Inklings 10/8/15 by Inklings

INKLINGS

Vol. 86, Issue 2

October 2, 2015 page 15

INSIDE

Humans of Staples Chad Knight ’18, a member of the Little League U.S. Championship winning team, excels on and off the field.

page 24

Dynamic Duo

Daniel Reid ’17 and Josh Berman ’17 lead boys’ soccer to success.

1 7 11 17 21

News Opinions Features Arts Sports

Photo dramatization by Caroline O’Kane ’16

TRADITION MEETS DANGER

Police crack down on traffic laws during motorcade

Katelyn DeAgro ’17

n the hours leading up to Motorcade, it is a common sight to see Staples seniors in their blue feathered boas blowing in the wind as they drive up North Avenue. However, due to safety concerns, the Motorcade is often closely monitored by the Westport police. The annual Motorcade is a collection of seniors who go to Compo Beach and essentially “tailgate” before driving in procession to the homecoming game. The Westport Police Department has

no specific policy geared towards the Motorcade and will operate as it has in years past. However, it does require all participants to abide with all street and traffic laws. According to Detective Sereniti Dobson, the main concern is that “the Motorcade can cause distractions and occupants hanging out of vehicles.” Among the students there is controversy on whether or not normal driving restrictions are warranted due to safety. “It could be really dangerous, I feel,” Tori Tremonte

’16 said. “But now it's like a tradition.” While this opinion is pretty common among some students and parents, others believe the annual motorcade to be harmless. “We're going really slowly on the roads due to traffic, so the chances of us getting into accidents are pretty slim,” Emily Macdonald ’16 said. “Also, it's our last year – let us have our tiny moment of celebration. We have a tough enough year already.” Nevertheless, students are already starting to get excited for the madness

State fights for education adequacy Claire Dinshaw ’17 & Renee Weisz ’17 On Oct. 10, 2015, the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding [CCJEF] vs. Rell will be heard in the Hartford Superior Court. CCJEF contends that the state of Connecticut is not providing adequate support and funding to its public schools. This case could lead to one of the most expansive education reform programs in the history of the state. According to Lee Edelmann, Vice President and Executive Director of CCJEF, this suit comes down to one central question: is every student in Connecticut getting an adequate education? If the Hartford Superior Court, and possibly later the state Supreme Court, finds that the state has not been living up to its constitutional responsibility to provide an adequate education to Connecticut students, the state will have to imple-

ment serious reforms, which, according to a study done by an independent contractor hired by CCJEF in 2005, could cost the state a total of two billion dollars. According to state representative Gail Lavielle (R-143), state education funding in Connecticut is currently calculated using the Education Cost Formula (ECS). The main input to this equation is the property values in a given district. The lower the property values, the more funding that district receives from the state. Edelmann claims the state has been underfunding ECS by around $700 million and has even abandoned use of the formula for the past couple of years. “The issue though, isn’t just about the distribution of funds,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. “It’s critical that we have a strategy in place that leads to progress and student success.” Clarice Pennock ’17, however, said her former school, the Multicultural Magnet School in Bridgeport, prepared her for

academic success. Funding-wise, though, they just got by according to Pennock. “Our music program was always in question, and I feel like that would have been a great thing for the state to step in on.” Sebastian Del Valle ’17, who lives in Bridgeport and used to attend elementary school there, said he has, “heard bad things about the schools [nowadays].” “I heard once that some teachers don’t show up to class, and the kids just leave,” Del Valle said. “I’ve also heard some schools don’t have competent air conditioning systems and they have to use windows as a source of ventilation.” Funding, according to Staples’ Spanish teacher Joseph Barahona, who used to teach at Westhill High School in Stamford, a school that he called an “inner city school,” is not the only hinderance. He feels redistributing funds may not benefit the schools as much as the Coalition thinks.

STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL| 70 North Ave., Westport, Connecticut

Continued on page 3

that will begin to unfold in the hours before homecoming. “[I’m] really excited to have all my friends hang off my car and excessively honk my horn for no good reason,” Macdonald said. Some parents are happy for the restrictions on what their seniors will be allowed to do, thinking of the added safety that goes along with the restrictions. “I’m happy for the police being more involved,” Staples mother Alison Djuve said. “Anything that keeps the kids safe is welcome.”

Search for superintendent continues Justin Schwebel ’16

Dr. Elliot Landon, superintendent of the Westport Public School District, announced his retirement last spring after 16 years on the job. HYA Executive Search, a subsidiary of educational consulting giant ECRA, was hired to head the search for a new superintendent. HYA is a Rosemont, Illinois-based headhunting company that specializes in recruiting superintendents across the country. According to Deborah Raizes, senior associate and district consultant for HYA, the search process starts by surveying people in the district and then compiling a list of what the community believes are optimal characteristics of a superintendent. HYA solicits this information in online surveys given to administrators, facContinued on page 3

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News | October 2, 2015

Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

Local Briefs Aileen Coyne ’16 Oct. 3

SAT Tomorrow, the SAT will be offered. Staples is not a test site but many students are taking the test at Wilton, Weston, New Canaan or Darien high schools. This will be the last opportunity to take the SAT for seniors applying early to college.

Juniors prepare for redesigned SAT

Olivia Foster ’18

he College Board, the organization that administers the SAT, has redesigned the exam this year, and it will now take the place of SBAC as the required in-school test for juniors. The 2015-16 school year has only just begun, and PSAT tickets are already on sale. However, due to the changes of the new SAT, many students may decide to take the ACT outside of school instead. The new test will evaluate students on skills they are learning in school, rather than on obscure facts they aren’t likely to use in future years. Students were dissatisfied with the old test because it asked questions they seldom addressed in high-school classes and because they were penalized a quarter of a point for every multiple-choice question they got wrong. The new SAT will no longer penalize students for guessing. If a student does not know the answer to a question or leaves it blank, they will not lose points. Also, many juniors may be happy to hear that the vocabulary used in the new test will no longer be so esoteric. The format of the new SAT will include four sections: reading, writing and language, math and an optional essay, which will be graded more on quality than quantity, as it had been in the past. Students will be graded on a scor-

ing scale of 400 to 1600, and the test will be three-hours-and-50-minutes long. The hope is these changes will benefit Staples students, but current juniors planning to take the SAT have few resources from which to study. Tess Rubin ’17 notes that “there’s no old practice tests or study materials to use in order to prepare for it. We don’t know what to expect.” Rubin already knows of students who are planning to take the ACT instead of the new SAT and says it will be a factor in her decision on whether or not to take the SAT or ACT outside of school. Vanessa Mauricio ’17 recognizes the difficulty in taking the new SAT in place of the SBAC in school but thinks it may eventually have a positive outcome. “I hope students can look at the change in an optimistic way because there are some changes that have the potential to be beneficial for students,” she said. Staples teachers will also have to plan accordingly to prepare students for the SAT. The old SAT tested students on material up to Algebra 2. However, the new test will have concepts learned in Pre-Cal-

“We don’t know what to expect [from the new SAT].” -Tess Rubin ’17

culus, making the test more difficult. Math teacher Sarah White said another major change on the math section is that there will be a non-calculator portion. Fortunately, White states “many tests in the math department have sections where calculators are not allowed, so Staples students should not be greatly impacted by this change.” Students as well as teachers also seem to be left in the dust when it comes to information on the new SAT. Math teacher and long-time SAT organizer at Staples, Al Jolley, says, “At this time, I have not received the new instruction manual in order to see if there are any procedural changes.” Whether or not the new SAT will prove to be favorable for students is yet to be known.

A Westport couple is bringing charges against the Westport police, detectives and the Town of Westport for undesirable surveillance of their home. The plaintiffs, Alison and John Borg, have a long-standing land feud with their neighbors. After these neighbors filed complaints against the Borg’s, the defendant police officers requested that the Westport Police Department install video cameras to conduct surveillance of the Borgs’ home in order to acquire evidence of criminal activity. This filming began in January, and according to Paul Spinella, the Borg’s lawyer, the recordings may still be in operation

today. The police did not have a warrant, which is a “clear violation of the fourteenth amendment,” Spinella said. The couple is also suing on the grounds of violation of the Fourth Amendment and for emotional distress. “The Borg’s have a right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government,” Spinella said. However, according to John Miller, a social studies teacher at Staples who was not familiar with this particular case but is knowledgeable in the area of law, said, “Typically whatever is in plain view that can be seen by a camera or passerby is not a problem.” Nelson Alicea, a security guard at Staples, also agreed that filming from a public place should not be considered illegal. “If the police are doing it as a part

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Earthplace Festival From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Earthplace will celebrate the coming of fall at their annual outdoor festival. There will be seasonal crafts, games, music, food trucks and more. Entrance is $10 for children, $5 for adults and seniors. Children under two are allowed in free.

Oct. 8

Financial Aid Night Financial Aid Night, will take place at Staples at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. This will provide current seniors and their families with the information needed to receive financial aid for the upcoming college process.

Oct. 10

Business District Walking Tour From 3-4 p.m., the Westport Historical Society will host a walking tour of Westport’s business district and discover facts about sites such as National Hall and the former Westport Bank & Trust company building. The tour will be led by Robert W. Mitchell, the executive vice president of the Westport Historical Society, and leave from Jesup Green.

Oct. 14

PSAT

Lawsuit against police raises questions about surveillance Tori Lubin ’18

Oct. 4

of an investigation, the interior of the home I would think you would need a warrant for. But filming from a public place is a different story,” Alicea said. “If they’re looking for particular evidence they better rightfully be able to do so.” This case is more complicated though because, according to Spinella, the cameras filmed the interior of the Borg’s home. “My clients have a right to reasonable expectation of privacy within their own home,” Spinella said. “The police cannot invade the curtilage of the home without a warrant.” Charlotte Steinberg ’16 agreed that people have a right to privacy within their home, saying, “Your home is your private space and you should have a right to live in your house without someone watching you.”

The PSAT will be administered at Staples on Oct. 14 at 7:30 a.m. Sophomores and juniors can purchase tickets for $40 at the guidance office during lunch waves until Oct. 2. Unlike previous years, Staples will administer the PSAT on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday.

Oct. 21

Fall Parlor Concert At 7:30 p.m. the fall “Parlor” Choral concert will take place in the Staples High School auditorium. This will feature the choruses from all grades as well as Orphenians. This will be the first concert of the year and admission is free.

Oct. 24

ACT The last available ACT for seniors will take place on Oct. 24. Staples will not be a test center, so many Staples students are planning on traveling to neighboring towns, including Danbury, Fairfield, Trumbull and Weston.

News | October 2, 2015

District searches for Landon’s successor Continued from page 1

ulty, students, current parents of students, parents of past students, support staff and other community members. Alice Addicks, senior grade level assistant, has seen four superintendents in her 22 years at Staples, and she approves of HYA soliciting opinions from different groups of people. “I think that everyone has their own perspective,” Addicks said. “Everyone should be able to voice their opinions.” Aside from the online survey, HYA also conducts many focus groups with community members. One of those focus groups took place on Sept. 10 in the library. Raizes wanted to hear the students’ perspectives on the school, both positive and negative. She also often noted how this was the “largest group of students she has ever seen.” Many students talked about the strong academics, wide course offerings, strong school pride, sports and many

clubs and activities the school has to offer. In the meeting, one female student said that she really values “[the positive] relationships students have with teachers.” . Other students explained the competitive and sometimes stressful environment to Raizes, who was taking copious notes on her tablet. However, another student disagreed. She argued the competitiveness is what drives students to work harder. One male student talked about how involved the parents are in the educational process, “which can be a good or a bad thing,” he said with a smile. Another student appreciated that the school really values the students’ opinions. Once the information from the various focus groups and surveys is compiled and analyzed, HYA will begin searching the country for possible candidates, even cold-calling current superintendents who don’t know that they are even being considered for a job.

