Tower Issue #3 2012-2013

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Tower The Masters School

December 10, 2012

Volume 69, Number 3

The Masters School, 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

One year later: Students respond to ACR

In the fall of 2011, the administration instituted the Athletic Credit Requirement (ACR) for the incoming freshmen class, the Class of 2015. The ACR requires students to participate as a member of an interscholastic team for three out of six seasons during their freshman and sophomore years; at least one of these seasons must be in ninth grade. Students can also receive credit through Dance Tech II and III, Dance Company and the Winter Musical. In November, Tower conducted a school-wide survey to gather the community’s response to the ACR, one year later. Tower is publishing the results as part of a three-part series.

by Tyler Pager Editor-in-Chief

The majority of students are not satisfied with the Athletic Credit Requirement (ACR), according to a school-wide survey. When they were asked if they agreed with the administration’s view that the ACR is an important component of creating a well-rounded educational experience, 42.6 percent of students

The adminstration views the Athletic Credit Requirement (ACR) as an important component of creating a well-rounded educational experience. Do you agree?

Managing Editor

The Empire State Building was bathed in blue as CNN projected Barack Obama as the winner of the 2012 presidential race. Nov. 7 had just begun and Americans either rejoiced or expressed frustration that Obama had been voted into a second term. Similarly, in the school’s mock election, Obama won, albeit by a significantly larger margin. He received 67 percent of the vote, while Romney got 21 percent. Third parties in the actual election were barely represented, but within the

by Teerin Julsawad Features Editor

Graphic by Tyler Pager and Jackie Liu

In response to the question above, the majority of students were not in favor of the ACR, and did not find it a useful component in creating a well-rounded experience at Masters.

said not at all; 32.6 percent said to some extent; 13.0 percent said to a fair extent and 11.7 said, yes, completely. While the administration implemented this requirement for the wellbeing of the students last year, the majority of students are unhappy with it. Freshman Kiera Allen is among the many who oppose the requirement. “I appreciate the

opportunity to participate in school-sponsored sports, but not the obligation,” Allen said. “But, I don’t think I’m alone in saying that three seasons is a lot of time to commit to something that I don’t enjoy. I understand the school’s desire for students to be active and healthy, but I feel that this component of sports can be substituted with physical education.” Allen also said that

camaraderie and team building is not only achieved through athletics. “Having participated in both athletic and nonathletic co-curriculars, it is my personal feeling that the relationships that I developed in dance, plays and musicals were as strong as those in sports,” she said. Allen was attracted to the school continued on page 8

Students react to Barack Obama’s re-election by Casey Chon

Construction begins on Health Center

Masters community, Gary Johnson collected seven percent of the total votes. Jill Stein of the Green Party, Peta Lindsay, and Virgil Goode made up for the remaining five percent. The student reaction to both elections were split. Freshman Alex Harwood said, “Obama’s win benefits me because he’s been able to somewhat lower unemployment rates, and I’m going to want a job when I’m out of college.” A contrasting opinion from Harwood’s was voiced by junior Juliet Day. “From watching the debates, I found that I agreed with more of what

Romney said,” she said. “Although I did not agree with Romney’s opinions of abortion and gay marriage, when it came to the economic views he seemed to be much more convincing.” Day added, “I also did not like that people faulted Romney for being wealthy. Yes, Romney was born into wealth, but he made a tremendous amount of money buying and selling businesses, so he really did work for his own money. Therefore, he really should not be faulted for his wealth.” Senior Laura Hughes voted for the first time this past election. “I did a lot of research

into each candidate, yes, even Jill Stein and Gary Johnson,” she said. “I even agreed with almost everything in Jill Stein’s platform, but I decided not to vote for her because I recognized that a vote for a non-major party would be a waste.” Junior Isabel Grieder expressed frustration about the policial polarity at Masters. “It’s disappointing but expected that the results in the actual election are different than the Masters results,” she said. “I have always considered Masters a liberal community, but I wish there was more political diversity.”

Opinion

Features

Why New York State should legalize pot

Superstorm Sandy submerges New York

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Pages 4-5

Many students have experienced the discomfort of walking into a student assistance counselor’s office. Regardless of what the purpose may be, the uneasiness of visiting a counselor or a psychologist never ceases to exist. Taking pride in giving students confidentiality, the Health Center is being expanded to include new spacious areas for nursing and counseling. The extension to McCormack Dorm, the location of the Health Center, is already underway. While Superstorm Sandy delayed construction, the school estimates that the project will still be completed within four months. Students will be provided with a newly constructed reception area along with additional counseling offices, isolation rooms for contagious patients and extra office space. Separate entrances for the counseling and nursing offices will also be built.

Rosemarie Corradina, the school nurse, explained that the new areas would mostly consist of private spaces for students. “There will definitely be more privacy for students who feel less comfortable about seeing our counselors,” Corradina said. “We like to make sure that everybody has that ability to have confidentiality because it is very important for many students and everyone is entitled to it.” Junior Chelsea Strong, who visits a counselor at the health center on an occasional basis, consents that confidentiality is essential. “Personally, I don’t mind if people know whether or not I go talk to a counselor or a nurse,” Strong said. “I know that for some people, [confidentiality] can be a matter of not going to a counselor because they think people around them could take it the wrong way, so I think many students will find the new areas extremely useful.”

Photo by Teerin Julsawad

The entrance to the Health Center has been temporarily blocked due to the construction. The extension of the building will feature a reception area, counseling offices and isolation rooms.

Sports

Squash sensation shares his story

Photo courtesy of lookcatalog via Flickr

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Photo by Dale Walker


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