Tower Issue #6 (2023-2024)

TOWER The Masters School

49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522

VOLUME 80, NUMBER 6

PAGE 3

Students travel to Senegal

PAGE 10

Lacrosse team expands @masterstower

April 19, 2024

Middle schooler plans eclipse watch party Eli Goldfine works with NASA volunteer to bring solar eclipse to campus

A

Ellie Hise

t 3 p.m. on April 8, Middle School students were taken down to the Greene Field where Moon Pies were given out and eclipse-themed music played. They were joined by Upper School students just minutes later. According to eighth grade science teacher Morghan Lewis, the planning began last June. She explained that the Greene Field was chosen specifically because of the unobstructed view of the sky. Earlier that day eclipse glasses were handed out in ad-

visory, of which many were afterwards put in donation boxes to be sent to schools in South America for their eclipse in October.

This was all made possible with the initiative of sixth grader Eli Goldfine, who got his first telescope when he was 5. Now, he is the head of the youth division of Westchester Amateur Astronomers (WAA). He gave a presentation to the Upper School about the eclipse in the weeks prior — a partial solar eclipse in which the moon obscures 91% of the sun.

Goldfine said,

1.

“It doesn’t come at a set interval. The last eclipse [in America] was in 2017 (a partial eclipse in New York), the next isn’t until 2044, but then there will be another in 2045.”

Goldfine worked with numerous teachers to ensure that the Masters community could participate. According to him, 850 eclipse glasses had been donated by a family, and they were given out on the Greene Field the day of

the eclipse.

Sixth grade science teacher Daniel Russo stored the glasses while Lewis helped Goldfine set up his presentations in the Middle and Upper School.

Masters also listened to presentations from NASA volunteer Bob Kelly, the vice president of field events for WAA and a former meteorologist for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Kelly visited the

school on April 1 to speak about how to watch the eclipse safely as well as provide some more details on the eclipse itself. Kelly and Goldfine are both members of WAA, which is how Goldfine knew Kelly was an eclipse ambassador and reached out to see if he was willing to visit campus.

Goldfine has been a member of the club since he was 8, when he joined during COVID-19. Founded in 1986, the not-forprofit club hosts star parties, lectures and conferences. Despite all the events taking

place in New York, members are from all over the world.

By 3:15 p.m. on eclipse day, everything was in full swing. Students were craning their necks towards the sun or dancing in circles. Some teachers had found chairs, and many were taking photos with their eclipse glasses covering the lens. Nine minutes before totality, the music turned off.

Freshman Lena Paull said, “It’s super cool because the eclipse comes only every few decades. It’s a great opportunity.”

ELLIE HISE/TOWER

3.

2.

DURING THE ECLIPSE (1.) Juniors Alex Williams and Alice Fuller watch the Moon obscure the Sun. (2.) Eli Goldfine discusses his interest in astronomy to Tower Broadcast News. (3.) Mona Tamucci and Morghan Lewis, two Middle School teachers, pose on Greene Field.

ELLIE HISE/TOWER

ALLAT YUSSUPOVA/TOWER

ELLIE HISE/TOWER

Students celebrate the coming spring in a shower of color – Hindu style Ayalah Spratt

S

tudents stared in awe as, at long last, a layer of vibrant rainbow powder covered the quad in a dazzling display of color.

The reason for this beautiful sight is none other than Holi, the Hindu festival marking the coming of spring.

Originally observed by people on the Indian subcontinent, documentation of Holi celebrations date back to the 4th century CE. The night before Holi it is customary to burn a pyre to signify purging evil spirits. On the day of the festivities, people paint the streets in a rainbow of colored powder as they toss it at each other.

Asian Culture Club Co-Presidents Sonali Rao ‘24 and Gharvin Ramnarase ‘24 presented at Morning Meeting before spring break about the celebration of this joyous festival. After being postponed multiple times due to the weather, Rao and Ramnarase brought the Holi celebration to Masters

campus for the first time, inviting students and faculty to join them in throwing the signature colored powder and appreciating the coming spring.

Despite the weather complications, organizing the event was simple according to Ramnarase. “Getting funding for it was really easy because it’s a very major Indian holiday and we’re inviting the whole school to celebrate,” he said.

“I have some really fond memories of just throwing Holi powder at my friends,” Rao said, “It was just such a fun time.”

That joy Rao felt carried through to the in-school celebration. Senior Fia Marrison recounted their experience participating in the festivities. “It was so much fun. It was just so exciting seeing so many people engaging in this event,” they said.

Holi is a beautiful celebration of the triumph of good over evil, fertility and new beginnings. The Masters community has come together to appreciate the coming of a brighter spring.

AYANNA BECKETT/TOWER

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, Sophomores Isabella Henriquez, Caleb Grasheim and Annadele Dyott look for targets.

AYANNA BECKETT/TOWER

ELLIE HISE/TOWER

DURING THE HOLI FESTIVAL, Skye Pearlman throws colorful powder at her friend off camera.

SONALI RAO AND GHARVIN Ramnarase planned the Holi celebration. This is the first year that Masters is celebrating the Festival of Colors, also known as the Festival of Love or Spring.

2

NEWS

TOWER/APRIL 19, 2024

Lucas Seguinot

ZARA MURRAY/TOWER

RODNEY TERICH LEONARD READS poetry from his newest book, “Another Land of My Body.” The Village Bookstore sold copies of his collection at the event, as well as those of the other published poets.

*

ZARA MURRAY/TOWER

ALEX WILLIAMS ‘25, SECOND year Outspoken member, reads “Tabby Cat,” an original poem, at the Westchester Poetry Festival.

Poets take over Estherwood for Westchester Poetry Festival Lucas Seguinot

F

or the 14th year in a row, the Westchester Poetry Festival took place in Estherwood, welcoming students and adults alike to connect in poetry on April 6, during National Poetry Month. The event brought notable guest speakers to campus and included several Masters poets, including Masters senior Alexa Murphy, the Westchester County Youth Poet Laureate.

Two adult poets and

ten student poets shared their work before entering into an intermission, which was followed by three more published poets. At the back of the library, copies of the poets’ books were on sale from authors including Suzanne Frischkorn, Rodney Terich Leonard, Laura Newbern and Leah Umansky.

Junior Eleanor Phillips returned to the festival for her second year. Phillips discussed her feelings leading up to the performance and the reason she wanted to return.

“We got to see “Ilya Kaminsky” perform [his book] Deaf Republic, which was awesome because at the time we were reading his book in my English class. It was really awesome to perform alongside other very accomplished poets.”

According to Phillips, compared to other poetry events like the Outspoken Showcase, the festival had a more professional environment.