Raize explained that HYA’s superintendent searches are always confidential. This is in order to insure privacy for sitting superintendents being considered for the job that don't want to be known as “lame duck[s]” in their current districts, she said. This means that, unlike the current principal search, the public won’t know who the superintendent is until they have been officially hired in July. However, this doesn’t mean that the Staples and Westport communities don’t want a voice in picking candidates. “The superintendent is in a position that allows him to facilitate communications between school,” Sebastian Ortega ’16 said. Ortega, like many other students, believes it is important to find a good replacement for Landon. The preliminary results of the surveys and focus groups will be presented to the community and the BOE on Oct. 5.

Superintendent Search: Through time May 11, 2015 Superintendent Elliott Landon announces retirement.

Sept. 10, 2015 Search committee holds focus group to find potential candidates.

Oct. 5, 2015 Results of focus group and survey released.

June 2016 Landon will retire as superintendent.

Infographic by Fritz Schemel ’17

Homecoming traditions evolve through the ages Alex Spadacenta ’17

lue and white under the lights is the image that pops into most Wreckers’ heads when they hear the word “homecoming.” But while it’s only a football game now, homecoming used to consist of many other traditions. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, students attended home-

coming dances every year. Instead of asking a date, people usually went with friends to the homecoming dance. “I think it would be better than a Counties atmosphere,” Sophia Livecchi ’17 said, noting the lack of pressure in such a situation because “you wouldn’t have to stress about bringing a date.” Karen and Tom Howes

“[Homecoming] brought the kids together.” -Karen Howes ’80

’80 never remembered having a homecoming dance while they were Staples students, but they do remember a powderpuff football game and building movie-like floats that were displayed at homecoming. The powderpuff game consisted of junior girls playing football against the senior girls, and the junior and senior football players would coach the girls. This tradition was revoked because some people felt it was sexist. Each grade worked on the floats collectively. Everyone focused on making them the best they could be, even if they weren’t working with their friends. “It brought the kids to-

gether,” Karen Howes said. “Nobody cared, then. They were all [there to] put [the float] together.” The floats were then paraded around the track before the game. As the dances and other homecoming festivities faded out, Staples tried having other activities in place of them. They tried having a Harvest Fest, which consisted of food and games the students could enjoy. In the early 2000s, the school put together a bonfire for the Staples students in place of the dance, years after the Harvest Fest failed, but after a while students became very disinterested in the whole idea of doing anything at school.

“The culture of Staples is such that the big thing on homecoming is parties at kids’ houses,” Dan Woog, long time Staples staff member and Westport historian, added. “They would rather be doing stuff on their own than being supervised in a school setting.” While Wreckers may not be enthusiastic about the idea of a homecoming dance, other schools around the country still carry on the tradition. Claudia Lagnese ’17 thinks if Staples had a homecoming dance today, that a lot of kids would attend. “At my old school there is a homecoming dance, and it’s super fun,” she said. “There’s a king and queen and everything.”

Court case seeks to bridge education gap Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

Continued from page 1 “You have to value education,” Barahona said, “and if at home you don’t value education, then it’s hard to perform and get students where they need to be, no matter the money.” In fact, depending on the case’s outcome, it could affect privileged districts like Westport, which has an $111 annual million budget, as well. According to Edelmann, it comes down to whether

or not “every student in Westport [or districts like Westport] is getting an adequate education.” Christopher Scherban ’17 feels,“[Staples] is situated in one of the most affluent communities in the United States, and can afford top-rate equipment, facilities, and to pay for the best of teachers.” Scherban added. “Any adjustments should be, therefore, from within, and not by needless state interference.”

Statewide, the education system is facing more dire issues. Connecticut currently has one of the largest achievement gaps between minorities and whites in the nation. According to Falkowski though, these issues would be best tackled at a local level. “While we wholeheartedly share the goal of improving educational opportunities and outcomes for all Connecticut children,” Falkowski said, “the

decisions on how to advance those goals are best left to the appropriate policy-makers: local school boards and members of the General Assembly.” Both Edelmann and Falkowski do seem to agree these issues are complex. “I don’t think there is a state in the Union that has fully addressed these problems” Edelmann said. Only the trial will tell what may or may not be done.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

News | October 2, 2015 Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

School expansion plan unveiled to BOE Sophie Call ’16

s Staples outgrows its current space, and the Board of Education (BOE) and Staples administration look to solve the increasing overcrowding, they also look to a future that puts more of an emphasis on STEM fields. “Having a more diverse offering in STEM will entice more students into the field,” computer science teacher Nathaniel Dewey said. “Students may figure out that they love STEM now instead of years later.” Currently, the BOE is still discussing the logistics of an expansion, according to chairman Michael Gordon. This extension would not only give Staples the space it needs but allow the number of STEM courses offered to increase. It would include a two story labspace

to hold new engineering, design and robotics based classes. Superintendent Elliott Landon said that the expansion would be ready for the 2018-2019 school year, citing it as the only option that allows for the kind of growth that Staples is interested in pursuing. This year, about 160 students are enrolled in the four computer science courses that Staples currently offers. Many are enrolled in the brand new course, AP Computer Science Principles. Maddie Dick ’16 is one of those students and has been programming since sophomore year. “Once I was in Intro to Programming, probably as soon as the first day, I loved it,” she said. “The teacher made the topic interesting, and the students were all so collaborative.” While the extension to the school wouldn’t open until after

she graduates, she’s still excited for what this means for the future of STEM fields at Staples. Chet Ellis ’19, on the other hand, will be a senior in the year the new class space is set to open. “I think it is great that there will be more chances for students to learn science. The more practice and studying you do with science, the better,” Ellis said after describing his experience at the Science Olympiad, a national contest for elementary, middle and high school students, last spring. The specifics of the new classes this extension would allow are still unsure, but the current teachers have an idea of where they want their programs to go. For Dewey, that includes a microprocessor/ hardware course and a scientific programming course –– both of which could be possible in the very near future.

Quick Facts:

Staples’ 2005 renovation

The 2005 renovation brought Staples’ capacity to 1800. Information from SchoolDesigns.com

The last time Staples was renovated was in 2005. The cost was $74 million.

BYOD policy leaves its mark on Staples Olivia Foster ’18 For many Staples students, the new Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, which mandates that they carry a laptop to their classes, seemed an inevitable addition to an already heavy backpack. Still, many students welcomed it. Perhaps that’s because for over a decade students have enjoyed the opportunity to bring their computers to school without it being a requirement. This change from optional to mandatory seems to have been an easy transition for most. In fact, many feel the policy was hardly news at all. “I person-

Photo by Channing Smith ’17

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

ally do not notice a change that much since I already brought my computer to school before,” Lauren Thompson ’18 said. “The only thing that is different is that more teachers give us handouts online now.” Olivia Troy ’17 agreed with Thompson. “I would say the only change I’ve seen in the school after the BYOD change is that there are more ports to plug in your stuff,” she said. “Which I only really find useful for my phone.” However, some are not as pleased by the policy. As Ben Wolfe ’19 put it, “It’s convenient to have a laptop sometimes, but it only

makes my backpack heavier, and it’s another device to worry about.” Teachers’ reactions seem largely positive. English teacher Sue O’Hara noted the importance of technology in schools. “I think that well-used technology really helps learning,” she said. “So any way that gets technology into the hands of all of our students is terrific.” Over the last few years a growing majority of students certainly seemed to enjoy the flexibility and convenience of having a device with them in class, so much so that it became normal to see students taking notes, interacting with one another through

Google Docs or having teachers post new assignments via computer. The school district took notice. Natalie Carrignan, the district’s Director of Technology, explained how the new policy evolved. “It is important to note that students have been bringing in their own devices to Staples since the early 2000s,” she said. “Over the last several years, on average over 65 percent of students brought in their own devices daily. The struggle was that it wasn't consistent enough to really make use of the devices and get any of the benefits of a 1:1 environment. By making it a requirement, that struggle is eliminated.”

News | October 2, 2015

Colorflash continues to support pediatric cancer research

Olivia Foster ’18

he Phoebe’s Phriend’s Color Flash ran again this year on Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sherwood Island. It debuted last year with 1700 runners, 200 volunteers and a raised $60,000. This year, there were 2200 runners and 300 volunteers. Phoebe’s Phriends is a non-profit organization started by Phoebe Spear ’17, and her mother Ellen Spear, after Phoebe was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11 and then Leukemia at 13. Spear has been in remission for two years now, and even in treatment she knew she wanted to help others going through the insurmountable battle that is cancer. The organization raises money to fund trials and research for pediatric cancer, one of the most underfunded areas of cancer research. Less than 5 percent of federal government funding for cancer research goes to pediatric cancer. All of the proceeds from the Color Flash go directly to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where Spear was treated. “I’m really proud of my mom and myself for the idea,” Spear said. “It’s amazing how the town has come out to support us.” This year there were six color stations and nine food trucks, including Bodega, Mister Softee, Italian Ices, Melt Mobile and The Granola Bar. In addition, cancer research advocate Maya Thompson ran to serve as a reminder of the pressing importance to raise money for research. Her son, Ronan Thompson, who passed away at 3, was one of Spear’s roommates at Sloan Kettering. Thompson began The Ronan Thompson Foundation to raise funds for research to treat Neuroblastoma.

Photos by Olivia Foster ’18

The Taylor Swift song “Ronan” is about him. According to Hallie Spear ’18, Phoebe’s bubbly sister, a lot of work goes into putting on such a huge event. “It takes a lot of late nights, meetings, and pounds of color to pull it off, but it’s worth it in the end,” she said. The event and support they are receiving means a lot to her. “Phoebe beat cancer, but [she] also saw a lot of kids die from cancer, too. Three of Phoebe's roommates died – the treatments aren’t always effective and research money is needed,” she said. “Everyone was supportive when my sister was sick, so it’s awesome to see how supportive everyone is now.” A number of Staples students volunteered and supported the Color Flash in the weeks leading up to the event. The varsity football, girls’ soccer and girls’ field hockey teams wore specially-designed Phoebe’s Phriends t-shirts, and the Staples varsity football team volunteered. The organization has already raised $100,000, and with the community’s help, they can raise a great deal more. By participating in the race or deciding to join the Phoebe’s Phriends club, Spear herself says it best: “By just coming to our events you are being a ‘Phriend.’”

“It’s amazing how the town has come out to support us.” -Phoebe Spear ’17

Scan the above QR code for continued coverage of the Colorflash 5k.W

RUNNING FOR A CAUSE (From top) Participients of the 5K race celebrated before and after by throwing their color into the air. Each of the colors were made from corn starch, an organic and biodegradable product. To hype up the atendees, Phoebe’s Phriends enlisted Joy Ride and a dj to play energetic tunes like “Times of Our Lives” by Pitbull and “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon.

World Briefs Brendan Massoud ’17

Syrian refugee crisis Over the course of the past four years, nearly half of Syria’s population of 23 million people have been forced to evacuate their homes in search of better living conditions. Of these 11 million, four million are currently refugees in nations other than Syria. The wave of emigrants is a result of the four year long civil war between Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria and rebel groups such as the Free Syrian Army. Many European and Middle Eastern nations are having trouble deciding how to deal with the recent influx of refugees. For example, Greece has had, in the past six months, 101,000 Syrian refugees land on its shores on islands such as Kos, Chios and Lesbos.

World oil prices expose reliant economies

Pope Francis visits North America

Since June, world oil prices have been nearly halved. Brent crude oil has dropped to around $50 per barrel, and U.S. crude is at around $48 per barrel, the lowest since 2009. The value of crude oil can be attributed to many factors, one of which being the United States’ recent sharp increase in production. This dramatic decrease in price is having catastrophic effects for many oil-exporting nations, who just one year ago were getting around $110 per barrel. Nigeria, which relies on oil for 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings, has seen its currency fall to record lows against the U.S. dollar. Ironically, the nation is also seeing massive fuel shortages because the government refuses to sell the oil at such prices. Economists hope, on the contrary, that in oil-consuming nations the low expense will spur industry.

