“A Forum for Discussion and Thought”
THE MILTON PAPER
Issue 2, Vol. 37
MILTON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
Our Scandalous College Culture Anna Hamblet ‘22
Last week, we were told to think carefully about academic integrity. But I’m sure many of you have wished that by some miracle you could write a flawless paper with no effort at all when you were up late with 3 homework assignments left and a paper due the next day. Some look for that miracle in very shady ways. Students, when stressed and running out of time, can violate academic integrity for the smallest of assignments, so I was not surprised when the news about the college admissions scandal broke last year. College is what students tend to think of as the end-all be-all of life. In fact, many elementary schools hold college spirit days so 5 to 10 year old kids can rep their favorite colleges. As early as 8th grade, my peers had “dream schools.” So it’s no surprise that some parents sought out a miracle to get their precious child into a dream school. As our seniors inundate themselves with college applications and Felicity Huffman stares down a 14 day prison sentence for, as CNN reports, paying $15,000 to raise her daughter’s SAT scores, it’s time to examine what caused the college admissions scandal. Was it overly-ambitious parents with too much money on their hands? Or simply victims of stress, the main cause of our academic integrity violations? For those of you who need a refresher on the college admissions scandal, here’s some background. Last March, federal prosecutors began to reveal the results of “Operation Varsity Blues.” Many colleges were scammed by over 50 wealthy parents hoping to give their children a leg up in the admissions process, and, they hoped, in life. They paid the scam’s mastermind Eric Singer huge sums of money to cheat their child’s way into college. According to Forbes.com, parents paid about $25 million in total to bribe their kids’ way into schools like Yale, Stanford, and Georgetown. The temptation to up your chances by whatever means possible is particularly clear when applying to schools with low acceptance rates like Yale and Stanford. Even if every applicant were equal, the odds would not be in your favor to get into one of these schools. However, not all of the bribed schools were among the best colleges in the country and only one of these schools, Yale, is part of the prestigious Ivy League. Continued on Page 8
Image courtesy of Milton Academy
Transitions Sarah Alkhafaji’ 20 and Nara Mohyeddin’ 21
Transitions of years past and present—could we call the two creatures by the same name? Ms. WuWong of the History Department would prefer to call it New Student Orientation. “Transitions, for me, was bringing traditional minorities together to introduce them at academic life and work with them on issues of identity development.” Created to prepare students of color for Milton’s environment, Transitions has undergone significant changes prior to this most recent adaptation, each version taking the form of a virtually brand-new program. WuWong continues, “I’ve worked in the Transitions program every year since I started, so that’d make 27 years. When I first started, we didn’t include Asians because the program was started specifically to address the needs of black and Latino kids .” Over time, Transitions also created a ten-day opportunity for international and/or students of color to adjust to Milton. Then, the program got cut to four days. There’d be “conversations for people to understand their surroundings and themselves, transitioning their perspectives and sense of place. And now those conversations are all supposed to happen in a day and a half, and none of that happened. I’m a little worried about when that’s supposed to happen. I’m not saying it can’t be incorporated, but it’s definitely missing at this point, ” says WuWong. “When something is changing, people tend to miss the past and say ‘Oh, we’ve been doing this for such a long time and it’s been going fine,’ so at first I felt a little
hesitant like most people,” admits program mentor Ira Sobchyshyna ‘20. There certainly was glory in the past. Milton’s students of color lost one of the few spaces where they wouldn’t be a minority. Many mentors, like Olivia Wang ‘20, were also “worried that the students of color and international students would lose space in the time that they used to have, but were more excited about the change for the dynamics of the school.” Post-program, Stefan Aleksic ’20 comments, “I really enjoyed that we didn’t lose the magic even though we lost a space for POC and international students that was really vital. The OMCD is really working hard to make sure one is still created and available.” According to Mr. Rodriguez, Director of Student Multicultural Programming, the OMCD is “looking at the day and a half for students of color and trying to make improvements. We’re going to build the unity Continued on Page 4
Inside Community Engagement Pg. 6 Our New Exam Week Pg. 7 The Bachelor Takes a Risk Pg. 10 The Hermit Kingdom’s Hercules Pg. 12
THE MILTON PAPER The 37th Editorial Board
News
ALEXA MEHLMAN
Layout Editor
EVITA THADHANI
Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief
EMMA TUNG
Layout Editor
ANDREW WILWERTH
Managing Editor
MARK PANG
Website Editor
TONY WANG
Opinion Manager
SARAH ALKHAFAJI
News Manager
CALVIN CHEONG
A&E Editor
BRENDAN HEGARTY
News Manager
ANNIE WERNERFELT
Opinion Editor
TAPTI SEN
Opinion Editor
MALIA CHUNG
Copy Editor
WILLA DUBOIS
Humor Editor
MAYA BOKHARI
Senior Editor
ZOE KATZ
Humor Editor Sports Editor
KENDELLE GRUBBS
Senior Editor
ANTOINE WILEY
MIRIAM ZUO
Editor-at-Large
MARGOT BECKER
Layout Editor
NATHAN SMITH
HUBERT KING
Associate Editor
ELLA O’HANLON
Associate Editor
NARA MOHYEDDIN
Associate Editor
ERIC IDSVOOG
Faculty Sponsor
A&E
Susan Urstadt Sarah Palmer Max Litvak Oscar Burnes Elina Mraz Ava Scheibler Daniel Siegel Eleanor Raine Neha Modak Shiloh Liu Alison Blake Aston Chan
Jennifer Lim Grace Li Anne Kwok Beck Kendig Gracie Denneen Jasper Burnes Chaka Khan Lynn Yuan Dylan Areivan Kenza Chraibi Shannon Kim
Opinion
Christian Westphal Emma Bradley Jana Amin Kathryn Fernandopulle Kayla Mathieu Madeline Fitzgibbon Nikhil Pande Eliza Barrett-Cotter Erinma Onyewuchi Karol Querido Leydn McEvoy
Sports
Luke Monnich Gianna Gallagher Sam Barrett Tori Choo George Rose Jehan Boer Riya Singh
(Fa)ke It Until You Make (I)t (Th)rough Lights out for boarders and still haven’t finished your homework? Don’t worry, we’ve been there too, juggling assignments at a two-hour study hall knowing all the while that we have five classes tomorrow, each of which has supposedly assigned 45 minutes of homework. The math certainly doesn’t add up, and we compensate for these frequent miscalculations by overpaying with the currency of sleep. After all, Milton regularly teaches us the essence of commitment and integrity, not just in the final result, but also on the road there, which means avoiding those shortcuts that oftentimes feel so irresistible. Whether or not a teacher formally checks homework, studying here means doing all the prescribed work. Supposedly, our commitment to work paves the way to success, helping us survive the intensive academic rhythm here. Good evidence supports this system: future work builds upon past knowledge, and a strong foundation precedes success in any field. This understanding resounds through our halls. Over time, however, the promise has eroded for many students, particularly as we wade further into a sea of workload. Staying up till 1 AM for one night might feel manageable, but 3 nights in a row throws any human being into jet lag. Despite all odds, howevMilton’s Independent Weekly Student Newspaper “A Forum for Discussion and Thought” Founded 1979 • Publishing Weekly Since 1983 Founders Mark Deneen • David Roth The Milton Paper is an independent, student-produced publication. It does not necessarily represent the views of the students, faculty, staff, 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 rights to edit letters for content, length, and clarity. We will not publish anonymous letters. If inclined, please take the opportunity to write us. Send letters by mail (Letters to the Editor, The Milton Paper, 325 Randolph Avenue, Milton, MA 02186), by email (TheMiltonPaper37@gmail.com), or by personal delivery to our office, Warren 304
