The Milton Paper NOVEMBER 4, 2016
MILTON’S INDEPENDENT WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER
Green Out Why I’m Voting Yes on Question Three By MICHELLE ERDENESANAA Many seniors at Milton will be voting in the presidential election on November 8 (or, according to Donald Trump, November 28). However, we are voting on not only the next president, but also Massachusetts legislative changes based on four state ballot questions. Though each question has both significant support and opposition, the opposition to Question 3 is particularly troubling. If passed, the law would ban Massachusetts farmers from confining farm animals in cages so small that they prevent the animal from standing, laying down, extending their limbs, or turning around. It would also prohibit food distributors in Massachusetts from selling veal, pork, or eggs that come from farms or factories that use such cages. While Question 3 is currently garnering a majority vote of “YES” in polls, it still faces troubling opposition. Those who reject this question argue that the proposed law would present unbearable financial outcomes. They reason that the ban would undermine the structure of modern livestock practices and burden low-income families by increasing the price of meat. However, this opposing view is fundamentally superficial and ill-informed.The law would simply require farms or factories to use enclosures that allow the animal to turn around, lay down, stand up, and move their limbs. The ban would not even require enough room for the animal to walk freely. These requirements are painfully modest, and not nearly drastic enough to impose an unreasonable strain on the agricultural industry. There is no evidence that suggests that this law would damage the industry or significantly increase the price of animal products. The Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance calculated that passing Question 3’s law would result in the least expenditures out of the four ballot questions. The Humane Society
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 LETTER FROM CONSERVATIVE CLUB page 3
VOL. 34, NO. 07
2016 Election Undermines Milton's Safe Space By MARSHALL SLOANE When he returned to his dorm room a few weeks ago, an anonymous student found his Donald Trump campaign sticker haphazardly stuck back onto the surface of his door as though it had been ripped off by a disgruntled peer. The sticker’s removal can be justified by dorm policy since no posters or stickers can be placed on the outside of a student’s door. However, the incident still has political undertones since students who witnessed the removal believe that the faculty member tore the sticker down because of political beliefs. When asked about the dorm’s response to the incident, the student explained, “I understand where [the staff] was coming from. Obviously, Milton is not a conservative place, and people in the dorm seeing seniors support [Trump] may trouble underclassmen and force them to support him.” The sticker’s removal may have been juWtified by dorm policy, but the political
motivation underscores how the 2016 Presidential Election has affected Milton Academy. “Many teachers in the school have strictly professional relationships, but, in the dorm, [the residents] are a family that listens to what other people say,” said the student. The dorm’s being a “family” comes with the expectation that all residents will feel safe, like one does in one’s own home. The feeling of safety can be complicated by a politically charged actions that may violate a beliefs or insult an identity. Milton Academy also stresses balancing the safe space concept with civil discourse where students can be introduced to new ideas. The election has forced the concepts of safety and free speech to collide. Taking place on November 8, the election has challenged the status quo of presidential politics with Donald Trump’s campaign’s using inflammatory rhetoric and derogatory remarks that are often viewed as falling into the realm of personal attacks, racism, and sexism.
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The Early Application: An Odyssey By EMMA JAMES You might be wondering why all the seniors looked like zombies on Wednesday morning. No, Halloween wasn’t postponed, but the answer will seem scarier. Early college applications were due Tuesday night at 11:59pm, for the most part. The remaining
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due to the obvious possibility of losing interest in the school, but even more so for students seeking financial aid, due to the possibility of inadvertently committing to a package that can’t fully support their need. However, Rod Skinner, Head of the College Counseling Office, said, “Obviously, if you’re willing to make that commitment, then the college is
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The college process has become just as much a game of strategy and politics as a psychological and statistical science.
early applications are due by November 15. Early applications fall into roughly two categories – early action and early decision. Both require the standard application material, but early decision is “binding,” meaning that, if accepted, the student must attend the school. This is a risky choice for all students
more inclined to make the commitment too.” As an alternative to early decision, early action is non binding, meaning that a student can and usually does continue on to apply regular for a few other schools. Applying early is not designed for
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Inside This Issue
REPORT FROM GERMANY page 5
WEDNESDAY SPEAKERS
APPLE MUSIC vs. SPOTIFY
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The Milton Paper The 34th Editorial Board
Editors-in-Chief Managing Editor Editor at Large Opinion Manager News Managers Senior Editors
Malcolm McCann and Eli Burnes Letitia Chan Cheyenne Porcher Mateen Tabatabaei Marshall Sloane and Henry Westerman
Chloe Kim and Henry Burnes
A&E Editor Rachel Handler Opinion Editor Gabrielle Fernandopulle
Layout Editor Jack Daley Photo Editor Caroline Massey
Faculty Sponsor Lisa Baker
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Sports Editor Peter Digiovanni Associate Editors Navpreet Sekhon Jonah Garnick Nihal Raman Website Manager Alex Iansiti
News
Opinion
Abby Walker Alexandra Millard Allison Reed Elina Thadhani Ellie Lachenauer Evita Thadhani Lyndsey Mugford Jack Sloane Juliana Viola Sarah Alkhafaji Will Torous Jimmy Delano
Barbara McDuffee Celena Eccleston Elaine Wu Jerome Vainisi Molly Wilson Natasha Roy Noah Cheng Rachel Ding Serena Fernandopulle Vivian Soong Willa DuBois William Kim Jack Weiler Pierce Wilson Jessica Wang Pierce Wilson Jessica Kim Edward Moreta
A&E Aditya Gandhi Emma Comrie Emma James Liz Foster Zoe Camaya Olivia Zhong Pierce Wilson Madison Lynch Columnists Michelle Erdenesanaa Tyler Piazza Semi Oloko Coalter Palmer Thea McRae Hana Tatsutani Clare Lonergan
Sports Chris Mathews Liam Kennedy Sarah Willwerth Sophia Li Theo Miailhe Humor Sophia Wilson-Pelton Lydia Hill Zack Herman Nick Govindan
Milton’s Independent Weekly Student Newspaper “A Forum for Discussion and Thought” Founded 1979 • Publishing Weekly Since 1983 Founders David Roth • Mark Denneen The Milton Paper is an independent, student-produced publication. It does not necessarily represent the views of the students, faculty, administration, or Milton Academy itself. Please do not copy or reproduce without permission. Letters Policy: The Milton Paper gladly accepts letters from anyone who sends them. We do not promise to publish any or all letters, and we retain the rights to edit letters for content, length, and clarity. We will not publish anonymous letters. If inclined, please take the opportunity to write to us. Send letters by mail (Letters to the Editor, The Milton Paper, Milton Academy, 170 Centre Street, Milton, MA 02186), by email (TheMiltonPaper34@gmail.com), or by personal delivery to our office Warren 304.
