not the end for Shawn White in snowboarding, he plans to remain extremely involved in the sport through his new snowboarding company, Whitespace, and as a role model and legend for the younger generation.
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World/National News
The Life of Fashion Icon Andrè Leon Talley By Isabel Taveras
Tuesday, January 18th marks the day the fashion industry lost a memorable legend. Former Editor-at-large and Creative Director of American Vogue, Andrè Leon Talley, passed away due to health complications. His charismatic and knowledgeable character helped Talley raise the fashion industry to the level of diversity it has achieved today. Having faced prejudices throughout his life, he used his experience as a motive to seal the cracks in the fashion industry in the early ’70s. In honor of his legacy, this article serves as an overview of Talley’s upbringing and accomplishments that led him to become the icon we will remember him as. Talley endured a tough childhood, one from which he was able to bloom. He was exposed to the segregational restrictions in Durham, North Carolina including the limitations of living in less affluent neighborhoods. Although Talley may not have come from the wealthiest of families, they still dressed in their best clothes for Sunday Mass. Every Sunday, Talley would observe the attendees’ outfit choices whilst taking notes on what looked most flattering and what outfits he would improve. Already, Talley was developing the habits of a fashion critic. So much so that at twelve years of age, Talley was already flipping through multiple copies of Vogue! However, Durham’s closed-mindedness served as an impediment to his interests in fashion, forcing Talley to search for freedom elsewhere. He told ET Canada, “I just felt that I was going to escape this southern
segregationist south through knowledge - knowledge and grace”. Thus, with his intelligence, he graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature. The world of fashion served as Talley’s saving grace from the racism of the segregated south. Due to Brown’s proximity to New York City, he sought job opportunities at Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine and also became a volunteer at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It allowed Talley to develop experience and learn substantial information about the fashion industry. In 1983, he found his place at Vogue Magazine with the help of Anna Wintour and in 1998, he became Creative Editor. However, the fashion industry’s rigid image reminded Talley of the problems he faced back home. He told Brown Alumni Magazine, “People perceive that I’ve lived a glamorous life, but if you dissect the glamorous fish of fashion, you’ll see that racism is embedded in the guts”. As Andrè climbed his way up the ladder of the fashion journalism scheme, he made sure to address its most prominent issues. One of his
most impressive achievements was the ability to encourage the placing of more black and brown women on the cover of Vogue. Andrè not only reformed the fashion industry but also became a notable figure in African-American history. His respectable positions at Vogue automatically place him in first as an inspiration for black people interested in entering the fashion scene. Certainly, his natural inclinations to learn continuously about fashion molded him into the icon he is most known for. As I gathered the resources needed to write this article, I’ve learnt so much about what perseverance can achieve. Talley never saw racism as an obstacle in achieving greatness as long as he had his education. He makes it clear that “knowledge is power”, as it is the only thing that can never be taken away from an individual. Andrè Leon Talley phenomenally transformed one of the most rigid industries, all whilst bringing pride to African-Americans and the fashion history. It is now our mission, as fashion enthusiasts, to continue the legacy Talley fought for and continue to share his motivating life story.
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World/National News
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Goodbye Madison Square Garden By Tara Kerimian
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On February 23, 2022 Elton John played his final concert at Madison Square Garden. It was a very inspiring performance, since even though he is 74 years old, John was able to play the piano and sing very well. I would personally say age has not dimmed his sparkle. He really was a true showman, he even had a costume change or two during the show, and all his outfits were fabulous. My favorite song he played was “Saturday Night's
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Right For Fighting”. Another thing he did that I really liked was during his final song, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” The background of the stage looked like a yellow brick road and he was lifted up into the air and the wall opened and he went into the yellow brick road. It was very magical to get to be a part of history, Elton John’s last show at Madison Square Garden. It was really fun to jump around and scream, which was en-
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couraged. One thing that shocked me was that the show did not require you to wear a mask, but quite honestly it was nice being able to see the pure joy on people’s faces as they sang and danced. It sort of felt like New York is slowly coming back. I would absolutely recommend people to see Elton John anywhere else he is performing in New York because the experience was truly magical for me, I couldn’t have asked for a better first concert experience.