On Sunday, Sept. 27, Pope Francis concluded his 10-day trip which included visits to the United States and Cuba. On Sept. 20, the pope led mass in Havana, Cuba, in front of around 200,000 people. This was Francis’ first appearance on the island. On that day, Francis also met with former-president Fidel Castro, and the two exchanged gifts and books. On Sept. 22, Francis landed in Washington, D.C., where he was greeted by President Barack Obama. He continued his trip through New York City on Friday, where he was greeted by tens of thousands of people during a drive through Central Park. Francis concluded his stay in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a mass which attracted over 100,000 people. In his homily, Francis proclaimed, “Holiness is always tied to little gestures.” inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

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INKLINGS | October 2, 2015

opinions Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

Vaping culture suffers from smoke and mirrors leaving room for questions

hen cigarettes ﬁrst became popular, many people smoked. Cigarettes were advertised on television and radio. They were endorsed by celebrities, characterized as sophisticated and marketed towards teenagers. At the time, there was little to no research

Inklings

EDITORIAL about the effects, short or long-term, but that didn’t seem to stop smokers. They were the lab rats of a trend, and in 1965, 42.4 percent of adults in America were addicted, according

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to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. But, decades later, when researchers and doctors started to see a correlation between lung cancer and smoking, they came to a conclusion. Consistently smoking cigarettes caused cancer. Thus, the people taking the risk became the people who suffered grave consequences. After smokers struggled for decades to kick their addiction, smoking electronic cigarettes, the act of inhaling “water vapor” through a tobacco-free version of a traditional cigarette, emerged as a potential gateway into sobriety for smokers. But in recent years, the marketers have targeted teenagers similarly to

Editors-in-Chief Adam Kaplan Jane Levy

Crown Finalist for Inklingsnews.com from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2015

Managing Editors Claudia Chen Margaux MacColl

Silver Crown Award for Newspaper Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2014

Web Managing Editors Kaila Finn Talia Hendel

Pacemaker from National Scholastic Press Association 2013

Breaking News Managing Editors Quinn Hughes Jane Schutte

All the opinions, news and features in this paper are those of Staples High School students. Inklings, a curricular and extracurricular publication, has a circulation of 1,800 and is uncensored. All letters to the editor must be signed. The editorial board reserves the right not to publish letters and to edit all submissions as it sees fit. The editorial board determines all editorial opinions, which are authored faithfully by the Editors-in-Chief. Inklings reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health. The paper is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center.

Public Relations Directors Will Dumke Julia Greenspan Creative Directors Caroline O’Kane Channing Smith News Editors Max Bibicoff Claire Dinshaw Becky Hoving Fritz Schemel

how they once did for cigarettes–– they’ve changed the name to vaping and created f lavors geared towards younger demographics, a few of which include Starburst and Skittles. The bad news is that the longterm effects won’t be investigated, or conclusive, for years or even decades to come. The tests conducted have been inconclusive, and while we know vapes have less chemicals than cigarettes, we don’t know the definite effects of the chemicals in them. So who is to blame for the lack of information? Is it the irresponsible marketers? Is it the media’s responsibility to inform us? The government’s responsibility to conduct tests and studies? Or is it the consumer’s responsibility to

Opinions Editors Kit Epstein Caroline Lane Lulu Stracher Jackie Sussman Features Editors Eliza Goldberg Emily Olrik Sarah Sommer Izzy Ullmann A&E Editors Abigail Lamb Margot Mather Frenchy Truitt Renee Weisz Sports Editors Max Appell Cooper Boardman Amelia Brown Julia Rosier Web News Editors Molly Liebergall Zach McCarthy Web Opinions Editors Rebecca Rawiszer Andrew Vester

wait until he or she know the effects of vaping and can make an educated decision about it? And yet, for all we know, vaping could have virtually no negative effects; the long-term health risks could be minimal. But, if the history of cigarettes has taught us anything, something that hasn’t been thoroughly researched or is brand new to the market isn’t always safe. Right now, those who vape are the lab rats of the trend. Since we can’t offer any scientific information that’s not already out there, we choose to pose questions. Do you want to be the person who suffers the potential consequences of vaping? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Are you willing to be a fatality of the fad?

Web Features Editors Jen Gouchoe Blake Rubin Web A&E Editors Alice Hickson Ivy Prince Web Sports Editors Jesse Greenspun Brendan Massoud Web Creative Director Jimmy Ray Stagg Assistant Web Creative Director Anders Hovstadius Business Manager Kacey Hertan Assistant Business Managers Ben Foster Alix Sommers Alex Spadacenta Advisors Mary Elizabeth Fulco Rebecca Marsick Cody Thomas

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

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Opinions | October 2, 2015 Photo by Caroline O’Kane ’16

LIFEGUARDING Course proves difficult for eager students

“

Margot Mather ’17

It seemed like a good idea at the time.” These are the famous last words of many students who take on challenging courses. I, too, said these very words as I explained to my guidance counselor why I was calling it quits on a class. This was no AP, though — this was lifeguarding I thought about the pros: saving money by taking the course in school, a summer job and guaranteed work opportunities right out of the class. It all sounded so promising. However, I had no option but to drop the course after failing to complete one of the prerequisites. These prerequisites included swimming 15 lengths of non-stop freestyle swimming, treading water without using your arms for two minutes and, lastly, the weight retrieval. Some of these prerequisites were not known to many stu-

dents enrolled in the course, including Natalie Chun ’17, who was surprised by the difficulty of them and had to drop out as well because of her inability to complete the weight retrieval test. “It was kind of disappointing,” Chun said. “I mean, I had always wanted to lifeguard, and had I known how challenging the prerequisites were I probably would have thought twice about enrolling in the course.” These dropouts come at no surprise to the American Red Cross trainers. They advise instructors to “expect at least 25-30 percent of participants not to be able to complete the prerequisites.” My small class of eager future lifeguards lined up in our respective lanes, and when physical education teacher Jeff Doornweerd gave me the signal, I hastily swam to the deep end and dove 14 feet deep, just to touch the weight and let it slip through my fingertips be-

Julia Greenspan ’16 Picture this: Friday night and the lights are the perfect glow to illuminate the sea of blue and white in the stands. A player catches the ball, only to be tackled and sounded off by a blaring whistle. The crowd uproars, but I am silent. This is me. This is football season. I am a four-year Superfan, and I love my Wreckers. You can find me dressed head-to-toe in the peppiest Staples garb with beads entangled around my neck and paint on 85 percent of my face. However, I’m lacking the knowledge to heckle or cheer effectively due to my minimal football education. To me, football is a misnomer for a very apparent competitive handball game. But what do I know? I can’t tell the differ-

Background photo contributed by Shelley Burger Photo by Caroline O’Kane ’16

Superfan searches for football knowledge

ence between a full back and a quarterback or even tell you what a down is. My football confusion doesn’t just stop at the game itself. It also includes the American culture that comes along with it. Why is a league of make-believe drafted teams more important than the actual drafted teams? How do puppies and beer correlate at all? These questions are just the beginning to an extensive list of the unknown. I confess to not knowing exactly what Deflate Gate is, and I really do only watch the games because the players look attractive in their uniforms, but I’m looking for change. It’s time I learn what football is really about. “Rock Steady-ing” can only take a girl so far, but an education in America’s number one sport can last a Superfan a lifetime.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

fore feeling an agonizing pain and ringing in my ears from the depth. I emerged from the chemical-filled water with a feeling of despair; I had failed to complete the last prerequisite. I languidly breast-stroked my way back to the ladder and climbed out. I took off my goggles and placed them back in the bin as I gave my teacher a look of hopelessness. Doornweerd admitted, “I was a college swimmer, and even I had a hard time treading water for two minutes.” When I first heard about the course, like I said, it seemed like a good idea. I thought I would be learning about general pool safety, CPR and other activities that don’t require us to swim too often. Of course, I assumed we would be doing a class in the pool from time to time, but what I didn’t expect was four weeks of straight swimming. I felt like I was reverting to my freshman self, rush-

ing to rinse some of the chlorine off my skin, all the while thinking about how I could possibly make it to my next class on time. There is not much the physical education department can do to make the prerequisites any easier, as they are regulated by the American Red Cross Association. However, I strongly believe that if students are thinking of taking lifeguarding as a course, then teachers should be crystal clear in letting them know exactly what will be asked of them. Teachers could even make sure students can complete the prerequisites before enrolling to reassure them. “Being a lifeguard is definitely not something that is easy to do,” Doornweerd said, and he’s right. So if you are already enrolled in lifeguarding, then I hope you retrieved that weight and enjoy your days of swimming for the next four weeks.

Photo by Abby Lamb ’18

Time for students to find their lockers

as long as my next class is near the nurse’s office (the vicinity of my locker), I have no At Staples, students shuffle down the problem getting to class on time. crowded hallways. While some of them Besides relieving my back of the burjog and some of them chat with their den of carrying all my binders, my locker friends, almost all of them pass the rows serves as a convenient place to stash some of lockers without a second glance, com- useful items like food, sweatshirts in case pletely unaware of which is theirs. of a wardrobe malfunction and notebooks A teacher once said to me that seeing that I may not need that day but may want someone at their locker is like spotting a to look at during a free period. unicorn. And though it may shock you, I Lockers also solve a problem that am that unicorn. many StaYes, I use While some of them jog and some of ples students my locker, and grapple with I cannot un- them chat with their friends, almost – what to do derstand why all of them pass the rows of lockers with their others don’t. sports bags. It’s extremely without a second glance. Lockers useful to have a serve as a place to keep the binders not needed at convenient place to hold these sports bags. that moment, especially considering how Puting sports equipment in lockers would insanely heavy most people’s backpacks relieve many Staples students of the hassle are. Though swapping out binders during of having to join the crowd heading into lunch may not work for people who have the cafeteria to look for their bags. lockers on higher floors, it takes very little Staples students, find your locker. time to go during a free period or in be- You may find that you actually like being tween classes. I have found, though, that a unicorn.

Tori Lubin ’18

Opinions | October 2, 2015 Graphic by Channing Smith ’17

Standardized tests face off for top spot Stick to the dependable SAT

Take the ACT for real-world application

Jack Zeldes ’16

or many Staples students, the obsession with standardized testing leads to one big choice very early in the college process: ACT vs SAT. Having taken the ACT and PSAT, I can without a doubt proclaim the ACT is much better than the SAT. What started as a project from University of Iowa professor E.F. Linquist in 1959 has, 56 years later, transitioned into an exam that is, according to the Washington Post, more popular than the SAT as a college entry standardized test. The ACT is split up into five sections: English, math, reading, science and the optional but recommended writing section. You are given 45 minutes for 75 English questions, an hour for 60 math questions, 35 minutes for 40 reading questions, 35 minutes for 40 science questions and 30 minutes to write an essay. This time frame is definitely tough;

however, that is the main difficulty of the test. As a result, the actual content isn’t as tough as the SAT. While the SAT has vocabulary to memorize and tricky wording, the ACT is much more straightforward and focuses on actual knowledge as opposed to testing your ability to decipher tricky questions. The ACT is also a lot more applicable to the real world than the SAT. With a new focus on critical thinking and learning, the skills you get will certainly be much more relevant than the tricks and vocabulary you learn from the SAT. Let’s get real here. When are you going to use the word “gymnophoria” in your life? By the way, if you didn’t know, gymnophoria means the sensation that someone else is mentally undressing you. Although the time limits may be difficult, the easier material and critical thinking skills will not only help you get into college but prepare you for the real world.