Editorial Biased to the Truth On Tuesday morning, Marshall Sloane (I), a member of this Editorial Board, took the stage as co-head of Public Issues Board to kick off the mock election by presenting the policy differences of the four major presidential candidates. Throughout his speech, Marshall humorously referenced Donald Trump’s lack of specificity in his policy proposals compared to other candidates. The assembly left many, conservatives and liberals alike, accusing Marshall of bias against Donald Trump. Marshall’s support for Clinton is widely known; he is a co head of the Forward Looking Liberal Action Group, and, in our election issue, Marshall wrote that “[he] despise[s] every single fiber of Donald Trump’s being.” Though Marshall presented only facts, his style of presentation and his tone when talking about Trumps’s policy were undoubtedly biased. The issue with Monday’s political segment is an issue that has echoed throughout the world of journalism: Donald Trump’s unconventional candidacy confuses conventional norms of objectivity. Donald Trump is quite obviously an exceptional candidate. From insulting POWs, mocking a disabled reporter, making blatantly racist comments, and bragging about sexual assault, Trump has entered new territory for a politician. When discussing the election, journalists and those seeking unbiased information are left with the question: How can people be unbiased and balanced in the face of such an outspokenly and blatantly sexist, racist, and irrational candidate? Incidents in Trump’s candidacy, such as the tape where he admits to sexual assault, his refusal to release his tax returns, and his vocal commitment to banning Muslims and thereby undermining our first amendment means even the most objective journalists cannot overlook the obvious major flaws in Trump’s character. When discussing the latest Trump scandal, there should be no necessity to find an equivalent fault in the other candidates. Clinton and Trump deserve to be equally scrutinized, but this appears impossible given how many of Trump’s words and actions are simply deplorable. People who the public believes should be non-partisan, including reporters, newscasters, and prominent figures, are justified in taking a stand against demagoguery, racism, and sexism. Usually objective TV broadcaster Edward Murrow famously took a stand against McCarthyism, and newscaster Walter Cronkite argued against the atrocity of the Vietnam War. Trump’s demagoguery warrants condemnation because his appeal to people’s ignorance, fear, and prejudice undermines objective reporting. Trump’s methods render objective journalism useless, so, to combat his demagoguery, news personalities and objective observers are justified in taking subjective stands against a candidate who is antithetical to principles of truth, equality, and kindness. In fact, covering Trump like a rational, normal candidate is biased in favor of him. The 2016 election has been an election of false equivalency. Journalists, seeking to be unbiased, contrast Trump scandals with Clinton scandals. Though scrutinizing each candidate thoroughly is necessary, we believe that in many instances, the media has improperly weighed the newsworthiness of Trump and Clinton’s scandals. Reporters must frame the two presidential candidates and their opposing views, as PIB did in their powerpoint, but in doing so, Trump’s incoherent, irrational, and often ambiguous plans are treated equally as Clinton’s. Even if journalists are uncomfortable taking subjective stands against Trump’s offensive comments, they must make sure to not, in trying to be objective, actually favor Trump. The Milton Paper believes that objective sources of news are essential to our democracy. However, objective journalists can, and should, take objective stances against racist and sexist behavior. •
Haiti Relief Efforts
WIKIMEDIA
Hurricane Matthew has devastated Haitian communities
By KEYNA MATHIEU
Letters
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Letter from Conservative Club Dear Editors of The Milton Paper,
We are writing on behalf of the Conservative Club, to express our concerns about the bias in this week’s Election Assembly run by the Public Issues Board. When the idea of an Election Assembly was raised, the Head Monitors reached out to both F.L.L.A.G and Conservative Club to help run that assembly. In the end, so that students would hear a non-partisan view of the candidates and their positions, the Head Monitors decided that the Public Issues Board would make the presentation. The expectation was for a balanced discussion of all four candidates’ positions on the most important policy issues being debated in the campaign. In theory, the non-partisan view would allow each student to make his or her own interpretation of the facts, and thereby make informed decisions in our mock voting. We completely support the decision of the Head Monitors. Unfortunately, the Election Assembly presentation was not balanced. By including negative personal opinions regarding the Trump campaign, the presentation negated the purpose of having the Public Issues Board present the material. The problem is that when the supposed non-partisan view is biased, the norm becomes skewed, further marginalizing any other point of view, making balanced discourse impossible. We are very aware that the conservative viewpoint is not very popular on campus and in our Commonwealth, but we believe policy discussions go beyond just Left or Right; they are about having a respectful discourse and a student body that is educated on the issues in our country. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” While we do not endorse Donald Trump, we believe that because he is a candidate to potentially run our nation, his opinions should be presented in a respectful and balanced way that do not assume bias in the audience. We are assessing these people to be our President so shouldn’t we have an unbiased understanding of their policies? We all understand that Donald Trump’s personal characteristics are fodder for humor -- the recent Saturday Night Live skits clearly show the humor in the shortcomings of both candidates -- but the assembly was simply not the correct forum for personal opinions to be shared.