“I think it’s definitely a more professional setting whereas the Outspoken showcase

because it’s a room full of like family and friends feels a lot more personal and intimate just because you know your crowd”.

Traditionally the event features a headline poet like Kaminsky, but this year Upper School English Teacher Darren Wood, alongside Jennifer Franklin from the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center, chose not to go forward with one.

“We reached out to a couple of folks and it fell through for a variety of reasons. We realized that what we thought was a problem might

just be an opportunity to hear from four or five poets” Wood said.

This year’s festival displayed an impressive turnout within a mostly packed Estherwood.

Snaps (poetry’s preferred form of appreciation) and the sound of proud poets filled the halls as professional poets and students connected after reading their selected pieces.

Wood expressed how valuable he thinks the event is, not only for the poets, but for the students.

“Just the chance

for the students to mingle with the poets and connect to the older poets, I think it’s really powerful for them.”

Looking ahead Wood has big plans in store to reinvent the festival to be more true to its title.

“We’re planning to blow up the festival in exciting ways and have more student-facing activities.

So more workshops, led by our Masters poets and planning to reach out to students from other public and private schools in the area.”

First Jewish alumna reflects on her years at “Dobbs” Aurora Rose Horn

O

n April 5, the Jewish culture club (JCC) gave a warm welcome to Pam Haft ‘60, Masters’ first fully Jewish alumna. She bonded with club members over a Chipotle lunch provided by Director of Alumni Engagement Brooke Nalle, as well as sharing excerpts from the memoir she wrote.

Nalle said that she first

came into contact with Haft last fall. “She just introduced herself, and she said, ‘I have a wonderful story to share with you,’ and she started to tell me about it.

Pam said that while she was here at Dobbs, she believed she was the only Jewish student. In fact, she believed she was the first Jewish student here at Masters.”

“She had so many positive, wonderful stories to share about her time at Dobbs,” Nalle continued. “She talked about

her friendships and the support that she had.”

In her memoir, Haft shared the story of her maternal grandfather, Bennie Kava, who was abducted from his hometown in Russia at age 14 and forced to join the Czar’s army. Years later, Kava escaped to Warsaw, Poland, where he met the woman who would later become his wife. When Haft was a young girl, her grandfather told her this story, and she said she remembers it like it was yesterday.

“It’s a blessing to remember so much,” Haft said.

In addition to telling Kava’s story, Haft shared anecdotes about her time at Masters, or Dobbs as she called it. Haft attended Masters as a day student on academic scholarship, starting in her freshman year. She had always loved music—she started playing the piano at age 5—but it was at Masters that she started voice lessons and discovered her love of singing. She said that the school “has

LILY ZUCKERMAN/TOWER

PAM HAFT SHARES HER experience as the first Jewish student—to her knowledge—of The Masters School, which she called “Dobbs.” Haft included additional details about her story, as well as the stories of her parents and grandfather, in a soon-to-be-published memoir.

been pivotal in my life.”

Haft said that she did not face any discrimination on the basis of her religion while at Masters. She did, however, recount that as president of the chapel committee, she invited her rabbi to speak at Masters about Judaism, which was

groundbreaking at the time.

Haft was emotional about returning to Masters, getting choked up multiple times throughout the talk. At the end of it, she said to the members of JCC who attended, “You’re all my soulmates.”

TOWER/APRIL 19, 2024

NEWS

3

Ramadan observances supported on campus and abroad O

Rooke Wiser

bserved this year from March 10 to April 9, Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims, centered on fasting, prayer and reflection. To support community members participating, Masters instituted various accommodations for those observing Ramadan, while the observance also coincided with a cultural exchange trip to Senegal during spring break.

Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Tristan Kishonis coordinated dining options with the dining hall staff for Muslim boarding students and staff to break their fast after sunset.

Kishonis asked dorm parents to share accommodation details and provided various contact methods, explaining, “If anyone was interested, they could email me, they could come and meet with me, or they could speak with their dorm parent afterward in a space where they felt comfortable.”

Additionally, security measures were also implemented for student access to the Dining Hall. “That list was shared directly with our security team,” Kishonis noted, “so they knew, ‘These are the individuals who should be going in and out of the dining hall at these times.’”

The Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) also opened its lounge on the dining hall’s bottom floor during lunch for

fasting students. Hassan Saad, a junior observing Ramadan said, “When they sent me the email that they had a space in the Center for Inclusive Excellence for people who were fasting, I was very appreciative, but at the same time, I still wanted to hang out with my friends. I don’t want to go somewhere where it’s all adults.”

Saad also described the dining arrangements, explaining, “Some days, they would just leave out the food [from dinner] a little longer, and other days –- especially the last like five days –- where they would make us [seperate food] because the sunset was so late.”

Senegal Trip During Spring Break, from March 9 to March 25, 2024, a group of Masters students visited Senegal for a cultural exchange trip with Course Sainte Marie de Hann School in Dakar. Originally planned for 2023, the trip was rescheduled due to political unrest.

This change happened to overlap with Ramadan, a significant part of Senegalese culture where 97.2% of the population is Muslim.

Dolapo Akinwande, a junior who participated in the trip, said the fasting schedule influenced daily interactions.

“When we had our hosts with us on the trip, most of them didn’t eat. It felt different eating when our host wasn’t.”

He added, “Some [Senega-

ABDOULAYE NGOM/TOWER

MASTERS STUDENTS EMBARKED ON a cultural exchange trip to Senegal over spring break, staying at the Course Sainte Marie de Hann in Dakar, Senegal. The students watched an artist create art using sand, a traditional artistic method of expression in Senegal. lese students] also didn’t participate on some days.”

Ndeye Fatou, a student from Course Sainte Marie de Hann School, explained the

“

exchange’s dynamics. “With the Masters students, there was only [one student] who was observing Ramadan. [The others] were eating during the day.”

“Some days, they would just leave out the food [from dinner] a little longer, and other days, especially the last five days, they would make us [separate food] because the sunset was so late.”

- Hassan Saad ‘25

She continued, “Our school is a Christian school, so they’re not observing Ramadan, so there is always food available.”

This ensured all students could maintain their usual schedules without issue.

Fatou, who observes Ramadan, commented on Senegal’s religious dynamics during Ramadan: “We have Christians in Senegal, so when we’re fasting, they’re eating in front of us, but it does not bother me at all.”

She also emphasized inclusivity when asked whether Masters students ate alone due to fasting practices: “No, not at all, they were with us.”

Activities throughout the trip were also scheduled to accommodate both fasting and

non-fasting students. “They were doing the activities more at night, not in the day,” Fatou explained.

She added, “Some of it was intentional, like on the weekends. One activity was hideand-seek at the mall. It was at 3 p.m., and we could eat around 7 p.m., so they planned their activities from 3 to 7 p.m.”