Jackson Livingstone ’16 Most high school students will at one point make the seemingly life-altering decision in their college process of taking either the ACT or SAT. Everyone from college counselors to parents and peers have an opinion about which test is better, and they will all try to affect your decision. But I’m going to make this easy for you. Take the SAT. The tried and true standardized test, the SAT has been providing high level assessments of critical reading, mathematics and writing skills since before you and I were born. To put it in perspective the test was originated when America had 49 states, compared to the upstart ACT, which is barely a toddler at 18-years old. When it comes to differences between the two tests, I can’t lie. The SAT is definitely more heavy on vocab and reading comprehension. But that emphasis is

Get pumped for pep rally Emma Lederer ’16

The last bell of the day rings, and immediately chaos breaks out. The utter mayhem looks like a scene straight out of “The Purge.” Students transform into animals, pushing and shoving through crowds as they rush towards the field house. What special event could I be alluding to here—what could possibly cause so much hype? You guessed it: pep rally. As a senior, I’ve experienced a variety of extraordinary moments at Staples High School. I’ve seen the good and the bad, both the triumphs and the scandals. But one of my favorite moments is the pep rally before our Homecoming game. I don’t participate in any fall sports, so this will mark the fourth time I watch the rally from the bleachers—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. In my mind, the pep rally marks the official start of our football season. It’s corny, but I think what makes football season so special is that everyone unites to support Staples regardless of the differences that may separate some of us on a daily basis. Pep rally sets the tone for all of the upcoming games and the season in general. The MC’s that host the rallies are always hilarious and do a fantastic job of pumping up the crowd. Our former principal John Dodig never hesitated to take part in the show, and the crowd always went wild when he assisted in forming a pyramid with the cheerleaders. Just as I’m

sure the MC’s this year won’t disappoint in their performance, our new principal Mark Karagus won’t either. One of the best parts of the event is definitely the unique performances that each team puts on. I love watching the choreographed dances that the girls put together and the funny shows that the boys’ teams love to perform. Every year that the boys’ water polo team runs across the field in their speedos, it still holds the same humorous shock value that it did for me as a freshman. Sometimes, however, pep rally can get a little out of hand. I’ll never forget the day of Homecoming my sophomore year. That’s when the upperclassmen on the girls’ varsity soccer team walked the freshman on leashes across the football field. The freshman crawled on their hands and knees with collars around their necks, resulting in the upperclassmen soccer players being suspended for a game. The entire school was divided over the issue. The upperclassmen probably just thought of it as a harmless joke. However, others found it demeaning and thought they were out of line. So, this year, we should learn from our past mistakes. We should remember to be respectful while we celebrate. I think that our pep rallies are a ton of fun, just as long as we keep in mind that they truly are to bring together our student body before the Homecoming game.

an immediate plus even if those subjects aren’t your thing. Vocab is as easy to master as investing in a practice book or two. Math also plays a large part in the SAT but at a much lower level than the ACT, which is a big benefit. Instead of slogging through Pre-Calculus content in the ACT, you can coast through some Algebra 2 cupcakes on the way to a much higher overall score. For me, the deal breaker was that the ACT is notoriously tough on time. Students who need time to really think out responses should have no doubt about where they should do their testing, as the SAT’s time format is far more generous than its counterpart’s. The SAT is the ol’ reliable of standardized tests, and when dealing with something as important as your college application, why take a chance. Instead you should take my advice and take the SAT. Graphic by Lulu Stracher ’17

STAPLES SPIRIT Past pep rallies exhibit school spirit, with the memorable MC’s Elizabeth Coogan ’14 and Peter Elkind ’14 exciting the crowd (middle left). Justin Donlon ’14 soars in the air promoting the boys’ cross country team (bottom right).

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Opinions | October 2, 2015

Age can’t trick me out of

Will Dumke ’16

eople often think that as you get older, childhood traditions will fade away into an embarrassing category of past practices. But that is wrong. I live for Halloween. Trick-or-treating is one of the most anticipated events during the school year (only second to Easter-egg-hunts). Halloween brings out the child in us, a phenomenon that I wholeheartedly embrace. The childish spirit captured during the haunting night is something to cherish as it only comes once a year. Why wouldn’t you want to dress up in costume and collect candy for free? Students spend all week going to school, working on homework and going to bed early. So when the opportunity to stay out later and collect copious amounts of sugary goods presents itself, of course

I’m going to take it. I scour the streets searching for the perfect houses. Collecting a bounty of candy trumps my need for sleep as I stay out as late as I can. The previously quiet streets of Westport now bustle with hundreds of disguised students all bouncing from house to house in search for more and more candy. Like a ghost, I maneuver my way through the crowds of middle-schoolers with one target in my mind. That one house that always delivers the largest quantity of candy. Attracting hundreds of ghouls and monsters, the house acts as the stock market of candy trade. Every year that we trick or treat, the costumes become more elaborate, the candy becomes more abundant and we get to stay out later. People should not be shocked that I still trick-or-treat. They should be shocked that other students don’t.

Photo by Caroline O’Kane ’16 Graphic by Julia Schorr ’16

Jane Levy ’16 On Jan. 7, 2015, in the center of Paris, words lost. The weapon that day was mightier than the pen when six satirical journalists from the magazine Charlie Hebdo were brutally murdered by Islamic terrorists. Their actions were a response to Charlie Hebdo’s published cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad, as the terrorist group considered the cartoon to be blasphemous and disrespectful. On Aug. 26, 2015, two journalists from WDBJ-TV were shot while conducting a live interview in Moneta, Virginia. The two were pronounced dead later that day, and the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound later that afternoon. On Aug. 29, 2015, three Al-Jazeera journalists were sentenced to three years in prison by a Cairo court. The three men were accused of aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood, spreading false news that was harmful to Egypt and operating without a press license. These attacks are examples of barbaric terrorism, unspeakable massacres, political injustices and abhorrent crimes. These assaults on the press expose the shocking reality that in 2015, people still have to die and suffer for their freedom. In the wake of these events, I am haunted by a single question: Why do I want to pursue journalism if freedom of speech and press is not guaranteed or respected, and if grave danger lies in speaking the truth? In my search for an answer, of one notion I am certain: Charlie Hebdo, the Virginia reporters and the Al-Jazeera journalists did nothing wrong. In fact, I believe they did everything right. To me, the job of a journalist is not to cater to the sensitivities of the world. The

job of a journalist is to report the truth freely. When journalists have to fear for their lives when conducting on-air interviews, there surfaces a problem with roots that run much deeper. When journalists have to withhold criticism for fear of violent retribution, democracy is lost. When courts stifle the truth from being broadcasted, the public’s vision of the world is skewed. In the words of Charlie Hebdo’s Editor in-Chief Gérard Biard, “We must stop declaring that those who write and draw are provocateurs. We must not place thinkers and artists in the same category as murderers.” Freedom of speech and of the press are non-negotiable liberties, and no one should be sentenced to jail for exercising them. In response to the Cairo ruling, the State Department spokesman John Kirby said, “The freedom of the press to investigate, report, and comment––even when its perspective is unpopular or disputed––is fundamental to any free society and essential to democratic development.” More focused on the safety of journalists, WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks grieves the shooting of his co-workers. “You know, you send people into war zones, you send people into dangerous situations and into riots, and you worry that they are going to get hurt,” Marks said. “You send somebody out to do a story on tourism and how can you expect something like this to happen?” These recent murders and sentences prove to us that journalism is more powerful than ever, and, while the gun toters and judge gavels may wreak horrific damage, the real, honest, true power ultimately rests in the hands of those holding the pens. To me, the opportunity to hold the pen, to be a truth-teller, to fight for freedom of speech, is not simply a creative indulgence. To me, it is indispensable.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

The balancing act Senior girl shares the struggle to uphold traditions Emily Olrik ’16 I’ve never been a fan of school spirit. Freshmen and Sophomore year I attended one football game. Junior year I went to zero. I’ve never purchased Staples logowear or even participated in Spirit Week. But this year, I’m a senior girl. And there are a lot of traditions to uphold in such an important position. As the top dogs of the school we have to take on many serious responsibilities, such as choosing the perfect Facebook senior name that’s just the right amount of funny with a dash of cleverness. The first day of school is when you really have to set the tone for the whole year. I showed up with a fuchsia boa, a sparkly tiara and, yes, a whistle. I decorated my car with “We’re Kind of a B16 Deal!” and embarrassing inside jokes. As a senior girl, it is a right of passage to be loud, obnoxious and overly school-spirited. It’s my last year, and I want to go big or go home.

Since there are many lasts this year, I feel an obligation to attend all the football games, cheer the loudest even when I don’t know the score and go all out for Spirit Week. However, a lot of responsibility comes with being a senior girl as well. At times, it’s not all fun and games. First semester is all about balance and achieving academic and social goals all while working and playing hard. There is a lot of pressure to plan and prepare for Homecoming, Motorcade and Red and Whites, all while deciding where to ED and finding time to fill out the Common App. The stress doesn’t stop. When I look back on senior year, I want to say to myself, “I did it all.” I aced my classes, I got a job, I got into a great school and, last but not least, I was a model senior girl and honored all of the traditions. As seniors, we’ve got the most work this year, the hardest classes and the toughest decisions to make, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun. Go B16 or Go Home, am I right?

Erin McGroarty ’18

Your 2015 MC’S:

Gilli Rozynek ’16 &

Kenji Goto ’16

or many Staples students, back to school means back to sports. Athletes can be seen strutting the halls in their soccer jerseys and ﬁeld hockey skirts, boasting their school spirit. However, the ultimate display of Wrecker pride is the Staples pep rally, which will be held at the football ﬁeld on Oct. 2. All returning Wreckers know that the pep rally wouldn’t be nearly as peppy without the senior MCs. The MCs are two seniors – one boy and one girl – who are elected by their class. They’re the captains of their fall team, and they’re the most spirited kids in school. With some boas, props and two mics, the “I feel truly honored to have been dynamic duo picked for MC. I’m really excited each year are because I absolutely love the in charge school spirit, so to actually have of getting the crowd the privlege to run one of the p u m p e d most spirited days of the school for homeyear-- especially with Kenji-- is c om i n g . amazing.” “The big- Gilli Rozynek ’16 gest characteristic an MC has to have is to be a loud human being who is enthusiastic and passionate about Staples,” Mat Jawcoleff ’15, Staples alum

and veteran MC, said. The entire school watched this spirited senior make a full-on sprint onto the football field. “We tip-toed the line perfectly,” he said. “We loved it, everyone loved it and everyone was riled up for homecoming.” Being an MC at the pep rally means little preparation time for a big responsibility. Elizabeth Coogan ’14, who MCd in 2013, says that her and her co-partner Peter Elkind had very little time to prepare; they were given one day to fully prep for the pep. “I’m pretty sure we even video chatted that night to keep writing jokes and come up with props and costumes,” Coogan said. “It was all very last minute, but that almost made it more exciting.” Jenna McNicholas ’15, freshman at Middlebury College and last year’s MC alongside Jawcoleff, had valuable veteran advice for future MCs. “ It’s definitely important for an MC to be confident, considering you have to try and crack jokes in front of the entire school,” McNicholas ’15 said. “You got voted to do the job, so you earned it and deserve to be up there.” All veterans can agree that MCing the pep rally was a great kick-off to their senior year. “It was one of the best days,” Coogan said. “The senior camaraderie is at an all-time high, so have a blast and savor every minute.”