It has been nearly a month since Hurricane Matthew made landfall on the island nation of Haiti on Friday, October 7, 2016. The gale force winds ripped the roofs off of homes, uprooted trees, and brought down power lines in Southern Haiti. In the city of Les Cayes, all of the businesses were forced to close their doors and many lost some or their entire inventory in the aftermath of the storm. More importantly, the schools in the areas of Chantal, Les Cayes and Port Salut are being occupied by displaced residents, depriving the children of Southern Haiti of their educations at this time. Not only are the children not attending school, but the areas in which they use to play are saturated with sanitation water. We are thankful for the many organizations and charities from other counties that pledged their support to our community, however our neighbors require assistance NOW. As many of you know, Haiti experienced a magnitude 7 earthquake in 2010. Now, Haiti is suffering yet another disaster. Two weeks ago I began planning a fundraiser for Haiti and have been working in comSincerely, munication with The Chantal Medical Charity Project, Conservative Club. a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Dascy, dedicated to helping provide medical care to adults and children in the small town of Chantal just outside the larger city gravely affected. These families are missing loved ones, and some of Les Cayes. We have also pledged to donate to Global Health have had services already and still have not found their loved ones. Paradigm, Partners in Health, and Association des Jeunes pour le Family homes have been ruined, and these families have been Developpement d'Haiti. displaced and are now without food, water, proper clothing and The Chantal Medical Charity Project is a local 501(c)(3) charity shelter.” and has always been able to help quickly where medical assistance Starting Monday, November 7th there will be a money donation is needed. As of now, they are in desperate need of power. The box in support of Haiti (Chantal, Les Cayes, Jeremie, and other organization needs to purchase solar panels, an inverter, industrial towns in the south) to help rebuild the damage caused by Hurgenerator, sanitation, and filters for water treatment to reach clean ricane Matthew. We will be collecting donations all throughout water and water pumps. Wells are already dug out, but due to the next week in the snack bar, bookstore, and Forbes dining hall. We hurricane, the wells need some attention. will also have tins at class assemblies. Let’s work together as a This fundraiser presents an opportunity for the Milton commu- community and raise the funds needed to help Haiti. nity to help out and give back. We live in such a fortunate enviA donation will help provide clean water, medical attention, ronment, and often times we don't take the time to step outside of food and shelter to families displaced from the storm. Any amount ourselves and do something good just out of the kindness of our you decide to donate will be very much appreciated and will make hearts. a huge difference in the lives of our neighbors whose lives have We also have a large Haitian staff community. After speaking been upended. Together, we can help restore Southern Haiti to the with Mr. Hines, director of dining services, he spoke with some beautiful place that is. We can and should all do our part to help. of his associates and learned that “Five of the Flik associates have Please reach out, to me Kenya Mathieu or Ms. Geyling Moore family that were living in the south of the country and have been if you have any questions.•
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Milton's Safe Space
News
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 For instance, Trump has mocked the New York has stressed civil discourse more than ever Times reporter Serge Kovaleski’s disability before. caused by arthrogryposis, called Mexicans A few weeks ago, Ms. Heather Flewelling, rapists and murderers, joked about the way Director of Multiculturalism and Community Chinese diplomats speak, and bragged about Development, sent an all school email where grabbing women’s genitals without consent. If she wrote, “In this period of often vicious a student were to make any of these statements, debate, let us hold the reminders of our recent he would be doing far more than making the speaker, Massachusetts State Representative dorm an unsafe space since he could be disci- Keiko Orrall in mind as we seek to grow as a plined, suspended, or even expelled. After all, community. In our work together let us move Milton Academy’s 2016-2017 Upper School away from the model of debate-- with the inStudent Handbook bans harassment “on the ba- tent of establishing a winner and a loser-- and sis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, engage in civic discourse that starts from the sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, shared purpose of building our awareness and national origin, disability, or any other legally knowledge that contribute to making a better protected class.” world.” Mr. Joshua Emmott, Head of Wolcott House Ms. Flewelling’s own email displays the and a member of the History Department, said, way the 2016 election has complicated Milton “For the first time, we Academy’s discourse. have a candidate whose Ms. Flewelling singles out statements, language, Representative Keiko Orfew definitively and ideas directly target rall as a model of discuspeople’s identity.” Mr. sion, yet Ms. Orrall’s own know when a Emmott also explained values do not align with how the seemingly offenschool recognized princistudent or faculty sive rhetoric complicates ples. The Taunton Daily discourse. “With Romney, member crosses the Gazette reported that Ms. we did not have to deal Orrall, on the eve of the with any of this since you line from supporting Republican National Concould talk about his ideas. pronounced, “ I Trump to insulting vention, Although, you cannot talk have come to understand about Trump’s policies so he's a big personality. another member of that it is far harder. We have That's the way he commuto be respectful of people nicates, but in general I the community. that support Trump while don't believe he's a racist. acknowledging that some I don't believe he's against of his ideas run antithetiwomen. I just don't.” cal to the principles of our school.” Although, if a student were to call his female Mr. Emmott has tried to balance political peers fat pigs, he could not escape all discipline discussion with respect in Wolcott House, and, by claiming that he is a “big personality,” in the he said, “The guys in the dorm have done a words of Ms. Orrall. great job with learning how to sit and watch Others acknowledge how Donald Trump has something respectfully while disagreeing with created a gray area at Milton Academy. “Everythe ideas but not those that hold those ideas. In one has a right to their own opinion; however, the dorm, you can discuss specific language if you are going around inciting anger and pain, used and ask questions about policies but you then that will not be tolerated here. That is the should not judge others by saying that every- history of the school,” said Mr. Beauchemin, one who supports Trump is a moron.” the Class I Dean. “On my end, it would be conMilton’s challenges confronting the 2016 versations that try to explain to them why they election exist all around campus because few are hurting other people. We would tell them definitively know when a student or faculty that you can have the conversations but you member crosses the line from supporting have to temper it in such a way that you are not Trump to insulting another member of the causing hurt or pain to other people.” community. Ultimately, Trump’s rhetoric does not affect “Kids want to know how can Trump say Milton Academy’s rules and principles, so Mr. something but they can’t. It is a huge gray Emmott advocated the importance of Trump or area. In the past, we have had leaders who have Clinton supporters not offending others. “If you adhered to a basic code of conduct. Even with are a Trump supporter, the burden is on you to Clinton’s infidelity, we could talk about what makes sure that you are articulating your ideas infidelity means, yet, with Trump, we would be in a way that makes others feel respected, and, talking about if women are fat cows,” furthered if you want to disagree with Trump or a Trump Mr. Emmott. supporter, you should do that in a way that you The ambiguous rules surrounding discussing are not attacking the individual,” explained Mr. Trump come at a time where Milton Academy Emmott. •