This planning ensured all students -- observing Ramadan or not -- could fully participate in activities without compromising their religious practices or routines.

Read the full version of Rooke Wiser’s story on tower.mastersny.org

Exchange program provides students with valuable life experiences Justine Pascutti “I loved being an exchange student, because it was something that I always wanted to experience. It was one of the best things that happened to me,” said Mariel Frías, a visiting student from The Carmen School.

From March 26 to April 8, 10 students from The Carmen School in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic experi-

enced life and classes at Masters. During the week, the students attended various classes, sampled different after school activities and went on trips off campus to New York City.

Robert Fish, Dean of Global Studies, said that through the exchange program “We want both students [Masters students and El Carmen students] to have a realistic appreciation of each other’s cultures and the diverse ideas the students in each country hold.

Through the discussions and exchanges, we wanted all of the students to hear different ideas that we usually get to hear. Of course, we also wanted all to have fun and develop an interest in each others’ countries and cultures.”

He continued, “The excitement around meeting people from other places and hearing the ideas of the students from El Carmen have been positive aspects of the program. The fun had by many was also very

ROBERTO MERCEDES/TOWER

THE DOMINICAN EXCHANGE STUDENTS who have made a trip to Masters recently have been recounting their positive experiences at the school. Similarly, Masters students hosting them heaped praise on the exchange students. The students hail from The Carmen School in the Dominican Republic, and they noted distinct cultural shocks when coming to the U.S.

positive, and getting a better understanding of the culture of the Dominican Republic.

Since I hosted the teachers in my apartment, I had a chance to learn a lot more about life and schools in the Dominican Republic. Our students studying Spanish also got many opportunities to speak Spanish.”

Keira Burgos ‘24 got to do exactly that by hosting an exchange student named Naomi Cáceres Feliz. Burgos said, “My entire family speaks Spanish, so we thought it could be fun to work on our Spanish, get to know someone who speaks the same language and get out of our comfort zone. I’m really glad we ended up doing it. At home, we did a lot of cooking and a lot of bonding. She taught us how to make Mangú, a traditional Dominican dish, and taught us so much about her and her life.”

Cáceres Feliz reflected on her time as an exchange student. “My relationship with Keira Burgos was incredible because she’s kind and a beautiful person. I never felt like a stranger when I was with her.

I love New York because it is such a beautiful city. My favorite memories from New York were when we went to Chinatown, Madame Tussauds, and Times Square.”

Feliz also explained how

“

This exchange was beautiful for me. The people at MAsters are so kind and if I could repeat this opportunity I would do it.”

-Cáceres Feliz

different New York and her home in the Dominican Republic are from each other.

“People in New York have more freedom because they can love who they want and be whatever they want. In the Dominican Republic it’s complicated because we have a lot of taboos and our families are so religious.” She continued, “I’m in a public school, and I can say that we don’t have similarities with Masters because we have to wear a uniform, wake up early, we can’t use jewelry, hair dye and curly hair is perceived as an ugly type of hair.”

Another exchange student, Yenny García, shared a similar viewpoint. “I don’t know a single similarity between the Dominican Republic and New York. In New York there is a lot of respect for the law, and in

the Dominican Republic there is not. In the Dominican Republic, if you go out in your pajamas people will look at you badly. In New York, there is no such discrimination, nor do they judge you for expressing yourself freely.”

As their time in New York was coming to an end, the students attended a farewell party hosted by a Masters student-led affinity group Latinos Unidos. García described how she felt leaving New York. “I felt bad, I cried a lot. Although I wanted to go home, I didn’t feel like leaving Masters.”

Cáceres Feliz said, “This exchange was beautiful for me.

The people at Masters are so kind and if I could repeat this opportunity I would do it.”

Opinion 4

OP-ED

TOWER/APRIL 19, 2024

TOWER 2023-2024

Editors-in-Chief Matthias Jaylen Lucas Seguinot

EDITORIAL

It’s about time we give back to the community that has given us so much

Multimedia Director Xavier Rolston

Chief Design Editor and Legacy Director Lily Zuckerman L ead News Editors 11 gifts were made, vastly different from theirs. That is between our childhood and adult- lence and Initiatives), to dare (Arts, A lexa Murphy 70,000 dollars were what community looks like. Where hood and here is where we build our Athletics and Innovation Projects), J ustine Pascutti raised and 40 student students, staff and alumni come to- core relationships and memories, all to do (Student Life and Clubs), and L ead O pinion Editor volunteers were active in raising gether no matter their differences, things for which we should feel eter- to be a power for good (the school’s O liver K reeger greatest need at the time). money for Masters’ annual Alumna/i with one goal in mind: creating a bet- nally grateful.

Opinion Editor Beyond money though, the Masters provides us with so Giving Day. It is safe to say that the ter Masters for the next generation of Allie Faber fundraiser for the Masters Fund was a leaders and powers for good in the much, but as we grow older, and we advancement office benefits from say goodbye and move on to college, simply hearing about the student exgreat victory for the advancement of- world.

Lead Features Editors However, the efforts by the it’s even more important to reflect on perience. When talking to alumni, fice but most importantly the school Lydia Ettinger as a whole. And the money raised school to provide quality education how we can give back. Masters con- they adore to hear about the lives of Aviv Emery will immediately be invested back can go unnoticed. It is easy to take stantly strives to make itself better for students both on the individual and Features Editor into supporting the entire school for granted something that we expe- all of us, and it’s time that we all do the community scale. A simple converNeena Atkins sation with a member of the advancerience every day: The wonderful food same. community, Lead Sports Editor Our support, no matter how ment team or even just an email can Upperclassmen had the privi- we eat. The amazing and decorated Adam Bello lege of making calls to alumni dating teachers we have. The innovative and you volunteer, or how much you do- greatly enhance work that they do Sports Editor all the way back to the class of 1947 unique course offerings. The state- nate, can and will make a difference. everyday.

Ella Black By giving back we can help enup to the most recent class of 2023. of-the-art facilities we use every day. Giving gifts has immense potential Web Editor The buzz of the room was purely The loving family we’re able to make for personalization of what you care sure that all future classes of Masters Rooke Wiser about most. Gifts can be dedicated to students can enjoy an even better exuberant and joyful. Current stu- at Masters.

P hoto & Illustration Being a part of this beautiful five areas aligned with the school mis- experience than we had as students dents connected with alumni over the Editor phone, left voicemails, wrote thank educational community is a blessing, sion: To learn (Academics, Profes- here, ensuring our alma mater’s sucA yanna Beckett you notes and even connected with one that not everyone is lucky enough sional Development and Faculty), to cess for many more years to come.