er, each of us faces constant pressure to not only succeed but also convey the image of an orderly, diligent student. Appearing disorganized or oblivious in front of our peers can be a nightmare, and, whether we like to admit or not, teacher perception of a student may factor into the grading process and one’s day-to-day experience in class. Milton has promoted fairness and addressed favoritism quite well as an institution, but the undercurrent of emphasis on appearance continues to flow here, as it does everywhere else. Even though adults often profess to adolescents that mistakes and failures actually provide valuable learning experiences, the stakes may simply be too high. To that end, even when Milton students fall behind in homework or understanding of material, many will lie and pretend they’re still on track. Perhaps the behavior starts as an occasional incidence, but poor precedent can develop into perpetual habit. Some refer to this mentality as “fake it till you make it.” So why is this increasingly troubling phenomenon manifesting at Milton? The Editorial Board believes it stems from a perception that what is highly valued at Milton is not as strongly valued by employers. Whereas schools often stress the importance of the process, the workplace generally focuses on results. The unfortunate truth is that an employer may not oversee the process of workers at all, and shortcuts are often perceived as necessary to achieve success. In turn, when our independence at Milton increasingly nudges us toward a result-oriented mindset, focusing on results and cutting corners seems justified. The “results” path seems easier, realistic, and perhaps even encouraged among parts of the student community. The “fake it till you make it” men-
tality runs counter to many fundamental values here at Milton. The administration views our 4 years as a time largely designed for us to acquire methods and ideas we’ll continue to employ past high school, rather than an environment that encourages us to cut corners simply because “adults do it too.” We agree, but we must also acknowledge that a combination of high workloads and newfound independence here has long generated a trend toward cutting corners and being deceitful about homework, and they’ll continue to do so until teachers and students speak together honestly about students’ balancing enormous loads of classes and commitments. Teachers must understand that students see workload very differently than adults do. We should avoid using progress on academic assignments as a measure of success. Each student works with different schedules, some of which may not align with the ones laid out by their teachers, but neither falling behind nor speeding up has to carry the connotation of disorder or dedication. Additionally, communication and understanding is key. Students often choose to lie because they realize too late that they cannot finish work on time, but if they express the need for more flexibility earlier, their planning significantly reduces the pressure that often pushes them to lie about homework in the first place. High school does not have to force a divergence between honesty to the process and achieving substantial results. If we lessen the perceptual stress on Milton students for staying organized while also fostering an atmosphere that encourages communication and grace, we might be happier, more honest students even more strongly committed to integrity and scholarship. Milton students don’t want to “fake it.” Take it on faith. •
NEWS
Meet Lu Adami Oscar Burnes ‘21
With the start of the school year came a rush of new faces in the faculty, including the newest member of the Milton Academy visual arts department: Lu Adami, or as we know them, Ms. Lu. After graduating from Brown with a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and spending the summer working at the Taft School teaching classes in video production and studio art, Ms. Lu joins Milton as a part of the Penn Resident Masters in Teaching Program. Interestingly, when Ms. Lu entered the art industry, they were set against becoming an art teacher. This mindset stayed with them until their sophomore year of college, when they realized a reason they like art is because everyone can do it, even those with no experience. After that, Ms. Lu asked themself, “Why wouldn’t I want to be an art teacher?” From there, their first teaching job “just kind of happened.” When Ms. Lu found out about the Penn program, they began researching schools involved. They knew that they wanted to be near Boston or their hometown of Chicago, but after their first interview here, they thought Milton was a place that has “so much going on, but is still a community,” and they found this balance impressive. After that interview, Ms. Lu knew they wanted to work here. Ms. Lu’s experience at Milton so far has been amazing. While their classes, dorm affiliation with Hallowell, and participation in clubs have already made their Milton experience good, Ms. Lu “really likes it here,” and, although they never went to a boarding school, the dynamic certainly sparked their interest. Ms. Lu is teaching eighth grade and Class IV visual arts, and even though the classes are required courses, they feel the kids are engaged with the material and eager to create. Although it depends on the students, they say, “all [their] classes have been great.” Looking ahead at the coming year in the Penn program, Ms. Lu will be incredibly busy being a full time teacher at Milton while keeping up with their school work. Beyond these responsibilities, Ms. Lu is driven to learn more about Milton’s unconventional grading system in the middle school and throughout the arts program to see how it affects their classes. Whatever Ms. Lu ends up committing to at Milton, they are sure to
accomplish lots. On top of their commitments as an art teacher, Ms. Lu is an artist outside of school. They love painting and sewing, among other artistic endeavors. Ms. Lu also views themself as a very active person; they played water polo in college, they love hiking and the outdoors, and they work out as often as possible. Additionally, Ms. Lu adopted a cat last week, and the move has made some Hallowell residents very happy. We should remember that there are new faces around Milton that are not just new students, but also interesting teachers that have joined the faculty. While new teachers can seem scary, I assure you Ms. Lu is a great addition. Not to overuse the cliché, but if you see Ms. Lu around, just say hi. •
PAGE 3 speech? It’s one of those things that I sort of fell into. I just happened to gravitate towards plays and drama, and that was the thing that stuck. As I was entering high school, I had a friend whose older sister did speech. She said, “Oh, Scott. You would probably like this.” I joined the team as a freshman and have never had a year without speech in my life since. After working as an actor, what brought you to teaching? Do you still act or have you shifted your focus to teaching? I have been coaching ever since graduating from high school. As I moved out into professional acting, I found that I was able to balance both: different teams have different coaching needs, so I was given a lot of flexibility. Until this point, it had always been that I was acting or directing in my primary role and teaching on the side; I look at this transition as a flip of that. What kinds of hobbies/activities do you take part in during your free time?