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Green Out CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 states that many major food distributors and brands such as Costco, Oscar Myer, McDonald’s, and Dunkin’ Donuts already refuse to use meat, eggs, or dairy from restrictively caged animals. Given that cage-free food is already so prevalent, the argument that the law would send food prices soaring is weak. Furthermore, we should be trying to undermine the structure of most agricultural processes. This is not to oppress low-income families with higher food prices but to address the deplorable practices that animal products come from. We use a broken food system composed of crop production that often wastes exorbitant amounts of water, land, and energy. We endorse a livestock industry dominated by factories and so-called “farms” that torture, exploit, and slaughter animals. Passing the Question 3 law would force an inherently cruel industry to reconsider their practices and to take responsibility for their brutal treatment of animals. But since this is a state ballot question, where does Massachusetts fit into the larger agriculture scheme? Only one farm in the state use such restrictive cages: Diemand Farm in Wendell, Western Massachusetts. This fact could be twisted to prove that Question 3 is irrelevant in Massachusetts, and perhaps this assertion could be true if the farm was a small one. However, Diemand Farm holds about 3,000 chickens in small wire cages that restrict basic movement. Additionally, the question not only addresses in-state policy, but also indirectly addresses out-of-state practices. Since the law would ban the sale of certain meat and eggs from farms outside of Massachusetts that use extremely restrictive enclosures, it could positively change the livestock policies in other states, depending on the out-of-state revenue generated by Massachusetts distributors. Another popular opinion from Question 3 opposition argues that these farm animals are going to die anyway, so who cares about their conditions? This reasoning is both defeatist and hypocritical; it exposes the double standard many humans hold toward animals. Although many people care for dogs and cats, treating them as family, the general public turns a blind eye to the suffering of cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep. In Massachusetts, a person can be incarcerated for keeping a pet in a cage that restricts basic movement. When a dog or cat is going to be euthanized, we go
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Opinion
Reporting from Germany: The German School System
German Stamp
By COALTER PALMER For most Milton Academy juniors and seniors, the future is a touchy subject. Although a select few may claim to already know what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing, the truth is that most of us have no idea, and may still not be ready to decide on our life path by the time college comes around. Contrary to popular belief, this indecision is not necessarily bad. Many of us have enough safety nets to delay this looming decision until our college years, and America’s strong liberal arts programs give students the time and resources they need to make a highly informed decision on their career paths. In the United States, hesitancy to commit to a career has become commonplace, as an estimated 20-50% of high schoolers are undecided upon entering college, and 75% of college students change majors at least once during their collegiate careers. The German system, as I have come to find out on my year abroad in the northern Bavarian town of Bamberg, allows very little room for flexibility compared to the American system. As early as the 4th grade, children are sorted into three different types of secondary schools based on their academic standing: the Gymnasium, a school for students that maintained high scores in grades 1 through 4, where most graduates eventually attend university; the Realschule, a vocational school, although based on academic standing after the tenth grade students may either enter a gymnasium to be on track for university or participate in a vocational apprenticeship; or the Hauptschule, a school that sets students on track for careers in
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manual labor because of insufficient scores in primary school. While students are not forced into any one school, the pupil’s fourth grade teacher gives a formal recommendation based on a number of factors, including academic standing, and it is then up to the parent to decide which school to attend. However, if a student in poor academic standing decides to attend an academically rigorous school and flunks out, it is extremely difficult for the child to stay on track for university. Although it may seem unfair to set the groundworks of a child’s future when he or she is only 9 years old, the system has repeatedly proven its benefits by graduating 20% more students than the American system does and by preparing students for the workplace in a variety of different fields. While America currently faces the problem of too few manual laborers in its work force, the German system prepares students that may not necessarily be academically gifted (although academically gifted students may also attend vocational schools if they want to) for a sustainable, impactful career. Albert Einstein once famously said that “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid”. While one could argue that the German School system limits students’ academic potential, it allows for students with unlikely futures in academia to get a head start other fields. While for many people this reality is hard to face, it cannot be denied that, in the end, the German system strives for the success of all of its students by working to their strengths. •
Children are sorted into three different types of secondary schools.
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Green Out CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 to great lengths to ensure their comfort and safety in their last moments of life. How can we nurture one animal and condemn another? Why do we deem it acceptable to eat certain species and not others? Because we simply consider one animal cuter, smarter, more sociable, or more worthy of our love—even our respect? These confinement methods do not provide any justified advantage for food production. We as humans—despite our false supremacy and egos—do not have the right to decide which animals deserve freedom and quality of life. Moreover, many of these animals are killed to feed us. Even if you don’t care about animal rights, not caring how they live and die implies that we don’t care about what we consume. Livestock caged in restrictive enclosures are more likely to harbor disease and thus more likely to transmit disease to the consumer. Caged chickens’ eggs pose a higher risk of salmonella because hens without room to move are forced to lay eggs in the same place they excrete waste. Cases of salmonella in Massachusetts have been most commonly linked to eggs from factory farms that store chickens in torturously small cages. Humane Society officials estimate that a 2015 salmonella outbreak sickened more than 50,000 Americans. The outbreak was traced back to Quality Egg, LLC, what was once the nation’s largest egg producer. Not surprisingly, the company’s facilities crammed several chickens into every small cage, resulting in feces-covered enclosures and hens forced to lay eggs on other chickens’ carcasses. These grisly details are the reality of small livestock cages. When the general public chooses to ignore such conditions, we indicate that we don’t care about our own health and safety. Question 3 is more than just a ballot question—it’s a confrontation of our nation’s and our state’s morals and rationality. To simplify the issue to bogus potential financial repercussions is to throw away one’s vote. We must stop limiting modern world issues to economic outcomes and human convenience. To be decent people, we must consider the greater implications of our choices. Even if you’re not eligible to vote, I hope you find value in ballot questions such as this one and in the election as a whole. Especially to those in our community who can vote, Question 3 is an opportunity to regain some decency as people, and to respect other life as well as our own. I’ll be voting “YES”, and I hope you will, too. •
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Opinion
After School Forums: An Imperative for all Teachers and Students
SOPHIE LENIHAN/TMP
By EDWARD MORETA Milton encourages students to take advantage of all the opportunities our school offers. However, there are things on campus that people do not take advantage of, which is unfortunate because these untapped resources often revolve around controversial topics. For example, people do not take advantage of conversations that happen after every Azaad issue and other publications, and even some of the things that happen after school at night like the “Milton Academy Community Conversations.” Part of this has to do with our busy schedules, but that cannot be an excuse every time. Part of this has to do with the fact that there aren’t enough of these conversations to begin with, and when there are, the same group of people always attends, making a meaningful experience for only a small portion of the community. Part of this has to do with the lack of awareness or concern on the part of the students, and the effect of Affective Education classes. However, these meetings can also be advertised better around school, to better accommodate people attending and sharing ideas. Generally, in Affective Education classes, conversations aren’t truly meaningful because people are scared they may say the wrong thing. Eventually, the conversation gravitates to one or two voices with whom everyone agrees, and we all go in circles. No one wants to speak up and disagree. Mostly, teachers in these classes do not pry and open up these conversations because they are satisfied that anything is being said at all. Affective Ed teachers should encourage other people speak and not just the few that always run the class. I think sometimes Affective Ed classes influence people to not attend these forums. People may compare going to these forums