A d M anager those whose Masters experience was to have. High school is the transition strive (Financial Aid, Inclusive ExcelAyalah Spratt Lead Copy Editor Aurora Rose Horn Copy Editor Ellie Hise Distribution Manager Camilo Bitar Racedo Faculty Advisors Ellen Cowhey serves lauding in my opinion is According to National the class of 2025 and an Upon a white horse, decked in Matt Ives Aurora Rose Horn Beyoncé’s cover of Dolly ParGeographic, many of the white per School Spanish teacher, red, white and blue cowboy Photographers & his may not be artists known as pioneers of the as well as a long-time Beyoncé ton’s “Jolene.” She made some garb, and holds an American Illustrators Texas, but Queen country genre took inspiration fan, echoed this sentiment. changes to the song, saying flag which is partially obscured Laura Yuan Bey certainly has a from Black artists such as Lesley “[Country music] didn’t start “I’m warning you, don’t come from the image. It’s clear that A lyssa Wang “hold” on the world of country Riddle, Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne off white, it started off Black,” for my man” instead of “I’m Beyoncé is trying to make E unice (Sien) Wang music! On March 29, the sing- and Gus Cannon. Beyoncé isn’t she said. “It came from blues her name synonymous with begging you, please don’t take C hana Kim er and cultural icon Beyoncé’s appropriating anything; she’s and gospel.”

America. my man,” reflecting her more J ack P arsons long-anticipated eighth studio just honoring her roots and the On the cover of the al“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” is powerful style. The main thing Angel Henriquez album “COWBOY CARTER” Black country artists who came bum, Beyoncé depicts herself the song that comes to mind for I took away from this song is K onstantin Miebach dropped, immediately making before her. as the embodiment of all things most people when they think of that Bey put her own spin on a Bob Jiao waves.

Victoria Jansen, dean of American: she sits sidesaddle this album, but in my opinion, classic country song, beginning A very Kahn Discourse about “COWthe superior single is “16 CAR- to establish herself in the genre.

C harley A granoff BOY CARTER” started before RIAGES.” I’m not denying that Overall, I would rate J enny C hing Lui Xu Country music didn’t start off the album even came out. Peo“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” goes “COWBOY CARTER” a six ple from every corner of the white, it started off Black...It came O nline M edia hard, but I also feel that “16 out of 10. It’s a solid album, but For more information, follow internet were complaining that from blues and gospel.”

CARRIAGES” does an exem- it tries to sell itself as country, Tower on the following platforms: Beyoncé, a Black artist, was plary job of showing off Queen and I’m not entirely sure that Website: Tower.MastersNY.org appropriating white culture by Bey’s skill as a vocalist, and it that’s what it is. It’s like some Facebook: MastersTower making country music. But the X: @MastersTower tells the story of how she was sort of hybrid between country Instagram: @MastersTower -Victoria Jansen truth of the matter is that counforced to lose her innocence at and pop. The lines between Distribution Process try has always been Black. an early age. It deserves just as genres are blurred, and I supTower is hand-delivered on the day pose that could be a new normal of publication to the Upper School. 650 much hype as the other single. copies are printed. A copy is sent to each Another song that de- for the music industry.

2

Cultural pop icon goes country

T

“

of our advertisers.

Scholastic Press Affiliations, Letters and Editorial Policy Tower is the winner of the Pacemaker Award for Overall Excellence, an award-winning member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), Journalism Education Association (JEA) and Quill and Scroll.

VARIETY

BEYONCE’S NEW ALBUM MARKS a new defining moment of her musical career. Active artistically since the 1990s, “COWBOY CARTER” marks her first foray into country. To further the novelty of this album compared to her usual repertoire, it features guest voices from country icons such as Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.

We encourage Letters to the Editor, which can be submitted to the following email address: TowerEditors@MastersNY. org. Published approximately six times a year, Tower, the student newspaper of The Masters School, is a public forum, with its Editorial Board making all decisions concerning content. Commentaries and opinion columns are the expressed opinion of the author and not of Tower and its Editorial Board or its advisers. Furthermore, the opinions conveyed are not those of The Masters School, faculty, or staff. Unsigned editorials express views of the majority of the Editorial Board.

TOWER/APRIL 19, 2024

OP-ED

5

Deepfakes aren’t that deep Ellie Hise *Please consider this piece as optimistic -- if not idealistic -- rather than dismissive.

Recently, there is a gloomy attitude pervading conversations about AI generated images, or deepfakes. People who once treated the technology as a fun novelty have now decided that the ability to doctor images or generate realistic videos of celebrities may all but spell out the doom of America.

While there are genuine issues with the technology and its uses, it isn’t the end of democracy as some people believe. In general, deepfaking technology is a net-negative to society. It doesn’t offer much more than cheap computer generated images which have long since existed, and its downsides are much graver. There have been multiple instances of these downsides, for example, where people have exploited the tool to create sexual content of unconsenting parties.

The argument of its effects on the upcoming election are much lighter. While it is true that deepfaked images may become the biggest spreader of potent disinformation, this is

hardly a new issue. Disinformation has been a campaign trick in campaigns for much longer than the technology has been around, and media literacy is a historic weak point in American culture.

Colleen Roche, an AP US history and political science teacher, said, “In 2013 the Russians put together something called the Internet Research Agency. Their goal was to put out disinformation to disrupt American society. In 2016 the role changed and they deliberately spread disinformation about Hillary Clinton.”

Attributing the cause to the internet, Roche said, “Disinformation is not just spread by foreigners, it can be spread by Americans as well.” The problem is that the internet makes it so easy to do. Disinformation has always been out there. This is not the first example of lies being pushed for elections.

During the election of 2004 that would name George W. Bush as president, a political group of Vietnam vets made a series of ads discrediting and attacking Bush’s opponent John Kerry, who also served and was well decorated from the war. The ads were seen by 77% of voters, according to a

Ellie Hise recognizes the dangers that AI pose. However, she argues that the issues are nothing novel.

A.I./ DEZGO

NEW DEEPFAKING TECHNOLOGY HAS taken the

internet by storm with its ability to easily create disinformation. Doctored images and videos used for politics, though, is not a new issue.

TIME poll, and over a third believed the claims were at least somewhat true despite notable media outlets investigating and discrediting the claims.

The controversy became so well known that it led to a new

word for a smear campaign – swiftboating.

Before deepfaking AI, there have also been instances of doctored content. A video of former house speaker Nancy Pelosi was slowed subtly to make it appear

as if she was slurring her words.

The video was accompanied by a story claiming Pelosi was drunk.