Image courtesy of Milton Academy
New Faculty Member Spotlight: Scott Caron Alison Blake ‘22
What about Milton interested you in working here? I actually competed [in speech] against Milton when I was a student. I graduated from high school in 2008, so I’ve known of Milton Academy’s excellence in speech and the performing arts for a long time. Being part of anything that feels like the next great level in my career has always been of interest to me, and, so, in looking for a way to expand my teaching and coaching, I thought Milton seemed like a great place to land. What sparked your interest in acting and
That’s always a tough question for me because I’m so lucky to make a living off of what is a hobby for so many people. Outside of that, I enjoy going to the theater. I enjoy reading books. And I also have found in the last year that I really enjoy group fitness, so fitness classes and stuff like that are a great outlet for me. Does any role that you have played or production that you have directed stand out to you as your favorite when looking back on your career? I’ve had a lot of really interesting moments of growth in both of those areas—in my acting and my directing. When I look at my directing career, I’ve been lucky to direct a couple of projects this last year, including a short play: Visions of An Eagle Atop a Cactus Eating a Snake. It’s between a father and a daughter, and they’re sitting at the Mexican-American border to help people cross. The father is finding the language to tell a 10-year-old what’s going on. It’s really touching, and it’s also really heartbreaking. I really enjoy taking a listening role when doing these pieces because I can’t say that that’s something I have experience with, but I love being able to figure out how somebody else can be the center of focus. I think we’re in a great moment for theater to do that. In terms of acting, the role that has felt the most “me” that I’ve played is “Mark” Continued on Page 5
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Transitions Continued From Page 1
amongst that demographic that we lost from the past, and be very creative on how we’re going to make up for that. We’re going to have a big overnight retreat for our students of color and international students. We’re very dedicated to providing ongoing programming and support for all our new students but our POC and international students in particular.” In the meantime, many new students of color reported feeling overwhelmed when the rest of the school flooded in. “As a person of color, it is extremely intimidating walking into a predominantly white school, and I feel that [more days with just students of color] may have been better because some of us may have felt that we had more of a support system with those that can relate to what it is like being a person of color,” says Kylee Galva ‘23. Some of the incoming students of color felt less connected. And the notorious Milton divide, in which white students and those of color self-segregate, was still evident despite the changes in this program. “When all the white kids did come it was quite overwhelming...I feel this just got people into separate groups instead of merged groups,” says a freshman. Now, there are some semi-universal agreements we can get out of the way—everyone made friends, felt supported, figured out how to navigate campus, was exhausted, screamed at the pep rally, and bonded with mentors. Unlike returners, new students came in with uniquely fresh sets of expectations. Some people expected the program to be boring, others expected an orientation and friend-making bonanza, and still others had heard it had changed; none of these negative expectations were fulfilled. “I didn’t really have any expectations going into the program, ” said Kwabena Adae ‘22. “I thought maybe it would be something basic and kinda useless in the long run, but it ended up being really enjoyable.” Molly Isaac ‘23 voiced her own expectations for the program, saying that she “thought it was going to be more team building, but it was mostly sitting and talking about diversity which is important, but [it] was too early to do that.” “It was fewer games and more difficult conversations,” explained Jessica Lee ‘23. “It was hard because [those conversations] were with people who we didn’t know at all. I think they were very important discussions, but they should have been saved until later in the year when you knew peo-
NEWS ple. I was having conversations about those things with kids I had just met, and I found it very hard.” Plenty of students expressed opinions on the intensive layout of the program. “Some of [the activities] went on longer than they needed to,” says Sophia Fife ‘23, “I didn’t have as much time to just hang out. Even though I met some friends I didn’t really have time to bond with them outside of the dorms.” “I think it was good that we were busy,” reveals Amanda Alegria ‘23 “so much so that we didn’t have time to start getting homesick. But, maybe a little extra downtime would have been better.” Some even favored the old layout, with another freshman saying they “wish there was some more introduction to the workload and how it feels to be a Milton student.” Julia Price concurred, stating that “The amount of work in the high school hit [her] hard which [she feels] wasn’t talked about as much.” Regardless of anyone’s expectations and opinions, the experience was new for everyone. New students learned about the themes of our campus culture for the coming years. Tanner Burnett ‘23 explained that he “learned about identity from [John Gentile],” one of the weekend’s speakers. Jay Sanchez ‘23 learned that “microaggressions are almost inevitable along with prejudice” “I got to develop an idea of the school and meet a few people while learning about important issues before classes started,” says Sophia Fife ‘23. “I have solid people like the mentors that I feel I can turn to and I knew the rules of the school before entering the classroom.” “The program was a great introduction to Milton, and without it I feel like I might have been introduced to a lot of things differently and more abruptly,” says Kwabena Adae ‘22. Before, “people just didn’t get included in the conversations that we usually have during transitions, but now they have that power,” relates Ira Sobchyshyna. “There are so many younger students that express interest in the conferences that never really happened. So many white students are expressing an interest in learning more and getting more involved and invested in the culture we’re trying to create here. Even if we can tap into a small population of students that are seeking additional resources that’s a win because we haven’t had that before even though we’ve had the resources,” says Rodriguez. Like some other dorm parents and members have related, Ira “saw people hang-
ing in Robbins that [she] would never imagine coming together.” The horizon holds as many possibilities as the student and faculty bodies have perspectives; our future is dependent on all these perspectives being shared and welcomed. “I think it’s in our best interest if we’re clear as a faculty and as a community what this program is for. We were told last spring that this program was going to happen and that we needed support. But, I think now we need to go back and have those discussions about who we’re trying to reach and in what ways. I would like faculty and students to actually have conversations about this. I feel like a lot of feedback is one on one with Mr. Rodriguez and we need to have bigger discussions and hear each other,” says WuWong. For better or for worse, the transitions that once was just doesn’t exist anymore. But the purpose hasn’t changed entirely. It is not just students of color transitioning into Milton anymore—it is Milton transitioning into something greater. •
Faculty Spotlight: Stephanie Ault Shiloh Liu ‘22
Image courtesy of Milton Academy On Friday, September 6th, Mr. Ball introduced fifteen new faculty members to the Upper School during its opening Convocation Ceremony, including Stephanie Ault ‘86. Ms. Ault is a new intern counselor whose office is located on the second level of the Health and Counseling Center. Ms. Ault earned a master’s degree in counseling at Lesley University, a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, a J.D. from Boston College Law School, and an M.Ed. from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Continued on Page 5
NEWS Faculty Spotlight: Stephanie Ault Continued From Page 4
Image courtesy of Milton Academy
New Faculty Member Spotlight: Scott Caron Continued From Page 3