to going to classes where they’d be bored. Maybe, if meaningful conversations happened in the classroom, people would want more. Yet the conversations that occur in these after-school forums and discussions are nothing like those in Affective Ed classes. These conversations have constant disagreements and debates, and many people offer their thoughts, not just a few individuals. The forum is furthered through all the opinions. Disagreements foster deeper conversation, and people actually become more educated on the topics at hand; even teachers attend these meetings and further the discussion as well. If these events occurred on days and times that people could actually attend, it would help as well. Many people can’t come because of sports obligations, or other things happening at the same time. Of course, these are not the only things that hinder people from going; students and teachers all must first want to go and want to offer their thoughts in order to improve the conversation. And, so, this potential change all begins with the teachers. Teachers must show that they are interested in what is going on as well. If something big happens around the country, and teachers feel compelled to speak to their classes, that would show that they care about more than just what students are learning. No matter the subject--Math, English, Science, or Art--teachers should not keep their thoughts to themselves because there is a “schedule” to follow. Sometimes these conversations are more important than those on the syllabus, and students would show more interest if they feel their learning connects to their lives. If a student says something derogatory or simply not okay, teachers should feel the need to speak up and explain why the comment was wrong,
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Early Applications CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 everyone, nor is it a requirement for success. Students who apply early spend less time waiting and have the safety net of regular applications if they receive less than desirable news. Yet the clear downfalls include the enormous pressure of applying during the longest stretch of an already busy year, and the time crunch of applying regular later, if a student chooses to do so. Despite the great time and effort commitment, Mr. Skinner reports that roughly 85-90% of Milton seniors apply early each year – that’s about 170 students. Mr. Skinner explained, “In general, you will find more early applications in well-served high schools.” While Forbes business magazine claims most early applicants will apply to one or two schools, “there have definitely been a few students that have done, say, one early decision and five early actions, if not a couple more,” claims Mr. Skinner. Each one of these schools needs to “have a legitimate, distinct reason for being on [the] list.” He says that applying early as “an anxiety impulse” detracts from the student's academic, extracurricular, and social lives at Milton; he stresses for seniors to “make that calculation too.” The statistics surrounding early applications can be misleading. According to private college counseling practice Ivy Coach, for the college class of 2020, Brown had an early application acceptance rate of 22.1% compared to regular acceptance of 7.66%, Columbia had 17.6% vs. 4.8%, and Harvard had 14.9% vs. 3.4%. While the odds of gaining admission into highly-competitive college seems much better for early applicants, those who apply early tend to be higher-achieving students who have expressed solid interest in attending a competitive college. Every applicant, no matter how intelligent and impressive, is up against his or her equals, becoming a small fish in a big pond, or rather “pool.” The caliber of the early application pool is further proved by the numbers. Just 15% of Brown early applicants were denied, with the remaining number deferred; deferred applicants have a 10% chance of acceptance in regular applications, more likely than the regular applicant. Harvard’s SCEA – single choice early action, a non-binding form of early decision – pool had a 7.5% rate of being denied. That breaks down to just 15% of Harvard’s early application pool not making the cut, compared to the 94.8% of Harvard’s regular pool that are denied. Thus, a student who subjects themselves to the stress of early applications can gain the upper hand by demonstrating interest and commitment. The college process has become just as much a game of strategy and politics as a psychological and statistical science; all this with a side of countless hours of essays and interviews. By definition, Milton Academy is a “college preparatory school,” but that doesn’t mean the college process should dominate our high school experience. •
Opinion
Not Just Any Wednesday Speaker
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Jamaica Kincaid: Milton's next Bingham Reader
By EMMA JAMES Milton Academy has the incredible ability to book a speaker each week, but that blessing is sometimes a curse. The steady stream of impressive résumés gracing our ACC can often detract from the significance of each new face, leading to comparisons between speakers and even boredom of the routine. The Bingham Reader might seem like just another Wednesday speaker to some, but to many students and faculty members, hearing and interacting with the Bingham Reader is a highly anticipated and even life-changing experience. The Bingham Endowment Fund for Creative Writing was established in 1987 by Barry and Edith Bingham and their daughter, Emily Bingham ‘83. Barry Bingham Jr. was the editor of The Louisville Times and The Louisville Courier-Journal, two positions which solidify his history as a prominent writer. Milton created the fund “to benefit the Creative Writing program” at Milton, a mission that materializes through the tradition of the annual Bingham Readers. The first Bingham Reader, Hedrick Smith, spoke in February of 1992. According to Laura Cannata, member of the Development Office, “in the early days of the fund, history/news writers were featured,” a statement that Smith’s impressive resume as an editor for The New York Times and a correspondent for “Frontline” reflects. However, the lineup is now oriented around poetry and fiction, carefully guided by English faculty members Lisa Baker and James Connolly. Ms. Baker and Mr. Connolly budget the fund money and organize the events each year, “invit[ing] two established writers.” The writers stay in residence for Wednesday and Thursday, during which time most
students see them only at the reading during the upperclassman assembly. Throughout the remaining two days, the writer participates in Q&A sessions and sits in with creative writing classes to workshop student poetry. The intimate classroom experience is “the most important work” to Ms. Baker, and “a great gift for the creative writers.” Due to the significance of the workshop feature in the visit, Milton invites only writers who also teach at colleges and universities. But the process of bringing a nationally-renowned writer to campus is no small task. “Ours rivals the best college and graduate level reading series,” shares Ms. Baker, calling the series “a gift, a privilege to be able to give this caliber to our students.” Most speakers agree to come for a fee under what they typically get paid. Ms. Baker frequently leverages the reputation of the series when finding writers through college writing programs, often inviting writers whose colleagues at the same college have visited before. This tactic has proved successful by the recent visits of Paul Muldoon, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Tracy K. Smith, all faculty of the Princeton Creative Writing program. However, convincing the writers to come is not the only challenge: the writers’ schedules are so busy that they must be booked a year in advance, sometimes even more. The enormous effort of organizing the Bingham Reader tradition is never in vain – many Milton students that experience the words and feedback of the writers continue onto the writing world themselves. With any runoff money from the fund, Ms. Baker and Mr. Connolly invite alumni writers back to campus, “usually two or three alumni a year, who have a foothold in the writing world.” Doing so not only financially supports the writers, but also “reveal[s] to our students in creative writing that we are putting writers