Brightside, New Album from The Lumineers
Reviews
By Rachel Yeung
The Lumineers, after a two year hiatus, released their fourth studio album Brightside on January 14th, 2022. Most might know Lumineers from their hit songs “Ophelia” and “Ho Hey,” proving Brightside to be a slight shift in direction from their previous albums. It contains only 9 tracks, spanning a short 30 minutes, and its opening song introduces an electric guitar contrary to the Lumineers’ primarily acoustic style. Brightside sold 25,600 copies in the first week, holding its third straight number one spot on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart as of January 29, 2022, following their previous studio albums III (2019) and Cleopatra (2016). The Lumineers have voiced the many underlying meanings in their songs, providing listeners with an understanding of their perspective while making the album. Certain songs of the album are seen to be inspired by the pandemic that abruptly changed lives across the globe. The song “Where We Are” creates its own parallels to that in its depicted car crash, and provides a word of optimism about the future with the lyrics, “I don’t know where we are, but it will be OK”. Earlier on in the making of “Where We Are,” the lyrics had referred back to lead guitarist and vocalist Weasley Schultz’s personal experience in a car crash, where he states, “everything is smooth and an accident happens very quickly and then you spend years picking up the pieces of
it.” Schultz says he felt that the ideas of the song resonated well with the pandemic, metaphoric to a “global car crash” that is still weighing down on the world even after two years, and the lyrics are hopeful as we attempt to return to normalcy. In addition, many fans took note of the song “Birthday” and its references to the Beatles’ song, titled “Birthday” as well. Schultz mentions the “McCartney-esque” feel of the bass, and it’s definitely one of the more upbeat, catchy tracks in the album with its repeating chorus. Though the song wasn’t initially intended to address the pandemic, Schultz spoke of his realization that “in the most difficult, hardest times, there are still people being kind to each other, there are still babies being born, there’s people wishing each other a happy birthday.” In a time of such division, the track highlights the bright sides of our lives, however negative the world seems to be. The last song of the album, “Reprise,” is an upbeat, entertaining finish to the album and presents a
cheery atmosphere. It reciprocates the lyrics of the opening single in the line “I’m headed for the brightside, baby, tonight,” and it’s a song that Schultz felt tied the album together. Each song in Brightside has its own meaning that makes the album such a worthwhile listen, especially when the pandemic has such a tight hold on artists. The Lumineers were challenged with these factors and definitely let themselves relax a bit when making the album. Schultz notes that Brightside “kind of unfurled in a way,” and how “it feels more carefree and less calculated.” It’s clear there is a true meaning conveyed in Brightside through experiences of hardship and struggle, serving as a shared sentiment as we continue to move forward. Though the album had some mixed opinions from fans via the internet, not managing to create the same effect as their previous albums, it certainly displays the growth of the Lumineers’ musical horizons and sets our sights towards their future, as they continue to explore and create.
Courtesy of metacritic.com
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Reviews
Voyage: The New ABBA Album By Maria Gaztanaga
In early November of 2021, ABBA made an unexpected comeback and came out with a new album titled Voyage. This Swedish band is best known for their songs “Mamma Mia”, “Super Trooper”, and “Chiquitita” as their music was featured in both Mamma Mia movies. After forty years, fans wondered if ABBA’s songs would be just as good as their old ones, and luckily, they were not disappoint-
ed! The week Voyage came out, it sold over one million copies and was number one on music charts all over the world. The band released a few songs beforehand such as “Don’t Shut Me Down” and “I Still Have Faith in You,” and fans absolutely loved it. ABBA even experimented with innovative technology to create a new show experience. In a virtual concert, the group has been digitally altered to mirror how
they looked the last time they performed together forty years ago. The ABBA Arena in London was built just to make the experience possible. Their show features all the songs from their new album and some beloved classics like “Waterloo” and “The Winner Takes it All.” ABBA’s worldwide fans–old and new–rejoiced at their comeback!