features

MC’s put the “pep” in pep rally F

INKLINGS | October 2, 2015

Lavielle and Steinberg have a good rep Katelyn DeAgro ’17

Gail Lavielle and Jonathan Steinberg are the type of people who might strike up a nice conversation while waiting in line at Starbucks on Main Street. But no one would guess they are the people working to improve Metro North or pass a law that could give those with special needs tax breaks. “To be honest, I have no clue who they are,” Melissa Exner ’17 said when asked about the representatives’ names. Representative Lavielle was elected into Connecticut’s House of Representatives in 2010 to represent the 143rd district of Connecticut. This includes the majority of Wilton, the east-

ern part of Norwalk and part of Westport, west of the Saugatuck River. Representative Steinberg was re-elected for the third time to represent the 136th Assembly district, covering the remainder of Westport, for the Connecticut House. Both Lavielle and Steinberg are in the position because they wish to be active in the community. Steinberg is focused, in particular, on energy and transportation policies. “I was lucky to arrive in Hartford at the advent of tremendous advances in energy,” Steinberg commented. The representative was

mainly involved with planning and actually helping write some of the landmark legislation. For this legislation Steinberg was writing about energy efficiency and renewables. Steinberg also recognizes much of the work that needs to be done with Metro North, congested roads and failing bridges. Laveille, on the other hand, is more focused on education and environmental issues, both of which seem to be close to her heart. As a ranking member of the Education Committee, Lavielle spends a lot of time doing things to try and improve the school districts that need help in addi-

tion to advocating for more independence among those that are successful. Like Steinberg, she also has a fascination with the local ecosystem. “I grew up in Houston, Texas,” Lavielle said. “We didn’t have a very good landscape, so I’ve always been in awe of Connecticut’s.” When they aren’t off saving the world, Lavielle and Steinberg lead pretty normal lives. According to Steinberg, he plays softball as much as three times a week in addition to “reading, watching old

movies and antiquing with [his] wonderful wife, Nancy.” He also has a daughter named Charlotte. If he can describe himself as anything, it would be as a family man. Lavielle has a dog and a husband that she comes home to and “absolutely adores.” In addition she is active in her hometown community and thrives when taking part in helping animals. “I will do just about anything for a dog,” Lavielle said. So the average Starbucks-goer might just be ordering some caffeine to fuel up for the next State Representative race.

Graphics by Phillip Han Lemus ’16

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Features | October 2, 2015

Smoking devices by nicotine level Vape: up to 18 mg of nicotine

E-cigarette: up to 24 mg of nicotine

E-Hookah 16 mg

Cigarette: 8-20 mg of nicotine per cigarette

Graphic by Margaux MacColl â&#x20AC;&#x2122;16 Information from company websites

Vape culture rips through social scene inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Margaux MacColl ’16 & Isabella Ullmann ’17

*Names have been changed

t’s a Friday night at Compo Beach and a senior, Zach*, is surrounded by a cloud of smoke. He’s perched on the edge of a lifeguard chair with his friends. He presses his lips to a small metal box and inhales, exhaling billows of white into the sky. Zach laughs, sputters out the remaining vapor and passes the box to his friend. Zach and his friends, like approximately 1.8 million other teenagers across the nation, vape. Allowed in American markets in 2007, the National Tobacco Youth Survey reported that middle and high school use of vapes tripled from 2013 to 2014. Zach says that Westport reflects this national trend, with use among Staples students increasing in the past few years as well. The actual device comes in more than 250 brands, including pens, boxes and fake cigarettes. While the devices were originally intended for people trying to quit smoking, they have been marketed to younger audiences as “hookah” or “vape” pens, even coming in flavors such as “Watermelon Wave” and “Banana Split.” A freshman girl, Sarah*, experienced firsthand the lure of such marketing; she vaped for the first time a month ago when she went to her friend’s house. “It was strawberry lemonade flavored,” she laughed. “It was

pretty spontaneous. I thought, ‘Why not? Might as well try it.’” Just like Sarah and Zach, many students around Staples have tried vaping despite legal restrictions. Vapes are illegal for minors to purchase in 40 states, including Connecticut. The illegality has not inhibited many teenagers, as they still find ways to become a part of the phenomenon. Jenny*, a senior, remembered when she bought her first vape earlier this year. She entered a dimly lit store in Chinatown, pretending to browse the shelves of trinkets. Eventually she worked up the nerve to go up the counter and stretched a trembling pointer finger to the vape pens behind the cashier. Jenny slid the cashier her fake ID, eliciting a doubtful gaze. But, as Jenny raised her head high “with fake bravery,” the cashier gave her the pen. “I grabbed it up off the counter, shoved it to the bottom of my purse and beelined straight out of the store,” she said. Sarah said that vapes are “very accessible” with students either buying them with fake IDs or ordering them online where there’s no real age verification process of age. According to health teacher Jeffrey Doornweerd, it’s hard to examine the real health effects of e-cigarettes. “There are the e-cigarette companies that say that it is a

“I’m no vape god. But yeah, I’m kind of addicted.” - Anonymous

soothing way to stop smoking, but then there’s also the FDA who’s saying it has harmful effects,” Doornweerd said. While Doornweerd thinks it is an unhealthy habit, he makes sure to tell both sides of the argument to his classes since it is still a debate. “It’s kind of like marijuana in the sense that when you start doing it, you’re more likely to try other drugs,” he said. “I know that some kids now are trying to get marijuana in e-cigarettes, so it’s definitely happening.” Although vapes and e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, many contain nicotine and are still addictive. While they don’t have as many dangerous chemicals as cigarettes, early studies by the American Lung Association show that they do contain several carcinogens. However, the student body’s perception of vaping around Staples is split. “I wake up, and I take five rips,” a junior boy said. “Then I go to school, come home, and keep vaping for the rest of the day.” “I may be addicted, which I’m not proud of, but I don’t feel like it negatively affects my health at all,” he said. Bella Mattera ’17, on the other hand, has a different view. “It’s not a smart idea because you can end up getting addicted,” Mattera said. “And it smells really bad, so I don’t understand why you would do it.” Despite the legality and potential health issues, vaping continues to be a trend on the rise. “I’m no vape god,” a junior girl laughed. “But yeah, I’m kind of addicted.”

Features | October 2, 2015

Students act as

EDM Concerts take over the High School social scene Sydney Kaplan ’17

sic into their everyday lives. “I’ve seen Odesza, Kiesza, Flume, Kap Slap, Deadmau5,” Lilly Howes ’17 said. Most of the concerts she has attended have been 16+, an age limit where she meets the requirements. Still, “most staff at concerts couldn’t care less [about age limits],” she said. Many people have a variety of opinions on whether there should be an age

lectronic Dance Music concerts have become trendy for high schoolers in the past couple of years. Like any other new fad, over time, younger and younger people want to get involved. Non-stop music and dancing, bright lights and neon colors, as well as the accepting and free spirited atmosphere, are some of the many reasons these concerts appeal to so many stressed out high schoolers. Staples students have participated in this trend, attending concerts like Hyperglow, Electric Zoo and Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC). These concerts have age limits ranging from 16+ to over-21. Due to the spread of popularity of these concerts, teens are incorporating this kind Graphic by Chase Emilio ’16 of mu-

limit on these concerts and what that age limit should be. While Howes doesn’t see a reason for the age limit, Alyssa Hyman ’18 does. “Many older people who are under the influence attend, and for younger girls, it could be an issue,” Hyman said. “I think the age limit should be 16+, [an] age when people start to mature and know how to respond to others.” Despite age limits,

cultural ambassadors Jackie Sussman ’17

many students still manage to pass for older, allowing them access to the concerts. An anonymous source explained her experience with EDM concerts. “I have been to 60 or more, I really lost count,” she said when asked which EDM concerts she has attended. Some of concerts she listed have an 18+ or 21+ age limit. “I have a fake ID,” she said. “I use it all the time to get 21+ bracelets for drinking or for going into special sections of the concerts.” Even though she looks young, she says that the bouncers do not really check her ID very w e l l . “Sometimes other concert goers ask, ‘Are you really 21?’ and I just say ‘yes,’ and they believe me,” she said with a mischievous grin. With concert season just starting up again, more and more teens will find their way to EDM concerts than ever before, regardless of restrictions put in place by the venues.

Scholarships and grants expand post-graduation opportunities ly trying to start a club this fall to ensure that more students can benefit from this program. “Assuming it gets approval, we will most likely be handing out information at school events and working to increase their social media presence,” Mezoff said. We are also discussing the possibility of doing some fundraising.” Andrew Chappo ’11 received the Staples Tuition Grants

towards the University of Vermont from 2011-2013. “I was glad to get it since it helped my family out financially when trying to pay for me to go to college for the two years I was there,” Chappo said. Last year the Staples Tuition Grant issued over $300,000 to 113 Staples seniors. With time and effort from Mezoff, all Staples students could be actively informed of this grant.

2007

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2014

$320,000

$317,000

$314,000

$300,000

$265,000

$198,000

Graphic by Sarah Sommer ’16

Total amount awarded by Staples Tuition Grants by year

$195,500

Unlike high school, college comes with a hefty price tag for most students. Academic and athletic scholarships are common throughout Staples. However, there are other alternative routes to scholarships that prove to be as effective. Some of these include music, art and the Staples Tuition Grants, just to list a few. Guidance counselor Thomas Brown said students have a lot of opportunities to apply for scholarships if they take the time to look. “Naviance has a list of all the scholarships,” he said. “There are tons of them out there, but they are not that easy to find. Any club in the country that has anything to do with you has some type of scholarship available.” Finding the right scholarships is very tedious work that takes a person willing to sacrifice free time. Brown explained how he ended up applying to about 10 scholarships and ended up earning $1,000 from the Young Woman’s League. “It’s tedious and annoying, but if you can get yourself to sit down and do them you can end up with scholarship money,” Brown said. The Staples Tuition Grant is something similar to a scholarship in the sense that both give money for college, but this grant is only through Staples and run by a board

in charge of fund money donated by the Westport community. “I had a student in the past who was a financially needy student, and they said if she attended NCC they would pay for the whole thing,” Brown said. Recently Staples has been looking for students to raise awareness about Staples Tuition Grants. Zoe Mezoff ’17 has answered the call. She is active-

$154,000

Ben Foster ’16

2015

For Jenna Patterson ’16, taking an almost day-long flight to the other side of the world was no sweat. Having lived in Singapore for three years, experiencing the average 80-degree-Fahrenheit and 80-percent-humidity weather and seeing ancient landmarks throughout the city-state was a stroll down memory lane. While in Singapore with nine other Staples students on the Hwa Chong Summer Exchange Program, Patterson visited Cheng Tat, her buddy whom she hosted when Singaporean students came to Westport last October. “It was amazing to get to stay with him and see how he lives after he got to stay in my house,” Patterson said. Though the Singapore students come from Nov. 14-28 this year, the opportunity to host a Singaporean student is one that comes and goes quickly with many families volunteering by the end of September, according to world language department chair Maria Zachary. This exchange, Zachary stated, has and will continue to give students “an opportunity to make global connections and get a sense of unity and global connection that cannot be found elsewhere.” The Hwa Chong Summer Exchange Program is one of two programs – that and the Hwa Chong Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Summit – that was initiated by the principal of the Hwa Chong Institute in the summer of 2013 during the first Staples-Singapore exchange. The exchange is meant to give interest-driven and model students the experience of acting as both academic and cultural representatives of Staples, Zachary stated, an experience that will be reciprocated by the Singaporean students when they come this November. Lulu Busk ’17, who hosted Singaporean students last October and went to the Hwa Chong Institute with the Summer Exchange Program, was positively impacted by the experience. “I really expected it to just be a cool place to visit with a beautiful school and landscape, but it turned out to be something that really changed my view on the world,” Busk said. Busk has kept in touch with her Singaporean friends and plans to visit them on her next trip to Singapore in the summer of 2016. Though hosting is a “24/7 gig,” according to Busk, she along with Patterson have found that the benefits far outweigh the costs in playing the part of a cultural representative, and they both hope that students hosting this year will have a similarly “enriching” experience. “The best part about hosting is when you show your buddy some part of American culture they hadn’t known about or experienced before and seeing that excitement and curiosity on their face,” Patterson said. “Knowing you made an impact on their life really impacts your life.”