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After School Forums CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 not just let it fly like nothing was said. Five minutes out of our class would not make that great of a difference, small conversations can have a greater and worthwhile impact. Trying a little harder to have meaningful conversations in the classroom, even if they’re off topic, would help promote the after school forums about any topic from race to sexuality to spirituality. Sometimes, if a teacher gives you a heads-up, saying something like “You should attend the conversation after school,” students would feel more compelled to go. If more students want to attend, a snowball effect will occur. Of course, I’m not asking for the whole school to come to the next forum right away, but all students should attend one and see what they get out of it. Many of these conversations have a lot to do with our experiences at Milton, so having more of these conversations would further the experience for everyone. Taboo topics can open up more conversation, and more people would offer their opinions. Students and teachers should always want to better themselves and each other, and these forums are a great way to do so. Even if you think some of the topics don’t relate to you, attend these conversations, and you will definitely find some part of them rewarding and impactful on your specific Milton experience. •
"Marshall's Liberal Agenda" out into the world.” Overall, the exposure to world-famous writers undoubtedly benefits everyone in our community, whether they be casual creative writers, assembly audience members, or underclassmen glancing at the posters in the stairwell. Knowing that we as Milton students have at least four opportunities to be in the presence of and listen to a recognized writer in our own school is incredible. No amount of money can buy this first-class experience – it’s priceless. Novelist and Harvard professor Jamaica Kincaid will be the second Bingham Reader of the 2016-17 school year, coming to campus during the spring. •
Arts & Enterainment
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The Audiophile's Dilemma
Entertainment vs. Politics: The Double Agents By PIERCE WILSON
By ADITYA GHANDI Students at Milton listen to music extensively, be it while walking to school, doing homework, or driving home. Not many people actually buy music on iTunes anymore, as Apple would prefer; they instead make use of the many existing music streaming services. These networks exist in such multitude that, last summer, Apple gave in and made one of its own: Apple Music. Thanks to a variety of factors, Apple Music quickly attracted popularity, so much so that it has joined the ranks of prominent music networks, of which Spotify is arguably the frontrunner. Students have the option to choose from the collection of music-streaming platforms. For the most part, this collection varies from network to network. Apple Music and Spotify, however, are not so easily distinguishable. Apple Music and Spotify share many attractive features. They both allow users to listen to music from nearly any artist. They promote new music and offer personalized recommendations. They even let users save songs that they like. With these songs, they can make playlists and radio stations. Thus, an updated and expansive music library is essential for both Apple Music and Spotify. A larger music library means that users have access to more songs; missing music is a key incentive for listeners to use a different music service. It is in this important area of music libraries where Apple Music clearly trumps Spotify. For various reasons, many famed artists have refused to put some of their widely-anticipated albums on Spotify. This is not to say that Apple Music’s library is complete, but the gaps are certainly more evident with Spotify. In some instances, the artists who withheld their music from Spotify later gave in, but they did so without notice to fans and only after a noticeable length of time had passed. This was the case with Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo, Frank Ocean’s Blonde, and Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book. By the time these albums were made available on Spotify, many fans had decided to use whatever platform the albums were on (e.g. Apple Music in the case of Blonde) so that they could listen to the music. Other artists completely withhold their music from Spotify. Thus, Spotify
completely lacks Taylor Swift’s and Prince’s music, as well as Beyoncé’s Lemonade. Since these artists are so popular, their rejection of Spotify leaves many music fans starting to use another platform. For the most part, this platform is Apple Music. A distinctive feature of Spotify that Apple Music lacks is a “social media” aspect. Spotify allows its users to follow their friends and see what music they are playing. Users can even make collaborative playlists. For some, this side of Spotify is at least partially redeeming. For many, the most important factor in deciding the victorious platform is cost. Spotify is either free or available for purchase as Spotify Premium. Spotify Premium allows for offline streaming, no ads, and other various features, most of which Apple Music offers. Spotify Free is a less attractive prospect for those who are low on data, have poor WiFi, or find frequent breaks from their music to listen to multiple ads annoying, if not infuriating. Nearly everyone would deem Spotify Premium to be superior to Spotify Free. So, assuming that a user is choosing between Apple Music and Spotify Premium, he or she would find that they cost about the same. Both platforms cost, per month, $9.99 for individuals, $14.99 for families, and $4.99 for college students. The only difference is that “family” equates to up to six members for Apple Music, as opposed to five for Spotify. Yet such a distinction is trivial to most users, who would regard the networks to be equivalent in cost. A student contemplating whether to get Apple Music or Spotify has many pros and cons to consider. Considering music libraries, Apple Music may seem like the more practical choice. Yet the student could be drawn to Spotify’s more social interface, or he or she might prefer to not pay and use Spotify Free instead. Adding to the confusion, Spotify has been around longer than Apple Music, which could make Apple Music seem more “hip.” Contrastingly, veteran Spotify users may not want to go through the troubles of switching over to Apple Music, which would entail the user’s losing his or her collection of saved songs. Ultimately, there is no clear choice except one made based on circumstance and personal preference. •
Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jesse Ventura. Politicians, or entertainers? Both. In America’s modern political landscape, the line between politics and entertainment isn’t exactly a fine one. Between the phenomenon of actor-politicians and the role of television news and political comedy in informing the public, it all merges together. Political decisions affect everyone. As such, it’s important to consider the ramifications of the faltering distinction between politics and entertainment. One of the earliest entertainers to make the move to politics, John Davis Lodge, governed the state of Connecticut from 1951 to 1955. According to the National Governors Association, Lodge, a Republican, endorsed legislation that would endorse employment and workers’ rights. In addition, much of his work also aimed at improving education in Connecticut. Outside of his service as a governor, Lodge also fought in World War II and served as the U.S ambassador to several countries. During his acting career, Lodge worked on many memorable and influential films, such as Little Women and The Scarlet Empress, as reported by IMDb. Around the same time, Helen Gahagan Douglas was also breaking precedents. Douglas, who played the titular character in Lansing Holden’s She, was the third woman, and the first Democratic woman, ever to hold a seat in the United States Congress. These two influential actors—or rather, actor-politicians—not only pioneered a new generation of politicians, but also worked to introduce unprecedented ideas to our government and speak for those who couldn’t speak for themselves. In ‘modern times,’ there are a few actor-politicians everyone can think of. Ronald Reagan, governor of California, 40th President of the United States, and arguably the most successful actor-politician, acted in over fifty films, according to Biography. com. During his presidency, the United States saw its first ever woman, Sandra Day O’Connor, appointed to the Supreme Court. While Reagan’s effectiveness as P.O.T.U.S is debatable, on the fronts of economics and foreign affairs, Reagan lowered the unemployment rate by more than 10% and signed a treaty with Russia which brought a quicker end to Cold War, according to CNN. Another notable actor-politician, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also served as the governor of California, is best known as a body-builder and for his roles in the Terminator and Predator films. Schwarzenegger's stint as Governor was somewhat of a
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Arts & Enterainment
PAGE 9
The New A Cappella Rule
#MakeMulanRight
By ELAINE WU
By OLIVIA ZHONG