Moreover, it’s important to realize that deepfakes aren’t some supreme weapon. Fake videos and photos can be convincing, but are currently limited in their complexity. Moreover, the source of these images are always unreliable, and news outlets rarely pick up the story without skepticism or investigation. But even if the technology grew to be able to generate any hyper realistic photo, it wouldn’t affect much.

The real issue isn’t actually the technology. How many times have you heard someone say, “I read online…” or “Someone told me…” How many times has that been you?

Due to social media, the standard for the quality of information we consume is at an all time low.

Media illiteracy is essentially America’s Achilles heel. Roche said, “In some ways I think it’s the greatest danger to our democracy.”

The reason disinformation is so potent due to deepfakes is because of the accessibility of the AI. Anyone can, and assuredly will, use AI to create lies.

The internet too has created this

opportunity to give disinformation a large and presumed reliable platform.

Roche believes the best news from social media is none at all. She said, “There’s no reason why facebook should want to put only accurate information out. They have no incentive to keep track of this. Their incentive is to make money. Whereas the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN – all these major news organizations have journalistic ethics that they have to adhere to. If it turns out people can show the New York Times is lying to us everyday, they will go out of business.

Facebook and Instagram are not going out of business.”

The responsibility of finding reliable information has always been on the publisher, journalist, and author. Now that America is increasingly turning to social media for news, we have adopted that responsibility. You may not appreciate that burden, in which case I recommend you receive your news exclusively from papers and official sources. And if official sources, say, the former president, begin spreading such disinformation?

Then we have found ourselves with a much larger problem on our hands.

Unraveling the TikTok diagnosis dilemma: navigating mental health in the digital age

I

Ella Black

n an era where information is at our fingertips, it’s tempting for students to turn to Dr. Google for answers to health concerns.

However, the ease of access to medical information online comes with its own set of risks, particularly when it comes to self-diagnosing. The phenomenon of self-diagnosis through online searches has become increasingly prevalent among young adults, especially students. With a few clicks, students can find themselves down a rabbit hole of symptom checkers, medical forums and random anecdotal accounts. What starts as a harmless search for information can quickly spiral into a cycle of anxiety and hypochondria.

Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram expose children and teens to content where influencers are sharing their mental health experiences. They often share their symptoms, coping strategies, and possible diagnoses. This content is often

“

shared with the intent of raising awareness, reducing stigma around mental health, and creating a safe space. Despite there being positives, many young adults resonate with those experiences, leading to self-diagnosis with conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and even autism. Only 27% of the most popular autism-related Tik Tok videos contained accurate information, according to a study from Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute.

This shows that a large amount of TikTok videos, even though they are very popular, are inaccurate.

Viewers will often make hasty conclusions when their symptoms may actually be a normal reaction or a different condition. According to a Fox13 study, 55% of high school students said they have used social media to diagnose their own mental health at least once.

Many people become overly certain that they have a condition, leading them to ignore any other possible explanations.

The algorithm of apps such as TikTok does not help this

The more we take care of our bodies, the more it trickles into taking care of our minds.”

-STEPHANIE CARBONE

SOCIAL MEDIA SELF-DIAGNOSIS has been an increasingly prominent issue. Data

ALYSSA WANG/TOWER

indicates that online videos egging on self-diagnosis for the conditions ADHD and ASD (autism) are

problem either because they are designed to show viewers content that they are interested in. This often leads to repeated exposure to things related to their perceived mental illness.

Additionally, this creates a cycle of reinforcing one diagnosis and blocking out other conditions.

Contributing to these challenges is the issue of misinformation and false news that is prevalent on the internet, particularly on platforms like TikTok. According to the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, approximately half of the analyzed TikTok videos about ADHD were misleading. The rapid spread of misinformation on these platforms contributes to the confusion surrounding mental health. It is very challenging to

recognize misleading content, exaggerated stories, and unverified claims which can increase the risks of self-diagnosis. So what can you do about it?

There are four steps a person can take on their own in order to lower the risk of believing misinformation.

1. Source Evaluation. It is important to consider the expertise, authority and objectivity of a source before accepting it as true.

2. Question Everything. Not everything you read or see on social media is accurate, so it’s important to be skeptical and curious.

3. Awareness of Bias. Humans by nature have some sort of bias, whether they are aware of it or not, so being mindful of

sources, or even your bias is important.

4. Fact-check. Last but not least, make sure you are cross-verifying information with reputable organizations, experts in a field or peer-reviewed research.

Stephanie Carbone, Upper School guidance counselor, said, “The three main platforms to take care of are our minds, bodies, and souls.” She continued, “The more we take care of our bodies, the more it trickles into taking care of our minds, and the more we allow ourselves to take a pause during the day, the more we are taking care of those platforms.”

Carbone, along with all of the other guidance counselors, is always in the Health Center

if students have any questions or concerns. If students are ever nervous about visiting a healthcare professional, they can email counsleling@mastersny.org to set up an appointment or visit the health center.

Talking to a professional may seem intimidating, but blindly trusting someone you may not even know on the internet is not the solution. The internet is a place with tons of helpful information, but it is as equally of a place with misinformation and fake news. Remember, when it comes to your health, trust the experts, not the algorithms.

6

TOWER/AP

FEATURES

There’s a ...waiting i

Lydia Ettinger

T

AYANNA BECKETT/TOWER

MEMBERS OF DOBBS 16: Sienna Morin, Alex Carnevale and Camilo Bitar Racedo performing their set at the end of the choral concert. Alex Carnevale was one of the featured soloists of the night.

his year students will be performing David Bowie’s album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)” at the annual Great Gig concert. Student performing groups (SPG’s) were assigned certain songs from the album by Samuel Appiah and Giles Pugatch in December and have been practicing since.

Bowie’s album follows the storyline of a fictional rockstar named Ziggy Stardust who believes he and his “Starmen ‘’ can save humanity’s desire to “Rock n Roll” after they find out Earth only has five years left to survive.

Ziggy Stardust is regarded as Bowie’s breakout album where many of his signature stylistic choices, such as wearing brigh makeup and androgynous outfits, were brought into the mainstream.

Senior Teddy Meyer, co-chair of the rock focused SPG 49 Clinton, is excited about the opportu nity to present such a highly-regarded album for his senior concert.. “This David Bowie album is really a classic rock album that is one of the greatest rock albums in history,” Meyer said. For many DOPA days, the band usually chooses pieces that are more well known and while Meyers described having fun at those performances, he also enjoys learning songs that are musically complex. With David Bowie’s music, these complexities include key changes, difficult time signatures, melodies, and counter melodies.

These complexities in regard to musicality

Choral concert fills the rooms of Estherwood Lucas Seguinot

E

stherwood remains mostly silent throughout the year, but once a year the halls echo with harmonies from the Choral Concert.