from Rent. It’s more that Mark is figuring things out; he’s young enough to still be interested and excited by the world but also very critical of it. He’s just trying to figure out who he is and where he stands in the world, and there’s something about trial and error that always speaks to me. I also just love rock opera, and the material is great. After being recognized nationally for your coaching at Shrewsbury High School and the Bronx High School of Science, do you take any lessons from your past work to teaching now? I’ve learned a lot about individual success and how that relates to team success. The biggest thing that I draw from those experiences is that speech is so much and so often centered around “me.” It’s not really about that at the end of the day, though. Yes, that, but how do we then connect with each other through the activity? I’ve learned a lot about team, and it’s a big focus in an activity that often feels like it’s all about the individual. Is there anything you are particularly excited to see or do at Milton? As my big focus is the speech team, and I’m not involved in the productions, I’m so excited to see what Milton does in terms of the plays, the musicals, and the Class IV Follies. I love seeing students that I work with in one context shine in a different one, so I’m excited to see students that I have in class doing whatever it is that they do best around campus. That crossover is absolutely my favorite. •
She has worked at Lesley University Counseling Center, Newton Central High School, Newton Public Schools’ Springboard program, and BINA Farm Center. As a counselor, Ms. Ault is an excellent resource for the Upper School community. Students would agree that Milton is a high-stress place where academics, social abilities, and emotions play huge roles in their lives. Counselors are here to provide students a comfortable, confidential space where they can be heard. Ms. Ault, like all other counselors on campus, is more than willing to get to know the Milton community by extending a helping hand. Tell us about yourself. I am currently working as an intern even though I am a bit “on the older side.” Counseling requires at least two years of being in the field (although I already did some of that work during school). Before counseling, I worked in the television industry, and I even moved to and lived in Ireland for six years after I met my husband. When we moved back, I worked with a lot of kids on SAT/ACT tutoring, and I taught horseback riding for another few years. Because I am not as physically capable to do that kind of work anymore, I decided to use my extensive experience in working with younger people to get my master’s degree in counseling. For some reason, I was often very good at helping the kids that other teachers or counselors couldn’t seem to manage. Why did you want to become a counselor at Milton? I have always found teenagers interesting. Since teenagers are in a unique stage between child and adult, they are often trying to figure out who they are. I want to help students go through this process, especially when they are far away from home. I also had a great counselor when I was in college, and I want to reflect on that wonderful experience by taking up that role and supporting Milton students. I graduated from Milton in 1986, so Milton was naturally my first job choice. Actually, Milton has changed quite a lot over the years. It was two schools—a boys’ school and a girls’ school—during my time here: the
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boys on one side of the Forbes side of campus and the girls on the Hathaway and Faulkner (now the Health Center) side. We had classes together, but gyms and assemblies were separated. Millet and Norris are new, too. It was also surprising to see that academics are, increasingly, taking a big toll on students—not only within Milton but also along the general trend in our country. What is one piece of advice you would give to Milton students regarding stress? Be kind to yourself. Really. A lot of people are worried about grades, especially college applications. My husband worked in the computer industry, and he told me that a college title doesn’t matter once you get your first job. In fact, he argues that your first job is often based on ability rather than educational background. Colleges, and high schools, too, should be seen as milestones—not requirements with huge consequences. Talking to a counselor is especially helpful for students dealing with this kind of stress. A counselor is, perhaps, one of the few people who won’t expect something from you. A counselor simply makes conversation and shares their own expertise. What are some other interests that you have? I am very fond of horseback riding, and though I’m not as physically able as I was before, I really want to compete. I also love cooking, and one of my favorite cooking channels includes Tiny Kitchen on Instagram. I have an adopted daughter who is thirteen, and I spend a lot of time with her along with our two dogs, two cats, and two horses; the horses don’t live in the same house though! Final thoughts? I am very excited to learn from my colleagues and make new connections at Milton. Welcome to counseling any time! • Health and Counseling Center: 348 Centre St, Milton, MA 02186 (next to Hathaway), 617-898-2470
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NEWS
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Image courtesy of milton.edu
Community Engagement Susie Urstadt ‘20
Community service is a part of most high schools across the U.S. In D.C. and Maryland, district and statewide laws require all public school students to complete a certain number of community service hours in order to graduate; in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey and more, community service hours can be turned into class credits. In Massachusetts, however, there are no laws requiring students to complete community service. Nonetheless, at Milton, a large part of the student body still participates in Community Engagement (a name adopted in 2016 to promote the idea that in helping others we both give and receive). Many Milton students agree that Community Engagement is both meaningful to people in need and fun and rewarding for the students who take part. Eleni Mazareas ‘21 says that she enjoys community service because “it’s so nice to give back to places and people that give us so much.” Willa DuBois
‘20 says that she enjoys “feeling like a part of the greater Milton community,” and that Community Engagement gives her a chance to “get out of the Milton bubble.” Community Engagement can also be a great way to make new friends, especially for new students who are still finding their way around Milton. Additionally, Ms. Geyling-Moore addresses the dreaded college application and concludes that “while students may sign up initially so that they can put Community Engagement on their college applications, many students come to love Community Engagement.” This year, the Community Engagement team has a few updates. They published the first edition of their newsletter, an idea that Ms. Geyling-Moore says the board has been considering for a while. The newsletter includes new service opportunities, student testimonials, and a section about the community service co-heads and board members. Most of the students I talked to were not previously aware of the newsletter and said that they just went to the fair and signed up instead. According to board members, they plan to publish semiannually or triannually. Also new this year is Mr. Anantawan’s Music Inclusion Program, which he founded last spring. According to the website, www.miprogram.com, “the MI program will address one aspect of educational and social inequality in this country by creating an acces-
sible orchestral learning environment for all of its participants, regardless of ability. We seek to design and implement an inclusive model of orchestral (strings, wind, percussion, and assistive music technology) education that removes barriers of access due to the confluence of disability and socioeconomic background.” Mr. Anantawan will be co-directing operations with music therapist Gwyndolyn Jones at the Henderson Inclusion school. The Community Engagement program is a great part of Milton and everyone who is interested should consider joining. Sam Bateman ‘20, one of the co-heads, says “Community Engagement is essential to our education because it provides perspectives about the world and our place in it that we can’t get from classroom learning alone.” Happy volunteering! •
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OPINION
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Our New Exam Week Christian Westphal ‘21