Features | October 2, 2015

Chad Knight hits high school out of the park

n August of 2013, Chad Knight ’19 and the Westport Little League All-Stars made their mark on the Little League World Series. Knight, who recorded 14 strikeouts in the Regional Final against Rhode Island that sent Westport to the World Series, led the team to being runners-up in the US Championship. Now, Knight and his teammates are all freshman and sophomores, and are looking forward to playing for the Staples Wreckers in the spring. As a baseball player, Knight describes himself as competitive, humble and ambitious. Tom Whelan, one of Knight’s coaches, was quick to attest to his competitiveness. “Chad is always all-in. He never lets up, and he gives 100 percent every time he steps on the field,” Whelan said. “He’s always the first one to practice and the last one to leave. He just has that attitude.” Knight says that he compares himself to Pete Rose be-

cause of his drive and the fact that he competes as hard as he can every time he plays. One of Knight’s teammates, Chris Drbal ’18, spoke highly of Knight and his humility. “Chad is a very humble player and a great friend,” Drbal said. “Being good at sports is one thing, but being good at sports and being a good person is something even better.” Matt Stone ’18, the catcher for the Little League team, also praised Knight, saying, “Chad’s love for the game shows in all of the little things he does. His technique is great and [he shows] composure in tough moments.” Now, Knight is undertaking the next big challenge of his life: high school. So far, he is settling in well. “I love all my teachers, and I’m excited for all the new opportunities and challenges that Staples poses,” Knight said. “[I especially love] math. I have always liked working with numbers and discovering new patterns. I like math because it applies to

everything we do in life whether it’s sports, or anything else.” When asked what he wanted people to know about him besides his baseball prowess, Knight responded, “I’m serious, I’m a student and I love water sports.” Knight says that the hype and recognition from the Little League World Series has kind of died down. He describes all of the recognition as a bit overwhelming but also extremely humbling. Humility is a huge part of Knight’s personal philosophy. He said that he got his best piece of advice from former-Yankee Mariano Rivera, during a pitching lesson and lunch that Knight was fortunate enough to attend. “Mariano said to always be humble and to be thankful for what you have because you never know how long you’re gonna have it,” Knight said. “Enjoy all the great times and enjoy the journey.” Already, Knight has been on quite a journey, and as he looks forward to high school and beyond, it’s guaranteed that he will have quite the future.

Photos by Caroline O’Kane ’16

Jimmy Ray Stagg ’16

Teachers with time to spare strike interest in bowling league Jesse Levinson ’17 & Casey Lu ’16 Students often wonder what their teachers do after hours and whether or not they even have lives outside of grading and

lesson planning. It turns out that they do – and not just family lives. While teachers have a variety of interests, there is one activity

that has been gaining popularity in Staples’ offices and classrooms. When out of school, some teachers bowl. Bowling may seem random, but it has

become tradition for teachers of Westport over the past 48 years. Sal Cassano, retired Staples special education teacher and bowling league officer, believes that bowling is the ideal league sport. “Bowling is a lot of fun and is not as expensive as other Fairfield County traditions, such as golfing,” he said. Teams of three meet every Thursday at Nutmeg Lanes in Fairfield to play in the Mixed Nuts (formerly School Community) league. At $20 a week, anyone, and not just Westport Public Schools employees, can partake, hence the name change. Throughout three games each year, teams compete for first and second place prizes, along

with awards for highest handicap and non-handicap scores, series (three-game) scores and most improved male and female averages. Some prizes even involve cash. Last year, the winning team took home a whopping $600. However, for many members, including those who teach here, competition and money are not the primary objective— it’s camaraderie. “It’s just a fun way to socialize and to get to know people outside of school,” guidance department member Missy Ketley, who boasts 40 years of participation in the league, said. Cassano agreed, saying, “I wound up meeting my best friend of over 40 years [in the league].”

Graphic by Eliza Goldberg ’17 Drawing by Julia Rosier ’18

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Features | October 2, 2015

New York City arts programs add color to lives of students

Amelia Brown ’18

or many students, a day in New York City is a fun Saturday trip with family or friends, occurring every month or so. But for some, like Elizabeth Rhoads ’17 and Cameron Baumann ’16, taking the hour-and-13-minute train ride to and from the city is an everyday norm. “I take the 2:32 [p.m.] train from the Westport Station, and I arrive home between 9:45 and 10 [p.m.],” Rhoads said. Baumann goes only on Saturdays but spends long hours in the city when she does go, leaving at 7:45 a.m. and getting back at 7 p.m. Rhoads started going into the city to dance at Ballet Academy East (BAE) last year and says she plans on continuing to go throughout high school. BAE has produced dancers who perform in companies around the world, including the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Ballet Memphis, according to its website. That level of professionalism, along with the special focus on ballet, is what attracted Rhoads. “Almost all of my peers at BAE are

serious about pursuing ballet in the future, while at The Westport Academy of Dance, some train for recreational reasons and others to pursue modern or jazz careers in college,” she said. Baumann’s program is also unique, being a more intensive program than those in Westport, she says. She takes music theory, ear training, chamber ensemble and orchestra at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) in the pre-college division. While Baumann only goes into the City every Saturday, she also takes private violin lessons once or twice a week with a teacher in Englewood, New Jersey – a 60 to 90 minute car ride, she says.

Photo dramatization by Alex Spadacenta ’17

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

While studying music and dance so far away and so intensely can cause stress and force schoolwork to take the backseat, both girls emphasize how much their program means to them. “School and dance are just as important to me as one another, so it’s worth it to find the time to do both,” Rhoads said. Baumann agrees. “The kids in my teacher’s studio and at the school are probably my best friends,” she said. “And I enjoy being there so much that I wish I could go six days a week.” Although Baumann and Rhoads are benefiting from and enjoying going into New York City for their activities, Simone Barr ’18 did not have quite the same experience. Barr went into New York City once a week from the age of 10 to 13 to

participate in a fencing program, but stopped after eighth grade. While Rhoads, Baumann and many other Staples students go into the city because it offers a higher-level program, Barr says that she started going because there just wasn’t another choice. In 2010, Barr says the only other program was in Danbury, where the commute would have been the same length. Now fencing in Fairfield, Barr is able to go more often than before. “It’s much shorter of a commute, and the reason I did it is it’s much easier to commit when it’s that much closer, so I can go three or four times a week,” she said. Although going an hour away to keep up the sport was too much work, Barr said she is still glad that she did it. “I would say [going into the City] was a cool experience for me,” Barr said, staring reminiscently off to the side. “When we went in on Fridays we could explore the City some more, so it was really fun to have that connection, but it is a lot easier to keep up with the sport now that I don’t do it in New York.”

Seeing their naked grandmother clawing at the door wasn’t a pleasant experience for the kids in the movie or the people in the audience. obvious. Jessica Sugerman, a Westport resident, said, “(the movie) was pretty predictable, and they could have done a better job with it because the premise was good.” There was subplot about relationships between parents and their children that had the potential to be relatable but was left tragically underdeveloped. “The core idea [of forgiveness] is important because if the mom forgave her parents, the entire conflict in the movie would not be present,” Stephanie Walsh ’18 of Stamford High School said. But, unfortunately, this underlying message was so subtle to the plot that it could easily have been missed. The fi lming was the only positive aspect to the movie, as it was shot in a shaky, handheld documentary style. In the movie, the daughter records the eerie happenings, and the purposefully amateur camera angles create a lot of suspense and drama. Unfortunately, however, this one positive aspect of the “The Visit” was not enough to compensate for the lack of an interesting setting and an original plot.

Photo by Caroline O’Kane’16

eleased on Sept. 11, 2015, “The Visit” is a comedic horror fi lm depicting the chilling story of two kids who visit their unusual grandparents for the first time. The fi lm was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and according to News 12 raised $25.7 million in one weekend. The movie, full of jumpscares, comedy and a slow, suspenseful plot, has received mostly poor ratings from moviegoers, and this critic agrees with the masses. “The Visit” was a disappointment, despite thousands of audience members. The kids of the fi lm, Becca (Olivia DeJonge) and Tyler (Ed Oxenbould), notice an escalation of peculiar activity as the week at their grandparents’ house progresses. The plot gradually reveals the bizarre and disturbing activity of the psychotic grandparents, showing the viewers some unnecessarily graphic images. Seeing their naked grandmother clawing at the door wasn’t a pleasant experience for the kids in the movie or the people in the audience. Towards the end of their week-long visit, in a dramatic dialogue, the mother makes a grand reveal that was blatantly

arts

Erin McGoarty ’18

Dynamic duet

“The Visit” fails to host quality entertainment

INKLINGS | October 2, 2015

Music runs through the veins of twin girls Jen Gouche ’16

The music from “The Nutcracker” floated through the Chachras’ house. Jessica and Samantha Chachra ’16, 3-year-old ballerinas at the time, twirled along to Tchaikovsky’s whimsical score. As they continued to dance, Jess took a turn for the worse, falling and breaking her arm. “It was traumatic,” Sam said. For the Chachra twins, music has always been a part of their lives. They started taking piano lessons at 6, and although neither of them loved it, their ears became trained, which helped them to start orchestra in fourth grade. Jess took up the viola while Sam started playing the cello. Although Jess focused mainly on viola, Sam branched out and started vocal lessons and then continued to branch out to theater. In sixth grade, she was one of few her age to get a part in the school musical, “Annie.” As the years went on, Jess and Sam continued to develop their respective musical interests. However, the summer before their junior year, the two dabbled in dueting. “I kinda dragged Jess into [singing],” Sam said. Jess laughed at this comment, saying, “I don’t really know how that happened.” The first time the two sang together was for their uncle’s wedding in India. Despite the jet lag, the two motivated each other to practice. When they performed, a friend of their dad’s was so impressed that he asked the twins to perform at a birthday party for Walter Yetnikoff, the former president of Columbia Records. Flash forward to Yetnikoff ’s birthday party in New York City: the twins, dressed in concert black, stepped onto a stage in front of celebrities and music industry professionals. After performing a medley of songs a capella, they noticed their dad casually conversing with Billy Joel. “I remember he gave us a compliment,” Jess said, trying to remember his exact words. “He said, ‘You guys sounded really great; it’s really hard to sing on key with a capella.’” Despite having great success singing together, the twins duet rather infrequently. They still keep it up, just more casually. “It’s funny sometimes we wake each other up by harmonizing,” Sam said. “It’s great having a twin for that stuff.” Jess agreed “We’re kind of locked into each other that way,” she said. Right now, the twins are focusing on different aspects of music. Jess is devoted to viola as she is a member of the Staples Symphonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Norwalk Youth Symphony and the co-president of the Music Honors Society. She is also a teacher’s assistant for Adele Valovich, one of the orchestra instructors. Sam, on the other hand, is still playing cello in the Staples Symphonic Orchestra, while also participating in Orphenians and Staples Players. “Music is notorious for unifying and bringing people closer,” Sam said. “That’s why I think I’ve been able to survive.” inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Arts | October 2, 2015

Graphic by Julia Schorr ’16

rand opening of ‘Fiddler’ aimed to dazzle audiences Jackie Sussman ’17

he auditorium lights dim and the curtain is slowly pulled up, transporting the audience from the present to Anatevka, Russia, in 1905. The pianist starts to play the famous “Fiddler on the Roof ” theme by Isaac Stern, and the music steadily becomes more intense, as a middle-aged character and a fiddler grace the stage. With one simple line, the play begins: “A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no?” This classic play will be

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

performed by Staples Players this November. For some actors in the current junior and senior classes, however, this is not their first time participating in the show. In fact, for students like Jacob Leaf ’17, who is single-cast as Tevye the milkman, this show comes full circle since he also participated in the Coleytown Middle School production. “The first time I did ‘Fiddler’ there was definitely a switch from ‘do I like this’ to ‘this is what I want to do in high school,’” Leaf said. While the middle school show sparked a passion for act-

ing in Leaf, for others, it is an opportunity to explore different characters. Samantha Chachra ’16, one of the actresses that plays Tevye’s eldest daughter, Tzeitel, for the Players version of Fiddler, played Hodel, another daughter, while she was at Coleytown. “It’s challenging for me because it’s so easy to slip into the mentality of the previous role I played,” Chachra said. “Building a different character in a show that is already built in my head is hard but will become easier in time as differences from the Coleytown version and the

Staples version become more clear in the rehearsal process.” Though the play is the same, Players is planning to put a few nuances in the show to make the performance unique. David Roth, the director of Staples Players, hinted that there are going to be a few “must-see surprises” in the show. According to Roth, the title role — the Fiddler — will play his violin while flying in the air. However, no matter how many times the sun “rises” and “sets,” Westport can always have “Fiddler on the Roof ” as a tradition for its theatre productions.