This event connects back to its historical roots, where girls from the “Miss Masters School” would sing vespers in the Estherwood library. As the tradition has grown and survived up until this point in 2024,four choral groups participated, including Masters Singers, 1877, Tower Singers, and Dobbs 16.

A new feature of this year’s concert, which took place on April 11, is the inclusion of the Middle School group, Masters Singers. At the beginning of the year, the Middle School participates in the Middle School winter concert, while the Upper School takes part in the Winterlight concert. To foster connection between the schools, the spring Department of Performing Arts (DOPA) events are organized

by category instead of age. The prism concert joins all the classical and wind instruments, while the Choral Concert organizes the singers. This year, all four groups will perform a joint song called Earth Song, conducted by firstyear DOPA teacher Caitlin Adler.

Chair of the Department of Performing Arts and director of Dobbs 16 Jennifer Carnevale expressed her feelings regarding this new endeavor. “That’s a new feature this year that I think we’re going to end up sticking with because it’s pretty exciting.”

Adler described the experience of planning for this major piece. She said, “It’s been a lot of me working with each group, including going and working with Dobbs 16. Basically it is teaching them how to follow, and as a conductor you have to train your singers to follow you, or else you’re just waving your arms.

Before their performance the collective groups had never sung the song together. The rehearsal was an entirely new experience for the groups who started preparation for the concert since

January.

Before the singers prepared finished touches on their pieces, on Sunday April 7they gathered to participate in a choral workshop in partnership with the Tufts University singing group The Amalgamates led by Dobbs 16 and Masters alumna, Annie Rubinson ‘20. During her time at Masters she arranged numerous pieces and was a member of Dobbs 16.

Junior Samantha Weber participated in the Choral Concert as a member of 1877 last year and as a member of Tower Singers this year. This year she welcomed the addition of the new joint piece along with the ambiance of the Estherwood.

“Music is one of those things that the more people the better especially in Estherwood because it’s sounds almost ethereal with the echos plus you can hear everybody’s unique voices.”

Soloist for Dobbs 16 and junior Sienna Morin reflected on what the experience was like both as a soloist and member of the acapella groups. She revealed

some initial challenges that the group faced due to the fact that they usually sing with microphones but in Estherwood they aren’t necessary.

I’ve been waiting for like a whole year to get a solo.

Morin was moved by the opportunity to sing the solo in “Hit Me Baby”

by Britney Spears aranged by senior Ehimare “It was just so much fun. It was so different and unique from the other songs you’re performing. And it was just kind of like this burst of energy that brought us all together at the end.”

SENIOR AND CO-CHAIR OF the student p wears the iconic Ziggy Stardust makeup album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stard Bowie at this year’s Great Gig. 81 stu including crew and performers.

“

This David B really a class that is one of rock albums i

-Teddy M

AYANNA BECKETT/TOWER

MEMBERS OF 1877: In front of a bookshelf in the Estherwood Library, members of the 1877, Ash Muntiz ‘27 and Kat Benson ‘27 Zixuan (April) Wang ‘27 perform two songs with the group. Preparation for the Choral Concert started back in January for all four participating groups

PRIL 19, 2024

starman... in the CBT

ht o

u-

s ut

and concept were large factors for Pugatch choosing this record to perform. “This particular album for me is such a quintessential Great Gig record in that it’s a concept album in itself. There is a storyline within the album.

From a songwriting point of view every song is a masterpiece. And, it will be a very fun costume party as well” Pugatch said.

He added how integral student engagement with the performance was for its success.

There are about 80 students taking part in the performance, making their willingness to commit and be self-directed imperative.

Freshman Jack Costo, Saxophone player and member of SPG’s, Positive Rhythm and 49 Clinton was able to partake in last year’s Great Gig as part of a hand selected group of 8th graders. This year as a high schooler has greatly differed. Costo said,

FEATURES

7

“It feels like it is more important in a sense, which makes it feel stressful, but also like a big deal. It’s exciting to know that what I’m part of is taken with such pride from the music department.”

Meyer feels bittersweet about going out with a bang. He said,“My first song, “Lady Stardust,” starts with a piano solo and that’s going to be my part. I’m just waiting for that moment when I start playing.” He continued, “I’m looking most forward to getting on stage when the lights go down and the music starts. That is always the

greatest moment of the performance: when you step out on the stage, you look out at the full theater and everyone is waiting there for you to start.”

LILY ZUCKERMAN & AVERY KAHN/ TOWER

performing group 49 Clinton, Teddy Meyer, in preparation for the performance of the dust and the Spiders from Mars by David udents are involved in the performance

Bowie album is sic rock album f the greatest in history.”

AYANNA BECKETT/TOWER

THE PRISIM CONCERT SHOWCASED 13 musical works in the various rooms of Estherwood Mansion, with the audience moving room to room to experience each performance. Pictured at the bottom, juniors Jordan Lee and Ike Simmons are featured in a brass and woodwind ensemble in the Dining Room. In the middle image, sophomore Ayalah Spratt, a Chamber Music member, plays the flute in the billiard room. At the top, junior Gretta Hong meticulously performs a cello piece.

Meyer ‘24

Prism concert strikes a chord the string ensemble and the cham-

Ayanna Beckett ber music class. A total of 27 stuMatthias Jaylen dents performed for Masters stu-

T

he fourth annual Prism Concert kicked off on April 9, in the historical Estherwood Mansion on campus. The theme for this year’s concert was “Bolero” and it showcased a style of music and dance that originated in eighteenth-century Spain. The concert featured three ensembles, the middle school orchestra,

dents, faculty and parents to enjoy.

Junior Gretta Hong participated in the concert as a part of the chamber music class, playing the violoncello. She enjoyed participating in the concert saying, “Performing was really great, and I love working with my friends.

Everyone was just really focused on this one goal of giving a great performance.”

Although the Prism concert is a fairly new yearly event, the concept goes back decades. Curt Eber-

sole, Upper School Performing Arts Teacher and conductor of the Prism Concert said, “I brought the concept with me from the school where I used to teach in New Jersey. I produced 21 Prism concerts in the valley over the years, starting in the 90s.” He continued, “When I arrived to Masters here in 2013, I was just so taken with the beauty of the space in Estherwood.”

And so the Prism Concert was born, and a new Masters tradition was made. But what continues to make this concert different from other Masters concerts was that different ensembles played

in different rooms of the concert.

Throughout the performance, the audience was encouraged to walk around Estherwood and through the different rooms, all the way to the finale, where all of the instrumental ensembles came together to play in the main hall.

The format of the concert wasn’t always so fluid though and since its first performance, there have been some tweaks to the format. At first, the music ensembles and audiences would stay in the library for the whole performance.