Last year, I wrote an article for this newspaper urging the administration to change exam week to the last week of school in December. To my surprise, I learned a few days ago that my wish had been granted. Now, before I sound too cocky, I recognize there were most likely only two people who read that article (myself and my editor). Nonetheless, I still can’t stop myself from feeling even the smallest amount of pride for this exciting change. Here’s why you should be as happy about this shift as I am. It’s important to recognize the potential negatives this shift creates: seniors might have less time to focus on their applications, we won’t get our grades back immediately, and teachers will have to adjust their schedules for the learning that must take place in January. But, in terms of retaining knowledge, the difference between one and three weeks off is monumental. For those who weren’t here last year, we used to have exams after a long winter break, during which our minds had inevitably turned into mush. We’d be expected to show up after these three weeks and remember everything we had learned prior to the break, while also preparing to learn even more information. Now, with Thanksgiving break being the only significant time off before exams, students are more likely to retain knowledge. Students will also be accountable for less information because of the fewer class days we will have had– sounds like a recipe for better exam grades to me. Then there’s the fact that most colleges and other ISL schools have exams before break. In terms of preparing us for the schedules we’ll encounter there, having exams in December can only help. We Milton students need to, for once, slow down, stop complaining, and imagine the following scenario: walking out of the ACC from your last exam with a smile on your face, knowing that your first semester is practically over (learning material without needing to prepare for an exam will seem so easy!!). Having exam week before break enables students to enjoy time with friends and family completely stress-free, as there is no need to worry that you might happen to forget everything you’ve already learned. And, if your brain does in fact turn to mush during our very long winter break, don’t worry, it’s a sign that you must’ve vacationed right. •
Image courtesy of keepcalmstudio.com
On Equality Kayla Mathieu ‘21
As I sat in my biology class, I listened to the girl sitting next to me stressing over her upcoming engineering quiz. Stunned to hear that Milton even offered engineering courses, I asked her what the male-to-female ratio was in the class, thinking that women in STEM at Milton had come a little bit further than women in STEM in the “real” world. She responded that there were two girls in the class and at least ten boys. At that point, I realized that I have mistakenly idolized Milton as an ideal bubble in which inequality is not a severe problem. Upon thinking more about my classmate’s experience in her engineering class, I began to think about other fields in which girls are at a great disadvantage at Milton. I realized that this inequality was much more prevalent than I had initially noticed. I recall girls being scared away from investment club or debate team meetings, intimidated by the male dominated environment. But I realized that this epidemic of female intimidation wasn’t confined to a club or classroom setting; the epidemic courses through Milton as part of its everyday culture. It’s in the upperclassmen section of the STU, where a girl is afraid to walk through the group of massive boys; it’s in the gym, where a female athlete is afraid to workout
because of the tradition of boys yelling at one another to get weights up. Now, I would like to be extremely clear about something. The purpose of this article is not to blame one sex or the other; it is simply to emphasize that every single person in the Milton community has become too comfortable with our current culture. This comfort is not merely limited to the culture of female intimidation, but also to the way we have become accustomed to certain norms within the Milton community, such as what it means to be a part of the conservative club, what kinds of people participate in school musicals, who sits in the “back corner” of the sophomore section, and many others. These communal understandings of our microcosms that contribute to building a divisive culture that has become part of our everyday lives at Milton. As a community, we must hold each other accountable for these toxic normalities. Taking action in a school setting is an important way to start nipping toxic habits in the bud. Milton is more than just a place where we learn megablunders and geometry; it is a place where we develop habits and establish social norms that we will carry for the rest of our lives. As such, it is vital that we demand each other not to be content with our current social norms, but to improve the way we interact with each other, starting by acknowledging this toxic culture. •
OPINION
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This Just In! You’re Not Paying Attention Karol Querido ‘22
As we gear up to face the school year ahead, we tend to forget about the events taking place beyond Milton’s walls. Even though Milton is bisected by Centre Street, students don’t have much of a connection with the greater neighborhood, let alone the world beyond. There’s a clear problem with how we get our news, and terrifyingly, some people don’t seem to care about the news at all. As I garnered from the survey I sent out last week, the student body is pretty inattentive to events occurring outside the school. 21% of 99 respondents admit that they do not pay attention to the news at all. Although a solid majority keep up with the news every week, the quality of the news they seek was the most surprising to me. While over 70% of respondents acquire their information from relatively reputable sources like CNN and the New York Times, 15% rely on sources such as The Shade Room and Buzzfeed News to provide them with the daily rundown of current events. While it is important to scope out a variety of news sources to understand other viewpoints, these sources should not be your main outlet for well articulated, accurate news. It is important that people inquire a little bit more about where they and the people around them get their news and what level of validity it holds, especially in this age of fake news. The truth is that we students are not as invested in the world around us as we should be. This notion in and of itself is a privilege. The majority of the students at Milton do not feel obligated to keep tabs on the broader world because their livelihood does not extend far beyond the campus’ radius. So why should we even have to stay alert about the news at all times? In the survey, one student argued that they “don’t find it all too important. Here for a good time, not a long time.” This shouldn’t even be a question, but that would give too much credit to those who bask in the privilege of remaining ignorant. Being able to stay unaware of the news is a privilege, because it means that your life will remain relatively unaffected by events in the news. Not everyone can afford to be so ignorant. Many students on campus go home to a different dynamic, one where politics is always a discussion (and perhaps a danger-
Image courtesy of neatoday.org ous one) at the dinner table. There are many people on this campus for whom the proposals stemming from the presidential debates will directly threaten their daily lives and the lives of the people around them. Whether your life is greatly affected by the news or whether you intend to “just vote for whoever is against Trump” (one student’s motives), paying mind to our political climate and promoting the spread of honest, comprehensive news does matter. We are blessed with the opportunity to tap a few buttons and have fresh news pop up at our fingertips everyday. It’s time for us to take advantage of this for the better. •
Our Scandalous College Culture Continued From Page 1 A lot about the application system is unnecessarily stressful. How much of a difference will an Ivy League or other elite diploma actually make in your future? I’ve been wondering about this question as the college process looms ever closer. It’s clear that if the hype about certain colleges and the pressure to attend a “good” college is strong enough to drive people to break laws to get into a certain school, there’s probably something wrong with the system. We’ve all heard that the students who cheat do it out of stress, not malice, so the same is probably true with the parents-turned-crim-