Courrtesy of ultimateclassicrock.com
C ourtesy of rollingstone.com
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Spider Man: No Way Home
Reviews
By Ana Gaztañaga
On December 17, 2021, millions of Marvel fanatics all over the world packed their web slingers, slipped into their spidey-suits, hauled their Tom Holland poster boards, and headed down to the movie theaters for the long awaited premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home. The trilogy left off with Spider-Man’s true identity being unveiled (thanks to the infamous Mysterio), and now, he must face the consequences of living a double-life. As our friendly neighborhood web-slinger struggles to detach his ordinary life as a geeky high-schooler from his risky duties as Spider-Man, the two worlds come clashing together and turn into rubble right before his eyes. When Peter can no longer bear this
tremendous burden and seeks Dr. Strange for help, the true risks and blessings of being Spider-Man are forced upon him with grave repercussions that may never be undone. Although the movie surprised fans with countless jaw-droppers and sensations of deja-vu, the most earth-shattering reveal may have been the one that united the current generation with the past — when Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man; 2002), Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man; 2012) and today’s Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming; 2017) reunited on screen, all as Spider-Man (with their respective multiverse)! All three Spider-Mans’ appearances plus their malevolent counterparts, such as Doc Oc, Green Goblin, and Electro to name
a few, absolutely made fans go wild as they brought the screen to life for the ultimate finale. Mirroring the audiences’ reactions, the film's reviews were also remarkable with an impressive 93% Rotten Tomatoes and a No. 6 rank on the all-time global box office list and climbing! The movie truly brings justice to the renowned quote, “with great power comes great responsibility” by emulating the ugly reality of saving the world whilst making sure your own world doesn’t fall apart. Because of this, teens and adults worldwide alike are able to connect to the film as they carry out Peter Parker’s normal lifestyle, but are all heroic Spider-Mans at heart.
Courtesy of Hindustantimes.com
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Reviews
Reading Together: One School, One Book By Brooke Hopkins
Garden City High School chose the book Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson, to read for “One School One Book.” Everyone in the school was encouraged to read and attend the book discussion, an exciting event where students of all grades come together to speak about “One Book.” This meeting took place in the library after school on Tuesday, March 8th, and the school provided snacks, water, pizza and cookies for students and faculty members who came together to discuss the book.
The first activity conducted was an activity called “Icebreakers” so students could get to know one another before the book discussion. When we initially walked into the library, everyone was given a piece of paper with a question relating to the book. Since the book took place in Philadelphia during the early 1700’s, the paper read “Have you ever been to Philadelphia?” Students were able to discuss this question. After this activity, we split up into ten different groups and went to “stations”
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where teachers asked us questions about the book. At one station, the teachers asked “How does the book Fever 1793 relate to current day events?” Many participants felt the book was relatable since it discusses a teenage girl who has to face an outbreak of a disease and adapt to the changes that follow. This relates to current day events because the students and teachers of the Garden City High School, as well as the entire world, had to adapt to changes amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, a novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is definitely a must-read for anyone who loves both fiction and Old Hollywood. This novel has quickly become one of my favorite reads. It tells the story of an actress from the ‘50s, Evelyn Hugo, who is now 79. Her audience has always been curious as to why she has had seven husbands, a story she had never told before. To write this story, Evelyn goes out of her way to choose an obscure author, Monique Grant, for a secret motive we discover at the book’s end. Monique had been working for the Vivant magazine
By Alexandra Burke company when Evelyn requested her to write an article on both her and the dresses she will be donating for charity. When Monique arrives at her house, Evelyn has a different idea of what she was to write about: those 7 infamous husbands. This would be the breakout book Monique always needed, so obviously she said yes. It would be a story constantly asked for by the public, but at a huge cost. Evelyn decided it was time to tell her story since she had no one else to protect. The novel is broken up by husband, explaining each one and the reasons as to why she married each one. It shows her hidden life
Reviews
and what happens when you have to live under a spotlight. This heartbreaking novel has a tragic but absolutely perfect ending. Evelyn is loosely based on real actresses Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Rita Haywood. Additionally, the novel was nominated for a Goodreads Choice award in 2017 for Best Historical Fiction. Taylor Jenkins Reid has also written many other books including Daisy Jones and the Six and Maybe in Another Life. If you have not read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it! Happy reading!