Arts | October 2, 2015

Comedy stands strong in Staples

you think you are amazing at something and you refuse to let yourself see where you can improve, you won’t get better,” Ribolla reasoned. Stand up has helped Ribolla learn a lot about life and has taught him the philosophy that, “You gotta roll with the punches.” Ribolla hopes to apply that wisdom to his pursuit of becoming a film producer later on in his life. As both Ribolla and Cheng will be graduating this year, they hope others will follow in their footsteps and pursue comedy at Toquet Hall. If interested in doing standup, message Cheng, Ribolla, or Kevin Godburn. “Keep stand up alive at Staples!” Ribolla said.

A D EA R

“[Nick Ribolla ’16 is] always hilarious in real life, so he’s a natural on stage.” -Jordan Goodness ’16

H R IS T IN

’17

stand up, stage fright is always a struggle. “I still get nervous. Stage fright never goes away,” Ribolla said. Cheng agreed, but added that once “you kind of get going, you don’t think about it too much.” Ribolla also realizes the importance in acknowledging weaknesses in order to improve. “If

IC BY C

aughter is the cure for everything. That’s why Nick Ribolla ’16 and Justin Cheng ’16 have found a love for stand up comedy. Kevin Godburn, the youth service programs director at Toquet Hall in downtown Westport, provides Ribolla, Cheng and other budding comedians, a place to perform their stand up acts. As Ribolla stands in front of an awaiting crowd, he opens to laughter when he says, “Hi, I’m Nick Ribolla and I’m in denial of being white.” Ribolla’s life has always had comedy in it. When he was young and lived in London, he didn’t have many friends. But he found when he cracked jokes, people started

to like him. Ever since then, he has been the highlight of everyone’s lunch conversation. “He’s always hilarious in real life, so he’s a natural on stage, and the audiences are always really receptive to his material,”Ribolla’s close friend of 11 years, Jordan Goodness ’16, said. While Ribolla has been doing stand up for three years, Cheng only started in March of this year. However, despite the differences in their years of experience, both Ribolla and Cheng began their careers as the opener for recent Staples alum and funny-man, Michael Mathis ’15 and both consider themselves to be students of stand up. Ribolla says that no matter how long a person practices

GRAPH

Max Appell ’18

Westport Arts Center offers opportunities for everyone Emma Greenberg ’18

with music, tasty food and art created by council members and local teens,” Anna Greenspan ’18 said. Many of the council members find that being involved with the center provides a crreative outlet for the many of life’s stresses. “With all the activities that go on in my life all the time,” council member Jessica Parker ’18 said, “I feel as though the center is able to offer me an output in which I can really let my mind rest and focus on one thing that I am passionate about.”

PAIN TING BY DON ALD BLEA CHER GRA PHIC BY CHH ANIN G SMIT H ’17

The Westport Art Center (WAC) is one of the true treasures in Westport. Unknown to many, the center holds children and adult art programs every week and provides a wide range of events, including visual arts programs, live classical music, movie screenings and much more. The goal of the center is to connect the community to the visual and performing arts. One of its most import-

ant branches is that of the Teen Council, an organization that is open to any student who has an interest in the arts. “It’s very exciting to experience all the backstage work that goes into planning for these events,” council member, Angela Yu ’16 said. “The arts center has numerous ways of letting people become involved, which I find very attractive.” Last June, the council hosted its first inaugural event aimed at introducing itself to the community. “The event was completed

STARVING ARTISTS “The Print Show: Celebrating 45 years of Printmaking with pace prints, New York” is an exhibition running through Sept. 18 though Oct. 31 at the Westport Arts Center. it is free and open to the public and showcases Donald Bleacher’s “Green Cone” (2007). His art is featured here.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

BEAT

THE

20 Arts | October 2, 2015

Caroline Lane ’16

n the weekends, Westporters are often willing to wait outside of Bartaco, Bobby Q’s and other fan-favorite restaurants for an opportunity to eat the well-known cuisine. But some nights it’s just not possible to wait. So, here’s a list of some hidden gems in our area to help Westporters skip the wait and enjoy their dinner dates. Arezzo With it’s bland brick exterior, Arezzo might not catch the eye of a passerby. However, it is worth a look. Arezzo offers a relaxing atmosphere that is situated on the pristine, shimmering-blue Saugatuck river. As boaters float by, waiters carry

Staples unearths the hidden culinary gems of Fairfield County

trays of freshly baked bread and steaming appetizers of mussels and creamy burrata. Jenna Levantin ’16 loves stopping into Arezzo a few weekends a year. “[Arezzo] makes the dining experience really special,” Levantin said. “And the pizza is to die for, so that’s a perk.” Mecha Noodle Bar Angie Parmar ’16 is one of many students who has fallen in love with Mecha Noodle Bar in the little over two years that it has been open. Mecha is known for their mouth watering pork dumplings and endless selection of ramen noodles that will leave Westporters craving for more. In Vietnamese, Mecha actually means “Mom and Pop” and, according to Parmar, that is exactly the warm, family-friend-

ly atmosphere she receives when she walks through the door. “[Mecha Noodle Bar] just has a really homey environment,” Parmar said. “The staff is so nice, too.” Tutti’s Tutti’s has been a staple to the Westport community for so many years that sometimes it flies under the radar. It’s located just a two minute walk from the train station, and the long-time owners and Westport natives, Maria Funicello and her husband Pasquale Funicello, are always smiling faces when people stop in. Tutti’s is your classic Italian restaurant which is why Matthew Fair ’17 loves it. “It’s just really good authentic Italian,” Fair said. Tutti’s is sure to please with their brick oven pizza and fresh seafood.

ane ’16 line O’K by Caro s to o h P

AREZZO AMAZES Right on the Saugatuck River, Arezzo Ristorante and Bar serves Italian cuisine at its finest. Pictured is the ravioli alla aragosta (above) and the saltimboca alla romana (bottom).

Most-played hits on Spotify (1990-1999) Spotifyup playcounts in 2014 Spotify opens new doors to old music 32,000,000

26,000,000

38,000,000

44,000,000

50,000,000

“Nothing Else Matters” Metallica 26,980,994 plays

“Scar Tissue” Red Hot Chili Peppers 23,996,179 plays

Graphic by Claudia Chen ’16

Emily Olrik ’16

Today’s teenagers are turning back the times, watching 90s teen flicks, listening to throwback playlists and sporting Nirvana t-shirts. Songs from the 90s and early 2000s that garnered little popularity at their initial release have now found modern-day audiences among teenagers. This surge in popularity for older music is evident in Billboard’s new tracking system, which measures the popularity of old hits by tracking the number of plays from Spotify users. Mike Zito, radio production teacher and adviser of WWPT, attributes the popularization of all musical time periods to the invention of online streaming. He attributes Spotify, among other music outlets, as the cause of the 90s and early 2000s music revival. Recently, songs like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” peaked Billboard charts as the most-played 90s song today, even though after it was released in 1992, it never even made it to the Billboard Top 5. Michelle Eisenberg ’16, a fan of 90s and early 2000s music, notes teenagers listening to older music because it’s

“I Will Always Love You” Whitney Houston 27,489,549 plays

“Wonderwall” Oasis 34,352,877 plays

“No Diggity” Blackstreet 30,911,317 plays

“Still Dre” Dr. Dre 30,309,920 plays “Creep” Radiohead 28,931,526 plays

“Iris” Goo Goo Dolls 35,669,952 plays

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” Nirvana 50,657,282 plays

“Under the Bridge” Red Hot Chili Peppers 33,625,240 plays

OLDIES BUT GOODIES Billboard charts only reveal a song’s popularity at the time of its release. However, this graph charts the current popularity of hit songs from the 90s by displaying the Spotify play-counts in 2014 of the songs. It is important to note that some artists, such as the Beatles, are not on Spotify.

both nostalgic and pleasurable. “It’s what I grew up with, and it was the first music I heard,” she said. “All of this other rap and pop music then came out that wasn’t as good as the music I first listened to.”

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Eisenberg’s dad introduced her to this time period of music, so she’s always been a large follower of Coldplay and Radiohead. “I keep going back to it,” she said. Clara Harr ’16 took a differ-

ent view, attributing the popularity of older music to the unfavorable, modern day music trends. “Everything now is techno or rap and sometimes it hurts your head a little bit,” she said. “Sometimes it’s nice to go back to when

the beats were a little easier to relax to and the words were relatable rather than sexually charged.” With such a vast and changing music audience and fickle trends, only time will tell the future of music.

INKLINGS | October 2, 2015

Inklings | Sept. 22, 2015

sports

Josh Berman ’17 and Daniel Reid ’17 storm the FCIAC boys’ soccer scene Chase Gornbein ’16 & Thomas Nealon ’17

Photos courtesy of Staples Soccer and The Ruden Report

ursting onto the FCIAC high school soccer scene are two of Staples’ very own: defensive back Josh Berman ’17 and midfielder Daniel Reid ’17. With a year of varsity action already under their belts, these key players for the boys’ soccer team look to spark a deep run into the FCIAC and state championships. Confidence is a quality that both of these boys possess. “Both Daniel and Josh were important contributors to our team last season, and since then they have gained a tremendous amount of confidence for the upcoming season,” co-captain Noah Schwaeber ’16 said. “They bring an upbeat vibe onto the field that really helps our boys to perform their best.” From the moment Reid first stepped onto a “football pitch” at age 4 while living in England, he instantly developed a love for having a ball at his feet. When he moved to the United States, his passion for the sport grew and so did his desire to compete against the best players in the state of Connecticut. Reid

quickly moved up the ranks. Starting out playing in the recreational league in Westport, he looked to find even higher levels of competition when he tried out for the U12 Westport travel team and made it. After playing on that team for a year, he once again felt the urge to find an even greater challenge. Reid then tried out for the Everton American premier team and has been playing there for the past three years. Berman has also had an interesting soccer career. Like Reid, he started off playing recreational soccer, and then decided to try out for Westport’s youth travel team at the age of 8. In sixth grade, Berman was placed on the U12 boys’ blue team, the most competitive team Westport has to offer. It was while on the U12 boys’ blue team that he emerged as a leader and led the team to two consecutive state quarterfinal finishes as a centerback. His ability to play shutdown defense against opponents and attack the ball in the air eventually landed him a starting position on last year’s varsity team. He and Reid were

the only sophomores who consistently started in games throughout the season. Last year, Reid got the opportunity to play alongside his brother, Michael Reid ’15 and was able to learn a great deal. While watching Michael play center midﬁeld, Daniel learned how to keep his composure, which prepared Daniel for this season when he took over his brother’s vacated midﬁeld position. “Having a brother on the team last year was certainly odd at the beginning of the season,” Daniel said. But as time progressed, “my brother was very helpful and taught [him] a lot about playing center mid, which has certainly translated into the kind of player [he is] today.” However, with the departure of seven seniors, both Reid and Berman have had to adopt more responsibility on the

MARQUEE MATCHUPS The best Staples games of the week

7 p.m., Friday, October 2 FOOTBALL VS. WARDE The Wreckers face off against the Mustangs on Homecoming under the lights tonight.