inals of the college scandal. I’m not defending the parents who were entitled enough to believe that their child deserved an unfair advantage in a difficult system, but I think that the college scandal was caused not by parents and students, but by our collective overhyping of certain schools. Now, maybe some schools are actually worth breaking laws to get into, but I highly doubt it. After college, you still have countless opportunities in graduate school and the workforce to make yourself successful. The college admissions scandal is a direct result of our obsession over certain schools and our broken college process. It shouldn’t have taken a scandal to raise awareness on the toxicity of the college process. At Milton, we need to spread the message that college doesn’t actually determine your entire future. You have lots of options. There’s a great school somewhere for each one of us, and reducing the toxicity of our college culture will go a long way towards avoiding another admissions scam. And seniors, as you apply to college, just a reminder: if you don’t do crew and your parents ask you to do a photoshoot on an erg, maybe you should think twice. •
PSA: clean up ur own starburst wrappers
OPINION
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Image courtesy of the Spanish Exchange
What I learned from my Spanish Exchange Student, Nanda Jana Amin ‘21
It was a Thursday night. I had a ton of homework and was tired from a long day of school. Above all, I was worried. I had spent a total of five hours with my Spanish exchange student over the preceding week, and I was about to leave her for an entire weekend for a speech tournament. I kept thinking back to the long days she had spent with me in Madrid, happily taking me shopping on a Wednesday night even though she had school the next morning, and I felt horrible. She had been an amazing host, and while I was trying my best, Milton was more boring than Madrid was, and I had a lot more commitments than she had. “Nanda!” I exclaimed upon seeing her and giving her a hug. “Cómo estás?” She updated me on everything the exchange students had done that week that I missed. My
smile eventually faltered to a look of self-disappointment as I relayed my weekend plans to her. I was already thinking about what I could do the coming week to make this time up to her when she grinned at me and said, “Perfect!” I was immediately caught off guard, but I realized that she really meant what she had said. The quiet, hang-out-with-friends weekend that I had planned for her actually seemed to satisfy everything she thought a good weekend needed. Intrigued, I wanted to ask her more about what made this weekend so perfect, but I had a mountain of homework to move on to before packing for my trip. A couple of days later, after returning from my speech tournament, I sat down for breakfast with Nanda and asked her about her weekend. What transpired, both over breakfast and later over dinner, was a long conversation about the merits of our vastly different lifestyles. Not very much unlike myself, Nanda loved to learn, read, play music, and practice tennis. And yet, her extra-curricular activities were just that: activities. While here in the US, colleges evaluate students on their holistic profiles, in Spain, a student gets into college if that student’s grades are above that college’s grade cutoff. Thus, in the US, activities slowly
morph into resume bullet points and unfortunately lose most of their original allure, while in Spain, activities remain pressure-free, and even provide an outlet for student stress. As much as I wanted to throw up my hands in the air and forget about the countless expectations that suddenly surrounded the clubs I had signed up for at the shop-around freshman year, I knew it was not so simple. For Nanda, her activities were not the only “calmer” aspects of her life. To Nanda and her family, life was about family, about being in good health, about thriving for the little moments. Whether you are a junior like I am, a senior, a sophomore, or even a freshman whose grades “don’t matter”, take a moment to reflect on your lifestyle. Is it crazy? I’m sure. Are you stressed? Probably. Is that okay? Yes. However, in order to fully respect ourselves, we must incorporate the values of Nanda’s life into our own lives. So play tennis just to play tennis. Use your activities as an outlet for your stress, not as the creator of that stress. Push yourself every day while still remembering the importance of taking a step back. Thrive for the little moments, even if these moments simply involve a laid back weekend with your friends as Nanda’s did. •
A&E
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Art in the Movement: a Modern Day Example in Hong Kong Lynn Yuan ‘21
Entering their 16th consecutive week, the Hong Kong freedom protests seem to have no plans of stopping until freedom of speech is guaranteed. News outlets often focus on the more violent aspects of the Hong Kong protests while failing to illustrate the majority who demonstrate peacefully. One aspect of peaceful protest in Hong Kong that is not represented enough in Western media is the use of art to further the cause. Using iconic symbols such as the yellow umbrella and massive collaborative displays, Hongkongers creatively demonstrate their desire for democracy and a better future for their city. The protests in Hong Kong began in March of 2019, but picked up momentum in June. They began over the Extradition Law Amendment Bill, proposed this February, which would allow for the Hong Kong government to turn over criminal offenders in Hong Kong to Mainland China. This bill, which, in my opinion, harms more than helps the citizens of Hong Kong, brings them closer to an undesired merging with China. This bill affects more than just criminals, and it would be another example of the unresponsive governing body ignoring the will and welfare of its citizens. “The extradition bill was a trigger point,” claimed Samuel Chu, one of the many students participating in the protests, in a report to the South China Morning Post; it was a wake-up call to the rare pro-democratic population in a totalitarian state. In all the chaos of mass demonstrations and street violence, many protesters have used art as a platform to voice their beliefs. The yellow umbrella, a symbol that rose from the ashes of the 2014 Umbrella Revolution, has become a major symbol of democracy in Hong Kong. The symbol derives from the protesters’ use of umbrellas to shield themselves from police-fired tear gas. Simultaneously, Hong Kong flag’s orchid has made its way onto countless social media posts, acting as a bold proclamation of Hong Kong’s freedom from the Chinese government. Protest information, integrated into posters, is distributed both physically and electronically. Protesters have also created large-scale exhibitions to stress their cause, like communal walls for community members to plaster with post it notes expressing
Lennon walls in HK, image courtesy of the nytimes.com their desire ability to speak freely anonymously. These displays of collective will are named Lennon Walls after the John Lennon Wall in Prague. Protesters at the airport, who are seen on an almost weekly basis, have also taken to including artwork in the form of leaflets (translated into many languages) and more in their sit-ins so to inform travellers about their cause. In the larger art community, acclaimed artist Ai Wei Wei, a politically active Chinese artist well known for speaking on and taking decisive action against the totalitarian Chinese government in the past, broke the art world’s silence about the unrest by speaking clearly upon his position of the world’s ignorance. In an interview with The Art Newspaper, he declared, “Hong Kong is on fire, [and] the world is indifferent to the [struggle].” Indeed, the world—especially the United States—pays little attention to the persistence and magnitude of the protests; however, what the physical protests cannot do, the political art circulating through social media across the globe can. I experience the unrelenting will of the Hong Kong protests through my friends, who post designs and posters on their Instagram and Snapchat stories. While I was in Hong Kong, I would often receive airdrop requests from total strangers walking to different places, giving me information on the next protest. The most memorable moment was seeing the collaboration put into the Lennon Walls: achievements which showed me both the hope and anger that are ingrained in the protesters’ actions. Going forward, I hope that our school community will begin to pay more attention to the movement in Hong Kong. •
The Bachelor Takes a Risk Gracie Denneen ‘21
As a lover of romance, drama, and heartbreak, I, along with millions of Americans, consider myself a proud member of Bachelor Nation. While watching the show, I laughed and cried at the same time. The finale of Bachelor in Paradise’s most recent season aired last week, and it was the most dramatic episode I have ever seen. The night of the premiere, I made popcorn, grabbed a Sprite, and planted myself on the couch for a two hour saga of proposals and shattered dreams. I was riveted the entire time. This season of Bachelor in Paradise exceeded my wildest expectations. Traditionally, the Bachelor and Bachelorette follow very heterosexual structures: each bachelor or bachelorette dates 30 contestants of the opposite sex in hopes of finding love with one of them. The show features lavish dates complete with bungee jumping adventures, bubbling champagne, and fancy dinners, but also lots of drama between the contestants and tense rose ceremonies where the bachelor or bachelorette decides which contestants to dump. A similar setup applies to the spinoff show Bachelor in Paradise. The contestants spend their time on the “paradise” beach in Mexico. Though the show hosts 37 male and female contestants, only a handful of them start in the first episode. Everyone wants to couple-up beContinued on Page 11