In the beginning and end of every school year, the five A Cappella groups on campus, Octet, Rezon8, Miltones, 3FU, and Ep!c all audition, accept, and welcome new members into their groups. The process of auditioning and accepting has been unique to each a cappella group, but this spring, there will be a change to the audition process that will make the process smoother and more organized for the groups collectively. Starting this spring, all groups will send out acceptance letters on the same day at the same time so each a cappella group will have an equal chance of getting an auditioner, and each auditioner will have an equal pick of the groups. This administrative change will benefit both the a cappella groups and auditioners. In past years, a cappella groups have auditioned on their own schedules. Most likely, groups would perform a song two weeks into school, put up audition forms in Kellener, audition people during frees, post callbacks a week later, and accept auditioners the day after callbacks. However, with the new rule starting this spring, all a cappella groups will have to coordinate times with each other by making sure auditions, callbacks, and acceptance emails are synchronized and are not in conflict. This new system stems from discussion within the a cappella community. Chloe Morris (III), a member of the a cappella group Ep!c, says that the original process was a little bit “unorganized and unfair” for auditioners. Having applied to all possible a cappella groups, she had received her Ep!c acceptance email before she even had the chance to go to her 3FU callback. Despite now knowing that she made the right choice by choosing Ep!c, she wished she could have had a chance to pick between the groups before making her final decision. With the new system, she and others will now have the chance to choose between all of the groups they are accepted into. The process of accepting has been chaos up to now. However, this new strategy allows auditioners to no longer worry about knowing when acceptance emails for certain groups come out or which groups
Many of us know and love the iconic Disney princess-heroine Mulan. Originally released in 1998, Mulan quickly became a classic Disney princess movie. According to NBC news, Disney recently announced a 3-D live-action remake of the film, set to hit theaters November 2, 2018. This remake follows several other recent Disney remakes, including the live-action Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, set to be released in March of 2017. Although the director for the new Mulan movie has not yet been announced, NBC news reported that Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, screenwriters of Jurassic World, are working on the script. This exciting but slightly distressing announcement sparked the hashtag #makeMulanright because of several controversies of Hollywood’s consistent underrepresentation of people of color. Asians/Asian-Americans are largely underrepresented in Hollywood, and when casted, they often play minor or non-heroic roles. More so, many films will cast white actors to play Asian characters, introducing the phenomenon of whitewashing in Hollywood. Some notable examples of this whitewashing include Emma Stone in Aloha, Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell, and Matt Damon in The Great Wall. For many people, including myself, Mulan represents the only time we can see an Asian face embodying the classic heroine. During my childhood, Mulan was the only princess I could relate to, and I felt special pride in her because she proved that a Chinese girl could be badass, inspiring, and powerful, despite how almost all the other heroes portrayed in the media around me were white and despite the common
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If you like Myth Busters… Radiolab A distant cousin of This American Life, Radiolab is a great way to sink your teeth into some really interesting stories. Each week hosts Jad and Robert will use sound to answer some of the big questions that we have all asked. One of the most recent episodes, “The Girl That Doesn’t Exist,” follows a woman from Texas, who, according to the state, doesn’t actually exist. Radiolab is a great place to start for those who are new to podcasts and love a good story.•
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Podcast Paradise By THEA McRAE
If you like Last Week Tonight… Reveal Although host Al Letson may not be as funny as John Oliver, Reveal is just as entertaining and informative. Every week Reveal focuses on one story of investigative reporting ranging from a detailed exposé of the Flint Michigan water crisis to intimate interviews with border patrol officers. •
If you like psychology & storytelling… Invisibilia Invisibilia, which is Latin for “invisible things,” is another fascinating podcast from NPR about imperceptible influences, like beliefs, opinions, thoughts, and passions, that frequently impact human behavior more than we may realize. The hosts of the show, Lulu Miller, Hanna Rosin, and Alix Spiegel, blend cutting edge scientific information with lively accounts in a truly enchanting fashion. •
Sports
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Double Agents CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 tragedy. California was already in bad shape following the recession, and between poor policy-making, allegations of sexual assault, and a sex scandal, his approval rating had dropped below 20% by the time he left office, according to the California Governors’ Gallery. Other actor-politicians include Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, and Associate Director of The White House Kal Penn. Actor-politicians certainly have a history of breaking the public’s ideas about what a politician should be. Unfortunately, there are possibilities for many negative effects of actor-politicians. One such concern is that people vote out of support or disapproval for the candidate’s filmmaking career, as opposed to actual support for the candidate’s policies. However, this is a symptom of the larger issue of voter misinformation and stresses the need to read up on candidates prior to voting. Many political historians and commentators are more concerned that an increase in entertainer-politicians will continue to increase the role of the media in people’s political lives, which will lead to even more voter misinformation. One might best observe the influx in media influence on politics in the phenomenon of television news and late-night comedy. According to the American Press Institute, 87% of Americans rely on television to intake current events. All major television news providers are for profit-corporations. Therefore, these news outlets must provide information in a way that captivates and entertains viewers. Additionally, political comedies like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report thrive even moreso on entertaining viewers while still providing an insight into affairs. Unfortunately, in an effort to entertain, many outlets provide biased, exaggerated accounts of events and use deceptive phrasing. This leaves many Americans misinformed and, in some cases, supporting a candidate whose views they don’t align with. Even in today’s presidential race, entertainer-politicians and media influence are present. For starters, the Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump, had his own TV game show. However, what fewer people know is that Green Party frontrunner, Jill Stein, had her own folk rock duo, Somebody’s Sister, back in the 90’s. Moreover, many Americans see this election, due to the polarization of voters and vocality of its candidates, as simply entertainment. Though it may be difficult to see the distinction between entertainment and government, it’s no less important to vote and inform yourself about current affairs. Finding reliable information could become increasingly more difficult, but that’s the price of living in a digital society. •
Ten More Minutes
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By SOPHIE LI What does ten more minutes feel like in a soccer game? If you are a field player, it is ten more minutes of running around wishing you could just curl up on the field and take a nap. If you are a goalie, it is ten more minutes of standing around and praying that no one else shoots on you. If you are a coach, it is ten more minutes of standing there biting your nails and screaming at your players. Even though ten more minutes in a game is very stressful for players and coaches alike, that amount of time can make all the difference. Both teams have the opportunity to increase their score gap or make a comeback. However, what if girls’ teams did not have those ten extra minutes to make a comeback? Is the difference in playing times between boys and girls unfair and sexist? The girls’ soccer teams at Milton Academy do not have the pleasure of playing ten extra minutes in a game despite the boys’ teams’ gaining the extra time. Girls’ Soccer plays 40 minute halves while Boys’ Soccer plays 45 minute halves (professional regulation times). Mr. Kahn, the Head Coach of Girls’ Varsity Soccer, believes that the difference in playing time sends a “terrible message to our girls” because “there should not be anything we do as a school that says, explicitly or implicitly, that our girls are less capable.” Mr. Kahn’s point resonates with many since girls are still fighting for equality in athletics. Therefore, when something as simple as the amount of playing time in a game is unequal, girls are bogged down with