But in 2017, Ebersole had the idea to expand the concert. “I got this

idea that there are other rooms, so let’s use all the rooms. So I staged some in the library, some in the dining room, and some in the music room.”

This year’s concert was special because it showcased its first-ever student-composed piece, from senior Juli Korb. Her original piece “Bloom” premiered at the concert and was performed by the string ensemble.

8

FEATURES

TOWER/APRIL 19, 2024

Students witness the border up close: a reflection on

migrant realities

Xavier Rolston

Spring break Adventures: EXPLORing china

ALL PHOTOA: GABRIELA OLAY/TOWER

PENNY PENG WAS THE co-organizer of the first trip back to China after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students visited two cities and two schools. They were excited to have the opportunity to interact with Chinese culture.

A

t 3:20 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, a group of nine students arrived at the Fonseca Center, met by three faculty members, luggage in hand. The early start to their long day of travel marked the beginning of the school-sponsored spring break trip: the “US-Mexico Border Awareness Project.”

This trip was in the works since theis summer, when lead chaperone for the trip and Upper School English teacher Pilar Méndez-Cruz visited Annunciation House, a shelter in El Paso, Texas. And in the months leading up to their arrival, the group spent several evenings preparing for the journey through readings, discussions and lessons on local history and current events.

“This summer, I stayed at Annunciation House. I was doing that both for myself personally and for the possibility of a trip for the school,” Méndez-Cruz said. It was an

incredibly impactful and emotional experience in ways that I couldn’t find the words for, for a long time.”

Méndez-Cruz continued, “That feeling and that complexity is what led me to feel that it was very important that the preparation that we did was intentional and thorough. Part of that is entering spaces that are meant to take care of and host people in very challenging situations and circumstances that requires us to have a sense of preparedness.”

Méndez-Cruz wanted to ensure the group was prepared to head into this trip with an open mind. The group’s preparation was meant to emphasize this point, and the meetings evoked many key questions.

“What is it that you might encounter? Who is it that you might meet that you didn’t expect to meet? What might that make you feel? And why might that be difficult?

And why might that be confusing? These were all things I wanted all of you to think about before you arrived,” she ex-

plained. “Also, knowing that this is a politically contentious topic that comes up in the media all the time adds a layer of how we prepare to go. Being open-minded, and not have preconceived notions, perspectives, or opinions blind us from an experience that pushes us to grow and complicates how we think was something that I thought about.”

Lucas Camacho, a junior at Masters who participated in the Borderlands trip, explained how that preparation looked from the student perspective, and why he felt preparing for this trip was especially important.

“We read a lot of articles about the political climate, and the different journeys that a lot of these immigrants have taken to the United States, many of which are dangerous.

We talked a lot about policy, like DACA,” Camacho said.

“We also talked about what ways we could help. For example, when we’re going to be volunteering in shelters, how we could be sure we’re not overstepping our bounds.”

Some of the trip’s logistics had been shaken up just

before the group departed.

Most notably, the shelter Masters initially intended to visit, Annunciation House, was caught up in a legal battle with the state government, causing uncertainty and instability regarding whether or not it would be allowed to remain open. Instead of staying there, the Masters group ended up staying at a local hotel and volunteering during the days or evenings at another shelter in the area, run by the Sacred Heart Church.

The Borderlands trip covered a wide range of locations, conversations, and differing viewpoints. Whether it was volunteering at the migrant shelter or spending time exploring the border wall, students on the trip learned a lot about current immigration policy and what was really happening in El Paso.

Read the full story about the border on tower.mastersny.org

XAVIER ROLSTON/TOWER

STUDENTS VISIT LAS AMERICAS, an advocacy group that aids migrants coming through the southern border.

They provide legal services for low-income migrants and specialize in working with unaccompanied minors.

TOWER/APRIL 19, 2024

FEATURES

9

MISCONCEPTION:

Social media distorts women’s birth control options

F

Neena Atkins & Allie Faber

duced progesterone) or some combination of the three to block egg fertilization. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services specified that these hormones work by thickening cervical mucus, without fundamentally altering your entire hormonal system.

orget massive hauls and addictive dance challenges – your The rhythm method makes a next swipe on TikTok might come back on Tik Tok - but exland you in a rabbit hole of birth conperts say it is not effective trol misinformation. One quick input Some of these TikTokers, such as @itsnaturallynat of “birth control” into TikTok’s search promote the “Rhythm Method” to their viewers, which engine and a barrage of titles promising is the idea of aligning sexual intercourse with menstrual the “secret” to managing your repro- cycles, and avoiding sex during ovulation. This style of natural family planning is one of the least effective forms ductive health instantaneously pop up. of contraception, according to Mayo Clinic. No method “Birth control body change,” “birth control that doesn’t make you fat” and “birth control side effects” may seem informative at first glance, but they often cherry-pick information, exaggerate side effects, or advocate for unproven contraception alternatives.

Students are exposed to birth control myths online on a daily basis Senior Madi Brown, like many young women, has encountered these narratives firsthand, primarily on Instagram. She noted the two trends: “I’ve seen that the side effects [of hormonal birth control] are really bad and that they happen to everyone, and it’s usually two side effects.

You gain a lot of weight, and you get a lot of acne.”

Most of these TikTok personalities contributing to the epidemic of healthcare misinformation have not obtained medical degrees or any science-based expertise.

Influencers deeming themselves “Women’s Health Mentors” or “Hormone and Health Coaches” recommend that their viewers turn to natural solutions, promising organic miracles alongside horror stories about severe weight gain and infertility linked to hormonal contraceptives. In an era where abortion restrictions and bans are tightening, failed attempts at preventing pregnancy can be particularly precarious.

of birth control will work for every patient. Thus, perpetuating this idea can endanger many, especially younger generations that are largely dependent on social media for information. @itsnaturallynat is not alone. On @ratedlaur’s TikTok account is a “birth control horror story” playlist, consisting of 11 videos delving into her negative experience with birth control. Videos on her feed like “GRWM: for an MRI (i got a tumor from birth control)” are available next to “UNBOX & SET UP MY IPHONE 15 PRO MAX WITH ME.” The juxtaposition of terrifying stories and lighthearted content on her account can trivialize a serious health topic, and create a misleading impression of what credible birth control information should look like.

are actively working to infuse the curriculum with substantive health literacy amidst the online misinformation tidal wave.

“Most online sources that teenagers these days access are TikTok, and [I have] even had students say they got their information from Reddit. I don’t mind people looking at ideas that are out there, but [the health class] goes through which sources are actually reliable,” she said.