A&E
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6ix9ine: The Rise and Fall Hubert King ‘21
6ix9ine, or Tekashi 69, is one of the most polarizing and controversial figures in the hip-hop industry today. Born Daniel Hernandez, his legal troubles seem to stem from his troubled past. His father was shot when he was thirteen, causing Hernandez to act out in school and subsequently get expelled in eighth grade. Recently, he was arrested on gang-related charges but managed to strike a deal in which he pled guilty and testified against his fellow gang members in exchange for a lighter sentence. As a result, his reputation has suffered greatly; the public has labeled him as a “snitch,” and threats against his life have been so dire that he has been placed into 24/7 witness protection. Hernandez’s career has been unconventional, to say the least. His hardcore style of rap takes on elements of trap and heavy metal music. His debut single, “Gummo,” rose to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. And despite the negative critical reception that stemmed from his intense, gruff style, his debut studio album reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 200. According to Jon Caramanica of the New York Times, Hernandez’s success was a manifestation of a growing trend of “soundcloud rappers,” which are rappers who gain the majority of their following off of soundcloud.com. Last Friday marked the end of Hernandez’s grueling two-day testimony and cross examination. In his testimony, he recounted the dealings of a gang called the Nine Trey crew, which included “robberies, drugs, and assaults.” He dissected the lyrics from his songs, explaining their meaning within the gang and the connections that his music had to the inner workings of the gang. In addition, he testified to an assault that he and other gang members carried out on Trippie Redd, a rapper whom he was feuding with. In another instance, Hernandez explained his dealing with an associate named “Kooda,” whom he offered 20,000 dollars to murder Chief Keef, another subject of Hernandez’s feuding. More notably, he recounted his kidnapping by the Nine Trey gangsters around the time of his first gang-related arrests. Hernandez did not report the incident because he was still adhering to the gang’s code, which is adamantly against “snitching.” As he faces a minimum sentence of 47 years, Hernandez has evidently decided to help himself at the expense of his safety, career, and reputation. While his career has not completely fizzled out, the future remains bleak for this rapper’s unconventional and remarkable rise to stardom. •
Portrait 6ix9ine, courtesy of fordhamram.com
The Bachelor Takes a Risk Continued From Page 10 cause if they do not receive a rose, they will be sent home. As contestants get eliminated, new faces arrive at the shore to stir up drama. On the Bachelor, thirty women compete for one man; on the Bachelorette, thirty men compete for one woman; and on Bachelor in Paradise, the show has the men present the roses one week and the women the next. Due to this setup, the show supports the outdated message that love can exist solely between a man and a woman. But one couple on this groundbreaking season of Bachelor in Paradise challenged the franchise’s view of sexual orientation, and threw all of Bachelor Nation for a serious loop. Demi Burnett, who was a contestant on Colton’s season of the Bachelor, came to Paradise looking for love but also thinking about a woman back at home: Kristian Haggerty. Demi and Kristian began their relationship prior to Demi’s arrival in Paradise. Once there, Demi began dating Derek Peth, but Demi couldn’t shake her feelings for Kristian. A couple of weeks into Demi’s time in Paradise, the production team invited Kristian to surprise Demi and continue their relationship in Paradise (please watch the video of Kristian’s surprising her; it’s the most heartwarming video I’ve ever seen). Their bond blossomed into a strong, loving relationship, resulting in one of the most tear-jerking engagements ever. The Bachelor franchise took a big risk by fully supporting Demi and Kristian’s
relationship. In the past, the show promoted only heterosexual relationships, so the franchise had no clue how their fanbase would react and how its ratings would be affected. But, they decided to go for it anyway, and it paid off! Not only did major news organizations such as The New York Times, CBS News, and USA Today feature the love story in their headlines, but Demi and Kristian received overwhelming support from Bachelor Nation and beyond. Anthony Ramos of Time Magazine stated that “this move to include a same-sex relationship in an honest fashion has the power to upend preconceived notions of LGBTQ+ people like Demi who are attracted to more than one gender.” The Bachelor franchise’s advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and their viewers’ acceptance of Demi and Kristian’s relationship represent a small, but amazing, step toward a more accepting future. Demi and Kristian have inspired people in Bachelor Nation and around the world to be themselves. When given the opportunity to express their love to the world, they took a leap of faith and in return received mounds of love and support. In an interview, Demi said to People Magazine: “I’ve learned that it’s okay to be myself and embrace that and own it… I want to be honest and open. Love is love.” Demi and Kristian have inspired me, and many others, to take more risks, accept myself for who I am, and accept others for who they are. Everybody deserves the right to be themselves and live their lives the way they want to. Also, if anyone knows the host, Chris Harrison, or Demi and Kristian, please email me ASAP. I’d love to go to the wedding. •
SPORTS
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Image courtesy of nationalpost.com
The Hermit Kingdom’s Hercules Antoine Wiley ‘20
Om Yun-Chol is one of the proportionally strongest people in human history. At 5 feet tall and 121 pounds, he might not match most people’s expectations of what a world record shattering athlete looks like; nonetheless, he is a weightlifting machine. Om is a North Korean Olympic gold and silver medalist, a five-time world weightlifting champion, and the current International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) record hold-
er in the men’s 56 kg category clean and jerk (171 kg, a weight three times greater than his own bodyweight). At last week’s 2019 IWF World Championship, Om broke his own clean and jerk world record by 4 kg with a 166 kg lift. He also set the 55kg total (the sum of the clean and jerk, and snatch) world record of 294 kg on his way to winning his fifth world championship. Om obliterated his competition, lifting 8 kg more than the second place snatch competitor and beating out the runner-up in the clean and jerk by 17 kg. In a progression that defies intuition, Om had failed to lift 163 kg prior to lifting 166 kg, but instead of staying at trying again at that weight, Om upped the weight by 3 kg and nailed the lift. What could possibly be behind Om’s mind-boggling strength? After earning a gold medal and pulling off a titanic clean and jerk at the London 2012 Olympics, Om credited his
successes to none other than Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, saying, “I am very happy and give thanks to our Great Leader for giving me the strength to lift this weight.” The reasons behind Om’s strength, be it Kim Jong-un’s divine will or Om’s work ethic and ability, are a matter for another day, but Om’s power cannot be denied. In the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Om is likely to enrich his country’s weightlifting tradition and add an 18th Olympic weightlifting medal to North Korea’s all-time haul. However, the gold medal will be difficult. Om will go up against China’s Long Qingquan, the twotime Olympic champion of the men’s 56 kg division and the Rio Olympics gold-medal winner who set a world record total of 307 kg. Whether or not Om claims the gold, he’s already lifted his way into the annals of weightlifting history, and the stage in Tokyo is set for a lift-off of epic disproportions. •
SPORTS
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Image courtesy of thegaurdian.com