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Reviews
I Must Betray You’s Thrilling Look at History By Caroline Crouchley
Could this be you? You’re a normal seventeen-year-old boy who gets shoved into a police van to a dangerous prison for adults. “Put your hands up,” the police shout as they accuse you of an illegal protest. Soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, an army, and a militia are all around you. But how could this happen? This is the story of Christian Florescu in Ruta Sepetys’ startling historical fiction thriller I MUST betray YOU, a New York Times bestseller just released this February 2022. Christian is a typical high school student living in Bucharest, Romania who dreams of becoming a writer, but due to the political environment in his country he is not free to dream. He lives under a system of oppression and rules. The story is based on the true history of Romania during its communist takeover. The Socialist Republic of Romania was a Marxist-Leninist one-party communist state that existed in Romania from 1947 to 1989. If you are feeling down about your less than perfect grades, your Instagram likes, or that missed goal during your game, this book will help you powerfully reflect on whether you might have taken your own freedoms and your life for granted. Romania is ruled by a powerful dictator named Nicolae Ceausescu who rules the country through isolation and fear. There is one TV station to watch, one car to buy, and electricity is turned off frequently. The scarcity of basic necessities such as food and water forces Christian’s mother to wait in lines for
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hours to obtain rations. Additionally, everyone is under surveillance by the secret police. One afternoon, Christian is called into the office at his high school where a government official blackmails him to become an informer to the secret police. He is hired to spy on the Van Dorn family, a wealthy American family working for the U.S. Embassy. Christian’s mother is the housekeeper at their grandiose apartment. He accepts the position to work for the government because he is promised medicine for his sick dying grandfather, Brunu. Christian lives in a society of fear and surveillance. No one was to be trusted and sadly Christian’s innocence is lost when he realizes his own family cannot be trusted. His
Courtesy of goodreads.com
relationships with his girlfriend Liliana, his sister Cicilia, his newfound American friend Luca, and his own mother are compromised. Christian comes to realize that totalitarianism takes everything from its people: happiness, relationships, food, work, health and security. “Shh. Don’t ever say that aloud”, his mother would gasp. The government was always watching, everyone was always watching and betraying. Christian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the evil dictatorship regime to the entire world. He realizes that he must join the fight for the people of Romania and for their freedoms. The victory of the human spirit is the overarching theme of the novel which compels the reader to turn each page of this book in a frantic desire to see the outcome of the characters’ lives and the future of the entire population of Romania during this oppressive time. This book is easily read in one day as the story is masterfully written, fast paced, and enthralling. The strength of the human spirit lives on in this historical masterpiece. To enhance your reading experience, I encourage you to indulge in several packages of Twinkies, yes, those yummy American sponge cake treats filled with whipped cream, just as the characters do toward the end of this book. You will realize why on page 283. If you want to appreciate what you have until time makes you appreciate what you had, this is a must read book for all!
Student Spotlight
Student Spotlight AMANDA PINOU Amanda Pinou, an 11th grader at Garden City High School, is a well-rounded student who demonstrates a keen interest in sports. Amanda started playing field hockey in 3rd grade in hopes of finding passion in a sport that she could play through her teenage years, and making friendships that would last a lifetime. Over the summer, she decided to share that passion with other young girls (K8) in hopes of instituting the same mindset she had as a 3rd grader who was new to field hockey. She worked 25 hours over the span of a week as a counselor and
By Liza Voelker
trainer, administering constructive criticism and encouragement, which encouraged young girls with a positive and optimistic attitude towards their love of the sport. Amanda said: “Field hockey is more than just the basics. It taught me that losing was just as important, if not more important, than winning. A loser is in fact a winner, just in improvement.” Amanda’s immense passion as a field hockey player helped her develop a deep aspiration to become a nurse. Her desire to study nursing arose when she realized that she could make a difference. For a year, she joined a medical
Courtsey of Liza Voelker
program by Langone Winthrop Hospital in order to have a more hands-on learning experience of the aspects of multiple specific medical departments. She learned about many important medical fields such as nursing, cardiology, and pharmaceuticals. This program enhanced her ambition to go to nursing school. In the near future, Amanda plans to spend most of her time expanding her knowledge and striving to become a nurse. She believes that “nursing is something that is needed daily, and even one more person in the field can make a difference.”
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Cover courtesy of theguardian.com