Mulan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 stereotypes of Asian girls. Mulan represents more than just another princess. She represents hope and justice for Asian viewers. She epitomizes honor and selflessness. She is one of the most inspiring and tenacious princesses/heroines ever created because she embodies all that a princess and role model should. Because Mulan means more than
a negative message that they are less capable players than boys. Many people want that negative message to change into something positive, and these reformers advocate for forty-five minute halves for boys and girls. The equal halves send a more positive message that girl players are just as capable as their male counterparts. However, Coach Kahn also believes that the girls should not play the extra ten minutes because those ten minutes are when “the players are most susceptible to injury.” Additionally, the substitution rules of NEPSAC and ISL do not make longer halves necessary. Being injured and not playing for the rest of the season is not worth the extra ten minutes, especially for players who are being recruited to colleges. After all, one injury can jeopardize an athlete’s recruitment. Mr. Kahn does not advise that the boys should play the extra ten and be susceptible to injury; instead, he believes that the boys teams should play forty minute halves as well. Many parents and coaches believe that forty minutes do not prep the players for college and the professional league, but the forty-five minutes are not necessary in high school since NCAA and MLS substitution does not abide by the same restrictions as the NEPSAC and ISL substitution rules. High school substitution rules make the longer halves less meaningful and beneficial for the players. Nonetheless, equal playing time still remains a significant issue in high schools. For now, the teams should place a new focus on whether or not to make halves shorter for boys or longer for girls. • just another princess to Asian-Americans, Natalie Molnar, an activist, began a petition for Disney to promise an Asian cast to combat whitewashing for this pivotal remake. She set a goal of 120,000 signatures and has reached 110,822 so far. Furthermore, people have not only speculated about whether the cast will be Asian but also about whether the movie will stick to its original plot. A speculative script suggested
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Sports
Mustangs of the Week: Jen Costa and Jack O'Brien
By LIAM KENNEDY
By CHRIS MATHEWS
On October 22, the girls soccer team took on a tough ISL opponent – Rivers. Rivers and Milton were locked 1-1 in the second half. The tie was finally broken by a game-winning goal from Jen Costa (I) with 17 minutes left in the second half. Last year, the Mustangs were defeated 4-0 when they faced off against Rivers. So this particular victory was, as Rebecca Karlson (II) put it, “a pretty big deal.” Jen Costa, Mustang of the Year for 20152016, impacted the team in more ways than one. Not only did Jen’s play help during the game, but her leadership before did as well. Many of the players credited Jen with “getting the team hyped before they took the field.” They said that “[Jen] had a positive energy that seemed to rub off on everyone before they took on their opponent.” Once the game started, the girls went to work on Rivers. However, the Mustangs faced an early deficit as Rivers went up 1-0. The score remained uneven until Jenny Feeney (I) scored the Mustangs’ first goal in the first few minutes of the second half. The tie held until Brie Lawson (I) crossed the ball from the left side to Jen Costa. Then, as Jen received the ball and trapped it, she shot it over the goalie’s head and propelled her team to victory. With the win over Rivers, the girls soccer team moved to 4-2-3 and 5th place in the ISL standings, where they still stand. Many members of the team feel the season has been a success so far. One player praised the seniors exclaiming, “the seniors have been tremendous leaders, all in their own way. They give us a strong foundation and the team won’t be the same without them next year.” This player, also recognizing the underclassmen, said “there has been a huge contribution from the freshmen. The team really clicks.” With wins against Middlesex and St. Georges now making the team 5-2-1 in-conference, the girls soccer team aims to end the season at the top of the ISL standings. Today, they play Governor’s at home. •
In the past seven days, senior captain Jack O’Brien (I) of the men’s varsity soccer team has redefined the term “dominant.” In a Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain-esque string of performances, Jack was personally involved in 100% – you read that right, 100% – of his team’s goals in the past week. First contributing two goals and two assists to a dominant 4-1 versus St. Paul’s last Saturday and then contributing one goal and one assist to a 2-0 win versus Middlesex on Monday, Jack has added to what has already been an incredible senior season in which he has scored the fourth most points in the ISL. This impressive score totals to ten goals and three assists throughout the fall season, with more action to come. An aggressive, shifty and elusive attacking midfielder/striker with a touch softer than satin and a right foot to match, Jack loves to counterattack and is always eager to take on his opponent and attack the by-line. If he succeeds, which he frequently does, all the defense can do is pick their poison. In the event that the center-back slides over to try and strip him of possession, Jack will chop a through pass back to a teammate surging late into the box. If the center-back chooses instead to just stay with his original man in the middle and take his chances, Jack is fully capable of opening up his hips and sending a tidy finish into the far corner of the net– you’d think the other team had just slapped Stevie Wonder between the sticks. An ardent believer of conspiracy theories and highly skilled in improvisational artists, Jack has a quick and unpredictable mind that’s served him well on the pitch so far this season, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that I simply cannot wait to see how he finishes it. •
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A Capella CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 to apply to since all auditions and acceptance emails are sent and done at the same time. Octet cohead Caroline Massey (I) mentioned that the process of accepting is “hard in general since Octet has a certain number of members that [they] can’t go over and adding the new rule will make the process a little bit more difficult. Still, we have to remember the audition process isn’t about us.” Obviously, the new rule has made the accepting process more difficult for many of the a cappella groups. Groups will have a harder time accepting the correct number of people, as it will be less of a guarantee that accepted singers will join that group. Yet now all groups are competing out of the same pool of people, making the new audition process more fair for aspiring singers but more competitive for the a cappella groups. In the end, the process can be summed up in one word: fair. Although the new process of auditioning people will make the process more complicated for groups, it will bring a sense of stability for the auditioners and equal opportunity for all a cappella groups. •
Mulan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 that a European man may save China for Mulan, an idea that would completely disgrace and destroy the female-empowerment and focus on Chinese culture depicted in the 1998 film. The original Disney movie about Fa Mulan was based off of the ancient Chinese tale of Hua Mulan as told in the ancient Chinese Ballad of Mulan. The ballad, written around the 5th or 6th century CE, highlights Mulan’s bravery without a love-interest to save her, so she certainly does not need one in 2018. However, there is hope. Disney has announced a global casting call for a Chinese actress to play the lead as Mulan (not a white male), and according to NBC news, they would “shoot predominantly or exclusively in China with a Chinese partner and a mostly Chinese cast.” This movie needs to be done justice to live up to the legacy of the original movie because the it represents more than just another princess movie. In this sense, the cast needs to do the movie justice. Hopefully Disney will realize and understand the importance of maintaining the authenticity of the original, widely beloved movie. Hopefully, Disney will recognize that Mulan is Chinese, that her story is set in China, and that she deserves to be portrayed correctly. Hopefully, Disney will dare to be true to who Mulan was in the 5th century CE, who she was in 1998, and who she should be 20 years later in 2018. #makeMulanright •
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