Coco Gauff Ella O’Hanlon ‘21
Picture how stressed you were as a 15 year old freshman with the newfound workload and tests piling up day after day. Now picture on top of this work, six hours of vigorous training per day and mounds of pressure to be the best tennis player in your age group. This description depicts the life of tennis player Coco Gauff. At the young age of 15, Coco Gauff will leave you in awe at all the accomplishments she’s made in the tennis world, including her being the youngest female third round contestant in the US Open singles’ main draw. At just 12 years old Gauff stated that she aspired to become the greatest tennis player of all time, and despite the ambition of this goal, she seems to be on her way. Gauff was born in Atlanta in 2004, just 15 years ago, and was homeschooled by
her mom alongside her two younger brothers. Both of Gauff’s parents were college athletes—her mom ran track at Florida State, while her dad played basketball at Georgia State—leaving a lot of pressure on her to thrive athletically. Gauff picked up tennis when she was just six years old, and at the age of seven, she moved to Florida in order to be closer to better training opportunities. When Coco was 11 years old, Serena Williams’ coach hand-picked her to train with him. In addition to Gauff’s pressure to live up to her parents’ successes, Gauff’s new training with the coach of Serena Williams, objectively one of the best female tennis players of all time, placed a new pressure for Gauff to rise to Serena’s level of play. In the face of all this athletic pressure, Gauff exceeded any expectations placed upon her. Gauff has made countless extraordinary accomplishments at such a young age. She started her career with smaller competitions, of which she won almost every single one. In 2018, Gauff won the Junior French Open as the second youngest female to ever do so. This year, Gauff competed in the French Open, where she qualified to compete at Wimbledon, the most prestigious of the four grand slam tournaments. Before beating five-time champion Venus Williams
in the opening round, Gauff, according to Business Insider, grew up idolizing the Williams sisters; after the match ended, Gauff humbly thanked Venus. In this match, Gauff beat an accomplished player who had already won six championships by 2004, the year Gauff was born! Two days after Gauff’s win against Venus Williams, she went on to beat Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova. Sadly, Gauff’s winning streak came to a halt when Romania’s Simona Halep knocked Gauff out of the esteemed Wimbledon tournament. In addition to the fame and glory Gauff receives after every win on the court, she also receives a boatload of money. Before her Wimbledon appearance, Gauff had already won $75,011. She won an additional $139,000 in Wimbledon prizes. This large sum of money doesn’t even include the sum she will make from new sponsors including New Balance, Head, and a few others. According to Newsweek, with all these sums adding up she is predicted to make over $1 million by the end of 2019—all at the young age of 15! Considering all of the coverage she has been receiving lately, you will surely continue to see more of Gauff as she aspires to reach her ambitious goal of becoming the best tennis player of all time. •
SPORTS
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The Houston Astros: 2019 AL West (and World Series?) Champions Miriam Zuo ‘20
For the third year in a row, the Houston Astros have clinched their division title in the American League West, effectively securing a place in postseason baseball. If you don’t watch baseball, the postseason consists of two parts: first, the division winners of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL) compete against each other for the league pennant. Second, the AL champions and the NL champions face each other at the World Series, which I’ve been anticipating since the season began in March. The World Series begins on October 22nd, less than a month from today, and, considering that the Red Sox will not appear in the postseason this year, now is a fantastic time to learn more about (and potentially support) a team that has dominated its division: the Houston Astros. Why are the Astros so much better than their AL West opponents? Quite possibly the most important component of their perennial success is their 25-man roster. On the pitching side, the Astros have one of the strongest pitching rotations in all of Major League Baseball. The first two pitchers of the rotation, Justin Verlander and Gerrit
Cole, have nearly identical statistics this season, with WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) and ERA (earned run averages) statistics that rank highly in the AL; as such, they’re both also frontrunners in the Cy Young Award, which is given each year to the best pitchers in the AL and the NL, respectively. Astros management also recently acquired Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he’s expected to play a vital role in postseason pitching. As for position players, the Astros make opposing pitchers nervous when they step into the batter’s box. The lead-off batter, George Springer, was the MVP of the 2017 World Series. Other Astros veterans, such as José Altuve and Alex Bregman, and newly acquired Astros, most notably Michael Brantley, form an intimidating starting lineup. Astros fans are also deeply excited about our one of our newest rookies, the record-breaking, power-hitting, Cuban-born Yordan Álvarez, who is virtually a shoo-in for the American League Rookie of the Year award. Combined, the dominant performance of Astros players this season has
resulted in multiple moments worthy of baseball history. Most recently, Álvarez hit a 416-foot home run into third section of Minute Maid Park, his home stadium, a feat so incredible that the seat it landed on has since been replaced by an orange one. Immediately following the trade deadline, Aaron Sanchez, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays, pitched a combined no-hitter (no batters made it to first base) with Will Harris, Joe Biagini, and Chris Devenski. And, perhaps most exciting, Justin Verlander accomplished a solo no-hitter, the third one of his Hall of Fame career, against the Blue Jays on September 1st. Because of their success this season, baseball pundits project an extended postseason journey for the 2019 Astros: as of mid-September, CBS Sports ranks the Astros and the Dodgers as the most likely teams to win the World Series. In the final days of the regular season, the Astros have already notched over 100 wins (out of a 160-game season). Will they add the World Series trophy to their already-impressive accolades? I hope so. •
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Dear Members of the Milton Academy community, The Milton Paper is Milton Academy’s only fully independent publication, meaning that we have the freedom of minimal censorship in the topics we cover and the criticism we publish. In order to remain a fully independent publication, however, we must also maintain our financial autonomy. We rely entirely on subscriptions and donations to provide the Milton community every week with thought-provoking editorials, investigative journalism of Milton-related issues, scathing A&E pieces, updates on sports teams, and hearty laughs. To do so, we need your support. Therefore, we ask that you please subscribe or donate to The Milton Paper. If you enjoyed reading our publication, learned something new, thought about an issue a new way, or laughed at our back page, please help The Milton Paper continue to provide the community with an independent collection of student voices. We appreciate donations of any size. Subscriptions: Digital Subscription: $50 Print Subscription: $100 Digital + Print Subscription: $120 To Donate and/or Subscribe: Please email evita_thadhani20@milton.edu, nathan_smith20@milton.edu or duncan_macgillivray20@milton.edu Thank you in advance for allowing us to have another terrific year. Sincerely, The 37th Editorial Board
AD NAUSEAM
Eleven Ways to Look Cool in Your First Week at Milton 1. Skip first period to binge ~dramatic~ yo-yo videos. Impress Mr. Ball so much that he wipes your cut. 2. Remind everyone of imminent rejection. #WallOfShame 3. Contract EEE behind the tennis courts @ glo dance. 4. Bond with faculty kids at the carnival. 5. Accidentally turn in an art project to your math teacher. Get an A. 6. Have your first convo with an SECS member: is EEE an STD? 7. Transform into Billie Eilish at beatnik. 8. $tunt on ‘em with your minecraft drip. 9. Stop by hack soccer at 3:30 on the quad and marvel as seniors experiment with omnipresence. 10. Drop a joyful remix of “Our God, Our Help In Ages Past.” 11. Convince the health center to let you guzzle Robitussin. Be a #quirkygirl.