Tower
The Masters School
December 16, 2011
Volume 68, Number 3
The Masters School, 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Quitting Thanksgiving: Products Over Tradition
since the Carter administration. The shopping ritual exploded in the early 2000’s, when stores like Target, WalMart, and Kohls began opening their doors earlier and
earlier to provide the deals to eager early-bird shoppers. Black Friday sets the standard for the rest of the holiday season. Stores have “doorbusting” sales, claiming to
reduce prices by up to 75%. Though this shopping extravagaza is intended for purchasing gifts. 66% of Black Friday shoppers shop ped for themselves this year, according to Consumer Reports. Despite such sales, many were disappointed with their shopping results.Freshman Isabel Lucas was underwhelmed by the sales she encountered. “I’m not a big shopper,” she said, “but I went shopping on Black Friday because of the deals. They weren’t that good.” Matthew Kammrath, business and finance teacher, says that although stores brag about their sales, “The stores really only reduce prices on a limited number of select items.” Although these items are sold at a loss, people buy such a massive amount of merchandise that the lower prices equalize. The deals are strategically planned.
Yard, where the freshmen dormitories are located. In a letter to the Harvard community, the administration states, “We are mindful of the troubling incidents at other Occupy sites. We seek to ensure that the health and safety issues that have arisen elsewhere do not arise here.” Indeed, various Occupy sites have experienced the described “troubling incidents.” At the University of California Berkeley, a protest group called Occupy Cal set up camp in Sproul Plaza. They were there until the administration decided to uproot the camp at 3:30 a.m., a style similar to that of the removal of Wall Street protestors. Two were arrested during the evacuation. Another college in the Boston area, Northeastern University, participated in
a nationwide protest called “Occupy Colleges”. Students walked out of class to demonstrate with the other Occupy Boston protestors, criticizing corporate greed, which they believe is a prime contributor to our current state of extreme financial inequality. Masters Economics teacher Skeffington Young recognized the plight many college students face. He said, “If I’m a student coming out of university, it’s more difficult for me to get a job than it is for someone who’s been in the work force for years. But part of my motivation to go to college was that I would be able to get a job. Now I have no job, and a lot of debt.” Young continued, “The protests are worthwhile because they represent frustration that’s present
in our society. In a society that has freedom of expression, this is a valid form of expression.” However, Young did find fault with the movement’s lack of a clear focus. “They need a list of demands, something that defines the direction of the protest.” Back at Harvard, one freshman, Ansel Duff, commented on the style in which their protest was conducted. He said, “They were smart about it. They were gentle and nonviolent, and they made everyone listen.” Despite the Wall Street protestor’s eviction from Zucotti Park, the essence of survival and strength that epitomizes the Occupy movement perseveres. Duff concluded, “We got it within the first two or three days. They definitely made their point.”
Photo by Eve Wetlaufer
SHOPPERS TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE of sales at the opening of the Union Square Holiday Market in New York City on Small Business Saturday. This famous shopping weekend started even earlier this year as stores opened late Thursday night.
by Kiera Wilson Staff Writer
Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the fiscal year, has been a post-Thanksgiving tradition
Occupying College Campuses Nationwide by Johanna M. Costigan News Editor
In addition to a bombarding frenzy of crimson sweatshirt-clad students, if you look around Harvard University’s central square, you will also notice newly installed tents housing Harvard’s own unit of protestors. As the Occupy Wall Street movement expands to colleges, it seems the 99% even encompasses the notoriously selective Harvard University. When Harvard’s branch of the Occupy movement was established in early November, with the specific aims of altering the university’s investment practices and to discuss a fairer contract for custodial workers, the administration drastically heightened security measures. ‘ This security upgrade limits access to the Harvard
Opinion
Joe Paterno’s Fall from Greatest: The Impact of the Molestation Case on his Legacy
Public Domain Image
Joe Paterno, once one of the most celebrated college football coaches in the country, was recently fired from his position as the head coach of the Penn State football team. Paterno’s 46-year career ended following molestation accusations against Jerry Sandusky, his former assistant coach. Page
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Photo by Josephine Demme
Freshmen Forced to Take the Field: Athletic Requirement Update
As an independent school, Masters has no state regulations to follow with regard to sex education. Therefore, Masters has created its own health and wellness program. However, sex is not a big focus. Pages
DURING A PROTEST, the man pictured above stepped in between police and a female protestor while the police were using physical force against her. The man was arrested for his actions, but once he was released, he returned to Zucotti Park to join to 99%.
Sports
Features Finding the Middle Ground in Teaching Sex Education
Photo by Tyler Pager
because it really encourages people to go out and spend money during the holidays,” junior Margot Abrahams said. Most stores began their sales at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. “Doors open at 9, so you don’t have to worry about waiting on any lines,” boasted a Kohls commercial. Other stores set up online deals, with free shipping and as much as 80% off of any order made on Thanksgiving. Economists attribute a major part of this year’s shopping success to the extension of sales. It was dubbed “The Shopping Weekend” by pleased consumers on Twitter, and Thanksgiving was referred to as “Cyber Thanksgiving” due to the extensive deals on numerous websites. The results were clear thousands of people put down their turkey and logged on after their Thanksgiving dinner to buy their Christmas gifts.
“The closeouts have been on the rack for two months, and they are trying to get rid of them,” Kammrath said. Businesses across America experienced the best Black Friday in years this November. The national Retail Federation revealed a 9.1% increase in spending since 2010, averaging to around $400 per shopper. Overall, Americans spent $11.4 billion. But the day can be dangerous. In 2010, an employee at a Wal-Mart was trampled to death by excited shoppers after the doors opened. The same thing happened to a Wal-Mart employee in 2008. These kinds of tragedies aren’t uncommon. There have been multiple reports about shootings out of the Black Friday frenzy. In spite of the controversy, many view the day positively. “I think Black Friday is a good thing, no matter the day,
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Last year, Masters announced a new athletic requirement for all incoming freshmen. The class of 2015 is required to participate in three seasons of sports before the end of their sophomore year. Tower checks in to see how it’s going. Photo by Eve Wetlaufer
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