5 p.m., Monday, October 5 GIRLS’ SOCCER @ LUDLOWE Staples visits the Falcons as each team fights for an FCIAC playoff spot.

field. “We expect both Josh and Daniel to be leaders,” head coach Dan Woog said. “Both with their play and with their voices.” Berman acknowledged that everyone on the team has an important role to play, because “part of the Staples program is that no matter what year the player might be, everyone is a leader on the field,” he said. So, with 11 leaders on the field, both Reid and Berman envision success. For both, not achieving gold would certainly be a disappointment for the team. “Our team has the goals of winning both the FCIAC and state championships, which is very possible,” Reid said. “We have a strong side, and everyone on the team has kept the faith that this is the year.”

4 p.m., Wednesday, October 7 FIELD HOCKEY VS. RIDGEFIELD Ridgefield looks to avenge last year’s state playoff loss at the hands of the Wreckers.

4 p.m., Thursday, October 8 BOYS’ SOCCER VS. DARIEN Staples fell to the Blue Wave in last year’s state quarterfinal and look to get their revenge.

inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL inklingsnews.com | STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL

Sports | October 2, 2015

Sydney Kaplan ’17

ompetitive dance is a common extra curricular activity for many high school students. In Fairﬁeld County alone, there are eight dance centers with highly competitive teams and companies that travel around the United States to compete. A competitive dancer takes multiple classes for her area of specialized dance, but she will also often take additional classes for other genres of dance. These classes add up, resulting in a time commitment that is often three-to-ﬁve

hours a day, six days a week. It is this time commitment that is often the reason some dancers quit. “I cut down on dance mainly because of the time commitment,” Lindsey Felner ’17 said. In fact, Felner quit dance after 13 years of commitment. While this decision was hard, she is having no regrets. “I know that I don’t regret my decision because junior year will be less of a struggle for me knowing that I freed up some of my time for extra school work,” she said. Another competitive dancer cut down on dance classes this year for similar reasons. “I just couldn’t commit to the 15-18 hours of dance per week,” Sydney Malkin ’16 said. “Obviously I still love

Photos by Julia Rosier ’18

Dancing Away

As high school begins, Westport students leave studios behind to dance, and I would never want to give it up, so I decided to just take the classes that I really want to take.” Malkin has lessened the amount of classes she is taking this year, so she can focus on her AP classes, ACT prep and driver’s ed. These high school dancers have let go of dance partially because they do not want to become professional. But English teacher, Sami Ginzberg, offered an idea for an alternative. Ginzberg was a dancer since she was 8 years old, danced competitively through high school and continued to dance in college as part of the University of Connecticut dance company. She danced because she loved it,

but she said, “I wasn’t talented enough to become professional. I knew it wasn’t for me.” Even so, she decided to always keep dance in her life. “I really love Zumba right now, and sometimes I even travel to the City to take classes at Alvin Ailey,” Ginzberg said. She even started a dance team at Staples in order to unite the dancers and the school and bring both her passions to the same place. Ginzberg understands why high schoolers have left the sport, but she encourages people not to make competitive dance their “end all, be all.” She, instead, encourages everyone to keep dancing in their lives.

Boys’ locker room conditions provoke dissatisfaction Chris Andrews ’18

bathroom in order to avoid using the locker rooms. “I typically do not [use them] because I never know what terrible smell is going to enter my nose if or when School gym locker rooms can take I walk in there,” Rees Chang ’16 said. a beating over the years, and the Staples Others have even more extreme gym locker rooms are no exception. reasons for avoiding the boys’ locker While these rooms receive daily room. “I stopped going down there after maintenance from janitors, the boys’ I first saw feces on the floor,” Reece locker room has not been updated since Armstrong said. 2000. Despite the poor conditions, the boys Currently the conditions of the believe boys’ and girls’ few locker rooms “I stopped going down there after I a changes are not the same c o u l d either. first saw feces on the floor.” drastically “The girls’ -Reece Armstrong ’16 improve locker room was the locker remodeled in room. “My possessions would feel more 2005 with new floors, new design, new secure if all the lockers were functional,” lockers, more space, new bathrooms Day said. and new ventilation because they were And to improve the smell, Chang had in worse condition than the boys’ locker additional suggestions. “It might be good room is today,” athletic director Marty to separate the toilets and urinals from Lisevick said. the rest of the room, [and] maybe better While schools have many expenses ventilation would help, as well,” Chang and while budgets are tight, some said. Staples boys would like to see some The reasons to improve the boys’ money put toward improving the boys’ locker room are not unknown, but locker room, too. politics and budgets have interfered with “The locker room is really smelly,” progress. “The boys’ locker room has Cameron Day ’18 said. “All the lockers been proposed to be upgraded every year are either dirty or broken.” but has unfortunately not made the cut Conditions are so bad through the final budget process,” physical that some boys change in the education department chair David Gusitch said. “The state of the boys’ locker room is known. I am hopeful this area will be completely renovated within the next year, if not sooner.” Photo used under the Creative Commons License

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Sports | October 2 , 2015

Adam Kaplan ’16

fter an electrifying season a year ago, one which was capped off with an FCIAC title and runners up in states, the Staples girl’s cross country team plans to complete some unﬁnished business. While, graduation hit the Wreckers hard, most notably the loss of Boston College runner Erica Hefnawy, the girls, nonetheless, have conﬁdence they have the depth to repeat. “We have a great freshman class who are showing a lot of promise and many of our juniors and sophomores are stepping up to the plate,” Fleur Byrne ’17 said . Byrne also noted a sleeper who is set to break out this season when she said, “Susie Martin ’17 has come into

the XC season as our number two runner and is looking very fast this season and will be a top leader in our team.” Leading the charge for the lady Wreckers this year is captain Hannah Debalsi ’16. Debalsi is considered a blue chip college prospect and is coming into her fourth and ﬁnal varsity cross country season. For the upcoming year Debalsi is shooting for the stars. “I want to repeat as the FCIAC, state and New England champion and contend for the national title,” she said. Her predictions for the team showed a massive amount of conﬁdence in their abilities, too. “I think we have the potential to be one of the best Staples cross country teams ever,” Debalsi said.

REMAINING SEASON SCHEDULE: CROSS COUNTRY 10/06: DUAL MEET—VS. NORWALK, ST. JOES, STAMFORD 10/10: DUAL MEET—WICKHAM PARK INVITATIONAL 10/13: DUAL MEET—VS. RIDGEFIELD, DARIEN, MCMAHON 10/21: DUAL MEET—FCIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS 10/31: DUAL MEET—CLASS LL CHAMPIONSHIPS 11/06: DUAL MEET—CIAC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 11/14: DUAL MEET—NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

GIRLS’ 1600 METER STAPLES SCHOOL RECORD

BOYS’ FCIAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

SINCE 1961

Brendan Harrington ’15 is ready for even more success this year. “The senior class last year was incredible. However, this year our captains are just as capable, and will lead this team to many victories.” One of the captains is James Lewis ’16 who believes the Wreckers may have been slept on. “This year we were predicted to be third in the state, but we've already beat the second ranked team and seem to be much stronger than the team ranked ﬁrst.” Lewis said. “We think we can win states and FCIAC’s and move on to be one of the top teams in the Northeast.” As far as expectations go, Harrington made his short, sweet and bold. “The goals this year for the team include winning states and making nationals,” Harrington said. “Both of which are realistic.”

Graphics by Channing Smith ’17 Photos by Caroline O’Kane ’16 Photos used under Creative Commons License

4:47:50 10 WINS

HANNAH DEBALSI ’16

To put it bluntly the boys’ cross country team last year was dominant. An undefeated regular season made them the team to beat coming into the State and FCIAC meets. Unfortunately for the Wreckers, it didn’t get easier from there on out. In the FCIAC championship, the Wreckers came in second by only a few seconds in a heartbreaking finish. Their postseason also did not go according to plan, as a fifth place finish in states left them ineligible to compete in nationals. So, this season, the boys are hungry. Key departures included budding John’s Hopkins University runner Oliver Hickson ’15 and Boston College runner Luis Cruz ’15. The Wreckers do however bring back an impressive returning team highlighted by Ben Foster ’16 and Zakeer Ahmad ’17. Top seven runner

KEY RUNNERS: KEY RUNNERS:

FLEUR BYRNE ’17 Zakeer Ahmad ’17 HANNAH DEBALSI ’16 Ben Foster ’16 SUSIE MARTIN ’17 James Lewis ’16

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Sports | October 2, 2015

Defending the crown Girls’ soccer looks to repeat as FCIAC champions

Photos by Caroline O’Kane ’16

FCIAC TITLES

Chase Gornbein ’16

ollowing a tie in the FCIAC championship game last season, the Staples girls’ soccer team was crowned cochampions with Fairﬁeld Warde High School. This year, the Staples girls’ soccer team is more driven to obtain the crown than ever before. “It was frustrating last fall when we had to share the FCIAC title with Fairﬁeld Warde, but we’re working hard in order to make it ours this year,” co-

captain Charlotte Rossi ’17 said. “We’ll take a tie over a loss, but nothing beats winning it all.” The Lady Wreckers have set very high standards for themselves and believe that they can achieve these goals despite losing seven seniors last year. “With the loss of so many seniors, our roster is very junior and sophomore heavy, but age doesn’t matter on the ﬁeld, and every player is putting in the effort to win FCIACs, whether they are returning varsity or new to the team,” Rossi said.

GOALS SCORED IN 2014

“Everyone knows how important it is for us to perform well in the season and to aim high in order to win big.” Predominantly made up of juniors, Staples girls’ soccer brings back the majority of its key weapons from last year’s squad, including co-captain’s Lydia Shaw ’17 and Charlotte Rossi ’17, along with Tia Zajec ’17. Along with this trio of juniors are Brynly Marsh ’16 and cocaptain Elizabeth Mitas ’16. Mitas believes having a majority of juniors on the team

has been an adjustment, but she said their talent is undeniable. “Since there are only two seniors on the team, the dynamic is certainly shifted, but many of these girls are really, really talented,” Mitas said. The Lady Wreckers have set the bar high for themselves and would like to make a deep run in both the FCIAC and state playoffs. “Our team has felt gold before and we are looking to take it for ourselves this year,” Marsh said. “Going forward, we know we need to play to our full

WINS IN 2014

potential the entire game. If we do that, we can reach our goals one game at a time.” Following a 2-1 loss against Trumbull High School on Sept. 12 in their home opener, the Lady Wreckers look to rebound with matchups against Brien McMahon and Fairﬁeld Ludlowe. As of September 28, the team is 3-2-1. The girls’ have their eyes set on Oct. 20 where they will be facing Fairﬁeld Warde at home. “Our biggest game this season is certainly our matchup against Warde,” Zajec said.

INSIDE THE ISSUE

page 21 JOSH BERMAN ’17 AND DANIEL REID ’17 The two junior teammates are attempting to lead the boys’ soccer team to a title this fall.

page 22 DANCING AWAY Staples dancers find themselves quitting dance to pursue other passions as their high school careers advance.

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page 22 LOCKER ROOM Inequality among the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms prompts conversation among students and staff.

page 25 RUNNING TO THE FINISH Staples girls’ and boys’ cross country gear up for a successful showing in the 2015 FCIAC and CIAC Championships.