Goldberg also highlighted the importance of “sourcing information directly from a professional, not an Instagram or TikTok account.”

Evans explained one of the main misunderstandings her patients have: fears of infertility. “I would say a common misconception I hear is that birth control will cause infertility and that it’s bad to be on birth control for a number of years.” She continued, “I do hear the infertility concern quite a lot, and there have been studies on this that have shown that [birth control] does not impact fertility in the future for patients.”

One of the challenges in navigating this misinformation minefield lies in discernment. The average person struggles to differentiate between a licensed professional and a charismatic yet utterly unqualified individual.

Goldberg said, “There are a lot of professionals who have pages on various forms of social media. Most of those who are licensed will have disclaimers and be very careful about the information that they distribute, because they’re risking their license to provide information to the public.

So, for those who are willing to provide a lot of medical or medically-related information publicly, it’s worth further investigation into their credentials.”

I

n order to not succumb to The experts weigh in: Don’t birth control misinformabelieve everything you see on tion, Evans said, “I think your social media that I think people should be really cautious of what they hear on social Megan Evans is a practicing OB/GYN and co-host of The O + G Advocates Podcast. “What I remind patients is media. Especially [content] demonthat it’s not uncommon for patients who have bad experiences with contraception to be more vocal than patients who have izing contraception, because it is no positive experiences with their birth control method,” Evans secret that the people who want to said. She emphasized that although there are cases of people having negative side effects as a result of birth control, every restrict abortion access, also want to patient will have different experiences with different forms of restrict access to contraception and contraception.

IVF. So, you know, I would encourMasters works to get students How do birth control age people to really think critically the correct information about pills work? when they hear that information to birth control make sure that it’s credible.”

Hormonal birth control methods, such as the pill,

Nexplanon implants and IUDs release estrogen, progesterone, progestin (the synthetic version of naturally pro-

Associate Dean of Health and Wellness, Jodie Goldberg, discussed how she and the health center at Masters

Myths vs. Facts about birth control FACTS:

MYTH:

1. Both methods are safe and

among the most effective methods.

1. Birth control pills and

IUDs cause infertility.

2. According to the Washington

Post, The rhythm method can have a failure rate over 20 percent.

2. The rhythm method is safe

IX

U

/T OW

ER

and effective.

G IN CH Y N N JE

fat or make you depressed.

LU

3. Birth control can make you

3. Scientific studies have iden-

tified no strong linkage between the use of birth control pills and either weight gain or depression.

10

SPORTS

Sports

TOWER/APRIL 19, 2024

Commitment is key: girls lacrosse makes a spring transformation Ayalah Spratt & Ayanna Beckett As this year’s hopefuls filed onto the field for girls’ lacrosse tryouts, Coach Alexis DiDomenico couldn’t believe her eyes. Over 50 girls stood before her, ready to play.

But due to the unprecedented number of girls trying out, a new model needed to be implemented to accommodate everyone.

“What we’re doing with the [junior varsity] team is we have something called a game roster. So for each game, the coaches will send out a roster of players that are going to play.” DiDomenico said.

This roster will change on a game-to-game basis based on each player’s development, performance, and commitment to the team, DiDomenico explained.

“Now that there are more girls in the program, it’s definitely been more competitive to get on varsity,” JV team member Annadele Dyott ‘26 said.

Dyott explained that

there is a new team implemented, labeled the ‘developmental squad’, which acts as an offshoot of the JV team.

She said, “It basically just entails that you don’t go to any of our away games, but you continue to play with the team and learn and improve and then at some point, maybe you will get the chance to play.”

This developmental team is composed of mostly new players, DiDomenico explained. Many of these girls had never held a lacrosse stick in their lives and needed to learn the basics of the sport before participating in games.

According to DiDomenico, Masters is working on strengthening its athletic programs and, historically, attendance has been an issue because of after school commitments. Absences caused by college visits, doctor’s appointments, etc. are excused.

To make up for excused absences, the lacrosse program has been holding morning practices from seven to eight for girls who can’t always make it to after school prac-

tice. The implementation of these morning practices helps reinforce the importance of commitment and dedication to the team. After a certain number of unexcused absences, however, team members will have to meet with their coach and the head of athletics to reflect on whether or not they are able to and should be a part of the team.

“The biggest thing we push for across teams is tangible growth. We want players to feel as though they are developing every single game,” DiDomenico said.

In fact, junior varsity member Zara Murray ‘27 explained that members of the junior varsity team even have the opportunity to move up to varsity. The uptick in tryout attendance shows that lacrosse is becoming a popular sport with more people interested in picking it up than ever before. The athletics department has used this influx of participants to give every player a chance to flourish and give this season their best shot.

Charley Agranoff/TOWER

GIRLS VARSITY LACROSSE HAS had a great start to their season so far and contines to dominate in their games this season. The team has maintained a positive record of 4-1 with help from Jennicca Pereiras ’24 (top left), Kendall Halprin ‘24 (top right), and Genesis Cruz ‘27 (bottom left), Amariah Leckie ‘24 (bottom right).

Entering the spring season in stride

Rooke Wiser/TOWER

TRACK AND FIELD POSES for media day team photo ahead of their season opening home meet. The team has big aspirations for this spring season and is preparing for league competition.

Adam Bello

T

he Masters School track team came out victorious in their season-opening home meet. The team showcased their skill on the track breaking multiple personal records and showing the community that they have picked up where they left off from this winter season.

The winter track team had a massively successful season and received support from all across campus. They placed 18th in Nike Nations for the performance of their Boys 4x400 runners: Jake Mason ‘24, Brian Wolfson ‘25, Charlie Milward ‘24, and Nick Moutsatsos ‘25.

This victory was not only because of individual excellence but can also be attributed

to the collective efforts of both athletes and coaches.

Charlie Milward, 4x4 team member and team co-captain, said, “Going to nationals was an amazing experience. It was great running with some of the best high school athletes from across the country and getting to showcase what our team has worked so hard for for months.”

Co-captain and senior Emmanuel Harris also chimed in by saying, “ The hard work and determination of our team from the winter season to now, the spring season, has been amazing to be a part of. Not only has our team been closer than ever, but we have also been more successful and have a great chance at winning a Championship this spring season.”

As the team looks to

take on new challenges in the spring season, they are keeping the same approach and mentality in everything they do. Harris says, “Even though we were happy with our winter season success we are hungry for more. Our team is extremely supportive of each other and motivated to win even as a team and as individuals.”

Coach Ian Mook comented on the teams mentality saying, “Our individuals are elevated and do better because we always have at least 10 other people propping them up.

Theres’ a saying in the running community which is ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. In the past I think we have often had individuals that go very fast on their own and now we are a program that is going far because we are together. ”